Donna Hill Online

For Your Reading Pleasure

2012-01-28T17:55:00.000-05:00

My Interview with Enterpreneur Sylvia Hubbard

2011-12-28T16:50:00.000-05:00

I had an opportunity to chat with Sylvia Hubbard and this very busy techno dynamo let me steal a few minutes of her time to pick her brain. She has some great things to share.

Sylvia, you are a one-woman marketing machine who has really found her niche in using technology. Please tell us what started you on that path?

Being broke.

In 2000, I was frustrated after I independently published my first book because I couldn't afford to pay for marketing & promotions, much less even buy my own books to sell. Back then (which seems strange to say just eleven years ago) e-books weren't popular, but I learned how to sell them because that was all I could sell.

You are involved in several literary promotion endeavors as well as running your own publishing line--Hub Books. It can't be easy to keep everything under control. How did you get Hub Books up and active?

I registered HubBooks initially for Motown Writers Network. I wanted a Literary Organization as a subsidy of my "Company." Plus once I heard someone say a long time ago it would get me better speaking engagements if I had a company instead of them writing checks to me. (That didn't work). In 2004, when no speaking engagements jumped off, I decided to take the step and publish my own book under HubBooks.

What programs do you use to upload your e-books?

Currently, I use Word to upload my books. I learned InDesign a long time ago, but I'm so comfortable with anything Microsoft (because I'm a PC girl) that I've always started my work there. I’m certified in Microsoft Word as well and I used to teach it at several community centers and a college. As the digital age progress and books become more artistically digitally, I'll start transferring books from Word to PDF to change them into mobi and epub files through Calibre Software which is FREE. (My favorite word)

You are a constant blogger. Do you plan your blogging in advance and how do you come up with interesting content?

I own over five blogs (six come 2012). The planned blogs are usually series of blogs (live stories, series or ongoing topics), but most times when I get the urge to write, I write and then post up for later. By the way, I'm always looking for guest blogs on the various blogs I have.

You tweet as well. When you began tweeting, what was your focus? What did you hope to achieve and do you think you have?

At almost 30K tweets in less than three years, I would say I'm a pretty avid tweeter. In any endeavor I do, my focus is to take what a service or network does and make myself noticed, so I can sell a book. Twitter is a fast moving, lots of taking large room of people networking, sharing and doing. If you're standing still on Twitter, you could miss the best FREE marketing tool ever invented. So in my three years have I accomplished what I wanted to on Twitter? I believe I have come close as possible to my goal. At over 3700 true followers (no autoboting spammers), I can say I have people who like what I do on Twitter.

Since you published your first book how has the marketing books changed?

Back in the day (just ten years ago), it was all about pushing people to buy the book. Now, as Scott Straten calls it, marketing is about "unmarketing." Now you have to sell yourself in order to sell the book, plus also continually engage those customers who have bought from you to get them to draw other readers to you. It sounds like a complicated style of word of mouth marketing.

What are some tips that you can offer authors and business folks on how to maximize technology?

First tip: USE IT! Don't just jump on a technolgy bandwagon by signing up to things you see your "friends" sign up to. See how it's utilized by them or other authors before signing up. I hate going to accounts of people who signed up for something and it looks like a tumbleweed rolled across my screen. You want to be where you say you are going to be by having each account you have open updated.

Second: Don't stretch yourself too thin. Utilize services such as Ping.fm, Hootsuite, SocialOomph, and even Bufferapp to give yourself great mobile apps, reminder campaigns and space out information so you aren't overwhelming your followers & friends.

Third: While having a website or blog (CMS), visit other blogs, social network pages and retweet others to show you support your genre and platform. Article market and guest blog so let others know about you but also present great content for people to read other than your books.

Fourth: Content is King, but Quality is Queen. Bring your best to others. Make sure you are blogging at least once a week and sharing information about your literary world with your readers and other followers.

Fifth: Help someone else. Do something for them online that they couldn't do for themselves. Send out a tweet of theirs, host them on your blog, and invite others to "like" their page. Be an asset to the World Wide Web, otherwise you're just a liability.

Please tell us about the Michigan Literary Network, of which you are the founder.

I realized in 2009, Motown Writers Network was getting a lot of writers, but I wanted more readers. Mainly my market has always been Michigan, but I needed someway to get readers to see the asset Motown Writers Network was. So I created The Michigan Literary Network. Under this subsidy, we join readers, bookclubs, libraries and even literacy groups together to connect readers to Michigan Authors and to also raise literacy rates in Metro Detroit.

What are you currently working on?

EVERYTHING. Lol. I'm doing a live book on my site. It's where I come up with a book from the top of my head and just write. Readers can come and read the book live and make comments, criticisms and so forth. It's called The Revenge of Three.

I'm also working on producing a paperback to be release the first of 2012 called Hope Is Love. It's an ebook exclusively available on my website in pdf, mobi & epub & the exclusive paperback version will be available everywhere in January of 2012. The paperback cover will actually debut the Christmas week for my readers and I’m too excited about! I'm always looking for reviewers and book clubs to host me, so please contact me at sylviahubbard@gmail.com to arrange this.

Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

Of course at my website, http://sylviahubbard.com. Related websites are:

• www.MotownWriters.com
• www.MichiganLiteraryNetwork.com
• www.LoveABlackWoman.com
• www.MotownMomMusings.com
• www.WritersGuide2InternetMarketing.com
• www.MotownLiteraryJam.com
• www.MotownBookClub.com

They can also connect with me on social networks such as Facebook, Twitter & Goodreads.

The Danger of A Single Story

2011-12-22T10:36:00.000-05:00

Check out My facebook page

2011-12-09T23:19:00.001-05:00

HOLIDAY CONTEST!

Check out this facebook page!

How to Make a Vision Board with Affirmations for Attraction! Abiola's Bo...

2011-12-09T09:51:00.000-05:00

Who Moved My Budweiser

2011-10-26T16:49:00.000-04:00

My take on the changing neighborhood

Fort Green aka The Fort, was the first to fall about a decade and a half ago. The once notoriously deadly enclave—at least to those who didn’t live there—is now the hip, swanky hub of buppie Brooklyn. The streets are lined with cafes, boutiques, bistros, wine bars and yogurt establishments. The former don’t-you-go-in-there Fort Green park, where many-a-body and shootout have gone down is now a pristine locale for joggers, picnicers, and doggie walkers.

With The Fort converted into Brooklyn’s version of The Village in Manhattan, black folk had a non-verbal understanding that Bedford-Stuyvesant was our last stronghold in the hood, the last stand. Our history of drugs and violence was so pervasive that not even the bravest of “them” would dare cross the battle lines into Do-or-Die Bed-Stuy. Most folks remained firm in their “I shall not be moved,” conviction, whether it be the families that have owned their homes for generations or the real keeper of the flame, Brotherman on the Corner.

So when I married and moved to the faux Brooklyn suburb of Canarsie, I was confident that the joys of hood life would be alive and well whenever I returned.
You see, there is a certain annoying comfort in the familiar, like drunk “Joe” who greets the customers at the 24-hour corner store, beer can draped in the requisite brown paper bag; the summer block parties notorious for excessively loud music, wild-ass kids running amok, and closed off streets that tie-up traffic every Saturday from July to August; and the cookouts on the sidewalk. Only black folk can do up a cookout on the sidewalk, complete with a grill and folding tables for the potato salad and greens. Just give us a slice of concrete and we can have us a barbecue. Ahh, yes, the joys of the hood.

When my marriage came to an end, I packed up my kids and after a few pit stops returned to my roots, mere blocks from where I grew up. But something had happened to me in my years in faux suburbia. I’d been lulled into a mindset of having arrived. Where, I wasn’t sure, but I was there. As a result, the Friday night shoot outs, blaring police sirens and the constant scream of the ambulances shook me rather than soothed me. I looked with suspicion and alarm at my hooded young brothers and loud, brassy, belly-baring young sisters. But I felt assured that once fully entrenched in the life and style of the hood I would regain my muse and submerge myself in all things Negro.

It soon became alarmingly clear, however, that I was no longer back in Kansas. It was subtle at first, hardly noticeable. There was just one or two of “them.” A fluke? Perhaps they were just real light skin with “good hair.” But as winter turned to spring and then summer, their numbers grew. I’d step outside and see them jogging with their teacup pooches in tow. Where a year earlier it was only the few intrepid men who had set out to explore the exotic world of the Negro life and set down their flag, now their women had come, toting many a curly-headed kid.
Other things began to change, too. The once vast wasteland of the avenues began to sprout antique shops, children’s boutiques, coffee shops with internet access, new “affordable” housing filling one-time empty lots. And for the first time in the history of The Stuy, a veterinarian’s office! Obviously to care for the influx of little dogs.

And where the once behemoth Pathmark had stood, complete with their rude, gum chewing, loud-mouthed cashiers, it was replaced with Foodtown, new management and staff that talked to the customer instead of the person on the other end of their cell phone, and smiled at you rather than rolled their eyes when you put your groceries on the counter. An entire aisle was dedicated to healthy and organic food! Imagine that. At least now I didn’t have to travel back to Canarsie to shop every weekend. (Couldn’t stand those heifers in Pathmark).

It wasn’t just Foodtown or the vet. Along with “them” came bike lanes and tree guards, police patrols, sushi restaurants, safer streets and million dollar price tags on homes. Our once black corner of the world grew smaller as they crossed the bridges from overpriced Manhattan and the divides of Crown Heights and Williamsburg to settle and convert as is their way, their history.

So as our new neighbors reside amongst us, strolling, jogging and biking along our streets, joining our churches, rubbing elbows with us at the local laundry, dreadlocking their hair and standing in line on the weekends to get their soul food from Royal Ribs on Halsey Street; we gather in small groups or chat on the phone about “them.”

“They’re everywhere!” “Can’t have nothing,” we complain. “Not even our own ghetto.” We shake our heads in disbelief, as we sip smoothies at the new outdoor cafe and watch their numbers grow wondering how much longer it will be before the block parties are no more, grilling on the sidewalk is a thing of the past, the music isn’t so loud, the 24-hour store closes by nine and the life and vitality that drew “them” here is washed out and sanitized into something unrecognizable.
I ponder these questions even as I enjoy the amenities that have come to the neighborhood because of “them.” I ponder these questions as I sit in my three bedroom duplex condo, looking out on my backyard, listening not to gun shots and sirens but contractors building a new two-family home across the street even as the mom and pop store on the corner has been shuttered for months and I wonder, just briefly, what corner Joe is standing on now.

SYLVIA HUBBARD FREE FRIDAYS

2011-07-14T10:11:00.001-04:00

http://sylviahubbard.com/2011/07/11/diary-of-a-free-friday-early-treat-again-syllit-motownlit-smashwords/

When Two or More Gather in His Name ...

2011-06-22T11:45:00.000-04:00

My friend and beloved writer to many, mom, daughter, sister Leslie Esdaile Banks aka LA Banks is in the hospital very sick. Her medical bills are quite high so beginning Tuesday, June 21st through July 1, authors and people in the book biz are auctioning items and services to raise money to help cover her expenses. The auction site is filled with everything from huge promotional packages for authors, offers to read manuscripts by major editors for aspiring writers, advanced reading copies of upcoming books, huge gift baskets of autographed books and so much more. Get on over there and check it out. Whatever you can bid on helps. Leslie Esdaile Banks Auction

There is also a fund that you can donate directly to. Even if it's only $5.00. Every single dollar counts. So don't think for a minute that your contribution will not matter. It does.
Leslie Esdaile Fund
Account #81538801
Police and Fire Federal Credit Union
Operations Center
901 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107-2404
(215) 931-0300

If you live in or near Philadelphia, donations may be taken directly to any Police and Fire Federal Credit Union branch. Please be sure to note the account number.

Thanks for the love and support.

Donna

Interview with Dolen Perkins Valdez

2011-06-19T18:06:00.000-04:00

Dolen thank you for sharing a little bit about yourself and your books with my readers.

Your novel WENCH is based on factual events--slave women vacationing with their masters. How did you come upon this information and when did you know that it had the makings of a novel?

I came upon this information while reading a Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of W.E.B. DuBois called Biography of a Race. In the section where the biographer discussed DuBois tenure as a professor at Wilberforce University in Ohio, he said that the university was a resort hotel that may have been the most unusual resort in America because it was popular among slaveholders and their enslaved mistresses. I was stunned, and I couldn't stop thinking about it.

WENCH has received a host of accolades including a nomination for an NAACP Image Award. What was it like getting the news about the nomination and attending the award show?

It was such an honor. I am from Memphis, Tennessee where the NAACP chapter has always been a legendary organization led by extraordinary individuals. The renowned Benjamin Hooks, who was the executive director of the national organization from 1977 to 1992, was from Memphis. So this was the best news I could have received. The award show was full of all the love I thought it would be: lots of hugs, kisses, warm wishes. I took my parents, and even though I didn't win, it is a memory I will always cherish.

How has the support of your publisher helped to propel the novel?

The support of my publisher has been immense. Having said that, I feel that I earned a lot of my publisher's respect and support. When my hardcover came out, it had a modest first printing of 10,000 copies. I was not given a national tour or much of a marketing budget. Once I understood this was very typical for an untested debut novelist, I began to work very hard on my hardcover sales. WENCH went into seven printings in hardcover. As a result, the publisher got behind my paperback in a much more committed way. I have been very pleased with my experience with Amistad/HarperCollins. They have some talented people working there.

How much do you think word of mouth has played into the success of WENCH? And what were some of the strategies that you employed to get the word out?

Word of mouth has been tremendous. They say that word of mouth is the best marketing an author can get, and I can attest to that. I have been very active on Facebook and Twitter. I think that social media has really given debut authors an advantage.

This is your first novel. But of course, novel writing is not all that you do. What other hats do you wear? Who is Dolen when she turns off the computer or puts down the notebook?

I have a family, so I am constantly juggling my family and career needs. Like any working professional mom, I hope that I am doing an adequate job at each. It's definitely not easy.

The original cover for WENCH was a beautiful picture of a woman, somewhat obscured by a large hat. The paperback version of the novel is a bird freed from its cage. What role if any did you play in the new cover and why the change? What has been the overall reaction to the new cover?

My paperback imprint HarperPerennial chose the paperback cover. Contractually, debut authors usually do not have the authority to choose their covers. I was fortunate, however, to have a publisher that valued my input. They asked me about each, and I responded that I really loved them both! My readers have mixed reviews, though. My hardcover still sells because some prefer that cover. Others like the paperback cover.

Shifting gears just a bit. How do you feel the new digital age will change the face of publishing--if at all-- and will it have any impact on writers of color?

I think the new digital age will definitely change the face of publishing. Think about it: there have been four authors of color on the paperback New York Times Bestseller list in 2011. That's a promising number which I hope will rise. There is, of course, no way to measure the impact of the internet on book sales, but I'm willing to venture that it is significant.

What is one book (other than yours) that you would highly recommend readers to get and why?

I highly recommend a book I read recently called A Map of Home by Randa Jarrar. It is a beautiful debut novel about a young girl growing up in Kuwait and Egypt around the time of the Persian Gulf war. Jarrar has a wicked sense of humor--I laughed the whole way through! This is not a tourist journey through Arab culture.

Dolen, what can readers look for next from you and when? I'm working on a new novel set during the time of the Civil War.

I really hope I can finish it soon, but as you know writing a novel is long, difficult work. Wish me luck.

And of course, where can readers find you on the web?
Find me on Twitter at twitter.com/dolen or Facebook at facebook.com/writerdolen or www.DolenPerkinsValdez.com

Ready for Pre-order!!

2011-06-09T10:45:00.000-04:00

HEAT WAVE COMING JULY 1

2011-06-04T12:42:00.001-04:00

Publishers Weekly
Three established authors dish out a perfect beach read: wealthy New Yorkers, summer sun, and sizzling sexual chemistry. Hill's "Summer Fever" kicks things off with an idyll in the Hamptons. Nina Forbes is a schoolteacher whose best friend hooks her up with a house-sitting gig. The house is fabulous, and the neighbor, British import Ian Harrison, is even better. In Bryant's "One Hot Summer," Nylah Lovely has been burned once by a celebrity lover, but when basketball star Maleek Trenton hires her to plan a party for him, she can't resist his arrogant yet honest charm. While Day's intrigue-laden "Too Hot to Handle" is the weakest of the three stories, the steamy elevator scene between pampered Choice McKinley and her family firm's star employee, Trey Scott, is irresistible fantasy fare. These authors know how to give their readers exactly what they want. (July)

Dawne & Kofi

2011-04-08T19:14:00.000-04:00

Donna Hill - Spend My Life

2011-04-01T13:55:00.000-04:00

BE SURE TO GET YOUR COPY OF SPEND MY LIFE WITH YOU. BOOK TWO, SECRET ATTRACTION IS ON THE WAY.

A chapter a month

2011-03-31T23:03:00.000-04:00

A CHAPTER A MONTH

2011-03-15T10:37:00.002-04:00

Authors you love...all the time.
Introducing A Chapter a Month. The first of its kind website where a team of today's top-selling authors have joined together to give readers the literary ride of their lives. No more waiting a year to hear from a favorite author. Now readers will enjoy fresh, exciting chapters every month as authors unfold their stories one chapter at a time. Readers will travel with the authors on their writing journeys and watch the novels come to life. But A Chapter a Month will take the reader beyond the pages as well...each month the readers will experience their favorite authors in ways they've never been seen before. Whether it's a video of a day-in-the-life of an author or an "interview with a favorite character," A Chapter a Month moves writers from just writing and readers from just reading and takes us all into this brave new world of reading entertainment. And preferred readers will have access to authors through live video streams. There is even something for aspiring writers: "Writers on Writing" one hour workshops each month that can be watched live as well as saved through podcasts. This site allows readers to enjoy the written word, get to know their favorite authors and have a chance to meet a few new scribes as well. A Chapter a Month joins readers and writers together in a way that's beyond the ordinary.
The anticipated launch date is April 4, 2011.

Introducing the A Chapter A Month Sweet Sixteen:

ReShonda Tate Billingsley - The author of twenty-one novels, ReShonda is truly a star. Not only is she one of the Executive Producers for her upcoming movies based on her novels, but she is also currently touring with the stage play, Marriage Material.

Parry "Ebony Satin" Brown - Readers loved her novels, including her first, the Essence best seller, The Shirt Off His Back. Everyone will be thrilled to see Parry back.

Tinesha Davis - is the author of Holler at the Moon which was an amazing debut novel, and a favorite among book clubs.

Virginia DeBerry - Virginia and her partner, Donna Grant were pioneers in the resurgence of Af Am literature in the 1990s with their breakout novel, Trying to Sleep in the Bed You Made. With A Chapter a Month,Virginia is making her "solo" and "non-fiction" debut.

Lolita Files - is the author of the critically acclaimed Child of God. From the sistah girls of Reesy and Misty in her early novels, to the murderer in her last novel, Penn, Lolita Files can write anything and with A Chapter a Month will be penning the first soap opera on paper...the never- ending story of a serial killer....

Trice Hickman - recently signed a multiple book deal with Kensington after having tremendous success as an independent author. Her book, Unexpected Interruptions just received a Starred Review from Publisher's Weekly.

Donna Hill - What is there to say about Donna Hill? There are no words, but her statistics tell the story: started writing in 1987, first book published in 1990, has more than 50 books published. See, no words - except...amazing writer.

Travis Hunter - Many often wonder if Travis is an author or a comedian. But the wonderful thing is that Travis has been able to weave the two together. And though he makes us laugh, he truly has a heart for young men and uses his writing as a way to reach them - through his book for young adult males. At the same time, he has entertained his adult readers for years.

Candy Jackson - is the only one in this group who has never been published. Though she hasn't yet had anything published, she is an avid reader (reading more than 300 books a year) with a dream to become a writer.

RM Johnson - There is only one thing that everyone says about RM's stories - this man can write!!! Even once RM transitioned from the more serious books to the more commercial, he has kept his eye constantly on the craft, penning some of the best written, yet entertaining stories over the years.

Dwayne S. Joseph - Not only is this young man a phenomenal writer, but he has penned some of the most original stories out there. Readers often ask him, "What's going on inside your mind?" An imagination that is only matched by his writing skill.

Bernice McFadden - Critically acclaimed and now an NAACP Image Award nominee, for her amazing book, Glorious, Bernice has been winning awards for years, for Sugar, The Warmest December, Loving Donovan...the list goes on and on....

Stephanie Perry Moore - probably has more young adult books in print than any other African American author. She began writing for young adults more than ten years ago and has published a number of series for middle school, high school, and most recently books for some of our youngest readers. Stephanie is our resident young adult writer.

Victoria Christopher Murray - is the author of ten adult novels, including the popular Jasmine Cox Larson Bush series. Her young adult series, The Divine Divas has been optioned to become a movie.

