Seth Material

 Every year I talk to a few dozen men about their reading habits. It’s clear that something has to be a catalyst. before most men resort to serious reading. Usually they are trying to solve a problem,  find the answer to a pressing need, or they are tired of waiting and trying to fight off  boredom.   Now that books are available in electronic and other formats. We plan to include audio and Kindle versions of books whenever possible.

  Occasionally I meet  guys around Houston  who say they really like to read. I met one such guy the other day. I couldn't  help but  noticed  the other day a guy that  normally is playing basketball while waiting for his daughter to finish her swimming lessons,  intently gleaning the pages of a book.  Before the evening was over I made it a point to accost him to find out what author had captured his attention.  I cornered him for a few photos and a  quick interview and discovered that he had been a fan of Jane Roberts.

Seth Material

Seth Material

There are some  great benefits waiting to be reaped from reading  books.  Best of all  they are the kind of benefits that don’t expire,  can’t be taken from you and  if you water them  they’ll take off and  grows like a weed.  

Sphere: Related Content

Local Literary Festival Marries Soliloquies , Singing and Sensational Art

Boost your cultural enrichment by attending the premier literary festival in Houston, the Indie Book Festival. For the first time ever HIBF is hosting an informational panel featuring exhibitors, local readers, writers, and publishers. The discussions are sure to generate serious nourishment for aspiring writers and published authors that would like to get some solid facts about getting publicity, published and paid from knowledgeable industry insiders.

The HIBF grew from an formidable small gathering of local booksellers. writers and artists. It has been transformed into to an unrivaled regional literary event. The 2012 Houston indie book festival sets up shop on the impressive grounds of Menil Park. Their visually inspiring outdoor art exhibits serve as a backdrop that beckons exploring and mingling for the exhibitors and visitors attending the festivities.

Besides the stellar discussion panel some of the entertaining highlights of the festival include:
a day-long reading series.
children’s events,
musical acts,
poetry workshop

Literary Festival in Houston

The literary festival which attract is an eclectic contingent of book readers and indie book writers is the only one of its kind in the Houston and Austin area. The gathering is a rare occasion where nationally-distributed literary journals and small-press books huddle with local booksellers, book and magazine publishers, literary organizations, and writers.

The 2012 Book Festival festival gets started on Saturday, April 14 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. The event is completely free and open to the public Sphere: Related Content

One Amazing Houston Author

The recent earthquake that shook fear into the small towns and big cities on the East coast is reminiscent of the geological anomaly in the novel “One Amazing Thing.” The recent works of a Houston author that is being highlighted at the book festival held the libraries in the region throughout the months of September and October.

Gulf Coast Reads is a reading initiative that is replacing a similar program “Books On the Bayou”. It’s a “one book, one community” reading event designed to establish more dialogue about regional writers and their works, amongst friends, families, and in classrooms.

The overall strategy embraced by the libraries in the region: Fort Bend County, Harris County Public Library System, Brazoria Montgomery County alongwith the Houston Public Library is to encourage their communities to make sure their literary diet includes more works written by some of the outstanding literary talent in Houston and other places around the Gulf Coast.

This year’s novel is an intriguing, timely tale entitled,”One Amazing Thing”, authored by Houston writer Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, who lives in Sugarland. Her book chronicles the struggle for survival of 9 people, trapped in the basement of the Indian Consulate after an earthquake.

The premise of the book unfolds as the survivors begin sharing with each other “one amazing thing” that happened in their lives. As they listen to each other tell about love and loss, betrayal, and redemption it gives the entire group some much needed encouragement during their fight for survival while trapped in the throngs of darkness.

A few other good books written by authors from the Gulf coast that you may want to consider adding to your bookshelf include:

"A Good Long Way" by Rene Saldana Jr. of Lubbock, a fast-paced young adult novel that follows the troubled lives of three teens in South Texas (Amazon, $10.95).

A handy guide to about 150 interesting and sometimes offbeat Texas museums. "Texas Museums of Discovery" by Allan C. Kimball

"The Steps of the Savior: 365 Devotionals from the Gospel of Luke" by Phil Ware. A hearty helping of scriptures to infuse spiritual awareness into your day.

"The Smart Stepdad" by Ron L. Deal of Amarillo


Sphere: Related Content

Houston Book Tours - Fail Up!

