Naleighna Kai's Literary Cafe Magazine January 2018 New Year, New You | Page 61

Primarily in Michigan with one satellite member in
Arizona...EyeCU Reading & Social Network consist of 9
intimate & diverse women with a wide range of professional
backgrounds and varied interest. We look forward to seeing
each other at our monthly meetings to not only discuss
that month’s read but to get caught up on each other’s lives,
offer advice or sometimes just an ear and have some of the
absolute best laughs. In our 7 years, we traveled to Bahamas,
Jamaica, and National Book Club Conference.
EyeCU Reading & Social Network is made up Founder &
President Ebony, Secretary Samara, Treasurer Bayyinah
and members Monique, Rhena, Satanya, Stacye, Tamara &
Tina.
What makes us different from other bookclubs?
EyeCU Reading & Social Network is not your ordinary
bookclub! The purpose of EyeCU Reading & Social Network
is to promote literacy in the African American community
with an emphasis on African American women. To
support primarily, but not exclusively, the works of African
American authors. To encourage community involvement
through charitable endeavors, support and motivation.
Our club was born from the vision of providing an avenue
for women to fellowship with a primary focus on reading
thought provoking books, networking with other book
clubs, attending literary events and meeting fascinating
authors. We also want to show our beauty and boldness in
all that we do! One of our mottos is... If we read it, we
review it. Knowing that author’s exposure and support is
heavily based on book reviews.
We want to support the authors in the best way possible.
The popularity and constructive honesty of our reviews
has gotten us sought out by many authors, whom value
the opinions of their readers. When reading our monthly
selections, we heavily promote the book through sharing
excerpts and link for purchase. We also keep the authors
and following readers engaged through social media by
sharing free e-reads, reviews, interactive games, Author
Freestyle Friday & FB live author chats.
that made for some of the most in depth and memorable
discussions. Most recently we read “Indigo” by Beverly
Jenkins; as a group, initially there were mixed reviews but
with a very descriptive storyline, well developed characters
and plenty of romance “Indigo” turned out to be so much
more than your average slave story!
Our top three favorites of 2017 “The EyeCU Reader’s
Choice Awards” went to “Mascara & Moscato” by Shakela
James, “Indigo” by Beverly Jenkins & “Mimi’s Heart” by
Renee Wallace
Selected by Samara, we are currently reading “She Touched
My Soul” by Naleighna Kai. 2 years ago, We met Naleighna
Kai at “The National Book Club Conference” in Atlanta.
Immediately we were captured by her great energy,
permeating passion for her craft and the woman can sell
ice to an eskimo :-) We left there wanting to reading every
one of her catchy titles.
Our February selection is “Plug Love” by Detroit Author
Danielle Marcus & March “The Peace Maker” by Detroit
Author TL Criswell who was also selected for “Author Day”
with The Detroit Public Library and a Q & A with Detroit
Public Schools.
If anyone would like to get to know EyeCU Reading &
Social Network, please join our Facebook Group: EyeCU
Reading & Chatting where we share free reads, excerpts,
reviews, Author Freestyle Fridays and regularly host FB
Live chats with our featured authors and discuss other
literary randomness.
We can be followed on Instagram @ EyeCU_Reading &
Facebook at EyeCU Reading & Social Network.
Although fiction...Some of the books that have made a
major impact on us would be... “Perfect Peace” by Daniel
Black, “A Piece of Cake” by Cupcake Brown and “The Shack”
by William P. Young. These novels were very descriptive
in their writing styles and the relatability evoked emotions
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