my summer reading list

MSRL: We'll Never Tell - A Tale of Sorority Betrayal?

2011-12-05T20:06:00.001-08:00

We'll Never Tell by Kayla Perrin
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I totally forgot I had finished reading this book already (this past summer) but I never got around to doing my review.

What can I say about We'll Never Tell? It was a fun summer read. I have read Kayla Perrin novels before and I will say that I enjoyed her other books, The Delta Sisters and and The Sisters of Theta Phi Kappa, a little bit more. I guess partly because I understood the formula and I kind of knew what to expect, however, I guess I was more highly disappointed with the ending of We'll Never Tell than I was with the other two similarly themed novels. The ending just made no sense whatsoever, it wasn't logical, it didn't fit and honestly, I was mad by the time I got to the end. I do plan to read more Kayla Perrin and support her as a writer because I think she's a great young novelist who appeals to the college aged woman, to those women who like mysteries, and to those women who just want to good romantic read. Coincidentally, I also recently picked up A Holiday Surprise that features Perrin as one of three authors of a holiday themed novella.

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MSRL: Boring Meetings Suck! (Boring Books Suck!)

2011-12-02T21:13:00.001-08:00

Boring Meetings Suck: Get More Out of Your Meetings, or Get Out of More Meetings by Jon Petz
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW: This was a book I read for the "office" book club. While the title sounds provocative, it was the type of book that makes you think, "Gee, did they really have to write a whole book about this?" Or is most of this just plain common sense? I'm just saying. It's not rocket science.

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MSRL: Yoga Body Diet - Eat and Exercise for Your Body "Type"

2011-12-02T20:55:00.001-08:00

Yoga Body Diet by Kristen Schultz Dollard

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW: I love, love, love this book! It's the first fitness/diet book that actually breaks down what "type" of eater you are and what type of fitness and diet plan you should be on. Who knew there was a type? This revelation has allowed me to realize that there is not "one size fits all" for diets I'm interested in trying and that in order to find something that works for me, I need to figure out how I work, then go from there.

I also like that this book provides a pre-quiz to help you figure out what "type" you are along with a recommended yoga plan and recipes to cook for your eating plan.

I recommend this book for anyone who thinks they might be "yoga-challenged" and not sure where to start. Start here.

And by the way, Rodale Books has a whole series of health/fitness books that all look very interesting.

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MSRL: The Reunion Planner - A Great Guide for School and Family Reunions

2011-12-02T20:46:00.000-08:00

The Reunion Planner 3rd Edition/Software 7.02v combo by Linda J. Hoffman and Neal Barnett

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

MY REVIEW: This book is a great resource for anyone planning a school or family reunion. Easy to read with great recommendations for how to get the whole reunion plan started.

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MSRL: Remembering Anita Hill in Books - How Far We've Come and How Far We Still Have To Go

2011-10-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

The other day, there was a thread floating around on Twitter about the fact that it’s been 20 years since the Anita Hill case. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. For those of you who don’t know who Anita Hill is, she’s the brave Black woman who brought attention to sexual harassment in the workplace on a national and some would argue international level, on the cusp of the confirmation of America’s 2^nd Black Supreme Court Justice (although many of us would argue that he’s definitely NO Thurgood Marshall). (Read my full article on this unique anniversary on my lifestyle30 blog: http://www.lifestyle30.wordpress.com)

In acknowledgement of this landmark case and what became a pop culture and media phenomenon, here are a few books I recommend to readers. And remember, Women's Rights (for ALL women) should remain at the forefront of our discussions on social justice as American women continue to climb the corporate ladder of success and break boundaries in all walks of life.

Books about the Anita Hill Case and Similar Topics on Amazon:

Reimagining Equality: Stories of Gender, Race, and Finding Home – by Anita Hill

http://www.amazon.com/Reimagining-Equality-Stories-Gender-Finding/dp/0807014370/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319204802&sr=1-1

Speaking Truth To Power – by Anita Hill

http://www.amazon.com/Speaking-Truth-Power-Anita-Hill/dp/0385476272/ref=pd_sim_b1

Sister Citizen – by Melissa Harris Perry (NEW!)

http://www.amazon.com/Sister-Citizen-Shame-Stereotypes-America/dp/0300165412/ref=pd_sim_b6

Black Women Redefined: Dispelling Myths and Discovering Fulfillment in the Age of Michelle Obama – by Sophia Nelson (NEW!)

http://www.amazon.com/Black-Woman-Redefined-Discovering-Fulfillment/dp/1935618946/ref=pd_sim_b5

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MSRL: OMG! For EcoBeauty!

