Nevaeh Publishing, LLC

Writing Workshop

2011-08-09T20:30:00.002-05:00

E-books

2011-07-09T17:44:00.004-05:00

E-books have become the latest trend in the publishing industry. I almost hate to call it a trend, because that implies it's a passing frenzy. E-books seem to be here to stay. With the ever increasing demand for E-books, publishers must give the readers what they want and what the market dictates. Nevaeh Publishing is pleased to ride the E-book wave. Check out our latest E-book releases!

Young Adult Fiction
Trinity's Hope (Book 1 in the Carondolette Family Series) by Melissa Ewell Miller

Romance
Scent of an Angel by Darn Oldham

Love Never Fails by Carla Victoria Wallace

Urban Drama
Contraband by J.L. Campbell

...Coming later this month...

Contemporary Fiction
Dissolution by J.L. Campbell

Christian Fiction
Destiny's Journey (Book 2 in the Carondolette Family Series) by Melissa Ewell Miller

Interview with Carla Victoria Wallace

2011-04-21T21:08:00.002-05:00

Check out Nevaeh Publishing Author, Carla Victoria Wallace on CT Style discussing her debut novel, Love Never Fails.

Trinity's Hope Synopsis and Book Trailer

2011-04-21T20:49:00.002-05:00

Trinity Hope Carondolette the youngest child in a family of prominent professionals and passionate believers and anything but a typical teenager. Home schooled for most of her education, Trinity has traveled extensively on mission trips with her family’s ministry. Once on a college campus and no longer under the shadow of her parents’ faith, she struggles to find her place and sustain her personal relationship with God.

While surrounded by ravenous guys and desperate females, Trinity explores the wonder of a first love. Committed to keeping her virtues intact, she learns to resist the physical temptations that could lead to broken vows and devastating consequences. As she figures out how to make abstinence a reality, Trinity grows to experience life and define it in her own terms. Trinity's Hope is Christian-based, entertaining and a book that every teenage girl must read.

Follow Trinity as she defines her own life, love and destiny and learns to face life and make it behave.

Order your trade paperback or ebook from Amazon.com today!

Official Book Trailer for Love Never Fails by Carla Victoria Wallace

2011-04-21T20:33:00.001-05:00

Pick up your trade paperback or ebook from Amazon today!

Official Book Trailer for Contraband by JL Campbell

2011-04-21T20:31:00.002-05:00

Order your trade paperback or ebook from Amazon.com today!

A Taste of Love Synopsis

2011-01-23T23:37:00.002-05:00

By Tonya Lampley...

Alex has got this one in the bag. An admitted control freak, she has planned every move that has led her to this moment. She has worked her tail to the bone for several years as stockbroker, at one of Chicago's prestigious investment firms, and her sacrifice is just about to pay off. She is about to break the chained hands of the Old Boys Club and join the ranks of senior management. All she is waiting for is confirmation from the board. They invite her to a meeting to hear her ideas on what direction she would like to see the company head in. She welcomes the one last opportunity to dazzle them. Her presentation is all set, she’s ready to make the pitch. Piece of cake…

And in walks Daniel. Tall, dark, and luscious. Where did he come from? Who is he? How was he hired without her knowledge? His presence sends her into a tailspin. As time goes on she finds herself reluctantly falling for him and going against every belief that has gotten her to where she is today. Will she surrender to love and plunge head first into the abyss or will she listen to the voice inside that is telling her that if something looks too good to be true, it usually is?

Order your copy today from Amazon!

Contraband Synopsis

2011-01-23T23:31:00.002-05:00

By J.L. Campbell...

As master of his destiny, Paul Weekes does what is necessary to survive. He makes his own fortune, but his luck nosedives when hijackers target his illicit shipments. He has no proof, but suspects the police officer who facilitates his exports off the island of Xantrope has turned on him. To make things worse, Paul’s ne’er-do-well cousin is accidentally involved in a gang murder, and a hit is put on him.

A budding liaison with the cop's niece adds more complication. Janine refuses to accept Paul’s way of life, but inadvertently becomes a victim of his lifestyle. Thrust into kidnapping, double cross and murder, Paul must choose between a relationship with Janine and staying alive long enough to change the course of his future.

Order your copy today from Amazon!

Love Never Fails Synopsis

2011-01-23T23:26:00.003-05:00

By Carla Victoria Wallace...

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to fall in love with someone of a different race? According to Jada Calloway, she has never considered dating outside of her race. When Jada is introduced to Pete McKnight, the handsome single brother of her co-worker, she suspects that he's interested in more than friendship.

Mike Jenkins is a familiar face from Jada's childhood who has finally captured her attention. Jada is interested in Mike at first, but gradually, Pete begins to intrigue her.

Pete's mother, Mrs. McKnight, fears that Jada is getting too close to her son. Mrs. McKnight does not approve of Jada because of her race and has no shame in letting everyone know. With each encounter that Jada has with Mrs. McKnight, the tension increases and Jada's insecurities resurface. Will Jada put her bitterness and insecurities aside to pursue a new relationship, or will she go back to what’s familiar?

Order your copy from Amazon today!

The Reality of a Times Bestseller by LViel

2009-10-07T12:21:00.001-05:00

A few years ago I made a promise to my writer friends that if I ever had a novel hit the top twenty of the New York Times mass market bestseller list that I would share all the information I was given about the book so writers could really see what it takes to get there. Today I’m going to keep that promise and give you the stats on my sixth Darkyn novel, Twilight Fall.

We’ve all been told a lot of myths about what it takes to reach the top twenty list of the NYT BSL. What I was told: you have to have an initial print run of 100-150K, you have to go to all the writer and reader conferences to pimp the book, you can’t make it unless you go to certain bookstores during release week and have a mass signing or somehow arrange for a lot of copies to be sold there; the list is fixed, etc.

I’ve never had a 100K first print run. I don’t do book signings and I don’t order massive amounts of my own books from certain bookstores (I don’t even know which bookstores are the magic ones from whom the Times gets their sales data.) I do very little in the way of promotions for my books; for this one I gave away some ARCs, sent some author copies to readers and reviewers, and that was about it. I haven’t attended any conference since 2003. To my knowledge there was no marketing campaign for this book; I was never informed of what the publisher was going to do for it (as a high midlist author I probably don’t rate a marketing campaign yet.) I know they did some blog ads for the previous book in the series, but I never saw anything online about this particular book. No one offered to get me on the Times list, either, but then I was never told who to bribe, beg or otherwise convince to fix the list (I don’t think there is anyone who really does that, but you never know.)

Despite my lack of secret handshakes and massive first print runs, in July 2008 my novel Twilight Fall debuted on the Times mm list at #19. I’ll tell you exactly why it got there: my readers put it there. But it wasn’t until last week that I received the first royalty statement (Publishing is unbelievably slow in this department) so I just now put together all the actual figures on how well the book did.

To give you some background info, Twilight Fall had an initial print run of 88.5K, and an initial ship of 69K. Most readers, retailers and buyers that I keep in touch with e-mailed me to let me know that the book shipped late because of the July 4th holiday weekend. Another 4K was shipped out two to four weeks after the lay-down date, for a total of 73K, which means there were 15.5K held in reserve in the warehouse in July 2008.

Here is the first royalty statement for Twilight Fall, on which I’ve only blanked out Penguin Group’s address. Everything else is exactly as I’ve listed it. To give you a condensed version of what all those figures mean, for the sale period of July through November 30, 2008. my publisher reports sales of 64,925 books, for which my royalties were $40,484.00. I didn’t get credit for all those sales, as 21,140 book credits were held back as a reserve against possible future returns, for which they subtracted $13,512.69 (these are not lost sales; I’m simply not given credit for them until the publisher decides to release them, which takes anywhere from one to three years.)

My net earnings on this statement was $27,721.31, which was deducted from my advance. My actual earnings from this statement was $0.

My advance for Twilight Fall was $50,000.00, a third of which I did not get paid until the book physically hit the shelf — this is now a common practice by publishers, to withhold a portion of the advance until date of publication. Of that $50K, my agent received $7,500.00 as her 15% (which she earns, believe me) the goverment received roughly $15,000.00, and $1594.27 went to cover my expenses (office supplies, blog giveaways, shipping, promotion, etc.) After expenses and everyone else was paid, I netted about $26K of my $50K advance for this book, which is believe it or not very good — most authors are lucky if they can make 10% profit on any book. This should also shut up everyone who says all bestselling authors make millions — most of us don’t.

My next royalty statement for Twilight Fall probably won’t come until October or November 2009, but when it does I’ll post copies of it so you can see what a top twenty Times bestseller does in the first year after it’s released.

In Publishing telling the truth about earnings smashes the illusions publishers and writers want you to believe and, like breaking mirrors, it never brings you good luck. Thing is, when I was a rookie I wanted to know exactly what it took to have a top twenty Times bestselling novel, because that was such a big deal to writers. Everyone I asked gave me a different answer, told me a bunch of nonsense, or couldn’t/wouldn’t tell me at all. For that reason I want you to see the hard figures, and know the reality, and the next time someone asks you what it takes, you can tell them the truth.

2009 Book Tour Schedule

2009-01-17T00:41:00.001-05:00

January 19 --Podcast Interview, www.writtenvoicespodcast.com.
January 24 --Words of Inspiration (WOI) Book Club Meeting, Divorcing the Devil featured book selection, Mojito Restaurant & Lounge, 125 10th St., Atlanta, GA, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
February 3--SORMAG Workshop, Instructor: How to be Your Own Publicist, 7:00-8:00 p.m. EST, For only $25, register at http://sormag.blogspot.com
February 11--First Wild Card Blog Tour, John's Quest, http://dwanabrams.blogspot.com
February 12 --Victorious Voice Radio Interview, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/victoriousvoice, 6 p.m. EST
February 20 --Best-Selling Author Dwan Abrams Presents: Go Red for Women! Love Your Heart! Wear Red. Book reading, discussion, and signing. Dessert and coffee will be available for sale. Book sales will benefit the American Heart Association, Barnes & Noble Booksellers Camp Creek Parkway, 3685 Marketplace Blvd., East Point, GA, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
February 21 --Book Reading/Signing, Redan-Trotti Library, 1569 Wellborn Rd, Lithonia, GA, 12:00-1:00
February 27--First Wild Card Blog Tour, Married Strangers, visit http://dwanabrams.blogspot.com for tour stops
March 4--First Wild Card Blog Tour, Milk Money, http://dwanabrams.blogspot.com
March 10--SORMAG Workshop, Instructor: Self-Publishing vs. Traditional Publishing, 6:00-7:00 p.m. EST, For only $25, register at http://sormag.blogspot.com
March 11 --Let's Talk LIVE Blog Radio Show, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/letstalklive, 8 p.m. EST
March 28 --Borders Book Signing, Stonecrest Mall, 2929 Turner Hill Rd., Lithonia, GA 2:00-4:00 p.m.
April 7--SORMAG Workshop, Instructor: Do You Really Need an Editor, 6:30-7:30 p.m. EST, For only $25, register at http://sormag.blogspot.com
April 22-24 --Romantic Times Convention, Inspirational Author Panelist, Wyndham Orlando Resort, 8001 International Drive, Orlando, FL
April 24-26 --Taping for "The Write Stuff" Reality TV Show, http://www.thewritestufftv.webs.com/, Atlanta, GA.
July 16-19 --Faith and Fiction Retreat, Author Panelist, The Villas of Grand Cypress, 1 N. Jacaranda St., Orlando, FL
September 5-6--Charlotte Literary Festival, Featured Author, Charlotte, NC

Autographed Books

2008-12-15T19:29:00.001-05:00

My birthday was this past Saturday. Some of my relatives came in from out-of-town to spend the day with me. We had a wonderful time celebrating the release of my fourth novel, Married Strangers. I actually have some books on hand. I figured that since so many of my online friends live in different states, it's difficult to include you in the festivities. So I thought of something. Here's the deal. You can order an autographed copy of Married Strangers and/or Divorcing the Devil for $15 each or 2 for $25. That includes shipping and handling. If you order two books, one or both titles, you'll get a FREE tote bag (while supplies last).

