The Romer Reviewʼs Superlative Movers & Shakers and Other Memorable Books of 2010

The Romer Review proudly presents a personal list of achieving wunderkinds that made a difference this past year. in the literary arena. In my opinion 2010 was an exceptional year for me in more ways than one pertaining to all things literary. I saw quite a few people grow and provide services and good reading material! Moreover, there were certain people that in my opinion stood out and further solidified their worth in this industry above and beyond status quo. Notwithstanding last year was the arrival of the iPad, the ensuing e-reader/e-book price wars and the late-breaking launch of Google Editions that stirred the publishing industry into ever higher levels of panic. Questions abounded relative to whether the written word survive, or would books and bookstores be things of the past? If the best books published this year are any indication, I would beg to differ with my answer being a resounding yes! There were quite a few gems that defined the true essence of penmanship for crating stories with imagery in fiction, and with truths ever so magnified in the non-fiction world. No matter what changes come to the industry certain things will remain status quo, and that cuddling up with a good book will be the exception that fuels the rule. Albeit, delivery methods, and the mediumi which you read books may change, but writing is as vital as ever, and readers still get excited over books and the authorsthat write them. The books of 2010 did good by me. I want to pay homage to them here.

There were virtual marketing entities, people who expanded their expertise in cyberspace in providing literary resources and services, as well as those that showed a knack for making themselves visible and viable. In this age of recessive ills and cutbacks in the literary world, business went on as usual, especially among those that persevered. There were a few publishing companies that made my list, as well as Publicists, Authors and Editors that need to be recognized. Iʼm talking about substance and substantive input that made a difference with an upside for even greater potential in the future. This correspondence is my personal views on the superlative movers and shakers that stood out and the books that either that was promoted by them, the acclaim given thereof, and the legitimate options that made surfing the net worthwhile! Several quality manuscripts came across my desk for editing, as well as aspiring authors exhibiting potential. Thereʼs no substitute for excellent writing skill as well as books that have the propensity to hold my attention long after I reluctantly relinquish them. Like any good book with qualitative insight, I invariably came back to them in various mindsets. Usually I donʼt cotton to superlative lists more often than not. Why? Because you simply cannot list them all at the risk of omitting some that are just as worthy, but fail to adhere to any criteria for inclusion. I read too many books across the board and can honestly say that well over half of them were not quality reads. As an ʻA Listʼ reviewer with several major publishers the number of books I get in a years time is exhaustive. Compiling lists of this magnitude can be fraught with angst and trepidation on most voracious readers. For argument sake though, and to refute those that insist that there should be a list nonetheless from me, I will appease them only because of the nature of literary comparison and the many fans that look forward to getting opinionated views from books read and reviewed by me.

About my lists: The people and entities that I name for any of the lists here therein are based purely on observations, industry contact information and personal evaluation of all interactive activity both online an offline. Of course, all trade publications and insider information I have has implication for merited success to be honored by me. As for the books, Iʼve read and reviewed every book on the lists (fiction and non-fiction) and stand by them. I read across the board and get books from many publishers, mainstream and/or self-published. I selected them randomly and gave credence to those that touched me the most. They are not in any numeric order, nor are they based in my positioning on what other best seller lists may comprised one way or the other. I judge authors on artistic merit and their ability to write competently to sway any of their audiences, and thereʼs no favor based on race. As such I have broken my lists down and categorized them accordingly:

Fiction

The Shack by William P. Young

Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later in the midst of his Great Sadness, Mack receives a suspicious note, apparently from God, inviting him back to that shack for a weekend. In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant The Shack wrestles with the timeless question, Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain? The answers Mack gets will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as it did him. You'll want everyone you know to read this book!

I, Alex Cross by James Patterson

You would have to know that ANY Alex Cross book written by this author would make my list! If you are a James Patterson reader then this latest offers nothing new on a theme he himself has already done to death in his 16th novel featuring detective Alex Cross (after Cross Country), in which Cross takes on yet another barbaric serial killer, this one known as Zeus. Word that an estranged 24-year-old niece, Caroline Cross, has been murdered disturbs Cross's birthday party. What makes all of his books great is how he intrically weaves stories that have you riveted without wanting to put the book down -- and this one doesnʼt disappoints.

Crave by J.R. Ward

This is book 2 of the Fallen Angels series from this author, and if youʼre looking for an entertaining and thought-provoking storylines check this, and the previous one for size. Isaac Rothe is a black ops soldier with a dark past and a grim future. The target of an assassin, he finds himself behind bars, his fate in the hands of his gorgeous public defender Grier Childe. His hot attraction to her can only lead to trouble-and that's before Jim Heron tells him his soul is in danger. Caught up in a wicked game with the demon who shadows Jim, Isaac must decide whether the soldier in him can believe that true love is the ultimate weapon against evil. It offers a sumptuous mix of danger and romance.

