Cheris Hodges's Blog, page 13

Victoria Christopher Murray on why she wrote Stand Your Ground

Victoria Christopher Murray is a prolific writer, publisher and all round amazing person. This month, Victoria will release a book that is ground breaking and an emotional tour-de-force.

She explains to readers why she wrote this book in an open letter that makes you want to buy the book right now. Stand Your Ground will be released on June 30th, by the way.

Why I Wrote STAND YOUR GROUND

"Not again," were words that kept reverberating through my mind on February 15, 2014. We were just a few weeks away from the second anniversary of Trayon Martin's murder and as I watched the verdict come down in the first trial of Michael Dunn (the man who murdered Jordan Davis) I felt like this country was taking giant leaps backwards.
It had happened again. While Michael Dunn had been found guilty of attempted murder, the jury couldn't reach a verdict on the murder charge for Jordan Davis's death.
Of course my social media timelines blew up. People were upset and rightfully so...though, I didn't understand the specific reactions. People attacked the men and women of the jury, and then, there were those who were once again calling for America to boycott one of its own states. "Nobody go to Florida!" became the social media mantra.
That confused me -- I didn't understand how people could get upset with Americans who had not only stepped up to fulfill their jury duty, but who were following the law. And it was even more confusing that people wanted to boycott Florida when two dozen other states had some version of the same law. So what...were people going to boycott every state? Were they going to boycott the states where they lived?
I couldn't make sense out of what I thought was nonsense. I couldn't understand why people were attacking juries and attacking states, and not going after the real culprit. Why not make this a political rallying cry? Why not register thousands of people to vote? Why not go after the law?
Yes, people are behind the law, but not the people who would suffer under a boycott. And not the people who fulfilled their civic duty by serving on the jury.

It was that night and those reactions that started the seed of this novel to grow inside of me. I so wanted to get people to understand that the law was the problem. I wanted people to understand the law better, I wanted people to know that Stand Your Ground is not a defense in itself, it is part of self defense. And though I had never been through anything like this myself personally, I wanted people to really think about the families in these situations. Maybe all of that would get us to finally stand our ground...stand up and do something. Do something that would matter, do something that would count.
And while this idea began to brew inside of me, one of my friends on FaceBook said, "Victoria, you should write a book about this." Others agreed, saying they believed that I could teach something. That was when I knew that I did have a platform to reach thousands of people about this -- I could do it through entertainment; I could do it through a book.
It was my editor who challenged me to add layers to this story and to show both sides of this tragedy. It was my publisher who gave me the title.
And so it was on and I was ready.
But then, I wasn't as ready as I thought. When I sat down and thought about these women in Stand Your Ground -- the mother of the victim and the wife of the shooter, it became such a difficult book to write. Of course, the emotions that I had to write for the mother were clear and obvious. What I didn't expect was to feel for the wife of the shooter. These were two women who were suffering -- in different ways -- but still, they suffered. And as I lived with both of them in my head for all of those months, I suffered with them.
Another thing that surprised me a bit about writing this book was the language. I always believe in being true to my characters, but to this point, profanity hasn't had any place in my novels. Not that there is much inside of Stand Your Ground; but I'm sure you can imagine that the N word -- a word I abhor -- comes up a time or two.

But if I wanted to write the truth, which I always try to do, if I wanted to speak to the two opposing sides of Stand Your Ground, I had to speak their language -- especially the language they would use in this particular situation.
So, I went with my characters. And I took this journey. Never before can I say that a book I've written has changed me. But writing this one did. It wasn't writing this book alone that changed me -- it was that I was half-way through writing this book when Eric Garner was choked to death in New York, and then Michael Brown was executed in the streets of Ferguson. I wrote this novel while those incidents and the aftermath played as background music in my mind.
And I changed.I wrote and I changed. I wrote and I became an Angry Black Woman.My prayer, though, is that I will channel that anger in the right way. I was able to work
some of that anger out in the pages of this book. Now, I hope that I'll be able to work that anger out in a way that will help to change America -- for the better.
And that begins with repealing Stand Your Ground. We must know the facts. We must never forget.... 

