Christmas with author Andrea Foy

Andrea Foy has over twenty years of customer service experience working for companies such as McDonald’s, Sears, Delta and USAir Airlines, American Express Financial Advisors the Federal Government. A graduate of Dayton’s Wright State University, she currently resides outside Dayton Ohio where she is attending grad school in Organizational Leadership and volunteers for her community. Visit the author's website: http://www.andreafoy.com/  

BPM:  What are you most thankful for today?

I am thankful for being a published author. It is one of the most challenging but rewarding things you can do in life. Being a self-published author puts you in complete control and it is nice.

BPM:  Tell us about your fondest holiday moment or event. Do you have Holiday rituals that absolutely, positively must be followed?

It is all about the food. I love eating my way through the holiday! I used to be a flight attendant and on what I thought would be my first Christmas away from home, I pulled an all nighter and got home by noon on Christmas day. That was considered the best present by my family.

BPM:   How do you celebrate the holidays? Have you planned anything special for this year?

This will be the first year without my father, who recently passed so it will be low key this year, remembering him.

BPM:   Do you have a favorite holiday menu, story or song? Share with us.

Menu – Turkey, sweet potatoes, homemade rolls, cranberry sauce. Story and song – The little drummer boy story and song.

BPM:   Tell us about your latest book, Hire Power: How to find, get, and keep a Job.

My book is a non-fiction book for the Mature YA, with tips on job hunting, customer service and working in general.

BPM:   Have you ever considered what kind of legacy you want to leave future generations?

I hope my book is used for future generations because they all need to learn.

BPM:   How may our readers contact you online and pick up your latest work?

http://www.andreafoy.com/  and Amazon.com. It is available as an e-book too, HERE.  Follow me on Facebook: www.facebook.com//HirePower  and check out my Tweets at: www.twitter.com/HirePower2010

 

Hire Power by Andrea Foy

Hire Power  is a how-to guide that steps you through the process of landing the job you want—yes;  want—to knowing when to leave for better opportunities. Geared toward the workplace neophyte, this book provides insight for the experienced employee too.

In Hire Power you will learn:

• How to complete an application

• Appropriate and inappropriate attire for an interview

• How to deal with coworkers, bosses and customers

• Basic business etiquette

• How job performance can lead to great appraisals and promotions

 

Hire Power by Andrea Foy

How to find, get, and keep a Job

E-Book - order now.

Amazon - order now.

ISBN-10: 0981743692

ISBN-13: 978-0981743691

  

Interview with  Lucille O’Neal, Shaquille O'Neal's Mother

Lucille O’Neal  was born into a Christian home in Dublin, GA. She spent her childhood, adolescent years and early adulthood in the Central Ward of Newark, New Jersey. She often speaks of the spiritual foundation and lessons taught by her mother and grandmother as the source of her courage and inspiration for parenting. Lucille refers to them as two of the most humble and strong women she has ever known. As an active mother in the lives of her four adult children and a grandmother of fourteen, she takes her role of parenting and grand parenting very seriously!

In 1992 Lucille and her family moved to Florida where she contributed to the development of the SHAQ NETWORK as the Chief Operations Officer. She managed the day-to-day operations of the first official Shaquille O’Neal Fan Club until October 2003. In addition to the duties in her son’s organization, Lucille co-founded the Mother’s of Professional Basketball Players (MPBP) and served four years as executive secretary (1996-2000). She was very instrumental in the leadership and development of the organization’s goals and objectives. The MPBP was created to provide support to mothers whose sons and daughters were currently playing or had played in the National Basketball Association and the Women’s National Basketball Association. Since the organization’s inception the MPBP has endeavored to support the communities represented by the players and their mothers. Today she serves as the current President of this restructured organization; The Mother’s of Professional Basketball Players, Inc.

Lucille’s gratitude to God for His mercy, grace and abundant blessing on the lives of her family has motivated her passion to help others that are less fortunate. Her sincerity is evidenced by her involvement in numerous youth oriented and community projects. Lucille’s straightforward attitude and ability to adapt to any situation has equipped her with a tireless ability to serve. Whether chairing fundraising events like “Shaq’s Mama Said Knock You Out!” (an annual premier event featuring a variety of celebrity hosts, including Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Dennis Scott, to benefit The Odessa Chambliss Quality of Life Fund; named in memory of her Mother) or rolling up her sleeves to assist other organizations at the grass roots level, Lucille gives her all for the cause.

As a newly appointed Board Member of Orlando’s Ovarian Cancer Alliance and a new member of MD Anderson’s Council of Governors, it is evident that her commitment and devotion to others is conveyed through her extraordinary volunteer efforts (past and present) and her involvement with numerous charitable organizations. Lucille’s dedication to diverse causes underscores her heart for humanity. She has made countless contributions to various charities and continues to be an inspiration to many people, young and old.

After 30 years of raising two sons and two daughters, Lucille resumed her studies in an Adult Education Program at Bethune-Cookman University where she graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration (June 2003).  Most recently she completed her graduate program (Master of Arts in Organizational Management) at the University of Phoenix (March 2005).


BPM:   What makes you powerful as a person, mother and a writer? 
I believe the things that make me powerful as a person, mother and a writer is the fact that I lived the things I write about in my book!  Today I know who I am and I know what I am capable of. As you read the details in my book and it tells about portions of my life, it is clear that the story could have been anyone’s; however, in “Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go” it tells my personal story. I learned throughout the years that sometime situations remain the same and the only thing that possibly changes is the name.  In my case it a powerful thing to know that I can walk it just like I talk it today!  I live the life I speak about and the publishing world calls it a memoir but I call it a testimony.


BPM:   Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?My first mentor was my mother Odessa Chambliss who passed away in April 1996.  She was the main one that helped me to see the good in every person.  Next to her was my grandmother Cillar O’Neal and our Pastor, Iola Hartsfield.  Although I did not know they were teaching me life lessons, I never forgot the things these women taught me about being a young lady and being a proud individual. Because of the spiritual instructions these women gave me a long time ago I have a foundation in the church.  My relationship with God today allows me to want to continue to grow and mature in the ministry.  My mentors today are the Mothers at my church and the First Lady.  They pray for me and encourage me to keep on trusting in God while I am in this special place in my life.  In addition to that, I get daily inspiration from bible scriptures and prayers which is what I use to encourage myself and start my days. In my home I keep positive plaques, photos, cards and anything that gives a positive message in eyesight.  My favorite plaque that inspires me says, “This is the day that the Lord has made...don’t mess it up!”

Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go Lucille O'Neal (Author), Shaquille O' Neal (Foreword), and Allison Samuels (Collaborator)

From being an unwed teen mother and creating a stable home for her children, at times with the help of public assistance; to coping with her unexpected feelings of anger and resentment towards her son’s blinding success; to battling alcohol addiction; to making the painful decision to end a marriage of nearly 30 years, Lucille opens up in her memoir, WALK LIKE YOU HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO, about the behind-the-scenes personal dramas and triumphs which have made her the determined, compassionate and resilient woman she is today.  “What’s most important to me is that young women today know they shouldn’t doubt God or their own abilities.  It is important for me to talk to them about this because I doubted both for so long, and I lost a lot of valuable time questioning my self-worth,” says Lucille.  “If I am able to prevent just one young person from having to spend any of her precious time or life wondering if she matters, I will have done my job.”


BPM:   Introduce us to the primary message(s) in Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go.
To be honest there is more than one message, but the primary message I want to give and which allows me to share with the readers one very important fact; it is that we have all that we need within us to strive on  a daily basis and live a fruitful life!  That mental wealth state of mind I talk about in the book is a place where we all could be. Happiness does not primarily come from others it is ultimately coming from within all of us.  This book could fit into more than one category but I know that it fits well into the faith based genre since I call it my testimony.     Read a preview from the book here.

