BOOK COVER MAGAZINE - SUMMER EDITION - 2017

SUMMER EDITION BOOKCOVERMAG.COM JULY 1, 2017

SUMMER EDITION BOOKCOVERMAG.COM JULY 1, 2017 

Contents 

SUMMER EDITION 

Summer Contents 

Letter from the Publisher 

From the Editor’s Desk 

Feature | A Cold Hard Truth | Eric Pete 

Social Media Trolling: Selena Haskins 

Book Referee’s Shelf: Orsayor Simmons 

Book Clubs Across the Nation (10): Sharon Lucas 

Writer’s Wellness Corner: Yashika Cherry 

From Where I Sit (Male’s view): Akil Victor 

Legalese Page: Felicia S. Thomas, Esq. 

Entertainment Avenue: Aadila Williamson (ii) interviews) 

Amani’s Youth Lounge: Amani N. Williams 

Unmasking the Magic of Writing: Suzette Harrison 

Special feature… interview with JL King (Releases On the Down Low 2) 

Featured author: Hartsel Clifton Shirley (iii words) 

Featured bookstore: Solange Bookstore 

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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER 

Greetings, 

Would you be shocked to read that a 

bestselling author of eighteen 

books, ghostwriter of ten, and 

playwright of six touring plays does not 

like writing. Add to the mix, teaching 

twelve [annual] writing classes which 

encourages others to write their own 

stories. Writing is painful! The publisher of 

Book Cover Magazine is not a fan of 

writing. 

Earning the title of ‘Bestselling Author,” you 

must be a great storyteller. What makes a 

great book is the story, not the writing. 

Editors are paid to turn your stories in to 

well-written books. Once you understand 

that relationship, the fear of writing 

becomes smaller. 

When the team decided that our Summer 

issue would highlight some of our favorite 

male writers, the team brainstormed on 

what male authors we could feature. 

Women authors outrank men authors five- 

to-one. We found some amazing, up-andcoming 

male authors to introduce. 

I am also excited about introducing Eric 

Pete and Hartsel Shirley. Eric Pete, a USA 

Today and New York Times Best Selling 

Author --- talks of his new release and the 

reason for his love of writing movies and 

written stories. 

I am excited to announce that I have 

released On The Down Low 2. This is my 

eighteenth book and the one that I am 

going out on top with. It is released 

almost fourteen years after On The 

Down Low’s groundbreaking release. I 

hope that you enjoy it and that it brings 

education and awareness to everyone 

who reads it. On the Down Low 2's 

purpose is being a catalyst in creating 

healthy relationships between men and 

women, gay or straight. 

We appreciate and welcome our legacy 

and new readers to the Book Cover 

Magazine family. Please let me know what 

we can do to make Book Cover Magazine 

better. We want to ensure that our motto 

“We Bring Readers and Authors Together” 

is always the number- one reason we work 

hard. 

JL King


From the 

Editor-in-Chief’s 

Desk 

The staff at BCM has been working diligently to 

bring readers together with authors, poets, artists, 

and more creative entrepreneurs. We also enjoy 

showcasing traditional, as well as self-published 

authors, who are willing to share their personal 

and professional experiences with you. While 

writing is their primary goal, they’re committed to 

staying connected to our audience of avid readers. 

Please download the mag and take us along with 

you while you’re traveling this summer. 

In addition to our five previous columns (Book 

Clubs Across the Nation, Book Referee’s Shelf, 

From Where I Sit: A Male’s Perspective, Legalese 

Page, and the Writer’s Wellness Corner), we have 

added two new ones to serve an even more diverse 

group of readers: Entertainment Avenue and 

Amani’s Youth Lounge. All of these are designed 

to keep you updated and motivated to achieve 

your reading and writing goals. 

If you want even more entertainment, you may 

visit our website for poetry and short stories 

submitted to the magazine at: 

www.bookcovermag.com. We also have a 

Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ 

bookcovermagazineeditor. 

Stay in touch! 

4


Do Something New Shunda Brown 

belong - fulfilling God's purpose in their 

lives. 

A motivational book designed to inspire 

and provoke readers to be doers of the 

Word as well as doers of those things that 

will enhance their lives. 

Do Something New is intended to feed the 

spirits of those who hunger and thirst for a 

better life. Many inspirational books 

inspire readers but stop there. In addition 

to inspiration, people need to be 

challenged to make positive changes. Do 

Something New does that with scriptures 

and interesting questions that will make 

readers re-examine themselves and those 

in their life. Shunda Brown has overcome 

many obstacles including the fear of flying 

and has traveled around the country doing 

what she loves - sharing words of 

exhortation. 

Readers will receive the Word, a dose of 

inspiration, and thought-provoking 

questions that will make them think and do 

something positive with their lives. In 

response to hungry readers, writers, and 

bystanders, Shunda Brown has written an 

inspiring and stimulating book which 

includes journal pages that were created 

for readers to jot down their thoughts after 

each chapter. 

This book was written for those who need 

to be uplifted to the place where they 

5


Eric Pete is a New York Times and USA 

Today bestselling author of contemporary 

fiction spanning relationships, erotica, 

paranormal to thriller. Born in Seattle, 

Washington, he grew up on a steady diet of 

reading and late-night films. Eric is a 

graduate of McNeese State University, 

served in the United States Army, and a 

proud member of Delta Sigma Pi 

Professional Business Fraternity. 

When asked what compelled his desire for 

authoring, he replied, “Stories and movies 

floating in my head as a child. However, 

my wife inspired me to pen my first novel, 

Real for Me.” With love for the written 

word, Eric is currently reading, The Secret 

History of the CIA by Joseph Trento. 

The writing process for each new writing 

project is different, but important for every 

author. Eric shared. “I generally determine 

the ‘mood’ of the story then go about 

brainstorming important and critical beats 

in the story. If it’s a main character that I’m 

already familiar with, it tends to flow 

smoother as I already have their voice (one 

of hundreds) in my head. If it’s a 

completely new main character, my pace is 

a little slower as I go about adding layers 

to their world. 

I’m not one who plots out the entire 

storyline, preferring instead to be more 

organic and let my subconscious flow as I 

type. I tend to know the ‘note’ on which 

the story will end. If I know that, the rest 

tends to come together a lot faster. 

Sometimes a title or song guides the story, 

but I usually change the working title once 

I’m done.” 

Eric has 15 published books and his 

current novel , A Cold Hard Truth, features 

a main character named Truth. But, if he 

ever decided to pen a book about his life, it 

would be titled The Adventure Continues, 

because it used to be a motto that he had 

on the windshield of one of his old cars. 

