Tony Johnson is soon to graduate from much more than high school. His zip code places him in a Bronx tenement, whilst his sights are set far beyond the trappings of a humble upbringing.

Collegiate dreams and dating a white classmate put Tony strongly at odds with his father. His sister's chastity is lost and his brother C.J.’s rebellious ways place him in danger on gang ruled streets. Tony is punished for the sins of his ambitions; loving Janet Mitchell blindly, and refusing to bend to their father's will. When Lionel Johnson’s job and role as primary breadwinner are lost, his authority erodes and bitterness is dealt with one drink at a time. Tony asserts his right to become his own man rather than allowing his fate to be set by chance and circumstance.

Through his debut novel, Pickering shows the world is neither as black nor as white as Tony or his father's opposing views might suggest.   "Pickering's style is fluid and crisp. There's a certain clarity to the prose that's considered and well judged - just enough to paint the picture and more than enough to drive along the narrative."  Khome

Sporadic Memories -it "is a play that is broken down through the trilogy, as well as stories of travels alone, recipes (poems), maybe songs or exact words that were / are spoken; it flows on and on.  As I was writing the novel, I imagined, well, my elder self telling me what my life could be...if I believed it so. Older people speak in a way that is sometimes difficult to follow; starting with something, moving on to something else, going back to the first thought, jumping to the end...etc, so this is exactly the way the entire trilogy reads...much like life, so much, well, too much going on for most of us these days, so why not do the things that fills our soul, instead that which takes from it."  Ali Marsman

"At first, i didn't know what to make of it and I was confused by the summary but then I was taken by its poetic nature and found it had a certain pull which captured my attention. I think it's very ambitious and wonder how you sustained the style. Sometimes if reads like individual stanzas, and sometimes the tense switches which is disconcerting and sometimes one wonders if it'll all hang together and amount to something whole or simply keep spinning out and out - I guess this is how it's meant to be."  Khome

"Some books you like to have within easy reach, they’re economical, well written and to the point. They're compact, concise and thought provoking. You can consult them, as you would an insightful adviser because they’re capable of dispensing the wit and wisdom you’ll find yourself in search of. They're full of life, a distillation of experience over time; somehow placing every day hills and valleys into perspective.   Letters to Myself, is one of these books.
It comprises a series of short (one pager) poems, essays and stories that together form a loose knit memoir that has through the sum of its parts the clarity, tenderness, pronounced force, and imaginative energy to inform, entertain and move emotionally.

There’s something eternally familiar in these pieces of work. Fire opens with the line ‘I’m not afraid to live and I’m not afraid to die, so if you’re thinking of killing me, go ahead and try.’ The author (alias Ha, Spirit) describes himself as a forty-something-year-old Londoner of Caribbean descent but there’s more than four decades of weight behind these texts. ‘I call it a ‘group soul mentality’, emenating from the evolutionary beginnings of my ancestral family…’, a line from DNA. In short, there’s no second guessing. No stereo-typing. This is a genuine original. Of course, it has some shade (some works are almost too short to register) as well as light. Still, I’d recommend it, for anyone seeking a concise literary life companion, to assist them in making sense of their own life and times." Khome - editor@unheardwords.com, 2008

Letters to Myself by Ha, Spirit

"The opening scene of Daughter Denied features Brother Floyd being handcuffed and led away from his family home by two plainclothes detectives. No sympathy is shown by his wife, Earnestine or youngest daughter, Tina, who as her stepfather is led away tries hard to conceal a smile. Thus, the three principle protagonists are set before us. The novel moves forward from this intro to involve us in the lives of these characters from late 60s to 70s. The narratives on this journey emerge through: Earnestine, a mother with four, destined to become five, children and two types of debilitating dependency, drugs and her husband (Brother Floyd); and Tina, Earnestine’s youngest daughter, who wrestles with the obvious differences in appearance between herself and the rest of the family, her short kinky hair, dark skin, full lips and wide nose, mark her out.