BPM:   Share with us a few life enhancing sections from Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go.
In the book I talk about two periods in my life when my faith was tested.  Throughout these ordeals I learned how to depend on God for strength.  He allowed me to experience peace in the midst of a personal storm both time.  When I talk about it now it may sound like it was easy for me but it was a battle every day to keep my wits about me. There were days when I really thought I would break down…but God! Another instance was when I was able to see my dream of going to college become a reality!  Not only did I finish and accomplish a long time goal but I was able to achieve more than I ever imagined.  I encourage young people today to dream big and set no limits!  My life has been enhanced just by having to experience certain hardships and to look at me today you would never know that because I keep a smile on my face.


BPM:   What motivated you to publish this book now?
This has been one of my life long goals also and we all have a story inside of us.  For the past 18 years the public has known me as Shaq’s Mama and I do not mind letting everybody know that I have four children (Shaquille, Lateefah, Ayesha and Jamal) and 14 grandchildren.  My babies encouraged me to write the book and Shaquille especially helped me along with Allison Samuels who worked along side me and guided me through the entire process.  She is a true Godsend and helped me bring my story to life so the readers could understand it.


BPM:   Who should read this book and why?
I think everyone can definitely take something away from this book. Men, women, young people and anyone truly looking to find themselves. There is a message for everyone in my life story. But that said, I do feel women of all ages will be able to relate the most to my journey. Becoming a mother at such a young age is something that happens everyday and many young women feel so alone when this happens. I felt that same way at certain points before and after Shaquille was born, so this book, I hope, really speaks to women who feel that there’s no way out of a situation they’re in at the moment. I want to inspire them to keep on going because it does gets better.


BPM:   What issues in today's society do you address in the book?
A few issues that were swept under the rug during my childhood are still going strong in this time period.  Teen pregnancy, low self esteem, alcoholism, and divorce are all topics people deal with today and often just need to hear that others have fought the same battles and won. Teen pregnancy is a subject close to my heart because so many young girls face it and really need inspiration to keep on moving forward. That’s why it was so important to write the book because I had faced so many obstacles that I know other people face as well.


BPM:   What impact will this book have on the community of readers?
That’s a tough question because I can only say what impact I hope it will have and that is the attitude of never giving up no matter how hard times may be.  We as a community have experienced some truly difficult times for decades and it is so easy to give in to the negativity and heartbreak of our collective past. I’d like to think that my book shares with readers the meaning of hope, determination and patience. I fought so many demons over the years and it was only through the love of my family and the conviction of my faith that I was truly able to overcome and ultimately believe in myself. Our community has to do the same. Rely on the only thing our ancestors had to get them by---love and faith.


BPM:   What message in your book do you want readers to share with others?
As I mentioned, the main message is hope and I’d love for readers to pass that on to anyone they can. The importance of hope and determination can’t be overstated at any point and it’s so wonderful when we can inspire each other. You never know when just your words will change a person’s mood or perspective. 


BPM:   Before we end the interview, define SUCCESS. What part does GRATITUDE play in achieving success, in your opinion?
Success is feeling secure in yourself and the decisions you’ve made in your life. Success is being satisfied with who you are and how you treat others. That’s how I define success for me. Gratitude is being thankful for every blessing, every kind word and everyone in your life that you love and loves you back. Gratitude is waking up everyday and thanking God for another chance to do something good in his name.

Walk Like You Have Somewhere To Go  by Lucille O'Neal 
ISBN-10: 159555307X   |   ISBN-13: 978-1595553072

STAY IN YOUR LANE: Judge Karen's Guide to Living Your Best Lifeby Judge Karen Mills-Francis


STAY IN YOUR LANE  is a collection of life lessons culled from Judge Karen's more than thirteen years of experience as a criminal defense attorney and a respected family court judge in Miami-Dade County.  She offers sound advice on how to move past the hand we may have been dealt, dispel our feeling of victimization, and turn our lives around.  Her no-nonsense talk will give readers a push in the right direction--mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Fans of Judge Karen know the phrase “Stay in Your Lane”  is one of her favorites, and she believes that within us all sits the moral compass to find our direction when we are lost.  In STAY IN YOUR LANE, Judge Karen delivers a collection of tried-and-true advice in her signature witty, practical, compassionate style that made her a successful judge and a trusted courtroom TV arbitrator.   She offers sound advice on how to move past the hand we may have been dealt, dispel our feeling of victimization, and turn our lives around. Her no-nonsense talk will give you a push in the right direction—mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

STAY IN YOUR LANE  is packed with powerful and to-the-point lessons on everything from cultivating positive relationships and avoiding collisions of the heart, to learning how to move on from a painful past, to being a good parent, neighbor and citizen, to creating positive images to the world through dressing to express, etiquette, and making your home a personal sanctuary.  Judge Karen shares anecdotes in these areas not only from her professional life but also her personal life, revealing her own struggles with depression, relationships, and weight, among other things.  As the second African-American woman to be elected family court judge of Miami-Dade County, a passionate advocate for disadvantaged youth and victims of domestic violence, and a foster parent, Judge Karen shares her wisdom in five major life aspects:
  
• The Past
Learn from past mistakes, take responsibility for yourself, drop emotional baggage and personal hang-ups, and keep moving forward with a positive outlook.

• Family and Friends
Surround yourself with people who are positive and who make you feel stronger, and put your children’s safety and well-being first at all times.

• The Heart
Love and respect yourself first, because without self-love, someone else cannot love you.  Stop looking for someone else to validate who you are.

• Reconstructing You
Focus on finding activities and interests on your own, not relying on others to provide entertainment for you.  If you always wanted to do something, go do it!

• The Future
Your personal style of dress conveys how seriously you want to be taken.  Play host/hostess often because it teaches you to be gracious and sharpens your conversation skills.  See only clear skies ahead and embrace life’s possibilities.

And after going through the pages of this unique, uplifting book, you’ll learn that you already have the power within you to find your direction when you’re lost. Because Judge Karen tells it like it is. And you’ll be glad she did.


PRAISE FOR STAY IN YOUR LANE


“This book is a must-read. Judge Karen expertly shows how to go outside of your comfort zones and seek your own truth.” 
—Suzanne de Passe, CEO, de Passe Entertainment

“Judge Karen has written a powerful guide to creating a purposeful life. This book belongs in the collection of every self-respecting renaissance woman.”
—Sylvia Rhone, president, Universal Motown

“In Stay in Your Lane Judge Karen delivers advice with spice!”
—Amy Goldson, entertainment attorney

“An inspirational and commonsense roadmap for creating positive change, finding your moral compass, and living a wellness oriented existence.  If you are ready for change and want to start living a healthier and more honorable life, you simply must read this book!”
—Dr. John H. Sklare, creator, The Inner Diet

“Judge Karen’s no-nonsense advice and experienced insights will help any reader map out their own life course and enjoy every step of the journey!” 
—Catherine Hughes, Chairperson and Founder, Radio One

“Judge Karen is a goldmine of wisdom and wit. Her many years on the bench have given her more insight than a thousand shrinks and better timing than a stand-up comic. You will not be able to put this book down.” 
—Jane Velez-Mitchell, host of “Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell”

About The Author
Judge Karen Mills-Francis is the star of TV’s syndicated shows Judge Karen and Judge Karen’s Court. Judge Karen was born and raised in Miami, Florida, and is the oldest of five children. She practiced criminal defense law for thirteen years both in private practice and as a public defender, and was elected twice as Miami-Dade County Judge, only the second African American woman ever to serve in that position. She is a respected advocate for disadvantaged youth and victims of domestic violence and often speaks around the country on those issues. Judge Karen is a graduate of Bowdoin College and Levin School of Law at the University of Florida.

Mills-Francis’ no-nonsense worldview offers sound advice as it inspires, delights and motivates.  “Our life's journey is hard enough without the weight of all the baggage we carry with us from our past,” writes Mills-Francis.

