For The GBM In Your Life

Just found out about this cool site: GBM News.

Lots of good information for/about gay black men and their allies. And for writers looking to get published, the staff is looking for news stories, opinion pieces, maybe even some creative pieces. Check within the site for that information.

This is for the gay black man in your life!
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Jameka. Big Brother 8.

So yes, there are WAY more important things than reality television to write about. I just don't feel like discussing those things today :-) It's Friday, ya know?

OK. So, I'll go on a limb here. I'm a Big Brother fan. I'm also liking this season's show. And I also like Jameka. This photo is from the official Big Brother site.

OK. There. No, I don't know her. She's a friend in my imagination, though. That's enough, right. So there.

I say it like that because there's a lot of people -- who may find their way to this site -- who are using her faith, prayer, and higher power against her. If you watch the show -- and the live feeds at night on Showtime -- you see Jameka has been nothing but nice, sweet, kind, quiet, and very patient in putting up with some not-so-nice people in the house.

And she's the ONLY black person in the house this year. And we know how black people on reality tv fare when they're not buffooning themselves... or even when they do. Not always a good situation.

But last night, if you watched the live feed, one of the older, white guys in the house -- they call him Evil (and for a good reason -- he yells and berates everyone in the house) -- went off on Jameka. Called her every kind of name in the book... because of her faith, prayer, and belief in higher power... and I wonder if he was THIS close to pulling a Don Imus choice of words out of his mouth.

I mean, white man talking down to a black woman. You can imagine what thoughts were there in his mind. And what censors and restraint he may have shown, knowing cameras were on him. Especially when he pulled the "you're 30 and no man will want you" card. Sensitive topic for black women... men too, considering how our community pairs off in and out the community, often leaving black women single.

But Jameka held her own. But I know it's hard when you're the only one. We ALL know.

If you get to see the show on CBS, or the live feeds on Showtime after midnite (I kinda like those better -- live and uncensored), check it out.

It's only reality tv, I know. But it's kinda like real life. And just like real life, if a sista comes under attack, the community (and you know who I mean) gotta come to her defense.
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A Writer's Life Can Be Like Fiction

There are friends who say I should roll with an entourage, use whatever privileges come with being a semi-public person, be arrogant, and all that jazz. Totally not me. My parents raised me a certain kind of way, and it wasn't to be a jerk or arrogant.

And I've often heard Oprah say on her show that the public figures who have always had a strong sense of self and don't let the "being public" go to their head... Something like that, I think.

I always joke that authors are on the bottom rung of the entertainment industry ladder, and since most people don't read, most people don't really care about writers or whatever perceived fame they may have.

Many authors, in fact, are very private people. Work in solitude. Don't seek tons of spotlight on themselves as individuals, but maybe will seek attention for their work.

Very few Lohans, and Ritchies, and Hiltons among the author community. Well, there was that public breakup of one of our favorites last summer... made ALL the news.

Then... found this truth is like fiction piece, courtesy of my friend Noel Alumit's blog. Literary Tabloid.

Read the story. I'm not all about putting my business out there. But for some... that's how they roll I guess.
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Want To Be A Published Author? Here's A Link.

I get a few emails a week from people who want to be a published author.

I think this article from mystery author Marcus Sakey can help. Here's the link.

Happy Tuesday. Hope it's a drama-free one!
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Once Upon a Nervous Breakdown

So my friend and fellow Kensington label mate, Patrick Sanchez, has a new book out.

Once Upon a Nervous Breakdown.

It's a really good book. A few months back, he asked me to read a copy for a blurb. Loved it.

In fact, I wrote: “Once Upon a Nervous Breakdown reels you in with a vivid picture of thirty-something life — fun, frenzied, and feverishly juggling love, family, friends, and career. Patrick Sanchez is a great storyteller who, once again, has created a world of witty, smart, and identifiable women who jump off the page.”
Frederick Smith, Author of Down for Whatever

Hope you will give it a try. Oh, and check out the fun video montage he put together for the book. Quite fun!
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Friday Pick Me Ups

For the ears... Feast of Fools podcast. Check it out this weekend if you can.

For the eyes... Hoodsworld... or I don't watch a lot of football, but Will Demps is kinda...

Hmmmm.

Or maybe for the mouth... a good old fashioned Bomb Pop will do on a hot weekend like this.

Happy Friday!
fs
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Good Cop. Bad Cop.

So a really great discussion on this morning's Front Page radio show hosted by Dominique DiPrima. Continued when Stevie Wonder's morning show started after Front Page.

Police brutality in Los Angeles, and related subjects.

An attorney from The Cochran Firm, founded by the late Johnnie Cochran, summarized cop stops as this: if you're young, if you're male, if you're black or latino, just answer the questions simply, no drama, or you'll be shot by police.

His rationale: there's no accountability or consequences for police who shoot civilians in California during cop stops.

Lots of discussion, experiences, callers calling in with their own personal encounters during cop stops. Of course, a few cops called in to defend the profession. Very good community discussion.

This all reminded me of something a cousin of mine, a former football player, a former cop, and now a minister in Michigan, told me when I moved away to college many years ago. His words -- cops are crazy and paranoid, I'm one, I work with them; if you're stopped or questioned, just sit there, answer yes or no, don't do anything crazy, and then get on with your business... then call me.

I think most black or latino families have had that talk with their young sons. Just a part of raising boys of color. Or is it?

The other day I led an exercise in class where students reflected on their attitudes and beliefs around various ethnicity, class, and gender issues. When the topic of cops and military came up, most, who are students of color and working class, had negative views and perceptions of both cops and military. Many commented there were more military recruiters than college recruiters in their high schools in L.A. That's a whole other subject.

When probed further, most of the students said their parents had had "the talk" with them regarding police interactions. Many had seen members of their families or neighborhoods affected negatively by law enforcement encounters for both large and small issues. Funny, how in East or South L.A., crack can get you tons of harassment and years in the system, but our neighbors in Beverly Hills or L.A. celebrities get probation and bad publicity for a lot more. That's a whole other subject.

But the topic then turned to people of color who choose to become part of law enforcement profession. Are they potential helpers in the community? Are they able to change the law enforcement system? Or is the brother/sister-hood of law enforcement too strong to overcome personal desires to change the system?

All interesting. Personally, I think there are other ways to make change in society other than joining law enforcement or even military. But I know sometimes people are drawn to particular professions for who knows what reasons.

Still, the words of my cousin are always in my mind. And I'm always prepared just in case.
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Galley Cat Reader

So the past couple mornings and nights I've been reading the "final galley" of my book before it goes into production. And I gotta admit, I'm kinda liking it.

What I mean is... in the "final galley" editing stage, all you're reading for is change of names, dates, obvious mis-spellings/grammar that didn't get caught in previous editing stages, and pop culture references. No major changes allowed -- dialogue, plot, adding text -- at this stage. Everything due to my publisher August 8.

So I'm reading. Much like a reader would. And I'm liking what I'm reading. Sooooo can't wait for Right Side of the Wrong Bed to be out in just a couple months. Finding a few small things -- pop culture references primarily -- that I'm updating to make the novel more up-to-date/current, than when I finished it over a year ago.

Seeing the almost done version is very rewarding. Makes all those solo days and nights in front of a computer screen worthwhile.
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