6


Also, because he recently learned so much 

about himself and how he came to be in this 

world. It’s almost a soap opera in and of itself. 

When asked about the evolving world of 

eBooks, Eric stated, “Anything that allows the 

written word to be delivered to the readers, I 

can’t be mad at. The industry has changed a 

ton though from the days of touring in brick 

and mortar stores, which I do miss (as well as 

the smell of so many printed pages on the 

shelves). Also, eBooks allow instantaneous 

reach around the world where maybe 

traditional distribution channels could be 

lacking. You just have to look at it like the 

music industry where you once bought vinyl, 

then cassettes, followed by CDs; now you 

stream or purchase downloads.” 

Since Mr. Pete has been in the industry for 

over a decade, we asked him to give some 

advice to our aspiring authors about the 

publishing business, and he said, “Be prepared 

to wear both hats; that of the artist / writer as 

well as the businessperson. Also, it pays to 

have a thick skin. Not everyone will love what 

you write, and everyone has different tastes. 

Just be the best at your craft in whatever you 

do.” 

However, he self-published his first two 

novels as --well as his current release. His 

brand, and how he wants to be known is 

simple: Can’t stop. Won’t stop. Believe that… 

I want to be known as a damn good writer 

who entertained, made the reader look at 

things in a different way, and the one who got 

you lost in his characters’ lives. 

BCM’s readers can connect with Mr. Pete at 

www.ericpete.com, which has links to his 

Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages. All 

of his novels are available either online via 

Amazon, Apple, BN.com, or by contacting 

your local bookstore. 

Last, but not least, Eric left us with these 

words. “I’m currently working on my next 

novel, Gunn & Roses, featuring main 

character, Joseline who was introduced in A 

Cold Hard Truth. If you’ve been reading my 

novels for some time, thank you. I hope 

you’re enjoying them. If new, welcome 

aboard.” 

That says it all! 

Eric has been writing under contract with 

traditional publishers most of his career. 

7


8


Social Media Trolling 

Selena Haskins 

As an author, I enjoy meeting new 

people on social media, finding out what 

their interests are, and exchanging in 

“girlfriend” gossip about pop culture. I’ve 

met quite a few people on social media 

who have even helped with my writing 

career and vice versa. 

However, I soon realized that not 

everyone uses social media for good 

intentions. You have some people who 

have social media accounts for the sole 

purpose of trolling others. What do I mean 

by “trolling?” Trolling is an act in which 

someone deliberately provokes others 

online, typically through inflammatory, 

offensive, or provocative comments. 

Their intent is to get an emotional 

response from others; particularly, an 

angry one. They often veer off subject and 

will begin to attack the individual 

personally, such as their gender, race, 

sexual orientation, or religion. Granted, 

everyone has an opinion, but a person 

trolling carries that opinion to a 

heightened level in order to draw attention 

to themselves. They also try to steer others 

and get them to chime in and agree with 

them. Some of the comments are endless, 

and lead to cyber-bullying (a whole other 

topic), but trolling is usually how it starts. 

9


Social Media Trolling / Continued 

How can you identify someone who is 

trolling? Honestly, it depends on the person. 

It usually begins with how their words affect 

you. Are they using target words that are 

offensive, exaggerated or egotistic? Worse, 

are their words often discriminatory? Once 

you identify someone who is trolling, you 

don’t have to accept their behavior. 

You have a right to stand up for 

yourself. By the same token, you don’t have 

to be quick to take offense either. Ask 

yourself if what is being said is really that 

serious, or if you’re really just having a bad 

day. If the offense is not that threatening or 

blatantly offensive, you could laugh it off or 

just ignore it and move on. 

If you read their remarks over and over 

again, eventually, their words will evoke a 

different emotion inside of you that could 

provoke you to lash back. 

On the other hand, if someone is 

making a false accusation about you or 

personally attacking you, you can defend 

yourself by stating the facts. Keep your 

comment brief though, and try to avoid 

going back and forth with the individual. 

Otherwise, you just may allow the “troll” to 

come out of you! The key is, know yourself, 

be discerning of what the other person’s 

intentions may be, assess the tone, word 

choices, and most of all the subject matter. If 

you know you are more sensitive about 

certain subjects than perhaps it’s best not to 

engage in them at all. 

A person who is trolling will always 

feed off another person’s sensitivities. 

Remember, a person who likes to troll, likes 

for the spotlight to hone in on them. They 

want to be the center of attention to 

compensate for their own insecurities. 

Hence, a “troller” would probably never say 

what they post online in-person. They don’t 

have the courage to do so. Still, you don’t 

have to fall into the trap of a troller by 

feeling like you need to prove them wrong. 

Remember, they are strangers in a lonely 

world, and you don’t have to be a part of 

their audience. If you have to resort to 

blocking an individual, you can do so with 

just a click of a button. “Poof be gone!” 

There is nothing like having peace of mind 

on social media. 

Selena Haskins is the best-selling author of 

A River Moves Forward, Riding the Waves, 

and Just Between Us-Inspiring Stories by 

Woman. She lives with her husband and son 

in suburban Maryland. For more information 

about Selena, please visit website: 

www.booksbyselena.com. 

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11


The Most Beautiful: 

My Life with Prince 

Mayte Garcia 

April 4, 2017 

304 pages 

Hachette Books 

Almost one year after his death, Prince's first wife, Mayte Garcia, opens up about 

her life with Prince. Why now? Why not now? 

The title, The Most Beautiful,l is inspired by Prince's hit song, “The Most Beautiful 

Girl in The World.” If you're wondering, – yes, the song was written about Mayte. 

The first half of the book discussed her childhood and her love of dancing. She 

started dancing at the tender age of three. She recalled her mom telling her 

when someone asked her age, to show five fingers because the age requirement 

for dance school was five. At the age of eight, she appeared on the hit show, 

That's Incredible as the youngest professional belly dancer. Mayte wasn't a 

stranger to the bright lights, but nothing on the level of brightness when she met 

Prince. 

In the second half of the book, Mayte discusses how she met Prince at the age of 16. 

After attending a Prince concert, her mom thought it would be a good idea to give 

Prince a tape of one of her belly-dancing performances since he had some Arabic music 

in one of his sets. As fate would have it, Prince ended up having a concert in her 

hometown of Germany. And as they say, the rest is history. - continued 

12


Over the course of the next two years, 

Prince and Mayte became pen pals. Yes ... 

pen pals! At18-years old, Prince and 

Mayte’s relationship reached a new level. 

Respectfully, Mayte discussed the ups and 

downs of she and Prince’s relationship. 

