The Tyler Perry Show Reviewed

Last night Tyler Perry hosted THE TYLER PERRY SHOW, a one-Hour Special Profiling His Latest Film, I Can Do Bad All By Myself Film’s Stars Taraji P. Henson, Adam Rodriguez, Gladys Knight and Pastor Marvin Winans Join Perry for One-Hour Special. Henson

Knight and Winans performed songs from the film. Henson Skyped in and Adam...sigh. I'm a longtime fan of CSI Miami, so you know. Besides I have a source who saw the movie Tuesday, who gave it a good review. I'm hoping good things.

More facts about last night's show...

The special, taped at Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta before a studio audience, features Perry interviewing Henson, Rodriguez, Knight and Winans about their roles in the film, their lives and their careers. Henson is Skyped in from China, where she talks about working on the movie Kung Fu Kid; Rodriguez talks about his plans on CSI: Miami; Knight discusses her strong faith; and Winans and Perry talk about Madea’s creative interpretation of the Bible. In addition, Knight gives a soulful performance of “Need to Be” from the movie’s soundtrack, and Winans gets the audience members on their feet with a passionate rendition of the song “Just Don’t Wanna Know.”

Tyler Perry’s I Can Do Bad All By Myself, a Reuben Cannon/Lionsgate Production from Tyler Perry Studios, is an uplifting drama infused with music and Perry’s trademark mixture of laughter and heart. In addition to Perry, Henson, Knight and Winans, the film stars Adam Rodriguez, Brian White, Hope Olaidé Wilson, Kwesi Boakye and Freddy Siglar. It features musical performances by Knight, Winans and Mary J. Blige, who sings an original song penned by chart-topping R&B writer/performer/producer Ne-Yo.

In I Can Do Bad All By Myself, Madea (Perry), America’s favorite pistol-packing grandma, catches 16-year-old Jennifer and her two younger brothers looting her home. She decides to take matters into her own hands and delivers the young delinquents to the only relative they have, their Aunt April (Henson). A heavy-drinking nightclub singer who lives off her married boyfriend, Randy (White), April wants nothing to do with the kids. But her attitude begins to change when Sandino (Rodriguez), a handsome Mexican immigrant looking for work, moves into April’s basement room. Making amends for his troubled past, Sandino challenges April to open her heart. And April soon realizes she must make the biggest choice of her life: between her old ways with Randy and the new possibilities of family, faith and even true love.

Day 7: 7 Sidebar Must Haves for the Book Blogger

As we begin to have a richer understanding of our blogs and as we begin to itch to build this blog baby, let's take a moment and piggyback on yesterdays discussion. What book blogs you love and why? What you saw on some book blogs you don't want on your blog and why? Thanks for sharing your answers with me so far.

Everyone's answer will be different, because of your own personal aesthetic, vision for your blog and the type of blog you're building. However, there are five widgets you must have in your sidebar to be effective.

1. Your About Me Widget
2. Your RSS Link and Subscriber Count
3. Newsletter and Email Subscription Links
4. Top Place to Find You Online(Twitter or Facebook)
   
5. Book Review Links List
6. Book Review Submission Form or if you're an author your Bookings Request Submission Form
7. Your Phone or Skype Number
   

Let's talk about these in more detail at 30 Days...

Day 6: Analyze Your Favorite Book Blogger

This weekend I have had a blast reading your responses on Facebook about your blog setup, retooling faux pas and a better understanding of how important it is to think about the big picture when you're building your blog. There are so many literary type blogs out there. Some you can tell had a great idea, then fizzled out when no one responded to their posts. There are some that are pr dump sites masquerading as book review blogs. So much stuff... And it's all good. It's good because all that blog gunk helps your thoughtfully produced book blog gain more credibility, relevance to the industry, and most importantly, it helps you stand on top of all that gunk.

The best way for me--when I sat in your seat-- was I checked out other blogs. I observed what I didn't want and what I needed.

