INTERVIEW | Cheryl Lacey-Donovan

Cheryl, describe yourself for our visitors.

I am the daughter of a southern Baptist pastor. I am a mother and a wife. I have loved to serve people all of my life. Professionally, I am an educator, a mentor, an author, and an internet radio talk show host. I also write a syndicated magazine column entitled Worth More Than Rubies.

God has given me a heart for women who are struggling with life’s trials and tribulations because even when we can’t diagnose our problems, God’s word can bring us healing and wholeness. This is the message that I want to bring to all women. I want them to understand that until they fall in love with Jesus, the chains of sin and bondage will never be broken.

I too had to learn this lesson and I hope to inspire, empower, and encourage others to live in the favor of God daily.

Essence to Honor Writers, Help Libraries

By Claire Kirch

Essence Magazine will honor African-American writers and help public libraries by launching two overlapping initiatives this winter: the Essence Literary Awards and the Save Our Libraries campaign.
The nominees for the awards–in fiction, nonfiction, children’s, poetry, commentary/public affairs, memoir and photography–will be selected by the editors of Essence and will be announced on December 19th. The winners will receive their awards during Black History Month, on Feb. 7, 2008, at a ceremony in New York city that will also kick off the Save Our Libraries campaign. Emcees Hoda Kotb of the Today Show and Dr. Ian Smith will preside over the event, which will honor the winning writers, as well as a "Storyteller of the Year."

INTERVIEW | T. N. Williams

Describe yourself for our visitors.

I am a woman wearing many hats. Mother, wife, employee, writer, poet, and a blessed child of God. To be honest, my ideal time would be curled up on my sofa with a good book. My next favorite thing is spending time with my husband and children, who keep me real busy. I work a full time job in the employment end of social services. So I get to minister to people that may be having a hard time in life. Speaking Encouragement.

BLOG TOUR – LaConnie Taylor-Jones

LaConnie Taylor-Jones holds advanced degrees in community public health and business administration and has written several scientific research publications for the past fifteen years. When not writing, she’s involved with the Contra Costa Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the African American Community Health Advisory Committee, and Black Women Organized for Political. An active member of the San Francisco Area and Black Diamonds chapters of RWA since 2003, Ms. Taylor-Jones has combined her writing skills with a twenty-five-year passion for reading romance in the completion of two full-length multicultural romance novels, When I’m With You and When A Man Loves A Woman.