EDC Creations Celebrates Who Is He To You

Join the Party with Ella Curry and Author Monique D. Mensah as we celebrate the release of Who Is He To You!

EDC Creations and the Sankofa Literary Society announces the official virtual book tour of Monique D. Mensah, the award-winning author of the dramatic fiction, Who Is He To You. Come party with us September 1 to October 30, 2009.

Follow Monique D. Mensah on an interesting journey all over the Internet from the comfort of your home. Readers will be intrigued by the intelligent exploration of sensitive issues such as cutting, emotional abuse, depression, and drug-addiction. The first page is filled with intense emotion and a descriptive setting that pulls the reader right into the scene. This virtual book tour is brought to you by EDC Creations Media Group.

Give the Gift of Knowledge Campaign
EDC Creations announces the launch of the 2009-2010 Give the Gift of Knowledge Campaign, bringing readers and authors together to help improve literacy and change lives through the gift of books. A sincere thank you to all of our tour hosts, wonderful readers and book club members who continue to support us and our authors and business owners. During our travels, we meet so many wonderful people and we look forward to meeting more of you, and getting to know you and providing what you need to satisfy your literary appetite. If you have not done so already, please sign up for our newsletter to stay abreast of new literary events and the latest book news, reviews and author tours. We select 4 newsletter subscribers each week to review newly released books for us. Sign up for our Sunday News Literary Email Newsletter here.

Prizes for Bloggers and Reviewers
We offer special gifts for those who support the authors during our Intimate Evening reading series on BAN Radio and to those who respond to the posts! To become eligible to win 1 of 5 copies of Who Is He To You by Monique Mensah, follow author Monique Mensah on her virtual tour and leave comments at the blog stops and interviews. The lucky winners will be announced on EDC Creations' Black Pearls magazine blog on November 7, 2009!




Join the Who Is He To You Book Release Celebration

If you would like to follow the Who Is He To You virtual book tour, visit the online media center frequently for the tour schedule. Meet Monique on the sites listed and add your comments or reviews. If you would like to host author Monique Mensah on your site, blog, radio show or magazine, please visit the online media center and select promotional material that will Give the Gift of Knowledge to your network.

Thank you all for Giving the Gift of Knowledge! Make sure to check out our bookshelves for gifts and books that change lives. Let's get this party started!

EDC Creations- Book Stores
http://astore.amazon.com/edcmagazine-20
http://astore.amazon.com/sanklitesoci-20

Ella Curry, president of EDC Creations
Website: http://www.edc-creations.com

WHO IS HE TO YOU BOOK TOUR CELEBRATION

WEEK 1
Who Is He To You Book Launch Party
Listen to the exciting book release party with fans
Author: Monique Mensah
Book: Who Is He To You
Genre: Dramatic Fiction
ISBN-13: 9780578023489

Download a copy of the Who Is He To You Book Launch Party
Click here and save to your computer


Urban Literary Review Radio Show
Sept 11, 2009 @ 9p EST
Website: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/urbanliteraryreview

Black Pearls Magzine Sistas Corner
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/sistacorner.htm

EDC Creations Media Launch
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/moniquemensah.htm

EDC Authors on Tour in Reading Room
Profiles listed for media and bookclubs
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/readingroom.html

EDC Creations 2009 Fall Authors on Tour
Eblast: http://tinyurl.com/fallauthorspart1

Sylvia Hubbard and Motown Writers- Each Monday in Sept.
http://motownwriters.blogspot.com
http://michiganliterarynetwork.com


Unika Molden The Unique Reviewer
http://www.theuniquereviewer.blogspot.com

AAMBC Book Tours Spotlight
http://www.aambcbooktours.blogspot.com

Create A Unique Xperience with Unika
http://createauniquexperience.blogspot.com/

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WEEK 2
Intimate Evenings Reading Series

Audio Introduction Who Is He To You by Monique D. Mensah

Audio Excerpt Who Is He To You by Monique D. Mensah


Read an Excerpt of Who Is He to You by Monique D. Mensah
Read the excerpt

Monique D. Mensah - Book Tour Media Sheet
Read the media sheet here

EDC Creations Best Books Summer 2009
Check out the Top Books List

Simply Said Reading Accessories
Read the feature

Erotic Expressions Blog
Read the feature

Intimate Conversation with Monique D. Mensah
http://edcmagazine.blogspot.com

ASA - Authors Supporting Authors
http://asanetwork.blogspot.com

Author Arlinda McGlothin Spotlights Authors on Tour
http://www.lindarinsights.blogspot.com

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WEEK 3

Party with MySpace Fans
The Making of Who Is He To You by Monique D. Mensah

EDC Creations at MySpace
Read the feature

Sankofa Literary Society Authors Spotlight
Monique D. Mensah Journey to Publication

Black Authors Network at MySpace
Read the feature

Black Pearls eSpot Live Reading
Read the feature

BAN Community Blog

Read the feature

African American Book Club!
Read the feature

Readers of African American Books
Read the feature

Myspace Book Club
Read the feature

Black Fiction Writers Community
Read the feature

Book Lovers Book Club
Read the feature

The Readers Circle at Myspace
Read the feature

African American Fiction
Read the feature

Everything in Between Reading Group
Read the feature

Black People World Wide
Read the feature

SPEAK SISTER
Read the feature

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WEEK 4
Party with Vox Fans
Articles by Monique D. Mensah

