I have a busy Memorial Day Weekend. A lot of reading. My FedEx Man Friend dropped this off today. Pat G’orge Walker’s Don’t Blame the Devil.
This will be my last review I believe, because of obvious reasons. I am seeking book reviewers for the blog. If you’re interested, please contact me at vidae at writing dot com or on twitter @deegospel
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On my nightstand this week are:
Michelle Andrea Bowen’s More Church Folk to be reviewed for RT Book Review Magazine
and
Queen Latifah’s Put on Your Crown: Life Changing Moments on the Path to Queendom for Urban Reviews
Both books are under Grand Central Publishing (Hachette Book Group)
I will let you know when both reviews are available or you can subscribe to my newsfeed to have it delivered in your email here.
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Will Christian Celebs Run Writers Out of the Publishing Industry?
… Not knocking celeb authors. I’m a huge fan of Jamie Lee Curtis and Henry Winkler’s Hank Zipzer children’s books. I’m feeling Blair Underwood’s Tennyson Hardwick collab with Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes. But when I read last week that Tyra Banks had a three-book- novel deal I began to wonder about Christian fiction. Yes, really!
If this keeps up, CeCe Winans or Kirk Cameron will be penning a novel. Oh, but wait Bishop Jakes and Joyce Meyers have/had novels. So perhaps I’m late on this debate. Don’t get me wrong. I’m just using Winans/Cameron as a hypothetical. I’m am a fan of them[Banks included.] Yet, I wonder how this will affect Christian publishing. Click here to read more.
2 Fun things to Checkout This Fun Friday.
1. In honor of PacMan’s 30th Birthday, you can Play the Game Here or visit
Google, which has a cool Doodle version with Insert Coin. Kewl!
2. Courageous (from the same team that gave us Fireproof) is still shooting in Albany, GA. It’s two hours from here. The movie releases 2o11. Check out their site. They have a Vlog of the process.
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My view from my hotel suite at the 2008 Faith and Fiction Retreat in Destin, FL.
The Faith and Fiction Retreat is less than a month away and we’re finalizing
everything so that we can have the best time possible! However, if you plan to attend the banquet you must register before June 1st.
Two options:
About the Faith and Fiction Retreat:
The 2010 retreat will bring something new! Along with our industry and book club panels, this year we're going to feature pitch sessions for aspiring authors and previously published authors looking for new opportunities. The late night book discussions will be off the chain with our 2010 Featured Authors: New York Times Bestseller Kimberla Lawson Roby, Victoria Christopher Murray, Sherri L. Lewis and Tiffany L. Warren. We'll also feature a host of author panelists and vendors. You don't want to miss out on the fourth year of the BEST Faith Fiction book event of the year! The retreat will take place at the Omni at CNN Center in Atlanta, GA. More information will follow on booking information, so check back right here for updates!
If you are an aspiring author, you can enter the First 1000 Words contest here.
Contact Conference host by email with questions at info at faithandfictionretreat.com
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Some Fun: GhostBusters at the NYP
Your source for trending topics in book publishing in 3 small bites. I ask you three questions, you can respond via your favorite social media service or blog use the hashtag #bookbyte so that we can respond and catalog your response. Here are the three newsmakers of the week with my question…
1. Is Your Bookshelf Your Phone?
If you could get digital books on the smartphone you already carry, would you still buy a dedicated e-reader? That's the question running through my mind after hearing that Amazon is developing a Kindle app for Android. The upcoming Kindle for Android app is set to hit smartphones this summer. (Source: Will Amazon's Kindle Android App Hurt Kindle Sales? by JR Raphael, PC World)
2. Louis Gossett, JR. Signs at New York Book Week
In conjunction with BEA, New York Book Week will house author programs at venues such as Times Talks, the 92nd Street Y, and the main branches of the New York Public Library and Brooklyn Public Library, as well as smaller events at other libraries in the NYPL system and chain and independent bookstores throughout New York City and its boroughs. Gossett will present An Actor and a Gentleman
Monday, May 24 at 7:30 PM at Barnes & Noble, 1972 Broadway @ 66th Street. Question: Don’t get me wrong I love Gossett, Jr. But what’s up with all these AA celebs becoming authors now? Hollywood shortfall? (Source: New York Book Week)
3. Barnes and Noble launches Self-Publishing Program
Barnes & Noble has announced that this summer it will launchPubIT!, a new DIY publishing option for independent publishers and self-publishing writers to distribute their works digitally through BN.com and the Barnes & Noble eBookstore. (Source: http://bit.ly/aLj80d)
You can follow me on Twitter and Facebook to respond as well
To receive http://eepurl.com/wmRZ in your email, click here.
