Black Kindle Rocks - Scandalous - Nicole Dunlap

NUMBER 141

“The Sanctuary” (Part Time Job at the Asylum) is the same old same old and I’m getting kind of weary writing about them.  There are times I feel like I’m reading an Urban Lit book with more actual drama than I care to continue.  I will, though, keep them in my prayers and do my best to help them when I can. 

I had promised to let you know of four books I’m reading.  I’m so behind on my reading because of the many new projects at my regular job. Recently, I was nominated to become a board member of the Friends of the South Carolina State Library.  I’ve also been nominated as Vice President of memberships for the Charleston Friends of the Library.  I can’t say no, my heart doesn’t know how when it’s this big.  I’m also getting ready for the “Bring Your Child to Work day” in April.  Each month I buy little things to put into the kids’ bags, like candy, Pez candy, crayons and such as well as the books.  Most of the time I get books from our Friends book sale and Amazon.  This year I am hoping again that I can give each kid a Kindle.  Yes, I know, what the hell am I thinking!!!  I just love to see and hear a kid read.  The world in their eyes is overwhelming and beautiful.  Can’t give up that dream, can I?  So, I’m working as much overtime at both jobs to stay on track with my Dave Ramsey Plan and get these books out to these kids. 

Commercial Break:  I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, I can really see a small prism of light, just enough to catch my attention.  The Dave Ramsey Plan works. 

Financial Peace  - $18.99 Revisite

It hurts, Oh! It hurts like hell.  After you start though, keep your faith going and keep your prayers coming.  Keep an accountability, friend, partner, wife, husband, boy or girl friend to help you.  Keep your so called “real friends” at bay.  I’m talking about the jackasses who are always buying things they don’t need and then ask you to do the same thing.  You can get out of debt and stay out.  Once again though, it ain’t freaking easy!!!!

I can’t hang out much with my friends.  I’m going to have to limit Book Fair trips.  Can’t make it to Houston for the National Black Book Festival and may also miss the National Book Club Conference in Atlanta, but as Dave says, “If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else.”  I’m going to make it and make it BIG!!!

Now on to books (My third love after GOD and my kid).  Remember in December I reviewed NICOLE DUNLAP – MISS NOBODY (SHAW FAMILY SAGA) - - - Miss Nobody: Shaw Family Saga, Book 1, she contacted me on her next book.  It’s seventh heaven to be contacted by authors and a real respect to post their books.  From the last book, Charlene, who gave up her daughter to her Aunt and Uncle in order for her to pursue her dream of becoming an actress, is still haunted by it and beginning to realize how damaged she has caused and how much she will eventually have to face.  Her daughter, Raven, begins her search for the mother who abandoned her, gets pregnant around the same age as her mother was when she had her and has to face the baby’s father whose family secrets may or may not hurt the baby.  The loving Aunt and Uncle, who raised Raven, got some dirty secrets of their own.  You know secrets will surface.  They always do and it’s only a matter of time before all of the secrets begin to unravel and I’m sure there will be more.  Here’s the next book and a synopsis from the author: 

A mother’s love vs A daughter’s revenge.  Charlene Shaw has gone through hell.  She was raped and left for dead, yet she continued on her quest for fame.  She’s a beautiful, desired actress who has found her Mr. Wright.  According to the magazine headlines, her life is perfect. There’s just one thing her heart cries for…her daughter, Raven. This might be her hardest challenge yet building a mother-daughter bond she’s prayed so hard for.

Raven Shaw has been abandoned by love. Her mother preferred Hollywood and her childhood best-friend, now ex-lover, disappeared when she became pregnant. Now, she’s adjusted to a “new” kind of love…motherhood.  She’s determined that her daughter will have everything she didn’t.  The only thing she wants for herself is revenge, even if it means disconnecting from a small piece of her heart that still cares.  Raven’s acts of rage slither into her mindset, overpowering her in the form of nightmares and delusions of skeletons long dead.

After Raven’s scandalous ways, can Charlene mend Raven’s heart or will she be pulled down into the abyss? And then, there’s always the option, Charlene can get a little scandalous too!!!

Check out Nicole's website for more on this and her other books - - - nicoledunlap.com

Got to get one in for Black History Year

BERNICE L. McFADDEN - SUGAR: A NOVEL - $12.99 - - - I finally found my copy of this book.  I looked for it when I read something about it from the NPR website.  Will get to reading it very soon.

Quote from Publisher Weekly, “With her eponymous anti-heroine, debut novelist McFadden breaks the mold of a venerable stereotype. Here, the hooker with a heart of gold is instead a hooker with a past so tarnished no amount of polishing can change her fate. As a baby, Sugar is abandoned by her mother and raised by a trio of prostitutes who run an Arkansas bordello. Turning tricks at age 12, and leaving town four years later to try her luck in St. Louis and then Detroit, brings more degradation, along with an ever-hardening heart. Upon her mother's death in 1955, Sugar is willed a modest home in Bigelow, Ark., but when she moves into town, and supports herself the only way she knows, the female population raises in wrath against her. 

