In accordance with new FTC guidelines regarding endorsements and testimonials for bloggers, I would like my readers to know that many of the books I review on my site are provided to me for free by the publisher or author of the book in exchange for an honest review. I am in no way compensated for any reviews on my site.
When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted.
I remembered you, O God, and I groaned; I mused, and my spirit grew faint. Selah
-Psalms 77: 2-3
For the past week, before I pull into my garage I am greeted by this gorgeous site. When the pangs and disappointments of life dig at your faith God brilliantly delivers a bright spot to keep you vertical.
A week ago I had to ask my editor for an extension, for my writing deadline. Oh, I was sick, we had a family issue, and every roadblock that could come up did. I felt like a heartbroken lover staring over a cliff. Becoming published is a childhood dream and an item on my sweetgrass basket list. I want badly for my story to introduce readers to the God I know. But honey, let me keep it real…I was ready to give up on it and resend the contract. I couldn’t see hope for completing my novel to save my life. Just before I threw up my white flag I remembered that God had given me a few life lines, who’s mission was to see me through this book.
Finally, we are going to celebrate Earth Day tomorrow - what should be done to make the book industry more eco-friendly?
Well, the e-reader is perhaps the best answer to saving trees and lowering the use of fossil fuels and reducing emissions. Fewer trees will need to be cut to make books, newspapers, and magazines. Fewer chemicals will need to be mixed to create ink. And fewer trucks will need to roll to deliver these physical products assuming e-reading grows to the levels many expect. A great result for our planet overall
2. Disney’s Earth Day Book
In honor of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Disney Digital Books (DDB) is offering kids everywhere a 7-day free trial to four Earth Day themed books in addition to its robust online library of over 600 other classic Disney stories all available at the click of a mouse.
The four Earth Day themed books on DDB include:
Mickey Goes Green: Donald wants to understand why Minnie brings her own bag to shop at the grocery store. Minnie explains how reusing things helps the planet. Donald learns this and many other eco-friendly tips that he can do every day to help make Mickey Park a better place.
Mission Ocean Rescue: Rocket is taking the Little Einsteins to enjoy a day at the beach when they discover that the beach is full of trash. The team joins together to clean up the beach but soon they find a baby dolphin needs their help! Join the team while they complete these two very important missions.
No Place Like Earth: It's Earth Day at the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. Esteemed scientist Professor Von Drake is the main speaker. The Professor has a lot to say about ways we can help save our planet every single day. To the Professor's surprise, Mickey and the gang have even more to say—and show.
Think Green: Mayor Rosa has asked Manny to help get the town ready for its annual Earth Day celebration held each year on April 22nd. As the team prepares for the big event, Manny and the citizens of Sheet Rock Hills teach the tools about the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling!
Joel Hunter--senior pastor of Northland, a Church Distributed in Longwood, Fla., and author of several books, including A New Kind of Conservative (Regal Books)--will host Hope for Creation, a free simulcast event Wednesday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m., EST.
To be held at Northland and co-hosted by Matthew and Nancy Sleeth, the event--expected to draw Christians from thousands of churches and religious leaders--will include live musical performances, interactive audience participation and biblical guidance on caring for creation on the eve of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.
Also featured will be clips from the "Hope for Creation" video series (Zondervan) and talking points from Matthew Sleeth's The Gospel According to the Earth: Why the Good Book is a Green Book (HarperOne).
Click here for more information or to sign up for the gathering, sponsored by the nonprofit organization Blessed Earth.
The Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull keeps spewing ash high into the atmosphere, wreaking havoc upon air travel and seriously dampening the global economy. One of the least obvious -- but far from least suffering -- victims of the volcano has been the book publishing industry. Source DailyFinance:
Did you know that Eyjafjallajokull impacted publishing this week?
The Book Depository has suspended operations.
The London Book Fair happened, but didn’t happen. As a result Book Expo America registration has picked up.
Alexander McCall Smith, author of the #1 Ladies Detective Agency cancelled his North American tour.
South African Authors who were the focus of LBF didn’t get the spotlight
When it comes to successful black women and marriage, it appears there's still plenty of room for debate. Strong opinions and good humor filled the air in Decatur, Ga., last week in the seventh installment of the "Nightline: Face-Off" series. An overflow crowd of 1,000 people piled into the Porter Sanford Performing Arts Center to watch an all-star panel take on the question: Why can't a successful black woman find a man?
I was there. If you can see me, you’ll get a prize. Join me as in a live tweet chat tomorrow during the telecast. Viewers can watch the whole debate on "Nightline" Wednesday, April 21 at 11:35 p.m. ET . The hashtag to chat with me is #faceoff.
“Nightline’s” 7th Face-Off: Why Can't a Successful Black Woman Find a Man? Airs on ABC News “Nightline” tomorrow, April 21st. Nightline airs at 11:35 p.m. (ET/PT) weeknights on the ABC Television Network (check local listings). The program is anchored by Cynthia McFadden, Terry Moran, and Martin Bashir. John Donvan and Vicki Mabrey are correspondents. James Goldston is the executive producer.
More about tonight’s debate show:
In the United States, black college-educated women outnumber black college-educated men 2 to 1. Considering all the factors that could lend to this disproportion, it's not surprising that people wonder why many successful black women cannot find a man.
Sherri Shepherd, Emmy award-winning co-host of ABC's "The View," and Jacque Reid, star of VH1's "Let's Talk About Pep," debated Hill Harper, "CSI" star and author of "The Conversation," and Jimi Izrael, author of "The Denzel Principle." Radio talk show host Steve Harvey and "Nightline"'s Vicki Mabrey co-moderated the debate.
The "Nightline: Face-Off" is a series launched two years ago in which hot topics are debated among prominent voices in their field.
Civil Rights Activist, President Emeritus of the National Council of Negro Women Dorothy Irene Height, who marched alongside Martin Luther King Jr. and led the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years, died today. She was 98. Thank you for living your life in service to others.
This morning I woke up to find Blue Thunder, my car wouldn’t work. Usually I would unleash The Crazy, because of course I have to take girlee to school and I have Weight Watcher’s Weigh In on Mondays. More importantly, I have been replacing parts here and there for the past year on old girl. It’s not a newsflash that I am oftentimes between blessings and fluctuate between high poverty and lower middle class. So the cost of repairing Blue Thunder right now should definitely release The Crazy. But…guess what? I’m good.
Call it growing up, being prayed up, or living with a new kind of Crazy. I’m not going to let Blue Thunder’s forced benching ruin my day or my writegoal for today.
One thing I know for sure—some of you know I can personally attest to this fact—you can’t control the unlikely, but you can definitely control The Crazy.
Here’s a little MusicMonday sparkly to get you through the day.
Want to know behind the scenes info about my book sign up for Miranda Parker’s Stake Out Here. It’s free. It is an exclusive email to the first 100 responders. I will share the drama, my road to publishing, writer’s calls from my publisher and others, answers to your questions on writing, and, of course, The Crazy.
