Important Message from Founder

Effective July 20, 2010 this group will be closed. We would like to move all our members to the International Book Club Guild. NING is closing all free sites, so we are combining all of our sites into one group. Please go to the International Bookclub Guild and sign up as a member today.

If you have articles or videos stored here, please save all material to your computer. This group will be closed by NING in late July. We want to keep you as a friend, so move with us today. Click this link to go to the new site: http://slsbookclubcenter.ning.com

Thanks,
Ella Curry

Black History 365 Network was founded to bring book clubs and reader's groups from around the world together in one social network. If you are a book club president, please tell us about your group and what defines quality literature for you. Publishers and Book store Owners, please share your news. We are here to embrace our culture and to become a stronger community.

We do not mind authors showcasing their books. We appreciate the fresh new ideas and perspectives of the writers as well. Network with the members here by posting your comments to other posts and welcoming new members to the group. Explore all the rooms at the top of the page to truly get a feel for who we are and what we offer the world of book lovers. There are great books and gifts featured all over the site!





Book Video: Yesterday's Promise, author Vanessa Miller

Melinda Johnson has always felt called to ministry. So, when her father, Bishop Langston Johnson, decides to step down after thirty years of leadership at Omega Christian Center, it seems only natural for her to take his place. But Bishop Johnson feels led by a God who has other things in mind, and to succeed him, he appoints Steven Marks-a man who is opposed to female pastors, not to mention the fact that he is Melinda's ex-fiance.
Feeling defeated, Melinda nevertheless maintains her position as the church's Missions and Community Outreach Director. Frequent interaction with the new bishop incites bitter sparring-and rekindles long-suppressed attraction, which grows only stronger when Melinda develops a relationship with Steven's precious daughter, Brianna, who's still struggling with the death of her mother.

Can Steven and Melinda set aside past pains, forgive each other, and learn to love again? Or will their opposing positions regarding women preachers keep them forever at odds?

Buy Now: http://www.amazon.com/Yesterdays-Promise-Second-Chance-Love/dp/1603742077

Black History Month: Parenting with Purpose Panel Discussion

Listen to the show now:
Join Ella Curry and the featured authors as they discuss Parenting and Partnering with Purpose. Our theme tonight is The Sankofa Literary Society celebrates Black History and Black Love for 28-days, totally online. Bringing readers stimulating conversations on the Black Authors Network Radio Show; providing life enhancing articles in Black Pearls Magazine; and by having a month long community conversation to shed light on our victories and to open the eyes of those who think negatively about people of color. You are invited to take part in the program on the date listed below. This is our 3rd annual event, our theme is "Strengthening the Black Family from the Inside." Each year we have garnered global attention for our program and the message.

Featured Speakers are:

Dr. Natalie A. Francisco: Dr. Natalie A. Francisco has served as co-pastor alongside her husband, Bishop L. W. Francisco III, as well as the minister of music at Calvary Community Church in Hampton, VA. She has served extensively in full-time ministry for over 25 years in areas of leadership in both the Music and Arts and Christian Education departments of her local church.

Dr. Francisco received a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Christian Education from International Bible College and Seminary in Independence, MO as well as a doctorate in Christian Education from Carolina University of Theology.

As founder and executive director of the Women of Worth Conference in 2002 and the Women of Worth and Worship Institute in 2007, as well as author of Wisdom for Women of Worth and Worship (St. Paul Press), Dr. Francisco seeks to provide godly and practical instruction to women of all ages and stages of life who desire to learn and implement biblical truths and principles from her life's lessons. Website: www.NatalieFrancisco.com


Terrie Lynn: author of What You Think You Know, You Don't. This is an uncut talk with teen girls about dating, relationships, sex, and teen pregnancy. Every year over 750,000 teenagers will get pregnant. That is the reason the book is geared towards teen girls and their parents, to get parents involved.

Many times parents forget what young love is like and the trials and tribulations that young girls go through today. Countless parents may possibly be in denial about their daughters having sex. A number of parents may not know how to reach out and communicate to their teen, and some parents (single moms) are involved in unhealthy relationships themselves, and are passing that unhealthy behavior to their daughters. This book will help break that cycle.

In order to prevent teen pregnancy with-in the community and the spread of diseases, we need to thoroughly inform our teenage girls about the consequences of their actions, show them that they have a choice to make better decisions about their lives. What’s so great about this book is; it’s a simple read, with humor to keep the reader interested. It’s written in a language that today’s teens can relate to, and there is never a paragraph that is not conveying a message about the reality of life to teen girl.

Terrie is also the author of Sisters, Stop Asking Sisters, I'm a Black man, Just Ask Me!
This book is the journey into the uncut thoughts of African-American men regarding their perception of women, dating and relationships. Her ultimate goal was to touch on as many scenarios as possible in order to provide women with closure and give insights on what might have gone wrong during the course of a relationship. Her wish is for all women to enjoy reading the book, especially African-American women so that we may close this gap between African-American males and females. Ultimately, it is affecting our ability to unite. It's also affecting our community and our children. Website: www.writerterrielynn.com


Lamar Tyler: Lamar Tyler along with his wife Ronnie run the largest independent site on the web dedicated to marriage and parenting in the African American community titled, Black and Married With Kids.com. The proud parents of four are also behind the Amazon.com bestselling DVD Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage and are currently wrapping production on their latest film, You Saved Me which is set to be released in late March.