“As sure as my name is Judge Karen, life will test us and twist us in ways that are unimaginable. Just staying squarely on the road as we move toward our destination will at times be a challenge. We cannot move toward living our best life if our eyes are always looking in the rearview mirror.”


STAY IN YOUR LANE
Judge Karen’s Guide to Living Your Best Life
By Karen Mills-Francis
978-0-345-52483-6 * $23.00 * 256 pages

  
Judge Karen | FacebookStay in Your Lane: Judge Karen's Guide to Living Your Best Life
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Judge-Karen/43066979695

Intimate Conversation with Russel Blake

 Russel Blake has been a Music Producer/Professional Musician/Concert Soloist/Educator for over 3 decades. As a music producer, Mr. Blake has created a multitude of projects covering all genres of music. His last CD project entitled “Quiet Strength” is a powerful and soulful jazz project that received critical and commercial success. His next soon to be released CD project is entitled “Fierce Solitude” and is highly anticipated.

Russel Blake has also just self-published his first book entitled  “Proverbs 31: The Virtuous Black Woman Volume 1.” The strength of the idea is to communicate the precious and priceless value/existence of Black Women to the minds of black men, the rights to be treated with unwavering respect and dignity in the minds of black women and the seeds of reverence to be sown by virtue of changing perception one community at a time. If one Black Woman is thought to be expendable, then every Black Women’s immeasurable value is now diminished in the eyes of the world. 

Proverbs 31: The Virtuous Black Woman Volume 1  by  Russel Blake“Proverbs 31: The Virtuous Black Woman” is published by Man of Psalms Publishing.  It is a book of Psalms, Praises, Short Stories, and observations whose foundation are the Holy Scriptures utilizing Proverbs 31 as its central theme based on the Virtuous Black Woman.  Mr. Blake's writings are in essence a global dedication unto African/Caribbean/African-American Virtuous Women who everyday exemplify the proverb of the wise Woman who builds her house with peaceful dignity.

 

BPM:  What is the inspiration behind your book, Proverbs 31:The Virtuous Black Woman? Ans: My inspiration is drawn from the resiliency and persistent determination I have witnessed in the depth of character from my own Mother to African/Caribbean/African-American Women during my world travels.
 

BPM:  Why do you feel that the topic of this book is relevant at this time?Ans: I feel it is arguably factual that at no other time in history have black women faced such a daunting foe of mis-characterization and victimization since the trans atlantic slave trade.
 

BPM:  Why was this book specifically targeted to Black Women or Women of Color and not all women?Ans: Regrettably, black women particularly in the United States still constitute the highest “negative” statistics belonging to women.  Whether in the areas of health, incarceration, leading single parent households, etc;…
 

BPM:  What is your number one desire for Black Women to take away from your book?  Ans: A renewed sense of value and purpose inspiring them to reassess themselves in the most positive light and moral worth possible in order to both endure and succeed.
 

BPM:  How can my readers obtain a copy of  Proverbs 31:The Virtuous Black Woman.Russel Blake website address:  http://www.russelblake.net/

Proverbs 31: The Virtuous Black Woman Volume 1  by  Russel BlakePrice: $19.99;   ISBN:  978-0-615-34398-3   

The primary subject matter is Christian Inspiration/Psalms/Spirituality/Self-Help
The primary audience is Adults, African-American, Caribbean/African Women and Men  

To place an order, please order at  http://www.russelblake.net/
Email Monica Hart, Director:  russelblakemanagement@yahoo.com 

Intimate Conversation with Michele Tapp Roseman

Michele Tapp Roseman, M.A., writer/media specialist, has more than 20 years’ experience helping clients communicate more effectively. The principal of Communication On Tapp,  she has been featured in the Washington Times, MORE Magazine, WHUR’s “Let’s Talk Money,”  and been a guest on the Christian Broadcasting Network.  The native New Yorker is an Elder at Faith United Ministries and resides in the Washington, DC metropolitan area with her husband Kyle.

BPM: Who did you write Business Briefs for? Why?This weekly devotional guide was written to encourage busy professionals.  I wrote it because we know the challenge of having to bring our “A” game to work when personally and professionally we are “running on E.” I got the idea after having successfully hosted a free, weekly inspirational teleconference for three years; the name of this teleconference is “Business Briefs.”   This call – like the book – is designed to provide a source of hope without disrupting important daily events. Some people’s schedules preclude them from participating in this 15 minute teleconference.  With Business Briefs (the book), anyone can be uplifted at their leisure. The easy-to-follow entries, practical prayer and Scripture references can be read in less than 5 minutes.  There are 86,400 minutes in a day … surely we can give 5 of them to God.

BPM: What message in your book do you want readers to share with others?I’d like for the readers to realize that we should never get so busy that we don’t schedule time with God.  I also want readers to know and share that God’s schedule is never so chock-full that He doesn’t have time for us. An appointment with God -- whether 1 minute or 1 hour -- is one worth keeping.  Time alone with the One who made the world – helps us handle to everything that happens in our world.

BPM: Share with us a few life enhancing sections from the book, Business Briefs.

I Hate to Open The Door! – Week 22The principal benefit of working in an office versus telecommuting is the opportunity to share ideas with others in person. When working in an office, you also have an opportunity to share things that are not pleasant – such as refrigerator smells! There are times when I refuse to place my lunch in the company refrigerator because once I open the door I can hardly stand the smell of the contents.

Does this setting sound like a scene from your life? Is there a covered area of your life that has now started to leak in the work setting? Maybe there is an old secret that you will not disclose for fear of public embarrassment. Take a risk and share your life with God so that He can begin to eliminate the old and fill it with something new.

Motion Sensors – Week 26 I recall arriving to work earlier than normal and walking into a pitch black hallway.  I  did  not realize that the hallway lights are activated by motion sensors. Once I began to move, the lights came on and I could see where I was going.  Perhaps we should consider this question – how much closer would we be to our goals if we started moving? God’s challenge for us today is to start taking steps. You may be in the right place but if you do not move insight or inspiration may never appear. God is our “Motion Sense-er” who knows when we are moving and standing still. He is aware of missed opportunities because we gave way to fear and doubt. He is also the first one to help us when He senses we’re willing to move!

BPM: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.  Business Briefs is now available for purchase online and at the Christian Cultural Center book store in Brooklyn, NY (http://www.cccinfo.org/). I will also be featured in the Author’s Pavilion during the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 40th Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, September 15-18, 2010 (http://www.cbcfinc.org/).

BPM:  Before we end the interview, define SUCCESS. What part does GRATITUDE play in achieving success, in your opinion?In my estimation,  gratitude is the thread that keeps the tapestry of success intact. I refer to success as a “tapestry” because the success of one is birthed from the assistance of many. When one views tapestry, at first glance a particular image is readily visible. Upon closer inspection, though, the various hues and textures of  thread come into view. So it is with success. The successful person appears to stand alone. Upon closer inspection,  the impact of an encouraging spouse, uplifting boss and a tough-loving friend are seen.  The thread of gratitude ensures that we will not unravel under the heat of limelight. It is gratitude that knits us to the ones who have helped us along the way and propels us to weave someone else into what we have achieved.

BPM: How can our readers reach you online? Please visit http://www.businessbriefs.info/  or e-mail me at  businessbriefs@verizon.net to learn more about Business Briefs and how to get a copy. Also tune-in to the free, Business Briefs Teleconference every Tuesday at 12:30 pm (EST) by calling  (866) 576-7975   Code: 223743

Order your copy of  BUSINESS BRIEFS  by visiting www.businessbriefs.info

Intimate Conversation with author Joseph W. Hoffler

Lt. Col. Joseph W. Hoffler, USAF (ret) is a native of Hertford, NC.  He graduated from North Carolina Central University in 1962, with a BS in Biology.  He also has a MBA from the University of Missouri. Hoffler is the president of Hoffler & Associates Counseling Services. He facilitates fathering groups with incarcerated dads, is a widower with two adult children and two grandsons, lives in Colorado Springs, CO, is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.

