<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392</id><updated>2012-02-15T00:06:14.219-06:00</updated><category term='Angelia Vernon Menchan'/><category term='Brenda Hampton'/><category term='Isadore Johsnon'/><category term='Matthew Aaron Goodman'/><category term='Danita Carter'/><category term='Pamela Samuels Young'/><category term='TL James'/><category term='Erica Lewis'/><category term='Avah LaReaux'/><category term='Sheila E. Lipsey'/><category term='David Rivera'/><category term='Jahzara'/><category term='Nishawnda Ellis'/><category term='Author Spotlight'/><category term='Thomas Slater'/><category term='Brandon Collier'/><category term='Noel DeJesus'/><category term='Tracy Darity'/><category term='Linda R. Herman'/><category term='Author Marlene'/><category term='L.D. Hardy'/><category term='Selected Reads'/><category term='Tuesday Recommendation'/><category term='This Week&apos;s Reviews Include...'/><category term='Roze&apos;'/><category term='Open Mic'/><title type='text'>Only One keyStroke Away Online Book Club</title><subtitle type='html'>OOSA Online Book Club is an online book club and reviewing team that focuses on African American authors. We wish to further promote African American literature by taking special interest in new and self published authors.  We read, review and recommend.  As lovers of the written word, we have read hundreds of titles as our motto is: ”OOSA gets it read!” We invite any author, new or established, that is interested in an HONEST critique of their work to submit a book for review.</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>27</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-3639799559149738019</id><published>2012-02-15T00:06:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2012-02-15T00:06:14.228-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Tuesday Recommendation'/><title type='text'>Tuesday Recommendations (2/14/12)</title><content type='html'>&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41a0jBSM8WL._AA160_.jpg" title="SCATTERED LIES by Madison Taylor" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VOHxssucL._AA160_.jpg" title=" YOU GOTTA SIN TO GET SAVED by J.D. Mason" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2B-C2Dg6YL._AA160_.jpg" title="THE SURVIVAL BIBLE by Jihad" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WCFGNlh0L._AA160_.jpg" title="PREACHER'S KIDS by Keleigh Crigler Hadley" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514BuuGd7UL._AA160_.jpg" title="WHITE COAT FEVER by Roland S Jefferson" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51QAFQT0rAL._AA160_.jpg" title="THE IDEAL WIFE by Jacquelin Thomas " width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41owvOgRlVL._AA160_.jpg" title="THE CONFESSIONAL HEART OF A MAN by The Greatest Poet Alive" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41J0lz%2BiRiL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" title="SECRETS AND LIES (Urban Christian) by Rhonda McKnight" width="160" /&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-3639799559149738019?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/3639799559149738019/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/tuesday-recommendations-21412.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/3639799559149738019'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/3639799559149738019'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/tuesday-recommendations-21412.html' title='Tuesday Recommendations (2/14/12)'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-8676997673562301633</id><published>2012-02-12T12:53:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2012-02-12T12:53:09.925-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='This Week&apos;s Reviews Include...'/><title type='text'>This Week's Reviews Include...</title><content type='html'>&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tmmDOLquL._SL110_.jpg" title="R/evolution: A Mosaic Novel (Book One) by Tenea D. Johnson" width="72" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5154JjmZfmL._SL110_.jpg" title="In A Desert Land: Economic Survival Strategies for Minorities in America by Tim E Davidson Sr" width="73" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-gb-syXkL._SL110_.jpg" title="Crack Volume 2 by Shaka" width="71" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514BM%2BO9QRL._SL110_.jpg" title="The Setup by Pamela Samuels Young" width="73" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51iOqmXaEAL._SL110_.jpg" title="Chasing Bliss by Sabrina Eubanks" width="72" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51u7U11xSlL._SL110_.jpg" title=" It's a Family Affair by Rosiland Cole-Crossland" width="79" /&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-8676997673562301633?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/8676997673562301633/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/this-weeks-reviews-include_12.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/8676997673562301633'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/8676997673562301633'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/this-weeks-reviews-include_12.html' title='This Week&apos;s Reviews Include...'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-4868519192482825670</id><published>2012-02-12T12:37:00.002-06:00</published><updated>2012-02-12T12:37:50.176-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Open Mic'/><title type='text'>Aspiring Authors Take Note and Learn from My Mistakes</title><content type='html'>As the 1-year anniversary of the release of my debut novel approaches, I have a lot to reflect on. I am sharing my journey through the self-publishing process in hopes that other aspiring authors will benefit from it. Like so many new authors, I jumped into this with both feet and not a clue what I was doing. I always loved to read and write, so that should have been enough to make me a best selling author right? WRONG.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If I could start all over again the one thing I would do is actually research the publishing industry. Research publishing options and weigh the pros and cons of traditional versus self-publishing. Next, I would sit down and come up with a plan. Being an author is just like running your own business. Yes, I love to write, but having a passion for something does not make you an expert by any means. Anyway, back to my point about it being a business. Anyone and I mean anyone can sit down and write a book. It is also easy for just about anyone to publish his or her work. The hard part is taking the time to do research about the industry and developing a business plan. People ask me all the time was it hard to write a book. My answer is: No, that was the easy part. Everything since that time has been very difficult.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;If I had taken more time to research the industry and the process, I would have been more prepared. I rushed from finishing my manuscript to getting books printed without having a solid plan for how I would actually sell my books. *&lt;strong&gt;Newsflash&lt;/strong&gt;* People were not just waiting for my book to come out. Independent bookstores are a dying breed and the large chain bookstores do not accept self-published authors with open arms. Getting readers to take a chance on you, a new author, and spend their hard-earned money to purchase your book is not easy.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;One key area that I failed in during my journey of becoming a published author was in editing. It’s funny that before I wrote a book and got smacked around by readers and reviewers about editing issues I never realized how prevalent of an issue this is in the industry today. Yes I did pay for an editor but what I didn’t realize is that there are so many aspects of editing and there are so many people who call themselves editors who have no clue what that means. Editing does not mean using spell check. It does not mean hiring someone to simply proofread your work for you. Proper editing should involve several steps and sets of eyes on your work. Someone, not your friends and family, should read your book to provide you with a critique. The first step should be a developmental edit to check for character and plot development. Make sure the story has a logical flow and there are no holes in your story. After this it should go to an editor for line editing. Last but not least, a final proofreading review should be done of your work. This process can take a long time and should be handled by professionals. Again, friends, this is where I made my biggest mistake. I take full responsibility for not handling this particular issue properly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The next step is having a solid plan for marketing and distribution. Knowing the pros and cons of printing books versus eBooks is key. These are all things that I didn’t fully understand until AFTER my book was in print and I had cases of them sitting in my living room.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My story has somewhat of a happy ending. Over the past year, I have met some wonderful people and many of them have been so kind as to offer advice and guidance. I joined a Facebook group called All4One, which is a group of authors who share advice and information about the publishing process. If I had known about this group before the release of my first novel, things would have been very different. I have since had my novel re-edited by a professional and sales and feedback have improved. I recently finished my second novel and while it is going through the editing process, I am working on my marketing and distribution plan.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In closing, I would like to strongly encourage any aspiring author to follow their dream of being published but to only do so after doing proper research and developing a solid business plan. Your business plan must also include a realistic budget that will not allow you to cut corners and ultimately deliver a less than quality product to consumers. Remember, the readers will make or break you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;Terri D is a long-term transplant resident of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania . She is a single mother of three who has written poetry and short stories all of her life. Her children have always been her inspiration to push to get to the next level. She writes as a way to express herself and to document her inner most feelings. Terri D published her debut novel titled Yesterday’s Lies in 2011 and her second novel Today’s Truth will be released in the spring of 2012. For more information about Terri D please visit her website at www.AuthorTerriD.com or visit her Fan page on Facebook. &lt;/em&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;em&gt;&lt;a href="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/yesterdays-lies.jpg"&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-850" height="150" src="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/yesterdays-lies.jpg?w=150" title="Yesterday's Lies" width="150" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-4868519192482825670?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/4868519192482825670/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/aspiring-authors-take-note-and-learn.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/4868519192482825670'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/4868519192482825670'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/aspiring-authors-take-note-and-learn.html' title='Aspiring Authors Take Note and Learn from My Mistakes'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-6149152494224713957</id><published>2012-02-12T12:02:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2012-02-12T12:02:56.362-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Author Spotlight'/><title type='text'>Ceasar Mason</title><content type='html'>It is FOR and ABOUT authors. Here we shine the light on authors who we’ve read, reviewed and recommend to others. In this edition we are shining our light on another gifted author...