You can either mail a check or money order payable to Dwan Abrams, P.O. Box 962, Redan, GA 30074-0962 or use PayPal dwanabrams1@aol.com. Remember to include your complete mailing address as well as the name of the person you want the book inscribed to.

Just my way of saying "thank you" for all of your support. Happy Holidays! Books make wonderful gifts.

Married Strangers

2008-12-15T19:27:00.001-05:00

Synopsis: What do you do when you think you've married the wrong person? If anybody has ever found themselves asking that question, it's Rayna. And coming up with the answer is no easy feat as far as she's concerned.

Shortly after getting married, Rayna discovered that marriage is not all it was cracked up to be. On the outside, she appears to be the happily married newlywed, but on the inside, she secretly wants out of this marriage that she knows she entered into for all the wrong reasons. And now she knows that she needs to get out of the marriage for all the right ones; because she's not physically compatible with her husband.

Her friend, Aja, has problems of her own. She's dealing with baby momma drama and sometimes regrets her decision to get married, too.

Shania is in love and recently engaged…until she uncovers a secret that could rip her world apart. Will she even make it to the altar?

These three main characters in Married Strangers takes the question of "Why Did I Get Married?" to a whole other level.

Married Strangers is available wherever books are sold, including Barnes & Noble, Borders, WaldenBooks, and Books-a-Million. It's also available online at Amazon.com, bn.com and Black Expressions.

Get to Know Me Better

2008-09-08T22:06:00.000-05:00

Author Interview, Dwan Abrams on www.rhondamcknight.net.

Today I welcome author, Dwan Abrams to Urban Christian Fiction. Dwan resides in an Atlanta suburb and she's a member of Visions in Print Writer's Group. Although we see each other monthly at our meetings, I didn't really get to know Dwan until we attended the Faith and Fiction Retreat a few weeks ago. She and I shared the back seat of the car and a bathroom, so you know that was going to make or break a potential friendship. Well, I'm happy to report the sistergirl bond is stronger. She was a pleasure. I'd hang my towel anywhere with her.

Dwan, welcome! (Cyberhug, girl). Tell us about your novel, Divorcing the Devil.
Divorcing the Devil took me approximately six months to write, and it's a story of true love and forgiveness. For Skyler Little, it's not easy being a psychoanalyst and a Christian. Sometimes it's hard not getting drawn into her patients' personal lives filled with adultery, abuse and turmoil. Yet, she remains steadfast in providing them with the best in Christian counseling. She even counsels her friend, Gabriella, who has just learned that her husband is cheating on her. But when Skyler learns whom Gabriella's husband is cheating on her with, things start to spiral out of control, and she is now caught in the middle. Can Skyler get herself out of this situation, or can anyone be spared when you try to divorce the devil?
Divorcing the Devil (Urban Christian)..

What inspired you to write Divorcing the Devil?
I was inspired to write Divorcing the Devil while attending a birthday party for a friend. The lady sitting next to me was a psychoanalyst. Since I had never met a psychoanalyst, I was intrigued and wanted to learn more about the profession. That's when the character, Dr. Skyler Little, was created. She's the common thread of every character in the book.

Tell us about your journey to publication.
When I initially entered the literary arena, I had one of the agents listed on the predator's list. Of course, I didn't know that at the time. When I finally found out, I was devastated. I was so frustrated that I seriously considered giving up writing altogether. I'm thankful that I did not obey my flesh. Instead, I followed my spirit… at least partly. I released my first novel in 2004, and it was self-published. It was also a secular novel. Not long after that, I read my first Christian fiction novel and realized that was the genre in which I was intended to write. I quickly finished my first inspirational novel, Only True Love Waits, which won the 2007 Pen of the Writer POWER Award. Within four months after releasing Only True Love Waits, I had contributed a short story to the Christian anthology, The Midnight Clear, and completed the manuscript for Divorcing the Devil. The funny thing is that I only submitted Divorcing the Devil to one publishing house, Urban Christian, an imprint of Urban Books/Kensington. From there, I landed a two-book deal.

You own a small press, Neveah Publishing. Tell us about your company and how you got started and where it's going.
Nevaeh Publishing is a small press independent publishing house. From the beginning, the company was founded to assist other authors with their publishing endeavors. I currently haven't published any of my own titles through my company.

I wanted to become a publisher because I know how difficult it can be for first time authors to get published. It is also another form of ministry. Although we publish books in various genres, we are committed to publishing quality books that don't contain profanity or explicit sex scenes.

In 2009, we intend to release six new titles. Our goal is to further develop our brand and establish ourselves as a reputable organization. Additionally, we want to increase our distribution and attract more established authors. In regards to new authors, we want to continue working closely with them and educate them on the industry.

Okay, so you are superbusy, how do you manage to do it all? I really don't know. LOL! For the most part, I compartmentalize my life. If I'm working on a manuscript, I pace myself according to my deadline.

I also work as a freelance editor, which can be very time consuming. When I have an editing assignment, I usually devote as much time as necessary to completing the task in a timely manner. Some times that means forgoing working on my own manuscript. Even still, I try not to go too long without working on my manuscript. The characters just won't let me. They start talking and that's that.

In regards to the publishing house, I have help. In the beginning, I used to edit the manuscripts myself. Now I don't have to do that. I have editors to assist me.

When it comes to my family, I make time. Since my daughter is only five years old, she requires a lot of my time and attention. I'm careful not to shortchange her. Because she is a priority in my life, I try to get most of my work done while she's at school and the rest after she goes to bed.

Believe it or not, I spend at least an hour a night taking a relaxing bath and reading a book. I have to do something to unwind.

What's been the most exciting thing about Divorcing the Devil's release? There have been quite a few exciting things about the release of Divorcing the Devil. When I first started receiving emails from readers, in various geographical locations, telling me that they got my book in some small town that I had never heard of, that was exciting. Then there was the time that a friend of mine saw my book prominently displayed at a Barnes and Noble in New York, that was exciting, too.

One thing that I have really enjoyed is the overwhelmingly positive feedback that I have received from the readers. Whenever someone takes the time to send me a note letting me know that that my work touched them, that means a lot to me. The support from readers has been phenomenal. So far, Divorcing the Devil, has appeared on the Black Expressions Bestsellers Lists for Christian fiction and Fiction. In addition to that, Divorcing the Devil has been nominated for the 2008 African American Literary Awards Show. I have really enjoyed the journey.

What advice do you have for an aspiring writer? Don't give up and keep on writing. Read a lot of craft books and read for pleasure. Just read, read, read. Did I mention that every writer should read?

I asked Dwan to get personal with us and she agreed to answer a few questions so my readers could get to know her better. Here are her answers:

Favorite Color: Fuschia
Favorite Time of Year: Fall (Christmas)
Favorite Dessert: Key lime pie and vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles.
Beach or Mountains: Beach for sure!
If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why? Fiji… just seems exciting.
If you could spend one hour with someone, living or deceased who would it be and why? That's a good question. I had never really thought about that before. Hmmm…I'd have to say my paternal grandmother. She transitioned long before I was even born. I'd love to see her face and give her a great big hug!
What would readers be surprised to learn about you? Oh my! They would probably be surprised to learn that I'm really sensitive.

What's next for Dwan Abrams? My fourth novel, Married Strangers, will be released in December 2008. I'm currently working on the manuscript for my March 2010 release.

Where can readers find out more about Dwan Abrams?
Readers can visit me on the Web at http://www.dwanabrams.com/ and www.myspace.com/dwanabrams to find out about my upcoming releases and tour schedule. They can also visit http://www.nevaehpublishing.com/ and www.myspace.com/nevaehpublishing for submission guidelines and information about our authors and upcoming releases.

Thanks so much for stopping by Dwan. It was great getting to know you better. Love the cover for Married Strangers.

Thanks, Rhonda, for introducing me to your readers. It's been a pleasure.

2008 Literary Awards Show

2008-07-30T19:45:00.000-05:00

I just found out that Darn Oldham and I are both finalists for the 2008 Literary Awards Show. Darn is an author assigned to my publishing house, Nevaeh Publishing. I'm nominated for Divorcing the Devil, which is currently on the Black Expressions Top 10 Bestsellers List, under the Christian Fiction category, and Darn is nominated for Scent of an Angel under the Breakout Author of the Year. Please cast your votes for us. I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to pass this information along. The more votes the better. I'm so happy that we were both nominated. The voting link is below. Thanks in advance for your support.

http://www.createsurvey.com/c/70819-bwXj6C/

Divas of Literature Book Tour

2008-07-02T16:32:00.002-05:00

Calling all book lovers!

Come on out for the 2008 Divas of Literature Book Tour, featuring five of the hottest authors in the black book market.

Meet Jackie Christi and Hubby, NBA star, Doug Christi, with their book, No Ordinary Love; film maker and TV host, Abiola Abrams, with her urban take, Dare; Black Expressions Best-selling author, Dwan Abrams, with her latest novel, Divorcing the Devil; Assuanta Collins, author of Until the Next time 2, and best-selling author, Renee Daniel Flagler, with her latest novel, In Her Mind.

The Divas will make stops in the following 5 cities:

July 26 -- Gallery at Market East, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 12:00-4:00 p.m.
August 9 -- Four Seasons Mall, Greensboro, North Carolina, 12:00-4:00 p.m.
August 16 -- Perimeter Mall, Atlanta, Georgia 12:00-4:00 p.m.
August 23 -- Truth Bookstore, Northland Mall, Southfield, Michigan, 3:00-7:00 p.m.
September 6 -- Borders Express, 2034 Green Acres Mall, Valley Stream, New York, 12:00-4:00 p.m.
Join them for a day of book-loving fun with readings, signings and cool giveaways.

For additional information, please visit www.divasofliterature.com.

See you there!

2008-05-11T22:51:00.000-05:00

Visions in Print Writer's Conference

"Coming to a computer near you!"

www.myspace.com/visionsinprint

Online Workshops & Sessions to Help You Take Your Skills to the Next Level

May 31, 2008 - $10 Registration Fee Includes All Sessions!

Visions in Print Writer's Group invites you to attend an online writer's conference. We're offering ten workshops and chat sessions that will help you improve your writing and/or market your current work.

Craft of Writing

Writing 101 – Dee Stewart

Creating Believable Characters – Rhonda McKnight

Plot & Structure – Kendra Norman Bellamy

Self-Editing for Fiction Writers – Stacy Hawkins Adams

Critique Partners: Benefits, Techniques & Pitfalls – Tia McCollors

Finding Your Voice - Claudia Mair Burney

Total Craft Development: From Rejection to Redirection – Sherri Lewis

Business of Writing

I've Signed A Contract, Now What? – Ashea Goldson

Networking Your Way to a Bestseller List – Dwan Abrams

Virtual Marketing and Promotion – Dana Pittman/www.niapromotions.com

How an Online Conference Works: An online-conference is a conference hosted on the Internet. Participants can attend without leaving the comfort of their home.

Who it is for: This conference is for anyone who is writing fiction or thinking about writing. It's also for those published authors who would like to learn more about the craft of writing to improve your skills or take advantage of our industry professionals who will discuss tips on getting a book review, marketing, networking and the advantages of a virtual tour.

