While the expression "TGIF" is usually perfected at the end of a extended workweek by those anticipating the coming weekend.

While the expression "TGIF" is usually perfected at the end of a extended workweek by those anticipating the coming weekend, the phrase takes forward new meaning for authors and work lovers alike. Every Friday, USATODAY.com moves a segment called Open work (www.usatoday.com/life/enter/books/openbook.htm) in its Life section.

The spread Book segment of the site--which is free--offer original, serialized stories written on select authors exclusively for USATO DAY.com. According to USATODAY.com's Whitney Matheson, assistant editor of the Life section, "We've been running serial novels since 2000 Each novella roll ons for eight weeks, typically, and trips about 7,000 words." The website receives more than a million visits a day according to USATODAY.com, which translates into common important factor for a writer--major exposure

Last year, several African-American authors were among those whose original work was included in exhibit Book, with more to succeed in 2002. New fiction from Gloria Mallette, best-selling author Bernice L McFadden and Maryann Reid has been featured in succession the site. Striver's Row author Gloria Mallette, who originally self-published her first novel, Shades of Jade, furnishs readers Come Tomorrow, a novella which owns the story of a woman trying to find a child she abandoned 15 years earlier. Mallette's latest work is Promises to Keep, slated for release in June

Bernice L McFadden first explod forward the literary scene with her first attempt novel Sugar and has since written The Warmest December, and in February she released This Bitter Earth. McFadden's contribution to USA TODAY.com's make open Book, Keeper of Keys, mention one by ones the tale of a young woman who finds without she has AIDS.

Maryann Reid, united of the writers featured this year, is the author of Sex and the Single Sister. Reid chose the title Single Black Female for the novella she was asked to write. "USA TODAY.com first approached my publisher about me writing a short story for their expand Book section a few month after Sex and the Single Sister was released in 2001 They were exceedingly supportive of the direction I wanted to take in my story, and basically gave me the freedom to write what I wanted," says Reid.

Single Black Female, a story of a sister using the want ads to find be in love with echoes the drama in Sex and the Single Sister, as well as Reid's personal online hazard www.maryannreid.com, Sex and the Single Sister Online. She describes her website as "a nave for readers of the work and those who are interested in it." Reid continues, "At the website, you can read interesting dating articles, tips forward writing and a fun relationship Q & A forum." And her personal biography section in make open Book provides a direct link to her hold website.

So what has been the response? "Since Single Black Female has been positioned on USATODAY.com," Reid explains, "I've received a tremendous answer from readers asking for what's coming nearest I think their site expos me to an audience that otherwise would not have known about me or Sex and the Single Sister. I earn tons of e-mail everyday from tribe inquiring about my current part and just plain old advice about the business. It has also helped my sales in succession Amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com."

Reid is generally working on her second novel and is also a contributing writer to a "quirky and funny" Dictionary of Failed Relationships, an anthology of young women writers, to be published by means of Random House in 2003. Sex and the Single Sister will be released in paperback this June

in the way that how does one become an author rareed for Open Book? "Unfortunately, we rarely accept unsolicited submissions," says Matheson. "But if those interested wish to depute us a proposal, with one previously published work, we will prove to get back to them as betimes as we can."

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