Catching Tavis Smiley's Houston book tour “Fail Up Tour” May 13th 2011, as it swings through town on its 10 city trek could pay off in more than one way. Houston authors, book club members and/or Houston book lovers in need of an inspirational jolt will have a chance to purchase a copy of what’s being called “a lesson plan to success”.


This stop in H-town a few weeks before the National Black Book Festival gets underway shows the African American author is still ahead of the rest of the pack. It’s an opportunity for local book club members and/or book lovers to pick up a signed copy of his new work that might prove to be really valuable someday.
If you haven’t read our discussion on how to buy books for fun and profit , now would be a good time to take a look at it.

Why buy just any old book that will only collect dust. It’s far more rewarding to have book collection that’s collecting dust and cash value as well.

Smiley’s book could become like the signed copies of first printings and first editions
of President Obama’s book, Dreams Of My Father. It was written before he was a State Senator or presidential candidate and sell for a premium on E-bay.




(Click image to enlarge)

Many were probably signed during his author tour promoting the book.

Tavis Smiley's New Book

After a bout with what is best described as a mid-life crisis, Smiley came to the realization that success is often born out of overcoming setbacks and failures. He then began putting his story into words.

He hopes the stories in the book taken from his life and today’s headline will help us to understand a universal truth. There is no success without failure.

We all are inevitably confronted by letdowns, fall-throughs, and setbacks in life. When you are in the midst of a struggle it’s hard to realize that success, is born out of overcoming the setbacks and failures,

Author Tour In Houston

You are more likely to lose touch, get disconnected or forget your sense of purpose. FAIL UP is a lesson plan to success that can help you get reestablished and aligned with your goals.

Whether you are an author, book club member, book lover or nine-to-fiver, FAIL UP shows us all of us how instead of settling for a step backwards we can surge forward. If we stay focused on the prize and seize each opportunity that comes our way.

Smiley will be in Houston to discuss Fail Up at the Westheimer, Barnes and Noble this Friday the 13th from 7 p,m, to 9 p.m. The stories in the book range from the private and personal to the public and professional. It’s an inspiring and challenging look at what it takes to make a new, better, more true ending when we are faced with challenging circumstances.

If you want to know about more about subjects discussed on this blog check out these resources.
Book tours in Houston
Selling and Buying used books in Houston Sphere: Related Content

Powerful Tips For Authors On Getting Signed, Published And Publicity

Authors and writers can benefit from tips to get signed, get published, get publicity to promote their books and build their writing careers during the Black Book Festival in Houston. The annual event will bring together some of the upper echelon in the publishing industry with aspiring, published and successful authors and writers.

The festival features a variety of seminars and symposiums for this years Houston event. It’s one of the must-attend venues for marketing-minded writers and authors. It ‘s a chance to get tips, tricks and techniques that can get a new career off the ground or keep a soaring career moving forward.

Book Marketing Tips

The Black Book Festival will host an informative Breakthrough Conference that’s designed to shorten the learning curve for freelancers, aspiring and published authors who want to sharpen their marketing skills. The experts in the conference will share proven techniques and best practices on how to get interviews with radio, TV and newspapers to make sure your work gets the maximum exposure it deserves.

Getting Published

The Breakthrough Conference is a chance for authors to get up to speed on what major publishing houses look for when they review a book proposal. You will walk away with a better understanding of how to meet that criteria. Some of the nations top African American book agents will also be on hand to impart their wisdom to help writers over several crucial hurdle's.

Some of the nations top African American book agents will also be on hand to impart their wisdom to help writers over several crucial hurdle's.

• How to find the best agent.
• The truth about book advances
• What motivate major publishers to consider an author for a 2 or 5 book deal.

Getting Publicity For Your Book

Each action packed session of the National Black Book Festival has timely information and relevant themes designed to empower authors and writers to take charge of their careers. .

A  panel discussion  on how to  Get Signed, Get Published, Get Publicity  begins Friday,June 10, 2011 - 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Some of the top publishing industry pros on the panels include:

• Pam Perry -Visionary of Ministry Marketing Solutions Inc. and one of the nation’s premiere Christian literary PR Coaches.
• J. M. Benjamin CEO of A New Quality Publishing. J. M. has developed guerrilla marketing and grassroots techniques that helped him sell thousands of books.
• Regina Brooks the founder of Serendipity Literary Agency LLC.
• Malaika Adero, of UpSouth, Inc., an organization that promotes and presents authors and artists.

