MEMBER BOOKS

"Freedom By Any Means"

Trade Paperback, 320 pages

ISBN-10: 1439126755

ISBN-13: 9781439126752

"Much of what we think we know about African American history isn't completely true," says Betty DeRamus in the introduction to Freedom by Any Means.

"According to the usual story, slaves gained their freedom by running away, being freed by their owners, buying their way out of bondage or having someone else buy them. But how do we account for people like John Bowley, who bluffed his and his family's way to freedom, or Althea Lynch, whose cooking sprang her from jail? And what about all those who managed to win their freedom by sidestepping tricks and traps or winning lawsuits?"

Bowley, Lynch and dozens of others are as vivid and surprising as the very real characters who made the veteran journalist's first book, Forbidden Fruit, a best-seller. Essence magazine described Forbidden Fruit as "a rich collection of true slave-era tales that are at times haunting, often riveting, but always triumphant in the end."

The same can be said of Freedom by Any Means, which takes a broader look at the various extraordinary ways that enslaved and dehumanized people achieved freedom and the means to a self-determined life. Among these people are visionaries who not only survived against the odds, but prospered -- building businesses, owning land and other property.

The historical research that grounds this beautifully written narrative is drawn from unpublished memoirs, census records, government reports, periodicals, books and much more. The story of slavery and the African American experience before the Emancipation Proclamation "isn't one story," according to DeRamus, but rather a multitude of stories. This book reveals how men and women were willing not just to risk their lives to escape the slave system, but able to use their intelligence and cunning to manipulate the court system, outwit slave traders and brave the unknown in order to assert their humanity.

