February 13, 2010
Amistad
Available 01/01/10 in Hardcover
An ambitious and startling debut novel that follows the lives of four women at a resort popular among slaveholders who bring their enslaved mistresses
wench \’wench\ n. from Middle English “wenchel,” 1 a: a girl, maid, young woman; a female child.
Tawawa House in many respects is like any other American resort before the Civil War. Situated in Ohio, this idyllic retreat is particularly nice in the summer when the Southern humidity is too much to bear. The main building, with its luxurious finishes, is loftier than the white cottages that flank it, but then again, the smaller structures are better positioned to catch any breeze that may come off the pond. And they provide more privacy, which best suits the needs of the Southern white men who vacation there every summer with their black, enslaved mistresses. It’s their open secret.
Lizzie, Reenie, and Sweet are regulars at Tawawa House. They have become friends over the years as they reunite and share developments in their own lives and on their respective plantations. They don’t bother too much with questions of freedom, though the resort is situated in free territory — but when truth-telling Mawu comes to the resort and starts talking of running away, things change. To run is to leave behind everything these women value most — friends and families still down South — and for some it also means escaping from the emotional and psychological bonds that bind them to their masters. When a fire on the resort sets off a string of tragedies, the women of Tawawa House soon learn that triumph and dehumanization are inseparable and that love exists even in the most inhuman, brutal of circumstances — all while they are bearing witness to the end of an era. An engaging, page-turning, and wholly original novel, Wench explores, with an unflinching eye, the moral complexities of slavery.
February 13, 2010
I’m Still Standing: From Captive U.S. Soldier to Free Citizen — My Journey Home
by Shoshana Johnson
Touchstone
Available 02/02/10 in Hardcover
In March of 2003, when Operation Iraqi Freedom was only days old, world headlines were made when a U.S. army convoy was attacked in the city of An-Nasiriyah en route to Baghdad. Several soldiers were killed and others were taken prisoner.
Jessica Lynch became the face and name associated with this tragedy, but another female soldier, Shoshana Johnson, was also wounded and captured in the ambush. A video of Shoshana being interrogated by her captors was soon broadcast on Spanish-language television and then picked up by American media. Shoshana had become the first black female prisoner of war in United States history. She was held for twenty-two days.
When Shoshana returned to the United States, she received numerous awards for her valor, including the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and Prisoner of War medals. She appeared on news networks and national television shows such as Oprah, Ellen, The Tonight Show, and Larry King Live, but she was bound by a military gag order. She was unable to discuss what really happened in Iraq — until now.
Shoshana holds nothing back in this harrowing account of an ordinary woman caught in an extraordinary circumstance. She reveals decisions made by higher-ups that may have led to the capture, describes the pain of post-traumatic stress disorder, and shares the surprising story of how a specialist in a maintenance company ended up on the front lines of war.
Divulging personal emotions and frustrations while raising fresh political issues, I’m Still Standing is the never-before-told and much anticipated story of the headline-making ambush, capture, and rescue described with the exceptional bravery and candor of a single mom and soldier who became an American hero.
December 19, 2009
Something Old, New, Borrowed & True
by Pamela R. Jeffers
Harvest Time Innerations Available 11/2/09
Tvoya Harrington is a woman caught between two loves and too many lies. She’s about to marry the man of her hopes and dreams when a childhood sweetheart returns home to bury his father. Perfectly-laid wedding plans start to crumble as long-buried secrets are unearthed and Tvoya begins to wonder if the man she thinks is the answer to her prayers is really God-sent.
Something Old, New, Borrowed & True, by debut Christian Fiction author Pamela R. Jeffers, is an engrossing and inspirational tale about matters of the heart and trusting God – even through the unexpected twists that test your faith, friendships and family.
November 15, 2009
Dare to Be a Man: The Truth Every Man Must Know . . . And Every Woman Needs to Know About Him
by David G Evans
Putnam Adult
Available 09/17/09
The bestselling author, television and radio personality, and in-demand speaker, offers insight, enlightenment, and empowerment to men and the women who love them.
What does it mean to be a real man? Does it mean being the biggest, strongest guy around? The man with the most money, cars, and possessions? The man with the most power and respect? Many men think so. And many women are frustrated as they try to figure out exactly what that means for them and their relationship with those men. But Bishop David Evans is here to tell us something different. A true man is the man who dares to live up to God’s design. Within every man, there’s a man that God wants to release: a man of confidence, purpose, strength, destiny, consistency, sensitivity, accountability, and loyalty-who is spiritual and loving. A problem solver and a leader. Within every man is a true identity waiting to be fulfilled. When that true man appears, he’ll realize that responsibility is not something to run from, but rather something to be embraced. He’ll learn that sovereignty can happen only when he becomes obedient to God. He’ll see that his relationship with the family he creates isn’t about limitations, but about freedom. Only when he becomes that true man can he make himself ready for the woman who loves him.