To be a successful author you need to know how to get signed, get published, get publicity and other career building marketing tips that will attract book publishers as well as an audience for your work.

If you’re a writer or author that’s serious about making your literary breakthrough and turning your existing or future book(s) into bestsellers you want to be a part of these three powerful sessions. Sphere: Related Content

Houston Author - Semi-finalist For Best New Author of 2011

Leave it to a Houston author and resident, Kay Jay Smith to find the sliver lining in the dark clouds of despair that still hang over some of the victims of Hurricane Katrina. The author/publisher has taken the horrific incident and weaved it into a historical fiction that chronicles a family’s life before, during and after the destructive hurricane.

The book promises to capture the witty, energetic and deeply emotional feelings of a family who endured the ravages of the national disaster. In spite of the traumatic underpinnings of Katrina, the African American author reached deep into the psyche of its survivors to bring to the surface sincere emotions of love and loyalty, the only ties that bind us sometimes during great difficulties and challenging situations when life seems full of lemons.

Who better to paint the picture of what some people were feeling and many could hardly express than someone who has turned those lemons into lemonade by personally helping several families who were misplaced by the harrowing storm.

The passionate, caring Houston author continues to let her light shine into the dark corners of the world, by pledging 10% of LOYAL’s proceeds to benefit young women through Mercy Ministries International.

If you, your family or someone you know was personally impacted, or lived through Katrina and wondered.
Could things have turned out differently for you?
How other victims may have dealt with and adjusted to the situation?
What could possibly happen to return, restore, resurrect your faith in your fellow man you need to read Loyal.

The book has established the African American author as one of 2011 Best New Authors. The selection as a semi-finalist for Best New Author by the National Black Book Festival solidifies this fact. You can expect to hear lots more about Houston author Kay Jay Smith when the book festival sets up shop in Houston this summer in June.

Even though this is the African American author's first book it’s already being published in multiple formats. A paperback book and a digital version, that can be easily downloaded onto your Kindle or other electronic reading device.

For a limited time (Monday, March 7 through Monday, March 14) in honor of Kay Jay’s birthday March 7th, "LOYAL," paperback’s version normally priced at $12.00, will be available to the public for $9.00 at www.hjpbooks.com. Sphere: Related Content

African American History In Houston

The month of February is finally here and that means it’s time to read up on a little African American history. This month in Houston, Texas the public library and a variety of places are hosting events to commemorate Black History.

It’s with honor and thankfulness that we recognize the many achievements of the sons and grandsons, daughters and granddaughters of former slaves.

Some of these African Americans who lived in past generations, other centuries and the past few years are unsung heroes whose inventions, ingenuity and integrity has shaped this country into a collective of strong united states.

Here is a short list of museums in Texas that house well known collections of Black History.

• Austin
• George Washington Carver Museum
• Dallas
• African American Museum of Dallas
• Fort Davis
• Fort Davis National Historic Site
• Fort Worth
• National Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame
• Houston
• Buffalo Soldiers National Museum

We plan to take part in a few of the Black History programs slated to recognize some of the talented African American entertainers, athletes, and authors that call Houston home. Maybe we'll run into you at one of the various branches of the Houston library that are hosting meet and greets, right in your neighborhood with some of today most popular Black authors in Houston.

An Evening with Cydney Rax
Thursday, February 17 | 5:30PM
Mancuso Neighborhood Library

An Evening with ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Monday, February 28 | 5:30PM
Vinson Neighborhood Library

Take a look at some of the Black History events and programs scheduled in some of the other top metro areas in the U.S.

Washington D C
African American history programs at Smithsonian
Chicago
Chicago Parks Programs
Atlanta
Essence magazine
Los Angeles
California African American museum
New York
Black History events in NY.

Before you move on to the next blog remember, if you find yourself in one of our sister cities, Austin or Dallas, or any of the places listed below, you'll find events all over the state that are being planned in February to celebrate the Texas heritage of African Americans.