2011-07-23T10:58:00.000-07:00

EcoBeauty: Scrubs, Rubs, Masks, and Bath Bombs for You and Your Friends by Lauren Cox

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Recently, I've been exploring essential oils and making my own skincare products and Eco Beauty is an absolutely great book. It's a great resource and very well illustrated with accompanying, easy to read recipes that look easy to prepare. I can't wait to make my first creation.

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MSRL: Learning All About Aromatherapy

2011-07-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

Herbs and Aromatherapy by Joannah Metcalfe

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is a good handy resource for to keep on your bookshelf, chock full of basic information about the purpose and use of herbs and essential oils.

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MSRL: Is Cleansing Right For You? 3-Day Cleanse by Zoe Sakoutis

2011-07-23T09:46:00.000-07:00

The 3-Day Cleanse: Drink Fresh Juice, Eat Real Food, and Get Back into Your Skinny Jeans by Zoe Sakoutis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a great resource for learning about the cleansing process and how to make recipes. It was written by two women who have a fresh juice business and, while that's great, their products are not accessible enough to readers who might want to buy their juices that they are recommending, if you don't live close to New York City. Overall, great book.

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MSRL: Quick Tips for New Leaders, Review of You're In Charge, Now What?

2011-05-27T17:15:00.000-07:00

You're in Charge, Now What?: The 8 Point Plan by Thomas J. Neff

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a great, easy to read book, especially if you are preparing for a job interview. It offers practical information that is easily applicable to any situation,similar to a blueprint for success. This will definitely help you stay organized as a professional and move into a leadership position smoothly.

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MSRL: Relentless Pursuit - A Glimpse At Teachers Work

2011-04-21T16:35:00.000-07:00

Relentless Pursuit: A Year in the Trenches with Teach for America by Donna Foote

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't finish the book, but what I did read, I enjoyed. This book gives a great insight into the lives of the teachers who are in the trenches of public education in programs like Teach For America. And it tells the truth, it's not all good times, there are some bad times, times when teachers want to quit, but it's inspiring because these teachers know that there is a job to be done to educate our children.

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MSRL: 10 Things Employers Want You to Learn In College

2011-04-21T16:27:00.000-07:00

10 Things Employers Want You to Learn in College: The Know-How You Need to Succeed by William D. Coplin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a great resource for Student Affairs practitioners and those who teach career development to students. It offers great tips, as well as a skill building system for students to follow. I highly recommend this for anyone looking to build their "soft skills".

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MSRL: Literature and Its Writers, A Great Book for Class

2011-04-21T16:10:00.000-07:00

Literature and Its Writers 5e & LiterActive by Ann Charters

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a great textbook for my Literary Studies course. A great diversity of writers in poetry, short story, and drama. I enjoyed reading some writers work that I had never read before and become re-aquainted with writers I haven't read in a long time. And it helps if the professor using the book is good at teaching and my professor was great.

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MSRL: Lovers Premiere, Adrianne Byrd, Romance Writing at its Best

2011-04-21T15:50:00.000-07:00

Lovers Premiere by Adrianne Byrd

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm a very picky reader and I'm especially picky about my "romance" novels. Adrianne Byrd is an excellent writer of the quick-romance genre. Her writing is simple but not too cheesy, and definitely not urban lit. She also does an excellent job at intertwining contemporary topics and issues into her novels. This is definitely the case with Lovers Premiere, a book about life in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. I also like that she writes from the perspective of Black women, the single life of Black women and men, and manages to have characters who are well rounded, educated, and professional. I look forward to reading more from this author.

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MSRL: Emotionally Intelligent Leadership: A Guide for College Students

2011-04-21T15:43:00.000-07:00

Emotionally Intelligent Leadership: A Guide for College Students by Marcy L. Shankman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I used the book to help create my student leadership development programs. It's a great resource for Higher Education professionals who work directly with student leaders, student activities, and greek student leaders. I highly recommend it.

