Atlanta Noir Book Party TONIGHT

So Newy is blowing down the comments concerning the next reading.

For some odd reason, I didn't even think to put it up here. I guess because I put it on Facebook...

Atlanta Noir Book Party
Charis Books in Little Five Points.
7:30 pm
Speakers: Jennifer Harlow, Alesia Parker, Gillian Royes and Sheri Joseph


Here's  the link: 

Atlanta Noir Book Party, Charis Books

And here's a bootleg pic of the flyer....

Can you read 0.002 sized font? I can't. If you can, then you are Superman or Wonder Woman. LOL

So I suggest you click that link.

If you're coming, see you there. Don't come late or you will not get in. There is a $5 suggested donation. Hmm... if you ain't got it, holler at me there and I got you.

Hope to see you there! The next one is at the Decatur Book Festival. I will post info about that soon!!
 

Boundaries, Boundaries...

Blogger Luv asked in the comments of the last blog post what my next book woukd be.

I usually read a couple of books at at time, so I'd like to comment on one of my current books.

I'm reading the most fascinating book right now, one of a series, recommended by one of my beloved House of LadyLee readers, Jennifer.

It's from a series, really. Definitely NOT the one of the series I was looking to purchase, but it was the only one in the store by the authors.

Boundaries in Dating: How Healthy Choices Grow Healthy Relationships by Drs. Henry Cloud and John Townsend.

I figured I'd buy it and pass it along to one of you young peoples.

But I wanted to peruse it first.

I'm keeping this one.

This book is fascinating.

FRICKIN' FASCINATING!

And I'm only on page 86.

So no, this isn't a book review.

However...

I would like to post a couple of quotes that have knocked this Oldgirl's Nikes completely off her feets.

And I'll probably post a few more as I see them. They definitely explain some things I've thought about and am currently dealing with.

from page 56, in a section entitled "Struggles":

"Ultimately, if you don't know your date's spiritual struggles, you can't honestly say you know your date... if you are dating someone who says she [he] has never faltered or doubted, something is wrong. Either she [he] is in serious denial, or you need to wonder what she [he] is doing with you. No one grows without experiences of loss or failure."

Another quote from page 62, in the section titled "Difficulties in Living the Life" - Concerning areas in one's dating life where one has problems where they don't "Walk what they talk", i.e. sexual, deceptive, control isshas, immature ways of conflict resolution, etc. (that is, places where there is a painful split or contradiction between what one believes and what one actually does).

"Whatever the causes, there are spiritual answers to these conflicts, and the couple needs to be dealing with these. That is why you want to be dating someone who is not only of the faith, but is aware of his or her weaknessess and issues, and is in the process of working things out, whether it be in accountability groups, support groups, or counseling. A lifetime of marriage to a person with a character issue that has never been addressed can be very painful."

I think these quotes really stood out for me because as someone who has been married and divorced, I truly understand the crucial importance of being honest with one's self concerning character issues and doing everthing possible to acknowledge and work on them.

The whole discussion of internal spiritual struggles and spiritual splits in personality, and being upfront and acknowledging them, fascinated me.

I thought I was the only one who thought about these things.

Apparently not.

Fascinatung book so far...

Finally!!

I've been waiting for this day allllll year.

June 23rd.

For it would be the day that Carleen Brice's new book, Children of the Waters, would hit the bookstores.

Finally!!!!

Yes... yes... a glorious day indeed.

For I loved her first book Orange Mint and Honey. Even tacked a review up on the walls of the House of LadyLee. I am a fan for life after reading THAT book.

It was one of our book club books. (I missed that meeting. I am STILL hot behind that!)

It is being made into a Lifetime movie. GLORY! I'll be looking out for that!

She even sent me a personally autographed copy of Orange Mint and Honey. (I know she was like, "Would this chick PLEASE stop hassling me about when I'm coming to Georgia." LOL) It said "LadyLee I love your blog and hope you would autograph a book for me someday."

I had the HARD lip quiver and the fat tear drops behind that one. Showed that book to people, but they were NOT allowed to touch it, lol

Yes, yes. I've been excited all month.

I FINALLY get to read some NEW Carleen Brice!

Yes indeed!!

Now my plan was simple: go get the book this morning. Get up EARLY and get to the big bookstore I frequent in Midtown when it opens (9:00 a.m), and get the book. I could stick it in the pocket of my labcoat and read it alllll day!