Happy Tuesday. Today’s Trailer Park Tuesday spotlight is Stacy Hawkins Adams Who Speaks To Your Heart (April, 2010.) With insight, inspiration, and practical ideas in her new book—Who Speaks to Your Heart?—, author Stacy Hawkins Adams shows you and all women—regardless of the labels placed on you—that your best and most important title is the one given by God … chosen vessel.
Stacy’s freelance articles have appeared in Heart & Soul and Gospel Today magazines, AARP’s Bulletin, USA Today and on Crosswalk.com.
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Happy Monday. Here’s a snippet of my review for Pat Simmon’s Still Guilty. Pick up a copy of RT Book Reviews to get my full review and rating.
Summary: Financial analyst and Ivory Coast African prince, Parke Jamieson VI relies on his faith, especially after he and his wife Cheney suffered two miscarriages and then discovered that he may have fathered a son before they met. When he learns that his paternity is confirmed, but his son has been adopted by someone else and his custodial rights revoked his passion to gain custody of his son brings complications to the marriage. (URBAN CHRISTIAN, March., 320 pp., $14.95
#ChristianFiction
If you would like your book reviewed, stay tuned. I will announce my new book submission guidelines this week.
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Welcome to this Friday's edition of Bookbyte. Today I’m sharing this newsletter on the blog for those of you who are curious about the hashtag and may want to participate in the future.
Here are the top three articles I wanted to share with you about book publishing this week. If you want to nominate a post or article, email me at deegospelpr at gmail dot com. Don’t forget to comment on either Facebook or Twitter using the hashag #bookbyte
1. Why the Battle for Books will Win?
Michael Hyatt, CEO of Thomas Nelson wrote a poignant post “My Defense of Books” this week. He shares the story of Dr. Ben Carson. Brilliant. Your thoughts…Is your passion for books worth fighting for?
2. How to Pitch an Agent or Editor at Writer’s Conference
Literary Agent Rachel Gardner shares some best practices and a book pitch template for aspiring writers attending writer’s conference. Are you pitching this year? Do you find this info helpful?
3. Will Google Editions’s Launch in Summer change the E-Bookstore Game?
While Google Editions books might be readable on Apple’s iPad and Amazon’s Kindle e-readers (the Sony Reader devices are a shoe-in since Google’s existing book library is one of their major selling points already), the store will compete with the iBooks and Kindle stores. That competition could be good for consumers but frustrating for Apple and Amazon.
BookByte is a weekly social digest. To receive it in your email every week for free, register here. You can follow me on Twitter and Facebook to respond as well.
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Today is Off Topic Thursday and I thought it would be fun to share my Fit Kit. It’s in the Carousel above. Two new things I added to my kit are included and it’s:
Laurette Willis’ Power Praise Moves products are designed for Christians who love the benefit of Yoga, but are concerned about their spiritual health as well. I can understand why this series is important to some. For Christians who are novices to Yoga, I’ve also included in the carousel, Thomas Nelson’s Yoga for Christians. Personally, I’ve never felt challenged by Yoga, although from time to time I receive emails from my concerned and devoted readers here. They mean well and I thank them for being prayerful for me.
The benefits for yoga for me was when I first began yoga when I was sixteen I had a total body makeover. I stopped in college and have hard time staying healthy. Last year I joined WeightWatchers used Yoga as my activity and bam…total body makeover. So third time is the charm, so I’m back.
But with a better mindset. After watching Rodney Yee’s A.M. Interview he explained why yoga was yoyoing for me. Yoga isn’t an exercise it is a way of life. I agree. I feel better. I can breathe better.I can sleep better. I feel more comfortable in my skin.
More things I use are:
I am in love with Walk It Out. I’ve increased to walking about 3 miles a day now. I cannot go to bed until I walk it out, yall. I miss an hour of TV a day for this and it’s worth it for me.