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MSRL: Poetry Review: Poets Under 25 & The New Young American Poets

2011-01-27T05:07:00.000-08:00

In my quest to stay up on my poetry (since I'm a poet myself), I'm challenging myself to read more poetry, review the latest volumes as well as make sure I pay homage to the poetic pioneers. Here are two books I recommend for a modern fresh take on poetry from young poets:

Time You Let Me In (Selected by Naomi Shihab Nye) (2010) - This book features a diverse group of poets all under 25, like Nicole Guenther, Lauren Espinoza, Henry Mills, Jocelyn Scott, Amal Khan, Jonah Ogles, Tala Abu Rahmeh, Matthew Baker, and Mario Chard.

The New Young American Poets: An Anthology (Edited by Kevin Prufer) (2000) - This book features an eclectic mix of poets like Sherman Alexie, Paul Beatty, Rafael Campo, Denise Duhamel, Susan Gardinier, Timothy Liu, Angela Shaw, Natasha Trethewey, Sam Witt, and Kevin Young.

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MSRL: beauty book review: Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual

2011-01-18T05:40:00.000-08:00

If you are truly interested in how to do your makeup RIGHT, then this is the book that will help you become an expert. Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual, by Bobbi Brown, the makeup guru extraordinaire, is the ultimate textbook for any makeup enthusiast or budding makeup artist. You definitely need to read this book from cover to cover, literally like a textbook, chapter by chapter so that you get the full extent of what she has to offer. From the proper tools to have in your arsenal, the types of stores to shop at for makeup and skincare, the basics of skincare (what to eat and drink), perfect eyeshadow shades for your eye color, and how to create that perfect smoky eye, and so on, this book is for is a keeper for your beauty book collection. If you don't get it, then you are not serious about makeup and skincare.
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MSRL: beauty book review: The 5-Minute Face

2011-01-18T05:32:00.000-08:00

For anyone who is serious about makeup application, this is definitely a book for you. The 5-Minute Face, The Quick and Easy Makeup Guide for Every Woman by Car Mindy is a fabulous, vividly illustrated guide that outlines the basics of makeup for anyone. My favorite highlights of the book are Chapter 4: The 5-Minute Face (What woman doesn't want to be able to do her makeup and look fabulous in 5 minutes, this chapter is a must read), Chapter 5: The Best Makeup Colors for Your Skin Tone (love this chapter because it shows beautiful women of all shades, and Chapter 6: Beautiful at Every Age (I love that she shows us make makeup makes sense and looks appropriate at all ages). Overall, this is a great book with beautiful photography and it would be a great addition to your beauty book collection.
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MSRL: beauty book review: Skin, The Bare Facts

2011-01-18T04:42:00.000-08:00

A book geared towards teenagers, Skin: The Bare Facts (know, heal, protect, pamper), by Lori Bergamotto, provides a fantastic primer about skincare, starting out with a skincare quiz to help readers find their skin type. If you have a teenager who is experiencing skincare woes or if you are a grown up who needs to revisit the basics of skincare, this is the book for you. And if you are a skincare/makeup enthusiast, this is a great book to add to your collection so that you can ensure that you are educated and are able to share your knowledge with others.

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MSRL: beauty book review: Face, 100 Makeup Moves

2011-01-18T04:32:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for, literally, a "mini" guide to skincare and makeup, then this book is for you. Face, by Carol Morley and Liz Wilde is chock full of tiny tidbits on anything from skin treats, color choices, clever concealing, professional tricks, and my favorite, how to create the "five minute face", a tip every woman on the go should master. Plus, you get great "mini" hand painted artistic images to accompany each page. Overall, Face, is a unique little guide that you should definitely add to your beauty book collection.
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MSRL: beauty book review: Sephora Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair

2011-01-18T04:13:00.000-08:00

Sephora: The Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair from the Beauty Authority by Melissa Schweiger

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If you are looking to build a beauty book collection, this book might be one for you. I love the Sephora stores so for anyone else who loves the stores as much as I do, you will love this book just as much. The Sephora Ultimate Guide to Makeup, Skin, and Hair is a great guide for anyone from a beginning makeup enthusiast to an expert. It's cleverly written, in that it infuses each section (from tools and tips to use for applying makeup, to proper skincare techniques, to current trends) with product recommendations that Sephora sells in its stores. Overall, it's a great book and if you are a makeup artist, you should definitely add it to your beauty book collection.

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Official Book Reviewer for AAMBC! Very Excited

2010-12-08T04:55:00.000-08:00

I wanted to inform my blog followers that I am now an official Book Reviewer for the AAMBC (African Americans On The Move Book Club). My book reviews will be posted for all to see on Amazon.com, Goodreads.com and on my blog. I'm very excited!

