Wednesday, July 18, 2007

My Book Expo America Experience

I just wanted to share with everyone my experience at Book Expo America. My first day there in New York NY on May 31, 2007 I attended a luncheon where I met Blair Underwood and got an autographed copy of his new book Casanegra. Later that evening I had the privilege of meeting and taking pictures with the supermodel Alek, Randall Cunningham and Walter Mosley. I also met Zane and talked with Lynnette Khalfani, author of Zero Debt and Zero Debt for College Grads. I also received advance copies of several books and releases of new books not yet on the market.

June 1, 2007 was the highlight of my trip. I caught up with my dear friend Heather Covington, NAACP Image Award Finalist for Literary Divas: The Top 100+ Most Admired African American Women in Literature. I had the pleasure of meeting Tony and Yvonne Rose owners of Amber Communications Publishing Company, Troy Johnson, Founder of AALBC, Dante Lee founder of blacknews.com, blackpr.com and blackstudents.com, Bernadette Standis, Thelma on Good Times and author of Situations 101. I also did a book signing and gave lots of good advice on how to repair your credit and get out of debt.

On June 2, 2007, I did a book signing and had the privilege of taking pictures of many legends in the African American publishing industry such as Tony Rose, Habi Madhubuti, Max Rodriguez Founder of QBR, Vickie Stringer owner of Triple Crown Publications, Relentless Aaron, Candice Dow, LL Cool J, Joel Freeman of the Freeman Institute, Zane and many more. In addition I met hundreds of other wonderful authors, journalists and publishers. I also had the privilege of doing a book signing and was able to give away all the books and promotional materials I brought with me. It was truly and great experience.

If you are an author I encourage you to attend Book Expo America. It is a great experience and one of the best networking events I have ever attended. I can't wait for next year. Hope to see you there!

http://www.bookexpoamerica.com

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Support HR2269 to help cut college costs on 7/12/2007

Call Your Representative to Ask for a Yes Vote on HR 2669

Thursday morning July 12, 2007, the United States House of Representatives will vote on HR 2669, the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007.



Among other things, this legislation will cut interest rates on subsidized student loans in half over the next five years, limit the percentage of income students spend repaying loans, and expand both the eligibility and size of the Pell Grant program. These reforms make the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 the single largest investment in higher education since the GI bill.

Help turn HR 2669 into Law: Call the House Today
www.yda.org/callthehouse

Already, thousands of Young Democrats have responded to our call to write letters to Washington asking for college affordability reforms. Now, as this vote hits the floor in the House, we need to add your voice (yup your actual voice) to our lobbying efforts.



Large private lenders and their Republican supporters will stop at nothing to kill this type of college affordability reform. Only with your help, and the help of your friends, can we ensure financial aid actually benefits students and families instead of corporations.



Please take the time to visit yda.org/callthehouse to learn more about HR 2669 and to call your member of Congress. The momentum coming out of a resounding victory on this legislation in the House will help ensure its passage in the Senate and send a message to the President that he must sign it into law.

Call the House Today: Support HR 2669

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

2.3 Million Consumer Financial Records Stolen

MSNBC.com

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.3 million consumer financial records stolen
Former Fidelity National Information Services broker sold information
Updated: 10:29 a.m. ET July 3, 2007
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Fidelity National Information Services, a financial processing company, said Tuesday a worker at one of its subsidiaries stole 2.3 million consumer records containing credit card, bank account and other personal information.

The employee sold the information to an unidentified data broker who sold it to several direct marketing companies, but the data were not used in identity theft or other fraudulent financial activity, Fidelity said in a statement.

About 2.2 million records stolen from Certegy Check Services Inc. contained bank account information and 99,000 contained credit card information, Fidelity said.

“As a result of this apparent theft, the consumers affected received marketing solicitations from the companies that bought the data,” said Renz Nichols, president of St. Petersburg-based Certegy.

Fidelity said Certegy had asked a court in St. Petersburg to retrieve all the information from the employee and the marketing companies and to stop its use. It also said Certegy has contacted law enforcement officials.

Certegy will notify all affected consumers of the theft and has contacted major credit agencies, Fidelity said.

The employee, whose name was not released, was fired.


Taken from MSNBC