Austin
George Washington Carver Museum
Dallas
African American Museum of Dallas
Fort Davis
Fort Davis National Historic Site
Fort Worth
National Cowboys of Color Museum and Hall of Fame
Houston
Buffalo Soldiers National Museum

There is plenty of history in the annuals of time that has occurred in the Lone Star state. No matter what neck of the woods you find yourself hanging out, there is some intriguing history waiting to be uncovered in books, buildings and eye witness accounts of famous events. Sphere: Related Content

A Nifty Book About Houston Restaurants

In this book about Houston restaurants, The Ultimate Food Lover's Guide to Houston it provides a snapshot of everything food in Houston. It takes you to lots of great places to dine and buy food that will excite your mouth. It has the 411 on fish markets, ethnic grocery stores, quaint cafes and more.

The guide is more than a book about Houston or a book about restaurants in Houston. It's a Houston foodies inside look at everything to eat that your heart desires in the Bayou city.

You’ll be schooled on where to find farmers markets, pick your own orchards and dozens of other things that will put real food lovers in the know about all of the delicious things, they love to eat.

If you want to be able to locate any one of the more than 330 Houston restaurants to challenge you palate and/or fill your glass? The Ultimate Food Lover’s Guide to Houston's list of local taverns, hotel bars and beloved dives will make a good road companion for you.


This book about Houston restaurants goes beyond the usual written descriptions and chef acknowledgements and boast a fold out map and helps you find places by cuisine type and other features.

The Ultimate Food Lover's Guide to Houston is the perfect book about Houston food, to give readers another good excuse to knock off some of the fantastic eateries in Houston on their bucket list. Sphere: Related Content

Book Festivals In Houston

Everyone who attends book festivals in Houston aren't writers. There is a cadre of industry professionals that provide support to publishers and writers who show up for the workshops and other events to offer sound advice and credible support.

Many of these pros come to Houston several times each year for the various book festivals. The Indie Book festival and Nuestra Palabra and The National Black Book Festival are all popular literary festivals that you can attend in Houston.

National Black Book Festival

Last week, the Black book festival offered a workshop featuring publishing industry professionals, Tyro Moody, from Tywebbin Creations, a marketing and design company that offers web and graphic design, online marketing seminars and virtual book tour events for authors. Also at the fest was Pam Perry, the nation’s premiere Christian literary PR Coach and Chief Visionary of Ministry Marketing Solutions Inc.

They were part of the incredibly informative Literary Conference, "Get signed, Get Published, Get Publicity". It was a workshop designed to allow Black writers to get some much needed "how-to" tips and advice on getting published, from marketing experts in the publishing industry. The focus of the conversations included:

How to receive maximum exposure for a book
How to get the media to contact you for interviews

Indie Book Festival

The Indie Book fest is a meeting of the minds between independent publishers and authors in Houston. It's a chance for small press publishers, literary organizations and writers to get some face time with Houston’s best and brightest authors.

Local writers, authors and booksellers come out to network and see what other bibliophiles in Houston have to offer!

Nuestra Palabra

The annual Houston Latino book and family festival, Nuestra Palabra takes place in the fall. It's one of the largest book fairs in the state. In only six years, They have gone from filling party halls to packing exhibit halls.

Nuestra Palabra have built the popularity for their events through monthly showcases held from February to July. These showcases highlight Latino writers in an entertaining and informative forum. Generally from 100 to 300 people come out to these events that are more than just a showcase and readings. They feature forums which generate other ways to educate and inspire the community, and promotes Latino literature and Latino authors.

Houston Book Festivals

Attending any one of the Houston Book Festivals will prove to be an entertaining, enriching and enjoyable experience, whether you're into reading, writing or just like to get out of the house on weekends. It's an excellent opportunity to discover new authors and encourage kids of all ages in your family to read more.

In addition to these literary festivals in Houston, there are quaterly forums sponsored by Houston's Progressive Forum. Their organization's viewpoint has roots in mainstream constitutional enlightenment, and seek to reflect the values of America’s founding fathers. Their speakers are a cross-section of the top intellectual and cultural stars in America. Sphere: Related Content

Black Book Clubs In Houston Participate In 2010-Black Book Festival

The workshops, seminars and other events at the National Black Book Festival will enthrall Black Book Clubs In Houston and from around the Southwest. It's more than just a chance to meet and greet the who's who in black literature. It's a showcase for Black publishers, Black writers and book promoters from around the nation to reach out to their fans, new audiences and customers.