All except Pearl, Sugar's next-door neighbor, who more than a decade ago lost her beloved daughter, Jude, to a vicious rapist/murderer. Pearl is struck by Sugar's uncanny likeness to Jude, and is determined to become Sugar's friend in spite of vocal disapproval. Although the two women are opposites in nearly every way, they bring out the best in each other: Sugar convinces Pearl to loosen up and accompany her to a Saturday night juke joint, and Sugar promises to go to church for two months of Sundays. Hypocritical gossip spreads among the townsfolk and tension grows when it turns out that nearly every married man in Bigelow pays a visit to Sugar, leaving the apparently frigid wives planning to run Sugar out of town. 

Pearl gives it her best shot to transform Sugar, but both women's painful pasts come back to haunt them in a crescendo of violent reenactments, betrayals and surprising revelations leading to a poignant, bittersweet ending. Readers will appreciate Sugar's determination to come to terms with her past and fashion a viable future".

Sugar: A Novel

NUMBER 140

It's still been a few weeks since the “Part Time Job at the Asylum” debacle and the firing of another employee, but all is well.  Except one more item.  On Saturday I noticed that the young man who talks to damn fast and always, always going to the bathroom, had a sling on his arm.  I didn’t ask and did not care.  You see when I arrive at work, I say hello to everyone and start working.  While working, I can hear the inane conversations about nothing new or exciting.  You know, the usual hanging out with friends, being mad at friends, baby mama drama, club drama and looking for money for drugs, nothing out of the ordinary. 

While cleaning up, I bumped by accident into the young man who was sitting on the coffee container that I needed to get too.  They do have a bad habit of sitting their asses on counters where people eat and you wonder why I clean that place with Clorox.  Well, when I bumped into him, I said, “sorry, excuse me.”  He walked back towards the store, away from me and said that he was shot over the weekend coming out of a night club and that is why he is wearing a sling.  “Oh, I said, sorry about bumping into you and I was not aware that you got shot."  How would I know that?  He walked away and went out side and said no more. 

Later I asked one of the girls, “Did he ever go to the hospital.”  According to her he did, but according to everyone else he did not, because he showed his wound like it was a badge of honor and it started bleeding and blistering. Lord!, I was not around when that happened because I would have thrown some Clorox on it.  As I’ve stated before, all is well and all is the same. 

I am in the process of reading four books, but before I get to those books, probably tomorrow since this blog is so long, let me tell you that I saw my favorite, my absolute (I have many absolutes) author, Carl Weber at Books A Million.  I got there two hours early and saved seats for my “BookClubGroupie” members and when he arrived, we all said at the same time, “Didn’t you wear that sweater last year?”  

He had seen us before, especially me, and told us, “I’m not a fashion maven, I like my old clothes.”  It was one of many funny moments.  He did ask if anyone had seen him before and just about all said yes.  I had sent out a massive email two or three times early last month to many people at both jobs as well as friends, but many did not come. 

Very disappointing especially since the other Books A Million is closing in two weeks.  That leaves only one in Charleston and three Barnes and Nobles.  Jackie, the woman in charge of bringing authors to the store, was pissed that all of the radio spots she contracted with, not one station aired it, at least that many people there did not hear it. Also, there was less than 50 people there.  It was very discouraging to see and the way the current store was looking, they are not going to make it much longer either.  We really need to support our black authors more.  Not just buying, but demanding that these books stores have more author signing.  I know they do a lot in New York, maybe it's just here.  Very frustrating indeed!  This hit or miss is not enough and definitely not enough to keep Charleston’s black lit going.  We have got to figure out a way.  

Carl was funny and he confirmed that “FAMILY BUSINESS 2” arrives September 2013.  “TO PARIS WITH LOVE”, the prequel of the character Paris from Family Business” in December 2013 and “CHOIR DIRECTOR 2” in March 2014.  Also, he is working on a TV show in 2014 based upon the Family Business saga.  If he uses the actors from the YouTube clip on Family Business, it ain’t going to work.  They can’t act worth a lick.  They are too dry and no aggressiveness, but who am I, just a patron of the arts.  You may not be aware, unless you read the book, there’s a connection between the main character in THE MAN IN 3B and Vegas, the character in Family Business (when Carl said his name, all of the women just said “Ahhh, oh lord that man looks good.!"  Don’t know what it is about a buffed man in jail, but he does appear to be very smart and sexy.  “My, my, my,” reminds me of the guy in the Superbowl commercial with the chisel six pack.   "Damn it feels good to be a gangsta!!!