How You Will Participate: You register for the conference by visiting www.myspace.com/visionsinprint and paying the $10 registration fee. A few days before the conference will receive instructions on how to enter the main site for the conference. On the day of the conference, the workshops are presented in the forms of articles that are posted on the conference site by the presenter. Participants will review the material and post follow-up questions or comments in a threaded discussion format. At some point in the afternoon or perhaps several times during the day, the presenter will come into the forum and answer all the questions. Additionally, each presenter will hold a live chat for 45 minutes to an hour where they will talk with participants. This is another opportunity to have your questions answered or just have an opportunity to speak with one of your favorite authors.

Door prize: All registered participants who are interested will be entered in a raffle to win a 10-page critique from one of our bestselling authors!

Don't miss out on the learning or the fun!

Contact us at visionsinprintacfw@yahoo.com. Visions in Print is the Southeast Atlanta Chapter of the American Christian Fiction Writers.

Black Expressions

2008-04-18T15:21:00.001-05:00

Mind over matter. I woke up today claiming that today was going to be a good day. I got up early to attend a family member's wedding. It was a lovely, intimate ceremony. I felt great about the union and had a wonderful time all around.

When I got home, I checked my emails. There was an email from my editor. She informed me that my upcoming novel, Divorcing the Devil, had been picked up by Black Expressions Book Club. Through Black Expressions, it will be available in hardback. I was elated! Thank God for the blessing!

Book Tour

2008-04-15T21:09:00.003-05:00

I'm so excited about my upcoming book tour. My tour dates are below. I hope to see you!

April 20 -- Entrepreneurs with Vision, Purpose and Power Networking Meeting, 4336 Covington Hwy, Suite 206, Decatur, GA 30085 3:00 p.m.
April 28 -- Black Authors Network Internet Radio Interview http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Black-Author-Network 8:00-10:00 p.m.
April 29 -- Official Release Date for Divorcing the Devil
April 30 -- In My Pajamas Radio Show Interview http://www.blogtalkradio.com/In-My-Pajamas-Show/ 9:30-10:30 p.m.
May 3 -- Kana's Books & CD's Book Signing for Divorcing the Devil, 2541 Franksway Avenue , Columbus, OH 2:00-4:00 p.m.
May 3 -- Radio Interview on Praise 89.5, OH 7:00 p.m.
May 4 -- Sunday Brunch and Books, Mr. Hyman's Fine Dining, 107 E. First Street
Dayton, OH 45402, 1:00-4:00 p.m.
May 10 -- Book Release Party for Divorcing the Devil, Gallery Bistro, 4225 Snapfinger Woods Dr., Decatur, GA 30035, 4:00-7:00 p.m.
May 13 -- Ferguson Literary Hour Radio Interview http://www.artistfirst.com/ 7:15-7:45 p.m.
May 16-18 -- Third Annual Virtuous Woman Book Retreat, Wild Dunes Island Resort in Charleston, SC
May 28 -- Mind, Body and Soul Retreat TBD
May 31 -- Presenter for Online Writers Conference, Topic: Networking, Marketing and Publicity 9:30-10:15 a.m.
June 5-7 -- First Lady Conference, Fairmont Hotel, Dallas, TX
July 12 -- In My Pajamas Internet Radio Interview, http://www.blogtalkradio.com/In-My-Pajamas-Show/, 8:30 p.m.
July 26 -- Divas of Literature Tour, Gallery at Market East, Philadelphia, PA 12:00-4:00 p.m.
August 7-8 --Dancing Preachers 2008 International Conference, Hilton Atlanta
255 Courtland Street NE, Atlanta, GA 30303
August 9 -- Divas of Literature Tour, Four Seasons Mall, Greensboro, NC 12:00-4:00 p.m.
August 14-17 -- Faith and Fiction Retreat, The Palms, Destin, FL
August 23 -- Truth Bookstore, Northland Mall, Southfield, MI, 3:00-7:00 p.m.
September 6 -- Borders Express, 2034 Green Acres Mall, Valley Stream, NY 12:00-4:00 p.m.
October 11--Deerwood Country Club, 845 Woodlane Road, Westampton, NJ
October 25--Christian Authors Expo and Literacy Event, Newton Square, Raleigh, NC

Divorcing the Devil Book Video

2008-04-14T10:50:00.002-05:00

Divorcing the Devil Book Release Party

2008-04-04T21:05:00.001-05:00

We're counting down the days before the official release of Divorcing the Devil on April 29, 2008. Divorcing the Devil made the Top 25 Black Christian Book Distributors Independent Publishers Bestsellers List! In celebration of this momentus occasion, we're having a book release party unlike any other. On Saturday, May 10, 2008 from 4:00-7:00 p.m., we're having a book signing, fashion show, entertainment and dinner at the Gallery Bistro, metro Atlanta's premier banquet and event facility. The dress code: wear all black!

For additional information and to secure your ticket, please visit www.dwanabrams.com.

I made a bestsellers list!

2008-03-26T11:02:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited. A friend of mine called me from Ohio to tell me that my books, Only True Love Waits and Divorcing the Devil, are on the Top 25 Black Christian Small-Independent Publishers Bestsellers List (Fiction). I was even more delighted when I saw the author, Darn Oldham, who is signed to my publishing company, Nevaeh Publishing, on the list, too! Yippee! Here's the link, http://www.blackchristiannews.com/bcbdbestseller.html, but I also pasted the list below.

The Top 25 Black Christian Small-Independent Publishers Bestsellers List (Fiction)
(Based upon Amazon.com rankings, BarnesandNoble.com rankings, and BlackCBD.com rankings.)
For the Week of March 16, 2008 through March 22, 2008.

1. From the Extreme, by Renea Collins
2. Troubles Won't Last Always, by Michelle Taylor
3. Me, Myself and Him, by E.N. Joy
4. Dance to Destiny, by Sherri Lewis
5. Something on the Inside, by T.N. Williams
6. Battle Of Jericho, by Kendra Norman-Bellamy
7. Me Time, by P. M. Morris
8. Happily Ever Now, by Nicole Rouse
9. Keeping Misery Company, by Michelle Larks
10. In Greene Pastures by Kendra Norman-Bellamy
11. Soon and Very Soon, by Sherryle Kiser Jackson
12. Guilty of Love, by Pat Simmons
13. Secret Sisterhood, by Monique Miller
14. Louisa, by Richard Emmel
15. The Midnight Clear, An Anthology, by Kendra Norman-Bellamy
16. Love Me to the Altar, by Tamika Johnson-Hall
17. He's Fine...But Is He Saved?, by Kimberley Brooks
18. Expectations by Toni V. Lee
19. The Twelfth Window, by Jennifer M. Norwood
20. The First Lady-Confessions of a Preacher's Wife, by Mikasenoja
21. The Rose of Jericho, by Vanessa Davis Griggs
22. Only True Love Waits, by Dwan Abrams
23. Scent of an Angel, by Darn Oldham
24. The Divine Order, by Tina R. Newsome
25. Divorcing the Devil, by Dwan Abrams

Writers Wanted

2008-03-25T13:31:00.001-05:00

Nevaeh Publishing is expanding its line. We are currently accepting manuscripts for the following fiction genres: African-American, contemporary, mystery/suspense, inspirational, romance, women’s, multi-cultural and young adult.

We are not interested in receiving manuscripts for: science fiction (Sci-Fi), fantasy, erotic romance, erotica, poetry, illustrated children’s books or non-fiction.

Fiction manuscript word length: range of approximately 65,000 - 100,000
Manuscript pages: Range of approximately 260-350

If your manuscript is polished and meets the aforementioned criteria, please see below.

1) Please submit a one-page synopsis and the first three chapters of the manuscript only. Submissions should be typed, not handwritten, and double-spaced using a size 12 font (Times New Roman, Arial or Courier). Each page should be numbered and contain the author’s name and title in the header.

2) The cover page should contain the author’s name, address, phone number, email address and the title of the submission.

3) Please include a self-addressed postage paid envelope so that your manuscript may be returned to you if necessary. Otherwise, submissions Nevaeh Publishing does not wish to consider for publication will be destroyed.

4) Please allow three to six months from the date of submission to be informed whether or not we wish to review and consider the full manuscript. If interested, the complete manuscript will be requested. The full manuscript should not be submitted unless requested.

Mail submissions to:

Nevaeh Publishing, LLC
P.O. Box 962
Redan, GA 30074-0962

Note: Do not email submissions without prior approval. For additional information, please visit www.nevaehpublishing.com.

Scent of an Angel Excerpt

2007-10-26T20:57:00.000-05:00

One

She had three choices and a split-second to decide. Catch it, duck, or let it hit her in the face. Her sister, Ebony, must have calculated the distance before turning her back to the crowd gathered below and tossing it over her shoulder. Ebony's aim was surprisingly true. It was coming right at her head.

"Dang it!" she grunted under her breath from her attempted hiding place deep in back of the throng of eager women.

She raised her hand to protect her eyes. At the last instance, however, the woman standing to her right snatched the bridal bouquet out of the air.

"Copper Veronica Patterson," the woman chided, "you were just going to let it hit you. Weren't you? And you know Ebony was throwing it right at you."

"But I knew you were nearby, Pepper," Copper joked, "didn't want to deprive you."

"Yeah, right," Pepper said. "But thanks anyway." She jumped up and down a few times, whooping.

Copper looked up towards the balcony at her sister, who shrugged her shoulders and smiled, as Pepper's squeals of joy vibrated through the air.

Seeing Ebony wearing the wispy white wedding dress evoked memories that were still somewhat painful. It had been their mother's gown. A beautiful combination of satin and lace intricately embroidered with flowers and butterflies, which was originally made for and worn by Opal—their mother—some twenty-nine years ago. Finally, all three of her daughters: Copper, Mahogany and, now, Ebony, had worn it.

The three ceremonies had taken place in this very same spacious backyard of the house where they grew up, Opal's two-story, four-bedroom home in Stone Mountain, a suburb of Atlanta. The peach trees, flower garden and gazebo made a good backdrop for the occasion.

Two years ago, in 1992, when Copper had flown in for Mahogany's wedding, the sights and sounds of the affair had been even more disturbing. It was déjà vu. She had even expected to see Bobby, her ex-husband, slyly flirting with some of the attractive female guests.

At one point, she had to sneak away to her old bedroom to relieve herself of the anxiety she felt by sitting on the bed and hugging the Prince Charming doll she used to sleep and daydream with as a child.

Indeed, it was still her room, her sanctuary. All of her mementos and teenage belongings were there, just as she had left them. Copper felt so safe in that room. She had stayed up there weeping, thinking about her failed marriage, until she heard her mother's voice calling for her, which made her hurriedly fix her face, as she responded to Opal. She wiped away any remnants of tears, and rejoined the festivities with a fake smile as her countenance.

This time, at Ebony's nuptials, the pain wasn't quite as bad. She was stronger now. Sure, the memories came fleetingly, especially when she looked at her sister in that dress. She looked almost exactly as Copper had.

All three sisters stood around five foot eight inches. They had the same mane of dark sandy-brown hair with the widow's peak, deep dimples, full wide lips and light bronze complexion. Also, they had what others called, the "Patterson look." Big almond-shaped hazel-colored eyes, long curled lashes and the dark eyebrows with the fine hairs connecting them, which gave the girls and their mother—whose own mother was from Brazil—an exotic, determined look. When you threw in the tall, supple, hourglass figures, with the butts that made men turn and give them the once-over—twice, one could understand why there were a number of disappointed males at each sister's wedding.

There were almost two hundred guests milling around the sunny backyard at this one. The groom and his groomsmen were standing around the Jacuzzi in their powder-blue tuxedos, posing for the photographer, as the lilting tunes of the Jamaican steel band, set up over by the gazebo, filtered through the warm evening air.

