African Humor

A stunning new talent in literary fiction, Nafissa Thompson-Spires grapples with black identity and the contemporary middle class in these compelling, boundary-pushing vignettes. Each captivating story plunges headfirst into the lives of new, utterly original characters. Some are darkly humorous while others are devastatingly poignant. Thompson-Spires fearlessly shines a light on the simmering tensions and precariousness of black citizenship.

In South Africa, the future looks promising. Personal robots are making life easier for the working class. The government is harnessing renewable energy to provide infrastructure for the poor. And in the bustling coastal town of Port Elizabeth, the economy is booming thanks to the genetic engineering industry that has found a welcome home there. Yes, the days to come are looking very good for South Africans. That is, if they can survive the present challenges.

A wedding and a murder...Star football player and NFL hopeful, Michael “Bumper” Hackett is getting married. Word’s going around that it’s a shotgun wedding, and there just might be some truth to it, seeing that the bride-to-be is showing a baby bump. But before the ceremony can even get started, the poor groom collapses from what appears to be an asthma attack. Unfortunately, things aren’t always what they seem. Romaine knew it was a bad idea to have a wedding at the funeral home, but newly elected justice of the peace and sole proprietor of the Ball Funeral Home & Crematorium, ...

Meet Relebogile Naledi Mpho Moruakgomo. Or, for short, Eddie: an aspiring playwright who dreams of making it big in London’s theater world. But after repeated rejections from white talent agents, Eddie suspects her non-white sounding name might be the problem. Enter Hugo Lawrence Smith: good looking, well-connected, charismatic and…very white. Stifled by his law degree and looking for a way out of the corporate world, he finds a kindred spirit in Eddie after a chance encounter at a cafe. Together they devise a plan, one which will see Eddie’s play on stage and Hugo’s name in lights.

It’s another murder in the little town of Roble. But not to worry, Romaine and Auntie Zanne are on it! It’s the 100th Boule of the Distinguished Ladies’ Society of Voodoo Herbalists. They’ve gotten together to eat, drink, be merry and vote for the next Lesser Mambo, a lifetime appointment second only to the Most High (bet you’ll never guess who holds that position). But the second in command spot keeps becoming vacant—that’s because the women who fill it keep dying off. This time though, it looks like murder. During an alcohol-infused dinner and a tall glass full of absinth, a...

A spicy holiday romance featuring a grumpy hockey star turned CEO, a determined lawyer fighting for her community, and a Taylor Swift-loving turtle. Perfect for fans of Theodora Taylor, Helena Hunting and Pippa Grant! All I want for Christmas…is you! TESSA I never meant to fall for Grant Thompson. He's arrogant, stubborn, and represents everything I'm fighting against in this town. But when he dives into a frozen pond to save my nephew, I start seeing beneath that polished corporate facade. Now he's pretending I'm his fiancée, and what started as a Christmas charade is feeling ...

Venus Johnston has a great job and a long-term, live-in boyfriend who happens to be a drop-dead gorgeous doctor. She also has a weekly beauty-parlor date to keep her long, nappy hair slick and straight. But the tedious hours and harsh chemicals in the salon have long grated on Venus. One frustrating day, she trades in the long hair for a dramatically short, natural cut and sends her commitment-balking boyfriend packing. It's a bold declaration of independence and one that has effects she never could have imagined.

The True Tale of 7 Countries, 4 Arrests, 3 Name Changes, 2 Escapes, 1 War, a Terrorist Attack and ... an Entertainment Pimp. For years, the call of Africa has echoed in Dashiel's heart. Finally, he can deny it no longer. He and his wife decide to sell everything, pack up the kids, and follow his dream to Africa. But he realizes that emotionally he wants--no, needs--his father to understand his reasons for leaving. Just as he is about to broach the subject, his father launches into the story of his own dream, as a teenager in Jamaica, of becoming an American. His father's fascinating tale of...

He's late delivering her pizza, but just on time to deliver her baby! Stephanie Nine months pregnant, recently widowed, and craving a double mushroom and extra sauce pizza. If that’s not bad enough, a handsome med-student who is late delivering my favorite comfort food finally arrives just as my water breaks. Not the beginning of your usual love story, I know. There’s something about Daniel, though. He’s white and privileged, a thousand miles from my world. After he delivers my baby, we start to spend time together. After the baby's father died in Afghanistan, I told myself I'd never ...

They come from different worlds, but they were meant for each other... She’s an activist who hates the rich. He’s a billionaire with a heart of gold. Both of their worlds are changed when they meet, but will it be for the better? Alisha He’s not like anyone I’ve ever met before – rich or poor. We come from different worlds, but I can’t control my feelings when we’re together. I fall for him mind, body, and soul, but will that be enough to crack his defensive shell and prove my love to him? Ivan She’s a pretentious activist who acts like a child most of the time, but I ...

