By turns sassy and serious, the poems can seem to sprint in two directions at once, managing to make the reader laugh at the same time they are struck by the emotional strength of the work. "Charming, inviting, beguiling and delightful poems in the language of someone who seems alive speaking refreshing riddles to herself." SHEILA HETI"Uptalk is a book of transcribed whale songs. Some scientists gave a whale a microphone and she took it home and stayed up all night under the covers talking to herself about faces and word-parts. I am delighted that Kimmy took it upon herself to transcribe this unique document of marine biology, and my heart goes out to the brilliant, charming whale author, wherever she may be." SARA WOODS

    A Pound of Steam presents seven poems exploring identity and alienation, a philosophical bent that can be found in her song lyrics, but here goes further to unearth truths about the human condition.

    The Weary Blues announced the arrival of a rare voice in American poetry. A literary descendant of Walt Whitman ("I, too, sing America," Hughes wrote), he chanted the joys and sorrows of black America in unprecedented language. A gifted lyricist, he offered rhythms and cadences that epitomized the particularities of African American creativity, especially jazz and the blues. His second volume, steeped in the blues and controversial because of its frankness, confirmed Hughes as a poet of uncompromising integrity. Then in the 1930s came Dear Lovely Death (1931) and the radical A New Song (1938). Poems such as "Good Morning Revolution" and "Let America Be America Again" made his pen one of the most forceful in America during the Great Depression.

    

    It is 72,000 words long. The Thompson sisters are back and things seem to be going from bad to worse for them.Raven is still reeling from Mickey’s death, not knowing which direction to point her blade in order to exact her revenge. But luckily she has Jay at her side to comfort and support her and she is really going to need him right now, because she and her sister are being beset by enemies at every turn. And the worst part about the situation is that it’s someone they know who is trying to harm them but they don’t even know it. Will they figure out who is trying to kill them before it’s too late? Or will another one of the Thompson sisters become a tragic loss? Mel has opened her heart to love again. But someone has returned to the scene and wants to tear her and Nick apart. Add the fact that Ripper’s betrayals have created insecurities in her that are affecting her relationship, and can Mel and Nick’s love survive? Come take another ride with these characters as they go on one last journey and see what happens in the final showdown.

    The couple finds themselves at a roadblock and both have families who will stop at nothing to tear them apart. Do they allow it or is love enough to keep them together against the odds? However, most importantly, was Dior helping her dad all along? A’Moya was hit with a truth she never saw coming - Legion killed his mom! Was he right when he said that he was a damaged monster? Does A’Moya run for the hills or is she ready for the heavy burden Legion dropped on her? Wrath and Kanada could no longer fight the inevitable - they belong together. After all that she’s been through, it seems that Kanada has finally found her knight in shining armor, and life starts to get better for her. But is her past really behind her? She soon finds out that it’s not, and one mistake may cost her everything. Her returning baby father doesn’t seem to help matters. These women had no idea what was going to happen when they crossed paths with the Ramsey men. In part two, secrets, lies and exes come out of the shadows. Which couples will survive? Plus, we find out who Guns’ love really is!

    

    With six mouths to feed, she realizes that a simple nine to five just wouldn't cut it, forcing her to look to the top dealer in Detroit for guidance. British, with a by any means necessary mentality, ultimately takes over, becoming the top drug distributor in Michigan. With great power comes jealously, and with jealousy comes the FEDS. On top of the opened investigation, a new dealer comes to town with cheaper prices, causing more problems for British and her cartel. British being a no nonsense type of woman, orders a hit out on him, careless to the fact that her best friend is in love with him. Abel took one look at British and thought: I've gotta have her. Little did he know, British wasn't the type of woman to be easily smitten. Unbeknownst to him, the stubborn pit bull in a shirt he's interested in is his connect. Tazia Barrett is in a dead end relationship with her boyfriend, Hustle, and is waiting for the perfect time to end things. Perfect timing comes in the form of a sexy out of towner named Threat. Tazia falls hard for the sexy thug and forgets all about Hustle, but Hustle feels that he's invested too much time and money into Taz and he's not willing to let her go so easily. Taz's newfound love brings drama into her life in more ways than one. Especially after she learns that her best friend isn't who she thought she was.

