Race for the Cure Registration Deadline

The deadline to register for the Race for the Cure is just days away.  The last day for team registration is Thursday, April 21.

The race will be held on Saturday, May 14 at 8 a.m. in downtown Columbus.  The registration fee is $30.  For more information about the race, visit www.komencolumbus.org.

If you are unable to join us for the race, but you would like to make a donation to support the cause, you can do so by clicking here. Your involvement will make a difference. Seventy-five percent of any donation received supports local breast cancer education, screening and treatment services, while the remaining 25 percent supports global scientific research to find a cure.

To register for Team Quality Corner, click here.  Everyone is welcome to join Team Quality Corner.  The more, the merrier!  Hurry, registration will end soon.  We'll see you on May 14!

New from Harlan Coben - "Live Wire"

Harlan Coben has done it again.  His latest thriller, Live Wire is in the number one spot on The New York Times Best Sellers list in the Hardcover Fiction category.   Coben is one of my favorite authors.  I first fell in love with his suspenseful writing in Tell No One.  His latest novel promises to be just as good.  Here is the publisher's synopsis:

"Myron Bolitar's family takes center stage in this new Coben thriller. Former tennis star Suzze T and her rock star husband, Lex, are both clients, and now Lex has disappeared and a very pregnant Suzze is in tears. Myron is forced to confront deep secrets in Suzze's past, his family's mortality, and before "Live Wire" is over, his own."

Here is what people are saying:

“Edgar-winner Coben's 10th Myron Bolitar novel (after Long Lost) is a perfect 10... This explosively fast thriller will leave fans clamoring for more.”
--PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, Starred Review (MAR)

"Harlan Coben is the modern master of the hook-and-twist - luring you in on the first page...only to shock you on the last."
--Dan Brown, author of The DaVinci Code

Live Wire is available in print and audio at The Quality Corner.  Click here to purchase your copy.

View the trailer - 

New book about Jay-Z - "Empire State of Mind" by Zack O'Malley Greenburg

Shawn Corey Carter, better known as Jay-Z, is a rapper and businessman.  He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010.  He has sold approximately 50 million albums worldwide and has won thirteen Grammy Awards. 

I have never been a fan of his music, but I admire his success and entrepreneurial spirit.  I watched Jay-Z's Master Class on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).  I really appreciated his humble attitude.  He hasn't forgotten where he came from.  He acknowledges that his past has made him what he is today.  Considering the fact that he was raised in the projects of Brooklyn, it truly is amazing to see where his is now.  He's not ashamed of his roots.  He is happy to share his story and help others. 

Zack O'Malley Greenburg has written a new book about Jay-Z's rise to success.  The publisher's note really whet my appetite:

"I'm not a businessman - I'm a business, man."
--Jay-Z

Some people think Jay-Z is just another rapper. Others see him as just another celebrity/mega-star. The reality is, no matter what you think Jay-Z is, he first and foremost is a business. And as much as Martha Stewart or Oprah, he has turned himself into a lifestyle.

You can wake up to the local radio station playing Jay-Z's latest hit, spritz yourself with his 9IX cologne, slip on a pair of his Rocawear jeans, lace up your Reebok S. Carter sneakers, catch a Nets basketball game in the afternoon, and grab dinner at The Spotted Pig before heading to an evening performance of the Jay-Z-backed Broadway musical Fela! and a nightcap at his 40/40 Club. He'll profit at every turn of your day.

But despite Jay-Z's success, there are still many Americans whose impressions of him are foggy, outdated, or downright incorrect. Surprisingly to many, he honed his business philosophy not at a fancy school, but on the streets of Brooklyn, New York and beyond as a drug dealer in the 1980s.

Empire State of Mind tells the story behind Jay-Z's rise to the top as told by the people who lived it with him - from classmates at Brooklyn's George Westinghouse High School; to the childhood friend who got him into the drug trade; to the DJ who convinced him to stop dealing and focus on music. This book explains just how Jay-Z propelled himself from the bleak streets of Brooklyn to the heights of the business world.

Zack O'Malley Greenburg draws on his one-on-one interviews with hip-hop luminaries such as DJ Clark Kent, Questlove of The Roots, Damon Dash, Fred "Fab 5 Freddy" Brathwaite, MC Serch; NBA stars Jamall Crawford and Sebastian Telfair; and recording industry executives including Craig Kallman, CEO of Atlantic Records.

