New Year, New You

Hello Beautiful People,
Well, we did it again! We have all survived the madness and mayhem of yet another holiday season and are on the brink of celebrating the beginning of another new year. 2010 is just hours away. Hard to believe, isn't it?
What goals have you set for yourself in the upcoming year? How do you plan to reach those goals? Do you know what you want to do differently in 2010 than you did 2009?
If you have already made your "resolutions" for the new year or if you don't have a clue what you want to change in 2010 and need a few ideas, I invite you to click on this link http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2446088/top_ten_2010_new_years_resolutions.html?cat=2 and check out the article. I encourage you to then send it to five (5) women you know and love and want to see empowered to live better in 2010.
I have made one "resolution" for 2010. That's right. Only one. I will reveal what that "resolution" is on January 1, 2010. You can read about it and follow me throughout 2010 to chart my progress, provide encouragement and/or advice, listen to me complain (and believe me, there will be plenty of complaining) etc. at www.xpressyourselfpublishing.blogspot.com . This will be a 365-day journey and I want you all there with me.
Well, that's all for now. Until next time...Happy New Year!

Hazel Mills
www.hazelmillsstories.com

Tonight, be sure to listen in...

What: The Mondial Amour Show on BlogtalkWhen: Tonight, December 28, 2009Time: 9:00 PM EST / 12:00 AM PST

Tonight's special guest: Sean XLG Mitchell, the ultimate hip-hop griot

Listen in as Sean discusses is upcoming book The Roof is on Fire: 101 Greatest Moments in Hip Hop that celebrates and highlights outstanding events and achievements in rap music over the last 30 years.

From the success of mainstream artists like Lil Wayne, Eminem and Snoop Dog to hit films like Krush Groove and Hustle and Flow, every era is explored and documented. Using over 25 years of experience in rap music, Sean XLG Mitchell chronicles events from the past and present and adds shine with exclusive interviews with hip-hop legends to include Dana Dane, Kurtis Blow, Grandmaster Mele Mel, the Fat Boys and Queen Pen. XLG reveals a vast array of feats, from the extraordinary and outrageous to the noble and obscure that is both informative and fascinating.

SEAN XLG MITCHELL is the ultimate hip-hop griot. He began his career promoting hit makers from Rockmaster Scott and the Dynamic Three to M.C. Hammer. As an artist, XLG recorded several underground hits as a member of Unlimited Skills and is the first rapper to win a national music competition. He currently works as a freelance writer and is the creator of the hip-hop category Adult Contemporary Rap.

Author's Predictions Confirmed, AGAIN!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Xpress Yourself Publishing
P.O. Box 1615
Upper Marlboro, MD 20773
Contact: Jessica Tilles
Phone: (301) 390-3645
Email: JTilles@aol.com
www.xpressyourselfpublishing.com


SCIENCE FICTION ADVENTURE WRITER, CHRIS BERMAN IS
ON TARGET AGAIN!

December 17, 2009, Upper Marlboro, Maryland — Chris Berman, best-selling author of The Hive, is now two for two with his new novel, Red Moon. Chris accurately predicted the discovery of water ice on the Moon, a key plot element of his book, over a year before this was confirmed by the NASA LCROSS lunar probe. Now, it looks as if Berman has gotten it right again with China’s ambitions in outer space.

Red Moon, set in the near future of 2017, predicts that the People’s Republic of China lands a military expedition on the Moon with the purpose of claiming the valuable lunar ice fields and the abundant resources of titanium and aluminum ore. The very existence of water ice on the Moon, a ready source of oxygen, hydrogen for rocket fuel and of course drinking water, make access to these resources a reality to any nation willing to put forth the effort to develop them. These resources will not only boost the economy of that nation or nations, but also provides the ultimate high ground in both economic and military control of outer space. In Chris Berman’s novel Red Moon, China indeed lands a mission to secure the lunar ice fields in the year 2017.

While this is a novel of speculative fiction, Mr. Berman’s prediction of water ice on the Moon was one hundred percent accurate. Now in a related story by Associated Press Journalist, Christopher Bodeen, the plot of Red Moon appears ominously close to the truth. In the Associated Press article dated November 27, 2009, Mr. Bodeen reports that China’s lunar ambitions are to land a series of unmanned probes on the Moon with a manned landing in 2017, three years ahead of America’s return to the Moon, just as predicted in Red Moon. The Associated Press article also makes a strong connection between China’s space program and their anti-satellite and advanced space weapons programs. Christopher Bodeen also states in the article that China’s secretive and military-based space program is being fueled by their booming export economy. The Associated Press article reads as if it were lifted right from the pages of Red Moon. Chris Berman adds, “With our dependence on the flood of cheap Chinese made products coming into our country, we are, in the words of Vladimir Lenin, “Paying for the ropes that the Communist nation will hang us with.” Mr. Berman also states that Red Moon should be in the hands of NASA, the Joint Chiefs of the United States and the President. Red Moon is a prophetic tale and a warning sign as we head into the future, not to ignore the incredible economic and military potential that the Earth’s Moon holds for our nation.

Chris Berman Chris has an extensive background in astronomy and is a spaceflight enthusiast; familiar with the space programs both here in America and in Russia.
He resides in Saint Augustine, Florida with his wife, Lareesa Polyakova and daughters Marina and Sabrina.


Red Moon
By Chris Berman

ISBN: 978-0-9779398-1-7
Publication Date: December 31, 2009
Trade Paperback; 308 pages
Qty/Case: 24
Retail: $15.95

Distributed by: Ingram Book Group and Baker & Taylor

This title is available wherever books are sold, as well as all online retailers.

For more information on this title, and other Xpress Yourself Publishing titles, visit www.xpressyourselfpublishing.org.

##

Meet Allysia Donaldson, CEO of Ample Delights

Allysia Donaldson is a woman who has always known what she wanted professionally. She pursued her dream of owning her own clothing line and is now the CEO of Ample Delights, a company that caters to the thick madams of the world. At the young age of thirty, Allysia has accomplished a lot but yet she feels a void. As much as she has pursued professionally, she has run away from in her personal life.