Uptown by Virginia DeBerry & Donna Grant

In Uptown a prominent Harlem family is strained to the breaking point by the high-stakes world of the Manhattan real estate industry, and one woman searches for her identity and the will to forgive. But after twenty years away, Avery Lyons returns to New York when her mother and uncle suffer a serious car accident. The tragedy brings the family together, but Avery is not happy about the impromptu reunion. She no longer recognizes the Harlem of her childhood, but the same old family dynamics and secrets are all too familiar . . .Steamy, provocative, and sexy, Uptown is a turbulent and triumphant read.

Big Girls Do Cry by Carl Weber

This is truly a soap opera in da hood! Sibling rivalry can escalate to open hostility, especially if your sister has married your rich ex-fiancé. But somehow, Isis and Egypt manage to get along. In fact, together theyʼve founded a unique book club, The Big Girls Book Club, where members have to be at least a size 14. Egypt moves into Rashid and Isisʼ mansion, but the arrangement starts to go south when Egypt realizes her feelings for Rashid, with whom she was involved for 10 years, havenʼt completely died. This is yet, another offering from Carl with lifelike characters—flawed, confused, frustrated, and sometimes plus-sized.

The House by Anjuelle Floyd

There are a plethora of books with this title, but the similarity ends with this authorʼs depiction of a haunting story of death, redemption and guilt. Anjuelle Floyd is The Romer Reviewʼs Debut Author of the Year and one of several to watch in 2011. Fresh off the heels of her previous masterpiece, Keeper of Secrets, The House is riveting and poignant. What happens when the divorce is final and youʼre ready to start anew? On receiving the very thing you wanted more than anything—a divorce and the power to sell the house—over which youʼve fought the past year—Anna Manning learns that Edward, her soon-to-be ex-husband is dying from cancer...and the plot thickens!

Little Bee by Chris Cleave

This is a haunting novel with good implications about the tenuous friendship that blooms between two disparate strangers—one an illegal Nigerian refugee, the other a recent widow from suburban London. What happens on a particular beach is brutal, and that it braids the fates of a 16- year-old Nigerian orphan (who calls herself Little Bee) and a well-off British couple--journalists trying to repair their strained marriage with a free holiday--who should have stayed behind their resort's walls. The tide of that event carries Little Bee back to their world, which she claims she couldn't explain to the girls from her village because they'd have no context for its abundance and calm. What makes this book work is the amazing subliminal value of bridging the contrasts of race and culture.

The Help by Kathryn Stockette

In a page-turner that brings new resonance to the moral issues involved, the author spins a story of social awakening as seen from both sides of the American racial divide - a young southern white woman and two Black maids. Set during the civil rights movement in Jackson, Miss.,Eugenia Skeeter Phelan is just home from college in 1962, and, anxious to become a writer, is advised to hone her chops by writing about what disturbs you. The book Skeeter puts together based on their stories is scathing and shocking, bringing pride and hope to the black community, while giving Skeeter the courage to break down her personal boundaries and pursue her dreams.

Room by Emma Donnoghue

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits. Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Zora and Me by Victoria Bond and T.R. Simon

Any book for and about Zora Neale Hurston will whet my appetite and this one written to appeal to young adults didnʼt disappoint. Told in the immediate first- person voice of 10-year-old Carrie, Zora Neale Hurstonʼs best childhood friend, this first novel is both thrilling and heartbreaking. Each chapter is a story that evokes the famous African American writerʼs early years in turn-of-the-last- century Eatonville, Florida, and the sharp, wry vignettes build to a climax, as Carrie and Zora eavesdrop on adults and discover secrets. Carrie mourns for her dad, who went to Orlando for work and never came back; Zoraʼs father is home, but he rejects her for being educated and “acting white,” unlike her favored sister. Racism is part of the story, with occasional use of the n-word in the colloquial narrative. This novel of lies and revelations will reach a wide audience.

Moonshine by Alaya Johnson

This is one of the best paranormal novels I read in 2011. Itʼs a period piece written in the vampiric thematic mode blending a tempestuous romance with dramatic historical fiction, populated by a lively mythology inhabiting the gritty New York City streets. Check out Zephyr Hollis, who is an underfed, overzealous social activist who teaches night school to the underprivileged of the Lower East Side. Strapped for cash, Zephyr agrees to help a student, the mysterious Amir, who proposes she use her charity worker cover to bring down a notorious vampire mob boss. What he doesnʼt tell her is why. Soon enough sheʼs tutoring a child criminal with an angelic voice, dodging vampires high on a new blood-based street drug, and trying to determine the real reason behind Amirʼs request—not to mention attempting to resist (often unsuccessfully) his dark, inhuman charm.

Tempted By Trouble by Eric Jerome Dickey

Booklist calls Eric Jerome Dickeyʼs latest book A serendipitous mix of lust, longing, and murder, but in my opinion this is another outstanding read that this talented author has given his audience. This is a cautionary tale, featuring a criminal prone to panic attacks. It shows that crime does pay, but only for a little while with a flaming-hot stand- alone set in the world of conmen and thieves. Multi-talented Dmytryk Knight earns his college degree. In addition to English, heʼs fluent in five languages. He finds a well-paying, white-collar job at a Detroit automobile company. Seven years later, a recession hits, and heʼs demoted to the assembly line. Seven years after that, the economy tanks, and heʼs laid off. Whatʼs a guy to do? In Dmytrykʼs case, he looks for honest work, and struggles on unemployment for two years. Dmytrykʼs wife, Cora, isnʼt happy with their stressful, uncertainexistence, so she pushes her husband to work for Eddie Coyle. The problem is, Coyle is a crime lord, and the job requirements include killing whom he wants, when he wants.

