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SLR:  Who influenced you growing up?

EDC: Mary Glass was my high school librarian. Mrs. Glass instilled in me the art of being a lady. Mrs. Glass was a chocolate, petite, Delta Diva — very refined in every sense of the word. All my life I wanted to be like her and to make her proud in my accomplishments. She was the first person to discuss college with me, vacationing, acquiring the finer things in life and the first adult to show me what Black people could do more than work at a factory!  Because of Mary Glass, I graduated in the top 10 of my senior class and went on to become the business owner you are meeting today. Mrs. Glass died of breast cancer 2 months after my graduation, but she lives on in my daily walk. She whispers in my ear daily to calm down! I can hear her clearing quoting her favorite phrase to me, “I choose to walk the path least taken, knowing that God is with me.”

As the president of EDC Creations and The Sankofa Literary Society, located in Prince George County, Maryland, Ella D. Curry’s firm provides press kits, graphic design, website design, and branding to small and medium-sized businesses, authors of all literary genres, and individuals.  EDC Creations’ specialization in Internet book promotions, publishing website and marketing materials for new authors is boosting their success rates and educating them on how to turn their passion into lasting lucrative careers in the world of publishing.  Dedicated to Curry’s other loves, which include children, literacy and the preservation of African American history, is the Sankofa :Literary Society , which offers authors, artists, reviewers, journalists and book clubs an array of innovative services.  Incorporating various media formats, Curry, through an Internet radio talk show — Black Authors Network Radio — , Curry brings together authors, publishers and community leaders to discuss the issues that are important to our communities locally and on a global scale.  

SLR:    Please Ms. Curry, Tell us about your early life and education?

EDC: I grew up in the South, the Deep South. Diana Green, my great grandmother, Elizabeth Cook, my grandmother and first mentor, were my very first teachers, there after I continued my formal education at CACC Community College, University of Alabama, Birmingham, and later at the University of Maryland, University College. The lessons that I use daily in life did not come from my college education. They all come from my interaction with the PEOPLE God sent to guide and educate me. My angels come from all walks of life and bring about a myriad of curriculums for Ella Curry. My education continues daily as I meet people who share information or history I didn’t possess. My grandparents instilled me values and standards that no degree could ever out shine. With the simple basics in understanding “the golden rule”, I have grown so much more than a few letters behind my name. Common sense, a feeling of purpose and genuine compassion for your brothers and sisters can bring so much more success in life.

As a successful writer, your career involves more than just writing good material. While producing the best written work is the core of any writing career, getting the attention your work deserves is an important component of your career and is no longer just the responsibility of your agent or publisher. Additionally, it begins long before you land that writing contract or in some cases before you’ve typed “The End” on the final draft of your literary masterpiece.

That’s why it’s crucial to incorporate the business side of your writing career as soon as possible. I’ve introduced you to the benefits working with a publicist in book marketing. It is also important in terms freelance writing as well. We’ll talk more about that later. This series of articles will re-introduce you to Ella D. Curry and EDC Creations. I first told you about Ms. Curry and EDC Creations in August when I wrote the first installment of Author Marking Essentials.

Join me know as we learn more about Ms. Ella D. Curry, EDC Creations and what she is planning for black and multicultural authors, community leaders and the changing face of literacy now and for years to come.

Senti is book one of the Jackwill Chronicles. Told in the first person from Major Jack Waco’s perspective, the first half of this Sci-fi futuristic voyage is fast-faced and multilayered as we learn of Waco’s self-imposed life of a loner and the barriers he’s build around his emotions. He trains a new galaxy ship pilot–Maggie Wilson, takes down a conspiracy involving a bacterium and a vaccine plus discovers a new series of planets.  In the second half of the novel, Pickle details the adventures of Jack and Maggie as they work through their emotional barriers involving past loves while developing the environment of the series of planets and fighting galaxy terrorists interested in the riches of the new planet cluster.

While second half of the book was a little slower than the first, I really enjoyed Jack’s adventures. Some of the tender moments between Maggie and Jack were genuinely sweet while others were a little stilted. The first person perspective was a little stiff at times but it played nicely into Jack’s loneliness. As the book progressed, I genuinely wanted to see Jack and Maggie together and found the development of their emotional intimacy genuine. The book ends with a direct indication of more adventures to follow and I look forward to them. Pickle’s use of multicultural secondary characters fit nicely in Sable Lit Review’s focus. I give Senti four out of five Sable Seals.

