I did my blogging thing over at Blogging in Black in the wee hours of the morning since I thought today (Monday) was the 30th only to realize I’d slipped up on my calendar by a day.
Hope you enjoy the post!
Archive for July, 2007
In case you didn’t know, the FictionFolks Summer Sizzler workshop was rescheduled to start on August 5–so there’s still time to sign up if you haven’t already. Here’s a description with the new timeline.
Summer Sizzler Writing Workshop is now accepting students!!!
National bestselling, award winning author Deirdre Savoy will be facilitating this month-long workshop set to begin the week of July 16. This workshop is designed to help you bring that certain sizzle into your writing:
Course syllabus:
Aug 5: Biology of sexual chemistry
Aug 12: Making the most of the 5 senses
Aug 19: Euphemisms Anonymous: Ridding the purple from your prose
Aug 26: Slow burn to quick sizzle and everything in between
Each week, a lecture and assignment will be posted. Completion and posting of assigned work for peer review is not mandatory but advised if students want to get the most from the class.
How to register: Apply for group membership here. You will receive a student questionnaire and told how to make payment. Once tuition is received, you will be added to the group.
Tuition: $50 (plus $2.00 processing fee)
BONUS: FREE SCENE CRITIQUE FOR THE FIRST FIVE STUDENTS TO COMPLETE REGISTRATION!!!
I got the following e-mail from Deatri King-Bey, one of the hard-working women putting togther the Slam Jam in Chicago.
Romance Slam Jam 2008 Conference registration is OPEN!Come mix and mingle with your favorite authors of Black romance.
The readers said they’d like additional opportunities to hang out with their favorite authors of Black romance and the committee heard you. At RSJ 2008, we are adding Intimate Sessions with the author of the hour.
INTIMATE SESSIONS
Intimate Sessions are your opportunity to have a more personal setting to hang out with your favorite author(s). These sessions will be conducted in a Presidential Suite and light hors d’oeuvre will be served. Intimate Sessions are limited to ten attendees for each author of the hour.We are doing first come first serve with the Intimate Sessions for people who have registered for the conference. So register early. To give as many people as possible the chance to attend an Intimate Session, we can only allow one Intimate Session per attendee until the slots are full.
Intimate Session Authors:
Alice Wootson, AlTonya Washington, Beverly Jenkins, Deirdre Savoy, Donna Hill, Evelyn Palfrey, Gloria Mallette, Gwyneth Bolton, Gwynne Forster, Kim Louise, Marilyn Tyner, Mary B. Morrison, Seressia Glass, Shelia Goss, Wayne JordanSee you at Romance Slam Jam 2008!
Spread the word!
If you haven’t been before, please consider attending.
25
Jul
07
Just What the Editor Ordered
For those interested in the craft (writing not witch), Scarletta Press is coming out with the New Writer’s Handbook 2007. The volume is edited by Phillip Martin with a preface by Erica Jong. I found this out by tooling over to Paperback Writer’s blog. As one of the contributors, she’s privy to promo for the new volume which reads like this:
The New Writer’s Handbook 2007 is the inaugural edition of a new annual collection of articles to refresh and upgrade any writer’s skills, with advice on craft and career development. It offers an eclectic mix of expert how-tos, short pieces on creativity, marketing, and professional issues, and other insights on being a successful writer today.
Sound like something you can use? To quote Billy Crystal, (read to yourself in a gruff voice) I knew that you could.
24
Jul
07
Brown Girl in the Ring
Way back when I was still waiting to hear if my first book, Spellbound, was going to be accepted at Arabesque, I met a trio of lovely ladies at one of the few New York City RWA meetings. Why I didn’t attend more meetings is a loong, best forgotten story, but if I owe RWA anything it is the introduction to these three ladies. The first is the inimitable Gwynne Forster. Gwynne and I shared an agent–how that came about is a long story, too, but if it were not for Ms. Gwynne, I probably wouldn’t have had that agent at the time. Anywhoo, Gwynne was the only one I went there to meet. She introduced me to Patt Kalmanowitz (or some similar spelling) and Darlene James, two of the chapter’s aspiring writers.
Gwynne has always been my go-to person when I’m seeking writing advice. Darlene has read every word I’ve ever written, usually before my editor does. And Patt . . . Patt’s crazy. When I think of these three ladies, I think of the people who have helped me make it through the tough times, have given me more laughs and good times than anyone deserves. They have been my chief cheerleaders and I am theirs.
