Country: US
Signup Date: 3/11/2007
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November 7, 2009 - Saturday
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Drunk for 27 Years: A Story of Victory - Her Choice to Live and Not Die
by author Cynthia Banks
The road of Priscilla’s life was paved by the people that made choices for her. Through heartache, pain, trauma and tragedy, Priscilla’s experiences became stepping stones that forced her to make a choice that ultimately changed the outcome of her life.
Drunk for 27 years, the compelling true story of Priscilla Gibson, mother of singer, actor and model Tyrese Gibson, suffered 27 years with alcoholicism. The book reveals the unconditional love that her children had for their mother, who despite all they had experienced remained just the strength she needed to make it through.
Suffering abuse at the hands of an alcoholic mother, Priscilla began drinking at a very young age, and continued into her adult years. Many factors manipulated the course of Priscilla’s life, causing her to make one bad choice after another until she finally made the choice to live and not die.
PROLOGUE
“What is wrong with you?” he cried out with tears streaming down his face. “Why do you think I’ve been calling you Mommy Dearest ever since I was a little boy? It’s because you drink just like that lady in the movie, and you act like her too! Why can’t you stop drinking?”
“I don’t know how to stop!” I said putting my head down on the table and crying. “I’m scared!”
“You’re scared? Mama, you’ve scared us to death for years, wondering where you were, not knowing if you were dead or alive. What did you think could happen to you living in these streets?” Junior said before crying out with loud sobs.
“I’m going to stop drinking, I promise. I’m going to stop drinking! I don’t want to be like my mother,” I cried out loudly. I put my head down on the table and began to pray silently, ‘God in Heaven, please hear my cry. I am an alcoholic and I have become just like my mother. If you deliver me from this alcoholic disease I promise I won’t ever take another drink for the rest of my life. I want to live and not die’
Reviews for book Drunk for 27 Years
Wow! This is an inspiring book. It’s straight to the point on how things really were and it’s very honest. The book touched me and told me things about my mother that I never knew. My mother had a lot of issues that she covered up with alcohol - something that a lot of people do because they can’t express their feelings. It’s really, really a good movie…I mean book! I couldn’t put it down. The book goes into depth, telling a story that kept unfolding, a story that unfolded as I read it and as I lived it. I experienced several emotions while reading, I got upset, then mad, then sad, then happy. God is a forgiving God. I’m proud of my mother for having a relationship with Him and making the right choice.
-Salandra, Priscilla’s Daughter
Growing up was hell! My mother was drunk all the time, so the streets raised us. The older we got the more distant we became with our mother. She never really got to know any of us, but we loved her any way and we loved her unconditionally. We survived all that hell and managed to come out of it pretty decent human beings. I thank God for remembering the Gibson family.
-Tyrone, Priscilla’s son
Life with my mother as an alcoholic was very emotionally draining and tough. You never knew if she was going to have a bad day or a good day. Her day started with alcohol – everyday! Because of that my relationship with my mother was strained and distant. As a child regardless of what card life deals you, you always have to try to respect and acknowledge your parents. I never disrespected my mother during her illness, which caused a lot of pain. As a result of being a child of an alcoholic it caused me to make better choices in my life, especially never to drink. I went the opposite direction. I’m proud of my mother for taking the steps to recover from her addiction. I love her dearly.
-Shonte, Priscilla’s Daughter
I have known my Mother-In-Law, Priscilla for almost 6 years and I know that all the words in this book are true. I was not there for all the 27 years, but 6 years of it I was there and the stories were true. Priscilla has come a long way. Even though the book is going to be out for the world to read, seeing it in person is beyond words – she really was drunk all day, everyday. When Priscilla started writing the book, I was there to see her write the first page. She didn’t even know if it was going to be a book, she was just writing out her thoughts. I remember her asking me if I thought it would be a good book and I told her it would be a wonderful book. This is her victory over alcohol and life to her being restored; and God’s victory of another one of His children being saved.
-William, Priscilla’s Son-In-Law
Drunk for 27 Years: A Story of Victory - Her Choice to Live and Not Die
Download Your Copy and Read it Today!
**Ella Curry recommends this book to the group
ISBN#: 9781438993157 (ebook download)
Amazon; ISBN-10: 1438993137 ; ISBN-13: 978-1438993133
Very heartfelt, impressive, sad yet up lifting! A Great story of survival!
-Lela Reed, Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL mom
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November 7, 2009 - Saturday
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Meet bestselling author Dwight Fryer
posted by Ella Curry
 Fryer shares from his twenty-five years of business experience in leadership, technology, finance, accounting, marketing and publishing. He has written two critically acclaimed novels. The Legend of Quito Road and The Knees of Gullah Island. Dwight speaks about life, healthcare, business, leadership, history, literature, community and storytelling. The University of Memphis teaches The Legend of Quito Road in its Masters of Fine Arts Program in the English Department. Dwight Fryer has inspired audiences at universities, corporations, schools, faith communities and nonprofit organizations. His passion is to help people do all they can to succeed and use his experiences to inspire others. Fryer was diagnosed with cancer two days after a 1998 layoff. In 2001, the disease meningococcal meningitis took his youngest daughter’s life. He works as an advocate for immunization against bacterial meningitis with the National Meningitis Association. He survived a wreck caused by a driver under the influence. Contact him today for details on how he can share at your next event via email at author@dwightfryer.com. Website: http://www.dwightfryer.com
Q. What impact will your books have on the community?
People need to experience literature that is not just low brow and dangerous personal behavior. We need books that help us grow and reflect. Too much of our media related content is pure sex and not much else. I want the modern reader to pick up a book, be drawn into the story, relate to the characters as real persons, and find they can truly enjoy the book without numerous sexual scenes in each chapter. Our families are bombarded with sexual content and I wanted to develop and share interesting and enlightening books that readers love without the damaging backdrop of activities labeled as pornography when I was younger.
Today, we must decide — persons of color and not of color — how we're going to work together, sowing is what I am writing about. We have to truly realize the dream that Dr. King had for us. So as I tell these historical stories and we look at how often people focus on their differences and not their similarities and how they can work against each other instead of together. Too many of our areas are still very divided communities, too often on race, religion, or political alliance separates us.
Unfortunately too many people that are in powerful positions are not trying to find ways to build bridges to each other and work as a coalition builder and a success builder. We live in a very divided world where it's not so much about color. Quite often it's about ethnicity and who and what we believe in. Instead of mankind finding a way to work together, we too often are prone to work apart.
My stories share the lives of characters that grow past many of these challenges in order to achieve their personal goals.
Q: What inspired you to write these stories?