The book clubs who do attend will find that the people who are publishing, writering and promoting Black books are serious about connecting and catering to groups of book lovers.

Houston based, Nia Promotions, is one of the organizations that spends plenty of time year-round, trying to build bridges between the book clubs and authors.

Who's Appearing At The Black Book Festival

Several of the Black writers from Houston are participating in the Black Book festival. Here's a short list of them.

ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Je'Caryous Johnson
Cheryl Lacey Donovan
Takasha Francis

Word on the street is the NBBF-2010 is an enriching, entertaining and exciting event that will bring together for the first time in one place, many of the Black Book Clubs in Houston. Here's a some of the clubs you may run into during the events.

Black Book Clubs In Houston

Around the Way Girls Book Club
Houston, TX
Bestsellers Book Club
Houston, TX
Between the Lines Book Club
Houston, TX
Black Coffee's Book Club
Online on Facebook
Black Orchids Book Club
Houston, TX

The National Black Book Festival has workshops and seminars designed to speak to the hearts and souls of the memberships of the dozens of Black Book Clubs In Houston and other cities that are coming to the book Festival.

It's one of Houston's literary festivals that every aspiring writer should check out, at least once.

What's To Do At The NBBF-2010

If you have been looking for a local event that's ideal for you and the members of your book club to participate in, this is it. There will be plenty of exciting things to do at this "don't miss event" for book lovers.

Take a look at some of the incredible events happening at the Black book fest.

Book signing and discussion sessions w/featured authors
Workshops and Seminars
Spoken word poetry slam and Book club give-aways


If you haven't heard? One of the most anticipated events of the festival is already sold out.

The last of the tickets for the "For Ladies Only Slumber Party" hosted by Black authors Beverly Jenkins and Brenda Jackson are gone as of today.

They are still showing tickets online to these exciting events.

Welcome to Houston Reception,
Get Acquainted" Breakfast
Prayer Breakfast
Poetry Slam


There's plenty of other events available too, if you or your group wants to hang-out with other book clubs and Black authors in Houston this weekend.

What's Happening At The National Black Book Festival

There's also an all-day event planned where top book industry experts will share "how-to" tips and strategies on making your literary breakthrough.

The book industry experts appearing at the conference are some of the top book agents, book publishers and book promoters.

This is just some of the topics being covered by authors and presenters at the festival.


Children's Reading Room

Etiquette for Teens

Chocolate Dreams

Bringing Out the Book In You

Love and Adventure in the Middle East

Marketing Your Book
On a Limited Budget

It's an excellent opportunity for Black Book Clubs in Houston to get some face time with some of the premier Black writers and connect with their publishers. There should be almost 17 genres represented, your groups favorite authors and genre are bound to be covered.

The #1 sponsor of the festival is Cushcity.com, the world's largest African-American online retailer. They have made it possible for this fabulous event to join the ranks of the annual Houston Book festivals. Sphere: Related Content

Books About Famous African American's From Houston

There are plenty of Books about famous African Americans from Houston. They have left a documented legacy through law suits, books and periodicals as they paved the way for today's generation. During February's Black History Events in Houston, I've noted the names of a few Black men that have shaped our community and the nation.


Dr. Bernard Harris, Jr.
The First African American to take a walk in outerspace.
Sherman E. Stimley
Opened the first African-American Law firm in Texas to consult exclusively in tax-exempt bond law.
Dr. Lonnie E. Smith
He was the Smith involved in, Smith v. Allwright . The 1944 landmark Supreme Court case which won the right of all African-Americans to vote in Texas primary elections.


Our Oral History

My grandma always said it's better to hear it from the horses mouth. That's one of the reasons I value oral history as well as written history. In 2009 NPR(National Public Radio sent their mobile studio, the StoryCorps to Houston for a couple of weeks to record interviews with local residents.

These interviews will become part of a permanent oral archive in the Library of Congress. This project documents the face to face interviews with prominent citizens, well known businessmen and everyday people from all across the country.

Houston History Project

The city of Houston has several ongoing oral history projects to capture fascinating bits and pieces of their history from the last century. The intriguing interviews of well known Houston civic, political and business leaders have been digitally recorded. These are some of the people who were the eyewitnesses to the historical events that happened in Houston in the last century. About 100 people were interviewed and eventually all of recordings will be available to us through the Houston Public Library.

