The Interracial Duo of Interracial Romance - J. M. Jeffries

For the month of May, All the Blog's a Page (AtBaP) proves that love IS color blind as we feature authors of interracial romance!





We conclude the month with the dynamic duo of interracial romance, J. M. Jeffries!


















When a girl wants Hot and Spicy, she finds herself a Latin Lover.



In J.M. Jeffries’s "Partners in Crime," Vincent Mendoza is a CIA agent in charge of his first mission. He must liberate some top secret documents and he turns to jailed cat burglar Cleo Harris to help him. To gain her freedom, she must help the sexy agent. Little does Vincent know that the beautiful thief will steal his heart in the process?











Brash, bold, lingerie designer, Honey Harlow, doesn’t believe in love, but she does worship at the altar of lust. In Paris for her new lingerie line, Sweet Nothings, she meets the sophisticated, suave French vintner, Ettiene Marais. Etienne has come to Fashion Week for one goal--to woo the beautiful Honey and add her as the new crown jewel to his business empire.



Honey's her own woman who plays her by her own rules. She's not interested in going upscale. She like the Frenchman just fine and she's happy enough to play with him, but not be owned by him. But Etienne wants what he wants and he wants Honey.




Want to know what J. M. Jeffries' take on interracial relationships and romance is? Head to All the Blog's a Page!



And while there, check out this month's features with authors Tressie Lockwood, Marie Rochelle, and J.J. Murray!








ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE (AtBaP) - Where everything relates to writing






[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

Getting Green with L. Denise Jackson

In addition to being a certified speaker and trainer, a published writer, and a wine consultant, L. Denise Jackson is also the founder of The Professional Green Network, an affordable source to help you learn, live, and be green in your homes and businesses.



What is the mission of The Professional Green Network (PGN)?
Our mission is to educate, inform, support, and train those who want to learn about green, become more eco-friendly, and be a part of green opportunities economically and with commitment that respect the environment.


What was the spark in which you decided to take part in PGN?
Nearly 5 years ago, I began visiting a naturopath and through natural remedies and solutions, my health improved. Wanting to extend this into my overall lifestyle, I began researching products and matched them to my personality and natural talents to create a business. I have expanded my “retirement career” to even include products that I would sell to help people to be green.


What do you do as a part of PGN?
I founded PGN. So I take care of the business development, write articles, write and maintain website and class content, establish and maintain business relationships, look for places to showcase the network, connect with other green professionals, and anything else that is needed. I have a little help but not much. In the near future, our vision is to become the trusted network for people turn to for consultations, services, and international training resulting in quality services for consumers and professionals while sharing the truth about being green and preserving our planet.


I know that The Professional Green Network is pro-environment; how do you, in your life, promote being green?
I have been using home remedies and natural and organic products growing up. So when someone asks me about medicine, solutions, and the like, I normally given them as much of a green solution that I can and if I don’t know one, I will quickly look to find one.


You write articles on living a green life; for the person who has never been green, what are three simple things she can do TODAY to start living a green life?
On any given day without leaving the house, you can turn off lights and unplug items that are not needed, adjust the shades for light or not to heat and provide natural light or keep the house cool, and don’t let the water run while brushing your teach or washing dishes. Simple conversation, I know, but it helps the environment and your pocket.


What are some of the services that PGN offers?
As an international organization, we are designed to assist consumers, consultants, and business owners in beginning or expanding their "green" knowledge and/or business. PGN is dedicated to providing education, information, and certifications regarding green awareness, cleaning, living, and working environments.

We offer consulting, green assessments, education, articles, tips, speaking, products and business opportunities. Also coming are a greenpedia, preferred product lists, and events.


How can one become involved - as an employee or as a client - in PGN?
Let me start with addressing the future clients first. PGN has various programs for your self, home, office, and business to support your green growth. The quickest is our $25 Green Awareness training which is offered virtually and as part of larger training packages. If someone wants more depth, the Green Assessments are the way to go. We ask questions, analyze answers, and give direction and suggestions to make you and your life greener.