Some of the guests were dancing, while others mingled and snacked on the seafood and fruit spread next to the champagne fountain on the long table against the fence. Everyone was conversing and enjoying the lovely June day. The thunderstorms the day before caused a little mugginess, but it was bearable with the warm breeze that glided over the backyard from time to time like a silk shawl brushing lightly against each person trying to find a place to settle down.

"Sorry, sis," Ebony said, walking up and embracing Copper.

"For what, Ebb?" Copper asked as they made their way over to the champagne and sparkling apple cider, amidst the well wishes that were showered upon the bride.

"The bouquet," she explained. "I was trying to get it to you. I didn't see your roomie standing there. Everyone knows that Pepper thinks she's getting older."

"We all are." Copper chuckled.

"You know what I mean. She thinks that if you're not married by the time you're thirty, you are over the hill, automatically washed up. And she's twenty-seven."

"I keep telling her she has a lot to learn," the twenty-eight year old responded as she picked up two full glasses, handing one to her sister, who was two years her junior and one year younger than Mahogany.

"Did you think about our father at your wedding, too?" the bride inquired, softly.

"Yes, I did, Ebb," admitted Copper. "I wondered if he knew… if he cared. I mean, Aunt Birdie was here, but, just like at my wedding and Mahogany's, too, she didn't even mention his name. There's something about the way she looks at us though. I can't put my finger on it."

Copper wondered whether Aunt Birdie, her dad's sister, had any information that would help them better understand why he left.

"I still find myself wishing that he was here," Ebony shared, wiping away a tear.

"I know." Copper put an arm around her younger sister's shoulder. "Anyway," she held her glass in the air and continued, "to the beginning of a new, wonderful life."

They clinked glasses and sipped the sparkling apple cider.

"Is it, sis?" Ebony asked, with a look so serious that Copper felt something pull at her heart even more. "Will it be wonderful?"

Before answering, Copper looked over at the groom, who was smiling and shaking hands with everyone in range, and she remembered how eight years ago Bobby, her groom, had hardly smiled at all.

"Yes, Ebb, I think Edward will make a very good husband. I believe you will be very happy together."

"Coming from you, Copp, that means a lot," Ebony acknowledged. "I know how psychic you can be sometimes. Boy, do I know. You told me that I would marry him someday when I first introduced you to Edward three years ago when you came back for my college graduation."

"Did I?"

"You did."

"Hmmm."

"How do you do it, sis?"

"Ebony, I really don't know. Sometimes I get these intuitive feelings. I used to ignore them when I was younger, and they stopped happening for a while. Then they started again, and I noticed that the more I heeded them, the more I would get them." She looked over Ebb's shoulder and saw their mother, Mahogany, and the photographer heading towards them. "Like, right now, I get the feeling that our picture is about to be taken."

Ebony turned and saw them, too.

"Oh, I'm beginning to get the hang of it now," she said as they both laughed.

"And what's so funny?" Mahogany inquired with a smile.

"The future," said Ebb, putting an arm around each sister.

"Let's hope you will be able to say that in the future," their mother said pointedly.

"Opal!" Copper reprimanded jokingly.

Anyone not knowing any better would think that the four of them were sisters. Opal was in her late forties, but still maintained the good looks and figure passed on to her daughters.

The photographer was very professional as he positioned them and took the pictures with the minimum of conversation. His eyes locked with Copper's at one point and suddenly she got the feeling that she knew him. Upon closer scrutiny she realized what it was. He slightly resembled her ex-husband. An inch shorter, perhaps, and more mature looking, but the way his eyes sparkled when he smiled was like her ex, and the square-jawed strong masculine look was how she envisioned Bobby would look in his thirties.

"Mommy, can we get in the pictures?" Copper turned to see her seven and a half-year old daughter, Tiffany, looking up at her. She was holding Mahogany's two-year old, Tanzia, by the hand.

"And who might you be?" the friendly photographer asked.

"My name is Tiffany," she replied proudly, "and who might you be?"

"My name is Doug," he answered, laughing at how grown up she appeared. "Which one of these ladies is your mother?"

"She is," the little girl pointed at Copper and went to stand beside her.

"And I know who your mommy is," Doug said to Tanzia.

"You sure do." Mahogany smiled, picking her up.

The photographer posed them all for several shots as Aunt Birdie stood behind him snapping her little camera.

"Wow," he admired. "Three generations of beautiful black women. And Mrs. Patterson, you are the prettiest grandmother I have ever had the privilege of photographing."

Opal beamed as Copper, Mahogany and Ebony looked at each other and smiled, shaking their heads.

The next morning Copper arose early. When they were growing up, Opal had taken them all to church every Sunday morning diligently. However, upon reaching adulthood, her sisters discontinued weekly services, although they still went occasionally. Copper, on the other hand, had carried on, even while in college. She belonged to Seekers—a non-denominational church of religious science in Washington, D.C. Whenever Copper was in Atlanta on a Sunday she attended services at Hillside, which had the same type doctrine.

When she mentioned to Tiffany that she would be going to church in the morning her daughter asked to go along. Tiffany was very bright in school. Copper wanted to expose her to different ideas to help her grow mentally.

They sat through the sermon on "Visualization" and immediately went to brunch downtown at the Hyatt on Peachtree Street. Then they decided to go to the zoo and finally back to Opal's house.

It was a lovely summer afternoon for some mother and daughter bonding. They didn't have the opportunity often. In fact, the last time just the two of them had gone out to eat together was over a year ago, the night that Copper got upset with Tiff for playing a trick on her. They were at a restaurant celebrating Tiffany's birthday, and Tiffany decided to play hide and seek without Copper's consent. That caused a momentary scare until the little girl reappeared.

This evening Copper would fly back to D.C. and Tiffany would, as usual, remain with Opal. As they were driving back to Stone Mountain, Copper asked the question that had been bothering her for a while. She was bothered because she felt guilty having to leave Tiffany. Due to her busy work schedule, Copper didn't have a whole lot of free time to spend with Tiff. For the best interest of her daughter, Copper made the difficult decision to allow Tiff to stay with Opal.

"Tiffany, do you mind living with Grandma?"

"No ma'am, I like it. All of my friends and relatives are here," she replied earnestly. "But you know, when the preacher this morning was saying how by visualizing what you want and believing that it will happen, you can make it so?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, Mommy," she said, turning to face her in the seat. "I can see myself living with you in Washington like you told me I'd do when I start high school. And I visualize us having a father living with us, too."

"Father? You mean your daddy?"

"Well, I know we haven't seen Daddy in years," the little girl went on. "And I know you always tell me that Daddy still loves me and that you like Daddy, but I don't think Daddy is the one I see. He's not coming back, and we don't want him back. Do we, Mommy?"

"No, baby, we don't," Copper agreed as her eyes watered with delight at the understanding of her little lady.

"So, Mommy, I'm going to visualize a new daddy. I'm going to keep visualizing until it happens, and we're going to be happily ever after. Okay, Mommy?"

"Okay, little girl," Copper acknowledged warmly, squeezing her small hand.

Copper welcomed the help. Ever since her divorce four years ago, she had been waiting for the right guy to come along. Somewhere out there she knew there had to be a man who would fall in love with her and that she could fall in love with… true love. The fairy-tale kind of love in which two people only have eyes for each other.

That happens in real life, she mused. There are couples like that, right? Everyone's not getting divorced. People do stay married, not just for convenience, but because they really love each other. There are black couples like that, aren't there? All black men don't up and leave, do they? They're not all like Bobby or her father, are they? No answers came with the questions. They just circled in her mind.

Ebony and Edward seemed to be deeply in love, she reflected, as do Mahogany and Joshua. But how long would that last? Her own marriage had lasted four years officially. She prayed that her sisters' would last much longer. And since their spouses were black men, too, she felt prayers were definitely going to be needed.

Even with the negativity she felt, however, she never said anything derogatory about her ex-husband to Tiffany. As a matter of fact, she made it a point to always speak of Bobby in an affectionate and positive manner. After all, he was her baby's daddy, even though he hadn't been enthused about that fact at the outset. His blood flowed through Tiffany's veins; she had his eyes and nose. Tiffany was proud to have a professional NFL football player as a father.

Copper tried to make sure that her little girl didn't suspect the bitterness she felt towards Bobby, her own father, and black men, period, for that matter.

"Doug called here twice for you," Mahogany informed her as Copper walked into the den, where her sister was watching the NBA playoffs. "I told him that you took Tiffany to church this morning. How long have you been back?"

"I just got here. I didn't want to block you in, so I parked on the street. And who is Doug?"

"You know, the photographer from the wedding yesterday," Mahogany reminded her. "Where's Tiff?"

"She's walking up the street with Moms and Tanz. Why is this Doug guy calling for me?" Copper inquired, slightly annoyed. Overly aggressive men were a definite no-no to her. "And how did he get this number?"

"He's had this number for several years now. He's an old friend of Joshua's," Mahogany replied, referring to her husband. "As a matter of fact, he photographed my wedding. You don't remember him?"

"Hoggy, that was two years ago. I had other things on my mind. Why is he calling me?" She tilted her head slightly to the side.

"There you go leaning your head," Hoggy noted, knowing that meant Copper was beginning to get angry. "Why do you think he called, Copp? I guess he's interested in talking to you. I mean, it's not as if he's desperate with those light-brown caramel eyes and a smile to die for. When they say tall, dark and handsome, they're talking about Doug Kenner."

"T, D and H is all right, but. . ." Copper started.

"T, D and H?" Mahogany interrupted.

"Tall, dark and handsome."

"Oh, I forgot. You live in alphabet city now: D.C., CIA, FBI, HEW, GNP, HUD, BLT…"

"Okay, okay." Copper laughed. "You got me that time. BLT, that's funny. But anyway, having good looks is fine, but a man has to have more than that."

"Hey, he's got more than that. He has a great personality. Besides being a good photographer, he's very witty. He's good to people, and as the word goes, he really knows how to turn a woman on, if you know what I mean."

"No, I don't know what you mean."

"I mean he goes past foreplay to five-play."

"What? Who could have possibly told you something like that?" Copper wanted to know.

"I heard it through the grapevine."

"Well, you'd better believe that I'm not going to go out with someone who is being talked about like that."

"Don't pre-judge. Give him a chance. He should be calling back soon. I told him to try back in an hour. He said he just wanted to speak to you before you left tonight for D.C. By the way, are Ebony and Edward going to stop off there on their way back from the Bahamas?"

"Yes, that's what they said last night. I want to think of something special to do for them."

"You'll come up with something."

"I know, but you know how I like to plan things out. At any rate, I'm going upstairs to pack while Tiffany is outside."

"Are you going to talk to Doug when he calls?"

"I have to think about that," she called out, halfway up the stairs.

Actually, she was going to give it more thought than Mahogany would ever imagine. Copper had been celibate since her last sexual encounter with her husband, which was more than a year before her divorce was finalized, an abstention of over five years. Her ex-husband, combined with her spiritual beliefs, was actually the reason she began practicing celibacy. When rumors about his unfaithfulness started reaching her ears, she had stopped having sex with him. She wasn't sure how long her abstention would last, but prayer and faith got her through. Initially, not having sex was difficult, so she prayed that God would remove the desire until she was married, again.

In fact, Bobby was her one and only sexual partner. During the first couple of years after her break-up with Bobby, she went out on various dates. She had even dated one guy, Thomas, for ten months. He was considered one of the most eligible black bachelors in D.C., but there was a barrier and it was high. Although Thomas seemed to be a good catch, he didn't respect her decision to abstain. Instead, he took it as a personal challenge to get her to give in. Rather than compromise her beliefs, she broke up with him.