Women have long been misled about what a real man is. Unsure about what to look for and expect in a partner, they have unrealistic expectations and unmet needs. They demand what men can’t and shouldn’t give them, yet don’t allow men to embody the role that God has called them to. In Dare to Be a Man, women learn to identify a man who lives up to God’s design and to foster the spiritual growth of the men in their lives. With its inspiring and empowering message, as well as practical application, Dare to Be a Man is essential reading for all men and the women who love them.
August 1, 2009
Palgrave Macmillan
Available 07/15/09
Taking an interdisciplinary approach, this book analyzes Black women’s involvement in American political life, focusing on what they did to gain political power between 1961 and 2001, and why, in many cases, they did not succeed. Harris demonstrates that Black women have tried to gain centrality through their participation in Presidential Commissions, Black feminist organizations, theatrical productions, film adaptations of literature, beauty pageants, electoral politics, and Presidential appointments. Harris contends that ’success’ in this area means that the feminist-identified Black women in the Congressional Black Caucus who voted against Clarence Thomas’s appointment would have spoken on behalf of Anita Hill; Senator Carol Moseley Braun would have won re-election; Lani Gunier would have had a hearing; Dr. Joycelyn Elders would have maintained her post; and Congresswoman Barbara Lee wouldn’t have stood alone in her opposition to the Iraq war resolution.
June 2, 2009
I Didn’t Work This Hard Just to Get Married: Successful Single Black Women Speak Out
by Nika C. Beamon, Bella DePaulo (Foreword)
Lawrence Hill Books
Available 05/01/09
Can you be happily single?
As June, the most country’s most popular wedding month, fast approaches, women will be bombarded with countless images and media suggestions that that they tie the knot. The reality is that statistics show most American women will spend more years of their adult lives unmarried rather than married. For African American women, the prospect of marriage is dismal; a staggering 70 percent of them live without a man.
Despite the bleak data about the state of marriage, the entire nation is still wedding crazy. Every movie and television show ends with a walk down the aisle; it’s the proverbial happy ending. According to The Wedding Report, a Tucson, Ariz.-based research firm, couples are willing to pay a fortunate to get their “happily ever after.” Even with the recent economic troubles, on average they’ll spend about 6 thousand less for weddings this year than last. But, that’s not saying much since the average cost of a wedding in 2008 was $21,814.
So, the question must be asked: is it possible to be happily single with “matrimania” seemingly everywhere? A book: I Didn’t Work This Hard Just to Get Married by Nika C. Beamon says yes you can but to do it you have to buck convention.
In I Didn’t Work This Hard Just to Get Married, through lively and revealing interviews with women from various walks of life, Nika Beamon explores the challenges and issues affecting single black women who defy expectations. Among the women who share their stories in the book: Actress Kim Coles, Movie Producer Effie T. Brown (’Real Women Have Curves’) and Interior Designer Sheila Bridges.
Now you may think the women in this book bash men or have no use for them however, it’s quite the contrary. Almost everyone seems to want to share their life with someone. The catch is that until or unless they find that person, they have resolved to live their lives to the fullest. For them, having a happy life is achieved about surrounding themselves with love, sharing their talents and gifts with others, and relying on “girl power” to get through the tough times; something Cheetah Girls creator Deborah Gregory knows a lot about. A former foster child, Gregory has inspired generations of girls to follow their passion and in this project she shows grown women how to do the same.
All of the women in I Didn’t Work This Hard Just to Get Married candidly discuss aging without a man and reevaluate dating, single homeownership, career, and children. The book speaks directly to the black woman’s experience, addressing unique challenges such as income discrepancies between genders, the high rate of male incarceration, and the Baby Momma Syndrome. The women discuss the false expectations they face from men, from families, and from friends.
Written in the best tradition of girlfriend talking to girlfriend, the book delivers tales of lessons learned, hard times and good times, told by women who found ways to achieve their dreams by defying convention. Their conclusion: singlehood, whether temporary or permanent, and though often challenging, is a fulfilling state.
To read an excerpt:
http://www.redroom.com/member/denali17
To watch video trailer for the book:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8DcbQsQawk
To find out about signings or readings in your area:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=70022821825
To contact the author: Denali17 @optonline.net, Denali1217@yahoo.com
May 25, 2009
The Ministry of Motherhood
by Cheryl Lacey Donovan
Peace In The Storm Publishing
Available 05/01/09
In The Ministry of Motherhood, author Cheryl Lacey Donovan tackles the issue of single parenting with raw emotion, insightful lessons, biblical references and relevant life changing inspiration for mothers of all ages. It will minister to women who are living the life that Cheryl has overcome. The empowering refreshing messages will challenge mothers to look inside themselves for change. It will help them to identify the strongholds in their lives; public assistance, lack of education, abusive relationships, and tear them down with the help of the creator so that they can in turn take the steps necessary to build a better life for themselves and their children. Cheryl’s transparency in The Ministry of Motherhood tears down all of the excuses for why single mothers can’t succeed. It breaks away at all of the lies that are told about why single mother’s are in their current situations; and it defies the statistics that say the children of single mother’s will never amount to anything.