SLS Literary Society
Read the feature

The Inklings
Read the feature

The Thinking Woman
Read the feature

The Book Club at Vox
Read the feature

The Beautiful People

Read the feature

Verbal Penetrations
Read the feature

African American by Association
Read the feature

Monthly Book Club
Read the feature

Girl Talk

Read the feature

Be Your Own.Personal.Library
Read the feature

Mahogany Book Club
Read the feature

Moms Who Shop
Read the feature

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WEEK 5
Party with the Connect Platform Fans
Inside Who Is He To You by Monique D. Mensah

Young, Black, and Gifted Journalists!
Read the feature

Mothers of Wisdom
Read the feature

My Brothers Keeper.com
Read the feature

Crucial Diva

Read the feature

We Are One

Read the feature

Each-One-Teach-One

Read the feature

African Americans.NET

Read the feature

Chocolate Pages Network

Read the feature

Black Internet Marketers
Read the feature

Black In America.com
Read the feature

Black Journeys.com
Read the feature

Black History.com
Read the feature

Black Authors Connect
Read the feature

Black Women Connect

Read the feature

DMV Black

Read the feature

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WEEK 6
Entertainment for the Party Goers

Off the Pages Podcast
Website: http://www.offthepagespodcast.com
Call in number is (724) 444-7444-- Call ID: 60248
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 at 9:00 pm EST

Book Videos for Who Is He to You by Monique D. Mensah
Check out the trailer for Who Is He To You at Facebook
Check out the trailer for Who Is He To You at YouTube


Who Is He To You at iZania
Enter the community

Black Authors Network Blog
http://profilesinblack.blogspot.com/

SLS Paradigm Shift
Read the feature

Sankofa's Literary Review
Read the feature

Shortbook Showcase

Read the feature

EDC Creations Tours
Read the feature

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WEEK 7
Party with Black Planet Fans
Excerpt Presentations

Amazon Readers 5-Star Reviews
Read the rave reviews

EDC Creations at BlackPlanet
http://www.blackplanet.com/EDC1Creations

BOOKS LOVERS
http://groups.blackplanet.com/BOOKSLOVER

Black Planet Book of the Month
http://groups.blackplanet.com/BookoftheMonth

Fabulous Black Woman
http://groups.blackplanet.com/fabulousblackwoman

Ghettostocracy
http://groups.blackplanet.com/Ghettostocracy

Black Planet Journalists
http://groups.blackplanet.com/BlackPlanetJournalists

African American Authors Pavilion
http://groups.blackplanet.com/aaauthors

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WEEK 8
SO BLACK, SO BEAUTIFUL
http://groups.blackplanet.com/SBSB

It's Poppin!
http://groups.blackplanet.com/itspoppin

Black Planet Book Club
http://groups.blackplanet.com/blackplanetbookclub

Smart & Educated Black Women
http://groups.blackplanet.com/educatedblackwomen

BP BOOK LOVERS
http://groups.blackplanet.com/BOOKLOVERS

African American Fiction Lovers!
http://groups.blackplanet.com/hotblackauthors

African-American Authors & Writers
http://groups.blackplanet.com/African-American-Authors-Writers

The Black Book Club Podcast
http://groups.blackplanet.com/TBBCP

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Connect with Monique D. Mensah Online

Who Is He To You by Monique Mensah
Website: http://www.moniquedmensah.com/
Email: monique@moniquedmensah.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/mdmensah
Fanclub: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=84945652309
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/monique-d-mensah/14/33/220
Blog at: http://moniquedmensah.wordpress.com/


Purchase Who Is He to You by Monique D. Mensah
Barnes and Noble or at Amazon

Book Spotlight- Who Is He To You

Who Is He To You by Monique Mensah

Monique D. Mensah is a native Detroiter. She declared her dream of becoming an author at eight years old. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan, she completed her first manuscript. Shortly after, she launched Kisa Publishing, and published her first novel, Who Is He To You. Monique now resides in Southfield, MI where she is raising her daughter and working on her second novel.

Readers will be intrigued by the intelligent exploration of sensitive issues such as cutting, emotional abuse, depression, and drug-addiction.The first page which is filled with intense emotion and a descriptive setting that pulls the reader right into the scene.

Who Is He To You by Monique D. Mensah

When love involves incest, self-mutilation, drug-addiction, and murder, will Simone, Jessica and Ryan fight to hold on or will they escape before it's too late?

Simone, a shockingly beautiful teen, is on the downward spiral of destruction as she battles incest and self-hatred. She finds cutting to be the only way to relieve her pain. She must do something to regain control of her life and restore her family back to normalcy. But Simone may be too late as unexpected events threaten to throw her dream of contentment far out of reach.

Jessica lives the upscale lifestyle of a refined society matron. She strives to be the perfect wife, but without her husband, Ross, she would be nothing more than the abused stripper he rescued 16 years ago. When their marriage is threatened and it forces her to face her past, Jessica vows to do whatever it takes to protect what she has rightfully earned, even if it means murder.

Ryan, a fiery thirty-something, is quickly slipping into depression and prescription drug addiction. As her boyfriend, Anthony, artfully dangles the empty promise of marriage, she watches helplessly as their relationship dissolves. In an attempt to regain her sanity and self-esteem, she finds herself on a mission of self-restoration while trying to save the life of someone she doesn't even know.