Hey, I got there two hours early and got my book autographed, “my precious, my precious.”  Now, I’m damn happy and I'll put it on the shelf to watch and wait, “my precious.”
The Man in 3B

I thought I let you read my book club groupie’s comments posted on Face book the day after the signing.  The negative comments from Carl got some serious feedback:

Kat - “I'm going to have to disagree with Carl Weber's statement that in the future the only African American authors who will dominate black lit will be Zane, Kimberla, and himself.  I like Carl and all but he's a bit on the self-centered side of life. I sat there and thought of 5 or 6 authors who are prolific writers. I'll go so far to say Daniel Black could out write any of those three any day....and there are others who could very well "dominate" black lit.  On the other side of the coin is that what good writers want to do? Dominate black lit? I wonder what Toni Morrison and Walter Mosley would say about that? Sound off ladies, what do you think? I'm going to stop rambling and go back to work...Toodles...#thingsonmymind”

Veronica - “Also, I don't like how he snubbed Sister Souljah.  I'm hearing good things about her book - “A DEEPER LOVE INSIDE: THE PORSCHE  SANTIAGO STORY - $11.04 - - - A Deeper Love Inside: The Porsche Santiaga Story.” Carl totally railroaded her.  It reminded me of when we met RM (RM Johnson - “NO ONE IN THE WORLD: A NOVEL - $9.73 - - - No One in the World: A Novel,” by him and E. Lynn Harris after Harris’s death) and he said Omar Tyree - “FLY GIRL” - - - Flyy Girl," (my favorite!!!) is not writing anymore, like Omar not even relevant when in actuality he had a new novel out. These authors can be so dirty.  I'm going to read The Man in 3B and I will probably like it. I doubt it will be my favorite!#dropsthemic”

Me - “The bottom line to me is, I have never cared what one author (black, blue, green, white or whatever), says about another. It's too, too negative and I got better time with my mind then worry about their egos. Every single African American author needs to support every single one of each other. We are losing the way the publishing business is running and they don't have time to dog each other. All of their books are good, great, not so great, but I'm happy to see so many of these authors. I've been around (not that old!!) and I still don't see enough black authors. We need more and more and I'm going to push it like a drug dealer on the street!!!”

I got a lot of “likes” on that comment and I believe in it too!!

Got to get one in for Black History Year

This is a beautiful book inside with pictures of homes from the 18th centuries, large living rooms with stained glass exteriors, Victorian settings, huge bedrooms , apartments, old churches such as the New York Presbyterian, St Philips Church and others.  

There's even a copy of the Harlem Magazine from 1912 that costs 15 cents, amazing, just amazingly beautiful!!! Hardcover $51.77 - - - Harlem: Lost and Found

Black Kindle Rocks - Carl Weber/Eric Pete

NUMBER 139

It's been a few weeks since the “Part Time Job at the Asylum” Christmas party (I need to find a shorter name…how about “The Sanctuary,” it does have a horror movie sound to it, don’t you think?).  As I’ve stated before, a storm was brewing.  Nothing there stays calm for long.  

When I returned on Saturday, the woman who gave me a Secret Santa gift was fired.  She called out again one day last week and the manager, Kat, decided right then to fire the woman.  There appeared to have been many complaints from employees and customers of her rude treatment and her absences.  Kat contacted the owners, who forcefully stated, "Fire her and cut the bullshit."  Kat had been going back and forth on this, especially since the woman was given two warnings before. Kat, who does not have the gumption to really fire anyone, knew she had to do it or it was going to be her job.

Before Kat fired the woman, she showed up the next day and resigned. She then proceeded to write a few nasty e-mails to the company owners about the horrible condition of the place.  How the employees were always eating the food, serving free food to friends, and not cleaning up properly.  I don't disagree on some of those things, but I have seen her do the same things.  Yes, some of the employees do not clean as well as they should. When I come to work I bring some Clorox from home.  That cheap one dollar bleach they use does not work for me and I can’t stand a dirty kitchen.  Just can’t stand it.  I clean places there I don't think they know exist, but that's another story.  Oh, well, another one bites the dust. This place is beginning to look like "American Idol for part time jobs." Who can hang and who cannot.

I just finished reading Carl Weber and Eric Pete - The Family Business - $9.87.  When this book came out in February last year, I was there at his store, Urban Knowledge, listening to him and Eric and purchasing 10 books for friends and myself to get autographed.  I am a HUGE, BIG, FANATIC fan of Carl Weber and his story telling.  That's what it is, "Story telling" in the best layout ever.  Once I got home, I gingerly placed the book on the counter, stared at it, held it, and glided my fingers over the cover and binding.   I opened and smell it.  Then put it face front on the top shelf of my bookcase to view whenever I walked into my library.  I knew I would read it, but not yet.  I had to savor it for a long while, with salivating eagerness.  Waiting patiently for the right time to read it.  Then it was time.  Two weeks ago.  Why in the hell did I wait so long?  Weber’s next book, THE MAN IN 3B - $11.99 comes out January 29.  On February 1, he will be at Books A Million and I will be there, front roll, waiting and salivating. 

Carl Weber, Kimberla Lawson Roby, Pamela Samuels Young, Eric Jerome Dickey and many, many, many more authors, I buy their books, some 5 or 10 copies, and I hold mine until I know the date of their next book.  I cannot read Carl, Kimberla, Pamela as soon as I get it, because the thrill and ride is over.  It’s over too fast and I cannot wait, just cannot damn wait until the next book.  So I sit, watch, wait, like “Gollum/Smeagol from the Hobbit.  “My Precious, my precious!!!!!

