The Greatest Advice I Can Give A Writer - For What It's Worth

 Here's the thing . . . if you're a writer, you're a writer. 

If you've written a book, you're an author. 

Enuff said, right?
 
Maybe. 

I cringe when I hear writers telling other writers what they HAVE to do in order to be a success. The most important thing a writer needs to do is to be true to his or herself, true to his or her story, and true to his or her characters.

HOWEVER, I cringe even more when I hear writers diss people whose advice they don't agree with. You can disregard advice, you know, without dissing the adviser. Perhaps not all advice is given as a way to offend;, maybe sometimes it's actually as an offer of help? 

I've said before, and I'll say again . . . all writers should forever be students of the craft. And you can't grow without criticism. The trick is to take what you feel applies to you, and gracefully disregard what you believe does not. 

The bigger trick is being objective enough to know the difference. 

We all want to think we're already experts (I think so, everyday, for about five whole minutes!), but when we get to the point when we can say, "Shyt, he can't tell me nothing," then we've made a conscious decision to stunt our own growth.

So, yes . . . always do you, and be true to what you write, but always be open to improve.

That's my advice. 

For what it's worth.

In defense of the title, An Angry-Ass Black Woman

Why would I title my autobiographical An Angry-Ass Black Woman?

I know that's going to be one of the first questions I'll be asked in interviews.

  I think the term Angry Black Woman got a bad rap a few years ago. I’m not sure when the phrase was first used, but I know people started using it to describe certain African-American women. The term was used for women who were loud, abrasive, moody, and always ready to tell someone off -- for basically no reason.Then when the term was used to describe Michelle Obama, my question was . . . why? Not every woman is an Angry Black Woman. Why did they decide to attach that term to her? Personally, I found it insulting. Insulting in light of what the media has put forth as a definition of an Angry Black Woman.

    I think An Angry-Ass Black Woman is a woman who gets so fed up with a situation surrounding social justice – or other matters – that she stands up and does something about it, and in a very public and in-your-face way. Harriet Tubman was An Angry-Ass Black Woman. She got beat with that whip one too many times and she said, “To Hell with this. Why am I being chained, worked to death, and beaten? Because I’m a slave? Well, I’ll be a slave no longer.” And not only did she “free” herself, she made trips back and forth from the South to North to free hundreds of other slaves. She was An Angry Ass Black Woman.

And how about Rosa Parks. She got on the city bus, she was tired after a hard days work, and all she wants to do is give her feet a break as she traveled home. But then the bus driver tells her to get up so a white woman can sit down. Ms. Parks said, “No. I have every right to this seat as anyone else paying their fare. I will not get up.” She let her anger at the situation move her to make a stand. A stand, mind you, that helped start the Civil Rights Movement. At that moment, she became An Angry Ass-Black Woman.

Then there’s Sojourner Truth. Ida B. Wells, and many others. All of these were women who were being wronged and got angry about it, and instead of just slinking away muttering curses under their breath, they did something about it.

These were all Angry-Ass Black Women, and I am proud to count myself amongst them.

Got a problem with that? I thought not! <smile>

Book Review - Homer & Langley

Title: Homer & Langley

Author: – E. L. Doctorow
Publisher – Random House
September 2009

Reviewed by Karen E. Quinones Miller for The Philadelphia Inquirer

I need – yes, need – to start off this review of E. L. Doctorow’s latest novel, Homer & Langley, by saying that I’m a fan of Doctorow. I’ve read most of his books (Ragtime, Billy Bathgate, and Waterworks are my favorites), and have been looking forward to reading his new literary work for months.

When I read the very first line in the book, “I’m Homer, the blind brother, I didn’t lose my sight all at once, it was like the movies, a slow fade-out,” I let out a sigh of pleasure. The writing already proved to be exquisite. And the writing remained a masterpiece throughout the book; it was the story that I found lacking.

Trayvon Martin and Florida's "Stand Your Ground Law"

We've all heard, over the past week or so, that George Zimmerman might avoid prosecution for the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin because of the controversial Floridian statute, "Stand Your Ground" Law.

There's been a lot of misconceptions about exactly what this law means, so I thought I'd post it here so everyone can read it for themselves.

It's clause (3) that Zimmerman's attorney will likely cite for his defense.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  The 2011 Florida Statutes

Title XLVI CRIMES Chapter 776 JUSTIFIABLE USE OF FORCE View Entire Chapter

776.013Home protection; use of deadly force; presumption of fear of death or great bodily harm.—

 (1)A person is presumed to have held a reasonable fear of imminent peril of death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another when using defensive force that is intended or likely to cause death or great bodily harm to another if:

 (a)The person against whom the defensive force was used was in the process of unlawfully and forcefully entering, or had unlawfully and forcibly entered, a dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle, or if that person had removed or was attempting to remove another against that person’s will from the dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle; and

 (b)The person who uses defensive force knew or had reason to believe that an unlawful and forcible entry or unlawful and forcible act was occurring or had occurred.

 (2)The presumption set forth in subsection (1) does not apply if:

 (a)The person against whom the defensive force is used has the right to be in or is a lawful resident of the dwelling, residence, or vehicle, such as an owner, lessee, or titleholder, and there is not an injunction for protection from domestic violence or a written pretrial supervision order of no contact against that person; or

 (b)The person or persons sought to be removed is a child or grandchild, or is otherwise in the lawful custody or under the lawful guardianship of, the person against whom the defensive force is used; or

 (c)The person who uses defensive force is engaged in an unlawful activity or is using the dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle to further an unlawful activity; or

 (d)The person against whom the defensive force is used is a law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 943.10(14), who enters or attempts to enter a dwelling, residence, or vehicle in the performance of his or her official duties and the officer identified himself or herself in accordance with any applicable law or the person using force knew or reasonably should have known that the person entering or attempting to enter was a law enforcement officer.