Pat Tucker - Pat's novel, Daddy By Default was a favorite of many readers in 2010. Not only was it well-written and entertaining, it was amazingly informative and one of those books that everyone in the country would benefit from reading.

Tiffany Warren - The founder of the Faith and Fiction retreat is able to effortlessly write great novels across genres with ease. Not only is she an adult and young adult author, but she has produced the stage play based on one of her novels.

More Than Words Volume 7

2011-03-14T11:42:00.007-04:00

COMING TO BOOKSTORES MARCH 22
Each and every one of us has the ability to effect change—to make our world a better place. The dedicated women selected as this year’s recipients of Harlequin’s More Than Words award have changed lives, one good deed at a time. To celebrate their accomplishments, some of our bestselling authors have honored the winners by writing stories inspired by these real-life heroines.

We hope More Than Words inspires you to get in touch with the real-life heroine living inside of you.

In Carly Phillips’s Compassion Can’t Wait, two high school sweet hearts are reunited years later, as if by fate, and discover that if you believe in yourself and each other, anything is possible.

Donna Hill’s Someplace Like Home tells the story of how one woman’s dream becomes reality, as three special people learn that it’s never too late to form a loving family.

In Jill Shalvis’s What the Heart Wants, an honorable man must learn to forgive himself to regain the trust of the dedicated teacher who is the love of his life.

I was honored to be included in this wonderful collection of stories based on the lives of extraordinary real women. What made it even more important for me was that I was able to tap into my own real life experiences as Program Director at a residence for homeless teen mothers for many years. It was one of the most life-altering experiences of my life and I wanted to find a way to translate that into my character Verna. Your purchase of MORE THAN WORDS will help to support recognizing other extraordinary women. Join us in celebrating women during Women's History Month.

">READ AN EXCERPT

Order Your Copy Here

WRITING WORKSHOP--

2011-02-02T09:39:00.001-05:00

Writing Matters
Tamryn Spruill will be teaching this intensive, six-week workshop designed for serious aspiring writers in the fiction genre. Students can expect to receive classroom instruction in combination with interactive workshop experiences.

Topics to be covered include:
• plot
• characterization
• point of view
• setting
• revision/critique
COURSE DETAILS
Course Number: CEWRT-545-01
Dates: February 16, 2011 – March 23, 2011
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Hours: 15 (six Wednesdays)
Location: Midlands Technical College, Beltline Campus, LB 106
Columbia, South Carolina
Tuition: $29
To register, call (803) 732-0432 or visit www.mtctraining.com.

Tamryn Spruill is currently a candidate for an MFA in Creative Writing (fiction) at Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in Journalism from the University of South Carolina. Her chapbook of poetry, Apotheosis (Word Nerd Editorial Press), was published in 2009. Her work can also be found in The Medulla Review and L.E.S. Review. She is a fiction editor and the senior copy editor for the Pitkin Review.

Novel Spaces: Guest author Donna Hill: Beyond the Book

2011-01-24T12:44:00.000-05:00

Novel Spaces: Guest author Donna Hill: Beyond the Book: "Donna Hill began her writing career in 1987. Her first novel was published in 1990. Since that time she has more than 50 novels to her credi..."

Spend My Life With You

2011-01-16T00:04:00.001-05:00

Interview: Is Medgar Evers College Under Attack? Faculty Battle Provost and President

2011-01-02T20:36:00.000-05:00

Interview: Is Medgar Evers College Under Attack? Faculty Battle Provost and President

Perfect for the Holidays!!

2010-12-12T22:16:00.004-05:00

Francis Ray and I teamed up to bring you this wonderful, fun, funny and warm holiday novella, complete with characters that you will love. Here's what reviewers have to say:

From Publishers Weekly
After 27 years of marriage, the pride and stubborn sense of responsibility that first attracted Denise to her husband, Edward, now stifle her efforts to rewrite her role as dependable, quiet housewife in their upper-class, African-American Atlanta home. When Edward, a self-made construction company owner, commands her to quit her dream of opening a sewing and design shop, Denise decides to shake things up by announcing her plans for divorce during Thanksgiving dinner, hoping her husband won't call her bluff. Edward enlists the entire family-including his loony, doting Uncle Eddie and Aunt Etta-to reteach him the basics of loving and honoring his wife. While Edward tempts her with chocolates, surprises her with home-cooked meals and learns the mysteries of operating a washer and dryer, Denise throws herself into resolving her newly wed daughter's own matrimonial malaise. Slowly they dance back together-partners once again, but taking all the steps on their own.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist
Although Denise and Edward Morrison have been married for many years and love each other deeply, they are not really listening to each other. Denise has always wanted to start her own clothing-design business but has put her husband and children first. Although the way the family interacts with her has been her own doing and the result of Edward's desire to be the primary breadwinner, she nevertheless feels unappreciated. Denise decides to force his hand by demanding a change in their relationship right before the Thanksgiving holidays. Her decision puts the whole family on an emotional roller coaster. Edward and the children soon realize that she is very committed to her demands for change and that they must make adjustments. Much to the family's surprise, the daughter finds comfort in her mother's wisdom; the father and son bond; and Denise and Edward rekindle their marriage. By Christmas, the family has banded together to ensure that the holiday will be rockin' for everyone. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Holiday Romance Novels - Romance Noire Book Club Blog

2010-12-08T16:46:00.000-05:00

Holiday Romance Novels - Romance Noire Book Club Blog

Sonia Sanchez @ Medger Evers College

2010-11-23T10:05:00.004-05:00

Medgar Evers College, CUNY Presents Sonia Sanchez

Poet, Activist, Scholar
Thursday, Dec. 02, 2010
5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Reading & Booking Signing

Founders Auditorium
Medgar Evers College, CUNY
1650 Bedford Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11225
www.mec.cuny.edu

This event is FREE and open to the public.

About Sonia Sanchez
Sonia Sanchez—poet, activist, scholar—was the Laura Carnell Professor of English and Women’s Studies at Temple University. She is the recipient of both the Robert Frost Medal for distinguished lifetime service to American poetry and the Langston Hughes Poetry Award. One of the most important writers of the Black Arts Movement, Sanchez is the author of sixteen books. From: http://soniasanchez.net/

About “I'm Black When I'm Singing, I'm Blue When I Ain't and Other Plays”

Like her poetry, Sanchez’s plays voice her critique of the racism and sexism that she encountered as a young female writer in the black militant community in the late 1960s and early 1970s, her ongoing concern with the well-being of the black community, and her commitment to social justice. This collection includes the never-before-published dramas I’m Black When I’m Singing, I’m Blue When I Ain’t (1982) and 2 X 2 (2009), as well as three essays in which Sanchez reflects on her art and activism. Jacqueline Wood’s introduction illuminates Sanchez’s stagecraft in relation to her poetry and advocacy for social change, and the feminist dramatic voice in black revolutionary art.

Contact the Center for Black Literature
www.centerforblackliterature.org
718.804.8883

Sabor A Mi

2010-11-22T13:15:00.003-05:00

Niambi Davis one of InnerVision Books talented authors has written a sexy, intelligent, romantic novel that is the perfect fit for the holidays and the best thing is, you don't have to run out to a bookstore or order it and wait for it to come in the mail. This e-book is ready for immediately satisfaction at Innervisionbooks.com

Sabor A Mi (A Taste of Me)
by Niambi Davis

Love is the last thing on ballroom instructor Melody Walker’s mind, and for good reason. The storybook marriage of her loving parents has been torn apart by her father’s one-time act of infidelity. Her brother, a talking head for the conservative/Tea Party movement, nearly ran his own marriage off the rails with a woman known unaffectionately as “Nazi Barbie.” And when her boyfriend’s indiscretion shows up to deliver the bad news in person, Melody has had enough.

When an unexpected chance to perform drops into her lap, mambo is the only thing on Melody’s mind. It’s just as well, since she and the sexy Latin pro she’s paired with hate each other on sight. When resistance turns to romance, Melody has a choice to make – should she follow her heart or her head? Can she deal with the consequences of her decision? She’s not the only one grappling with matters of the heart, and when danger shows up out of the blue, will the threat make their decisions clear or even more complicated?

To learn more about Niambi and her other works, please visit her at NIAMBI DAVIS

My Interview about What Mother Never Told Me

2010-11-21T10:30:00.004-05:00

Not too long ago, I sat down with Eisa Ulen, author and literary advocate to discuss my novel What Mother Never Told Me.

Bestselling author Donna Hill has published a delicious new page-turner, What Mother Never Told Me, a novel that honors the literary tradition of Black women writers who sought to challenge the “Tragic Mulatto” stereotype in their work. Like Harriet Jacobs, Pauline Hopkins and Nella Larsen before her, Hill examines the generational impact of sex across race and class lines in America. Set in Harlem, New York; Amboise, France; and Rudell, Mississippi, this contemporary novel explores family secrets rooted in the past. Upon the death of the grandmother who raised her, main character Parris McKay discovers “her dead mother was alive.”

This stunning revelation launches the young woman’s search for the mother who abandoned her, her truth, and, ultimately, her own identity. With an exciting new love interest and two solid best girlfriends by her side, Parris is anchored well enough to sail a bit into the unknown and perilous waters of time before she was even born: Why did her mother abandon her? Why did her mother want her to think she was dead? Who is her father? These questions compel Parris to travel halfway around the world – but the only people who know the answers may not be willing to tell her the things Mother never did.

While she tries to piece her mysterious past back together to make herself whole, Parris enters a new relationship with Nick, the jazz musician she met while singing onstage at a downtown New York club. Nick has big plans to open a new place Uptown, in Harlem, but will he have time for Parris’ journey to discover her past and the fulfillment of his own professional aspirations?
Hill has crafted a novel very much in the tradition of 19th century Black woman writer Pauline Hopkins, who wrote novels in serialized form for Colored American Magazine in the early 1900s. Hopkins was writing against the backdrop of mob violence and the emerging Anti-Lynching Campaign, which Ida B Wells Barnett would spearhead. According to Yale Professor of African American Studies Hazel V. Carby, Hopkins believed fiction to be “of great value to any people as a preserver of manners and customs – religious, political, and social” and a “record of growth and development from generation to generation.” Similarly, with her elegant, educated, eclectic African American characters, Hill has created a world very familiar to her legions of fans, many of whom look to her to render today’s authentic, middle-class Black life.

Hill, who explores themes from gentrification to mother-daughter relationships, has recorded a turn-of-the-21st century generation, the inheritors of the experiences of women and men in our shared past. With What Mother Never Told Me, Hill also celebrates the growth we’ve experienced so far, and the emotional and psychic development surely yet to come.

Q.With its page-turning storyline featuring a mixed-race heroine yearning to know her true parental / racial origins, your novel is written in the tradition of Black woman writer Pauline Hopkins’ serialized magazine novels (published from 1901 to 1903). What Mother Never Told Me also expresses 19th century writer Pauline Hopkins’ desire to “raise the stigma of degradation from my race.” Did you intend to write a contemporary narrative in the tradition of work like Hopkins’?

A. When I began thinking about WHAT MOTHER NEVER TOLD ME and deciding on which direction to take my characters and how I was going to shape the story, my motives and inspiration came from several sources: wanting it, in a subtle way, to address the issues of race—or more accurately—the color complex of blacks. And yes, the stigma that has been attached to color, our inner hatred of ourselves that on some levels has been fed and nurtured on the institutional racism that is part and parcel of this country. And although race and the color complex are central to the story, I always wanted to strongly address the dynamics of the mother/daughter relationships in a poor black family, a middle income black family and a white family and explore the similarities and the differences which help us as women shape views of ourselves and the world.

Q. You retained so many themes and symbols of this 19th century literary tradition, with big money, the myth of pure American whiteness, and an indictment of the men who have historically run this country. These themes are consistent in your work and in, for example, Harriet Jacobs’ slave narrative Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Like Jacobs, you examine the effect of the rape of Black women in white men’s homes – and even tie that rape to American capitalism and American politics. Was that a conscious decision on your part? Did you at any point in the writing process consider making the interracial sex in your novel consensual?

A.The rape was central to the story. The rape recast the entire life of Cora Harvey. Her dreams were destroyed, her innocence ruined, her hopes were crushed. The rape not only ruined her physically, but mentally and emotionally—forever. As with all rape victims, there is a high level of shame. For the kind of character that I constructed in Cora, and the time period (the late 1920’s) her demoralization was even greater. That one act was the catalyst that redefined three generations, initiated a lie that destroyed lives, marriages and relationships. However, what I also sought to do was to put the rape in some sort of context and not to specifically dehumanize the white man who raped Cora, not to excuse him either but rather set up the historical events that precipitated this vile act: The Stock Market Crash and The Great Depression, to show the connection between money and power and how the rape was his outrage at having lost both. This rape was about a reclaiming of power and without the historical backdrop I don’t think the impact would have been as strong. Much later in the novel the reader will come upon the diametric opposite: consensual sex between black and white for very different reasons, but again class comes into play.

Q The Tragic Mulatto stereotype, that of a confused young woman often motivated by money and a yearning to pass, is a character that generally collapses, passes out, or literally dies when the story ends. You reference just such a narrative in What Mother Never Told Me when Parris and Nick watch the film Imitation of Life on television. In your novel, however, Parris experiences a significantly different conclusion. Was your intention to usurp, or flip, the Tragic Mulatto stereotype? Did you attempt to vindicate the countless mixed-race American women who never received their fair share of the pie, so to speak? Did you attempt to do in your fiction what rarely happened in real life and achieve a kind of literary justice for Black women?

A. I wish that I could say that I sat down with all of these altruistic intentions. Looking back at the story, I would think that Emma, Parris’s mother, would fall into The Tragic Mulatto stereotype to a point and would have remained there, had I let her. What I worked hard at with Emma (who is actually my favorite character) was to try to help the reader to understand the complexity of this woman, feel her desperation and her unrelenting need to be cared about and loved by someone and in understanding that, the reader could then grapple with the difficult decisions that she made about her life—specifically as it related to her daughter, Parris. Emma could have easily become and remained tragic, walked off alone into the sunset, having lost everything. That would have been the easy way out. She needed to come to terms with the choices that she’d made. She needed to look at herself and how her decisions affected her daughter Parris and make amends. As for Parris, although she too is of mixed race, she never suffered with issues of her duality because from early in her life she had the unwavering love of her grandparents who nurtured her and believed in her. It wasn’t until she found out that her mother, whom she thought was dead all of her life, was very much alive that she began to question her own value and sense of self—and not as a mixed race woman but as a human being.

Q. This book was published 2 years after the election of the first biracial president. What impact, if any, did Obama’s campaign and personal narrative have on your work?
In the aftermath of his run and election, the issues of race and identity are still hot topics. The racism that exists within this country remains rampant, which certainly opens the door of discussion to the issues raised in WHAT MOTHER NEVER TOLD ME.

A. Much like the President, Emma and Parris both struggled to find their identity: Emma who could pass for white and Parris who struggled to uncover the real reason why her mother wanted her to believe that she was dead all of her life. The President never grew up with his father and neither did Emma. And Parris was raised by her grandparents. However, despite adversities, they were all able to rise above them and make a life for themselves. I didn’t consciously take into account the President’s life, but his certainly can serve as validation for the points that are raised in my novel.

Q. Parris and Nick are jazz artists, but they could just as easily have been Hip Hop, Pop, R&B, or Soul artists. Why is jazz such an important theme in your work?

A. This question made me smile. In all of the novels that I have written throughout the years, there are similar elements that crop up. One, my characters invariably live in a brownstone or have friends that do and they all love jazz. It wasn’t until well into my twenty year career that I realized that I was doing this or why. The question came up in my MFA class workshop last year. My advisor asked us to write about something that we treasure. And my short piece was about brownstones. It was in that writing that I realized how much I loved them because so much of my life, who I am, my friends and some of my fondest memories are tied to the brownstone that I grew up in, in Brooklyn. And as I arrived at that happy conclusion I also realized that many of my characters have a talent for music or a love of it and it was generally jazz. My father loved jazz and in the background of my life, jazz was always playing on his stereo: Dizzy, Coltrane, Miles, Ella, Billie, Betty, Nancy all the greats. And although I grew up with R&B, jazz was being imbued into my veins. I’m sure that my sharing of this great American musical tradition is in tribute to my dad.

Q. In what way(s) is What Mother Never Told Me related to another novel of yours, Rhythms?

A. WHAT MOTHER NEVER TOLD ME, is the very long-awaited sequel to RHYTHMS, which was published ten years ago. In Rhythms, the reader begins the story in the Mississippi Delta in 1927, shortly after the Great Flood and follows the generations of the Harvey family from Pearl, to her daughter Cora, to her daughter Emma, to her daughter Parris and the incredible, strong black men who loved them. Although What Mother Never Told Me is a sequel, it is definitely a stand alone book. However, to truly enjoy the full flavor of these characters and to get a deeper look at all of the whys, I would certainly recommend reading RHYTHMS.

Q. While most of your female characters have healthy relationships with men, women’s friendships are key in What Mother Never Told Me. Why? Are your girlfriends as important to you as women – old friends, new friends, and even strangers – are to Parris and the other female characters in your work?

A. Yes, the complex and powerful relationships of women to each other, both inside and outside of the confines of family was central to this novel. It is the support of “the sisterhood” so to speak that shores up these women in their trying times. Women friendships are so very important—important beyond Sunday brunch and ‘girl let me tell you’—our women friends provide an inexplicable source of reaffirmation. By this I mean, when we are in the company of our sisters, we not only see them, we see ourselves reflected in them. We are strengthened by their strength, lightened by their laughter, engaged by their conversation in a way that does not happen with men. In the company of our sisters we can be ourselves. There is a need that is fulfilled in sisterly friendships. Very often I don’t realize how much I need or have missed it until I spend an evening with my friends. It is invigorating, and stimulating and empowering in a way that you don’t have with your significant male other or male friends. The dynamics are not the same. So I wanted to incorporate into WHAT MOTHER NEVER TOLD ME the importance and value of female friendships and more importantly that those friendships can cross racial and economic and demographic lines.

Q. Despite these great friendships and healthy romantic love interests, nearly all of the female characters have lousy relationships with their mothers. Again, thinking about the Black female literary tradition, reading your book is like reading about what might have happened to the daughter of the main character named Claire in Nella Larsen’s book Passing. Did you intend to challenge the matriarchal prototype in African American life? Do you think the image of the self-sacrificing, all-loving, traditional Black mother is another stereotype that can be just as dangerous as the Tragic Mulatto?

A The dysfunctional relationship between the women and their mothers is the centerpiece of the novel. In doing this follow-up to RHYTHMS, I wanted to address these very important relationships, how the connection between mother and daughter is integral in defining who we are as women, what we think of ourselves and our capacity to love others. In each of the women’s lives we have these mother’s whose actions have in some way crippled their daughters. Certainly the black woman in general is a prototype in society at large. The media would have us believe that most black mothers are unmarried, on welfare with kids by several fathers, poor and will remain that way. Anything other than that is the exception i.e.: Michelle Obama. But the reality is that the vast majority of black women do not fall into either category and those are the forgotten women—the women that I attempted to address in my novel.

Q. Gentrification is an interesting theme in your novel. Has there been much displacement as a result of gentrification in your Brooklyn neighborhood? What has been the impact of the real estate bubble on people where you live?

A. I live in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, which has over the past five to ten years seen a dramatic change in the composition of our neighborhoods. Bedford-Stuyvesant was historically one of the last “strongholds” of middle-class home-owning black folks. However, because of the soaring prices of housing in Manhattan, the young white folk with money have crossed the bridge into Brooklyn, moving first into the Downtown area and slowly encroached into Fort Greene, Clinton Hill, Williamsburg and now Bedford-Stuyvesant, being better able to afford the rising rents. With them came bike paths and quarter-million dollar condos on once drug-invested streets, more police patrols, little bistros, over-priced boutiques, and a myriad of outdoor cafes, not to mention the continually expanding “healthy organic” section of the supermarket, all of which come with a price. Although the neighborhood has certainly experienced a makeover, with streets being somewhat safer and many more amenities, we really must question: where did the people go who have been replaced, and why is it now prudent to revitalize the neighborhood but at the same time making it unaffordable for the very people who made it so tempting to come here?

Q. What are you working on now?

A. Right now I am working on my MFA in Creative Writing. For my thesis I am working on a novel written in the form of vignettes, entitled Witness, which at its foundation is about gentrification of not only a neighborhood but a family in transition. In addition to my mainstream fiction I also write romances—nothing can compare to black love! I am currently finishing up a romance that is part of a series that is based on a powerful political family in Louisiana—The Lawsons of Louisiana. The first book of the series, Spend My Life With You will be available in February 2011, and the second book later in the Spring. For my next mainstream, tentatively titled Someplace Else, it again tackles the complexity of family.

2010-10-31T14:49:00.003-04:00

Harlequin hosted a fab contest for Halloween in partnership with Diesel E-books. The Mashup was to select a book and re-write it with a halloween, vampire, twist. One of the winners was Yvette Hines on her rendition of SCANDALOUS!! Enjoy.

