THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY

________________________________________________________________________________

SPOTLIGHT ON BIRMINGHAM & THE MIDLANDS BEST WRITERS AND POETS

________________________________________________________________________________

CAROLINE BELL FOSTER

My special guest in the Summer of 2011 Caroline Bell Foster ‘THE CARIBBEAN’S LEADING LADY OF LOVE’ has recently published her new book CALL ME ROYAL on kindle format. You can find out what Caroline and her new book is about by logging on to her recent interview here… 

Become of fan of Caroline’s on facebook here…

Get your copy of CALL ME ROYAL here…

________________________________________________________________________________

MARTIN GLYNN

Past studies have suggested that offenders desist from crime due to a range of factors, such as familial pressures, faith based interventions or financial incentives. To date, little has been written about the relationship between desistance and racialisation…

My special guest in the Spring of 2011 Martin Glynn has penned this book BLACK MEN, INVISIBILITY AND CRIME, which will be of interest both to criminologists and sociologists engaged with race, racialisation, ethnicity, and criminal justice. Check it out here…

 

Also by Martin Glynn

REAL TALK (Shadow People Speak Out) Download your copy here…

________________________________________________________________________________

BIRMINGHAM & THE MIDLANDS BEST POETS

CELEBRATE WHA? is a book of many voices. It is a book of questions and answers. It is an anthology of poems about identity and race, curry goat n rice. Dreadlock Alien, Sue Brown, Marcia Calame, Evoke, Martin Glynn, Michelle Hubbard, Kokumo, Roy McFarlane, Chester Morrison and Moqapi Selassie explore what it means to be black and British and from the West Midlands.

Get your copy of CELEBRATE WHA? here…

________________________________________________________________________________    

 

MAEVE CLARKE

WHAT GOES AROUND tells the story of Frank who returns to Jamaica for Poppa  Ben’s funeral,  he discovers that life isn’t like his accounting books – he can’t start a  new page because he’s made a  mess of the last one. People keep coming back… 

 For lovers of Caribbean literature, a humorous, character-packed account of a man’s return  to  Jamaica with his teenage daughter. Maeve Clarke was born in Birmingham to Jamaican parents. A  graduate of Manchester University’s MA in novel writing, her ‘potent and supple’  short story  ‘Letters A Yard’ is featured in the prize-winning anthology WHISPERS IN THE  WALLS. WHAT  GOES AROUND is her first novel.

  Get your copy of WHAT GOES AROUND here…

________________________________________________________________________________

JASMINE JOHNSON

My first ever PANTHER NEWSLETTER guest interview was with Birmingham author Jasmine Johnson. Born in Jamaica, she came to Britain when she was a teenager. A Media and Communication Studies graduate from the University of Wolverhampton, Jasmine has come a long way since her first novel MR SOON COME hit the literary scene in 2001. MR SOON COME follows the fortunes of Conteh Gonzalez who professes his love to his beautiful wife Simone. He isn’t lying, however, ‘forsaking all others’ and clinging only to her is proving an arduous task. Set against the backdrop of Birmingham’s Reggae dancehalls and the Pentecostal church, this gripping novel takes you on a journey that touches all your emotions. Get your copy of MR SOON COME here…

Other books written and self-published by Jasmine Johnson: THE DEVIL I KNOW and THE DAY HELL BROKE LOOSE.

________________________________________________________________________________

AVA MING

ONCE UPON A LIE by Ava Ming is about young college lecturer Renford Shang. He is seen by his family and community as a man who has everything going for him. A prestigious job, a lovely new wife and home. But when it’s discovered that he’s having an affair, his “good life” is slowly exposed to being nothing but a sham.