That was when she concluded there was another side to her personal problem. Not only did she need to de-bond herself from the memories of Bobby, but she had other memories that caused her pain also. Memories of a father who deserted her, memories of incidents that were recounted when her girlfriends sat around bashing black men, memories of things her husband put her through with the gossip of his disloyalty. Plus, she was affected by the prevalent negative images of black men that was being perpetuated in the media.

She had always felt that Copper Patterson deserved more, deserved better. She wanted the best that life had to offer, for herself and for her daughter. No more heartaches or headaches. She had been toying with this course of action before, so she made a decision… to de-bond herself from black men. She would suppress any inclination to get involved with them anymore on a serious basis. Maybe that was why she had been having such a hard time finding someone. Maybe her subconscious mind was trying to steer her away from the brothers. Her job had indoctrinated her to the professional white world of Washington, D.C.

Okay, she vowed, she was going to heed her subconscious mind. She decided that her next meaningful relationship was going to be with a Caucasian, when the right one came along. Black men, with their hang-ups, would be put on the back burner.

A few weeks after breaking it off with Thomas, she was in Atlanta for Mahogany's wedding. There was a full moon the night of the ceremony, and the reception was in full blast.

Earlier that day she had met friends and co-workers of Joshua, the groom. Jonathan "Buck" Buckner was one of them. A good-looking, but slightly nerdy, white guy, who happened to be at the foot of the stairs and saw her wiping tears from her eyes after being up in her room wondering if her Prince Charming would ever come.

Buck appeared to be so concerned, kind, and understanding as they went out to the backyard and sat in the gazebo and talked. She felt so vulnerable and weak. Looking back, she imagined that must be how it felt to talk to a therapist. Copper talked about herself, and then he shared a little about his life, and she grew comfortable with him. It seemed only natural to exchange phone numbers and make plans to have dinner together the next day.

After dinner they went to his condo, which was usually a no-no since she had just met the guy. But she took a chance. The music was right, and she felt very relaxed. She distinctly remembered that there was a full moon, because she had always heard that strange things happened during full moons. This particular evening she acted in a way that was uncharacteristic of her usual self.

Before she knew it, Buck was kissing her. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the passionate kiss. Buck's hands began to caress intimate parts of her body. She felt herself becoming turned on. Even though she initially felt pleasure, guilt suddenly overtook her. She regained her senses and gently pushed him back.

"I'm not ready for anything like that. Okay?" she announced with a friendly, but firm look.

Licking his lips, he said, "Your kisses sure taste sweet." He wiped the corners of his mouth. "Okay," he gave in reluctantly, "we'll have plenty of time."

Copper didn't know what he based his comment on. Even though it had been years since having sex with her husband, she refused to give in to temptation. When she had sex again, she would be married. The evening had ended with Buck dropping her back off at Opal's house.

"Copper, it's for you!" Mahogany yelled, interrupting Copper's thoughts.

"I'll take it up here," she answered, shaking her head at her sister's teasing tone as she picked up the bedroom phone. She waited until she heard her hang up downstairs before she continued, "Hello?"

"Hello, babe," said the masculine voice on the other end.

Right away it registered whose sound it was. "Hi, Buck," she said with a little vexation. "Now, you know I don't like that term 'babe.'"

"Well now, you know I don't mean anything by it," he began as an abrupt tone was heard in Copper's ear, indicating another call was coming in. "Is that you?" he asked.

"Of course, hold on please," she requested, quickly depressing the switch-hook for a split second to get the other call. "Hello?"

"Hello," a deeper male voice greeted. "Is Copper in?"

"She's speaking."

"Hi, this is Doug," he continued. "Are you on another call?"

How did he know? she wondered. "Yes, I am. Can you hold for a second?"

"Most definitely," he assured, as she clicked back to Buck.

"Buck?" she asked as she did so.

"It's me, babe-uh, I mean, uh, Copper," he acknowledged. "Tell me, what time are you leaving tonight? I want to get together with you."

"Let me get back to you on that," she responded. "I have another call right now."

"Okey-dokey, I'm at home. You have the number. Call me right back."

"Will do, bye." She clicked back to Doug. "Hello?"

"I'm still here," he said. "I could have called you back."

"No, they were ready to get off the phone anyway."

"Tell me," he inquired. "Why do females always say they when they mean he?"

Copper chuckled. "Do we do that?"

"All the time."

"What do men do?"

"When we say they, we mean they. When we mean she, we say she. At least that's what this man does."

"Hmmm, I guess men don't care if their business gets in the streets and women do," Copper reasoned.

"To me, stating the gender of the person I'm talking to on the phone is not putting my business in the streets." He chuckled. "Now, more personal things are something I would be more discreet about. But using they in that instance indicates something, and could be construed as being ashamed or disrespectful to him, her or it, whoever you were referring to."

"My, you're very opinionated," she noted, withdrawing somewhat.

"I'm sorry." Doug relaxed then changed subject. "Mahogany tells me you're leaving late tonight."

"Yes, I have to punch in early tomorrow morning."

She felt the question coming, but she still had no idea what her answer would be. What were Doug's intentions?

"I know you don't know me, but your brother-in-law is one of my very best friends. Both he and your sister can vouch that you'll be safe with me."

"Okay, I believe you," she said with an inner chuckle. "My sister did speak very highly of you."

"Really? What did she say?"

"She said that you were a nice guy," she related.

"See? So with that in mind, I was wondering if I could take you out for a bite to eat this afternoon," he went on.

"What do you like to eat?" she asked.

"Mexican, Italian, Chinese. . . "

"What about soul food?" she wanted to say.

"…soul food," he went on.

"Now you're talking!" She broke in, suppressing the laughter.

"Really? You want soul food?"

"I'll leave it up to you." She smiled and then said seriously, "But why?"

"Why?" He was caught off guard, she noted. "Because, because I saw you, I heard about you for years and I would like to talk to you, get to know you," he recovered.

There was total silence.

"Hello?" he called.

"I'm thinking," Copper announced. And she was. She felt that de-bonding herself from black men was essential if she was going to have a meaningful relationship with someone white. But it didn't mean she couldn't have black male friends. This guy seemed nice, she mused. She didn't know what he wanted, but she knew what he wasn't going to get.

"Hello?" Doug re-called.

"Doug?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"How soon can you be here?" she queried with a smile.

"I ain't there yet?" was his rejoinder as they laughed and hung up.

Scent of an Angel by Darn Oldham
Available October 2007
Visit www.nevaehpublishing.com

Divorcing the Devil Excerpt

2007-10-26T20:35:00.000-05:00

Skyler

I feel so good this morning, like a kitten after someone has scratched under his chin and given him a bowl of chilled milk. My body tingles as I think about the night of passion my husband Donovan and I shared. I love watching him sleep. The way the satin cover drapes over his trim waist, exposing just a hint of his toned thighs. Dreadlocks scattered in different directions over the pillow. Skin the color of pecans. He's sexy with a capital "S."

Donovan opened his chestnut brown eyes and yawned. Rubbing the stubble on his chin, he cooed, "Good morning, baby."

I love his Jamaican accent. I gave him a naughty smile, letting him know I was very pleased with last night's performance.

"Good morning yourself. Sleep well?" I kissed him on the lips and caressed his muscular chest.

"Like a bear in hibernation." He stretched and yawned. "You got any appointments today?"

It was Monday morning and I had two clients who had regular appointments with me every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Their times changed depending on their schedules, but the days remained the same. I rolled over and glanced at the clock. It read 7:30 a.m.

"I actually have one at nine o'clock."

"Too bad. I was hoping we could continue where we left off." He wrapped his arms around me.

"Later."

I kissed him again and freed myself from his embrace. I stretched my arms and legs before placing my bare feet on the cold, hardwood floor. I went into the bathroom and brushed my teeth before stepping into a hot shower. The pulsating water kneaded against my flesh like a million little fingers. It felt so good; I didn't want to get out. That's exactly what I needed to wake up because there was something about Monday mornings that made getting out of bed more difficult. Especially since Sundays typically consisted of Donovan and I going to mid-morning worship service and brunch immediately afterward.

My eyes were closed as I tilted my head back and allowed the water to dance against my neck. Then I heard the glass shower door open. A sudden surge of cold air clung to my body like the plastic sweat suits people wore in the eighties for rapid weight loss.

"Hey," I said as I opened my eyes and turned my head in the same direction as the breeze.

Donovan stepped into the shower. Rather than complaining about the sweltering water as he usually did, he turned the knob to a cooler temperature. I didn't say anything. I could tell he was feeling amorous by the way he touched me. Ordinarily, I would never leave my husband in such a state, but I had an appointment. I had to go. As a psychoanalyst, I realize the male ego is fragile. This situation needed to be handled with tender loving care.

I turned to face him. "Donovan, I would like nothing better than to spend the entire day in your arms."

The water began to mist on his wheat colored dreadlocks. I looked at his six-pack and lost my train of thought. If I leave this fine man alone, I'll be the one needing a therapist, I thought. I quickly reeled myself back in, reminding myself that my patients depend on me. Being responsible wasn't an option. It was a job requirement.

So I said, "I'll be home early. We can have a romantic dinner and pick up where we left off."

A romantic dinner for us meant sitting down at the same time and eating food that wasn't take-out or delivery.

He pursed his lips, pretended to pout, and said, "What's your definition of early?"

"No later than six o'clock."

"I'm gonna hold you to it," he pointed sternly.

I smiled, grabbed my towel and stepped out of the shower. Donovan remained behind. I stayed in the bathroom while I put light makeup on my tawny colored skin, smeared gloss on my thin lips and pulled my long, jet black hair into a tight bun. I usually blow dry my hair straight, but today I left it in its naturally curly state.

While studying my reflection in the mirror, I noticed that my sharp features and high cheekbones looked more European than black. Donovan says I look like Mariah Carey. Like most women though, I could point out numerous things about my appearance that I'd love to change; my lips are one. I think they're too thin. I'd love to have those full, luscious lips like Angelina Jolie.

Donovan finished showering and started shaving. I went into the Victorian style bedroom and put on sexy lingerie underneath my black silk crepe de chine flapper dress with ecru collar and cuffs and completed the ensemble with a pearl necklace. I usually wear lingerie underneath my work attire because it makes me feel sexy. Reminds me not to take myself too seriously and enjoy life. And the fact that Donovan loved it didn't hurt either.

I returned to the bathroom just as Donovan was spitting his mouthwash into the sink. He dried his mouth with a hand towel.

"You look too good to leave the house," Donovan said, smiling, revealing beautiful white teeth.

I couldn't stop the blush. After three years of marriage, he still had a way of making me feel giddy.

"Thanks." I kissed him on the lips. His breath was cool and smelled like mint. "Have a good day."

"You too. And what time are you going to be home again?"

Our eyes connected. He reminded me because he knew that my schedule was erratic.

"By six." I reiterated my point by holding up six fingers.

I walked downstairs into the family room where my designer all-in-one briefcase handbag purse waited for me at the door like a puppy needing to go out. I picked it up, along with my keys, and left.

While driving in my BMW 325 along Peachtree Street in Atlanta, I noticed the brilliance of the sky. It reminded me of a day when I was around five or six years old, and I asked my dad why the sky was blue. He replied, "A clear sky on a sunny day appears blue because of Rayleigh scattering of the light from the sun." My dad had a Ph.D. and was a rocket scientist. Those types of answers weren't uncommon coming from him.

I realized at an early age that I liked smart men, and I wanted to be smart. My dad and I would read the newspaper together and discuss current events. He would tell me that there was nothing more attractive than a beautiful woman with brains. That stuck with me. I studied hard and graduated from high school when I was fourteen years old. Without taking a break, I went straight to college at my mom's Alma Mater.

After graduating from New York University, I attended NYU School of Medicine. Then I enrolled in NYU Psychoanalytic Institute. I decided to become a psychoanalyst because the human mind fascinated me. I liked thinking outside of the proverbial box and helping people. It gave me a sense of accomplishment. I felt as if my life had purpose, meaning.

