The World According to ChickLitGurrl™

Where the WORD is IT :: Editorial/Writing Assistance offered by author, editor, educator Shōn Bacon

Author Versandra Kennebrew Discusses Memoir Writing @ AtBaP January 9, 2009

Filed under: All the Blog's a Page, Shon Bacon, chicklitgurrl, publicity — Shon @ 11:12 am

For the month of JANUARY, All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP) is looking at memoir writing, and this week, we’re featuring Versandra Kennebrew, author of the memoir, Thank God for the Shelter!

For January, I asked the following set of questions:

  • What do you think is the lure of memoirs for readers?
  • Do you think there is a bit of egotism on the part of the writer who focuses on memoirs as a means to “tell stories”?
  • Why did you, as writer, feel compelled to write your story
  • Why did you feel compelled to share this story with others?

Versandra began her explanation to the questions by stating, “The lure of memoirs for readers is the same as that of reality shows. People want to know what’s really going on in the lives of our leaders, celebrities, and heroes. They want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly because it helps them see that they too have a chance at greatness.”

To read the rest of Versandra Kennebrew’s thoughts on memoirs and to read a small snippet from her book, head to All the Blog’s a Page!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) – Where everything relates to writing

[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

 

Author CD Mitchell on Memoir Writing @ AtBaP January 2, 2009

Filed under: All the Blog's a Page, craft, the writing life — Shon @ 12:44 pm
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HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYBODY! HOPE ‘09 BRINGS YOU ACHIEVED GOALS AND MUCH HAPPINESS!

For the month of JANUARY, All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP) is looking at memoir writing, and we kick off the new year with one of my dear friends and my second “husband” (there’s a story there, trust me), author CD Mitchell!


CD is the Blues Brothers holding the beer bottle.

For January, I asked the following set of questions:

  • What do you think is the lure of memoirs for readers?
  • Do you think there is a bit of egotism on the part of the writer who focuses on memoirs as a means to “tell stories”?
  • Why did you, as writer, feel compelled to write your story
  • Why did you feel compelled to share this story with others?

CD wrote a piece titled “The Lure of Memoir,” from which he writes, “Memoir is not the genre of self-promotion. In memoir, we do not take a podium and say “I did this! I am great!” We instead take the podium and say, “This happened to me. Please forgive my ignorance. I have learned from the experience and am a better person as a result. Forgive me for what I was before; learn from what I am now.”

“Memoir does not attempt to exalt the writer or to elevate the writer to some lofty, unattainable status over his reader. Instead, we seek to find common ground with our misery and mistakes. Instead of creating envy in our readers, we seek to establish a universal moment where the reader can see himself in the author’s words and can say “I understand how you feel.” The memoirist seeks to create empathy, common ground, and a realization that we all can do better.

“Perhaps the memoirist’s code should be the scripture that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”"

To read the rest of CD Mitchell’s “The Lure of Memoir” and to take a sneak peek into his column “Why Do I Write,” head to All the Blog’s a Page!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) – Where everything relates to writing
[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

 

Activist/Author Nathan James on Homosexuality & Writing @ AtBaP December 29, 2008

Filed under: All the Blog's a Page, Shon Bacon, publicity — Shon @ 1:00 am

For the month of DECEMBER, All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP) is looking at homosexuality and writing, and we have five wonderful writers whomarry the subject into their writings in engaging, page-turning ways!

Last, but definitely not least, we spotlight Nathan James, activist and author of Check Ride, among other great reads.!

About the book: Gilbert Savage is a young, hot pilot for AirEast, a New York City charter airline. When his friend and fellow pilot, Mario Freeman offers him an orientation flight, or “check ride”, in the company’s big new party jet, Gil readily accepts.

A hair-raising near-miss with a light plane on landing brings hidden passions between Gil and Mario to the surface. As they go beyond the mile-high club, the errant light plane pilot schemes to get the young lovers fired. The son of the CEO, the Cessna pilot, has an evil agenda. Will the lovers weather the storm and take their budding relationship to new heights, or will they crash and burn?

For December, I got greedy and asked the panel THREE questions:  How have your works been received by readers of all orientations….In the stories you have written and are planning to write, what ideas and themes do you see reoccurring that shed light on homosexuality….At the end of the day, if there was one thing you wanted your readers to remember in regards to homosexuality, what would that thing be?