My first novel was inspired by a economics paper I wrote in graduate school about a drug dealer, his massive initial economic success, and the life prison terms he eventually received for his risk taking schemes in the drug trade. When I began to research this story for the novel form, I felt a need to go to the root of the problem, illegal whiskey.
The Legend of Quito Road called to me early in the mornings of most days until I finally obeyed and wrote the book. The Knees of Gullah Island shares the family history and readers learn what happened to Gillam Hale. He was Son Erby’s grandpa by his second family after his first was taken and sold away.
I wish the modern reader knew more about their origins. This would help us unlock some of the mystery of who we are and who our children can become.
Q: Tell us a little about your main characters. Who are your favorites? Why?
Is there any spiritual difference in making moonshine and crack cocaine or crystal meth? Was this knowledge a gift or a curse and what is does that information produce today for modern drug industry participants?
Red-headed Rafe Coleman and mocha skinned Thelma Louise Smith enter a relationship of mutual exploitation. Who is really in charge of this love-match between the large town constable that readers love to hate and a woman with a sordid family given nickname because of her physical traits. They call her Bustie and all know why!
In The Knees of Gullah Island, Queen Esther Hale has been enslaved twice. She is still not free when the book begins in July 1883, even though she is an intelligent and successful business woman with a flourishing restaurant in downtown Charleston. Her husband Gillam Hale, has not seen her in twenty-five years since their illegal sale into slavery. He must make a huge decision when he discovers she is in Charleston: does he leave all he has known in the second half of his life to search for what he loved in his first half of his existence?
How does this type history impact the modern man’s exit from the home and children they have parented? How did slavery impact the slaveholder? For that story, we look at the lives of Claude and Marjorie Crenshaw, rich Southerners with a storied past and many secrets.
Miss Grozalia is a Gullah-Geechee matriarch and root doctor. You better treat her with respect or she will put a root on you! Miss Grozalia told a young gal, “Daa’tuh, mos’ time two lay down three get up!” How many young folks today need to receive that message.
Dora and March Crenshaw are young, barely black and have big decisions to make in their young adult lives. Which side of the color line of their mixed heritage will they be drawn too and why does society make them choose one when they originate from both?
Mule Jenkins is an African American vendor who sells fish to the exclusive homes South of Broad on the Charleston peninsula. Homeless Mule sings as he walks to market his wares and forget his troubles. Cuppie Geechee is a voluptuous Gullah woman who has waited for thirteen years for the love of a man from her past. On a cool afternoon near Christmas 1883, she decided not to wait any more.
Gullah John is as mean as he is lanky. His Gullah speech and wicked sense of humor makes the hair stand up on the back of the neck of most folks he meets. Why does he have such a hold on June, daughter of Queen Esther and Gillam Hale? June is thick with muddy red skin and has a weakness that only the love of a father can heal. How many children today suffer similar challenges?
Bent knees do straighten crooked deeds. All the characters eventually learn this and someday so will each of us.
Q: Thousands of books are published each year. What sets your books apart from other books in your genre?
I am producing quality stories suitable for young and old to read. These books have great wisdom lessons and are filled with startling story lines and unforgettable characters. A major university has taught my work in their Masters of Fine Arts program in the English Department. That is rare air for any writer in any genre.
Both books are filled with rich historical details and spiritual truths that are applicable to the modern reader.
**Ella Curry recommends the books to the group
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November 5, 2009 - Thursday
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Category: Writing and Poetry
Color Me Jazzmyne By Marian L. Thomas
 I would like to introduce you to a fantastic new book, Color Me Jazzmyne. Readers of Color Me Jazzmyne have been captivated by the depth of the emotional journey that the book takes them on. It digs deep into what it takes for women to embrace who they are no matter what size, color, educational background or social status. Sisters will learn to love themselves despite what society says or the voices that surround them! Author Marian L . Thomas not only delivers her first novel but takes on real-life topics that are affecting society today. The topics that are discussed throughout her book are ones that are often rejected by mainstream publishing houses. She cuts to the core of serious subject matter: rape, the mental health of Black women, self-esteem issues with women and the cutthroat world of the music business and lands the reader into the thick of a good story.
“Color Me Jazzmyne” is an unconventional, yet fascinating first novel by Marian L. Thomas. At the frighteningly young age of thirteen, Naya Mona (later to be known as the famous jazz singer Jazzmyne) is raped by her own father and eventually gives birth to her son who is taken from her, his whereabouts unknown for many years. At seventeen, she escapes the intolerable household of her father to live in the city where her voice is discovered by the wrong people.
She meets struggle after struggle; people take advantage of her talent nearly wrecking her spirit, people she thought to be friends use her to get ahead in their own lives. But she does not break spirit, in spite of her many hardships.
Later in life, as the story opens up, Jazzmyne meets her adult son for the first time since his birth. Many surprising facts are revealed about her past and her son’s past.
Jazzmyne likens her existence to a box of crayons. Each color expresses a different emotion, strength or weakness that makes up the essence of Jazzmyne. Thomas’ writing is so reflective and interesting. But this is the purpose of the novel, to find out what color is Jazzmyne, which I still do not know or maybe do not understand her completely. Perhaps honesty is her color. In a world of hiding behind fame and from a past of deception from those who were supposed to be the closest, she wants only to be honest and real, especially concerning her son.
Thomas definitely cuts to the core of serious subject matter: rape and incest and the cutthroat world of the music business. The shocking reality of it all mixed with Jazzmyne’s relaxed and melodious voice makes “Color Me Jazzmyne” a true reading pleasure. The book is written in a kind of free flow, stream of consciousness style that one can hear her melody singing through the pages.
ISBN-10: 0615270670; ISBN-13: 978-0615270678
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November 1, 2009 - Sunday
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 Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young
Genre: Legal Thriller; Mystery; Suspense
Angela Evans should be on top of the world. She’s a smart, attractive prosecutor who’s about to marry a successful judge. But the closer Angela gets to saying “I do,” the more she wants out. Then she meets Dre, a street-smart brother who’s nothing like her stuffy fiancé Cornell. Angela eventually calls off the wedding, but Cornell can’t accept the rejection. He turns violent in a way Angela never could have imagined. Dre comes to her rescue, but Angela soon learns that he’s hiding a shady past, and her world falls apart all over again.
Below is an excerpt from Chapter 48. Read the excerpt and leave your comments below, along with a valid email address. A random drawing will be held on November 27, 2009. Five people will win signed copies of Buying Time. The winners will be announced at the Black Pearls Magazine Blog: http://edcmagazine.blogspot.com
Chapter 48
Angela eyed the clock on the dashboard of her Saab. She was meeting Dre for drinks at The Dynasty Restaurant & Lounge in Inglewood and she was fifteen minutes late. She had to circle the block three times before finally spotting an open parking meter around the corner on Hillcrest.