Promotion: Denied  reveals how Lt. Col. Joseph W. Hoffler, a former commander of the Air Force Academy’s Security Police Squadron, was the victim of a racially motivated “witch-hunt.”  The book also tells the story of an unlikely duo—an older, black commander from the segregated South and his young, white captain operations officer from New York City—who came together to fight a losing battle against institutionalized racism at the academy.

BPM:  What makes you powerful as a person and a writer?As a person it is the fact of competing and becoming a military commander.  A military commander has a lot power and authority.  He or she can decide promotions, assignments, level of performance.  Now I am president of my own company in which I have full control over all aspects of the company. As a writer, my story is about fighting racism against a very powerful, politically connected opponent, the USAF Academy.  An opponent who is in a state of denied and who for years has resisted any change or challenge of its authority.


BPM:  Who are your mentors?Without question my mentors were my parents.  My father, was a strong, quiet soft-spoken Black man who taught me to stand up for is right and to earn respect.  Earlier my dad worked in the Navy Yard. During my years at home, my dad was a self-employed auto mechanic. He inspired us with the knowledge that we were as good as anyone else.  He repaired cars, trucks and tractors for both whites and Blacks in Hertford. That wasn’t an easy task during the 1950’s in the South. My dad taught me to watch the nightly news and read the morning papers.  Two tasks which follow me today. He had that air of confidence about him.  He held positions in church as Usher, Sunday Teacher and then President of the Deacon Board.

My mother was a college graduate who pushed us to do well in our school work. They knew that to earn a good living during that time period, a Black person had to earn a college degree.  I had five siblings.  Three sister and two brothers. My two bothers ahead of me, both earned academic scholarships and graduated from high at age 16.

BPM:  Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers...My writing offers the following legacy to future readers: Do not ever feel that your civil rights as an American citizen are assured. You must constantly be aware of people (s) who attempt to deny you your basic civil rights as an American citizen. And seek to strengthen the legal structures created to protect you. The recent story about Ms. Sherrod, proves beyond a doubt that the conflict between races are not over.  Even such an innocent act of giving a speech at the NAACP can create racial conflict. 

‘Promotion Denied’- The Harrowing True Story of Racism, Cover-Up, Betrayal and Vigilante Justice at the United Air Force Academy.

Because he consistently achieved outstanding reviews, Hoffler found himself on a special assignment as the commander of the Security Police Squadron at the US Air Force Academy.  Hoffler was among a number of Black officers send to the Academy to increase the diversity of Black Air Force personnel. During his final year at the Academy, as he was being consider for promotion, a few white enlisted members of his squadron complained to the Chief of Staff and the Inspector General of the Academy that there were ‘too many Blacks in senior positions in the squadron’ . 

The senior officers launched a witch hunt against him by recruiting and illegally rewarding a poorly performing white airman in the squadron to fabricate false infractions, meant to embarrass and humiliate and ultimately lead to disciplinary actions and his early retirement. Hoffler attempts at fighting this injustice lead to further personnel actions against him and he finally realized that Headquarters Air Force, valued the reputation of the Air Force Academy and the protection of racist senior officers over integrity.


BPM:  Introduce us to the primary message in your book, Promotion Denied.Although my story is about the US Air Force Academy,  there is racism in the U.S. Military. And there are not strong structures for personnel who feel that they have been discriminate against because of their race, can go and feel that they will get act.

BPM:  What inspired you to create this book now?I live in Colorado Springs which is the home of the Air Force Academy.  I grew tired of the hypocrisy of the Air Force Academy of failing to address its racial past and having a media blitz about trying to recruit more Black cadets.  Also of requiring the cadets to live by an honor code, while not applying that same standard to its senior officers.  Over the past 20 years, I tried to get the Academy, like West Point and Annapolis to address its past racial problems.  However, the Air Force Academy continues to put its head in the sand. I felt that my story and those of many other Black who were discriminated again by the Academy should be told and apologies and regress made to us.


BPM:  Who should read this book?Every American who pays taxes to support an institution like the Air Force Academy.  Especially military retires, veterans and their families.

BPM:  What impact will this book have on the community of readers? I hope that it will cause them to ‘force’ the military to look at racism in its ranks.  And where such injustices exist, discipline should be swift and appropriate.  Just like the Air Force did when investigating sexual harassment at the Academy. Old cases in which Academy personnel conducted poor and illegally investigations, were reinvestigated and action taken.  When influence at the appropriate levels the same can happen in cases involving racism at the USAF Academy and throughout the Air Force.

BPM:  What was your primary quest for writing this book?A::  My quest was to exposure the racism at the USAF Academy, bring restitution to those who suffered as a result and hope that such actions will spread throughout the Air Force. Just as sexual harassment did.

BPM:  What message in your book do you want readers to share with others?Do not put all of your faith into believing that when racism appears, all you have to do it to report the incident and the system will take care of them.  In the final analysis, the system is only as good as the people in the system. Work hard to get the right people in the right positions.

BPM:  Before we end the interview, define SUCCESS.  What part does ATTTIUDE play in achieving success in your opinion?Success is when someone reaches he/her goal that they have set for themselves.  It could be a promotion on the job, purchasing a new home, getting married, etc. If one hopes to be successful, one must have a positive attitude.  It is nearly impossible to succeed, with a negative attitude.  Success and attitude go hand in hand and compliment each other.


BPM:  What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?First I would like to add, there are few books about racism in the military. This book is written by me.  In my own words, embracing the happy times in my life, my disappointments and frustrations. Usually, when a story which contains such emotions is envisioned by a non writer, typically the story is told to a professional writer who writes the story based on what he/she is told.  To me some of the emotions are lost in  translation from voice to keyboard.  Not here, no one can put into words how someone truly feels.  My readers have told me, they can feel me in every line.

BPM:  Shares with us your latest awards, upcoming book release. Last year I was chosen as the Juneteenth Newsmaker of the years for writing my story and bringing to the news, racism in the USAF Academy, CO.  And I am very honored to participate in the Congressional Black Caucus Author Pavilion on September 17, 2010.


BPM:  How can our readers reach you on line?The readers can find out more about me at my website:  http://www.josephwhoffler.com/ or by emailing me at:
Purchase copies of  Promotion: Denied: The Harrowing True Story of Racism...http://www.josephwhoffler.com/promotiondenied.php
ISBN-13: 9780979468605   |    ISBN: 0979468604

The Little Black Book of Success:  Laws of Leadership for Black Womenby Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha Haygood, and Rhonda Joy McLean


July 2010 Little Black Book is a #1 Bestseller on Amazon in the "Management and Leadership" category!

Complete with a foreword by Essence® editor-in-chief Angela Burt-Murray, this book will help you maximize your leadership potential and exceed all expectations. (ISBN: 9780345518484)

Nearly 40 percent of black women report that they don’t have other black women who can serve as role models, and there have been no books that specifically focus on black women and leadership—until now.  Black women in today’s workforce face unique challenges as they seek to advance their careers.  Performing as well as their colleagues is not enough to win leadership positions; they also need a special brand of strength and confidence to rise above the double burden of racism and sexism and tap into their true leadership potential.  But where can they turn for advice? 

With THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF SUCCESS: Laws of Leadership for Black Women (A One World Hardcover; March 2, 2010)—an engaging and invaluable resource guide for black women at any stage of their professional lives—Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha Haygood, and Rhonda Joy McLean have pooled almost 100 years of collective wisdom and leadership experience to create the guide they wished they had along their own remarkable career paths.

What these dynamic, successful black female executives show is that the building blocks for success are often right below the surface.  As they point out, “although they’re able to get jobs, many of today’s young black women don’t realize they have the potential to move themselves forward.  Many black women hold leadership roles in their communities, schools, and churches, but aren’t aware that they can transfer skills from those leadership positions to the workplace.  Research indicates that their talents often remain invisible both to the women who possess them and their business managers.  But leadership can be taught.”

With THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF SUCCESS, you will learn how to:

• Use your duality to build strength—turn the lessons learned from the double burden of racism and sexism to your advantage
• Distinguish between “church values” and “business values”—adapt your spiritual values to business ethics without selling your soul
• Consider yourself a VIP—cultivate high self-esteem and self-leadership to maximize your potential
• Stay Positive—use your well-honed tools of affirmation to change the way you think and to develop a leader’s mental attitude
• Control and learn from your emotions—don’t let others get in the way of what you want
• Communicate like a leader—develop critical superb verbal and written communication skills
• Use the “N” word: Networking—and be sure to network outside your comfort zone
• Reach back and bring others along—when given the chance, offer a helping hand


Some leaders are born, but most leaders are made—and THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK OF SUCCESS will help black women at all professional levels realize their leadership potential, whether their goal is a promotion or a seat at the table in the C-suite.


Chapter One-The Little Black Book of SuccessLaws of Leadership for Black Women

Always Consider Yourself a VIP

Many of you are already active in the workplace or will soon be entering workforces all over the world - in privately held corporations, large foundations, small not-for-profit organizations, advocacy groups, government positions, or other jobs right in your neighborhood - and yet, you may not know a very important secret: There is a leader inside each of you just waiting to come out! All you need to do is develop and hone the skills that will help the leader in you to surface and shine. Leaders are not only born, they can also be created.

Even if you have never held a leadership position and were told that you did not have “leadership potential” as you were growing up, you can learn what it takes to be a leader right now. Like math, science, and languages, leadership can be learned because it requires skill sets that can be taught. And since you are clearly capable of learning, the path to leadership is one you can always pursue. However, along the path to leadership success, you will have to refuse to give in to negative thinking that can hold you back. Too often brilliant and beautiful young women of color sabotage themselves, sometimes without even knowing that they are doing it, so that they never become the leaders they are capable of becoming or achieve the level of leadership success they deserve.

The most critical aspect of leadership is self-esteem, which must flow from the core of your being. In order to become a leader and remain an effective one, you must always consider yourself a Very Important Person (VIP). This doesn’t mean that you should be arrogant or cocky and walk into your job believing that you already know everything you need to know. Instead, it means that you need to feel confident that you are bringing much value to any workplace and that your cultural strengths, values, and work ethic will stand you in good stead as you go about learning how to do your job, and that you will be successful despite any challenges you may face, whether they are small or large.

How you feel about yourself is imperative to moving forward and sustaining your efforts to meet your leadership goals. Feeling that you’re a VIP, reminding yourself that you’re a VIP, dressing like you’re a VIP, and acting like you’re a VIP (within reason, of course) will help to give you the confidence you need to conquer real and imagined obstacles in your workplace. Rest assured that you can overcome any hurdles you may encounter on your way to becoming a leader  - just be prepared and hang on to your hat.

###

Excerpted from The Little Black Book of Success by Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha Haygood, and Rhonda Joy McLean Copyright © 2010 by Elaine Meryl Brown. Excerpted by permission of One World/Ballantine, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.


Book Reviews for The Little Black Book of Success


"[The Little Black Book of Success] offers invaluable insight for anyone ready to step up and take the reins."
- Essence® Magazine

"[A] great resource to get (or keep) your career on track. Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha Haygood and Rhonda Joy McLean are mentors in your pocket." - Heart & Soul® Magazine

"Finally: a small but extremely powerful book full of successful business and lifestyle rules written by women of color." - B. Smith, Founder & Chief Creative Officer, B. Smith Enterprises.


The Little Black Book of Success by Elaine Meryl Brown, Marsha Haygood, and Rhonda Joy McLean

Visit the Author's Website:  http://www.littleblackbookofsuccess.com/

Read Excerpt from The Little Black Book of Success http://www.littleblackbookofsuccess.com/book.asp#excerpt


Available at Barnes and Noble - Purchase Your Copy Today!
ISBN-10: 0345518489   |    ISBN-13: 978-0345518484
Genre: Business & Economics - Motivational; Self-Help - Personal Growth

Intimate Conversation with R. Jenkins-Oliver

R. Jenkins-Oliver was born and raised in McIntosh County Georgia. She is the oldest of four children, and is a graduate of Todd-Grant High School , Margaret M. Washington, and Brunswick College . She has worked for the FBI, as a health care professional, and was an entrepreneur. She has appeared in several industrial and feature films.

What make you powerful as a person and as a writer? I think what makes me powerful as a person is that I’m proactive, an empathic listener, respectful, I’m willing to support and network with others. I plan ahead and I always have more than one plan. I welcome criticism because there is always room for improvement. And most of all I commune with the Holy Spirit every day of my life.

I consider myself a powerful writer because my writing was inspired by a higher power. I would have never thought in my wildest dreams that I would have ever written a book and become a published author because I have never challenged myself to be a creative person.


Who are your mentors? Where do you find you inspiration? I find my inspiration in my faith. My mentors are people who encouraged and inspired me to trust in my faith and to stay focused on my goals in life.


Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers..My writing offers the following legacy to future readers: My writing offers the reader a glimpse of what life was like for so many African Americans before us, and what they had to endure in their lives to survive the injustice they received.   


Introduce us to your book, 1878 the Life and Times of Henry Forest. 1878 is based on the life of Henry Forest , who lived during the late 1800’ until the mid 1900’s. The fourth son of a farmer, Henry was born in 1878 on a farm in Georgia . He and his brothers were raised to be hard-working and responsible men, to marry and raise their own families. Henry married a young woman named Mollie, with no farm of his own; he decided to work for another farmer in Dexter. Shortly after Jack Johnson won the heavy weight championship of the world in July, 1910, racial tension ignited around the country. 

Henry gets involved in a fight with a number of white men who made racist comments about blacks with the rise of the Klu Klux Klan. Wanted by the FBI and afraid of getting killed, he moves to Eulonia and assumes the name Robert.

He spent the rest of his life living in fear for his life and the life of the family he left behind. The book is written in a mixture of Geechee and Gullah dialect which is still spoken in the area today and almost entirely in dialogue.


Who were your favorite characters?The main characters in the book are Henry, John, Joe, Viola and Hettie.  My favorite characters in 1878 are Henry, Ben, and Joe.Henry was a hard working man who lived for his family; he was determined to survive.
He made a decision that haunted him for years, but through it all he never lost his faith in God.
Ben grew up before reconstruction, and he knew that a colored man only chance for survival was to keep his opinions to himself and to stay out of trouble. He loved his grand children and he told them stories about what could happen if they didn’t stay in their place. Joe was a man who opened his home to Henry while he worked as a sharecropper to earn a living for his family. Over the years Joe became fond of Henry and treated him like a son.


Are your characters from the portrayal of real people? Yes the story was based on facts. Most of the characters are the families’ real names, however, there are a few fictional names in the story used to portray real characters.


What specific situation prompted you to write 1878 the Life and Times of Henry Forest?The Holy Spirit placed it in my heart to write the story. I think the reason the Holy Spirit gave the vision to me to write the story was because there were whispers about Henry’s life as a young man, but in later years at a family reunion, the secrets came out that he had a different life and identity before he came to Eulonia.
Once I received the missing parts to the story, I had no idea where to start the story. That’s when I started having the dreams about people that I never knew. In the dreams I heard their voices and saw their faces. That’s why the story is written almost entirely in dialogue and in dialect.

Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?I think the story sends a message to Americans that we as a people have made many achievements together in racial relations and we have freedom of speech in the 21st century especially when compared to the era when this event happen in the early 20th century. However, we can be encouraged that improvements are being made in spite of what’s going on behind closed doors.   


