Tracey M. Hook's Blog, page 5
July 30, 2014
New Giveaway with Gift card!
My first goodreads giveaway Natural Elements was a big success. With over one thousand entries coming from all over the world, it proved this young adult/women's/multicultural/romance/coming-of-age novel has international appeal. With just one winner coming from North America, (Mexico) I have decided to do another giveaway with the hope of more people from North American countries entering the next one which will include a $10.00 Google gift card! Set in Bombay, India as well as Port-of-Span, Trinidad, New York, and Maryland, Natural Elements tells the story of a young biracial woman of black-Caribbean/South Asian descent who is struggling to fit into the complex make-up of Bombay society. Bombay, with its diversity of religion and culture is the main focus of the novel's setting, but having a mum from Trinidad, an aunt from Maryland, as well as Geeta's (the main character) mum spending time in Brooklyn and Manhattan makes this a truly international story. The story is told from two points of view--That of Geeta, an eighteen year old, and of her mum.It deals with the issue of how they both cope with living in Bombay being of different racial backgrounds.
I want to congratulate all five winners. I hope you enjoy the book and please write a review to help other goodreads readers learn more about the novel. I'm so excited by the huge amount of people that have shown an interest in this book. An early lunch of Lamb Vindaloo marked the occasion! It was absolutely delicious.
I want to congratulate all five winners. I hope you enjoy the book and please write a review to help other goodreads readers learn more about the novel. I'm so excited by the huge amount of people that have shown an interest in this book. An early lunch of Lamb Vindaloo marked the occasion! It was absolutely delicious.
July 28, 2014
Book Review
Dear Goodreads Fans, Friends, Twitter Followers, and Facebook Friends. Please rate or write a review of Natural Elements on goodreads.com. Just a quick line or two will do. An excerpt and preview of the book is available on goodreads. Thanks for your support! Natural Elements
July 22, 2014
Excerpt from Natural Elements
Natural Elements Standing in front of the fishmonger's stall she watched his knife remove the silvery scales almost in time with the music that blared from the shop next door. The music was familiar, taking her back to the hot cramped studio above a storefront on 110th and Amsterdam Ave. The drums drowning out the sound of the kids on the basketball court and the laughter from the winos as they passed around the communal bottle of Night Train.
"Beautiful morning isn't it?" Marlene spun around. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Her eyes met his, pale blue, filled with humor. The air was thick with smog. She could feel the small beads of sweat on her face. "The heat is a killer," he said handing her a tissue. Marlene quickly wiped her face. She glanced at the fishmonger who had completed gutting the fish. She glanced at the vegetable-walla--rearranging his display--placing onions and carrots upfront and moving the bruised tomatoes and oranges to the back. She turned to the stranger and smiled--exposing the wide gap between her teeth. She watched as he pushed a strand of hair from his eyes. He was tall and thin--long haired like most of the white men she'd seen in India. Searching for nirvana with the guidance of a guru to help stamp out the complications of their lives."I could go for a beer," he said shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "But it's too early. An orange would work." Marlene smiled. "My name is Collin," he said removing his hand from his pocket and extending it out to her. "See that stall there?" He said pointing to the fruit and vegetable stall. "They have the best oranges." Marlene eyed him with skepticism. "Can I buy you one?"
"Beautiful morning isn't it?" Marlene spun around. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you." Her eyes met his, pale blue, filled with humor. The air was thick with smog. She could feel the small beads of sweat on her face. "The heat is a killer," he said handing her a tissue. Marlene quickly wiped her face. She glanced at the fishmonger who had completed gutting the fish. She glanced at the vegetable-walla--rearranging his display--placing onions and carrots upfront and moving the bruised tomatoes and oranges to the back. She turned to the stranger and smiled--exposing the wide gap between her teeth. She watched as he pushed a strand of hair from his eyes. He was tall and thin--long haired like most of the white men she'd seen in India. Searching for nirvana with the guidance of a guru to help stamp out the complications of their lives."I could go for a beer," he said shoving his hands into the pockets of his jeans. "But it's too early. An orange would work." Marlene smiled. "My name is Collin," he said removing his hand from his pocket and extending it out to her. "See that stall there?" He said pointing to the fruit and vegetable stall. "They have the best oranges." Marlene eyed him with skepticism. "Can I buy you one?"