Donovan and I met four years ago while we were both living in New York. I was twenty-eight and he was thirty. I was working as an Assistant Clinical Professor at NYU. We were at a Jewish deli located on Second Avenue in East Village. While we were waiting for our lunch orders, we struck up casual conversation and ended up sitting together at one of the plain white tables lining the wall. Donovan told me that his family had migrated from Jamaica to New York during the Jamaican slave trade. He had a Ph.D. and worked as a Product Development Chemist. I was immediately attracted to him, because it's true, women are attracted men who remind them of their fathers. Since I held my father in high esteem, my standards for a mate were equally as lofty.

Donovan's family lived in New York, and I had met his parents, four brothers, three sisters and a slew of nieces and nephews. I loved his family. Donovan was the youngest child and didn't have any children from his previous relationships. As an only child, I always dreamed of having a big family. His family "adopted" me, and I adored them. It warmed my heart to hear his nieces and nephews refer to me as aunty.

Donovan and I had been dating for six months before I took him home to Boca Raton, Florida to meet my parents. Donovan insisted on meeting my parents because he said he wanted to marry me. We went to visit my parents during the Christmas holidays. My dad had retired from NASA and my mom owned a dance studio. He was the only guy I had ever taken home because I had devoted so much of my time studying, thus Donovan was the first serious relationship I ever had.

When my parents met Donovan, they too fell in love with him. I knew Donovan would end up being my husband when my dad told me I had a good guy on my hands. We got married in Florida at my parents' church. Not long afterward, Donovan and I relocated from New York to Atlanta, because Donovan got a job at Coca Cola.

I arrived at my office fifteen minutes early and Yahkie, my assistant, greeted me. My stomach was grumbling, and I was famished. I wished I had grabbed a bagel or something.

"Good morning, boss lady," Yahkie said sounding chipper, handing me a cup of freshly brewed coffee. "Just the way you like it. Black with two sugars. I left you a Chick-fil-A chicken biscuit on your desk, too."

I couldn't help but smile.

"How did you know I'd be hungry?" I tried to play it off.

"Are you kidding me? You're always hungry, but you hate to cook breakfast. You don't like to wake up early. You'd rather spend your time sleeping or getting to know your fine husband in the biblical sense. You know I know you."

I couldn't resist laughing. Yahkie had been my assistant since I started my practice two years ago. I'll never forget the way he came into my office for his interview. It was summertime and he wore a blue and white seersucker suit. He looked chic. Even though he tried to tone down his flamboyant ways for the interview, I could tell he would let loose once given the opportunity. He was, and still is, the most fashionable man I've ever met. His appearance is meticulous. From his neatly cut hair to his pedicured fingers, he's a vision of togetherness. Even beyond the physical, he's highly organized and takes the initiative. I was impressed with him the first day we met and he's exceeded my expectations.

"Thanks for breakfast. I'll try to finish in time for my nine o'clock," I promised as I walked into my suite. A wooden bookcase lined with hardcover books ranging from the Greek Classics to textbooks to self-help greeted me when I entered.

I placed my mug on top of my oak desk and slid my case underneath. Then I sat down on a soft, black leather, high back chair and ate. The breakfast sandwich hit the spot. I dabbed the corners of my mouth and checked my Omega. The time was 9:28. A couple of minutes later my intercom buzzed. It was Yahkie telling me that my new patient, Monday Jackson, had arrived. I was glad she showed up on time because late arrivals threw off my schedule. I dumped my trash in the receptacle located on the side of my desk and told him to send her in.

I walked from behind my desk and extended my hand to her. "Monday, I'm Dr. Skyler Little. It's a pleasure to meet you."

We gave each other a firm handshake. She flashed a smile that revealed tiny teeth that looked like Chiclets. She appeared to be at least five foot six and weighed about 250 pounds. Although she was portly, she carried herself well. She wore a yellow shirt, black slacks and black high heels. And her makeup was flawless.

"Nice to meet you, too," she replied.

I offered her a seat on the gray sofa as I sat next to her on a chaise decorated with a black and beige African design motif. The various animal prints, such as: cheetah, leopard and zebra, covering several chairs around my office revealed that my personality type is Sanguine.

I told her that I preferred to record all of my sessions so that I could refer back to them if necessary. I assured her the tapes were for my personal use and wouldn't be shared with anyone without her permission or a court order. Then I explained that I begin and end every session with prayer. She informed me that she attended church regularly and was perfectly fine with us praying together. So we proceeded.

We bowed our heads and closed our eyes as I prayed aloud.

"Heavenly Father, thank you for this day. I pray that you be with us during this meeting. Lord, use me as a vessel for the upbuilding of your Kingdom. It is my humble prayer that I decrease so that you may increase. Let the meditations of my heart be pleasing and acceptable in your sight. Remove any obstacle that could hinder me from being an effective witness for you. Forgive us for our sins of omission and commission. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen." Then I asked, "So, what brings you here today?"

She pointed at a 5x7 framed photo sitting on the corner of my desk and asked if the people in the picture were my husband and me. I glanced at the photo even though it was the only one displayed and told her we took it last year when we went to Jamaica for vacation.

"Nice. Is that where you're from?"

I was taken aback by her question because no one had ever asked me that before.

"Not me, my husband," I explained.

She nodded her head and smiled. "You make a lovely couple."

"Thanks." I asked her again to tell me why she came to see me. I wondered why she kept avoiding the question.

"May I call you Sky?" She shifted in her seat.

"Sure, whatever works for you. Lots of people call me that."

"Sky, I have a problem." She crossed her right leg over her left which made her legs seem as long as stilts. "My boyfriend suggested I talk to someone because he can't seem to help me."

I acknowledged by nodding my head.

"I don't know where to begin."

I explained to her that counseling sessions were a process and that we weren't going to resolve her issues in one meeting. I asked her to tell me about her childhood, her parents.

"My family," she sighed, "is complicated. My mom and dad were married until I was five. After they divorced, I never saw my dad again."

"Before we continue," I said, "would you please tell me the names of your parents so that I won't have to keep referring to them as your mother and father?"

"Sure. Paige and Stan."

"Thanks. Please continue."

Monday told me that Paige and Stan's marriage began to deteriorate due to infidelity. She said they argued a lot. It wasn't until after Paige accused Stan of child molestation that they divorced.

"Did Stan molest you?" I rubbed the back of my neck with my right hand, indicating this wasn't easy for me to listen to. Every time one of my patients revealed she had been molested, I could feel tension creeping its way into my neck like a cheating husband trying to slip into his marital bed undetected after he's been with his lover. I maintained my professional composure even though deep inside, I felt angry. Children are innocent. The thought of someone violating them infuriated me. I fought back revealing my disgust.

Monday uncrossed her legs. "Yes. He used to fondle me and actually penetrated me when I was…five." Her eyes welled with tears. I offered her a box of Kleenex. She pulled a couple of tissues out of the box and dabbed the corners of her sparkling eyes. "My mom flipped out when she found out," she continued. "Burned him on the arm with an iron. Threw him out of the house and then reported him to child services."

I rubbed my arm. I empathized with how painful it must've felt getting burned with an iron. I never advocate or condone violence, but I could understand how a mother could be driven to such drastic behavior due to the love of her child. Then I asked, "Did he go to jail?"

"Yes. A social worker conducted an investigation, and I had to see a child psychiatrist."

"I see."

Not long afterward, the timer went off, notifying us our session had ended. There was so much more I wanted to say, but I told her we'd resume the conversation at our next appointment. We prayed, and she left.

I checked my inspirational desk calendar and noticed that I had a few minutes before my next appointment, so I called Donovan on his cell phone. As soon as he said "'Ello," I puckered my lips and blew a short series of kisses into the receiver. Then I hung up. We called those "drive-bys." We did a drive-by whenever one of us was thinking about the other but didn't have enough time for a drawn out conversation. It was an alternative to saying "I love you."

I had to purge my mind so that I could mentally prepare for my upcoming meeting with Ambrosia. Ambrosia had been my patient for the past six months. Her father died when she was little, and her mother never remarried. When I met Ambrosia, she was in a relationship with a married man, and they had two children together. Her relationship had soured, and she needed someone to talk to. She came to see me because she figured I would listen without judging her.

Yahkie came barging into my office, interrupting my thoughts like he was a policeman making a drug bust before the suspects could get away.

"Boss lady." He closed the door behind him, arms flailing in the air. "Ambrosia is in the lobby, and she looks a hot mess. She looks like she's been fighting with Iron Mike Tyson of old and lost. Bruises everywhere. Got on shades. I bet she got a black eye."

My heart raced and I dipped my head in thought. I felt nervous. "Bring her back."

Yahkie left my office. My mind was on emotional overload. I wrung my hands, paced the floor. As a professional, I knew better than to get personally involved in the lives of my clients, but as a person, I couldn't help but care. When Ambrosia entered, I stopped pacing. Seeing her in that condition made my stomach drop, the same way I feel whenever I ride a roller coaster ride at Six Flags and don't hold my breath. The Jackie O. type shades she wore covered half her oval shaped face and were in direct contrast with her milky white skin. I didn't bother to ask her to take them off, even though I could see blotchy red spots on her cheeks and that her bottom lip was swollen. The thought of what hid behind those glasses scared me. I didn't want to see because I knew I'd get more upset than I already was. I took a deep breath. She closed the door behind her. I exhaled.

"What happened?" I asked.

Silence.

I walked over to Ambrosia and wrapped my arms around her. Even though I'm five foot six, athletic and have an "apple bottom," as Donovan would say, standing next to Ambrosia's shapely but petite self, I felt like an Amazon. She clung to me the way a baby Black Howler Monkey clings to its mother's fur. She sobbed on my shoulder so hard her body shook. I closed my eyes and told her to let it out. As she continued to cry, I silently prayed for her. I stroked her highlighted auburn hair. She didn't have to tell me what was wrong because experience had taught me it had something to do with her babies' daddy.

Divorcing the Devil Synopsis

2007-10-26T20:33:00.000-05:00

Synopsis: For Skyler Little, it's not easy being a psychoanalyst and a Christian. Sometimes it's hard not getting drawn into her patients' personal lives filled with adultery, abuse and turmoil. Yet, she remains steadfast in providing them with the best in Christian counseling. She even counsels her friend, Gabriella, who has just learned that her husband is cheating on her.
But when Skyler learns whom Gabriella's husband is cheating on her with, things start to spiral out of control, and she is now caught in the middle. Can Skyler get herself out of this situation, or can anyone be spared when you try to divorce the devil?

Writing Tip #1

2007-10-10T08:15:00.000-05:00

Recently, I've been receiving manuscripts to edit from aspiring writers. Although the manuscripts are from different writers with different storylines, the areas for improvement are similar. Initially, I found myself practically re-writing the material trying to fill in the gaps. The first manuscript that I edited took eight solid hours on just the first chapter. By the time I finished, I had added several pages and felt as though I was re-writing the novel. Then I stopped myself and stepped back from the manuscript. Rather than redo another writer's work, I decided to take off my writer's hat and become an editor. That's when I realized that the role of a writer is clearly different than an editor's role. As a writer, I wanted to write. As an editor, I needed to edit. That's it. Leave the writing to the writer.

For aspiring writers, I recommend showing rather than telling. As tempting as it may be to throw in a bunch of narratives to explain particular actions or events, it's far more compelling to show the reader. Allow the story to unfold. One of my favorites is progressing the story through dialogue. It gives you insight into the character without making it seem like an afterthought. If dialogue doesn't move the story along, it needs to be changed or omitted. Another thing, conversations between the characters should flow naturally. Dialogue shouldn't seem forced or disjointed. Last, give your characters distinct voices. They shouldn't all "sound" the same. Give each character their own personality and allow it to come to "life" when they speak.

