New Book Release: Crook Manifesto: A Novel by Colson Whitehead

Colson Whitehead, the two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and bestselling author of Harlem Shuffle continues his Harlem saga in a powerful and hugely-entertaining novel that summons 1970s New York in all its seedy glory.

It’s 1971. Trash piles up on the streets, crime is at an all-time high, the city is careening towards bankruptcy, and a shooting war has broken out between the NYPD and the Black Liberation Army. Amidst this collective nervous breakdown furniture store owner and ex-fence Ray Carney tries to keep his head down and his business thriving. His days moving stolen goods around the city are over. It’s strictly the straight-and-narrow for him — until he needs Jackson 5 tickets for his daughter May and he decides to hit up his old police contact Munson, fixer extraordinaire. But Munson has his own favors to ask of Carney and staying out of the game gets a lot more complicated – and deadly.

1973. The counter-culture has created a new generation, the old ways are being overthrown, but there is one constant, Pepper, Carney’s endearingly violent partner in crime. It’s getting harder to put together a reliable crew for hijackings, heists, and assorted felonies, so Pepper takes on a side gig doing security on a Blaxploitation shoot in Harlem. He finds himself in a freaky world of Hollywood stars, up-and-coming comedians, and celebrity drug dealers, in addition to the usual cast of hustlers, mobsters, and hit men. These adversaries underestimate the seasoned crook – to their regret.

1976. Harlem is burning, block by block, while the whole country is gearing up for Bicentennial celebrations. Carney is trying to come up with a July 4th ad he can live with. ("Two Hundred Years of Getting Away with It!"), while his wife Elizabeth is campaigning for her childhood friend, the former assistant D.A and rising politician Alexander Oakes. When a fire severely injures one of Carney’s tenants, he enlists Pepper to look into who may be behind it. Our crooked duo have to battle their way through a crumbling metropolis run by the shady, the violent, and the utterly corrupted.

CROOK MANIFESTO is a darkly funny tale of a city under siege, but also a sneakily searching portrait of the meaning of family. Colson Whitehead’s kaleidoscopic portrait of Harlem is sure to stand as one of the all-time great evocations of a place and a time.

CHECK OUT THE BOOK ON AMAZON

New Book Release: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: A Novel by James McBride

From James McBride, author of the bestselling Oprah’s Book Club pick Deacon King Kong and the National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird, a novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them.

In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. Chicken Hill was where Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived when Moshe integrated his theater and where Chona ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. When the state came looking for a deaf boy to institutionalize him, it was Chona and Nate Timblin, the Black janitor at Moshe’s theater and the unofficial leader of the Black community on Chicken Hill, who worked together to keep the boy safe.

As these characters’ stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins of white, Christian America struggle and what they must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened on Chicken Hill and the part the town’s white establishment played in it, McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community—heaven and earth—that sustain us.

Bringing his masterly storytelling skills and his deep faith in humanity to The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, James McBride has written a novel as compassionate as Deacon King Kong and as inventive as The Good Lord Bird.

CHECK OUT THE BOOK ON AMAZON

Author Angela Flournoy Signs Seven Figure book Deal

For seven figures, Angela Flournoy, best known as the author of The Turner House sold The Wounded Wilderness to Mariner’s Rakia Clark in a two-book, North American rights deal. Ellen Levine at Trident Media Group represented Flournoy, a National Book Award finalist and contributing writer at the New York Times Magazine. Mariner said Wounded Wilderness, a novel, follows four Black women over the course of 20 years of friendship, examining “how gender expectations, race, class and the shifting dynamics of city life” affect them. The second book in the deal, the memoir When Will I See You Again?, is about the author’s first pregnancy, which coincided with her mother being diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Angela Flournoy has also been a finalist for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, a Summer 2015 Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers selection, a May 2015 Indie Next pick and a New York Times Sunday Book Review Editors' Choice. Her fiction has appeared in The Paris Review, and she has written for The New York Times, The New Republic and The Los Angeles Times.

New book by Black poet: "The Blood is On Your Hands": Poems Against Gun Violence In America

Paperback ------ Kindle

"The Blood is On Your Hands": Poems Against Gun Violence In America

George L. Cook III is a former Councilman Board of Education member from Hillside, New Jersey.

Mr. Cook watched the news of the massacres at Buffalo and Uvalde in horror as many of you did.

