• Through The Lens,  writing life

    Hey Boy, Hey…

     

    Thanks Ryan. Here’s the link.

     

    Loves,

    Me

     

    Happy Friday and Thanks to Maureen McGowan  and the fab women of Drunk Writer Talk for reminding me that Ryan has our back.

     

    P to the S!

    I had to add this bit of joy that I was alerted to this morning. Please head on over to the fab Scandalicious Book Reviews and check out what she has to say about Through The Lens. 4 Stars! Full of Swoon. Oh yeah!! What a way to start out the weekend.

     

  • my view,  writers,  writing life

    Putting Your Heart Into It…

    Happy Monday!

    And good afternoon thanks to some not so fun blog uploading problems today. I’m hoping you had a great weekend. This weekend I went to the New Jersey romance writers Put Your Heart in a Book Conference. What a great time I had and it was so inspirational. But then again I always find it inspirational when I get with so many writer ladies (and a the few writer men) at these conferences. I attended many informative workshops that had me feeling both empowered and gave me lots of room for thought on where I can improve both my craft and the business side of things especially now that I have my first book out, Through The Lens.

    And speaking of marketing Through The Lens, I was so happy that my first try at Goody Room swag was a success. I did these little bags with my postcard, some candy, a kaleidoscope and little camera that was all the DD’s idea. Yay! All my goodies got gone. Wait. Somehow that does not sound quite right but oh well. Now the DD is all ready to be my marketing manager. Hey, if it gives her a focus and a major than I’m all good with that.

    TTL Swag

    Below are a few pics and highlights from the weekend and the book signing. I wish I had more and I wish my cell camera was better. Sorry for the blurriness.

    Golden Leaf Award winner Dee Davis. Congrats Dee!

    RWA/NYC’s  Isabo Kelly and our newest little member on the way!

    RWA/NYC’s – Karen Cino

    Me and the fab Marie Force

    RWA/NYC’s Tanya Goodwin

    RWA/NYC’s Anna DePalo

    RWA/NYC’s Lena Hart

    And here should be the best pic of RWA/NYC’s Catherine Greenfeder.

    But I goofed and it’s all super blurry. Please take this pic of her newest release Wildflowers in it’s place. So pretty huh? Please check it out.

    Me and the lovely Angeline M. Bishop

    And now I’m hanging up my badge till next year. Thanks RWA NJ!

    All the best,

    Kwana

     

     

  • authors,  book launch,  writers

    Nope you can’t plan it… Interview with author Synithia Williams

    Don’t you just love finding new friends? I sure do and today I’m please to introduce you to a new writer friend and fellow Crimson author, Synithia William’s whose book YOU CAN’T PLAN LOVE has just come out this week.

     

    Welcome Synithia and congratulations!

    Thanks so much for having me over, Kwana! I love how the internet let’s me “meet” so many new people.

    Now, I was lucky enough to get a sneak peek of the book and loved it but can you tell the blog readers about YOU CAN’T PLAN LOVE?

    Sure here’s a synopsis.

    After several bad relationships, Kenyatta Copeland decides to control her love life with the same discernment she uses in her professional life.

    Knowing firsthand the heartbreak that comes when desire and emotion rule a relationship, Kenyatta assumes marrying Brad Johnson will lead to a stable life. But as much as she believes she can plan her future, it’s hard to ignore the way her boss, Malcolm Patterson, ignites her passions with just one look. After Malcolm learns of her engagement, he makes a play for her heart and reminds her that passion between a man and a woman has its perks … but also its costs. When Brad suspects there’s more than work between Kenyatta and Malcolm, he works harder to keep Kenyatta by his side. Torn between her promise to marry Brad and her irrepressible longing for Malcolm, Kenyatta must decide if she can live her life in a passionless marriage of convenience or once again trust her heart. Yet Brad isn’t as perfect as he seems, and by the time Kenyatta realizes this it may be too late.

    What drew you to writing romance, have you always been a fan of the genre?

    I am a sucker for romance (as most of us romance writers are). I started reading romances in middle school and haven’t stopped since. Life is full of unhappy endings and negative emotions; I don’t see anything wrong with losing yourself in a romance novel and forgetting the harshness of reality.

    You’re hero has a wonderful environmental connection. Is this something that’s close to your heart?

