Now what brilliant writer said it first? Truth is stranger than fiction. I’ve had feedback on the delusional state of Alexander Mcaughton when he wanted to move his black paramour and their child into his wife’s home, justifying the deed with, “what difference could it make to Eula Mae, anyway?” One of those offering feedback on Page from a Tennessee Journal, harbored strong doubts that such a thing could ever have happened.
I give you the late, not-so-great governor of California–Arnold, and his long-suffering Maria. The sad thing, both in the 1913 of Page from a Tennessee Journal, and in 2011 California is the non-uniqueness. Despite denials on some fronts, this situation was common during slavery and Jim Crow. I’d just assumed some progress had been made in the last 100 years. Guess not. Here’s to you Eula Mae and Maria S. I don’t like thinking about such pain.
Hello Francine—Just read your “miracle” story about Amazon Encore. Congrats on all your books, especially Paris Noire. I shall download that one to my iPad (via Kindle) and tear into it. I love WWII stories. I am a literary agent in Los Angeles and a former bookseller as well. Is there any way I could email with you directly. I have a couple of questions about the Amazon Encore imprint. Another agent friend of mine and I are tearing our hair out attempting to understand the m.o. of the Amazon publishing imprints. I love your story (the discovery and invitation to publish by AE.) You can contact me at the email which is listed on my website: http://www.gusay.com: gusay1@ca.rr.com … It will be forwarded to my personal email by my assistants should you choose to respond. (I’m reluctant to publish here my personal email.) Please understand if you don’t feel comfortable doing that, it won’t hurt my feelings. / Just curious? Are you still a member of the California Writers organization? That is a keen group. I liked it. I think I spoke once to them. Can’t quite remember. Whatever works out, I appreciate writers and look forward to reading Paris Noire. Good show. —Charlotte Gusay, The Charlotte Gusay Literary Agency
Hello Charlotte,
Hope you enjoy Paris Noire. It’s due out September 20 and I’ll be off to France to shoot a promo video in a week or so. I’m excited.
Yes, I’m very much a member of the Berkeley Branch of the California Writers’ Club. I owe them a great deal. It was their strong critiquing groups that got my first manuscript, Page from a Tennessee Journal, in good enough shape to enter the Amazon contest.