divasofliterature's Blog

Meet Literary Diva JACKIE CHRISTIE

Multi-talented, Jackie Christie, fashion designer and co-author of 'No Ordinary Love,' with husband and NBA star Doug Christie, has joined the literary line up for the upcoming Divas of Literature Tour. The Christies', who starred in BETJ's reality series, "Committed: The Christies," released their first book, 'No Ordinary Love: A True Story of Marriage and Basketball,' under their independent publishing company, Infinite Love Publishing in June 2007.

The book chronicles the Christies cherished relationship offering a candid view of their journey through public criticism and media slander.

ABOUT JACKIE CHRISTIE. Jackie Christie was born in Seattle, WA. Having realized her passion for fashion as a child, Jackie would often organize fashion shows with her siblings, In addition, she would design all of the clothing for the shows. She began her career as a fashion model at age of 13 with a primary focus on runway and print. In pursuit of her dream, Jackie continued to hone her skills as both a model and a fashion designer. She went on to open her own clothing boutique in Seattle, Washington. She met her future husband NBA star Doug Christie in 1992 and they married four years later, Jackie Christie continued to maximize her creative talent which resulted in the development of Jackie Christie, Inc. She also now adds Television Producer, Director, and Radio Personality to her extensive resume.

ABOUT THE CHRISTIES: Doug and Jackie

Today, Doug a 14-year NBA star/author and Jackie, a fashion guru/author, the "dynamic duo," have created several arms of their continuously growing empire. As a team, they operate Jackie Christie.com in addition to their film production company, Infinite Love Productions which co-produced "Committed: The ChristieS", their reality-based show that aired nationwide on BET J. "The Christie's-Uncut", their satirical comedy DVD which was screened in July 2007 at the Hollywood Black Film Festival and their most recent accomplishment as authors of "No Ordinary Love" the first of many books to come out of their publishing company, Infinite Love Publishing.

Visit Us Online at:

http://www.JackieChristie.com

http://www.infinitelovepublishing.com

http://www.infiniteloveproductions.com

Meet Literary Diva

RENEE DANIEL FLAGLER



Renee Daniel Flagler is the President and CEO of Aspicomm Media, an author and an award winning freelance writer who has served in marketing, promotions and events for more than a decade. Under the divisions of Aspicomm Media, Flagler has been able to marry the things she enjoys the most; marketing, events and writing, into one fulfilling personal career.

Flagler has treasured the art of writing since she was a young girl and in 2004 she took her love of creative writing seriously and self-published her first novel, Mountain High, Valley Low. She later released her sophomore novel, Miss-Guided, in the spring of 2006. Flagler?s third novel, In Her Mind, is set to be released in the spring of 2008 along with her first non-fiction title, Putting Your Passion to Work in late 2008.

Flagler is also the founder of The Self-Publishing Symposium, a business conference for self and independent publishers, The S?Indie Awards, which honors the works and accomplishments of self and independent publishers and the Divas of Literature Tour, a multi-city book tour in malls across America. Flagler is one of the resident ?Literary Leaders? for WBAI Radio?s talk show, ?Off the Page.?

Flagler was awarded for Excellence in Journalism by the New York Association of Black Journalists and honored by Black Star News for her accomplishments in business for starting the Self-Publishing Symposium. She received the Entrepreneur of the Year in 2005 award by C&B Books Distribution. Additionally, Flagler has been profiled in Literary Divas, The Top 100+ Most Admired African American Women in Literature, among literary greats such as Tony Morrison, Terry McMillan and Oprah Winfrey.

Flagler and her works have been featured in Ebony Magazine, The New York Amsterdam News, Our Times, Caribbean Life, Jolie Magazine, Booking Matters, and Black Star News to name a few. She has also appeared on The Angie Le Mar Show on Choice FM, the UK?s leading Hip Hop and R&B station, WAOK Talk Radio and WHCR.

Flagler is dedicated to mentoring at-risk teens and impacting literacy in inner city communities.

Flagler is a graduate of New School University with a Masters in Media Arts, as well as a graduate of St. John?s University with a Bachelor of Science in Communications. She is a member of the, New York Association of Black Journalists, the National Black MBA Association, National Association of Female Executives and Publishers Marketing Association.

Visit us online at:

www.aspicomm.com

www.reneedanielflagler.com

www.myspace.com/reneedanielflagler

Meet Literary Diva
ABIOLA ABRAMS

Entertainment journalist ABIOLA ABRAMS is a TV personality, filmmaker and author who gives fun & funky motivational talks. Abiola's debut novel Dare (Simon & Schuster) is the wild adventure of two women learning to live by their own gutsy rules. The host of blackplanet's Planet Abiola Show - For the past two years 28 million viewers have tuned in to watch Abiola on BET: interviewing filmmakers on The Best Shorts, as an outspoken, recurring community panelist on My Two Cents, and hosting specials such as All Access. As a director Abiola Abrams? artistic short films and docs investigate themes of gender, race and empowerment. Her directing work includes Knives in My Throat about a spoken word poet dealing with bipolar disorder, Ophelia's Opera about coping with domestic violence, and Afrodite Superstar, acclaimed feminist erotica. The goal of Abiola's work is to use pop culture entertainment to create uncommon inspiration: culturally, politically, emotionally and sexually. Her advice column runs in the weekly urban tabloid Rolling Out and her online show Planet Abiola can be found on Blackplanet.com. Abiola has BA from Sarah Lawrence and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is an opinionated tastemaker, cheerleader, hip hop feminist, cultural critic and all around TV big mouth.

