I got a professional to design an ebook cover for my upcoming short story, Lie to Me. What do you think?
I love it. It’s much better than my feeble attempts.
Lesson learned: Hire professionals.
Enjoy!
White Until Proven Black: Imagining Race in Hunger Games : The New Yorker
I must admit I recently downloaded “The Hunger Games” based on the popularity and discussion of the movie. However, I was disturbed by the back lash against the movie because of some Black characters.
If you have read the book, it is clear that the characters in question were people of color. My question is, why is that a bad thing?
As a writer, an African-American writer, I often wonder if my work will be read by people of all races. I understand that people easily relate to others that are most like them. But is race the defining factor. I enjoy Jodi Picoult’s books. The main characters are White and yet I empathize with their plights and root for them the same way I do with a book by Bernice McFadden or Kimberla Lawson Roby. Why does it matter? A good book is a good book. Period.
Most of the time, I don’t enjoy the movie adaptation of books because the visual element limits the experience. I do enjoy it when the character on screen mimics the picture I had in my head. Of course, reading comprehension is a learned skill. Maybe those fans of “The Hunger Games” that were surprised about a character’s ethnicity should go back to school.
Please click the link below:
The Book Bench: White Until Proven Black: Imagining Race in Hunger Games : The New Yorker.
Inspiration
Back in 2008, my book club won a contest to have dinner with Kimberla Lawson Roby. I volunteered to pick her up from the airport and drive her to the restaurant. I had just started seriously thinking about writing a novel and I jumped at the chance to have some one on one time with a New York Times Bestseller. We chatted during the drive from the airport and she asked me what I did for a living. I told her and added that I really wanted to do what she was doing. She didn’t laugh. She didn’t roll her eyes. She was encouraging and offered to read my first chapter. When she signed my book she wrote, “Thank you for everything. Please finish your novel.” Words that have motivated me to this day. Needless to say, I’ve been a bit of a groupie ever since.
Our book club went to see her in Augusta, GA the next year.
Tomorrow Kimberla will be in my town for a signing at Books-a-Million. Her new book, “Secret Obsession” came out this week. I will be there. Stay tuned for an updated picture.
What I’m reading now: “My Soul to Take” – Tananarive Due
What I’m listening to: “All Woman” – Lisa Stansfield
>Book Blurb
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What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “Real Love” – Mary J Blige
I was over at Tayari’s blog when I saw a link to another blog called Practicing Writing. After strolling through the entries, I saw one entitled Page 123. The basic premise is that you are to pick up a piece of fiction that is nearest you, turn to page 123, find the fifth sentence and post it along with the next three sentences. I thought it would be interesting to try so here it goes:
I have just finished reading “Song Yet Sung” by James McBride. (Excellent read.) Here is page 123 from the this novel.
It was Wiley who held him up. The boy had pined for freedom from the time he became aware of himself. Amber had waited for Wiley to grow big enough to bear the hardship of the gospel train because, his contact had told him, the gospel train is a hard ride. Once you’re on, he said, you can’t get off.
Doesn’t that make you want to read the whole story? I recommend it. “Song Yet Sung” is set in the days before the Civil War, when some slaves have escaped from a notorious female slave-trader. One slave, Liz, is called the Dreamer, because she has visions or dreams of the future. In the Maryland’s swamp on the eastern shore, she learns of the Code and its significance to modern times. This story is drawn from historical events and told in McBride’s signature lyrical style.
I give this book the coveted 3 bookmark seal of approval. 
Peace.
>We WON!!
>What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “Father Figure” – George Michael
I know I’ve been gone for a minute but I have been busy. I have been working on my novel almost on a daily basis which is huge for me. Other then work and family, that’s pretty much been my life since the last time I blogged. But something out of the ordinary did take place.
I think I mentioned that I am a member of a book club, Journee, that meets once a month. I am the recorder for the group. Well, in February, the hostess that month chose the book “Sin No More” by Kimberla Lawson Roby. At the same time, I received an email blast about a contest sponsored by the author. Book clubs could enter the random drawing by purchasing the book and sending in the receipt. We did and I got an email last week saying that we WON!!! Kimberla will fly into Columbia, SC and take our entire book club to dinner. We are waiting for her to let us know an exact date.
We get to dine with an author, we get to dine with an author………(doing a happy dance!)
On another note, I do plan to update the Word-o-Meter this weekend. I have finished making edits to the first part of the book. I changed the focus of my main character so I had to go back and make sure that everything flowed. I do edits in long hand so I have to type the corrections.
Updates coming soon.
Peace!