Daughter Denied by Alretha Thomas

The child is drawn to her mommy, perhaps seeking the love and acceptance that is not that easy to come by in a household subject to hard times, the uncertainty of parental feuds and the constancy of a chill wind, blown deliberately in her direction by her stepfather. The lives of the mother and children are punctuated by the goings and comings of Brother Floyd, a leopard not willing or able to change its spots. Between bouts in jail, Floyd’s stints with his wife and “family” cause a mix of disturbance and tension. Though his relationship with Earnestine blends love with hate, it adds little to the stability and well being of the children.

It’s the touching story of the precarious nature of these lives, their small steps and grand designs we’re called upon to engage with. An engagement weaved mainly through dialogue and letters which serve to drive the drama on, conveying the circumstances of the mother, seeking simply to endure and keep faith with the faithless antics of her husband; and the daughter, seeking despite the odds to find something good in herself upon which to develop. If there are some reservations about the writing, they concern the ‘straight telling’ style which sometimes sacrifices tone and texture for speech. This can make for a challenge, requiring the reader to contextualise implied emotions and scenic detail. Its strength lies in conveying the genuine difficulties of ‘chaotic’ / deprived family lives (set in the low hope American Projects) and in the resonance evoked through the eyes of an innocent child / come young woman. Whilst it is weaker in maintaining narrative drive, with description increasingly diminishing into plain spoken dialogue."  Khome - editor@unheardwords.com, 2008  -return home-

"You cannot fail to be moved, reduced to tears by the uncompromising ‘docu-narrative’ style account of one family’s traumatic journey through adversity and pain, towards self-realisation and personal growth.  Marlow portrays the insidious and soul destroying nature of domestic violence in ways that both reveal and compel  This deeply descriptive story sets down a legacy, that speaks loudly of the pain of four generations of women, required to hold themselves and their families together.  Hints at the pressures and frustrations that turn ideals of family into cycles of aggression and violence.  Asserts self-respect as a positive overarching message for womankind, whilst providing a call for mankind to sit up and start listening." Khome, editor@unheardwords.com  -return home-

Everyone has a story to tell; some are happy, others are sad. L. Y. Marlow's story 'color me butterfly' will break your heart, but will also give you hope. We are bringing this to you today because Marlow's story is one that needs to be told! -associated press release

	"It’s another day for Rahkel, and over the past few years, each day has presented its own challenges. 'Searchable Whereabouts' opens on the third anniversary of her son, Matthew’s death. We touch upon some of the grief that has resulted, as she wakes to face the memory of her loss.   Though today, as hinted by her horoscope, marks the start of something entirely different; ‘When searching for what you want, the answer lies in front of you…and comes to light when you least expect it’. As she goes about her job, book keeping at her Uncle Leon’s leasing company, she notices some unusual loans and payments. Her interest awakened, she beginnings to find her Uncle’s behaviour increasing odd.
Searchable Whereabouts by Tinish Nicole Johnson	When Leon suddenly leaves town and is later discovered to have died in a car accident, her suspicions are heightened.
	What lays behind the shady business deals?  What was her Uncle so keen to avoid or find?  Was it an accident or was he murdered?  Of course, it’s in reading on that we find the answer to all these questions, and some twists and turns besides. It may sound conventional in its crime-style plotting but it’s difference lays in a blend of the workaday domestic, private investigation and the uncovering of clues. Told through the initially ‘red…and tired’ eyes of Rahkel, the story involves us in her re-emergence into life, through healing reminiscence, relationships with family and friends, and growing trust in romantic love. In part the novel is uneven, some chapters appearing to spend too much time dwelling on areas removed from the central plot lines. Possibly this is the result of the author’s ambition; seeking to crisscross the day-in-the-life domestic with the hyper-overtones of criminal intent.  This makes for more of a thriller with charm than tension and suspense.  All the same it's an interesting thriller, with a domestic difference; behind the crimes there are always life-stories to be told."  Khome - editor@unheardwords.com, 2007