July 19, 2014
Reviews Welcome!
Natural Elements--young adult/coming-of-age/women's novel. Reviews are greatly welcomed. Excerpt is available at goodreads.com
July 18, 2014
A word from a prominent Reader
It's not everyday you get a note in the mail from one of America's most talented poets, distinguished professors, and activist--Nikki Giovanni. Ms. Giovanni granted me the right to reference her poem "Nikki Rosa" in my novel Natural Elements. It's a wonderful poem about growing up and about family. I sent Ms. Giovanni two copies of Natural Elements. I'm pleased to say she enjoyed reading this story about a young woman of black-Caribbean/South Asian descent struggling with the racism coming from both family members and friends because of her mixed race. Ms. Giovanni stated, "I enjoyed discovering your talent." I only wished that I could convey to her how much her writing has influenced me and helped shape the character of Geeta.
July 17, 2014
Jordan and Me
Natural ElementsLots of things inspire people to write. Books are foremost for me as well as my community and my educational background. But my daughter Jordan was the one for my debut novel Natural Elements. Unlike the character in the story, Jordan has never had to question her identity or
face racial abuse from family members, but there are those who have. I wanted to create a story that reflects the racism that not only happens in India, but around the world against people of a darker hue. Jordan is the face of diversity and so are many others who need a voice to represent them.
face racial abuse from family members, but there are those who have. I wanted to create a story that reflects the racism that not only happens in India, but around the world against people of a darker hue. Jordan is the face of diversity and so are many others who need a voice to represent them.
July 15, 2014
Memories
"As a child I watched my mum prepare for the day. Laying across her bed I would pretend she was a queen. Her silver bangles clinked on her arms. Her bangles were not like the ones my aunt, grandmother, or other women in India wore--heavy gold with magnificent etchings. They came from Trinidad like my mum.
"Mummy, Najma Aunty says you have woolly hair like a sheep," I said repeating the words I overheard my aunt say to my grandmother.
"Don't listen to her," my mum said in a clipped tone as I watched her braid her hair into cornrows.Natural Elements
"Mummy, Najma Aunty says you have woolly hair like a sheep," I said repeating the words I overheard my aunt say to my grandmother.
"Don't listen to her," my mum said in a clipped tone as I watched her braid her hair into cornrows.Natural Elements
July 7, 2014
How did Geeta come to be?
"Mommy, watch me!" said my daughter as she pranced around the living room dancing to a catchy Bollywood tune. It was at that moment that I had the idea to write the story about Geeta.
Eight at the time when I started to write, my daughter was well aware of her multicultural heritage. Like the mother in my novel Natural Elements, I am black and my ex-husband is Indian. My daughter has always been proud of who she is. We exposed her to African-American and South Asian cultural. Now an adult of twenty-four, my daughter has grown into a wonderful young woman who continues to take pride in both cultures. I wrote this novel for her. Because I wanted to create something she could identify with. But I also wrote it for others who are struggling with self-identity and looking for their place in a complicated world.
Eight at the time when I started to write, my daughter was well aware of her multicultural heritage. Like the mother in my novel Natural Elements, I am black and my ex-husband is Indian. My daughter has always been proud of who she is. We exposed her to African-American and South Asian cultural. Now an adult of twenty-four, my daughter has grown into a wonderful young woman who continues to take pride in both cultures. I wrote this novel for her. Because I wanted to create something she could identify with. But I also wrote it for others who are struggling with self-identity and looking for their place in a complicated world.
July 6, 2014
First book: The Book of Unknown Americans
This is a reminder for all the members of Lovers of Multicultural Literature book club. The first day of reading of our new book, The Book of Unknown Americans, is 7/15/14. Feel free to invite your friends to join us. Everyone is welcome to join us!
June 29, 2014
New Book Club! Lovers of Multicultural Literature
Enter a world of diversity--people,communities, lands, food, religion, architecture... Join a book club that celebrates diversity. Lovers of Multicultural Literature welcomes all genres. Add a book and vote for the one you want to read every month.