The University of Houston also is working on a Houston History project. It's touted as a learning laboratory for anyone studying history. It's consists of oral history, a history magazine and a Houston history archive.
Their ultimate goal is to create a repository of materials that teachers, students, amateur historians and any one interested in Houston's vibrant history can access.

Books To Research Family History In Houston

You can discover some really interesting facts about your family, take time to do a little sleuthing at the Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research. They have a collection of births, deaths, census records and other books to help you research family history in Houston.

It's an incredible way for you to connect with your ancestors and other members of past generations. You can also get free access to databases containing African American History online through Houston's African American Library at the Gregory School. They have a large collection of personal papers and artifacts from Blacks in Houston.

Houston's Black History

This month make it a point to find books that discuss Houston's Black History and mentions people from our city. Then make it your business to remind, share and tell somebody, the story of their struggles and successes.

Books About Houston is starting an Author Showcase. If you're a local author or know an author that has recently published a book contact me through EJ Jolivet on Facebook page for a chance to have your book reviewed on this blog. Sphere: Related Content

Books Houston-African American History Colletions

The best books Houston has to offer in its library coffers on Black history are at The African American Library at Gregory School. February is the time of year when we reflect on African American history at the Houston public library. Local HPL branches have some great books are ideal places to brush up on your knowledge of the contributions of Blacks to American history.

The library recently participated in a project to record eyewitness accounts of Black residents of Houston through the Houston Oral History Project.

The goals of the ground breaking research is to build a collection of personal interviews with artists, musicians, civil rights activists, politicians and authors from Houston who helped define the growth and history of Houston, Texas.

African American History Month Houston

The Gregory School contains special collections of books Houston artifacts, photographs and exhibits that record the story of Houston's African American community.

Here are just some of the events planned for African American History Month at the library.

February 6 - 2:00 pm
Moments, Memories & Voices – Family Day

February 13 - 4:00 pm
Theatre: African American Folklore (Express Children’s Theater)

February 20 - 3:00 pm
Puppet Pizzazz

February 27 - 2:00 pm
The Red Book of Houston 1915 Revisited
February 27 - 3:00 pm
Baba Alafia – Musical Storytime

Remember the next time you're researching Black history, family history, or your local community the books Houston Gregory School has may hold some treasures for you to discover.

The African American Library offers a unique program that discusses ways you can capture the oral histories of your family. It'll give you tips on how to interview subjects about situations and memorable events and discusses current technologies available to record an oral history. Sphere: Related Content

Books About Houston

I seldom sing praises on Books about Houston for something that I' haven't tried out yet. But just sitting here thinking about the new iPhone application "Local Books" makes for some really awesome possibilities.


Book Shopping Gets A Social Media Makeover

If you haven't heard about the latest iPhone app from LibraryThing that makes finding a book as easy as scrolling down a list, here's the scoop.

The social networking website for book lovers, LibraryThing has a member-created database with listings of about 51,000 bookstores and libraries around the world. Now this information storehouse is going mobile on a new I-phone apps that anyone who seriously needs to find a book, readers, students, researchers, and even book collectors will luv.

It's has more than just reviews for local Houston bookstores. It also has listings of one of the most crucial places on a book lovers planet, local libraries. There are more of them in a city than the number of Indies and chain bookstores. Now there's one place where you can find a good book no matter what city or state you may be visiting.

Bookstores In Houston

Not only will you know where to find just about any book, in any city, in the palm of your hand. It's high time a broader audience gains access to the cubbyholes and well lit places where books are king.

The world of bookstore readings, signings and openings may be on its way to becoming a stiff competitor for the Friday night audiences shrinking dollar.

Finding Books Just got Easier

You'll be able to search for books about Houston whether you're in Indianapolis, Illinois or on an island retreat. Imagine this. A world of books in the broadest possible terms. A book and a burger, a mystery and music, bowling for books. These are just samplings of where I envision this new iPhone application being able to take us.

What's your opnion? Sphere: Related Content

Books On Kwanzaa

I've found a few good books about Kwanzaa to help everyone learn more about this popular African American cultural celebration. Kwanzaa is a Swahili word for "first" as in ("first fruits"). It's also a contemporary African American celebration held from December 26-31 of each year to pay tribute to the African and ancestral heritage of Blacks in America.

