About PHILANA MARIE BOLES…

My newest novel is Glitz, a YA.

Glitz is about two best friends who meet their favorite musician backstage at a concert. It then becomes every music fan’s on the road fantasy come true… maybe. You’ll have to read it and decide for yourself.

I am also the author of the popular ‘tween novel Little Divas.

Glitz by Philana Marie Boles

Little Divas by Philana Marie Boles

My adult novels are Blame It on Eve and In the Paint.

A lifelong student of the arts, I studied creative writing and theater at Bowling Green State University on both talent and leadership scholarships.

Random House, Harper Collins, and the Viking imprint of Penguin have published my novels, highlighted in such magazines as Ebony, Today’s Black Woman, Sister 2 Sister, Black Beat, Essence, and Black Issues Book Review).

Currently, I live in New York, frequent my home-state (Ohio), have multiple book deals, and work as a consultant.

Years ago, I created “The LOVE Spot” as a resource to support other artists. There are enough unnecessarily mean blogs. Showing love is, by nature, more my style… I retired the original blog in 2008. Therefore, what you are visiting now is the NEW version of “The LOVE Spot”. I hope you will visit often.

Here, at “The LOVE Spot”, we celebrate things that are somehow affecting popular culture: books, fashion, music, movies, theater, tv… etc.

Hopelessly inspired, I am always looking for something new to love. Hopefully, reading this blog will encourage readers to do the same.

Negativity bores me. Life is too short for it.

Here, at “The Love Spot” it is always all love (Ahluve). Guaranteed.

Thank you, again, for stopping by!

xoxo,

Philana Marie Boles

REVIEWS FOR GLITZ, my YA novel

“An easy title to recommend…”
~School Library Journal

“There’s enough wish-fulfillment here to delight starry-eyed music lovers and

enough cautionary realism to reassure a worried Gramma.”
~Kirkus

“With characters that leap off the page and a story that’s full of heart,

Glitz will take you on an unforgettable adventure…”

~Cheryl Renee Herbsman, author of Breathing (Viking, 2009)

“Glitz takes readers on a wild ride reminding them that, all that glitters isn’t gold,

but the journey to finding our real selves is often worth it.“

~Paula Chase Hyman, author of So Not the Drama.

NEWS ABOUT LITTLE DIVAS, my novel for ‘tweens:

Sybil Wilkes, of the nationally syndicated “Tom Joyner Morning Show”, twice featured Little Divas as one of her recommended books for youth.

Little Divas has also been:

Nominated as “Children’s Book of the Year” by The African-American Literary Awards Show
Selected by New York Amsterdam News’ as one of “Editor’s Picks for Young Readers”
Honored, in 2009, by The Brown Bookshelf’s “28 Days Later” literary campaign, a nationwide, nominee based, initiative designed to push awareness of the myriad of African-American voices writing for young readers.

Samples of what critics have said about Little Divas by Philana Marie Boles:

“In the tradition of Judy Blume and Alice Naylor, Boles’ first novel for youth is a joyful, honest story of girls’ friendship, family and love.”

~ALA Booklist

“Little Divas sends a positive, empowering message to young girls about everything from how to deal with divorced parents to how to negotiate the rules of friendship.”

~Jane Heller, national bestselling author of Sis Boom Bah and An Ex to Grind

“Little Divas was a joy to read!”

~Patty Gary-Cox, Co-Executive Producer of “That’s So Raven”

“The strength lies in the Boles’ preteen heroines, who are authentically conveyed.“

~ Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books

“Little Divas is a must-read novel!”

~ Cincinnati/Hamilton County Public Library

…xoxo and LOVE from Philana Marie Boles