An Open Letter to Oprah Winfrey (From Virginia DeBerry)

Dear Oprah:

We don't sing karaoke or dance with the stars. We have been contributing to the cultural landscape long before Jon & Kate, Britney,Rhianna and Chris or Stephanie Meyer and most of America, including you have probably never even heard of us.

We have railed against Kanye's proud pronouncement upon the publication of his 52 page book: Thank You and You're Welcome, that "I am not a fan of books. I would never want a book's autograph." Huh?

We are writers and we are in trouble. Big trouble.

I would never have imagined myself writing this with the hundreds of thousands of emails and letters the show receives, I know the chances of this one actually getting through are somewhere between slim and non-existent. But one of the mantras my best friend/business partner and I lived by in the early days, was “It’s only postage.” Now it’s not even that. So I could not find a reason not to write and hit ‘send’. Like I said--we are in trouble.

Everyone knows that Oprah is a champion of reading, that books are one of her favorite things and it is precisely because of that passion that I send this note. I’m sure you are aware that publishing, like so many industries today—especially those centered around the arts, is struggling to keep up and figure their way through the maze of new media. What I’m not sure you know is how that struggle is affecting, or more accurately disaffecting an entire segment of writers--black novelists. Not the few who live in the rarefied literary echelons—Toni Morrison, Stephen Carter, Edwidge Dandicat etc. are doing fine—they enjoy the support of the media and the "wider" (whiter) population. These struggling authors also don’t include those who now make up the largest growing segment of Af-Am writers—urban/erotica authors whose books are acquired by publishers at little expense and sold at great profit. A quick look at the Af-Am displays in bookstores will make this trend abundantly clear.

The literary marginalization that is taking place largely affects those of us in the middle-much like the economy today. There are many of us who have/had careers courtesy of Terry McMillan, we came along right after the success of Waiting to Exhale and found a warm welcome and an open door for a career we had longed for but so often found beyond our reach. Terry proved, what we had always known, that black folks read, and would buy books featuring characters they personally identify with. Not that we would stop reading all the non-black authors we supported, we would just enjoy a wider choice.

Members of our ‘class’ include among others, Tina McElroy Ansa, Bernice McFadden and Connie Briscoe. Carleen Brice, a newcomer to writing fiction-though she has written non-fiction, last year started “December is National Buy a Book by a Black Author and Give it to Someone Not Black Month.” She also created a blog and pretty funny video welcoming white people to the AA section of the book store.

For the past 20 years, Donna Grant, my writing partner, and I have been writing novels,7 in total. No Pulitzer or Nobel winners, but well crafted stories that have enlightened and entertained tens of thousands of readers. Our first “big book” Tryin’ to Sleep in the Bed You Made was published in 1997, has never been out of print, is in its fifth edition and sold over 750,000 copies, without any major advertising or endorsements.

But that was then. This is now.

And we, along with many of our “classmates” find our careers in jeopardy. (After 20 years, and at the age of 60, I personally am on the verge of throwing in towel and looking for a "real" job.) This precarious position is not because we write bad books, but because we all fall in the came category “African American Fiction” and we just aren’t selling as well as our “street-lit” sisters and brothers. What we write is women's fiction with Af-Am characters--stories of struggle and triumph, loss, coping, love, and life, learning. But we are labeled, handicapped, before we're out of the gate. Those who are expecting urban lit are disappointed, and those (white folks) who might enjoy our work because the theme might be relevant to their life (like What Doesn't Kill You, our last book about a woman who loses her job after 25 yrs), don't ever see it because it's in "that" section and they aren't going "there." We wrote a blog about this subject a few years ago and repost it every year--because, sadly, it's still relevant. (Nov 20 entry-Writing White. http://bit.ly/3isaSI)

We do our best with our craft, but get “editorial” requests to add “more grit” or “more sex” and when we don’t, can find ourselves without a publisher. This tactic has already cost us the final payment of a very lucrative contract---and a publisher. And despite exuberant praise from our editor about our new book (March 2010) “I kissed the manuscript when I finished...” we find ourselves wondering if we will get a deal for another book. We certainly know that if we were starting out in today’s climate, it is unlikely we would have ever been given a chance.

