Category Archives: Book Notes

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Irreverent Christian Memoir Comes to the Silver Screen!!!

Hello World,

Back in 2009, I wrote a book review about “Blue Like Jazz,” an irreverent Christian memoir and New York Times bestselling book written by Donald Miller. I must say it is one the best Christian memoirs I’ve read in a long time…What I like about Miller is that he is Christian enough to be a saint and worldly enough to be interesting…lol…And we have all met Christians who are too holy to be any earthly good…And we have also met some worldy Christians who may as well not be Christians for their lack of discpline when it comes to Christian disciplines….Well, now Miller has taken his memoir to the big screen! The movie debuted on Friday, and the trailer is below…

 This is what Lou Carlozo, contributing writer, watchgmctv.com, had to say about the film:

“…’Blue Like Jazz’ is almost sure to offend some Christians who’ve come to equate ‘faith” with ‘family friendly.’ It’s not exactly a spoiler alert to say that one scene shows a church steeple draped in an enormous condom. And it turns out that’s just one of many shocking moments in the film, which some evangelical film heavies have criticized because of its edgy content.

“Critics and fans alike should leave their expectations and stereotypes at the door. Taylor and Miller, with co-screenwriter Ben Pearson, have crafted the most honest, satisfying depiction of young man’s faith trials ever produced by filmmakers with evangelical ties. The fictional Miller (Marshall Allman) leaves his Texas Bible Belt upbringing for Portland’s Reed College, the center of ultra-liberal thought and outlandish student behavior. Straight-laced and proper, Miller dumps his teenage faith after his mother has an affair with the youth pastor at his home church – an event that has tragic consequences.”

“…’Blue Like Jazz’ shines, from its use of John Coltrane’s ‘A Love Supreme’ to its humble, anything-but-predictable closing.

To see where this movie is playing in your town, go to  www.bluelikejazztickets.com!

Any thoughts?

 

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I’m Bout It Bout It aka Marketing & Promotion Month 6 (Book Release Party Details!)

 
Hello World,

You know what. I kinda fell off….What do I mean? This post should have been written in December as it is about my marketing and promotion activities for December, but y’all…I’ve been sooo immersed in doing it all that it was difficult to write it down….Forgive me? At any rate, I want to invite y’all to my BOOK RELEASE PARTY!!! I had originally planned it to coincide with the release of my book on February 14, but it will now be on Feb. 10!!! If you can make it, please come out…see all of the details above…

Also, if you’re a book lover as I am, you also don’t want to miss best-selling authors Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley as they will be in the A this week to promote their latest release “Sinners & Saints.” They will be signing their book at the Clark Atlanta University Bookstore, 223 James P. Brawley Drive SW, tomorrow at noon and at the Hammonds House Museum on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Below are more details about their discussion &  signing at the Hammonds House Museum….

Best-selling and award-winning novelists Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley bring their favorite heroines together in a novel that will delight their legions of fans. Jasmine Larson Bush and Rachel Jackson Adams are not your typical first ladies. But they’ve overcome their scandalous and drama-filled pasts to stand firmly by their husbands’ sides. When a coveted position opens up–president of the American Baptist Coalition– both women think their husbands are perfect for the job. And winning the position may require both women to get down and dirty and revert to their old tricks.

Just when Jasmine and Rachel think they’re going to have to fight to the finish, the current first lady of the coalition steps in . . . a woman bigger, badder, and more devious than either of them. Double the fun with a message of faith. “Sinners & Saints” will delight readers with two of their favorite characters from two of their favorite authors.

Your R.S.V.P is requested  – Admission Choices

$15 – Admission FREE with Pre-purchase of book ($15 savings).
$10 – Admission RSVP / general.
$5   – Admission RSVP / members of Delta Sigma Theta, Alpha Kappa Alpha and
Hammonds House Museum.
FREE Admission for Persons Who Join or Renew a Membership to HHM

For more information, please go the Hammonds House Museum website.
 

Also, check out a video about their book…


 

This is all so exciting…

Any thoughts?

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Retrospect: 2011 in Posts….

Hello World,

Wow, in just THREE DAYS, a New Year will be here! To me it is no coincidence that the New Year follows our celebration of the birth of Jesus. Once we discover and rediscover our Savior, life can begin anew…and so that is where we are three days before 2012 commences…

As has become my custom, I like to take the time to reflect on my year here on After the Altar Call and remind me and you of my favorite posts for every month of the year…So if you have a few minutes, take this journey with me…

January 2011 – Remember our snowstorm earlier this year?! We in the A were hemmed up for nearly a week!!! I wonder what God has in store for us as far as weather is concerned this winter – Divine Hem Ups aka Atlanta Snowstorm 2011

February 2011 – Although I have lived in the A since I was six years old, I went to the Bronner Bros.  International Hair show for the first time in February, and I took you with me! If you haven’t been yet, you definitely need to check it out!  See for yourself why – Saturday in the A – Featuring the Bronner Bros. International Hair Show

March 2011 – I pondered what happens when your girls start getting married and you’re not. This is an issue that continues to evolve as other issues continue to emerge – What To Do When You Friends Get Married

April 2011 – I got it poppin’ on After the Altar Call after I posted my thoughts on Anthony David’s song “God Said.” Tribute to God or Jesus it was not in spite of the title…And David stopped by here to speak his piece making for a very interesting discussion of 31 comments – Controversy – Anthony David’s “God Said” video…

 May 2011 – I wrote a tribute to my mama that I’m proud of. I rewrote Proverbs 31 to describe my mama-girl Alice May – Alice May, It’s Your Day (Happy Mother’s Day to All Mothers)

June 2011 – I “spoke” publicly about my book for the first time…I still cannot believe that in less than two months I will have the published copy in my hands…Goose.bumps. – 2011 Faith & Fiction Retreat aka Debuting My New Book!!!

July 2011 – In July, after a few revisions, my book cover was released…I love it so…what do you think? – The Vision I Had in My Head Debuting My New Book Cover Woo Hoo!!!

August 2011 – I was blessed to interview Dr. Alveda King, niece of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and daughter of his King’s younger brother Rev. A.D. King, about her uncle and his dream the week that the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial, which is located on the national Mall, was to be officially dedicated…But God had other plans…A hurricane made it necessary to postpone the dedication to later in the year – Let Freedom Ring: Dr. Alveda King Remembers Her Uncle Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 September 2011 – In spite of the attack of the enemy, we are still here 10 years after September 11, 2001 – Remembering 9/11 10 Years Later…aka We Won’t Stop…

October 2011 – I never imagined when I began blogging in September 2008 that I would love blogging soooo much!!! And this year, I went to my first blogging convention where I was able to meet other bloggers who love it as much as I do 🙂 – Be Blogalicious! 

November 2011 – My line sister Lola Brown, who is a two-time breast cancer survivor, was featured on 11 Alive and TheGrio.com. Her full testimony is also featured in my book – My Line Sister is a Two-Time Breast Cancer Survivor Under 40 Years Old

December 2011 – And I was so elated to interview Kim Fields (Tootie from “Facts of Life” and Regine from “Living Single” last week!!! And wasn’t “Holiday Love” great?! I hope it becomes a Christmas classic! – Check out Kim Fields in her TV Christmas special “Holiday Love” airing on Christmas Day!!!

Any thoughts?