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/c-mason.jpg"&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-837" height="150" src="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/c-mason.jpg?w=100" title="C Mason" width="100" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ceasar Mason is a first generation Trinidadian-American. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, to parents that migrated to the United States in the late sixties. His formidable years were spent on the southern Caribbean island of Trinidad.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Between the ages of four and ten, he was immersed in the culture and rich heritage that Trinidad had to offer. It was during this period that he developed a strong discipline and work ethic, to which he credits his Aunt Monica, who raised him during this time.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Ceasar returned to Crown Heights, Brooklyn in the early eighties as the crack epidemic began. Like many young men of his day, the allure of the streets was more fascinating than higher learning. After an arrest that landed him in Baltimore, Maryland’s Herman L. Toulson boot camp, he realized that he had a talent to write.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Upon graduation from boot camp, Ceasar remained in Baltimore where he enrolled at Morgan State University’s business management program. He would never return to the streets. In 1997 he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he currently strives as an entrepreneur. He visits his native New York often but certainly prefers the winters of the South.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;GETTING TO KNOW CEASAR…&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;You see a quarter on the sidewalk. Do you pick it up?&lt;/strong&gt; Absolutely; wipe it off, kiss it up to the sky and in my pocket it goes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;If you could posses any superpower, what power would you choose and why? &lt;/strong&gt;I would like the power to decimate fear. Simply because I watch so many people living lives contrary to their purpose and the only thing that is stopping them is FEAR.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;When it comes to virtue, loyalty and honor&lt;/strong&gt; can’t nobody tell me nothing!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What one thing would an ex say she missed most about you?&lt;/strong&gt; My attentiveness to her needs.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What is one movie or book you did not like that everyone seemed to love?&lt;/strong&gt; Titanic; I just did not get it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The trait I most admire in women is...&lt;/strong&gt;confidence&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What is the first thing you do in the morning?&lt;/strong&gt; Thank the Creator for opening my eyes.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What has most surprised you about writing?&lt;/strong&gt; How much your audience could really connect with you.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;My greatest regret is...&lt;/strong&gt;not playing football in college.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Right now I'm reading...&lt;/strong&gt;Karen E. Quinones Miller’s “Harlem Godfather.” It’s good.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PRAISE FOR ON CALL: ESCORTING IN ATLANTA&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/oncall.jpg"&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-838" height="100" src="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/oncall.jpg" title="OnCall" width="100" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“From the onset you are pulled into his experiences with vivid and graphic detail…Mr. Mason articulates this story in a fashion that allows you the freedom to draw your individual conclusion about each character. You are on an emotionally charged roller coaster ride from page one. I definitely recommend this book for entertainment, education, and information as Mr. Mason takes you inside the adult entertainment and sex trafficking world.” - Sybrena&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“I really enjoyed this book it was so well thought out and written, I felt as if I was on a ride with the writer. I could feel every emotion of each character…Can't wait for his next creation. Write on Mr. Mason write on!” - Honei&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“It's a dramatic, and sometimes tragic and heartbreaking, book that exposes the danger of escorting and what drives young women into that line of work. Mason tells the story in first person, and the reader is drawn in from the very first line. It's Mason's first book, but reading will make you anxiously await his next.” – Karen E. Quinones Miller, author.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“I found this to be an informative book. Within the pages of ‘OnCall: Escorting in Atlanta,’ Ceasar Mason provided statistics to solidify his information. Escorting and Human Trafficking is real in our world. It's time that we stand up and take notice.” - OOSA&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“This is one of the best up close and personal without being in the escort business books you will ever enjoy. I enjoyed this book from the beginning to the end. This one will make you feel a connection to each and every individual…Thank you Mr. Mason for such a life changing novel.” – Rhonda Smith&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“I could say hands down, this was one of the best books I've read. I was able to relate to the mentality of the main two women characters in some strange way. The book kept me involved and interested from the beginning to the end. It was definitely an easy read. I am looking forward to a sequel.” – Anissa M&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-6149152494224713957?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/6149152494224713957/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/ceasar-mason.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/6149152494224713957'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/6149152494224713957'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/ceasar-mason.html' title='Ceasar Mason'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-6587865606040943961</id><published>2012-02-12T11:45:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2012-02-12T11:45:36.252-06:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; color: black; font-family: arial, helvetica, clean, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; width: 600px;"&gt;&lt;tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;td bgcolor="#C05E5E" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; background-color: #c05e5e; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 1px; padding-right: 1px; padding-top: 1px;"&gt;&lt;table border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;td bgcolor="#F36A7F" colspan="2" height="75" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; background-color: #f36a7f; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="100%"&gt;&lt;table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" id="yiv1829080893content_LETTER.BLOCK3" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; width: 600px;"&gt;&lt;tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;td align="center" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #fdd8df; font-family: Georgia, Palatino; font-size: 48pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;i style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;Love &amp;amp; Books&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;td bgcolor="#E7536A" colspan="2" height="6" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; background-color: #e7536a; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;td background="http://img.constantcontact.com/letters/images/1101093164665/holiday_valentinespromo_bg1.gif" bgcolor="#FF9CAB" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; background-color: #ff9cab; background-image: url(http://img.constantcontact.com/letters/images/1101093164665/holiday_valentinespromo_bg1.gif); line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; width: 440px;" valign="top" width="440"&gt;&lt;table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;td class="yiv1829080893MainPad" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="100%"&gt;&lt;table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" id="yiv1829080893content_LETTER.BLOCK4" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;td align="left" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #ffeef4; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;He is an author and the owner/founder of 5ive Star Publications. He represents the struggle of independent authors.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;She is the founder of S.T. Ellis &amp;amp; Co., a marketing and promotions company that represents many independent authors. Her mantra is: "Grow...Gain...Give!"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;Successful in business, Markeise and Sharmina are also successful in love. A couple for five years, while they may not love the same books, they love each other and they love books.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" id="yiv1829080893content_LETTER.BLOCK5" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;td align="left" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #ffeef4; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #e7536a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;He Said...&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;img align="right" alt="5ive" border="0" height="115" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.53" src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs003/1101233288103/img/53.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-align: right;" vspace="5" width="125" /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;div class="yiv1829080893_mcePaste" id="yiv1829080893_mcePaste" style="display: inline; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;strong style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;How did you two meet?&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;We met while I was at work. I'm so stupid because I didn't realize she was flirting with me at the time. She had great conversation and I thought she was beautiful. Once we got to talking for a while, the rest was history.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;strong style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;Do you think the portrayal of black love in books today is an accurate depiction?&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;Sometimes it can be and other times not so much. I enjoy reading stories when there is a hint of realism in the relationship. And another thing, not every black man is a player and not every young black woman is promiscuous.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;strong style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;What's a romantic night for you two?&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;I love to cook. So I'd prepare us a steak dinner and we'd share a bottle of wine under candlelight. Then we'd spend the rest of the night snuggled up watching a movie or two.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;strong style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;What was it about Sharmina that made you know she was the one?&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;Quite simply, I couldn't imagine living my life without her. It's a distinct feeling that you have. Whenever we're apart from each other I'll think of her smile and I'll go back to the first time I saw it. If I couldn't wake up to that smile everyday I'd go crazy.