Counting Down the Best Black Books of 2004

Before I can produce a top ten I need to list the 50 Black books that I read this year. This compiliation does not include every book written by an African American author, but is a list of the books I have reviewed this year that were written by African American authors. If you would like your book on the 2005 list see my website and my book review submission guidelines.




The List- 2004

A Love Noire by Erica Simone Turnipseed
A Love So Strong by Kendra Norman-Bellamy
A Love Worth Fighting For Katherine D. Jones
A Woman's Worth by Tracey Price-Thompson
All that Drama by Tina McKinney
All the Man I Need by Tamara Sneed
At Last by Lisa Riley
Baby Momma Drama by Carl Weber
Back to Life by Wendy Coakley-Thomas
Before I Let Go by Darren Coleman
Betrayal of Trust by Leslie Esdaile Banks
Better Than I Know Myself by Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant
Bling by Erica Kennedy
Boaz Brown by Michele Simpson
Camilia's Roses by Bernice McFadden
Date Night by Carmen Green
Distant Lover by Gloria Mallette
Diva, Inc. by Donna Hill
Drive me Crazy by EJD
Dying in the Dark by Valerie Wilson Wesley
Enchanted Heart by Felicia Mason
Fannin the Flames by Parry Brown
Flippin the Script by Aisha Ford
Gotham Diaries by Tonya Lewis Lee, Crystal McCrary Anthony
Guarded Love by Altonya Washington
Kissed by Carmen Green
Leaving Cecil Street by Diana McKinney-Whetstone
Lemon City by Elaine Merge Brown
Logic by Olympia Vernon
Love and Death in Brooklyn by Glenville Lovell
Mama's Baby Daddy's Maybe by Jamise Dames
Married, but Still Looking by Travis Hunter
Mississippi Blues by Cassandra Darden-Bell
My Daughter's Boyfriend by Cydney Rax
Passint Through by Collin Channer
Promises to Keep Gloria Mallette
Some Things I Never Thought I'd Do Pearl Cleage
Somebody Gotta Be on Top by Mary M. Morrison
Sorority Sister by TJ Butler
Soul's Juorney by Jacqueline Thomas
Tastes like Chicken by Lolita Files
The Dewbreaker by Edwidge Danticat
The First Thing Smoking by Nelson Eubanks
the Hamptons by Linda Domique Grosevenor
The Hunted by L.A. Banks
The Interruption of Everything by Terri McMillan
The Playa's Handbook by Brenda Jackson
Truth be Told by Victoria Christopher-Murray
Whatever Lola Wants by Nique Stanhope
When Everything's Said & Done by Ebonie Snoe
Worth the Wait Katherine D. Jones

Finally a Black Literary Journal!

Last month I received a nice letter from Jasai Madden, editor of Lorraine and James literary journal and a fan of my Suite 101 Channel African American Women Writers Finding Voice. And I jumped at this opportunity, because we do need more black literary journals and preferably ones not sponsored by Universtity Press. Kudos!

Here's Plug #1, Jasai

******************************
Dear Dee,

My name is Jasai Madden and I am the editor of the forthcoming literary journal Lorraine and James. As it seems you have the ear of many wonderful writers via your website, I am wondering if you might be able to post an opportunity that I believe is worthwhile.

In preparation for out spring 2005 debut, we are actively seeking submissions for fiction in the form of the short story, creative non-fiction and essays. This is a paid project.

The goal of Lorraine and James is to give voice and venue to a diverse group of seasoned, upcoming and crowded-out authors of great merit. I would be honored and grateful if you would make the visitors aware of this opportunity, one that I believe will act as a vehicle for great introductions and exposure for some of todays most gifted writers.

If you have any questions I can be contacted at 818-256-4503. You can also visit our temporary home on the web for more details Lorraine and James Literary Journal


Thank you in advance for your time and consideration,


Jasai Madden

Editor

Lorraine and James: A Literary Journal

Santa Claus does exist and he resides in North Georgia

I am a Christian and I am very proud of my faith. A long time ago before I joined my faith I had given up on Santa Claus. To be honest, I was twelve and I didn't my New Edition cassette until after Christmas, which confirmed my waning faith in the jolly old elf. Anyway...This past week I'm walking around in my neighborhood Publix Supermarket searching for food samples to snack on and some cheap, yet fluffy toilet paper and I walk by this thing. I assume this thing is a blowed up Santa doll so I only glance it, then I do a double take. Oh my goodness! It's him--Chris Kringle. Santa's eyes are so bright blue that when he smiles you can but smile back too. I do a little Irish jig and scare the Publix customers in the process. Flag down a woman on the Pasta aisle to take my picture with Santa. So in two weeks after the pictures come back I will post this picture of me sitting on Santa's lap, so that you can believe for yourself. Santa Claus exists and he lives in North Georgia.

NAACP loses Mfume

NAACP President and CEO Kweisi Mfume plans to step down as the head of the nation's oldest and largest civil rights group today. Thus, I will step down from my soapbox in silent protest after I share a few thoughts on the matter...

Mfume planned to serve in this position for five years, but stayed on for an extra four. So what did he do during his tenure? He put the NAACP back in the black(no pun intended. The organization was 3.2 mil in debt before he took over), saved it from becoming a dinosaur, increased young membership and made the organisation timely and relevant again instead of the classicist, obstracised instititution that it was prior to 1996. (Oh wait...is Cosby still a member? Maybe I spoke to soon. Anyway) The NAACP is made such a stronger stance for black issues in the past nine years that the IRS is breathing down its back for making comments about the Bush Administration, thereby threatening its tax-exempt status. See in America. You don't have to pay taxes, if you keep your thoughts to yourself. Or as the Oct. 8th letter that the Louisville, Ky IRS office sent to the NAACP: "leaders cannot make partisan comments in official organization publications or at official organizational functions." So how do Right Wing Christian organization's get around this loophole? Hmmm... As a conservative Christian I would like to know that answer myself. And Bush refused to meet with the NAACP before the election, proving that he never needed their vote in the first place or ensuring that Right White America wouldn't back out of supporting him if he did.

