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AMY DUBOIS BARNETT SAYS 'GET YOURS!': Author making it her mission to encourage black women to reach high.
*Most little girl's dream of having it all. In their dreams they imagine themselves happy with the perfect job, house, and family.
When they grow up they still have those dreams, but see them as just that: "a dream." Now they're in the real world and those dreams are not reality, and they sometimes settle for what they can.
This is the usual story for the traditional urban woman; she never gets to live those dreams. Well, award-winning journalist, fiction writer and television commentator, Amy DuBois Barnett gives these women hope in her new book "Get Yours! The Girlfriends Guide To Having Everything You Ever Dreamed Of And More."
"There are very few accessible role models for African American women; I made it my personal mission to help women of color," Amy told EUR in a phone interview.
Amy's book features her intimate life struggles and lessons, exclusive celebrity interviews, thought-provoking quizzes as well as tips and tricks to getting what you want out of life. Unlike self-help books, she's not telling women how to live their lives, she's encouraging them to live their lives for themselves.
"[As] women of color [we] don't get to hear living for ourselves ... taking risks for our passions. [We] aren't realizing [our] full potential," said Amy.
The main tool in "Get Yours!" is "living with intention" and "excepting and living [as] who you are." Amy says that if you start living for yourself and walking through this world with authority, you will get all "you" want out of life. "Nobody can live your life for you."
Amy opens up to readers and tells her story of how she developed her own "Get Yours" personality. In her book she recounts her mother's death, and how it helped her realize she was the only one who was going to pull her out of the stump she had fallen into.
"My book is very personal. I dedicated it to my mother," she explains.
Her mother's one statement of advice has helped her, and is one of the book's main philosophies: "Act happy and you'll be happy."
"Try it for an hour. (People) will treat you differently. The better people treat you the better you'll feel about yourself. You get back what you put out," she advised.
The celebrity interviews are also an important tool. Her impressive list reads of successful celebs like: Gayle King, Venus Williams, Sanaa Lathan, Mo'Nique, Gabrielle Union, Hill Harper, Sarah Jones, Kelly Rowland, Mellody Hobson, Kelis and India Arie.
"I chose to talk with the people in my book because I respect them," said Amy. "I knew they would have something meaningful to say. They are three dimensional, smart, and interesting people. They were intimate and honest."
Intimacy and honesty flows throughout the entire reading of "Get Yours!," even down to the "Girlfriend" term she uses after every piece of advice she gives.
"I want the book to feel like a conversation (between girlfriends). "Girlfriend" is an expression that I use with my bestfriends. I wanted to erase the distance between me and my readers. I'm a real person with concerns and drama (also)," adds Amy.
Amy wants all her readers to remember that she is not some magical god claiming to know all the answers; she is just like any other woman.
"I have a life. I just figured out how to make it my life. Don't wait for certain things to come, to start your life. You are living right now. Make today count."
"Get Yours! A Girlfriends Guide ..." can be found at leading book stores. Amy also wants to let readers know, she loves feedback. If you want further info go to www.amyduboisbarnett.com.
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