Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Reenactment of "The Wedding Scene" in The Manual
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Monday, October 12, 2009
Odd thing, those in store signings
Gail Grier. That's the name of the first person to appear at my table this weekend for my booksigning at Border's Books in Columbia, Maryland. I gave my Manual spiel-she bought three books, three of my books which is an investment of her entertainment dollars at fifteen dollars a pop. Many stopped, but few parted with the cash.I was eternally grateful to Gail. Non-authors may not know but an in store signings can make or break a a more squeamish author's self esteem. Especially when the only person to come past your table is a 7 year old who happened to wonder away from her mommy and stops to ask where the popular kid series, Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are. True story. I'm over it. I'm not bitter.An odd thing, those in store signings. I am one of those authors who never settled in my semi-celebrity. Your stuck out front on display like a half dressed Christmas tree in mid October, in-your-face and seemingly inappropriate blocking the entrance for patrons trying to get in and out of the store. Never showcased in all my literary glory. I might be more comfortable in my element as in a reading or a leading a discussion. Gotta bring in more of a crowd for that.So for now I am resigned to a table. You smile at some, try to catch the eye of others who show youupon their arrival that they are not to be persuaded. I take that back. You are not chained to that table. In fact, the store mangaer reccomended I get up and greet people. Find that balance between being inviting and harrassing. But, I was shell shocked.I felt like I had to be guardian over the stores inventory of my books. staked neatly in four piles (2 for each title). I think I was having a flashback to another signing where I temporarily walked away from my books to find my books carelessly thrown-better yet, shoved onto a stack of coffee table books by "regulars" who play chess in the cafe and needed the table for a tournament. Has this ever happened to you? I said, I'm over it, really.So I keep vigil. My smile the mini watt bulbs on the Christmas tree blatantly advertising, "Tis the Season" to buy this book! Next weekend, I'll be at the entrance of another store, maybe one near you. With bells on, I might add. Tis the season to buy The Manual,the highly anticipated sophomore novel by Sherryle Jackson
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
The Manual local tour schedule
September 17, 2009 Guest-AAMBC Showcase Radio Show @8pm EST. Call in # (646) 716-4093 www.blogtalkradio.com/AAMBC
September 20, 2009 Guest-Urban Literary Review @4pm EST
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/urbanliteraryreview
October 3, 2009 Book signing Border’s Book in Largo @2pm
October 10, 2009 Book signing Border’s Books in Columbia, MD@ 12 noon
October 17, 2009 Book signing Border’s Express BS 62904 William Co Parkway Woodbridge VA 22912 @ 11am
October 21, 2009 Off the Pages podcast http://www.offthepagespodcast.com/ 9:00pm
October 24, 2009 Border’s Express BS
725 Springfield Mall, Springfield VA 22150 @12 noon
October 31, 2009 Book signing and exhibit of Church Lady Ways memorabilia collection @3pm=0 D
November 15, 2009 Literary Tea and Discussion By invitation only Royal Tea Room, LaPlata, MD
December 5, 2009 Area-Wide book discussion Location-TBA @ 5pm
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Forgive and forget.
"So what do you say? Let me be nice to you and you be nice in return. We can pretend there is no difference between forgiving and forgetting?"
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Let the music play
Music became vitally important when conceptualizing the complicated relationship that spanned over twenty years between my two main characters Deidre Collins and Andre Hicks in my secondn novel, The Manual (October 2009). Their romance was like an intricate dance and what is a dance without music? I thank the following artists, as well as the lyricist and musicians for the selections that help me understand their romance.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Every Word Counts
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Cover Story
Notice anything different about my cover from the one used in the header of this blog? My publisher's logo and tag are missing. This isn't a vanishing act, but rather a conscious decision by my publisher's marketing department. Apparently the declaration, The Finest in Christian Fiction, was a turn off to some people. I find it funny to think that there are some people who liken reading a Christian Fiction story to serving 10-15 in a maximum security prison. The name, I'm told, suggests that our stories would lack the kind of drama reader's crave, or be too staunch, too preachy or paint an ideal world full of perfect characters that do no harm and subsequently no harm befalls them. I can almost understand that notion, I've read some Christian novels like that. I had also read Urban Christian novels which told stories about every topic under the sun including taboo topics in the Christian community such as incest, pornography and homosexuality.
I felt my book looked naked without the same brands my first book bore under the same publishing house. I told my fellow labelmates so. To that one of my labelmates remarked, "No it doesn't look naked, it now looks like a regular book."
There were mixed reactions between authors and editors alike. Some revealed their secret prayers that the restricting tag be removed so that their books can become more marketable to a broader audience. There might be something to this fact. One of my labelmates that I met at a signing in my hometown recounted that the bookstore almost sold out of the book prior to her visit siting that it was wrongly shelved with the street literature. We didn't voice, but probably felt bookstores can make that mistake all they want if it produces those results. If our ultimate goal it to get the books in the hands of believers and unbelievers alike then as book marketers we should remove any barriers that might keep people from our books. Others on my label were concerned that we were somehow compromising or conforming to the world's standards - that by removing this tag removed or somehow diminished our intent.
For me the cover brand was a badge of honor. With a label that boasts such talents as Kendra Norman Bellamy, Pat Simmons and Sherri Lewis, I feel I am really among the finest in Christian Fiction. It keeps me striving to produce the best work I can. The truth remains we still are and will ever be a Christian brand even if our covers don't announce the fact.