Interview With “From Promises to Progress” Author Andrew Beamon!

True to his book’s title, corporate social responsibility leader Andrew Beamon wrote From Promises to Progress: A Leadership Guide to Help Organizations Avoid Common Mishaps and Bring Their Racial Equity Aspirations to Life because he wants to help reform standard Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion practices.

“I think there’s already a lot of great books out there that prove the case that diversity matters,” Beamon tells So Booking Cool. “Mine is … Read the rest

Interview With “Scars That Never Heal” Author Latoya McPherson!

latoya and book

People who move on from projects without looking back can learn a thing or two from educator and author Latoya B. McPherson. Her zest for her book Scars That Never Heal, which celebrates seven years in print, only grows with time. “Scars That Never Heal is my assignment,” the Connecticut native tells So Booking Cool. “It is my passion. It was given to me by the inspiration of … Read the rest

Interview With Brown Kids Read Founder & Executive Director Ssanyu Lukoma!

ssanyu-and-logo-1A lesson that 15-year-old entrepreneur, storyteller, performer, and podcaster, Ssanyu Lukoma, has embraced amid the journey of her nonprofit organization, Brown Kids Read Inc., is that the worst thing someone can say is ‘no.’   “Whenever I want to ask people to help support Brown Kids Read or I want to ask people to get people involved in this contest or do something, I always think that it’s best to … Read the rest

Interview With Journalist & Book Collaborator Jeannine Amber!

jeannine-amber-and-booksIt’s no secret that publishing is full of collaboration, from the authors, agents, editors, and illustrators to the marketers, publicists, salespeople, reviewers, and influencers, etc. Then there are the professionals who help authors tell their stories by way of memoir: book collaborators. Multi-award-winning journalist, writer, and co-author, Jeannine Amber, who recently collaborated on I Tried to Change So You Don’t Have To: True Life Lessons (Hachette Go, June 23, … Read the rest

Q&A Industry Spotlight: Patrick “PC” Sweeney of EveryLibrary!

As we all know, COVID-19 has vastly impacted the world, including libraries. We recently chatted with Patrick “PC” Sweeney, the political director of EveryLibrary, a non-profit companion organization that commits to securing public and political support for library funding. Sweeney, a recipient of Library Journal’s Movers & Shakers award and the 40 Under 40 award by the American Association of Political Consultants, has raised more than $1.7 billion … Read the rest

Interview With HBO’s “Mare of Easttown” Actor Justin Hurtt-Dunkley!

justinhurttdunkleyandnetworksActor Justin Hurtt-Dunkley (HBO’s Mare of Easttown) sees the value in reading multiple genres. He finds novels to be a form of entertainment. “Reading a novel just opens up my imagination a little bit more,” he tells So Booking Cool. “So I’m not seeing this character they’re describing on the screen, I’m creating it in my head, so I think that’s good. I can get exercise for … Read the rest

Interview (PART 2) With “Supreme Models: Iconic Black Women Who Revolutionized Fashion” Author Marcellas Reynolds!

marcellasandsuprememodels“I’m not going to make any money off this book,” Marcellas Reynolds tells So Booking Cool. “I spent my savings. I spent my advance. I took out credit cards to finish it, the licensing fees were double what we estimated them for. But if this book…makes one person happy, and they see it and they go, ‘I’m beautiful, too,’ then this book is worth it.” Prior to this … Read the rest

Review: Diamond Doris: The True Story of the World’s Most Notorious Jewel Thief by Doris Payne

PAYNE_DiamondDorisDIAMOND DORIS: THE TRUE STORY OF THE WORLD’S MOST NOTORIOUS JEWEL THIEF, Doris Payne. Amistad, $25.99 (288p) ISBN-13: 9780062917997
Publication date: September 10, 2019

To say that it is amazing that Doris Payne generated a career as a global jewelry thief for six decades is an understatement. When reading about her life, one can’t help but marvel over the level of dedication and precision that she exerted into her unlawful … Read the rest