Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 I was born on a Monday in November 1966, in Marie Claire Beauvais, France, to Axel Jean-Pierre and Marie-Claire. I never took my father’s last name, and I ended up with my mother’s maiden name. #2 I was a Peenie Greet, or skinny twig, as my brother Maurice referred to me. I was painfully skinny, and I hated my protruding wings on my back. I was never given a middle name, but I embraced my nickname, Gachou. #3 The island of Haiti was full of bright colors, and the people there were always happy and grateful to be alive. They radiated the same colors that were everywhere in their culture. #4 I remember the music of my childhood, which was the soundtrack of my youth. It was the music of Creole, a language that was born out of a combination of European French and African languages.

“Dishy, warm, and entertaining.”—Kirkus Reviews ?The beloved Black pop culture icon, entrepreneur, Hollywood actress and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star bares her life in this frank, funny, and fearless memoir about life, love and the pursuit of true happiness. Love Me As I Am is Garcelle Beauvais’s smart, inspiring, and raw memoir—an entertaining and unforgettable emotional rollercoaster ride that moves from her early childhood years in Haiti to her adolescence in Boston; from her heady days as a young model in New York—her first taste of real freedom—to Los Angeles and the many ups, downs, and then more ups, both personal and professional, she experienced in her three-decade acting career, including her massive fame as a star of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Throughout her life, Beauvais has suffered from an emotional battle between her wild, rebellious nature and her desire to be a “good girl.” No matter how many cover stories she earned, “Most Beautiful” lists, or coveted roles in iconic series such as The Jamie Foxx Show and NYPD Blue, Beauvais could not cure herself of her “disease to please” or learn to put herself first. She also had to learn how to unapologetically put herself first. In Love Me As I Am, she brings together the voices of both the good girl and the rebel to deliver an unflinching examination of her successes and ongoing challenges as a mother, wife, daughter, sibling, and friend. Beauvais fearlessly talks about how she boldly embraced her sexuality in her 40s, and her determination to break free of the stereotypes that define and limit African American women in popular culture. Most importantly, she reveals how finally putting herself first led to better relationships with her three sons and even her ex-husband. Beauvais dishes too—offering juicy behind-the-scenes stories from movie sets, red carpet events, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Love Me As I Am is an unflinching look at one woman’s extraordinary journey to create a new and more exciting life—and to become the woman she was meant to be.

Jay and Nia are the children of two worlds, and as they will discover, they can enjoy the best of both. From Mommy's jazz beats to Daddy's classical piano, we will dance with the twins through a book that explores what it is to be of mixed ancestry, proving that a child is more than the sum of their parents. Created to be socially and environmentally conscious, I AM MIXED is printed on 100% recycled paper. "I Am Mixed is an invaluable teaching tool that all children from all races can learn from." - HALLE BERRY (from her foreword) "My son, as well as all of his friends, are mixed and they don't know any different. I don't know who this book is better for, the children of this generation or their parents. This book is a wonderful celebration of the beauty of coming from mixed ethnicities and cultures!" - JAIME PRESSLY (My Name is Earl) "Such a cute book with great illustrations and a sweet message." - HEIDI KLUM (America's Got Talent) "As a mother of a mixed-race child, I hope my daughter grows up to be proud of who she is and what makes her unique. I Am Mixed is a beautiful, sweet story that encourages children to look within themselves and appreciate the distinct heritage that makes each person special. It reminds us that our diverse cultures and traditions are things that should be honored and treasured." - LAURA LING Some of my favorite books as a kid were the Giving Tree and Bringing the Rain to Kapiti Plain. This is right there with those. Really. No tissue stuffing. It's beautifully illustrated and sincere. Well done Stranger Kids." - AFUA RICHARDSON (Top Cow Comics)

Porsha Williams, entrepreneur and one of today’s most recognizable media personalities, opens up about family, faith, fame, and becoming an agent for change. Porsha Williams is a remarkable voice in the television and podcast communities. In The Pursuit of Porsha, she takes readers on a deeply personal journey as she searches for happiness and self-acceptance, giving fans a first-hand look into the defining moments of her life that have not been captured on-screen or in the press. Charged with candor, vulnerability, and the sharp wit Porsha is known and loved for, The Pursuit of Porsha brings readers back to the beginning and along her path of self-reflection and discovery. She details her upbringing as the granddaughter of civil rights activist Hosea Williams and her painful recollections of childhood bullying and gives readers a look at her search for love and her journey into the spotlight. Porsha shares every moment that has tried–and restored –her faith, over and over again. Through it all, Porsha proves that she is more than a soundbite, headline, or rumor. She is an empowering role model to black women and an icon for women everywhere. In The Pursuit of Porsha, readers will see Porsha as they have never seen her before.

What makes you Awesome? Whatever makes you... YOU! Join Jay, Nia, and their friends from the I Am Book Series to celebrate the things that make each child unique and special. I AM AWESOME engages the reader in subjects that include being brave, never giving up, and what it means to be a good friend. The book helps children discover identity through imagination, teaching kids to love themselves and enjoy what makes them Awesome! "I Am Awesome celebrates the innocent journey of self-discovery through imagination and creative wonder, and THAT is Awesome." Angie Harmon (from her foreword)

Outrageous, captivating, and unafraid to tell it like it is, Nene Leakes shares her wild journey from a scandalous past to the pinnacle of reality television stardom. Lauded by her fans for her refreshing honesty, infectiously genuine style, and clever sense of humor, Nene is an empowered, self-made woman who has not forgotten where she came from and knows exactly where she wants to go. In this straight-talking and provocative memoir Nene charts her journey from family black sheep to single mother to making good and realizing her dreams. With her charm and bold, self-possessed voice, Nene tackles her painful childhood; the abuse she suffered at the hands of a violent boyfriend; her struggle to support her firstborn son; and her path to true love, self-acceptance, and pride. In Never Make the Same Mistake Twice, Nene dishes on her cast mates; takes on the rumors about her past; and shares hard-earned and inspiring life lessons in her fierce, no-nonsense, and irreverent style.

An inspiring, hilarious memoir about learning to resist the pressures of conformity, love yourself for who you are, embrace your flaws, and unlock your true potential. Winner of the African American Literary Award for Memoir! Now cohost of Fox's The Real and SiriusXM's Café Mocha, Loni Love hasn't taken the typical path to becoming America's favorite straight-talking girlfriend and comedian. She was not the child of Hollywood legends and she never wore a size 00. Rather, she grew up in housing projects in Detroit, more worried about affording her next meal than going on a diet. When she moved to Hollywood after graduating college with an engineering degree, seeking to break out in the entertainment world, there was nothing that would convince her to eat the kale salads and quinoa bowls that her colleagues introduced her to, which looked to Love like "weeds my grandma used to pay me a dollar to pull from her yard." Still, despite the differences that set her apart in the status-driven world of entertainment where being thin, young, blond, and bubbly is sometimes considered a talent, Love spent years trying to fit in—trying to style her hair just so, dieting, dating the men she thought she was supposed to be with. In this book, she tells the uproariously funny story of how she overcame the trap of self-improvement and instead learned to embrace who she was. As Love writes, "There's a saying a lot of people live by: 'Fake it till you make it.' For me, it's always been 'fake it, and then have the whole thing blow up in your face.'" I Tried to Change So You Don't Have To explores all of the embarrassing mistakes, terrifying challenges, and unexpected breakthroughs that taught her how, by committing ourselves to our own path, we can take control of our destiny.