MASHUP TITLE: Scandalous
Finalist: Yvette Hines
Adapted from: SCANDALOUS by Donna Hill

Vaughn Hamilton is only a heartbeat away from her eternal dream of being selected as the leader of her coven. Yet few know the desperate secret that has haunted her from life into death...a secret that the fierce and powerful clan will do anything to keep hidden forever. Even kill.
While out selecting strong recruits and converts Vaughn comes in contact with Justin Montgomery. A man she believes to be a rogue vampire, a sexy rebel with no connections. An intense desire ignites between them and she finds herself swept into a passionate and reckless affair as she has never known. However, the tryst ends abruptly, at headquarters and she discovers Justin is linked to a rival clan and plans to be chosen as head of their coven. When Justin shifts from the role of her lover to her competitor, Vaughn is shattered by his betrayal. She vows never to let a man get close again. What she doesn't know is that Justin unwittingly holds the key to her past, and to the love that binds them together.

Diesel Books

ringShout Literary Salon SAVE THE DATE

2010-10-15T15:36:00.007-04:00

I am thrilled to be a participant of ringShout and to be in the company of Bernice and Lori. The salon replicates those great literary salons of Harlem Renaissance. Mark your calendar and join us. Please RSVP if you plan to attend.

ringShout: A Place for Black Literature
Invites You to a Salon

Contemporary Popular Fiction and the Black Woman Writer:
Honoring the Tradition While Building Audience

Featuring
Bernice McFadden, Glorious
Donna Hill, What Mother Never Told Me
and
Lori Tharps, Substitute Me

Sunday, October 24th
3:00 to 6:00

At the Home of Martha Southgate
532 Carlton Avenue Between Dean and Pacific
Brooklyn, New York

The authors will join us for the second half of our salon.
Please join us for light fare, good folk, and great talk, including some of this recent online buzz:

Behind the Franzenfreude

and

Black Writers in a Ghetto of the Publishing Industry's Making

RSVP: ringShout@Gmail.com

PEN American Center - Conversation: Eisa Ulen, Bridgett Davis, Martha Southgate, and Chris Jackson

2010-09-18T23:41:00.000-04:00

PEN American Center - Conversation: Eisa Ulen, Bridgett Davis, Martha Southgate, and Chris Jackson
A great discussion on books by black female authors. Glorious by Bernice McFadden, What Mother Never Told Me by Donna Hill and other great books. Check out this informative discussion and please share with your friends.

2010-08-31T16:58:00.004-04:00

Hello Cole. Thanks for taking time to chat with me. I know you just had a national cyber-chat with your book, Making The Hook-Up, and there was a large ad featured in Essence Online. We want to hear all about that and more. So let's get this party started!

Q. You must have been surprised when the legendary writer Ishmael Reed mentioned you, Cole Riley,in his latest book, Mixing It Up, as one of the influences in the work of Richard Price and George
Pelacanos, one of the writers for the HBO series, The Wire.

I was so honored because Ish Reed is one of my inspirations. I've read him from my younger days as a poet.As a writer, you never know how many people are following your work. For example, there is a master writer and journalist, Maxim Jabowski, who is a fan of mine in England. He used some of my work in one of his internationally known collections. When I issued the call for the Cleis collection, Making The Hook-up, Iwas surprised at how many writers had heard of my work abroad. I had several submissions from writers internationally.

Q. Tell me about the book, Making The Hook-Up. How did the project come about?

I took the idea from a conversation with Calvin Herndon, a noted writer from the 1960s and the author of the hugely popular book, Sex And Racism. He also wrote a controversial novel, Scarecrow, which cause a stir among the critics in the literary world. However, his work and theories were really well known in his day.
When I was going through one of my notebooks, I found several quotes from him during a day I spent with him years ago. He said: "When Black people are allowed to indulge the usual sins, the customary fetishes, and all the regular vices humans are permitted, then they will have achieved total sexual citizenship. Otherwise, they will remain trapped in the usual stale stereotypes and labels the world have assigned to us."

I built the collection of short stories around this concept. For me, I knew exactly what he was saying. Black people have internalized so much of the crap that has been said about them. We have enslaved ourselves sexually and emotionally. With my collection, I wanted to broaden the psychological and sexual
terrain of the Black community.

Q. How did you want to accomplish this mission through your collection?

In the stories of this collection, I wanted to show our people as sexual beings reflecting joy, pleasure, and other positive emotions. I wanted to show them as masters of sexual and emotional choices, and not slaves of urges and impulses. A wonderful friend from Canada, who is originally from Chicago,came in possession of a box of letters from one of her beloved aunts. The letters were a treasure trove.
They were from the Depression, during the time of the reign of FDR. The letters spoke of her love for her devoted husband, her family, her children, her elders. The emotions were genuine and authentic.She shared some of the letters with me. It floored me to see how proud of her family, her race, and community she was. None of the bitterness or anger. She was also proud of her womanhood and sexuality. We don't see that anymore.

There is an ongoing battle between our sexes in our race. Something in terms of positive emotions is lacking. There is no romance there. No emotional support exists as in our elders from days past. And it's not just affecting our men and women but it is impacting our children as well. It's reflected in our culture, our arts, our life, our music, this anger, this distrust,this division, this rage.

A Jamaican writer friend said we as Black Americans must forgive ourselves and others who have participated in our emotional and psychological decline. Otherwise we will continue to kill, rape, and downgrade each other. We're doing ourselves in. I agree. Look at the other communities and cultures, some of which have just come to our shores. They are thriving. So I wanted to start to reverse some of this trend and it has put some issues on the table to be discussed.

Q: How was your relationship with Cleis Press?

I have nothing but good things to say about them. They were open to all of my suggestions and ideas. They are very good business people. Their books are known around the world. One of the writers, who was in Thailand, saw my book. We are in talks to do another collection.

Q: I've known you for some time but introduce yourself to the readers.

I'm the literary alter-ego to an award-winning journalist and editor, who made his mark in the New York newspapers. But in another life, I assumed my pen name of Cole Riley back in the late 1970s. I used to run the streets, hang out with the bad guys, and do thug foolishness. I was a lost soul. I had been physically and emotionally abused as a kid. I would use some of the stories from that life in my early books. Then I got my life straight and saw the light.

I guess I always wanted to be a writer. I always found time to read. When I was young, I read books by Richard Wright, Langston Hughes, Charles Dickens, John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, Flannery O' Connor, Frank Yerby, and Ann Petry. When I started writing,I used all of the things I read in those books.

Q: Tell us about your publishing journey.

I was very young. I was very broke and needed money. My landlord told me that I would be evicted if I didn't get his rent. At that time, before Terri McMillian's splash, Holloway House was the only place that published people like me, unschooled and untrained. I remember I got a note from Iceberg Slim, aka Robert Beck, the author of the classic novel, Pimp, when I sent him part of my novel. I loved it. Once I published Hot Snake Nights, I was off and running.

My books provided me with the imagination, passion and an outlet for my rage and turmoil. I saw some ugly things. I had lived a screwed-up early life. My folks divorced when I was in my teens. I left home very early on, just wandering. I was shell-shocked during my twenties. Those early Cole Riley novels gave me confidence to do everything in my legit writing life. All of them are still in print both here and abroad. That is so pleasing to me.

Q: Social networking is the thing now. What are you doing in regard to that?

Keeping an online presence is vital. Cleis has provided me with access to many readers through the internet. In a few weeks, I will have a presence with a blog, Facebook, Twitter, and a My Space page. Also, Eden Fantasy, where I've just become a contributor, has allowed me to reach "friends" and "followers." For example, it has been a trip to answer some of the questions from the fan base that I'm building. All races, all classes, all stripes of the sexual realm. Sure, you're hoping to move product but it's about wanting them to see that you are worth their time, that you have something to say. They're tired of this reality show crap. They want real life and you want to provide them with that. It's fun. I have a wholly new crossover audience. And I love it.

Q: How do you keep your writing identities separate?

By keeping busy on all fronts, I work under both names. I have projects under both names. I am a workaholic as you know. We're in talks for several future projects. I work on several projects at one time like yourself. I'm addicted to writing. I'm addicted to writing in various genres. I keep several notebooks with ideas. I never get writer's block.

Q: What about digital publishing? The whole e-book format.

I've been approached by different publishers to do strictly e-books. I've not bought a Kindle but I know a friend who has one. They are cool, but I love the feel of books. Call me old fashioned. However, digital publishing is the wave of the future. My Cleis collection is available in e-book form. I'd like to get into it.

Q: What are your morning rituals?

In the morning, I read and revise. I try to work until I get it right. I usually do my serious writing during the afternoon and at night. No cars, no trucks, the city at an uneasy rest. Sometimes I work on a project until I fall asleep.

Q: What are some of your favorite books?

Recently, I've been reading a lot of non-fiction books, autobiographies and biographies, and political essays. The present state of the world interests me to no end. I've been terribly disappointed in our leaders. But the fiction relaxes me. I love the biting satire of Ish Reed, the protest of James Baldwin, the righteousness of Steinbeck, the dark desires of Patricia Highsmith and Ruth Rendell, and the economy of Hemingway. Every now and then, I re-read Carroll's Alice In Wonderland, and was very disappointed in the movie. I love crime and mystery novels, new and old. Currently, I'm reading Steig Larsson's The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo. Damn, that man could write.

Q: Do you have encouraging words for aspiring authors?

I think aspiring writers have an obligation to push the literary envelope. Don't play it safe. Take risks and take chances. Timeis going fast. We have a duty to encourage our readers to challenge themselves in every way. Don't waste time. If you want to write, write like your life depends on it.

Q: What's on the horizon?

The initial response to Making The Hook-Up has been very positive. My next project for them will be a collection spotlighting romances of risk and consequence. Sex is a part of everyone's life. There is a difference between erotica and porn. Henry Miller, Anais Nin, D.H. Lawrence
and James Baldwin wrote erotica. Also, I'm editing a collection of short stories of the blues for a Scottish publisher. And we're in talks to do another Cole Riley mystery, Night Beat, for Hard Case.

Thank you "Cole" for sharing your story with us. Continued success. We'll see you on the shelves!

The Best of From Cover to Cover

2010-08-08T13:56:00.000-04:00

Show Archives

PuNanny Diaries - trailer

2010-08-04T12:00:00.001-04:00

Have you all checked out the hilarious internet series the PuNanny Diaries... the story of Not getting any? Here is the trailer to give you a hint.

The Secret of Newberry

2010-08-03T16:51:00.001-04:00

THE SECRET OF NEWBERRY BY VICTOR MCGLOTHIN. For your viewing pleasure

African American Literary Awards Show

2010-08-02T21:01:00.002-04:00

The 2010 African American Literary Awards is rapidly approaching. The nominations are up. And just like American Idol, its up to you who wins. So CAST YOUR VOTE TODAY. It only takes a minute.

2010-07-28T15:47:00.002-04:00

A small peek at a novel that I'm working on for my Master's thesis. It will be a collection of vignettes that paint the picture of a family in strife and a neighborhood that is changing right out from under them. This is an excerpt entitled LENA.

Lena

Jane Austen for the 21st Century

2010-07-28T15:28:00.004-04:00

I'd been hearing about this video for a little while, and since I was surfing around, I decided to check it out. It's quite funny and gave me some ideas which I'm going to have to figure out how to pull off. I actually have Jane Austen's Emma on my list of books to read before the year is out. Anyway, enjoy.

Summer Sizzlers & More

2010-07-28T14:45:00.000-04:00

Readers Survey

2010-07-27T19:46:00.005-04:00

I want to take the pulse of my readers. I want to know what you think, what you want and don't want. I've created a short survey to help me be a better writer for you. Your anonymous input is important. So, please take a moment and let me know what you think.

Readers Survey

Own Your Own Power Conference

2010-07-23T12:42:00.003-04:00

If you are ready to step up your game, personally and professionally, if you need direction, resources and support and inspiration that OWN YOUR OWN POWER CONFERENCE is the place to be. Columbia University, New York, NY.

The keynote speaker is Randall Pinkston, the first AA to win the Apprentice. I will be doing a guest appearance as well on getting into and staying in the publishing game.

Check out the link here for information, how to register and how to be a vendor to get your name and product out there.

SAVE THE DATE. SEPTEMBER 18, 2010

Hot Fun in the Summertime!

2010-07-23T10:19:00.004-04:00

"Hot Fun in the Summertime," is one of my all-time favorite songs by Sly Stone. And I have to admit it totally applies right now. I've been so bogged down in writing and working and school work that while my head was down in the sand, the publishing world kept on moving and is putting out two original titles of mine to help keep the summer sizzle going.!

First up is HEARTS REWARD. The final book in the "Millionaire Matchmaker" series. (check Celeste Norfleet and Adrienne Byrd. They kicked off the series) My story wraps it up and features the owner of the Platinum Society Melonie Harte. She's smart, sexy, business savvy and believes she is content. Her job is to bring the elite together with others like themselves in a perfect match. Her business makes mega-cash and its run with the help of her nephew and two nieces. Melonie's life is all that and then some until her FINE brother Alan introduces her to Claude Montgomery. Ooooh la la. To compound matters, Senator Lawson wants Melonie's help in finding someone for his playboy son, Rafe Lawson. Needless to say you wouldn't kick either of these brothers out of bed. The problem is, mixing business with pleasure is a "no-no." What's a matchmaker to do?? Fun, sexy, with a little love triangle thrown in. I know you will enjoy it and you will get a glimpse of the Lawson family that will debut in the Spring with "Spend My Life With You."

And right on the heels of Heart's Reward is PRIVATE LESSONS. Straight-laced Naomi Clarke a tenured college professor at Atlanta University goes on vacation to the island of Antigua (yes, I love Antigua and I want my characters to love it too). But her conventional mindset is put to the test when she meets Brice Lawrence, whose Adonis body and brilliant mind are the ultimate turn-on. A little island fling. No big deal. She'd go home and never see him again. Not!!! Is that Brice sitting in the back of her classroom on the first day? OMG. Now what?

What's a reader to do? Well, I hope you will get your copies, pop them in your beachbag, tote or back pocket and enjoy. And do let me know what you think! Happy reading.

A New Series Has Begun Along with Concerns

2010-07-21T12:27:00.004-04:00

On Monday, after pulling an all-nighter ( I am much too old for that--and paid for it), I turned in my manuscript to my Harlequin editor, which is the first book in my brand new series The Lawsons of Louisiana. This first book, I entitled FOR YOU I WILL. Because that's what I wanted it to say. It is what the book meant to me.

However, in a back room somewhere, folks sat around and figured they knew my story better than I did and of course they knew what the public wanted. (of course). Alas, they changed my title to Spend My Life With You--which to me sounds weak and ordinary, not a clear, no nonsense declaration--like my original title.

Anyway, that's the new, damn title. But by the time I finished having a professional hissy, fit, I was assured that would not happen again.

The point of my story is, behind the title is a kicking story about a wealthly, black, political family based in Louisiana, complete with sexy characters, political drama, love triangles, scandals and did I mention hot sex?

This is the first of what we hope will be a continuing series that readers with latch onto and love. So far the series is slated for four books.

For those who read or will read very soon my current summer release HEART'S REWARD, (available wherever books are sold)you will get to meet the edible Rafe Lawson, oldest son and heir apparant to Branford Lawson the patriarch of the Lawson clan.

I really enjoyed putting the first book together and look forward to writing the rest of the series.

In the meantime, check out the short reading excerpt from Heart's Reward. I'm sure you will love it.

I'll be posting little excerpts from my summer releases ( Private Lessons--coming soon, Scandalous and A Scandalous Affair (re-issues) throughout the summer. So come back often.

I would love to hear your thoughts on the change of title. What do you think? How much do titles matter?

hearts-reward

2010-07-20T12:57:00.001-04:00

span id=

2010-05-06T13:07:00.000-04:00

Try out these tips for losing weight.
span id=

Interview with Virginia Deberry & Donna Grant

2010-05-06T09:48:00.007-04:00

Hello Ladies! Thank you so much for taking time to chat with me. You have so much going on and I know that readers for this blog are anxious to hear it all. So let's get started!

Q. The novelty of a writing duo will never wear off at least not for me! How long have the two of you written together and how do you make it work?

This probably speaks to some kind of group insanity we have always shared, but even from the beginning writing in tandem never seemed like an unusual idea. Before we wrote novels, we worked on a fashion newsletter and a start-up magazine together. That is where we learned we have an intuitive ability to collaborate and have a great time doing it. That happened 20+ years ago. When the magazine folded, the one thing we knew for sure was that we had to keep working together, because that made sense! Neither of us remembers who came up with the idea of writing a novel. We investigated other possibilities first, but the novel won out, and we've been doing it ever since.

The most challenging part of keeping it going, is managing the time it takes to do it. We really do write together—in the same room, mostly at the same computer. That means we spend a lot of time in the writing cave and away from family and friends, which is hard. We have been working on creating more balance—it’s a work in progress. Fortunately, the ideas are in no short supply and the mutual respect we have for each other’s talent and point of view means we still enjoy sitting down together and seeing what we can cook up.

Q. I've known you both for quite some time, but please share with the readers your individual backgrounds, where you grew up, loves/marriages, and when the writing bug bit you.

DG: I’m a Brooklyn, NY girl (I realize girl is a bit of a stretch), and my husband and I still live there. Brooklyn is a bubbling caldron of life and creativity—people from different backgrounds produce music, dance, art and the written word from a variety of traditions, and there are so many people per square foot that you can’t help but be influenced by each other. Some days it’s exhausting, but never boring.

My husband, Hiram, is an around the way guy—we were born 30 days apart in the same hospital and lived literally around the corner from each other as kids, but we didn’t meet until we were grown. New York can be like that, but after 25 years together, 23 of them married, we’ve made up for lost time.

Reading and writing have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. From Hans Christian Andersen and The Brother’s Grimm, to Dr. Seuss and cereal boxes, I’d read anything as a child. Mom was a big reader—she always had a novel going and when she’d ride the subway she always had her book to read, so I had my storybook too. I get a big charge out of watching someone reading one of our books on the train. I discovered my own facility with words pretty early—I wrote stories and poems, founded a class newspaper in fifth grade (printed on that really smelly mimeograph paper) and have been writing ever since.

VDB: I was born in a tiny town in North Carolina (left when I was a wee tot), grew up in Buffalo, moved to NYC in the early 80’s where I lived until ’92 when Donna and I really buckled down with this writing thing and I realized that being a starving artist in the city was more romantic to read about than actually live. I need to be in a place that was quiet, with grass and trees and parking, so I crossed the border. I’m now a Jersey girl—a transplant who took root in smack in the middle of the Garden State—New York is an hour north and Philly is an hour south. I’m living my life in the ‘burbs and lovin’ it.

I like to say that I am currently “husband free” and have been for a long time. I’ve been married twice, and divorced twice and am utterly at peace in the knowledge that all of us are not meant for matrimonial bliss. I’m not sayin’ “never again”, but I’m single and happy. I date and have wonderful friends and as full a social calendar as I want.

I don’t know if I was bitten by the writing bug or born with some kind of congenital defect that predisposed me to developing the disease—but like Donna, reading and writing have been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. As a child, I always wanted a story and if someone wasn’t telling or reading me one, then I was making up my own. I have an old photograph of my brother and sister and me on Christmas morning—I must be about ten and we’re each holding our favorite Christmas gift. I’m hugging my brand new, bright orange Tom Thumb Typewriter! The die was cast early!

Q. You both are on a whirlwind tour and have been keeping readers abreast of your activities via Twitter, Facebook etc. When we all started out, technology wasn't much help. How have you both learned to make it work effectively for you?

Our very first book, Exposures—which we wrote as Marie Joyce—was written on a typewriter that had six pages of memory. When we finished those six pages to our satisfaction, we would print them out on three-part NCR paper (that was smelly too), erase the memory and start again. When we got revisions, we had to type the whole manuscript again. We are truly grateful for technological advances.

When we first included an email address in Tryin’ to Sleep in the Bed You Made, our publisher didn’t even have email. At that point we got more snail mail than email, but over time the balance has definitely shifted. We always saw an advantage to having a direct line of communication with our readers and we’re glad they enjoy sharing their thoughts. Fast forward to facebook, myspace, Twitter etc.—it’s still all about ways to share information and have some fun. Social networks have also allowed us to stay in touch with other writers. Virginia is the Techno-wiz of the two of us. She enjoys finding the way to work with each new platform and staying on top of the conversation. The trick here too is finding the balance between online communications, working on our books, and having a life. Not always easy. Sometime you just have to step away from the laptop!