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MSRL: Resource for Creative Writers

2010-12-08T04:50:00.000-08:00

An Insider's Guide to Creative Writing Programs: Choosing the Right MFA or MA Program, Colony, Residency,Grant or Fellowship by Amy Holman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is a very helpful resource for anyone who is planning to apply to MFA (Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing) programs. It describes the traditional programs as well as low-residency programs. It also discusses fellowships and other types of residencies that can be found for more established writers. All in all, a good resource and easy to read.

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MSRL: Very New Orleans - A Picture Book For Grown Ups

2010-11-02T19:31:00.000-07:00

Very New Orleans: A Celebration of History, Culture, and Cajun Country Charm by Diana Hollingsworth Gessler

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this little book! It's interesting because, while you know this was a book most likely aimed at grown ups, it reminded you of being back in grade school, because the author, Diana Hollingsworth Gessler, illustrated the entire book, making you think you were perusing through a picture book. Very New Orleans is a very elementary, quick, but in-depth look into the history of New Orleans. If you want to learn about one of America's greatest cities without taking a history class, this is the book for you.

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MSRL: E. Lynn Harris' Final Novel - Am I Wrong For Not Finishing It?

2010-11-02T19:22:00.000-07:00

In My Father's House: A Novel by E. Lynn Harris

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I stopped reading this book. I wasn't as impressed with it as I thought I would be. I became bored with it. I will attempt to read another of Harris' previous books, but I just couldn't finish this one.

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MSRL: Back To School - Lessons To Be Learned

2010-09-06T16:19:00.000-07:00

As the summer comes to a close, I find myself gearing up for the "Back To School" season. Back To School is my favorite time of year. I also work in Higher Education and there is just something about welcoming the students back to campus and gearing up for a new year of learning that I really love and appreciate.

Another reason Back To School is so exciting for me this year is because I have decided to go back to school as well. I'm recently became enrolled in a Post-Bac program for a Teaching Certificate. My goal is to teach High School Language Arts as I transition into my "next career". Writing and communicating well are of the utmost importance in our society, yet it seems to be taking a hit at the expense our students skills, or lack thereof and it's becoming evident in all that they do, from text messages, to emails, to social media, to their research papers and how they communicate with professors and other administrators on campus. If I can make a difference in the writing life of a child, then that's what I hope to do for the long term.

The classes I'm taking are Education Foundations and Literary Studies. Both of the books for these classes are rather good and informative and I will share them here:

Literature and Its Writers (5th Edition) is by Ann and Samuel Charters. It's a book full of short stories, poetry, and some drama by some of our most prolific writers. This class is refreshing because I get to re-visit some of the authors whose writing I got the chance to get to know during my undergraduate years at Kent State University. Also, I get to read authors who I have never heard of before and so far, I love the writing various writing style of authors likeErnest Hemingway, Russell Banks, and Junot Diaz.

My other book is Becoming A Teacher by Parkay and Stanford. It's a very imformative and eye-opening book and is perfect for first time teachers. It provides the ins and outs of a beginning teacher's life and provides anecdotes and examples of what it means to be a good teacher and a bad teacher, and it's easy to read.

What I will say is that taking classes hasn't changed much, however, what has changed is the price of books and the knowledge of technology that is required to keep up on classes today. I'm starting to feel sorry for some of the students who say they can't afford the books. I used to think they were kidding or just didn't want to spend the money, but it's a real issue. There are students who have paid upwards to $1000 for books just for this fall semester alone. I actually "rented" my books, which is a new phenonmenon, from www.Bookrenters.com, where you can "rent" a book for 30, 60, 90 days, or for the whole semester, and you can "rent to buy", just like a piece of furniture. And by the time some of these students get done with paying for books, they will feel like they just purchased a whole bedroom set. The only downfall to buying "used" or "renting" books, is that you may miss out on the "tech" extras that are attached to many classes nowadays. For instance, I "rented" Becoming A Teacher for about $30 for 60 days (I play to rent to own). Well, since I got a used copy, the book was lacking the special "code" that I need to access the "myeducationlab" component of the course. No need to worry though, the publishing company has a code available for those of us who thought we could get around paying full price. Yes, for a small fee of $30 more, we can buy an access code and get into the site and be cool like the rest of the kids in class. So, really, even if you buy used or rent a book, somehow, someway, you will end up paying extra for something. Buying Used Books used to be the way to go, but now, it's pretty tricky. I really think that students need to start a "No More Expensive Textbooks" Movement. There are textbooks that cost over $100 per book in many majors like business and science. This has got to stop. These companies, like those who produce these textbooks year after year who are usually in cahoots with professors to "upgrade" to the next addition, shouldn't be able to take advantage of students. What they do is almost akin to what these "payday loan" companies do and when students go to "sell" their books back to the bookstore, they only end up getting a few bucks, compared to the hundreds that they paid in the first place.