The Perfect Summer a book for young readers written by young writers

The Perfect SummerIt’s summertime! That means it’s time to sit back, relax and just have fun, right? Wrong! For Marlena Fernadez, Gloria and Valerie James and Max and Mickey Martin. . .summer is all about life lessons in these three page-turning tales about kids in search of The Perfect Summer.
Synopsis of each StoryJackie LeeA Lesson for SummerFourteen old twins, Gloria and Valerie James, had the ideal plan to spend their summer vacation. They would spend their summer shopping, talking about boys, and going to the movies. However, when their dad felt the calling of the Lord, they were now going to have to spend their summer moving to another town and volunteering to mentor a bunch of snotty nose seven year olds. The twins do everything to sabotage their parent’s plans for them. However, in the end they learn lessons in life that truly makes this the Perfect Summer for both of them.Excerpt from A Lesson for SummerI knew that look meant that my twin sister did not like what she was hearing.“There you are. We were wondering what was keeping you,” Dad said in a cheerful voice.I politely smiled and took a seat beside my sister on the sofa. My eyes darted over to thestrangers in the living room. The man had fine gray hairs around his bald spot. He wore thickglasses that made his eyes look like a huge red moon. He also wore too much cologne. Whew!He had the living room lit up like the perfume part of Macy’s. The woman beside him wore thisbig Kool-Aid smile. She had on a red dress with blue flowers. Her dress was loud enough for my friends to hear her across the street. “I have heard so many wonderful you, young lady,” said the balding man.The lady with the loud dress just kept smiling.“Your parents tell me that you are the captain of the church praise dance team and worshipleader for the youth. That is wonderful! I love to see our youth active in church,” the mancontinued.  I just continued to stare at him. My sister elbowed me, so I managed to say, “Thank you.”My mother jumped into the conversation.
Morgan Billingsley A Country SummerIt's summertime and Max and Mickey are headed to their grandmother's house. But these two city kids aren't ready for a Wi-Fi free country summer. But when Max makes new friends, he learns to adapt and have fun. Can he get his twin sister to see that attitude is everything and can determine whether they have the Perfect Summer!Excerpt for a County SummerWhen that last bell rang, signaling the  beginning of our summer vacation, I felt like I’djust been given a Get Out of Jail card. I had been counting down to this day and was lookingforward to hanging out with my twin brother, Max, playing video games, and taking dailyswims in the pool my parents had built last  winter. You know, just having fun.I wasn’t expecting this.  I mean, in the fun dictionary, a road trip to acountry town was nowhere in the book. Yet,  that’s exactly what we were doing.“Ugh! Are we there yet?” I asked my dad, who was driving our large SUV like a skilledtruck driver. My mom was next to him and they  were singing some corny old people song on theGabrielle AndersonIt's summer vacation time, and the Fernandez family is headed to Disney! Marlena, the oldest, is not excited about riding the teacups, she out grew those long ago. She decides that she is old enough to hang out on her own. With her cell phone in tow, her parents allow her tackle the park alone. It's no surprise that she learns many life lessons the greatest of which is family love.Excerpt from Two Big for My TeacupsSix hours, four arguments and three stops later, they made it to the hotel in Birmingham. Itwas early evening and all Marlena wanted to do was swim. They were staying in a room that hadtwo queen beds and a pullout sofa.“I call the sofa bed,” Marlena said while   putting her bag on it.“I want the sofa bed,” whined Kyle.“It’s big enough for the both of you,” her dad  said.Marlena protested. “I don’t want to sleep with him. I called it first.”Her mother let out a loud sigh then gave     Marlena a look.“It’s been a long ride, let’s go swim,” her   father suggested.“Good idea,” her mom replied. “Get your suits on.”Marlena and Kyle got dressed quickly. He in basketball shorts, and she in her one-piece. Ofcourse she wanted a two-piece, but her parents said that was out of the question. Not until shewas old enough to buy it herself. Marlena didn’t think it was such a big deal, most of her friendshad one. While her mom was in the bathroom, she decided to dress Chloe in her suit. She foundher little pick suit with ruffles around the bottom and put it on her. Chloe was such a cute littlegirl. She and Marlena always got along. If her mom wasn’t around, she preferred Marlena toanyone else. Sometimes Chloe even slept in Marlena’s room.Biography of each authorMorgan Billingsleyis a seventh grader, who loves writing, acting, swimming and volleyball. She enjoys helping out and making people laugh. Everyone who knows her, applauds her nurturing heart. Morgan can often be found assisting her mother, ReShonda Tate Billingsley at book signings. She is active in her school organizations and serves as secretary for her Teen group in Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Follow her on Instagram @c_momo_b
Eleven year old, Jackie Lee is a lover of the letters and the arts. She has starred in three theatrical productions produced by Cherie Garland. She portrayed Crystal in “The Christmas Present,” Glenda, The Good Witch in “The Wiz” and the Ballerina in “One Night with a King.” Jackie’s love of arts also extends to church. She participates in the praise dance ministry at East New Hope Baptist Church. She utilizes her musical talents as a clarinet player at Forest Hills Elementary School Band. Jackie can often be found at various literary events assisting her mother and guest authors. She also enjoys journaling and making sketches in her notebooks. She resides in Virginia with her parents and siblings. You can follow her at http://thecreativelifewithjackielee.blogspot.com/
Eleven year old, Gabrielle Simone attends Pulaski Academy College Preparatory School, where her teachers describe her as hardworking and passionate about learning. She is the student council representative for fifth grade, plays both basketball and soccer and has a personality bigger than life. The confident young writer is also the daughter of young adult author Celia Anderson. Having grown up tagging alongside her mom at book signings and lectures, it’s no surprise that she has become interested in the art. Gabrielle says that one day she would like to attend Stanford University in California, but that may change as she grows older. Currently she resides with her mother in Little Rock, Arkansas, enjoys playing dress up, singing and playing with her American Girl Dolls. She lists both her mother and maternal grandmother, whom she affectionately calls FeFe, as the people who have influenced her the most.Links to Purchasehttp://browngirlspublishing.com/little-brown-girls/http://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Summer-Morgan-Billingsley-ebook/dp/B00VVWMGGW/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1430932203&sr=1-6&keywords=the+perfect+summerhttp://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-perfect-summer-morgan-billingsley/1121717750?ean=9781625178701

