FREE AUTHOR’S BOOK COVER WORKSHOP THIS FRIDAY. We’re discussing book covers and their relation to storytelling hosted by J. L. Woodson, the Design Futures Chair, American Institute of Graphic Arts Houston and CEO of Woodson Creative Studio, and USA TODAY Bestselling Author Naleighna Kai. Their special guests National Bestselling authors: J. D. Mason, Michelle D. Rayford, Terri Ann Johnson, and award-winning author Michele Sims. Learn the best approaches and output for your covers and even pose questions that will make your experience better.
Friday, May 7, @7:30 p.m. CST in the Creative Juices Podcast Page on FB
If you’re like most of the world, you’ve been social distancing and working from home. It’s time for a break from the news. I offer a list of books I’ve read and you and enjoyed. Dive into the pages of these gems and escape for a few hours.
The story of a man who balances two wives could have gone down a predictable path. This story takes you on a ride and throws out twists that leave you turning the pages. Xavier made me tired. He was a busy man with all the lies he had to manage. The two wives, Patricia and Lauren were both formidable women in their own ways. The author did a wonderful job of showing them as fully formed people. I understood how Xavier could love them both. This is a great read.
First Grave on the Right – Darynda Jones
I read this hilarious, quirky novel in two days. The heroine, Charley Davidson, is a grim reaper. Picture “I see dead people” but as a comedy with a mystery thrown in. This PI series will occupy my Kindle until completion.
My absolute favorite author. Everything the woman writes is filled with lyrical goodness. Reading her stories is a master class in putting words on paper. She’s my friend in my head. We would spend our time together dancing to 80’s music and talking about books.
This series of books is brought to you by Naleighna Kai, S.L. Jennings, Martha Kennerson, J.L.Campbell, Lisa Watson, Karen D.Bradley, Janice M. Allen, London St. Charles and MarZe Scott. These books are like Lay’s potato chips, you can’t read only one. Once you enter the world of these eight Kings, you gain an appreciation for Good Men.
Black Girls Must Die Exhausted – Jayne Allen
The title says it all. I enjoyed the relatable characters and the real life situations.
Such A Fun Age – Kiley Reid
Red at the Bone – Jacqueline Woodson
A wonderful tale about coming of age and how the choices you make then affect your adult life.
Don’t Get Mad…Get Even – J. L. Campbell
This collection of short stories showing heartbreak and laughter told from the Jamaican culture are entertaining and good damn writing.
Take advantage of this Spring sale with books at discounted prices! The sale starts today, Friday, March 20th and ends, Friday, March 27th. As an added bonus, you’ll receive FREE SHIPPING on all orders.
Inbox your name, mailing address, and book titles to mdrayford@gmail.com. Payments may be made via:
CAVALCADE OF AUTHORS at the BLACK WOMEN’S EXPO CHICAGO April 3-5, 2020
Meet and greet the following authors in the LITERARY CAFE, and Booths 120, 124, 126, 128
Naleighna Kai, J. L. Woodson, Brian W. Smith, J. L. Campbell, Karen D. Bradley, Janice M. Allen, Lisa Watson, Sierra Kay, Terri Ann Johnson, Michelle D. Rayford, MarZe Scott, London St. Charles, Betty Clawson, Ehryck F. Gilmore, Ann Clay, Janine Ingram, Sesvalah, S. F. Hardy, Michele Sims, Dr. Tanesha House, and others.
Special cafe pricing on Autographed books!!! Some will be 2 for $20. Genres: Contemporary fiction, romance, Christian Fiction, suspense, mystery, erotica, thrillers, self-help, memoirs, and Children’s books
Free book with purchase. Stop by and say hi and pick up the free downloads from Tribe, LaVerne Thompson, and Naleighna Kai.
Special Performance by SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE (as seen at Chicago’s Second City), sponsored by Sierra Kay.
Three authors will read from their books at the top of every hour.
Giveaways and raffles every hour, sponsored by the authors, Dudley Beauty College, Book Lover’s Con, Genesis Print and Copy Services
WE ARE HOSTING A READER APPRECIATION EVENT on Saturday, April 4, 2020 at 8:00 pm at the Hilton McCormick – 123 E. Cermak in the Auburn & Cord Ballrooms. Sponsored by Dudley Beauty College and Plano Eye Center (free eye screenings on site)
Cafe Members, Ambassadors, and fans are able to attend as our honored guests. Please email an RSVP with the name and email of your guests (4 max per person) to Naleighnakai@gmail.com.
FREE writing and publishing workshop at the Black Women’s Expo on Saturday, April 4 from 11:00 to 12:30 pm and marketing and promotion workshop on Sunday, April 5, from 12 to 1:30 pm
A tragic accident took the life of Kelsee’s mother whose dying words were, “Always save yourself first”. She kept that in mind until she met a real-life hero, Officer Alex Williams. Their marriage wasn’t a fairytale but Kelsee holds out hope that a child can save their union. But can the ultimate betrayal cause her to lose everything?