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" id="yiv1829080893content_LETTER.BLOCK6" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;td align="left" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #ffeef4; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #e7536a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;She Said...&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /&gt;&lt;img align="right" alt="ste" border="0" height="109" hspace="8" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.54" src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs003/1101233288103/img/54.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-align: right;" vspace="5" width="125" /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;strong style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;With hectic schedules, how do you two find the time to maintain a happy and healthy relationship?&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;We have to plan "us" time or lose what we've worked hard for. We've learned to speak things out instead of bottling or yelling things out. The ultimate goal is to find balance and then maintain the equilibrium; we are successful because we trust each other and our love supersedes the stuff that is unhealthy.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;strong style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;You're obviously both readers. Do you read the same books?&amp;nbsp;&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;Absolutely not! Markeise loves a variety of book genres,&amp;nbsp;mainly urban fiction.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;I prefer spiritual, self-help and chick lit. I'll be in the back watching Joel Osteen and he'll be in the front watching 'The Wire.' We are opposites for sure!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;strong style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;What is the key to a long- lasting relationship?&lt;/strong&gt;Forgiveness is key to longevity in any relationship. In our relationship, it's honoring our word, admitting when we need to walk away and loving despite imperfections.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;strong style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;What was it about Markeise that made you know he was the one?&lt;/strong&gt;&amp;nbsp;Markeise had an innocence about him. He was bright eyed, bushy tailed and I was like Angela Bassett in "How Stella Got Her Groove Back"...ready, willing and able with rose colored glasses on. Most people know that I am a tad bit older than Mr. Washington. While not a cougar, I loved that energy he brought me and the age difference was a compliment to me. I knew that he was the one when my every other thought was consumed by something about him...we would be apart and I could smell him on or around me. I knew that he was special and worth my devotion.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;table border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" id="yiv1829080893content_LETTER.BLOCK7" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 5px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;td align="left" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #ffeef4; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;span style="color: #e7536a; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;b style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;They Said...&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /&gt;&lt;img align="right" border="0" height="202" name="ACCOUNT.IMAGE.52" src="http://ih.constantcontact.com/fs003/1101233288103/img/52.jpg" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-align: right;" title="0.966804979253112" vspace="5" width="233" /&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /&gt;&lt;em style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;"I'll be moving higher&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;em style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;em style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;Closer to my dreams&lt;/em&gt;&lt;br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /&gt;&lt;em style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;em style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;And higher and higher, higher&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;em style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;em style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;Feel it in my being&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;em style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;I know that I could not go alone..."&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" /&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;"Closer" by Goapele&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td align="center" bgcolor="#FFAEBC" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; background-color: #ffaebc; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; width: 160px;" valign="top" width="160"&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;td colspan="1" height="10" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" width="100%"&gt;&lt;table bgcolor="#FCCFCF" border="0" cellpadding="10" cellspacing="0" id="yiv1829080893content_LETTER.BLOCK9" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; background-color: #fccfcf; border-bottom-color: rgb(243, 106, 127); border-bottom-style: dashed; border-bottom-width: 3px; border-collapse: collapse; border-left-color: rgb(243, 106, 127); border-left-style: dashed; border-left-width: 3px; border-right-color: rgb(243, 106, 127); border-right-style: dashed; border-right-width: 3px; border-top-color: rgb(243, 106, 127); border-top-style: dashed; border-top-width: 3px; font-size: inherit; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 6px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tbody style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;td align="left" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #f36a7f; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 24pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; margin-top: 6px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-align: left;" valign="top"&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;*Contest Alert*&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;td align="left" colspan="1" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #e49d9d; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;If you were to write a book based on your current love life, what would be the title of your book?&amp;nbsp; There&amp;nbsp;are no right or wrong answers, just creative ones.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;Email your answer to&lt;a href="http://us.mc1811.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=oosaonlinebookclub@yahoo.com" rel="nofollow" shape="rect" style="color: #003399; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;" target="_blank" ymailto="mailto:oosaonlinebookclub@yahoo.com"&gt;&lt;span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1329068649_0" style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;oosaonlinebookclub@yahoo.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;ONE winner will be randomly chosen from all entries.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;tr style="line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial;"&gt;&lt;td align="left" colspan="2" rowspan="1" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; color: #f36a7f; font-family: Verdana, Geneva, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.2em; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-align: left;"&gt;&lt;div style="line-height: 1.2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"&gt;Offer Expires: February 19, 2012&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;/td&gt;&lt;/tr&gt;&lt;/tbody&gt;&lt;/table&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-6587865606040943961?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/6587865606040943961/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/love-books-he-is-author-and.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/6587865606040943961'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/6587865606040943961'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/love-books-he-is-author-and.html' title=''/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-4243339171454463697</id><published>2012-02-07T13:43:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2012-02-07T13:43:01.126-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Tuesday Recommendation'/><title type='text'>Tuesday Recommendations (2/7/12)</title><content type='html'>&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nAaNWvoqL._BO2,204,203,200_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" title="Lady Jasmine: A Novel by Victoria Christopher Murray" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FCKpQDKKL._BO2,204,203,200_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" title="The Day Begins With Christ by Adríenna Turner" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51hzzfvqKtL._BO2,204,203,200_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" title="Resurrecting Midnight by Eric Jerome Dickey" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41bN-OKUF6L._BO2,204,203,200_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" title="Feelin' The Vibe by Candice Dow" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nE%2BPfQ3%2BL._BO2,204,203,200_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" title="Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5137fyBaviL._BO2,204,203,200_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" title="The Bum Magnet by Karla Brady" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Zs-Z%2BxNYL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" title="Naughty 3: Change Don't Always Come : It's Juicy No Matter How You Slice It by Brenda Hampton" width="160" /&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-4243339171454463697?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/4243339171454463697/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/tuesday-recommendations-2712.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/4243339171454463697'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/4243339171454463697'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/tuesday-recommendations-2712.html' title='Tuesday Recommendations (2/7/12)'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-6530394919387791404</id><published>2012-02-05T09:54:00.002-06:00</published><updated>2012-02-05T09:54:30.799-06:00</updated><title type='text'>This Week's Reviews Include...</title><content type='html'>&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41PK28ZhCdL._SL110_.jpg" title="Too Many Sisters by Nina Guilbeau" width="97" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51t00QlW-eL._SL110_.jpg" title="The Bride Experiment (Urban Christian) by Mimi Jefferson" width="97" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51BTkccftZL._SL110_.jpg" title="I Can Do Better All By Myself by E.N. Joy" width="97" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IH7atPL9L._SL110_.jpg" title="I Found Love at the End of My Rainbow: Based on a True Story by Rainee J. Grant" width="97" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CBpO-2bGL._SL110_.jpg" title="Iniquities by April Alisa Marquette" width="97" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51V23qpuPiL._SL110_.jpg" title="Where Is God in All This Mess? by Harvey Butaleon Degree" width="97" /&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-6530394919387791404?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/6530394919387791404/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/this-weeks-reviews-include.