Our online certification is coming soon!

As far as employees, we will be looking for an assistant and researcher in the future. We have many independent and entrepreneurial opportunities for candidates to be a part of PGN on their own schedule, at their own pace.

8 Questions for Writers

Over at The Blood-Red Pencil, I offer the article "8 Questions for Writers." Every story has components that are necessary for the story to be well-developed. By answering the eight questions, writers can help themselves write good stories!

Head over to TBRP [link], read the article, and leave your comments!

The Importance of Being SASSY

ARE YOU...











About SASSY

SASSY was created as a resource and community for women of color in their early twenties to their early thirties. As recent college and graduate school graduates, we are well on our way to greatness but are caught in an in-between-period in life. Without a doubt, we will do great things, but right now We are still on the path to greatness. We want to create a community of like-minded women and help each other by providing advice on networking, finance, fashion, dating and all that is SASSY.

We are currently on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter! These two websites, in addition to our blog, serve as vehicles for us to connect to our readers. We love being in constant contact with other SASSY women and use their input to make SASSY more meaningful and useful to our readers.

SASSY is also a vehicle to let young women shine. We showcase writers, artists, stylists and budding entrepreneurs. We are always looking for more writers.






The

Interview


What's the mission of SASSY?
This mission of SASSY is to to create a community for women of color in their twenties. I went to Smith College, which is an all women's college, and what I've missed most since graduation was the sisterhood, the comradory. I missed women working together to lift each other up and help each other out. Since then, I hadn't exeperienced that same community but I think it is so necessary. With all the competition that we have to do - in work, at school, and the dating pool (oh don't get me started), I wanted to create a safe and fun space for women to uplift each other and enjoy each other.


What called you to create SASSY?
I created SASSY because I couldn't find a podcast or a blog that spoke specifically to me. Yes, I know there are blogs geared to young women, but I didn't like the tone in them. I was looking for something positive but also informative. Since I couldn't find it, I created it.


How would you define the typical SASSY young women of color?
Well SASSY Women means Smart, Ambitious, Sexy and Sophisticated Young Women. That's the typical woman. Most of us at least have a BA, but most have some sort of graduate degree or are on the way. A lot of the writers (and readers I imagine) have some sort of hustle, usually in the form of their own business. They do more than just the 9 to 5 and then sit at home. They are of course sexy, beautiful inside and out, and confident. And sophisticated - we are not the stereotypical crazy or angry women. We carry ourselves with grace. (I can't forget that there are SASSY men out there. They are simply amazing too!).


What type of information do you share on SASSY?
I try to tackle everything that we're going through, I know, so broad. Recently, if it's something I've been going through, or a writer's been going through, we write about it. Sometimes people email me and tell me they want to read about a certain topic, and I find someone to write about it. It's important to me that SASSY is relevant to our experience and that it's helpful. I think it's really important to showcase diverse perspectives. We've had a hip hop republican post during the election because I thought it was important to acknowledge that not all young women of color were voting Obama, we have young mothers blog, we have a married woman blog giving relationship advice.


What has the response been like to SASSY?
Very positive. It started with some of my friends writing for it, but now other people have read the blog and wanted to contribute. My mom even wrote an article! We may not get many comments, but we have a lot of readers. Normally, people just comment to me about what they've read. They'll hit me up on facebook or gchat and tell me what they thought about what we've written. It's all good. I know people read it and they like what they read. That's all I need.


What future goals do you have for the SASSY brand?
I hope to create a podcast to go along with the blog. Hopefully we will have some sort of meet-n-greets so that local SASSY women can connect. I want to bring back Shining Stars, I like showcasing other's young women's businesses. I'm always amazed and impressed with what my peers are doing across the nation. I'm starting a PhD program in the fall, so I may start showcasing my peers research (but not in a boring way). I don't know, I'm open. The sky's the limit.


