Being Different by Bianca Payton

For me, high school proved to be more than best friends, broken hearts, sleepovers, and school dances. It was an experience—a time of mental, spiritual, and emotional growth. Going to school every day was a challenge, more than the usual for the average teenager. As the only African-American student in a school of more than [...]

Souls of My Young Sisters

News Release 119 West 40th Street, New York, NY 10018 T (212) 407-1581 F (212) 935-0699 www.kensingtonbooks.com For Immediate Release Everyone’s In My Business Stories Told in New Book Souls of My Young Sisters New York, NY— Shalena Broaster knows first-hand the benefits of seeking advice and comfort from friends and family. She’s also learned [...]

October 23, 2004 by Ebony Fletcher

On October 23, 2004 my ex-boyfriend came to my house to kill me! After unsuccessfully trying to convince me to come back to him, he pulled out his revolver and shot me in the leg. We tussled for the gun, but eventually, he pinned me face down on the floor, sat on my back, and [...]

Souls of My Young Sisters Reading with ShalenaD.I.V.A.

I am so excited! I am having my very first book signing and reading for the highly acclaimed Souls of My Young Sisters book written by Candace Sandy and Dawn Marie Daniels with the foreword by Mary J. Blige and Madeline Small! My essay, “Your Mom’s In my Business” was included in this awesome anthology. If [...]

Keep Folks Out of Your Business By ShalenaD.I.V.A

At one point in my life, I used to tell my family and certain close friends almost everything that was going on in my relationship. For the most part, they gave good advice, but it became overwhelming because everybody had an opinion about what I should do. I had so much chatter in my mind [...]