October 14, 2006: Publishing: Fantasy Versus Reality

At last Saturday’s 2nd Annual Capital BookFest, I participated on a panel on writing and getting published. Right out the gate, the moderator, Gregg Wilhelm of Baltimore’s CityLit Project, asked me what I knew now as a published writer that I wished I knew before the book deal.

Deep question. I mean, when folks meet me, they tend to ask me about my process (“Drink – coffee or Bacardis and Coke – until the Muse allows me to channel her.”), how long did it take to write my latest book (“Time is a fluid concept – especially for West Indians, like me.”), and what was it like to meet Eric Jerome Dickey (exceedingly insightful). So, Gregg’s question gave me pause. After I stopped stuttering like Ralph Kramden inside, I ditched my internal talk points and spoke from the heart. Here’s what I said under pressure.

Visit Blogging in Black's October 14, 2006 entry to continue...

October 12, 2006: Sending Shouties!

Hey y'all.

This is a shorty to say thanks to everyone who came out to the 2nd Annual Capital BookFest this past Saturday in Largo, MD. It was a cold, rainy day, but, according to Kwame Alexander, one of the organizers, the attendance was twice what it was last year. So, next year, it'll be off the charts! God willing...

I hung out with so many of my colleagues: Lyah Beth LaFlore, Karyn Langhorne, Lori Bryant-Woolridge, Bev Shaffer (the Brownie lady!), Patricia Carter Sluby, Jonathan Luckett. And the folks on my panel -- Mondella Jones, Gregg Wilhelm, and Ralph Eubanks... we killed! The place was packed. I hope folks there were able to take away something useful from what we were laying down. And, hey, if I missed mentioning anyone, please forgive me. I'm in serious C.R.S. mode lately.

Now -- focus on me -- I told you in the last post about Blogging in Black, the blog for us, by us... or is that FUBU? Anyhu, I digress. My piece on the blog appears on Saturday October 14, hopefully at 12:01 am, but please give me the West Indian-ten-minutes-past-C.P.-Time curve if it's not up the minute the clock strikes the new day. I'm still honing my acerbic wit (that's the Brooklyn-Jersey part of The Kid). So, stay tuned. You'll be able to find me at Blogging in Black on the fourteenth of every month. Don't be a stranger, and support us!

All right. I'm going to dig out my warm coat now. And then maybe I'll go take Dogzilla for a run in the newly fallen leaves. I just love autumn!

peace.