Book Intro: Rumor Has It

 BOOK INTRO     

Click To Download Today

Liza Palmer couldn't be happier when her best friend and sorority sister, Chante Britt, and her closest guy friend, Robert Montgomery, hit it off. And she's beyond thrilled when they announce their engagement. Robert is an up-and-comer running for the North Carolina senate. Chante is a partner at a prestigious law firm. They're a power couple made in heaven--until Liza discovers Robert in a compromising position--with another woman. . .
Liza can't possibly continue to support Robert's campaign, much less let him marry Chante. But when she tries to reveal the truth, Robert pulls out every corrupt trick in the book--including turning Chante against her. Her only choice is to seek out his opponent, Jackson Franklin, and help him take Robert down. But to Liza's great surprise, Jackson won't play dirty--and Liza finds him irresistible. As sparks fly, personally and politically, Liza and Jackson may become a winning team in more ways than one. . . ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY

Cheris Hodges was bitten by the writing bug at an early age and always knew she wanted to be a writer. She is a 1999 graduate of Johnson C. Smith University and a freelance journalist in Charlotte, North Carolina. A native of Bennettsville, South Carolina, Cheris loves hearing from her readers.
                                          Visit Cheris Online                                       www.cherishodges.netEXCERPT 
The next morning, as Jackson waited at the restaurant where the meeting was to take place, he wasn't surprised to see Robert arriving with three people in tow. It was the woman who caught his eye. He'd seen her somewhere before. Yes, at Amelie's. Liza Palmer. Glancing at her curvaceous figure stirred something inside him.  Damn, he's lucky if that's his wife, he thought as he watched the shapely sister cross over to the table where Jackson was already seated. I guess this explains why I couldn't win her vote with a handshake. She sparkled in a polished, supermodel way, and a part of him wondered what she'd look like stripped bare. Hair down, face scrubbed free of makeup, and barefoot. Stop lusting after this man's wife, Jackson admonished as he rose to his feet. "Good morning," he said. "I'm Jackson Franklin." He extended his hand to Robert, who turned his nose up at him.            "I know who you are," Robert said. Liza stepped between them and took Jackson's hand.            "Liza Palmer," she said, flashing Jackson a smile that sent chills down his spine.            "Nice to meet you, again."            "I have to say," she began, "thank you for your service, but why do you think you're ready to serve in office?"            Bold question. "I think fighting in Iraq has prepared me for everything. What makes your husband ready?"            Liza's laughter filled the air. "My husband? I guess you think that a woman's place is behind a man?"            "Liza," Nic said, shaking his head. "This isn't the time." Robert shot her a look that quieted her right away.            "We're just here to meet with donors and maybe even sway Mr. Jackson to our side," Nic said with a plastic smile."Sergeant Franklin," Jackson corrected. You pompous jackass.            "Sorry about that," Nic said hollowly. Their chatter stopped when U.S. Senator Thomas Watson walked in. 