How can one take part in the SASSY initiative?
Read the blog, comment on it, join our Facebook fan page, follow us on Twitter. We're everywhere! If you'd like us to cover something you think is important, just shoot us a note, you can e-mail us, and we'll take care of it. It's really simple and we'd love to have you.

"Really Real" Love with Author J. J. Murray

For the month of May, All the Blog's a Page (AtBaP) proves that love IS color blind as we feature authors of interracial romance!




This week, we spotlight acclaimed author J. J. Murray!




The first time I saw J. J.'s picture, I have to admit I was shocked. I was used to African American female writers telling the stories of multicultural love. But then I read Renee and Jay. And then I read Renee and Jay 2. And then I read Something Real. And then I read the other books, and I realized two things: Murray's a good storyteller, and what I enjoy the most from his writing is my ability to see he wants to tell a good love story (no matter the color).




J. J.'s Latest







J.J. is a rare breed. He might actually be the only white male author who exclusively writes IR novels, and of course, because of this, I had to pose the following question: "How have readers taken to your work and to you as a white male author of IR?"
Murray replied, "I may be the only one! People generally squint at me a lot at readings for some reason, as if I'm not quite in focus. I sometimes open readings with, "You were expecting someone else?" I have been told that I couldn't possibly be J. J. Murray at writer's conferences--I even had to show ID. I once stood up from a signing in North Carolina to stretch my legs, and my wife signed books for me as J. J. Murray without anyone being the wiser. (I'm such a ghost sometimes). So many readers write to me after reading my books to tell me they didn't know I was a white man, some (not all) of them adding that it didn't matter a bit. I just hope and pray that I can touch a few hearts, pull a few heartstrings, release a few tears, and unleash some laughter in reader's lives. I hope readers smile when they've read the last word."


To read the rest of J. J. Murray's comments on interracial romance and to read an excerpt of Too Much of a Good Thing, head to All the Blog's a Page!

And while there, check out this month's features with authors Tressie Lockwood and Marie Rochelle!




ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE (AtBaP) - Where everything relates to writing


[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

Author Marie Rochelle Talks Interracial Romance @ AtBaP

For the month of May, All the Blog's a Page (AtBaP) proves that love IS color blind as we feature authors of interracial romance!



This week, we spotlight "The Queen of Tease," author Marie Rochelle!









The Perfect Temptation:

The moment he spotted her he knew that he had to have her. Dave Turner couldn’t get the stunning image of the creamy mocha beauty Charisma Miles out of his mind. He wasn’t going to stop pursing her until she was completely his.
Tall, Handsome and Oh so Yummy!
Muscles and tattoos are her ultimate weakness that’s why Charisma Miles stays as far away from Dave Turner as she can. His rock hard body is constantly the featured attraction in her dreams. He’s her ultimate fantasy, but is she ready for her dreams to become a reality?



For the month of May, I asked SEVERAL questions regarding interracial romance, and ultimately, Marie Rochelle is happy to see the positive climate in interracial romance; she states, "I do believe that writers of interracial romances have come a very long way in the last couple of years. I’m noticing a lot more interracial romance books in bookstores like Kmart, Books a Million, Barnes and Nobles, and Wal-Mart in my hometown. I think it’s wonderful. When I was a teenager and used to buy books, I seldom saw a black woman on the cover with a white man and now I do. It’s truly a wonderful sight."




To read the rest of Marie Rochelle's comments on interracial romance and to read the juicy excerpt to her novel, Tempting Turner, head to All the Blog's a Page!



And while there, check out the features with all of our talented writers on topics such as memoirs, urban fiction, homosexuality, faith, screenwriting, and MORE!