So, as a future teacher, as I move through my coursework, I hope to try my best to keep my costs as low as possible on every book that I buy, but to also be able to, as a future teacher, educate my students to think critically for themselves and to be able to understand when to stand up for yourself and how to communicate your needs to get the change that you want in the world.

Have a Great School Year Everyone!

Kellea
editor
my summer reading list

MSRL: Black History & Literature Basics: Book Recommendations from RollingOut.com

2010-07-27T19:38:00.000-07:00

Black History & Literature Basics
Book Recommendations from RollingOut.com

With the end of summer fast approaching, it's never too late to get young adults interested in history. What's even better is there is a set of books that epitomize and symbolize the Black experience in America and have withstood the test of time over the years. This list should be standard reading for any English Lit or American History course in high school or college. Amir Shaw from RollingOut.com wrote this article, and it’s vital that our children know their history and read the books, that shape parts of our history in America and help frame issues of race and social justice for many.

RollingOut.com (7/27/2010):
Some books can change your life in a matter of hours. These books take readers on a mesmerizing journey and can create change by sparking personal growth. Here are several books that every black person in America should read before the age of 25. –amir shaw

To see the full list of book recommendations, click the link below from RollingOut.com:

http://blackbirdhome.com/alpha/news/?www.rollingout.com/insidebusiness/rollingout-books/10286-5-books-every-black-american-should-have-read-before-the-age-of-25.html

MSRL: 3-Week Deadlines and Why You Should Support Your Local Library

2010-07-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

I have been living in my current community in Southwest Ohio for a little over one year now and recently, I took a trip to my local library. Now libraries aren't new to me and in fact, I consider myself somewhat of a "library geek" and I get very excited whenever I enter a library because they are some of the most exciting places in the world. My mother used to take me to the library all the time when I was younger, and I came to learn to love the library in my high school years, when I had to do those long research papers (long before the internet), and I try to make a connection with and support a local library, wherever I live. So, now that it's summer, I've had time to venture out and I have to say that the Greene County Library in Xenia, Ohio is quite great. They have a DVD collection that would put blockbuster to shame and you get a 7-day check out period (how can you beat that!) Their book collection is also outstanding and the customer service is awesome.

Now, the checkout period for books, is a different story. LOL! In my quest to read as many books as possible this summer, the effort to do so, is a little slower than I thought, because most of the books I have been trying to read are books that I have purchased and, as a result, I read at my leisure, and, even if I'm in a hurry to read the books I own, I'm under no pressure to do so, considering that I don't have a deadline. However, as most library regulars know, you usually only have a few days, and in my case, approximately 3 weeks to read any book that I check out. Hmmm, now this may pose a dilemma or I could turn it into an challenge/opportunity. If I get books from the library, and try my best to stick to the "3-week" time frame, I may end up reading more books, more quickly. I'm trying, but let's just say, I've already renewed one of my library books because I missed the first deadline. We will see how this little project goes. Perhaps next summer I will read ONLY books from the library and start the project earlier in the summer. LOL!

Kellea
editor
my summer reading list

MSRL: A Great Resource For Multicultural Leadership

2010-06-29T20:23:00.000-07:00

Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age by Juana Bordas

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is a great book, a great resource for my Student Leadership & Development program. It offers a great view of multicultural leadership development from various perspectives that include the Latino, African American, and Native American communities. I also love the various exercises that are offered at the end of each section. If you are looking for a resource that will help get you started on creating positive, interactive workshops and discussions with college students, then this is a book for you.

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MSRL: My Magazine Habit!

