We will miss you, Michael.

Today, Michael Jackson suffered cardiac arrest and was rushed to the hospital in L.A., where he was later pronounced dead. He was 50 years old, bringing almost 45 years of record-breaking (barrier-breaking) music to the world. Our prayers are with the Jackson family. He will be incredibly missed.

PODCAST | Jackie Moore

It’s the perfect time of the year for catching up on reading while enjoying the lazy days of summer. Enjoy our summer reading series as we introduce a different fiction or nonfiction author each Wednesday from now until Labor Day.

Jackie Moore is the author of the 2009 release, Serving Justice. She is currently pursuing her undergraduate degree in religion and offers spiritual words of encouragement daily on her website www.virtuousliving.com. and her myspace page www.myspace.com/mamajacq. She and her two sons, James and Joseph reside in Detroit, Michigan.

She is also a contributing author to several anthologies including 2008 releases, "Triumph of my Soul, Stories of Hope, Triumph and Inspiration” "Journeys of Love, Voices of the Heart" and “Gumbo for the Soul, Here’s our Child Where is the Village.”

Her contributions to online magazines or ezines are many. They include; Bahiyah Magazine, Precious Stones, Divine Afro European Sisters Network, Rise Up Magazine, The Blessed Room Magazine, and most recently, More Beautiful Woman Magazine.

If you have trouble with the player below, you can download (right-click and chose “save as”) the mp3 file. Read more

How In The Hell Did You Escape?

How In The Hell Did You Escape?
by Damainion Ewell

“Then Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul’s presence; and he drove the spear into the wall. So David fled and escaped that night” (1 Samuel 19:10, NKJV).

The lives that many people live today are the direct result of the environment in which they once resided in. Oftentimes, people carry the heavy burden of sorrow and unhappiness with them into adulthood, and they seemingly cannot escape the jail of yesterday’s tragedy. Life has a cruel and malicious way of teaching us things, and many times we have seen the same scenes reenacted time and again. Somehow, we find ourselves doing the same thing, looking for the end result to be different. But, in the end, the final scene is the same as before, and we leave ourselves open to unnecessary pain and confusion. Lessons should be learned, but it is up to us whether they will be ascertained easily or the hard way.

BOOK REVIEW | Coming Across Jordan

optical amplifier Coming Across Jordan
Mabel Elizabeth Singletary

Kevin Manning and his younger brother Jordan are new to Harriet Tubman Elementary School. A little shy, Kevin tries to go unnoticed on the first day at school. He’s successful at blending in until something upsets his six-year old brother, who is autistic, and only Kevin can calm his screams.

The Soul of a Man – K. L. Belvin

This week, as we approach Fathers Day, Written Voices Blog will feature several of the contributors to the recently released anthology, The Soul of a Man.

K.L., describe yourself for our visitors.

I have been a teacher for the NYC Dept of Education for over 10 years. I published my first book titled “A Man in Transition” in June of 2008 through the publishing company I created called Bravin Publishing. I have four children and possibly more. Yes I said possibly more. I wasn’t always the man I am now. I was a man that lived his life attempting to bed down as many women as I could. Before I knew the Lord I was trapped into believing life was connected to getting next to every woman in a sexual manner. I would like to believe I am as complicated as many others feel about themselves, but I am not.

PODCAST | Sharon Oliver

Sharon Oliver is originally from the Maryland/DC area. Although having lived in Charlotte, NC and Columbia, SC, the author has made the Atlanta area her home for the past 15 years. She’s worked for various federal government agencies over the years as a Systems Administrator, but felt a strong desire to do something else in life. In 2003, the desire became a call to write and she penned her first novel, Keep Your Enemies Closer, which was published in July 2008. The sequel, Deliver Me From My Enemies, hit the shelves in March 2009 and is now a Black Expressions bestseller.