Zetta Brown's Blog, page 3

A Tribute to Pearlsong Press - “Healing the World One Book at a Time”

This week on The Full-Bodied (Book) Blog, I am featuring the publisher and authors at  Pearlsong Press . I recently discovered the works and the mission of this publishing house and feel it important not only highlight some excellent reading and the people who made it possible, but to help spread the word.
Pearlsong Press’s mission is to publish “size positive, fat positive, mind-body-spirit positive and health-at-every-size friendly books, ebooks & resources.” An admirable cause, you must admit.


I will definitely be adding the books mentioned during the week to my library and the authors to my "who-to-read" list.
I hope you visit every day for the rest of the week, not only because there are prizes to win, but because the publisher and authors from Pearlsong Press share not only about their work, but about themselves and how authors provide a valuable service by documenting the world and society in various ways.
Here’s a rundown of what’s in store. 
Monday June 11: Healing the World One Book at a Time – Prejudice in Publishing by Peggy Elam. Who ever thought that how much you weigh could prevent your getting a publishing contract? Peggy Elam, publisher of PearlsongPress, gives one such example.

Tuesday June 12:   Size and Attitude of My Big Beautiful Heroines by Pat BallardPat Ballard, the Queen of Rubenesque Romances, discusses what inspired her to write and get published. In a world and society so obsessed with looks, Pat is proud to buck the trend. “I decided not to put a specific size on them. I wanted women of any and all sizes to read my books and be able to connect with their heroines.”



Wednesday June 13:  Watching Our Language by Lynne MurrayLynne is the creator of award-winning Josephine Fuller mystery series. Lynne gives an example of what not to do if you write about characters that are “large and in charge” if you want to keep your reader’s respect.




Thursday June 14:  Stereotyping—In Fact & Fiction by Lauri J OwenWe’re all guilty of stereotyping, but Lauri J Owen illustrates, from personal experience, how some people let their ignorance and prejudice against fat people overshadow their enjoyment of a good book.


Friday June 15:  The Road to Fatropolis by Tracey L. ThompsonTracey’s debut novel Fatropolis is bound to mark the beginning of a career as a “notable novelist,” in my opinion. She talks about the origins of the novel and makes you want to come along. Most of us will have to wait until November 2012 to visit Fatropolis, but one lucky person will get to scout ahead. Read her post on Friday and find out how.

Saturday June 16:  Curvy Girls Look at Life: Off-kilter Bodies Cause Funny Looks As Well As Pain by Linda C. WisniewskiOur education doesn’t begin in kindergarten, it begins at home. When Linda was diagnosed with scoliosis at the age of fourteen, her life goes “off kilter,” but after reading Linda’s post, I think you’ll find there’s nothing wrong with that at all.



Sunday June 17:  Big Girls Don’t Have to Cry! The Rise of the "Curvier" Girl in Romantic Fiction by Judy BagshawThe NYC publishing world has monopolized what people read for decades, and as a result, like it or not, those publishing conglomerates have been instrumental in shaping society. But they don’t know everything, and they definitely don’t control everything. Judy Bagshaw shares how she didn’t let a former editor from a major house deter her from writing—and publishing—stories featuring big, beautiful women.
Monday June 18:  Nourishing the Body and the Spirit by Ellen FrankelWe come full circle and conclude my tribute to Pearlsong Press with a reminder that there are better things to do in life than obsess about your weight and how you look. Ellen Frankel’s writings inspire you to enjoy life and appreciate things that are much more significant. Like she says, “...the center of our bliss is a richness that rivals a Godiva truffle, making enlightenment thoroughly delicious.”

Anthology to raise funds to help clean the BP Oil spill

I have special interest in this book, and not because I edited, published, and have a story in it. It's because that all money raised from this book will be divided between two charities dealing with the aftermath of the oil spill. The cameras are gone, but the damage remains.

Follow us:

Official Blog

She Writes dedicated group

Facebook page

Twitter account



Here's the official press release. Please pass it on!

The BP oil spill disaster in April 2010 prompted authors Zetta Brown and Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson Brown from the She Writes™ online community of writers to develop the charity anthology Oil and Water...and Other Things That Don't Mix. All proceeds will be divided between charities that not only help the wildlife and environment, but also the people living in the area. With this in mind, they picked the charities of The Bay Area Food Bank (www.bayareafoodbank.org) and MOBILE Baykeeper® (www.mobilebaykeeper.org) to aid their continuing mission to help the Gulf Coast communities affected.

After placing a call for submissions last June, the resulting anthology features award-winning authors, poets, journalists, bloggists, newly published authors, and talented new authors making their debut. The women and men contributing to the anthology came from everywhere wanting to do something to help the Gulf region.

The official theme of the anthology is "Conflict...Resolution optional." Not all stories are specific to the South, but all have the theme of conflict and there is fiction and non-fiction inside. The stories, poems and recollections will make you laugh, cry, think—and some may even get you angry—and topics range from personal relationships to dealing with the kitchen oven.