Today in Day 6 of Building a Better Blog. I want you to visit three of your favorite book blogs and do the following:

• goto the discussion forum and post the link to the 3 blogs you selected
• tell us what you thought you needed
• tell us what you thought you didn't

This week I will:

• debunk some things I typically see on blogs that don't matter a hill of beans
• share three tools all book bloggers need on their blog
• tell you whether what you think is what you need to take your book blog to the next level

Let me share you my favorite book blogs. Checking these blogs out will help you see possibly blog the way I do:

• Faith*in*Fiction http://www.faithinfiction.blogspot.com
• Write About Now http://jmarkbertrand.typepad.com/writeaboutnow/
• Ragamuffin Diva http://ragamuffindiva.blogspot.com/
• I cheated. One More. Milk is my friend. Have to put him on here. Your Writers Group http://www.yourwritersgroup.com/mywritersgroup/

It's not too late to join in on the fun. Visit 30 Days to request an invite. It's Free and You can start at Day 1 whenever you want. New registrants are joining every day. One good reason to join is that I don't share the entire content of Tues-Thursday posts. I answer your personal questions about your blog. You get to chat with other book bloggers like you. Also registrants will receive my September Edition of Dee's Goody Mail. (Tia, I hope to have it out tomorrow.) So what do you have to lose? You're already on Facebook...lol

Photo Credit: Another cheat. my Fifth favorite book blog-Brandywine Books

Get Ready to Live Without Fear

In the book Prince Caspian[C.S. Lewis,] Lucy sees Aslan, the lion for the first time in many years. He has changed since their last encounter. His size surprises her, and she tells him as much.

"Aslan," said Lucy., "you're bigger."

"That is because you are older, little one," answered he.

"Not because you are?"

"I am not. But every year you grow up, you will find me bigger."

And so it is with Christ. The longer we live in Him, the greater He becomes in us. It's not that He changes but that we do; we see more of Him.

-Max Lucado's Fearless

I will not bore you again with my fears. LOL. Instead today I will share a book with you that is helping me become the lioness I know is inside of me.

For the week I will be using a Battling Fear regimen that is found in page 191 of this book. I would tell you the regiment, but I believe this book is so important that you need to have your own copy. You need to keep the book next to you when fear starts to creep in.

I didn't know how much of my daily life was built around fear. Things I didn't think had anything to do with fear. I notice my daughter. Many of her challenges are fears that I placed in her. I am thankful that Thomas Nelson sent me this book. I hope to change the kingdom around here.

So far life at home has been pretty peaceful, my bills are miraculously getting paid, i'm not hovering in a ball in my closet. I am very thankful. I will keep you posted of my developments.

Unlike the book reviews I've written before I just don't have it in me to break it down in pieces and pontificate about the book. Simply, you need this book. Our country needs this book.

Tyler Perry's 34 Street Films & the Future of Christian Fiction

This year Tyler Perry Studios formed 34th Street Films to house projects not written or directed by Tyler Perry. We know that Christian Fiction author Stephanie Perry Moore's teen series will become a Made for DVD Series,Georgia Sky under 34th Street Films. However, I wonder what will TPS do for Christian Fiction, especially African American Christian Fiction? Although there is an obvious consumer market for these stories, why are Christian publishers still hesitant about acquiring more? Or should we follow Tyler Perry's lead and create our own?

Day 5: 5 Good Rules about Book Blog Names

We're in Day 5 of Build a Better Book Blog, and we're still at the setup phase.

In Day 4 we discussed ten types of book blogs. Over the weekend you have had time to decide what type of book blog you want to set up or the type you want to refocus your current blog to. Whatever the case it is important to develop a focused idea of your blog. Choosing a name that let's the reading community know exactly what you represent makes it easier to find you and to hang around on your blog. It's one thing to set up a blog, then do nothing with. But if you want to build a better book blog you need to start at the beginning...your blog name.

Today we will talk about the all important blog name, why it's important, and the rules that will help you make your selection.

1. Decide upon a Blog Name that makes the focus of your Blog Crystal Clear.

• The Brown Bookshelf is about? Click here to find out.
• Christian Fiction is about?
• Romance Divas Divine Blog is about? Click here to find out.