The Duncan’s, run by the Patriarch, L.C. Duncan, his beautiful wife Chippy and their kids, run a successful car business.  There’s the out of control, who knows she is one of the American top model crazy ass daughter, Paris.  Ostentatious, son Rio who may or may not be gay.  Orlando, ladies man with just a small addiction problem, not necessarily drugs (Sonny Corleone – Godfather part 1).  Vegas, favorite son with some “jail issues (Michael Corleone).   A “Black Paris Hilton” daughter, London and her husband, Harris (Tom Hagen – Godfather part 1) who feels out of place in the family. 

If this sounds familiar, it is, it’s The Godfather – The African American version.  I love it.  Drama, secrets, mafia, Mexican cartels, wit, love and scandal with Carl Weber’s story telling touch.  You think you are reading just an average book of secrets, murders, etc from a soap opera, no ding dong way.  You are hit with the “What the hell, I did not see that coming.” The father, L. C. Duncan, wants to retire and give the business over to Orlando, but dirt starts flying and it’s sticking to everyone at the same time.  You can’t keep good secrets down; they are just too succulent to keep quiet.  You can also tell whose writing style is who.  Carl tells the story and Eric adds the flavor.  It’s like a Louisiana gumbo with kick ass Texas Pete Hot sauce.

The next books, “FAMILY BUSINESS 2” in September 2013.  “TO PARIS WITH LOVE continuation of the character Paris from Family Business” in December 2013 and “CHOIR DIRECTOR” in March 2014.  I also heard that there may be a TV show in 2014 based upon the Family Business saga.  I cannot, cannot, cannot wait to get my hands on his books, “my precious, my precious, I will wait for my precious.”  And remember, "It not personal, It's business."

The Family Business

The Man in 3B

Black Kindle Rocks - Treasure Hernandez

NUMBER 138

The Xmas party at the “Aslyum” actually went well.  The party was scheduled Saturday at a local park, but was moved to the store due to the weather.  I could not believe it, but everyone, except two (the crazy woman I had to drag out of the store to stop her from fighting another girl) and one young lady who just did not have the money, brought presents for their secret Santa and a dish.   My secret Santa gift was $15.00 taped to a book:

TREASURE HERNANDEZ - “FLINT: BOOK 1 CHOOSING SIDES” - $5.99 - - - Welcome to Flint, Michigan, one of the roughest little cities in America, a place where the good die young, loyalty is a rarity, and everybody has a hustle. Malek Johnson’s hustle is the basketball court and he’s the best Flint’s projects has ever produced. He’s on his way to the University of Michigan, but not for long, because all the NBA scouts say he’s destined for the pros after a year or two of seasoning. He finds love in the super fine girl everyone calls Halleigh, and he promises her that he will take her out of the hood. When Halleigh’s virginity is traded in exchange for her mother’s drug tab, their dream spirals out of control and they are quickly separated and sucked into the life that they have so desperately tried to avoid. With no place to go, their destinies take them down separate paths. Malek becomes affiliated with the North Side’s biggest kingpin and Halleigh is manipulated into the streets by his South Side adversary. North versus South, love versus loyalty, and lies versus truth. What will they choose? Walk with Halleigh and Malek as they introduce you to a new struggle in a new city and a place called FLINT. 

Flint 1: Choosing Sides

I had brought the whole series when I was home in DC at a black book store in Iverson Mall in Maryland a few years ago.  I’m not into Street Lit as much as I use to be, but I am always trying to get young people to read.  It seems these types of books at least get them reading.  So, I buy them where ever I fine them and, sometimes to read for myself, but most times to give to young people.

I went back to that Black Book store in Iverson Mall in September and it was closed.  They sold urban street literature and I wanted to support them.  I do what I can, but it definitely was not enough and they closed the store.  That mall use to be the place to go.  It was graced with good stores and people with money, but way before the 2008 economic downturn, it became more and more like a “cheap hood mall.”  You know, clothes made in Taiwan or China cheaply with loud colors and tight, I mean tight on your behind.  Not my thing, but I wish the young people would get a grip and buy or own their own store with their on “hood” ornament design.  

I guess I should let that go, since I’m not in the age group and they think it’s tha’ bomb.  Iverson Mall reminds me of the mall in Columbia, SC when I went to see Carl Weber and his store, Urban Knowledge.  That Mall is also falling down more and more due to the economy, just as Iverson is.  Barely enough money to keep stores.  I guess that’s just about every where you go. 

OK, OK, I’m going to stop rambling on and get back to the Xmas Party at the Asylum.  My Secret Santa, Nancy, a middle age and very bitter black woman, gave me some candy, a key ring and Brittany Spears perfume.  LaVon, a Black, young, skinny, talks too damn "ghetto" fast, received my gift.  He pulled the money off the book and did not bother to even look at the book cover, just put it in his pocket.  In a way, that’s what I expected.  I am the one who asked him to tell me what he wanted and he wanted a sweat suit from a store in the mall, which I could not afford, so I gave him money to help defray the cost if he wanted to buy one.  The other young lady who was not able to give a gift, did read the book cover and asked if I could get her one.  You know I will and told her so.  She’s a very nice young woman with a 3 year old kid whose father left the picture (what else is new) and pregnant with another by the new boyfriend, (again what else is new).  Sorry to say the next time I saw her, she had an abortion.  Not going to judge.  I have never had an abortion, but I have never been in that situation where I had to think about it either.  Do you know that LaVon came a few hours later and asked me if I had ten dollars to lend him until pay day.  I said no and I found out later that he was short in buying some weed for the weekend.  As I've said, what else is new!