2010-06-21T05:07:00.000-07:00

Another way to squeeze in some summer reading is to read magazines. I love magazines because they are quick and easy to read, very informative, and I will admit, sometimes it's just fun to look at the pictures! And I have a confession to make, I admit it, I'm addicted....To magazines! It started a few years ago (really in college, but back then I couldn't afford to buy any). Once I graduated and entered the work world though, I would buy issue after issue of my favorite magazines, so much so that it began to become a very expensive habit. Until now.....I have a new BFF,this wonderful service called Mag Hound (www.maghound.com). Whoever thought of this must have had the same problem I had and knew how dangerous the love of magazines could be to your wallet.

This is how Mag Hound works (it's so co cute too, their "mascot" is, well, a hound, a little dog who's tale wags when you log onto the site....but I digress!) When you sign up for Mag Hound, you browse through the hundreds of magazine titles (they add new titles everyday), choose the ones you want for your subscription, add them to your list, and they give you a "once a month" subscription price that is far less than it would cost to purchase each magazine individually. So, for instance, I have signed up for about 6 or so magazines (don't judge me!), and I pay about $12.45 per month. Now, think about it, most magazines have an average cost of at least $4.00 per issue. If you multiply that issue price by six ( that comes out to be abour $24 a month! - that's crazy right!) So what Mag Hound does is feed a habit, at minimal costs, so that you don't have to break the bank just to read your favorite magazines (and if you let them pile up, you don't feel so bad). And get this, if one of the mags on your list is unavailable for that particular month (maybe it's a 10 month or quarterly publication) then you can choose a list of "substitutes" that can fill the place of the mag your not getting so that you can have non-stop delivery of your favorite reading material. Isn't that fantastic! And, another great perk is that you can switch or interchange the magazines you want at any time, so say you have a subscription to Glamour but you want to try Cosmo, you can do it all by the click of a button. Now, there may be a delay in your delivery when you do that, however, best believe, Mag Hound is so organized that you can log on to your account and see exactly when each issue of each magazine is scheduled to be delivered. And, if you know of other "Mag Hounds" in your life, you can even purchase gift subscriptions for the ones you love (or like a little!)

It's important when choosing magazines to focus on your interests. I consider myself a well-rounded, well informed person and my subscriptions include a combination of news and information, beauty and fashion, culture, and hobbies, that reflect that:

Real Simple Magazine (I love the format and size, easy to read, great tips and lists, great recipes)
Essence Magazine (I have been reading Essence since I was a teenager when my mother had a subscription and it's the perfect source for keeping up with the news, fashion, and issues that affect Black women)
Newsweek Magazine (I like to stay informed and I love Newsweek, especially since they changed their format. the articles are quicker to read, bigger, brighter photos, and it helps you have a conversation with someone about world affairs and you might just sound like you know what you are talking about!)
Poets & Writers Magazine (Delivered quarterly, I have been reading PW on an off since college and it's a great magazine for writers, authors, bloggers, and poets. It's a fantastic resource for those serious about writing, highlighting writing programs, new books, literary journals, conferences/retreats, and contests.)
Writer's Digest Magazine (Ditto on the above, and it's delivered monthly. What I do like about both PW and WD is that they have very interactive online communities for writers and always provide great resources for websites and making connections with other writers.)
Entrepreneur Magazine (Because I have all of these business ideas floating around in my head, I figured it would be a smart move to stop talking to myself about it and to start bringing my ideas to life! Entrepreneur has always been a great resource!
Food & Wine Magazine (Because I'm trying to venture out and become a better cook, I thought I would add FW to my list for fun, plus I just enjoy looking at the fabulous photos and I do plan to try every wine they recommend, it's the only right thing to do! LOL)
Food Everyday by Martha Stewart (This is just a very cute, very to the point food magazine and what I love the most is that it comes if a very small compact format and that Martha Stewart provides a "grocery list" at the back of each issue that you can easily take to the store with you when its time to shop.)

MSRL: Review: And The Walls Came Tumbling Down, The Secret Life of Senator Jack

2010-06-16T05:15:00.000-07:00

And The Walls Came Tumbling Down, The Secret Life Of Senator Jack by Vernadine A. Merrick

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In a cleverly written novel, author Vernadine A. Merrick takes us through the roller coaster life of fictional Senator Jack Montgomery. As you read, one can't help but feel that his rise as a political superstar is eerily similar to that of our current President Barack Obama. The rest of Senator Jack's life, is very much a contrast of, probably most politicians, and if this were a true story, would be something that the cable news networks would eat up with non-stop coverage, and would go down in political history as one of the most fascinating political dramas of all time. But that's where the comparison ends, politics.