So as not to waste my time, I called the bookstore yesterday.

"Hello, may I help you?"
"I have a question," I said.
"Yes?"
"There's a book coming out tomorrow, and I want to know if you put it on the shelves immediately, or does it take you a couple of days to get it on the shelf?"
"What's the name of the book?"
"Children of the Waters by Carleeen Brice," I said. I spelled her last name.

He took a LONG time to look it up. I tapped my fingers on my desk.

"Uh... no," he muttered. "We don't have copies available."
"WHAT?"
"No copies available."
"WHY?"
"Some copies will probably come in on the next shipment. But they have copies up at the Buckhead store".
"I am NOT driving up to Buckhead."
"Well that's where they are."
"How do you NOT have copies of this book? I don't believe this!!!"
"Well..."

A slight argument erupted. I ended up hanging up on him. Started calling around. Looked like I would have to drive to the closest place, Buckhead, and get the book. But driving to Buckhead in morning traffic is a beast, and they didn't open until ten o'clock. Too late. I decided to leave work in the middle of the afternoon and go get the book.

But I called another bookstore over by the White people's Kroger. They open early, but I don't like the book store.

"Hello?"
"I'm looking for a book." I gave her the information.
"Yeah, we have it," she said immediately. "I just put it on the shelf."
"REALLY?"
"Yes."
"And I can buy it tonight. Before the book comes out."
"Yes."
"And it counts on the book scan?"
"Sure does."
I looked at the clock. It was five after seven. "What time do you close?"
"Ten."
"Alright. Thank you. BYE."

I hung up the phone. Got REAL excited. Started gathering all my stuff..

Another chemist was rumbling around, trying to finish up some work. She had come back to her cubicle, and was now heading back to the lab.

I yelled out to her, "S, what time you leaving?"
"Oh, in ten more minutes, got some cleaning up to do, and trying to finish this stuff."
"Well, I'm leaving. You work that out. I'll holla! BYE!"

The rule is, if you're working late, you can't work late alone. You have to have someone else there, just in case you tare up stuff or blow something up.

That chick was on her own. I was OUTTA there.

I bought my book. I was real happy!!!

Now, on Saturday night, I believe, Carleen Brice was on a national blog talk radio show. I like listening to these, whether over the computer or on my cell phone. I was listening on my cell phone, and there's an option to speak. But I am too chicken to be "Caller #1", so I just listened.

But I decided to say something that night.

So, they put me on. And I basically said how I told her that I was LadyLee and was excited that the new book was coming out.

She actually remembered who I was. (I read her blog).

Well, she said something that shocked me. "There's a surprise for you in the book."

I don't remember what my response was. I was shocked that, not only had she said that, but she even remembered who I was.

Now, after I hung up, I thought, well, I know there's a chick in the book who has my chronic illness. I was happy for that, because it would be nice to read some fiction where that may be a factor.

I thought, well, that's what she's talking about. That ain't no surprise. They're talking about that on the show.

Cowgirl Cre and I had this brief discussion about it all yesterday.

"Carleen Brice's new book is coming out tommorow!"
"It is?"
"Yes, and she said that there's a suprise for me in the book."
"Really?"
"I think I'm going to be in it. I'm going to be the chick at the cash register. You know , when the main characters go in the store, to buy something, I take there money and-"

Interesting. We laughed hard about this. If there was some random chick named Shaquita in the book, and she was standing at the cash register... well, that was me!

LOL

So now, I have my own copy of the book in my hands. OH JOY!!

Now before I read the book, I like to look at dedications, acknowledgments, interviews, sometimes even the book club questions. Didn't want to look at the book club questions for this book because I wanted to read it without clues as to what will be going down. I wanted a surprise factor.

I turned on the television, sat down on the sofa.

Yelled at Oscar-Tyrone to get away from me. (He was rubbing up against my leg, wanting to be rubbed I suppose).

I look at the acknowledgments, which were in the back, and see this:



Shocked the HELL out of me.

I blinked hard. Oscar got the STEW kicked out of him with my left foot. I banged my big toe of my right foot on the coffee table. Yelled and screamed out of pure happiness AND pain. LOL

I called my sister, who was upstairs in her room.

"Kentucky! Kentucky! Get down here right now!"

She came out of her room, looking totally confused. "What's wrong, Lisa?"

Before I knew it, I was halfway up the stairs. "Look at this!" I punched the book page hard with my hand. "LOOK!!!!"