Alex regrets being unable to save his mother from an abusive relationship. He dives into a career that puts him in harm’s way on a daily basis. Then he lays eyes on Kelsee and falls hard. Despite his family’s disapproval, he sets out to make her his own. Can he live up to his “nice guy” persona or give in to the demons in his DNA?
The couple struggles to conceive, and when Kelsee really needs Alex, will he rescue her again or will she learn that he is not that nice?
* * * * * This book is free for a limited time. Joining the mailing list to receive the monthly newsletters and free downloads is OPTIONAL. Feel free to share this download link with others.
HAPPY RELEASE DAY TO LISA WATSON. KING OF HYDE PARK
Available for $0.99 for a Limited Time Only
Alejandro “Dro” Reyes has been a “fixer” for as long as he could remember, which makes owning a crisis management company focused on repairing professional reputations the perfect fit.
The same could be said of Lola Samuels, who is only vaguely aware of his true talents and seems oblivious to the growing attraction between them. His company, Vantage Point, is in high demand and business in the Windy City is booming. Until a mysterious call following an attempt on his mentor’s life forces him to drop everything and accept a fated position with The Castle which blindsides him with an enemy he never saw coming.
Public relations maven, Lola Samuels, has just been given an impossible task to fix the tarnished image of longtime bad boy, Shawn Mayhew. She reaches out to Dro for assistance, unaware of the underlying tension between the Mayhews and Reyes families. What starts out as a cut and dry working arrangement becomes complicated by danger, ulterior motives, and a fierce heat that won’t be denied.
When Alejandro discovers the lengths that the Mayhews will go to unseat him and ruin his family who has a decades long affiliation to The Castle, he calls in a few reinforcements of his own from his brother Kings. But there’s a hidden agenda that Alejandro doesn’t see coming who threatens his life, his woman, and his throne.
Grant Khambrel, a sexy, successful architect, worked hard to build a thriving business only to have it threatened by mistake that someone has laid at his door. The man who raised Grant after his parents died, made arrangements for Grant to receive the funds necessary to start a lucrative construction company. Soon Grant learns the money came from questionable means with strings attached; strings that took him years to cut and bury. After winning a multi-million dollar contract to renovate the United Center in Chicago, his bid comes under fire when rumors of improper business ethics arise. Grant is blackmailed by a powerful local politician for access and control of something money can’t buy, but will cost him everything if he gives in.
Autumn Knight, the beautiful Administrative Director of the United Center, grew up around both sides of Chicago politics. Her father, a local real estate tycoon and powerful Alderman, believes he should financially benefit from the good works he provides to his community. Autumn loves her father, but disagrees with how he operates and refuses to follow his path. Her career requires interaction with the new architect selected by her father’s committee. When Grant and Autumn meet, their chemistry is overwhelming, and they’re eager to explore their romantic possibilities. Unfortunately, lies and secrets threaten the future they both believe is possible.
Award winning real estate developer Kaleb Valentine is known for turning failing communities into thriving havens in the Metro Detroit Area. Kaleb’s business investments always brought a good return until the purchase of one property in his hometown of Chicago. Kaleb’s plans to develop the South Shore area are thwarted when five bodies are found in a house fire and sets Kaleb deep in the middle of a criminal investigation and back into a life he left he was a teen and threatens the love he’s found with his best friend’s business associate.
Skyler Pierson has no time for romance, let alone love, but the walls around her heart begin to crumble when Kaleb shows up to volunteer at her place of employment. Working as the transition coordinator for The Second Chance at Life Women’s Shelter, Harper secures sanctuary for women and their families who’ve been thrown out by their families or experienced abusive relationships. When Kaleb asks Harper for a favor, she gladly accepts, but soon discovers that asking one too many questions gets her more information than she expected to find.
The circumstances surrounding Kaleb’s background digs up his past and threatens his success, his life, and his love. How far will Kaleb’s enemies go to take him down?
Apple Books
http://bit.ly/KingofSouthShoreAppleBooks
Two things threaten to destroy several areas of Daron Kincaid’s life—the tracking device he developed to locate victims of sex trafficking and an inherited membership in a mysterious outfit called The Castle. The new developments set the stage to dismantle the relationship with Cameron, the woman he loves, as well as the new life he’s building outside of an FBI sting that brought down his former enemies. Coming out of the shadows could have dangerous consequences that affect everyone around him.
Marquise Sinclair, a crime boss over an international art theft ring, is determined to take Daron’s position in the Castle by leveraging Cameron’s life against a project worth billions. Unfortunately, he is unaware that his lovely target was fiercely trained to make men weak or put them on the wrong side of the grave. The secrets Daron keeps from Cameron and his inner circle only complicates an already tumultuous situation that isn’t of his own making.
Can Daron take on Marquise, manage his secrets and loyalty to the Castle without permanently losing the woman he loves?
