While summer has some baggage, for me it’s very small compared to all of the pluses, which make me want to hold on to summer for as long as I can and impossible for me to let go easily. For many of us summer ends when the kids head back to school…and/or Labor Day is upon us…I am still not ready to put away my summer clothes, my LIGHT COLORED SHOES…heck not even my sandals…lol.

Come chat with APOOO’s urban fiction resident advisor regarding your favorite urban/street fiction
books. Leave a comment and win a FREE book.

As August comes to a close, and the Hot Fun in the Summertime feature winds down, I want it go out with a BIG SCREAM. So, today, I’m spotlighting ROLLER-COASTERS. Ever since that first-time, over 30 years ago, when I waited for hours to get on Disney World’s Space Mountain ride, I’ve been a big roller-coaster fan.

Are Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama’s platforms really that different? If you are a Clinton supporter are you so upset that you would prefer to be a Nobama and vote for John McCain or not vote at all. Is this how future elections are going to play out? If our personal favorite is not selected, we stay home on election date or vote Republican?

Take 5 with APOOO reviewer Cheryl Hayes and hear what she has to say about why she enjoys reading urban fiction tales.

Detroit native, Mary Green is a full-time college student, at Bowling Green State University, majoring in Psychology. Upon her graduation in December she would like to attend graduate school for social work.

Darnetta Frazier is an Ohio-born, spoken-word poet who has composed poetry since she was able to hold a laddie pencil. As reviewer for A Place Of Our Own (APOOO) and aspiring novelist, she dabbles in the literary scene from all perspectives. She has been published on www.thebacklist.net, interviewed on www.blogginginblack.com, and is currently submitting fiction manuscripts to publishers while juggling daughterhood, sisterhood, wifedom, parenthood, and of course, writing. Outside of family and all things literary, Darnetta overindulges in Hip-Hop, dabbles in computer graphic design, and creates handcrafted cards, candles, and jewelry.

Back in my day, hmmm like 30 years ago, it was an unexpected/unwanted pregnancy. Today, pregnancy out of wedlock is not as taboo as it once was for many. Life doesn’t have to stop because of an unplanned pregnancy.

As many of you know, I am an avid reader. In a good week, I can read three-four books. (Although it’s been ages since I’ve had the time to do this.) I remember discovering the ‘black’ public library across the street from our family’s church when I was around 7 or 8 years-old. It was at that library that I got my first library card and my love for reading grew even more.

Hands are often used as weapons of defense or as a gesture of love, concern to comfort someone. Recently, Victoria Olsteen quickly learned that ‘laying of hands’ does not always receive a favorable response. Most folks of color know that you don’t ‘lay your hands’ on a sistah in a confrontational manner if you don’t want a beatdown. Or in this sistah’s case (Olsteen altercation) to be sued for your action.