"Upon the canvas - a collection of verse, photographs and prose - Petronella Breinburg allows her thoughts on 45 years spent living in Britain, to flow. It's residence in Britain that provides a platform for a recollection that spans decades, countries and insights, based on a rich mix of cultural interactions.  From birth place Suriname, founding years spent in Guyana, and onto Britain, Breinburg has travelled widely and achieved much, overcoming barriers that would have halted many." Published 2007, ISBN 0-9549992-2-3 Price £6.99 plus £2.03 P&P

Thoughts of a Creole Woman: A Reminiscence by Petronella Breinburg (click for review)

"Bully Boss is a frank, open and personal account of unpleasant work experiences. A bullying manager can cause immeasurable pain and play havoc with one's psyche. At times I became bitter, angry and down in the dumps. Yes, I was stressed out, washed out and frustrated by my experience, but the ordeal was not just about me. It had consumed my psyche, and crushed my relationships. I was fortunate that the bonds in my family were too strong for it to dominate. I had no choice, I was determined to make it through." You can also Visit the authors blogspot.

Bully Boss  by Helen Christina

"Gumbo for the Soul" dares to call it like it is. This serving of Gumbo is a must-read for every parent, teacher, mentor and all who believe it is important that our children can read and		comprehend the English language." -- Tavis Smiley, Author, Television and Radio Host Due for release early 2007, paperback, USD24.95 US, non-fiction/edu., ISBN: 0-9790479-0-0
compiled by Beverly Black Johnson

by Elaine Newkirk

The House With Dirt Walls. By the time she was 13, Charlie had already experienced more heartache than most could bare. For Charlie and her 3 sisters everyday was a fight for life. Growing up in the tough streets of Brooklyn destined failure. Their mother's re-marriage introduced a stepfather who exposed them to new dangers. Determined to build a better life for herself, she presses on in search of happiness. Will she be able to overcome her past and find self worth or will her past continue to dictate the terms of her future.

Blind Temptations   by Lesley Hal

"Set in the world of African-American professionals, their wealth and relationships, blind temptations has at its core, interwoven stories of romance, dreams of romance, tales of misogynistic violence and the struggles of good-old modern day rich-living. If you like your characters on the wealthy side, the designer brand names to flow thick and fast, and the dialogue alone to tell the story, then this is another book for you. Populated with beautiful, self-assured (at least on the outside) and powerful women who despite all this, really seek the love of a good man, and confident handsome men who struggle, either to stay faithful to or with their women. The story tracks three lives:   Chante Michaels both happy, rich and living the ideal life with the ideal man -until that is, her happy home is challenged by the arrival of the sexy Paris;   Karissa Waters longs for her mother's acceptance but will she let this come between her and the man and life of her dreams?;   Michelle Ramsey is an expert at loving the wrong man, but hope is never far away in the shape of Greg Wallace. Just what will it take to convince her that Brandon's never going to change?

At heart, this is an old story about people's desire for more than they have, some men’s inability to respect women and racism in the workplace. A tale, brought up to date with the latest fashions, fads and 'wish I had' designer labels. It's style is in your face sensationalist and very little is left to the imagination. If all of this sounds appealing and in part it is - who could resist an insight into the worlds of the rich and powerful - there are some drawbacks. At 450 pages this book takes a long time to pour out the lives of its lightly sketched characters. A little more editing would have gone a long way towards preserving more of the exceptional and removing much of the mundane. There is much evidence of a talented author behind the scenes but many of the book’s scenes stretch the point just too far..." Khome, Sept 2006

by momowilly (monique  williams)

Neurotica (Lulu Publishing). An honest examination of urban sexual relations, marks the auspicious debut of author momowilly AKA Monique Williams. "A wizened voice culled from the urban aesthetic, Neurotica speaks to life with inspired imagination, arching range and stark candor. Not to mention prurience the likes of which we haven't seen since the hey-day of Iceberg Slim. A book in three sections: the Good, characterized in the main by wry, upbeat humor; the Bad, casts an unsparing bedroom light on those who know what's right but still insist on doing wrong; the Ugly, shows just how readily the worst can be drawn out in all of us." Dwight Hobbes (Mpls/St. Paul, Pulse of the Twin Cities, Insight News).