Q. What are some things that you would suggest writers do regarding social networking?

These days it’s undeniable that establishing an online presence is important. It’s the surest, most direct way to reach readers. Blogging, Facebook, Twitter are the ones we utilize most. There are two suggestions we can offer in terms of these networks 1) Engage—don’t be one-sided. As often as possible, have a real exchange with some of the folks who are your “friends” and “followers.” That means asking and answering questions. 2) Variety--post about a range of topics, not just your book(s). Let the folks “out there” see some of your personality, let them get to know you—not the intimate personal details of your life, but enough for them to be able to “see” you as a real person, not just somebody who’s selling books. We’re all trying to “move product” and that’s what the social networking sites facilitate so well, but it’s definitely a case of soft selling. Yes, you can post reviews, reminders and links to purchase your book online, places you’ll be signing. But it’s equally important to post about other things that interest you.

Q. Through your years of publishing, what has been your biggest obstacle? And what are you doing, or what have you been doing to combat it?

The obstacles have come in stages. The first was getting published. We ran into the Toni-Terry problem—our writing was not “literary” in the spirit of Toni Morrison, and it wasn’t in the Terry McMillan mold which were the two prevailing categories for black writers. Editors didn’t know where we fit in, so they would pass on the manuscript. We were fortunate to find an editor who appreciated our writing and encouraged us to go ahead and tell the story, regardless of the category. That, was a very big hurdle, one we’re not sure we’d get over if Tryin’ to Sleep in the Bed You Made was being shopped today.

Now, the categories have changed, but the problem is the same. We don’t write urban fiction or erotica, which are the hot categories in African American fiction and now, it’s much harder to get beyond the labels. Publishers are extremely concerned about the bottom line and are most interested in publishing more of what has been successful. It’s like we are all being pressured to write the same book and to compete for the same small piece of the pie instead of being encouraged to find a slice of the bigger pie.

We are looking to find ways to stay in touch with our loyal readers while we also introduce ourselves to audiences who don’t know us yet. We participate in online conversations on sites that are not solely African American and have received many emails that read something like, “I had never heard of you before, but I picked up out one of your books, loved it and will be getting more.” We realize publishing is a numbers game, and that in order to stay in it we have to bring in bigger numbers. The only way we can do that is to make ourselves known to readers across the women’s fiction spectrum. We believe our stories have universal appeal and deserve exposure in the wider marketplace.

Q. There has been countless discussion and debate about how and why black books are segregated in the stores. But even more disturbing the notion that the segregation begins in the publishing houses. Please share your thoughts on this and what can readers do?

All of us who write books with black characters have been made aware of the statistics showing which kinds of our books are selling the most. Along with that knowledge, comes the pressure—subtle or not—to make our books more like those with the biggest bottom lines. Yet, there has been no effort to market our books to a wider audience where we might find additional fans who would appreciate what we do, not what publishers think black authors should do. The basic assumption is that only black audiences will buy and read books by black authors. This is not the assumption with other authors. It is assumed that everyone will read Nora Roberts, James Patterson, etc., including black readers. It is also assumed that not just vampires read Stephanie Meyers’ Twilight series. So, we come out of the gate with a disadvantage.
Also, more and more often novels by African American are shelved in the African American section, not with general fiction. It seems readers are split on this. Some prefer to be able to find the authors they love in a separate section. The consequence of this is that casual book store browsers are unlikely to come across a book by a black writer that they are not looking for specifically, again, limiting our access to the book buying public.
We always tell readers that if there are authors they love, buy their books, otherwise you won’t see their work any longer. None of us are immune from this phenomenon. Also, if you love someone’s work, tell people about it, and not just other African Americans. The more people who know about an author, the better chance she or he will have to stay in the marketplace.

Q. Now let's get to it! Your latest novel UPTOWN hit bookstores March, 2010. What inspired the book?

Real Estate became the national fever in the 2000’s. All of a sudden people were talking about trading up, flipping houses, how much their houses had appreciated and borrowing against the increased value. Developers built luxury housing, often in neighborhoods that had never seen such activity and long-time residents were displaced. When did home go from being the place where you made warm memories with your family, to an actively traded commodity? We chose Harlem as the setting because it has been an iconic African-American community since the early 20th century, but there are communities like Uptown all over the country. We wanted to look at this phenomenon from the perspective of a family whose members were both long time residents of the area, and actively involved in developing the “New Harlem.”

Q. Give us some details about the storyline and why was this story important for you to tell?

The Dixon Group, started by long-time Harlemite and real estate investor King Dixon, and now run by his son, Dwight, owns large parcels of Harlem real estate, some of it bordering Central Park, the gem in the middle of Manhattan. Three of the four sides of the park are lined with luxury residences, hotels, fashionable boutiques and world-renowned museums. Only 110th St., the north side of the park, which was considered the gateway to Harlem, was still lined with tenements, a gas station, a correctional facility—hardly prime properties. But as 110th St began to be called Central Park North, it was clear the game was changing, and the Dixon Group was ready to cash in. What seems like the easiest piece of the puzzle, acquiring a property they need from a family member, turns out to unleash a buried, but long-simmering betrayal that affects Dwight and his cousin, Avery Lyons. They were once as close as brother and sister, but that ended twenty years ago. Now Avery is back in town, and the truth will come out, no matter who it hurts.

Q. Tell us about the characters and the research involved in putting this book together.

This is the first book we’ve started with the male characters, but when we knew the story was about real estate in Harlem, when knew we had already met two of the characters to help us tell it—Dwight Dixon, Jewell Prescott’s fiancé in Better Than I Know Myself, and his overbearing father, King Dixon.

Q. What do you want readers to get from UPTOWN?

We hope they have a read that keeps them wanting to turn the pages and find out what happens next. We also hope to leave readers with some questions to answer. Does success mean that the one with the most money at the end wins, or are there other qualities we expect? What does home really mean? Is it just the building, or is it a feeling we carry with us? If our feelings for home are unsettled, do we ever feel at home, no matter where we go?

Q. What have been some of your marketing strategies for UPTOWN?

We try to keep ourselves available and “out there.” We have been fortunate to still be sent on book tour by our publisher and we try to make the most of the opportunity to travel around the country. With Uptown we were able to visit some cities where we have not been in a long time—like Denver and Dallas, as well as others where we have never been—Augusta, GA, Jackson, MS, Milwaukie, WS and Pittsburgh, PA among them—where it was great talking with fans we had not had the chance to meet previously. In addition to our regular online activities, we have written guest blogs (Thanks Donna!), appeared on blogtalk radio, reached out to book clubs and book bloggers, whatever we can do to get the word out.

Q. Let's talk cover. When I saw the cover, a lot of things went through my head. What are the thoughts behind the cover? What did you want to evoke from the casual browser?

We don’t have final say-so on covers. On our last book, What Doesn’t Kill You, there was another version of the cover that we preferred, but we lost that battle. We actually liked the Uptown cover as soon as we saw it. It feels like a cover that surrounds a big story, one that would make a browser in a bookstore stop and check it out. It also feels like the art director didn’t just find a stock photo and slap it on a page with the title on it. They actually gave it thought and made it reflect the feeling of the book. It also didn’t hurt that our name was above the title—first time that’s happened.

Q. Four Colored Girls. Tell us about it and how it got started.

The full name is 4 Colored Girls Productions. For those of us who remember back when we were called colored girls, the name is meant to pay respect to all that we were taught then about having pride in ourselves and being able to accomplish whatever we set our minds to. We formed the company three years ago, along with partners Tyrha Lindsey and Tracey Kemble, both of who have extensive film production experience. We all met 10 plus years ago, when Tracey, who was an HBO VP at the time, optioned Tryin’ to Sleep in the Bed You Made to produce independently. Tyrha, who reached out to us at about the same time, we working for Qwest Entertainment, the production arm for Quincy Jones. She wanted the option, but Tracey already had it. At the time, Hollywood had very different ideas than we all did about what kind of movie to make out of Tryin’ (like on starring Winnona Ryder and Gweneth Paltrow)., and the movie was never made. But years later, we all still believe there is a wonderful movie to be made from the story, and we intend to produce it.

Q. Where do you stand now with the movie?

Regina King attached herself to the project from the beginning—she was a fan of the book. We did the first several passes at the screenplay and have worked with a screenwriter to polish it. Last year was difficult in terms of raising funds, but the outlook this year has been better. Right now we are at a very important and encouraging point regarding a particular financing avenue, so we are hopeful—and saying our prayers. We’ll definitely keep you posted.

Q. What books are on your list to read this summer?

Gee, it would be great to have a summer like when we were kids—two whole months with no assignments—bliss. The reality has been deadline summers which haven’t left much reading time. Glorious by Bernice McFadden is definitely on the list. She waged such a battle to get the book published and it’s exciting to see it receiving great reviews. You know we love a good read about mothers and daughters, so What Mother Never Told Me is definitely on the list. We each have stacks of books to catch up on. Let’s see how far we get!

Q. Where do you see the future of publishing going, specifically for the black author and reader?

Our crystal ball is not so clear at the moment. Storytelling is a time-honored tradition for humans in general and for those of us of African descent in particular, so we know that stories will continue to be written and shared. As far as publishing goes, the whole industry is scrambling to keep pace with developments in e-book publishing that change the entire reader-writer-publisher paradigm. None of us can rest on what used to work, because we are no longer, “back in the day.” That could be scary, but it can also be invigorating. What it definitely requires is that writers and readers stay active, and open-minded and look to stake our claim in the new media landscape.

Q. What is your next book project and can you share the storyline with us?

We have a few ideas on the table and are continuing to brainstorm. As we have mentioned, this is a difficult moment in publishing, and we are not sure what our next steps will be, but we’ll keep you posted.

Q. Where can readers find out more about you?

They can find all kinds of info, our travel schedule, our contact info and whatever else is on our minds at: on:
deberryandgrant.com
facebook.com/deberryandgrant
twitter.com/deberryandgrant
twomindsfull.blogspot.com

Interview with Trisha Thomas

2010-05-03T17:37:00.005-04:00

Hey Trisha. Thanks so much for taking time to answer my very intrusive questions, but I'm sure readers will appreciate your responses.

Q. Readers are always interested in who we are outside of being a writer. Tell us about Trisha, the woman.

Creativity is the first thing that comes to mind. If you ask any of my close friends to describe me, that’s the first word they’d use. My house looks like a big art gallery from my own work. Huge canvases on every wall. I hope to have a showing one-day. Then there’s the gardening which helps me meditate. My husband has caught me talking to the tomato plants and can’t help but ask, “does that really work?” Absolutely. We’re all living things. How would you feel if no one ever talked to you? I’m also considered the comedienne of my group. Always looking for the humor in any situation. Sometimes that’s interpreted as not taking things seriously. But it’s quite the obvious. I see things direct and extremely clear. Too clear sometimes. When you have that perspective it’s best to take things easy or you’d be in a constant state of flux.

Q. The writing bug hits us at different times in our lives. When did you first get bitten and what was the first outcome?

Ever since I could read and write, I have been telling stories. I use to draw out pictures and tape them together, roll them from one end to the other on discarded paper towel centers, cut out the bottom of a box and have my own movie reel. My mother was basically my only audience member, but she loved them, that was good enough for me.

Q. You're name has become synonymous with the "Nappily" series. How did the concept come to you?

No one really knows my name. I’ve read blogs when they say they love the series, or love Venus, but the name of the author eludes them. I’m so okay with that. I think we all want to be appreciated for our body of work. I think even the papparazi swarmed Reality Stars eventually want to be known for something, not just their name and what kind of designer bag they were carrying.

Q. When you started "Nappily" was it your intention to make a series out of it or did it evolve?

I wasn’t anticipating writing a series of books. I wanted to answer the question: Why are we so obsessed with our hair? Why, especially women of color are we willing to pay just about any amount of money to be what we’re not? The reason the question even came up was because my daughter came home crying after being called ‘nappy head’ at school. I was floored. I couldn’t believe after twenty some odd years, the good hair- bad hair war was still going on from when I was growing up. And was it really going to go on for another twenty, thirty, or fifty years? I started paying attention to all the subtle and not so subtle messages. The TV commercials always touted going from frizzy to straight. Even the main talkshows that were supposed to be empowering women focused on taking a woman’s natural hair and straightening it to make her new and beautiful as if that was the only way to feel good about yourself. They never showed straight, over-processed, and damaged, hair being cut to reveal a better look with natural tresses. When would we be happy with our hair? That’s pretty much how the journey began.

Q. I understand that Nappily Ever After was optioned by Halle Berry? Is that right? Where are things now?

The film has been in development for the last seven years. I know that sounds long, but I have the same agent as Dennis Lehane (Gone Baby Gone, Shutter Island, Mystic River) and he reassures me, it takes that long, or longer, to be patient and go about the business of writing. I do just that. I try not to focus on the film. Although the good news is that Halle’s production company bought the full rights to the entire series so we’re hoping it will be more than just one movie, an HBO or a Showtime series would be nice.

Q. How many books are in the series and do you plan more of them?

Un-Nappily In Love is the sixth book in the series and will be released in a few weeks. Venus is about to experience The Big One, something I remembered from elementary school. Meaning an earthquake, not the other Big “O” one. LOL! Growing up in California, I think we prepared for earthquakes more than we learned our ABC’s. When Venus is faced with her biggest challenge, I couldn’t help but remember all those years of training and the Big One stuck in my head. Not until I was much older did I realize there’s no way of being prepared for the Big One. When the foundation you’re standing on is crumbling underneath your feet, and the walls around you are shaking, you pretty much have the instinct to run, seek cover, and pray for it to be over.

After it’s over, you survey the damage and rebuild. This is the metaphor for what Jake and Venus are about to experience in Un’Nappily In Love. They’re about to be shaken to their core.

Q. You are a full-time writer. If you had your choice of any other profession what would it be?

I’ve been a teacher, a gown designer, accountant, and marketing consultant for a couple of big food manufacturers (listed not in any order) I’ve experienced the gamut of careers. I have a Bachelor of Science in Business and Economics. I was on the fast track for so long. When I made myself stop and take notice that I was on the wrong track, I asked myself what are you running from? I was afraid of failing at the one thing I actually loved. It didn’t make any sense. Eventually I started two or three novels and they were all commercial and stale. I went to a writer’s conference and the keynote was so real and honest. She lived in the Appalachians and had this sweet southern accent. She said, “Write what you know, that’s it. No other big secret.” I left there with tears in my eyes because I’d been writing about murder and mayhem, honestly, something I knew nothing about. But when my daughter came home crying about her hair. It lit a flame. I remembered all the hurt of growing up, the little black girl with the thick untamed hair. Growing up and being taught, nothing in life will come to you with nappy hair. It’s like being branded underneath your clothes. Hoping no one ever sees what’s really there. Nobody knows the pain and stress we endure worrying about our hair. We run around doing what needs to be done to fit in accordingly. I simply put those memories in Nappily Ever After.

Q. How have you seen the publishing industry change since you got into the business?

I love knowing there’s a freedom there that wasn’t there ten years ago when I started. Self-publishing of books and now E-books gives you the option to not waiting for the approval of the powers-that-be in the industry. I still have the publishing contract, but I can also self-publish. I never considered that as an option ten years ago. I can step off the grid and do something new and risky. It’s an exciting time. Anyone can put their work out there and find a market.

Q. Social networking has "taken over the world" so to speak. How do you utilize the networking tools available to you?

I flow with the times. I think it’s wonderful to talk to so many people at the same time. Especially since most writers are hermits during the year or so it takes to write a book. Then suddenly you’re supposed to put on your stilettos and get out there and show your stuff. Much easier to communicate through networking.

Q. In a sentence, tell us what kind of writer you are?

I’m an involuntary writer. I’m writing every minute of the day. I can be out to dinner and I’m seeing the entire dialogue of the couple next to me.

Q. Do you feel at any time that you have boxed yourself in or have been boxed in simply by the success of the series?

Hell no! I feel lucky to have found a voice that my readers will listen to. There’s one particular reader in Montgomery, Alabama who I see when I tour. She sneers at me after every booksigning, “I’m not reading another Nappily…that’s it. What was Venus thinking?” The next time I come, she’s front and center (no names- Tara) She’s my perfect example. Once you read one, you’re hooked. I certainly wish I could get more people hooked. That would be golden. But I’m so grateful for the readers I have. I’ll take them being snagged by the series over hype any day.

Q. What's your favorite past time?

Cooking. More specifically, baking. I always have homemade cookies in my purse. Always.

Q. If someone were to walk into your house right now, what would totally surprise them?

Nothing. It’s as artsy and eclectic as you would guess. My house was featured on HGTV a few years ago and the producer kept telling me how much she loved it because it was all about us, my family, me as an artist. Everything screamed, The Thomas Family lives here. I have framed art from my kids when they were very young up to high school. I never let a single piece of their hard work go unappreciated. I could care less if my son drew me with three heads, it was going up.

Q. What is your greatest strength? Your greatest weakness?

My greatest strength, laughter. My weakness, I have a bad memory. I forget to be mad. My husband always quotes the Al Pacino character in Scarface in his best Cuban accent…”that’s okay, you’ll love me in the morning.”

Q. If you had the chance to sit down with someone and pick their brain, who would it be and why?

Probably my great-great-great grandmother. I feel like I have missing pieces sometimes. I’d like to get the full-story.

Q. What is one of your quirkiest habits?

I guess the one that stands out is talking to my plants. Better than talking to myself. My kids don’t listen to me. And if start a sentence with, “I was thinking…” my husband exits the room.

Q. What was the single most exciting thing that has happened to you as a writer?

Reaching the ten-year mark as a published author. I thank God everyday.

Q. Okay, give us an inside look at Un-Nappily In Love!

Finally! I love this story, probably more than all the others I’ve written before. Do authors always say that? Anyway, I really mean it. I haven’t had this much excitement over a book since the first one. Venus cutting off her hair in the first book was the first real decision she’d every made based on what she needed and not on someone else’s expectations or societal fears. In the newest installment, she does something else not generally accepted in our society, but because of the love for her husband and his integrity as a father, she steps out and does something bigger than herself, totally relying on faith. I love this story.

Q. Where can readers find out more about you?

I’m everywhere. Punch in those three little words and find out. My mother gets so appalled when we go out and she tells whomever…”this is my daughter. She wrote the book called Nappily Ever After. Have you heard of it?” When they give her the polite smile and shake of their head, ‘no,’ she’s devastated. “How could they never have heard of your book? What are they…living under a rock?” I try to consol her. “Mom, they just haven’t seen the movie yet. When they do, it’ll be a different story.” But in reality, it kind of stings. People use the term Nappily Ever After synonymously with going natural, and accepting themselves through the transition from a relaxer, when the term wasn’t used at all until I wrote the book more than 12 years ago and first published by Random House ten years ago. Now it’s like saying Xerox when you want a copy, when in fact Xerox is the name of a business machine company. Everyone uses the term whether we actually use the product or not, trademarks be damned! Black women use the term whether they’ve read the book or not. It just rings true and right. Surely its a good thing. Whether I’m in the thank you column or not, I want women to accept their natural beauty and teach their daughters to love themselves from the root of their hair to the soles of their feet. If not now, when? It just seems so basic to me to be nappily ever after, and yet I know how truly difficult it is. It took me till I was forty to get there.

What Mother Never Told Me Blog Tour with Donna Hill

2010-04-19T09:34:00.001-04:00

What Mother Never Told Me Blog Tour with Donna Hill

Posted using ShareThis

Time to Spare the Rod in Black Communities

2010-04-15T16:02:00.000-04:00

Time to Spare the Rod in Black Communities

JOIN ME ON MY VIRTUAL TOUR

2010-04-13T09:40:00.004-04:00

Join me for on my Virtual Tour making spots across the blogosphere. Pick a date and join me. The week is April 19-23 and here are the tour stops:

Monday, April 19th - All the Buzz

Tuesday, April 20th - Shelia Goss

Wednesday, April 21 - Simply Said Reading Accessories with Debra Owsley

Thursday, April 22 - APOOO

Friday, April 23 - RAWSISTAZ

There will be readings, give aways, Q&A, fun stuff! Join us.

Book Party Details

2010-04-06T16:18:00.001-04:00

All of my dear reading family is cordially invited to help me celebrate 20 literary years! So if you are in the New York area on Saturday, April 24, I do hope you will join the celebration. It is an invitation only event. So if you intend to come, you must RSVP.

Thanks as always
Donna

Donna's Book Party for What Mother Never Told Me Clear Here to view invite and to RSVP

Fresh Fiction: Review: What Mother Never Told Me by Donna Hill

2010-04-05T18:00:00.000-04:00

Fresh Fiction: Review: What Mother Never Told Me by Donna Hill

A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: A Writer Looks At 40

2010-04-05T11:32:00.000-04:00

A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: A Writer Looks At 40

Intimate Monday with Author Bernice McFadden

2010-04-04T21:44:00.009-04:00

Bernice McFadden is certainly one of my favorite writers, and I'm thrilled that she has taken some time to chat with me today. Welcome Bernice! Let's get started.

Q. I've been following your career for years, but many readers don't know how you got started. Tell us about your first deal and the arrival of Sugar.