All in all, it was nice, calm and but I know a storm is coming, it always does. I do have one update.  I did get that part time job, but I don’t start until mid January or February.  Had to take computer test, training, ID pictures and drug tests.  I can wait because it will involve more time away from home.  Instead of working 6 to 7 hours on Saturdays and Sundays, I will be working 10 hours both days and traveling about an hour each way.  I'm going to do, the pay is double the hourly rate I make now at the Asylum.  I’m trying to move a bit faster on my Dave Ramsey plan to get these bills off my back.  I’m tired of being broke and I want out of this mess.  I need to get my money straight because I need to buy more books.  That’s my goal, buying more books and helping all African American authors as much as I can.   

Got to get one in for Black History Year

DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN - TEAMS OF RIVALS - THE POLITICAL GENIUS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN - $11.48 - - - This is not an African American author, but I’m heading to the movies this evening to see Lincoln and I want to read the book the movie is based upon.  I just started reading it, at page 30 (I'm must be crazy, I'm reading four books at one time.  Don't you just love it!!! I do, so excited!!!!) This is also such a big part of our history that I got to see it and read it.  Tell me what you think of the move.  

Team of Rivals

Christmas at the Asylum & Nicole Dunlap

NUMBER 137

Christmas at the Asylum

If you remember from last year, my Part time job at the Asylum had a Christmas party that bombed.  I had taken my hard earned money and saved for a few weeks $50.00 for the secret Santa gift and took the time to go to Costco and buy a dish.  Yeah, I know, I should have cooked something, but I didn’t.  I waited at that store for an hour and a half with my friend. I called one of the girls who had just left after closing the store and no body, no damn body, showed up.  I was pissed and vowed to never join them in any function again.

Well, they started up with the secret Santa again and decided to have the party at a local park during the day.  I gave in and asked the guy whose name I got from the secret Santa box what he wanted.  I’m not going around trying to find out what to give him.  I asked him to give me a list of five things he would like and I will select one of them to give.  That way, he will be surprised, at least a little.  He asked for a sweat suit, extra small and told me they were on sale.  The other girl heard his request and told me later that those suits were expensive.  Well, I guess he is not getting that from me.  I’ll give $15.00, maybe.  I don’t think I’m going to the party and maybe after next week when I get paid, I will give him the $15.00 then.  I’m still thinking about it and still a bit pissed about last year.  Though I should forgive and move on.  Maybe that’s what I will do, maybe not.

Let’s move one.  I want to ask again if any of you would please provide me some feedback on how I am doing.  Should I blog more?  Should I blog less about the “Asylum” or more about my asylum compatriots?  Should I blog more reviews of books I read, even though I read about 3 to 5 books at a time and sometimes they are not the best, but OK.  Or should I continue to just give you the 411 on the book.  Just trying to get better at this and get more customers on my Amazon blog.  You may not realize it, but I sell this blog on Amazon for one dollar a month.  It’s easy to get the books downloaded onto your Kindle faster.  So, let me know what you think and no, I do not get offended if it’s bad.  I believe you learn when others help you become better.  Thanks for reading my blog and I hope you are having the best Christmas and New Year!!!!! You deserve it!!!

An author, NICOLE DUNLAP – MISS NOBODY (SHAW FAMILY SAGA, BOX 1) - $3.99, contacted me to review her book.  I was honored.  I have received a few requests from authors to post my review on Amazon, my blog and Goodreads.  Boy, I am always, always happy to do that.

Charlene, a young, black 15 year old living in a small town in North Carolina, runs away from home to escape a boring life and to fulfill her dreams of becoming famous.  Oh, well, life has a way of turning the screws.  She misses the bus to take her out of town and hitches a ride with truck driver Roy.  A year later, Otis and Annette find Charlene in a hospital, bruised, badly beaten and has given birth to Raven. 

While Charlene continues to search for fame, Raven is left with Otis and Annette.  Nicole Dunlap goes back and forth in the story from Charlene’s life once she has achieved the fame she wanted; to Raven who has heard for years gossip about her mother and her grandparents, Otis and Annette, who refuses to talk about Charlene, since they are so high and mighty in their Christian beliefs. 

This creates demons for both, Charlene’s guilt and Raven’s wondering who her mother and father are.  Raven becomes good friends with Jonathan, who parents, a neurotic French mother, Elise and a flaccid father.  A friend who has always been there for her thru her demons and who also has always loved her.  Overtime time, it becomes distributing to Elise that Raven and Jonathan’s friendships blossom and there’s a good reason, Raven becomes pregnant, which becomes worse for Jonathan’s father.  What secret is he hiding? 

There are too many secrets and as with any great story, secrets surface.  Don’t they always come out of the dark?  They fling at your face like a hard smack that’s spins your head completely around.  This book, part one, is just the beginning of hidden secrets, love and forgiveness, with a touch of drugs to boot.  I enjoyed the straightforward writing Nicole gives.    She gets to the point with twists and turns without the long wait.  There are some slow moments in the book, but that’s expected in all books.  They cannot give you all of the secrets at the same time, what fun would that be? 