Whispers and Moans by Yeeshan Yang Also available at Whispers-Moans

"...The streets of Kowloon are home to a bewildering range of sex businesses but how do local prostitutes deal with the competition posed by mainland chinese women? Yang spent 12 months talking to those involved and this is just one of the questions she answers in her book."  Khome

"Wilson...should be commended on creatively combining 80+ years of ancestors and events in such a well organized and concise manuscript. Mary displays her black pride in the variety of family hues, from near white, and medium brown to ebony black. I recommend this book for all born in this melting pot called America." Judine Slaughter, http://www.eybooks.com/

Colorless Soul by Mary Wilson

Under Every Deep     by Lamonique Hamilton

"...The rich texture of Hamilton’s poetry brings the reader many pleasures, stimulating many senses of the mind with a reprise of views on themes old and new. Proving both insightful, touching and even lyrical..." Khome

A Rhythm in My Soul by Marina Kelley

"I recently read this very powerful book by a new author. The first two chapters blew me away. It's a book of poetry, but it's not the normal thing, it's powerful. It puts the spotlight on the black community, politics, and our role in it...it's definitely something a lot of people are going to be talking about." -Madison Jones

"I felt that this book should target ages 6 and older because at age 6, children are still very impressionable and have hard issues to deal with amongst their peers, just as older children do. The reasons I wrote this book are complicated. I believe that within the black (African American) community there are underlying issues that prevent some from making progress. Consider, a people casually using a derogatoryterm towards one another -that was once used against them. I can't figure out why we would do that? I asked myself that for a very long time. I hear children as young as 4 or 5 using the word 'nigga', but I never hear anyone admonish them for it.

"Don't Call Me Nigga"      By Zekita Tucker

I am a believer of 'words having power' and in my mind, if children are taught to stay away from negative language and behaviour, then we surely will have a chance in the days to come. These are the issues that are covered in the book. The book is written like any other child's story except the situation is more realistic." the author

" I am deep in your book and ready for this evening's bedtime installment "Arguments". That promises to be a "right rivetting read". I am enjoying the book very much and think it is very brave of you both to delve deep into your relationship and bare your souls to the world in print! It is very easy to read and carries one along in the story of your lives together with ease. I think a lot of your problems and triumphs are very close to home for any couple whatever their colour, religious bent etc and it is really intersting to read how your lives together have panned out...The warmth and humour shines through in your writings and I think the way you have written it with both of your sides of the various chapter headings and then your little summaries at the ends is inspired..." Dee and John -reader review 2007

One Love Two Colours by Bobby Smith & M. Oshindele-Smith

Butter Brown     by Torrance Stephens

"...book abounds with funky fresh prose. I found myself marveling at both Stephens' poetic command of language and the fact that he is somewhat unsung..." rawsistaz.com

"This book comprises thirty poems, free verse & rhyme. Eve’s subject matter covers just about everything in life, including: life, love, separation and self-esteem." Eve Hall resides in Atlanta, GA. She has been writing for more than 35 years.

Enter Eve's Poetic Paradise by Evelyn D. Hall

Human Trial is am apocalyptic tale that focuses on race, human relationships and the survival of the humanity. A ragtag collection of Americans (fiercely led by Daron Turner and his pregnant co-worker Regina Jackson) struggle to survive after intergalactic invaders use advanced technology to adversely alter the earth’s climate. The survivors, a scattershot group of humans gather together and the stress takes its toll. Through comings and goings, individuals reach collective consensus - in order to work together effectively, they must overcome personal prejudices. The invaders, of course, have their own plans for the futher of human kind. "I enjoyed the sample pages I read of this novel. I like the very immediate way in which the author describes events, the pace, the promise of the characters and particularly the opening banter between Daron and Regina - all bodes well.   It seems like a real page turner and that's no bad thing; an unlikely tale, but with 'real' life-like characters..." - Khome 2009

by Barry Nelson

The McKenzie Files (by Barry K. Nelson, Leucrota Press).   "I've only read a couple of chapters but this scifi tale certainly seems to zip excitedly along..." (Khome).  A synopsis of Nelson's plot - the United Protectorate (human's of the future) is at war with a reptillian race (the Brelac). Genetically engineered copies of Humans, with specalised abilities, called Reploids are created to fight for the Brelac. Colin McKenzie (of the title) is a Reploid who's captured and re-programmed to fight for the Protectorate. Whilst the Reploids' true creator is working on a weapon which threatens to to bring the United Protectorate to it's knees.

