Tribute: Naomi Sims

As I child my mom and aunts bought me Christie Barbie Dolls, because she wanted me to love my chocolate colored skin. She kept Diana Ross LPS hanging around, we watched Dionne Warick on Solid Gold, and she bought any magazines where African American women were on the cover. I remembered seeing old copies of Supermodel Naomi Sims in Ladies Home Journal and Life Magazine on my Aunt Hattie's coffee table. Being Black, pretty and proud was paramount. As a mother in this New Age it is still paramount. Unlike myself Selah lives in the world of Hannah Montana, That's So Raven and High School Musical, where it appears that all live together in harmony. I love that world; I fight for the coming of that world. So I was a little saddened today to learn that Naomi Sims have moved onto Glory. My fascination with magazine journalism came from my adoration of watching Ms. Sims and all those who've followed where us so well. She will be missed.

Update: I forgot to add that if it weren't for African American wig business launch, I don't know where we be today. Well...at least me. ;)

What's Your Favorite Author Newsletter? #Tip

Around the first of the month my email inboxes fill with author newsletters. When I first signed up for these online jewels I waited on baited breath to read them; now I wince. Why? Because although I know they mean well, they missed the mark.
Instead of writing a love letter to their readers, they are direct mailing/poorly begging their fans(redundant) to preorder, buy in the first two weeks, don't forget to buy, buy again because I don't want to return to my day job and need to continue adopting children from all over the world ilk. I get it-- really, but has these tactics really been effective?
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Nope, well...not for me either..

What has worked are newsletters like Nicholas Sparks, who taught me how to write a great query letter, or Sue Monk Kidd's poetic anecdotes about her family life and her passion for the characters in her novels or to chuckle at Eric Wilson's endearing excitement when his books get featured in a national paper..

When I sign up for a newsletter, I'm signing up to learn about the author and to get a sneak peak into their world and their mind. I'm already buying your book, but don't make me change my mind.

Today in session 2 of my Media Candy summer marketing mastermind series we'll get real nitty gritty about newsletters. Hope you join us. Contact me at dEegospelpr at gmail dot com to for details..

Dee