He watched on May 19, 2022 when a coward entered a supermarket in Buffalo, New York and gunned down ten people for no other reason than they were Black. The bastard believed in White Replacement Theory, a white supremist notion that whites will be replaced by “minorities”.

On May 24, 2022, like most of you, he watched in shock as the news of the shooting in Uvalde, Texas was reported.

He watched a parent’s worst nightmare in shock and anger. He watched and cried as reports of 19 dead children between the ages of 9 and 11 flooded my television, computer, and smartphone screen.

He grew angrier as the hours and the days went by. He grew angrier because he realized no matter what the politicians said, no matter how many thoughts and prayers they gave, he knew nothing would change.

In both cases the 18-year-old gunmen were able to buy AR-15s days before or literally hours before the attacks. How is that even possible?

The CDC lists guns as the #1 cause of death for children in the United States. Yet, those in Congress do nothing.

Things must change and change now!

This anger inspired George Cook to write his book, The Blood is on Your Hands: Poems Against Gun Violence.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...The poems are beautiful and visceral. It is clear that Cook feels passionately about this subject, and he knows how to communicate that passion across the page."
 
From the Union County  (NJ) Local Source newspaper.

I just read this book. I thought it was brilliant. It Speaks life Into existence as to what is happening in this world...These poems are fabulous, the dedication and respect that George Cook put on them is wonderful. We need to pass these to other people. We need to pray for other people to read this. 
 

Reverend Cherenna Dale-Rawls Community Church of God Plainfield NJ

...The poems are written in memory of the victims. The message is for lawmakers.

Adam Darsky TAPInto Hillside.net

This book written by George L. Cook, and was clearly written, not to raise money,  but to raise awareness to systemic racism and abuse by those in power.

Yes the Blood is on your hands.
Ezekiel 3:18

Elder Donald Boughton Th.B

THE BLOOD IS ON YOUR HANDS - Poems against gun violence by the Honorable George L. Cook III. This is a easy read and a great tool for all to enjoy!

NJ Assemblyman and Bishop Reginald W. Atkins

The book is available on Amazon in paperback and for Kindle:

Paperback ------ Kindle

The African American Book Festival set for April 16 in Richmond, VA

Nobel Prize winner, Toni Morrison dies at 88

Toni Morrison, the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature, is gone. But her unique voice – earthy, poetic, powerful, elliptical – endures in novels like "Beloved, "Song of Solomon," "Sula" and "The Bluest Eye."

She died Monday at age 88 in New York following a short illness, according to her family and publisher.

The Morrison family issued this statement via Morrison's publisher: “It is with profound sadness we share that, following a short illness, our adored mother and grandmother, Toni Morrison, passed away peacefully last night surrounded by family and friends. She was an extremely devoted mother, grandmother and aunt who reveled in being with her family and friends. The consummate writer who treasured the written word, whether her own, her students or others, she read voraciously and was most at home when writing. Although her passing represents a tremendous loss, we are grateful she had a long, well lived life."

The family continued: "While we would like to thank everyone who knew and loved her, personally or through her work, for their support at this difficult time, we ask for privacy as we mourn this loss to our family. We will share information in the near future about how we will celebrate Toni’s incredible life.”

Morrison won a Pulitzer, the Nobel Prize, and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Read more: Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize winner, author of 'Beloved,' dies at 88

Tayari Jones wins the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction

American author Tayari Jones has won the 2019 Women’s Prize for Fiction with her fourth novel An American Marriage.

At an awards ceremony hosted in Bedford Square Gardens, central London – hosted by novelist and Women’s Prize Founder Director, Kate Mosse – the 2019 Chair of Judges, Kate Williams presented the author with the £30,000 ($38,000) prize and the ‘Bessie’, a limited edition bronze figurine. Both are anonymously endowed.

Professor Kate Williams,Chair of Judges, said: “This is an exquisitely intimate portrait of a marriage shattered by racial injustice. It is a story of love, loss and loyalty, the resilience of the human spirit painted on a big political canvas – that shines a light on today’s America. We all loved this brilliant book.”

The Women’s Prize for Fiction – one of the biggest international celebrations of women’s creativity – is the UK’s only annual book award for fiction celebrating excellence, originality and accessibility in women’s writing from throughout the world.

Tayari Jones is the author of four novels, including Silver Sparrow, The Untelling, and Leaving Atlanta. Jones holds degrees from Spelman College, Arizona State University, and the University of Iowa. She serves on the MFA faculty at Rutgers and writes regular posts at www.tayarijones.com. She lives in Brooklyn.

