Shatterpoint was Shattered Dreams.

Book review by Jeff Carroll ATTENTION Spoiler Alert.

Shatterpoint was supposed to be the highlight of my year of reading Star Wars books but it wasn't.  I remember when I saw a book about Mace Windu I was very excited because he was a top Jedi and second black guy I saw in the Star Wars universe.  So when I picked up the book I expected to learn about his history and meet other Black people in Star Wars.  Unfortunately, the story was boring.  It was heavy with detail and military strategy.  I know he is a Jedi and it is the Star wars Universe I just wanted it to have a personal feel.  This story was all fighting and little background.  400 hundred pages and three books in one and I still don't know much about Mace.  Who were his parents? How did he become a Jedi?  In the story he was like a robot, only siting rules and regulations.

                Shatterpoint even disappointed me as a Black man.  Okay let me explain.  Mace Windu is the baddest black man in Star Wars.  Not that there were a lot of Black people to begin with.  Mace Windu and Lando Calrissian that’s it for Black people in the Star Wars Universe.  There are more Black people in the expanded universe but there are only two which have made it to the big screen and that’s what matters.  In Shatterpoint the story was set in Mace’s home planet and go figure it’s a jungle planet.  Okay, that’s not racist because there are other jungle planets in the Star Wars universe but it didn't feel real creative having it be a planet of black people. Next, Mace Windu is revered as the best lightsaber swordsman of his time and in his first stand allow story he loses his two fights.  You can image how let down I felt.  I’m not going to tell you about who he fights because it doesn't matter because I've read other Star Wars books and the heroes win and loose.  Mace on the other hand lost his first one on one fight.  He lost so bad the villain spared him.  Mace was sitting there like a punk.  Then in his second fight he got his ass handed to him again.  The only reason why he didn't get killed is because some regular person saved him.  Not even another Jedi, a regular human.  How corny is that? Mace is the Jedi who beat Jango Fett and could beat Count Dooku.  Hell he beat the Dark Lord of the Sith in quick time.  That’s like Wolvervine almost killed and being saved by some kid off the street in a Wolvervine movie.

                This book had to be written by someone who wasn’t a big fan of Mace Windu or the Star Wars universe curators wanted to back track on creating such a powerful character. In 2013 I decided to only read Star Wars books.  I read The Lost Tribe of the Sith (1 star),   Lando Calrissian and the Mindharp of Sharu (4 Stars), Death Troopers (3 Stars), The Force Unleashed (5 Stars), The Paradise Snare, a Han Solo story (4 Stars), Imperial Commando: 501^st (2 Stars) and Shatterpoint (2 Stars). 

                Star Wars is my favorite universe and I love the expanded universe I hope they continue to conform to the diversity of the changing world.  I recommend watching the last 3 seasons of the Clone Wars as well as the new season coming this fall, Rebels.  All of the books I gave 4 or more stars are books I recommend. Don’t take my word for the final word, I like action stories with not so much strategic description.  Many of the Star Wars books seem to be written by Star Wars scholars rather than fun loving fans.  Maybe Star Wars needs to ease back on the precision and let writers have fun.  The books were more like military Sci-fi than fun action children friendly type stories.  So, by all means please read and make up your own opinion. I plan on reading The Force Unleashed Two and some more Han Solo stories. I even plan on writing a fan Mace Windu story. Enjoy Please enjoy reading Star Wars books I just hope Shatterpoint doesn't shatter your dreams.  

Jeff Carroll releases his scariest most horrifying tale It Happened on Negro Mountain.

Florida July 2014 Black Bed Sheet Publishing announces the release of the streetlit horror story It Happened on Negro Mountain by Jeff Carroll.  It Happened on Negro Mountain is a real place located in Maryland. It Happened on Negro Mountain is available everywhere books are sold.

Negro Mountain is located in west Maryland, on the West Virginia boarder, which divided the Colonial North and South most popularly known as the Mason Dixon Line.  The Mountain was named “Negro” because of a heroic Africa Slave who single handedly fought off the Confederate Army soldiers and Native Americans.  Now, Negro Mountain is said to be protected by the spirit of the African.  The saying is Negro Mountain is a place where bad things happen to bad people.  So, when negative energy meets with the energy resting in Negro Mountain the outcome is always the same, The Mountain wins.

“After having success with my first horror story Thug Angel Rebirth of a Gargoyle I wanted to craft another story where I could send chills down the spins of the hardest street thug. No one has ever met a vampire and werewolf but Negro Mountain is real, you can visit it and that makes it ever more scary,” said Jeff Carroll of his work.

