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Book Review

Legend of the Black Roses (Black Rose, #1)Legend of the Black Roses by D. C. Cowan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I bear the same name as the author, but I'm actually not the real author of the Legend of the Black Roses. It was written over thirty years ago, but was never published by the author. The story is very unique in many ways. It's hard to find a book that's similar to it, at least within the books written by and about African Americans. I compare it to the book Kindred, not because the stories are similar, but by what they portray. Kindred tells the world what would happen if a modern African American female was taken from her life and sent into the past. But what if an African princess was ripped from her homeland, forced into slavery, and is somehow lost in time as well. This is the real mystery of the story. How does the spirit of an African princess become a disembodied spirit? Don't worry; I haven't spoiled anything with this review. This answer isn't revealed in the first novel anyway. There are many twists and turns in the first novel and hopefully the series to come that keeps the story interesting.

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Showing posts with label Black audiences. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black audiences. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

List of ten books by African authors


The beautiful things that heaven bears by Dinaw Mengestu






 Tears of the Gireaffe by Alexander McCall Smith



Arrow of God by Chinua Achebe




Girls at War by Chinua Achebe




Half of a yellow sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie










Americanhah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie





So long a letter by Matiama Ba







The Stranger Albert Camus






The Beautyful ones are not yet born by Ayi Kweiarmah









Ghana must go by Taiye Selasi


Source: http://www.jaguda.com/2014/06/09/top-10-books-read-summer-explore-african-authors/
#Africa, #books

Thursday, January 23, 2014

African American Book Review

 Free Kindle Book For A Limited Time : Dark Genesis (The Darkling Trilogy) by A D Koboah

Dark Genesis (The Darkling Trilogy)

Synopsis: Life for a female slave is one of hardship and unspeakable sorrow, something Luna knows only too well. But not even she could have foreseen the terror that would befall her one sultry Mississippi evening in the summer of 1807.  On her way back from a visit to see the African woman, a witch who has the herbs Luna needs to rid her of her abusive master’s child, she attracts the attention of a deadly being that lusts for blood. Forcibly removed from everything she knows by this tormented otherworldly creature, she is sure she will be dead by sunrise. Dark Genesis is a love story set against the savage world of slavery in which a young woman who has been dehumanised by its horrors finds the courage to love, and in doing so, reclaims her humanity.

5 out of 5 Stars WOW, May 9, 2013, By Romance Novels in Color (USA) 
I never have been a big fan of historicals or period pieces and usually I find life before the electronic era less than appealing to my mental palate. (I can't even imagine using a chamber pot, an outhouse, or having to draw baths. No microwaves, indoor plumbing or TV?) But when I finished Dark Genesis the only word I could come up with to describe it was...WOW.  Is this story worth reading? The only answer to that is a resounding yes. I sat in front of my laptop and refused to close the lid of my PC until this story was finished. Honestly, I'm a Nook girl and the fact that I had to use my computer was of no consequence, even when I was forced to chain myself to the wall to charge in the middle of the story. This is the first in a trilogy and I will be reading the other two as soon as I can get my hands on them.

-Reviewed by: Jennifer


3 out of 5 Stars DIFFERENT, March 23, 2013,By Rosa L. Ferguson (Olive Branch, MS) 

A slave and a vampire love story...I hadn't expected that when I first started reading this book. And it actually worked. I enjoyed the story line. However, after all of the action, drama and excitement on the plantation, the relationship between Avery and Luna became a little mundane. It went on for far too long without much to keep my attention. I continued reading because I kept expecting something to happen. By the time the relationship took a physical turn, I had grown quite bored with the two of them. When the action finally picked up again I was ready for the book to be over. The ending seemed a little rushed and a little discombobulated. I was also bothered by the writing of Luna's journal...it was written so eloquently by someone who at first couldn't read or write...once she learned to do both why didn't her speaking change to match the level of her writing? I would read the other two books in this trilogy just to see what happens but I hope when I do they stay action packed.



Source: Amazon.com

Sunday, January 19, 2014

DC's Poetry Corner

Alvin Ailey's "Cry"

Why do you cry?

Why do you cry?
Is it that the world has done you wrong, 
Or, have your wronged yourself?

Why do you cry?
Is it that love has failed you,
Or have you failed to love?

Why do you cry?
Is it worth the tears you shed?
Are the tears you shed worth it?
Do you know why you cry?
Or, do you cry because you don't know why?
Tell me,
Why do you cry?
If you can...