An American Marriage

Celestial and Roy are a newlywed couple with a bright future; the embodiment of the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into a routine, their lives are derailed by circumstances neither could have imagined. Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. Though fiercely independent, Celestial finds herself bereft and unmoored, taking comfort in Andre, her childhood friend, and best man at their wedding. As Roy’s time in prison passes, she is unable to hold on to the love she’s built her life around until now. After five years, Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together.

This is a powerful story about love and family, injustice and strength. Through An American Marriage Tayari Jones proves she is not just a masterful storyteller, but also a visionary writer, unafraid to address important issues about race, class and society head-on.

Black author interview with Gerald R. Johnson author of Tainted: Book of Revelations

As an author myself I know how hard it can be for authors to get publicity for their books. With that in mind I have decided to post short 7 question interviews with black authors to help publicize black authors and their books at no cost to those authors. If you are willing to do a free interview just contact me at georgelcookiii@gmail.com

AAR (African American Reports): Tell us something about you the person?

Gerald: The writer Gerald R Johnson was born in a small town in Central FL on the day and time Neil Armstrong walked on the moon (July 20, 1969)... He's an avid people watcher thus he has a growing list of characters always at the ready to be utilized. He's a dreamer which keeps his love of and for writing always present. As a father, he loves the fact that his desires to be creative has passed along to his kids. He feels that he's a Writer first and an Author after the fact, and to him there is a difference between the two. As a reader, he is constantly learning more and more about the world of "published" writers and looks forward to one day sit amongst the likes of King, Rice, Brown & Patterson as their literary equals.

AAR: What inspired you to begin writing?

Gerald: Inspiration to write can come from almost anything... From a random thought to a ride through town or a walk through the mall to even a song on the radio or a conversation with a friend. I love that anything around me has always been able to pull a story out of me, and I'm fortunate that I had people in my life who recognized that passion to create stories and helped to keep that fire burning in me. My main inspiration is truly a love of creativity.

AAR: What is your latest title?

Gerald: My latest title is Tainted: the Book of Revelations and it is book 1 of a 3 book series.

AAR: What's the plot of the book?

Gerald: Two best friends who grew up in the projects of Tampa have created a multimillion dollar industry born from their time of hustling drugs and other illegal merchandise, but one of them wants more... He wants to own it all and to do that he's willing to kill his best friend to take sole ownership of their company. What he's not prepared for is his best friend grooming his new bride to take over everything. She's nieve to the cruelties of street thugs, but she's determined to prove that she can and will be the head of her husband's business. A cub must become a lioness as she deals with a nest of vipers. The question becomes... Is she truly up to it?

AAR: Who is your favorite character in the book?

Gerald: I have two... Bobby "Jangles" Johnson is that antagonist that you come to love to hate. He grows into his part as the bad guy and keeps you wondering ... What's next? Next is Courtney Roulette, she has a lot to learn about her husband's business, and being a young lady already scarred by a bad experience she has to learn to prepare herself for the worst in a war between Jangles and her husband Sidney.

AAR: Where is the book available?

Gerald: Tainted is available in both paperback and ebook on most major sites like amazon, barnes&noble, Booksamillion, goodbooks, etc.

AAR: Is there anything you would like to mention in closing?

Gerald: Tainted is the first I've ever done in the urban genre, but not my last. I am not cornerstoned in just the urban lit, I got my start in writing doing scifi & fantasy, and I always dabble in the paranormal and erotica. Recent writings has even taken me into the realm of psychological thrillers. I love the challenges of writing, of testing my writing limits and just pushing them to the breaking point. As I mentioned, I am a Writer before an Author, and to me that means I'm always in a learning mode as a Writer in order to make myself a better Author. I love what I do because it is not What I am, but Who I am... I am a Writer. Thank you for this opportunity

Buy Tainted: Book of Revelations

Black author interview with Alycia Morris author of "Nothing New except Someone New"

As an author myself I know how hard it can be for authors to get publicity for their books. With that in mind I have decided to post short 7 question interviews with black authors to help publicize black authors and their books at no cost to those authors. If you are willing to do a free interview just contact me at georgelcookiii@gmail.com

AAR (African American Reports): Tell us something about you the person?