Interesting Article

2007-10-10T08:01:00.000-05:00

This article was passed along by the executive editor of Urban Christian. I think you will find that it makes for interesting reading.
_________________________________________

As the author, promotion is your responsibility whether you land a traditional royalty publisher, go with a fee-based POD publishing service or self-publish your book.

Some of you will also go back over the contract you signed and figure out that where it says, "We will make your book available to bookstores," doesn't mean "Your books will be sold by the thousands through bookstores nationwide." Instead, it means, "If a bookseller comes asking for a book like this, we will tell them about your book."

Yes, I speak to many disappointed, disillusioned authors every year. That's why I'm currently on a mission to find authors before they start making expensive, heart-breaking mistakes. Now this is not to say that signing with a fee-based POD publishing service is necessarily a mistake. The mistakes occur when the author is not industry savvy when he or she makes uninformed decisions.So what constitutes the missing links I speak of? What are the steps an author should take after placing of the last period on his manuscript and before signing a publishing contract? See below.

Note: Actually, I'd rather you follow these steps even BEFORE you write the first word of a novel, memoir or nonfiction book.

1: Determine your motivation for writing this book. If you have a book inside that just must come out and you're interested only in sharing it with family and a few friends, go ahead and do your thing your way. On the other hand, if you are driven by the desire for fame and fortune - if you want to be published and widely read - keep reading. It could make the difference between pitiful failure and wild success.

2: Study the publishing industry. You wouldn't start any other business without knowing something about the field. Well, publishing is a business and your book is a product. It's imperative that you know something about the industry, your publishing options and the ramifications or consequences of your choices. When you take the time to learn about publishing, you'll also begin to understand that you - the author - are responsible for selling your book. This fact comes as a shock to many hopeful authors, especially those who learn the truth after they've entered into the extremely competitive publishing field.

Learn about the publishing industry by joining publishing organizations such as SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network) http://www.spawn.org/, SPAN and PMA. Read magazines and newsletters related to the industry: SPAWNews, PMA Independent, SPAN Connection, Book Promotion Newsletter, RJ Communications Publishing Basics and many others.Read books such as, "The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book," "The Successful Writer's Handbook," (by Patricia Fry), "The Self-Publishing Manual," (by Dan Poynter) and "The Fine Print of Self-Publishing," (by Mark Levine)

3: Write a book proposal. A book proposal is a business plan for your book. It's something that you need in order to make the best decisions for your book and you might even land a traditional royalty publisher with a well-written book proposal. A proposal for a nonfiction book might include a synopsis, a marketing plan, a comparative study of similar books and a chapter outline. It will also identify your target audience and, if you plan to approach a publisher with your proposal, you would include an "about the author" section.

4: Identify your competition. Why is this important? You (and a prospective publisher) need to know if yours is a viable book. Is the market saturated in this area or is there room for another book on this topic? How is your book different from what else is out there? If there are no or few books on the topic or in this genre, perhaps there is a reason. Maybe there is no market for this book. How do you conduct a comparative study of similar books? Visit a major bookstore in your area and go to the shelf where your book might be. Look at all of the books shelved there. Read many of them. Determine what's different about yours - what makes it better? Maybe you'll discover that your book idea is quite similar to several published books. Can you come up with an angle or a slant that is different - one that makes your book more useful, interesting, entertaining or informative, for example? If your nonfiction book is just like all the others, why bother producing it? How healthy is the fiction market? Your comparative study will most likely reveal what sort of fiction is popular today. Young adult novels are selling well, for example. There also seems to be a big desire for fantasy and thrillers. Maybe you plan to write a memoir. If you are not a high profile person, you may want to rethink your desire to write a memoir for national distribution. Many authors write memoirs in hopes of using their own tragic stories to educate or inform others. You may well discover that a memoir isn't the best way to do that. Ask the hard questions and use the comparative study of similar books to get the answers you need in order to make all of the right decisions.

5: Identify your target audience. Even before you write that book, you need to know who you are addressing. If it is a historical novel, presumably, those who typically read historical novels will be interested in yours. It's a little tricky, though. Most novel readers are loyal to certain authors and aren't easily lured to read something by an unknown. If yours is a nonfiction book, you must identify the audience who wants the information you are providing or who is interested in the topic. This does not include those who you believe should read the book, but those who will want to read the book. If you are honest in the evaluation of your target audience, you may discover that it isn't a very large segment of people. This knowledge may even prompt you to change the focus of your book or abandon the project altogether. I can't even begin to tell you how many authors I meet who have written the wrong book for the wrong audience and now regret the money spent, the time involved and the emotions invested.

6: Locate your target audience. So now that you know who they are, you need to know where they are. And if you say, "Bookstores," you're probably wrong. Bookstores aren't always the best place to sell books, especially nonfiction books. Just look at the competition in the mega-bookstores. Your book on gnarly ski slopes throughout the U.S. might sell better through winter sports stores and catalogs, appropriate Web sites, magazines and newsletters and at ski resorts. A book on dog grooming would sell best in pet stores, grooming shops and through reviews and articles in pet magazines, for example. If you discover that you don't have a solid target audience, take another look at your book idea. Maybe you need to refocus. Now doesn't it make sense to discover the truth about your book before you publish it?

7: Plan your promotional tactics. Some people will buy the book just because they know you or know who you are. So start by developing a massive mailing list. List everyone in your personal addressbook, your rolodex at work, your class reunion roster, your Christmas card list, you email list and add your child's teachers, fellow church and club members, your mailman, neighbors - everyone you know. Collect business cards from everyone you meet. Offer your list a pre-publication discount if they order the book before the publication date. I have managed to pay a good portion of my printing expenses for several of my books through pre-publication orders.

Build a Web site related to your book. List magazines, newsletters and Web sites that might review your book. Outline articles/stories you can write to help promote your book. (Read, "A Writer's Guide to Magazine Articles for Book Promotion and Profit" by Patricia Fry.) Obtain a list of civic organizations seeking speakers. Contact bookstores nationwide and plan book signings. Ask local radio/TV stations to interview you. Send press releases to appropriate newspaper editors throughout the nation. Discover many additional book promotion ideas in books by Patricia Fry, John Kremer, Fran Silverman and others.

8: Build promotion into your book. For a novel, choose a setting and a topic that will be conducive to promotion. For example, give a character diabetes. If he handles it in a positive way or has something to teach others about the disease, the American Diabetes Association might be interested in helping you to promote your book. For a history or a how-to book, involve a lot of people and agencies. Interview people, quote them and list those people and agencies who helped with your research. They'll all buy books and promote the book to their friends and acquaintances.

9: Establish your platform. Your platform is your following - your way of getting the attention of your target audience. The most successful authors are those who establish a platform before they produce a book. If your book relates to conserving California water, your platform might be that you have been the general manager of a water company for 25 years and on the California State Water Board for most of that time. You have name recognition and credibility in that field.

Maybe your book is on an aspect of acupuncture. Your platform might include the fact that you've studied and taught acupuncture internationally for many years. You've written articles for numerous magazines on topics related to acupuncture, you have a column in a local newspaper on alternative healing practices, you have a Web site and a newsletter that goes out to 20,000 people. What if you have no platform? The time to establish one is before you write the book. Maybe you want to write a book on personal finances after retirement, but you don't have a professional background in finance. Here are some things you can do. Build on the financial background you do have - join organizations, take classes and become known in financial and senior circles. Involve experts in your book - maybe even share authorship with someone who is well-known in the financial field. Join Toastmasters to develop better public speaking skills and start presenting workshops locally for retirees. Write articles for a variety of magazines. Develop a Web site and start circulating a newsletter related to your topic. If you hope to sell more than just a few copies of your book to friends and relatives, follow each of these nine steps and you will experience the success you desire.

Patricia Fry is the author of 25 books, including "The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book."www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html. Visit her blog often: www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog.

Top Reasons Manuscripts Get Rejected

2007-10-10T07:52:00.000-05:00

This is a re-post from a blog entry written by Kelly Wallace at http://www.lovebitesromancereviews.com/

What are some of the top reasons manuscripts get rejected? How can you avoid these mistakes and have a better chance of hearing "yes" instead of "Thanks, but not for us"?

1. Read the guidelines! Be certain of what the publisher is looking for and how to submit it. If a publisher specializes in historical romances, don't send in your paranormal novel, no matter how good it is. If your book has over 100,000 words, but they take only shorter works, send your story elsewhere. If they require submissions through agents only and you don't have one, move on. There are plenty of publishers out there and you're sure to find a fit for your story.

2. Hook the reader with a great beginning. Often we start our "real" story several pages or even a full chapter after we've droned on and on to "set things up." Start off with that bang! Take a look at the first part of your story. Where does it start getting good? Start there! Put your character right in the middle of conflict and you've hooked the reader. Weave in bits of background later. Be sure to pace your story as well. You don't have to keep your characters in that constant state of stress. Give them, and the reader, time to catch their breath, but don't let things drag too long. Think of a story as a roller coaster ride with hills, valleys, twists and turns.

3. Heavily sprinkling a story with numerous adjectives and adverbs show that we writer's are there in the background making the story happen instead of allowing the reader to get lost in our characters and their unfolding drama. Look for strong nouns that say what you want them to say instead of using adverbs and adjectives as crutches to hold them up and make your point. That's not to say that they should all be omitted, but go through your story and see just how many are being used when a more simple sentence with strong nouns would get your point across.

Also, don't be afraid to say "said". Saying, "she articulated, he ranted, she whined, he uttered" just shows that we're trying to find another way to say "said" or to get the emotion of the character across. Using "said" is simple and gets your point across, but many times you don't have to add any tag at all if you SHOW what your character is experiencing or doing. Such as, "I've had it!" Mary threw the crystal vase across the room where it hit the wall and burst into a million tiny pieces. There's no reason to write, "I've had it!" Mary retorted angrily. We can see she's spitting mad by her actions!

4. Too much detail and narrative is another big problem--and one I was guilty of in my earlier days, and still can be to a point. Be sure to break up narrative passages with action and dialogue. Don't let the characters be inside their heads for too long or everything just stops. It's true that your characters have an internal life and a life before the story began, but it's best to weave in details here and there instead of boring the reader with long passages.

When giving background details, only include what's important at that moment. When a character enters a room, what does he/she first see? What's important or what sticks out? Describing a room or scene down to the last speck of dust has the reader turning pages to get to the action again. When we view rooms, scenery and people in reality, we don't make a mental note of every detail. We choose a few things that stand out to us.

5. Flat characters are another sure way to get that rejection. Be certain that your characters are people your readers will care about. The reader has to care about your character and what will happen to him/her or there's no reason for them to keep reading. Give your characters values, dreams, faults, quirks...make them real!

Be sure that your character's motivations are clear. The character must want something, but something or someone is preventing him/her from getting it. Your characters should literally take over the story as you write. Sit down and just watch what your characters do and relay that onto the computer. If we start manipulating them, forcing them to do something, the story loses its pacing and it ends up flopping on its face. Characters MUST have a compelling goal and conflict to keep the reader interested.

6. No plot to the plot, or using worn-out plots is another problem area. True there are only 20 basic plots, but use your voice and your ideas to breathe new life into them. Give your characters something they want desperately but can't have at the moment. How will they get what they want? Who or what stands in the way? How will your character get around it or through it? Editors and readers want characters with strong personalities, not wishy-washy wimps. And they want stories that have something new to say. Just because there are thousands, if not millions, of vampire novels out there, with your ideas and your voice you can add a uniqueness to it that makes it brand new.