Heroes and Heartbreakers takes a look at Rumor Has It

Did you hear that? That was me screaming my head off after seeing what Heroes and Heartbreakers  said about my soon to be released novel, Rumor Has It. 

The connection between Liza and Jackson sizzles. It was instantaneous and it’s hard to hide it from the cameras and people around them. Their attraction is palpable and their opposing personalities balance each other out. Liza is more of Type A, always on-the-go kind of girl and Jackson is more relaxed. They manage to bring these traits together in a way that is cohesive for them.

“Jackson was taken aback by her boldness, but at the same time, it turned him on.And just what are you willing to let me do?”

Jackson and Liza aren’t inhibited. They were completely comfortable with each other and that made this book very steamy.

I'm so excited about this book and I hope you will be too. Make sure you preorder your copy today!

Forget April Fool’s Day. It’s The Day to Celebrate One To Love by Michelle Monkou

Yes, it’s April Fool Day, not only in the U.S., but also in several countries.

But it also happens to be the day that I am celebrating the release of my latest Kimani title, One To Love. Now that’s more important .

So, let’s pause and take a moment to enjoy this cover. Now although the guy has the hat and the horse in the background, it’s not a cowboy story. Instead, he is a retired soccer player who is working on the renovation of a horse riding ring where equine therapy is conducted for children with various disabilities. That should earn him a couple of cool points, right?

My research included equine therapy facilities and the umbrella association for these services. I also researched the type of horses that are generally best suited for such tasks. And with the injuries suffered by the hero, I had a lot of visual examples of soccer players suffering some brutal takedowns during the World Cup in Brazil.

A lot of elements will always influence my work, enriching the mix into an entertaining and memorable work that a reader may latch onto with fond recollections. At the end of the day, it’s the reader who is the end user, the one who will take it in and ask for more (hopefully).

Take a read and leave a review. I love hearing from readers to know what they enjoyed or not.

So now you may resume playing April Fools.

All the best,

Michelle Monkou

Michelle Monkou (http://michellemonkou.com) is a multi-published author with over 20 books in print and digital. She began her writing career in 2002 with Black Entertainment Television (BET) Books, Arabesque imprint.

Michelle is also an active participant with romance writers’ advocacy efforts. She served on the boards and as presidents of Washington Romance Writers, and the 10,000 membership Romance Writers of America. She’s a weekly contributor on USA TODAY’s Happy Ever Blog providing commentary on romance fiction.

Michelle's One to Love is now available.

Tell your gifted girl story. . .Gumbo Soup for the Soul: Stories to Inspire Gifted Girls and Women of Color

If you grew up young, gifted, black and female, your story is needed.

Gumbo Soup for the Soul: Stories to Inspire Gifted Girls and Women of Color DUE May 15, 2015Co-Editors: Donna Y. Ford, Joy Lawson Davis, Michelle Trotman Scott, and Yolande Sealey-RuizWe have at least 20 chapters... looking for me... we encourage you to submit.. ONLY 5 pages !!! The stories we are seeking are from professional women who had to overcome a difficult challenge in their teen years to become successful. Stories from successful Black and Latino females/women who overcame great odds/obstacles like peer pressures, poverty, low teacher expectations, teen pregnancy, early high school dropout, drug use, homelessness, etc., are solicited. FOCUS ON 1-2 CHALLENGES (does not have to be tragic). Authors should be between the ages of 25-65. So, if you or anyone you know is interested please have them contact one of us asap via inbox message here or our emails: profjoy1022@gmail.com and donnayford@gmail.com. The story should only about 5 pages long, double spaced. This book will be like a 'chicken soup' for the Gifted and/or high achieving female from challenging circumstances and wish to share words of advice!

This is probably one of the most important projects I've seen in a long time and I implore you to take the time and share your story.
Too many young girls of color don't have real role models. The media stuffs reality shows down our collective throats and there are a number of people who believe those images. But the reality of life is there are a number of brilliant black women our girls can look up to.

Are you one of the gifted girls who became a brilliant woman? Tell your story!

In case you missed it: Interview with Jackson's Kimberly Kaye from 96KIK

Head over to my Author page on Facebook for the audio!

It's way after midnight and I'm screaming

Remember your first time?

Not that first time. . .but the first time you got really excited about someone else's opinion of your work?