In answering the question, How have your works been received by readers of all orientations, James replied, “I have been very well received by the LGBT community, and much to my surprise, I’ve been getting feedback from straight women, as well! I hadn’t expected that, but I have since become aware that there is an interest in gay lit which extends beyond the gay/lesbian community. I have been privileged to participate in discussions and panels during which I’ve learned that the gay/lesbian genre is evolving into something that can stand on its own as a literary art form.”

To read the rest of Nathan James’ responses, head to All the Blog’s a Page! And definitely check out our other guests this month: Monica Nolan, Lee Hayes, Eternity Philops, and J.M. Snyder!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) – Where everything relates to writing
[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

 

Author Monica Nolan Talks about Homosexuality & Writing @ AtBaP December 22, 2008

Filed under: All the Blog's a Page, publicity — Shon @ 1:28 pm
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For the month of DECEMBER, All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP) is looking at homosexuality and writing, and we have five wonderful writers who marry the subject into their writings in engaging, page-turning ways!

Today, we spotlight Monica Nolan, author of Lois Lenz, Lesbian Secretary!

About the book: Lois Lenz, Lesbian Secretary pays affectionate homage to the lurid pulp novels of the 50s and 60s. A sexy, titillating spoof of the illicit world of lesbian pulp fiction, Lois Lenz, Lesbian Secretary tells the steamy story of a former cheerleader with a penchant for filing. When Lois finds a job in the big city and a room at the Magdalena Arms women-only boarding house, she discovers just how seductive the society of other career girls can be.

For December, I got greedy and asked the panel THREE questions:  How have your works been received by readers of all orientations….In the stories you have written and are planning to write, what ideas and themes do you see reoccurring that shed light on homosexuality….At the end of the day, if there was one thing you wanted your readers to remember in regards to homosexuality, what would that thing be?

In answering the question, “In the stories you write and are planning to write, what ideas and themes do you see recurring that shed light on homosexuality,” Nolan began her response with, “First, I have to rewrite the question a little bit—I never use the word homosexual and would feel silly using it seriously. For me the term carries overtones of the 1950s attitudes towards gays and lesbians. I think of “Homosexuality” as medico-legal jargon used in headlines warning about a homosexual plague or the cover blurb for those pseudo-sociological books promising “a searing portrait of today’s homosexual.” This is the kind of language I try to parody in the books I’ve written and am planning to write. For example, I have my heroine, Lois, exclaim in a moment of self discovery, “I think I’m a deviant too!” In my book, of course, this is a positive thing.”

To read the rest of Monica Nolan’s responses, head to All the Blog’s a Page! And definitely check out our other guests this month: Lee Hayes, Eternity Philops, and J.M. Snyder!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) – Where everything relates to writing

[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

 

Homosexuality & Writing: Lee Hayes, Editor of Flesh to Flesh December 15, 2008

Filed under: All the Blog's a Page, Shon Bacon, publicity — Shon @ 3:01 am
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For the month of DECEMBER, All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP) is looking at homosexuality and writing, and we have five wonderful writers whomarry the subject into their writings in engaging, page-turning ways!

Today, we spotlight author Lee Hayes, who has taken a turn as editor for the steamy, raw collection of gay erotica, Flesh to Flesh!

About the book: Erotic is defined as arousing, or designed to arouse, feelings of sexual desire. In his latest effort, Lee Hayes, the award-winning and highly-acclaimed author of Passion Marks and the thriller The Messiah, steps out of the box and adds to his writing credentials as editor of the highly anticipated erotic anthology Flesh to Flesh, released on the Simon and Schuster imprint, Strebor Books International. Taking a page from Strebor International’s founder and New York Times bestselling author Zane, Hayes, picks up the torch and provides an electrically charged and unapologetic look into the sexual lives of gay men—a world once considered taboo and forbidden.

For December, I got greedy and asked the panel THREE questions:  How have your works been received by readers of all orientations….In the stories you have written and are planning to write, what ideas and themes do you see reoccurring that shed light on homosexuality….At the end of the day, if there was one thing you wanted your readers to remember in regards to homosexuality, what would that thing be?

In answering the question, “How have your works been received by readers of all orientations,” Hayes began his reply by stating, “In general, my books have been received surprisingly well by people from all walks of life. One of the things that I try to do is try to create whole and fatally flawed characters, just like in real life. I don’t focus on sexuality as an aberration; my characters aren’t struggling with their sexual orientation, they know who they are and their homosexuality is just a part of their lives. So, when you create real people with real issues that folks can relate and connect to, then the reader usually gets caught up in the lives of the characters, not just their sexuality.”