    It is! In 2010 I was dubbed a “Green Queen” by our area’s largest newspaper. I spend my days working on sustainability projects (air, water, green business, etc.) when I needed a career for my main characters, it was easy to put them in the field of water quality. I felt most comfortable in my writing that way. I’ve noticed that in my other books, I throw in some type of “green” quality to the characters. I can’t help it, it’s ingrained in me.

    Plus, Malcolm was a kind of fantasy for me. A tall, dark, handsome man who also loves the environment. Too often “greenies” are thought of as Birkenstock wearing, granola eating, tree huggers. I wanted to show that doesn’t have to be the case.

    Now for one of my favorite questions: Please tell the story of your “overnight” writing success.

    It feels like an overnight occurrence to me. I’ve written for years, off and on, without any real push to try hard. It was always a pipe dream to become a published writer. Then in 2010, a colleague packed up her stuff and moved her three kids and husband to Ohio so she could attend law school. It was a wakeup call. If she could go after her dream, then so could I.  If I wanted to be a writer I would have to actively pursue it. So that’s what I did. I finished my book in 2010, revised numerous times in 2011, got so many critiques that I can’t begin to thank everyone (but I can do a quick shout out to Ester, TJ and Danita), took webinars, read everything I could, noticed the trend in e-books and started querying e-publishers in 2012. I am so blessed that my turnaround was quick, because I know other writers are at this for years.

    That is wonderful! Finally, please tell us what’s next for you?

    I’ve finished my second novel about Malcolm’s brother and am awaiting feedback from beta readers. In the meantime, I’m writing my third novel about Malcolm’s best friend. Ideas keep popping up, so I have about three first chapters written to other novels I hope—no will—complete one day.

    Thanks so much for being here today. It was a pleasure and I wish you much success with YOU CAN’T PLAN LOVE.

    Thanks so much for having me, Kwana! Good luck to you, too. In case your readers don’t know, your hero (Alejandro) is hot!

    Aww now I’m blushing. Thanks so much.

    YOU CAN’T PLAN LOVE can be found here at: http://tiny.cc/x9k9hw or www.crimsonromance.com

    And SYNTHIA can be reached at her website here: www.synithiawilliams.com

    And on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/synithiarwilliams

    And on Twitter here: www.twitter.com/@synithiaw

     

    All the best,

    Kwana

     

  • my view,  writers,  writing

    Really?

    Thanks to the fabulous Jennifer Weiner for tweeting this video from the amazing Laura Zigman. Every Time that bunny says, “really” I said it too. Just perfect. Chime in with your opinion on smart vs. not so smart women writers. I think you know where I stand. Really.

     

    Best,

    Kwana

  • motherhood,  writing,  writing life

    Back to the Nest

    So this crazy October snow that we got has caused one of my baby birds to return to the nest for the week since her college is in a hard hit area and has been without full power since Saturday. And though it’s lovely to have her back home guess what? I got a little used to my quiet little life at home.

    I call it a NaNo Whamo coming at the time when I’m in a writing frenzy and thought I had my writing plan all mapped out. It’s like last year all over again. Surely I’m thought of as a bad mom right now to be like you want to sleep where? Well, be quiet about it why don’t you! Oh and hugs kisses welcome home. Yep, I’m a giver.

     

     

    Best,
    Kwana

     

    image from here

  • my view,  writers,  writing,  writing life

    Summer Snow?

    Well folks I’m leaving the NYC and am off to Colorado for a little summer snow.

    Nah, not really turns out I won a cool contest and I’m off for some literary R & R at RomCon,  a conference for fans of romance, which I so am.

    So there you have it. A few days of much needed rest, relaxation and book talk. All my faves!

     But just so I don’t get too relaxed I will take my laptop and ye old manuscript with me. Wouldn’t want it to miss me and all.

     

    See you soon!

     

    Best,

    Kwana

    P.S. Don’t forget Project Runway tonight #teamBert!

  • conference,  my view,  writers,  writing life

    And the Fun Begins…

    Thanks once again for all of your well wishes for the Dear Twins and their graduation. It was such a great time and one of the happiest, proudest and most emotional moments of my life.