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/6530394919387791404'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/6530394919387791404'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/this-weeks-reviews-include.html' title='This Week&apos;s Reviews Include...'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-8565179118525470316</id><published>2012-02-01T00:47:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2012-02-01T00:47:25.631-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Selected Reads'/><title type='text'>Fall In Love With Reading</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/sinners-saints.jpg"&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-792" height="115" src="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/sinners-saints.jpg?" title="Sinners &amp;amp; Saints by Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley" width="95" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-794" height="115" src="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/the-set-up.jpg" title="The Setup by Pamela Samuels Young" width="115" /&gt;&lt;a href="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/the-family-business.jpg"&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-793" height="115" src="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/the-family-business.jpg" title="The Family Business by Carl Weber and Eric Pete" width="115" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-8565179118525470316?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/8565179118525470316/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/fall-in-love-with-reading.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/8565179118525470316'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/8565179118525470316'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/02/fall-in-love-with-reading.html' title='Fall In Love With Reading'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-4345983078837908750</id><published>2012-01-29T11:59:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2012-02-02T08:38:11.813-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Open Mic'/><title type='text'>1~31~05</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;Stepping to the stage is: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="color: red;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;OOSA&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;&lt;img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E_yVFrtDgZA/TjWkjvhh7mI/AAAAAAAAAnM/PyQJULa16aQ/s1600/Mic.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;You have sent hundreds of thoughtful emails and letters, heartfelt Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace comments, book donations. &amp;nbsp;Most importantly, you have given your vote of confidence in us and what we do.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We would like to thank you for your incredible support and generosity. &amp;nbsp;It's that support and generosity that has given &lt;span style="color: red;"&gt;OOSA&lt;/span&gt; Online Book Club the motivation to keep on going, doing what we do. &amp;nbsp;And here we are seven years later. &amp;nbsp;Your invaluable support, dedication, and respect has made what we do - reading, reviewing and recommending - possible and we will continue to do our best to serve you well.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We are fortunate and so blessed to have such a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful network of family, friends and supporters like you. &amp;nbsp;We can't thank you enough. &amp;nbsp;So as we celebrate our seventh anniversary as a book club, the celebration is not ours alone.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;It's a very little known fact just how or why &lt;span style="color: red;"&gt;OOSA&lt;/span&gt; became OOSA -&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color: red;"&gt;O&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;nly &lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color: red;"&gt;O&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;ne key&lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color: red;"&gt;S&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;troke &lt;strong&gt;&lt;span style="color: red;"&gt;A&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;way Online Book Club. &amp;nbsp;OOKA didn't sound as good! &amp;nbsp;Just over seven years ago we had a thought for an awards event to celebrate writing and authors doing great things. &amp;nbsp;The "event" had to have a name, so we had to have a name. &amp;nbsp;While it, the awards, only remained a thought, &lt;span style="color: red;"&gt;OOSA&lt;/span&gt; didn't and we went on to become the book club we are today. &amp;nbsp;But that thought never died with each passing year. &amp;nbsp;So it is with great pleasure and in celebration of our anniversary we announce the ALL THINGS LITERARY AWARDS. &amp;nbsp;It is our desire and plan to celebrate great writing and great writers. &amp;nbsp;Details will be forthcoming.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;a href="http://oosaonlinebookclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Team-OOSA.jpg"&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-906" height="150" src="http://oosaonlinebookclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Team-OOSA-150x150.jpg" title="Team OOSA" width="150" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;We are an online book club and reviewing team that focuses on African American authors founded in January of 2005&lt;var id="yiv1756847533yui-ie-cursor"&gt;&lt;/var&gt;. We are dedicated to giving honest reviews. We wish to further promote African American literature by taking special interest in new and self published authors. &lt;span style="color: red;"&gt;OOSA&lt;/span&gt; is an acronym for &lt;span style="color: red;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;O&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;nly &lt;span style="color: red;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;O&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;ne key&lt;span style="color: red;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;S&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;troke &lt;span style="color: red;"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;A&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/span&gt;way. &amp;nbsp;As an online book club, we found the name fitting. &amp;nbsp;We are all only one keystroke away.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-4345983078837908750?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/4345983078837908750/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/13105.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/4345983078837908750'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/4345983078837908750'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/13105.html' title='1~31~05'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E_yVFrtDgZA/TjWkjvhh7mI/AAAAAAAAAnM/PyQJULa16aQ/s72-c/Mic.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-5870341470859634968</id><published>2012-01-29T11:11:00.001-06:00</published><updated>2012-02-01T00:49:46.569-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Author Spotlight'/><title type='text'>Rhonda McKnight</title><content type='html'>It is FOR and ABOUT authors. Here we shine the light on authors who we’ve read, reviewed and recommend to others. In this edition we are shining our light on another gifted author...&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="148" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/421669_10150554154148326_805443325_8800549_2083990183_n.jpg" title="Rhonda McKnight" width="134" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Rhonda McKnight is the author of the Black Expressions Top 20 bestseller An Inconvenient Friend (Aug 2010), Secrets and Lies (Dec 2009), and the highly anticipated sequel, What Kind of Fool (Feb 2012). She also contributed to an independent collaboration with Essence Bestselling authors Tiffany L. Warren and Sherri Lewis titled A Woman’s Revenge (Jun 2010). She was a 2010 nominee for the African-American Literary Award in the categories of Best Christian Fiction Novel and Best Anthology. She was the winner of the 2010 Emma Award for Favorite Debut Author and the 2009 Shades of Romance Award for Best Christian Fiction Novel. She’s a member of Faith Based Fiction Writers of Atlanta. Originally from a small, coastal town in New Jersey, she’s called Atlanta, Georgia home for thirteen years.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;GETTING TO KNOW RHONDA…&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Words to live by...&lt;/strong&gt; "Create what you want instead of accepting what you don't have." ~ Oprah&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What is your greatest accomplishment?&lt;/strong&gt; Wow, I had a hard time answering this one. I think it's going to be motherhood. My kids are amazing and they make me very proud to be their mother.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;From my children I have learned...&lt;/strong&gt;to trust my instincts.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Inspiration comes from...&lt;/strong&gt;everywhere, especially at the eleven o'clock hour - the 11 a.m. Sunday sermon and 11 p.m. nightly news.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What is your favorite snack?&lt;/strong&gt; Lays Potato Chips. Lord, help me.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Who’s your celebrity crush?&lt;/strong&gt; Idris Elba. I am completely, hopelessly infatuated with him.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Pepsi or Coke?&lt;/strong&gt; Coke; fountain from McDonald's please.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What is one thing every woman should have in her purse?&lt;/strong&gt; A copy of one of my books of course. :)&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;People would be surprised to know that I’ve never …&lt;/strong&gt; colored my hair.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;If you could not make any changes but could relive one day in your life over again, what day would you choose?&lt;/strong&gt; I'm way too much of a control freak for this question. I can't make changes? I'm thinking my birth.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="193" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/428900_10150554155823326_805443325_8800553_1632883864_n.jpg" title="AN INCONVENIENT FRIEND" width="128" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PRAISE FOR AN INCONVENIENT FRIEND&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“I enjoyed this book from cover to cover…I recommend ‘An Inconvenient Friend’ to readers of Christian fiction or inspirational fiction.” - APOOO Book Club&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"The action is fast and the ending will make you say with ‘friends like these you don't need enemies.’ Must read!” – Deltareviewer&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“I'm looking to purchase more from this author because I think she's a great writer.” – T. Brooks&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="193" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/407296_10150554157228326_805443325_8800557_185027893_n.jpg" title="SECRETS AND LIES" width="127" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;PRAISE FOR SECRETS AND LIES&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“McKnight has written a very moving story…I applaud Ms. McKnight for having written a wonderful story. The story will generate wonderful dialog for any book club.” - APOOO Book Club&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“I'm hooked on Rhonda McKnight. This new writer nailed it right out of the box. She gives readers a spiritual message, but doesn't hit you over the head with it.” - Pamela Samuels Young, author of Murder on the Down Low&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;"Secrets and Lies" is an easy but powerful read that can be read in one sitting. The pages will have you turning and not wanting to put it down. Kudos to Mrs. McKnight, she truly knocked this one out the park.” – Literary Wonders&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For more information about Rhonda, please visit her at www.rhondamcknight.net&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;COMING SOON&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="720" src="http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/419304_10150554158623326_805443325_8800560_393919812_n.jpg" title="What Kind Of Fool" width="474" /&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-5870341470859634968?