Michael Baisden
Within eight months, he had sold more than 50,000 books and was on Essence and Emerge magazines best sellers lists. He toured with black expos, sorority conventions, and book fairs. He even signed books at local night clubs and hair salons. His popularity grew, as did the demand for his next book.
His second book, Men Cry in the Dark, was released in July of 1997. Baisden had taken a gamble and had written a novel, wanting to destroy the myth that men do not read. Once again, the book was a big success, selling 30,000 hard cover editions during the first six months. This time the national media paid attention and by the summer of 1997, demands for his appearance were overwhelming. Because local retail stores were too small to accommodate his large following and organizations refused to pay honorariums, Baisden decided to promote his own seminars. He called his seminars, The Love, Lust and Lies Tour. These seminars were held usually on Saturday nights from 9 pm to 11 pm in auditoriums and lavish hotel ballrooms.
However, the cost of promoting a successful event began to add up. With the cost of radio advertisement averaging $5000, and rental fees for hotel ballrooms $2500, it was clear to Baisden that he needed help. That help came in the form of radio stations co-sponsoring the events. They ran additional commercials, gave away tickets, and in some cases, broadcasted live from the seminar. Other sponsors, such as banking institutions, credit card companies, and magazines soon backed him with solid financial support.
At the 1997 and the 1999 Expos in Cleveland, Baisden's seminars attracted over 3,000 women. Baisden recalled that in 1997 it was so crowded the fire department closed off the floor. In other markets such as Atlanta, Los Angeles, Charlotte, and Detroit the seminar has become a highly-anticipated annual event. With such heightened interest, Baisden produced and sold by direct mail a video entitled, Love, Lust, and Lies, which contains excerpts from various shows. During the first week of the video's release, more than one thousand copies were sold.
Baisden is currently working on a new book, which is scheduled for release in the summer of 2001. Of course, it is another controversial book about betrayal, manipulation, and abuse.
Current Book List
2000 Book List