When she stepped inside the club, she spotted Dre sitting at a table overlooking a small dance floor. He leaned over the railing and waved.
“You lookin’ mighty fly,” Dre said, checking out her legs when she reached his table.
“Sorry, I’m late,” Angela apologized.
“Calm down, baby. You ain’t late. Why you stressin’?” He stood up, kissed her on the lips, then pulled out the chair next to him.
Angela immediately relaxed. Cornell would’ve been lecturing her about the importance of time management by now. Dre just seemed happy to see her.
“What do you want to drink?” he asked.
“Apple martini.”
“They make a bomb caramel apple martini here. Wanna try it?”
“Sure.” Angela gazed around the club. “This is where you hang out, huh?”
“Yep. The music is slammin’ and the fried chicken is better than my Mama’s. But don’t tell her.”
Angela laughed and took the paper napkin underneath Dre’s wineglass to wipe the lipstick mark she had left on his lips. A worried expression suddenly distorted Dre’s face.
“Shit!” he said under his breath.
Angela looked over her shoulder in the direction of Dre’s gaze, but couldn’t see what or who he was staring at. “What’s the matter?”
“Nothin’. Just somebody I really don’t wanna see.”
She could feel Dre’s body grow taut and wondered what was going on. Before she could ask again, Angela saw what had attracted his attention. A shapely, dark-skinned woman of medium height was prancing toward their table. The look on Dre’s face had now changed from frustration to embarrassment.
The woman boldly pulled out a chair and took a seat across from them. “Hey, Dre, how you doin’?”
“Nobody invited you to sit down,” Dre said.
“Don’t worry,” the woman said, “I ain’t stayin’. I just came over to say hello.”
She had a long, reddish-brown weave streaked with blonde. Her bangs were angled across her face, shielding her left eye. The woman’s hoop earrings were the size of lunch meat and her sheer lace top left nothing to the imagination. A red, spandex skirt barely covered her gargantuan ass.
“Aren’t you going to introduce me?” The woman looked Angela up and down.
Dre pursed his lips. “It’s a weeknight. Why aren’t you home with Little Dre?”
The woman put a hand on her hip and tossed a handful of her fake hair over her shoulder. “Oh, so you can hang out during the week, but I can’t?”
“I asked you who’s takin’ care of my son?” Dre demanded.
“He’s at my sister’s, okay?” She gave Angela another appraising look. “Stop being rude and introduce me to your little friend.”
“Angela, this is Shawntay. My son’s mother. Good-bye, Shawntay.”
“If I hadn’t seen y’all lockin’ lips a second ago, I woulda thought you were his lawyer or something. Is that how y’all hooked up?”
Dre shot up. “I need to talk to you outside.”
Shawntay ignored him and directed the conversation to Angela.
“If y’all gon’ be an item, you’ll probably be hangin’ out with my son. So we need to get to know each other.”
“Oh, hell naw.” Dre gripped Shawntay’s upper arm. “C’mon. We need to step outside and talk.”
“Why we can’t talk in front of your little friend?”
“Don’t make me cause a scene up in here,” Dre threatened.
With Dre’s help, Shawntay grudgingly rose from the chair.
“Do Ms. Prim and Proper know what you do?” Shawntay asked, as Dre dragged her away.
Angela watched them weave their way through the packed club and out of the door. She pretended not to notice the curious gazes from other people in the club who had watched Dre leave with Shawntay. It was another ten minutes before they returned and headed in opposite directions.
“Sorry about that,” Dre said, sitting down again. His face still had a stern expression. “Now where were we?” He tried to take Angela’s hand, but she locked her arms across her chest.
“What was that all about?” she asked.
“Nothin’. Absolutely nothin’.”
“Excuse me? I think you owe me more of an explanation than that.”
Dre exhaled. “Hey, I’m sorry. I just got a little baby mama drama going on.” He leaned over and kissed her, but Angela did not reciprocate. “She’s just tryin’ to cause me problems, which she’s pretty damn good at. I swear she’s psycho.”
“She’s the mother of your son. She must not be too psycho.”
“Shawntay was never my woman, okay? You have nothin' to be jealous about.”
“Who said I was jealous? I’m not even sure I can compete. I see you like your women a little rough around the edges.”
Dre appeared genuinely embarrassed. “Let’s just call it a lapse in judgment on my part. She was just something to do.”
“What did you do? Take her outside and scold her?”
“Basically. I kick her down with way more child support than she needs to take care of my son and I’ve also agreed to pay her rent until Dre either graduates from high school or comes to live with me. She knows I ain’t about to stand for no ghetto girl crap.”
A pout remained etched into Angela’s face.
“C’mon, babe, forget about her.” He kissed her on the neck.
Angela still wasn’t satisfied. “What did she mean when she asked if I know what you do?” Angela mimicked Shawntay’s voice.
Dre stiffened. “Uh, let’s just say I wasn’t always the goody two-shoes that I am today.”
“Oh, so you used to be a bad boy?” she asked, finally in a playful mood again.
“You might say that.” He kissed her again and this time, she kissed him back.
Just when Angela was beginning to relax, she followed Dre’s gaze across the room. Shawntay was sitting at the bar shooting him a nasty look.
“Shawntay doesn’t look too happy. Are you sure you two are really done?” “Hell yeah. Ignore her ass. She’s crazy.” “That’s fine,” Angela said, turning back to him. “As long as she doesn’t get crazy with me.”
###
Check out Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young Today!
ISBN-10: 098156271X | ISBN-13: 978-0981562711
Pamela Samuels Young is the Essence bestselling author of Murder on the Down Low, In Firm Pursuit, Every Reasonable Doubt and the newly released Buying Time. The former journalist and Compton native is the fiction writing expert for BizyMoms.com and is on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America.Pamela served as legal consultant to the Showtime television series Soul Food. She is a frequent speaker on the topics of writing and self-empowerment. View her books here: http://www.pamelasamuels-young.com Genre: Legal Thriller; Mystery; Suspense
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October 30, 2009 - Friday
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Category: Blogging
Somebody's Sinning in My Bed by Pat G'Orge-Walker “It is my intent to draw attention to God’s message of love through humor. If we can love God whom we have never seen, yet cannot love the ones we can see, then we have missed God’s entire message.” -- Pat G’Orge-Walker
Chyna and her sister Janelle are always moments away from a catfight. They love each other, but Janelle has never forgiven her sister for swiping her first love, Cordell. That was ages ago, and now Chyna is showing off as the First Lady of New Hope Assembly, a church that’s caught between the old ways of Holiness and new ways of serving its community. .... New Hope.... ’s leader, Reverend Grayson Young, is also caught…in the infamous Sweet Bush lounge, an establishment well-known for adult pleasures.