Davis is a single, hard working father. He lost his wife to cancer. Even though women are constantly throwing themselves at him, Davis doesn't date. The one woman he wants won't give him the time of day. If Allysia would only open her heart to him, Davis would fill that void in her life. She may see him as only a delivery guy but if she would only take the time to get to know him she would realize there's so much more to Davis Jackson.

Office Affairs is a funny, erotic novel about love and the discovery of self worth!

ISBN-13: 978-0-9779398-0-0, Xpress Yourself Publishing.com
Retail $13.95 Erotica Click on Book Cover to Learn More!

* * * * * * * * *
First Glimpse: Office Affairs (Contains Explicit Language)

“Damn!” I was highly stressed and my vibrator friend wasn’t doing its job. I needed some release and I needed it fast. I wasn’t dating anyone so I did what I had to do. I picked up the phone and called Fred’s ol’ country ass. Fred, my estranged husband, seemed surprised to hear my voice, but when I told him to come over he came running.

Now, I know that when I married him I was just settling but I don’t have time to look for real love. I certainly did not have the time then to search and hunt or even worse wait to be hunted when I met Fred. My company was just getting off the ground. Love just had to take a backseat to my career.
"Oh shit!” Fred was opening up Pandora's Box with his powerful tongue. All of my juicy secrets were being licked away as he stroked my clit with his tongue and wrapped his lips around mine. Who knew a little pink flap could bring such pleasure?

My body tingled all over as his tongue tangoed with my clit. I've never had a seizure but the way my body was shaking and saliva was pouring out of my mouth, I just knew I was about to have one. I probably would have bit my damn tongue off! That's just how intense my orgasm was. I unloaded all my liquid ecstasy into my ex’s open, awaiting mouth.

That was just the beginning though. Fred flipped me over, smacked my thick ass and rammed his eight-inch dick inside my wet pussy. I wanted to wrap my lips around it but I guess he wanted the hotness that only my pussy could deliver.

The man pumped hard and fast. His thrusts were quick and short. I tried to speak but every word got caught in my throat as his nuts slapped my behind. Then Fred slowed down. The slower, longer thrusts felt so damn good that I started speaking in tongues. I didn't know what the hell I was saying and Fred didn't give a shit. He just kept on pumping, picking up the pace until the thrusts were short, quick, and hard again. I felt his dick pulsate just before he screamed, releasing his white chocolate inside of me.

"Damn!” He said, almost out of breath. Damn was right! My soon to be ex-husband knew how to make him some serious love. I once thanked God for that man each and every day because he had brought it each and every day. No man had ever eaten my pussy or fucked me as good as Fred. He had always left me completely satisfied.

My elevator of bliss was rising towards cloud nine. Yes, his loving was like that! But just before I got to cloud six, Fred’s ass had the nerve to ask, "So, have you thought any more about having a threesome?"

Copyright 2010 Caramel Vixen. All rights reserved.

Why do we feel we MUST love him?

I woke up this morning thinking about abuse and how the victim always feels responsible. Why is that so? My younger cousin was in this situation a few years back and she always felt she had to love her abuser because he said no one else did. That's why she stayed and endured the abuse- mental, verbal, and physical. I wrote a story loosely based off her experience as a young mother who survived domestic violence and it's titled "Silent Cries." "Silent Cries" is the first story in the uplifting and inspiring anthology, Somebody Prayed for Me.

Today, my cousin is in college and working full time! She's a single mother and I'm so proud of her for moving forward with her life. To assist her, I set up a website where books can be ordered and the profit goes to her, toward her college tuition and raising her son. I hope you'll be compelled to purchase Somebody Prayed for Me from her website. To ensure a Christmas delivery, however, please select the option to order from Borders, Barnes & Noble, or Amazon. The links are listed on the website's homepage. Please share her website and story with parents, teens, and any one who may be in a violent relationship. There is life after abuse and by the grace of God, my cousin has proved that.

The website is www.ShakestaWest.webs.com. While you're there, please read an excerpt from "Silent Cries" and be sure to sign the guest book. Your support means a LOT To me and even more to her.

Have a blessed Sunday and make every day count.

Linda
http://www.lindarherman.org/

Look at me by Linda R. Herman

Look at me, take a long, hard stare.
I'm the face of HIV. I represent every woman 25-34 who has died or is dying from AIDS.
AIDS is the leading cause of death in African American women in this age group.
So, LOOK at me!

Do you think I'm ready to die? I'm not ready. I don't want to leave my children, family, and friends. LOOK at me!

Can you honestly tell me we can't change the statistics by raising awareness? Can we not see the Consequences of our actions? Oh God, is anybody even listening to me? LOOK at me!

Now, take a long hard look at yourself and answer this question:
What am I going to do today to raise awareness of HIV & AIDS?

To learn more about Linda R. Herman and her passion for saving lives by raising awareness, please visit www.LindaRHerman.org.

2009 is winding down. What was your favorite 2009 XYP title?

We are swiftly reaching the end of another year. Can you believe its the middle of November already? Geez! Time sure flies when you're reading great books, huh?

Tell us, what were your favorite Xpress Yourself Publishing titles this year and why.

Remember we have one more release for this year and that's Just Chillin'...releasing December 15th!!! Make sure you get your copy!

Need a recap of 2009's book releases? Here you go!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Journey To Surrender by Hazel Mills

I am so excited about my second book, Journey To Surrender!

First, I want to thank all of you who purchased my award winning first book, Bare Necessities: Sensuous Tales of Passion. It means a lot to me that you would spend your valuable time and hard earned money on something that I wrote. I can't put into words just how much that makes my heart sing. I can't wait to introduce you all to Journey To Surrender, the novel.

ABOUT JOURNEY TO SURRENDER:
Ahmad and Nikki Jacobs are the picture perfect couple. They began their love affair as college sweethearts. Now, they are married, live in the biggest and most beautiful home on their street, and drive the finest cars money can buy. Ahmad is the most successful attorney in the state and Nikki gave up her career as a teacher to become a stay at home mom; raising her daughters and lunching with her girlfriends several times a week.