However, the book does not divulge 

everything, but Mayte dispels many 

rumors which plagued their marriage. 

Tears flowed when she opened up about 

the untimely death of Amir, their first son, 

and the miscarriage that followed. It is 

unimaginable the amount of pain Mayte 

must have felt during the loss of not one, 

but two babies. Prince’s refuge was in 

music, but for Mayte that was a different 

story. 

During the latter part of, The Most 

Beautiful, My Life With Prince, Mayte 

reveals a kept secret while working on 

reality television show, Hollywood Exes. 

She spoke of the joys of adopting 

daughter, Gia. She also discussed her 

feelings and events surrounding Prince's 

untimely death. 

Writing this book had to be therapeutic for 

Mayte. Lots of diehard fans will say she 

could have written these thoughts in a 

journal, instead of sharing details publicly. 

However, setting all preconceived notions 

aside, you will see that this book was 

written with no malice. I know she could 

have revealed much more about her time 

with Prince, but some things are better left 

unsaid. Mayte was respectful to Prince's 

memory while remaining true to herself. 

The Most Beautiful is a beautifully, wellwritten 

love story. Prepare yourself for a 

release of emotions when reading this 

book. I listened to the audiobook narrated 

by Mayte’s own voice. There were times 

she paused and at other times she 

shaded tears during the recording, which 

evoked my own tears. As a Prince fan, I’m 

thankful for Mayte showing us a different 

side of Prince she loved and that the 

public wasn't privy to. He loved and was 

romantic. He was a genius. He was flawed. 

He was human. 

Among the hundreds of books written, the 

world will never truly know Prince, and in 

true Prince style, he would want it that way. 

He enjoyed keeping people on their toes. 

I wish he would have lived long enough to 

finish his memoir, but just like he lived his 

life... It will remain mysterious! 

Orsayor L. Simmons, founder of Book 

Referees which spotlights/reviews/ 

promotion of all genres in the literary 

world. Orsayor is the recipient of the 2013 

Top 25 Literary Leader Award - 2014 Top 

25 Literary Leader Award (presented by 

Ella Curry) - 2015 AAMBC Blogger of the 

Year - 2016 AAMBC Reviewer of the Year 

and 2017 Excellence Literary Award. 

13


Commodo ERAT 

COMMODO BOOK 

14


Across…the Nation 

A story is always better if you have someone to share it with. What 

could be better than sharing it with a group of friends who have read 

it too? Belonging to a book club encourages readers to stretch beyond 

their wildest dreams as they read and discuss works and genres that 

they might otherwise have never considered if they weren’t part of a book club. If you 

can’t find a book club in your area that meets your needs, start one! You won’t regret it. 

Cilla’s Book Maniacs 

Online club 

Priscilla C. Johnson 

Cillasbookmaniacs@yahoo.com 

Divas Leaving No Pages 

Unturned 

Little Rock, AR 

Toshona Carter 

Leavingnopagesunturned@yaho 

o.com 

Turning Pages 

San Francisco Bay Area, CA 

Deborah Burton Johnson 

Turningpages98@aol.com 

The Tea Room 

Torrington, CT 

Shawn Matel 

Smatel144@gmail.com 

Sweet Soul Sisters 

DC/MD 

Jacki Lawson 

Jay.lawson@comcast.net 

Destined Readers 

Atlanta, GA 

Destiny Hawkins 

destinyreadersbookclub@gmail.com 

Black Women with Opinions 

and Attitudes 

Chicago, IL 

Lissa Woodson 

Lissawoodson@aol.com 

Sisters of Literature 

Bowie, MD 

Sharita Bullock Phillip 

sistersoflitbc@gmail.com 

EyeCU Reading & Social 

Network 

Detroit, MI 

Ebony Evans 

Ebonyevans7@comcast.net 

SAVVY Book Club 

Jackson, MS 

Rose Wright 

svvyboooks@yahoo.com 

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16


Elevation With Essential Oil Aromatherapy 

The scene is set. You’ve endured another week of an 

extensive work-schedule, family malfunctions, errands, 

and occasional teeth-grinding frustration —all for 

a“woo-sah” relaxation moment. 

Candles lit, bath water at the perfect 

temperature, and an added bonus is the 

fragranced essential oils fragrances arise from 

the bath’s steam. This has become a ritual 

release when the world flips upside down. Not 

by chance when entering this zone, relaxation 

comes easy but not by chance. 

Opting to indulge an atmosphere with 

essential oils or the time has come to establish 

a new ‘intentional’ practice. Essential oils 

derive from seeds, bark, stems, root, and flower 

of natural plants. It’s basically the beautiful and 

powerful smells experienced from various 

plants — bottled. More importantly and 

unknown, bottled oils are packed with plant 

molecules and compounds. These molecules 

promote healing and a systematic maintenance 

efficacy on our internal and external bodies. 

This means, when placing lavender oil drops 

(just because) in bath water or a living room 

diffuser lemon oil in the living room our 

system is undergoing a rejuvenation process by 

inhaling. 

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What should one do if keeping 

essential oils in their cabinets to freshen the 

air periodically? Keep doing it. Stock up--and 

often; the state of your health, mood and your 

smell sensory all benefit. Although very 

effective, do not be oil-biased by sticking 

with the ever popular lavender, lemon, and 

rose. Create an essential oil buffet to 

introduce your well-being to something great 

daily. 

Mood: ylang-ylang, lavender, bergamot 

Creativity: lemon, orange, grapefruit 

Relaxation/soothing: chamomile, lavender 

Skin: tea tree, bergamot, rosemary, lavender 

Antiseptic: oregano, lemongrass, thyme, 

peppermint, eucalyptus 

Anti-fungal: cedar-wood, clove, tea tree, 

thyme 

Mental clarity: vetiver, rosemary, cedarwood 

Yashika Cherry, lifestylist, fitness and 

wellness coach, speaker and visionary of the 

Cherry On Top brand. Her mission is to 

The following oils are reliable for 

various reasons, from inner to outer 

rejuvenation. They can be applied topically 

with a carrier oil, some consumed orally 

(check consumption label prior to using 

charging women in elevating their living 

experience through integrating full spectrum 

wellness. Yashika’s book, Awaken Alive: 

Create a thriving living experience through 

true wellness, will be released soon. 

orally) and commonly released through 

diffusion and inhalation. Pick a few and make 

it a regular practice to inhale your well-being. 