With the church congregation running wild in the aftermath of her husband’s scandalous behavior, Chyna turns to her sister Janelle for guidance. But if Chyna thinks she’s getting sympathy from Janelle, she’d better think again, because Janelle’s got her own crisis. And when Cordell suddenly comes back into the sisters’ lives, what follows are squabbling, chaos, and surprises that show just how hard the road to salvation really is…
Excerpt from Somebody's Sinning in My Bed by Pat G'Orge-Walker
"Cordell DeWitt was not only Chyna's ex-husband but also had been Janelle's first and only true love. Her soul mate, she'd thought at the time. Actually, she hadn't changed her mind about that. He was still that. She'd chased her lost love for him from bed to bed since he'd left her for Chyna.
Never finding what she'd had with Cordell made Janelle wild. She wore infidelity almost like a badge of honor every time she'd committed adultery with someone's husband or stole a man. She was doing to other women what she'd felt her sister had done to her. She'd kept up her reckless behavior even after months of pleading for forgiveness from Chyna. Eventually she'd finally forgiven Chyna for marrying Cordell, her Cordell. Or perhaps she hadn't."
-from the book, Somebody Sinning In My Bed by Pat G'Orge-Walker Pat G’Orge-Walker is the Essence bestselling author of Somebody's Sinning In My Bed, Somewhat Saved; Cruisin’ on Desperation; Mother Eternal Ann Everlastin’s…; Sister Betty, God’s Calling You, Again!; and contributed a short story to several anthologies. Being a preacher’s kid gave her a quirky perspective on church, inspiring her to create a one-woman comedy show centering on Sister Betty, whose unchristian-like behavior blocks her blessings. Join us in taking a inside look into the making of Sister Betty and the books.
Ella: Tell us about your passion for writing. Why do you write? What drives you?
I believe my love for words play an integral part in my passion for writing. I need to write as much as I need air to breathe. It is like being constantly pregnant and needing to deliver.
Ella: Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers...
...permission to be different in the face of naysayers. There were times when I was faced with the challenge of delivering God's message through humor. Of course, laughter, although permitted through scripture, didn't seem to connect with those staunch Saintly folks. Never let anyone step on your creativity when your creativity is to enlighten and provide entertainment.
Ella: Where are you from? How did you start your writing journey?
I am from .... Mount Vernon.. , .. New York.... . My writing journey began in elementary school and was mentored by my third grade teacher, Ms. Bobbie Madison. Ella: Give us the synopsis of the book being discussed, Somebody's Sinning In My Bed.
Pat G’Orge-Walker delivers a wickedly funny, uplifting novel of love and betrayal…good karma and bad karma…sin and redemption
Chyna and her sister Janelle are always moments away from a catfight. They love each other, but Janelle has never forgiven her sister for swiping her first love, Cordell. That was ages ago, and now Chyna is showing off as the First Lady of New Hope Assembly, a church that’s caught between the old ways of Holiness and new ways of serving its community. .... New Hope.... ’s leader, Reverend Grayson Young, is also caught…in the infamous Sweet Bush lounge, an establishment well-known for adult pleasures.
With the church congregation running wild in the aftermath of her husband’s scandalous behavior, Chyna turns to her sister Janelle for guidance. But if Chyna thinks she’s getting sympathy from Janelle, she’d better think again, because Janelle’s got her own crisis. And when Cordell suddenly comes back into the sisters’ lives, what follows are squabbling, chaos, and surprises that show just how hard the road to salvation really is…
Ella: Who are your two main characters and what do you like most about them?
The main characters in my book are two sisters; Chyna and Janelle. What I like about Chyna is that she finally resolves to not think less of herself than God does. What I like about Janelle is her fire. Janelle's a person who loves deeply and that makes her dangerous on several levels. However, Janelle is also able to suck on a pigfoot while drinking Cristol and make it look classy.
Ella: What makes your book stand out and would entice a reader pick it up?
My books are pretty much known for their covers. The fire red cover, shy-yet flirty female and the church steeple are strong images. I also think the title is provocative; Somebody's Sinning in My Bed.
Ella: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I want the reader to remember that we're birthed in complexities and need. Life is a journey that will make you or break you. If the reader can remember that God is always in control and whatever you go through...God's got the end already tied up and gift-wrapped for you if you walk in faith. However, one should never play with God; a reprobated mind is a terrible thing to have. And finally, one should never think less of themselves than God does.
Ella: What is the most surprising thing you have learned in creating books?
The most surprising thing I've learned to date is that readers come in all shapes, colors, sizes and persuasions. You cannot please them all and that can be quite sobering if you rely solely on the reader for inspiration. So you must write for you and remain honest in what you write.
Ella: What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?
I believe my most significant achievement as a writer would have to be the across the board, in terms of gender, race, secular and Christian acceptance of my work. It's a great reward in and of itself.
Ella: What advice would you give a new writer?
I would advise a new writer to study their craft, pray often and surround yourself with like-minded people. Also in getting representation make sure they are reputable and don't jump at the first person/agency to say they can make you a star or get your books published.
Ella: Name 3 things that it takes to make a successful author, in your opinion?
Three things that make a successful author in my opinion are: (1) the ability to craft a good story that the reader won't have to read two-three times to get its meaning. (2) Have a marketing plan that is doable and then do it along with prayer. (3) An honest relationship with your editor is key.
Ella: What can we expect from you in the future?
I will have one more book coming out in 2010. It is tentatively titled, "Jessie's Jewels." After that there will be more stories involving Sister Betty and her zany cohorts.
Ella: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.
I'm currently working on my next novel and eagerly awaiting the BEA where Somebody's Sinning in my Bed will debut before it's August 2009 release. Of course, I'm still out and about performing and traveling with my Somewhat Saved Comedy Show.
Contact info: .. pat248@aol.com.. or sisterbetty@sisterbetty.com, www.sisterbetty.com or www.patgorgewalker.com or www.myspace.com/sisterbettycomedy “SOMEBODY’S SINNING IN MY BED”
ISBN-10: 0758235402 | ISBN-13: 9780758235404
Kensington/Dafina Books © 2009
Available wherever books are sold
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October 30, 2009 - Friday
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Category: Blogging
Diary of A Stalker by Electa Rome ParksDiary of A Stalker
ISBN 10: 160162199x
Never judge a book by its cover. . .
Xavier Preston is tall, dark, and handsome, and the problem is that he knows it. He's a bestselling author who is accustomed to adoring female fans, both young and old, flirting with him, throwing themselves shamelessly at him, and trying to get between more than the covers of his novels. He has always been more than willing to accommodate their needs and desires; however, his womanizing days have finally ended. He's engaged to a beautiful woman, Kendall, and he's decided to walk the straight and narrow. Or has he?