But what appears to be picture perfect from the outside of this three- story brownstone is very different from the real drama that is happening on the inside.

Nikki's painful past and Ahmad's irresponsible behavior has led them down a road that takes many tragic turns. Shannon, Nikki's younger sister, has her own plans for Ahmad. Lies, deception and murder all take their toll on this already struggling marriage.

Can this couple get to a loving and trusting place in their relationship or has the collateral damage ruined it for life?

MEET THE CHARACTERS:
Nikki is the quintessential girl next door with brains, beauty and a big heart. She leaves Mobile, Alabama for college life far away from home on the campus of Georgetown University. But no matter how hard she tries, she can't get away from her painful past. Nikki wants to love and be loved but is afraid that if she lets anyone in, she'll be hurt again.
Ahmad has it going on at every level and has his pick of women. He is one of the rising basketball stars for the Georgetown Hoyas but his time on the court is cut short by an awful tragedy. Ahmad is a good guy who constantly makes irresponsible choices that at one point, almost cost him everything.

Shannon, Nikki's emotionally damaged younger sister, also moves to the nation's capital to further her education at nearby Howard University. Both sisters share the same twisted family secret but deal with it differently. Shannon is on a mission to get as much as she can, by any means necessary. Her destructive behavior leaves everyone in her path shell-shocked.

FIRST GLIMPSE: Journey to Surrender

Xpress Yourself Publishing's FIRST GLIMPSE at
Journey to Surrender by Hazel Mills


Ahmad and Nikki Jacobs are the picture perfect couple. They began their love affair as college sweethearts. Now, they are married, live in the biggest and most beautiful home on their street, and drive the finest cars money can buy. Ahmad is the most successful attorney in the state and Nikki gave up her career as a teacher to become a stay at home mom; raising her daughters and lunching with her girlfriends several times a week.

But what appears to be picture perfect from the outside of this three- story brownstone is very different from the real drama that is happening on the inside.

Nikki's painful past and Ahmad's irresponsible behavior has led them down a road that has takes many tragic turns. Shannon, Nikki's younger sister, has her own plans for Ahmad. Lies, deception and murder all take their toll on this already struggling marriage.

Can this couple get to a loving and trusting place in their relationship or has the collateral damage ruined it for life?

ISBN-13: 978-0-9779398-9-3 Retail $14.95 Erotica

CLICK HERE TO READ THE EXCERPT (CONTAINS EXPLICIT LANGUAGE)

TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK, VISIT www.xpressyourselfpublishing.org/bookstore.html!

Copyright 2009 Xpress Yourself Publishing, LLC

The Consequences of our actions: Look, listen, and learn!

consequencesconvo.mp3



Find out more by visiting, www.LindaRHerman.org.

WATER CHANGES EVERYTHING

In Memory of Hurricane Katrina

“I can’t believe that I met a real live Katrina survivor,” stated the mammogram technician in a celebratory voice as she adjusted my properties on the hideous contraption. It was not until then – standing there exposed – that I realized that I was a survivor. I deal with my grief by drowning myself – or sometimes overextending myself – by volunteering in my community. It feels natural because I did it prior to Hurricane Katrina. I constantly try to regain a life comparable to the one that I had in the past. Occasionally, I search for items in my house that are no longer there, or I get into my car to go to a café that I used to frequent, only to realize that, not only is it gone, but I’m living in another city. In addition, I must admit that I have gotten into debt trying to pull myself back up; after all, I took a 62 percent reduction in my salary once I started working again. I am not angry with Katrina; I consider it a part of my journey that I call life. I had to experience it in order to get me where I am today. I do not have an awful life; I have a different life. In other words, the hurricane is over, however, I am still outside in the rain.

Hurricane Katrina was one of those rare moments in life where all New Orleans residents seemed equal in terms of defenselessness. Everyone suffered some sort of loss that day, everyone. I had friends who did not evacuate. They had the wherewithal, but they chose to stay. The National Guard ended up rescuing them from their homes.

I was in Florida on vacation. Still, I live with the guilt that I was not there. I had to watch distressed citizens beg for help, food, and water while I sat comfortably in a condominium with all the necessities. I felt, like most Americans, helpless. When I went shopping the day after, everywhere I went in Destin, people were crying. It seemed as though I was in a twilight zone because I had never seen an entire community weeping.

When I was able to leave the Florida panhandle, I travelled to Donaldsonville, Louisiana by way of Baton Rouge. As my friend and I rode down the Interstate, we travelled over downed power lines. We had no idea if they were alive or dead. When we made it across one safely, I said silently, “Thank you, Jesus.” There were no gas stations open so I prayed that we would make it all the way home. When the automobile’s gasoline needle got to empty, we were within the Baton Rouge city limits. I would soon learn that I had lost my house and my car, among many other items, because of the storm.

When I tell my Katrina story, I get all kinds of responses. My favorite line people say when referencing everything that I lost is, “They were just things.” I agree with them. Nevertheless, I let them know that they were my things and they were more than “just things.” I worked hard for my possessions; no one gave me anything—not even the overstuffed khaki couch where everyone fell asleep when they came to visit. I have memories and emotional connections to those things. It goes deeper than people on the outside can imagine. I had community connections that no longer exist. The restaurants and stores that I use to go to are now gone, and my social network disappeared. I came to love – and sometimes not love – those “things” about New Orleans. After this response, folks follow it up with a question, “You had flood insurance, right?” I usually reply with a “Yes, but….” and they interrupt me with, “You’ll be all right then.” Individuals fail to realize that, not only will things not be the same, but also you never have enough flood insurance to replace everything. Let us face it, how do you replace pictures from a Mardi Gras Ball?