    

    This is no ordinary suicide but a symbolic act. And thanks to the media, it is witnessed by the entire world.But few understand it. For charity worker Kathryn Mann and a handful of others in the know, it is what they have been waiting for. The cowled and secretive fanatics that live in the Citadel suspect it could mean the end of everything they have built – and they will kill, torture and break every law to stop that. For Liv Adamsen, New York crime reporter, it begins the next stage of a journey into the heart of her own identity.And at that journey's end lies a discovery that will change EVERYTHING …THE KEY: Liv Adamsen lies in an isolation ward staring at walls as blank as her memory. She knows she entered the monumental Citadel at the heart of Ruin but can remember only darkness. Something strange is stirring within her, whispering that she is ‘the key’. But the key to what?Hunted across continents and caught up in events that defy explanation, Liv turns to the only person she trusts – a charity worker named Gabriel Mann. Together their paths lead to a shocking discovery – one that will tear them apart and change the world forever…THE TOWER: The forbidden Citadel at the heart of the ancient Turkish city of Ruin opens its gates for the first time in history.A deadly disease has erupted within, and threatens to spread beyond its walls. Infected charity worker Gabriel Mann may hold the cure – but can one dying man stop an epidemic?Without him, former journalist Liv Adamsen is vulnerable, surrounded by strangers in the desert oasis that is her new home. Liv, however, has far bigger concerns than just her own life…Something big is coming. Something that will change everything. But will it be a new beginning or the End of Days?

    But, as much as she loves Stan, Lizzie senses a darker side to him that his mother cannot see. It isn't long before his bitterness causes Lizzie to question her relationship, and ultimately leads to tragedy...

     
Married fresh out of high school, Xander ‘Xan’ and Tomelia ‘Tomi’ Williams are ready to spend the rest of their lives together. With a bond thicker than most, Xan and Tomi are committed to the vows they took, or at least they thought they were until the aisle they walked down separates, taking them on opposite paths. 
 Stuck caring for his ailing parents, Xan foregoes college and enters the workforce to pay for their piling medical bills. The jobs that he works are dead end and pay very little, but Xan doesn’t mind as long as his parents are taken care of. Xan loves Tomi within the depths of his soul and couldn’t wish for a more loyal lady. 
 Now the breadwinner of the family, Tomi feels unloved and is tired of carrying the load on her back. She understands that being an only child, Xan wants to do everything he can for his parents, but it’s driving a wedge between the two of them and causing her to resent him. In search of peace from her home life, she finds some relief in monetary form from well-known Shea Reed. She learns quickly that everything that glitters isn’t gold, but will it be too late to work things out with Xander, the one man that loves her unconditionally?

    Travel with a woman through her last day of using hard drugs. Stay tuned til the end, for the hope that a clean and sober life can give.

    But with the longest tenured don on his death bed and the other families on the brink of civil war, greed threatens to destroy The Commission. Enter Marion Holloway, leader of the wealthy and prestige Holloway family, a shrewd and persuasive business man with strong political connects and stronger street ties. The man the FBI says is the most powerful black gangster in the country. With his oldest son, Mason, campaigning for mayor of New York City and his illegitimate son, Yasin “Sin” Kennedy, overseeing his lucrative drug operation, he is poised to seize control of the city. But when the war between the Mafia families hit close to home, the unrelenting power struggle between his sons, jeopardizes everything their father has built. Keys to the Kingdom introduces readers to urban fiction’s newest crime family, the Holloways, and the powerful legacy of tradition and blood, the seduction of power and the ultimate game of sibling rivalry.

    You don’t even gotta bring ya paper out… we the dope boys of the year, drinks is on the house…” The infamous Rock Boyz; D’Mari, D’Mani, J.R., and Corey set out to take over the streets of Atlanta, but just like life, things never go as planned. With the problems in the streets, and personal problems stacked on top, it appears that the guys are in over their heads. J.R. is excited about his life with Lexi and becoming a first-time father. However, an old associate has declared war on J.R. and his boyz, causing him to focus on his street ventures when he suffers a personal tragedy. Will J.R. be able to survive the streets long enough for him to enjoy fatherhood? Making the transition from NYC to the ATL, D’Mari finds himself adjusting quickly. Not only that, he is stepping into a new role of being a husband and a father to twins simultaneously. With his wife’s mood changing every second, will D’Mari be able to keep his head in the game while maintaining peace on the home front? D’Mani is making great strides in his new environment and loving his life with Anastasia and Kyler. However, a trip to Wal-Mart brings him face to face with his not so distant past, revealing a well kept secret. Will this secret have severe consequences and disrupt his life at home? After getting his dream job and moving to the ATL, Corey quits his job and joins his boyz in building their family empire. However, Corey’s new moves put not only his life but his family’s lives in danger and have him betraying those that he holds close, creating dissension in his circle. Will Corey be able to right his sins and restore respect and trust with those he holds dear? Enemies are on the inside and outside. Secrets are revealed. Trust is broken. With the entire deck stacked against them on their quest for money, power, and respect, will the Rock Boyz prevail? Check out this blazing new African American Urban Fiction read by best-selling and award-winning authors Twyla T., Patrice Balark, Dani Littlepage, and J. Dominique.