As the shattered lives of three very different women collide, they find that they have one thing in common: They're all in a desperate fight to hold on to love. Experience their emotional journey through to the shocking end where these women will experience injury, imprisonment, and even death while crafting new lives from the ashes of their ruination.

Book Video Preview

Book info: ISBN-10: 0578023482; ISBN-13: 978-0578023489.
Visit Monique's site: www.MoniqueDMensah.com

Who Is He To You Book Reviews

“Monique D. Mensah’s debut novel reads more as if written by the hands of a seasoned veteran. Who Is He To You, a riveting story touching on topics such as incest, self-mutilation, and drug-addiction, pulls you in from the first page and doesn’t let go until the final period. Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!”
– Brian C. Conley, author of Stay and We Were Broken Here.


“Monique D. Mensah has captured the literary world by storm, “Who is he to you” is captivating, intriguing, suspense, and drama all wrapped up into one. A must read for all you book lovers. I read the book in two days, I couldn’t work for reading. I was so caught up in each chapter, I was hungry for more. My sincere congrats to you Monique!”
– Gwen Cannon, author of Scandalous


"This was Excellent and a great piece of writing. Your character development of capturing the essence of each unique character was flawless. You got 'it'".
– Vincent Alexandria, author of Black Rain


“Who Is He To You vividly exhibits Monique D. Mensah’s ability to create a and project animated images from cover to cover. The allure of her hypnotic writing style pulsates immensely within the psyche of each reader…thus addicting them eternally.”
– Marc Lacy, spoken word artist and auhtor of Rock & Fire: Love Poetry from the Core and The Looking Heart: Poetic Expression from Within

"Poignant and stirring, WHO IS HE TO YOU draws you in with the story of Simone. Gorgeous, but greatly misunderstood, we truly understand how beauty on the outside hides ugly underneath. Monique Mensah's writing grabs readers instantly from the first line. WHO IS HE TO YOU was a pleasure to read."
–Sylvia Hubbard,author of Secret, Lies, and Family Ties

The Consequences of our actions: Look, listen, and learn!

consequencesconvo.mp3



Find out more by visiting, www.LindaRHerman.org.

Murder on the Down Low Book Tour

Join Pamela Samuels Young on a virtual tour…

EDC Creations and the Sankofa Literary Society announces the official virtual book tour of Pamela Samuels Young, the critically-acclaimed author of In Firm Pursuit, Every Reasonable Doubt, Murder on the Down Low and the upcoming anticipated thriller, Buying Time. From September 1 to October 30, 2009, follow Pamela on an interesting journey all over the Internet from the comfort of your home. This virtual book tour is brought to you by EDC Creations Media Group. To learn more about Pamela’s virtual tour, visit her online media center.

Give the Gift of Knowledge Campaign

EDC Creations announces the launch of the 2009-2010 Give the Gift of Knowledge Campaign, bringing readers and authors together to help improve literacy and change lives through the gift of books. Explore our tour to meet authors on book tours and our virtual tour partners as well. Share with us all of your favorite books, poetry, plays and offer the authors some insider information. If you would like to become one of our virtual tour partners, feel free to mail the founder, Ella Curry, with your request. Email Ella at: elladcurry@edc-creations.com

A sincere thank you to all of our wonderful tour hosts, readers and book club members who continue to support us and our authors and business owners. During our travels, we meet so many wonderful people and we look forward to meeting more of you, getting to know you and providing what you need to satisfy your literary appetite.

If you have not done so already, please sign up for our newsletter to stay abreast of new literary events and the latest book news, reviews and author tours. We select 4 newsletter subscribers each week to review newly released books for us. Register here for the Sunday News from EDC Creations Media Group.


Prizes for Bloggers and Reviewers
We offer special gifts for those who support the authors during our Intimate Evening reading series and to those who respond to the posts! To become eligible to win 1 of 5 copies of Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young, follow Pamela on her virtual tour and leave comments at the blog stops and interviews. The lucky winners will be announced on EDC Creations' Black Pearls Magazine blog on November 7, 2009!


How to join the Murder on the Down Low Tour
If you would like to follow Pamela Samuels Young's, Murder on the Down Low virtual book tour, visit her online media center frequently at for the tour schedule. Meet her on the sites listed and add your comments or reviews.

If you would like to host author Pamela Samuels Young on your site, blog, radio show or magazine, please visit her online media center and select promotional material that will Give the Gift of Knowledge to your network.

Thank you all for Giving the Gift of Knowledge! Make sure to check out our bookshelves for gifts and books that change lives!

Ella Curry, president of EDC Creations


EDC Creations- Book Stores
http://astore.amazon.com/edcmagazine-20
http://astore.amazon.com/sanklitesoci-20

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Pamela Samuels Young's Schedule

Audio Presentations

Radio Interviews

Murder on the Down Low Book Launch Party
Author: Pamela Samuels Young
Black Authors Network Radio Show

Urban Literary Review Radio Show
Sept. 11, 2009 at 9:00pm EST
Call in number is (347) 215-8932
Host Martin Pratt

AAMBC Showcase Radio Show
Sept. 17, 2009 at 7:00pm CST
Call in number: (646) 716-4093
Host: Tamika Newhouse


Off the Pages podcast at TalkShoe
Oct. 7, 2009 at 9:00 pm EST
Call in number: (724)444-7444- Call ID:60248
Host: LaTricia Smith