I try to go beyond the ignorance about the disaster to attempt to understand my own plight. I realize that I changed. My outlook on life is different. I no longer wait for that special day to use the good china or to wear a special outfit. I treat each day that I have life as a special day. I become solemn when I hear about a natural disaster in the United States or abroad. I relive my experience and I pray for a quick recovery for all. I no longer live in New Orleans, but I still think about it. I decided not to return, and a Higher Power ordered even that decision. I refuse to say that I will never go back, but not right now. I miss my friends, my extended family. If the city were 100 percent rebuilt, it would never be the same. Fortunately, I can reminisce about the old New Orleans, the way I remember it; whereas, our country should continue talking about Katrina until everyone affected by the storm is made whole again. Friends and family should carry on this conversation until they look at me and remember that I am a real live Katrina survivor. That sometimes I still feel sad and I cry at night before I go to sleep; and even though I smile during the day, I might still struggle to put my life back together, financially, mentally and spiritually.

© 2006 by Rekaya Gibson. All rights reserved

We're Nominated, Please Vote!

Last year, my publishing company, Xpress Yourself Publishing, was nominated for and won the 2008 African American Literary Award for Independent Publisher of the Year and we've been nominated AGAIN this year. I have to admit, we REALLY want to win again this year! I, along with my talented authors, have worked very hard this year. Currently, we have over 60 titles in print and an author roster of 30 that is rapidly growing.

Just like last year, in order to win, we are asking you to cast your vote for Xpress Yourself Publishing and its authors. Last year, the turnout to vote for us was phenomenal, and we would like to have the same turnout. Could you please, if it's not too much to ask, forward to your friends and family and ask them to vote for us too?

PLEASE go to http://www.literaryawardshow.com/voting.html and cast your vote for the following:

Independent Publisher
Xpress Yourself Publishing

Romance
Victoria Wells, author of When Love Comes Around (and A Special Summer)

Short Stories/Anthologies
Somebody Prayed For Me by Linda Herman, Allyson Deese and Tinisha Nicole Johnson

Author of the Year (Female)
Linda Herman, author of Consequences

For authors, it is a wonderful feeling to have their body of work recognized and nominated for an award. It truly makes the long nights writing and the struggles with re-writing all worth it! As a publisher, it is equally rewarding to see my authors shine!

We are so very excited, and we congratulate all nominated artists, authors, and publishers.

Thanks so much for your continued support of Xpress Yourself Publishing, and we look forward to showcasing our 2010 releases, and bringing you some of the best in the world literature!

Warm Regards,

Jessica Tilles
Publisher, Xpress Yourself Publishing
http://www.xpressyourselfpublishing.org/

P.O. Box 1615
Upper Marlboro, Maryland 20773
Phone: 301.390.3645
Fax: 202.478.3447
Email: info@xpressyourselfpublishing.org

The life that was; or perhaps the life that wasn't

I don't think it really sank in that we lost Michael Jackson until today. And when the reality of his death hit me, I realized we didn't just lose a Pop icon; we lost a humanitarian, a person who truly loved life and worked hard to bring us together as ONE. His parents lost a son, his children, bless their hearts, lost their father, and his brothers and sisters lost a sibling. We cry for the Michael we knew but they grieve for the family member they loved and lost.

I'm not usually one to shed tears but seeing the grief-stricken faces of family and friends of Michael Jackson, my cup ran over because I realized I was full. I felt a portion of their pain. Did you hear the poem Queen Latifah read on behalf of Maya Angelou? What about Brooke Shields' speech; her tears were so real. My heart went out to Usher because he truly idolized Michael and always acknowledges him as part of his own success. And then the family...Marlon's words, MAYBE NOW THEY'LL LEAVE YOU ALONE. His poor daughter, OMG, I wanted to reach out and hold her close to my heart. To her, he was the best father a child could have had and I see that because at heart, he was still very much a child himself.

Today, I cry and I grieve not for the life that was, but perhaps for the life that wasn't; the childhood that Michael Jackson never truly experienced. He's been in the spotlight since the age of 5; judged and accused, sentenced to shame even before he was trialed. He was convicted by the media and the public even though he was acquitted of the horrendous child molestation charges. For a long time I wondered, could he have done such a thing? Today, I scream and I shout, NO. NEVERLAND was meant to be a happy place where children were always happy and never had to grow up. NEVERLAND...Michael wanted to be PETER PAN and I surely don't believe he would have ever brought harm to anyone, especially a child. If he's guiltiy of anything, perhaps it was he was too giving of himself and loving to the point where some took his kindness for weakness. But trust and believe me when I say, GOD knows his heart and He is the ultimate judge for there is no jury; GOD's word is final.

To Michael, REST IN PEACE AND THANK YOU FOR THE MANY MEMORIES. I so wish I still had my record player with your picture on it. It's been a long time since the early 80's.

To the JACKSON FAMILY, his fans loved him, his family and friends adored him, but GOD loved him BEST.

Linda R. Herman

Professional Women Making Moves

Today Sylvia McClain is being interviewed by author Tinisha Nicole Johnson. Read what Sylvia has to say.

CLICK HERE to read the entire interview.

Tinisha Nicole Johnson is the author of the upcoming book Lessons Learned: Loving Yourself As A Black Woman. The book emphasizes ten life lessons that addresses a Black woman’s most intimate, personal, and professional life.

Tinisha will be interviewing professional women from various backgrounds up to the release date of her book, discussing who they are and the challenges they face, and any advice they have to offer.

Learn more about this book and the author at her website: www.TinishaNicoleJohnson.com

Seven Tips for Black Women to Live a Happier Life

In this day and age when the world is changing, technology is advancing, and years have passed by in a blink of an eye, Black women may wonder about the future and how it will directly impact them. Today’s Black women are beginning to realize that change in the world, and they want a positive piece of it. From the test of time, many women are learning what it takes to be successful and get ahead.

Living in a world where you are constantly reminded that you are the minority of the minority, sooner or later you start to catch on and grab that piece of success. That success can involve anything from earning a living to raising a family. However, along the way you may begin to doubt yourself, you may even wonder about your self-worth, and at the end of the day, you want reassurance just to stay in the game.

Tip #1:
When your mind is stuck in the past, you are in fact a prisoner of your past, resisting the key to free yourself into a new direction for your future.