bjderamus@aol.com

MEMBER BOOKS
Betty DeRamus	Sylvia McClain	Tony Crittendon
Shirley Slaughter	Viola Walker	Near Eastsiders
Diane M. Lockett	Evelyn P. Holmes	Brenda McGee
Fred Green	Sharon Floyd	Ron Sanders
Mamie Smith	Rev. Michael Jones (The Dancing Poet)
"Forbidden Fruit" "This Essence best-seller is a collection of true stories about enslaved couples who fought mobs, bloodhounds, wolves, bounty hunters, social taboos and separations to stay together. One fugitive slave spends 17 years searching for his wife, and a free black man becomes a slave to remain with his family. The book also contains stories about a young black woman who travels inside a sealed chest to reach her fiancée, a white woman who runs away with her own slaves and three young black men who go to jail to protect the freedom of an 11-year-old girl." Book is available at: The Shrine of the Black Madonna, Borders, Barnes and Noble, the Truth Bookstore and Amazon.com. ____________________ "Freedom By Any Means" Trade Paperback, 320 pages ISBN-10: 1439126755 ISBN-13: 9781439126752 "Much of what we think we know about African American history isn't completely true," says Betty DeRamus in the introduction to Freedom by Any Means. "According to the usual story, slaves gained their freedom by running away, being freed by their owners, buying their way out of bondage or having someone else buy them. But how do we account for people like John Bowley, who bluffed his and his family's way to freedom, or Althea Lynch, whose cooking sprang her from jail? And what about all those who managed to win their freedom by sidestepping tricks and traps or winning lawsuits?" Bowley, Lynch and dozens of others are as vivid and surprising as the very real characters who made the veteran journalist's first book, Forbidden Fruit, a best-seller. Essence magazine described Forbidden Fruit as "a rich collection of true slave-era tales that are at times haunting, often riveting, but always triumphant in the end." The same can be said of Freedom by Any Means, which takes a broader look at the various extraordinary ways that enslaved and dehumanized people achieved freedom and the means to a self-determined life. Among these people are visionaries who not only survived against the odds, but prospered -- building businesses, owning land and other property. The historical research that grounds this beautifully written narrative is drawn from unpublished memoirs, census records, government reports, periodicals, books and much more. The story of slavery and the African American experience before the Emancipation Proclamation "isn't one story," according to DeRamus, but rather a multitude of stories. This book reveals how men and women were willing not just to risk their lives to escape the slave system, but able to use their intelligence and cunning to manipulate the court system, outwit slave traders and brave the unknown in order to assert their humanity. bjderamus@aol.com Visit: www.bettyderamus.com
The Write Life: A Beginning Writers Guide to Writing, Money Management, Publishing, and Marketing is the ideal starting point for anyone who is new to writing. Sylvia McClain has done an exceptional job researching topics that are vital to any author’s career success. Her book accompanies the writer through each phase of the writing process. Leaving no stone left unturned, she covers the minor and major details such as money management, publishing, and marketing the final product. Each new chapter brings a wealth of tried and proven knowledge for the reader to savor, use, and enjoy. Visit: www.scribalpress.com
Anthony Charles Crittendon grew up on Detroit’s Eastside attending St. Rose, East Catholic, and graduating from Finney High in 1972. He had a two-year enrollment at Ferris State College (University) before entering the work force in 1974 at Ford Motor Company where he currently works. After personal battles changed DREAMS INTO NIGHTMARES, he has come to grips with his self esteem issues and decided to start sharing with the rest of the world; and thus, began writing again. He has now decided to let you be the judge and hopes that this collection may inspire others, young and old, to pursue their dream and realize that it is NEVER TOO LATE. In order to succeed, you have to try!!! 'IS IT POETRY OR IS IT RAP?' can be purchased at Barnes & Noble www.bn.com and at the SHRINE OF THE BLACK MADONNA on Livernois.
Our Lady of Victory—The Saga of an African American Catholic Community By Shirley Harris-Slaughter One act set in motion a chain of events that threatened one Catholic Community’s ability to thrive.” It happened between 1945 and 1946, at the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Detroit in the Chancellor’s office. Msgr. John C. Ryan called an emergency meeting with the cardinal. And so the stage was set for the years of turmoil that followed, and the subsequent demise of this once vibrant church. Here comes the author who gives the reader an intimate look at her church, the township she grew up in, and its historical significance to World War II, Henry Ford’s auto plant, migration from the south, and the housing crisis that was unfolding. She talks about having fond memories as well as sadness and pain. While preparing a farewell speech for the departing pastor, she wondered at the age of ten what was going to happen to her and the parish family she came to love. What a burden for a young child to bear? The reader is introduced to the pioneers who helped shape and establish this community that shaped her. But the book takes a different turn as the research uncovers forgotten secrets. Available at Amazon Barnes & Noble IUniverse