The editors of Oil and Water...and Other Things That Don't Mix are from the South. Zetta Brown is from Texas but currently lives in Scotland with her husband Jim Brown, and together they own and operate LL-Publications that will publish the anthology. Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson Brown was born and raised on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. She is currently an editor and ghostwriter for several publishing houses in New York and the Berkshires and is following in the footsteps of her grandfather Major Malcolm Wheeler-Nicholson, founder of DC Comics.

"Despite our names, Nicky and I are not related," says Zetta Brown. "In fact, we have never met in person. We met through the social network She Writes™ in the Southern Writers subgroup. When the oil disaster happened, the members in our little group were disgusted—which is Southern for 'pissed off.' I had the idea of doing an anthology to benefit charities dealing with the disaster and I approached Nicky because she has deep roots in the Gulf. She came up with the name and we've been running with it ever since."

Nicky Wheeler-Nicholson Brown adds, "I am a seventh generation Gulf Coastal inhabitant and the only way I can describe how I felt once the oil started gushing is that my heart broke. My mother's family arrived in New Orleans around 1820 and we've been somewhere on the coast between there and Pensacola, Florida ever since. The Gulf Coast has been through so much, particularly in the last six years—one devastating hurricane after another, economic difficulties, over-development and now this horrific oil spill. The charities that we honor in our donations are doing the best they can to help the people and the environment on the coast."

Oil and Water...and Other Things That Don't Mix is available from Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, direct from the publisher at LL-publications, and from many other online book retailers. Other retailers who wish to carry the book should contact Jim Brown at editor(at)ll-publications.com for details.

Food Rules: An Eater's Manual

This is my review (originally posted at New York Journal of Books).


People have forgotten how to eat.

Ever thought about why authorities use the word "consumers" rather than "customers" in their reports even though we are buying into their ideas about food whether it is for the new protein drink or new health guidelines from a government agency?

Recently the European Union announced new regulations to go into effect about nutritional labelling on foods. The EU wants nutritional labels to be ea...

Making the Hook-Up is on sale now!

Hey y'all!

The anthology: "MAKING THE HOOK-UP - Edgy Sex with Soul," published by Cleis Press, edited by Cole Riley, and featuring my short story "Hung" is now on sale!

"Hung" stars Nola Vernier "who couldn't help but stand out. Standing just less than six feet tall, she was stacked and packed, and her plump, creamy, toffee-colored skin made her a tempting treat."

Here's the listing on Amazon:
http...

“Madea Says” - Madea’s Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life

January is a month of for making New Year’s resolutions. Since the month isn’t over just yet, I’m going to take the time to talk about a book that might not help you with your resolutions, but it may help you get through the rest of the year.

Don’t Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea’s Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life by Tyler Perry.

This relatively short book (254 pages, hardback) needs to be read it from cover-to-cover, but it is divided into eleven sections making it easy to jump to where you need help most.

The purpose of this book is instructional and the clue is in the title. You don’t want to make a black woman take off her earrings. Why? Because this is your last clue that you have crossed the line and sistah-girl is about to throw down. Your mouth has written a check that is about to be cashed on your behind. So it’s better to learn how not to get into such a situation.


Who is Madea?
The word “Madea” is what some would call a “corruption” or even a “bastardization” of the words “mother dear.” It is a term of endearment found in the South given to those elder women in a family, like a grandmother or beloved aunt. Well, corruption or not, it is a term that is not given lightly and must be earned.

The children of Queen Alexandra of England may have called her “mother dear,” but she was no Madea. Queen Alexandra never would have said: “Payback is a mother!”

Besides, in this case, I am talking about MADEA.

THE Madea.

Many of us in the black community know about THE Madea or have heard about her. Some of us have been lucky to see her live and in person. Some remember Madea back when she was queen of the live theatre chitlin’ circuit and have seen her go on to conquer movies in Hollywood.

According to her biography, Madea, aka Mabel Simmons, was born in Greensburg, Louisiana in 1937. She’s a big woman with a big heart and a big gun stashed in her purse that she’s not afraid to get out if you work her nerves. But in truth, and those of you who have seen Madea know, she is the larger-than-life character created by playwright, actor, producer, and all-rounder, Tyler Perry.

Do not mistake Madea for being a humorless, strict, church lady who looks down her nose proclaiming, “Isn’t that special?” Back in her youth, Madea was a stripper. Fortunately for us, she has collected all of her advice from her life experiences and put them in a convenient book for our use.

Madea has something to say about everything, and she makes it clear that we would be wise to listen.

On ageing: “You don’t get older—you get better—if you’re wise.”

On weight: “There’s nothing sexy about a rib cage.”

On beauty: “Vaseline.”

On sex: “If you’re looking for a roadmap to heaven, follow these stretch marks along my thighs!”

On self-defence: “My momma didn’t give me any instruction on the gun. She just told me, ‘Aim and pull.’”

The effects of aging on the body: “You know, I stepped on my nipple today.”