Bachelor Unleashed by Brenda Jackson

This is book 2 in the Batchelor in Demand Series...They had a hot, fleeting affair Farrah Langley has never forgotten. Attorney-to-the-rich-and-famous Xavier Kane was tender, sexy, attentive—and ravished her body. Everything she ever wanted in a lover. Getting together with him again in New York is a fantasy come true. She certainly doesnʼt expect the footloose bachelor to change his ways. And the burned-by-love mediator isnʼt looking for forever. But Xavier is. Thereʼs something about Farrah, though...something that touches him deep in his soul...something that keeps him coming back. So when fate brings them together again, Xavierʼs ready to pick up where they left off. But this time around, he wants more. Can he convince the lean, leggy beauty that heʼs That he wants only one woman in his bed, heart?

Non- Fiction

21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times

by Bernie Trilling & Charles Fadel

Thereʼs no other book of late that Iʼve read that tackles problems and gives a blueprint for how to deal with, and teach our children new standards for 21th Century success. The world has undergone foundational shifts in recent decades—widespread advances in technology and communications, booming economic developments and increased competition, and the escalation of global challenges from financial meltdowns to global warming. How can we prepare students to meet the challenges of our century if our schools remain virtually unchanged? This essential resource introduces a framework for 21st century learning that maps out the skills needed to survive and thrive in a complex and connected world. A 21st century education includes knowledge of traditional core subjects such as reading, writing, and arithmetic—but also emphasizes contemporary themes such as global awareness and financial/economic, health, and environmental literacies.

Career GPS: Strategies for Women Navigating the New Corporate Landscape

by Ella L.J. Edmondson Bell

The workplace is constantly in flux, and even now there are new opportunities open to women. But to take advantage of these possibilities, it's essential to know the current rules for corporate success.Women more than ever, and recent trends bear this out, are more saavy and tenacious in securing their own piece of the rock...and the work place is fertile ground for this new initiative. Author Ella L.J. Edmondson Bell puts a new spin on what it will take to solidify and continue to be major players in corporate America. She offers guidelines to help women forge their own pathways to professional ascent, providing tips for maximizing a review, networking in a relevant way, and much more.

Black Faces in White Places: 10 Game-Changing Strategies to Achieve Succes and Find Greatness by Randal Pinkett & Jeffrey Robinson

For generations, African-Americans have been told that to succeed, they need to work twice as hard as everyone else. But as millions of black Americans were reminded by Pinkett's experience, sometimes hard work is not enough. Black Faces in White Places is about "the game" that is, the competitive world in which we all live and work. The book of offers 10 revolutionary strategies for playing, mastering, and chang ing the game for the current generation, while under taking a whole sale redefinition of the rules for those who will follow. It is not only about shattering the old "glass ceiling," but also about examining the four dimensions of the contemporary black exper ience: identity, society, meritocracy, and opportunity. Ultimately, it is about changing the very concept of success itself. Based on the authors' considerable experiences in business, in the public eye, and in the minority, the book shows how African-American professionals can (and must) think and act both Entrepreneurially and "Intrapreneurially," combine their collective strengths with the wisdom of others, and plant the seeds of a positive and lasting legacy.

Through the Eyes of God by Shelia L. Jackson

Reading this book was a true epiphany for me because the author gave great analogies that aligned with a biblical foundation, which she used diligently for the general public to identify with. It exposes the people and places community, family, friends, and workplace-that are responsible for feelings of unworthiness and self-hatred, which can lead to an identity crisis. This problem is universal, crossing all socioeconomic backgrounds, races, classes and genders, because we all have struggled at some point in our lives with the need to be validated by others. This book solves the problem and brings healing to the whole person-mind, body, and spirit. It flows and give clarity to all of the above.

Fierce Angels: The Strong Black Women in American Life and Culture

by Sheri Parks

This is a MUST read for anyone interested in the evolution and manifestation of womenʼs continual legacy within her diaspora. Sheri Parksʼs authoritative yet deeply personal study exposes the overwhelming emotional costs—as well as the benefits—of the black femaleʼs roles as communal savior and martyr. traces the development of the “strong black woman,” from the oldest ongoing archetype to such modern-day inheritors of this legacy as Coretta Scott King, et al. Bringing it all home, Parks recalls the personal costs sheʼs paid for her own identity and captures those moments when she is expected to be all and know all. She challenges readers, mothers, and daughters alike to examine how damaging and rewarding this role can be and to take control of it in their lives. This book made me realize just how much I continue to respect women of color!