She saw my name. "That's real nice, Lisa."

*LadyLee cheesing hard like Buckwheat*

Oh goodness. Carleen put me in the acknowledgments. Not only that, but I am holding up the comma that comes behind the great Tayari Jones. (And you all know how I worship the ground that Tayari spits on.)

OH. JOY.

So I have my book. I've started reading it. It is very good! Carleen, you're ROCKING the descriptions and visuals. I pulled out my highlighter on some of that! GO GIRL...

And thanks for the acknowledgment.

I'd been having a bad day... feeling like Lurch.



But now I feel Smurfy again.

You made this Oldgirls day:)

Congrats on the new book. I know it's going to be just as good as the last one!!!

LadyLee's 2008 Book List

Alright this one right here goes out to Ms. Blackliterature.com. She likes this type of stuff.

Last year I listed the books I read in 2007. What I usually do is, once I finish reading a book, I write the title down in the back of my personal journal.

I was journalling last weekend and flipped to the back of the journal, and low and behold, there was a 2008 list of books read.

Thought I would post those.

LadyLee's 2008 Book List (in order read):

1. The Appeal by John Grisham.
2. The End of the Night - John MacDonald
3. Orange Mint and Honey - Carlene Brice
4. Seen it All, Done the Rest - Pearle Cleage
5. The Woods - Harlan Coben
6. The Church of the Dead Girls - Stephen Dobyns
7. Sweet Georgia Brown - Cheryl Robinson
8. The Truth about Love - Tia McCollors
9. Them - Nathan McCall
10. Don't Ever Tell -Brandon Massey
11. My Best Friend and My Man - Cydney Rax
12. Stand the Storm - Breena Clarke
13. The Secret Life of Bees - Sue Monk Kidd
14. The Shack - William P. Young

I am so ashamed.

14 books. UGH!

I am VERY disappointed in that number. Last year I only read 26 books. I thought that I would at least top that, but my count has gone down.

One issue is that I LOVE short story anthologies. That's how I have discovered some of my favorite authors (including Queen of Lurk City, Tayari Jones). If I read a story I like, I will go investigate that author, and the rest is history!

So I have about 10 of those laying around the house. I have a tendency to pick one up here and there, and read a story, without ever finishing the book.

A few of my current anthologies (one of which is nonfiction):

All Aunt Hagar's Children - Edward P. Jones
The Giant Book of True Crime
Flash Fiction: 72 Very Short Stories
New Stories from the South: 2004 edition
New Stories from the South: 2008 edition
100 Menacing Little Murder Mysteries
Contemporary Fiction: 50 Short stories since 1970

So, I have a tendency to pick those up and read something fast and quick in one sitting. I think I picked that up from my writing class instructor. She asks that we get a few pages of good fiction in per day, and that's my way of getting something "complete" read very fast.

Best Book I read in 2008: Hands down, Orange Mint and Honey by Carleen Brice. Carleen is a blog sista. That was a GOOD book, girl. I even blogged about it! And it's being developed into a Lifetime movie. You go, girl! Make sure you get a part as an extra in the record store. That's what's hot!

Worst Book I read in 2008: Now, uh, you know I'm not going to say what that is. Honestly, most were good or okay. I never finish a bad book. I put that sucka down!

Creepiest Book I read in 2008: You know I like ol' crazy stuff that feels like it's out of an episode of Snapped. Love that stuff! (What is WRONG with me?).

With that said, the creepiest book was The End of the Night. It was about some serial killing jokers. It was from 6 different points of view- a killer, some victims, the lawyer, the prison guard, etc. (That is a sin in writing, but I like that). Some of it was journal style. (I really liked that.) And there were a whole SLEW of characters (Another writing no-no). It was VERY creepy. The book is 35 years old, and I found out about it in one of my books about writing styles. Very odd book indeed.

Wish I could find more books like it!!

I am not a big fan of inspirational Christian fiction. I think it is because it is too lightweight or something. Folks got problems, REAL problems, and I like to see that tackled from a spiritual perspective and in a REALISTIC fashion. So, two of the inspirational Christian books I read were The Truth about Love and The Shack. Both were very good.

The LBeezy is responsible for picking out good inspirational Christian books for us to read together.

*LBeezy raises eyebrow and mutters "What is Leezie talking about?"*

Hush gal... We just finished one book and that was the fiya! EVERY female should read that book! Go pick out more inspirational books for us to read and discuss.