Intimate Evening Reading Series

Murder on the Down Low Introduction
Pamela shares the plot of MODL

Pamela Samuels Young, Chapter 8, Murder on the Down Low
"Meet Auntie Pearl Washington from Murder on the Down Low"

Pamela Samuels Young, Chapter 2, Murder on the Down Low
"Meet Special from Murder on the Down Low"

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Week 1 Meet the Author

EDC Creations Media Launch
Announcing Murder on the Down Low to Bookclubs

EDC Creations Best Books Summer 2009
Top books reviewed by EDC Creations review team

Black Pearls Magazine Online
September Issue-Legends and Leaders

Black Pearls Magazine Blog
Audio Preview and Reading of Murder on the Down Low

Authors on Tour Reading Room
Bookclub suggested reading material

Sweet Soul Sisters Bookclub
Facebook Notes and Links

Author Arlinda McGlothin Spotlights
http://www.lindarinsights.blogspot.com

Unika Molden The Unique Reviewer
http://www.theuniquereviewer.blogspot.com

AAMBC Book Tours Spotlight
http://www.aambcbooktours.blogspot.com

Create A Unique Xperience with Unika
http://createauniquexperience.blogspot.com

Motown Writers Network
http://motownwriters.com

Michigan Murder and Mayhem
http://michiganmurderandmayhem.com

Black Authors Network Community
Book Launch Party on BAN Radio

The International Book Club Guild
http://slsbookclubcenter.ning.com

Black History 365 Network
http://blackhistory365.ning.com

EDC Creations 2009 Fall Authors on Tour
Eblast: http://tinyurl.com/fallauthorspart1
Purchase books: http://tinyurl.com/supportfalltour

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Week 2 Live Your Dreams

EDC Creations Facebook Notes
Murder on Down Low Intro

Black Authors Network at Facebook
Murder on Down Low Interview

Black Business Women Online
Meet the community

Momlogic Community
Meet the community

"Write It Down"-A Website for Writers
Meet the community

Published Authors Network
Meet the community

Reader's Entertainment
Meet the community

The Write Group
Meet the community

Chocolate Pages Network
Meet the community

Suspense and Thrillers at Shelfari
Meet the community

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Week 3 Community AIDS/HIV Awareness

Sankofa Literary Society
Meet the community

Black Enterprise at LinkedIn
Meet the community

Black Authors Network at LinkedIn
Meet the community

African American Female Leaders
Meet the community

WomenSuite at LinkedIn
Meet the community

Authors of Fiction at LinkedIn
Meet the community

Black Enterprise Networked
Meet the community

The Inklings
http://theinklings.groups.vox.com

The Beautiful People
http://hot.groups.vox.com

Verbal Penetrations
http://verbalpenetrations.groups.vox.com

African American by Association
http://africanamerican.groups.vox.com

Monthly Book Club at Vox
http://monthlybookclub.groups.vox.com

Girl Talk at Vox
http://chic.groups.vox.com

BeYourOwn.Personal.Library
http://byopl.groups.vox.com

Mahogany Book Club at Vox
http://mahoganybookclub.groups.vox.com

Moms Who Shop at Vox
http://shoppingmoms.groups.vox.com

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Week 4 Make Your Dreams Happen

Book Blogs
Meet the community

Tyra Show Community
Meet the community

ESSENCE.com
Meet the community

Black Book Clubs
Meet the community

Suspense/Thriller Writers on FB
Meet the community

Writers and Readers Unite
Meet the community

The Professional Black Woman
Meet the community

Working Mother Magazine
Meet the community

The Thinking Woman
http://thinkingwoman.groups.vox.com

The Book Club at Vox
http://bookclub.groups.vox.com

Social Media Group at Vox
http://socialmedia.groups.vox.com

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Week 5 The Making of Murder on the Down Low

EDC Creations Bulletin for Murder on the Down Low
Meet the Myspace community

EDC Creations Myspace
Read the blog

Writing and Poetry Exposed
Meet the community
http://groups.myspace.com/writingandpoetry

Myspace Book Club
Meet the community
http://groups.myspace.com/MyspaceBookClub

African American Intellectuals
Meet the community
http://groups.myspace.com/AfricanAmericansIntellectuals

Book Lovers Book Club
Meet the community
http://groups.myspace.com/ddouglasbookclub

Black Book Love
Meet the community
http://groups.myspace.com/Blackbooklove

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Week 6 Celebrating with Facebook Groups

Reading is Sexy
Meet the community

Beautiful Black Women
Meet the community

Passion for Books
Meet the community

African American Fiction Book Club
Meet the community

Books by Black Authors
Meet the community

Support Black Writers in the World
Meet the community

African American Books
Meet the community

African American Literture Society (AALS)
Meet the community

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Week 7 Celebrating with Shelfari Groups

Sankofa Literary Society Book Club
Meet the community

Readers Of African-American Authors
Meet the community

Real Divas of Literature
Meet the community

Mahogany Book Club
Meet the community

African American Books
Meet the community

Suspense and Thrillers at Shelfari
Meet the community

SistahFriend Book Club
Meet the community

Book Chat at Shelfari
Meet the community

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Week 8 Celebrating with Book Lovers and Authors

Genre Book Club
Meet the community

African Americans on the Move Book Club
Meet the community

Lovers of Books by Black Authors
Meet the community

Aspiring Black Authors
Meet the community

African American Authors (Book Club)
Meet the community

FB AA BOOK CLUB
Meet the community

African American Relationships
Meet the community

Black Sistah's Connect
Meet the community

African American Authors
Meet the community

Reading Divas at FB
Meet the community

Contact Pamela

Pamela Samuels Young is a practicing attorney and author of the legal thrillers, Murder on the Down Low, Every Reasonable Doubt, In Firm Pursuit and Buying Time. You can find Pamela’s articles on writing at BizyMoms.com, where she is a featured fiction writing expert. Author Pamela Samuels Young is available for literary events, speaking engagements, tele-conferences, bookclub chats and interviews.