Seven Principles of Kwanzaa



Kwanzaa celebrations are centered around seven key principles. You are supposed to discussed and exhibit them during the 7-day celebration. They are listed below.

unity
self-determination,
collective work and responsibility
cooperative economics
purpose
creativity
faith

These were the essential qualities that African American ancestors had to harness after spending hundreds of years in bondage.They are the bedrock for building strong families, a strong culture and a strong nation. The cultural celebration also encompasses other meaningful traditions.

Kwanzaa Symbols

The main foundations of the celebration is based on the first-fruit harvest rituals of Africa. A unity cup, a long candle holder, ears of corn, hand made gifts, the tree of gratefulness, a straw mat and the Kwanzaa feast are the staples of the tradition.

It makes interesting reading to learn about cultures that are similar and different from your own. If you want to read more on Kwanzaa I've found a few good books that I'd like to recommend.

books about Kwanzaa Sphere: Related Content

Interior Design and Decorating: Interior Wisdom By Leah Richardson

Interior design and decorating gets an empowering boost in Leah Richardson's Interior Wisdom, Designing Your Home and Heart For The Lord (bright sky press). It gives understanding, meaning and incredible insight into how to create a spiritually vibrant home.

Richardson recognizes the prophetic wisdom found in The Holy Bible as the source of infinite creativity to fill a heart and a home. Unlike practitioners of the of the traditional Chinese method of fung shei who seek to align the human and social world in auspicious alignment with the wind, water and forces of the cosmos.


Design Your Living Spaces Into A Spirit-Filled Home

The author a certified designer, embraces the spiritual and physical interaction in decorating and furnishing a home.
She contentiously reminds readers that every home is a dwelling place for your spiritual and physical being.

I was enlightened by one of her powerful analogies of how color changes with artificial lighting versus the beauty of natural light "And in much the same way as we allow the Lord to design our lives by removing the draperies and veils that obscure our heart, light will come flooding in."

Scriptures From The Bible For Rooms In Your Home

Interior design and decorating becomes an empowering act when you use the scriptures from the bible found in Interior Wisdom. I shared this book with a friend who remarked "it's is a self-help book for your home and your soul". The color photos by Colleen Duffy supply a dramatic eye-appeal to the flow of the text in the book. This is a book where you can find individual scriptures from The Bible to invoke God's blessings for the entrance ways, children's bedrooms or any room in your home.

Every Christian who is serious about ensuring their residence is a place where love, peace and blessings flow in abundance,  will be empowered to design their home and heart for the Lord,  through the spirit-filled decorating advice from Leah Richardson, a certified designer, member of the American Society Of Interior Designers (ASID) and leader of her own ministry (Leah Richardson Ministries).

Sphere: Related Content

African American Author From Houston: Katrina Spencer

Word on the street is that African American author and retired hair stylist Katrina Spencer's first novel is the bomb and she's ready to drop another one that's already washed and set to go. The former Houston stylist and writer penned Six O'Clock (Genesis Press)set in an upscale Houston Salon.

It's taken from her personal experience so I won't name the shop where she used to wash and weave. Who knows you may just be in her book in likeness?

This Houston mother not only uses an African American salon as the backdrop for this book, she hangs some dirty laundry out too. The main character in her book experiences some of the challenges that go with being less than bootylicious in a society where females crave body enhancements and a culture where bootyfull women are the Alpha-dogs.

Spencer throws the doors wideopen and you can expect to see this hot topic being discussed publicly a whole lot more. Then there is the Black hair thing. Chris Rock has taken this subject to task. But it was Houston's Katrina Spencer who's been hitting the pavement and the bookstore with it since February.

I haven't formally reviewed the book from the African American author from Houston, but the other reviews are tantalizing, so this book has to have plenty of substance and merits a place on the Books About Houston, next reads list.

I'm trying to get my hands on a copy so I can tell you who's in and of course who's not. If you see Katrina tell her she doesn't have to sign it, just send me a copy of Six'O Clock.

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Where To Sell Used Books In Houston

                                                 A Green Idea For Blog Action Day!

    Selling used books in Houston is a green idea. It's one of the many ways avid book readers can participate along with the rest of the world in Blog Action Day. Over 5,000 other blogs have pledged to remind everyone this week about doing his or her part to make a positive impact on climate change.