And much, much more.


Where have all the Madea’s gone?
As mentioned above, you don’t get Madea’s age and experience if you’re stupid. But she points out that living in today’s society makes it harder to find sources of wisdom.

“See, grandmas today are twenty-nine years old. If you’re twenty-nine, you don’t know the things you know at sixty-eight.”

Madea has a lot to say about parenting throughout the book. In the section, Kids! (Enough Said), Madea really lays down the law. The crux of her advice is this:

“Whup that ass.”

There is a group on Facebook called “My parents didn’t put me in time-out, they whooped my ass.” A friend of mine put me onto this group and I joined with the quickness. THIS is the kind of group Madea would have founded or at least be a member of. She talks about the “bag of belts.” Some of you know what I mean. My mama had one.

But this Facebook group also demonstrates that it is not only black women who are unashamed to discipline their children this way. In this group you will find people from many different backgrounds and races talking about the elders in their lives, men and women, who took them to task—and thank them for it. You don’t have to be a black woman to be a Madea.

Madea is all about owning up to responsibility and working to your full potential. If you don’t believe me, just read the section: “What in Hell Is ‘Acting White’ Supposed to Mean?” Her response: “It’s not acting white. It’s acting like you got some sense!”

Further on in the chapter she says: “It’s like laws in America. If you break the law, you pay the consequences [...] So when you’re raising kids, remember—you are the law. Lay the law down and they will respect you.”

Do we really need Supernanny???

Madea is funny. She is over the top. Not all of her tips can be taken seriously. For example, you probably don’t want to try your luck by bouncing checks all over town, or leaving fish heads around your house to discourage houseguests, but that’s not the point. It is the spirit in which the advice is given that counts.

Don’t Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea’s Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life by Tyler Perry is Madea’s first book. I hope she comes out with another one soon.

Madea wants you to understand what she is saying. “If you’re not a black person and you don’t understand something, read that part to a friend who’s black and ask for an explanation.”

No matter your background, or your current age, look for and appreciate the Madea’s in your life. If you happen to be a Madea, I salute you and want to be like you when I grow up. Tyler Perry lost his mother recently after a long illness, and as you can imagine, his mother was his touchstone and one of the inspirations for Madea. So you need to embrace your Madea while you can.

Therefore, I’m going to give this book 5 bags of belts out of 5.

And everyone out there should use those belts wisely and responsibly.

Madea has her eye on you.


MADEA IS BACK ON TOUR!
See the woman herself in “Madea’s Big Happy Family”
Check out the tour dates HERE.

http://www.tylerperry.com/_Plays/

If you are lucky enough to be in the area when Madea comes to town, I suggest you be there.

"Madea Says" - Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life

January is a month of for making New Year's resolutions. Since the month isn't over just yet, I'm going to take the time to talk about a book that might not help you with your resolutions, but it may help you get through the rest of the year.

Don't Make a Black Woman Take Off Her Earrings: Madea's Uninhibited Commentaries on Love and Life by Tyler Perry.

This relatively short book (254 pages, hardback) needs to be read it from cover-to-cover, but it is divided into eleven sections making it ea...

Reviews and content

I'm getting some more books read to review for the blog but if anyone out there has a book featuring "characters of substance" that they want to talk about, drop me a line.

If you'd like to be a regular contributor to the FBBB, let me know and I'll hook you up.

Peace!

The New Look of Zetta Brown

I wanted to let y'all know about the new look of my website!

http://www.zettabrown.com

It's a bit more streamlined but reflects more of my personality and was designed by my husband Jim (aka Mr. Zetta)...whose various technical services I pimp out at JimandZetta.com

I've also added my MEDIA KIT that I'm particularly proud of, if you care to take a peek!

So stop by and leave a comment in my guestbook! At the end of the month, I'll draw a name and the winner will get surprise gift! Could be a DVD, a C

"I was an Internet Bride": Or, How to Find Your Mate on the Internet

People are always asking me how I met my husband and how I ended up living in Scotland. Well, you can find out exactly how I did it by reading my new article:


[image error]"I was an Internet Bride"
10 simple tips showing how easy it is to find true love on the Internet explained by Zetta Brown who went from being single in Texas to married in Scotland.
http://www.associatedcontent.comarticle/1758944/i_was_an_internet_bride.html

Sounds like a romance story, doesn't it? LOL

Zetta Brown - She's a Colorful Woman
Messa

Cherries Jubilee - Before Eva Met Jared

Before she was a sex goddess, Eva Cavell was a virgin...

In "Cherries Jubilee" a young, and innocent, Eva Cavell comes to terms with the challenges of reaching womanhood and independence. When her first job results in demotion and humiliation, Eva finds comfort in the arms of handsome blond, Casey Weller . . . comfort and revenge.

"Cherries Jubilee" is the short story prequel to Eva's adventures in Messalina: Devourer of Men.


http://www.logical-lust.com/cherriesjubilee.html

A $2 electronic quick rea