It Happened on Negro Mountain (Black Bed Sheet Publishing Paperback, July 25, 2014, ISBN: 978-0692255650-7$16.00 and $3.99 ebook) set to change the face of Streetlit and Horror with author Jeff Carroll. Jeff Carroll a lover of good old fashion horror stories with a creepy origins and not lots of special effects.  He found Negro Mountain while road managing a trip to West Virginia.  After seeing the highway sign for Negro Mountain he and his partner quickly jumped out of their cars and took picture.  Jeff came home a google Negro Mountain and the rest is history.

It Happened on Negro Mountain is a story about a Drug Dealer who has been forced out of his empire.  Rather than just submitting he decides to destroy his empire instead of agreeing to the demands of the younger drug dealers whom he started off.  His plans to leave his neighborhood turf with his babymother and seven year old daughter for a year.  This will allow chaos to erupt and let the young dealers kill each other before he returns to reclaim his post.  The place he chooses to hide out is NEGRO MOUNTAIN.

Jeff Carroll lives in South Florida, with his wife and son.  He is a writer, a filmmaker and owner of Hip Hop Comix N Flix.  He enjoys writing Sci/fi, Horror and fantasy stories with lots of action and a social edge.  He has written and produced 2 films, his second film was Gold Digger Killer won 3 film awards including BEST Picture at the International Hip Hop film festival. Jeff Carroll is the author of the non-fiction book The Hip Hop Dating Guide.  When he is not writing horror stories he enjoys speaking on Healthy Dating to college and high school students everywhere and goes by Yo Jeff.

http://www.amazon.com/Happened-Negro-Mountain-Jeff-Carroll-ebook/dp/B00LWXBDRI

Yo Jeff shares fun group exercises in the Hip Hop Dating Activities book.

PRESS RELEASE

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:

954-441-4457

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Florida, 2014 The Dibble Institute announces the release of The Hip Hop Dating Guide Activities book.  The Hip Hop Dating Guide Activities book is available to everyone for only $34.00.

The Hip Hop Dating Guide Activity Book is the “street-smart” approach to healthy dating for young adults. The Hip Hop Dating Guide Activity Book contains 15 fresh and engaging activities that resonate with today's youth. It teaches practical dating strategies to young adults, especially those who identify with the “street scene” - a sub-culture whose influence is powerful, but whose rules are fluid and unproven. It is for ages 14-24.  

The Hip Hop Dating Guide is the product of more than 25 years of research and firsthand experiences. Like most people, Yo Jeff has been speaking on male and female relations since he was in high school. This book presents solutions to some of the most irritating problems. This book follows his breadcrumb trail to the happily ever after. It covers how to meet people and how to maximize your dating process. It shows you how to deal with the “dating predators” who seek to break hearts and spread disease. You will learn how to maximize your personal dating process and get the most from your dating experience.

The Dibble Institute is a non-profit company which promotes relationship training for youth—especially in the context of dating and romantic connections.  The goal of the Dibble Institute is to help youth build a foundation for healthy romantic relationships now, and for lasting, positive family environments in the future.  Dibble offers Developing research-based teaching materials for schools and other youth settings, Educating opinion leaders and policy makers on the need for and value of relationship education and Training for teachers and youth instructors.  Dibble has received extensive professional recognition for our efforts in youth relationship education. Their teaching materials are used nationwide in classrooms, social agencies, community groups, and other youth settings.  http://www.dibbleinstitute.org

Yo Jeff Carroll is an author, filmmaker and Hip Hop 1^st Dating coach.  Yo Jeff uses healthy dating ideas and combines them with the fun and lively subculture of Hip Hop to show people how to address STDs, and Drama.  He lives with his wife and son in South Florida.  He is a contributor to Real Health magazine.  Yo Jeff has written for Swerv magazine America’s leader in Black LGBT health issues as well as College magazines and newspapers nationwide.  He wrote and produced the award-winning movie Gold Digger Killer and in 2005 his Hip Hop Dating Codes were endorsed by Hip Hop Culturalist KRS-ONE.  His workshop Stop the GAME is enjoyed by college students and people everywhere.  He has been a guest on NBC 6 Miami, New York’s Hot 97 and Air America with respected Hip Hop intellectual Chuck D. For more information visit his weekly blog at http://blogs.realhealthmag.com

To view him in action goto  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_22asKR-3-Y