Kimberly K. Smith's exciting new book "BlackBerry Soul Celebrations, A Handbook for African-American Bridal and Baby Showers"  has been described as laugh out loud funny, informative, and timely. Written with the African-American woman in mind, it is the only book in print that describes more than 100 hilarious, synergy-creating, culturally flavored games and themes for family and friends for both wedding showers and baby showers.

To top it off, there is a hefty resource list for further reading as well as budget, location and guest list planners, and the all-important shopping list.

An interview with Kimberly K. Smith from BlackBride.com

Tell us about yourself
I was born and raised on the island of St. Croix, in the U.S. Virgin Islands. I lived there until around 1987 when I went to college at North Carolina A&T State University.

Tell us about Your book
The book is a one-of-a-kind handbook for Bridal and Baby Showers that contains pages and pages of ready-to-use games that reflect the African-American lifestyle. There are more than 100 games and shower themes. I have also included party-planning worksheets and additional resources to help you organize your event. Some of the game categories include Celebrities, Nursery Rhymes, Hip-hop and Old School Music, Movies and Television, and Global Culture.

What inspired you to write the book?
When I first started the book in 1997 the market only offered traditional shower ideas. I knew there had to be something else to do at a baby shower besides tasting baby food and getting wrapped in toilet paper. I wanted to do something a little different and I started writing down some of the ideas I had.

What makes BlackBerry Soul Celebrations different?
The book offers pages and pages of ready-to-use games that reflect the African-American lifestyle. As I mentioned earlier there are categories that aren't available in your typical shower book including Hip-hop and Old School Music, Global Culture, and Celebrities. One game for example, asks you to identify a few of the hottest Black celebrity married couples. Another game asks you to identify all of the Winans, Wayans, and Jackson siblings. I've also included games that pay tribute to the Black man. In the Especially for the Brothers section there are games that are centered on a few of television's favorite father figures such as Cliff Huxtable, James Evans, Bernie Mac and Michael Kyle.

Why did you choose to self-publish?
Self-publishing allowed me to have total control over every aspect of the book -from the design, marketing, and distribution. As the boss I am responsible for everything. The normal publishing process can take any where from a year or longer to get a book on the shelf. I just couldn?t wait that long.

Any final words for your readers?
If you want to spice up your event pick up a copy of BlackBerry Soul Celebrations. Just like adding a sprinkle of brown sugar or a dash of cayenne pepper, this book will add a soulful flavor to your event.

About the Author Kimberly K. Smith was born on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and currently resides in the D.C. area with her husband and two sons. "BlackBerry Soul Celebrations, A Handbook for African-American Bridal and Baby Showers" is her first book.