What it's about at now rise books

Hello everyone. Welcome to Now Rise Books blog! I am Lisa, the creator of the blog and owner of the bookselling business, Now Rise Books. Like many of you who have landed in this space, I am a lifelong book lover. I've created this blog to talk about the books that I handle in my business (awesome!), to elaborate on the power of books to change lives, to promote individual empowerment and social justice through literacy, and to encourage gaining knowledge of history (in order to understand the present and influence for the future) through reading, research and writing.
I love books that fit across a diverse spectrum of genres and periods, and I especially find my interests satisfied by the tremendous selection of used books available. I sell used books. You can view my Now Rise Books storefront on Amazon.com

In fact, I started bookselling about 20 years ago by pulling titles from my own home library to sell at fundraisers for church and at a community college where I taught. I was delighted by the many readers who came to my table and were thrilled to pick up old favorites they had not seen in years, such as Manchild in the Promised Land, Native Son and A Hero Ain't Nothin' But A Sandwich.
I was smitten by the bug to sell used books for the sheer joy of seeing folks reconnect with ideas that had represented a meaningful experience for them through the written word. I kept selling at venues for a while, then a few years ago, officially established Now Rise Books to sell "new and quality used Black books." I am a diehard bibliophile, and can buy a book in almost any condition, but I know not everyone wants to. So, in my business, I stipulate "quality used books" which I define as a book whose condition should not obstruct its capability to be read.

"Hello?" you say. Have I noticed a few developments in the book world, such as e-books and e-readers? Yes, I have. Perhaps the handwriting is on the screen, so-to-speak, and the shelf life of a tangible used book is limited more today than ever before. I don't know; do you? Tell me what you know.

As you get familiar with this space (and I hope you will), you'll notice that Now Rise Books blog reflects my longtime interest in the history and literature of African Americans, and the history and literary contributions of African descendants in the Caribbean, in Great Britain and France, in particular. Love the historians and cultural commentators, Lerone Bennett Jr., John Henrik Clarke, Asa Hilliard, Paula Giddings, Cheik Anta Diop, and loved being introduced to and reading Drusilla Dunjee Houston.

Some writers whose works I revere are James Baldwin, also Langston Hughes, Robert Hayden, and Gwendolyn Brooks--yes I am drawn to poetry.

There are many more writers, editors and publishers who have my deep interests, as well, such as Arna Bontemps, Dorothy Porter and Arnold Adoff; Naomi Long Madgett, Haki Madhubuti, Peniel Joseph, Annette Gordon Reed; Black Classic Press and Beacon Press; Random House and Regnery; Janice E. Hale-Benson, Jim Haskins and Just Us Books, to name just a few.

My other reading interests include literary criticism, British writers such as Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, Jane Austen, Henry James; Romantic poets, Coleridge and Keats; books on writing, especially non-fiction, journalism and public relations writing; biography/autobiography and children's books!! I pick up old readers, you know, published by Ginn, Scott Foresman, and earlier series, too, like the McGuffey's readers. I am especially interested in how books impact our society, shape our cultural attitudes, particularly texts in the classroom. Serious issue for me.

I'll keep commenting here on my bookselling, on publishing, and discussions with readers. I invite you to read, respond to my comments, pose questions, share your perspectives on books and their impact on you and our world.

Talk to you later...