How will reading your book shape the readers life?I think the story invites the reader to experience a vivid and engaging bird’s eye view of what life was like for African America during the dark period in American history. The experience can stir up personal feelings of joy, pain, suffering and despair as the reader enters in to the world of the characters. 
                                                                                     

What is the most powerful chapter in the book?The most powerful chapter in the book is when Viola and Hettie met while working at a motel in Eulonia, and the two of them discovered that they grew up hearing the same story about one of their family members.


What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject? I think that Henry’s story is unique because there were so many who found themselves in a similar situation and didn’t survive because they were murdered before they could get their day in a court of law to tell their sides of the story before a jury of their peers.


How can readers reach you online?Readers can reach me via email l_rolivercorpllc1@yahoo.com
Book seller link: http://www.blackbookplus.com/ or web page http://www/. authorsden.com. Also, readers should be able go into bookstores and order the book.

Intimate Conversation with Mark D. Watt

The 8 Principles Of Goals And S.U.C.C.E.S.S.  is Mark D. Watt first book. Mark is an author, technology enthusiast, and entrepreneur at heart. He was born in Evansville, IN. After graduating from high school, he attended Vincennes University, where he majored in computer programming. He has worked for various established companies and startups throughout his corporate career.  In 2002, I started GLO-HEL Property Investments, LLC and in 2009 MB Media Group, a company that is developing mobile media. He resides in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is currently working on his next book.

In a world full of self-help books and personal growth seminars, we are bombarded with images of what life should be and what success really is. From the moment of birth, we are surrounded by temptation and by pressure to conform, and we are conditioned to adhere to society’s standards. It is this problem, says author Mark D. Watt that distracts us from the true issue: What is success, and where does it really come from.

BPM:  What motivated you to write this type of goals and success book?A: The reason why I wrote a biblically goals and success book is that I realized that true success did not come from man; it came from the Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth - Bible) manual. I noticed that there are a lot of life coaches, goals and success guru’s that are deceiving a lot of people regarding goals and success, and how it came about, and where it originated from. These gurus’s are making a lot of money using what truly came from the (Bible) and taking credit for it as if they came up with it, and not acknowledging God or the Bible, the true originator success.


BPM:  What sets this book apart from other goals and success books?A: The 8 Principles Of Goals And S.U.C.C.E.S.S. dispels the myth and removes doubt of who, what, when, where, why and how success came about. This book spells out the truth about goals and success in a unique way.  The word (S.U.C.C.E.S.S.) itself is unique in how the letters spell out the word success in a Biblical manner and understanding. As one reads this book, it provides divine directions, and a process one will go through. The (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth - Bible) manual provides anyone and everyone who desires to apply these principles supernatural success in every area of one’s life. So, I ask this question, what is your definition of success?


BPM:  Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?A: Other men and women of God, whose walk and talk line up with the written Word of God. I find inspiration from the Holy Spirit; it instructs me and provides me directions on what to do, when to do it, and how to do it.


BPM:  What is the primary goal of  The 8 Principles Of Goals And S.U.C.C.E.S.S.?A: First of all this book is not about getting rich, it is not about worldly standards of goals and success, done that way is only temporary. However, the (material things) is not a primary focus here; it is the obedience to the written Word of God. It is the spiritual things first. Read, Matthew 6:33 and obtain revelation (understanding) from it. The primary goal of this book is 1: bring forth the truth regarding the true goals and success. 2: to provide basic instructions on how to achieve true success in every area of one’s life. 3: how to apply the principles, because they really do work.


BPM:  What do you desire your readers to ultimately gain from The 8 Principles Of Goals And S.U.C.C.E.S.S.?A: To follow the right instructions and directions from the (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth - Bible) manual. In order to do this one must have a change of mind by the renewing his or her mind with the written Word of God. When done God’s way, your success will manifest supernaturally, and success is, permanent not temporary like it is in the world.


BPM:  How can our readers stay in touch with you? A: For additional updates regarding my book, articles and additional information, readers can visit my website, blog and mobile site or email me from my website contact form.

Connect with author Mark D. WattAuthor Website:   the8principlesofgoalsandsuccess.com
Blog:   the8principlesofgoalsandsuccess.wordpress.com

Book Available Now! Everywhere Books Are Sold…

Intimate Conversation with Dawn McCoy

Dawn McCoy, the leadership guru, and is president of Flourish Leadership Group. She a nationally-recognized speaker and author of Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider's Guide to Success. She was among the youngest African-Americans elected to the Sacramento City Unified School Board of
Trustees, one the nation’s top fifty largest school systems. She has been legislative aide and nonprofit executive. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Howard University and master’s degree from Georgetown University.

BPM:  Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?My grandmother and my aunts are my mentors. They are the ones who have inspired me to write because of their legacy sewing quilts. For years,  I’ve watched them weave together from scrap materials and clothing creative home-spun blankets, quilts, and wall-hangings. From fabric and decorative embellishments, they have created stories that come alive. When I received a quilted square handed down from a great-great aunt, I knew I had obligation to tell a story a story using my creativity. Leadership Building Blocks came to me as a way to both tell my story about life in public office and the local political landscape. In the process, I
shared lessons learned with the intent to help others get in, survive, and manage leadership roles.


BPM:  Introduce us to the primary message in your book.Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success outlines seven strategies to help ordinary people become extraordinary leaders and achieve success. These seven strategies include vision, balance, courage, dynamic creativity (relationship building), fortitude, and infinite possibilities (legacy). It is an inspirational account based on leadership lessons Dawn McCoy learned as an elected Sacramento City Unified School board trustee. Readers get step-by-step procedures about leadership including pictorial images, leadership self-assessments, and goal-setting  worksheets.  Purchase at Amazon today!

Leadership Building Blocks includes seven strategies essential to bring about success. These include Vision, Balance, Courage, Dynamic Creativity, Everything Global, Fortitude, and Legacy.

Also  included:
•    vision is forecasting,
•    balance is maintaining focus between personal and professional worlds,
•    courage refers to persevering during difficulties,
•    dynamic creativity describes flexibility,
•    everything global is about really connecting with people,
•    fortitude describes crisis management and communication skills, and finally
•    legacy is about gracefully rounding any leadership journey.


BPM:  What led you to create this book now?It was so interesting while writing Leadership Building Blocks to discover how pivotal my service as an elected school board member REALLY was. After serving 52,000 Sacramento students in a school district ranked as one of the top 50 largest in the nation, I felt compelled to help other current and aspiring leaders in a meaningful way. Even with the high-profile and public school district challenges that I talk about in the book, I wanted to share lessons learned, the inside track per se, about how to manage any leadership journey. Writing Leadership Building Blocks after I did not seek re-election was a cathartic experience. It brought forth this process to help others to courageously face adversity, to build solid relationships, and to maintain their integrity.


BPM:  Who did you write this book for? Why?What’s so unique about Leadership Building Blocks is that it’s a practical resource for everyday people. First, this book is useful for beginners and seasoned veterans alike. This book was written to guide high school and college students who are at the beginning or turning points along their leadership paths. On a practical level, this book is written specifically for nonprofit directors and neighborhood team captains, political leaders and entrepreneurs, and PTA moms and even t-ball dads.


BPM:  What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?Leadership Building Blocks is an essential guide for how good people in leadership positions become extraordinary leaders. Too often we hear about leaders making bad decisions. This book is the perfect solution to bring integrity back to leadership. It’s based upon my experiences in political office. It is filled with kernels of wisdom, chapter-by-chapter icons, and self-assessments. What makes Leadership Building Blocks so distinct is that it will inspire you to jump in, take on, or tackle any leadership role.


BPM:  Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.Last fall, I rolled out a new audio CD, Effective Community Engagement: Seven Steps to Make a Real Difference. Included are excerpts from chapter 13 of Leadership Building Blocks and also concrete ways about how to become a better champion for a cause, community group, or faith-based organization. These step-by-step techniques are timeless insights to help people really take action rather than just talk about it.
Right now, I’m excited to be on a national tour for Leadership Building Blocks speaking at conferences and visiting local bookstores and colleges.

