It's All About The Release

Psst. Forgot to tell you something about San Francisco last weekend. Our little secret.

My book is out. At least on some shelves in San Francisco. I'm sure to capitalize on SF Gay Pride events of the past weekend. I was out getting my Pride on with everyone else in the city... strolling down Market, having just finished like 1 or 3 margaritas, and BAM... I look in the doorway of a bookstore and see my book, front and center in the doorway entrance, stacked in a pyramid and with a huge color poster announcing my in-store appearance in July. Books Inc.

I was shocked. Happily shocked. Went in and introduced myself to the staff. Nice folks. Signed a few copies of their stock. Then walked away with a grin. They said they'd already sold some that weekend, like three. I guess that's good. For the weekend. :-)

Be sure to check out the Books Inc. newsletter.

Everyone's asking me at this moment: how does it feel to have a book about to come out? In bookstores? In a lot of places? Especially now that it's just days away from the official release?

I'm extremely happy, excited, sleepy, pensive, doubtful, outgoing, introspective, and always low on time, sleep, and cash. But I'm not complaining one bit. This is something I've always wanted to do... write and publish a novel... I did it on the first try. So I'm lucky. Blessed. And I'm loving every minute of it. The good and the not so good.
fs

Reggaeton. Writing. Inspiration.

I'm hooked on this new radio station in Los Angeles: Latino 96.3.

Reggaeton. Hip Hop. All day. Getting my fix of Ivy Queen, Rupee, Daddy Yankee, along with 50 Cent, Mariah, and Tupac.

When I write, I write to music. In the past, it's been jazz -- authentic jazz, not watered down muzak/soft r&b. But as I'm revising the second novel, I'm hooked on 96.3. The music puts me in the mindset of what my new characters listen to, do in their free time, where they hang out, what moves them musically. The station is aimed at a younger Latino and black audience in L.A., and that's what these new characters are.

One of my characters in my second novel looks very much like the guy tucked behind the 96.3 sign above. The character (not the guy above) is a "bad" good boy... a hip hop nerd so to speak, meaning he's full of contradictions: street smarts with a 4.0 gpa; a partier, yet a mama's boy; wants to be good, yet gets caught up. That's all I'll say for now.

I'm caught up... in revisions and re-writing :-)
fs

On The Line

Just checking out what's hot at other blogs right now:

• Love what Shelley had to say about money and class.
• Anybody wanna start a literary catfight for some publicity? MJ Rose's thoughts.
• Some thoughts from Tayari on fiction, marketing, and the Terry McMillan situation.
• What do books really earn? Paperback Writer shares personal experience.
• Monica's view on the maturation of black chic lit.
• And a couple of my new, favorite writer and blogger friends and colleagues: Alphonso, Trent, Rashid, Derrick, Nathan, Rod, and The Heiress.

Readings and Events. Updated 12/23/05.

Will be doing many events to support my novels, Down For Whatever, and Right Side of the Wrong Bed.

Check back often, as events are updated regularly. And email me if you'd like me to visit your group!

Current Events

2008
Friday, October 10, 2008, 7 pm
National Coming Out Day Speaker and Reading
Occidental College, Center for Gender Equity
1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles, CA 90041
(323) 341-4750

Sunday, September 28, 2008, 11:00 - 11:55 am
West Hollywood Book Fair panel
We Are Everywhere: New and Unique Voices in LGBT Literature (moderated by Christopher Rice)
West Hollywood Park
647 N. San Vicente Ave., West Hollywood, CA

Tuesday, July 8, 2008, 6:30 pm
The GLBTHS & Lambda Literary Foundation Present PASSING ON THE PEN: Intergenerational Queer Storytellers
Jewelle Gomez and Frederick Smith conversation
San Francisco, CA
Location information (415) 777-5455

Thursday, May 8, 2008, 7:30 pm
Lambda Literary Award Nominees Reading Event
A Different Light Bookstore
8853 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 854-6601

Thursday, March 13, 2008, 5 pm
UC Merced, Intercultural Programs
Bobcat Lair (KL 169)
Merced, CA
(209) 228-5323

Thursday, February 28, 2008, 5 pm
UC SanDiego Cross-Cultural Center
9500 Gilman Drive, dept 0053
LaJolla, CA 92093
(858) 534-9689

Wednesday, February 13, 2008, 7 pm
The Promising Series panel
A Different Light Bookstore
8853 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 854-6601

Monday, February 11, 2008, 7 pm
Esowon Bookstore
4331 Degnan Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90008
(323) 290-1048

Monday, January 21, 2008, 7:30 pm
Books Inc., Castro District
2275 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 864-6777

Saturday, January 19, 2008, 8 pm
Outwrite Bookstore and Coffeehouse
991 Piedmont Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30309
(404) 607-0082

Monday, December 17, 2007, 7 pm
Reading and Signing
Damien Ministries
2200 Rhode Island Avenue, NE
Washington, DC 20018
RSVP at (202) 526-3020, extension 10