It's natural for a book lover to want to keep every book they've ever purchased. Each one evokes fond memories. They're held just as tightly and close to our hearts as we hold our babies and we often form a bond with our favorite characters and authors that is just as tight.

Selling Books In Houston

If you have a collection of books that are in great shape you can take them to some of the local used bookstores in Houston that will buy them from you. If you've doodled in them and dogeared the pages you don't even thing about trying to sell them. Here is a short list of a few local bookstore that will buy your used books.

Half Price Books
Becker Books
Katy Budget Books
The Young And The Restless
Brazos Books

Books that are in pristine shape are the best candidates for resell. Especially if they are popular titles and authors, they'll fetch you a dollar or two. Cookbooks, novels that are still on the best sellers list and how-to guides are some of the used books that are always in demand and are easier to sell. Don't expect much for your used books. I sold about a dozen books to a local used book buyer and came away with $5 dollars. If you're interested in collecting books as an investment you can get a few good tips on selling collectible books  from the article "How Reading Books Can Earn You Extra Cash".

Places to Donate Used Books In Houston

Unless it's a rare book from England or a bestselling 19th Century author, it might not qualify for donating to your local library. Instead there are plenty of other places you can consider. Drug and alcohol recovery centers, women's shelters and community centers in Houston can benefit when you go green and recycle used books through donating them.

Houston Area Women's Center has a library that accepts donations of books in all languages and needs ethnically diverse magazine subscriptions.

The Salvation Army Womens and Childrens Center is great place to take those used children's books and magazines for women and children.

Where To Buy Used Books In Houston

If you want to save some of the greenbacks in your pocket. You can further reduce the effects of climate change you can make a habit of buying used books. The depth of the titles that are available will surprise you.

There is not a college student today that couldn't benefit from purchasing used textbooks. You don't have to be in the market for an old title to find a good used book. You can often find some of the latest books. If you wait a month or two after their release you'll see them popping up in used book stores all over Houston.

Recycling books is a good thing to do everyday and particularly during this global effort on Blog Action Day. Reselling them, donating old books, or sharing them with friends are all ways to go green that bibliophiles need to be reminded about. If I missed any other green ideas for books leave me a comment and tell me about it. Sphere: Related Content

Houston's Library: Books on the Bayou

Houston's library Books on the Bayou is in full swing. Book lovers and burners are invited to be a part of this fantastic event. It's a way Houstonians can share their love for reading. The Houston Public Library sponsors the program each year.

It's a bold attempt to garner attention to the dynamic reading opportunities in Houston. The library is striving to get more people to take advantage of the programs and services they offer around the city. Other benefits include:

Utilizing the library's many resources
Encourage people to visit the local library
Cultivate a culture of reading
Community-wide discussions of books
Promote reading books
Explore popular authors works

A Harlem Reconnaissance Classic

The title selected for this year is written by one of the best known African American authors, Zora Neale Hurston. Her novel brought a lot of flack to Hurston from other black writers during the Harlem Renaissance, when it was first published. They resented how she fashioned the writing. It closely emulated the backwoods dialect of spoken by both blacks and whites in the South.

Their Eyes Were Watching God has been lauded in literary circles by getting named to TIME 100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005.
In 2005 Oprah Winfrey produced a film adaptation of the novel. You can join in a screening of the movie Thursday, October 8 | 5:30 PM Looscan library. Check-out these books by Zora Neal Hurston

The Big Read

To Read or Not To Read: A Question of National Consequence, gathered data from a various sources that showed that Americans were reading less, and that our reading level was declining. In an ambitious attempt, The National Endowment for the Arts designed a program to restore reading to the center of American culture.

Houston Library's Books on The Bayou is held in conjunction with The Big Read. A nation-wide initiative to get communities to come together to read, discuss, and celebrate American and world literature.

Hats off to the staff at our library for making sure this city is involved with this effort and the community receives benefits from reading programs. Sphere: Related Content

E-book About Houston

I've got a E-book or two just bubbling waiting to get out of me but in the meantime I want you to take a look at this little ditty I put together to promote my E-book.

It's all about how much fun you can expect when you take cool classes in Houston. This episode is about horseback riding classes in Houston.

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Houston Writer Shares Revelations On Child Rearing

Revelations On Child Rearing From Louis Parsle

View more presentations from writeonbro.

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