As much as we authors (some of us anyway) try to take reviews with a grain of salt and then pretend we don't cry in our wine when someone says our book was trash. Oh, that's just me?

Well, today, I saw that Rumor Has It, received a starred review in Publisher's Weekly.


Here's the review:

 Rumor Has ItCheris Hodges, AuthorDETAILS Hodges (Love After War) infuses this contemporary with complex and vivid love, friendship, and loyalty. Public-relations professional Liza Palmer is never off duty, so she ditches a wedding planning session with her best friend, Chante, and heads to the office of Chante’s fiancé, Robert, to discuss an idea for his North Carolina senatorial campaign. When Liza interrupts Robert having sex with a woman on his desk, she is outraged by his behavior, and then hurt by Chante’s refusal to believe her. Determined to expose Robert, Liza takes the juicy gossip to his competitor, Jackson Franklin, a handsome man who leaves her tingling and weak in the knees. Jackson refuses to play dirty politics, but he does want to get inside sassy Liza’s “mind, heart, and soul.” As rumors fly, damaging Liza’s reputation, Jackson’s hot and tender lovemaking claims her heart. With Jackson and Robert neck and neck, Liza has to make some difficult choices. The nonstop intrigue, romance, and smart dialogue will keep readers enthralled. (May)
Here's my face!  Now, let me get back to work. 

Are you ready for a beach party?!

Post by AC Arthur's Beach Bash 2015.


Hey Beach Buddy.. Our Guest Author and Birthday Girl, Cheris Hodges, took a few minutes from her Celebration to talk with Angel Deborah ....Tells us about yourself and what inspired your career in writing?I'm Cheris Hodges, I've worked in journalism for more than a decade. But when the economy tanked around 2011, I actually had to switch industries and my day job is in sales at a place I not so affectionally called Wonderland. (I even blog about it). Writing is something that I always knew I'd do. It was an escape, it was a chance to be creative and I could make up stuff without getting in trouble! And I wanted to tell stories about people who looked like me. What percentage of your writing is based on personal experiences?I would say about 20 percent of my writing is based on personal experiences. If I wrote about my life, the readers would be bored to tears. Tell us a little about your current or any upcoming novels? Coming April 28 is the first in the Rumor series: Rumor Has It. Liza Palmer couldn't be happier when her best friend and sorority sister, Chante Britt, and her closest guy friend, Robert Montgomery, hit it off. And she's beyond thrilled when they announce their engagement. Robert is an up-and-comer running for the North Carolina senate. Chante is a partner at a prestigious law firm. They're a power couple made in heaven--until Liza discovers Robert in a compromising position--with another woman. . .Liza can't possibly continue to support Robert's campaign, much less let him marry Chante. But when she tries to reveal the truth, Robert pulls out every corrupt trick in the book--including turning Chante against her. Her only choice is to seek out his opponent, Jackson Franklin, and help him take Robert down. But to Liza's great surprise, Jackson won't play dirty--and Liza finds him irresistible. As sparks fly, personally and politically, Liza and Jackson may become a winning team in more ways than one. . . Then my first Kimani Romance collaboration comes out in July. Blissful Summer. Supermodel Jansen Douglas is living her dream. Now a wedding in Paris is about to reunite her with the high school sweetheart she left behind. But Atlanta CEO Bradley Stephens won't allow their stormy past to stand in the way of reclaiming his first and only love. Then the final installment of the Rumor series, I Heard A Rumor, will be released this winter. Chante Britt is nobody’s fool—and she’s definitely not standing by her cheating ex-fiancé and current mayoral candidate, Robert Montgomery. Too bad he chose to tell the media otherwise. To escape an onslaught of prying reporters, Chante flees to her grandmother’s South Carolina beach house. But when she meets Zach Harrington, she may be out of the frying pan and into the fire. The man is arrogant, way too forward—and way too sexy. Newly divorced and dealing with a scandal of his own, Zach should stay clear of all women. Yet something about Chante draws him in—maybe it’s the drink she throws in his face after his too-hot-to-handle surprise kiss. Still, Zach firmly believes they can help each other take the edge off. And once he gets her to agree, what could have been a fling promises to be much more—until their personal and public dramas catch up with them. Will past wrongs keep them from finally having the love that’s right?While walking on the beach at sunset, you encounter this sexy hot alpha male walking toward you, what would you want to happen next?Since it's sunset on the beach, I'm hoping he's shirtless with a six pack and when he takes his aviator sunglasses off and smiles —I'm praying he's single and wants to share a glass of wine on the boardwalk. And because he's an alpha male, at some point he'd better kiss me senseless because I'm what his heart desires. Thanks Cheris.. Can't wait to see you on the Beach Be sure to check out Cheris's website
http://www.cherishodges.net/
And don't be shy, like the Beach Bash page! 