House of Secrets by Viola M. Walker Hallie Owen, a magazine columnist from Detroit, Michigan, travels to Alburn, Texas to pursue the coveted dream of writing the history of the town’s most prominent family, the Winston Alburn Mitchells. Too soon, however, Hallie finds herself struggling to keep secrets she wished she had never heard. The spoiled, twenty-one year Cleo Mitchell has told her father and her grandfather that she has hired Hallie to write the Mitchell family history. But Cleo really has lured Hallie to Alburn to have her help expose Cleo’s long-held, dark secret about a man Cleo’s father is defending in court. Cleo has sworn Hallie to secrecy about her plan to expose the man. Hallie goes along with Cleo’s deception, hoping it will land her the job she really wants—the writer of the Mitchell family history. It doesn’t help when Cleo’s father, Mitch, gives Hallie one more thing she wishes she could run away from—from the moment their eyes first meet, Hallie and Mitch fall deeply in love. So the secrets continue and the Mitchells prove to have more than Hallie ever imagined. Mitch swears Hallie to secrecy about why he is defending the man. Cleo’s grandfather takes her into his confidence and gives her complete authority to do the writing, and Hallie herself swears Mitch to secrecy about their love for each other. You see, Cleo hates her father. In the few days that Hallie is in Alburn, she becomes submerged in the Mitchell’s problems and her efforts to maintain conflicting loyalties. But it is an explosive situation that can’t last, and Hallie winds up in the middle of a very dangerous turn of events—events that threaten the life, love and happiness of everyone. TO ORDER: Visit: Borders, Barnes and Noble, the Shrine, Amazon and Parker Publishing. http://parker-publishing.com/
A Journey of Excellence Against the Odds By The Near Eastsiders "A Journey of Excellence Against the Odds” is the story of what has been one of the most talked about African-American communities in the world. It is the story of the Near Eastside that includes Black Bottom and Paradise Valley in the years spanning 1920-1960. These were momentous times in Detroit and in the world. Great Migration, the Great Depression, World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the granting of women's right to vote and the end of Prohibition all occurred during this period. Black Americans experienced racial discrimination, economic downturns and broken homes. Yet, on the Near Eastside of Detroit, most survived and thrived, due in large measure to strong families and neighborhood togetherness. Several Detroit communities have already woven their histories into a quilt of African-American lives and struggles in the pursuit of excellence. The Near Eastsiders came together to add our stories, struggles and achievements to those written by our neighboring communities. Our addition to this quilt of historical details will chronicle our lives on the Near Eastside and allow all readers and future generations to be informed and inspired by the contributions made by African-Americans who lived on the Near Eastside of Detroit. PRICE: $35 To Order: Call Lenore Evans: 313-861-1955 or Council Cargle: 313-393-1737
The Adventures of GB, A Gingerbread Boy by Diane M. Lockett GB comes alive, jumps to his feet and exclaims, "Uh-uh, Man! How you gonna play me? First, she makes me, and then she bakes me. Now you want to break off my leg and eat me? Uh-uh! Ain't no love here! I'm out this joint! See ya!" GB moonwalks to the edge of the table and leaps out the window singing his song. He goes through a series of adventures in his quest to find a loving home and acceptance in this world of diversity. Written for teenagers and the young at heart, GB comes alive on the pages of a young adult Chapter Book. This in-debt character has feelings, issues and aspirations as he faces the challenges of life and rejection. CD version includes 9 new songs written by Diane M. Lockett and Herb Metoyer of Cane River Media PRICE: Book - $12.95 +$2.00 shipping / CD - $10.00 To Order, Call Diane: 313-580-4121 or visit: http://www.bigmamaspublishinghouse.com
"My Soul Look Back and Wonder" by Evelyn P. Holmes Minister Evelyn Phosia Holmes, was born in Lexington, Mississippi and currently resides in the Detroit area. She is a member of International Gospel Center located in Ecorse, Michigan, under the Pastorate of Rev. Marvin N. Miles. Ms. Holmes is the Author of "My Soul Look Back and Wonder..." A Collection of Inspirational Poems. She has three children's stories and "A Survival Manual for Single Moms" pending publication. She is an Elementary, Early Childhood, (currently teaching children with Autism) teacher for Detroit Public Schools. She has a B.A. Degree in Family Life Education from Spring Arbor College, and a Master's Degree in Elementary/Early Childhood, and an endorsement in Autism Spectrum Disorder, from Wayne State University. Evelyn has a passion for children and senior citizens. She is a volunteer for the Detroit Rescue Mission and has volunteered at several soup kitchens for the homeless throughout the Detroit area and has served the less fortunate in Atlanta, Georgia with the late Rev. Hosea Williams. Ms. Holmes is President of the Detroit Writer's Guild, which published the award-winning "Paradise Valley Days" (A Photo Album Poetry book celebrating the African-American lifestyle during the 1930's - 1950's), "Days Dawn" (A Short Story Anthology) and many other books. She is the Editor of "Senior Voice" and "An Early Childhood Newsletter", (quarterly publications) for her church. Her walk with God has inspired her to write this Chap Book (The Price of Disobedience Will Cost You...Everything!" in expectation that those who read it and desire a more Obedient life and more intimate relationship with God will have Total Victory!
"Each New Day" New Book By Brenda E. (Hampton) McGee Author / Educator / Poet / Playwright Born in Brooklyn, New York, McGee brings a piece of the “Big Apple” to the Detroit metro area with her heartfelt and inspirational writings that stretch across the spans of time and generational gaps to reach people of all ages, backgrounds, and cultural creeds with messages of love, hope, peace, and faith in God. This is a book you’ll find hard to put down. To order contact: Brenda McGee: bhmcgee01@yahoo.com / Tel: (313) 221-4660
My Mothers Garden By Fred Green (Click Link Below To Buy) http://productsearch.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?store=book&ATH=F.+D.+Green