My greatest method of moving the story along and creating a good plot? Ask yourself lots of questions and answer them. "What if a woman was lost in the middle of the jungle? How did she get there? Who is she? What is she after? Who's there with her? How will she get out?" By starting out with a simple two word question, you can generate a plethora of ideas for a novel!

7. Always read! Read what's being written out there in the world. Read for pleasure, but also read to learn. Whatever genre you're interested in writing, read as many books as you can that are in this line, especially if you enjoy the author's writing style. These people are in print and there's no reason you can't be too. As you read, make mental or physical notes of the characters, the pacing, the background details. What do you like? What could be better? I have a highlighter with me every time I read a book--provided it's my book! If there's a good line of dialogue, something that piques my interest, a good lesson in writing in detail, flashbacks, conflict, love scenes, you name it, I highlight it! This has offered me more inspiration and more guidance than any nonfiction book on "How to Write."

Although these tips won't keep you out of the rejection pile every time, by following them you have a much better chance at signing a contract than you do at adding yet another rejection to the pile.

Happy writing!

Bookstores Are The WORST Place to Sell Your Book!

2007-10-10T07:31:00.000-05:00

An interesting and eye-opening article (especially for new authors) that was passed along by Urban Christian's managing editor.

Book Marketing 101 – Bookstores Are The WORST Place to Sell Your Book!

How many times when you dreamed of readers finding your book did your dreams center around them finding it in a "brick-and-mortar" bookstore? Chances are, most of the time… This is the fantasy the leads too many authors to the endless pain of the author-agent-publisher rejection cycle. And, it rarely sells any significant amount of books.

The realities of bookstore sales are frightening – far more books fail courtesy of bookstores than succeed. Consider these facts:

Returns rates exceed 70% in many categories – that means bookstores send back 7 out of every 10 books they buy. YOU the author bear the biggest brunt of the pain of returns. The publisher has other books they can rely on – you, however, have seen your dream destroyed.

Bookstores buy very few copies on a story-by-store basis, and they typically only merchandise the books that have big marketing dollars behind them. Unless you can afford a multimillion-dollar marketing campaign, it is highly unlikely that your book will be stacked anywhere a potential buyer can find it (let alone in the front of the store.)Author signing events typically sell only about 7 books – all your scheduling, time, calling stores to set up events – results in selling 7 books…

Bookstores take up to 90 days to pay for your books – and to mitigate what they owe you they will quite often return your remaining stock WITHIN the 90 days. Retail outlets typically command very large discounts (but then so do online retailers in many cases…)

The typical retail buyer is not a destination purchaser, but a browser (most readers who know what they want go to the online retail sites). A reader in search of a book can be a GREAT customer. But when you are shelved next to all the other books in your particular category, your competition stands as good a chance at getting bought as you do… and if you are stocked near a well-known author, most buyers will bypass your book to pick up the well-known name.

Now that you've had all the "good" news – here is an interesting fact:

Over half the books sold in the publishing industry are sold through NON-bookstore vehicles. That means that more books are sold in other places than bookstores- and your book is likely to be most successful through these outlets. And online sales – driven by a targeted, effective, and comprehensive marketing plan – will be the cornerstone of your book's success.

Authors spend a lot of time and money chasing the improbable, when the "golden egg" of self-publishing and self-promotion is right in front of them. In my opinion, I'd sell my books everywhere except the brick and mortar bookstore!

Utilizing the tools that make the internet the powerhouse it is today will build sales that you never dreamed were possible. Search Marketing, blogs, newsletters, email campaigns, web sites, and your personal appearances (yes, the human touch still has meaning in book sales) are the new tools for building great book sales.

As always - if you like this information (and found it helpful) please feel free to post it on your site, put it in a blog, toss it in your newsletter, or in general spread it around. Please just give us credit here at http://www.dogearpublishing.net/. If you have any questions or comments - please write us at AuthorResources@dogearpublishing.net

Just Write! Workshop

2007-06-01T12:13:00.000-05:00

Nevaeh Publishing Presents the Just Write! Workshop

Whether you’re an aspiring writer or established author, the Just Write! Workshop is for you. Just Write! is no ordinary writers workshop. Our workshops are facilitated by some of the best in the business. You’ll have an opportunity to converse one-on-one with an Essence magazine’s Best Selling Author, as well as an award winning author whose book has been optioned for a major movie, and she has been tagged as a “younger Maya Angelou.” If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your book or screenplay into a movie or play, here’s your chance to pitch your idea to an award winning director and graduate of the New York Film Academy in Oxford University.

Just Write! will also give you insight into the publishing industry regardless of whether you’re self-published or have a mainstream publisher. In addition, you’ll learn the art of networking. A workshop of this magnitude would normally cost several hundred dollars. The authors, publishers, speakers and director associated with this workshop all agreed to reduce their normal honorariums to share their valuable insight and information with a select few. Don’t miss out on this incredible once in a lifetime opportunity.

When: Saturday, September 22, 2007 (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.)
Where: Atlanta Botanical Garden – Garden Workshop, 1345 Piedmont Avenue NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Investment: Early Bird Special $85 ($95 after August 1, 2007)
Availability: Seating is limited so register early at www.nevaehpublishing.com
Registration Deadline: September 15, 2007 (After the deadline, call 770.482.2831 or email nevaehpublishing@yahoo.com for seating availability)

Fee Includes:
Continental Breakfast
Lunch
Conference Journal
Goody Bag
Raffle Drawings
Participants will be given the opportunity to purchase autographed copies of books by lecturing authors.
About the Presenters:

Dwan Abrams is a full-time novelist, publisher and speaker. She’s the author of the highly acclaimed novel, Only True Love Waits, The Scream Within and Favor (short story appearing in The Midnight Clear: Stories of Love, Hope and Inspiration anthology). She’s the founder, publisher and executive director of the newly established Nevaeh Publishing, LLC, a small press independent publishing house. Recently, Dwan accepted a two-book deal from Urban Christian. Through them, her book, Divorcing the Devil, will be released in April 2008. She also worked as a contributing writer and editor for Images of Us magazine and Nesting Solo magazine. She’s a member of The Writer's Hut, Shades of Romance Magazine (SORMAG), and Nubian Literary writing groups, as well as the International Women's Writers Guild, Military Writers Society of America (MWSA), The American Authors Association (AAA), American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), The Marguerite Press Speaker's Bureau, PMA, the Independent Book Publishers Association and Small Publishers, Artists, and Writers Network (SPAWN). She was inducted in Who’s Who in Black Atlanta -- Entrepreneurs Section in 2006.

Kendra Norman-Bellamy is a multi-award-winning, four-time national bestselling author as well as the co-founder of KNB Publications, LLC, an independent self-publishing house. Beginning her literary career in 2002 as a self-published writer, Kendra’s works are currently made available through the respected publishers of Harlequin Books, Moody Publishers and Urban Books. To date, she has ten published literary credits, all of which have received high recognition and applause. In addition, she is a columnist for Hope for Women magazine, and Global Woman magazine and a contributing writer for WOW magazine. Kendra is also a motivational speaker, the Georgia Area Coordinator for the national organization, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the mastermind behind The Writer’s Hut, an online support group for creators of literary works. Furthermore, she is the founder of Cruisin’ for Christ, a groundbreaking cruise that celebrates Christian writing, gospel music, and other artistries that glorify God. Among her most recent recognitions, Kendra’s titles have graced Essence magazine’s Best Seller List multiple times and she was presented by the African American Literary Award Show with the 2006 Open Book Award for best Christian fiction.

Jada Cofield attended Clayton College and State University for one year. She then moved to Kent, England to attend one of the world’s top drama schools, Rose Bruford College and later to transfer to ALRA (Academy of Live Recorded Arts) also in London, England where she resided for four years. She recently returned to England to study Directing for film through the New York Film Academy in Oxford University. Jada is the recipient of the coveted Accolade Film Award for her first film “A Days Work.”

Angela Lewis is president of Speaking Concepts & Publications, LLC, and a contributing columnist for the Wyngate Gazette’s monthly newsletter. She’s the author of SSSs (Single, Sensational, Significant, Sisters) We Sizzle!! A Single Woman’s Guide To Attracting and Meeting Men and Do You Hear What I Hear?(short story appearing in The Midnight Clear anthology). Angela has a B.S. Degree in Business Administration from the University of South Carolina and an M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix. She was inducted in Who’s Who In Black Atlanta -- Literary Section in 2006.

Patricia Pope is the author of Colored Waiting Room, which deals with the conflict of a Black female entangled with the good ole boy system in rural East Tennessee. Colored Waiting Room, an award winning novel, has received rave review. A sought after motivational speaker and lecturer, Patricia has been tagged as a “younger Maya Angelou,” during a book signing and CBS affiliated filming in Harrisburg, Pa. Patricia is the holder of many awards and forensic medals. Colored Waiting Room named Best General Fiction 2005, BlackRefer.com; Nominated for Best Book for New Author 2006, YOUnity Book Club; featured in Black Men Magazine December 2006/January 2007; optioned for a major movie by Jowharah Films, Los Angeles, CA. Filming to begin the summer 2007 and will be shot entirely on location in TN.

For itinerary and registration information, please visit www.nevaehpublishing.com.

Author Interviews

2007-03-21T14:33:00.000-05:00

Nevaeh Publishing will feature author interviews on a regular basis. If you're an author and would like to be featured in an interview, please submit your name, brief author's bio, book title, and web site to nevaehpublishing@yahoo.com. If selected, we'll contact you within two to four weeks.

To view other author interviews, please visit www.nevaehpublishing.com and click on the "Author Listings" tab.

Nevaeh Publishing in the News

2007-03-21T14:24:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 20, 2007

CONTACT:
Dwan Abrams
770-482-2831
dwanabrams1@aol.com

NEVAEH PUBLISHING, LLC...PROMOTING AFRICAN-AMERICAN CHRISTIAN LITERATURE

Atlanta, GA - Dwan Abrams is a full-time novelist/publisher/speaker. She's the author of Only True Love Waits, The Scream Within, and Favor (a short story appearing in The Midnight Clear: Stories of Love, Hope and Inspiration anthology). Recently, Dwan accepted a two-book deal from Urban Christian. Through them, her book, Divorcing the Devil, will be released in April 2008. She was also inducted in the 2006 "Who's Who in Black Atlanta."

Dwan is the founder, publisher and executive director of the newly formed Nevaeh Publishing, LLC a small press independent publishing house. Nevaeh Publishing is an innovative company in that they don't charge authors any upfront fees. They actually pay royalties.

Nevaeh Publishing was established to assist aspiring African-American Christian writers with getting published. The publishing house provides professional editing services, page layout and cover design. Nevaeh will assign ISBNs, bar codes and market driven book prices. Their books are quality bound and printed. Additional services include: one-on-one consultation regarding marketing and promoting an author's book, getting the book listed with online booksellers and assistance with getting the book in bookstores.

Nevaeh's goal is to become the premier literary Web site for Christian readers and writers. Nevaeh Publishing wants to encourage people to read books that edify the soul, encourage you to think and foster growth. They will showcase African-American Christian/Inspirational fiction, nonfiction, and children's books.

Authors interested in publishing their works or having their books featured on the site may contact:

Dwan Abrams
Nevaeh Publishing, LLC
P.O. Box 962
Redan, GA 30074-0962
E-mail: dwanabrams1@aol.com
Web Site: www.nevaehpublishing.com

-END-

Welcome to Nevaeh Publishing

2007-02-09T22:53:00.001-05:00

Welcome to Nevaeh Publishing, a small press independent publishing house. Our goal is to become the premiere literary web site for African American Christian readers and writers. We encourage people to read books that edify the soul, encourage individuals to think and foster growth. Nevaeh Publishing will showcase Christian/Inspirational fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books.