The Ministry of Motherhood by Cheryl Lacey Donovan

The Ministry of Motherhood is a triad of emotional value, attempting to explain what it truly means to be a responsible mother, what not to do to attain the epitome of the role, and a personal if not introspective look at how it affected her journey to now. The empowering refreshing messages will challenge mothers to look inside themselves for change. It will help them to identify the strongholds in their lives; public assistance, lack of education, abusive relationships, and tear them down with the help of the creator so that they can in turn take the steps necessary to build a better life for themselves and their children.

Master Your Debt: Slash Your Monthly Payments and Become Debt-Free

by Jordan E. Goodman w/Bill Westrom

In todayʼs economic crisis the ability to manage money, win at the mortgage game, clean up your credit report, and to learn the intricacies of negotiating new terms, now comes an in-depth blueprint with detailed advice on becoming free of debt. Master your debt contains many pioneering strategies as it lays out an innovative plan for achieving the elusive goals of financial success. Iʼm using it personally to help ME with my financial planning. I recommend it to you, too!

Generation EX-Christian: Why Young Adults are Leaving the Faith

...and How to Bring Them Back

by Drew Dyck

The widespread problematic issue of young folk leaving the church and compromising faith initiatives are topical for this book. The author gives in-depth analogies, research methodologies and applicable means to acentuate and bring tangible results for solutions. As a Deacon in my church and mentoring to young adults in general and teen boys in particular, this book touched me and has aided my progress relative to the title. Christians and lay folk alike would find this book compelling and poignant!

Daddyʼs Delight by Dr. Karia Bunting

Thereʼs no need to struggle with Godʼs design and destiny for His gift to mankind! Dr. Bunting gives great insight into how and what God took in fashioning woman to be the importance and value of each one and to relationships. So why do so many women struggle with God's design, wishing they could change just this or that one thing about themselves? Bunting challenges each reader to accept and embrace the fact that, in whatever season of life, she is God's masterpiece-not her own work of art. When God sees her, He sees His beautiful creation. A creation that yes, has some wrinkles needing to be smoothed out and yet, is one in whom is His delight to love to perfection.

Act Like A Lady,Think Like A Man

by Steve Harvey

Comedian and Celebrity Host Steve Harvey comes across in this book as the chivalrous and all-caring savior of women who he feels are not seeing the big picture of a manʼs world, and that they are all-knowing, regardless. Yet when it comes to relationships, he feels that they can't figure out what makes men tick. Why? According to Steve it's because they're asking other women for advice when no one but another man can tell them how to find and keep a man. In this book, Steve lets women inside the mindset of a man and sheds lights on many concepts and revelant questions that we all ask from time to time.

Honorable Mention

The Journey to Peace: A Womanʼs Guide to Finding Inner Peace by Carol Lynn Watson

Home Again: Stories of Restored Relationships by Wanda B. Campbell

I Shall Not Die by Kendra Norman-Bellamy

Industry-Level Superlatives

Mainstream Publisher of the Year -- Simon & Schuster

Simon & Schuster gets my nod because of the comprehensive program initiated by them that gave a wider audience to readers by expanding subsidiary and imprint options. The acquisition of Atria Books and Zaneʼs Strebor Books International a few years ago allowed them good vantage points with wider readership with their imprints. This is a prime example of teamwork and an innovative way of using timely acquisition in producing quality reads.

Independent Press of the Year -- Peace in the Storm Publishing

Industry-level Personnel that Made a Difference -- There are several in this category, but a few stood out.

• Marlive Harris - Year in and year out Ms Harris has exemplified dogged perseverance in aiding aspiring authors and the industry-at-large in providing services, information and promoting avenues for literary worth. Her G.R.I.T.S.com is a virtual marketing gem - an online book promotion service for authors, bookstores, and small Presses. She provided ample successes for the G.R.I.T.S. Online Reading Club, the G.R.I.T.S. Kidz Book Club, the G.R.I.T.S. Virtual Book Tours, and the On the Air with the G.R.I.T.S.com. In addition, Marlive is a virtual marketing Maven! You may want to visit this magnificent site: www.thegrits.com

• Ella Curry - EDC Literary Services is her bailiwick and what a difference she made to those wanting and needing a higher visibility. No one has made significant steps for improvement over such a short time than this young lady! Evidence of this harkens to her total makeover in the sites promoted under the various auspices of her expertise.

• Tyora Moody - ʻTyʼ as she is affectionally called started out as a Web Mistress and Designer, but the past year and a half she has sprouted wings and has soared by making her presence felt in the industry. If you were fortunate to have her design your website, blog or allowed her to give you a better presence online, her Tywebbin Creations (www.tywebbin.com) was the difference that made it happen! An aspiring writer and Blog enthusiast, her Christian entities online along with other signatures such as AAKulturezon.com (www.aakulturezone.com), Cookieaisle.com (www.cookieaisle.com) and Faithwebbin.net made her an outstanding choice for this study.