The past is gone. Sometimes you have to let it go. Black women love very hard. They feel as though they have to. It is their core source of strength. It is also a quality they fully accept from others. Whatever has happened in your life, you have to embrace the good and let go of the negativity, but always look ahead as optimistic as you can.

Tip #2:
Whatever your constant focus is on, is what will move you closer to happiness or deeper into dissatisfaction.

Focus on your strengths and refuse to accept being Black and a woman as a weakness. Train your mind to believe you are self-confident and capable, and soon your actions will follow pursuit.

Tip #3:
When you start to understand and believe the depth of your worth, then NO ONE can fool you into thinking what your worth is as a Black woman.
The media has a funny way of interjecting what is beauty and what is not; what is popular and what is thrown out. Don’t believe the hype! There are some who seem to have it all on the outside, but are hurting badly inside. Realize that your inner happiness means more than any outer material possession or physical trait. Love you, and the world has no choice but to acknowledge it and accept it.

Tip #4:
If something isn’t working then change your approach. Knowledge is everything. Along with knowledge and persistence, you will make better choices.

Believe it or not, you might be surprised that you don’t know yourself as well as you might think. Live life, get a life, experience something new, and be open to change in your life.

Tip #5:
Life just isn’t long enough to settle. The strength to change your situation is already inside you, you just have to realize and find it.

Black women settle far more than they have to. They may want a change, but their actions tell a different story.

Realize you don’t have to settle. In some cases, it’s just demeaning to your self-worth. Recognize your strengths, work on improving your weaknesses, and always recognize the love that lives in the core of your soul.

Tip #6:
When you think others are holding you back, it’s your own way of thinking that’s holding many Black women back.

Many people resort to excuses – constant excuses. If you want something, go after it. Don’t allow insecurities or excuses to get in the way for too long, and stop your journey through life. More so, don’t for one second think you can’t accomplish your goals because of another human being.

Tip #7:
The quality of the relationship you have with yourself determines how many fears you have, and more importantly how you handle your fears.

You may have never thought of what type of relationship you have with yourself, but you should. You are going to be with yourself for the rest of your life. You might as well get to know yourself as much as you can. Always look for ways to enhance your growth – whether that growth is spiritual, emotional, relating to your career, family or health.


BIO:
Tinisha Nicole Johnson is an author, writer, and poet. She resides in Denver, Colorado with her family. Besides writing, she also hosts political and sports teleconferences as a profession. Tinisha is a versatile author. To date she’s written a mystery novel, a romance ebook, co-wrote an inspirational anthology, and her poetry can be read in various books and online.

The above article is based off her upcoming book, Lessons Learned: Loving Yourself as a Black Woman, which will be published through Xpress Yourself Publishing.

To learn more and sign up for her monthly newsletters, visit the author at her website: http://www.tinishanicolejohnson.com/

TOP 10 Bestsellers!

TOP 10 Bestsellers!

1. When Love Comes Around by Victoria Wells
2. Reflections of a Quiet Storm by Patricia A. Bridewell
3. A Special Summer by Victoria Wells
4. The Reunion by John R. Williams
5. Loving Simone by Jessica Tilles
6. The Food Temptress by Rekaya Gibson
7. The Hive by Chris Berman
8. Somebody Prayed For Me by Allyson M. Deese, Linda R. Herman & Tinisha Nicole Johnson
9. Temptation.com by S.B. Redd
10. Anything Goes by Jessica Tilles

What happens once the affair is discovered?

As he walked hurriedly up the stairs, I ran behind him, begging and pleading, trying to explain my actions. Unaffected by my deafening cries, Antoine continued his plight up the stairs. Once inside our bedroom, he opened the closet door and threw luggage on our bed before snatching several work uniforms from their hangers. He packed his bags, refusing to look at me, speak to me, or even acknowledge my presence. I fell down to my knees, my stomach in knots. “Antoine, please! Please don’t leave! Please, baby! I’m so sorry!” I cried hysterically.
“I’m sorry too, India. I’m sorry for wasting six years of my life with you,” he snarled. The pain he felt was audible in his voice and his eyes glistened with tears. The storm raged; booming thunder and sharp lightning, as sheets of tears threatened to rain from his eyes.

Suitcase filled with toiletries, most of his casual belongings, and work clothes, he stormed downstairs, out the carport door, and out of my life. When I heard the engine of his Caprice come to life, I died a thousand deaths on our bedroom floor, heartbroken with no one to blame but me.


Ready to read more from this novel and find out what’s the cost of India’s affair?

COST OF OUR AFFAIRS releases
June 2, 2009
from Xpress Yourself Publishing!

www.XpressYourselfPublishing.org

Want to reserve an autographed copy?
Visit www.LindaRHerman.webs.com

Hazel's HOTmail: Dude Acts Like A Lady

Dear Hazel,

I hope you can offer me some advice about my current situation. I am a thirty-eight year old professional woman who has fallen in love with my twenty-six year old hair stylist.

When I first started going to my hair stylist, I, along with many others, thought he was gay. He wore bright colored shirts with matching shoes, his mannerisms were flamboyant and feminine and he walked with a twist. But the man could do some hair and I made sure that I had a standing appointment with him every week.

During my appointments, he would often ask me out to lunch, dinner or to various plays that came to town. Usually, I declined. Last year, he offered to take me to lunch to celebrate my birthday and this time, I accepted. I had the best time with him. He made me laugh and was a perfect gentleman. His behavior was still a little feminine but not as over the top as it was when he was in the salon. We went out several times after that and I began to think that maybe he wasn’t gay at all but instead just a very sensitive man. The careful attention he paid to his personal appearance made me think that maybe he was metro-sexual. There was absolutely nothing gay about the way he kissed me or the way he threw down when we were in the bedroom. He was the most attentive lover I had ever had.