In the late 80's Sugar came to me as a long, dark note. Her rhythm was so haunting I had to jot her down on paper, turning her music into a poem. Some years later, when she’d made my home her home, I heard her voice; saw her slender neck, and her open mouth as she threw her head back in laughter.
So I wrote her a short story. Even more years passed and this writing thing was inching up my spine and gnawing at my skin and Sugar was fully formed by then, standing in the middle of my living room, cigarette smoke a cloud above her head, her hand pressed firmly into her hip, those dark eyes looking deeply into my own – demanding more than thirty pages with the unlikely end.

And I obliged her.

In the early 90’s I began sending out SUGAR to editors and agents and I received 73 rejection letters over a nine-year period. In 1999 I finally acquired representation and a week later my agent secured a two-book deal. Sugar was published in 2000 to great reviews and received numerous awards.

Q. You also wrote a sequel to Sugar entitled This Bitter Earth. > When you wrote Sugar did you at that time plan for a sequel and if not, what prompted you to create This Bitter Earth?

The original manuscript for Sugar was about a hundred pages more than what was published. I placed the deleted sections into an envelope and into my desk drawer. I started writing my second novel, The Warmest December. I had no intention of writing a sequel to Sugar, but Sugar's story lingered with me as well as my readers. I knew there was more to Sugar's story and that more was shut away in my desk drawer. I guess the decision for a sequel was made for me.

Q. Your work could certainly be considered literary. Who are some > of your role models in the literary field?

Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, J. California Cooper and Gloria Naylor - just to name a few.

Q. What are some of your inspirations?
My family members and American History.

Q. What is a your writing process? How do you go about crafting your novels?
I write whenever the feeling hits me. Sometimes I don't write for weeks, even months. Other times I write non-stop for days at a time.

Q. Your latest novel Glorious is just hitting the stores. Tell us about Glorious!

Glorious is my first, full-fledged historical novel, much like E. L. Doctorow's Ragtime. Glorious set against the backdrops of the Jim Crow South, the Harlem Renaissance, and the civil rights era.

The story opens on a hot, steamy July 4th in 1910 as “The Fight of the Century” comes to an end and Jack Johnson becomes the first ever African-American Heavy Weight Champion of the World. This event sets off a series of violent, racial eruptions around the country and in the small town of Waycross, Georgia, the life of a young Easter Venetta Bartlett is forever changed.

Glorious follows the life of Easter Venetta Bartlett, a fictional Harlem Renaissance writer whose tumultuous path to success, ruin, and revival offers a candid portrait of the American experience in all its beauty and cruelty.

It is a tale woven with historical events and figures of the time. Langston Hughes, Carl Van Vechten, A’Lelia Walker, Nancy Cunard, Marcus Garvey, Horace Liveright and many other historical characters make appearances through out the story.

Q. Glorious begins with a "what if" premise. What made you decide to begin your book this way?

I believe all stories begin with a "What If" - even if its not always verbalized in the context of the story.

Q. You have been very vocal and pro-active about what you have dubbed seg-book-gation. What is it and what are you doing to combat it?

Seg-Book-Gation is the marginalization of works by authors of color, but most specifically African-American authors. This practice of marketing Most African-American authors strictly to Af-Am audiences is demeaning and financially crippling. Because of Seg-book-Gation fewer and fewer Af-Am writers are being published, while white authors who write books about the Af-Am experience, are breaking sales records, winning awards and accolades while similar stories written by Af-Am writers go ignored.

Q. Why do you feel it is so important for Black Writers to be mainstreamed?

It's important for a number of reasons, in my opinion the two most critical reasons are:

We cannot allow another group of people to become the authority on OUR experiences. This was the case for generations and we as a people are still trying to rid ourselves of the stereotypes and myths white men and women writers levied on us.

Secondly, we are Americans writing about the American experience - that alone should make us mainstream. But publishing continues to treat us like foreigners in our own country.

Q. What can readers do to move this agenda forward?

BUY BOOKS! If you cannot afford to buy our books, order them through your local libraries. Support your independent bookstore. IF you read a good book, spread the word. Don't see the authors you love at Target, Walmart, Costco and other similar outlets? Write a letter letting them know that if they cannot support Af-Am authors - you cannot continue to spend your money with them.

Q. Will you be touring with Glorious and if so where can readers find you?

Yes, I will be touring. Readers can visit my website: www.bernicemcfadden.com to see when I will be in their areas.

Q. Are you working on anything now? Can you give us a hint?

Another historical novel about Emmett Till.

Q. Do you consider yourself a Black writer or a writer that happens to be Black?

I consider myself an American writer who happens to be Black and female!

Q. When you are not writing what are you reading? What books would > you highly recommend readers have in their library?

Lately, I've been reading a lot of non-fiction. I highly recommend When Harlem was in Vogue by David Levering Lewis.

Q. If you could sum up in a sentence or two what kind of writer you > are, the message that transcends all of your work, what would it be?

I write to breathe life back into memory!

Q. Where can readers find you?

www.bernicemcfadden.com
www.firstborngirl.blogspot.com
Facebook
Twitter: queenazsa

Q Any closing thoughts?

Together we can make this country truly a post-racial society one book at a time!

Thank you so much. And congratulations on Glorious!

Intimate Mondays with Author JD Mason

2010-03-28T23:15:00.004-04:00

JD thanks so much for visiting my blog. Let's get started.

Q. Tell us a little bit about the day in the life of a full time writer?

A. Honestly, it depends on which day you're talking about. LOL Beng a full time writer is challenging, and not as glamorous as I thought it would be. It's taken me a long time to realize that I have to get up every morning and approach each work day as I would any job. If I can put in 8 hours a day at a 9-5, then I've need to be as dedicated to putting forth that same kind of work ethic towards being a writer. I have the luxury of being able to pick and choose how and when I put in my hours, but I am more disciplined now, and more committed to working a more regular schedule, and it actually helps me to keep the creative juices flowing. When I take too much time off from writing, I find that it's harder to get started again on a new project.
Typically, though, I get up in the morning and after dropping the kid off at school, I come home, make breakfast, check email, play around on facebook, and by 9 or 9:30, I commit to working on my novels.

Q. You currently live in Colorado. How is the literary environment/community there? what are some of the outlets that authors and readers have?

A. It's a bit more challenging here, for black writers in particular, just because there is no central hub like there used to be when The HueMan bookstore was here. Bookclubs are pretty plentiful, though, and always welcoming and eager to talk about your book, feed you, and fill you up with cocktails.
I am a member of a group of ladies who host an event every year called Valentine's Day For Me (vdayforme.com), and we try in bring in an author every year around Valentine's Day. This year, we hosted Earl Sewell. In the past, we've hosted Marc Lacy, Victor McGlothin, myself, Brenda Thomas, and others.

Q. Your debut novel On the Eighth Day She Rested, was originally self-published. What are the pros and cons of self-publishing and would you consider self-publishing in the future?

A. Self publishing is always an option for me, even though, I didn't prove to be very good at it in the past. But it's something I am happy to have experienced. It gave me insight into the publishing industry from every aspect, which I appreciate. It was hard trying to wear all the hats, though; publisher, publicist, distributor, bookkeeping, collections. Having a publisher handle the majority of those things for me, allows me to focus more on just the writing aspect, which, as it turns out, happens to be my favorite part.

Q. You have been around for a little while now. Do you still recall that moment when you knew your book was going to be published by St Martins Press?

A. Actually, the most exciting moment in my career was when the woman who is now my agent, told me that she loved reading my book (8th Day) and that it made her cry, and that she'd love to represent me. That was more exciting than getting the book published by St. Martin's, and I honestly don't know why.

Q. Of all the characters you have written which one stands out most and why do you think that is?

A. It would probably have to be Roberta from the Black King books (John King is a close second). And I think it's because her story was so compelling to me. I've asked myself several times; is Roberta crazy or just evil? I think it's a little of both. I loved exploring her childhood which held some of the triggers to her behavior later in life. Things like the time her mother left her alone when she was six with the dead man lying in her mother's bed, to her obsession for Charles Brooks and the terrible things she was willing to do to keep him (attempting to kill his son, Adam), her passion for what she loved ran dangerously deep, and because of that, I found her fascinating.

Q. Several of your books have recurring characters. Remind us which ones and was that intentional or the demand of readers?

A. One Day I Saw A Black King, Don't Want No Sugar, You Gotta Sin To Get Saved, and the upcoming Somebody Pick Up My Pieces (scheduled for release 2011), were all books with recurring characters, and that was due to readers. They loved these characters, and so, without really intending too, I ended up with a series.

Q. Your latest novel Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It, tell us about it.

A. It's the story of three women who were best friends in high school until a terrible secret tore their friendship apart. That secret turns out to be a woman named Tasha Darden, who is convinced that one of them gave birth to her and abandoned her in a hospital emergency room. The book delves into the lives of the three women, in particular, and how each of them has spent the last three decades living with the guilt, or avoiding it all together,
of what happened the night one of them gave birth to that child. It's not until the very end that you find out who the mother is (unless you're just brilliant and figure it out before that).

Q. What other writing avenues are you currently exploring?

I'm starting a new series surrounding a prominent and influential black family (the Gatewoods) that I'm really excited about. I'm working on editing my first science fiction novel, which will be written under a nom de plume, and I'm still not sure if I'll be able to share the new name with readers yet. And I've been toying around with writing a YA science fiction novel, which I'd like to see turned into a series.

I've had several production companies express interest in securing the film rights for Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It, and hopefully, one of them will bite.

Q. What is the most challenging aspect of being a writer?

A. I'd have to say writing. I wish I could write faster, because the ideas come so quickly. But also, this business definitely can test a creative person's resolve. On the one hand, seeing my books in print is amazing, and having readers say that they love them is even more amazing. On the other hand, though, it's not easy making a living at writing. If you're an aspiring writer, or even a published one, and someone tells you not to quit the day job, take that to heart, because it's definitely advice given out of love.

Q. What is your opinion about the big move toward digital publishing i.e., e-books?

A. The times, they are a changing. And it only makes sense. I haven't gone the e-book route yet, but I suspect that eventually I will. I love book, the paper, the glue, being able to hold it in my hands...but this business is being dragged, kicking and screaming, into the digital age, which is as it should be. I think publishers are behind the 8-ball, though, and should've started putting more attention into the digital future of books a long time ago, though. Now, I think they're scrambling to make it work. They'll figure it out, eventually.

Q. Are your books available in e-book form?>
A. My last 4 novels have been published in e-book format; You Gotta Sin To Get Saved, This Fire Down In My Soul, That Devil's No Friend of Mine, and Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It.

Q. What project are you currently working on and when can readers expect to see it in stores?

A. I'm working on a novel called Beautiful, Dirty, Rich, which will be the first book in a new series and it should be out at the end of 2011 or early 2012. And I'm waiting to hear back from Simon & Schuster about a collaborative effort I proposed to them at the end of last year. This book will be one story written by me, and two other authors. Each of us will write a portion of the story. The last I heard, S&S was really excited about it, so hopefully they'll come through with an offer soon.

Q. Will you be touring or doing any signings for Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It?

A. I'll be attending the National Book Club Conference in Atlanta for the first time in my life this year, which I am really excited about. I'm also attending the Fall Into Books conference in Kansas City and the UCAAB conference in Los Angeles, both in September.

Q. How can readers find out more about J.D. Mason?

A. They can visit my website at www.officiallyjd.com, or email me at j_d_mason@hotmail.com.

Thank you J.D. and continued success!

2010-03-28T20:04:00.001-04:00

On Saturday March 28 I had the honor and pleasure of meeting and shaking the hand of of one our literary legends Ms. Toni Morrison. The event was the 10th National Black Writers Conference in New York. I truly felt that I was in the presence of literary royalty. What a humbling experience. And it made me remember why I do what I do. And that I must do my best and write my stories no matter what.

Intimate Mondays with Author A.C. Arthur

2010-03-21T22:20:00.006-04:00

Q. How long have you been in the publishing game and how many books have you had published to date?

I’ve been published since 2003. September 2010 will see my 20th published book.

Q. Of all the sexy characters that you have created so far, who is the top male contender and top female and why?

Wow, this is tough. Hmmmm, I’d have to say Thaddeus Delos from Heart of the Phoenix because not only was he scrumptiously sexy, he was actually a Greek god, complete with powers and a sense of chivalry to be admired in today’s world. As for the heroine, I’d have to go with Cienna Turner from Office Policy. Cienna is every woman: independent, strong, intelligent and no-nonsense.

Q. So many readers confuse a romance novel with a relationship novel. Please explain the difference.

For me I think the main difference between a romance and relationship novels is that a romance has a happy ending. Sure the characters go through their ups and downs but you know that in the end they come to a compromise because love is the driving force in these stories. Relationship novels take everything—the good, the bad and the ugly—and whatever the results they are dealt with accordingly.

Q. One of the biggest events for African American romance authors is the Annual Romance Slam Jam. I understand it is coming you way next year. Can you tell the readers a little bit about it and what your involvement is?

Yes, it is! I’m very excited about Romance Slam Jam coming to my hometown of Baltimore, Maryland. Working with the Sweet Soul Sisters Bookclub we’re trying to come up with innovative and entertaining ways to celebrate this annual meeting of black romance writers and readers. Hope to see you all there! Please stay tuned to www.romanceslamjamconference.com

Q. For years you have been known for your romances. This year you have taken a leap into a completely new direction with a YA series. Please tell us about that. How you got the idea. The first title. When the series will begin and why in the world YA! LOL.

It’s funny because for the past couple of years I was adamant that I was not going to write a YA novel. But I firmly believe in signs. (1) My little cousin who was fourteen at the time said to me “can you write a story for kids my age?” (2) One of my youth ushers commented one Sunday, “You know, you should write a book for young adults.” (3) My Bishop’s wife said to me one day, “You would write excellent stories for our children.” (4) My fifteen year old daughter said, “Mommy, can you write a young adult book?” After all that I figured somebody was trying to tell me something. LOL

I really didn’t know what I wanted to write about. I just knew I wanted to tell a story that would relate to young adults and the types of issues they face today. Of course, I wanted to add the spin of a paranormal world, but at the heart of it all, I wanted a story for teenagers to take something from. So I turned to my daughter who reads everything young adult and some adult stuff that she probably shouldn’t. I tossed out ideas, she slammed a few and said to keep the others. The Mystyx were created from a Saturday morning brainstorming session over Raisin Bran and leftover pizza(my daughter’s breakfast of champions). The first book in the series is titled Manifest and will be released August 2010 from Kimani TRU.

Q. How difficult was it to try to write for YA? Where did you pull from to craft the young adult voices?

I did a lot of plotting and planning before I wrote the first chapters. Then as I started to write I kept deleting stuff because I thought it sounded too mature. After a few tries I began listening to my daughter’s conversations with her friends. I watched shows on the Disney Channel and Nick Teen to get a real feel for the lingo. It was amazing how foreign it all felt to me at first. After that I read tons of YA books. I read the reviews for these books as well because I wanted to know what was working for the audience and what wasn’t.

Q. What are some of the promotional plans for the new YA series?

I will be heading out to promote directly to the young adult audience via libraries and schools. I’ll also be appearing at BEA and ALA. A lot of efforts are being concentrated online as well, including a book trailer that will be debuting soon!

Q. Will you continue to write romances? And do you think that it will confuse young readers when they are in bookstores and see your name on a book with a half-naked man on the cover?

Yes, I will always be a romance junkie so those stories will most likely keep coming. For the YA I used my full name, Artist Arthur, so that young readers would not instantly pick up an A.C. Arthur book. However, I’ve learned not to take young people’s intelligence for granted and know that realistically they may make the connection. In fact, I had a fourteen year old email me just last week about reading one of my romance novels. But in the stores the two different genres are shelved separately so that, along with the pen name, should help differentiate.

Q. What advice would you offer to writers who may be considering writing for the blooming YA market, especially African American YAs?

Think about the young readers first, what they want to hear, what stories they want told. Don’t just tell an adult story with younger characters.

Q. What's next for you?

Another book and prayerfully another and another.  I just love to write. I’m currently working on a new YA series and a spinoff of one of my popular romance series.

Q. How is it for you managing a family and a full-time career?

Tiresome. LOL
It’s all about prioritizing and organization. I’m blessed to have wonderful supporters who allow me to be me, with all my quirks and issues. That helps a lot.

Q. Where can readers go to get to know you better?

Visit the websites

For romance novels, www.acarthur.net
For YA novels, www.artistarthurbooks.com

Friend me on Facebook

www.facebook.com/ACArthur
www.facebook.com/YAbyArtist

Follow me on Twitter

www.twitter.com/ACArthur
www.twitter.com/yabyartist

The Latest Episode of the PuNanny Diaries

2010-03-17T11:00:00.000-04:00

What Mother Never Told Me Now Available in Hardcover

2010-03-15T12:05:00.000-04:00

Order WHAT MOTHER NEVER TOLD ME IN HARDCOVER!!

Romance Readers Connection Review

2010-03-15T11:49:00.000-04:00

Hill, Donna - WHAT MOTHER NEVER TOLD ME

WHAT MOTHER NEVER TOLD ME
Donna Hill
Kimani Press
ISBN-13: 978-0-373-83143-2
March 2009
Women Fiction- Multicultural

This story introduces three women that have more in common than they think. Each woman has challenges and struggles with their mothers that cause them to suffer from heartbreak. The first woman Parris McKay has lived her entire life believing that her mother was dead and all she had was the love of her grandmother. She never thought that the woman who loved her like her own would hold a secret concerning something as special to her as having the chance to know the woman that gave birth to her. But just before her grandmother left this earth she not only told Parris the truth, but unlocked the door that would lead her to the one woman who held the answers to her past and the secrets that would change her life forever. But upon her journey to the truth Parris finds out that the mother she believed had died years ago, had really buried her past in the past as she turned away her only child once again.

Next there is Celeste, born with a silver spoon in her mouth and the world at her feet. She had everything materialistic that a person could dream of ever having. But the one thing she wanted more than anything else was love. She craved for the love of her mother and the love of a man. What she got was a mother concerned with appearances and a man that her mother liked and one that she had no feelings for. She’s been living a lie and is happy to do so, until Sam enters the picture. Sam makes her feel like a real woman for the first time in her life. There’s just one problem, he’s African American and doesn’t match the family picture her mother has painted for her.

Then there’s Leslie. She has her career as an interior decorator and the responsibility of caring for her sick mother. She doesn’t know who her father is and she blames herself for the condition that her mother is in after they have a fatal argument. Her comfort is food and her dreams are of a time when her mother’s friend Uncle Frank made her have feelings that she only wished she could have today. As an adult she knows that what happened to her was wrong, but when you don’t have anyone else to love you even those memories are better than the loneness she feels today.

As these three women each struggle with the drama in their life, they build a friendship that gives them the courage to take the next steps necessary to find peace of mind. Walls are torn down as Parris, Celeste, and Leslie decide what’s important and how to cope with the secrets and lies that have kept them from being all they could be. And just when you think they have overcome all the obstacles in their path, Ms. Hill throws in another scenario that makes you want to scream. What a great way to start your year, with a great book that opens your eyes to the reality of what secrets really mean when they are finally revealed.

Reviewed by Lora McDonald

Rating 4 1/2
Romance Readers Connection

Donna Hill Online: My Interview with author Precious Williams

2010-03-02T17:48:00.000-05:00

Donna Hill Online: My Interview with author Precious Williams

My Interview with author Precious Williams

2010-03-02T17:31:00.009-05:00

The Internet is a wonderful thing. It was through the internet that I met Precious Williams and learned of her amazing novel. I wanted to share her and her wonderful story with you all. Enjoy!

Tell us about the memoir “Precious” and why you decided to write it:

“Precious” is the story of my childhood, from birth to early womanhood. I was born in London, in the 1970s, to a Nigerian mother and a father from Sierra Leone. As soon as I was born, my mother advertised me in a UK childcare magazine called ‘Nursery World.’ The ad simply invited somebody, anybody – to take me in, because my mother had decided not to raise me herself. My mother was offering to pay the respondent a weekly cash amount. And thus I ended up living in an all-white rural town in southern England, with an elderly white lady who was an enormous fan of the novel ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ and wanted a ‘Topsy’ of her own. In this new home I was nicknamed “Nin” – short for ‘Pickaninny.’ I remained there until I was 18. My father soon vanished completely and my mother visited me only sporadically.

For years I was deeply ashamed of my history. I blamed myself for my mother’s lack of interest in my welfare and I felt a strong sense of humiliation and worthlessness. Once I’d come of age, gone to university and begun to make a career for myself as a journalist, I stopped admitting to anybody that I was once advertised in a magazine and given away to a stranger. I couldn’t bear the thought of anybody else knowing how little regard my own mother seemed to have for me. And so it seems ironic that I’ve now written an entire book about my childhood.