• Elissa Gabrielle - If sheʼs not yet a household name now, she will be soon! Ms Gabrielle has made strides as a distaff publisher. Not to be mistaken for other notable women in the field, she is doing it independently in a self-publishing mode that gives credence to beating the odds! Her claim to fame will be her PEACE IN THE STORM PUBLISHING company that is poised to introduce new authors with clout. Already she has published books of her own and a three volume set of anthologies should garner accolades. Her 'The Triumph Of My Soul' series is hot, with the third installment sometime in the near future.

Authors to Watch in 2011 -- Jacqueline Moore, LaConnie Taylor-Jones, Cheryl Lacey Donovan, Stephanie Casher, James W. Lewis, LaToya S. Watkins

This Superlaive Listing for 2010 was creatied and written under the auspices of The Romer Review by Alvin C. Romer (c) 1999-2011 All Rights Reserved

Ten Game-Changing Strategies to Achieve Success and Find Greatness

You would want to read Black Faces in White Places: 10 Game-Changing Strategies to Achieve Success and Find Greatness. But first, let me say this: The civil rights movement did a lot for people of color, and through the years progress has been made for equality to take a stand with other gains to rebut vestiges of racism. And with those gains minorities in general and Blacks in particular can in most instances cross lines of resistance as long as confidence, self-esteem and the audacity to not only play the same game as those that are in control, but to excel and master it as well. Two erudite scholars and entrepreneurs has come up with strategies to keep the pursuit of excellence a lifetime goal with steely resolve to stay among the stars and shine brightly and often. Who are they? What are their claim to this process? They are extraordinary folk with one common goal -- to educate and empower their peers! Yes, folk that look like them. But those 10 strategies are REAL and ripe for applicable differences. Check them out and then check out the authors behind them:

Establish a strong identity and purpose - Your ethnic and cultural identity is a great asset. Amplify it as a competitive advantage. A strong identity reflects an appreciation of your uniqueness and its value. A strong identity grounds you; a well-defined purpose gives you the self-confidence to know you can choose your own path, rather than follow society. Start by asking yourself, "What does it mean to be Black or African American?"

Obtain broad exposure - Seek out different experiences, perspectives, places, and people that bring about a healthy level of discomfort. Moving beyond your comfort zone will expand your worldview and sense of possibilities, contribute to how you construct your identity and define your purpose, and enable you to develop and grow.

Demonstrate excellence - Being good at what you do is not enough. You must be excellent. Achieving excellence takes combining the gifts and passion you naturally possess with discipline (the time, effort, and hard work you are willing to put forth) and your beliefs (the translation of your thoughts into empowering actions and outcomes).

Build diverse and solid relationships - Historically, African Americans have had to adapt to the codes of the white majority. But in a global marketplace and a United States where minorities are the majority, code switching encompasses a wide array of standards and norms. Reach out and network with the aim of creating a culture where everyone sees the value in learning more about one another.

Seek the wisdom of others - There is always something you can learn from others, whether younger, older, less experienced, or more capable. Learn from others' mistakes as well as their successes. When you seek the wisdom of others, you develop your own. Learn from your peers. Find a mentor, and be one, too. The best way to learn is to teach.

Find strength in numbers - Surround yourself with people who share your perspective, affirm your values, and support your goals. Cultivate an inner circle whose members are all comfortable with each other, trust each other, and watch out for each other. (The key isn't necessarily ethnicity, but compatibility.) Get involved in collaborative organizations, which range from Black Greek-lettered fraternities and sororities to the NAACP.

Think and act intrapreneurially - Apply an entrepreneurial mindset within an established organization to effect institutional change. You must maintain a strong sense of self-determination and work within the system to make a big impact.

Think and act entrepreneurially - You must take control of your career; you must dare to be in the driver's seat of your destiny; and you must be in a position to pursue your economic prosperity. The entrepreneurial mindset of passion, creativity, resourcefulness, courage, and resilience is mandatory for success in the twenty-first century. Work outside the system to build wealth for yourself and the community as a whole.

Synergize and reach scale - To redefine the game you must create mutually beneficial connections between people and between organizations to fulfill their collective purpose -- and then amplify their collaborative actions to have the broadest or deepest possible impact in a way that levels the playing field for everyone.

Give back generously - Each and every one of us represents the continuation of a countless number of legacies and we can blaze trails for others to follow. Today, African-American giving is no longer only about survival or even helping each other; it is about empowerment and collective self-determination. To address the many challenges in our community, we must leverage our combined efforts through organizations and businesses to reach as many people as possible.

Does any of the aforementioned, and most importantly will you heed what's been given to make the game worthwhile? Meet if you will these two brilliant individuals who would love for you to give them a chance. Randal Pinkett, Ph.D., coauthor of Black Faces in White Places: 10 Game-Changing Strategies to Achieve Success and Find Greatness, was the winner of season four of The Apprentice and the show's first minority winner. He is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of BCT Partners, an information technology and management consulting firm. Dr. Pinkett is based in Somerset, New Jersey. For more information please visit www.randalpinkett.com and follow the author on Facebook (www.facebook.com/randalpinkett) and Twitter (twitter.com/#!/randalpinkett).