Format: Print

Publisher: Trytium Publishing

Amazon Price: $11.01

I’ll keep this short and sweet so that you can enjoy U2. As a writer, sometimes pictures and pictures in motion say it all. That’s why we wordsmiths embrace tunes while we write, book trailers for our latest creations, beautiful covers to entice our readers and photo stills to inspire us.

May you find every image you need to challenge, motivate and reward you this new year, 2009! Happy New Year!

When I came out from under the holiday blanket I was under over the last few days, I realized that the loss of another big star has taken place. For me anyway, the year always seems to end with the passing of another huge cultural contributor. The year usually ends with a great sense of anticipation for what is about to come and a sense of reflection on what will cease to be. As with anything in life, I’ve learned nothing is all bad or all good. Everything has a balance of these traits it’s all about how we think of them.

I briefly checked the news headlines and email to discover the passing of Eartha Kitt. Born in January of 1927, Eartha Mae Keith was born in the cotton fields of South Carolina to a mother of African American and Cherokee decent and a father of German-Dutch descent. A cinema and stage icon, Kitt tantalized us with her unusual looks and her sultry visual persona.

While Kitt was a little before my generation, she had that name recognition and that visual appeal that caused her talent and contributions to be accepted without question. Staking her seat in film, stage and behind the mic since 1948, it makes me think about how the multi-formatted performer is not new and multicultural icons are not so unusual–maybe not unusual but definitely deserving of attention for its own sake. Certainly, Kitt’s professional persona was geared toward African Americans, because of the era where it only took a drop to place you in that category. But with audiences around the world paying tribute to her career and her passing, it makes me appreciate all the more what can come from a series of challenges.

Rest in peace, Ms. Kitt. Thank you for giving us a sense of what professional class and beauty can be both on stage and off.

 Today, we have another special short story from GW Pickle.  I like his writing in that he captures emotion and writes about characters we come to care about in such a few amount of words. At first, I didn’t want to use this picture because it seems so bland, but once you read his story, you’ll see it is perfect. Enjoy GW Pickle’s My Uncle’s Gift and know that a review of his book SENTI is coming up shortly. It’s next on my review list–finally!

My Uncle’s Gift

By GW Pickle

I was born in the early fifties and My Mom, widowed when I was three, had her hands full raising me. She had help from my Grandmother and sometimes her brother. I always thought my Uncle Chuck was cool. He was a WWII veteran, owned a picture framing business, made lots of money, and was very generous. He lived about an hour away and frequently drove down to either fix something for my Grandmother or do something for my Mom. Uncle Chuck was a big spender and loved to do things with me. “You know kid, with your Dad and your Grandpa gone, someone got to teach you things they don’t in school.” He taught me how to hunt and fish, how to play ball, and how to be a man. He took me places when my Mom couldn’t. Owning a neighborhood Gas and Grocery store kept her busy. I helped out as much as I could, but most of the work and worry fell on her shoulders. My Uncle Chuck also had a big problem. He was an alcoholic. I can’t remember him not having a beer.

            Mom also had another sister and a second brother. He lived on the west coast and only came to visit every three to four years. Every year Uncle, Bill would send a Christmas card to my Mom and Grandma. My Grandma’s card would have a check so she could get what she wanted. My Aunt had four children and we got together twice a year, Christmas and during the summer, when we drove my Grandma to visit. We would go back two weeks later and pick her up. Every other year my aunt and her kids would come to our house to celebrate Christmas. Christmas dinner was always held at Grandma’s. We would eat our Christmas meal around eleven and open presents after dessert. We would gather around the tree and either my Mom or Aunt would pass out the gifts.
            One year, I must have been nine or ten years old, my Uncle Chuck was late. He’d missed the Christmas meal and we had just finished passing out gifts when he arrived, drunk, very drunk. I could tell something was wrong but I was still happy to see him. He explained he had to work very late the last two weeks because one worker was sick and the other had quit. My Mom asked if she could help get the gifts out of his car. He pulled out a big roll of money and told her that he hadn’t had time to get gifts this year, but if we would line up he would give us money to buy our own. My Grandma was first in line and my Aunt and cousins were next. My Mom was next and I was last. When I approached my Uncle for my gift, He looked down at me. He had a weird look on his face. He turned and he left the room upset.

            I thought I heard him crying. I turned to my mother and ask “What’s a matter with Uncle Chuck?”
            A cousin replied. “May be he don’t like you anymore.”
            “No, that’s not it.” My Mom said. “He may have had a little too much to drink. You remember I told you what sometimes happens when someone drinks too much?”            

