Young Readers’ Edition:

On October 16, 2010, Rutgers defensive tackle Eric LeGrand was known as a key performer on the field and a much-loved teammate who could make anyone smile. But in the heated fourth quarter of a tie game against Army, everything changed in a moment. A crushing tackle left him motionless on the field, and while the entire stadium went silent with fear and anticipation, Eric knew his life would never again be the same.

What he didn’t know, however, was that the months to come would be a remarkable, transformative journey: one so profound that he would call the year following the accident that paralyzed him from the neck down the best year of his life.

In this uplifting memoir, now adapted for young readers, Eric tells the amazing story of how he rebuilds his life, continues his college education, and pursues a career in sports broadcasting. His belief in a grand plan and his hope for the future make him a model for anyone who has experienced tragedy or faced obstacles.

NCM Publishing
Available June 5, 2012 in Paperback

365 Daily Inspirations & Quotes For The Fascinating Teen Girl is a must read for all teenage girls who are dealing with the afflictions of self-image, self-esteem, peer pressures, and uncertainties of their future. In this book, Erica Mills-Hollis gives teenage girls, advice, encouragement and guidance they need to be happy, healthy and successful through a variety of quotes and inspirations for everyday of the year.

365 Daily Inspirations & Quotes For The Fascinating Teen Girl encourages young girls not to give up on their dreams, as well as let them know how beautiful and smart they are; which gives them the confidence that will boost their motivation to successfully push to the next level no matter what struggles lie ahead. And with the occasional clothes, hair, make-up, study, and exercise tips; these girls will be well on their way and nothing or no one will be able to stand in between them and success. Being a girl really is fascinating.

Precious Heart Publishing
Available in Paperback

Hamilton Writing
Available September 19, 2011 in Paperback

Isn’t it time that you started seeing major results on the dating scene?

Lauren and William Hamilton offer a fresh, hip point of view in their book How to Get Real About Dating: A Father and Daughter’s Guide to Finding Love at Any Age. They are the best team dedicated to improving your dating game without forcing you to change who you are!

With Lauren representing the new school, she’s here to say that you can still date and have fun while dealing with student loans, budget restrictions, career goals, a tough economy, monthly expenses, and all of the things that pop up in life as a younger person.

For the old school crowd, William’s 30+ years of experience as a Ladies’ Man turned happily married father of three has given him the knowledge of what it takes to find long-term relationship success. He believes you can still find love even with kids, divorces, a full-fledged career, and any other baggage that comes as you get up there in age.

“Our book is a dating guide that helps single people come up with a personalized game plan that suits their lifestyle, regardless of age or income level.” Everyone deserves to find love and How to Get Real About Dating: A Father and Daughter’s Guide to Finding Love at Any Age does that plus much more.

ABOUT US

William Hamilton was raised by two wonderful parents who have been together for over 50 years. They always taught me the importance of family and my childhood was a great one. Growing up around their love and support made me see the importance of family and commitment at a young age. Right after college, I married and started a family. Not too long into it, I was divorced. I realized that I was ready for another marriage and focused on dating. I turned into a Ladies’ Man and enjoyed having fun, being with women, and sharing their company. Over the years I have dated many women, been married three times, and learned a lot about myself. As a man in his 60’s who is happily married with three children, I enjoy giving advice to my kids about love and life. I’d say after six decades, I finally figured out what it takes to have a healthy, fulfilling long-term relationship. But if it wasn’t for those failures as a Ladies’ Man, I’d have no clue.

Lauren Hamilton, at the age of eighteen, I was dateless, obese, and very lonely. Food was my best friend until one day something clicked in me and I decided to change. I lost over eighty pounds, started to wear nice clothes, made friends, and flirted. In other words, I found my DATING MOJO. Since my transformation over six years ago I have dated many people and been in relationships as well. Now, at the age of 26, it’s all about dating while focusing on me. As a younger person, there are many things to think about: career, home, bills, debt, etc. Adding a long-term relationship or a major commitment will distract from those things. That’s why it’s important to keep YOU as number one. At the same time, it’s important to create a good foundation for dating techniques and strategies so that you know what it takes to one day have a successful relationship. Despite what you’ve gone through in your life, you can improve your dating game. It doesn’t what your age or income is. YOU can do it, just like I did!

At least that’s what author Janet Thomas did. She had her share of life’s lemons, from sexual abuse to clinical depression to obesity and beyond. She could have just decided to pitch her tent in the citrus section of life’s grocery store and succumbed to the sour – but she didn’t. Instead she turned her life around, then examined what she learned and turned to help others. The power of Janet’s presence in these written words awakens and energizes your inherent desire to love and lift yourself.