 





Text Copyright © 1962-2014 by D. C. Cowan

Monday, January 13, 2014

African American Book Review


"Kindred": Octavia Butler

Kindred by Octavia Butler

Synopsis: Dana, a modern black woman, is celebrating her twenty-sixth birthday with her new husband when she is snatched abruptly from her home in California and transported to the antebellum South. Rufus, the white son of a plantation owner, is drowning, and Dana has been summoned to save him. Dana is drawn back repeatedly through time to the slave quarters, and each time the stay grows longer, more arduous, and more dangerous until it is uncertain whether or not Dana's life will end, long before it has a chance to begin.

Review 1: 5 out of 5 stars, Called "A masterpiece from one of the essential sci-fi writers"
Octavia Butler's "Kindred" is a novel which fits into many literary niches. It could be seen as a milestone in both African-American literature and science fiction; it's also a novel with a lot for feminist readers and critics. But ultimately the power of this book allows it to transcend all labels. "Kindred" tells the story of Dana, a 20th century African-American woman who is married to a white man. Throughout the book Dana is mysteriously thrust back and forth in time between her world and the world of her ancestors in the 19th century. She seems to be tied to one ancestor in particular: Rufus, the white son of a slaveowning family. Part of Dana's struggle is to deal with the utterly alien world of Rufus' slaveowning culture.Butler brilliantly weaves many powerful themes into this gripping story: violence, sexual desire, race, literacy, language, law, and education. The story is peopled with well-developed characters who have complex, interconnected relationships. Butler vividly evokes how the slave system both physically brutalized blacks and psychologically warped whites.Butler's prose is lean and muscular. She grips you from the stark opening lines: "I lost an arm on my last trip home. My left arm." The story is richly ironic and heartbreaking. 

Review 2: 2 out of 5 stars, Called it "Good concept, but boring."
When I first started reading this book I really liked it. I liked the premise and how quickly the story was moving. But then it hit a brick wall from there. I feel as if nothing happened in this book and the story just stood still. I wanted to finish the book just to see what would happen and I was sadly disappointed when nothing really did.  The author had a good concept but fell short once it came to the telling of a good story.

Source: Amazon.com/Books

Friday, January 10, 2014

Africana History Fact of the Day


On May 5, 1905, Robert Sengstacke Abbott founded the Chicago Defender with an initial investment of 25 cents and a press run of 300 copies. Five years later, the Chicago Defender began to attract a national audience and had a major influence on the Great Migration, culture, and the struggle for civil and human rights.


 

Robert Sengstacke Abbott (1868-1940)


African American founder, editor and publisher of the Chicago Defender.

Abbott was the son of former slaves.  He learned the publishing business from Hampton College and became a lawyer for some time after graduating from Kent College of Law.  He founded the Chicago Defender in 1905.  The paper was used as a protest against racism and became very popular in the African American community.  He used the paper as a means to fight against police brutality and other issues relevant in the black community.  On the side he was also active in many civic organizations like the Chicago Commission on Race Relations.

Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Africana History Fact of the Day

American Civil War Photos: African American Slavery Picures and Images 

Abakuas

Secret society of African peoples who were enslaved in Cuba.

In the mid-19th century, thousands of Africans were brought against their will from territories in Nigeria to the sugar plantations of Cuba.  Though enslaved, they did not abandon many traditions of their culture that they had in Africa.  They continued to form all-male organizations that oversaw traditions in religion, music and dance.  They called these groups, Abakuas.  Today the Abakuas can be found in places like the city of Havana.  They held on to their language from the Calabar region of Nigeria called Ibo and used it to preserve the traditions of their people.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

DC's Poetry Corner



The Lord Will Take You As You Are


If you are...
              singing,
              praying,
              serving,
              saying,

I'm fighting for the name of the Lord.

Then no one could ever jude you
by the color of your skin,
by the texture of your hair,
by the shape you're in...

No, no one could ever deny
That you are free from all sin,
When the Lord has taken you in.

Text Copyright © 1962-2014 by D. C. Cowan

Saturday, January 4, 2014

African American Book Review




 




I read a glowing review about this trilogy a while back and it mention how there aren't all that many fantasy novels with action and adventure that have a strong Black female lead.  Supposedly publishers are looking for more books like this from authors.   This book series caught my attention once again because of the cover pictures.  It's not very often that you see a powerful African American woman who looks like she can kick someone's butt on the front cover of a book.  And just by looking at the covers you can tell this is an adventure series with strong Black female leads.  There's a lot of Egyptology in the books as well which is appealing to people who are into mythology.  Here some reviews for book one that I have listed below.


