Those who crave the inspiration of best-selling author Iyanla Vanzant now have an easy way to share the messages in her book: They can send her new greeting cards to family and friends.
Mahogany, a greeting card line by Hallmark targeting African-Americans, has joined forces with Vanzant, author of “Acts of Faith: Daily Meditations for People of Color” (Fireside, $11), to launch a limited edition line of cards. All of the content comes from Vanzant’s book offering words of encouragement, motivation, congratulations, friendship and love.
The cards “take the words and works of `Acts of Faith’ to another level of expression,” says Vanzant, 44.
Winner of the American Bookseller’s Association Blackboard 1995 Book 1995 of the Year, the book also was the No. 1 paperback non-fiction book on Blackboard’s list for two years.
Vanzant’s life story itself is an inspiration. She survived sexual and physical abuse, raised three children on welfare as a single parent and put herself through college and law school. She also is trained as an African Yoruba priestess.
Hallmark’s Valencia Scott says Vanzant is a perfect match for Mahogany. “Spirituality has become more important. . .and Vanzant is in the forefront. She’s a strong black woman and 90 percent of greeting card buyers are female.”
Vanzant, of Silver Spring, Md., says the cards celebrate everyday victories. “A single mother who puts her son through high school. That’s a major event. It’s nothing the White House is going to recognize, but we can,” she says.
The 48 Acts of Faith cards retail for $1.65 to $2.50 and will be available until Sept. 30.