"A highly readable story of space, time and exploration, which does a good job at blending science with fiction and slightly less well at blending characters into the action. When the dreams of the wife (Caroline) of a prominent citizen of the biosphere flagship, Centauri Princess, turn out to be prophetic, the governing authority decides drastic action is required.    A small crew of astronauts / specialists is assembled and a mission commences in search of new sources of fuel on the relatively nearby planet, 'Delta Ice'.    When the crew arrive at their destination they discover there’s more to this galactic outpost than the potential seams of Uranium they seek. Could this desolate world hold the real secret to Caroline’s premonitions? The book manages to convince through its imaginative and scientifically plausible portrayal of a future environment populated by humans journeying through space. However, creating realistic characters within a setting that’s culture and technology is way beyond our present comprehension, is never going to be easy. This difficulty is evident at times when thin inconsistently drawn characters, encounter extraordinary situations and fail to react in entirely believable ways. The attention to context, which is positive in creating a realistic sense of the future, also tends to slow the pace of the book; with much scene setting inevitably detracting from the narrative drive. Overall, an enjoyable novel, with just a touch too much science, getting in the way of the character fiction." Khome (editor@unheardwords.com), 2007

"First Ark to Alpha Centauri 2: The True Price of Immortality " By  A. Ahad

Click image for details

"This is a writers’ resource guide that fits neatly into a slot often neglected by other ‘how to’ books on writing. It’s aimed at ‘self-marketing’ authors (a phrase I love), and covers that vital expanse of time between producing a manuscript that’s fit for publication, and getting your book into the hands of paying readers.  As such the guide presents a sobering take on the challenges facing the author who chooses or feels compelled to market their own book. If previously you’d thought that all the work was in the writing of your book, this guide will certainly help you to reconsider. As Lois J. Peterson puts it in the foreword: ‘The bad news is, it’s not over yet. If writing, editing, designing, and publishing the book is half of the journey, making sure it finds its way into the reviewer’s, bookseller’s,…reader’s hands, is the other half.’ Not to worry, the contents of this book provide the ‘good news’, concentrating as they do on understanding and managing that second critical half - promoting your book.

Purple Snowflake Marketing: How to make your book stand out in a crowd by Dave and Lillian Brummet

No doubt in clearly setting out some of the obstacles that lay in wait for the brave author turned marketer, this guide performs a valuable and thought provoking function. More than this though, it goes on to explore the subject of promoting a book seriously and offers much needed assistance by presenting the essential ingredients of a comprehensive marketing plan.

The guide’s authors present tips, advice and ideas in a plain and straightforward way, making the book very accessible and easy to read. They include a variety of pertinent topics, including; writing and attracting reviews, building an audience and preparing press releases. I think this guide has something to offer to those considering or in the process of self-publishing. It’s also relevant to those who are simply interested in what it takes to successfully market a book. And whilst I don't pretend to understand what this all has to do with 'Purple Snowflake Marketing', the guide is genuinely filled with good ideas to 'make your book stand out in the crowd'."  Khome (editor@unheardwords.com), 2007

THE VACANT PEWS: "Why Aren't My African American Brothas Going To Church?"

"Most would agree that the church remains our strongest institution. If so, why are the pews vacant? What's occurring in our churches that might be contributing to this decline? In an effort to empower our future leaders, consideration must be given to the awesome task of developing the whole individual. Many questions and answers are posed by this controversial topic." -by James Branch

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For the free opportunity to promote your own work email editor@unheardwords.com (editor@unheardwords.com).

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