12 Years A Slave

Went to a Saturday matinee to see 12 Years A Slave. It's an excellent film. Highly recommended. Hopefully, it opens in your city soon. You must go see it!

This is going to be a tough and competitive film awards season. 12 Years, The Butler, and Fruitvale Station are amazing films that deserve all the awards coming their way in Winter 2014 film awards season.
fs

Timeline. Back.

Hi. Glad to know there are people out there. :-) So here's what's up. Timeline. Back.

September 2, 2013: Just emailed a novel manuscript off to a publisher for consideration. Keeping fingers crossed they like my baby. About 12 - 14 weeks waiting time for a response... that's a trimester of a pregnancy.

October 1, 2013: Just got an email. The manuscript I sent off on September 2... it's been accepted. I haven't signed, nor accepted, the deal yet. When details are ready, I'll let you know. But there WILL be a third novel from me in the not-so-distant future published by a publisher.

October 3, 2013: Titles are the hardest. I have to brainstorm a new one... or ones for the new book. Part of the deal. I'm open and willing.

October 17, 2013: I'm hoping inspiration for a title for my new book hits me while serving jury duty. It was due like yesterday. Titles were hard for my first two novels. This one... just won't come to me. Ugh.

October 19, 2013: Book contract signed, sealed, delivered yesterday. Today, received my author orientation packet from the publisher -- exciting! In a few weeks, an official announcement about my new book from the publisher and me. Stay tuned...

Hi. Is Anybody Out There?

Hi. It's been a minute... well thousands of minutes... since I've posted, maintained, written a blog entry. I think January 2011. It's October 2013. Wow.

So the question is... is anybody out there? :-)

Nikki Giovanni at Esowon Books, L.A., 1/7/11.

If you're in the L.A. area, you'll definintely want to stop by Esowon Bookstore for an evening with Nikki Giovanni on Friday, January 7, 2011.

The world-renowned poet, activist, and academic will share an evening of poetry, stories, and wisdom from two books she's recently put together -- 100 Best African American Poems and Hip Hop Speaks To Children.  Both books will be for sale at Esowon Books.

I've seen Nikki Giovanni speak before at other events, and she's definitely worth the time to go see.

Definitely a great way to start the New Year!
fs

32 Candles at CSULA

If you're in the L.A. area on Monday, November 15, this book event may be for you.

Ernessa T. Carter will be reading from and signing her novel 32 Candles at 3:15 pm on Monday, 11/15 at the CSULA Student Union in the Alhambra Room. The event is free to attend.

Described as one of the freshest and funniest debut novels, Ernessa T. Carter’s 32 Candles follows Davie Jones, a Strokes t-shirt-wearing, Mississippi-accented, dark-skinned nerd, on her journey of self-discovery, acceptance, self-love, and romance from a childhood in Mississippi to adulthood in Los Angeles.

Hope to see you there!
fs

Rocky Rivera

I had the opportunity to hear hip hop performer Rocky Rivera  at a recent cultural festival at Cal State L.A. Excellent rapper, dope beats, socially conscious lyrics.

My current favorite in my iPod. Check out her YouTube channel. If you get a chance, order her self-titled debut. I promise you'll love it!

fs

Bold's Homeless Story

The CBS daytime drama, The Bold & The Beautiful has been doing a fabulous job lately with a storyline which features L.A. as a central character (where the show is set and filmed) and the homeless issues facing the city. In L.A. County, it's estimated that close to 50,000 people are homeless.

Great, non-preachy episodes from last week's episodes on October 28 and October 29. If you have a chance, watch online.
fs

NaNoWriMo. Writing This Month.

Well, it's that time of year again. National Novel Writing Month, also known as NaNoWriMo, where writers challenge themselves to 30 continuous days of writing 50,000 words on a project.

Best of luck if you're participating in the November 1 - 30 event. Keep me/us posted!

fs