Author Herb Boyd, musician Yusef Lateef signs with Morton Books

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rob Morton at
973-374-8327

Author Herb Boyd, musician Yusef Lateef signs with Morton Books "Gentle Giant: The Autobiography of Yusef Lateef" to be released in the fall

Best selling author Herb Boyd has teamed with famed composer and multireedist Yusef Lateef in the soon to be released from Morton Books, Gentle Giant: The Autobiography of Yusef Lateef. The book will chronicle the 84-year-old artist's long and fruitful journey from the poor, but culturally rich streets of Detroit, to his standing in the front ranks of the world musical scene.

"We at Morton Books are beyond excited," said Rob Morton, President and CEO of Morton Books. "Herb Boyd is as hot as any writer in America right now; and to land him and the great Yusef Lateef at the same time is a publishing coup. Lateef is a living treasure, and a living connection to one of the most glorious periods in the development of music in this country, and indeed, the world. He is not only a scholar and former university professor, but also he has worked with every major musician, including such stellar innovators as Monk, Miles and Dizzy."

Morton pointed out that the prolific Herb Boyd has been on an incredible winning streak lately with his last two books, We Shall Overcome: The History of the Civil Rights Movement, and Pound For Pound: A Biography of Sugar Ray Robinson, both strong chart toppers.

He also said that Morton Books have had a number of chart toppers itself lately, including the 14-year-old literary wonder Omari Jeremiah's Paperboy series; and Fred Beauford's critically acclaimed, classic novel, The Year Jerry Garcia Died.

"In addition to our selling books, major media outlet like The New York Times and The New York Daily News, as well as magazines and newspapers across the country, have done features on us. All of this has helped put the company on a solid footing," Morton said.

Gentle Giant will be released in the fall of 2005. For additional information contact Morton Books at www.robmorton.com.

SolomonBooks

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dear Reader, We of SolomonBooks are proud to present the release of Watch Ov'em Gene, a compelling historical fiction based on black life in Petersburg in the late 1950's and 60's.?Author L.M. Stith, along with co-author Akin Smith, spin a really interesting and page turning story that will hold your attention to the very end!

We invite you to join us for a host of release weekend events, June 17-20, 2005, all held in the Petersburg Area.?A full press kit detailing these events, the authors, book, and Petersburg is attached.

Should I be of service, answer any questions, and the like, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,
Sharon F. McCreary
CEO/SolomonBooks
804.343.3663 Phone
804.343.1016 Fax
804.687.6479 Cell

My Afribets Learning Book

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dear reader, Hotep. A healthy body supports a healthy mind, and a healthy mind keeps a healthy body upright. Hope that this press release finds you healthy in both mind and body, and yes, spirit.
Press Release
June 1, 2005
Poetry That Teaches Far More Than ABCs to Young Black Students
New Carrollton, Md. , My Afri-bets has been released by Jesse Sharpe and parents and teachers are already ordering their copies. This learning book explores learning africentric subjects through poetry. But it is more than just poetry. Combining activity worksheets and vocabulary building, it offers both the student and teacher multiple hands-on activities to keep everyone's interests.
A former teacher himself, Jesse Sharpe has put together a wonderful activity book that is useful in both the home and at school. My Afri-bets Learning book (as well as Pictures Poetry and ABCs, a similar workbook for the non-africentric family or school) stresses excellence and high achievement. The poems are positive, filled with rhymes, and teach either a concept or a historical fact. A verse in the poem that represents mother (the Letter M) states:
A role model, yes she is
She's my teacher and my guide
I am respectful to my mother
She is a symbol of my pride.
With parents being an important and integral part of a child's education regardless of culture or whether one employs African-centered, multicultural, or some other philosophy in the classroom, this poem, as well as the one for fathers, represented by the letter F of course, teaches much the same principles:
The FATHER is a man
A role model to his son
He teaches me to be FAIR
And never to quit until I'm done

Both books work well in the classroom or at home because they are written first and foremost for the student, while emphasizing and stressing the need for parents and teachers to take time and spend time with the young student as they read, memorize, and work through the activities. In the back of both My Afri-bets Learning Book and Pictures Poetry and ABCs there are additional suggested activities. Although the age group fits best for kindergarten through second grade, the book would easily fit well in many third, fourth and fifth grade classrooms. In short, depending on your classroom, school district, or household, either book is a can't miss purchase. Both can be ordered at any major bookstore or online at http://www.lulu.com/kemit. Jesse Sharpe can be reached at [email protected] for appearances or additional information. Questions or comments can also be sent to:

Jesse Sharpe
P.O. Box 341
Riverdale, Md. 20738

Sincerely,
Jesse Sharpe

Dr. Maxine Thompson Live Internet Radio Shows This Week's Guests
June 13th and June 14th

Dr. Maxine's Show provides sponsorship for entrepreneurs and the literary community. Dr. Maxine Show is cross-referenced to her other live Internet Radio shows where she is a host on ArtistFirst and VoiceAmerica.com

Dr. Maxine invites you to join her this week on her various shows where she will be speaking with some interesting people.

ArtistFirst
Monday, June 13, 2005
9:00 P.M. Eastern Time


Mikaylah Simone displays her liberating experimental form in her debut book of poetry "My Manufactured English." Her provocative poetic style embraces cultural identity as she intermingles Swahili roots with modern issues in pieces such as "Belly Full" and "Consciousness" along with ancestral platforms found in "Sankofa" and "Maji." This premiere work includes chapters of penetrating poetry concerning varying themes and layered meanings of politics, religion, violence, community and the complexity of love; all revealing the fresh insight of this authors journey that is honest, sad, comical and true. In the spirit of the artist community, Mikaylah's last chapter includes the contributed cameo appearance work of Blue (The Great Persuader/New York based poet) along with two additional new poets on the horizon Troi Miller and Dayna Smith.

Sponsored by: The Grits Literary Service.

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VoiceAmerica
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
6:00 A.M. Pacific Times
Re-Airs:Tuesday, June 14, 6:00 P.M. Pacific Time
Saturday, June 18, 1:00 P.M. Pacific Time

Kwame Jackson is polished, confident and credentialed with prestigious Wall Street experience, a University of North Carolina Chapel Hill degree, a Harvard MBA, and business lessons he learned from Donald Trump in front of 22 million people each week, on the hit show ?The Apprentice.? His professional experience includes sales and marketing roles at Procter & Gamble and, most recently, on Wall Street as an Investment Manager for Goldman Sachs. It was his no nonsense attitude and ability to be a team leader that made him stand out on "The Apprentice" and it is his affable nature and street smarts that make him stand out in life.

Kwame Jackson is the highest paid and most in-demand speaker amongst those in reality television. He continues to be courted by major television networks, fashion houses, sports teams, marketers, advertisers, community, civic and political leaders for his input and expertise. He regularly addresses executive management teams and aspiring interns at the world's leading companies on various topics such as team building, leadership, surviving and thriving corporate America and the importance of being an entrepreneur. It is his business savvy, passion for excellence and the lessons he has learned in the boardroom that have given him the ability to inspire others to explore, embrace, and execute the keys to success.

Sponsored by: Black Butterfly Press

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Dr. Maxine Show
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
4:00 P.M. Pacific Time


Monica Payton is a licensed physician assistant who broke through the literary arena with her first novel, Black Deception, a medical thriller, published December 2002. She has traveled coast to coast on book tours ever since and currently lining up tours and speaking engagements to launch her newest novel, Cloning. When Monica isn?t traveling she is practicing in plastic and reconstructive surgery for one of the largest health maintenance organizations in the country. During her fifteen years as a physician assistant, Monica has had the opportunity to assist in open heart surgery, brain surgery, manage challenging emergency room and intensive care patients, deliver hundreds of babies, as well as counsel infertile couples. Other career accomplishments consist of speaking engagements; lecturing and coauthoring a research study published in the November 1997 Journal of American College of Cardiology.
Sponsored by: Black Butterfly Press

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Dr. Maxine Show
is made possible by the following SPONSORS:
EXECUTIVE SPONSORS:
Booking Matters Magazine
Turning Point Magazine
African American Business Summit 2005
LBP Enterprises
Black Butterfly Press

SILVER SPONSORS:
The Grits Literary Services

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If you are interested in becoming a guest and/or a sponsor you may visit:

www.maxineshow.com www.maxinethompson.com/voiceamerica.html and www.maxinethompson.com/artistfirst.html for available dates or by via e-mail to [email protected] or [email protected]