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/5870341470859634968/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/rhonda-mcknight.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/5870341470859634968'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/5870341470859634968'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/rhonda-mcknight.html' title='Rhonda McKnight'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-2779647559183689478</id><published>2012-01-29T10:47:00.001-06:00</published><updated>2012-02-01T00:50:32.289-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='This Week&apos;s Reviews Include...'/><title type='text'>This Week's Reviews Include...</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51SJBMQQSQL.jpg" title="A Seductive Kiss by Francis Ray" width="110" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pPC90vr8L._SL110_.jpg" title="I Didn't Ask to Be Born (But I'm Glad I Was) by Bill Cosby" width="110" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Uv1UMJLxL._SL110_.jpg" title="Anything 4 Profit by Justin &amp;quot;Amen&amp;quot; Floyd" width="110" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516b3mYs2FL._SL110_.jpg" title="Taking Losses by Michael McGrew" width="110" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512ZFMw5PhL._SL110_.jpg" title="Wifey: Mistress to Wifey by Erica Hilton" width="110" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="110" src="http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1327455361l/13423289.jpg" title="The Blood Done Signed my Name" width="110" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-2779647559183689478?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/2779647559183689478/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/this-weeks-reviews-include_29.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/2779647559183689478'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/2779647559183689478'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/this-weeks-reviews-include_29.html' title='This Week&apos;s Reviews Include...'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-8619326083380496125</id><published>2012-01-24T18:16:00.001-06:00</published><updated>2012-02-01T00:51:34.495-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Tuesday Recommendation'/><title type='text'>Tuesday Recommendations (1/24/12)</title><content type='html'>&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51-M4cZjnhL._BO2,204,203,200_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" title="The Barack In Me by Moses Miller" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Barack In Me by Moses Miller&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/513B3bOfTSL._BO2,204,203,200_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;First Comes Love by Shana Burton&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41QodV%2Btt0L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" title="What's Done In the Dark (Alternate Ending Re-release) by Avah LaReaux" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;What's Done In the Dark (Alternate Ending Re-release) by Avah LaReaux&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VOzEvf7TL._BO2,204,203,200_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" title="Games of the Heart (Kimani Romance) by Pamela Yaye" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Games of the Heart by Pamela Yaye&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/415hHf3EReL._BO2,204,203,200_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" title="That Devil's No Friend of Mine by J. D. Mason" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;That Devil's No Friend of Mine by J.D. Mason&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51hmRrYxEeL._BO2,204,203,200_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" title="The Black Girl Next Door: A Memoir by Jennifer Baszile" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Black Girl Next Door: A Memoir by Jennifer Baszile&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-8619326083380496125?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/8619326083380496125/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/tuesday-recommendations-12412.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/8619326083380496125'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/8619326083380496125'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/tuesday-recommendations-12412.html' title='Tuesday Recommendations (1/24/12)'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-5127767611300385783</id><published>2012-01-23T06:57:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2012-01-23T06:57:09.930-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Brenda Hampton'/><title type='text'>Are you ABSO-OOSA-LUTELY BOOK WASTED?</title><content type='html'>Author Brenda Hampton is!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Be sure to check out Brenda’s website so you can get ABSO-OOSA-LUTELY BOOK WASTED with her! &amp;nbsp;&lt;a href="http://www.brendamhampton.com/"&gt;http://www.brendamhampton.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/brenda-oosa.jpg"&gt;&lt;img alt="ABSO-OOSA-LUTELY" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-753" height="300" src="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/brenda-oosa.jpg?w=225" title="Brenda " width="225" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-5127767611300385783?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/5127767611300385783/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/are-you-abso-oosa-lutely-book-wasted_23.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/5127767611300385783'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/5127767611300385783'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/are-you-abso-oosa-lutely-book-wasted_23.html' title='Are you ABSO-OOSA-LUTELY BOOK WASTED?'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-6668836201009450819</id><published>2012-01-22T10:44:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2012-01-22T10:44:29.624-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Noel DeJesus'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='L.D. Hardy'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Thomas Slater'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Roze&apos;'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Brandon Collier'/><title type='text'>This Week's Reviews Include...</title><content type='html'>&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="192" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61FZrd8NAjL._SL110_.jpg" title="No More Time - Outs by Thomas Slater" width="128" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="192" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41mdnNz0jhL._SL110_.jpg" title="Generational Curses by L.D. Hardy" width="128" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="192" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51zOkamm84L._SL110_.jpg" title="Body Snatchers by Roze'" width="128" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="192" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41kAeklFtVL._SL110_.jpg" title="Underneath the Palms of Rio by Brandon Collier" width="128" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="192" src="http://img2.imagesbn.com/images/117970000/117975517.JPG" title="Sexed by Six: Balancing Lust and Deception by Noel DeJesus" width="128" /&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-6668836201009450819?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/6668836201009450819/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/this-weeks-reviews-include_22.html#comment-form' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/6668836201009450819'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/6668836201009450819'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/this-weeks-reviews-include_22.html' title='This Week&apos;s Reviews Include...'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-5805650032938825222</id><published>2012-01-17T13:55:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2012-01-17T13:55:19.043-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Matthew Aaron Goodman'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='David Rivera'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='TL James'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Pamela Samuels Young'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Erica Lewis'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Author Marlene'/><title type='text'>Tuesday’s Recommendations (1/17/12)</title><content type='html'>&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51n3gsDGnSL._AA115_.jpg" title="HOLD LOVE STRONG by Matthew Aaron Goodman" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;HOLD LOVE STRONG by Matthew Aaron Goodman&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41ijT-DAk3L._AA115_.jpg" title="IN FIRM PURSUIT by Pamela Samuels Young " width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;IN FIRM PURSUIT by Pamela Samuels Young&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51LZmyF0iQL._SL160_OU01_AA115_.jpg" title="DARKNESS IN THE MIRROR by Erica Lewis" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;DARKNESS IN THE MIRROR by Erica Lewis&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41tzWxRmAFL._AA115_.jpg" title="THE MPIRE: DEATH COMETH by TL James " width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;THE MPIRE: DEATH COMETH by TL James&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51pCJ36rx6L._AA115_.jpg" title=" THE LAST PREJUDICE by David Rivera" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;THE LAST PREJUDICE by David Rivera&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/515ZQL3PSXL._AA160_.jpg" title="ISLAND BEAUTY by Author Marlene" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;ISLAND BEAUTY by Author Marlene&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-5805650032938825222?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/5805650032938825222/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/tuesdays-recommendations-11712.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/5805650032938825222'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/5805650032938825222'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/tuesdays-recommendations-11712.html' title='Tuesday’s Recommendations (1/17/12)'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-2469698189843988281</id><published>2012-01-17T08:25:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2012-01-17T08:25:19.312-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Angelia Vernon Menchan'/><title type='text'>Are you ABSO-OOSA-LUTELY BOOK WASTED?</title><content type='html'>Author Angelia Vernon Menchan is!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Be sure to check out Angelia's website so you can get ABSO-OOSA-LUTELY BOOK WASTED with her! &lt;a href="http://acvermen.blogspot.com/" title="AngeliaMenchan.com"&gt;http://acvermen.blogspot.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="200" src="http://profile.ak.fbcdn.net/hprofile-ak-snc4/368715_805443325_797485728_n.jpg" width="200" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-2469698189843988281?