Saturday, December 15, 2007, 4 - 6 pm
Signing
Urban Knowledge Bookstore
7879 Eastpoint Mall
Baltimore, MD 21224
(410) 282-2286

Saturday, December 15, 2007, 7 - 9 pm
Signing
Urban Knowledge Bookstore, Mondawmin Mall
2301 Liberty Heights Ave, #2001
Baltimore, MD 21217
(410) 523-0017

Monday, December 3, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Reading and Signing
The Wall-Las Memorias Project
111 N. Avenue 56
Los Angeles, CA 90042
(323) 257-1056

Monday, December 3, 2007
Interview
Feast of Fools Podcast
Download iTunes

Wednesday, November 28, 2007 at 7:30 pm
Reading and Signing
A Different Light Bookstore, West Hollywood
8853 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 854-6601

Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at 7 pm
Reading and Signing
In The Meantime Men's Group
4067 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles

Thursday, November 15, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Reading and Discussion
Cal State L.A., Center for the Study of Genders and Sexualities, King Hall D4051
Los Angeles

Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 7 pm
Reading and Discussion
Sacramento City College, Cultural Awareness Center
Sacramento, CA

Friday, October 12, 2007 at 6:30 pm
Reading and Discussion
University of Redlands, Diversity Affairs
1200 E. Colton Avenue, Redlands, CA 92373

Sunday, September 30, 2007
West Hollywood Book Fair
West Hollywood Park
647 N. San Vicente Blvd. (just south of Santa Monica Blvd.)
Los Angeles

Saturday, September 1, 2007 at 4 pm (ends 7 pm)
Literary Cafe, In The Life Atlanta
Sheraton Atlanta
165 Cortland St.
Atlanta, GA 30303

Saturday, June 30, 2007
L.A. Speaks Out with Jacquie Stephens (102.3)
8 - 9 pm
Los Angeles (show available live online)

Saturday, June 30, 2007
Leimert Park Book Festival
Panel at 2:30 pm
Los Angeles

Tuesday, July 3, 2007 at 7:30 pm
In The Meantime Men's Group
4067 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles

Thursday, July 5 and Friday, July 6, 2007
L.A. Black Pride Literary Panel
Los Angeles, Airport Marriott, 5855 West Century Blvd., L.A.
Panel at 3 pm
Los Angeles

2006
Friday, May 19 - Sunday, May 22, 2006
Chica Lit Club Fiesta
Miami

Sunday, September 17, 2006
West Hollywood Book Fair
West Hollywood Park (L.A. area)
647 N. San Vicente Blvd. (next to The Abbey)

Winter 2005/2006

Monday, December 26, 2005 at 11 am
OutFM, 99.5 WBAI-FM
Interview
New York City

Tuesday, January 10, 2006 at 7 pm
Minnesota AIDS Project
1400 Park Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN

Sunday, January 29, 2006 at 4 pm
Michael Kearns Workspace
3929 Fountain
Los Angeles (SilverLake area)

Thursday, February 2, 2006 at 10 pm Eastern, 7 pm Pacific
The Herndon Davis Reports
DISH Network Channel 223
Time Warner Cable "The Healthy Living Channel"

Wednesday, February 15, 2006 at 6:30 pm
San Francisco Public Library, Eureka Valley/Castro Branch
3555 16th St (at Market)
San Francisco

Past Events
Summer and Fall 2005

Friday, July 1 from 2 - 4 pm
At The Beach L.A. (Black Pride)
Literary Salon/Author Panel
Westin Hotel (LAX)
5400 Century Blvd.
Los Angeles

Thursday, July 7 at 7:30 pm
Jewel's Catch One
Benefit for Village Health Foundation
4067 W. Pico
Los Angeles

Saturday, July 9 at 5 pm
Equal Writes Bookstore
344 East 4th St.
Long Beach, CA

Tuesday, July 12 at 7:30 pm
Books Inc.
2275 Market St.
San Francisco

Wednesday, July 13 at 12:30 pm
Alexander Book Co.
50 Second St.
San Francisco

Thursday, July 14 at 7 pm
The Three Dollar Bill Cafe
San Francisco LGBT Center
1800 Market Street
San Francisco

Thursday, July 21 at 7:30 pm
A Different Light Bookstore (West Hollywood)
8853 Santa Monica Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA

Saturday, July 23 at 12:30 pm (panel on ethnicity, class, and sexual orientation in fiction)
L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center Book Fair (Fair 10 am - 4 pm)
1125 N. McCadden Place
Los Angeles, CA

Saturday, July 23 at 6 pm
Matais Books
3202 E. Broadway
Long Beach, CA

Thursday, August 4 at 7:00 pm
Bluestockings
172 Allen St.
New York City

Thursday, August 4 at 9:00 pm
Chi Chiz
136 Christopher St.
New York City

Friday, August 5 from 5 - 11 pm
Pride In The City
Black Out Arts Series
Brooklyn Marriott
Brooklyn, NY