Jeffrey Robinson, Ph.D., coauthor of Black Faces in White Places: 10 Game-Changing Strategies to Achieve Success and Find Greatness, is a leading business scholar at Rutgers Business School and lives in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Gun Violence in Our Communities – When Will it Cease?

This is a view of black-on-black crime as it pertain to the proliferation of gun violence and associated mayhem that permeates Black communities across the nation. Gang activity has never been higher. This essay focuses on what can be done to heighten awareness, and finding solutions to stem the tide (and ultimately eradicate the cancer) that plague our diaspora. Therein are incidents attributed to distinct situations in South Florida in recent years, with an opinionated view from the author. As you read this, I'm sure you can relate to the plethora of violence in African-American neighborhoods all across the nation.

If you’re reading this, know that another child, young adult or someone in the wrong place is being victim, or has been victimized by a shooting. Whether pre-meditated or as a result of drive-bys it’s a serious epidemic permeating our communities with no answers people are willing to discuss for fear of retaliatory measures. As a parent, educator and spiritually-discerned leader in my church and community, I’m no different from anybody else who may be concerned about the young folk of this generation and their fascination with guns. Gone are the days when the ‘village’ was prominent in making sure that there were strength in numbers and it took one to truly raise a child. Nowadays, I’m scratching my head trying to find out what went wrong and what is needed to turn the tables. If you’re like me, you too should be concerned and worried, and if you think that it has no bearing on you think again: whatever happens in any ethnic community ramifications and stigmas are often portrayed in a stereotypical fashion that tend to color the whole canvas with darker colors blacker and blue! If for no other reason than to band together and form coalitions, now is the time for us as a unified force to make a difference. How can you make a difference? By standing up, taking a stand and lending support to any grassroots effort to show that you care.

Recently, Koinonia Worship Center & Village in Pembroke Park, FL did that by hosting a venue entitled, ‘Enough is Enough’. How appropriate. Alas, there ARE a few that has taken this issue to heart. People like myself who plan to make a difference. But my eyes are wide open and my mind is quite active. Let me share this with you: I am walking up the main drag in my neighborhood and a stone’s throw from my front door here in Miami. It is a overcast day with rain threatening the horizon. Is this an omen relative to the concerns I have contributing to the subject of this correspondence? Nonetheless, it swirls the spirit and brings a pall to my fragile psyche right about now. Yet, just a few steps from my home, there are a few young boys no older than 17 manning the corner and appearing to be hawking something for sale. Street corner drug sales has been problematic for years and out of control. Conjecturally, Could it be drugs, and moreover, could any one of them if not all, packing a firearm? Your guess is as good as mine, but suffice it to say, an argument could be made that they shouldn’t be there to begin with. I’m struggling with emotions deep in my soul -- angst, disgust, displeasure, but certainly not sympathy. It’s my contention that our communities that have not address the issue of gun control, drug eradication and other measures to combat crime attributed to gang activity are suffering a prolonged illness and being held hostage to an inability to make streets safer.

As I close this piece, I have a passioned plea: if you are a parent and have a child that may be of age to carry a gun, please take control and allow parental fortitude to guide you in attempts to check your child; if you’re in the 16-25 age group, then you are statistically effected by this whole phenomena that’s targeting you generically...be instrumental in cajoling your peers to cease and desist; if you’re older than the latter, then you fall into a group just below midlife and should be mentoring or endeavoring to be role models; and like me, who can be considered a senior citizen I’m ranting and raving for SOMEONE if not all of you doing what needs to be done. What plan do you have to become involved? Will that plan compel you to move forward or step backward in a passive stance? The time is now and the future is in our hands! Are you with me?

21st Century Skills: Learning for Life in Our Times

Modern technology is cyclical and every generation should be poised to invent and reinvent themselves for neo-production and fundamental shifts to introduce new frameworks of learning. Authors Bernie Trilling and Charles Fadel has produced a series of goods for designing 21st century educational prompts aimed at preparing the jet-set, eager wunderkinds and just aboout anybody who aspire to challenge a new order. their new book, 21st Century Skills: Learning For Life in Our Times is touted by them and others to be an innovative learning module for creativity to justify change. This essential resource introduces nine chaptters divided into three parts complete with a wealth of adjunct nuggets augmenting research methodology for thoroughness. The key I’m sure is to map out the expertise needed to survive and thrive in a complex core curriculum of subjects such as reading, writing, and arithmetic—but also emphasizes contemporary themes such as global awareness and financial/economic, health, and environmental literacies. Students in 21st century schools will apply their knowledge to understanding and solving real-world challenges using their 21st century skills and this needed to keep our students on top of new ideals.

Any book focusing on emphasizing the love of learning with a blueprint for direction to create a better and viable world is something that will always be par for the course. I love the premise of this book because it brings critical thinking up front with the objective goals and subjective topics for good operative skills tangent to education, learning and futuristic endeavors. Moreover, I was fascinated on how Trilling and Fadel posed questions apropos to giving readers scenarios to further illustrate points of contention. I considered all of the queries therein which gave me fodder to express in this review why children, astute students and educators should be willing to take risks for better teaching modules. The 21st century skills to be learned in this book covers essentials to prepare the next Einstein, or even ordinary folk for extraordinary goals. Things like critical thinking, information literacy, not how to deal with the media as we know it, but embracing the new digital depth and communications on a level that transcends anything that we have going today. If viable career and life skills are part of this process there has to be a modicum for leadership and responsive ennui for productivity to be accountable to initiate self-direction and flexibility.