Happily Ever After: A Positive Image of Black Marriage: From the creators of the award-winning website Black and Married With Kids.com comes a ground-breaking documentary set to challenge negative stereotypes surrounding marriage and parenting in the black community. Couples and experts discuss topics such as the image and portrayal of black marriages and families, the effect the Obamas will have on marriage in the black community and the importance of parenting. The film has also generated an online movement by amassing over 30 thousand fans on the popular social media outlet Facebook in just 7 months. Website: www.blackandmarriedwithkids.com

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Black Pearls Magazine interview with Pamela Samuels Young

Pamela Samuels Young is the Essence bestselling author of Murder on the Down Low, In Firm Pursuit, Every Reasonable Doubt and the forthcoming Buying Time. The former journalist and Compton native is the fiction writing expert for BizyMoms.com and is on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America.

Ella: Tell us about your passion for writing. Why do you write? What drives you? What impact do you want your book to make on the readers?
I definitely have a passion for writing. Nothing else could explain my willingness to sit in front of my computer for ten hours a day or my eagerness to rise at four in the morning to write before going to work. I enjoy creating characters and putting them in precarious situations. I want readers to get wrapped up in the mysteries I create, to love, hate and root for my characters, and to close each book and feel as if they got their money’s worth.


Ella: A Legacy is something that is handed down from one period of time to another period of time. Finish this sentence: My writing offers the following legacy to future readers...
I want to help destroy the publishing industry’s belief that only African American readers will read stories with African American characters. People who love mysteries want a compelling story. My primary goal is to write entertaining thrillers with diverse characters and a storyline that keeps readers turning the page.

Ella: Pamela, introduce us to your book, Murder on the Down Low.
In Murder on the Down Low, a string of successful, attractive African-American men are being gunned down on the streets of L.A. and no one knows why? When a shocking revelation connects the baffling murders to a contentious wrongful death lawsuit, the deadly scandal erupts into a tale of lust, lies and vengeance.

Ella: What inspired you to write this story?
I have a crystal clear recollection of exactly when the idea for Murder on the Down Low came to me. I was watching an Oprah show featuring J.L. King, author of On the Down Low. I was completely stunned as I listened to his insider’s account of the mindset of men on the down low, who are guys (many of them married) who profess to be straight but have sex with other men. My emotions during that sixty-minute program went from shock to anger to fear. I was driving to work the next day, still disturbed by the show when a thought came to me. What if a serial killer was targeting some of L.A.’s most prominent family men who weren’t quite what they appeared to be? Within 24 hours, I had sketched out the basic plot for Murder on the Down Low.

Ella: What major issues in today's society have you addressed in the book?Murder on the Down Low gave me an opportunity to both entertain and raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. While African-American and Latina women make up only 24% of the female population in the United States, we account for more than 80% of the total AIDS diagnoses for women, according to the latest statistics published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. I wanted to communicate to women that in order to change these disturbing statistics, we must take responsibility for our own bodies.

Ella: Did you self-publish?
While my first two novels, Every Reasonable Doubt and In Firm Pursuit, were published by Harlequin, I was forced to self-publish Murder on the Down Low after my agent wasn’t able to sell it. I really didn’t want to self-publish, but I wasn’t about to sit on the sidelines and accept the publishing industry’s view that there isn’t a large market for the type of book I’m writing. They’re wrong.

Self-publishing Murder on the Down Low was definitely the right decision for me. The book has received tremendous praise from readers, particularly book club members. My decision to self-publish was further validated when Murder on the Down Low was selected as an Editor’s Pick by the Black Expressions Book Club. Just recently, Murder on the Down Low was a finalist for the 2009 African American Literary Awards in the mystery category alongside, two incredibly talented writers I have long admired: Walter Mosley and Tananarive Due.

Ella: Why did you decide to write legal thrillers?
I’m a big fan of legal thrillers, but I got tired of never seeing women or African-Americans depicted as lawyers in the novels that I read. So, I sat down at my computer and started writing the kind of legal thriller that I wanted to read. I wanted a diverse cast of characters and a protagonist who wasn’t always a white male.

Ella: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.
I’m thrilled that Murder on the Down Low is a finalist for the 2009 African American Literary Awards in the mystery category. I don’t need to win. Just being nominated alongside Walter Mosley and Tananarive Due is honor enough.

I’m extremely excited about the upcoming release of my fourth legal thriller and first stand-alone novel, Buying Time, which goes on sale November 1st. In Buying Time, Waverly Sloan is a down-on-his-luck lawyer who comes to the aid of terminally ill people in desperate need of cash. Waverly finds investors eager to advance his dying clients thousands of dollars—including a hefty broker's fee for himself—in exchange for rights to their life insurance policies. Once the clients take their last breath, the investors reap a hefty return on their investment. When Waverly's clients start dying sooner than they should, both Waverly, and a high-powered lawyer who’s bucking to become the next U.S. Attorney General, are unwittingly drawn into a perilous web of greed, blackmail and murder.

Ella: How may the readers contact you and purchase your books.
Author Website: www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com
Author Email address: author@pamelasamuelsyoung.com
Check out my online media center at Black Pearls, here.

MURDER ON THE DOWN LOW
ISBN: 978-0-9815627-0-4
Price: 14.95

Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young
Buy Murder on the Down Low at Amazon.com


Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young
Purchase the book.

SLS Paradigm Shift: Moving Literature Upward

Check out our guest bloggers each day! The guest bloggers for the SLS Paradigm Shift are all authors who have a mission in life. Read More