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/2469698189843988281/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/are-you-abso-oosa-lutely-book-wasted_17.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/2469698189843988281'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/2469698189843988281'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/are-you-abso-oosa-lutely-book-wasted_17.html' title='Are you ABSO-OOSA-LUTELY BOOK WASTED?'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-4274459022298622298</id><published>2012-01-15T08:00:00.011-06:00</published><updated>2012-01-15T08:00:02.254-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Author Spotlight'/><title type='text'>Thomas Slater</title><content type='html'>&lt;strong&gt;&lt;a href="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/thomas-slater.jpg"&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-693" height="150" src="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/thomas-slater.jpg?w=100" title="Thomas Slater" width="115" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Thomas Slater&lt;/strong&gt; has released two Strebor titles, Show Stoppah and No More Time-Outs. Under the pseudonym of Tecori Sheldon, he is slated to release a Strebor on the Streetz May 2012 title, When Truth is Gangsta. Mr. Slater is a multi-faceted writer who hopes to leave a footprint in the cement of the prestigious literary world Walk of Fame.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;GETTING TO KNOW THOMAS...&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;My best stress reliever is:&lt;/strong&gt; I would say sex, but we have to keep it clean--playing around in an adult manner--yeah, that's it.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;People would be surprised to know that I've never...&lt;/strong&gt;had a one-night stand.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The best gift I've ever been given was&lt;/strong&gt; A Dr. Seuss book, “Oh, The Places You'll Go.”&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Skinny jeans are absolutely &lt;strong&gt;a&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Man Law violation!&lt;/strong&gt; Punishable by one last cigarette, a blindfold and to be shot at dawn!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Who do you miss most?&lt;/strong&gt; My late nephew, Jermaine Slater, Jr.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What is your favorite cereal?&lt;/strong&gt; Oat Bran promotes regularity, B-A-B-Y!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What is your favorite sport to watch?&lt;/strong&gt; Basketball.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Who is the last person you talked to on the phone?&lt;/strong&gt; Pizza delivery folks--brotha 'bout to get his eat on!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Michael Jackson or Prince?&lt;/strong&gt; In my very best Scarface, Tony Montana voice: "Are you kidding me?" The Kang of pop, Michael Jackson!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What is on your mouse pad?&lt;/strong&gt; Awww, fuzzy, adorable puppies--naw, big booty women, naw--aw hell, it's a boring Dell computer mouse pad.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ovGZHNRZL._AA160_.jpg" title="Show Stoppah by Thomas Slater" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PRAISE FOR SHOW STOPPAH&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“Slater's ‘Show Stoppah’ is witty, endearing, courageous and worthy of a recommendation from this reader. This storyline is relevant to so many women as it deals with domestic abuse and kidnapping…gives SISTERS, in these situations, the strength to tackle life one day at a time.” - OOSA&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“’Show Stoppah’ sheds a different light on abuse and Slater does a good job at describing what a person goes through while being abused…We are able to feel their pain and want them to overcome and claim victory. This book is most definitely a `show stoppah' and I look forward to reading more work by Thomas Slater.” – T.M. Craig&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“This is yet another ‘Zane Presents’ showcased book which certainly satiated this reader's taste buds. Show Stoppah is NEVER flat or boring; it draws you into the story and holds you hostage. You wish you could close the book because watching the pain, agony and defeat these two go through at the hands of very powerful men is just too much.” - Urban Reviews&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61FZrd8NAjL._SL160_SH30_OU01_AA160_.jpg" title="No More Time - Outs by Thomas Slater" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PRAISE FOR NO MORE TIME-OUTS&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“'No More Time-Outs' had my attention captured right from the very start and I found it hard to put the book down until I completed it…Mr. Slater is such an impressive, captivating writer and I look forward to reading what he has coming out next, because with talent like his there is a next!” – Michelle Oliver&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“OMG....Mr. Slater has Done it again… I could not put this book down. I was drawn in from the beginning...2 Thumbs up Thomas.....Great job.” – Tonya S&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;“OUTSTANDING! Thomas Slater has done it again. I started reading this book and could not put it down…Part II can't come out fast enough. I have to know what happened.” - Ares&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-4274459022298622298?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/4274459022298622298/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/thomas-slater.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/4274459022298622298'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/4274459022298622298'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/thomas-slater.html' title='Thomas Slater'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-1909607278238698862</id><published>2012-01-15T08:00:00.009-06:00</published><updated>2012-01-15T08:00:07.202-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Open Mic'/><title type='text'>Every Author Must Explore Their Own Voice of Reason</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;Stepping to the stage is: &lt;strong&gt;Therone Shellman&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;&lt;img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E_yVFrtDgZA/TjWkjvhh7mI/AAAAAAAAAnM/PyQJULa16aQ/s1600/Mic.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I think one of the hardest things an author can do is not be swayed by stereotypes or the norm. Since the first day of the release of “Love Don't Live Here” (revised edition) in 2005, in the back of my mind, I've always felt that I was caught up in the middle of a case of mistaken identity.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;I laugh now when I think of how I would send off the press kit for “Love Don't Live Here” and people would assume I was a woman. This is what had become of the state of black literature? Here it is a story about the lives of two young black women who become single mothers striving to raise their sons to become productive men and black women reviewers and professionals in the industry assume that only a woman would or could write this story. But I also took note that the days of Langston Hughes, Alex Baldwin, Richard Wright, J.A. Rogers and the like had long been gone for decades. Now it was the era of black men writing about the streets and the lives they've lived or came from.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Being raised within the 5 Percent Nation, as a teen, my rough street upbringing was overshadowed by the teachings of world history, psychology, sociology and self empowerment, which was instilled in me from the Nation. So I was a much different person than the average black male my age, and so I was also a much different writer than other writers.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My second title, “No Love Lost,” would take one further down the road of where I stood in regards to my knowledge of what was happening and why the things that do happen in urban neighborhoods do. It wasn't enough for me to just state the obvious - that crime is rampant and many have no hope. I needed to point out that at the end of the day each individual is responsible for their own choices.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;To further my point of self responsibility, I wrote my autobiography, “Survivor I Changed the Rules Part 1.” The work is far from being bravado, but instead a clear statement of individuality, evolving as a human and finding purpose. It's ironic how as a person evolving I walked down the same roads I would later see that a writer needs to. A writer needs to find their own voice, no matter the obstacles or the people who stand in their way.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Today I'm at another level in my writing. I've moved past the debates or need to prove anything. In fact, the argument over urban lit or social responsibility is old to me. I have a body of work, and thousands of book sales to speak my points clearly.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;My latest title, “All You Need to Know to Become an Entrepreneur,” again takes one down the road of self responsibility and a need to add on to the greater good. Entrepreneurship is a collective effort, although it may be initiated by one individual.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The greatest challenge any writer will face is if they have the gall to walk into the wilderness of their mind to find out what makes them, then express those ideas to the world. If they do anything else, they are just cloning someone else. There is a reason the Creator only makes one of each human.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;em&gt;Therone Shellman is a writer whose works are nothing less than social statements. &amp;nbsp;He is the author of “Love Don't Live Here” (revised edition), “No Love Lost,” “The Secrets of Self Publishing,” “Survivor I Changed the Rules Part 1,” and his latest work “All You Need to Know to Become an Entrepreneur.” &amp;nbsp;You can learn more about Therone at &lt;/em&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.amazon.com/author/theroneshellman" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"&gt;www.amazon.com/author/theroneshellman&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VTFNSSNCL._SL160_SH30_OU01_AA160_.jpg" title="Love Don't Live Here -Revised Edition" width="160" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51I2s3k4qcL._SL160_SH30_OU01_AA160_.jpg" title="No Love Lost" width="160" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OOrSfFioL._AA160_.jpg" title="Survivor I Changed The Rules Part 1 " width="160" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512Ck-P3EUL._AA160_.jpg" title="All You Need to Know to Become An Entrepreneur " width="160" /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-1909607278238698862?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/1909607278238698862/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/every-author-must-explore-their-own.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/1909607278238698862'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/1909607278238698862'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/every-author-must-explore-their-own.html' title='Every Author Must Explore Their Own Voice of Reason'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E_yVFrtDgZA/TjWkjvhh7mI/AAAAAAAAAnM/PyQJULa16aQ/s72-c/Mic.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-136231870734546918</id><published>2012-01-15T08:00:00.003-06:00</published><updated>2012-01-15T08:00:01.123-06:00</updated><title type='text'>This Week's Reviews Include...