So that is my reading list from 2008.

2009 looks like it's going to be a better year. I've already read 7 books, and I hope to reach at least 20.

Will I ever get back up to my yearly 40-50 books read per year?

I could only hope for that...

One day it'll happen!

The Great Book List

I did something interesting last year, but sort of forgot about it.

As I finished a book, I wrote down the name and author of that book in the back of my journal. I was thumbing through and I found that page.

Last year, I read 26 books. And here they are, in the order I read them:

The Memory Daughter’s Keeper –Kim Edwards
First Fridays –Cherlyn Michaels
Reasonable Doubt – Pamela Samuels-Young
In Firm Pursuit – Pamela Sameuls-Young
The Wave- Walter Mosely
Every Woman has a Secret- Brenda Thomas
Ladies Night Out- Electa Rome Parks
What’s Done in the Dark- Gloria Mallete
Sex.Lies.Murder.Fame-Lolita Files
Color Me Butterfly-L.Y.Marlowe
Beyond the Down Low –Keith Boykin
Bird by Bird- Anna Lamont
Granddaddy’s Dirt- Brian Eggeston
A Thousand Splendid Suns – Khaled Hosseni
Diva’s Last Curtain Call- Angela Henry
The Fall of Rome- Martha Southgate
Third Girl from the Left- Martha Southgate
Immediate Fiction – Jerry Cleaver
Love and Lies – Kimberly Lawson Roby
The Alchemist – Paulo Coehlo
Ron Carlson Writes a Story –Ron Carlson
My Sister’s Keeper – Jodi Picoult
Another Way to Dance- Martha Southgate
Every Goodbye Ain’t Gone: Family Portraits and Personal Escapades- Itaberi Njeri
My Soul Cries Out- Sherri Lewis
Breath, Eyes, Memory – Edwidge Danticat

I read 26 Books.

Let's see, there's a bit of erotica, which I detest. Like I've always said: We've all hung from the chandaliers and have gotten busy on the kitchen counter. I don't want to read about it!! There are some books written by white authors (Yes, the Oldgirl is an equal opportunity reader!). There is some interesting black law suspense fiction. There are a few memoirs (My best friend LOVES memoir, so I decided to check those out.). There's a little inspirational christian literature. And you know I got to have that black science-fiction.

The best book that I read last year, hands down, by a landslide:

Martha Southgate's Third Girl from the Left.



Man, I thought I had Mommy issues. GOOD-NESS. This was some craziness, but oh so good. Very nicely written, and it helped me push along my Fancy That manuscript. Shoot, I may have to go back and read it again.

I bow at Martha Southgate's feet. And that is someone Tayari likes as an author. You could've told me about her, Tayari. I'm gonna smack you if I catch you on the street, girl. Really. Watch. Your. Back.

The best book that I read last year that was released last year:

Khaled Hosseni's A Thousand Splendid Suns.

Yeah man. This book was off the chain. It was the Color Purple - Afghanistan style. With all the burquas and all that. Taliban and all that craziness. Had it's own version of Celie and Mister. OH MY!!! Excellent book.

Both books had me all choked up, dry heaving and hiccuping... having to excuse myself and go get a cold drink of water.

When a book has me all bent out of shape like that, IT'S A GOOD BOOK.

And, I've had to step up my reading a notch. My teacher has forbidden me from reading any commercial fiction. (But as you can see, I sneak and read it anyway. LOL!)

My writing workshop teacher fronted on me in class. I turned in something that she thought was "romantic". I didn't think it was, and that night, I was in NO mood to go toe-to-toe with her about it. She said something else that night. She first mentioned a few black writers for me to look up.

"Don't you read Toni Morrison, LadyLee?"

*gas face*

I wanted to yell, "Got Dang, man, is Toni Morrison the only black author you white people know? I don't know anyone who's not a writer who reads that complicated ish!?

But I shut up and just nodded. And jotted down the writers my teacher mentioned. That's how I got into some Edwidge Danticat.

I've only read one Toni Morrison book, and that was because Racer X, the Queen Tayari Jones, herself suggested it. And, you know, I worship the ground she spits upon. Whatever she says is gold.

It is gospel, you see.

