Why Send A Press Release?

A press release is a brief text announcement of an event, development, or other newsworthy item that is issued to the press. If a newspaper or magazine is interested in your release, they will publish it as an article.  If a radio or TV station is interested in your release, they will mention it on-air or request an on-air interview.

Customers that purchase a book review from BlackBookReview.com have the option to purchase a press release.  When the book review is sent out as a press release to the media, it increases the exposure for the book.  We partner with a very extensive press release distribution service to all the African American newspapers, magazines, TV and radio stations.  More than 600 clients currently use this service including BET, McDonald's, TV One, and the NAACP.  For just an additional $125, your review will be sent as a press release to over 40,000 journalists and bloggers at nearly 1,000 media outlets.  

Here are three reasons to send a press release of your book review this summer:

1) People Spend More Money

Consumer research shows that when the weather is warm and pleasant, people feel more liberal about spending money. They take more vacations, they make more trips to shopping malls, they engage in more recreational activities, and they make more purchases online.

2) People Are In A Better Mood

Consumer research also shows that during the summer, people are more "open-minded" and relaxed about sales pitches and sales offers. Put simply, they are in a better mood to hear about new ideas that may satisfy their needs and wants - whether it's done via a direct advertisement or an indirect press release.

3) People Read More

It sounds silly, but it's true. In the summer time, people read more books, novels, magazines, and newspapers. This may be because people have more time to read on their vacations, at family functions, or even while traveling (airplanes, road trips, etc). 

SOURCE: www.BlackPR.com

Visit BlackBookReview.com to order your book review and press release. 

BlackBookReview.com Got a Makeover

BlackBookReview.com is a service designed to review books by African American authors and books that appeal to the African American community.  The primary goal of the book review service is to help authors succeed.  I launched this website in the Fall of last year.  I originally offered book reviews and press releases.  I have expanded to include book trailers as one of the services I offer.

Recently, I gave the site a makeover.  I simplified the ordering process.  Customers can easily order and pay for services directly from the site.  I also included additional contact information for customers to submit questions or comments.  Book reviews are $75 and press releases are an additional $125.

Book trailer options have been streamlined.  There are still plenty of options to choose from, but only the best options are available.  The trailers range from 45 seconds to 3 minutes in length.  Prices start at $99.

Visit BlackBookReview.com for additional details.

Mediterranean Cruise to Spain, France & Italy

In April, my husband and I took a vacation of a lifetime.  We stayed in Barcelona, Spain for several days.  It had been a dream of mine for years to visit Barcelona.  I was so excited to see all of the beautiful architecture I had read about.  Barcelona did not disappoint.  It is truly one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen.

After touring Barcelona, we set sail on a cruise of the Mediterranean.  Our ports of call included Cannes, France, Florence, Pisa & Rome, Italy.  Words can barely describe the beauty, culture and history we experienced in those countries. 

It was quite an adventure for my husband and I to take that trip.  Neither of us had ever been to those destinations.  We don't speak Spanish, French or Italian.  We went alone and most of the trip was self-guided.  Despite potential obstacles, we forged ahead and I am so glad we did.  We now have extraordinary memories. 



Whenever I do something that is scary yet exciting, I don't regret it.  Starting a business, forming a partnership and writing were things that I was very excited about.  However, they scared me.  It took courage for me to push my fears aside and proceed.  Life is an adventure.  We can't let fear paralyze us.  We must make good decisions and live up to them.

Team Quality Corner

The Race for the Cure 2011 was a huge success!  The support was incredible.  There were 50,000 participants that helped to raise over $2.7 million.  These funds will support breast cancer education, screening and treatment services in Central and Southeastern Ohio.

Team Quality Corner had the privilege of being a part of this wonderful event.  We were a small, but mighty team.  As always, we had great fun and ended the race with an enormous sense of accomplishment.  I would like to thank all of the members of Team Quality Corner for making this another memorable year. 

Race donations are being accepted until May 31.  If you would like to make a donation to Team Quality Corner, please click here to visit our team's website.  Save the date for the 20th annual Komen Columbus Race for the Cure on Saturday, May 19, 2012.  See you next year!

Book Review - "Havasu Means Blue Water" by Ivory Simone

Nearly five thousand people, predominantly African-Americans, were reported lynched in the United States between 1882-1968.  Ninety-nine percent of all perpetrators of lynching escaped punishment.  On February 7, 2005, the United States Senate approved a resolution apologizing to the victims of lynching and their descendants for the failure of the Senate to enact anti-lynching legislation.  Ivory Simone’s new novel, Havasu Means Blue Water, explores this horrible fact of America’s history.

Ivory Simone is an author, poet and blogger based in Bangkok, Thailand.  She hosts a weekly poetry program and a talk radio show.  Simone is a social justice advocate who is passionate about raising the standards of humanity.  Havasu Means Blue Water is Simone’s debut novel.  Her writing manifests her desire to see injustice eradicated.

Lyla Amir is the main character in this novel.  Lyla is a graduate student who has chosen a controversial topic for her thesis – “The Incendiary Power of Race and Gender:  the Deconstruction of a Political Murder.”  She focuses her research on the 1918 lynching of a black farmer and his wife that occurred in the small town of Wilburn, Arizona.  Her thesis topic is met with opposition by the university’s administrators.  Despite the opposition, Lyla is determined to proceed as planned. 

She visits the small town of Wilburn to uncover the murder site.  What she finds in this town is much more than an infamous past.  The people of this town have been unable to progress beyond the violence that characterized them nearly a century ago.  The story begins to unravel as Lyla encounters various citizens of Wilburn.

Lyla is transfixed on the courage displayed by the farmer’s wife.  She chose to stand up to the violent mob that killed her husband.  She witnessed his violent murder.  She knew what the mob was capable of and what her stand would mean.  She met the same fate as her husband.  The courage “black Mary” displayed is a focal point of this novel.  That same courage is displayed by other characters in this story.

This novel has many layers.  Simone skillfully paints a picture of each character.  The characters play a very different role in the story.  However, by the end the reader can appreciate and understand how the characters are intertwined.  Simone truly shows her talents as a writer by creating such a multi-faceted story.  As I read each chapter, I couldn’t wait to find out how each sub-plot related to the main plot of the novel.  Each facet of the story enriched this novel and gave it deeper meaning.

Even though the people of Wilburn appeared to be stuck in time, there was a glimpse of hope for this dismal town.  I walked away from this novel feeling that no matter how desperate a situation is the outcome can still be positive.  For me, the lesson of this novel is never give up.  Simone’s debut novel is a provocative, yet delightful story that will engage any reader.