Miss Nobody (Shaw Family Saga, Book 1)

ERICA L. CRUMP – MISCELLANEOUS BLUES - $2.99 - - - It has been nominated book for the 2012 AAMBC (African Americans on the Move Book Club) Literary Award, scheduled for February 13. 

Miscellaneous Blues is a book which some readers are calling the hottest novel since WAITING TO EXHALE by Terry McMillan.  After I read it, I will decide if that statement is true.  Terry’s first few books took the book world by storm and I was one of the ones who got hooked badly.  Sort of miss her.

It's an explosive book about sisterhood, love, and betrayal! Sisterhood is one of the strongest bonds that women can have. The relationship between sisters is a complex, albeit loving one. Even though these sisters can fight hard, they tend to love even harder. In Miscellaneous Blues, you'll get to explore this intricate relationship of sisters - - Cookie, Victoria, Mya, and Lola. They call themselves "The Dexter Divas" and pride themselves on always being there for each other.

Cookie is trying to keep her marriage on track after her husband throws a curve ball in their "perfect marriage.”  Victoria is trying to lose weight off her body as well as dead weight in a slacker live-in boyfriend.  Mya is determined to get her "married boyfriend" to divorce his wife and finally marry her.  Lola, the baby of the family, is finally trying to move past the violent death of her son's father and allow love into her life again.

They don't always see eye to eye but these sisters realize that through all of life's drama, they can always depend on each other for strength. These Dexter Divas know that no matter what, sisterhood is forever. Miscellaneous Blues will give you a chance to live vicariously through The Dexter Divas as these sisters help each other through their relationships, marriages, and careers. You will become so engrossed in the lives of these sisters that it will feel like you are actually part of the Dexter family.  We’ll see, we’ll see!

Miscellaneous Blues

Hey, just about the publish my blog, when I find a free book:

J. L. CAMPBELL – DON’T GET MAD….GET EVEN – Free - - - You sometimes never know if a free book is good or not.  I say, give it a try and if it’s as good as you like it, you will find other works by the same author.  Let’s just give it a try.

What choices do you have when you are abused, cheated on and left with a trail of broken promises? Don’t Get Mad…Get Even. Take an inside look at Jamaican culture and lifestyle through a collection of award-winning stories. You will laugh, cry and commiserate with a compelling cast of characters, who conquer their challenges in unique ways.

Don't Get Mad...Get Even

Warfare at the Asylum

NUMBER 136

It never fails, it just never fails.  What the hell are they thinking sometimes?  I walked into the “Part Time Job at the Asylum” and was just doing my normal routine in the back, when I heard screaming up front.

Let me first set up the scene.  You enter the front of the store where to the right are the condiments and on the left, a seating area.  Continue to walk a few feet ahead and you will reach the counter where the display of items, prices, cashiers, etc. are.  In the back, supplies, sinks, racks, etc., which is where I was in the back of the store working when I heard loud voices.  I did not pay much attention, since they have been known to get loud and ghetto a few times.  This time, though, the voices became louder and vicious.  I walked to the front and noticed a customer sitting at a table, reading on his computer, and holding his head down.  I knew he heard them because he concentrated further on the screen and push in his ear plugs to drown out the noise.  That’s also when I noticed the four employees, three women and one young man, standing there while two of the four, the older one (about 35) and the youngest (about 23) arguing at the top of their lungs, screaming back and forth.  The other two employees just stood there and said nothing.  I tried to calm them down to no avail, so I grabbed the oldest one with both of my arms and held on, while I dragged her from the front counter, out the door, and into the parking lot.  I talked to her to calm her down because she was on the verge of hitting the other employee. Where was the Assistant manager, you ask? Her but conventionally left out of the back door to smoke a cigarette! She heard it, but did not want any parts of it.

I continued to hold on to her while trying to walk and drag her because she was trying to fight me. Then I said, “Hey, I’m not the enemy and you don’t want to start shit with me. Let’s just keep walking around the back and you can smoke a cigarette until you calm down and talk to me.”  We got around the back of the store and the other girl who witnessed the fight came out to explain her side of the story and I told her to go back into the store and shut the hell up.  She came back out the door and brought the older woman’s purse. 

These are not kids, they are adults.  The older one has worked there from the beginning and the other just started a few months ago.  How did it get started, I don’t know.  I heard various stories and such.  Who the hell cares?  Because I didn’t and it really doesn’t matter what started it. I just could not believe they were fighting in the store and in front of customers.  They also forgot that it was being videotaped.  We are always under surveillance for security purposes.  What the hell were they thinking?!!!  I guess when I get back later this week, either the owners will say or do something or they have enjoyed the thrilled of it.  Who knows!!

Commercial break:  I just heard about all of those young kids and adults killed in Connecticut.  My GOD, what are we doing, what are we doing to ourselves?  Please pray for them.  Please.