From outside appearances, the very stunning Pilar has it all: a great career, a beautiful home, and a trust fund that keeps her financially secure; however, looks can be deceiving. All that glitters isn't necessarily gold. Pilar is searching for her perfect soulmate, and she thinks she has found him in Xavier. She believes in going after what she wants with a vengeance . . . and she wants Xavier. That is not negotiable. She will have him, even if it kills him.
When Xavier meets his fanatical fan, Pilar, he gets much more than he bargained for. What starts out as an erotic one-night stand quickly spirals out of control into a dangerous game of obsession and pain with both parties playing to win.
Think you know what goes on behind the literary scene? Think again
Excerpt
Meet PILAR
I'm your #1 fan.
It's funny how one's life can forever be changed with the utterance of four simple words: I'm your #1 fan. Well, actually, they weren't spoken, but sent to my favorite male author, Xavier Preston, by way of e-mail. Man, I love the World Wide Web.
I couldn't believe it; I had recently finished reading his latest national bestseller, Secret Desires, and to put it mildly, I was simply blown away. I felt like the main character was speaking directly to me, like she was inside my brain, picking it apart, piece-by-piece. I could relate to the storyline . . . totally . . . and the ending was spectacular, took my breath away. Secret Desires stayed with me, languishing inside my soul, like a sweet kiss that lingers into the early morning hours as dawn approaches.
Even though I am an avid reader, I should be since I'm a freelance writer; I typically do not contact authors about their books. I don't get caught up in the entire groupie side of the literary industry. Yes, it exists! Surprise, surprise! There is an entire circle of women all across the country, sometimes entire book clubs, who follow the lives and movement of African-American male writers the same way groupies chase after rappers, rock stars, athletes and actors.
In the book industry, it is just a bit more subtle. For example, the book club president might fly the handsome, fine, articulate male author into her city for the weekend, to discuss his most recent hot release at the monthly book club meeting and to perhaps get the added bonus of getting up close and personal between the sheets. It happens.
For me, however, this was different; Xavier Preston made a lasting impression. And generally it took a lot to impress me because I wasn't into the ordinary and I was determined to tell him, how impressed I was. That is, after I went out and purchased all his previous novels. I had a bit of catching up to do.
A week later, after devouring his other six novels from cover to cover like a delicious gourmet meal, savoring every word, I knew I had to make contact. I simply had an unrelenting urge to speak with him. I couldn't get his lyrical, rhythmic, flowing words out of my head. This man moved me. Moved me like I had never been moved before. I felt a connection. A deep connection.
Early one morning, before I began writing an article for one of the local magazines I frequently wrote for, I sent Xavier Preston my sincere, honest thoughts.
“Mr. Preston, I'm your #1 fan. I know you hear that all the time from readers, but I really, truly am. Your characters stay with me long after I've consumed the last page of your books. I never want your stories to end; they move me. You are super-talented, put these other authors to shame, and I'd love for you to autograph my books. By the way, I have all your novels. When will you be in ....Atlanta....? A true, die-heart fan, Pilar.”
Much to my surprise and pleasure, a couple of days later, I received a simple response.
“Pilar, what a lovely name. Thank you, for the sweet e-mail. I'm so pleased you've enjoyed my books over the years. I'd love to meet you as well. I enjoy meeting and greeting my readers. I will be signing at Medu Bookstore, at ..5:00 PM.. next Saturday at Greenbriar Mall. Please, stop by if you get the opportunity. I would love to see you there. Xavier.”
With a pounding heartbeat, I couldn't believe what I was reading and I re-read it a few more times for clarity. Wanted to make sure I was reading correctly that Xavier Preston asked to meet me. Me. Next weekend couldn't arrive soon enough
Connect with Electa online:
Email: novelideal@aol.com
www.electaromeparks.com
www.myspace.com/author_chick
www.facebook.com/electaromeparks
www.electaromeparks.blogspot.com
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October 23, 2009 - Friday
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One Night with You by Francis Ray
New York Times bestselling author Francis Ray continues her captivating series about the Grayson family and their circle of friends with One Night With You, as two people with no plans for romance find themselves blindsided by desire… Latest Release: One Night with You November 03, 2009 Series: Grayson Friends Series ISBN-13: 9780312365066 ISBN-10: 0312365063
When you first started writing, did you think you would ever write as many books as you have and have such a loyal following? Did you know this would become a "business venture" for you? Francis: I had no idea I would write this many book or have such a loyal following when I started writing. I simply keep trying to write the best book possible, and was blessed to find an editor who kept buying my books. Yes, I always knew that you had to take the business side of writing seriously to stay in this industry for years. It requires a great business head for book promotions and even more professionalism to handle the contracts. What has been the best and the worst experience you've had on your literary journey? Francis: The best is after I sold my first book, I've never had a book that was rejected. The worst was walking away from one publisher and unsure if I'd find another publishing house that wanted my books. Scary. Scary. How long does it take you to write a novel? Francis: The time frame differs. I wrote ONE NIGHT WITH YOU, my November 03, release in 3 months. IT HAD TO BE YOU, Book #4 in the Grayson Friends series, and the last book I wrote took six weeks.
Have you always wanted to be a writer? Francis: No, the writing bug didn't hit me until I read SHANNA by Katherine Woodewiss. By her third book I knew I wanted to write similar books. The difference was I wanted people of color to take center stage.
How did you get started writing? Francis: I joined my local chapter of Romance Writers of America, North Texas Romance Writers of America. I'm proud to say I won the first service award, The Yellow Rose. The friendships and mentors were invaluable. I can honestly say that without them I would not be published now.
Do you remember the very first story you ever wrote? What age were you when you wrote it? Was it romance even then? Francis: I had no idea I wanted to write until Woodewiss' third book. The first story I wrote was Wife For Hire for Black Romance. I was an adult.
Since romance novels have a pretty set formula that they follow, how difficult do you find it to continue to write stories that will make loyal romance readers overlook that aspect of the book? Francis: The only set formula I can see is that hero and heroine are at odds, but by the end of the story they're in love and the writer has tested that love so the reader knows that whatever happens in their lives their love is strong enough to endure. I'd say the possibilities are endless. My plotting skills, not the parameters, is the challenge I face.
Several romance authors have ventured into writing in other genres such as mystery, etc. Have you ever considered taking that step also? Francis: I wanted to write Christian fiction and was blessed to have been given that opportunity when Harlequin publishes, HOW SWEET THE SOUND. I've thought of writing young adult but I haven't gotten past three pages.
