France, Here I Come!!

I am extremely excited. I’m leaving in a bit for France to film a promo video to coincide with the lauch of my newest novel, Paris Noire. I’ll be filming with a French friend whose real-life family secret formed the basis for the fictional menage a trois between two of the French-immigrant pricipals in my novel.
Funny how family secrets intertwine. Mine and his. As I was researching neighborhoods to put my fictional family of Martinique-born immigrants in Paris, I stumbled upon Montmartre and the African-Americans living there. That’s when my own family secret intruded into the story.
Yes, I know, I’m from a family with lots of secrets. This time, it was the second of my three grandmothers who demanded to be heard. In real life, she was a singer who longed to perform in Paris–not very likely for a beautiful African-American woman living in Montana. Grandma never made it in real life so I thought I would grant her wish in this novel, Paris Noire.
Set in Paris in 1944, this book is a different take on the usual stories of both WWII and Paris. I’ve played up the experiences of two groups of color living in France. West Indian/African colonials and remnants of the ex-pat African-American artistic/literati community. I hope everyboyd enjoys.

BEA (Book Expo America)!

Yes, yes.  I know I’m slow.  At the very generous invitation of that spectacular author team at AmazonEncore, I attended my first ever Book Expo America (BEA) back in May.  I know.  It’s now mid-July.  It takes me awhile to assimilate these things, but assimilate I did.  I had a fabulous time.  I’ve been to New York before, but as a San Franciscan, not that often.

My first round of excitement was that fantastic cocktail party Amazon laid out for its authors and staff.  Here, I sympathize with Steffan Piper.  Steffan, Paul Reid, Andrew Fukuda and I, were the “first four” authors from the 2009 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award (ABNA) contest to be announced as AmazonEncore authors of original manuscripts.

I just read Steffan’s blog.  Because of an airline delay, he missed the spectacular, completely hosted–bar included–cocktail party!  With the Hudson River flowing below and surrounded by the Manhattan skyline from our rooftop party venue, Amazon made me feel like a star!!  Then there was BEA itself.

I was lucky enough to garner a book signing at BEA (courtesy of Amazon Publishing.)  What an experience!  I’m not sure how many books I signed–I think I was there about 90 minutes–but I thoroughly enjoyed speaking to all the folks in line–many of them librarians.

The site of BEA–the Javits Center–is enormous.  It was jam-packed.  I had to switch from heels to my trusty flat shoes to cover just a tiny portion of the place.  I’d love to go back again.  Thanks Amazon team!!

On my own, I scouted out mid-tea (yes, I made up the term) at the Plaza.  Not quite what I expected since I really did have high tea at the Empress in Victoria.  Now THAT was spectacular.

To end my too-short visit, I saw a Broadway play–Memphis.  Great!

I had to say good-bye to NYC but I’m looking forward to the site of my next novel–PARIS NOIRE.  Be on the look-out on a report from me from the City of Light (no, not San Francisco–the other one–Paris, France).  As soon as I master the art of adding video to this blog, I’m dying to connect scenes from modern day Paris to those detailed in my historical novel.  Paris 2011 contrasted to Paris 1944.  My Josephine Baker-like character contrasted to the newest American woman-of-color in Paris, today.  I’ll keep you posted.  Promise.

NASHVILLE!

I have just had the most amazing experience in Nashville, Tennessee. Wow! Talk about continuing good fortune.
Through the efforts of one of my cousin’s dearest friends, I was asked to speak before a group of fantastic Nashville women. The ladies, members of a the very special Les Gemmes social organization, held their fourth annual literary luncheon in Nashville, and asked me to be one of their two author-speakers. (Mr. John Baker, author of The Washningtons of Wessyington Plantation, was the other.)
Not only did I admire Les Gemmes mission–outreach to seniors and young people in urban Nashville–I especially loved this year’s theme. Lighting the Path for Girls aimed at engendering self-esteem into girls as young as ten. The young ladies introducing themselves with the title of “Miss” before their names was a small, but resounding affirmation of Les Gemmes successful mission. Congratulations to all the members.
I spoke to the group about my journey through the perils of traditional publishing, how I stumbled upon the ABNA contest, and finally, how AmazonEncore tapped me and Page From a Tennessee Journal for their first round of publishing original manuscripts.
I hoped my story would demonstrate the rapidly changing world of publishing, and the greatly expanded opportunities afforded to new writers. And, if we can write the stories, readers will have a world of lesser-told stories available to them.
To make my Nashville trip even brighter, the evening before the luncheon I spent at Meharry Medical College. You all know about Meharry, right? The oldest historically black medical school in the country. What an honor to mingle among the writing collaborative faculty and staff.
All I can say is that the people of Tennessee made me feel like a NASHVILLE STAR! Thank you. Thank you.

I KNOW I’VE SAID IT BEFORE, BUT THIS TIME . . .

My second novel, The Sisterhood Hyphen is scheduled for release this April, 2011 by Parker Publishing.    This book was contracted BEFORE I knew AmazonEncore existed.  (That’s a tale I’ll share some other time.)

          The Sisterhood Hyphen, published by Parker Publishing, tells the tale of three middle-aged African-American women and their celebratory budget-class round-the-world early retirement trip.  The three friends come in for a rude awakening at their second stop–Dakar, Senegal, when they meet three audacious Africa-born men who challenge the women on their very identities.  Why do you call yourselves African-American, they demand. 

        Oh, the ladies have an answer, all right.  But, is it good enough?.  Read all about it in this romance novel.

MERRY CHRISTMAS vs. HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Yep, that annual debate rears it head again, and I’ve always wondered why.  I admit I’m one of the lucky ones.  I grew up in San Francisco where “multiculturalism” walked every street, took every other seat on the Muni bus, and moved from class to class in high school. 

