Why Church Bookclubs Are Flocking to Town Center Mall after the Birthing Place Conference?

Charleston, West Virginia August 5/ -- Although many churches will be arriving in South Charleston to attend Bishop T. Jakes Birthing Place Conference this weekend, local church bookclubs have also begun flocking to Borders Express Stores for a Christian Bestsellers Book Event that has been buzzing all summer. Five Bestselling Christian Authors will travel to South Charleston West Virginia for a special Borders Bookstores
Booksigning at Town Center Mall. Bestselling authors, Tiffany L.Warren, Stacy Hawkins Adams, Dwan Abrams, Bonnie Hopkins and Reshonda Tate Billingsley will be signing their new released titles Friday and Saturday at Town Center Mall.

Dwan Abrams is a BlackExpressions Bestseller for both her novels Divorcing the Devil and Married Strangers. Bonnie Hopkins, Tiffany Warren and Stacy Hawkins Adams are Essence Magazine Bestselling authors. Reshonda Tate Billingsley is a Dallas Morning, Ebony, The Washington Post and Essence[20 times] Magazines.

Buzz began building about the book event last month. "We have put several of the authors books out to promote the signing and I am happy to announce that we have had to order more!!! People are so excited about the event," states Ashley Bentley, Borders Town Center Mall's manager assistant.

The event that first slated just for Friday will now extend into a two day event on both Friday and Saturday, August 14-15, 2009 from 2-5pm or as long as fans want to meet these authors. To learn more aboutthis event contact Borders Express, Town Center Mall at 304-342-3840

SOURCE
Dee Stewart
DeeGospel PR
PO Box 392833
Snelville, GA 30039
770.298.7539
www.deestewart. com

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?
.
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

Blogalicious Monday Update: People's Choice

People's Choice Panel - Extended

Now that BlogHer is over we can once again focus our attention on Blogalicious and on making sure that this conference rocks! We promised to plan this conference with you in mind and we are doing our best to make sure that there are many interactive opportunities - because, really, how bored will you be if all you did was sit at a conference and listen (or should I say sleep)?

We want to make sure that you get everything you want out of this conference and we therefore announced the People Choice Panel. But as I mentioned our energies were a bit diverted, as were yours, I'm sure, so we've extended the submission deadline for the PCP to August 16th. We also thought that you'll have better perspective on what you want to see and talk about post-BlogHer.

So...here's how it works. The PCP is a panel voted upon by you. Tell us what topic you want to hear, who you want to speak on it (if you have a preference or an idea), and we’ll put your choice up for vote.

Here’s what you have to do: 1) What’s not on our agenda that you think we should include? In a few sentences, tell us what this panel will be about. 2) Do you have any recommendations on who you think should speak on this topic? 3) Submit your proposed panel to us by August 16th. Submissions should be sent to justiceny@blogaliciousweekend.com. We will put all proposals up for vote and let the people decide.

So...let's get it rolling ladies!

In honor of Blogalicious. Next week I will begin hosting a one month to creating a community blog. If you wish to participate leave a comment here or on Twitter @deegospel

Follow Friday: National Book Club Conference & Tyler Perry Studios

In Twitter Tradition I'm starting a FollowFriday Series here at Christian Fiction Blog. I've been perusing the net, social media convo's and event listings to bring you highlights of the week. I hope you check them out and follow. Today I am also featuring a current book review that I have published. Read below to see who's book is featured. If you would like your book featured, hit me up for my book review guidelines or contact Stephanie at Romantic Times Magazine. There's still time to receive my book marketing workbook for $3. Don't miss out before I close the vault. Now let's do this...

Blogs to Follow

• Literary Agent, Rachelle Garner - From Proposal to Publication blog series
• The premier blogging event for women of color - Blogalicious 09
• Book Marketing Tips -DeeGospel PR Blog
  

Social Media Convo's to Follow:

• #litchat Every Friday 4pm on Twitter. Use Tweetchat.com to participate. use room litchat to enter.
  
• Do Black Book Covers Sell? You can join me on Twitter @deegospel or on facebook at www.facebook.com/dee.stewart or here for the weekend chatterbox question to participate
• #writechat Every Sunday 3pm on Twitter.

Events:

• This weekend - NBCC , National Bookclub Conference, Atlanta, GA. E. Lynn Harris Tribute
  
• This weekend - NBAF, National Black Arts Festival, Atlanta, GA. E. Lynn Harris Tribute
  
• August 14-15, 2009 - TownCenter Mall, South Charleston, Virginia. Meet Tiffany L. Warren, Reshonda Tate Billingsley, Stacy Hawkins Adams, Bonnie Hopkins & Dwan Abrams live for big book signing event. If you're attending Bishop TD Jakes Birthing Place Conference this event will be across from the conference center near the food court.
  

Book Spotlight: Vanessa Davis Griggs, Practicing What you Preach

I reviewed this book this spring for Romantic Times Magazine. It's still time to pick up a copy. Here's a snippet of my review.