What is your favorite part of the writing process? Francis: The actual writing is probably my favorite part. Starting a new book is always scary. I plot slow. And despite my best intention, I always have loads of research on my character's profession, the setting, even the cars they drive..
What is the hardest part of writing for you? Francis: I guess the hardest part of writing is plotting. If I can't see it, no matter how wonderful the story might be, I can't write it.
What challenges have you faced in your literary journey? How did you overcome them? Francis: Probably the biggest challenge in my literary journey was finding a publisher who wanted to publish African-American romances. Then, when I did find a publisher, distribution was spotty at best. If the book did make it to an outlet, the challenge was getting readers not to think the book was badly written because it was written by an African-American. I overcame the challenge by continuing to write and believing that I had a story to tell that people wanted to read.
What are your best and worst experiences as a writer? Francis: The best is after I sold my first book I have never had a book that was rejected. The worst was walking away from one publisher and unsure if I'd find another publishing house that wanted my books. Scary. Scary.
What is the one thing that has surprised you the most during your writing career? Francis: That people think all published authors are wealthy.
What authors influence your work? Francis: Katherine Woodewiss, Elizabeth Lowell, Amanda Quick, and Nora Roberts.
What are you currently working on? Francis: I'm working on BECAUSE OF YOU, Book # 6 in the Grayson Friends series.
How may we contact you online?
Website: www.francisray.com Blogspot: www.francisrayblog.com Myspace: myspace.com/francisray Fanclub: readersoffrancisray@yahoogroups.com
Pick up a copy at Amazon http://www.amazon.com/One-Night-You-Grayson-Friends/dp/0312365063/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1256167034&sr=8-1
Pick up a copy at Barnes and Noble http://search.barnesandnoble.com/One-Night-with-You/Francis-Ray/e/9780312365066/?itm=3 One Night with You by Francis Ray ---Read the First Chapter Excerpt
Link to read full screen:
http://www.docstoc.com/docs/document-preview.aspx?doc_id=13513498
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October 20, 2009 - Tuesday
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“Living Life After Tragedy”
So, how do you pick up the pieces after the winds and waves of life has apparently knocked you so far to the ground that it seems nearly impossible to recover? What I am about to say may sound like a cliché, but it’s not. You are out for the count and there is no HELP in sight!
Tell you what, TRUST GOD!
Ha, “Trust God” she says. “Where was God when I needed Him the most? How can I trust a God that would allow such devastation to occur in my life?” I know that some of you may be feeling like this and you DEMAND answers. Listen to me, because I was there. I struggled to understand the ways of God. I asked the resounding question, “Why do bad things happen to good people.” Honestly, after surveying God and throwing my fist up towards the Heavens, I finally asked myself, “What’s so good about me?” If this trial did not occur in my life, it definitely would have occurred in someone else’s life. What makes it wrong because it happened to me and not the next man?
It’s easy to stand on the sidelines gazing into the life of that person on the news, but what happens when it’s your turn to have the “spectators” and “naysayers” hover over you awaiting your next move. It is during these unexplainable moments my friend when you MUST trust God. He has already ordained your TRIUMPANT comeback! He is carrying you through the fight of your life!
You are listening to someone who the doctors gave up on and left to die.
I am the one that they said, “She won’t make it.” Death came for my soul and I was no match, BUT GOD! He delivered me and much more than that, brought me back better than before! I am here to encourage and uplift those who feel like giving up. Please, DO NOT throw in the towel! God is not finished with you yet! Your moment of TRIUMPH is sooner than you think!
The writer of James says it best, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So do not try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way” (James 1:2-4, MSG). So when you are involved in a head-on collision with misfortune, know that you are predestined to OVERCOME. It is a fixed fight!
Loretta "Faith" Harris, M.Ed. Children’s Heart Publishing, CCR certified Author of, “The Journey Less Traveled: Choose to Turn Your Tragedy into Triumph”
Children's Heart Publishing where we are "capturing the heart of the writer"...™
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October 17, 2009 - Saturday
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Category: Writing and Poetry
Introducing Award Winning Author… Kimberley White Award-winning author Kimberley White resides in metropolitan Detroit. She’s a nurse practitioner currently pursuing her Doctorate of Nursing Practice. She uses her twenty years of nursing experience to address topics such as domestic violence, hypertension and sexual harassment in an entertaining and informative manner. Ms. White speaks at writing conferences and has taught writing courses at several Michigan colleges. Kimberley White resides in metropolitan Detroit where she is a nurse practitioner during the day and a writer of steamy romances at night. Visit her website at http://www.kwhitewrite.com/ Email: kwhite_writer@hotmail.com
Ms. White’s novels and awards include: :: Sweet Tomorrows (Genesis Press, April 2001) :: Dream Jobs To Go: Romance Writing (Intellectua ebooks, June 2001) :: Lujon 1 (Best Black Women’s Erotica, Volume II. Cleis, February 2003) :: Acquisitions (Genesis Press, May 2003) :: Only In My Dreams (BET/Arabesque, May 2003)—Nominee, Best Romance of the Year :: Tango (BET/Arabesque, November 2003) :: Hard to Love (June 2004) :: Forever After (BET/Arabesque, July 2004)—Winner, Steamiest Romance Book :: Conquering Dr. Wexler’s Heart (Genesis Press, NOV 2004) :: To Love A Ballantyne (BET/Arabesque, 2005) :: Sweet Repercussions (BET/Arabesque, 2005) :: You Never Know (BET/Kimani Press, 2006) :: Ballantyne’s Destiny (BET/Kimani Press, 2006) :: All the Way (Dafina, 2008) :: I Need More (Dafina, 2009) Introduction to I Need More by Kimberley White Preview Chapters from the book here. She Has Everything She Wants. . . Dr. Erika Johnson's life couldn't get any better. Her practice is flourishing and her hunk of a husband Brock can't keep his hands off her--until the day he suddenly leaves her without a word of explanation. Stunned, Erika has no choice but to cobble together a new life on her own. When she serves Brock with divorce papers, Erika is certain he'll sign them so they can both move on. But that's when the surprises really begin. . . Except The Man She Loves... Brock is sure he did the right thing. All he ever wanted was to bring joy into Erika's life, not pain and sorrow. But when rumors reach him that Erika is seeing another man, he's torn between what he thinks is right and what he feels is right. Despite everything, there's no denying the fierce attraction she and Brock have always shared is burning hotter than ever. And when Erika finally learns Brock's secret, they must decide if they will face the uncertain future together-or apart. . . ISBN-13: 9780758222107; ISBN 10: 0758222106 Buy the book, I Need More by Kimberley White, today! Introduction to All The Way by Kimberley White Read preview chapters here. Romantic Suspense--- As manager of the hot nightclub Skye, Payton Vaughn thinks she’s seen it all…until the night she witnesses a cold blooded murder. The police can’t protect her from a psychopathetic killer with sexually sadistic fantasies of how to keep her quiet, so she runs…All the Way…Into the arms of Adriano Norwood, a man who’s happy to see the story of his career wrapped in the perfectly angelic body of a woman he’ll soon want to protect with his own life. He’d sacrifice his happiness and let her go before he’ll put her in danger again…Unless they find a way to have it all. ISBN-10: 0758222106; ISBN-13: 978-0758222107 Buy the book, All The Way by Kimberley White, today! ALL THE WAY Book Reviews
Romance In Color
Urban Reviews
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October 10, 2009 - Saturday
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October 10, 2009 - Saturday
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Read Excerpt of Chapter 1 Carbon Copy
 Order Today from LCB
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October 10, 2009 - Saturday
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October 9, 2009 - Friday
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In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor
 SLAVERY IS MORE THAN CHAINS AND SHACKLES
SLAVERY IS A STATE OF MIND
Immerse yourself in this highly anticipated political docu-drama set in the Deep South amidst the backdrop of the Civil Rights Movement.Martha was a young white girl living in the Deep South, inundated with the racist sentiments of the times. But Martha's natural curiosity and generous heart led her to question this racial divide. When she discovered a primitive Negro family living deep in the woods near her house, everyone's life changed forever.
