Bernice L. McFadden's Blog, page 32
July 30, 2009
All is well with the Universe...
Last week I went to visit the final resting place of novelist, Nella Larsen. She's buried at Cypress Hill Cemetery, which is not more than seven minutes away from me. Some years back I read the biography, In Search of Nella Larsen, written by Professor George Hutchinson and was surprised to learn that the funeral parlor that handled Nella's funeral service was located just a few blocks away from me and was still in business.
For some reason Nella had been heavy on my mind and I found myself consu
For some reason Nella had been heavy on my mind and I found myself consu
July 22, 2009
July 16, 2009
A year of doubt...a story of faith.
A little over a year ago I was sitting at my computer (as usual) working on what, I don't remember - when - I was suddenly stricken with a weird, pain on the left side of my head. I went to lay down and when I got up again I was completely off kilter. I would come to learn that I had vertigo.
Have you had it? I would not wish it on my worse enemy. Okay...maybe I would.
What followed the vertigo was the publishers decision not to renew my Geneva Holliday contract and the fact that my manuscript (Gl
Have you had it? I would not wish it on my worse enemy. Okay...maybe I would.
What followed the vertigo was the publishers decision not to renew my Geneva Holliday contract and the fact that my manuscript (Gl
July 12, 2009
I may have to take the high road aka e-book highway
Boyd Morrison uploaded his book - The Ark - to Kindle, apparently his sales were such that it set the dinner bells off at the publishing houses and they came a calling and now Morrison has a multi-book deal with Simon and Schuster.
Publishing is changing right before our very eyes. I gotta tell you though, I like the feel of a book, the idea of reading a book from a hand held device is not appealing at all. But to each it's own, right?
However, I am not opposed to utilizing it for the purpose of
Publishing is changing right before our very eyes. I gotta tell you though, I like the feel of a book, the idea of reading a book from a hand held device is not appealing at all. But to each it's own, right?
However, I am not opposed to utilizing it for the purpose of
July 9, 2009
My Own Personal Sally Hemmings revelation...
I am a student of history, often wiling away days and weeks researching items that are of interest to me. I have been researching my paternal history for more than a decade now. Every now and again I unearth some new jewel which more than makes up for the years of bumping into the same six foot high, concrete wall that is common place in the search for AA ancestors.
There are many variations of McFadden - MacFadyn, McFadyn, McFaddin - and so one can be a McFadden on the 1890 census and then magic
There are many variations of McFadden - MacFadyn, McFadyn, McFaddin - and so one can be a McFadden on the 1890 census and then magic
July 6, 2009
Do you Boo..
In 11 days I will be sitting on a panel at the Harlem Book Fair entitled: Killing Me Softly - how publishing is killing the black book market.
It's no secret that we will be discussing the fact that publishers are blatantly ignoring AA authors whose novels do not fall under the street, urban or erotica lit umbrellas.
(Know one ever told me life was fair.)
*shrugging shoulders*
I'm sure that on July 18th the discussion will be a passionate one complete with finger wagging, finger pointing, slander sl
It's no secret that we will be discussing the fact that publishers are blatantly ignoring AA authors whose novels do not fall under the street, urban or erotica lit umbrellas.
(Know one ever told me life was fair.)
*shrugging shoulders*
I'm sure that on July 18th the discussion will be a passionate one complete with finger wagging, finger pointing, slander sl
June 29, 2009
12 Hours of Murphy's Law
For me Friday June 26th will be a day that will always live in infamy. I'm still shocked that I survived it. I'm quite sure I don't ever - ever-ever-ever - want to experience another day like it.
Friday I was due to head out to Austin, Texas to attend the Black Book Festival. I never made it there. Here's what happened:
2:30PM - Still bleary eyed from crying my eyes out over the sudden death of MJ, I pop two extra strength Tylenol to beat back the migraine that's pulsing on the side of my head. I
Friday I was due to head out to Austin, Texas to attend the Black Book Festival. I never made it there. Here's what happened:
2:30PM - Still bleary eyed from crying my eyes out over the sudden death of MJ, I pop two extra strength Tylenol to beat back the migraine that's pulsing on the side of my head. I
June 25, 2009
RIP MJ
He was my first love. The first boy to make my heart go pitter-patter. When I grew up I was for sure he was going to be my husband and I his wife. I saw him perform live during the famed Victory tour. I had the best seats - from where I stood it was as if he was singing just to me. It was magic. Till this day, his song, Heartbreak Hotel still brings goosebumps.
He was a genius and an enormous talent.
The world will never be the same.
Bernice L. McFadden
June 23, 2009
Bipolar Links
RAGE!!!
Reading this almost made my head explode! I feel shat upon! How much deeper will the degradation go? Nordette Adams writes about Penguins insulting misstep where AA authors are concerned.
HAPPY:
Happy Pub Day to Carleen Brice!
Ecstatic:
Opening Chapters is so needed! Thank you so much for celebrating the AA literary wordsmith!! (Fist thrust high above my head)
Stupid:
Yes, I am writer so why is writing a detailed outline of my work history (otherwise known as a resume) so goddamn difficult? (N
Reading this almost made my head explode! I feel shat upon! How much deeper will the degradation go? Nordette Adams writes about Penguins insulting misstep where AA authors are concerned.
HAPPY:
Happy Pub Day to Carleen Brice!
Ecstatic:
Opening Chapters is so needed! Thank you so much for celebrating the AA literary wordsmith!! (Fist thrust high above my head)
Stupid:
Yes, I am writer so why is writing a detailed outline of my work history (otherwise known as a resume) so goddamn difficult? (N
June 22, 2009
One step forward....
Who the hell is Michael Thomas??? That's exactly what I said when I read that the debut novel Man Gone Down written by AFRICAN-AMERICAN author Michael Thomas had won the Impac Dublin Prize.
This news of course got me to doing the happy dance, complete with flinging arms and gyrating hips - and a whole bunch of Yippeeeeeeeee's!
Never heard of that prize? Well its the largest and most international prize of its kind. It involves libraries from all of the world and books written in any language. And