     Both Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas feel natural to me.  During the Christmas season amid my high school’s annual Christmas Tableux, my instructors made sure that the class received a healthy dose of how Hanukkah and the dredl game worked.   In May, Cinco de Mayo was as big as the fourth of July.  And watching that dragon snake down

 Market street awed every ten year old.  The Cherry Blossom festival in Japantown dazzled and who could keep those hips still during the Hula Festival?  It all works.

        Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.  Just aim your salutation at the right person at the right time, and we’re all winners!

A Jump on Post-Christmas Shopping

I just got word that Page From a Tennessee Journal will be discounted for one month.  Beginning tomorrow, December 24, PAGE can be downloaded onto your Kindle for $3.99!  The hardcover version will be 50% off for the promotional period that lasts through January 31, 2011. 

       I hope this opportunity will get PAGE into more hands.  I love the give-and-take of dissing John (my hero) and crying tears of sympathy for Eula Mae.  Read PAGE and let me know what you think.

AmazonEncore x 2!

Sorry for the delay in posting.  I’ve been a tad busy.  About three weeks ago, I signed with AmazonEncore for my second book.  Yes, I know.  I’m incredibly lucky!  I’ve got a great team with Amazon and I’m thrilled that they want to publish more of my work.

       PARIS NOIRE, novel # 2, a  tale about Martinique-born Marie-Therese and the tumultuous  year she endures following the  1944 Allied liberation of her beloved adopted city, Paris, is scheduled for release September 2011.  Jubilation, tragedy, love, joy, and a possible murder all permeate Marie-Therese’s year as she shepherds her two adult children through these rocky times, aided by her African-American friends–holdovers from the black artistic movement that swept Paris in the 1920s.

        Here’s hoping readers enjoy PARIS as much as they did PAGE.  Thanks, everybody.

THE IMPORTANCE OF A MENTOR

In the mentor department, I hit the jackpot!  I wrote Page From a Tennessee Journal in four months at the end of 2002.  No eyes, other than my own had ever seen a word of it until I spotted a sign inviting wanna-be writers to a group discussion led by  Teresa LeYung Ryan.

     Teresa had just published her wonderful book, Love Made of Heart, in the Fall of ’02.  Despite her busy schedule, she made time to give back to a group of struggling writers. 

       In those first two meetings, I looked up to that group of unpublished writers, admiring them, envying their inherent talent.  How could I possibly possess such skills to become a writer–struggling or not.  That’s when Teresa stepped in.  On meeting number two, she ordered me (yes, she can be feisty when necessary), to read the first page and a  half from my manuscript.

        I protested with every fiber I possessed because I was nowhere good enough compared to the others in the group.  Teresa refused to have me refuse.  I read in the quiet of a Barnes and Noble.  The rest, as a million people already say, is history.

         Teresa’s reaction to my words was overwhelming.  She gave me positive and enthusiastic feedback.  I took it and ran.  With her words encouraging me, PAGE earned a finalist spot in the 2003 Maui Writers Conference, and eventually, publication by AmazonEncore.  Other works are in the offing, and I can truly say, I owe it all to Teresa LeYung Ryan.

        Read Love Made of Heart.  It will stir your heart.

APOLOGIES!

I’ve been away a bit too long from this blog.  Sorry.  It’s been a busy summer and fall.

      When I did have a chance to settle down, I read Christi Craig’s blog (quoting Lynn Capehart and the use of racial labels on characters).  Of course, I was fascinated.  Especially since some of Ms. Capehart’s cautions jiggled a question about  my upcoming novel, Paris Noire.  Ms. Capehart questioned writers saying ore than we mean to in out treatment of characters of other races.

   I’m not sure if her cautions are warranted or not, but the discussion took me back to one of my critique groups where one or two participants have expressed confusion about the race of the American soldiers portrayed in Paris Noire.

        Here’s a quick synopsis of Paris.  Marie-Therese, a mulatto immigrant from Martinique celebrates the liberation of her adopted city from the Nazis in 1944.  She shepherds her two grown-children through a tumultuous year with the help of her African-American literati and artistic friends. 

       In the scene I brought to the critique group, Marie-Therese is attending a celebratory party in the home of one of the African-American emigres (think Josephine Baker).  In addition to the other black ex-patriots in attendance, is a contigent of African-American soldiers.

       I describe the soldiers in an earlier scene, but the problem in the critique group arose when I did NOT place the label African-American on them during the party scene.  I simply called them “the Americans,” or “Americans.”  This confused one or two in the group (not all, by any means). 

       The implication seemed to be that if I wrote “American”, the assumption was that the soldiers had to be white.  To clarify, I was asked to write “black” or “African-American” at every reference.  This I’ve chosen not to do.  Yep, I’m going to skip the hyphen.  My way of reminding the world that Americans of African descent participated fully in WWII even though the military services were segregated.  And I want to nurture that seed–the one saying American doesn’t only mean European-descended folks.

         Anybody out there agree with me?

What an August!

I’m still trying to decompress from a flurry of travel that took me from San Francisco to southern Massachussetts, to Boston, to Hartford Ct., to Manhattan, back to SF, and then off to Whittier and Los Angeles in Southern California.  What a whirlwind!

      I loved it.  I attended a spectacularly beautiful wedding in the heart of Ivy League country and then traveled down to mid-town Manhattan where I met with a couple of AmazonEncore people.  Let me say that I am very encouraged and looking forward to a marvelous Fall.

       I’ve been told that PAGE will soon be released on the Amazon European websites.  I can hardly wait!  In fact, I can get my bags packed for Paris in about 20 minutes.  (Not only will France be one of the European websites to receive PAGE, my next novel is set in Paris 1944.  I’m ready!