Tavis Smiley Seeking Entries for New Book

TAVIS SMILEY, PUBLISHER OF SMILEYBOOKS, INVITES SUBMISSIONS FOR INSPIRING VOLUME OF "UNCONDITIONAL LOVE STORIES"

"Love Wins," Edited By Smiley, to be Released in Fall 2008

New York, NY (BlackNews.com) – SmileyBooks, the publishing company founded by Tavis Smiley, has launched a national campaign to generate submissions for his next book Love Wins: True Stories of Transformation and Triumph. Smiley is the New York Times best-selling author of What I Know for Sure and The Covenant. "I believe, just as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. did, that love is the most powerful and transformative force in the world; the only thing capable of turning an enemy into a friend," Smiley asserts.

The Brown Bookshelf – 28 Days Later Honorees

The Brown Bookshelf received more than 100 nominations of African-American children’s book authors to consider including in their upcoming 28 Days Later campaign. Deliberations have finally ended. The 28 authors and four illustrators were announced this week. The honorees will be featured in a Black History Month initiative to push awareness of the wonderful African-American authors creating literature for children.

Congratulations to all of the honorees! You can check out the list at: http://thebrownbookshelf.com/blog/. There’s also a color poster, created by team member and illustrator Don Tate, available for free download.

Thanks again for helping us shine the light on outstanding black children’s book authors and illustrators. Please help us spread the word about their achievements.

Kelly Starling Lyons
www.kellystarlinglyons.com
www.thebrownbookshelf.com

Creative Expressions Writing Contests

URBAN TEENS INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN NEW “CREATIVE EXPRESSION” WRITING CONTESTS

GOT SKILLZ!?! PLGK Media is given talented teens the opportunity to show their artistic, creative, and writing skills.

Atlanta, GA (BlackNews.com) – UTClique.com, the internet site which gives talented and opinionated urban teens the opportunity to display their talents and express their opinions, is pleased to announce the schedule of its’ 2008 Winter/Spring “Creative Expression” Contests. First Prize in each contest is $500 and the top 10 entries in each category will appear on UTClique.com.

The contest schedule is as follows:

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."

Simply Blessed Christian Women’s Magazine

SIMPLY BLESSED CHRISTIAN WOMEN’S MAGAZINE

“Bringing Encouragement to the Christian Woman”

Simply Blessed Christian Women’s Magazine made its debut in May 2007 with featuring cover story with Evangelist Laura Pickett of Atlanta, GA with the issue theme of Celebrating Women in ministry. The second issue featured best-selling author, Jacquelin Thomas with the issue theme of Celebrating Female Authors. Jacquelin Thomas so humbly shared with us how her writing career began. She along with Michelle McKinney Hammond, Kimberley Brooks, Tiffany Warren, Victoria Christopher Murray and other authors share about their writing experiences. The third issue focused on Husband & Wife Team Ministries featuring Pastors Lyle and Deborah Dukes. The final issue share information about programs for young girls (these issue can be purchased as singles via PDF by going to the magazine website).

Raising Kanye: Life Lessons from the Mother of a Hip-Hop Superstar

If you haven’t read this book yet, we invite you take a look behind the scenes of Donda West’s life as a single mom.

As the mother of hip-hop superstar Kanye West, Donda West has watched her son grow from a brilliant baby boy with all the intimations of fame and fortune to one of the hottest rappers on the music scene. And she has every right to be proud: she raised her son with strong moral values, teaching him right from wrong and helping him become the man he is today. In Raising Kanye, Donda not only pays homage to her famous son but reflects on all the things she learned about being his mother along the way.

Featuring never-before-seen photos and compelling personal anecdotes, Donda’s powerful and inspiring memoir reveals everything from the difficulties she faced as a single mother in the African-American community to her later experiences as Kanye’s manager as he rose to superstardom. Speaking frankly about her son’s reputation as a "Mama’s Boy," and his memorable public outbursts about gay rights and President George W. Bush, Donda supports her son without exception, and here she shares the invaluable wisdom she has taken away from each experience — passion, tolerance, patience, and above all, always telling the truth. Ultimately, she not only expresses what her famously talented son has meant to her but what he has meant to music and an entire generation.

Read more about Dr. Friedberg’s findings into the unexpected death of Donda West here. The AAKultureZone.com family continues to lift Kanye West and family up in prayer.