Griggs is back with a sweet romance... fans will love this book, since it has the same romantic feel as her first novel.

---

Summary: Melissa Anderson moonlights on the weekends as an events planner, hoping to one day have her own business. She has a plan to get there and Christian dating rules to keep her from getting distracted. But when she meets minister Marcus Peeples she starts to rethink her rules.

Marcus has finally moved on after his marriage ended and found his match in Melissa -- but she doesn't date divorced men. (DAFINA, Jun., 304 pp., $15.00)

Friday Afternoon Club Mystery: I have a few nominations that came in through Twitter.

• Attica Locke, Black Water Rising
  
• Timothy Stelly, Human Trial (mainstream)
  
• Creston Mapes, Nobody (CBA)
• Claudia Mair Burney, Deadly Charm (mainstream/CBA edgy)

Happy Reading

A little minor housekeeping...On Tyler Perry Studios Casting Call. From what I know they are closed and the email or Alpha here is not working. Will find out if they are still casting and get back with you as soon as I know. Get ready Get ready for Tyler Perry's I Can Do Bad All By Myself(sounds like my mantra) September 11, 2009. Check this blog I have details about the movie.
Update: visit www.tylerperrystudios.com to stay uptodate.

Also TPS will begin shooting Georgia Sky in November. GA Sky(if you search the blog) is a YA novel series written by Stephanie Perry Moore(no relation) her payton skyy series. Selah is a fan. Stephanie is a sweetheart, so support the books and movies. Youi can learn more about casting for that movie at the GeorgiaSky twiiter page. www.twitter.com/georgiasky

Dee

Do You have a Book Marketing Plan? Get it Here. Limited Time.

Ok. So I've been praying and contemplating about my Book Marketing Dee-Mystified Planning Workbook. Should I give it away or charge a fee? It's no mystery that I'm living under a money crunch, but I'm doing okay. Thank you, JESUS! Thank you for your prayers, friends and family stepping up and getting Selah prepared for school and keeping me from driving off into a ditch. Y'all have held me up, and I'm grateful. But I've been dealing with this. I want to give you guys something from me that's a great tool I created that I know will help you become more confident about your next book title launch. This fall I will be doing more coaching and writing and reviewing and seeking a literary agent, then in the trenches with authors. So've decided to give this workbook to my Mastermind Session attendants for free(I think that's fair,) but for you guys you get it for $3. One for the Father, One for the Son, One for the Holy Ghost, but for a limited time like August 7, 2009. Then I may up the price or put it in my vault. lol.

What does this workbook contain?

• 60 page workbook
• media analysis
  
• market analysis
• social media design primer
• 9/12 month book marketing action plan
• step by step guide to help you create a marketing plan you can use now or as a part of your book proposal's marketing section
  

I think that's good. I wish I had this when I began writing. In fact, I'm using it myself and it's $3 until next week. Remember?

So how do I get the workbook?

It's an ebook. I will email it to you after you make your payment via paypal. my account is vidae at writing dot com. That's it. I will not take your email and add you to a mailing list or sell the listing. If you would like to receive my monthly Dee's Goody Email, hit me up on Twitter and I will add you. Otherwise, your email addy goes into the vault.

Please pass this short time offer on and give me some feedback here on how you like the workbook. Once again thanks for being here for me.

Dee

Oh and that book I'm holding is Claudia Burney's Wounded.

Wednesday Readup: The 2009 Christy Book Awards

Wednesday Readup for week ending July 28, 2009

The 2009 Christy Book Awards Winners have been announced:

Contemporary Romance

Beyond the Nightby Marlo Schalesky (WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group)

Contemporary Series, Sequels, and Novellas

You Had Me at Good-bye by Tracey Bateman (FaithWords)

Contemporary Standalone

Dogwood by Chris Fabry (Tyndale House Publishers)

First Novel

Blue Hole Back Home by Joy Jordan-Lake (David C. Cook)

Historical

Until We Reach Home by Lynn Austin (Bethany House Publishers)

Historical Romance

From a Distance by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House Publishers)

Suspense

The Rook by Steven James (Revell)

Visionary

Vanish by Tom Pawlik (Tyndale House Publishers)

Young Adult

I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires by Cathy Gohlke (Moody Publishers)

Congratulations to the nominees and winners!!

Book Spotlight: Tom Sullivan's Alive Day(Thomas Nelson)

Synopsis: The story of Marine Antwone Carver, his psychiatrist Brendan McCarthy and Brendan's black labrador, Nelson.

This book cover is above. Alive Day is a sweet, fast, well written read. It seems so real to be fiction, and the spiritual takeaway makes you feel warm, fuzzy and safe. If you're feeling down and wonder if God has providence over your life, read this book.

Lift Every Voice Essay Contest
email lifteveryvoice@moody.edu
www.lifteveryvoice.books.com
Deadline August 31. see website for details