Former Producing Host of HBO's interstitial politically incorrect talk show Chat Zone and syndicated NBC hip hop news show The Source: All Access, Abiola's writing is featured in current anthology A Memory, a Monologue, a Rant, and a Prayer by Eve Ensler alongside the writings of Maya Angelou, Edward Albee and Alice Walker. Her writing is also featured in upcoming anthologies Behind the Bedroom Door by Paula Derrow (Self Magazine) and Dirty Words: A Literary Encyclopedia by Ellen Sussman.

DARE. Meet Maya Hope. Double-dipped in cocoa with brick-house curves, she's a lover of jazz, a political poet, and a sociologist. Her best friend and roommate, Athena Jackson, is her opposite in every way- a petite ex-cheerleader who's always blaring rap, grinding out rhymes, and ready to take the next man home. When Maya is forced to pinch-hit in an audition and bust Athena's rhymes, she finds herself on an undercover escapade in the wild world of hip-hop as the raw, sexy, roughneck Jezebel. After striking a deal with her own personal devil, Maya sets off on the tempting roller-coaster ride of a lifetime -- finding music, more fun than she's ever had, and even a man or two...but not without Faustian consequences.

Visit Her Sites:

http://www.thegoddessfactory.com

We are so excited to present Divas of Literature Tour 2008. As the visionary behind the highly successful Divas of Literature Tour launched last year, it is my honor to continue our tradition of bringing together exceptional female writers who have authored books in diverse genres and to present them in our multi-city tour.

This summer, we welcome another group of dynamic women who have done so much more than just being power players in their fields, but who have gone beyond the call by sharing their creativity, advice, encouragement and humor through the discipline of writing.

From Atlanta to New York, Divas of Literature 2008 will be there to bring you something different and exciting. We welcome you to come and participate in an event that is truly an afternoon of excitement,

entertainment and fun!

We look forward to seeing you there.

Fabulously Yours,

Renee

IN A DISPLAY of unity, sisterhood, fun and diva-power, 5 authors hit the road headed for Philadelphia, Detroit, Atlanta, North Carolina and New York City in Summer 08. And if they aren't headed this year to a city near you, you can still party and tour with them right here on the Divas of Literature Blog. Renee Daniel Flagler, the fearless leader is accompanied by Jackie Christie, Abiola Abrams, Dwan Abrams and Assuanta Collins. Our books range from love and romance to Christian fiction and everything in between. Read and enjoy.

About This Year's Authors

ABIOLA ABRAMS is the host of BET's THE BEST SHORTS on BET-J with 28 million viewers throughout the US and Caribbean and PLANET ABIOLA on Blackplanet. Abiola Abrams is a TV host, filmmaker, and published author...

DWAN ABRAMS is a full-time novelist, publisher, speaker and now, radio talk show host. She's the award-winning author of Divorcing the Devil...

JACKIE CHRISTIE is a multi-talented, fashion designer and co-author of 'No Ordinary Love,' with husband and NBA star Doug Christie, has joined the literary line up for the upcoming Divas of...

ASSUANTA COLLINS established Asta Publications, LLC in 2004 with her debut novel, "Until the Next Time". Asta is growing in leaps and bounds...

RENEE DANIEL FLAGLER is the dynamic creator of the tour!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information or to schedule an interview, contact: Nicole Ranger (516) 642-5976 info@aspicomm.com

ALL STAR LINE UP FOR 2008 DIVAS OF LITERATURE TOUR (New York - June) Five authors spanning a broad range of literature are set to hit malls all across America, meeting readers, signing books, offering giveaways and creating mall magic as Aspicomm Media Inc launches the second annual Divas of Literature Tour. The five-city book tour is the vision of author and marketing professional, Renee Daniel Flagler and was designed to offer innovative solutions to the world of marketing literature while augmenting exposure for the authors involved. This year's tour features fashion designer and NBA star Jackie & Doug Christie, filmmaker and host of BETJ's 'The Best Shorts, Abiola Abrams, Christian author, Dwan Abrams, entrepreneur, Assuanta Collins and Renee Daniel Flagler, herself.

"The Divas of Literature tour was created to help increase exposure for authors, allow us all to connect with our readers and have a fun at the same time. It's really an enjoyable event," Flagler says. Abiola Abrams says, "I've been touring solo and nothing beats being on the road with so many talented, beautiful black women all at the same time." Divas of Literature Tour began last year, by traveling to various malls making stops in New York, Atlanta, Houston, Chicago and Washington DC. Authors met with book clubs members, signed books and performed readings while connecting with scores of readers across the country.

This summer, the tour will make stops at malls in New York and Atlanta again but have added Philadelphia, Detroit and Greensboro, North Carolina to the roster. Media sponsors for this year include, The El & Syl Variety Show, AALBC.com. MosaicBooks.com, RAWSISTAZ Literary Group, Urban Literary Review and Cush City. Information about the tour can be found at www.divasofliterature.com. About Renee Daniel Flagler Renee Daniel Flagler is an award winning journalist and author of three novels, Mountain High Valley Low, Miss-Guided and In Her Mind. She is one of the Literary Leaders, featured on the weekly hour long radio show 'Off The Page', every Thursday from 12 noon till 1pm on New York's WBAI 99.5FM.

Flagler is owner of Aspicomm Media Inc., a company specializing in publishing, marketing and events. In 2005, the Aspicomm events division launched the Self-Publishing Symposium, an annual business conference for self and independent publishers. For more information about the events and the authors for Divas of Literature, log on to: www.divasofliterature.com.

For more information about Renee Flagler and Aspicomm Media, log on to www.aspicomm.com For interviews re: Divas of Literature, contact Nicole Ranger at info@aspicomm.com.