The point is a newbie web user will look at the name of the blog and have an idea of what kind of blog it is. The Brown Bookshelf has to do with books, Christian Fiction is about Christian Fiction, Romance Divas Divine Blog has to be a blog about more than one romance reader or writer or both. When you choose your name make sure you choose a name that a fool would know what your blog is about.

2. Choose a Name that brings Readers to You Easy

To read further, please join the FREE Series here.

Photo Credit: Just Your Typical Book Blog

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=120635633423&topic=11272

Day 4: Which of the 10 Book Blog Types are you?

So far this week we have talked about blog setup basics- platforms, templates, and the blogger's vision. But unlike other series on blogging we are focusing on the book blog and its many forms. The shape of these blogs is our discussion today.

There are six basic book blogs:

1. The Book Review Blog
2. The Author FanClub Blog
3. The Publishing Industry News Blog
4. The Blog as Book
5. The Genre Blog
6. Book Alliance Blog
7. The BookClub Blog
8. The Author as Human Blog
9. Bookstore Blog
   

Now that you know what special contribution you would like to bring to your blog, what platform that works best for you, and some design tips and goodies to make your blog stand out you are ready to decide what type of content you want on this blog.

Why do you need to have one clear content focus for your blog?

1. So that you can brand the blog with your unique imprint.
2. So that publishers can identify and validate your blog when they are seeking bloggers to become readers for their house
3. To help your audience find you easier in search engines
4. To stay true to the special contribution you will bring to the blogosphere.

Let's talk about these four forms in detail with some examples to guide your decision making.

1. The Book Review Blog
Example - http://oneminutebookreviews.wordpress.com/ and http://neglectedbooks.com/
Book Review Blogs purpose is to review books. Most of the content is blog reviews written by the owner and contributing bloggers.

2. The Author FanClub Blog
Example: http://sherrilewis.blogspot.com
The Author Blog's purpose is to serve as a virtual fan club president. Readers can chat with the author, stay up to date with their schedule, and the author shares his/her writing world with her fancs.

3.The Publishing Industry News Blog
Example: http://www.bookslut.com/blog.html/
The purpose for this type blog is to provide information about the publishing industry, the good, the bad, and the i wish I didn't know so much now.

4. The Blog as Book
Example:
The Purpose for a BaB is to use the blog platform as a writer's notebook, a membership site where bits of the book is fed to their subscribers, or a blog that's content can be repackaged into a book.

5. The Genre Blog
Example:UrbanChristianToday www.urbanchristianfictiontoday.com
This blog focuses on a specific genre, trends, tips for writers and book reviews.

6. The Book Alliance Blog
Example: The First WildCard Tour. http://firstwildcardtours.blogspot.com/
The purpose of this blog is to be the online hub and information center for a blog alliance of book reviewers.

7. The BookClub Blog
Example: www.rawsistaz.com
The purpose for this blog is to serve as an online hub for the members to plan and get together.

8. The Author as Human Blog
Example - http://journal.neilgaiman.com/
I love Neil Gaman's blog. This is a great example of the author as human blog. It's purpose is for the writer to share his/her writing life with not just his readers, but to the world. Author as Human Blogs are some of the best written blogs online. Author as Human Blog aren't always published, but aspiring authors as well.

9. Bookstore Blog
Example - http://inkwellbookstore.blogspot.com/
It's purpose to share what is going on at the store and how it reflects the current state of the industry.

10. a Bonus type. the hybrid.
Example: Christian Fiction www.christianfiction.blogspot.com
The purpose for CFB began with an intent to be a book review blog, but then uncovered stories that needed to be told. This type blog couples the news format and the author as human , but a heavy influence on reviews. See what I mean?

Now that you see all these types you will have a more focued view of your online space. It is important to remember in the beginning of your new blogging platform you are still a novice.

SO the weekend chatterbox question is What type of book blogger are you?

Related Posts:
30 Days to Build a Better Book BLog