This includes lectures and book signings in New York, Baltimore, Richmond, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, San Francisco, Chicago, Kansas City, and Los Angeles.  It’s really an exciting time!


BPM:  How can our readers reach you online?
Readers can reach me on at:
Website:   http://www.flourishleadership.com/
Twitter:     http://twitter.com/dawnmccoy02
YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/dawnmccoy01
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/therealdawnmccoy


Dawn McCoy, President and CEO Flourish Leadership Group, LLCMotivational Speaker, Leadership Consultant, and Author of Leadership
Building Blocks: An Insider's Guide to Success
"Empower Effective Leaders for Today and Tomorrow"


Purchase at Amazon.comhttp://www.amazon.com/Leadership-Building-Blocks-Insiders-Success/dp/0981994490

Purchase at  Barnesandnoble.comhttp://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=leadership+building+blocks

Intimate Conversation with J.M. Wilson

J.M. Wilson is both a scholar and actor. He holds an advance degree from the University of Saint Thomas and is an adjunct professor at Cardinal Stritch University . The Power of Speech is his fourth book. As an actor he has performed in You Can t Take It with You, Romeo and Juliet, and Doctor Faustus.

BPM:   Who where your mentors growing up?  How did they shape your life?My mother and Father.  Growing up they instilled in me the value of communications and how it effects everything in our lives.

BPM:   What make you a powerful speaker and writer? In my writing and speaking I try to take complicated issues and make them simple so that they can be understood by everyone.

BPM:  Finish this sentence:  My writing offers the following legacy to future readers...My writing offers the following legacy to future readers...because public speaking effects every part of human society if people understand the fundamentals of persuasion it will improve society and the lives of individuals and that is what this book seeks to do.

BPM:   What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book, The Power of Speech: Obama and the Art of Communicating?As a child I noticed that some people always seemed to be successful and I wondered why.  As I grew older I noticed that their success came for the most part from the ability to persuade.

BPM:   Take us inside the book. What are two major events taking place?
Written by adjunct communications professor J.M. Wilson The Power of Speech is a concise and easy to read book on public speaking. Similar in scope to The One-Minute Manager it breaks down the art of public speaking to its fundamental elements so that even a child could understand. Further, this book shows that public speaking is the foundation of every nation and is the glue that holds it together. It plays a role in nearly every aspect of our lives from our romantic relationships to our businesses. In this book we see the fundamental elements that all persuasive speeches should have in them.   And we see how Obama’s work as a community organizer improved his ability to persuade.

BPM:   Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?Because communication affects every part of our society from professional to personal this book is written for those who wish to have greater influence in society.

BPM:   How will reading your book shape the readers lives? Because communication affects every part of our society from professional to personal this book is written for those who wish to have greater influence in society.

BPM:   What are some of the specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book?That communication is perhaps the most important thing in society and that it separates the successful from the unsuccessful.

BPM:   What was the most powerful chapter in the book, The Power of Speech: Obama and the Art of Communicating?For me that chapter that I thank is the most powerful in the book is the chapter that deals with practice. In it the reader will see step by step what things need be done in order to become a better speaker.

 
BPM:   What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?It takes complex issues and breaks them down so that they are easy to understand.

BPM:   Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?To see how communications can improve their professional and personal lives.


BPM:   Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.    The Power of Speech is nominated for the Benjamin Franklin IBPA Award for books dealing with self-help. 

BPM:   How can our readers reach you online? I can be contacted at info@veronapublishing.com

The Power of Speech: Obama and the Art of Communicating by J. M. Wilson (Author)
www.amazon.com/Power-Speech-Obama-Art-communicating/dp/0976903148
ISBN-10: 0976903148
ISBN-13: 978-0976903147

Book can be purchased at the following websites: http://www.veronapublishing.com/ 

Intimate Conversation with 
Thembisa S. Mshaka

Thembisa S. Mshaka is a 5-time Telly Award winner and 17-year entertainment industry veteran whose career spans the areas of touring, management, magazine publishing, recorded music and technology, advertising, music supervision for film, voice over, and television. As Senior Copywriter at Sony Music, her campaigns contributed to the sale of more than 150 million albums for Lauryn Hill, Will Smith, Beyonce’, NaS, Maxwell and others. Her byline has appeared in essence.com, newsone.com, and TheHotness.com. She contributed to the anthologies Sometimes Rhythm: Sometimes Blues edited by Taigi Smith and Icons of Hip-Hop, edited by Mickey Hess.


BPM:  What makes you powerful as a person and a writer?  First and foremost my relationship with the Creator fortifies me and helps me to remember what’s really important. I also have to mention my connection to my African-American heritage; the strength and support of my family; my education at single-sex institutions from middle school through undergraduate. Women’s education gave me a strong, healthy sense of identity. I also learned how to summon my personal power and sharpen my communication through the Landmark Education curriculum, which I completed in 2003.

BPM:  Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?
My mentors are my late mother, Fulani Mshaka, to whom I dedicated my book, author Terrie M. Williams, who taught me the value of the personal touch in business, and music executive turned film producer Lisa Cortes, whose path greatly inspires mine.

I fine my inspiration in travel, film, music, art exhibits, theater, books, stimulating conversation. I especially love talking with my son; his insights are incredible.

BPM:   Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers...My writing offers the following legacy to future readers by thrusting the voices of women who work in entertainment into the literary cannon. Put Your Dreams First provides mentorship from over 90 women so readers won’t have to compromise their bodies or values to be successful in entertainment. Writing this book crystallized the importance of legacy building for me.

BPM:   Introduce us to the primary message in your book, Put Your Dreams First. That while men dominate the entertainment world, women drive it—and their business insights can help all readers become successful while keeping their integrity intact. The key is to Put Your Dreams First, hence the title. This highly informative guide is for every woman wanting to know how to navigate the entertainment superhighway and find that job of a lifetime.


BPM:   Share with us three life enhancing sections from Put Your Dreams First: Handle Your [entertainment] Business The Work-Life Balance Myth.Yeah, I said it. Balancing work and family is a myth. While PDAs and laptops allow us to seem like we’re in many places at once, in the physical realm, we have yet to clone ourselves. Until that day, we’re left with the choice to make our passion for work and our love for our spouses, partners, children and families work. As a wife of almost twelve years who was seen many an industry couple implode, and as a mother of a young son who has been the ear and shoulder for countless single parents, I am clear that “balance” in this scenario is non-applicable.

Once I figured this out, I became a much more successful wife. My choice to make a family and personal life work looked like me giving up my 90+ hour a week job for one where I could actually leave the office at 6 o’clock without my boss looking at me sideways. Thankfully you don’t have to be a home maker in the 21st century, but if you want to nurture a committed relationship and raise children you do need to be home. And while I was working at Gavin, I was barely ever home. I was either in the office or out at clubs, radio stations, retail outlets, concerts.

My professional life was my personal life. I was always in work mode. Ironically when I got to New York I was pulling down fewer hours a week. Outside of preparing for campaign presentations and shoots, my weekends belonged to me. Being home at 6:30 pm means being home for dinner instead of dinner meetings with a promotion rep. It allows for a date with my husband on weekend evenings when I might otherwise be networking at an industry event.

Now that my son is here, my weekends are split between him and me, since my husband’s the one working weekends in real estate. I am much happier running him from sports camp at Chelsea Piers to play dates and parties than I was making appearances at every event just to stay ahead of what and whoever was the next big thing. I still go out, but I am much more selective because my work as a tastemaker has grown and shifted. I’m not part of the underground anymore. I helped take it mainstream, so that’s where I reside now.

As a creative I get my creative food from multiple sources: museums, theater, gardens, travel, community events, all things that don’t have to mean leaving the family to engage in them.