He also includes new information on Jay-Z's various business dealings, such as:
* The feature movie about Jay-Z and his first basketball team that was filmed by Fab 5 Freddy in 2003 but never released.
* The Jay-Z branded Jeep that was scrapped just before going into production.
* The real story behind his association with Armand de Brignac champagne.
* The financial ramifications of his marriage to Beyonce.

Jay-Z's tale is compelling not just because of his celebrity, but because it embodies the rags-to-riches American dream and is a model for any entrepreneur looking to build a commercial empire.

Click here to purchase Empire State of Mind at The Quality Corner

New Book by Tyrese Gibson - "How To Get Out Your Own Way"

Tyrese Gibson is an actor, R&B singer, former fashion model, and now an author.  Tyrese was raised in Los Angeles, California by a single mother.  His career began when he won a talent show at age fourteen.  An appearance in a Coca-Cola commercial singing "Always Coca-Cola," led to wider fame.  I remember that commercial so well.  It's hard to believe that was almost twenty years ago!

The 32-year-old star is shining in a different way now.  His new book, How To Get Out Your Own Way, is a memoir and inspirational guide. The book is organized into a series of questions that helped Tyrese redefine who he was and to evolve as a man.  It is a guide to helping yourself, using his experiences as a learning tool.

Last week, I had the privilege of participating in an online press conference with Tyrese.  He spoke with Linda Duggins, Director of Multicultural Publicity of Hachette Book Group and he took questions from reporters.  He was very candid about why he wrote the book.  He really desires to inspire people to be the best that they can be.  He spoke about how, as a youth, he was inspired by everyday people that successfully faced challenges - his mother, neighbors, etc.  He wants to use his success as a way to reach out to people.  Fans may see his picture on the cover of his book and pick it up because they admire his talent.  However, once they begin reading it, they will receive a powerful message.  I was impressed by how sincere Tyrese was during the press conference.  He was very down to earth and he has a lot to say.  I think this book will accomplish his goal of inspiration.

Click here to purchase How To Get Out Your Own Way from The Quality Corner

"Peace from Broken Pieces" by Iyanla Vanzant

Iyanla Vanzant is an inspirational speaker, author and television personality.  In 2000, she was named one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans because of her contributions toward healthy relationships.  During the 1990s she appeared on The Oprah Show as a relationship expert.  In 2001, she launched her own show, Iyanla.   Iyanla recently appeared on The Oprah Show for the first time in 11 years.  They discussed the controversy over her departure from the show.  I watched their discussion and I found it quite interesting.  I hadn't heard of Iyanla Vanzant before that show.  During the show, she also introduced her new book - Peace from Broken Pieces.  Her book is about the last decade of her life and the lessons she has learned.  She recounts her rise as a celebrity, the downfall of her marriage, and the illness and death of her daughter. 

In chapter 9 of Peace from Broken Pieces, she relates an experience that she referred to during her latest interview with Oprah.  Here is an excerpt:

"One of the best shows during my time with Oprah was the men's show. On one side, the producers gathered a group of men of all ages, my husband among them, to talk about their challenges with women. On the other side was a group of women who were ready and willing to talk about their disappointments with men. My job was to help both sides get on the same side of the table. It was meant to be insightful, inspiring, and instructional, and it seemed pretty innocent—until one of the men made a comment about women only wanting men for their money and what they could provide. I offered several counterarguments, but he and a few of the others were intent on arguing me down. So, to make the point, I put another nail in the coffin of my marriage. With all of the sincerity I could muster, I stood there on national television and said:

"That may be true for some, but it is not true for all. I love my husband and he doesn't have any money. What he has is a huge heart and a lot of love for me. That is what really matters." As I spoke, I pointed at my husband. The camera zoomed in on him. He looked fine to me, or perhaps I needed to believe that my announcement about him would not have any effect on his masculine ego. Meanwhile, the man I was talking to told me that I was special and that most women were not like me. Oprah saved me by bringing in another point of view. It was innocent. It was a disaster. We never talked about it, but I learned from friends that my husband was devastated. What I had said was true, but he was still devastated. Although I apologized several times, he never really recovered from my unintended humiliation.

It really is true that being on Oprah can make or break you. While in one sense that appearance was the straw that broke the back of my marriage, it also injected a hot shot of adrenaline into my career. Everywhere I went, I became "the lady on Oprah." People were mobbing me for photographs and autographs in the airport and Target! My books were flying off of the shelves. The publisher was printing more to keep up with the demand."

Iyanla Vanzant's, Peace from Broken Pieces is an inspirational memoir.  She hopes that her story will help others to get through what they are going through.  Peace from Broken Pieces can be purchased at www.thequalitycorner.com.