The rest of the story, although well written, often reading like a blockbuster film, very much filled with drama, is disappointing in the end, and in my opinion, doesn't have enough drama. I was enthralled with the writing, the details of the then Senator Jack's young life, the mystery surrounding his "former" life, and the transformation of this one time thug into a well polished politician.

I was hoping, though, that after I got through the first 300 pages, that the pace of the drama and the climax of the story of this character would have continued and been more exciting, considering the main character, Jack Montgomery's, checkered past. Chapters 18-20 and even the Epilogue were all too much of a "perfect ending" and I was very disappointed. I expected all of the twists and turns and momentum that intrigued me at the beginning of the book to carry me through until the end. In my opinion, that was not the case, I felt dropped off, and for lack of a better word, duped. It ended way too easily, predictably, and unrealistically, sort of like a fairy tale, and really what politician's life ends that way, especially if there is a scandal that threatens to destroy his life. I got very frustrated towards the end of the book because, as a citizen who keeps up with the drama of politics in real life, I was hoping that the author would have given us some more "monkey wrench drama", some more of the "Real DC", a cliffhanger, if you will, that would leave a reader wishing for a "Part II" of the story.

Overall, the book was very well written and I do look forward to seeing more from this author.

On A Personal Note: I decided to read And The Walls Came Tumbling Down, The Secret Life of Senator Jack and put it at the top of my summer reading list, on a whim, because I had the pleasure of meeting the author, back in May 2010, at a local Book Expo. I was very excited to meet her because we also had many things in common, specifically our membership in the same sorority. Also, our aspirations for writing seemed similar and in my quest to become a published author, I think it's only right to support other writers, in fact, I have several books from authors I met at that same Book event, that I hope to complete this summer. I wish all of these authors luck in their publishing endeavors.

View all my reviews >>

MSRL: 40 Summer Book Recommendations Celebrating 40 Years Of Essence Magazine

2010-06-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

MSRL: Favorite Children's Books! Please Share Here!

2010-06-10T07:06:00.000-07:00

Someone recently challenged me to write a children's book. While children's books have not been my main focus for writing, I'm am slowly but surely considering the idea. As a part of my "research", I'm reflecting on what some of my favorite children's books were growing up. Having no children of my own, I'm somewhat out of the loop on what the current popular children's books are. I'm also very partial to books of
children's poetry , but I do remember some of the other fun books my teachers made me read and some I discovered on my own, that I came to love.

Here's just a partial list of my favorites from the past (circa 1980s):

Where The Sidewalk Ends - by Shel Silverstein
Honey, I Love - by Eloise Greenfield
A Light In The Attic - by Shel Silverstein
Falling Up - by Shel Silverstein
Superfudge - by Judy Blume
The Diary of Anne Frank - by Anne Frank
Charlotte's Web - by E.B. White
Amelia Bedelia - by Peggie Parish
Corduroy - by Don Freeman
The Velveteen Rabbin - by Margery Williams
The Tale of Peter Rabbit - by Beatrix Potter
James and the Giant Peach - by Roald Dahl

A great resource for Top 100 Children's Books created by teachers:
http://www.teachersfirst.com/100books.cfm

Please share your favorites here!

Kellea
editor, my summer reading list

MSRL Review: How to Be Your Own Publicist by Jessica Hatchigan

2010-06-04T14:18:00.000-07:00

How to be Your Own Publicist by Jessica Hatchigan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Since embarking on my quest to become an author/entrepreneur, I have been seeking books that will assist me in the process. I also look for books that are not too wordy, not to heavy with author anecdotes and "advertising" but books that provide basic facts and steps to accomplish a goal. How To Be Your Own Publicist is such a book. Although geared more towards people who are actually creating products, this book can be applied to anyone offering any type of service or product, even a creative product. It was easy to ready, easy to outline, and easy to find the information you needed. The chapters were labeled exactly what they were. This book takes you through a step by step process of how to create a publicity campaign for yourself and provides great examples. My only criticism of the book is that, some of the chapters repeat some of the same information that was shared in a previous chapter, making it appear as if there was nothing new to say about that particular topic. Also,because this book was written in 2002, some of the information on publicity as it relates to the internet and eletronic formats of publicity are a little outdated already. I would love to see a new updated version of this book because it is a great resource.