    I wish I had a little more time to decompress but week the of RWA National excitement begins today and it’s in my town of New York! So I’ll be out and about at writing workshops, and book signing and hopefully meeting lots of friends I have not gotten to see since the last conference and yeah, making some new ones. It all starts tonight down in Soho at Lady Jane’s Salon. Better get my skates on!

     

    Happy Monday!

    Best,

    Kwana

    image from here

  • my view,  writers,  writing life

    Charged

    Hi folks. I hope you had a wonderful weekend and all the moms out there got to celebrate either as big or as small as you wanted. I had a lovely low-key day with the DH, The Dear Twins and Jack that started with breakfast in bed and ended with a late night snack in bed. Yeah I’m sure I’ll be paying for all the indulgences later.

    On Saturday I went downtown to a very nice restaurant on 57th street for our NYC annual May Brunch. This year is our 25thChapter Anniversary and we were greeted at our place settings by these pretty little maids.

     

    As an added bonus we had the best guest speaker, New York Times best selling Paranormal and Romantic Suspense author, Caridad Pineiro. Caridad was kind enough to share with us her advice for making it as a writer in this business. She was so uplifting and inspirational. It was a terrific afternoon. You can checkout Caridad at her site here.

    Now I’m charged and ready to tackle the week. I hope you’re ready too.

    Best,

    Kwana

  • blogs,  book launch,  my view,  writers

    Hanging with a Scandalous Woman & and giveaway!

    It’s always so much fun to introduce a new author on ye old blog and even more so when that author is a friend. Today I’m so proud to have guest posting a wonderful new author and friend Elizabeth Kerri Mahon. Elizabeth is the author of Scandalous Women: The Lives and Loves of History’s Most Notorious Women. Don’t you just love that title?

     

    Well, it’s the book based on her wildly popular blog with the Scandalous women. If haven’t given Scandalous women a look. Go and check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

    I met Elizabeth many years ago when I first joined RWA/NYC the New York chapter of Romance Writers of America. She was immediately welcoming to this wanna be writer. Since I met Elizabeth she went on to becoming president of the chapter a few times over and is now a past-president and champion for the chapter and the industry. Well, during all this time Elizabeth has always been the go to person for any history question. Seriously, any question. We’d be out having a drink ,talking about something completely obscure and she’d come up with a fact that would boggle my poor mind that could not remember my morning’s breakfast. So you see, Scandalous Women was meant to be.

    When Elizabeth agreed to guest post I said she could write about one of her favorite women. Happily she choose one of hers and mine, Josephine Baker!

    So now without me further rambling on here’s Elizabeth with…

    The Night Josephine Baker went to the Stork Club

    In 1951, The Stork Club was one of the most exclusive night spots in town, and the Cub Room was reserved for the crème de la crème of society. Everyone who was anyone wanted to be seen there, and that included Josephine Baker.  But the Stork Club had a dirty little secret, the owner of the club, Sherman Billingsley, had an unstated policy against admitting blacks. On October 16, 1951 at precisely 11:15 p.m., Josephine Baker arrived at the Stork Club on East 53rd Street after her sold-out performance at the Roxy Theater.   Among her entourage were Roger Rico, the French star of South Pacific and his wife, and Bessie Buchanan, a black performer who was now a local politician. She certainly had something to celebrate that night.  After a disastrous appearance on Broadway in the Ziegfeld Follies in the ’30’s, and a brief concert tour in 1948, Josephine was finally as a big of a star in the U.S. as she was in Europe. 

    From the minute they walked in the door, something was amiss. Rico was a regular at the club, and had a reservation for the evening, but his arrival with Josephine Baker raised eyebrows. The group ordered a round of drinks and Josephine ordered a crab salad, a steak dinner and a bottle of French wine.  When their food did not arrive after more than an hour, and the waiters were unresponsive, Josephine got the distinct impression that she was not wanted there.  “The looks that the headwaiter gave and his assistants were giving me made me suspect that something was going to happen,” Baker later recalled. “But in fact the exact opposite occurred. Noting happened at all…by which I mean my friends received their orders but mind did not appear.” The owner Sherman Billingsley, who usually fawned over Roger Rico when he came in, was nowhere to be found. After an hour, Josephine was told that they were out of crab salad and steak.