5 out of 5 Stars - Richly Imagined and Thorough Urban Fantasy Series Debut
By Tracy: The first thing I did when I finished reading Shadow Blade earlier this morning was make sure that my memory was correct, and that it was the beginning of a series and not a standalone novel. Not because I didn't like how it ended, but because I was so impressed with Seressia Glass' fully developed and vibrant world rich with ancient Egyptian and Africa history, not to mention the three dimensional characters, zippy narrative, and intriguing plot.  I'm thrilled to say that Shadow Blade hit all my happy spots. All of them. I loved it.  I'm not going to summarize the plot here, as it's been done sufficiently in the product description and in more depth in other reviews. I just need to express what I most enjoyed about it. I loved the setting, Atlanta. I was really impressed with the flawless blend of history and mythology that never - for me - bogged down the story or stuttered the plot. I found the lead character, Kira Solomon, to be a stunning blend of intelligence, confidence, and aptitude with her work (both jobs), devotional commitment to her calling, and refreshing innocence and sense of yearning with everything else. Some reviews have criticized that dichotomy, but for me, it made perfect sense. The poor girl has been able to touch exactly NO ONE in her entire life without it ending in coma or death or pain. Twenty-six years of complete physical solitude unless she's killing. The wounds on a person's psyche under those conditions are unimaginable, horrifying, and entirely well represented by Kira's responses to events in Shadow Blade. I believed it utterly and I sympathized completely with her, as my admiration for her as written grew and grew. And kudos to Glass for the masterful development of Kira through the arc of the story.
 
2 out of 5 stars Wow. This story needs a better editor.
By Amazon Customer: I should start this off by saying that the characters and the setting reminded me strongly of the Kate Daniels series... and that is what lead to my great disappointment with it. Kate Daniels series is great. This is very very mediocre. The writer just talks too much. And says nothing of import. I couldn't help but re-write sentences, paragraphs and even entire scenes in my head. There was so much extraneous STUFF that had no purpose. And everything is explained in great detail-- even when it really doesn't need to be.There was a lot of potential here but the execution isn't at all up to par. Another issue is the 'big bad opponents'... the half breeds are idiots, the "OMG I'm can't believe it's a SEEKER DEMON!" is defeated entirely too easily and wasn't scary at all. In anyway shape or form. Oy. For most urban fantasy heroines the 'biggest bad' in this book-- the creature controlling the seeker demon-- would be just a routine exercise. For example, the first Kate Daniel's book had Kate facing 40 out of control vampires she has to figure out how to control with her mind and then kill them (after defeating their controller)... for a WARM UP to fighting a nasty serial killing creature that can only be killed by a very fragile weapon and a zombie dragon. That's what I call BIG BAD. These were just... remedial not so good guys.  Sorry, the writing needed a heavy editor and the story wasn't believable or consistent and the danger was laughable.








Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Africana History Fact of the Day



Sani Abacha (1943-1998)

Was an elite soldier of the Nigerian Military.  He led forces against a tyrant, Shehu Shagari and later on helped put General Ibrahim Babangida as head of state.  This helped pave the way for free elections for the people in the 1990s.  Eventually he, himself, replaced the general as head of state.  He ordered many executions and imprisonment for those who opposed him.  Images could be seen of Abacha everywhere, but he rarely came out into the public eye.  In 1998, Abacha died of a heart attack.

Whether good or bad, the history of all Africans and African Americans is somehow connected and important.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Africana History Fact of the Day

Henry Louis Aaron more commonly known as...

Hank Aaron
Was born from eight children in Mobile, Alabama (that's where my daddy's from).  He started playing baseball with the Negro League and quickly moved up in rank.  The 1950s brought integrated baseball teams and Aaron received his first opportunity to play professionally.  He started out as a shortstop for Milwaukee Braves known now as the Atlanta Braves.  Over his career he hit 755 home runs and surpassed the record of Babe Ruth.  He spent 23 years in his baseball career and is now considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time and thus inducted into the Baseball Hall of fame in 1982.






Sunday, December 29, 2013

Quote of the Week


I am an invisible man... I am a man of substance, of flesh and bone, fiber and liquids - and I might even be said to possess a mind.  I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me.

Ralph Ellison (1914-1994).  Prologue to The Invisible Man, 1952

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Press Release for Legend of the Black Roses




To read the Press Release click here.

http://www.pieceofcakepr.com/mother-daughter-literary-team-fuse-psychology-science-fiction-african-american-identity-in-compelling-new-series/

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Press Release to major newspapers





Mother & Daughter Literary Team Fuse Psychology, Science Fiction & African American Identity in Compelling New Series.

Collaborating under the name D. C. Cowan, ‘The Legend of the Black Rose’ sees the authors depict a cruel reality where racism rules society. While fictional, their gripping narrative is poised to provide plenty of real-world food for thought. How far could society go to separate its citizens by color?
For Immediate Release


Asheville, NC – While it has been fifty years since Martin Luther King’s March on Washington, the world still remains largely divided by race. In a powerful new literary series written by mother and daughter D.C. Cowan, society’s continued ignorance of Civil Rights results in a world few want to live in.