Respiratory: peppermint, eucalyptus, winter 

Yashika is Social: 

Facebook/yashikacherry 

Instagram: @yashikacherry 

Twitter: @cherry_on_top 

garden, frankincense (great to inhale for 

congestion or sinusitis 

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19


Akin Victor 

Each One, Teach One, To Believe 

Not long ago, I had a 14-year-old kid tell 

me that he doesn’t know what his future 

holds and that he feels hopeless. Wow! I 

was taken aback to hear such a defeatist 

statement flow through the lips of someone 

so young. This was a sad thing because we 

are defeated without hope. Hope is the last 

morsel that sustains us and fuels our desires 

to conquer our goals and obtain our needs. 

When I asked him to tell me exactly what it 

was that made him feel that way, he stated, 

“No one believes in me.” 

Having someone believe in you is like a 

beacon light shining through the bleakest 

darkness. The darkness of uncertainty and 

that light in the distance urging you to carry 

on, go just a little bit further until you reach 

your destination. I let this 14-year-old 

young man know, in all earnestness that I 

believe in him, but it was more important 

for him to believe in himself. 

That life is made for him to believe and 

achieve. The unfortunate thing is that his 

20 

counterproductive way of thinking stemmed 

from his upbringing and lack of necessary 

positive influences. I had a similar situation 

when I was around his age, and it led to 

gangs and jail. 

I came of age in the ‘90s, a huge fan of 

basketball with undeniable talent, large 

potential, and high hopes. In an era where 

Michael Jordan was already considered the 

(Greatest of all Times) GOAT and young 

guards like Allen Iverson, Stephon 

Marbury, and Kobe Bryant were vying for 

his spot. 

Then there was me, a kid with a dream 

who decided to sign up for a competitive 

basketball league at the age of 13. I told my 

parents enthusiastically, my dad more than 

my mother, and urged them to go to my 

games. Why not? Most of the other kids had 

their support system, by way of family, 

there. My best friend included, whose dad 

made it to nearly every game.


A MALE PERSPECTIVE 

Akin Victor 

Five games into the league’s 13th 

season, my dad finally showed up, 

sullenly seated, without encouragement 

or excitement. I did well that night by 

scoring 17 points, 8 assists, and 2 steals. 

As the season progressed, I couldn’t 

convince him, or anyone else to show up 

to lend support and encouragement my 

adolescent mind needed. My confidence 

and resolve fell considerably. 

By the end of the season, I concluded that 

no one cared; so why should I? In one 

swoop went my hoop dreams, as losing 

one’s dreams equates to an altering 

reality. My reality was deeply altered by 

two bad decisions. With a temporary loss 

of hope, feeling of repair and 

hopelessness or self-belief I threw my 

arms around the streets warmly. 

In its simplest form, belief is a state of 

mind which has to be instilled in an 

individual at one point or another, with 

the youth being most receptive and in 

need. It is a learned state of mind based 

on what one is told, experiences, or 

observes. Therefore, the proverbial term, 

“Each one, teach one,” is aptly applied. 

Having been in that young man’s shoes in 

my youth and knowing the potentially 

dangerous twists and turns lying ahead if 

he stays in a negative state of mind in 

regard to his existence, I felt compelled 

as an individual of society, who crossed 

his path to give him the reassurance that 

he needed to hear. 

Society is partly defined as a 

“collective of humans,” and portions of 

society can either succeed or fail based on 

the upbringing of its youth. This is why 

they have to be observed, supported, and 

encouraged until they are prepared to 

mentally handle things on their own. 

Otherwise, we’ll have fewer dreamers, 

made to be believers, who eventually 

become achievers. 

21


Perry 

Busby 

22


The Hacks of Life 

Perry Busby says he’s still trying to find 

out who he is. But at the core, he’s a 

computer programmer with a love for 

literature and a passion for social 

activism. I guess you could say, he’s 

gone from writing code to writing 

books. 

His first published work, “It’s Time for 

Good People to Do Right,” was a short 

story for a political anthology called 

HOWL 2016!: Poems, Rants, and Essays 

about the Election. It was a story about 

a man who has a Facebook Live 

conversation with a visitor from the 

future, on the night Donald Trump is 

elected. 

He will be releasing his debut novel, 

The Hacks of Life, a general fiction with 

a hint of mystery, in October 2017. 

When asked why he wanted to become 

an author, he responded, “Second to 

reading, writing is my favorite pastime. I 

learned from an early age that it was an 

effective tool for self-expression. For a 

kid who wasn’t too outgoing, I found 

writing to be a subtle but selfish way to 

get my point across without being 

interrupted. Also, I have always 

dreamed of seeing books with my 

name on a library shelf. So, I’ve been on 

this mission to discover those books.” 

As a book lover, he tends to read 

several books at once. “I’m currently 

reading Stephen King’s, A Bazaar of 

Bad Dreams; The Underground 

Railroad by Colson Whitehead, and 

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult. 

When he starts writing a book, he 

prefers a quiet room with a jazz playlist 

pumping through his earphones. If he 

was asked to write a story about his life, 

he said, “Without hesitation, the title 

would be, Risking It All. I am a risk-taker. 

However, I don’t believe in taking 

stupid risks. That’s not to say that I 

haven’t done stupid things, I just try 

hard not to do stupid things in risky 

times.” 

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Perry notes: “I was a very late adapter 

to eBooks. Knowing that sounds hard 

to believe for someone who’s 

constantly works with technology. I 

prefer traditional books, but enjoy the 

convenience of eBooks. Perry’s 

advice for aspiring authors 

pondering entering this business, 

“Don’t write in a vacuum. Focus on 

improving your craft, versus being 

published. 

It took me a few years to complete 

The Hacks of Life. There was a myriad 

of reasons for the delay, but when I 

compare the first draft to the final 

version, the improvement is quite 

noticeable. Finally, find 

encouragement in another author’s 

success, and cherish the wisdom of 

authors who share their struggles. 

Their setback will propel you past 

many unnecessary obstacles.” Mr. 

Busby took the plunge and created 

his own publishing company, 

Buzzword Publishing. When I asked 

why, he responded, “I hadn’t planned 

on it initially. After years of being a 

self-employed IT consultant, I was 

looking to hang the “Closed” sign on 

my business and start over. I began to 

research and listen to other Indie 

authors, and soon decided that 

establishing a publishing company 

was the next logical step. I also 

24 

wanted to establish a business in 

which my children could make 

meaningful contributions. Working 

with them on plot ideas and 

marketing strategies has been a 

mixed bag of nuts, but I’ve enjoyed 

every minute.” Perry wants to 

develop his own brand and be 

known for writing cool nerd stories 

from an African-American 

perspective. “With over thirty years in 

the tech industry, most of them being 

the only African-American in the 

group, I have had the privilege to 

experience and be a part of some 

amazing events, while struggling to 

overcome stereotype and prepare 

the next generation of young 

computer scientists.” 