ALL THE BLOG'S A PAGE (AtBaP) - Where everything relates to writing


[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

In Touch w/ Everywoman and Echelon Press CEO Karen L. Syed

The Everywoman









Karen L. Syed is the president and CEO of Echelon Press, LLC. Every day is a new success story for her as she continues to grow herself and her business. She has seen eight of her own novels published (writing as Alexis Hart), along with numerous articles and short stories. As a former bookstore owner, she garnered a nomination from Publishers Weekly for their Bookseller of the Year award. She is a member of EPIC, GLBA, SinC, MWA, ALA, YALSA, and ITW.

You can learn more about Karen at her blog, and you can go to Echelon Press to view/purchase the exciting titles she publishes.










The Interview



What is the initial spark that brought Echelon Press to life?
I am one of those people who writes from the heart and my work always seemed to fall through the cracks of placement. To dark for this, to light for this, no real place to belong. Everyone loved my writing and my stories, so we decided we wanted a place for those writers who have great stories in them, but the traditional industry would not take a chance on them as new writers. We wanted to be a stepping stone.


What is the mission of Echelon Press?
To introduce fresh voices to readers who are generally overrun with cookie-cutter stories.










What genres do you publish?
Whatever I like. It pays to be the boss. We do a lot of commercial fiction, things that fit into any category, and then some. Our big genre is mystery, but we do pretty much all the genres, and even some that most people aren’t familiar with. Our newest acquisition is a steampunk novel for our Quake line.


What makes a good Echelon Press story?
Heart. For us, when we pick a story we want to feel the emotion of the characters as well as the author. No matter the genre, it has to engage the reader and make them feel, horror needs to make the readers think about their own fears, romance needs to make their hearts sing, mystery needs to leave the reader on the edge of the seat. It has to be extraordinary to pull the reader in.


What are the top three reasons a book might be rejected by Echelon Press?
The biggest reason is failure to submit a clean manuscript. Writers seem to think they can just write a story and it will get contracted and they will get an editor who will fix all their mistakes. That is fiction people!

The next reason would be the failure to draw the reader in. If you have a 300 page manuscript and you use “was” 2198 times, “were” 987 times, “knew” 389, and “seemed” 493 times your manuscript is excessively passive or weak. We know that those words are necessary, but numbers like these (and these are actual counts from a rejected book) draw the reader away from the story and become repetitive.

The other thing that will get you rejected, straight out of the gate, is if you do NOT follow the instructions on our submission guidelines. No one seems to take our request for a marketing strategy seriously. If you don’t follow instructions you get rejected without comment.


Electronic publishing: how successful are you in the selling of your e-books?
It is getting better every day. Venues like Fictionwise and All Romance eBook have been very beneficial for us. Readers and authors alike should realize the convenience and value of eBooks. People fear that eBooks will replace the printed book, but that will never happen. It just won’t. eBooks are an alternative for readers who need a break. I travel a lot and cannot carry all those books anymore. I love my Palm T/X and it allows me to carry numerous books at one time. Many of my readers are beginning to see the value for them as authors, because they actually make higher royalties on eBooks. Reads can benefit from eBooks because some companies like Echelon keep our prices lower. Our highest priced eBook is $7.00.


Electronic publishing: predict its future success; do you see more people turning to electronic books
I honestly believe that if people stop fearing the worst they will see the opportunities available to them. While the traditional publishing industry hovers in limbo, ePublishing continues to grow and blossom. I can’t predict what will happen, but I can say that if authors open their minds and allow themselves to be a part of this growing industry they can actually benefit from the experience of publication, which will prepare them for more traditional routes. For already published authors, it is just as viable for publication as any other format. The only reason ePublishing is questioned is because authors question it. If authors and publishers got behind it 100% readers would eventually see the value.


How are you using the internet to market/promote your books and your company?
Social networking is the best thing since sliced bread. The Internet is incredible. It opens up doors that would be impossible to even see. We have tried print ads with no success, we have tried radio ads and interviews with no success, but the Internet has brought us readers and customers from all over the world, literally. We are finding HUGE success with Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace. We are reaching 1000 times more readers in a shorter amount of time and at virtually no cost. I think the difference with us is, I try to train the authors not to just shamelessly promote, but to build some kind of relationship. It might take a little longer, but it is working wonderfully.