Submit all requests at: http://www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com
Author Website: http://www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com
Author Email address: author@pamelasamuelsyoung.com


To host author Pamela Samuels Young on your site, blog, radio show or magazine, please visit her online media center and select promotional material to that will Give the Gift of Knowledge to your network. After posting, please email Pamela with the links.
Enter here: http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/pamelasyoung.htm

2009 Give the Gift of Knowledge

EDC Creations, The Sankofa Literary Society and The Black Authors Network announced the launch of their 2009-2010 "Give the Gift of Knowledge Campaign," bringing readers and authors together to help improve literacy. In 2004, during the Christmas holidays, Ella Curry, the founder of EDC Creations, reached out to women's groups and literary organizations to help promote early literacy by giving new books to children from low income homes. Today, the "Give the Gift of Knowledge Campaign," seeks to expand even further!

“Based on the “each one teach one,” model, our goal is to help people introduce reading and new books to their family and friends,” says CEO and founder of EDC creations, Ella Curry. “Instead of giving expensive gifts that don't shape lives----let's “Give the Gift of Knowledge” and help to strengthen our future generations!”

Please join the campaign by becoming a blog tour host, radio interviewer, chat host or by purchasing one of the books featured here and giving it to a friend.
We welcome the community into the program and will support any of our partners with promotion in return. Spread the word.... we want to bring more entertainment, education and enlightenment to the community!

Review the books below and invite the author to meet your family and friends in person or via the phone. Listed below are the author's online profiles. Check out the links for each author and consider spotlighting them in your network. We have set up a bookstore for your shopping and gift purchases. If you need help organizing a meeting with authors, please email Ella Curry to help you set up a meet and greet in person or over the telephone. Email: edc_dg@yahoo.com



Meet the EDC Creations 2009 Fall Authors on Tour
Eblast: http://tinyurl.com/fallauthorspart1
Eblast: http://tinyurl.com/fallauthorspart2

Power Hour Events: http://tinyurl.com/powerhour1

Purchase books by the authors on the 2009 Fall Holiday Book Tour
http://tinyurl.com/givethegiftbooks

Pamela Samuels Young
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/pamelasyoung.htm

Pat G'Orge Walker
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/patwalker.htm

Azarel
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/azarellcb.htm

Monique Mensah
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/moniquemensah.htm

Martha A. Taylor
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/marthataylor.htm

Sherryle K. Jackson
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/sherrylejackson.htm

Melesia Betts
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/meleisabetts.htm

Lynne Forde
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/lynneforde.htm

Patricia Bridewell
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/patriciabridewell.htm

Keya Franklin
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/keya.htm

Electa Rome Parks
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/electarparks.htm


Loretta Faith Harris
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/lorettaharris.htm

Electa Rome Parks
http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/electarparks.htm

What was your 2009 NBCC experience?

EDC Creations Book Promotions



That old saying you get what you pay for proved not to be true for me this weekend. I did NOT get what I paid for regarding the National Book Club Conference. I paid for meals and was told just prior to the event that the hotel would not be serving the authors. I paid for a table but because I chose not to attend on Friday due to personal reasons, my table was given away. Keep in mind, I paid for that table and my choosing not to attend Friday was at my own expense. Every author who paid to attend should have already had a table so why was it necessary to give my assigned table away to make room for another author? Oh but that's not the worst of it. I wasn't even issued an apology or accomodated. Kudos to Tinisha Nicole Johnson for sharing her table with me. I sucked in the anger and did what I set out to do, build myself as an author. Yes I felt totally disrespected and vowed then and there I'd never pay again to be treated that way.

All in all, the networking was amazing and I enjoyed meeting other authors and readers. The hotel was exquisite; absolutely gorgeous. But, that's not enough to make me attend next year. I feel the vending authors were basically used to pay for perks that went to the featured authors. Now, I wasn't expecting to walk the red carpet alongside Terry McMillan or Eric Jerome Dickey but I did deserve to be treated with the respect I deserve. Had it not been for the 50 vending authors paying an average of $300 each to attend this event (do the math), how great would it have been?

I think most of the book clubs had an awesome experience and for them, I'm happy. For those self-published authors or those who have yet to reach what's considered elite status, keep your head held high and keep scratching your way to the top. Don't let anybody make you feel like you're not worthy of respect. Amen? AMEN!

Linda R. Herman
Author of Consequences
www.LindaRHerman.org

Vote for XYP and Jessica Tilles

Voting for the 5th Annual
African American Literary Awards Show

The voting process is now underway for the 5th Annual African American Literary Awards Show to be held September 24, 2009 in Harlem, New York. This event showcases some of the most talent people in the literary world. We are putting our full support behind several people on this ballot! Xpress Yourself Publishing is one of the main organizations we support.