Take the journey of a lifetime alongside Martha as she forges relationships that lead to self discovery and a clearer understanding of the world around her. In the Land of Cotton provides an outstanding snapshot of life in the South during those troubled times - a snapshot everyone should take a close look at, regardless of era or color. The year was 1956.
Buy the book here. (Book info: ISBN-10: 1432734717; ISBN-13: 978-1432734718)
In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor
Intimate Conversation: http://edcmagazine.blogspot.com/2009/04/intimate-conversation-with-author.html
Important Excerpt from Chapter 1
The time is 1956. The main character, Martha, is speaking as a young child about her environment and daily life. She is a young girl living a relatively sheltered life with her grandparents in Memphis, Tennessee.
"In East Memphis , there were no colored folks. I didn’t go to school with any; I didn’t go to church with any. If I did see one it was only because they were working for a white person; pretty much like my grandmother had said. They were confined by unnatural zoning to their own sections of town. If a new subdivision went in it was most likely advertised as ‘No homes sold to coloreds.’ Every morning when I rode my bike from my grandparent’s house to school, I would pass the uniformed maids who had exited the city buses on Walnut Grove or White Station. They were walking to their various places in our neighborhood; to their places of employment. It was like they all knew each other. They would be laughing and talking when they got off the bus but, the minute I approached them, their heads would bow and their eyes would be clearly focused on the ground beneath their feet. My grandmother’s highest compliment of a Negro was to say ‘they were clean.’ She had employed maids from time to time. It was a beloved maid in Michigan , when she and Papaw began enjoying life on a different rung of the ladder that had taught her some of the social graces she would need to survive in an elitist world. Neither of my grandparents were bigots. I never heard either of them say anything demeaning about the Negroes. It was just the way of the South. It had begun long before the Civil War and had continued for ninety plus years past. If you moved from the North to the South it didn’t take you long to learn the ways of the South. The Negroes had their own schools, they had their own churches and they had their own commercial businesses. They had a place. They knew their place; and that was that. They were taught as small children to respect a white person and fear their power over them. There was no need to feel sorry for them after all, they weren’t slaves anymore." -- from In the Land of Cotton
BOOK REVIEW
"To be part of history is a wonderful experience but, to stand perfectly still holding your breath those precious few seconds when you know history is imminent but before it is written; before it actually becomes history, that is overwhelming." ~ Silas Boyd
In The Land of Cotton is a poignant and emotional chronicle of a young, unpretentious white girl coming to age in the color divided world of the fifties and sixties. Martha's story places the reader smack in the middle of the civil rights war; a beautiful and heart wrenching journey through history that weaves a tale of forbidden friendships, misconceptions and human nature, at both its best and worst.
Martha's passionate desire to break through the prejudice and learn for herself the truth, submerses the readers into the tumultuous, discriminatory world of soul mates kept apart by skin color and social stigma.
In The Land of Cotton is a prodigious must read for any generation. For those who experienced the world divided by flesh tone, Martha's take will bring them back to an all too familiar, and perhaps even uncomfortable, territory. For others, it will be a heart and eye opening rendition of history, and the long, hard fought battle of equal opportunity and universal acceptance, not just between colors, but people.
Martha's weaving of history and personal experience give readers a start to finish, can't put down narrative, offering a singular panorama of an ever changing, ever adapting world and the people caught in the maelstrom of it all. It is a seamlessly written tale of love, moral dilemma, honor, political uprising, conviction and self evolvement.
In light of this year's Presidential Election, In The Land of Cotton can't help but assume the form of a beacon of hope for any individual who has ever felt different and longed for more.
Well written, beautifully depicted and stirring, In The Land of Cotton is sure to present old and new reader alike with a unique perspective in to a part of history that shaped and molded past generations and formed the future as well as to serve as a reminder that true love is, and always has been, colorblind. -- 5/5 stars. Reviewed by Claudia Robinson, Amazon review
BOOK REVIEW
"In the Land of Cotton" is Martha Taylor's very personal look at one of the most volatile and exciting periods in American history, a time during which the Civil Rights Movement changed race relations in this country forever. It was a decade during which America put a man on the moon, fought one of the most unpopular wars in its history, and finally recognized that all men are, indeed, created equal. Like Martha, I came of age in the South during the 1960s. Unlike her, with the exception of how America's Viet Nam adventure impacted all young men of the time, I was largely an outside observer to what was happening around the country.
When Martha's story begins in 1956, she is a young girl living a relatively sheltered life with her grandparents in Memphis, Tennessee. One year later Martha's parents buy a home in a new Memphis subdivision and she moves back home to live with her parents and little sister, a move that will change her life forever. Martha's parents are happy enough to leave her to herself as long as she is home before dark every evening and she is quick to take advantage of that lack of attention.
Exploring the area on her bicycle one day, Martha is thrilled to discover, deep in the woods near her home, the little family enclave in which Lucy Boyd, her family's black housekeeper, lives. The Boyd family is at first a little uneasy about having Martha around so much, fearing what might happen if the little white girl is noticed there among them. Martha, however, because she understands her own family's racial attitudes well enough to know she can never tell them about her visits, is able to continue them in complete secrecy.
And continue, the visits do. Martha comes to know and love the several generations of Boyds living in their primitive family compound and they, in turn, accept her as one of their own. By the time her parents move the family to Texas, the Boyds have taught Martha more about the world and life than she will ever learn from her own parents, and she has become especially attached to Silas Boyd, a young man about her age.