The eBook will be available for preorder 

on Amazon. Readers can follow 

him on Facebook (Perry Busby), 

Twitter @pbuzz3, Instagram 

author_pbuzzbee. 

Mr. Busby sums it up as, “My dream 

is traveling the country in an RV, 

writing books and training future 

programmers.” 

That sounds like a wonderful dream 

to me. Let’s help him make it come 

true. 

.


25


FELICIA THOMAS 

Don’t Just Be a Writer – Be a Wise Reader 

Authors are so focused on being writers, 

sometimes they forget to be readers. 

Information that’s right in front of their 

faces goes totally unnoticed. That is, until 

someone points it out and they feel, well, 

stupid. 

“Oh, I was looking too hard!” or “I don’t 

know how I missed that!” 

These excuses might be innocuous and 

harmless when it comes to reading a 

menu, or directions to a particular 

location, or instructions for putting 

together a shoe rack. It can be disastrous 

when it comes to contracts. 

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had 

to counsel people after they’ve entered 

into some unholy situation with the 

stroke of a pen. They inevitably tell me, 

“That’s not what they said.” 

26 

My legal training simply fortified what I’d 

learned over the years – when entering into 

a relationship with someone who benefits 

from that relationship, do not never trust 

their interpretation of anything you have to 

sign. In this fast-paced world, people want 

to rush you through documents so they can 

get on to the next person. 

STOP! 

Be a wise reader. Read every line. Your 

signature carries great weight. It’s priceless. 

However, put it on a document you don’t 

understand, and you’ll learn there is a great 

cost to signing without reading. Take your 

time. Ignore the attitudes. Put your glasses 

on and sit down. 

This is never truer than in our profession as 

authors. From editors to publishers, we need 

to read the contracts we sign to bring our 

books to life. Excitement may cloud our 

judgment and our eyes. You can taste that 

book, so you’re inspired to sign something 

to get you that much closer to holding it in 

your hands. 

If you can’t be objective about the contracts 

you encounter, be an even wiser reader by 

hiring a lawyer to review them. Many will 

scoff at the idea. Why pay all that money 

just to have a high-priced, ambulance chaser 

interpret something that I’m intelligent 

enough to figure out?


Don’t Just Be a Writer – Be a Wise Reader 

It’s just like buying a used car when you 

are not a mechanic. The car looks good. 

The car drives well. The seller says it’s a 

great car. So, you skip out on having a 

mechanic check it out to save a few bucks. 

Then, you drive it off into the sunset, and 

that’s where it breaks down, never to run 

again. You can’t get your money back – 

it’s an “as is” sale. In other words, your 

“as is” out-of-luck. 

You are entering into a legal relationship 

with someone or some entity that can 

impact you for years to come. You may 

have to review several pages of singlespaced 

type with a million legal references 

that you don’t understand. You’re 

intelligent enough to figure it out, though. 

What if your interpretation is wrong? 

What if the publishing house retains the 

copyright to your novel for 10 years 

whether your novel is a best-seller or not? 

You missed that, so you have to wait 10 

years to get your rights back to sell the 

book yourself. 

What if the independent publishing 

contract you just signed requires you to 

pay the publisher royalties for two years? 

You missed that, so for every dollar you 

make on your books, you owe the 

publisher the cost of the book, plus a 

portion of whatever’s left over. 

Build into your budget the services of an 

attorney to review all of your contracts. 

Spend the money up front to protect 

yourself on the back end. Most attorneys 

should be able to review and interpret the 

contract. However, an attorney who 

specializes in entertainment law is 

certainly one you'd want to cultivate a 

relationship with. Keep in mind – an 

attorney who specializes in a certain field 

may charge more than an attorney who 

does not specialize. 

If an attorney is a family member, friend, 

or acquaintance, don’t ask them to just 

“take a look at this.” Pay the person for a 

few hours of their time. It’s worth it to get 

their full, professional advice on the 

matter. 

After all, you don’t want your mechanic 

friend to walk around the car once and tell 

you it looks good. That mistake will make 

you feel stupid, broke, and brokenhearted. 

Making Legalese a Little Easier. 

feliciathomas917@hotmail.com 

27


28


Philly 

Weeden 

Philly takes pride in supporting fellow black 

authors. Support and networking among 

black authors is vitally important due to his 

personal experience of being ignored when 

becoming a writer. Many well-known 

published authors and writers refused to 

share their blueprint of success with him. 

Love and relationships 

Philly will do anything to help and support 

others desiring success. While Philly just 

received a copy of Zane’s new book, 

Renegade, he also takes a personal route of 

supporting one of his favorite local authors, 

Mr. Tito Bradley, We Got Issues (A 

Conversation about Black Love and 

Relationships, Volume 1) and Reciprocation. 

He sees the drive and passion in this new 

author’s transition and admires his work. 

Mr. Philly Weeden’s focus is love and 

relationships. He believes in building and 

mending the heart. Originally, did not want to 

write a book. He posted quotes and statuses 

on social media where his fans and followers 

encouraged him to write. Philly believes, it’s 

not about the content of the book before 

purchasing it. But once it’s marketed, the 

content is key. Marketing plays a major role 

in your book’s success. 

When writing a book, Philly has a process 

of staying around inspiring things which 

helps in staying focused and motivated. He 

said, “The main thing is to know what you 

are working on and build from there. When 

capturing the audience’s attention, you are 

able to keep their attention. It’s easy to call 

someone to come and talk to you, but when 

that person shows up and is standing in 

front of you, you have to give them 

something for their time and attention.” 

29


LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS 

Do Better”, under his belt and is currently 

working on his third book. 

FIND OUT MORE AT: 

www.PhillyWeeden.com 

If Philly were writing his memoir, it would be 

titled, Not Looking Back, which was a title 

given to him by an article written about him; 

and he has loved it since then. He does not have 

any intentions of looking back, only forward 

progress for him. Philly says, “It’s nothing 

wrong with being a copycat as long as you are 

copying the right cat!” As for his brand, it’s a 

bit impossible to sum up as he’s a jack-of-alltrades. 

With writing books, playwrights, or 

whatever he chooses to do, he gives it all one 

hundred percent. 

Philly wants readers and supporters to know 

that he’s a really awesome guy. A lot of people 

are misguided by a perception of him but once 

they meet him, they say he’s down to earth. 