I actually started out wanting to write a novel. I’ve been involved in writing ever since I was old enough to pick up a pen. I won my first writing competition aged around eight. So my goal from childhood was to become an author. Instead I ended up as a journalist, interviewing celebrities for magazines like Elle and Marie Claire. It was while interviewing Mary J Blige several years ago, for Cosmopolitan, that I realised I should write the story of my own life. Mary was in a really amazing place in her life – she’d just gotten engaged to her now-husband, Kendu and she was open, grounded and on a very positive path. During the interview she told me about the sexual abuse she’d suffered as a child and about how she’d moved on to forgive everybody involved and healed her life. Sexual abuse was something I’d been subjected to as a young child, by third-parties outside my foster family and birth family. While Mary was talking about her own ordeal in a poised, calm way I realised that I still felt bitter, angry and hurt inside. By sharing her story with me, Mary really started making me feel that I wasn’t alone in this and that there was hope. After spending that time with her I began to realise that perhaps in working through my own history and putting my story out there, I could, in some small way, help others. If only by enabling them to think “So this happened to someone else too –I’m not alone.”

How has writing your story changed you?

I really, really know myself now! Before I began delving into my past I think I had a fairly superficial knowledge of myself. I’d been so keen to ignore all the painful moments in my history that I didn’t really have much of a clue anymore about who I was, where I’d been and what that meant. Researching and writing the book forced me to really look at it all. And looking at it all was not easy. I had two nervous breakdowns during the process of researching the book! But I feel twice as strong now as I did before.

What has been the response so far?

There’s been a huge amount of interest in my story so far. From the 1960s until the present day there’ve been a large number of Black British children ‘privately fostered’, as I was, in white homes, completely isolated from black communities. Some of these children grow up to be so traumatised that they try to lighten their skin with household bleach. As a child I would scream with fear on the rare occasion I encountered a fellow black person. I had no idea that I was black and the self-hate I had to wrestle with as a child was just overwhelming. It’s a sort of dirty little post-colonial secret and few people talk about it – until now!

Why are there two different versions of your book cover and did you have any say so in it?

I think it’s quite common for a book to have different covers in different territories. I simply feel relieved that both covers are gorgeous! In both cases, JPEGs of the covers were sent to me for my approval and fortunately I thought they were both fabulous. My book also has two different titles. In the UK it is called “Precious” and in the US and Canada it is called “Color Blind.”

Will you be touring with the book?

I definitely plan to and will keep you posted.

How long did the process of writing Precious take?

It took me about a year to write the book but a good five years on top of that to carry out all the research. My research included interviewing family members and digging out hundreds of pages of childhood reports and medical records. Along the way I became increasingly traumatised by the information I was uncovering and I had to keep taking breaks from it all to try to avoid getting overwhelmed.

Has there been any confusion between your book and the movie Precious (based on Sapphire’s novel Push)?

I got my book deal for ‘Precious’ several years ago, way before the movie came out. I read ‘Push’ when it was first published in 1999 and I’m a huge fan of that book and its author. I was thrilled to learn ‘Push’ was being made into a movie but slightly taken aback to then read that the title was being changed to ‘Precious.’ I did receive a strange but sweet email from someone who’d seen the movie and was now congratulating me on my performance on the silver screen– the person seemed to think that I was actually Gabourey Sidibe, the actress. Also, there was an article in the Sunday Times in London recently about the movie ‘Precious’ where the write referred to the protagonist in the movie as ‘Precious Williams’ when really her name is ‘Claireece Precious Jones.’

What is life for you like outside of writing?

I’m studying part-time for an MA in Creative Writing right now and I’m also working on an original TV script and on my second book – a novel. I am an enormous fan of yoga. Aside from that, I spend an enormous amount of time reading and when I can, I enjoy traveling.

Tell us your website and how can contact you and get copies of your book

I have a website at Preciouswilliams and I can be reached through www.twitter.com/preciousthebook or by email at precious at preciouswilliams dot net. The book’s available for pre-order at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble.com and Amazon.co.uk and will also be in all major bookstores upon release in August. I’d love you to drop me a line and let me know what you think of it!

Publication date

Precious is being published in the US and Canada on 3rd August 2010, by Bloomsbury and in the UK on 2nd August 2010, also by Bloomsbury.

What Mother Never Told Me Book Trailer

2010-02-27T18:18:00.000-05:00

Jill Scott: Sins of the Mother' Makes Big Debut for Lifetime - Entertainment Newswire | Black Voices

2010-02-25T11:05:00.000-05:00

Jill Scott: Sins of the Mother' Makes Big Debut for Lifetime - Entertainment Newswire | Black Voices

The Punanny Diaires

2010-02-24T16:12:00.001-05:00

A Great Webseries that is fun, entertaining and informational! Be sure to subscribe so that you don't miss an episode.

Kimani Press Offers Fantasy Fulfillment

2010-02-24T10:21:00.000-05:00

Kimani Press Offers Fantasy Fulfillment: " Publishing more than 80 books a year across four imprints, Kima..."

Save This Date

2010-02-03T14:14:00.000-05:00

E. Lynn Harris Tribute
National Black Writers Conference
Saturday, March 6, 2010
4pm – 6pm
Brooklyn Library – Grand Army Plaza
Central Library
10 Grand Army Plaza
Brooklyn, NY 11238
718-230-2100

Opening Remarks
Dr. Brenda Greene
Reflection/Special Dedication
Karen Hunter

Introduction of authors/readers
Terrance Dean

Guest Authors Reading E. Lynn’s works/Reflections
Donna Hill
Karen E. Quinones Miller
Erika Kendrick
Victoria Christopher Murray
Special Reading of the upcoming tribute book for E. Lynn Harris
James Earl Hardy
Stanley Bennett Clay
Terrance Dean

Fan/Audience Appreciation
Terrance Dean

Closing Remarks
Dr. Brenda Greene

Booksigning of E. Lynn’s books from participating authors
Brownstone Books

Featured authors: Terrance Dean, James Earl Hardy, Stanley Bennett Clay, Victoria Christopher Murray, Erika Kendrick, Karen E. Quinones Miller, Karen Hunter, and Donna Hill

National Black Writers Conference

2010-01-27T12:31:00.003-05:00

The Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College, CUNY

Presents

The Tenth National Black Writers' Conference

And Then We Heard the Thunder:

Black Writers Reconstructing Memories and Lighting the Way

Featuring

Toni Morrison Nobel Prize Winning Author as Honorary Chair,

Kamau Brathwaite, Amiri Baraka and many more!

Thursday, March 25, 2008 - Sunday, March 28, 2010

Visit the following links to get more information:

Registration Information: National Black Writers Conference

Hotel & Travel Information: Hotel and Travel

Leonardo DiCaprio Puts Money Where His Mouth Is

2010-01-23T07:57:00.000-05:00

Leonardo DiCaprio Puts Money Where His Mouth Is

The Street by AnnPetry

2010-01-21T02:19:00.000-05:00

The Street by Ann Petry

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
i am totally captivated by Petry's use of the environment as character.

View all my reviews >>

Publisher whitens another heroine of color

2010-01-19T15:17:00.001-05:00

Publisher whitens another heroine of color

Posted using ShareThis

Denzel on Letterman--Just for Laughs

2010-01-15T16:21:00.000-05:00

A Human Crisis. We Must Respond

2010-01-15T15:55:00.004-05:00

Hello Everyone,

I will be brief and straight to the point. We are all part of the same human race. Do what you can to HELP THE PEOPLE OF HAITI.

Please click on the link above. It is full of information and things that you can do now, no matter how big or small. Everything matters. Everyone counts.

Thanks!
Donna

Chatterbox Chit Chat: 6 Common Backstory Pitfalls

2010-01-14T11:43:00.000-05:00

Chatterbox Chit Chat: 6 Common Backstory Pitfalls

Writer’s Digest - How to Make Your Novel a Page Turner

2010-01-14T09:37:00.000-05:00

Writer’s Digest - How to Make Your Novel a Page Turner

2010-01-10T23:42:00.001-05:00

In a few hours I will be returning home from my residency in Vermont. My suitcase is filled with my belongings and my mind is overflowing with ideas. I'm eager to find the books I have not read and discover what makes them stand the test of time. Listening to our advisors read from the masters of literature truly humbles me and at the same time reminds me of my responsibility to the art.

In Pursuit of My Master Degree

2010-01-09T12:20:00.002-05:00

I'd promised a co-worker that I would blog each day about my educational jaunt in pursuit of my Master Degree in Fine Arts. I have been remiss. Not that I did not want to share this mind altering residency but that the experience itself defies definition.

I arrived on Sunday, Jan 4 to the snowy hills of Vermont, not knowing a soul or what to expect. And the instant that I stepped on the campus of Goddard College I instinctively knew that something special was about to happen during my 8 day stay. And it did.

The motto here is "trust the process" and I am glad that I did. The days were filled with workshops, and lessons and sharing of information from advisors and students who have come to this place from all over the world. They brought with them their experience, their expertise, their curiosity and their willingness to share and learn.

The creative energy of playwrights, poets, novelists, and non-fiction writers is a palpable thing. You become infused with the need to soak up everything insight and when you thought that eight days was much too long, would be useless after two days, you realize that the time has flown and it is not enough time at all.

Up here in this pristine place, the quiet at times is absolute, the tranquil beauty calms you, and the removal from the objects and distractions of the world are kept at bay so that you have the space to absorb what you will need to sustain you for the five months until you return.

I long for the familiarity of home, and at the same time I fear returning to the place where my energy is drained by the very nature of all those who need me for the things that they need me for. Yet, for me to succeed in this program and achieve what I need for myself, my life and the people in it will have to change dramatically.

Day by day I must learn to do that and teach those around me to respect and understand that my success at this massive undertaking will be their success as well. I have to learn to say no. I have to learn that its okay for me to come first for a change. And the amazing friends that I have made here will remind me if or when I forget.

So,tomorrow, Monday I get back on Amtrak and head back to New York, to family, to expectations, to a job and deadlines. But I will take with me my time here in Vermont, where everyone believes that the only thing standing in your way is yourself, then I know I can meet the challenge and come out on top.

I'll keep you posted!! Wish me luck

Wickedly Wonderful

2009-12-30T12:08:00.000-05:00

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

A Giving Man - 'The Tonight Show' Video | AOL Television

2009-12-17T09:48:00.000-05:00

A Giving Man - 'The Tonight Show' Video | AOL Television

An Excerpt from WHAT MOTHER NEVER TOLD ME

2009-12-16T14:22:00.001-05:00

COMING MARCH 2010.
Her dead mother was alive.
Yet, days after learning the unthinkable, Parris was still unable to reconcile the truth with the lie she’d been nursed and nurtured on for three decades. The enormity of it echoed throughout the cool stillness of the one room church.
Her emotions shifted between disbelief and anger, anguish and shock to despair and back again. So she’d come here to the one place where she’d always found answers, balance and a quieting of her spirit.
But even here, the solace she sought was unattainable, a vapor that could be seen but not touched. The letter she held between her slender fingers was yellowed with age and now freed with the others from their hiding place behind her Nana’s stove, its wizened face crisscrossed by the fine lines of an unfamiliar hand, cracked under the onslaught of air and light.
Parris held the letter like one unfamiliar with a newborn—cautious, fearful, yet in awe of its mysteries. There were answers here, etched between the lines which she struggled to see. She knew it, could feel it. She knew if she just looked hard enough she would know why.
The words, though not addressed to her, connected her to the woman she’d only imagined. The woman that was buried on European shores after giving birth to her—or so she’d been told. Told so many times that she believed it, became part of the lie. She believed her Nana when she sat her down on her knee, looked her deep in the eyes and said, “your mama loved you so much gal, wanted you to have a little piece of somethin’ so bad that she begged those fancy doctors to save her baby no matter what. Yessir, that’s what she done for ya cause she loved ya. Even fo’ you got here.”
Imagine being loved like that, so hard and so strong even before you took your first breath. The thought of it filled all the empty spaces that the void of not having her mother left in her life.
And that’s the lie she told her friends when they asked where her mother was and why she lived with her grandmother. She told her truth. The only one she knew. Now what she knew was no more. The ache of it settled in her bones, squeezed her heart and stripped her throat raw.
What was she to do?
She bowed her head as the long shadow of the cross fell across her lap, deepened as the sun shifted, preparing to settle down for the night. She’d lost track of how long she’d sat on the worn wooden pew, its hardness softened and curved by years of hips and thighs that heaved, sighed and caressed it throughout the years.
Her green eyes, butterfly quick, flitted from one space to the next as a montage of images gathered around her. How many times had she walked the aisle as a child, a teen, a woman? How many sermons had she heard, christenings and marriages had she attended? How many songs had she sung in the choir? How many times had she looked out on the congregation to see her Nana Cora and Grandpa David watching her with pride? So many.
But how could any of this—all the things that she knew—be concrete when she was no more than an illusion? And if she was no longer real then nothing in her life could be either. With familiarity now a stranger, she had no choice but to create a new reality. And if not here, then where?
She’d come back, back to her home of Rudell, Mississippi to be witness to her grandmother Cora’s transition. The woman who raised her, loved her, taught her right from wrong, gave her the gift of music—lied to her. Lied. The word burned in her throat, stirring and simmering into something bigger than herself erupting into an emotion that was so unfamiliar Rage. Parris raged at Cora, raged at her for keeping the secret and nearly taking it with her to her grave.
Cora confessed on her waning breath that Emma, her mother, was alive, was living in Europe, that she’d turned her infant daughter over to Cora only days after her birth and never returned. The only connection Cora had with her daughter through the years was the intermittent letters that filled the tin box behind the stove.
Cora turned the letters over to Parris in the final hours before her passing. They revealed so much and nothing at all. Handwriting style, frequency, location, inquiries about the child she’d abandoned. Yet none of the letters collected for almost thirty years explained why?
Why was Parris unworthy of her mother’s love? Why did Emma give her away and never come back? Why was Parris told that her mother was dead? And why did the woman whom she’d idolized all her life keep the answers and take them with her?
Parris jerked around, startled by the noise behind her. Her gaze settled along with her heartbeat when she saw her grandfather crossing the threshold. She brushed the tears from her eyes only for them to be followed by more.
David swept his hat from his head and walked reverently down the aisle. She made room for him next to her.
“Been wondering where you been for so long,” he said in that cottony comfort voice that had cocooned her to sleep on many an occasion.
Parris sighed and rested her head on his shoulder of welcome. Her granddad was the only doctor in Rudell for decades. It wasn’t until about five years ago that another doctor set out her shingle. But it had taken many a dinner conversation, trips to the Left Hand River and loud debates in front of the general store for the townspeople of Rudell to come to terms with a new doctor—especially a woman. Things may have changed in the rest of the world but Rudell, Mississippi was no different than it had been in the early 1900s when her great grandfather Joshua Harvey was the preacher at this very church.
“Nana wanted me to go find my mother.”
She could feel David’s head bob up and down. “And what do you plan to do?”
“It’s what I’ve been sitting here thinking about.” She angled her head to take in his strong profile. “I don’t want to leave you granddad. What are you going to do out here . . . alone?”
He lifted his square chin just a notch. Not enough for someone who didn’t know him to even notice. But Parris knew her grandfather. That tiny tick meant he’d made up his mind and no amount of persuasion was going to change it.
“I’ll be just fine. This is my home. I stay here . . .and I can stay close to Cora.” His full lips pinched. “That young man of yours is up at the house, packin’ looks like.”
The dry muscles of her throat struggling for moisture tightened even more.
“Can’t sit here crying forever. Not what Cora would have wanted. She’d want you to get on with your life.”
“What life!” Her voice splintered the quiet of the church, cracking under the pressure of a question she couldn’t answer. She turned swollen, tear-filled eyes on him.
“The life you had, the life you gonna make. You have everything you need. It’s up to you to decide what you gon’ do with it.” He paused a beat. “I been listenin’ to you since you been back, humming a little, singing a bit. God and your grandma gave you a gift—the voice of an angel. Now you kin head on back to New York. Ain’t nobody gonna fault you none. But when you stand up and sing in front of folks, those notes won’t ring true. Every one of them is gonna have an empty hole in it.” He rubbed his jaw with a large, dark hand that had the power to heal. “Or you can go find your mama. Hear her tell you what you need to hear. When you do that the hole in those notes and that space in your heart will be filled.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Up to you. Whatever you decide you best hurry for that boy leaves without a goodbye.” He pushed up from his seat, wincing a little from the nag in his right hip. He made a mental note to ask Cora to rub some liniment on it. He squeezed his hat. The tiniest groan of pain pushed up from his gut, sputtered across his lips. He remembered. His Cora was gone. He blinked away the burn in his eyes with each step he took toward the door. Nearly a half century of loving one woman. He had no idea how he was going to make it. No idea at all.
Parris heard the church door squeak shut. Her slender body shuddered as a wave of sorrow rolled through her. Granddad was right. She couldn’t sit there forever. She needed to talk with Nick. Figure something out—about everything, including them.
She gathered her lightweight baby blue shawl that she’d brought along with her, gently folded the letter and put it in her shirt pocket. She took one last look around and walked out.