What has our America come to when we continue to stay segregated if itsn't church, politics, race or class? What has our America come to without a strong black civil rights leader barking down its back? Where is the America I love, and Mfume , could you please reconsider?

I guess a better print out this downloaded pdf NAACP membership form and strap up my boots. The next decade is sure to be a hard road to climb. Might as well take a nine year stint, then see what the ends gon' be.




Where authors and readers come together!

Counting Down the Worst Black Books of the Year

Before I started this log I used to post my top book reviews of the year, but this year...Sad to report I have had a change of heart. This year I will post the worst books reviewed this year in this blog.

Why?

Last year a book that I gave the lowest reviews for. Check my writing.com site[http://www.writing.com/authors/vidae] to see that one. (I won't name the book for now, but I will have at least ten people ask me.) And to my surprise this book makes the Essence Magazine Best Sellar List for weeks.

I review mostly books written by black authors. I am African American. Because if no other black reviewer will address this issue, I will.

When did we[African American authors] start accepting such shoddy work just because the book sales? There are millions of black market car trunk sellars of music, tv, and books out there that will never grace a store shelf. Yet, we take anything for the sake of popularity and call it great literature. You're jerking my granddaddy's chains, if that's true.

Don't get me wrong. I love hood fiction/baby mama drama fiction/downlow fiction/ whateveryouwanttocalllit fiction, but I want to be able to read it, find a real plot, get to know the characters, and be touched--not pissed off by poor writing skills.

But the thing that burns my hide more than the books making Essence Mag is that some of these authors have the gaul to think that what constitutes a good book is subjunctive as if having a full grasp of the English language doesn't count for anything, as if using an editor, a dictionary, a writing class or two isn't necessary. Maybe that's why the country is spending more money to accomodate those that don't speak English. Because English isn't imperative in America. And according to these horrible books--in Black America--it never has.

So if I want to sit down and enjoy a good read, I better find out if it is written in English or in English as a Second, yet Unknown Language.

And that's a flat out lie.

Too many people have died so that we can learn to read and write, to go to school, and I be dog gone(a little country slang for you) if I let some one dollar word writing hook debase all that our foreparents have fought for.

And as for all the Soldiers keeping it Hood in the books. I feel ya, but a little more English wouldn't hurt.

Check back to my log every day and see what my picks are and if by chance your book makes the list, please contact me I would love to talk to you about your book. Maybe you can explain its merit to me and my audience so that I can reconsider.

If you have some favorite hates, then please email me and I will take a look at it and love to post why you hate a particular book. And if there is a book that I haven't reviewed that you think is fantabulous pass it on.

Running on to see what the end gon' be...

Dee Stewart
AKA
The Reaper

Black Friday and Glenville

Love and Death in Brooklyn

Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, my daughter and I put on our shoppers best and headed to Discover Mills Books-A-Million to meet my newest writing cronie, Glenville Lovell. Glenville was in town promoting his second novel in his Detective Blade's Overstreet series, LOVE and DEATH in BROOKLYN. I am awaiting some picks to include in the event. Needless to say my daughter, Selah, got to choose the winner of Glenville's Holiday Basket. She was thrilled. I had a great time and learned a lot about Glenville and a lot about book signings. Check in tomorrow and I will tell you a little bit of both.

Kissmas Time

I have published my first article for a national woman's magazine. Yeah!! You can check out my article- "Kissmas Time" in Precious Times Magazine.

Snippet of the article:

Kissmas Time

By Davidae "Dee" Stewart

About five years ago my boyfriend, let’s call him Trucker Troy, stood me up on New Year’s Eve for the second time in the row. Actually-he didn’t stand me up. Apparently all the other truckers at his company took the night off, because his boss needed him more than anyone else. He called me a few minutes before the stroke of midnight, to tell me that he had just completed an emergency stop in Jacksonville, Florida six hours south of my home, and, thus, he would give me my New Year’s kiss via telephone. Minor technicality, but either way his inability to attend Watch Night Service at church with me again rubbed me every shade of wrong. And the fact that I had to settle for a fake kiss on one of the most romantic nights of the year Again distorted any future plans I had for us. Needless to say, Trucker Troy and I hit Splitsville on New Year’s Day, and he married a woman he met three months after the breakup. Go figure.
So why do we gorgeous God fearing women do this to ourselves? Why do we put so much pressure on the holidays than on our spiritual lives?

From the day after Valentine's Day until the day after Labor Day life is grand for my single Christian girlfriend divas and me. We go to the movies, to the beach, on cruises, and church events: Women thou Art Loosed, Women of Faith, and more by our big, bold and brash single selves. We preach, teach, organize fundraisers, and entertain family and friends without a care in the world. We are on a mission for Christ, the Lord over our hearts and souls. And then we get amnesia...

Go to your newstands and pick up the 2004 Holiday Issue with Victoria Rowell on the cover.

Who am I?

Hey, I'm Dee and I love God, my family, appreciating nice looking men and books, respectively. This blogger is my Review Blogger. I will tell you which authors I've met and what they've had to say. Can't wait to get this party started.

This week I am reviewing threegreat books: Aisha Ford's Flipping the Script, Niqui Stanhope's Whatever Lola Wants, and Erica Alexsander's Bling.