View all my reviews >>

MSRL: Review: Get A Freelance Life by Margit Feury Ragland

2010-05-28T05:08:00.000-07:00

Get a Freelance Life: mediabistro.com's Insider Guide to Freelance Writing by Margit Feury Ragland

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Get A Freelance Life is a great insiders resource for aspiring freelance journalists, bloggers, and authors. It's an easy read and chock full of information that you will need to be successful. I also like that it was put together by one of the best online resources for freelance writing, www.mediabistro.com If you haven't visited mediabistro.com, I encourage you to do so and take advantage of the free resources there, as well as the paid resources that you get from Avant Guild, an exclusive service offered to freelancers. Mediabistro.com also offers online courses, radio show podcasts on iTunes and Blog Talk Radio, and job postings in various areas of journalism. I think it's one of the best resources online and if you are serious about freelancing, it's the place to be. View all my reviews >>

my summer reading list: my right to read!

2010-05-25T06:16:00.000-07:00

If you grew up in the 80s you probably remember the national reading campaign called "Write To Read Week". This campaign was designed to encourage young people to read more and increase their writing skills by way of the dreaded book report (I actually liked doing book reports). Is it bringing back memories?

Well, I have set out on a quest to increase my adult reading skills and options by compiling a list of books that I will challenge myself to read through the summer. Why summer you ask? I chose summer because it's when I have some down time. Working in the field of Higher Education lends itself to providing opportunities to take somewhat of a break. Plus, stats show that our kids are not reading as much anymore, reading and writin scores are plummeting and we are so bombarded nowadays with so much multimedia, quick reads of news and pop culture on the internet, that reading is becoming somewhat of a lost art. And I certainly don't want to read a book on a Kindle (love Amazon) or an iPad. No, not me, I'm old school. Nothing beats cracking open a real live book. So, my goal with my free time, is to, in between all of the other media coming at me from the left and the right, I will try to be purposeful and squeeze in some reading.

It seemed so much easier when we were younger to be able to carve out time to read. Oh, let's see, maybe it was because we didn't have a job, car payments, a house, kids, etc. You name it, we let it all distract us from using our brains for things other than vegg-ing out on the sofa after a long day's work. Well, I'm putting a halt to all of that (for the summer at least). And a great site to help you stay on track with your reading is www.goodreads.com ! I absolutely love Good Reads. It's a social network site (yes, another social network site), however, all of its content is focused on reading, book clubs, authors, and just the promotion of reading. It also has a mechanism where, when you update you status, you can report to the world, exactly what page you are on and provide a mini review with each update. I love it because it provides sort of a self accountability tool and all of your "friends" on good reads, encourage you to read, can make recommendations for books you should read, and it just provides a more well-rounded, intellectual community, giving you a break from the likes of Facebook or MySpace (I love my Facebook though!) Speaking of Facebook, you can also link your Good Reads account to your Facebook status updates or the streaming feed and to your Twitter account

I challenge you, especially all of you 30-something, Write To Read Week pioneers, to pick up a book this summer, in fact, pick up a couple of books, create a list, and begin your journey towards falling in love with reading again. Here's my list:

And The Walls Came Tumbling Down by Vernadine Merrick
The Boss of You by Lauren Bacon and Emira Mears
Mama Dearest by E. Lynn Harris
The Dirty Secrets Club by Meg Gardiner
Red Light Wives by Mary Munroe
In The Night Of The Heat by Blair Underwood
The Breakthrough by Gwen Ifill
Wicked Ways by Donna Hill
The Taste of Good Fruit by Marita Teague
How To Be Your Own Publicist by Jessica Hatchigan
Get A Freelance Life by Margit Feury Ragland (mediabistro.com)
Self-Publishing 101 by Debbie Elickson

Now, I know you are thinking, this is an ambitious list, but that's part of the challenge. Summer is short, but there is a lot I want to learn about in short amount of time. As you can see, some of my books include fiction, because sometimes you just have to escape, but others on the list include non-fiction books about business and writing. As an aspiring author, I want to learn all I can about what it takes to be a successful author and entrepreneur. One book, The Breakthrough by Gwen Ifill, I actually plan to read as a resource for my daily work with students. I figured I might as well throw in a book that is work related, but one that is written by one of our premiere journalists, Ms. Ifill, so I think I will enjoy it. I will also share my reviews of each book here with you, what I thought was a hit or miss, also, where I fell short in my reading (like telling you which books I absolutely didn't get a chance to read).

Well, there's my list. What's yours? Please share here. Let's start a conversation about reading, because it's your Right to Read!