Melanie Hyde is a young lady that leaves an impression on people no matter where she goes. From her pretty girl looks to her vibrant personality she turns heads and makes for good company. But being young and on top of her game she has no real time to settle down. That is until she runs into the right one. While she wasn't looking for love, Melanie locks eyes with Xavier. Why not give him a chance, right? He's tall, brown, and handsome. She thought that this would be a short lived thing but she was wrong. He came to play for keeps. He wanted it all. Dive into Swagger So Right to see how ...

Poverty and depravity wreak havoc on Hassan Omar’s family. Amid great hardship he decides to escape. The arrival of independence brings new upheavals as well as the betrayal of the promise of freedom. The new government, fearful of an exodus of its most able men, discourages young people from travelling abroad and refuses to release examination results. Deprived of a scholarship, Hassan travels to Nairobi to stay with a wealthy uncle, in the hope that he will release his mother’s rightful share of the family inheritance.

The woman she’s had a crush on for years needs a fake girlfriend, and Elana is ready to volunteer for the job! Toya is in a bind. Her little sister is getting married, and her mother is insisting she bring her girlfriend to the wedding. She’d told a little white lie to get her mom off her back, but now it’s backfiring. Her mom thinks she’s in a committed relationship, so Toya needs to find a pretend girlfriend, and fast. Elana fell in love with Toya the minute she set eyes on her. Unfortunately, she somehow went right into the friend zone. Elana has been hesitant to rock the boat, ...

Side-splittingly funny, spine-chillingly spooky, this companion to a Newbery Honor - winning anthology The Dark Thirty is filled with bad characters who know exactly how to charm. From the author's note that takes us back to McKissack's own childhood when she would listen to stories told on her front porch...to the captivating introductions to each tale, in which the storyteller introduces himself and sets the stage for what follows...to the 10 entertaining tales themselves, here is a worthy successor to McKissack's The Dark Thirty.

Barrington Jedidiah Walker is seventy-four and leads a double life. Born and bred in Antigua, he's lived in Hackney since the sixties. A flamboyant, wise-cracking local character, Barrington is a husband, father and grandfather - but he is also secretly lovers with his great childhood friend, Morris. When his marriage goes into meltdown, Barrington wants to divorce Carmel and live with Morris, but after a lifetime of fear and deception, will he manage to break away?

She is conducting an interview for High Times while harboring a secret. He runs the largest legal marijuana operation in Colorado and loves money above all else. Can they break through and make sense of their worlds as they come together? Brent Stone I run the biggest legal marijuana operation in Colorado, and I’m not about to let anyone stand in my way as I grow my wealth with weed. After she comes into the picture, so secretive and sexy, I lose my way for a minute. If I’ve learned anything becoming the King of Pot, it’s that money talks and women are a dime a dozen. Still, there’s...

June can't tell a lie - and that made for a lot of drama even before she joined her school musical! An enchanting middle grade series that listeners won't want to miss. Honestly. June has a hard time telling the truth when it isn't what people want to hear. But she's trying to be honest with herself, and auditioning for the school musical is what she really wants -- even if her parents have other ideas.

Fast-Paced Steamy BWWM Crime Romance Jordan Ehrhardt just met the woman of his dreams… Too bad she belongs to a rich, white real estate developer named Big Donnie, who treats her worse than dirt. Beautiful ebony-skinned art lover Alexis catches Jordan’s eye right away… she just has that something, a smile and a warmth he couldn’t turn away from if he tried. When Jordan and Alexis begin to spend time together, their passionate chemistry is off the charts. Just as their hookup begins to grow into something real, Alexis’s ex comes back with an ax to grind: if Big Donnie can’t have ...

Essence best-selling author and Gospel comedy queen Pat G’Orge-Walker delights millions with her riotous send-ups of church life. Don’t Blame the Devil is a hilarious and inspiring novel of mistakes and second chances, heartache and love, sin and salvation. Delilah is in for a few surprises when she decides to come to the rescue of her long-estranged son Jesse—whose wife just died—and her granddaughter Tamara.

The First Lady of Gospel Comedy, Pat G’Orge-Walker, pens faith-based fiction that deftly blends spirituality and hilarity. Prayer warrior Sister Betty knows that trouble is brewing for the Crossing Over Sanctuary Church. Millions of dollars in debt, the church has numerous saviors waiting in the wings, but each of these angels has a tarnished halo. It’s going to take all of Sister Betty’s faith, and maybe even a few Christmas miracles, to get the church back on its feet and open for worship.