Saturday, August 6 from 2 - 4 pm
The Derrick L. Briggs Book Club
45 Waverly Ave. (between Flushing and Park Aves.)
Brooklyn, NY

Thursday, August 25 at 8 pm
High Lyfe Starring "You" (an Ivan Daniel Production)
Jewel's Catch One
4067 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA

Wednesday, August 31 at 7 pm
University of Southern California (Welcome Week event)
Norman Topping Student Activities Center
Los Angeles, CA

Friday, September 2 at 7 pm
Outwrite Books
991 Piedmont Ave.
Atlanta, GA

Sunday, September 4 from 5 - 7 pm
In The Life Atlanta
Literary Cafe
Sheraton Midtown Atlanta
Atlanta, GA

Saturday, September 10 at 8:30 pm
LOUDmouth Magazine Anniversary Party
Private Residence
Los Feliz (Los Angeles)

Sunday, September 11 at 3:30 pm
Booked L.A. Book Club
Private Residence
Silver Lake (Los Angeles)

Saturday, September 17 from 12 noon - 2 pm
Creative Writing Workshop (free!!!)
In The Meantime Men's Group
Jewel's Catch One
4067 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles

Sunday, October 2 (11 am - 12 noon, book signing after panel)
West Hollywood Book Fair
Panel: In The Beginning: On Writing The First Novel
West Hollywood Park
647 San Vicente Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA

Tuesday, October 18 at 7 pm
University of California, Santa Barbara
Multicultural Center
Santa Barbara, CA

Tuesday, October 25 at 6 pm
California State University, Los Angeles
University Book Store, 1st floor, The Golden Eagle Building
Los Angeles, CA

The BBD. Thinking About Character Development.

Ate dinner with someone tonight in a very "L.A." part of town, and we talked about L.A., how there seem to be very few genuine friendships in L.A., and how our upbringings in other parts of the country shape our abilities to see things L.A. from an outsider's perspective that L.A. natives wouldn't necessarily see. Nothing good. Nothing bad. Just observations.

And then my friend suggested the reason why he thinks there are no real, or genuine, friendships in L.A. and why he's found making "real" friends, compared to other places he's lived, a challenge.

The BBD. The Bigger Better Disorder.

Kinda works like this: you don't say yes, but you don't say no to an invitation or suggestion of getting together; you wait until all offers are on the table from amongst acquaintences; you take the bigger, better offer; you don't call the other offers back.

Myth? Stereotype? Rumor? Who knows?

I thought it was interesting and got me thinking about fiction. How does a city shape the overall personalities of people living in it? And how much have I thought about this when writing. I don't think much... but it's something to think about for you...me...whoever writes.

How would someone who grew up in Cedar Falls, Iowa view friendship? Or Chicago?

How would someone living in Atlanta view an invitation to go out with the guys or girls on a Friday night? Compared with someone living in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan?

Would someone raised in Brooklyn view driving differently than someone raised in L.A.?

I could come up with a million more questions, but it's definitely something worth thinking about more often as I work toward becoming a better writer. Hopefully you too.

Who knew the BBD would get me thinking about writing?
fs

San Francisco Wrap Up

San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge is beautiful. The Bay Area is beautiful.
Could leave my heart there for another 2-year stint...
fs

SF Public Library

San Francisco really knows how to pump up literary events. Had a very cool and intimate crowd of six at the SF Public Library last Thursday.

Now, most people would say -- only six? Well, for a book that was two weeks away and an event advertised as a reading only, six was more than expected. AND, they were all new people -- meaning no friends or people I knew in San Fran.

Very cool crowd. Very cool event put together by Stewart Shaw, who coordinates African American literary events for the library. And walked away with six new folks to add to the Down For Whatever collective.
fs

Bernard

Bernard from Alexander Book Company and The Bookhouse Cafe is so funny. Had me crying in the middle of Market Street in downtown San Francisco on Friday.

Stopped by his store to say hello, drop off some postcards, touch base, etc... He was like, "Damn, boy, you just like to travel or what... just to hand out postcards? Your reading ain't til next month..." Because he thought I was based in Atlanta, and not L.A., so my Friday afternoon drop in was a surprise. Like I'm rolling on a private jet like Alexis Carrington or something. Far from it, but we got a good laugh right after Beverly Jenkins' reading.

I met Bernard last month in NYC at Book Expo America, tried to hang out in Harlem once or twice, but been phone and e-mail friends way before BEA. Bernard is cool people and if you make it to San Francisco, you gotta meet him and get him reminiscing on his days in Detroit, dancing on The Scene tv show, and plus-size clothes. Bernard's a comedian, in addition to working books, so he'll have you rolling.

Got my comedy show for free, minus the two-drink minimum.