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Sisg
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Sisg
Post Number: 199
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 07, 2005 - 11:14 am: | 
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Hello All,
I had the great pleasure of attending the Natl Book Conference in Atlanta this weekend, and let me tell you, it was worth it. Here are just some snippets of who and what took place:
Friday started off with breakfast and author J. California Cooper. Miss Cooper is a spitfire, and a delight to listen to. I love her books, and after hearing her speak, I love her even more! Lots of authors nearby, I was seated with Brenda Thomas, author of "Threesome", Cherlyn Micheals author of "Counting Raindrops Through a Stained Glass Window", and Sheila Wiliams, author of "Dancing on the Edge of the Roof". It was soooo neat! After breakfast I headed off to see Valarie Wilson-Wesley, author of the Tamara Hale Mysteries. She is such a warm, gracious woman. Lunch was hosted by Walter Mosley (my favorite!) I spent the afternoon listening to Ian Smith, author of "The BlackBird Papers",a fairly new writer, but everyone agreed that his book was dynamic! Oh, did I mention he is a doctor, the famous doctor of Celebrity Fit Club. Good looks, intelligence and wit! Pick up the book soon, this is an author to look for. Travis Hunter, who doesn't have a book coming out is soooo funny, off the chain, enjoyed him so much, especially the exchanges between him and author Lolita Files. However Travis is coming out with a stage play of one his books. Missed Mary Monroe, how did I do that???? I love Mary Monroe, oh well. I finished off the evening at the Life-Changing Panel,hosted by the incredible Terri Williams. Terri was featured in Essence not too long ago, i believe it was the June issue for breaking the silence about her battle with depression. This woman is so cool, i mean that in a good way. I didn't even know who she was, she was like sooooo normal! The panel discussion was so excellent. A performer/activist by the name of Sojurn gave a moving performance that had us all in tears. Cap the night off with apple martinis, and rubbing elbows. It was a very good day.
Day 2 - Saturday - Tired i arrived at lunch time, missed the morning sessions which featured, Victoria Christopher Murray, Tonya Lee and Crystal McCrary Anthony,Trisha Thomas, Yolanda Joe, Sheila Williams, Anita Digs, Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant,Toby Thompkins, Reshonda Tate Billingsley, and Dr. Yvonne Sanders-Butler (who started the first sugar-free school in the nation, author of a sugar-free dessert book). Lunch was honoring the very funny, Bertice Berry. It is always great to hear Bertice speak. Next, panel discussion, "The Past, Present and Future of Black Literature", moderated by Obey Hendricks ( a deep brother, okay), the panelists : Linda Duggins (sr. publicist Warner Books), author Brenda Thomas, author Vikie Stringer (Triple Crown), author Evans Hopkins (Life After Life) and surprise guest panelist, Terri McMillan. Okaaaaaaaay, Terri said she wasn't originally on the panel, but asked to be here. This is going to be good. The question is posed about the future of Black Literature. Of course lots of reference is made to hip-hop, urban, street fiction, and how that affects Black Literature, someone brings up should author's have a moral responsibility to write uplifting material, instead of what we are getting....etc. What is Urban Fiction? Vicki Stringer talks about how she came to be a writer, how she writes about her life, her experiences, how we should concentrate on supporting each other instead of attacking, how she turned her life around, from prison to owning her own thriving business.....okay, Teri McMillan gives her take on urban fiction, her biggest gripe is it sucks, not because it's urban fiction but because it error riddled, and not quality writing, in other words, long story short, you need some editors. Linda Duggins, also gives Vicki her respect commending her on her accomplishments, but working at a big named publishing company, the stuff she sees coming in from new writers of the so call street fiction, sucks. And both her and Terri agree that even big named houses are no longer concerned about what they are putting out, concensus, "black folks will read anything",....the heat is on. Back and forth between Terri (got her bite back, grrrrrrrr) and Vicki says, well why won't you all mentor me, nobody helped me, nobody called me, nobody took my calls, help a sista out. Linda agrees to help. The audience chimes in, one sista, a teacher upset about how all her students want to read "Hustlers Wife", not the classics. How can she get them to read anything with these, violent, highly sexual books out there? Vicki says contact her and she will suggest some books for her students to read. Vicki's office manager chimes in about we need your support and not your attacks. Terri and Linda, "we're not attacking". Okay, over time and discussion, things calm down. We have Vicki supporters, we have Terri supporters. Brenda Thomas author of Threesome also talked about what she writes, and how it is not for teens. It is the responsibility of the parents. Whew! Vicki says they have hired several editors, but books still have mistakes, had a call out to editors, soliciting editors at the conference....if there are any editors out there you need to contact Triple Crown! So what did we learn hear.....they having the same discussions we've been having for years now, but all in all, different strokes for different folks. The rest of the day was filled with more authors, Cydney Rax, Kevin Wayne Johnson, Bebe Moore Campbell, but i missed all of them, because I was just tired. I sat out in the lobby, purchased some books from new authors and read my Black Issues Book Review magazine. The nights finale was a semi-formal dinner honoring Terri McMillan, missed that too!
The Natl Book Conference, and event started by Curtis Bunn, author of "Baggage Check", is an annual event held in Atlanta, GA. Next year's conference will be Aug 6th-8th, at the Intercontinental Hotel in Buckhead. I'll be there! You should too! |
Yvettep
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Yvettep
Post Number: 657
Registered: 01-2005
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 07, 2005 - 05:59 pm: |
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Thanks for this, Sisg! I feel as if I were there! |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 2391
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 11:18 am: |
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My daughter and granddaughter were in attendance at this week-end affair, along with several of my book club members. One of the highlights of their stay was when Walter Mosely was so taken with my 20 year old granddaughter that he insisted they have a picture taken together with her sitting on his lap. They also reported how disappointed every one was when Zane didn't show up. As for Terri, they said that at her signing, she was rather impatient and erratic; like she had Tourette's Syndome was how somebody described her. They were also amused that there were very few men at this event. |
Sisg
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Sisg
Post Number: 201
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 11:32 am: |
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Ooh Cynique, I may have seen your granddaughter and Walter Mosley taking that picture, and as I can remember, she was a beautiful young lady. I noticed Walter had eyes for plenty of young women, and it seemed the younger the better. I do believe he is becoming the stereotypical old man chasing young skirts. Yes, Terri was "off the chain", and a lot of people were disappointed when Zane didn't show up. The organizer, Curtis Bunn, came in to tell everyone that he had been calling Zane for the last couple of days, but she hadn't returned his call. And right again about the men, few and far between, but hey, there's always next year.
You are welcome,Yvettep, i'm no roving reporter, but i likes to tell like it is.....
See ya |
Cynique
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Cynique
Post Number: 2394
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 02:53 pm: |
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Too bad I didn't go to this affair, Sisg, I might've couldv'e met you! Wouldn't that have been something! |
Sisg
"Cyniquian" Level Poster
Username: Sisg
Post Number: 202
Registered: 01-2004
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 - 03:52 pm: |
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Girl, that would have been great! I had so much fun meeting people from all over the US, made some new friends too! Let's try to meet next year, ok. |
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