            I left and found my Uncle sitting in the dining room crying. When I ask him what’s wrong, he told me. “I’m so sorry. I got nothing to give you for Christmas.” He started to cry again.

            I gave him a hug and said, “Uncle Chuck, you being here is the best gift I could have. I don’t need a toy or money. I know you love me and that’s enough, that’s what Christmas is all about, right.”

            “Yes.” He agreed. “You got it right and I hope you don’t ever forget that. It’s love and family that are important, not the gifts or the money.” He gave me a big hug.
            My Grandma came in a few minutes later with a plate of food and asked. “You want to eat here or in the kitchen? Because I know you’re not leaving here until you eat.”

            “Here,” He replied here. “And could you get a piece of pie for your grandson too. I’d like him to eat with me.”
            My grandma returned a few minutes later with a piece of pie and a glass of milk and left. After we finished, I told Uncle Chuck I’d be right back with my gift for him.
            He said I’d already given him the best Christmas gift he had ever had.

All rights reserved by GW Pickle

Here’s the blurb on SENTI -

Major Jack Waco was the best pilot in the SENTI Command. A self-proclaimed loner, he thought he didn’t need anything or anyone until he met Major Maggie Wilson, who challenged those preconceptions. Maggie’s resemblance to an important person from Jack’s past revived memories and feelings within him, sending his head and his heart into turmoil. With a government conspiracy on-hand and large-scale interstellar piracy threatening the very stability of the galaxy, will Jack be able to cope with these newly-awakened feelings in time to succeed in bringing the guilty to justice or would he be betrayed by them - far out in a newly-discovered planetary system on the other side of the galaxy?

If you want to read it before I review it, please visit Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com

All the blinders are removed from the world of BDSM in Bridget Midway’s Woman in Chains. Dakota “Dak” Ricci is many things; A military veteran of the US war in Kuwait, a husky wood craftsman and a former Dom turned burly Paul Bunion savior-type who falls in love with his most recent save he names Rebekah. Now Rebekah is a luscious African American submissive who Dakota has rescued from an abusive Dom. Through the course of Rebekah’s retraining, there’s a constant push and pull between Rebekah and her trainer wears a little on the nerves, but Midway details the very nature of the BDSM lifestyle. Not all about power and sex, Dakota and Rebekah learn about trust and respect as they work to define the lifestyle on their own terms. The sexual encounters were hot and sensual. Midway did an excellent job of showing how BDSM explores the variety of sensations­—not just the joining of the usual puzzle pieces.

It was the first BDSM story I have ever read that spanned more than the length of a short story in an anthology. It was a perfect introduction, however, I would have liked to have perceived a greater sense of Rebekah’s abuse earlier in the story because Dak’s rescue seemed really exaggerated and unnecessary at first—almost playing to the stereotypes surrounding BDSM. Much later, I still didn’t get a sense that Rebekah’s former Dom was real abuse, he just wasn’t right for her. The majority of the abuse was explored later in triggered recalls Rebekah would experience. For those curious about BDSM can get that curiosity fully satisfied in Bridget Midway’s Woman in Chains, which earns 4 out of 5 Sable Seals.

Publisher: Loose ID

Format: Ebook

Price: 7.99

Here at Sable Lit Reviews, we love promoting self-published authors! Here’s an offering from one of the hardest working authors I know!

From the author that brought you Mistaken Identity. The twins are back helping a friend find what he wants.

Much like the books we read, the movies we watch also carry themes. While some creative forms are designed just to amuse, I truly enjoy those that enlighten and inform as they entertain. I suppose a movie or a book has to have some kind of purpose not just for the reader but for the characters involved as well. I want to know that when the movie is over or I’ve closed the book, that the characters have learned from their mistakes or made peace with their demons. I want to witness some sort of transformation or evolution.

Amidst the humor, the songs and the fancy costumes, Soul Men does deliver a message of dreams resurrected, forgiveness and facing consequences. I enjoyed watching Floyd Henderson, Bernie Mac’s character, fight to remain relevant in a society that likes to put retired folks and the elderly out to pasture, while Louis Hinds, Samuel L. Jackson’s character, just fights to survive with his former glory appearing as nothing more than a footnote to his present life. They come together in an effort to meet all these needs and find courage and forgiveness along the way.

Soul Men meant much more than I thought it would and I enjoyed it far better as a result.