Ava Ming was born in Birmingham of Jamaican parents. She is a classically trained musician, experienced radio presenter – the Ava Ming Show ran on the local BBC radio for six years and for three years on New Style Radio. Get your copy of ONCE UPON A LIE here…

More writings by Ava Ming here…

________________________________________________________________________________

LEEANNE STODDART

This is Birmingham born Leeanne Stoddart’s first poetry collection. She hates writing bios about herself and prefers to write poems about people she loves, fantasies she has, her hair and trees. She is a Facebook addict and a collector of useless trivia and corny jokes.

Get your copy of UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS here…

 

________________________________________________________________________________

NORMAN SAMUDA SMITH

Delroy Bell is about to leave school. The prospects for him and his friends look grim. Will he be able to make it as a professional basketball player or will he end up hustling and gambling on the streets like his cousin Peter says? – Set in mid 1970s Small Heath, Birmingham against the back-drop of an economic recession, record unemployment and mass union strikes, BAD FRIDAY follows the fortunes of Delroy and his friends. It portrays their search for a future, an identity and the respect they feel was denied their parents. Get your copy of BAD FRIDAY here…

ALSO BY NORMAN SAMUDA SMITH

        BRITANNIA’S CHILDREN: Get your copy here…

FREEDOM STREET: Get your copy here…

________________________________________________________________________________

EVENTS

________________________________________________________________________________

Mama Afrika Kulcha Shap: Kwanzaa – Workshop and Market Place London UK

Afrikan Designer Wears, Shoes & Accessories

– Books & DVDs
– Natural Health & Whole Food products
– Hair Care & Natural Beauty
– Paintings, Prints & Posters
– Greeting Cards & Gift bags
– Jewellery
– Dolls
– Home Furnishing
– Carvings & Artifacts

RAFFLE & PRIZE GIVE AWAYS

1st Prize: All inclusive Holiday for 2 to ST. LUCIA

2nd Prize: Samsung Galaxy 2 Tablet

3rd Prize: Kindle Fire HD

Book Signings & Workshops TO BE ANNOUNCED

Dates: Sun 22nd December 2013

Venue: @ Mama Afrika Kulcha Shap
282 Leyton High Road, London, E10 5PW

Time: 12pm-6pm
—————————————————————————–

There are limited stall spaces available….

If you would like to book a stall(s) please contact Mama Afrika Kulcha Shap on 0208 539 2154 (business hours).

Sis Kai: 07908 814 152

or email your interest stating what you will be selling, amount of stall(s) and contact details to asantewaa_lioness@hotmail.co.uk

________________________________________________________________________________

For all things dance hall over the festive season visit here…

________________________________________________________________________________

FILM

________________________________________________________________________________

“If we had a woman of her strength today, we’d have a woman and a half.” Jamaica’s only female heroine Nanny/@nannythe movie is to have a documentary made about her called ‘Queen Nanny.’ Watch the film’s maker Roy T. Anderson pitch for funding to help get the film made.

Queen Nanny Indiegogo Pitch Video with Roy T Anderson

visit the youtube clip here…

Read TBBL’s feature by Lee Pinkerton; ‘Black Women, Shadism and the Entertainment Industry.’ – visit here…

________________________________________________________________________________

BLACK FRANCE

________________________________________________

Check out this documentary about the black citizens of France and their battle for social justice.

Black France: The Immigration Problem – visit here…

Black France: The Battle for Social Justice – visit here…

_____________________________________________________

THE BLACK PANTHER

_______________________________________________________________________________

I love watching the super-heroes block buster movies such as The Hulk, Superman, Spiderman, Batman, Iron Man, Captain America, Thor and The Green Lantern. But I think its time Hollywood gave room to highlight my favorite of them all; The Black Panther. So as a festive treat, here’s six episodes of the man himself; enjoy!!

The BLACK PANTHER – PART 1 – visit here…

The BLACK PANTHER – PART 2 – visit here…

The BLACK PANTHER – PART 3 – visit here…

The BLACK PANTHER – PART 4 – visit here…

The BLACK PANTHER – PART 5 – visit here.

The BLACK PANTHER – PART 6 – visit here…

_______________________________________________________________________________