The Black Authors Network Radio Show is hosting a special night to pay tribute to literature written for our younger readers. You are invited to take part in this showcase, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009 at 8-10pm EST.

You can dial into the show: (646) 200-0402 or listen live online at  www.blogtalkradio.com/Black-Author-Network

Free books and prizes will be given away in the chatroom.

I’m sure you’ve read by now that R & B Singer Chris Brown alleged beat his singer girlfriend Rihanna. No it’s not fiction, but real-life drama dealing with domestic violence. When I first heard about the situation with Chris and Rihanna, I was shocked; but I shouldn’t have been because you can never look at an abuser and see that he is an abuser. Abusers have a way of showing the world one side and the one they are involved with their dark side.

Most of the teen girls I know love Chris Brown.  If you click on the girls name on the Lip Gloss Chronicles site, you will notice his name has a line drawn through it.  Under no circumstances should a man or boy be hitting a woman or girl.  Although celebrities shouldn’t be looked at as role models, reality is, a lot of them are. Hearing about this situation has really hurt some teens. The only positive thing about the situation is that it has opened up dialogue about domestic violence.

As I said before, It is never okay for a man to hit a woman. Love is not abuse. If a man hits you once, he’ll hit you again. For the young ladies who may be reading this blog post, do not under any circumstances stay in a relationship with a boy who verbally or physically abuses you. Do not get in the habit of excusing bad behavior. You are worth more than that. There’s not enough “I’m sorry” to excuse someone pushing you, hitting you, etc.

If a boy tries to push you, hit you, or anything that would be considered abuse, tell an adult about it. If you find yourself out and it happens and you get scared, do not hesitiate to call the police. Do whatever you have to do to protect yourself.

To learn more about the problem of domestic abuse, go to: http://www.ndvh.org/educate/what_is_dv.html

I would like to encourage teens to read more so on the blog on occasion I will be posting about other books outside of the Lip Gloss Chronicles series.

This is the latest book I read that teens could read:

My Brother Is A Baller (ISBN: 978-0-974783260/$12.95) is Dorrie Williams-Wheeler’s latest book. It follows the life of Sheri Carmichael. You would think with her brother Todd being drafted into the NBA straight out of high school, life for Sheri would be great–wrong.

Sheri is a drama magnet. She struggles with being in Todd’s shadow and dealing with people trying to be her friend only because of her superstar NBA brother. Once Sheri gets out of one situation, she finds herself in more drama.

My Brother Is A Baller is a fast paced and entertaining read. It will have you wanting to shake some sense into Sheri. Sheri makes some of the same unwise decisions that a lot of young folks make. She thinks she knows it all but in the end,  Sheri does learn quite a few valuable lessons.

Friendships and relationships will be tested in between the pages of Dorrie Williams Wheeler’s My Brother Is A Baller.  Its the type of book where both adults and teens can enjoy. ~ Shelia M Goss, National Best-selling Author

To order your copy, visit: http://www.basketballbrother.com/

These two teen/pre-teen entrepreneurs have come up with great ideas for the young and old.  Be sure to check them out. Let them know you heard about them on The Lip Gloss Chronicles. 

Denim Straps Custom Blue Jean Purse (recycle your old jeans into something GREAT!)
http://kandelmedia.com/denimstraps.html 

Heart of Love (coin & large purses)
http://www.kandelmedia.com/anascloset.html