If you believe in Xpress Yourself Publishing as well as their authors and support what we do at EDC Creations, please be sure to cast your vote for Xpress Yourself Publishing for the Independent Publisher of the year, along with your other favorite authors. We appreciate your consideration.

For your convenience, here is the link to cast your vote today:
http://www.literaryawardshow.com/voting.html


A MESSAGE FROM PUBLISHER JESSICA TILLES


Greetings!
I hope this email finds you all doing well. If I could have a quick moment of your time, I have a HUGE favor to ask of you.

Last year, Xpress Yourself Publishing was nominated for and won the 2008 African American Literary Award for Independent Publisher of the Year and we've been nominated AGAIN this year. I have to admit, we REALLY want to win again this year! We, along with our wonderful, talented authors, have worked very hard this year. Currently, we have over 60 titles in print and an author roster of 30 that's growing rapidly.

Just like last year, in order to win, we are asking you to cast your vote for Xpress Yourself Publishing and its authors. Last year, the turnout to vote for us was phenomenal!

So, I'm asking you to PLEASE, PLEASE, pretty PLEASE, with sugar on top, go to http://www.literaryawardshow.com/voting.html and cast your vote for the following:

Independent Publisher
Xpress Yourself Publishing

Romance
Victoria Wells, author of When Love Comes Around (and A Special Summer)

Short Stories/Anthologies
Somebody Prayed For Me by Linda Herman, Allyson Deese and Tinisha Nicole Johnson

Author of the Year (Female)
Linda Herman, author of Consequences

As an author, it is a wonderful feeling to have your body of work recognized and nominated for an award. It truly makes the long nights writing and the struggles with re-writing all worth it! We are so very excited, and we congratulate all nominated artists, authors and publishers.

Thanks so much for your continued support of Xpress Yourself Publishing, and we look forward to showcasing our 2010 releases, and bring you some of the best in the world literature!


Warm Regards,

Jessica Tilles
Publisher, Xpress Yourself Publishing
http://www.xpressyourselfpublishing.org/
P.O. Box 1615
Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20773
Phone: 301.390.3645
Fax: 202.478.3447
Email: info@xpressyourselfpublishing.org

Black Men Taking Charge

Check out the Black Men Taking Charge Blog, where professional Black men from all over and from various background discuss issues relating to Blacks in America.

These interviews will be conducted up to the release date of the book, Lessons Learned: Loving Yourself As A Black Woman by Tinisha Nicole Johnson. (January 2010)

Recently Tinisha interview Marc Livingston, a poet based out of Chicago, IL. Check out his interview, learn what he thinks about Black women, and leave your comments

Click here to view the interview: http://professionalmen.wordpress.com/2009/07/11/black-men-taking-charge-marc-livingston/


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The life that was; or perhaps the life that wasn't

I don't think it really sank in that we lost Michael Jackson until today. And when the reality of his death hit me, I realized we didn't just lose a Pop icon; we lost a humanitarian, a person who truly loved life and worked hard to bring us together as ONE. His parents lost a son, his children, bless their hearts, lost their father, and his brothers and sisters lost a sibling. We cry for the Michael we knew but they grieve for the family member they loved and lost.

I'm not usually one to shed tears but seeing the grief-stricken faces of family and friends of Michael Jackson, my cup ran over because I realized I was full. I felt a portion of their pain. Did you hear the poem Queen Latifah read on behalf of Maya Angelou? What about Brooke Shields' speech; her tears were so real. My heart went out to Usher because he truly idolized Michael and always acknowledges him as part of his own success. And then the family...Marlon's words, MAYBE NOW THEY'LL LEAVE YOU ALONE. His poor daughter, OMG, I wanted to reach out and hold her close to my heart. To her, he was the best father a child could have had and I see that because at heart, he was still very much a child himself.

Today, I cry and I grieve not for the life that was, but perhaps for the life that wasn't; the childhood that Michael Jackson never truly experienced. He's been in the spotlight since the age of 5; judged and accused, sentenced to shame even before he was trialed. He was convicted by the media and the public even though he was acquitted of the horrendous child molestation charges. For a long time I wondered, could he have done such a thing? Today, I scream and I shout, NO. NEVERLAND was meant to be a happy place where children were always happy and never had to grow up. NEVERLAND...Michael wanted to be PETER PAN and I surely don't believe he would have ever brought harm to anyone, especially a child. If he's guiltiy of anything, perhaps it was he was too giving of himself and loving to the point where some took his kindness for weakness. But trust and believe me when I say, GOD knows his heart and He is the ultimate judge for there is no jury; GOD's word is final.

To Michael, REST IN PEACE AND THANK YOU FOR THE MANY MEMORIES. I so wish I still had my record player with your picture on it. It's been a long time since the early 80's.

To the JACKSON FAMILY, his fans loved him, his family and friends adored him, but GOD loved him BEST.

Linda R. Herman

Professional Women Making Moves - Marie Antionette

Marie Antionette, author of the book, A Girl Named Job was interviewed by Tinisha Nicole Johnson, an author/writer/poet. Marie’s book is an autobiography of her life.

Marie’s life was far from normal. In fact, she lived a very hard life. This isn’t just any story, but a story of true trials and tribulations. I’ve read her book and let me tell you, if you want a fantastic read to add to your collection, then this is one those kind of books

Check out her interesting interview by clicking here: Marie's Interview
You can also check out her book trailer, based off the book.