To read the rest of Lee Hayes’ responses, head to All the Blog’s a Page! And definitely check out our other guests this month: Eternity Philops and J.M. Snyder!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) – Where everything relates to writing
[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

 

Author Eternity Philops Talks about Homosexuality & Writing December 8, 2008

Filed under: All the Blog's a Page, Shon Bacon, publicity — Shon @ 8:31 am
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For the month of DECEMBER, All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP) is looking at homosexuality and writing, and we have five wonderful writers who marry the subject into their writings in engaging, page-turning ways!

Last week, we premiered the topic with author J.M. Snyder; this week, we have the lovely, talented Eternity Philops, author of Visions of a Cryptic Mystery:  Volume One!



About the book:  VISIONS OF A CRYPTIC MYSTERY: VOLUME ONE is Eternity Philops’ first accomplished collection. A debut of her unique writing style and talent, VISIONS showcases a diverse compendium of poetry and short stories born to Philops’ over an extensive period of time.

Divided into concentrated segments, Philops’ literary assemblage encompasses works expressing love, life, and loss. Each piece is a real world reflection of the Black lesbian experience: feel the intense sensations of a woman’s divergent physical attraction; look on as two lifelong friends reflect on the path not taken. Submerge yourself in the poetic prose of unconditional love, unfortunate loss, and all that’s inbetween.

VISIONS VOL. ONE will take readers on a journey that delves into their own emotions and passions. From the sexual to the spiritual, Philops’ creative imagery and metaphoric verse brings to life one’s own imaginative and emotional senses.

For December, I got greedy and asked the panel THREE questions:  How have your works been received by readers of all orientations……In the stories you have written and are planning to write, what ideas and themes do you see reoccurring that shed light on homosexuality……At the end of the day, if there was one thing you wanted your readers to remember in regards to homosexuality, what would that thing be?

In answering the question, “How have your works been received by readers of all orientations,” Philops replied, “The response to my book has been overwhelmingly positive, from readers and reviewers, straight and gay. Though I dedicated it to Black lesbians, the raw emotion behind the poetry and short stories is familiar to anyone. I also like to think that my unique writing talent attracts readers. I try to be different, to stand out among other writers with my style.

“Even in cases of disagreement on the issue of homosexuality itself I have still had a positive experience. There was an instance where I submitted myself and my work for review. The reviewer was unfamiliar with the content or my orientation, and upon finding out, he actually considered passing over me because I am gay. In the end he decided that exposing writers was far more important than his personal views, which I of course agreed with completely. The experience was an encouraging one in that this person did not let his personal prejudices cloud his opinion of me as an author. Too often it happens the other way around.”

To read the rest of Eternity Philops’ responses and to take a peek into her book, head to All the Blog’s a Page!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) – Where everything relates to writing

[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

 

Author J.M. Snyder Discusses Homosexuality & Writing December 1, 2008

Filed under: All the Blog's a Page, publicity — Shon @ 8:36 am
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For the month of DECEMBER, All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP) is looking at homosexuality and writing, and we have five wonderful writers who marry the subject into their writings in engaging, page-turning ways!

Up first is the author of erotic and romantic fiction, J.M. Snyder, whose book The Positions of Love is released this month from Amber Allure Press!


About the book:  Vic Braunson is a city bus driver who falls in love with Matt diLorenzo, a swimmer he meets at the gym. When they finally hook up, there’s no denying the energy between them. Something about Matt brings out the best in Vic—literally. Every time they have sex, Vic gains new superhuman powers from his lover.

When Matt gives Vic a copy of the Kama Sutra for Gay Men as a Christmas gift, they find it doubles as a handy reference guide to Vic’s super powers. All they have to do is test out the positions to see which one gives him what ability.

This paperback collection contains all twelve stories in J.M. Snyder’s best-selling e-book series, The Positions of Love, and will be available in print December 2008.

For December, I got greedy and ask the panel THREE questions:  How have your works been received by readers of all orientations // In the stories you have written and are planning to write, what ideas and themes do you see reoccurring that shed light on homosexuality // At the end of the day, if there was one thing you wanted your readers to remember in regards to homosexuality, what would that thing be?

Head to All the Blog’s a Page to read what J.M. had to say about these intriguing questions!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) – Where everything relates to writing

[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

 

Author Sarah Weathersby on Being a Female Writer November 24, 2008

Filed under: All the Blog's a Page, publicity — Shon @ 4:09 pm
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For the month of NOVEMBER, All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP) is spotlighting FEMALE WRITERS!