 (3)A person who is not engaged in an unlawful activity and who is attacked in any other place where he or she has a right to be has no duty to retreat and has the right to stand his or her ground and meet force with force, including deadly force if he or she reasonably believes it is necessary to do so to prevent death or great bodily harm to himself or herself or another or to prevent the commission of a forcible felony.

 (4)A person who unlawfully and by force enters or attempts to enter a person’s dwelling, residence, or occupied vehicle is presumed to be doing so with the intent to commit an unlawful act involving force or violence.

 (5)As used in this section, the term:

 (a)“Dwelling” means a building or conveyance of any kind, including any attached porch, whether the building or conveyance is temporary or permanent, mobile or immobile, which has a roof over it, including a tent, and is designed to be occupied by people lodging therein at night.

 (b)“Residence” means a dwelling in which a person resides either temporarily or permanently or is visiting as an invited guest.

 (c)“Vehicle” means a conveyance of any kind, whether or not motorized, which is designed to transport people or property.

History.—s. 1, ch. 2005-27.

And the title is . . . An Angry Ass Black Woman!!!

Hurray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've just gotten the final word, the title of my new book will be An Angry Ass Black Woman, the title I'd originally given it.

Just some background . . . when the manuscript was first sold to Karen Hunter Publishing (an imprint of Simone & Schuster), it was sold as An Angry Ass Black Woman, and that is the title for the work on the book contract. That was back in January 2010.

I was supposed to turn the completed manuscript into them by June of that year, but then I got sick. Real sick. As in Multiple Sclerosis sick. My publisher is Karen Hunter, of Karen Hunter Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster), and she was totally understanding . . . telling me not worry about the deadline, just concentrate on getting well.

So, the book was finally turned in right after Thanksgiving 2011. But right before it was turned in Karen called and told me that Simon & Schuster was having issues with the title. They were concerned that Walmart would not accept the book because of the word "Ass." I was disappointed, and argued a while that we should insist since they do stock other books with that word, but then Karen told me that they were also concerned that the title would not appeal to white people.

I have to admit, I was stunned.

So okay, I wanted white folks to read my book . . . so I was willing to consider changing the title of my book. But then . . . they said they might not stock the book anyway because of the book's content.

Now that puzzled me. It's not pornographic, ya know? And it doesn't have racist material, or promote hate . . . so why wouldn't they stock it?

From what I could gleam from Simon & Schuster, Walmart was vague as to why . . . but it seems they think it might offend white people, even if the title were changed. Now, I don't say I hate white folks or anything like that in the book (because I don't!), but I do say that Black Women in the United States have a hard time. Personally, I think it's true.

And that's not to say that other groups don't have it bad . . . or that Black Women even have it worse than others. But the phrase "Angry White Women" never hit the American consciousness the way "Angry Black Women," has. I don't know that I get any more angry than they do, though.

However, it's important to remember the Bebe Moore Campbell book . . . Your Blues Ain't Like Mine. Well, it's true. There are things I suffer from that white folks just don't.

For instance it's true that every woman has to worry about their child's safety as soon as they walk out the door. But, I'ma tell you . . . they don't have to worry their child being deemed a suspicion person and being targeted by authorities simply because of their skin color. And, oh yeah . . . I don't want to hear that B. S. that it doesn't happen anymore. Can anyone say "Trayvon Martin?"

So, okay . . . I think Walmart is wrong. I don't think white people will be offended by my title, nor do I think they will not buy the book because they won't think it pertains to them . . . white women get angry just like black. But there is nothing I can do about Walmart's decision.

But . . . since Walmart will not likely stock the book anymore . . . we get to keep the title!!!!!!!!!!

Hurray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The book will be published in October 2012 . . . I can't wait! Hope you guys are looking as forward to as I am. You can read an excerpt from the book by clicking . . . HERE

Hopefully . . . I'll be given a choice of covers soon; they're supposed to let me choose between three, and when I do I hope to have the readers pick which one will be used for the book. I think that will be cool!!!

Can't wait!

Karen

Money Can't Buy Love - by Connie Briscoe

Lenora Stone is having a tough time of it. She’s overweight, behind in her bills, and she’s been dating a man for three years whom she just can’t get to the altar.

            And though she’s got a great job as a photographer for a popular Baltimore lifestyle magazine, she can’t get along with her boss -- the gorgeous and filthy-mouthed Dawna Delaney.

If only she had enough money to quit.

If only her life were different.

If only she could hit the state lottery.

Then she does – to the tune of $5 million.

She’s so shocked it actually takes her week before she finally cashes in the ticket, but just hours afterward she buys her dream car, a cashmere silver BMW 750Li. It is her first purchase, but it wouldn’t be her last. Because Lenora is certain that now that she’s Maryland’s newest millionaire, she can buy anything – including happiness. And possibly even love.

Book Review - No One in the World, by E. Lynn Harris and RM Johnson

Cobi Winslow has problems. The tall dark and handsome state attorney was adopted by a wealthy family as a young child, lives in a mansion, drives a Porsche, and is seemingly destined for a successful political career.

But after his adoptive parents are killed in a tragic plane crash, he finds that their will stipulates that unless he marries by his thirty-fourth birthday – which is only 40 days away – he’ll lose his $20 million dollar inheritance and a chunk of shares in the family’s hair product empire, which might mean that the company could face a hostile takeover.

In view of the fact that he’s considered one of the most eligible and sought after bachelor in Chicago, even this seems surmountable; but the fact that Cobi is a closeted gay, carrying on a secret affair with a married state senator complicates matters immensely.