When I felt our relationship was moving in a more serious direction, I decided it was time to introduce him to my family. I invited him to our family’s annual New Year’s Day reunion dinner. When he arrived, my brothers and sisters took one look at the way he dressed and the way he walked and immediately labeled him a “fag”. It didn’t seem to bother him at all but I was infuriated. I insisted that they apologize to him and to me for being so disrespectful. I told them that he was NOT gay. My mother and my sisters keep telling me that if it walks like a fag, talks like a fag, then it is a fag. My family are not the only people who look at us strangely when we go out. Whenever we’re walking together holding hands or if we share a kiss in public, folks stare.

When I asked him how he feels when people label him as a gay man, he says that as long as he knows who and what he is, it doesn’t matter to him what other people say. He said that when women think he is gay, they open up and tell him a world of sercrets and that their men aren’t threatened by him at all. He says it is good for business and as long as they are paying $100 to $300 to sit in his chair, they can think what they want.

I truly care about this man but I can’t help but be a little bothered by how others view him. Does this make me shallow?

C.C. in Alabama

Dear C.C.,
The fact that you are “bothered” by what other people think of your man doesn’t necessarily mean that you are shallow. I don’t believe that it is what the other people are saying or thinking about him that bothers you. I believe that deep down inside, you are still unsure about his sexuality.
Now, you said in your letter that you asked him how he felt about being labeled as gay but you didn’t say whether or not you have asked him if he is or has been gay or bi-sexual. Just because he can “throw down” in the bedroom is not a sure sign that he is not gay. Remember, gay people have good sex, too.
Intuition can be a wonderful tool, if used correctly. If you have a feeling that something isn’t right about a situation, embrace that feeling and listen to it. Don’t be afraid to ask the hard questions or have the uncomforatable conversations. Both of you need to have peace of mind in this relationship.

Peace,
Hazel
www.hazelmillsstories.com

Have a question about love, sex or relationships? Send them to Hazel’s HOTmail at hazelmillsstories@hotmail.com Be sure to put “HOTmail” in the subject line. To insure anonymity, only your initials and your state will be printed.

Hazel's HOTmail: WWHD? (What Would Hazel Do?)

Dear Hazel,
I feel as though I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. My sister is married to a wonderful man whom she loves dearly. They have been married for eleven years and have four children together.
The problem is that I am in love with her husband and have been since the first time I met him. It was obvious that he felt something for me as well by the way he looked at me and the way he always hugged me. It wasn’t a brotherly hug because sometimes his hand would “just happen” to rub my behind. But neither of us acted on this attraction out of love and respect for my sister. That is, until about a month ago.
My sister was away at a women’s church retreat for the weekend and because her husband had to work, she left her children in my care. Her husband came by late one night to check on the kids but they had already gone to bed. We were talking when one thing led to another. Needless to say, we ended up in bed together.
I’ve been feeling guilty ever since that night and I feel that I need to clear my conscious and come clean about what happened. Her husband says that we should just keep our mouths shut and forget about it.
What would you do if you were in this same situation?


C.D. in Atlanta

Dear C.D.

What would I do? Glad you asked. Well, I would not be in your situation because the “love and respect” I have for my sister strictly prohibits betrayal, in any form.
Now that you have done what you obviously have wanted to do from the beginning, your conscious is bothering you? Please.
You and your sister’s husband are selfish. You both put your needs and desires above everything else and quite frankly, if or when she does find out, you deserve whatever happens.

Peace (if you can find any),
Hazel
www.hazelmillsstories.com

S.B. Redd Speaks Candidly...

S.B. Redd speaks candidly with the Literary Vixen Book Club. Read his thoughts on his debut novel, Temptation.com!

1) What can you tell your readers about your novel and about you? My formal background is a newspaper reporter. I worked primarily as a sports reporter and on a free-lance basis for various publications and websites for 15 years. I’m also a co-host with The Author Dark~N~Delicious on Real Talk, Real People; it’s a popular Blog Talk Radio show on Thursday nights (11 p.m., eastern). I’m also offer book editing for authors, and that’s been rather successful so far in terms of reader feedback from the books that I’ve helped make better.

As for my novel, I consider Temptation.com a scintillating work of erotica that will push one's literary envelope. The book delves into online dating and sexual and online porn addiction through the lives of two main characters: Royale Cole, a forty-something divorcee; and Ulyssa Howard, a thirty-something single mother of three at the time that they met. I’ve often put out there if you like your erotica nasty, scorching, freaky and did I mention nasty again this is the book for that grown and sexy reader.

2) What do you want people to come away with after reading your book? I want individuals that may be heavily into viewing porn to possibly see themselves and perhaps consider any necessary changes for the good as a result of reading my book. This is not some self-help book, but the characters were developed as means by which the reader might be able to identify himself, herself, or someone they know.

3) What has been the most gratifying part of being an author? So far, I’ve had the opportunity to regain my identity as a writer. That had been missing for almost 10 years. The other thing is when I write, particularly in my frequent blogs, it’s yet another opportunity for me to perhaps inform, educate, and to some extent entertain people.

4) Where do you see yourself as a writer ten years from now? I try not to look that far down the road. But I do see myself becoming more diverse. I hope within the next five years to have earned my master’s degree (probably in Creative Writing) because I would like to teach at the college level. Hopefully, I might have the same impact on someone in the next generation of writers as a couple of my instructors had on me.

5) How do you define success? Success has always been to me an expectation fulfilled. I recently noted in a blog that there is much hope in the pursuit of excellence.

6) How do you deal with adversity and failure? Some times you just have to keep on moving. I’ve also come to acknowledge that even in “failure” there’s often an opportunity at making application of lessons learned or achieving redemption for the good.

7) What do you do to stay grounded and maintain a sense of balance in your life? Easy. My wife of nearly 14 years and my daughter have a lot to do with that. I’m also mindful of my shortcomings and past failures. I realize that I can’t take a familiar path that leads me to futility and expect something good might come from it.

8) Which character in your novel did you connect with most and why? I write with a theme in mind so that’s where I make any connection. The characters are merely what brings these themes to light for me.

9) What should your readers expect next from you? My publisher (Jessica Tilles of Xpress Yourself Publishing) has already indicated that she’s exercising an option to publish my next book that’s titled The Shades of Passion. It should be released in 2010.