I am going to resist the urge to be pejorative about urban fiction, but it is well known that most of these books are “under-written and under-edited” and are viewed strictly as profit centers. I do question what it means when books about pimps, hos and thugs, are fast becoming the predominant image we have on display in bookstores—a kind of anti-Obama if you will. What will happen when our young people find their choices limited like they were only a couple of decades ago?

I will not ask that Oprah select a book by one of us mid-list AA authors for her book club. I will not ask her to condemn the proliferation of badly written urban lit which would likely instigate another rap/hip-hop debacle. (While I do liken it to the crack epidemic in our communities in the '80's.) But I will ask for her attention. A word or two on this subject from Oprah, Champion of Things Literary, would I believe, make a world of difference in our plight. It might even mean that we keep encouraging young writers and continue to get emails like this one we received 2 weeks ago:

Hi,
My name is Carlie and I am a writer. I have loved books my entire life but have never been as inspired to write a full novel myself, until I met you when I was in high school. Up until then, I had dreams of becoming a published author, but was afraid to step put and do more than just a collection of short stories and poetry. Not that writing those don't require equal talent, but I have found that there is something about the dedication it takes to write a full length novel that I admire. I believe it was my sophomore year when you two came to my high school (Lanier High School in Austin, TX). You did a reading of Trying... and then handed out copies that you autographed for us. I have read my copy over and over again over the years and I fall in love with the characters every time as if for the first time. I was so excited when the second book came out because it felt like a chance for me to catch up with old friends lol. I have been working on a novel and have almost completed the first manuscript. I know I still have a lot of revision ahead of me but I thought it would be nice to get some advice from someone who has inspired me on how to begin my journey into the world of publishing. I would really appreciate it if you have a few minutes to share some of your words of wisdom and advice. Thank you so much for continuing to do what you do because you give women like me hope for my own future success. Love, Carlie Dempsey

Thanks for letting me rant,
Virginia DeBerry
http://deberryandgrant.com

CLICK HERE AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION ON GALLEY CAT

Bernice L. McFadden

Ain't I A Woman Author?

Isabella Van Wagenen aka Sojourner Truth was born into slavery in Hurley, New York in 1797. She was released following the New York Anti Slavery Law of 1827, however slavery was not abolished nationwide for 35 years. She lived for a time with a Quaker family who gave her the only education she ever received. She became an outspoken advocate of women's rights as well as blacks' rights. In 1843, she changed her name to Sojourner Truth.

Sojourner Truth gave her famous "Ain't I a Woman?" speech at the 1851 Women's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio

"I want to say a few words about this matter. I am for woman's rights. I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man. I have borne children and seen most of them sold into slavery, and when I cried out with a mother's grief, none but Jesus heard me. And ain't I a woman?"

For the second year in a row Penguin Publisher's (publisher of all six of my literary titles including SUGAR) asked their authors to tell them which books they'd most like to receive this holiday season.

There were exactly 42 authors profiled and not one of was African-American. Why is that?
I know for a fact that Terry Mcmillan and Eric Jerome Dickey publish with imprints under the Penguin Group umbrella, but they and others were noticeably absent from the list.

What message are they sending readers? Is the message once again that AFAM writer's are not as important as their white counterparts? That we are second or even third class writers entitled only a marginal portion of the book loving population?

Publisher's Weekly released its Best Books of 2009 list and correct me if I am wrong about this - but there was only one AFAM writer on that list (that I saw) which was Colson Whitehead's book Sag Harbor. (Congrats Colson!) but surely there were other great books published by AFAM writers in 2009, right?

If you thought SEG-BOOK-GATION was a fairytale - the above information confirms that its not a fairytale, but a nightmare.

Pardon me, while I borrow parts of Sojourner's speech to express my own outrage:

"I want to say a few words about this matter. I am for Black writers right to be read by all people of ALL colors. I have as much intellect and imagination as any white writer, and I create well written, thought provoking stories that rake the readers heart over coals of emotions. I have written novels to see them published without any support from marketing or publicity and when I cried out with an authors grief, none but God heard me. And ain't I a author?"