So, I’m happy to report that Darlene is now submitting (folks, keep your fingers crossed). And Patt, well, Patt has herself a book, y’all. The Ring Dancer’s Destiny out with Cerridwen Press, so you know it’s hott! (sizzle). I know I’ve read part of this book, heard even more about it, so I’m foaming at the mouth to get my hands on it. I hope you will follow my lead and pick up a copy or two yourself.
While you’re at it, Gwynne has a new book, too, Getting Some of Her Own. She won’t mind if you read it. (hint, hint).
I found this graphic over at African American Opinion, however, I would say the message goes beyond music. It’s time we women stopped playing along every time someone wants to make money off us by making us look foolish. Just one woman’s opinion. Or is it?
One of the dear readers over at Dear Author is fighting mad because Karin Slaughter, author of Beyond Reach made a choice with the characters in her story to which the dear reader objected–vehemently.
I went through the drama on Ms. Slaughter’s site to see what all the hubbub was about. So, okay, it turns out to be a MAJOR plot twist in a series of stories–one likely to upset or at least impact on many readers. I don’t read the series, so I have absolutely no stake in it. Just interesting news on a rainy New York afternoon.
Then I headed over to Murder She Writes. Jen Apodaca discusses the topic of author obligation to readers. How much consideration does an author owe her readers when formulating her stories?
Here’s the part I found most interesting:
My initial reaction to this hoopla is that it’s the author’s world (she created it) and she has a reason for shifting the plot. And I’m slightly dismayed that people are criticizing the author, making it personal, instead of about the book. Many are saying they will never buy another one of the author’s books.
These days the dividing line between authors and fans is almost non-existent. Readers can reach us not only through the post office, but also through e-mail, chats, instant messages, whatever. There is so much immediacy to the contact that it’s easier for readers to imagine that we write just for them and expect that their specific wishes will be brought forward in the writing. But writers must also take into account the needs of the story, their personal predilections as well as what the publisher wants, as well. Sometimes it feels like a big game of monkey with the author in the middle.
But I have to agree with Jen again that fans are awesome. I try to give them whatever they want whenever possible.
Tell me if this makes sense to you. My daily dose of PW (Publisher’s Weekly) tells me that U.S. Borders stores will be stocking the latest reissue of the children’s book series created by Belgian writer and illustrator Herge, featuring interepid reporter Tintin (and his dog Snowy). This time the globe-hopping Tintin has landed himself in the Congo, complete with imperialist stereotypes and natives resembling monkeys.
Wikipedia describes the book thusly:
in the Congo is the most controversial of the Tintin albums. It has often been criticized as having racist and colonialist views, as well as several scenes of violence against animals. Hergé has later claimed that he was only portraying the naïve views of the time.
Naturally, a few of Borders’ patrons have objected to this title. The store’s answer: to shelve this version of Tintin in the graphic books section (which has a more adult demographic) rather than the children’s aisles. Presumably Borders thinks customers are more upset that children might view racist material than that the racist material is available at all. Just another example of store shelving working in mysterious ways, I suppose.
16
Jul
07
Can you handle it?
Ask yourself that question before embarking on this little piece sent to me today. What a difference 100 years makes, my dears.
THE YEAR 1907
This will boggle your mind, I know it did mine!
The year is 1907.
One hundred years ago.
What a difference a century makes!
Here are some of the U.S. Statistics for the Year 1907:
************************************
The average life expectancy in the U.S. Was 47
Only 14 percent of the homes in the U.S. Had a bathtub.
Only 8 percent of the homes had a telephone.
A three-minute call from Denver to New York City
Cost eleven dollars.
There were only 8,000 cars in the U.S., and only 144 miles of paved roads.
The maximum speed limit in most cities was 10 mph.
Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, and Tennessee were each more
Heavily populated than California.
With a mere 1.4 million people, California was only the 21st
Most populous state in the Union.
The tallest structure in the world was the Eiffel Tower!
The average wage in the U.S. Was 22 Cents per hour.
The average U.S. Worker made between $200 and $400 per year.
A competent accountant could expect to earn $2000 per year,
A dentist made $2,500 per year,
A veterinarian $1,500 per year,
And a mechanical engineer about $5,000 per year.
More than 95 percent of all births in the U.S. Took place at HOME.
Ninety percent of all U.S. Doctors had NO COLLEGE EDUCATION! Instead, they attended so-called medical schools, many of which
Were condemned in the press AND the government as “substandard.”
Sugar cost four cents a pound.