10) How can readers get in contact with you? I’m all over the Internet. My primary website is www.maverick-books.com. I can be found on MySpace (search: maverickbooks). I’ve created a Temptation.com social network; its web address is www.temptationdotcom.ning.com. You can also catch me on Thursday nights with our BTR show. Its web address is www.blogtalkradio.com/realtalk-realpeople and it’s call-in number is 347.996.5198.

In the words of a down-low brother, Andre Peters.

ORDER TODAY AT AMAZON.COM, BARNES & NOBLE, BORDERS, XPRESS YOURSELF PUBLISHING, AND THE AUTHOR'S WEBSITE, WWW.LINDARHERMAN.COM.

This Day Never Forgotten

Who won’t remember this day in history, especially if you reside in the United States? Who won’t be moved with emotions regardless of who you are, regardless of what you’re religion is?

When you offer a new kind of hope to people, they begin to believe. When you offer a new kind of change to people who are suffering, they begin to believe. When a better life for you and your family is offered, you begin to believe. When solutions and a sense of sincerity is brought to the forefront, you start to believe. When Obama got elected for President of the United States, that change took place, and when Obama got sworn in on January 20, 2009 at noon, that hope and abundance of change grew alive and grew strong.

More than ever people believe that anything is possible. People believe just maybe their hopes and dreams can come true; that just maybe they can have a better life despite what struggles lay on the surface of their life.

God is good and He will always come to our rescue, not when we want Him to, but when He think it is necessary. The change has only just begun.

May God bless Obama, Biden and their families. May God bless us all and show us the way to the change we need. And may we never forget where we came from and where we are going. Obama has taught and showed us there is nothing wrong with dreaming big, because it just may come true if you believe and follow through.

Be grateful, stay humble, and become involved in the change! Inauguration 2009


Tinisha Nicole Johnson
Author of Somebody Prayed For Me, AVAILABLE NOW!!
www.TinishaNicoleJohnson.com

Author Events Near You

The following is a list of author events in Philadelphia, Las Vegas and Maryland during the next two weeks.

If your town is not listed, there are no appearances slated within this period. See you next time!
Dates and times are subject to change. Please contact venue to confirm details.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Saturday, January 17, 2009 — 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Victoria Wells, will be promoting A Special Summer
Appears on/at: SIS FITNESS AND OPEN HOUSE
1320 Somerville Ave (2 blocks South of Broad & Olney)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Free gift with purchase of book (while supply last). Plus automatic entry into drawing for Spa Basket, Movie Tickets for Lovers, Ralph Lauren Handbag with mystery gift inside!Also enjoy the following activities: Group fitness class demo, discount membership packages, chair massages, complimentary refreshment, plus more!


Las Vegas, Nevada
Sunday, January 18, 2009 — 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Rekaya Gibson, will be promoting The Food Temptress
Appears on/at: BLACK BUSINESS WOMEN CONNECTION NETWORK
4602 Crimson Rock North Las Vegas, NV
Hosted by Debra Lewis and Janise Holmes

Monday, January 19, 2009 — 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Rekaya Gibson, will be promoting The Food Temptress
Appears on/at: PLANET HOLLYWOOD RESORT AND CASINO
3667 Las Vegas Boulevard, South Las Vegas, NV

Saturday, January 24, 2009 — 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Rekaya Gibson, will be promoting The Food Temptress
Appears on/at: REJAVANATE COFFEEHOUSE
3300 E. Flamingo Road, #23, Las Vegas, NV

Camp Springs, Maryland
Saturday, January 30–31, 2009 — 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Jessica Tilles, will be promoting All Titles
Appears on/at: ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE PX
With the Sweet Soul Sisters Book Club
Allentown Road, Camp Springs, Maryland

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The Ants Are Coming!

With three years warning, could we defend ourselves from an invasion by a horrific alien race?

The Hive
By Chris Berman

Suppose for a minute that the Aztecs or the Incas knew that Cortez or Pizzaro was on his way with the Conquistadors. They knew it weeks in advance and instead of welcoming them as gods, they met them with every weapon they had at their disposal. Don’t you think history would have been different?

The Hive is hard science fiction set in the near future of 2019. The effort to defend the Earth uses actual technology tested in the US and Russia up until the 1970s but never put into production and proposed weapons programs currently under development. There is Political intrigue involving a duplicitous People’s Republic of China, a self serving reporter and a horrific unstoppable enemy whose only goal is extermination of the “soft-life” (human beings) that inhabit the third planet of the sun. The Hive is the story of humanity at last finding common ground and unification in our struggle to defeat a technologically superior enemy. It is also a story about the triumph of the human spirit as seen through the eyes of American aerospace engineer, Colin Hewette, who had lost his fiancée six years earlier and Russian/Ukrainian radio astronomer, Marina Asamova, who find love against a countdown to invasion. Read More...

Meet Chris Berman...

Dear Reader:

THE HIVE is a science fiction novel with a little bit of a twist. When I wrote it, I wanted to combine an edge of your seat science fiction action story with a love story between my two main characters, one Russian and the other American. I am one of a group of men who found wives in the former Soviet Union. I am inspired by my wife every day. I'm not the type of man who drifts in serial marriages until they run out of domestic women who are wise to their ways, then go trolling off-shore, rather, I came from a strong, long term marriage of over 19 years. My first wife died of breast cancer. My second wife, Lareesa, from Ukraine was not opportunistic in any way as she had lost her husband to a medical error during a minor surgical procedure. She is also a brilliant woman who graduated Summa Cum Laude, first in her class here in America with a BA in psychology. I was not looking for a house servant or eye candy but someone with high intelligence as well as both inner and outer beauty and I found her. I felt there was a real story to tell here, set within an epic struggle of survival for the human race, showing that despite our many differences, we can come together. Somehow, I feel I successfully combined these two divergent genres (science fiction and romance) into an interesting book.
Here is my web site. www.freewebs.com/chrisbfla Please visit and drop me a note. I would love to hear from you.