Getting back to the Asylum, everything calmed down and the two women went back to talking loudly. The assistant manager continued to ignore them and the rest of us went back to work.  There’s only one way to described this, “Pure Bullshit.”

There are some new books out, and since I'm just drained due to those kids being hurt by a complete jackass, I'm just going to give you a few books to get and review.  I'll be back with two of my own reviews.  Please pray for those families and hug your kids all night if you can. 

BELLA JONES - MEMOIRS OF A TRAPSTAR - $2.99 - - - Memoirs of a TrapStar's Wife takes you on a wild journey into my life. I was just a girl when I first met him, but even at that age I knew he would forever change my life. In the five years we spent together, I learned more about life than I ever would on my own. He changed this young girl into a woman. After his death, I found myself thrown into the lions den of this game called "hustling". At age 19, I made a decision to take over his empire and I did. I managed to do things unheard of in this game as far as a woman is concerned. I did it all.  I made money, I drove the big cars, wore the fancy clothes and then it all came crashing down in a instant. I lost all those close to me in my rise to the top and with out them I could not stay in this game. I made a decision to get out before I suffered the same fate as all those I loved. My story did not end there, I went on to face more trials and tribulations. I am the woman you see today because of all the things I went through yesterday. This is my story, our story, a story of love, money, cars, clothes, greed, and envy. This is my MEMOIRS OF A TRAPSTAR'S WIFE.

Memoirs of a TrapStar's Wife (Special Edition)

This is just too!! too! cute

ANN DROYD

GOODNIGHT iPAD: A PARODY FOR THE NEXT GENERATON - $10.99

Goodnight iPad: a Parody for the next generation

ReSHONDA TATE BILLINGSLEY - CAUGHT UP IN THE DRAMA - $7.61 - - - For your teenagers and did not know this is the 7th book in the series.  Will have to tell you about the others later.

She’s in the spotlight:

The Good Girlz have always known their girlfriend Camille is a gifted dancer. But when she wins the Search for a Star talent competition, it’s her incredible singing voice that blows them away.  Why didn’t she tell them she could sing like Beyoncé and Ciara rolled into one? And when Camille lands a spot in rap superstar Sisco’s new music video, Jasmine, Angel, and Alexis discover yet another side to their friend—total diva!

Will it get too hot too soon?

With her new hair weave, trendy clothes, and too-cool attitude, Camille is working everyone’s nerves, even her boyfriend Xavier’s. But when a photo of Camille and Sisco causes a tabloid scandal, the wannabe starlet gets a taste of unwanted fame. Meanwhile Alexis, upset over her wealthy parents’ divorce, suddenly disappears. . . . With more than enough drama to go around, what will it take to bring the girlfriends together and keep Camille grounded while reaching for the stars?

Caught Up in the Drama (Good Girlz)

 

Black Kindle at the National Book Festival 2012

NUMBER 135

Let me get back to my trip to DC.  After the shopping, eating and visiting all of my favorite stores and restaurants, I finally got to the Library of Congress National Book Festival on the Mall in DC.  The weather was beautiful, not too cold and not to hot.  I have attended this fair many times, but this year, it was packed.  If you think the Mall cannot get filled?  It did.  There were big white tents filled with various authors according to type of books from SciFi, Fiction, History, Children, Mysteries, Teens, and Contemporary Life.  Each tent had scheduled authors and if you did not get a seat two maybe three hours before an author's appearance, you were sitting in the back on the ground or outside around the ten.  I did not get in or even close to sit and listen to R. L. STINE (Goosebumps) and RACHEL RENEE RUSSELL (Dork Dairies).  Their tents were filled from inside and out with kids and teens.  I did hear a little bit, but not much. 

This event was also telecast on BookTV on c-Span, if you want to see it.  Another big tent was filled with representatives from each state on their book festivals, history of the state, their libraries and free give-a-ways.  They also provided a map to fill with a stamp from each state (you had to visit each state table to get it stamped).  After the map was filled, you get a prize.  Not a book, but some neat trinkets. 

 I did get close enough to hear and see Patricia Cornwell.  I have never read any of her books and I’ve seen large amounts of her books at the Charleston Friends of the Library book fairs.  While I was waiting in the author’s signing line for Colson Whitehead; it was better for us to get in the line early than to try to see and hear him in the tent, her autographed line was next to his.  She had finished autographing and she was surrounded by two big, burly men who looked like body guards.  I've heard later that she does have body guards due to some of her previous books that she solved in the books, but there are some nuts out there who believe she's right and want her dead.  I stepped over the rope separating the lines and ask her if I could have her autographed.  Her assistance (I think it was), told me she only signs her books.  I said, “I only want her autographed on the Book festival poster.”  I didn’t have the book because it was sold out and my budget could not accommodate it.  Mrs. Cornwell, while she was sitting down and the large body guard started getting closer to me, said, I will sign your poster, where is it?  Her assistant then said, “We don’t have any more and they cost money.”  A volunteer standing next to Mrs. Cornwell’s both said, “no, they are free,” and she handed one to me.  Mrs. Cornwell signed my poster and I said thank you very much and she responded, “You are most welcome and thank you for being a reader.”  I thought she was just so sweet and nice.  I went back to my place in line (I was second) and I heard Mrs. Cornwell tell her assistance, “Please don’t do that again, I can sign anything any reader wants me to.”  “Without them you would not have a job.”  A few overhead the comment and started to clap.  