Using the metaphor of making lemonade, Lemons, Lemonade & Life gently guides you through a unique process of discovering:
…what it is you want
…why you don’t yet have it, and, most importantly
…how you can turn those things you currently perceive as anchors dragging you down into resources for launching yourself upward.

Whatever your challenges, Lemons, Lemonade & Life uniquely inspires and encourages healing and wholeness. Anything you find as a block can be addressed and transformed using Janet’s positive, self-supportive approach. As her words, thoughts and techniques kindle the flame of confidence deep within, you will find yourself:
- Improving your physical health
- Releasing yourself from addiction
- Dropping unwanted weight
- Discovering how to develop your natural gifts and talents
- Seeing things you have constantly struggled with disappear with ease
- Attracting new friends
- Enjoying healthier relationships
- Gaining the ability to attract abundance into your life
- and much, much more

Many books are useful because they present familiar ideas in a different way. This book is invaluable because it demonstrates looking at life in a different way. No matter what lemons you may have been given, this is the key for using them as key ingredients for finding your true, best self and restoring sweetness to your experience of life every day.

New You Publishing
July 14, 2012
Paperback

One day in the early 1950s, when Cecil Chip Murray was a young officer stationed at Oxnard Air Force Base in California, the warplane he was in caught fire after an aborted takeoff attempt. Murray tried to escape, but the glass canopy over his head failed to open. As flames began to consume the plane s nosecone, he heard a clear, steady voice guiding him to disentangle himself from his equipment and squeeze through a tiny hatch in the rear of the plane.

Four decades later, that same voice which had led him from the military to the pulpit of one of the most vibrant congregations in Los Angeles sent him into the streets as a prophet and peacemaker during six days of burning, rioting and looting that marked one of the most destructive episodes of urban violence in U.S. history. Twice Tested By Fire is Rev. Murray’s chronicle of the inspiration as well as the challenges that shaped a ministry widely credited with helping to heal a fractured metropolis. His insights into the legacy of the Civil Rights era, faith-based community organizing and socially engaged Christianity provide timely instruction to a new generation rising to the task of ensuring that the American dream of equality and justice for all is not forgotten.

Now, ESSENCE is pleased to share an incredible new uplifting and empowering voice with its 7.5 million readers and book lovers everywhere. In the tradition of Iyanla Vanzant‘s blockbuster 1993 book Acts of Faith: Daily Meditations for People of Color, ESSENCE is pleased to collaborate with powerhouse musician Ledisi for a soulful and enlightening collection of the singer’s inspiring meditations, quotes, and anecdotes charting her astonishing transformation as a woman and an artist.

Ledisi, who has been described as having a mix of Tina Turner’s energy, Nina Simone’s brilliance, and Ella Fitzgerald’s range, is a multiple Grammy nominee who has quickly connected with ESSENCE readers because of her authenticity and tenacity to strive for success on her own terms.

ESSENCE Presents Ledisi Better Than Alright: Finding Peace, Love & Power
by Ledisi
Essence
June 5, 2012
Hardcover

As the last living leader of the Civil Rights Movement and an American hero to many, Congressman John Lewis continues to work toward building a better world. He was a key player in the struggle to end segregation; a campaigner and friend to presidential candidate Bobby Kennedy until his assassination; a confidant to Martin Luther King Jr., whose vision and efforts Lewis carried on to subsequent generations; one of the thirteen original Freedom Riders; and an eyewitness to many momentous occasions in American history over the last fifty years of working in public service.

Despite being rejected, hated, and jailed-and even after being witness to betrayal, corruption, and conspiracy-Congressman Lewis believes that the people can work together toward lasting social change and asserts that worldwide change can be achieved through nonviolent means. In his inspirational new book, Congressman Lewis shares his life story-the lessons he learned as one who dreamed, worked, and struggled in America’s last revolution-and describes the work he believes is necessary to move this country forward. He declares that to revolutionize society, we must first revolutionize ourselves, and if we want to demand transformation of others, we must first be the change we seek. Social evolution starts from within, Lewis says.

Each chapter of ACROSS THAT BRIDGE discusses one virtue-faith, patience, truth, love, peace, study, and reconciliation-that, when combined with all the others, comprises Lewis’s philosophy of life. By sharing personal stories that focus on political and social events throughout history, Lewis discusses the moments where he came to understand the power of those virtues and reflects on the moments that challenged his commitment to them as well.

ACROSS THAT BRIDGE reflects the values of patience with persistence, progressive faith, and principled behavior that can lead to individual and collective transformation. It is this kind of persistence, faith, and moral authority that can bring about what Lewis calls “creative disruption” and usher in a nonviolent revolution of values bringing about fundamental social change.

“Democracy is not a state; it is an act. It is a series of actions we all must take to help build a Beloved Community.”
-Congressman John Lewis