I not only applaude the authors but as an educator myself, I adhere to all that has been espoused to teach my present and future students new curricula for a prepared state of awareness. Thank you Bernie Trilling and Charles Fadel for a job well-done. This book is superlative to anything else out in the literary educational resource pool and should enhance bookshelves in homes and schools. As such, I rate it 5 out of 5 stars and recommend that you buy it where books are sold!

VERBATIM!: A Write Package Campbell Style!

http://www.wandabcampbell.net

A Write Package Campbell Style!

What will always amaze me and tickle me with unmitigating gratitude are authors who continue to dig deeper into their imagery for innovative ways to tell a good story. And there are many who fit this scenario. Not only is Wanda B. Campbell one of them, but her passion for the pen gives poignant prowess personified. It's this parallel awareness for the respect for each other that's par for the course we ply, and good color for the canvas we apply our paint. Reading and reviewing her latest effort has not diminished my opinion that the girl can WRITE! So I bring to you with unabashed glee the write package, with no wrong baggage to be a burden to page-turning delight:

Baggage no matter how heavy and how far it’s willing to be carried usually comes with a price and consequences in lieu of the truth. But when that baggage is unbargained and unexpected it sets the stage for author, Wanda B. Campbell to give her reading public yet another story from her imaginative literary mind! The tale this time is entitled, ‘Right Package, Wrong Baggage’. Pamela Roberts, who has great balance despite being a single mother and a devoted Christian wonders if the price is worth the goods she’s been given. In this case, she is put in a precarious position by her well-meaning son in his attempt to play matchmaker -- he thinks he has found the perfect husband for his mother. Time, temerity and turbulence plays a crucial point as the story unfolds. How does Pamela deal with this situation...is the past a picture perfect pardon for a man she hardly knows? The story starts out tediously and builds to an interesting crux when Pamela is put in position to finally make a decision.

Micah Stevenson on the other hand, feels like a man at the casino who has finally hit the jackpot! Excitement is an understated realization when he learns that the son of the woman he has admired for the longest wants him to be part of his family with his mother the prize. This is license for Micah to pursue her and gain her confidence. The one thing that would ruin it would be his past, and Micah knew this...but he feels confident enough that he’s on easy street and it wouldn’t matter. When unselfish needs are prevalent in places above her own, something has to give. Trust and integrity Pamela learns, are hard lessons to overcome when not enough emphasis is placed on caution above pleasing others. Micah shakes the foundation of rules incumbent for any stable relationship to thrive when brokenness is part of judgments fueling prejudices to deny or foment a destined arrival at a common bond for happiness.

The fact that Micah took a chance belies the point of not return once everything is on the table. Against all odds, Micah hopes that Pamela’s fondness for him would deter her from dismissing him. There’s a lot between here and there, and without giving away the story, reasons to read further will captivate and curry favor for both chartacters. Albeit, how will Pamela react to feelings tugging at her heart versus doing the right thing that would align herself with Christian resolve? Moreover, will the man that he was, prevent Pamela from loving Micah for the man he is now, or will become if and when he’s forgiven? Will Pamela have the strength to do what her heart or her mind says she should do?

Although I loved the premise of this book, I felt that it would have been enhanced with a few adjunct characterizations and a subplot for a supporting backstory for more contrast and conflict. There’s always room in Christian fiction for the former and the latter not to overshadow the main thoughts behind the objectivity of what the author wanted to project here; but giving the audience more colors for the canvas would’ve been apropos for hues that would brighten this picture more. However, Ms Campbell’s penchant for telling a good story cannot be ignored for the value that her fans have come to expect. Nonetheless, there’s a message therein and it shouldn’t stop readers from reading a story that will appeal to those that the shoe fits! I rated this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it highly!

For more on this dynamic author, check out her website: http://www.wandabcampbell.net

Straight Out of Africa!

Some of the most poignant stories ever told emanated from the Mother Country -- Africa! Tales abound of tribal intrigue, struggles for independence, Lost Boys finding their way, various stories of girls coming of age, from slavery to freedom...you name it, stories proliferate that has to be told. Such is the case with the three books I’m introducing in this latest installment of VERBATIM! They all have something in common -- journeys and pathways to empowerment. Look no further than here for three courageous people baring their souls from one continent to another.

Long Walk Up: Childhood Journey from Tragedy to Triumph by Denise Turney

First up is author, Denise Turney. Her story, LONG WALK UP is a young girl’s childhood journey from tragedy to triumph...albeit, about an orphan girl on her journey toward legitimacy from meager beginnings to that of the first Black president of an African nation! Though simplistic and short, it’s long on linguistic latitude with a remarkable sense of place, as well as profound knowledge of the ways and customs of the people that are adjuncts to the setting of the story. Reading the story it was hard to put down, and after embracing Mulukan and her ordeals traversing the countryside searching for identity you knew that destiny would draw her to her calling -- due diligence is like this when you’re persistant and your election and calling is made surest by being in the right place at the right time!