</title><content type='html'>&lt;img alt="" class="alignleft" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516FPDrKbbL._AA115_.jpg" title="The Upside of the Down Low, a Pastor's Wife's Memoir by Yolanda King Stephen" width="160" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51dZuYbCz5L._AA115_.jpg" title="Airing Out Dirty Laundry by Latisha N. Patterson" width="160" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51KXXK0EoHL._AA160_.jpg" title="Still Deceiving [Kindle Edition] by India" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignleft" height="155" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51%2BqjSZc8VL._SL110_.jpg" title="Blacktop Hustlaz [Kindle Edition] by Jordan Belcher" width="125" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51GvtS87bKL._AA160_.jpg" title="Hood Luv [Kindle Edition] by C.J. Hudson" width="160" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51AyD3tvd1L._AA115_.jpg" title="Williams Sundial Properties: A Computer Handbook! by Lonnie L. Williams" width="160" /&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-136231870734546918?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/136231870734546918/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/this-weeks-reviews-include_15.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/136231870734546918'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/136231870734546918'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/this-weeks-reviews-include_15.html' title='This Week&apos;s Reviews Include...'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-493389757096642659</id><published>2012-01-10T19:14:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2012-01-10T19:14:51.856-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Brenda Hampton'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Sheila E. Lipsey'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Danita Carter'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Jahzara'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Avah LaReaux'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Linda R. Herman'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Isadore Johsnon'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Nishawnda Ellis'/><title type='text'>Tuesday Recommendations (1/10/12)</title><content type='html'>&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="150" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51rkpQiV8rL._BO2,204,203,200_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" title="Naughty 2: My Way or the Highway by Brenda Hampton" width="150" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="150" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Ueu5OaiPL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" title="Wrongfully Mine parts 1 &amp;amp; 2 by Isadore Johnson" width="150" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="150" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51RNGJj5Q3L._SL500_AA300_.jpg" title="Naughty by Brenda Hampton" width="150" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="150" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/512287NKFlL._BO2,204,203,200__AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" title="My Son's Wife by Sheila E. Lipsey" width="150" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="150" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51IGo%2BX0JYL._BO2,204,203,200_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" title="Peer Pleasure: A Novel by Danita Carter" width="150" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="150" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VpECZwTML._BO2,204,203,200_AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" title="Consequences by Linda R. Herman" width="150" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="150" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51TDx7gg-qL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" title="Keeping Secrets by Nishawnda Ellis" width="150" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="150" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VTCHCxUoL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" title="Love Don't Live Here Anymore by Jahzara" width="150" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="150" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/411qIYGwgsL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" title="Song of the Siren by Avah LaReaux" width="150" /&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-493389757096642659?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/493389757096642659/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/tuesday-recommendations-11012.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/493389757096642659'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/493389757096642659'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/tuesday-recommendations-11012.html' title='Tuesday Recommendations (1/10/12)'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-3257042860753221956</id><published>2012-01-09T07:36:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2012-01-09T07:36:17.112-06:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='Tracy Darity'/><title type='text'>Are you ABSO-OOSA-LUTELY BOOK WASTED?</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"&gt;Author Tracy L. Darity is!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /&gt;&lt;br style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;" /&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"&gt;Be sure to check out Tracy's website so you can get ABSO-OOSA-LUTELY BOOK WASTED with her!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.tracyldarity.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"&gt;http://www.tracyldarity.com/&lt;/a&gt; &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DUyyHJOfGuQ/TwrtJvSvX0I/AAAAAAAAAqI/TqDUL0_h9NM/s1600/Tracy+Darity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"&gt;&lt;img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DUyyHJOfGuQ/TwrtJvSvX0I/AAAAAAAAAqI/TqDUL0_h9NM/s320/Tracy+Darity.jpg" width="239" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-3257042860753221956?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/3257042860753221956/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/are-you-abso-oosa-lutely-book-wasted_09.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/3257042860753221956'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/3257042860753221956'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/are-you-abso-oosa-lutely-book-wasted_09.html' title='Are you ABSO-OOSA-LUTELY BOOK WASTED?'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DUyyHJOfGuQ/TwrtJvSvX0I/AAAAAAAAAqI/TqDUL0_h9NM/s72-c/Tracy+Darity.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-156592847249188516</id><published>2012-01-08T13:36:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2012-01-08T13:36:05.958-06:00</updated><title type='text'>This Week's Reviews Include...</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://www.amazon.com/Behind-Closed-Doors-Beware-Brings/dp/B005UH55OE/ref=cm_cr-mr-img"&gt;&lt;img alt="Behind Closed Doors III (Beware of the Dog that Brings the bone, 3)" border="0" height="110" hspace="3" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/419Nu1hVW%2BL._SL110_.jpg" vspace="3" width="79" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.amazon.com/Season-Pinstripes-William-Fredrick-Cooper/dp/1593093543/ref=cm_cr-mr-img"&gt;&lt;img alt="One Season (in Pinstripes): A Memoir" border="0" height="110" hspace="3" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51DqmS%2BXXBL._SL110_.jpg" vspace="3" width="71" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.amazon.com/Plan-Things-Dont-Always-Work/dp/1463564651/ref=cm_cr-mr-img"&gt;&lt;img alt="Plan B: &amp;quot;Things Don't Always Work Out The Way We Plan&amp;quot;" border="0" height="110" hspace="3" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/515eO9oCbqL._SL110_.jpg" vspace="3" width="71" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.amazon.com/Whisperer-Zane-Presents-Allegra-Adams/dp/159309311X/ref=cm_cr-mr-img"&gt;&lt;img alt="Man Whisperer (Zane Presents)" border="0" height="110" hspace="3" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/5155KPWPE8L._SL110_.jpg" vspace="3" width="71" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.amazon.com/Last-First-Kiss-Collection-Temptations/dp/0615466672/ref=cm_cr-mr-img"&gt;&lt;img alt="My Last First Kiss: Baptized N' Warm Milk The Collection Based on Temptations of the Flesh" border="0" height="110" hspace="3" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51tIV59Cg1L._SL110_.jpg" vspace="3" width="73" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" height="112" src="http://badlandpub.com/resources/_wsb_116x156_Served+E.jpg" width="83" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-156592847249188516?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/156592847249188516/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/this-weeks-reviews-include_08.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/156592847249188516'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/156592847249188516'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/this-weeks-reviews-include_08.html' title='This Week&apos;s Reviews Include...'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-5615332531411760879</id><published>2012-01-03T12:58:00.002-06:00</published><updated>2012-01-03T12:58:36.851-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Tuesday Recommendations (1/3/12)</title><content type='html'>&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="150" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ioZZ182EL._SL500_AA300_.jpg" title="Strapped" width="150" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;STRAPPED by Al-Saadiq Banks&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="150" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51P7W2BMGTL._AA300_SH20_OU01_.jpg" title="Eva First Lady O f Sin" width="150" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;EVA FIRST LADY OF SIN by Storm&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51nfz6IpLeL._SL160_SH30_OU01_AA160_.jpg" title="A Deal With Death" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;A DEAL WITH DEATH by Endy&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51p-WMJbI%2BL._AA160_.jpg" title="Fast Lane" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;FAST LANE by Eyone Williams&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514vQdFhEdL._AA160_.jpg" title="Tale Of A Train Wreck Lifestyle" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;TALE OF A TRAIN WRECK LIFESTYLE by Crystal Lacey Winslow&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51CH-wEbYeL._AA160_.jpg" title="THE MPIRE: IN SEARCH OF THE LOST by Tl James" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;THE MPIRE: IN SEARCH OF THE LOST by Tl James&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51lGNonbfFL._AA160_.jpg" title="THE LIST by Sherri Lewis" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;THE LIST by Sherri Lewis&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51okUv-gRXL._AA160_.jpg" title="TRIUMPH OF MY SOUL by Elissa Gabrielle" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;TRIUMPH OF MY SOUL by Elissa Gabrielle&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51G6A6fTP4L._AA160_.jpg" title="LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR by Dwayne Murray" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR by Dwayne Murray&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41sxgQQAeWL._SL160_SH30_OU01_AA160_.jpg" title="THIRSTY by Mike Sanders" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;THIRSTY by Mike Sanders&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone" height="160" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51JAIt5HEtL._AA160_.jpg" title="REFLECTIONS OF A MISSISSIPPI MAGNOLIA by Patricia Neely Dorsey" width="160" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;REFLECTIONS OF A MISSISSIPPI MAGNOLIA by Patricia Neely Dorsey&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-5615332531411760879?