Book Club Spotlight: AALBC.com “Black Don’t Crack…Book Spines”

L: Troy Johnson, Founder and President, AALBC.com; R, Eryka Parker, Moderator, Black Don’t Crack…Book Spines Book Club

An enduring legacy spanning nearly three decades can see change, but for AALBC.com’s book club, the mission remains: to provide an online space for readers to explore and celebrate both emerging and established Black writers. This year, the award-winning website relaunched its book club, with the third iteration, Black Don’t Crack…Book Spines, … Read the rest

Black History Month Spotlight: Kevin Benoit, Parlé Magazine and Parlé Endeavors Founder

Image credits: Reynaldo Osoria

Kevin Benoit learned the power of voice early. Since age 12, he has helped others find and use their own. This Black History month, SBC highlights and explores the contributions of the 39-year-old self-starter who founded Parlé Magazine over two-decades ago, and, more recently, its arm nonprofit organization, Parlé Endeavors.

Benoit was born and raised in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Originally named Kerven, his parents legally changed … Read the rest

Interview With African American Women in Cinema President and Founder Terra Renee!

When Terra Renee went to audition for an under-five role (a minor acting part with five lines or less) and saw about a thousand women who also fit the bill, she knew she had to do something. “I closed the door and I walked away,” she tells So Booking Cool. “I said I have to create jobs for women of color in this industry.”

She was young, zealous, but awakened … Read the rest

Interview With Damn Write Originals Founder Nakia Stephens!

Sometimes advice is situational, other times it is lasting. Researching and creating while awaiting the next opportunity is a philosophy that award-winning independent filmmaker Nakia Stephens (Cream x Coffee; Suga Water; Nepotista) continues to impart. While this guidance is for those who aspire to tell stories for the screens, it can be applied to anyone with a dream. Recently, the Damn Write Originals founder spoke with … Read the rest

Interview With “Before I Let You Go” Author Mr. Angelo Ellerbee!

Photo credit: iVision Photo

Throughout his career that spans more than five decades, Mr. Angelo Ellerbee has championed the careers of many of the world’s biggest starts from late greats James Mtume, DMX, and Michael Jackson to Lionel Richie, Melba Moore, Alicia Keys, and Dionne Warwick, just to name a few. The Double Xxposure Media Relations founder and CEO does the same to this day with emerging talent as well. … Read the rest

(UPDATE: FULL INTERVIEW) The Cast of “A Christmas Blessing”!

Update:

Happy holidays! Here at SBC, we wish you and yours a lovely, safe, holiday season as well as New Year. In honor of the season (holiday and SBC wise), we have two episodes remaining. Last month, we provided a clip from our conversation with cast-members from the new movie A Christmas Blessing (which is streaming on the likes of Tubi, Amazon Prime, Roku, and YouTube). Now, we finally have … Read the rest

Interview With The Book Readers Venue Owner Sherrele Goloversic!

As we know, book store owners and booksellers are a big part of the publishing community and/or book world. We know them to give book recommendations—among other things. But what advice do they have for readers aside from what to read? Sherrele Goloversic, founder and owner of The Book Readers Venue, based in Humble, Texas, offered her perspective in a recent interview on SBC.

In addition to being kind … Read the rest

Interview With “Not a Book About Bunnies” Author Amanda Henke!

Amanda Henke had dabbled in creative writing before, but did not take it seriously until she was encouraged to do so. Having had success in marketing and business ( she co-owned the Oprah-approved Annie B’s) the writer was ready for something new.

In 2017, she conceived the children’s book Not A Book About Bunnies illustrated by Anna Daviscourt (Starry Forest Books) while in a graduate program for children’s writing. She … Read the rest

Interview With Book Publicist, Marketing Associate & Smith Publicity’s All Things Book Marketing Host Olivia McCoy!

With departments like publicity and marketing, how common is it for authors to pitch their own promotional ideas? Book publicist and marketing associate, as well as host of Smith Publicity’s All Things Book Marketing Podcast, Olivia McCoy, says it is not only common, but encouraged. 

“We really lean on authors coming to us for ideas,” the publishing professional tells So Booking Cool. “We know the book space, we … Read the rest

Interview With “The Way Out” Director Barry Jay & Actor Mike Manning!

There are levels to the craft, something fitness mogul and songwriter-turned filmmaker Barry Jay and Emmy-winning television and film professional Mike Manning understand well. The two recently appeared on So Booking Cool to promote their new multi-award-winning film The Way Out, which is now available on digital, demand, and DVD.

With The Way Out being his third film, Jay decided to take a bit of a different approach. “People … Read the rest