‘The Legend of the Black Rose’ is the first in a powerful new series, with each volume showcasing the further consequences of allowing racism to shape society.  One unique and startling aspect about this fictional series is the protagonist of the first novel is the Black Rose, the spirit of an African woman who has witnessed every imaginable event of racism since the time slavery was legal in America. 

Synopsis:

All women are like roses.  Each variety of rose has its beauty, but also each has its thorns – the more hatred that taints the bush the greater the thorns.  Watch the red roses turn black as the love of the hearts turns cold and the black flowers wither and die.  The black roses carry the sorrow and pain of the spirits lost from their homeland and lost in time.  During this time in an alternate world history, the black roses are being severed and slowly they are disappearing from the garden.  

One act of hatred will tear one family apart, but will bring together age old lovers in the most unusual way.  The Legend of the Black Rose follows the descendants of an African Princess stolen from her homeland.  Before you make assumptions, this is more than a story of a slave.  Never before has an interesting mix of history and fantasy been spliced together in such an intricate and delicate manner.   It's a story of a forbidden love divided by ages.  A great love story of ancestral beings driven from their homeland and doomed to wander as restless spirits.

Should the Black Rose choose to be labeled in history as a slave who was stolen from her homeland or should she claim her destiny as a wise and comforting spirit destined to protect her lost and fading lineage?  Is she the slave of the Americans or the princess of the Africans?  These questions are for you, the reader, to discern.  Follow the ancestral spirits lost and outcast from time as they determine their proper place and identity.  As you read, ask yourself who is the Black Rose?


As one of the author’s explains, their upcoming series is important on both a personal and international level.

“It has been a dream of mine to publish a book for over thirty years. I started developing this narrative in the 1980s, but life’s demands took over and it remained untouched. Now is the time to get this series out to society, to allow readers to explore its core themes of passionate love, hereditary pride, a fading race and the borderline of sanity,” says Cowan Senior.

Continuing, “It’s also one of the few Science Fiction and Fantasy books to contain African American protagonists. Later books in the series will incorporate some true stories of hatred against African Americans and women with the fictional backdrop established in the first novel. African Americans will exhibit racism towards their own people and African American females will suffer both racism and sexism. Each of these topics is hugely pertinent to society, making this a true melding of fact and fiction.”

Information about further volumes will be available at the authors’ official website: http://www.dccowanauthors.com.

In the meantime, ‘The Legend of the Black Rose’ is due for release on December 31st.




About the Author:
D. C. Cowan is a collaborative mother-daughter team who is pleased to present several book series exploring minorities and spirituality.  Sharing the same first and middle initial, they use D. C. Cowan as their pen name for the books they will release. 

The Legend of the Black Rose series was written by Cowan, Sr. over thirty years ago. She is a graduate of the prestigious Spelman College in Atlanta, GA where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. With quiet tenacity, Cowan has been writing her books for over thirty years.  A pillar to her community, she was a director for many years at a local recreation center and she taught Sunday school at her local church where she received recognition from the members for her contributions.

As a youth, Cowan, Jr. performed for six years as a pre-professional ballerina with the Asheville Civic Ballet.  She is a graduate of Wake Forest University known to some as the "Ivy League of the South" with a degree in Psychology.  For the 2008 commencement, she was awarded as Best Senior Orator for her speech.  For two years, she attended a graduate program for Psychology where she joined the Psi Chi Honor Society and received Graduate Student Awards for Research and Travel.   Her most recent position was at the Johns Hopkins Health System.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

eBook Cover Design


Book Cover design




Back Cover Description



The Legend of the Black Rose follows the descendants of an African Princess stolen from her homeland.  Before you make assumptions, this is more than a story of a slave.  Never before has an interesting mix of history and fantasy been spliced together in such an intricate and delicate manner.   It's a story of a forbidden love divided by ages.  A great love story of two ancestral beings driven from their homeland and doomed to wander as restless spirits.

All women are roses.  Each woman is a different kind of rose – some white, yellow, red and even black.  Each variety of rose has its beauty, but also each has its thorns – the more hatred and racism that taints the bush the greater the thorns.  During this time in an alternate world history, the black roses are being severed and slowly they are disappearing from the garden.   One act of hatred will tear one family apart, but will bring together age old lovers in the most unusual way. 

Should the Black Rose choose to be labeled in history as a slave who was stolen from her homeland or should she claim her destiny as a wise and comforting spirit destined to protect her lost and fading lineage?  Is she the slave of the Americans or the princess of the Africans?  These questions are for you, the reader, to discern.  The Black Rose series is about passionate love, hereditary pride, a fading race, and the borderline of sanity.  Follow the ancestral spirits lost and outcast from time as they determine their proper place and identity.  As you read, ask yourself who is the Black Rose?