What three books are selling well at Echelon Press right now?
Our overall top seller is THREE STRIKES YOU’RE DEAD by Robert Goldsborough, followed by THE BRIMSTONE MURDERS by Jeff Sherratt, and MURDER OFF THE BOOKS by Evelyn David.


How might authors learn more about your submission guidelines?
The only way is to visit our web site. It is important that you read the entire page before submitting—you don’t want to miss anything!

Do YOU want The Dirty Dish?

Need a hangout to dish the dirt that comes along with the writing life? Up to your eyeballs in ornery characters and sidekicks trying to take over the show? Editors working your last nerve...well come dish it - if you can take it!

Every Wednesday, dirty dishers, authors Shōn Bacon and Samara King jumpstart discussions with a question you can talk about throughout the day...throughout the week if you want. Come check out The Dirty Dish on Twitter and under the hashtag #thedirtydish.

Follow The Dirty Dish today: http://twitter.com/thedirtydish!

This week's question: "Do you think there's pressure to add sex to books today?"

The Write Life for You Series: WORDS

Becoming a Lifelong Learner of the Craft of WritingBy author, editor, educator Shon Bacon aka ChickLitGurrl™

The Write Life for You is a series of articles on the writing craft. Past articles have focused on building character, developing a solid plot, and harnessing a writing style. In May's article, I look at WORDS - overwriting, commonly confused words, and more.


Here's a snippet...

OVERWRITING

Overwriting is a redundancy issue. We see this in newspaper articles all the time. A writer will quote a source, and then he/shewill paraphrase the quote. The paraphrase is repetitive, redundant.

In stories, we can see this when an action occurs and then the characters talk about what just happened instead of moving the story forward. We see this when a writer uses dialogue to “tell” instead of to “reveal” - especially when what he/she is telling has already been shown.

When we overwrite, we slow the reading for the readers because they want to know what happens NEXT - not what already happened.

Outlining can help to combat some overwriting issues. If you have an outline, you can look from scene to scene, from chapter to chapter to see if each component is moving your story forward.

Head to APOOOBOOKS.COM to read the rest of my latest article in The Write Life for You series!

Leave comments!

Spring-Summer 2009 Issue of SisterDivas is LIVE!

SisterDivas Magazine - Where REAL Women Congregate

http://www.sisterdivasmagazine.net

Why should you check out the Spring-Summer 2009 Issue of SISTERDIVAS?

Because @ MEDIA, we feature five individuals whose talents move through words, through song, and through celebrity entertainment: authors Brooke Green, Janete Scobie, and Leah Mullen; musician Roselyn Brown; and entertainment blogger Shari Weiss.

Because this issue of TOTAL BODY, we welcome Yolanda Shoshana as THE LUSCIOUS LIFESTYLE columnist; in her premiere column, she talks about a popular four-letter word.

Because in EPISODE EIGHT of LOVE BYTES, Destiny runs into her ex-fiancé and his new wife and learns news that could send her reeling.

Because over @ LIFE this issue, All That Glitters columnist Melodye Shore poignantly writes about hellos and goodbyes while SD interviews "The Relaxed Writer" Marla Beck, who talks about her career as a life coach for writers.

Because relationships of all kinds are explored this issue @ Relationships as Simone Grant AKA SINgleGIRL talks about being single in the city; Katie Stanton and Gloria Pan of Fem 2.0 discuss the importance of building relationships among women; and Yolanda Shoshana talks about the "luscious lifestyle."

Because over @ BUZZWORTHY, we show you our top pics for hot TV shows, CDs, movies, and books for spring-summer '09.



To contact SisterDivas regarding submissions or other inquiries, please e-mail us at info@sisterdivasmagazine.net.



We work hard to answer ANY and ALL e-mails as quickly as possible.

SisterDivas: Where ALL Women Congregate!
http://www.sisterdivasmagazine.net