Now…share your Fit Kit. What keeps you moving and feeling alive?
Dee
Last week, May 4, 2010 Preacher’s Kid[Warner Bros] made its DVD release debut. Starring Destiny’s Child LeToya Lucket, Sharif Atkins[White Collar and The Good Wife], Recording Artist Tank Babbs, Gregalan Williams[Baywatch], and Gospel Recording Artist Kiki Sheard to name a few.
Here’s the plot:
Angie King[Luckett] is a sheltered twenty-something bishop’s daughter, who wants to see more of the world than her Georgian home. Her father uses family guilt and biblical scripture to keep tight reigns on his daughter. Even when the musical director[Atkins] asks for the Bishop’s permission to date Miss King, the Bishop claims his daughter has too many godly duties to perform. So of course, when Angie deceptively ditches home for a chance to see a gospel play all Hell breaks loose. She meets R & B heartthrob Tank, who sniffs out her naivety faster than you can say Prodigal Daughter. And there you have it.
My review: 2.5 Hallelujah Handclaps
Plot: The Prodigal Son Remake was just as trite as The Gospel. Lord of the Ring’s Return of the King is still remains the paramount of Prodigal Son stories. What this story fails to like so many before it is instead of creating an interesting and compelling character arc that parallels with the Prodigal Son parable they continue to Red Robin Hood the story. They forget that even a child can tell that even if the wolf puts on Granny’s nightgown and glasses we still see him. The parable should never overshadow the plot, else we will continue to have poor storytelling in movie scripts like these.
Cast: The cast saved this movie. However, I must say that Tank’s character was too one dimensional and overly done. We’re about done with the handsome Ike Turners. It wasn’t Tank’s fault. He did the best he could do with that script. Also I’m just curious is Clifton Powell the hardest working man in Hollywood and DVDland? Someone give this man a lifetime achievement award for being an equal opportunity thespian. Goodness. Another sore spot: Kiki Sheard playing a coy singer in the beginning…Really?
Script Dialogue: If the plot’s weak, then so is the dialogue. Sharif and Essence Atkins[no relation] had the best lines. Sidekicks should never outshine the main characters. Tank’s dialogue was stilted. Powell’s dialogue was uncharacteristic. I heard two cities tossed around in the movie(Augusta and Atlanta) which city is the story set in? Knowing that would definitely make a difference in understanding Angie’s naivety.
Music: Since this movie is set between a church and a gospel play, it’s understood their will be great music. Wrong. Miner misplaced song choices in spots(ie. Jennifer Hudson’s song.) The bright spot was the duet in New York. There were places where a Tank or Luckett song would definitely befitted the scene.
Biggest Challenge: The treatment of Domestic Violence. Although DV is whispered in most African-American churches, it was never brought to the spotlight during Angie’s reversal. Instead it was glossed over like a lover’s quarrell and a climactic battle between 2 beaus. Low point.
Overall this movie will be enjoyed by those who hope to see a behind the scenes glimpse of a Tyler Perry or David Talbert play. It is not romantic, sweeping, barely coming of age, comedy, family drama…it is a hodge podge of all, yet not mixing well.
Floral Garden Pen & Mechanical Pencil Set in Gift Box
Mother’s Day is Sunday. If you have a writer mom or are a writer mom here are some last minute ideas.
New Book Bag in Deep Red with Build In Laptop Compartment
Hello Kit Glam Flash Drive
In conjunction with the Sweet Auburn Festival, several National Bestselling Authors will be signing their books at The Author Pavilion in front of The Book Cafe, 314 Auburn Ave.: Bern Nadette Stanis, Tina Brooks McKinney, Mary B. Morrison, Wahida Clark, Kendra Norman-Bellamy, Dwan Abrams, Roishina C. Henderson, and Shawneda Marks.
The Sweet Auburn Festival is a 3-day event, the times are:
Friday, May 7 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Saturday, May 8 11 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 9 2 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Books will be available for purchase and autographing. ..
The Book Cafe.......314 Auburn Ave.......Atlanta, GA 30312.......
Learn more visit http://www.sweetauburn.com/
1. Samson.Jacquelin Thomas (Paperback - May 25, 2010)
2.