**11/19/09 - it seems as though public outrage works - as of today the site was updated to include Eric Jerome Dickey***

Bernice L. McFadden

I AM PRECIOUS

I went to see Precious on Sunday. I read the book during the summer and so was completely prepared for the violence, the tears, the love and the ultimate message.

Director Lee Daniels did a wonderful job of transferring the story onto the big screen. I appreciated the “light-heartedness” Daniel's interjected here and there. Those moments allowed me a moment to unclench my jaw and unball my fists..it allowed me to come up for air.

I loved Mo’ Nique in Shadow Boxer and so knew that she would have no problem throwing herself into this dramatic role. And if she does not get an Oscar nomination, well let’s just say that I will be the first to throw the literary version of a roman candle.

New comer Gabourey “Gabby” Sidbibe was so believable, that I totally forgot that she was the young, vibrant, booty-shaking, drop it like its hot black queen I first saw on The Ellen Show – thank God the fantasy sequels were there to remind me that I was watching a actress immersed in a role – and not a beaten, battered, young woman. Gabby also gave an Oscar worthy performance.

So now I pose the question to myself:

AM I PRECIOUS?

I suppose some parts of me are. As a young girl it was common practice to drape a towel over my head, snatch up a comb or brush, pop in an 8-Track, plant myself in front of my mirror and pretend to be someone other than me.

AM I PRECIOUS?

Yes, I was picked on and ridiculed in school.

AM I PRECIOUS?

I can only remember being struck by mother only twice in my lifetime. My father on the other hand was a follower of the “spare the rod, spoil the child” rule.

AM I PRECIOUS?

I have unconditional love for my child and have done and will continue to do everything in my power to provide for and protect her.

AM I PRECIOUS?

Of course I am and so are you.

I’ve been reading some of the reviews coming out of the African-American community and as was the case with The Color Purple – the cry is: Why, oh why does Hollywood always have to show the so called “dark side” of African American life!?

We as a people often feel that Hollywood continuously portrays AFAM people in a negative light. And this is not to say that they are not guilty of this.

But if I can ask you to change your thinking for a minute and look at yourself as an AMERICAN – not just an AFRICAN-AMERICAN. Precious is not a “Black” story. Unfortunately, this particular story is as American as apple pie.

Precious is not just a “black” girl who lives in the housing projects of black ghettoes – Precious is also that that blue-eyed, blond haired girl in a small town or big city America. You know her; we met PRECIOUS in Dorothy Allison’s novel – Bastard out of Carolina.

In that book her name was Ruth Ann “Bone” Boatwright.

There are hundreds of thousands of PRECIOUS’ in this world. She comes in all colors and from just as many ethnic and religious backgrounds. She is male and female.

Dysfunction is not a “Black” thing – it’s a “People” thing – and as difficult as it is to write, to read and to watch – it has to be done, or else the cycle will continue.

Awareness is the key to recovery.


“Life is hard. Life is short. Life is painful. Life is rich. Life is....Precious.” – Movie Tagline.

Bernice L. McFadden

SUGAR Campaign *UPDATE*

So here is the new cover. Do you like it? drop me a line and let me know.

I've been working very hard to get the message out to the world about Sugar's 10th anniversary and thanks to all of you, I've been making some headway!

I've been able to monitor some of the activity on amazon.com and so Saturday morning was an extremely happy day for me when I woke to find that SUGAR had a ranking of 3605!!! Which says a lot for a book that is nearly 10 years old.

I'm still a ways off from reaching the 10K mark, so please continue spreading the love!


xoxo

Bernice L. McFadden

Glorious: The Story Behind the Story

My novel GLORIOUS was six years in the making and now it's just six months away from publication. The story first came to me in 2004 as I sat in my kitchen sipping tea when I became suddenly was aware of the presence of two women, who I will contend until the day I die, were the spirits of Zora Neale Hurston and Nella Larsen. I listened to what they had to say and then went to my office and typed out the first twenty-pages of what would become Glorious.

It was no easy journey. The road from that first day to here was a long, arduous one paved with rejections letters, the death of my father and oceans and oceans of tears.