During our final week, we are featuring Sarah Weathersby, author of the memoir, Motherless Child, stories from a life!

About the book:  Imagine you gave a baby up for adoption forty years ago, and after years of trying to find her, she finds you. Now come the hard questions. She’s healthy, beautiful, and successful, but she wants to know why you gave her away and why you didn’t marry her father. And there is also the unspoken question of “What kind of black woman gives her baby away?” How do you explain to her that giving her away was the best gift you could offer? This is Sarah Weathersby’s first published work, a coming-of-age-in-the-sixties-single-black-pregnant and on the way to Germany, memoir.

The Question for November: Reflect on the stories you have written – the stories waiting to be written.  What themes, topics do you find your writerly mind pushing you to write?  How do these themes, topics portray themselves through you as a female writer?

To begin her response, Sarah wrote, “I write about the things that keep me awake at night, as well as the things that bring me joy. If you follow my blogs, the topics can be the trivial how to work my new camera or the gut-wrenching mental breakdown of a family member. I started writing poems as a little girl when my oldest brother went off to the Korean War.”

Head to All the Blog’s a Page to read the rest of Sarah’s response to November’s question…and to read a wonderful excerpt from her memoir!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) – Where everything relates to writing
[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

 

Bestselling Author J. D. Mason & Being a Female Writer November 10, 2008

Filed under: All the Blog's a Page, chicklitgurrl, publicity — Shon @ 9:26 am
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For the month of NOVEMBER, All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP) is featuring FEMALE WRITERS!

This week, we feature bestselling author J.D. Mason!

The Question for November: Reflect on the stories you have written – the stories waiting to be written.  What themes, topics do you find your writerly mind pushing you to write?  How do these themes, topics portray themselves through you as a female writer?

J. D. begins her response by stating, “I think I’m psychic!  LOL  Or, maybe just very intuitive.  I seem to find myself pursuing the story within the story, meaning, the story of turmoil or revelation going on inside the characters, in addition to the turmoil and revelations going on around them.  I don’t know if anyone else would agree, but that’s the heart of the story to me.  I look at it like this, five totally unrelated people could be going through the exact same problem (or pretty similar); they could all be broke, or sick, or having problems in their romantic relationships.  But those five people will each have a different perspective of their issues, and they’ll each approach their solutions to those issues differently.  For instance, one woman might discover that her husband is cheating on her, and go ballistic beating him with a broomstick.  Whereas another woman could have the same discovery, but ends up throwing his clothes on the front lawn, sets them on fire, changes all the locks on the house and files for divorce.”

J.D. has a lot more to say and you can read it and learn more about her latest novel YOU GOTTA SIN TO GET SAVED by heading to All the Blog’s a Page now!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) – Where everything relates to writing

[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]

 

Annette Marie Hyder on Being a Female Writer November 1, 2008

Filed under: All the Blog's a Page, the writing life, writings — Shon @ 6:12 pm
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For the month of NOVEMBER, All the Blog’s a Page (AtBaP) is featuring FEMALE WRITERS!

First up, freelance journalist/editor, artist and author Annette Marie Hyder!

The Question for November: Reflect on the stories you have written – the stories waiting to be written. What themes, topics do you find your writerly mind pushing you to write? How do these themes, topics portray themselves through you as a female writer?

In her response, Annette said, “I am drawn to stories about passion, exploration and discovery. Adversity captures my imagination as well. Myths, fairytales and legends are woven throughout my work as reference, allusion, retelling, and mirror. My heroine’s grow wings – are forbidden to fly – but flaunt their feathers anyway, lose their voices to Winter but find new ways to speak, meet the Big Bad Wolf and tell his tale with sympathy, pluck truths like fruits from fairytale trees and sink their teeth in. They fill their aprons and offer these fruits to others, make delicious dishes of them, preserve them, candied and canned but always with the essence remaining. My heroines, whether walking through the shadows of adversity, running through avenues of fear, or pausing at intersections of indecision, have shod their feet with winged sandals and wear passion as a blade to pierce mysteries and conundrums alike. They search for the bridge that spans a void which has, on the one side fear, and on the other side discovery.”

To read the rest of Annette’s response and read more about this EVERYWOMAN, head to All the Blog’s a Page now!

ALL THE BLOG’S A PAGE (AtBaP) – Where everything relates to writing

[http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com]