This Fine Life: A Novel Eva Marie Everson (Paperback - May 1, 2010) 3.
Sistergirl Devotions: Keeping Jesus in the Mix on the Job 4.
Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther (Lost Loves of the Bible) Ginger Garrett (Paperback - Mar 1, 2010) 5. 
Faith Michelle Larks (Paperback - May 1, 2010)
6.
The Clouds Roll Away (Raleigh Harmon) Sibella Giorello (Paperback - Mar 16, 2010) 7.
Red Hats: A Novel Damon Wayans (Hardcover - May 4, 2010)
8. 
Never Let You Go Erin Healy (Paperback - May 4, 2010)
9.
Still Guilty (Urban Christian) Pat Simmons (Paperback - Apr 1, 2010) 10. 
The Bridge: The Life and Rise of Barack Obama
David Remnick (Hardcover - Apr 6, 2010)
First 1,000 Words
Faith and Fiction Retreat Writing Contest
The first 1,000 words of your manuscript can make your career! Some acquisition editors and agents know after reading the first 1,000 words of your work if theyÂ’d want to represent you or sign you to a book deal. The first 1,000 words can either draw the reader in, or make them put the book down, never to be retrieved again.
Can you get an editor's attention with YOUR first 1,000 words? Enter the Faith and Fiction Retreat Writing Contest and find out.
Entry Fee: $35
Deadline for Submission: May 28th
It's easy to enter! Just submit to info@faithandfictionretreat.com your:
· First 1,000 words (Fiction/Non-Fiction genres)
· Full Synopsis
Your entry will be judged on:
· Originality
· Page Turn Appeal
· Editorial Content (punctuation, typos, etc)
· Marketability
Prizes
· Grand Prize: Fifteen minute pitch with the pitch session panel (Latoya Smith, Grand Central Publishing; Mercedes Fernandez, Kensington Books/Dafina; Joylynn Jossel, Urban Christian; Dwan Abrams, Nevaeh Publishing)
· First Prize(2): Ten minute pitch with the pitch session panel
· Second Prize (5): Five minute pitch with the pitch session panel
Pitches may be in person or virtual (phone or Skype). Deadline for submission is May 28th, winners will be announced June 5th .
First 1000 words entry fee $35
The May/June issue of Books & Culture inspired me for today’s post: The Top 10 Books which have influenced my view of the world outside of The Holy Bible.
Mine are below. Invite you to add your 10 Books to your own blog or Facebook Note. Leave the link here or @ me on Facebook or reply to me here use the Twitter hashtag : #bookenz
Choose Privacy Week Video from 20K Films on Vimeo.
The first ever Choose Privacy Week, May 2 – 8, is a new initiative sponsored by the American Library Association’s (ALA) Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) that invites library users into a national conversation about privacy rights in a digital age. The campaign gives libraries the tools they need to educate and engage users, and gives citizens the resources to think critically and make more informed choices about their privacy.
At the 2006 American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference, ALA Council adopted the Resolution on National Discussion on Privacy, directing the Intellectual Freedom Committee (IFC) to collaborate with other ALA units to begin a national conversation about privacy as an American value. In 2008, the Open Society Institute (OSI) provided a 3-year, $350,000 seed grant for this initiative.
Privacy has long been the cornerstone of library services in America, a freedom that librarians defend every day. For over 50 years, the ALA has defended the rights of library users to read, learn and be curious, because the freedom to read and receive ideas anonymously is at the heart of individual liberty in a democracy.
The event will also highlight key resources to aid libraries participating in the first-ever Choose Privacy Week, which will take place May 2-8, 2010. This civic engagement campaign invites library users into a national conversation about privacy rights in a digital age. Those attending the Saturday event at Midwinter will learn about new tools for libraries that will help to educate and engage their users, and encourage citizens to think critically and make more informed choices about their privacy. An exclusive discount and limited giveaway items will be provided at the event. Don’t miss it!
Those unable to attend can follow the event at http://twitter.com/privacyala. For more information on this event or on ALA’s privacy initiative, visit www.privacyrevolution.org or contact Angela Maycock, Assistant Director, Office for Intellectual Freedom, at amaycock@ala.org.