Happy Release Day: The Dating Game: Short Stories About the Search for Mr. Right

Brown Girls Publishing has released an anthology about dating.
The Dating Game: Short Stories About the Search for Mr. Right. Sixteen authors took part in this heartwarming anthology.

From fairytale romances to dating disasters and everything in between, The Dating Game chronicles the stories of hopefuls on their journey toward happily ever after.

In this compilation of dating stories, sixteen writers share tales of adventures and experiences while on the quest toward finding Mr. Right. From Tania Renee Zayid 's story of what happens when one woman becomes determined to keep the perfect man that she met online . . . to Natalie Leffall's hilarious look into the dating world of a plus-size girl . . . to Keleigh and Gina's rib-tickling and surprisingly dangerous, speed dating fiasco. . . and Gina Torres' tale of love, heartache, and the power of letting go . . . these diverse stories will make you laugh, cry, and root for the characters to land Mr. Right.

One of the authors, Victoria Kennedy joins me today to talk about her contribution to the anthology. 



1. Tell the readers about your story. 1.)   “Open” is about Karim and Deanna.  He is her customer at the bank and they bond over months of small talk.  She’s a Baltimore home girl from a dysfunctional blue collar family and he is an African professor she wouldn’t normally be attracted to. They progress to personal phone calls and an old-fashioned courtship he initiates through postcards.  Compared to Deanna’s past love interest, Karim is slow and formal but his intelligence and world travels intrigue her.  She is far from the “proper” woman he was raised to pursue. In each other, they find the opportunity to open their hearts and minds to someone who challenges everything they know about love. 

2. Why do you think dating is so hard these days? 1.)   Social media gives people an opportunity to reinvent themselves, which makes it hard on dating. What you see is no longer necessarily what you get because they can choose to be more selective about what they share.  So, I guess I’m saying, dating is hard because authenticity is difficult to confirm without making a real investment. 
3. Describe your perfect date?  1.)   In dating, I like to connect to the person through conversation first.  We pretty much know, from there, whether we want to know each other more.  As a singer, I spend a lot of time around musicians.  They can be a little nutty but very passionate.   A perfect date is when I meet a musician (let’s say a sax player) with whom I’ve already clicked, then we go to a jazz club and he joins in the jam.  Witnessing him unleash that passion then sit back down to enjoy our drinks and conversation.  That’s a wow, for me.
4. Craziest date you've ever been on?  1.)   My craziest date was date number two with a nice-enough guy until we realized we shared a cousin! After that, he couldn’t even concentrate, even though he and I were not related. I mean, he felt like he was committing incest and we had never even kissed.  Funny right?
5. What can readers expect from you next?  1.)   I love writing about relationships.  I just finished the first installment in a series of love stories about an over-forty couple.  I don’t think there are enough romantic stories about people in that demographic.  Hey, I’m in my 50s! I want to show that we can still pile on the heat. The series continues with another couple in that age range then goes on to include the offspring.  I’m excited to see where it goes.


Brown Girl's Publishing is the brain child of bestselling authors Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley.

Our Company: Brown Girls Publishing is a boutique publishing company, focusing primarily on digital content, while still providing printed books through Amazon. Our goal is to provide a voice for literary fan favorites, while introducing the next generation of authors.Our Founders: Between them, National Bestselling authors, ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Victoria Christopher Murray have more than two million books in print. The dynamic duo decided to combine their respective talents in a highly popular series, in addition to their successful solo careers. So naturally, their next endeavor would be something near and dear to their hearts – helping build the next generation of authors, while at the same time, spotlighting some fan favorites. Victoria, a former successful entrepreneur, also holds an MBA from New York University. ReShonda is a former TV journalist and marketing professional with over 20 years of experience.Our Books: Focusing on quality, not quantity, BGP is committed to publishing only the best. Presented under the Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley banner, each title is hand-selected by a manuscript selection committee, including industry professionals like Carol Mackey, then edited by Victoria or ReShonda. Readers of a BGP title will know they’re getting a quality story.