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Professional Women Making Moves

The Professional Women Making Moves blog is about Black women who are doing something unique and out of the ordinary with their lives. Interviews will be taking until the release date of my non-fiction book, Lessons Learned: Loving Yourself As A Black Woman.

Check out LaToya S. Watkins interview and please provide comments. She is the author of the book In Love with Losers. If you haven't gotten your copy of her book, please so.

If you consider yourself a Professional Black Woman and would like to be interviewed and involved in this project please contact me at my website: www.TinishaNicoleJohnson.com

Click here to view LaToya's interview:
LATOYA S. WATKINS

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Carleen Brice on BAN Radio, June 20

Join Black Authors Network host Ella Curry and author Carleen Brice on BAN Radio, June 20 for lively discussion about her new book Children of the Waters.

Black Authors Network Talk Show
Saturday Night, June 20, 2009 at 8-10pm EST
Live Chat: www.blogtalkradio.com/Black-Author-Network
Fans call into at: (646) 200-0402
Gifts given out to live callers and registered BTR chatters.




Book Discussion and Live Reading from Children of the Waters by Carleen Brice

The author of the #1 Denver Post bestseller and Essence Book Club Pick Orange Mint and Honey explores the connection between love and race, and what it really means to be a family. Children of the Waters (ISBN: 978-0345499073) is a story about two long lost half-sisters, one white and one black, who find each other possibly with the help of their grandmother’s ghost.


Book Introduction

Trish Taylor’s white ancestry never got in the way of her love for her black ex-husband, or their mixed race son, Will. But when Trish’s marriage ends, she returns to her family’s Denver, Colorado home to find a sense of identity and connect to her past.

What she finds there shocks her to the very core: her mother and newborn sister were not killed in a car crash as she was told. In fact, her baby sister, Billie Cousins, is now a grown woman; her grandparents had put her up for adoption, unwilling to raise the child of a black man. Billie, who had no idea she was adopted, wants nothing to do with Trish until a tragedy in Billie’s own family forces her to lean on her surprisingly supportive and sympathetic sister.

Together they unravel age-old layers of secrets and resentments and navigate a path toward love, healing, and true reconciliation.



What are some of the topics addressed in Children of the Waters?
--- Paths toward love, healing, and true reconciliation
--- Feeling secure in your own identity
--- Surviving a messy divorce
--- Raising teenage sons
--- Generational racism
--- Handling of Lupus
--- Hidden secrets and adoption
--- Embracing a bi-racial heritage
--- The importance of sisterhood

"In Children of the Waters, Carleen Brice highlights the effects of America's complicated relationship with race and identity on three generations of two families in a clear and insightful depiction of what it means to be American at the dawn of the twenty-first century. Brice knows how far we have come and how far there is left to go, and in Children of the Waters she deflty lays it all out for the reader to see." - Matthew Aaron Goodman, author of Hold Love Strong


More about Carleen
Carleen Brice’s debut novel, Orange Mint and Honey (One World/Ballantine), was an Essence “Recommended Read” and a Target “Bookmarked Breakout Book.” For this book, she won the 2009 First Novelist Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and the 2008 Break Out Author Award at the African American Literary Awards Show. Her second novel, Children of the Waters (One World/Ballantine), a book about race, love and family, is available now where ever books are sold. If you don't see it at your local retailer, please go to the representive and request it. You can read an excerpt at her website http://www.carleenbrice.com/.

She also edited and contributed to the anthology Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number: Black Women Explore Midlife, which was published in the U.S. (Beacon Press) and the U.K. (Souvenir Press). She is author of Lead Me Home: An African American’s Guide Through the Grief Journey (Avon/HarperCollins). Her book Walk Tall: Affirmations for People of Color, an Essence bestseller, was in print with traditional publishers for 10 years and sold 100,000 copies. It is currently available through iUniverse and Louis Gossett Jr.'s Eracism Foundation. Carleen and her husband live in Colorado.

Children of the Waters, Carleen Brice
ISBN: 0345499077
ISBN-13: 9780345499073
Pub. Date: June 23, 2009

Shop for the book at Barnes and Noble

Shop for the book at Amazon.com

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Black Professional Women Making Moves

Profressional Women Making Moves
Introducing Sylvia McClain

Welcome to Professional Women Making Moves Blog, where we feature professional Black women from all over making moves in their personal and business world. Tinisha Nicole Johnson is the author of the upcoming book Lessons Learned: Loving Yourself As A Black Woman. The book emphasizes ten life lessons that addresses a Black woman’s most intimate, personal, and professional life.

Tinisha will be interviewing professional women from various backgrounds up to the release date of her book, discussing who they are and the challenges they face, and any advice they have to offer. Learn more about this book and the author at her website: www.TinishaNicoleJohnson.com

Today, Tinisha interviews Sylvia McClain. Please comment and check out what Sylvia has to say.

Tinisha Johnson: Please introduce yourself and tell me who you most credit your success to?

Sylvia McClain: Sylvia McClain is my name and I am a professional Journalist. I write nonfiction through newspapers, magazines, and books. I also teach writing workshops and seminars in continuing education program at libraries, universities, community colleges, conferences and public school systems in the Detroit Metro Area.