*LadyLee running to bookstore and knocking people over trying to get to that book Tayari suggested*

Yeah, I am sure she noticed the vacant look in my eye when she suggested that book. (Well, it was part awe, starstruck because I was sitting there with my idol, lol. Don't worry, I'm much better now). I read Tar Baby in 2006. It was good. I had to concentrate like hell, and it may help if I read it, like, 10 more times. But I ain't smart enough to be reading Toni Morrison. I need total quiet to do that. But I did what Racer X said to do!

And that's a good thing:)

So this year, I will try to read more of the black literary authors. Man, it's not all that pleasurable, and I have to concentrate, but I am reading for style more and more these days.

But 26 books...

I'm a bit disappointed by that number. Sigh.

Why?

Because I usually read 40-50 books a year.

Yeah, mon. I'm a SLACKER!!

LOL!

No, not quite.

I've had a ton of other activities going on. And I have been doing much writing myself. I wrote at least 600 pages of my own fiction, 60% of which is useful. 40% of the nonuseful stuff - that is me sitting down and cranking out 30 pages of what I like to call "sidebar" stories, something I banged out just to understand a minor character who's a part of a bigger story. I've been reading and editing that material.

Does all that count?

NO!

Then also, I have this wierd thing about reading sections of books. I have 20 or so books laying around the house that I pick up and only read certain chapters. This applies mostly to my books about the writing craft.

And the good 10 books of short stories I have all over the place... 100 little Murder Mysteries, Best short stories of the south, stuff like that.

So, I will adjust my book goal for 2008. I will read 25 books this year.

I've only read 4 books thus far in 2008.

Yes, the Oldgirl has much catching up to do.

So watch out. This year;s list will be very eclectic.

How many books did you read last year??

Jubilee of Reading Book Club Conference...

(2 posts in one day... can you believe it??)

Last Saturday, I attended a book club conference on Saturday, the 6th Annual Jubilee of Reading Book Club Conference, held at a local library on the east side of the ATL...

There were several authors there, and I have read lit by them all, except one. But I plan to go pick up a couple of that brotha's books real soon...

Travis Hunter was there...

This brotha just came out with his sixth book, Something to Die For. I see his books all the time, but I haven't read any. His novels are more geared towards the plight of young black men. He's a single father who is highly involved in mentoring young black men. You do the darn thing, Travis!

(Sidenote: Now, why is it that, when I go to any author's reading and signing, I expect to see them dressed all formal... Mr. Hunter was not formal at all... and I like that!!!)

One of the resident authors of my book club and book club sista, Monica McKayan, was there! She's has written two very good books, As Real as it Gets, and From Here to Forever. I've read both, and both were excellent.

If you like a good romance with themes of sisters seeing each other through, then get her books! You won't be disappointed. She has a YA (young adult) title coming out in February titled Indigo Summer. I gotta check that one out... They say YA is the next hot genre!

And this brother needs no introduction. You know who he is. He's been on Oprah, he's been everywhere:

J.L. King!

I read that book, On the Down Low, and it had me looking at men a little harder than I should be. (LOL!?) That book, um, really shocked me. He has a new book coming out soon, and he's also getting an imprint through Simon and Schuster!

Go J.L. !!!

And you know who else I saw...

I saw my favorite male author... The black prince of horror and suspense...

Mr. Brandon Massey!!!

I'd never heard him speak before, but he gave a great talk. He gave thought provoking answers to all of our questions, and you know I was happy about that. That was almost too much excitement for me! Goodness!

I wanted to yell, "You're dressed in black like the vampire character Kyle in your second novel Dark Corner." But that would have been, I don't know... NERDY! I was already snapping pictures like crazy. I didn't want him to think I was a complete nut!

He signed copies of his new book, Vicious, which I reviewed on my blog. I had three books for him to sign: the short story collection Twisted Tales, Vicious, and The Other Brother. I had one more, Voices from the other Side: Dark Dreams II , an Anthology of African American short horror stories, but I couldn't find it.

Oh well... I guess I'll get that signed next time.

A special memoriam award, the Worthy Foundation Builder Award, was given by the library in memory of my book club sister and president Shunda Leigh's mother, Mrs. Carolyn Worthy, who passed this year on Thanksgiving day. This award will be ongoing, and will be presented to someone every year. I thought that was a fantastic idea, and a nice way to remember Shunda's Mom.

All in all, I had a wonderful time. Good food, good people, and a good time.

Most of all, I left inspired.

Inspired to read... and inspired to write.