The sun was easing down behind the hilltops, playing hide and seek between the branches and leaves of the towering coves of trees that led to the Left Hand River and separated them from the white part of town. The air was filled with the fresh scents of rich earth, ripe grass, farm animals and simplicity.
That’s what she drew into her lungs—simplicity. The slow, easy pace of country living. She’d been home for just about a month and she had yet to see one person hurrying anywhere. There wasn’t an abundance of cars. The town was so small folks walked mostly everywhere. And if they did have a ways to go they hitched a ride.
Gentrification hadn’t touched Rudell. Somehow the townspeople were able to maintain their way of life without the onslaught of yuppies, buppies, condos, superstores and Starbucks squeezing the spirit out of them.
She walked up the path that led to her grandparents home, a neat two story structure, one of only a half dozen like it in town. Today was the first day that the front door wasn’t swinging open and closed from the trainload of grievers that had click-clacked through the house for three days. She’d swear that all five-hundred residents of Rudell must have come to pay their respects to her grandmother and dropped off everything from whole fried chickens, seasoned collards, peas and rice, mac and cheese, to fruit salads and peanuts. Granddad would have enough food for the next two months. And from the gleam in some of the widow’s eyes and the extra smiles on their red lips, he’d have company too.
A light went on in the window of the second floor, catching her eye. She watched the silhouette of her grandfather as he slowly sat down on the side of the bed and buried his head in his hands.
Parris shut her eyes for a moment and sent up a silent prayer to ease his heart. When she opened the front door, Nick was at the kitchen table. His suitcase, like a faithful pup sat as his feet. A medley of mouthwatering aromas harmonized in a “come sit down” tune and her stomach called back in response.
“Hi.” The faint greeting hung in the food scented air.
“Thought I was going to miss you.” He pushed back from the table, the old wooden legs of the chair tap dancing across the highs and lows of the aging linoleum.
“I couldn’t let you leave without saying goodbye.”
His jaw tightened as he nodded.
“What time is your bus?”
“Six. David . . . your grandfather said he would drive me to the station.”
Uncertainty made them sudden strangers. Instead of reaching for each other they sought the support of chair backs and table edges.
Parris squeezed and twisted the shawl between her fingers. “I can take you.”
“Are you sure?”
“I want to.”
Nick pushed his hands deep into his pockets to keep from reaching for her, to appear as casual and unaffected as she. He shrugged his left shoulder. “Cool. Ready when you are.”
She tried to meet his eyes but the questions that hung there turned her away. “I’ll let granddad know.” She hurried toward the stairs and went up.
The door at the end of the hall was closed, but unable to contain the light within, a sliver snuck out from the bottom and bathed the floor with a path of illumination that beckoned her. She knocked lightly on the door, listened to the rustle of movement and the creek of the four-poster bed.
A half-smile greeted her. “Was just resting a bit before I took your young man to the bus depot.”
“That’s what I came to tell you. I’m going to take him.”
The smile came full. He dug in his pocket and took out the car keys. “Drive slow.” He handed her the keys.
Parris grinned. “Is there any other way to drive in Rudell?” She leaned up and kissed his gray stubbled cheek. “See you soon.”
“I’ll leave a plate out for you.”
“Thanks,” she said over her shoulder. When she returned to the kitchen, Nick had already taken his bag and was sitting on the steps outside. She pressed her fingertips to her stomach to settle the butterflies that had broken loose. “Ready?”
He angled his head toward her then stood, the long lean lines of his body unfolding like the break of dawn—pure majesty.
“Sure.” He trotted down the four steps ahead of her and strolled toward the old Ford parked at the end of the path.
As Parris descended the stairs she couldn’t believe that she was actually letting him go back to New York without her. Initially, before the full ramifications of her discovery hit her, she’d told Nick that she wanted him to meet her mother. The raw excitement of finding out that her mother was indeed alive overshadowed the questions that began as a light summer shower before intensifying to an unstoppable hurricane ruining everything in its path. She was battered by the unrelenting winds and rains of confusion, weakened and shocked by the power of deceit, leaving her with only remnants of what she’d been able to salvage. She wasn’t the woman he’d met so many months ago when she shyly approached him for a singing gig at his nightclub. She wasn’t the woman who captured an audience and held them in her palm like the last strains of a Billie Holliday ballad. She wasn’t the woman who walked out on her boss slash lover, lost her job and her apartment.
She was someone else now and until she discovered who that someone was, she couldn’t be part of anyone’s life.
Parris followed Nick to the car. She opened his door first and his hand brushed her wrist. The jolt rocked them both. She stepped back, hurried around to the other side and slid behind the wheel. Nick tossed his bag into the back seat and got in next to her. This was the closest they’d been in days. She could feel the heat rise off his skin and settle around her. If she listened really close she could hear the steady rhythm of his heart. The air in her lungs balled up in her throat. She rolled down the window so that she could breathe and in the blink of an eye, tension crawled into the back seat and hunkered down for the ride—keeping them company.
Forcing herself to concentrate, Parris put the car in gear and slowly eased off heading toward the end of town and the bus stop. En route down the one main road, they passed the hopscotch of houses, built more for comfort and protection from the elements than design. Some were squat like overripe squashes, others were long and lean like the fields of cornstalks. And some, well they were just there. She waved at the familiar faces of porch sitters who’d come out to catch a bit of the cool evening air.
“I can only imagine how hard things have been for you,” Nick said, breaking the wall of silence.
Parris sucked in a breath.
“I want you to know that whatever decision you make about your mother, your life . . . your career, I’m here for you.”
“I know that.” She stole a look at him. “And I never told you thank you for coming here.”
“You don’t have to. I came because I wanted to. I thought you needed me.”
“I did. I still do.” Her sigh filled up the space between them,. “There’s so much happening inside me. I . . . I can’t explain it. But I have to work it out on my own.”
He reached for her, rested his hand on her thigh. “Don’t shut me out, Parris. Please.”
His fingertips were hot coals searing her skin, the heat winding its way to that place in her heart that had turned bitter cold. It would be so easy to let the warmth envelop her, wrap her in the comfort of it, until she drifted off to a dreamless slumber where the yesterdays had never been and there was only now and tomorrow.
What had happened between them in such a short space of time? he thought, frustration and sadness jockeying for position. He’d turned his life around so that he could be the man that she deserved. He’d cut off his ties with Percy back in New York, paid off his debt. He didn’t owe anyone. He could start fresh with a new club that was his and not controlled by mob money. She knew that. He’d told her everything. He’d worked quietly behind the scenes for months to get her a recording contract and even that didn’t put the light back in her eyes—the one thing she’d dreamed of, had worked for. He’d been so sure that coming here, being with her during this dark time in her life would show her how much he cared, what she meant to him. He’d envisioned them returning to New York together, taking the city and the world by storm. Something beyond finding out about her mother had changed her and in turn it had changed them.
The bus depot came into view. Parris’s heart beat a little faster. Tell him before it’s too late. She pulled the car onto the shoulder of the road and shut it off.
She turned halfway in her seat. “Bus should be here any minute,” she said instead of the words that really mattered.
“Yeah,” he murmured, opened the door and got out. He took his suitcase from the back seat and shut the door.
She stepped out and came around to where he stood. “I don’t even have a place to stay if I come back now,” she said, the words and the fear tumbling out. “I have no job . . .”
Nick’s hopes awakened. He gripped her shoulders. “Look at me.”
Slowly she raised her head and her gaze danced with the dark intensity of his. “We can work it out. We. Isn’t that what you want?”
“I don’t know what I want right now.”
“Then let’s figure it out together. Do what you need to do here and when you’re ready to come back we’ll make it work.”
“I don’t know how long it’s going to be.”
“It doesn’t matter.” The urgency in his voice competed with the sound of the arriving bus.
Parris’s eyes darted toward the bus and the line of passengers ready to board.
“Just come back to me.” He moved up to her, so close that he could feel the vibrations of her body.
The driver blew the horn.”All aboard for Jackson.”
Nick snapped his head toward the bus then back at Parris. “Promise me.”
Her lips parted to the blare of the horn.
Nick drew her tight against him, so that every dip and curve bent to his will. He kissed her like a Mississippi summer; hot, wet and long, stealing their breath.
“I promise,” she said as air rushed back into her lungs and she found herself standing alone on the curb as the bus pulled off. Tentatively she touched her fingers to her lips while she watched the bus kick up dirt and turn the bend. “I promise.”
Returning to the car she headed back, and for the first time in days she didn’t feel so terribly alone.

“So you let him go,” David said coming into the kitchen. He moved to the refrigerator and took out the pitcher of sweet tea, placed it on the table between them.
Parris used her fork to move the collards around on her plate, framing the yams and fried chicken breast. “He couldn’t stay and I wasn’t ready to go.”
“Nothing for you to do here. Seems to me that’s the reason why you left in the first place to pursue your dream. This town is too small for you. No dreams here.” He eased down into the hard-backed chair. He refilled her glass.
“Thank you.” She cupped the glass but didn’t drink. “I’m angry at Nana,” she blurted out. “So angry.” She bit out each word. “I know I shouldn’t be, but I can’t help it and the anger is eating me up inside.”
“Your grandmother did what she needed to do.” He glanced away. “What she had to do for everyone concerned. You have no idea the weight she carried all those years.” His voice shook with the passion of his convictions, rumbling right down the center of Parris’s chest. “So you can go on being mad, faulting other folk, being miserable or you can do something about it.” He stood, drew in a long breath. “All I got to say about it. Be sure to put the food up and turn on the porch light. I’m going to bed.”
She watched him walk away, his always ramrod straight back was suddenly stooped by more than he could carry. And she realized she’d done that, throwing one more boulder on his shoulders —her own weight of uncertainty..
She pushed up from the table. “I’m sorry, granddad,” she called out.
He waved it off with a swipe of his hand and took each step as if he were scaling the mountaintop.
The bedroom door opened and swung shut. She flinched.
She couldn’t be another weight. Granddad didn’t deserve that. And as much as she tried to convince him and herself that she was staying because she didn’t want him to be alone was all smoke and mirrors, a parlor trick. She was adrift and she was desperately trying to hold onto the preserver of a life that was familiar. But he was right. Her life was no longer hers and hadn’t been for much too long.
She glanced at the clock above the sink. Nick’s bus should be arriving at the Jackson airport station in another half hour at best. Possibility jumped inside her. She picked up her plate of uneaten food and scraped it into the trash. If she hurried . . . She bit down on her lip. She had her ticket. Her resources were limited. This wasn’t a big city. There were no all night car services. Her gaze rose toward the stairs, listened to the heavy footsteps that crossed the floor.
If she hurried . . . She sprinted upstairs, raised her hand to knock just as the door opened.
“I know all the back roads,” David said.
Her luminous green eyes widened followed by an awe-filled smile. She leapt into his broad chest and he enveloped her in understanding.
“We better get going before we miss him,” he said into her cottony soft spirals. He kissed her smooth forehead and stepped back.
She gazed at him and saw the familiar love brimming in his tender brown eyes. She nodded, spun away and ran down to the opposite end of the hallway to her room. Without thinking of anything except getting to Nick before he took off, she tossed her few belongings in her suitcase, snatched up her purse and ran out to meet her grandfather who had already started up the old Ford.

With granddad behind the wheel, Parris tried to relax and put her impulsive actions into perspective. She was on her way to catch a man whom she’d let go with no more than a whispered promise of “perhaps,” and now she needed to take him up on his offer to house and employ her until she regained some semblance of her life.
She hadn’t even offered to drive him to the airport, she thought, flinching inside. Her momentarily buoyant spirits began to sink. What if he’d reconsidered his offer?
“No use fretting about it,” David said, reading the frown lines in her forehead. “He’ll either be glad to see you or he won’t. And judging from the way he looks at you, I can’t imagine him being anything but a happy man.”
“From your lips to God’s ears.” She patted his thigh. “Thanks for this granddad.”
“Back home is where you need to be.”
They bumped along the back roads before suddenly emerging on the main highway. The road was empty. Their only company was the intermittent lights that illuminated the pitch black roads.
“What are you going to do, granddad, really?”
He sighed heavily. “Take one day at a time, sugah. I been thinking maybe I’ll turn one of those rooms into an office. Start seeing some of my patients right at the house. Cora always took issue with that. Said she didn’t want a whole lotta sick folk traipsing in and out of her house.” He chuckled at the memory and shook his head. “Yeah, she was something.”
Parris heard the wistful note in his voice. She could only imagine how difficult it would be for him. But hopefully his medical practice would fill some of the space that Cora had left.
Her granddad was the definition of country doctor. He still made house calls, had delivered half the babies in town, and had treated household generations. As much as she wanted him to come back to New York where she could look after him, she understood that he would never be happy there. The frenetic pace and the noise would drive him right back to the Delta.
“We should get to the airport in about twenty minutes,” he said.
Parris glanced at her watch. Nick’s plane was due to take off in an hour. Her heart thumped. She should probably call, let him know that she was coming. Maybe now she’d get a signal on her cell phone which she’d been unable to do since she’d arrived in Rudell.
She dug her phone out of her purse, studied it as if she’d never seen it before. David stole a glance at her.
“Let him know we’re only ten minutes away.”
Parris smiled at her grandfather’s intuitiveness. She pressed in Nick’s numbers and held her breath as the phone ran on the other end.
Just before the call went to voicemail, Nick came on the line. “Parris?”
“Hi, uh, we’re . . .I’m about ten minutes away. Don’t let the plane take off without me,” she said on a breath of excitement.
“They wouldn’t dare.”
She heard the laughter and relief in his voice and she began to think that just maybe everything would turn out all right.

Parris faced her granddad as they stood in front of his pickup. So many emotions swirled inside her: sadness, possibility, uncertainty, guilt, anticipation.
“I’ll write . . . often,” she promised as he held her close, stroking her back. “And I’ll come to see you as soon as I can.” She looked up into his eyes that held a hundred stories.
He kissed her forehead. “You keep your promise to your grandma, that’s all you got to promise me.” He squeezed her one last time before letting her go. “It’s up to you to make things right, for all of us.”
She frowned in moment of confusion. “What do you mean?”
“You’ll know.” His smile was tender. “Go on now, before you miss your plane and your man.”
Her throat clenched. “I love you granddad.”
“Love you too, sugah. Now go head.”
She reached down for her bag, gave him one last kiss on the cheek and hurried off into the small terminal to find Nick. Once inside the glass doors she took a parting look over her shoulder but David was gone. She drew in a long breath of resolve and hurried through the travelers in search of her future.

Afro-themed image on a magazine cover shocks industry, ignites firestorm - DailyFinance

2009-12-16T12:51:00.001-05:00

Afro-themed image on a magazine cover shocks industry, ignites firestorm - DailyFinance

What of Our Future Readers and Writers

2009-11-24T14:35:00.001-05:00

What of Our Future Readers and Writers

Posted using ShareThis

"Seg-Book-Gation" in Publishing

2009-11-24T11:18:00.000-05:00

"Seg-Book-Gation" in Publishing

WHAT MOTHER NEVER TOLD ME--NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER

2009-11-17T12:09:00.004-05:00

YOU CAN PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!!

What Mother Never Told Me

It took almost ten years for me to get to a place in my career where I could sit down and finish the story of my dreams. That story became WHAT MOTHER NEVER TOLD ME Many of you remember RHYTHMS, well this is the sequel. And the timing for its release could not be more perfect, the 20th anniversary of me being a published author!! How amazing is that? And I owe it all to the incredible readers who have supported me throughout the years. For that I am truly grateful.

It is my prayer that with the release of WHAT MOTHER NEVER TOLD ME, WE can easily put this book into the hands of 20,000 readers across the country. It is a story to be read by any woman who has a daughter, for daughters who want, have or miss the bond with their mothers, it is for mother's to be. It is about family. The power, the love, hurt, betrayal and renewal of family. It's about secrets and the devastating effects they can have for generations.

I look forward to sharing this amazing story with my die-hard readers and new ones. Be sure to click on the link to sign up for information, contests, and discussions specifically for WHAT MOTHER NEVER TOLD ME

And please order your copy early. As always thanks for your support!

6 Steps That Will Banish The Demon of Writer's Block - TRCB

2009-11-04T10:55:00.000-05:00

6 Steps That Will Banish The Demon of Writer's Block - TRCB

Thought for Today

2009-11-04T10:07:00.002-05:00

Donna's favorite quotes

"How vain it is to sit down to write when you have not stood up to live."— Henry David Thoreau

Goodreads Quotes

The Scarpetta Factor

2009-10-27T15:26:00.001-04:00

This is what I'm currently reading

The Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwell

so far its solid writing. Cornwell is back to her old style and all of the original players are back in place.

View all my reviews >>

2009-10-03T17:35:00.001-04:00

As usual the Capital Bookfest was a stellar event. Kwame Alexander and his team did a wonderful job. And whoever said folks ain't reading is a liar!! I'm so glad I was able to participate. Will post pictures soon.

SOCIAL NETWORKING: A CURSE OR A GREAT COMING?

2009-09-11T10:02:00.002-04:00

When I began writing back in 1987, we were still putting manuscripts in the mail, using floppy disks and responding to fan letters with real live letters, envelopes and stamps! My how far we have come.
I was one of the early dissidents against cell phones. I thought they were the most ridiculous, obnoxious and obtrusive pieces of technology known to man. What in the world could possibly be so important that one must have a conversation walking on the street, in the car or on the bus (the worst)? Flash forward—if I walk out of my house without my IPhone, you can be darn sure I’m going back to get it.
In other words, over time, we’ve all grown accustomed to our love/obsession with being connected—and that one special someone is no longer sufficient—we want to be connected with the universe by every trick of technology possible. And for authors—aspiring or those sunk deep in the trenches—the opportunities to spread the word about your work has multiplied exponentially as the plethora of cyber opportunities has grown, becoming affectionately known as “Social Networking.”
Networking used to be that thing you did after work at the local bar, restaurant, hot spot, and trade gatherings. How many of you remember the glass bowls where you deposited your business cards? Well, now you can network from the privacy of your own home, in jammies and hair curlers, through the magic of Social Networking.
What are social networks anyway? In their infancy social networks were very often simple author loops, where authors from a particular house or specific genre set up a loop where they could email everyone in the group to be kept up to date on trends, gossip and industry happenings, share advice, joys and sorrows.
With the growth and development of YAHOO and its various uses, individuals were able to form YAHOO GROUPS for whatever topic pleased them, build an email list from those who joined the group, and share information between ALL those who held a common interest. MSN has similar “group” capabilities. Both YAHOO and MSN give authors an opportunity to develop a fan base where members join to discuss the author’s, books, characters, ask questions, find out about new releases etc. and most importantly to connect with their favorite author in a matter of seconds.
SHELFARI is a book lovers dream. Members can list their favorite books, build a bookshelf that can be embedded on an author blog or website (showcasing your books of course) and it is also a place to spread the word about your own books and upcoming projects. SHELFARI allows you to build your own network group within the community. A great way to get thousands of people talking about your book. http://shelfari.com
MYSPACE-the social network giant introduced the world to the art of connecting through cyberspace. Setting up a MYSPACE page is relatively easy. There are templates available and all sorts of links to help get you up and running with a look and feel that represents you. The great part is, nothing is etched in stone. If you don’t like the look you can always change it. Most important it is a way to gain friends and hopefully potential readers. The features of MYSPACE include Blogs, Bulletins, and Notices. There is an address book feature as well as a categories feature (which is extremely helpful in categorizing the people that ask to be your friend—are they already fans, potential readers, book clubs or other authors?) http://myspace.com MYSPACE has grown so large that there are MYSPACE pages just for musicians and book lovers.

FACEBOOK—the younger of the social networking giants is truly “everyone friendly.” There is no page building, graphics etc. to contend with to get “a look.” It is a place to get connected with others, share news, talk about yourself and be cheered on by all those who have “become you Facebook friend.” There are a few nice little perks to face book. As an author you can actually set up your own fan page. And as surfers scoot by your page they can become a “fan.” Great way to get announcements out to your FACEBOOK friends about appearances, book release dates, and what you ate for breakfast! http://facebook.com

Amazon Connect—power house Amazon has a neat feature for writers. With Amazon Connect, you can have every book that you’ve written “verified” by your editor or your agent. Once the books are verified and you post to the Amazon blog, each and every person who has ever purchased any of the verified books will automatically get an update. What I found out quite by accident is that my own blog feeds OUT to Amazon as well. So all of my blog posts go to every person that has ever purchase any book of mine through Amazon!

NING—is a thing of beauty and my personal favorite. The versatility and ease of use is wonderful. My entire fanclub was built through NING. The features are wonderful from blogs, to chats, groups, and forums, you can add video and audio as well. A great alternative to a static website. With NING you can build your very own network with your own focus and purpose and have a membership base than can continue to grow. http://ning.com

TWITTER—uses SMS technology (Short Messaging System) to keep friends and family updated about every aspect of your life… if you wish. It’s fun and great for hot off the press info sharing. Twitter is rapidly becoming the go-to network outlet for up to the minute information, resources and trends. The downside is that messages must be short. http://twitter.com

EZTexting—a nice way of not capturing email addresses but cellphone numbers! This free service allows you to embed the widget into your signature line, website, blog etc. and capture cell phone numbers to all those who sign up. This is an excellent way to remind fans and potential fans in one fell swoop (while you’re on the go) that today is the day that your book drops! Or I’ll be at the local Wal-Mart for my signing at 6. Again, this technology uses SMS so the messages must be short and sweet. http://eztexting.com

Every day EMAILING is a form of social networking. Use it to the maximum. Be sure in your signature that you include your web address and the link(s) to any social network site that is/are YOURS. i.e., http://myspace.com/donnahillwriter

Internet Radio is also a form of social networking. On BLOGTALK RADIO for example, you can set up and host your own radio show for free. In addition to mentioning your own books, you can bring on guests that drive listeners to your show and hence find out more information about you. What’s great about BlogTalk is that each show is archived. Listeners who missed a show and always download a missed episode. Your show and what you want to say can be heard by listeners literally around the world. You can embed the widget on your blog, or website so that visitors can sign up for reminders, thus building your listening audience. Listeners can call in and talk to you and your guests. And guests wanting to get on your show to tout their latest offering brings more listeners to your program. http://blogtalkradio.com/author-donna-hill

There are many other social networking sites out there. But these are some of the big ones. And they are all FREE. However I must share a few words of caution.

*Every social network site or utility is not for everyone. Choose one that represents who you are and what you can manage.
* Don’t join a group or network simply to toot your own horn. Members really don’t like it. And can smell you coming a mile away. Join a group because you are interested in what the group is interested in, share your interests, what you are doing, and actually make friends. It’s the best way to gain support when that book comes out. The members will feel that they are supporting a member of the “family.”
*Don’t post to the lists that you belong to or the networks that you are in, only about you, or only post when you have a new book. Members will ignore you.
*One great way to drive traffic to your group is to have fun, informative and relevant information that is not necessarily about you.
* If you build a group or a social network that is specific to you and your work, make sure that the members feel that by being a part of it they are getting something that non-members can’t get.
*Don’t start a group, loop, blog, or social network site that you can’t maintain and keep up with.

There is no doubt that in the current economy, and with publishers pulling back on tours, advertising dollars and new contracts, authors have to be creative and pro-active about getting the word out on their books. Becoming social network savvy is and will continue to be for a very long time, the way that authors will connect with their readers. On my fanclub site, for example, I have members from as far away as Dubai to as close as around the corner from where I live. That may have never happened without the advance of social networking.

With all the Tweeting, and Facebooking and Emailing and Blogging it is easy to actually become disconnected as opposed to connected. We all crave that human connection. Don’t get buried so far behind the screen and SMS messaging that you forget the real world. Send a real thank you card to the book clubs that have supported you. Try to get out to a store or two in your travels to meet your fans. And be as nice in person as you are on screen and your fans will follow you anywhere “in the world.”

Rep. Joe Wilson Shouts 'You Lie' to Obama During Speech

2009-09-10T10:02:00.001-04:00

Rep. Joe Wilson Shouts 'You Lie' to Obama During Speech

Shared via AddThis

Prize of a Lifetime… excerpt

2009-09-02T16:26:00.002-04:00

Mitchell flipped on the light as Sasha step fully into the room. She was pleasantly surprised to see that his room was as neat as hers and she wondered if he'd gotten some sage advice from a friend of his as well.

"I can order something from room service if you're hungry or thirsty," Mitchell said. He shrugged out of his jacket and hung on the back of the chair.

"Water is fine. I'm really full after all the food we ate on the ship," she said, stifling a laugh.

Mitchell chuckled in response. "That's true. One thing about going on vacation, you always eat more than you ever possibly could when you're back at home. I found that out the hard way last time I went away."