Philipé Winston Weeden is a Designer, Model, 

Ex-Professional Football Player, Public 

Speaker, Author, Playwright, and now Screen 

Writer. He has two published books titled 

“REALationship Breakdown Philly Style: 

Based on Real Life Experiences” and “The 

Black Man's Guide: If You Knew Better You'd 

30


31


Quentin Talley 

Acclaimed for multiple talents, Quentin Talley is an 

accomplished poet, actor, director, and producer. 

Quentin is Founder and Artistic Director of OnQ 

Performing Arts, a 2012 recipient of the inaugural 

Leadership U Fellowship, administered by Theater 

Communications Group and funded by The Andrew 

Mellon Foundation, and 2003 graduate of Winthrop 

University with a BA in Theatre Performance. 

Quentin is a kid from the south in love with art and 

producing work about black people. He became 

involved in theatre in the first grade. It was in his tenthgrade 

year that his English teacher made him write six 

or seven poems, which introduced him to his love for 

art. He’s a social justice and conscious poet more than 

anything and has helped playwrights by producing their 

work. 

Quentin believes that poetry and playwrights go hand in 

hand and that theatre is a niche that people enjoy as life 

has a bit of theatre. Live theatre is moving and people 

are seeing the importance of live performances. 

Quentin believes it is important for 

black children to find mentors and if 

older and experienced, find mentors to 

pass along the history and also teach 

mentees about the ups and downs of the 

industry. Donate to theatre or be an 

investor. Quentin is currently reading, Medical 

Apartheid by Harriet A. Washington, but his favorite 

author is Amiri Baraka – Dutchmen, Black Arts 

Movement. 

As a writer, he is trying to point out his thoughts in a 

way that it makes sense to readers. He wants readers to 

read and learn more on the history of entertainment. He 

stated, “Without the black history of music, art, and 

theatre, we would not be as involved in entertainment 

and arts. By learning the history, you learn more about 

black people.” If Quentin had the opportunity to write a 

book on his life experience, it would be titled, Home 

Grown. 

Currently he’s working on his eleventh season of 

shows in Charlotte, NC. This season runs from 

September 2017 to May of 2018. He is able to do 

shows by applying for grants and raising funds. 

Making work that’s authentic is key and OnQ focuses 

on educating people about classic and contemporary 

work, (i.e. Ed Cullings, August Wilson). 

For ten seasons, OnQ has featured artists with amazing 

performances celebrating our mission to educate and 

produce, classic, contemporary, and original works 

reflecting black experiences. Quentin is working on a 

new project, “Intergalactic Soul,” which is releasing 

this fall. 

Quentin believes it is important to have sources like 

Book Cover Magazine, because it is imperative for 

people to know who is working and putting out great 

work in their local communities. 

32


33


Amani’s Lounge 

My name is Amani Nigia Williams. I am 17 years old 

and the author of Peace Poems: Created to Promote 

Welcome readers, 

April, the main library always has a Teen Poetry Jam, 

which I had attended in the past. My mom was 

supposed to be one of the judges there, but I told her I 

wanted to participate in the event, so she couldn’t be a 

judge. My mom was so surprised because she didn’t 

even know I’d been writing poetry. 

Ever since then, I’ve been creating poetry and enjoy 

sharing my poems with the world. After the poetry jam, 

I told my mom I wanted to publish my poems. She said 

that I needed to have at least 50 poems before she 

would consider helping me publish them. She gave me 

a deadline, and it was the last day of December 2015. 

Guess what? I made the deadline and was published at 

the age of 15. I am still writing to this day and trying to 

get my next poetry book out. 

My first book signing was at the main library 

downtown. The youth librarian, Ms. Baldwin, invited 

me to sell my book at their twenty-fifth anniversary 

celebration. She placed me at a table with my mom, 

Barbara Joe Williams, and a lot of my friends came out 

to support me. I was very thankful and I didn’t even 

care about how many books I sold. But once it was 

over, I had sold at least 20 books and that was good 

enough for me. 

Peace (January 2015). I want to talk to my readers 

about how I started writing. My journey began when I 

was 14 years old. I secretly wrote poems because it 

gave me something productive to do in my free time. In 

I want to encourage any youth writers out there who are 

struggling to get their work out to keep writing. When 

you have a dream, you cannot let anybody stop it from 

coming true. 

Peace, Hope, and Happiness. 

34


35


UNMASKING THE MAGIC of Writing 

By Suzette D. Harrison 

escorted inquiring minds into the deep. I invite 

you, “aspiring writer,” to join the journey. 

Together, let’s unmask this magical world of 

writing. 

But first a disclaimer: There is no magic! 

Writing is art. It’s discipline. Writing requires 

passion and patience. Writing is as simple as 

finding stillness, listening and letting your 

thoughts unfold as they will. Writing’s 

exhilarating and exasperating. Got that? Good. 

Let’s go! 

Un-Magic Potion #1: “The Brain 

Hurricane” 

Three people. Seven Days. One inquiry: “How 

do I write my book?” 

Was it a trick to test my ignorance and my 

intelligence? A singer sings. A dancer dances. A 

writer writes. Right? 

Why would these wonderful souls ask me how 

to write? Obviously, my “I Don’t Get It” 

outweighed my intelligence. Thankfully, God 

cracked me in the head and enlightened my life. 

In my hurting-head defense, that basic question 

had me going until I realized it wasn’t basic. A 

subtle agenda was present. That elusive agenda 

popped up and waved at me. Ol’ sneaky thing! 

Those inquiring minds didn’t only want tactical 

and practical. They desired access and an escort 

into some sacred, magical universe where 

writing waited. So… I bandaged my head and 

Some writers have well-behaved muses. Others 

have mischievous muses who delight in Brain 

Hurricanes. The mind feverishly races. 

Seemingly “random” thoughts and 

“nonsensical” plots bombard at inopportune 

moments. (Like church. Or when Honey needs 

you…) Anyhoo! Remain excited. That’s a story 

creating a hurricane in you. Make this pledge 

here and now: I will not squash my brain 

hurricanes. I will let them blow. And flow. 

UN-MAGIC POTION #2: “Your Tool Kit” 

These tools are so awesome. You ain’t even 

ready for them! Take a deep breath before 

reading this list of awesomeness: Computer. 

Pencil. Paper. Pen. Dictionary. Thesaurus. 

Sticky notes. Note pad. That’s that!That, fellow 

scribes, is the bare bones basics of your writer’s 

tool kit. Choose which tool(s) suit you best. 

36



Do you prefer to sit with your electronic device 

and write? Do you like papery sheets from dead 

trees? You could be a combo creator who uses 

both at will. Perhaps you love the melodiousness 

of your own voice; or have a physical condition 

that prevents you from typing. Kindly consider a 

voice recorder, or voice recording app such as 

Dragon. (They’re especially good while driving). 

