As Sister Souljah’s 1999 best-selling novel, The Coldest Winter Ever, was feeding the streets with urban fiction not seen before that time, a legal secretary and a mother from Philadelphia was awaiting her chance to reign with captivating literature. Rejected by at least 20 different publishers over six years, the upcoming author did not become discouraged, but instead self-published. Teri Woods reflects and shares with Parlé how she made it from being rejected to becoming a multi-millionaire.

What comes to mind when you hear the name NeNe Leakes? How about vivacious, entertaining, and successful. She’s known for telling it like it is, and she’s doing just that on the spicy reality show, Real Housewives of Atlanta. But if you thought Leakes stopped there, think again because she’s dishing out even juicier news in her newly released memoir titled, NeNe Leakes: Never Make the Same Mistake Twice.