Alycia Morris: I was born in Oklahoma City Oklahoma but I grew up in Waco and Dallas Texas. We moved back to Oklahoma when I was 13 and that is when I engaged in sports (cheerleading and track). After high school I joined the United States Army Reserves where I did a 6 year contract. I began college and majored in Sociology. I enjoy reading,writing and watching movies. When I am stressed I cook.

AAR: What inspired you to begin writing?

Alycia Morris: After a bad break up with a man I just knew was my soulmate I did not know how to express my emotions. So I wrote about what I was feeling and why I felt that way. After I expressed my hurt I began writing stories about love and relationships. I created characters to describe how I felt and how others felt about different scenarios in life.

AAR: What is your latest title?

Alycia Morris: "Nothing New except Someone New" This is my debut novel and it is a 2 part series. Part 2 will be released early October.

AAR: What's the plot of the book?

Alycia Morris: Who will Isis choose? It is a love story with a twist, she has been broken hearted and all she wants is to be loved and wanted.

AAR: Who is your favorite character in the book?

Alycia Morris: Tarvis , he gives a different prospective of men whom are stereotyped in society. He is smooth, charasmatic, he is not afraid to show his feelings to anyone at any time.

AAR: Where is the book available?

Alycia Morris: Amazon.com and Kindle Unlimited

AAR: Is there anything you would like to mention in closing?

Alycia Morris: I am currently working on a suspense thriller titled "Foul Play" to be released at the end of the year and a series entitled "The Elite Circle of Dominance" to be released the beginning of 2015.

Buy Nothing New except Someone New

Black author interview with Troi Fields author of Wife Tales

As an author myself I know how hard it can be for authors to get publicity for their books. With that in mind I have decided to post short 7 question interviews with black authors to help publicize black authors and their books at no cost to those authors. If you are willing to do a free interview just contact me at georgelcookiii@gmail.com

AAR (African American Reports): Tell us something about you the person?

Troi Fields: I am a single mother of 3 who's an avid football fan....my favorite player, my sons!!! I absolutely love the written word and have been a lover of literature since I was a young girl...the classics are my favorites! I am currently one of the King Publishing Group family of writers.

AAR: What inspired you to begin writing?

Troi Fields: I have always loved writing and used it to express my feeling and thoughts. I was actually working as a freelance editor and someone notice the skill I had filling in the "holes" in some of the stories. I was asked if I would ever be interested in coming from behind the scenes and writing a book for myself and so I did. It was that small nudge from a friend.

AAR: What is your latest title?

Troi Fields: My lastest release is Wife Tales Episode 3. It is the third installment in a series of six.

AAR: What's the plot of the book?

Troi Fields: The Wife Tales series centers around five ladies in the South Florida area and deals with the everyday things they go through in there marriages, friends and careers. It deals with how they relate to each other and the world around them. There is lots of drama and suspense but there is also a lot of real life issues that are brought to the forefront such as divorce, separation, the consequences of "shacking" for a long period of time, secrets, infidelities, etc.

AAR:Who is your favorite character in the book?

Troi Fields: I don't have one favorite in the book. I have found that the more I write, the more I see of myself in each of the women in some way, shape, form or fashion, but if I had to say one character I would choose Bailey. She is the sassy, no nonsense mother who is fighting for her family, her love, and the right to be cherished in her relationship.

AAR: Where is the book available?

Troi Fields: The series is available in e-book format on Amazon.

AAR: Is there anything you would like to mention in closing?

Troi Fields: That since I started this journey I have had some fans that have supported me beyond anything that I could have hoped for or imaged. I so appreciate their support, encouragement and friendship! They are the reason why I pick my laptop and write some days!

Buy Troi Field's Books

Black author interview with Tiana Nicole author of Deceitful Temptations.

As an author myself I know how hard it can be for authors to get publicity for their books. With that in mind I have decided to post short 7 question interviews with black authors to help publicize black authors and their books at no cost to those authors. If you are willing to do a free interview just contact me at georgelcookiii@gmail.com

AAR (African American Reports): Tell us something about you the person?

Tiana Nicole: I would like to share with the readers that beyond all things I am humble. I’m a 29 year old wife and mother of three awesome children. Because of my background I’d like to think I’ve come a far cry from the life I lived in the past. I was a troubled teen whom needed to find a better outlet to deal with my aggression. My outlet was my education and of course my writings. I overcame those troubling times by proceeding to achieve an A.A Degree in Business Administration, a B.A Degree in Psychology, and my finest accomplishment of them all, a M.A Degree in Business Management.

AAR: What inspired you to begin writing?