But we don’t do anything in this life alone and without the love and support of my family, friends, fellow scribes, guides, readers and God – this book would never have seen the light of day.

THANK YOU!

Glorious is set against the backdrops of the Jim Crow South, the Harlem Renaissance, and the civil rights era. On a hot July 4th afternoon, in Reno, Nevada boxers Jack Johnson and James Jeffries engaged in what would be come to known as "The Fight of the Century."

Jack Johnson would become the first ever Negro Heavy Weight Champion of the World. His victory set off race riots in many major cities across the country and ignited a chain of events that would forever change the life of a small, town girl named Easter Venetta Bartlett.

Blending the truth of American history with the fruits of my rich imagination, this is the story of Easter Venetta Bartlett, a fictional Harlem Renaissance writer whose tumultuous path to success, ruin, and revival offers a candid portrait of the American experience in all its beauty and cruelty.

Glorious is filled with a cast of historical figures. One man that makes a brief appearance is Cuban band leader, Xavier Cugat. His band was the resident band of The Waldorf Astoria Hotel before and after WWII. Cugat was also a cartoonist.


Now here's where it get's real interesting....

Xavier Cugat is widely known for his musical talents, while his artistic skills are probably a lesser known fact. But do you know who this famous bandleaders brother was?

Francis Cugat!


Name not ringing a bell?

How about Celestial Eyes..?

Still nothing, huh?

Well maybe this will:




Yep! Francis Cugats painting: Celestial Eyes was the artwork on the book jacket for F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby.


Did you know that when the Great Gatsby was published in 1925, it was not immediately popular and even after being adapted into a play and a feature film, it was soon forgotten. It wasn't until it was republished in 1945 and 1953 that it gained a wide readership and became the successful piece of literature it is today.

Bernice L. McFadden

Rooted Against The Wind

Author and educator Gloria Wades-Gayle published a book of essays entitled: Rooted Against the Wind. In it she writes about cultural memory being the “root” and the “polarization of class and race,” the fierce winds.

I write to breath life back into memory to remind African-Americans of our rich and textured history. I also see myself as a “root” and for me the “fierce winds” are the marginalization of African American writers.

Whether I am unwilling or unable to conform to the requirements of mainstream publishing is not the question nor is it the solution. As a Black woman I carry centuries of physical and emotional brutality as well as an assortment of epistemic violence in my DNA and so when my voice is restricted or attempts are made to silence me completely, it is this emotional memory that is awakened.

Some of you may perceive my accusations to be the rants and ravings of an “angry” black woman, or better yet, an author scorned – when in reality it is a rebel howl – the first notice that I do not intend to go quietly into the dark night. I was put here for a specific reason and that was to produce works that would contribute to the canon of literature created by those writers who came before me. And I cannot and will not allow any man or woman to take that duty away from me.

Legacies are delicate things. They must be tended to as one would tend an orchid so that it will continue to flourish and provide beautiful blooms. The legacy of African American literature has been neglected, the works of brilliant writers both published and aspiring - ignored.

This has to change.

Wallace Thurman, The Harlem Renaissance writer and literary radical said, “The time has come now, when the Negro artist can be his true self and pander to the stupidities of no one, either white or black.”

That time has come again.

And so I remain, stubbornly rooted against the wind.

Bernice L. McFadden

Sunday Notices

Next month is National Buy a Book by a Black Author and Give to Somebody Not Black Month.


Author, Ravi Howard and I, both have our eyes on this author. You should too!

I talk a lot about racisim in publishing so I found Amy Bowllan's blog Writers Against Racisim. very interesting.

Over the summer Author, Terri Woods booked The Green House to celebrate the launch of her new book Alibi. Allegdly the majority of 175 guests were denied entrance to the club because they were African-American.

Karen Q. Miller has worn many hats - author, agent and publisher. You can a learn a lot from this phenomenal woman. Check out her Publishing/Self-Publishing Seminar she will be holding at her home.

This historical figure is a character in my novel Glorious. He wasn't in F. Scott Fitzgeralds' short story The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but he did end up in the movie version of the book.

Iyanala Vanazant is having a casting call for her new reality show, Daddy's Home.

I finally understand why I write what I write.....

Bernice L. McFadden