I will try and get her first book in this series from the library and see what the fuss is all about.  After my two hour wait in a line that was getting long, not as long as Cornwell, I finally got to see Colson Whitehead up close.  You know how when you get up close to an author or celebrity, that look so damn different from their pictures.  Colson does not, he looks like his pictures.  Tall, cocoa brown skin with twinkles of gray and black on his face; beautiful white teeth and long, scattered deadlocks on his head.  He also has such a soft voice and very pleasant.  He autographed the book I brought there, “ZONE ONE: A NOVEL.”  I did not see his other books at the fair, SAG HARBOR: A NOVEL - $11.99 - Sag Harbor: A Novel (this novel reminds me of The Wedding by Dorothy West. 

THE COLOSSUS OF NEW YORK - $11.99 - The Colossus of New York

JOHN HENRY DAYS - $11.99 - John Henry Days

APEX HIDES THE HURT - $11,99 - Apex Hides the Hurt, and my favorite

THE INTUITIONIST: A NOVEL - $11.99 - The Intuitionist: A Novel.  I have all of his books at home, but all in all, it was an exciting pleasure to meet and talk to him. 

I did buy some books, but was not able to get their autographs because of the crowds.  I didn’t care.  It was just fun seeing them and hanging out with my kid and the beautiful weather and being home.  I was “home.”

Here are the other authors and they were over 100, that I got a chance to at least see their faces.

JACQUELINE WOODSON - BENEATH A METH MOON - $10.99 - Beneath a Meth Moon

DONNA BRITT - BROTHERS (and ME): A MEMOIR OF LOVING AND GIVING - $11.04 - Brothers (and Me): A Memoir of Loving and Giving

STEPHEN L. CARTER - THE IMPEACHMENT OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN - $13.99 - The Impeachment of Abraham Lincoln.  It just so happens that my girlfriend and I are going to see Steven Spielberg’s movie based on DORIS KEARNS GOODWIN - $9.99 - Team of Rivals.  A co-worker of mine is letting me borrow his book.  He says he really enjoyed it and since he knows I'm a big reader, he states I will like it to.  

WALTER DEAN MYERS - ALL THE RIGHT STUFF - $7.99 - All the Right Stuff .  He has so many books.

TAYARI JONES - SILVER SPARROW - $9.18 - Silver Sparrow.  I meet her last year at the National Book Club Convention.  Great, great book.

NIKKY FINNEY - HEAD OFF & SPLIT: POEMS - $11.53 Paperback - Head Off & Split: Poems

There were over a 100 authors and no way you could see and hear them all.  In essence, it was one of the best book festival I have attended.  Man, to be surrounded by books, authors, kids and more books, my life, soul and heart came alive.

Tell me if you don’t see some comparison between Colson’s book, SAG HARBOR and Dorothy West’s THE WEDDING: A NOVEL - $9.99 The Wedding: A Novel.  The books may be a little different with time periods and some things are written a bit similar, but I read both books and I see that even though time and space have changed, “black bourgeoisie“ has not, even in 2012.  Will it ever? 

“SAG Harbor: A tender, hilarious, and supremely original novel about coming-of-age in the 80.  Benji Cooper is one of the few black students at an elite prep school in Manhattan. But every summer, Benji escapes to the Hamptons, to Sag Harbor, where a small community of African American professionals have built a world of their own.

The summer of ’85 won’t be without its usual trials and tribulations, of course. There will be complicated new handshakes to fumble through and state-of-the-art profanity to master. Benji will be tested by contests big and small, by his misshapen haircut (which seems to have a will of its own), by the New Coke Tragedy, and by his secret Lite FM addiction. But maybe, just maybe, this summer might be one for the ages.

The Wedding: Before you read about this story, let me tell you that Halle Berry, Lynn Whitfield, Carl Lumbly are in the movie version.  I thought it was OK.  It just did not hit me the way the book did.  Well, you try both and let me know what you think.

Her first novel in forty-seven years, Dorothy West, the last surviving member of the Harlem Renaissance, offers an intimate glimpse into African American middle class.  Set on bucolic Martha's Vineyard in the 1950s, The Wedding tells the story of life in the Oval, a proud, insular community made up of the best and brightest of the East Coast's black bourgeoisie.  Within this inner circle of "blue-vein society," we witness the prominent Coles family gather for the wedding of the loveliest daughter, Shelby, who could have chosen from "a whole area of eligible men of the right colors and the right professions." Instead, she has fallen in love with and is about to be married to Meade Wyler, a white jazz musician from New York. A shock wave breaks over the Oval as its longtime members grapple with the changing face of its community.”

Well, I’m back in Charleston (No, this is not home and it will never be).  I like Charleston and I have to stay here until I am able to get another job in another state or retire.  In the meantime, I will keep focus on my Dave Ramsey Plan, walk my dog more, work on getting rid of smoking, hanging out with friends and volunteering at the library and stay happy.