Saturday, September 15, 2007

Jill Scott: Spoken Word Artist, Recording Artist, Actress, and Role Model Extraordinaire!

Congratulations to you, Ms Jill Scott, of Philladephia, Pennsylvania, on winning a Grammy Award for Best Traditional R'n'B Performance for "God Bless the Child" with Al Jarraeu and Geoge Benson on The Jill Scott Collaborations album.

Read the article written about Jill in the October isssue of Ebony magazine. In part, I'd like to share with you what Ebony had to say.

"From her 2000 cebut release CD, Who is Jill Scott? to the release of her second CD, Beautifully Human, in 2004, Jill Scott has delivered music with poetic lyrics channeled through her melodic and powerful voice. She was (sic) scheduled to release her new album, The Real Thing, in September*. During a visit to Ebony, the Philladephia native discussed her new album and her starring role in the upcoming movie, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency." - - - Shannon A. Jones, "5 Questions for . . . Jill Scott", Ebony Magazine, October, 2007

* "The Real Thing" is coming out Sept 25th!
Be sure to pick up your copy!


Click on the banner to buy Jill's Collaborations CD
today from Hidden Beach!

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Meet Jeff Rivera, Author of "Forever My Lady", Up Close and Personal

Once homeless and living in his car, first-time novelist, Jeff Rivera writes passionate stories of those often forgotten and neglected by society. He believes even in the eyes of a gang member, even beneath the soiled clothes of a bag lady or behind the tears of a lonely kid in the back of the class, there lies a common thread that links us all, the universal human story.

It is said his personal mission is to help change the way the world thinks in a positive way through his stories.

The thirty-one year author currently resides in Miami, Florida. Adopted by his Filipino stepfather when he was seven years old, Mr. Rivera's ethnic background is Black American and Native American.

Hurry up! Jeff's Writing Contest Comes to a Close Saturday, September 15th.

Warner Books/Grand Central Publishing author, Jeff Rivera, (Forever My Lady) is holding a writing contest to launch his Urbano Book Publishing Company with a series of Urban Latino mini-books. These mini-books similar to the Bluford Series are roughly 40 single spaced pages and are contemporary stories involving Americans that happen to be Latino, set in the barrio or other urban areas. (Examples of Urban Latino stories are such films and novels as: Blood in Blood Out, Forever My Lady, Illegal tender, etc.)

The Urbano mini-books are written for ages 13-30. There are no restrictions on violence, language or sex. Submissions must be written in English or Spanglish and can be any genre (ie: horror, love story, action, erotica, comedy, gay themed, etc.) as long as they feature Latino or Chicano characters in present day or future (no historical themed stories please). No screenplays or plays please. To see proper novel format, please visit: www.shunn.net/format/novel.html

Finalists will be published under the Urbano Book Publishing banner in 2008 and be available for sale in bookstores worldwide. They will also receive an opportunity for representation with a New York Literary Agency and be reviewed by major representatives in the publishing industry. Authors chosen will also receive a competitive royalty payment and a publicity campaign.

If interested, please email a 5-page writing sample, contact information, and one-paragraph synopsis to Jeff@JeffRivera.com. Write "Latino Writing Contest" in the subject heading. If interested, an Urbano Book Publishing representative will contact you requesting the entire 40 page submission.

Note: There is no entry fee. The deadline for these submissions is running out. Send your submission in by Saturday, September 15th.

Be sure to visist Jeff's website:

www.JeffRivera.com

Sunday, September 09, 2007

Marc and Julie, Julie and Marc: A Perseverance Team Doing God's Work!

Meet Julie

Meet Marc and Julie

Marc is a graphic artist while Julie, his wonderful wife, is a stay-at-home Mom. They believe God inspired them, led them, and directed them to build their website. They were not entirely sure why God did, but their intention is to follow God's leading by implementing the goals given them and all future goals that they have yet to receive. They believe God is bigger than many voices in society insisting that they give up their dreams and become complacent.

They believe in encouraging others to ignore the voices of dream-stealers and to cling to God's voice instead. They believe God gives everyone dreams, talents, and abilities. Thus, they put everything in God's Hands when it comes to their future and future of their site.

On June 26, 2005, Marc became a Christian and was baptized with his wife as their 2 year-old son looked on. Two weeks later they discovered a second child was on the way. They sought God, to understand faith in light of Marc’s recent conversion, a journey they continue upon.

Life was busy. Marc worked first shift, Julie worked second. While one worked, the other cared for their toddler. This question ebbed away at them: Could God really have a purpose for them to fulfill?

March 2006 arrived and so did their second son. Julie went back to work when their son was 6 weeks old. Life wasn’t what they’d envisioned: working different shifts, raising their children as if they were single parents, and having the opportunity to raise them together only on weekends. Besides, they knew God had given them talents beyond what their jobs were using.

During the summer of 2006, after months of prayer, Julie quit her job. They made financial arrangements and adjustments, while God provided many others. They prayed for everything and anything that came to mind for their mission was to give God a year while they work on their talents. Allow God give and guide their goals. God’s plan required them to ignore the fear of their possible destruction and failure and, instead, put their faith, trust, and lives in God's hands.

They pray that you will come to know God or that God will have a deeper impact on your life. They hope to put laughter, spiritual insight, and fun into your lives. They intend their site to be a sanctuary for you where you can to build your faith, along with others you might meet there, and, ultimately have fun together.

They would love to hear from you! They would like to know what God has done for you? How much do you love Him?

Tell them! Tell your friends! Let the world see!

Commit to their challenge:

They would like to host an ongoing list of people from all over the world on whose lives Jesus has had an impact. But they can't do it without your help. So, share, tell us, post your testimonies in the Bugskippy.com forums.

Please tell Marc and Julie how real your faith is. Tell them what God has personally done in your life. Let the world see and know that He is real, He is here, and He is at work in us and in the world.


Click here to send Julie and Marc your story

Click on Julie's notepad

or the link below

to send your story:

www.Bugskippy.com