Yvette Noel-Schure has made her work and home life work for over 25 years, but not without the real-world sacrifice of her husband and both their families to make sure her three children didn’t miss out on their mother. This harmony we seek between work life and home life requires an orchestra of support from the Village of which the African proverb speaks. Yvette describes how her family has gathered around her before her career took off, starting with “three people with one name, my husband, my husband, my husband. He doesn’t have the hang-ups many have about roles. I got married my first year of college and had my son my second year. I would go to school four days and be home twice a week as often as I could.

My husband ran an ice cream parlor in the Village at night. We crossed each other a lot on the stairs. As my career changed, we asked a family member to help with the younger children. After September 11th we vowed to change our lives and opted not to chase two incomes. My husband works from home and I am out ‘galavantin’ as my grandmother says,” she laughs. “I have the most unconventional job in the family and I have missed a lot, but not when it comes to the kids. When there’s a boo-boo to blow, I blow it. I don’t miss recitals or meets. I am on the 5:30 bus so I can be at dinner by 7:00 if it kills me! The girls of Destiny’s Child would tease me because I was always going home right after a job; the first time I went to an after-party, I was in London and couldn’t go home. The paycheck is not for me, it’s for the family.”

Nzingha has a wake-up call for us women who aren’t keeping track of the time as we climb the career ladder. “All the stuff you want to do—get married, have kids, guess what? The higher you go the more it ain’t hapnin’. The fight gets harder, and you’re fighting to keep your very life. I want to share a quote for those who don’t know what they’re getting into or how deep the rabbit hole goes,” Nzingha says. “It’s from All About Eve where Margo Channing is talking to her girlfriend Karen about climbing up the ladder.” Here is Margo’s sage wisdom as written in the 1950 classic by John Mankiewicz:

MARGO“The things you drop on your way up
the ladder, so you can move faster.
You forget you'll need them again
when you go back to being a woman.
That's one career all females have
in common - whether we like it or
not - being a woman.
Sooner or later we've all got to
work at it, no matter what other
careers we've had or wanted... and,
in the last analysis, nothing is
any good unless you can look up
just before dinner or turn around
in bed - and there he is.
Without that, you're not woman.”

As long the myth of balance is playing in your head, you’ll be looking for everything to balance out. The truth of the matter is creating a relationship and making the time to be in one is up to you, not the circumstances of life. You have to put the brakes on to be available for your partner. Sure that person’s going to feel insecure and intimidated if you’re hardly there, because they barely know you.

Relationships have to have time invested in the same way careers do. If the only muscle your flexin’ is your career muscle, your relationship muscles will weaken and atrophy to the point where you forget how to even be in a relationship. That’s how so many of us end up married to our careers, pushin’ 40 or more, lonely as hell, with all our self-esteem and identity intertwined with what we do to the point that when we lose the job, we lose ourselves. “I’ve gone to a lot of panels that are allegedly about balancing career and family,” Stephanie chuckles. “What I actually end up hearing is a lot of people having one or the other. You may have a very successful single mom because the husband couldn’t stick around, couldn’t go a long with her drive. I think women can have both, but at different times. You have to choose which one you want.” Stephanie chose family and in her case, even after demonstrating her commitment, her spouse could not support her line of work. “I haven’t had any children. I wish I had; I had a husband but he didn’t stick around because it wasn’t so much that I chose a career, it was the career I chose. He was very intimidated by it.”

The pain we endure as we endeavor to make it all work is very real. In Stephanie’s case, her marriage was crippling her career instead of supporting it as was the case with Yvette. But her failure at the relationship itself almost took her under. Stephanie’s divorce was devastating to her. In the darkness of its aftermath, she learned how strong she really was. “I went through an emotional breakdown directly related to going through a divorce,” she reflects. “and right before I got laid off at the PR firm where I worked. Even though that was like a blessing because I didn’t want to work there anymore, I figured I was out of a job and the whole marriage was collapsing…it was a very traumatic time. I found myself waking up laying in the middle of the floor crying every day.

Eventually I crawled out of bed one day and ended up seeing someone at a mental health clinic in Hollywood. They gave me medication, told me how to take it, and said I’d start to get relief in a month. I was like, ‘a month?! With the anxiety and pain I was feeling, if I had to endure another four weeks I would not be around for the medication to take effect. I put those meds in my closet and never took them. I knew then I had to draw on strength from God. I had one friend who stepped me through all this, but I didn’t turn to a lot of individuals. I turned to the power of prayer. I started to call my energy back and transform it. It was very spiritual, intense, very conscious and targeted. Once I changed the way I was thinking about my life, my whole life changed.”

Stephanie’s testimony is an offering to anyone starting out in the business. the lesson she learned in the middle of her career is one you can implement at the start of yours. Commit to making yourself work, however that looks for you. Be it through religious or spiritual practice, self-improvement, wellness, mediation, yoga, the list goes on. The more centered you are the better prepared you will be for the inevitable curveballs your journey in this game will be.

BPM:   What led you to create Put Your Dreams First now? After being in the industry for 18 years, I’ve seen too many women play themselves to ‘get put on’. Instead of complaining about it or judging them, I wanted to educate them. I also wanted to shine a light on the women who go about being successful without being golddiggers, video vixens, or strippers. We are much more than those sexualized archetypes. I also wanted men to read about the business from women’s points of view so they understand the impact of their biases in their relationships with women, platonic or not.

BPM:   Who should read this book and why? Anyone working in or aspiring to work in entertainment; anyone who is entrepreneurial; artists of all kinds; anyone who seeks career mentorship; students; especially young women ages 16 and up.

BPM:   What issues in today's society do you address in Put Your Dreams First? Wow. The women in this book cover it all: navigating the workplace, pay inequity and its impact, choices made between work and personal life. I specifically address the full career timeline, from getting the business to thriving in it and then, exiting if you so choose. I also give straight-up tips on how to exit a job powerfully called The 10 Severance Commandments.

BPM:   Before we end the interview, define SUCCESS. What part does GRATITUDE play in achieving success, in your opinion? A huge part. Gratitude means you understand that your success is bigger than you; it happens because of the strength and support you receive from a higher power, one’s mentors, family and friends. The ungrateful person is rarely in the moment. They are usually upset about something or wrapped up in themselves; what they feel people owe them. Ingrates may experience success, but it is not nearly as fulfilling or long-lasting.

BPM:   What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject? 1. It’s the first of its kind to illuminate the entertainment world from the points of view of over 90 dynamic women.

2. The book is written as a business narrative by someone who has actually worked successfully in multiple sectors of entertainment.

3. My book is written the way people talk, so it’s easy to understand, making for a fast-paced read.

4. It’s the only one on the market to cover all aspects of entertainment instead of focusing on just film or music. Put Your Dreams First covers those fields and radio, TV, new media, image making, star-making, marketing, publishing, and more—from the inside.


BPM:   Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. This past year I became a finalist for the Shorty Awards (for abbreviated online content via Twitter in the #books category).  I am working on a companion book to Put Your Dreams First and my first screenplay. I’m also a consulting producer on a lifestyle TV series. Finally, I am joining forces with veteran casting director Winsome Sinclair for a career seminar called Passion To Action.
   
BPM:   How can our readers reach you online?My blog covers women, business, and entertainment: http://www.thembisamshaka.com/. The site for the book is http://www.putyourdreamsfirst.com/. I am on Twitter at www.twitter.com/putyrdreams1st. I am also on Facebook and BlackPlanet under Thembisa Mshaka. Thanks for the interview and thanks to all the readers for reaching out and supporting my work.

Thembisa S. Mshaka Website: http://www.putyourdreamsfirst.com/
To Read My Blog, Visit http://www.thembisamshaka.com/
Purchase your copy today at Amazonhttp://www.amazon.com/Put-Your-Dreams-First-entertainment/dp/0446409464