The book starts out moderately slow with emphasis on life among the village(s) throughout her nomadic life. Ironically, the travels only served to strengthen her resolve in allowing survival tactics to give insight to what it means to take advantage of time and place. She does this remarkedly at every turn, especially during her young adult years as a writer honing skills to become a distaff leader, which in my opinion was the turning point of the story. I loved this book, but like others I’m siure, they will want more of Mulukan.

This book is a winner, though! Read it, but get to know the author and her previous works. Denise is a mother and a founding member of Bucks County Pennsylvania's first African American owned and operated drug and alcohol intervention program - No Longer Bound. She is a former volunteer in Big Brothers/Big Sisters. She is an entrepreneur, a businesswoman and a civic and community volunteer. Her memberships include: The National Women's Executive Association, Black Women Entrepreneurs, The Philadelphia Writer's Organization, The International Black Writer's Organization, and The International Women's Writing Guild.

The Only Way Is Up by Folake Taylor, MD

Now comes Folake Taylor, MD in her true story about the journey of an immigrant, and she surmises by naming it THE ONLY WAY IS UP. I guess the best way to gauge her unique situation is from her viewpoint after being down if you can look up, you can get up! With only $300.00 dollars to embark on an ardous journey she parlayed it into a provocative success story. But what makes this story so prominent is the fact that there’s a message therein that the author adamantly conveyed throughout the book. The overriding theme in my opinion lent more to perseverance than any thing else. The author’s voice reverberated vociferously with it. To wit: “I would not have had much of a story to tell if I did not go through the hard times. Hard times makes us stronger and they make us the person we ultimately become. It also help in preparing us to be sensitive to other people who are going through similar situations, and to know exactly how to comfort and encourage them through it.” This, the author feels is the purpose of her book. As I read the book I was able to see intrinsically more profound homilies that all cn benefit from. There’s many other issues broached, self-esteem (and lack thereof), family values, inspirational fortitude where maintaining a relationship with God is all-important, and last but not least of all is the fact that principles are the only things that determine self-worth to garner success. Ms Taylor’s take on what it takes to succeed shouldn’t fall on deaf ears -- especially for women who may be beset with similar problematic issues she struggled with coming to America looking for a brighter sunrise and a more fullfilling sunset. The message to be gotten is -- it matters not whether you are from hither to yon there are directionals to your journey, with footsteps even, for you to follow!

Powder Neckace by Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond

Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond gets to the hub of an enduring coming of age tale relative to the unusual title, POWDER NECKLACE and of her gripping narrative about a young girl’s survival amid the backdrop of crafting vivid portraits of dislocation and discovery. This is the story of 15 year-old Lila and her quest for identity and belonging. There have been quite a few poignant stories from the heartland written by people who felt a need to escape the dismal life stemming from years of colonial angst, abjack poverty, discrimination and various aspects of genocidal ill-will, health or otherwise. Albeit, this story is written with a different twist but with no less poigancy to illustrate an identity conveying alternatives and the austere diversity of a multicultural heritage on three geographical fronts. To wit: Lilia is shuttled amid trials and testimonies where vivid portrayals of a child’s untimely familial dislocations breeds ‘discovery’ at every interval -- from London, to Ghana, then on to New York and back to Ghana again! Her ordeal is one where she gives us graphic detail of how a young girl triumphs despite the odds against success written in the first person voice in an omniscient way. It’s a moderately moving pieces that gains momentum at each stage of the journey. The book explores the theory that “it takes time to live life.” In the beginning life in London is fast-paced with all the ills that an urban setting would give colors to paint with. Lila falls victim to bad influences and her mother sends her to Ghana at a boarding school. No less ideal with being a foreigner in the land of her mother’s birth, Lila is forced to adapt to the reality of a third world existence. If we don’t nothing else about this book we get the sense early that Lila is searching for ‘home’ and her mother with her quirky attitude seems to need help most. But where is home for Lila? Does she want to be the upstanding English girl or the exotic native girl from Ghana? The author clearly draws on her own American Ghanaian identity to dramatize the adverse conditions of the stereotypical African landscape and the rich diversity of a multicultural legacy.

I read this book with mixed emotions, and felt that it’s brilliant in parts, though not consistently outstanding in having a lasting impression of the heroine finally finding what is being sought. It gave the notion of being an unsettling drama clamoring for an encore in a subsequent book to come. With no clear ‘coming home’ the snapshopt get’s lost inthe bigger picture. To the author’s credit though, this open and honest first-person narrative had more memorable moments despite the less than superlative opinion given in the latter stages of this review.

The beauty of the prose and the resilience of the heroine make this a winning debut. I will close by saying that this is a compelling read that should garner quite a bit of attention for the author.