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/5615332531411760879/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/tuesday-recommendations-1312.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/5615332531411760879'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/5615332531411760879'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/tuesday-recommendations-1312.html' title='Tuesday Recommendations (1/3/12)'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-1524241385473289105</id><published>2012-01-03T08:49:00.002-06:00</published><updated>2012-01-03T08:49:42.762-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Are you ABSO-OOSA-LUTELY BOOK WASTED?</title><content type='html'>Author Caroline McGill is!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Be sure to check out Caroline's website so you can get ABSO-OOSA-LUTELY BOOK WASTED with her! &lt;a href="http://www.synergypublications.com/"&gt;http://www.synergypublications.com/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;a href="http://oosaonlinebookclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Caroline-OOSA.jpg"&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-716" height="300" src="http://oosaonlinebookclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Caroline-OOSA-225x300.jpg" title="Caroline OOSA" width="225" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-1524241385473289105?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/1524241385473289105/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/are-you-abso-oosa-lutely-book-wasted.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/1524241385473289105'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/1524241385473289105'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/are-you-abso-oosa-lutely-book-wasted.html' title='Are you ABSO-OOSA-LUTELY BOOK WASTED?'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-5305714453017019889</id><published>2012-01-01T07:28:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2012-01-01T07:28:26.499-06:00</updated><title type='text'>ARC Book Club Inc. Presents... The Official Literary Recipe Book</title><content type='html'>&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;Stepping to the stage is: &lt;strong&gt;Locksie Locks&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;&lt;img alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E_yVFrtDgZA/TjWkjvhh7mI/AAAAAAAAAnM/PyQJULa16aQ/s1600/Mic.jpg" /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;Locksie Locks gives an inside peek into the conception of “ARC Book Club Inc Presents...The Official Literary Recipe Book.”&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;The Ladies of ARC have been kicking around the idea of putting together a cookbook. But we didn't want our book to be just another cookbook, and we wanted to keep the focus on our literary objectives, so we invited a handful of selected authors to come on board with us. Each ARC reviewer had to bring four authors names to the table, and we were all in agreement that there should be a mixture of seasoned authors as well as debut authors.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;To set our "Recipe" book apart from others we asked that the recipes submitted represent a specific character from the author's writing catalogue. &amp;nbsp;We then took it one step further; why not have the chosen character introduce the recipe and preparation themselves!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;Concept: To introduce some of Urban Fiction’s memorable characters and inform readers of books and their talented authors. The bonus is a delicious culinary treat! The Official Literary Recipe Book is designed to incite interest and intrigue in the books and characters it represents. Upon completion of this “literary recipe” readers should have 19 different book suggestions and a 'taste' of each character's personality.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;In our preliminary stages of the project English and I chose two authors, Steven Van Patten, and Loretta R. Walls whom we call our headlining authors, and gave them the task of being the first two to complete and submit their contributions to us.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;Steven and Loretta were to pick one of their characters, write an introduction bringing the characters to life showcasing their personality. Then they were to introduce a recipe of their choice; be it an appetizer, entree, dessert, or beverage, then the ingredients and preparation of the recipe, concluding with the name of the book, author, and contact information.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;SVP and Loretta wasted no time and had their submissions to us within two days! They were both very excited about the project and ARC was delighted with their submissions!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;Perspective: Our headlining submissions were sent out to our selected authors so they would have an idea of what we were looking for along with a welcoming letter.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;The outcome: 19 literary characters introducing 34 culinary treats with step-by-step instructions. There are a variety of tones within the submissions; some are raunchy, comical, and some will just make you say, "Shut yo' mouth!"&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;Contributing authors include: Steven Van Patten, Loretta R. Walls, Iris Bolling, Rickey Teems II, Karen E. Quinones Miller, Nikki Michelle, Rahiem Brooks, J.M. Benjamin, Shai, &amp;nbsp;Deborah "Sexy" Cardona, Julia Press-Simmons, Moses Miller, The 1Essence, &lt;var&gt;&lt;/var&gt;Keith Kareem Williams, June Miller, Caroline McGill, Freddie Simmons, David L., and Arlene Brathwaite.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;For Pre-orders: &lt;span style="color: purple;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.arcbookclubinc.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;span style="color: purple;"&gt;www.arcbookclubinc.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt; Release date: &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style="text-decoration: underline;"&gt;January 7th 2012&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt; Available on &lt;span style="color: purple;"&gt;&lt;a href="http://amazon.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;span style="color: purple;"&gt;Amazon.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt; and ARC Book Club Inc. Official Website&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: purple;"&gt; &lt;a href="http://www.arcbookclubinc.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;span style="color: purple;"&gt;www.arcbookclubinc.com&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;A special THANK YOU to all our contributors and supporters on this project.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div&gt;&lt;span style="color: black;"&gt;&lt;em&gt;ARC Book Club Inc. is a diverse and informative outlet for literary passions. They encourage and support the literary bond between readers and authors. ARC Book Club motivates readers to review literature of both established and debut authors. &amp;nbsp;They also encourage authors to promote, sponsor, and channel the literary field &lt;/em&gt;&lt;em&gt;through our organization.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-5305714453017019889?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/5305714453017019889/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/arc-book-club-inc-presents-official.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/5305714453017019889'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/5305714453017019889'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/arc-book-club-inc-presents-official.html' title='ARC Book Club Inc. Presents... The Official Literary Recipe Book'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E_yVFrtDgZA/TjWkjvhh7mI/AAAAAAAAAnM/PyQJULa16aQ/s72-c/Mic.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-4408183342460803835</id><published>2012-01-01T06:21:00.000-06:00</published><updated>2012-01-01T06:21:18.290-06:00</updated><title type='text'>This Week's Reviews Include...</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;img alt="Rekindled" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51OP2WZN-VL._SL110_.jpg" /&gt;&lt;img alt="If it's Raining Men, Why is your Bucket Empty?" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Tv5MdjHTL._SL110_.jpg" /&gt;&lt;img alt="The Pedestal" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51019XAEJRL._SL110_.jpg" /&gt;&lt;img alt="The Request" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51Sx2HJ4KkL._SL110_.jpg" /&gt;&lt;img alt="Chedda Boyz" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51aukbju05L._SL110_.jpg" /&gt;&lt;img alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4CHA4-GPamc/TwBOubk13DI/AAAAAAAAAp4/YVeApzlc_To/s1600/Beautiful+Disasters.jpg" /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Bitstream Charter', serif;"&gt;&lt;span style="line-height: 24px;"&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-4408183342460803835?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/4408183342460803835/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/this-weeks-reviews-include.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/4408183342460803835'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/4408183342460803835'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/this-weeks-reviews-include.html' title='This Week&apos;s Reviews Include...'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media='http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/' url='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4CHA4-GPamc/TwBOubk13DI/AAAAAAAAAp4/YVeApzlc_To/s72-c/Beautiful+Disasters.jpg' height='72' width='72'/><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2466296260073068392.post-1583668083933236566</id><published>2012-01-01T00:29:00.002-06:00</published><updated>2012-01-01T00:29:51.108-06:00</updated><title type='text'>Start 2012 Off Right With Books</title><content type='html'>&lt;a href="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/wife-101.jpg"&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-608" height="150" src="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/wife-101.jpg?w=100" title="Wife 101" width="100" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/power-beauty.jpg"&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-606" height="150" src="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/power-beauty.jpg?w=108" title="Power &amp;amp; Beauty" width="108" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/no-more-time-outs.jpg"&gt;&lt;img alt="" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-607" height="150" src="http://onlyonekeystrokeawayonlinebookclub.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/no-more-time-outs.jpg?w=97" title="No More Time Outs" width="97" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/2466296260073068392-1583668083933236566?l=oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/feeds/1583668083933236566/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/start-2012-off-right-with-books.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/1583668083933236566'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/2466296260073068392/posts/default/1583668083933236566'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://oosaonlinebookclub.blogspot.com/2012/01/start-2012-off-right-with-books.html' title='Start 2012 Off Right With Books'/><author><name>OOSA</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/15057868088262419973</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='31' height='21' src='http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-51epwQtx4sg/TfOSMvf4o8I/AAAAAAAAAkY/ELcyRNrIvfI/s220/OOSA%2BLogo.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