Whatever your chosen methodology, you will 

write. 

Writing tools must be ready when Brain 

Hurricanes hit. No having wonderful story ideas 

and telling yourself “I’ll remember it,” then ten 

minutes later, the thought evaporates and 

disappears. Store your tools in various places: 

the kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, car, etc. Be 

ready to capture that ‘cane. Special note: When 

capturing your brain hurricane, there is no 

editing! You simply catch the words as they 

come, raw and unadulterated. 

UN-MAGIC POTION #3: “Time Line” 

Let’s talk time. Not the time you designate for 

writing, but linear versus “random” dotting. 

What do I mean? I’ll restate a question I was 

asked: “Where do I start my story?” My answer: 

Start at its hot spot. An idea is plaguing you, 

inciting Brain Hurricanes and hollering, “Write 

me, pretty please!” That idea won’t let you sleep. 

That’s your hot spot crying for release. 

“But this hot spot happens in chapter ten. I’m 

still on two!” is your comeback? Don’t get 

tricked. Plots and thoughts don’t always march 

in chronological cadence to the tune of “Keep it 

Neat.” If you’re a plotter (a writer who plots 

your story before writing), try plotting on sticky 

notes. This allows you to move and shuffle 

concepts. Writers are part architect. You will 

piece this thing together until beautifully 

coherent. Whatever you do, don’t douse the fire 

37 

or stop the music. Be flexible, not stiff. Writing 

is fluid. Don’t command and demand your story 

to line up with you. Learn to flow and dance 

with it. 

UN-MAGIC POTION #4: “Mood” 

Mood is simple: set it! Create a personal, private 

cave conducive to your craft. Arrange your space 

so that it invites you to do what you want, which 

is write. You are the maestro of the mood. Use 

tools such as music, lighting, fragrance, and 

flavor to set the stage. (Did you know that 

peppermint is a mental stimulant? Church lady 

candy: now there’s some magic!). When your 

stage is set, take a quick moment to clear your 

mind. Pray. Meditate. Laugh. Dance. Again, 

whatever it takes, do you. But set that ambiance. 

Not only are you relaxing and opening yourself, 

you’re seducing and welcoming your muse. 

don’t argue. 

UN-MAGIC POTION #5: “The Potpourri Pot” 

Let me go gumbo and pour some final thoughts. 

•Write when you write, whether it’s day or night. 

There’s no right or wrong time. 

•Don’t follow trends. Create from the heart first, 

then the head. Confidence is key! 

.Suzette D. Harrison, the award-winning author 

of Taffy, is a West Coast native and voracious 

reader whose dream life is filled with books. A 

school librarian and pastry chef, whipping up her 

next release …without potions, lotions, or other 

mystical nonsense.



•Don’t expose your unpublished baby (i.e. story) 

to everyone. You’re both vulnerable. Be a good 

guardian and share your work (if at all) with only 

those you truly trust. 

•Multiple caves are okay! Home office. 

Starbucks. Your local library. Sometimes, you 

have to change it up. The muse likes to move. 

•Set a timer for ten minutes and do nothing 

except write! 

•Don’t compare your gift with others. You’re 

uniquely you. 

•Learn to listen. When your muse speaks, don’t 

argue. 

THE REAL ELIXIR 

In hindsight, I understand the true crux of that 

initial “how to” question. Those precious souls 

were seeking affirmation, authentication, and 

encouragement. They needed to know their 

stories were worthy of life and breath. The 

personal pursuit of a dream is often intimidating. 

Still, tea leaves, cat bones, and grave dust aren’t 

necessary. Inhale. Exhale. 

Suzette D. Harrison, the 

award-winning author of 

Taffy, is a West Coast native 

and voracious reader whose 

dream life is filled with books. 

A school librarian and pastry 

chef, Suzette is whipping up 

her next release …without 

potions, lotions, or other 

mystical nonsense. 

38


39


JL King: On the Down Low 2 

Interview 

- by Barbara Joe Williams 

20 historically black colleges and universities 

(HBCU’s). King is also working on his 18th 

book and splits his time between Brooklyn, NY, 

and Atlanta, GA. He recently sat down with 

Book Cover Magazine to grant us a special 

interview. 

International speaker and New York Times Best 

Selling author JL King appeared in several 

national and international publications, 

including: Newsweek, Time Magazine, Ebony 

Magazine, Essence, Jet (cover), The New York 

Post, The Washington Post, and The Chicago 

Tribune. He has also appeared as a special guest 

on many television shows, including: The 

Oprah Winfrey Show (3 times), Inside Edition, 

ABC 20/20, CNN, and countless radio shows. 

He was listed in Ebony Magazine as one of their 

50 Most Intriguing Blacks and honored as an 

NAACP Image Award Nominee for 

Outstanding Literary Work. In 2006, King 

produced, The DL Exposed, an award-winning 

documentary broadcasted on Black 

Entertainment Television (BET). The 

documentary was the number-one watched 

program on BET that year. 

BCM: Tell us about the new book? 

I am excited about my new book, On the Down 

Low 2. It will be released 14 years after OTDL 

was released in 2004. I never thought I would 

write another DL book, but I was asked by so 

many of my fans to write an updated story. 

There are thousands of people who were young 

when the book came out and they need to know 

about DL behavior. However, there was one 

thing that made me move forward with this 

project. Several people asked me who I was 

because they had never heard of me, my book, 

or DL men. Of course, I was both shocked and 

hurt. 

King has spoken at over 200 universities, 

including: Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Ohio State, 

Michigan State, University of Miami, and over 

40


Yes, my feelings were hurt that these people 

from Mars had never heard of me. I have been 

working on this book for over a year. I wanted 

to give a lot of new information, but honestly, 

most of it was the same as 2004. What makes 

this new book and information different is the 

impact of social media and the biggest plus is 

that I have a story from a DL sister. I am 

excited to share her story. 

BCM: What do you hope to gain from 

revising this touchy subject? 

To bring awareness to women just like the first 

book did and educate women of all ages and 

races to be careful about who they give their 

bodies to. It is not just about HIV, it is about 

relationships based on honesty and truth. Being 

with a man who lies to a woman about his 

sexuality is as emotionally dangerous as getting 

HIV. I have met many women who have died 

spiritually and emotionally from learning their 

man has been having sex with other men. They 

could deal with him cheating on her with 

another woman, but they couldn’t compete 

with a man. This caused them to have selfesteem 

issues and question what they did 

wrong. In my new book, I will once again, 

remind women that it is not their fault and 

there’s nothing they could have done to stop 

him. I will continue to tell women this, so they 

don’t give up on finding love and an honest 

relationship if that is their desire. But, I will 

also tell them, never be desperate to have a 

man. Learn to love being single and putting 

self first. 