The Ministry of Motherhood is Cheryl’s journey from being a teenage parent to being a successful mother, author, talk show host, and inspirational speaker. It tells of Cheryl’s transition from the devastation of an abusive marriage which left her with two sons at an early age to her testimony of deliverance and release. It gives an insightful look into what it means to be a “mother”; the hard choices, the sacrifices, the dreams deferred. The Ministry of Motherhood is more than just a mere book. It is a testimony of God’s ability to do exceedingly and abundantly more than we could ever ask.
April 29, 2009
The Cooling Board
by Tamara Angela Grant
Peace In The Storm Publishing
Available 01/01/09
Is it really a thin line between love and hate? When is it okay to return home after so many years astray? Tamara Angela Grant pens an intriguing and heartwarming tale of a family who loves each other despite the fact that they may not always like each other. Enchanting and enlightening, The Cooling Board is an entertaining and strikingly clever, witty, and honest look at the way a family copes with the devastating loss of a loved one. Witness Jhonnie Bell Devereaux, who thought only one thing could drag her back to her birthplace of Regal City, Louisiana. When she hears news of the impending death of her mother, Jhonnie Bell rushes to her mother’s side and in the process, gets reacquainted with the small rural bayou life she anxiously left behind years ago.
Jhonnie Bell quickly learns that death does nothing to silence the dregs of disharmony among family members. Albeit, LuluBell Darling Devereaux’s passing leaves her family without the Matriarch they all look to for advice and guidance; but her lifelong testimony and legacy was to hold her family together. How could she do this knowing that strife and misgivings would be hard to relinquish from those she knew best? She left each a letter that details her words of wisdom, but with one catch — no one was to read her Last Will and Testament until they heeded the admonishments from her last words to each of them. Shock, joy and panic encompass the family’s emotions. Will the late LuluBell bring the family together as she intends, or will it push them all further apart? That thin line becomes broader with each page you turn in this realistic view of family life.
April 12, 2009
This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa’s First Woman President
by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
(Harper, 04/01/09, Hardcover)
In January 2006, after the Republic of Liberia had been racked by fourteen years of brutal civil conflict, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf — Africa’s “Iron Lady” — was sworn in as president, an event that marked a tremendous turning point in the history of the West African nation. In this stirring memoir, Sirleaf shares the inside story of her rise to power, including her early childhood; her experiences with abuse, imprisonment, and exile; and her fight for democracy and social justice. This compelling tale of survival reveals Sirleaf’s determination to succeed in multiple worlds: from her studies in the United States to her work as an international bank executive to her election campaigning in some of Liberia’s most desperate and war-torn villages and neighborhoods. It is also the story of an outspoken political and social reformer who, despite danger, fought the oppression of dictators and championed change. By sharing her story, Sirleaf encourages women everywhere to pursue leadership roles at the highest levels of power, and gives us all hope that, with perseverance, we can change the world.
March 23, 2009
Exactly As I Am: Celebrated Women Share Candid Advice with Today’s Girls on What It Takes to Believe in Yourself
by Shaun Robinson
Available 03/31/09
The collected wisdom and shared experiences of Hollywood superstars and everyday teenagers’ inspirational advice encouraging young women to be comfortable in their own skin and showing them how to become tomorrow’s leaders
Q: What do Vanessa Williams, Meredith Vieira, Queen Latifah, Danica Patrick, Helen Mirren, Janet Jackson, Julianne Moore, Jennifer Hudson, and Eva Mendes have in common with most teenage girls?
A: They have all struggled with self-esteem and body image; they’ve compared themselves to their peers and have sometimes felt that they come up short.
Drawing on personal interviews with these and many other celebrities, and her volunteer work with teens around the country, in Exactly As I Am entertainment reporter Shaun Robinson shares the intimate thoughts, revelations, and feelings of these powerful women, illustrating how similar they are to those of average girls struggling to find their voices. For example, Kelly Clarkson discusses the pressure to be thin, Virginia Madsen talks about standing up to the “in crowd,” and Gabrielle Union shares her thoughts on being yourself. Exactly As I Am shows young women how to achieve a balance between accepting how they look and appreciating who they are on the inside, emphasizing the importance of having a mentor or role model and the support of family. Inspiring and motivating, this tapestry of perspectives will inspire every reader to say, I accept myself “exactly as I am.”
