Multi-Talented Maven Makes Morning News in March

PRLog (Press Release) – Feb 24, 2008 – Washington, DC -- On Tuesday, March 11, 2008, Channel 9 News NOW (local CBS affiliate) will interview Author Ananda Kiamsha Madelyn Leeke about her debut novel, Love's Troubadours - Karma: Book One for Women's History Month at 9:00 am. Leeke will discuss the cast of amazing female characters, artists, and musicians featured in the novel. She will also address the role that her novel plays in promoting National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day.

Leeke will launch a new and improved Love's Troubadours web site on March 1 with new content that celebrates Women's History Month and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Month, provides information about International Women's Day (March 8) and National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (March 10), features new photos from 2007 and 2008 book readings, and offers new links for writers and yoga lovers.

Leeke will participate in three book readings held on: 1) March 6 from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm at Howard University Bookstore, 2225 Georgia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20059, 2) March 9 from 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm at for the Third Annual Women's History Month Exhibition Reception at Peace & A Cup of Joe, Inc, 713 West Pratt Street Baltimore, MD 21201, and 3) March 22 from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Maruka School for Yoga, Healing Arts, and Retail Boutique, 1300 9th Street, NW (9th and N Streets), Washington, DC 20001.

Leeke will offer two free community yoga events at Malcolm X/Meridian Hill Park on: 1) March 8 from 9:00 am to 9:30 am to honor International Women's Day, Women's History Month, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Month, and National Women and Girls HIV/AIDS Awareness Day and 2) March 23 from 11:30 am to 12:00 pm to honor the Spring Equinox and National Nutrition Month.  The group will practice kind and gentle Hatha yoga in front of the waterfall located near the reflecting pool and park entrance facing 16th Street and Florida Avenue, NW. Each yoga class will last thirty minutes and include an opening meditation, warm-up, kind and gentle poses, and closing meditation. Yoga lovers should bring their own yoga mat and bath towel for seated positions. They should also dress comfortably in loose clothing and avoid drinking or eating two hours before the yoga class.

Love's Troubadours - Karma: Book One by Ananda Kiamsha Madelyn Leeke tells the story of Karma Francois, a thirtysomething California-born BoHo BAP (Bohemian Black American Princess) with Louisiana roots and urban debutante flair. The book shows how a woman uses therapy, yoga, meditation, art, music, poetry, and support from family and friends to confront the effects of her poor life choices and embrace a spiritual journey of healing and love. The book was published by iUniverse, Inc. and is available through Amazon.com, Barnesandnobles.com, Borders.com, Target.com, and Bookamillion.com.

The novel was written to encourage self-discovery and healing, illustrate the diversity of loving relationships (straight, lesbian, and gay), emphasize the importance of yoga and meditation practice, and cultivate HIV/AIDS awareness. It was also written to celebrate Black history, art, culture, and music; Washington, DC neighborhoods such as U Street, Shaw, Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle; and the cultural connections that African Americans share with Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America.

About the Author: Ananda Kiamsha Madelyn Leeke is a writer, artist, yoga teacher, and Reiki practitioner. Her poetry appeared in Beyond the Frontier: African American Poetry for the 21st Century. Leeke is a graduate of Morgan State University, Howard University School of Law, and Georgetown University Law Center. She lives in Washington, DC.