Eggs were fourteen cents a dozen.
Coffee was fifteen cents a pound.
Most women only washed their hair once a month , and used
Borax or egg yolks for shampoo.
Canada passed a law that prohibited poor people from
Entering into their country for any reason.
Five leading causes of death in the U.S. Were:
1. Pneumonia and influenza
2. Tuberculosis
3. Diarrhea
4. Heart disease
5. Stroke
The American flag had 45 stars.
Arizona, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Hawaii, and
Alaska hadn’t been admitted to the Union yet.
The population of Las Vegas, Nevada, was only 30!!!!
Crossword puzzles, canned beer, and ice tea
Hadn’t been invented yet.
There was no Mother’s Day or Father’s Day.
Two out of every 10 U.S. Adults couldn’t read or write.
Only 6 percent of all Americans had graduated from high school.
Marijuana, heroin, and morphine were all available over
The counter at the local corner drugstores. Back then pharmacists
Said, “Heroin clears the complexion, gives buoyancy to the mind,
Regul! ates the stomach and bowels, and is, in fact, a perfect guardian
Of health.”
There were about 230 reported Murders in the ENTIRE U.S.A.!
Now I sent it to you and others all over the United States,
Possibly the world, in a matter of just Seconds !!! !!!!!!
PASS THIS ALONG!!!!!
Just Try to imagine…..
What it may be like ….
In another 100 years !!!!!!!
IT STAGGERS THE MIND !!
16
Jul
07
Once more–with feeling
Saturday at Blogging in Black, Alvin Romer of the Romer Review discusses RWA and the role of the black author inside it. I will let Mr. Romer’s post speak for itself. He posits some very interesting questions.
My beef is with the comments to his post. I am sick of ignorant comments about what black authors should or should not be doing regarding racism in the publishing industry, and folks making pronouncements about anyone who doesn’t follow their particular agenda. Why should I–why should any author–be taken to task for how, when, where or in what manner we deem it proper to speak out on the issues that affect US? Because I have not said anything in a manner that pleases the naysayer, does that mean I have done nothing? Do I care what they think? I’m sure you can figure that answer out for yourself. It’s very easy to figure out what other people should be doing when you have absolutely nothing at stake yourself.
Getting back to what Alvin had to say, I admit I am a member of RWA. It is a professional organization. I am a professional. ‘Nuff said. Should RWA be more sensitive to issues brought forth by it’s non-white members? You betcha. Am I going to try to force my views on them? Not on your life. IMO, whoever runs RWA and at least some portion of its membership appears to want to have its head in the sand regarding any form of change. That’s not a black thang or a white thang, it’s an adaptation thang (sorry, I saw Jurassic Park 2 last night).
You know what, I belong to my teacher’s union, too. All issues get decided in favor or whatever will suit middle and high school needs. As elementary teacher’s we get screwed. What else is new? Be a grown up. Deal with it.
My concern has always been for who reads my books. They are black, white, Latino/Latina, male, female, young old etc. How do I know? Because they tell me. I always make sure to include people of varying ethnicities in my books because that is what my world is like: that’s what my family is like. I have been reviewed and interviewed by every stripe of website out there and received mostly praise for my work.
That being said, I refuse to devote any significant portion of my time decrying the racism in the publishing industry to readers. If you don’t want to read my book, whether it’s because you’re a racist who doesn’t read black romance or a non-racist who doesn’t read black romance, fine. If you don’t like my name or you don’t like mystery with your romance or the cover looks too dark or too silly or the guy is bald and in the story your man had hair, whatever. If you don’t want to read my book, for god’s sake, put the damn thing down. Find something you do like to read and enjoy it.
Like anything else in the publishing industry, where your book is placed, what cover goes on it, where it is shelved and how many get printed is decided in the publishing house. That’s the battleground. As long as publishers feel the need to segregate us, that’s how it will go. They say that readers prefer it when black books are broken out and sales go up. From my days working in publishing and marketing, I know you can get a survey to say just about anything you want to if your interest is more in getting the desired results than listening to what your customer base says. I am not accusing the industry of shady practices, only saying that I put less stock in market research than most people might.
I’ve also never been one to try to shame people into doing what I think they should do. Those who cry “foul” to the romance readership at large may get a lot of name recognition and as many hits as kudos for their efforts, but I’d rather show people what they’re missing instead of whacking them over the head and trying to shove a book under their nose, figuratively of course. Your style may vary. Do what you have to do. Just realize I’ll do the same–in my own way, natch.