STAND By Sharon A. Floyd Sharon was born on July 18, 1956, in Detroit, Michigan. She is a product of the Detroit Public School System, graduating from Northwestern Senior High School. Later she obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in . General Management-Business Administration from Wayne State University. Sharon has been married to Lester Floyd for 20 years. They have two daughters, Christina (17) and Angelice (4). Following in the path of her mother, the late Lilla Darby, who was an ordained minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Sharon answered the call of God as an Evangelist. She is now the President of the Victory Tabernacle Outreach Ministries VT.O.M. and recently started the Parent-Child Home Development Program of Detroit. It serves at-risk families with children ages 2-4, pre-remedial education and Christian principles at home. Sharon has been employed for 23 years and thanks God for the many challenges that work life brings, enjoying music, exercise and family living. As you read this book hopefully you will be touched, taught, delivered and inspired to overcome conflict in the work place.
Concerned; But Not Consumed By Ron Sanders Detroit Police Department, Homicide Detective Sergeant, Ron Sanders, was riding high on a series of successful murder confessions, murder warrants and convictions--one case in particular was a serial killer of eleven (11) women the killer had caused great trepidation in the lives of Detroit and Highland Park residents. Ron was tough, admired and respected throughout the department and his community. Everything was going well for him, and getting better each day. Promoted several times during his career, he was in the prime of his life and at the top of his game. Ron was rising from local notoriety to national fame. He was well on his way to leaving behind the local scene and heading to Hollywood. He had signed a six figure movie contract, for the rights to his police career. He had even opted to have "DENZEL WASH1NGTON" to play his role in the prospective movie. Imagine that! But everything came to a crashing halt. The fame, fortune and acco1ades disappeared in an instant. Detective Sergeant Sanders went from cracking cases, to picking up the pieces of his broken life overnight. . In CONCERNED. BUT NOT CONSUMED, Ron. Sanders shares his victorious journey of rebuilding his life after a severe and devastating stroke. A condition that would change his life as he once knew it, forever. Ron shares how God used the challenges he faced to take his life to a new level — ln Him. Ron moved from isolation, hopelessness and depression —in the wake of the debilitating stroke — to finding love, peace, joy and abundant life. . It is Ron's sincere prayer and desire to acknowledge the Lord in all we do. His book teaches us that it is okay to be concerned with our well being, but not consumed by world. Ron shows you how to appreciate God in the little things and not take for granted the everyday blessings of Life. BOOK CAN BE PURCHASED ONLINE AT BOOK WEBSITE: www.ConcernedNotConsumed.com / AMAZON.COM / Baker's Bookstore, Detroit, MI. / God's World, Detroit. MI. / Dickson Bookstore, Highland Park, MI. / New Prospect Baptist Church "NURU" (Swahili=Light) Bookstore, Detroit, MI., / WWW.SCAInternational.org / Greater Grace Temple Bookstore, 7 Mile & Telegraph, Detroit. Book is also available for $5.00 in E-book format. Can be downloaded at Amazon.com (Kindle) and all major bookstores and on all E-book devices. Cost of book is $10.00 + $2.50 shipping and handling.
The Unfolding of a Rose By Mamie Smith Meta was a beautiful, precocious and curious little girl. Growing up to be an intelligent and outgoing young woman, Meta graduated with honors and married the man of her dreams. She had two children and became an entrepreneur, developing a successful business. Life was wonderful and proud mom, Mamie, couldn’t have been more pleased for her daughter. Life took a sudden and unexpected turn when Meta learned she had breast cancer. Meta, with her mother’s help, began a search for the why of what happened. The two women’s bond became even stronger as they discovered the teachings of Christian Science. Through their study and practice, they gained a greater understanding of the true meaning of life—the essence and spiritual part of a person—and how that part is what lives on forever. As Mamie recounts, “I see her (Meta) as planted by divine mind, nurtured by spirit, and yielding the fruits of love.” This is the story of a mother’s love. It is a story of a beautiful, young woman whose physical life was cut short by disease. It is a story of faith, survival, and a message of hope to anyone who has suffered from the loss of a loved one. Smith’s amazing and beautiful tribute will touch your heart and soul. About the Author Mamie Smith is a writer, retired vocal music teacher, and businesswoman. Dr. Smith is currently writing her second book and lives in Michigan. Hard Cover - 6x9 - 140 pages - $22.50 ISBN: 978-1-60860-058-8 ISBN / SKU: 1-60860-058-1 To Order, Visit: http://www.strategicbookpublishing.com/TheUnfoldingOfARose.html
2033 Poetry Inspired by The Lion of Judah by Michael C. Jones This book consists of a 150 pages of Christian poetry about the end of time and the Second coming of Jesus Christ not as a servant but as a King, the King of kings. To bring righteousness and peace to the earth and restore the government of God thereof! Peace!!! Get your Signed copy today! Other options: Rev. Michael C. Jones the dancing poet Gods latest book through me entitled 2033 will debut in early December, 2010 It is about the Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, Second coming, Armageddon, New Jerusalem, finally Peace on earth through poetry. A twenty two year work (22) years, a heaven of a testimony: you haven't heard nothing yet! A hundred a fifty pages that takes us back to the beginning where it all started. Meet Jesus Christ, the roaring lion of Judah! Someday soon Jesus Christ will be crowned King of kings and Lord of lords! At that time Christ Jesus Lord of all will reclaim the earth and give it back to his Father God, cleansed!!! Excerpt What God has in store for us no one can get it but us! The world is looking for love only heard of, dreamers only dreampt of, lovers can't wait for, and the world ache for! This is love, God is love, Jesus Christ God's son was crucified, died, buried, rose from the dead on the third day to prove that God's love for his creation is unconquerable and love is above all!