I’ve always been inspired to write. Around or about the age of 13, I would produce short stories that were intended to be full novels, however somehow I would tell the entire story within the first five pages. I became discouraged by that particular short coming, and because of that road block I ceased writing. My interest in writing rekindled in 2010 at a point where I wasn’t expecting.

AAR: What is your latest title?

Tiana Nicole: My latest novel is titled Deceitful Temptations. The key characters of the book are both Pastor James and his wife Charmaine. Maurice is a smart, handsome man of the cloth whom of which is working hard to lead his city into the next millennium by running for Mayor with his wife right by his side every step of the journey. In public they have a picture perfect love. Despite the dedication from his wife, the good Pastor can’t seem to fight the temptations of the flesh the outside world has to offer. Although their picture perfect on the outside, their private lives holds an extensive amount of hurt, pain, and a battle of deceit that may be proven to be stronger than their marriage.

AAR: What's the plot of the book?

Tiana Nicole: The plot of the book focuses on shedding light on the fact of regardless of who we are in life, and what we set out to accomplish we all have our flaws and our faults. No one individual has tackled the craft of perfecting life. The plot also delivers a much needed awareness to both men and women how important it is to love yourself, and to never settle on anything less than your worth. In many instances we love the idea of companionship more than we love the idea of loving ourselves.

AAR: Who is your favorite character in the book?

Tiana Nicole: My favorite character in the book would have to be Charmaine. I loved that I was able to convey a powerful message through her character. It’s important to know when and if an adjustment is needed within any relationship. There’s a difference in walking away, and saying enough is enough.

AAR: Where is the book available?

Tiani Nicole: The book is available via Amazon in both e-book, and paperback format. We’re hoping to add additional outlets for purchasing.

AAR: Is there anything you would like to mention in closing?

I would first like to thank you for having me. It was an absolute pleasure. I would also like to thank my readers for the support and the love I’ve received since the release of my debut novel. I’d also like to inform my readers I’m working hard to bring them my next literary master piece, and the wait won’t bee too far away.

Buy Deceitful Temptations

Black Author Interview with Hope Destiny author of Side Effects of Love

As an author myself I know how hard it can be for authors to get publicity for their books. With that in mind I have decided to post short 7 question interviews with black authors to help publicize black authors and their books at no cost to those authors. If you are willing to do a free interview just contact me at georgelcookiii@gmail.com

AAR (African American Reports): Tell us something about you the person?

Hope Destiny: What can I say about me....I'm a bit OCD. I am ambitious. I am a challenge. I love challenges. I have my Masters degree in Accounting.i have 3 kids...all teenagers...a daughter 18 and sons 17 and 14. My 17 year old and I have the same birthday. Been married twice. Been divorced twice. I love me some me...

AAR: What inspired you to begin writing?

Hope Destiny: I wanted to tell my story about my beginnings because where I am now and where I came from, I had to rise above it. I wanted to inspire someone to be a victor not a victim. People live in their minds too much. I did. It's too much wealth in the world as well as heights to attain....I want to be in that race. The race is not given to the swift but to those who endure to the end....

AAR: What is your latest title?

Hope Destiny: The latest title has not been released. It's called Side Effects of Love. That's the name of the series. I will and can expand on that at a later time. The one before that is called That Good Good that I collaborated with another author on. The book before that is my memoir and first book called You Don't Know...My Story.....both books are a series.

AAR: What's the plot of the book?

Hope Destiny: Side Effects of Love I won't too much elaborate on but That Good Good is an urban erotica fiction of six short stories. Different stories...different plots...You Don't Know...My Story is my memoir from youth to 18.

AAR: Who is your favorite character in the book?

Hope Destiny: That Good Good is a collaboration so I can't say I favor my characters over the coauthor characters...lol. All the characters represent different things in the different stories.

AAR: Where is the book available?

Hope Destiny: That Good Good: an urban erotica short stories series as well as You Don't Know...My Story: I don't look like what I've been thru are available on Amazon.com....paper back copies of both can be purchased on Createspace.com. Hard copies of That Good Good can be purchase at lulu.com.

AAR: Is there anything you would like to mention in closing.

Hope Destiny: If I have to close with anything....I would like to tell everyone to dream big and strive for success because it is achievable with hard work. Maybe being a millionaire isn't what God has for you. Maybe being a thousandnaire is.....be comfortable and happy with what you achieve.....don't sweat the small stuff.

Buy Books By Hope Destiny