    Urged on by Bessie Buchanan, Baker left the table and called two people, Walter White, the head of the NAACP and William Rowe, the black deputy commissioner of police.  On her way to the telephone, she passed influential gossip columnist Walter Winchell who was dining with a friend.  Baker now considered Winchell a witness to her ill-treatment and wanted his support, but when she returned to her table, he was gone. Winchell admitted that he was at the club but he claimed that he was not aware of there being any problem, and that he left for a late screening of a movie called Desert Fox. Rico, incensed by their treatment, angrily asked for the check, and the party left.

    NAACP quickly organized a picket line in front of the club. Josephine and her advisors also debated what they could do to publicize the affair. Billingsley claimed that the incident was exaggerated. Service at the Stork Club was known for being notoriously slow, particularly after the theatres let out. He pointed out that the party had ordered several rounds of drinks and had been served. If Josephine’s charges could be proved, he would be found in danger of violating not only the State Civil Rights Act but also the State Alcoholic Beverage Control Law. Public opinions was divided. While some saw Josephine as a heroine, others thought she was deliberately creating racial incidents to get attention.

    For Josephine it was a matter of racial pride, the sultry songstress turned Joan of Arc. From the beginning of her tour, she had fought against discrimination, demanding that she would perform for integrated audiences only at every venue.  She also asked for and got integrated stage crews.  Because of her convictions, she turned down lucrative engagements where club owners refused to comply with her demands.  Josephine had also advocated integrated hiring of bus drivers in Oakland, CA and the integration of housing in Cicero, IL For her work, The NAACP had honored her with a Josephine Baker Day in Harlem on May 20, 1951. 100,000 people turned out to honor her.  Her activism was particularly dangerous because she was no longer an American citizen; she was in the U.S. under a temporary performance visa.

    While Josephine’s cause had bite, her mistake was to accuse Walter Winchell of not coming to her aid. The columnist was incensed at being dragged into a dispute that wasn’t his own. The morning after the incident, Winchell had found himself big news, receiving countless telephone calls about his refusal to assist Josephine Baker. Jewish, Winchell had himself experienced his fare share of discrimination, and he prided himself on his own civil rights record. Furthermore, he felt that he was being unfairly pressured by Josephine and the NAACP into denouncing the Stork Club’s unspoken racist policy.  Sherman Billingsley was a personal friend and the Stork Club was Winchell’s club house. Almost every night Winchell could be found at his permanent table No. 50.  Since he couldn’t or wouldn’t turn his back on an old friend, Winchell began to fight back, attacking Josephine in his column. Instead of the conflict being between Baker and Billingsley, it now became Baker vs. Winchell. Winchell accused Josephine of being pro-Communist, and pro-fascist as well as anti-Semitic, despite the fact that her third husband had been Jewish. He deliberately used her own decision to perform only for integrated audiences to claim that she refused to patronize black only businesses. He also wrote to J. Edgar Hoover to ask him to look into Baker’s political activities. Josephine threatened a lawsuit against Winchell for $400,000 claiming libel but she never followed up and the case was eventually dismissed.

    Winchell’s attacks spelled the beginning of the end of his influence. His attacks became so over the top that he became the villain in the public’s eyes.  Josephine didn’t come out smelling like a rose either. She had already gained a reputation of being politically dangerous as well as a diva and now the rest of her concert tour in the U.S. was cancelled. She went back to France, where she continued her civil rights work, adopting her “Rainbow Tribe” of twelve orphans. In 1963, she spoke at the March on Washington at the side of Martin Luther King Jr. Wearing her Free French uniform emblazoned with her medal of the Légion d’honneur; she was the only woman to speak at the rally. Although the Stork Club was cleared of the charge of discrimination by a New York police commission, the club’s name was tarnished by the incident.  It would limp on for another few years before it finally closed its doors in 1965.  The building was torn down in 1966, and a small park named after William S. Paley stands in its place.

     

    Thanks so much Elizabeth! That was just wonderful and such an important part of history. What a treat. I just love Josephine.

    Folks Scandalous Women is full of so many more wonderful stories of fascinating women in history. You can purchase it here.

    And you can find Elizabeth at her blog here.

    Please leave a comment or question for Elizabeth and your name will be entered to win a copy of Scandalous Women! Winner will be announced on Thursday.

     

    Best,

    Kwana