Yes, in fact, I have hired a top-notch tour 

manager who will be booking me and 

promoting the book. If it happens, I am ready 

for it. I love meeting fans when touring and 

conducting speaking engagements, especially 

at colleges and universities. I want to speak to 

this generation who were five or six years old 

when "being on the DL launched almost 

fourteen years ago. I’m looking forward to 

listening to them, seeing how they react to the 

behavior, and learning from them. 

BCM: Are you ready to be back in the 

spotlight? I read that you hated it when you 

were all over the news? I can’t answer that 

right now. I have prayed and asked God to 

guide me like He did in 2004. I prayed for Him 

to take control and send me where He wants to 

go. 

BCM: How do people find the book? 

I am only selling my book at: 

www.onthedownlow2.com and if it gets picks 

up by a distributor, it will be in bookstores 

around the country and abroad. 

BCM: Any parting comments? 

This book is based on the foundation of my 

first book, On the Down Low, and my book, 

Full Circle, which is my memoir. But it is 

better than all my other books. It is my going 

out book, and I want it to be the best. 

I’m looking forward to sparking conversations 

about relationships, teaching both men and 

women to live their true self, and love who 

they want to without any judgment or secrets. 

41


42


Hartsel Clifton Shirley Interview 


opinion, is that they are underrated. I literally ‘got 

my life’ when I would read books as a child. The 

current push for children to be proficient in math and 

science is good, but reading opens up the imagination 

– and life without imagination is not life.” 

Right now, he’s reading several books including, A 

Class Divided: Then and Now, by William Peters; 

Out At Home, an autobiography by Glenn Burke, and 

Lies My Teacher Told Me, a book that corrects the 

lies we have been taught in our history classes. 

Let’s welcome author Hartsel Clifton Shirley to 

Book Cover Magazine. He’s from Waterloo, Iowa. 

And so far, he has written one fictional book titled, 

Three Words Four Letters, published by Ishai Books, 

LLC. His debut novel spins a tale of intrigue and 

passion with its share of titillating moments 

throughout the book. However, it’s also part of the 

Three Words trilogy that he’s planning to release. 

When asked why he wanted to become an author, he 

responded, “There was no ‘want to become an 

author’ for me. I took to reading and writing quickly, 

and it came easily from grade school on. Writing is 

just a part of me.” 

Mr. Shirley describes his writing process for starting 

a book. “I usually have a motivating thought or idea, 

but I don’t write about it right away. I let it roll 

around inside my mind for a while before I write 

anything. Once I start writing, it’s a paragraph or so 

here and there, and I edit along the way.” 

If he had to write a story about his life, it would be 

titled, The Cost of Freedom. “I would call it that 

because my emerging as my own man out from 

under religious, social, cultural oppression was hard 

fought.” 

This is how he feels about eBooks, “I greatly prefer 

hard copy books. The experience of reading and 

handling a book is missed using eBooks. eBooks 

have their place in that they are convenient and less 

bulky, but the owning of a physical book can’t be 

traded.” 

Hartsel had this to say about the current status of 

books, “The current status of books, in my humble 

43


Clifton Shirley 


The best advice Hartsel would give to an 

aspiring author about this business is, “Write. 

Write. Write! Write in your own style and 

voice, you have a built-in audience waiting for 

you – you all just haven’t met yet. Let nobody 

discourage you – no matter who they are.” 

Mr. Shirley wants to connect with our readers. 

You all can reach him on Facebook, and order 

his books through the websites: 

3words4letters.com or 

HartselEntertainment.com 

Finally, Hartsel wants to share even more about 

himself and his work. “I write what I want. I 

don’t do so well with writing for other people. I 

write song lyrics as well, and I have a CD out 

called, Stay with Me. 

All lyrics were written by myself, except 

the places where I chose to have a friend 

insert his lyrical rapping genius. The CD is 

available on Bandcamp.com or 

CDBaby.com.” He added, “I am expecting 

to release the second book in July. 

The third book may be out late winter or 

early spring next year. My follow-up CD is 

likely to be out around the same time as the 

third book.” 

Currently, he’s working on a non-fictional 

story. “It’s about a death in my hometown that 

was ruled a suicide, but I have connected 

enough dots to call it what it was – a racially 

motivated murder.” 

Hartsel states, “My brand is love and truth. I 

was branded a ‘romantic warrior’ by a 

classmate years ago in college. It really struck 

me and stayed with me because we didn’t 

really know each other well and it was from 

pure observation. 

44


45


Maleah Solange Books 

Antwan Floyd Sr. is the owner of Maleah 

Solange Books located in Indianapolis, Indiana. 

He decided to open a bookstore because he 

originally 

Antwan believes that eBooks and ordering books 

online have impacted his business. “As an author, 

I can appreciate reaching readers across all 

platforms, but it can be a competitive industry. 

My titles are available on Amazon and in my store 

just to be able to reach more readers.” 

He also expressed his feelings regarding the 

importance of book reviews to published authors. 

“Every good review gives credibility and one 

hopes that every bad review makes a better author 

for the next novel.” 

Mr. Floyd is adamant about encouraging African- 

Americans to read and buy more books. He 

expresses several ways to accomplish this goal. 

“Visibility is crucial. Online and physical book 

clubs are a great way to support other AA authors. 

Most importantly, encourage kids to read at an 

early age.” 

had a kiosk to promote his own titles such as: 

Crew Love, Dope Fiction, and Piece Keeper. He 

said, “Independent authors would ask me to carry 

their titles and it grew into Maleah Solange 

Books. I have over twenty-five authors and 

weekly book signings.” 

He currently stocks all genres of independent 

authors, from children's titles to erotica. However, 

he’s seeking to expand titles in all genres; 

especially urban literature, children's literature, 

and science fiction. 

When asked about the state of black-owned 

bookstores, he replied, “They are definitely on the 

rise; though I don't think they get the (proper) 

exposure as other bookstores. As a black-owned 

business, you have to find ways to make your 

presence felt in the community.” 

In regards to the future for black authors, he 

stated, “I think as long as we grow from each 

other and support each other we will see black 

authors rising in all genres, and that will inspire 

young black authors to seek out writing programs 

and get their voices heard.” 

You can learn more about Mr. Floyd and his store 

on their Facebook page. 

Maleah Solange Books has consignment contracts 

available and look for details on the upcoming 

Self-Publishing Seminar in August. 

46


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2018 

105

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