Sasha strolled fully into the room, walking towards the terrace doors. She slid the door open and stepped outside. She leaned against the balcony. Mitchell stepped out behind her.

"It really is quite beautiful here," Sasha said softly, looking out towards the horizon.

Mitchell moved close to her. There was barely any space separating them. He looked down into her upturned face. "Everything from the flowers to the mountains to the ocean, the sandy beaches, nothing can compare to how beautiful you are Sasha," he said. "And I'm not just saying all those things because I want to make love to you," he admitted.

Sasha could not believe what she'd just heard. He'd actually said he wanted to make love to her. She reached up and stroked his jaw. "Do you really mean that or is it just a line that should hand all of the single island ladies?" There was a hint of mischief in her voice, but her question was sincere.

"I have no reason to lie to you. If there was someone else I wanted to be with, I probably could've done that a long time ago. It's not what I wanted. I know as well as you do, that there was something that sparked between us from the moment we laid eyes on each other. If it's not, tell me and I'll leave it alone. Right now. I'll never bring it up again."

Sasha knew what he was saying without actually coming out and saying the words. He wanted her to admit that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. "You're right," she said. "I've never felt this way about someone so quickly." She lowered her head for a moment trying to gather her thoughts. She looked up at his into his questioning eyes. "I feel the same way you do. I've wanted you from the moment I saw you, from the moment we started talking, from the moment... you kissed me for the first time." She listened to her confession pour from her lips. She did believe the things that she was saying. What was even more distressing, was she could not believe what she was feeling. Was it possible to actually feel this deeply this quickly about someone she barely knew? Which she wake up tomorrow and regret the decision she was about to make or would she wake up and discover that this is the greatest thing that ever happened to her?

Mitchell watched the array of emotions flit across Sasha face. It was almost as if he were watching his own reflection. He felt the same way, certain and uncertain, yet knowing that there was no turning back and he didn't want to. He threaded his long fingers behind her neck, pulling her closer to him. He lowered his head. His eyes focused on her lips as they slightly parted waiting for him to touch them. Make them his own. He felt her intake of breath as his lips met hers, soft, sweet delectable like the succulent fruits of the Caribbean island.

He took her mouth, slow and easy like the sultry beat of the ocean waves against the shore. He felt his body react to the softness of hers as he pulled her closer.

She stepped up to him, pressing her body flush against his own. Every dip, every curve fit like perfect pieces. Sasha moaned against his mouth, which only incited the desire that he had for her.

She felt his body harden, stiffen, pressing his heat between her warm thighs.

His large hands slid down the curve of her spine, cupping her behind, pulling her closer, locking her against him. He groaned as Sasha lifted her fingers and played with the shell of his ear.

"Sasha," Mitchell moaned against her mouth. "The whole world can see us standing on the balcony." He stroked her hair, ran his finger along the curve of her jaw.

Sasha looked up at him, feeling bold. "I don't care," she said. "Let them look."

Mitchell tossed his head back and laughed. "You never cease to amaze me." He took her hand and stepped back into the safety of the room, shutting the terrace doors behind them. He drew the drapes. "There are some things that I plan to do to you tonight that I don't want anybody to be a witnesses to other than you and I."

Sasha languidly ran her tongue across her lips. She shrugged off the jacket that she wore over her strapless dress and dropped it on the corner of the bed. She leaned down and released the straps from her sandals and stepped out of them.

Mitchell crossed the room turned off the overhead lights and turned on the softer lights that were positioned on the nightstand next to the bed. He extended his hand to her, which she took and he drew her close.

"Are you sure this is what you want to do?" Mitchell asked a final time.

Sasha nodded, uncertain of what she would say if she tried to speak.

The sound of partygoers moved outside their door. Laughter rippled up and down the corridor drawing their attention. For a moment the spell that they cast between themselves was momentarily broken. The noise quieted by degrees, and Sasha and Mitchell returned their attention to each other. He reached behind her and unzipped her dress. She gasped softly, his eyes questioning her, her answering response was an unequivocal, yes.

Sasha worked the buttons of Mitchell's starched white shirt until it was completely undone falling away from the hard lines of his muscular chest. She ran the tips of her nails across the rippled muscles of his six pack. He drew in a short shot breath then eased Sasha dress over the curves of her body until it slipped away and pooled at her feet.

"Oh... my... God," Mitchell uttered, when his gaze fell upon the curves, the softness, the sensuous delight that was Sasha's banging body. He lowered his head and sought her lips.

Sasha's eyes drifted close as she stretched her arms upward and linked her fingers behind the curve of his neck.

His gentle fingers played with her spine, causing shivers to run up and down her body. The hard bulge in his shorts pressed roughly against her and she felt her own desire rise and flow between her thighs.

A quick pop by nimble fingers released her strapless bra. Mitchell pulled it away and tossed it on the floor. He took a step back to take her in and it was a feast.

Her breasts were full, lush and perfect. Her nipples hard and pointed ready to be tasted and he did.

Sasha let out a gasp of delight when Mitchell's hot lips covered her right nipple, gently tugging, laving and sucking on it making her legs tremble in response. He massaged the other running his thumb across the hardened peak. Any thought of doubt or misgiving vanished, replaced with a need so demanding that she was certain if she didn't have him, and soon, she would explode. And she wanted to be sure that the explosion happened with Mitchell buried deep inside of her. She released his belt and zipper. His slacks dropped to his ankles. He kicked them out of the way.

She reached down, slid her hand beneath the band of his shorts and tenderly stroked the length of him, stunned by the silky texture that covered what felt like steel.

Mitchell shuddered. The muscles in his neck tightened like knotted rope. Something deep and dark rumbled in his throat. In a smooth move he reversed their positions until Sasha's back was to the bed. He eased her down.

She lifted her legs onto the bed and slid over to give him room to join her.

For a moment, he stood above her, drinking her in like a man starved for nourishment, before pushing his shorts down over his hips and stepping out of them. Sasha drew in a breath of awe and alarm. Even in the dim light, he looked lethal. She trembled.

Mitchell moved toward her, stretching the length of his body alongside hers. He caressed her face as she turned her head to kiss the inside of his palm.

His hand drifted down, trailing across the rise of her breasts to the hollow of her stomach to the hot darkness nestled between her legs. She jumped ever so slightly when he began patting her there, gently in a teasing rhythms that shortly had her writhing and moaning softly. He pushed away the barely there string of her thong to find her wet and ready.

Instinctively her hips rose as his finger played with the throbbing bud, slid further and up into the slick wetness of her opening.

Sasha gripped the sheets as her body took on a will of its own, moving up and down against the steady stroke of his fingers.

His rhythm built in intensity. Her head spun as an unbearable heat filled her.

"That's it," he cooed, urging her on. "You feel so good," he murmured. He lowered his head and took her breast into his mouth as he continued to finger her.

"Oooooh, God," she cried, as the first spasm was unleashed and roared through her in a wave that curled her toes and separated her from reality. Her chest rose and fell in hard knocks as her orgasm slowly subsided leaving her weak yet wanting even more.

Slowly she opened her eyes and stared into his.

"Ready for me now?" he asked, slowly easing his fingers out.

She whimpered, suddenly feeling empty. Numbly she nodded her head, then reality hit. "Wait," she managed to say. Pulling herself up on her hands and knees she crawled to the edge of the bed and felt her for purse on the floor. She took out two condoms then returned to her spot next to Mitchell.

"Why don't you do the honors?" he said.

With shaky fingers she tore the packet open and removed the thin sheath. Nervously eyeing him she placed the condom on his swollen tip and rolled it down his length.

Mitchell bit down on his bottom lip to keep from groaning out loud. The heat of her hands, the way she subtly jerked him up and down while putting on the condom was nearly his undoing.

He gripped her wrist. "Okay, okay . . . you gotta stop," he said.

Amusement sparkled in her eyes and a sense of power flooded through her that she could make him feel anywhere near as awesome as how he'd made her feel moments ago.

"What would you have me to instead?" she taunted.

"Lay back and open your legs for me. Let me in."

Locking her gaze with his, she did as he asked. He reached around her and snatched a pillow from the head of the bed. "Lift up," he ordered, and slid the pillow beneath her hips.

He moved into a position above her, snug between her parted thighs. He cupped his hands beneath her knees and rose up on his. He pushed her thighs back toward her chest until they were wide, stretched out on either side of his shoulders.

He didn't need a hand to guide him. Like radar he found her opening. That first contact was electric and shot through the both of them. He pressed. The head breached her opening and she gasped, feeling her insides begin to spread as he slowly pushed into to her.

Mitchell lowered his head and kissed her, filling her mouth with his hungry tongue, muffling her moans as he began to move in earnest deep within her.

The nothings that he whispered in her ear were anything but sweet. They were hot, erotic, down right good and freaky. And she gave just as good as she got.

"Like this . . ." she said, thrusting her hips hard against him, causing his eyes to slam shut and an expletive to gush from his mouth.

He opened his eyes and looked down at her, his gaze intense and fierce. "No. More like this," he ground out, cupping her firm behind in his palms and lifting her lower body up and down like she weighed no more than a loaf of bread.

Her head spun. Her fingers dug into his shoulder blades when he hit a spot that had never been reached. She screamed when he tapped his again, and a again, winding his hips, pulling almost all the way out then plunging back in again.

Sasha couldn't catch her breath as the sensuous assault continued and escalated until her entire body was consumed by heat and the tremors began from the balls of her feet, shot down the back of her legs that were pointed toward the ceiling and exploded in the center of her being.

The sound that erupted from the core of her soul, spiraled into the heated air, unfamiliar, raw and ragged as Mitchell moved harder and faster drawing closer to his own desperately needed climax.

Sasha managed to slide her hand down between their thrusting bodies to cup and massage him, while using her internal muscles to squeeze and release his cock, pumping out every drop of his essence.

"Uggggg!" He slammed into her one final time, pushing himself to the hilt, his body stiff and jerky as if electrified before collapsing on top of her.

Their heavy breathing and the thumping beats of their hearts were the only sounds in the room.

Sasha lay beneath him, listening to his heart pound against her chest, mesmerized by what had just transpired. There had not been many men in her life. She could count the one's she'd slept with on less than one hand. But this . . . this thing that happened between her and Mitchell was beyond carnal lust. It was a reckoning. The way he'd made her feel was how they wrote sex scenes in romance novels. Surreal. Impossible. But she'd experienced it. She could testify.

As his erection began to soften it sent another shudder rippling through Sasha, stunning her with the realization that she had anything left. She moaned in need.

Totally in tuned to her body's reaction, Mitchell slowly pulled out, ensuring that the condom was still in tact before bringing Sasha to another spine curling orgasm with his fingers.

Spent and weak they curled against each other and drifted off to sleep only to wake a short time later to begin all over again.

They made love throughout the night, taking short breaks to talk, laugh at what they were doing and replenish their bodies with much needed water.

Just before daybreak, Sasha coaxed Mitchell out onto the terrace and beneath the splash of stars and waning moonlight, with only the ocean as their audience, she leaned over the railing and let him take her.

2009-09-01T14:44:00.001-04:00

Sitting in the doctor's office cause I'm sick as a dog. So nurse asks me what's wrong. Mind you my eyes are glassy, I can barely talk, I have tissues plugging my drippy nose and my mouth is hanging open like a rabid dog because I can't breathe.
So I humor the nurse and run down my litany of symptoms to which she brilliantly pronounces "sounds like you're coming down with something ". Duh really.

Brooklyn is Doing the Damned Thing!

2009-08-31T15:02:00.003-04:00

On Saturday, August 29, 2009, director, writer, producer, actor and Brooklynite Spike Lee turned Prospect Park on its ear with a blow out block party tribute to "da man" Michael Jackson in recognition of his passing and in celebration in what would have been his 51st birthday. I was honored to have written the proclamation that was presented during the event by the Borough President.

Brooklyn is gearing up to rock again, but on a different note. On Sunday, September 13 from 10am to 6pm Brooklyn hosts its annual Brooklyn Book Festival The festival boasts a stellar lineup, including yours truly and ROCHELLE ALERS on a 3 pm panel on the mainstage dishing on the longevity, power, and passion of the romance novel, why it continues to dominate sales... and what about those sexy, shirtless men? Yes, we'll discuss those to as well as how we got in and have stayed in the business and in print for more than two decades.

Please spread the word and try to join us.

Longing and Lies

2009-08-31T14:13:00.003-04:00

Well the wrap up has finally begun. Many of you have been following my Ladies Cartel series, featuring my female butt-kicking, sexy sleuths. I am currently working on the forth and last installment entitled Longing and Lies (not my original title). This time Ashley Temple (who readers met earlier)is in the spotlight paired up with Elliott Morgan(the to die-for undercover agent)to smoke out a baby smuggling ring operating in New York City. The assignment is more than a job for Ashley. It's personal. And the heat gets turned up when Ashley and Elliott for the purposes of their cover have to play husband and wife and live under the same roof. Needless to say, sparks fly. And of course, as with this entire series,nothing is as it seems. I've saved some interesting twists for this one.

If you missed the earlier books, be sure to get your copies:
Sex & Lies
Seduction & Lies
Temptation & Lies

Happy reading

Innervision Books

2009-08-31T14:05:00.002-04:00

As we move headlong into a world dominated by technology, my bizness partner, Pittershawn Palmer and I decided we wanted to be part of the new age. With that in mind we launched INNERVISION BOOKS, an e-book publishing company that seeks to fill some of the literary gaps, open the door for new voices, support the veterans and provide readers with hours of enlightenment and entertainment.

We currently have four titles in print (and immediately ready to download to your computer,PDA or e-book reader). For those who have Kindles, although these are not Kindle books, once you download to your computer, you can email the file to your Kindle and read on the go. The same is true of the Sony Reader.

If you have not tried an e-book, now is your chance. We hope that you will support our efforts and the work of our authors so that we can continue to bring more writers and books to the marketplace.

Prize of a Lifetime--Coming to a Store Near You

2009-08-17T13:36:00.008-04:00

I'm happy to announce that PRIZE OF A LIFETIME my annual Summer contribution to the Arabesque summer series is primed to hit bookstores on September 29. I know seems like a long time but it's not. This new series is part of the Primetime Passion series that got kicked off with Adrianne Byrd's novel Queen of His Heart (Available Now).

My story puts love to the ultimate test when Sasha Carrington spends two sizzling nights on the romantic island of Antigua with sexy Mitchell Davenport, only for the both of them to shortly realize that they will be competitors on television's newest and hottest reality television show Heartbreak Hotel. The prize of a lifetime is one million dollars and your own hotel!

How will the game play out? Who will win? And when they do will they chose love or money and the dream of a lifetime? Hmm, think you know the answer? It's not as simple as you might imagine.

Be sure to add it to your book list and find out for yourself.

Harlequin has been on a mission to re-issue many of my early Arabesque titles, which give so many readers a chance to get books they may have missed and introduce new readers to my work. So far they have reissued CHARADE, CHANCES ARE, TEMPTATION, A PRIVATE AFFAIR AND PIECES OF DREAMS.

Well,that's it for now. I'll be back to post my upcoming schedule. Heading to Calfornia, Chicago and Maryland in the coming months. Would love to see your friendly faces.

Author Francis Ray Gets Special Honor

2009-08-17T11:57:00.001-04:00

Francis Ray Author
Today, Celebrity Bakery and Cafe, a chain restaurant in the Dallas metroplex, honored me and three other women as local heroes. I was honored due to establishing The Turning Point Legal Defense Fund, a fund that assist battered women with their legal expenses. The fund is managed by the Family Place, a local women's shelter in Dallas. A menu item that I selected, Cranberry Chicken Salad will now be Francis Ray's Cranberry Chicken Salad on the menu board. It was a fun event. I was humbled by the honor, and then totally blown away when several fans who were guests of another honoree promptly went to the Borders bookstore next door and purchased books for me to sign. It was an incredible afternoon.

So, if you're in the North Dallas area and want a great lunch with a fabulous dessert, may I suggest Francis Ray's Cranberry Chicken Salad at Celebrity Cafe at 10720 Preston Rd - Suite 1016 - Dallas, TX 75230 -214-373-0783. Please tell them Francis sent you.

Is There a Book Hiding Inside You? - TRCB

2009-08-17T10:09:00.001-04:00

Is There a Book Hiding Inside You? - TRCB

Shared via AddThis

Whew Finally Back

2009-05-15T21:24:00.004-04:00

I can't believe it's been a month since I posted. It's not that I didn't have anything to say. It was more that I had so much to do I couldn't get my thoughts together. So here is a brief update:

I finally finished my almost ten years in the making sequel to RHYTHMS. Handed in my final revisions to my editor on May 14! Amen. The title is WHAT MOTHER NEVER TOLD ME. I am so excited about this book for so many reasons. First because I so loved Rhythms. That book allowed me to do things with my writing I have never done before. This sequel gave me the chance to do it again. Hopefully, with age I've gotten better! LOL.

WMNTM will be out in March 2010. It seems like forever but it coincides with another phenomenal event---my 20th year in publishing!!! That is so awesome and I feel totally blessed to still be in print and around to tell the story. That I owe ALL to the readers who have supported me each and every year. I may not be on the New York Times list or USA Today, but I know I am in the hearts of all those readers who like what I do. And I promise to do my best to keep them coming. (Please stay tuned for all kinds of upcoming events heading toward my anniversary)

On another note INNERVISION BOOKS my co-owned e-book publishing company has officially opened its virtual doors! We have 4 launch titles with more on the way. Please visit the site and check us out. Guidelines are available on the site as well.

That's it for now. Working on my next Ladies Cartel book --Scandals and Lies. But I think my editor is trying change the name... sigh...

I'll keep you posted!

Writing Classes

2009-04-13T13:49:00.000-04:00

Greetings,

Beginning next Thursday, April 23, I will be conducting a novel writing workshop at the Frederick Douglass Creative Arts Center in New York: Crafting the Novel: From Concept to Publication.

If you are an aspiring writer who has begun a novel and is looking to strengthen the story, characters, dialogue, gain some guidance on structure and editing, then this is the class for you. If you have a story idea, but don't know how to get started, then do join us. The class will meet on Thursdays for 8 weeks. Class size is strictly limited to 10 students.

To register, please call 212 864-3375. Address 270 W. 96th Street. Reserve your seat today.

Crafting the Novel—From Concept to Publication by Donna Hill

This class is for those who have a story concept or draft of their novel and those who wish to flesh out their novel in=2 0progress.

I. Crystallizing Your Novel’s Premise/Theme
What is my novel about? Who is my audience? Developing that 3 sentence pitch.

II. Characters That Live and Breathe
Crafting three-dimensional characters. Developing characters biographies

III. Plot, Pacing and Backstory
How to keep your story moving and readers interested by using a storyboard

IV. Dialogue
Learning the technique of listening to your characters

V. Crafting the Synopsis/Working Outline of Your Novel

VI. Those Daunting First Chapters—Make them Sizzle

VII. Revision & Review

VIII. The Editorial Process, Agents, Conferences, Joining the Literary Community (book groups, online book clubs)

Each class will include worksheets, reading assignments and in-class work assignments.

Thank you and if this is not for you, please feel free to distribute to those who may benefit from the class.

Donna

From the Typewriter to the Bookstore

2009-02-09T10:23:00.002-05:00

This was shared on a group that I belong to and I had to share it with you all. It is truly funny!! Enjoy the trials and tribulations of publishing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQ78WHpGZ1o

L.A. BANKS Coming Your Way!!

2009-02-06T15:00:00.004-05:00

NYT Bestselling Author L.A. Banks,the creator behind the phenomenal Vampire Huntress series is scheduled to be my special guest on Sunday, February 8, 2009 at 6 pm EST on Blogtalk Radio.

L.A.Banks will be discussing her amazing career, her road to sucess and how she manages to "stay in the light" when she writes her dark tales. And of course her upcoming major event in Philly.

Three lucky listeners will win a copy of the soon to be released THE THIRTEENTH, the final book in the Vampire Huntress Series.

So do join us on line in our chat room or call in to speak with L.A. live @ 347 426-3649.

TEMPTATION & LIES DROPS TODAY!!

2009-02-01T23:40:00.006-05:00

TEMPTATION AND LIES, the third book in The Ladies Cartel Series hits bookstores nationwide today!

For those who have been following my sexy series, book 3 features Mia Turner, event planner extraordinaire who is given her first Cartel assignment. Unfortunately for Mia, the person under investigation is none-other-than her ex,Michael Burke who is now head of a major management firm, and suspected of being the ring leader behind a high-powered escort service. Mia and Michael had a heated, clandestine love affair, that ended abruptly, with a few loose ends. Now that Mia is back in Michael's life he wants to tie up those ends. But not if Mia's current man Steven has anything to say about it.

Torn between her commitment to The Cartel, her love for Steven and her unresolved feelings for Michael, this case may be bigger than Mia bargained for.

As you all know series books have a short shelf live (2 weeks) so be sure to get your copy soon! I know you will love it!

Other Books in the series