What happens to Martha and Silas over the next few years is as much America's story as it is their own. Deeply in love though she might be, Martha realizes that her family is never likely to accept her love for a black man. Silas, on the other hand, has the reluctant approval of his mother but knows that being seen with a white girl in the 1960s South could cost him his life. Swept up by the rapidly changing events of the times, their story is one of inspiration and tragedy.
"In the Land of Cotton" is a touching reminder of those times for those of us who lived through them. Just as importantly, it is a very readable personal history of that period for those too young to remember it for themselves, history told in a manner that makes it both vivid and real - something even the best history books seldom achieve.
-- 4/5 stars. Reviewed by Sam Sattler, Amazon Top 1000 Reviewers
Buy the book today here.
Martha A. Taylor, Author, "In the Land of Cotton"
Email: Taylortsg@Aol.com
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October 9, 2009 - Friday
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The Making of In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor
 Hello Martha! It is such a pleasure to have you on The Black Authors Network author's tour. The Give the Gift of Knowledge tour is used to expand the variety of books that our readers receive each month. Your book is a welcomed edition. Tell us a little about you and your passion for writing.
MAT: I am a sixty year old grandmother of four. My writing career, until the last few years, has been one of those “don’t quit your day job arrangements”. I am a tax professional who discovered early on that my creative writing skills came in handy when writing client letters to the IRS. My passion for writing becomes evident in my books. It is a blessed opportunity to give birth to a character and watch them grow throughout the development of the story.
Introduce us to the story behind the book, In the Land of Cotton: MAT: As a child growing up in Memphis I could not have known that the Boyd family, the main characters in In the Land of Cotton, would have such a haunting effect on me. Last fall, their indelible personas became overwhelming. They were all I could think about. I sat down one afternoon and the book began to flow to paper. I still had vivid memories of Cypress Grove, a primitive farm the Boyd family had lived on since the days of the Civil War. They had no electricity, no running water and certainly no refrigeration yet they wanted for nothing. It was a step back in time but, as a child, I wanted to be part of that. As the reader journeys through the 1960's, they travel along side the Boyd family as they experience the historic events of that decade. You will find as a reader that you will become immediately vested in the characters. The Boyd's have the voice for every Black American that lived through those turbulent times.
We would like to explore some of the Intimate moments in the book. Read on as Martha takes us inside.
Martha, in your own words, tell us why this book was meant to be written.
MAT: In the Land of Cotton is a provocative and emotional chronicle of a young, inquisitive white girl coming of age in the color divided South of the fifties and sixties. My story places you smack dab in the middle of the Civil Rights Movement. It’s a heart-felt journey through American history that weaves a tale of forbidden friendships, misconceptions and human nature… human nature at its best and worst.
After all of these years I suddenly became compelled to write the story of Silas and his family. I wanted this new generation to know that it hasn’t been that long since black families lived in seclusion with no electricity…no running water or sanitation…no telephones or refrigeration. My heart is always in my words as I define that sole-mates are forever and true love..really is colorblind. I wanted to remind the people of my generation of how long this journey has been; and to the younger generations, I wanted to present a time capsule of events so they would never forget the anguish, fear and tremendous sacrifices of their ancestors. In light of this year’s Presidential Election, In the Land of Cotton defines a beacon of hope for any individual, who has ever felt different or longed for more out of life.
Beside Lucy, the part-time maid for the family, what made you so drawn to the woods? MAT: It was the “not knowing”. It was the excitement of going somewhere no white person had ever been. It was the wanting to belong to something bigger than myself. (Snippet From Cotton) Not smoke like the woods was on fire but smoke like came out of a fireplace; soft, mesmerizing smoke that called you to come explore the woods, smoke that carried your imagination and made promises of a different life, far far away from the one you were living. When did you know you were in love with Silas your childhood friend? MAT: One evening after Silas walked me back to the “white neighborhood.” We were always terrified someone would see us. It would have been tragic. Silas, who was an African American male, could have been killed but, we always took the chance. (Snippet From Cotton) I stood there holding my bike like some anchor that tethered me to the ground I was standing on. I watched Silas until he completely disappeared into the woods then waited a few more minutes after that, in case he returned. At the peek of the Civil Rights Movement when did you realize there still remained tension between the North and the South? MAT: When martial law became the order of the day. When southern Governors stood chained to university doorways. When buses were bombed and almost daily we heard about some southern Black school that had been burned. (Snippet From Cotton) Martial law was declared in the South. Robert Kennedy, the Attorney General got involved and once again, Walter Cronkite had a television camera in every nook and cranny, capturing every slur and clubbing. For days he regurgitated the entire travesty right into our living rooms. The majority of country was enraged but here in the south, it was just another day in Dixie.  Did Silas share your feelings and deep emotional bond? MAT: Silas always appreciated the unspoken line in the sand. Inter-racial marriages were against the law in most states and prejudice ran high. “The Dream” was spoken of often by everyone; trouble was it was totally out of everyone’s reach and we all knew it. (Snippet From Cotton) We finished our picnic with small talk about his daily routine and the friends he’d met. Even Silas used color as a first descriptor. We were a long way from Martin Luther King’s dream. We were certainly a long way from mine.
Was there a sense that time was short for you and the Boyds? Did you feel complete racial equality would ever be realized? MAT: The country had come so far in such a short period of time I knew we had reached the point of no return. Civil Rights and racial equality were marching through the streets of the South. At the same time, I felt it would be generations before racial equality would become the way of life. (Snippet From Cotton) I thought about what Lucy had said about poverty being generational. I thought the advancement of civil rights would most probably be generational also. I thought that the Wallace’s (Governor of Alabama) of the world would eventually die off and each generation that followed would be raised to be less prejudice. I thought surely at some point all the seedlings that had been planted would eventually grow into strong trees and under their branches we would all live in harmony. I hoped that would be in Silas and my lifetime.
Thank you Martha for sharing with us! How may the readers contact you?
Martha A. Taylor, Author, "In the Land of Cotton"
Email: Taylortsg@Aol.com
ISBN:978-1432734718
Purchase is In the Land of Cotton by Martha A. Taylor from Amazon
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September 29, 2009 - Tuesday
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Watch Impact of the Black Writer on Today's Culture Intros in People & Blogs | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.comIf you missed the Congressional Black Caucus Authors Pavilion Discussions, here is a re-broadcast of 3 of the most stimulating panels about writing and the authors who create these fantastic books! We will be uploading 63 excerpts of the authors. Explore them all and enjoy! Discussion: Impact of the Black Writer on Today's Culture.
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