Warm regards,

Chris Berman

Chris Berman resides in Saint Augustine, Florida with his wife, Lareesa Polyakova and daughters Marina and Sabrina. Chris has an extensive background in astronomy and is a spaceflight enthusiast; familiar with the space programs both here in America and in Russia.

Hurricane Katrina Transplant Turns Her Love for Food into a Novel

Upper Marlboro, Maryland, January 14, 2009 – For Rekaya Gibson, hurricane Katrina transplant, her love of food is evident throughout her new fiction release, THE FOOD TEMPTRESS (Xpress Yourself Publishing; January 15, 2008). Who knows how to convert a gay man into a straight lover using a pineapple upside-down cake? Only Ambrosia Bourgeois, THE FOOD TEMPTRESS, can accomplish such a task. The New Orleans Goddess of Gastronomy uses food to seduce men in hopes of creating Mister Right. Paralleling southern cuisine, each short story captures the hearts and minds of different men.

In the “Power of the Pudding” chapter, Ambrosia realizes that her bread pudding cannot withstand the demands of an associate minister’s plans to make her a dutiful wife. When she decides to forget about him and travels to Atlanta to visit her friend, she ends up in the bathroom with Black Thunder, a local stripper. It is not her fault; the peach cobbler was intended for the birthday girl.

Ambrosia perfects her craft by using traditional recipes from her deceased grandmother and occasionally consulting her mysterious aunt. When she discovers that her meals fall short of converting the man to her specifications, she moves on to the next one—a total of 16 ranging from the local police chief to a Bourbon Street musician. Will she reach her goal before the monstrous hurricane hits her city? THE FOOD TEMPTRESS serves a delectable treat connected by Ambrosia’s continuing quest for both romantic and culinary perfection.

Praise for The Food Temptress

"Jammed pack with unforgettable characters, The Food Temptress is filled with delicious crafty twists and delectable turns that left me completely filled and satisfied. A novel with best-seller written all over it."
— Erotic Expressions

“A tempting read that is sure to satisfy any palette.”

— Black Men In America

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

REKAYA GIBSON is a consultant and freelance writer. As a writer, she is not limited to writing about only one genre. Her love for food is evident throughout her fiction work, The Food Temptress, and her children's book, Are There French Fries in Heaven? Her nonfiction articles have appeared in the “Lake of the Ozarks Second Home Living Magazine,” “Relocating in Saint Louis Magazine,” and the “Times Picayune” newspaper. In 2006, she self-published an e-Book, Wow Them With Your Grant Proposal, and other grant-related e-Special Reports under her own e-publishing company, Gibson Girl Publishing Company.

Recently, the federal government selected her to review and score grant applications on underage drinking. Rekaya has spent ten years working in the violence/drug prevention fields and several semesters teaching a communication course at a community college. In addition, she has taught employees at a local casino how to write in English. This encouraged her to start her own nonprofit agency that focuses on language skills and literacy.

In the near future, Rekaya plans to dabble in politics - or at least write about it - as she completes her doctoral degree in political science. She holds a Master's degree in Public Administration from the University of New Orleans and a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Affairs with a concentration in Criminal Justice from Indiana University. Although a transplant to Nevada because of Hurricane Katrina, she now calls Las Vegas her home. She was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. You can reach Rekaya by going to her websites at www.rekayagibson.com, www.gibsongirlpublishing.com, www.foodtemptress.com, and www.grantsgaloreandmore.com.

Title Specifications:

The Food Temptress
By Rekaya Gibson

ISBN: 978-0-9779398-3-1
Publication Date: January 15, 2009
Trade Paperback; 244 pages
Qty/Case: 32
Retail: $14.95
Distributed by: Ingram Books and Baker & Taylor

This title is available wherever books are sold, as well as all online retailers.

For more information on this title, and other Xpress Yourself Publishing titles, visit http://www.xpressyourselfpublishing.org/.


We look forward to speaking with you regarding Rekaya Gibson's The Food Temptress! Please contact Erica Hart at the contact information below.

Xpress Yourself Publishing, LLC
Contact: Erica Hart, Public Relations
P.O. Box 1615
Upper Marlboro, MD 20773
Phone: 301.390.3645 Fax: 202.478.3447
Email: erica.hart@xpressyourselfpublishing.org Web site: http://www.xpressyourselfpublishing.org/

Novel adpated to film!

Happy New Year!

It is with great pleasure and so much joy, and just plain old excitement, that I share some fantastic news with you! 2009 is starting off with a bang for Xpress Yourself Publishing author, Linda R. Herman. Linda's debut title, Consequences: When Love Is Blind, published February 15, 2008 by Xpress Yourself Publishing, is a winner in the Novels to Films Feature Length Competition!

As this great news progresses, we will keep you informed! To learn more about the title, read below. To visit Linda online, go to http://www.lindarherman.com/ or www.XpressYourselfPublsihing.org/lindarherman.htm.

Also, stop by http://www.xpressyourselfpublishing.org/newreleases.htm to view Consequences, the full length novel, to be released February 10, 2009!

CONGRATULATIONS, LINDA R. HERMAN. I am so very proud of you!!

The Power of Words that Heal

Family, I'm in tears as I type these few lines.
My co-worker recently lost her mother who was only 54 years old. She died of cancer in October 2008. My co-worker and friend is currently reading Somebody Prayed for Me, and she just called me in tears after reading the story "One Moment With You" and the poem "Always In My Heart." These are pieces dedicated to the memory of my maternal grandmother who raised me, nurtured me, loved me, and taught me about being a strong woman. She died at the age of 64 in January 2006 and my life was forever changed that day because she was my grandmother, mother, and best friend.

I wrote those pieces for my own self-healing and today I learned that my words are helping someone else who is going through the same experience of losing a loved one.

I've been tired along this journey. There have been times when I wanted to throw in the towel and give up on writing. But God always finds a way to show me how my gift of writing can be a gift to others. Family, be inspired....never give up.

Linda R. Herman, Founder of ASA
www.LindaRHerman.com