1. For Immediate Release
Contact: Mary Jackson
(847) 942-6135
www.weareaps.com
authorspromotingsuccess@gmail.com
International Award-Winning Author Toneal M. Jackson Opens
Bookstore in Chicago’s Ford City Mall
Independent Author, Toneal M. Jackson began her literary journey in September 2010
with her first book, Pleasing Your Partner: A Spiritual Guide to H.A.P.P.I.N.E.S.S., for
which she ranked #3 as the 2011 National Black Book Festival’s Best New Author. In
2012, she was selected by Chicago Children’s Museum in Navy Pier to be featured in
their “Celebrating Authors” exhibit throughout African-American Heritage month with her
children’s book, Four Girls: A Lot of Choices. Later that year, CBS Chicago recognized
her as one of “5 Indie Chicago Authors and Publishers to Watch Out For”. Toneal was
nominated as the 2013 BWABC’s Female Author of the Year; later that year, she
received the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards’ Silver Medal for her title,
Inspiration from A.B.O.V.E.
Driven by her passion to help others prosper, in 2013, Toneal founded Authors
Promoting Success. APS is a national organization that not only serves as a support
group for independent authors, but also provides an array of services purposed to assist
them in accomplishing their literary goals. Along with consulting, editing, ghostwriting,
and publishing services (via her imprint, APS Publishing), as of May 2015, she now
offers authors an even greater platform to showcase their work: APS Books & More
Bookstore.
Unlike Barnes and Noble, and most other bookstores, APS Books & More prides itself in
being “Home to the Independent Author”, as about 85% of the store’s inventory is
comprised of titles from self-published authors. Toneal’s goal is to promote those
typically shunned simply because they are independently published, and provide
exposure for the author and their work (excluding erotica, street lit, and urban titles that
are excessively vulgar and profane in nature). Her desire is to give her customers a
supreme bookstore experience by displaying her books cover first, with accompanying
promotional materials to enhance the relationship between reader and author.
Not just a bookstore, the mission of APS Books & More is to increase literacy and instill
a greater sense of community by offering internet stations; tutoring services; workshops;
entrepreneurial showcases; Fun Day Fridays; Spanish classes; a Writers Society; book
clubs; story time; and author meet and greets.
###