I really don’t credit anyone other than myself for my success. I was not encouraged to pursue my profession therefore, I had to push myself against all odds.

Tinisha Johnson: What types of challenges do you face as a Professional Black woman?

Sylvia McClain: As a freelancer, work is the most difficult thing to get. With the economy the way it is now and many freelancers on the scene, one must have clips, clips and more clips of a current nature to acquire more writing jobs. Also, one must be willing to do different types of work such as editing, copywriting, contract writing, Internet sites, etc. Without being able to write in more than one category limits one’s possible source of writing income.

Tinisha Johnson: How important is networking to you?

Sylvia McClain: Networking is the utmost important thing a woman in my profession must do. Without making contacts, introducing you and the type of work you do, a loss in real writing gigs are out the window.

Tinisha Johnson: What does success mean to you?

Sylvia McClain: Success to me is doing what I love to do and that is writing, teaching writing to others, assisting forthcoming writers in their desires.

Tinisha Johnson: How do you balance your professional and personal life?

Sylvia McClain: Time management, it is as simple as that. I always tell people work on a schedule and stick with it. You must also diversify in your life as a writer because where else would you get writing ideas. What I mean is do more than just write, experience life itself. Also treat what you do like any other job with a set schedule.

Tinisha Johnson: What advice do you have for today’s young Black girls?

Sylvia McClain: Go for it. Don’t wait like I did until my forties to pursue your dreams. The earlier one gets started the more time is available to one to make mistakes and have time to correct them.

Tinisha Johnson: Who would you call a writer?

Sylvia McClain: Anyone, who is willing to transfer the ideas and thoughts in their head to paper.

More About Sylvia McClain
Sylvia McClain is a freelance writer who currently writes for the business periodicals published by Equal Opportunity Publications, Inc on engineering and information technology. She wrote on life changes for Strut. She conducts workshops on freelance writing, self-publishing, accepted queries, historical writing and money management as a writer.

She is a former board member of The Detroit Writer’s Guild, responsible for the recording of financial data. Ms. McClain has been on the board of Project Sis (a nonprofit organization for teens at risk) and the city of Detroit’s Cluster Seven of Detroit’s Community Reinvestment Strategy Process. Her other volunteer work has been with WTVS Public TV volunteer staff for fourteen years, a supervisor with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) for six years, and the Better Business Bureau as an arbitrator during the 1980’s. She was previously employed 22 years with Comerica Incorporated as a Data Base Analyst in the Economics Department.

Ms. McClain is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Journalism while holding a Bachelor of General Studies: Art History, Communications, and English degree from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She holds an Associate of Arts degree in Accounting from Wayne County Community College.

Ms. McClain is single and has one child. She lives in Westland.
Please visit her web site at http://www.scribalpress.com/ and her blog http://sylviaspeaks.blogspot.com/.

About Tinisha Nicole Johnson:
Tinisha is the author of the book Lessons Learned: Loving Yourself As A Black Woman. This book emphasizes ten lessons that addresses a Black woman's most intimate, personal and professional life. Learn more about the author and the book at her website: http://www.tinishanicolejohnson.com/




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Black Pearls Article Updates

Did you miss these exciting article in Black Pearls Magazine....

Literary Leaders Spotlight for May 2009
Poetry Spotlight: Resilience By Dana Rettig
Women, Don't Forget Your Worth
Summer Romance Selections
Book Spotlight: Keeping Secrets & Telling Lies
Intimate Conversation with author Recha
Intimate Conversation with author Matthew Aaron Goodman
Business Spotlight: Rhonda Crowder, freelance editor
Intimate Conversation with author Eugenia O'Neal
Intimate Conversation with Terri Schlichenmeyer, Book Reviewer
Black Book Clubs Rock Awards, June 20, 2009
Black College Sabbatical: Fall Quarter
Watch Me by Brenda Novak
Parenting: Miracle of Me: From Conception to Birth
Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas
Not Becoming My Mother by Ruth Reichl
Blind Fall by Christopher Rice
Pursuit by Karen Robards
What I Did for Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Paradise Valley by Robyn Carr
The Soloist: A Lost Dream, an Unlikely Friendship
Red and Me: My Coach, My Lifelong Friend
Straw: Finding My Way by Darryl Strawberry
More Recent Articles



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When Lightning Strikes by Keya

When Lightning Strikes by Keya
How can you have it all – education, personality, and beauty - yet your life is flooded with a sea of troubles?

Imminent, new author Keya answers this question and more in When Lightning Strikes, a novel about Ms. Taylor Devereaux, her three best friends, and her spiraling-out-of-control life. Taylor is on the road to happiness and success. She is a gorgeous and classy woman with a thriving career and a wonderful fiancée. One day, Taylor’s near perfect world is turned upside down when she discovers her future husband is cheating.

To make matters worse, while trying to put the pieces of her life back together, she finds out someone at her job has filed a sexual harassment complaint against her. She realizes someone is out to ruin her life. With Taylor’s personal life, profession, and overall reputation at stake, can she overcome it all? Or, will the stress of it all bring out another side of Taylor?

See how Taylor reacts “When Lightning Strikes.”

Website: http://www.keyalit.com

Read the first chapter online:
http://www.keyalit.com/WhenLightningStrikes-Chapter1.pdf

View the online Media Kit from Keya's site:
http://www.keyalit.com/mediakit.htm

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