Breena Clarke's Blog: A Few Whiles , page 3

Breena's Black History Month Bookshelf 2015

Let is snow! I'm reading and re-reading. Here are a few notable titles:

The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism
by Edward E. Baptist

First Freed: Washington, D.C. in the Emancipation Era by Elizabeth Clark-Lewis

The Kidnapped and the Ransomed: The Narrative of Peter and Vina Still after Forty Years of Slavery by Kate E. R. Pickard

David Ruggles: A Radical Black Abolitionist and the Underground Railroad in New York City by Graham Russell Gao Hodges

Slavery in New York by Ira Berlin and Leslie M. Harris

Black Gotham: A Family History of African Americans in Nineteenth-Century New York City by Carla L. Peterson

Lifting As They Climb (African-American Women Writers, 1910-1940)
by Elizabeth Lindsay Davis and Sieglinde Lemke

One More River to Cross: An African American Photograph Album by Walter Dean Myers

Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl by Tonya Bolden

The Quilts of Gee’s Bend by William Arnett and Alvia Wardlaw

Hobart Book Village Festival of Women Writers Holiday Gift Book Guide

Stocking Stuffers: The Festival of Women Writers Holiday Gift List

No matter what the holiday tradition you are celebrating, if a gift is needed, a book makes a perfect one. Celebrate your holidays while celebrating the creative work of your favorite woman writer. The following is a list of the published works of the women who have participated in the Hobart Book Village Festival of Women Writers 2013 and 2014. Follow the link to their websites to learn more about them and their works and to order some books. Share this list with your social media.

Rituals In The Marrow - CD by E.J. Antonio - http://www.ejantoniobluez.net

Eyes, Stones by Elana Bell - http://www.elanabell.com

Arc and Hue by Tara Betts - http://www.tarabetts.net

What We Ask Of Flesh by Remica Bingham-Risher - http://www.remicalbingham.com

Conversion by Remica Bingham Risher

When You Live By A River by Mermer Blakeslee - http://www.mermerblakeslee.com

In Dark Water by Mermer Blakeslee - http://www.mermerblakeslee.com

Convincing The Body by Cheryl Boyce Taylor - https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.boyce...

Night When Moon Follows by Cheryl Boyce-Taylor - https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.boyce...

Book Doctor: A Novel by Esther Cohen - http://esthercohen.com

God Is A Tree and other Middle-aged Prayers by Esther Cohen - http://esthercohen.com

No Charge For Looking by Esther Cohen - http://esthercohen.com

Self-Publishing and Book Marketing: A Research Guide by Simona David - http://www.simonadavid.com

An Enchanted Hair Tale by Alexis DeVeaux - http://alexisdeveaux.com

Warrior Poet: An Autobiography of Audre Lorde by Alexis DeVeaux - http://alexisdeveaux.com

Yabo by Alexis DeVeaux - http://alexisdeveaux.com

Framed in Silence: Poems by Lynn Domina - http://lynndomina.com

Corporal Works by Lynn Domina - http://lynndomina.com

Night Navigation by Ginnah Howard - http://www.ginnahhoward.com

Doing Time Outside by Ginnah Howard - http://www.ginnahhoward.com

Rope & Bone by Ginnah Howard - http://www.ginnahhoward.com

The Gilda Stories by Jewelle Gomez - http://www.jewellegomez.com

Don’t Explain: Short Fiction by Jewelle Gomez - http://www.jewellegomez.com

An Unquenchable Thirst: Following Mother Teresa in Search of Love, Service, and an Authentic Life by Mary Johnson - http://www.maryjohnson.co

Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones - http://www.tayarijones.com

The Untelling by Tayari Jones - http://www.tayarijones.com

Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones - http://www.tayarijones.com

Daughters of the Stone by Dahlma Llanos-Figueroa - http://www.llanosfigueroa.com

Great Space of Desire: Writing for Personal Evolution by Dara Lurie - http://www.transformative-writing.com...

All That Lies Between Us by Maria Mazziotti Gillan - http://www.mariagillan.com

What We Pass On: Collected Poems: 1980-2009 by Maria Mazziotti Gillan - http://www.mariagillan.com

Diosas de la yucca by Marianela Medrano - http://www.hobartbookvillage.com/medr...

Burning Furiously Beautiful: The True Story of Jack Kerouac’s On The Road by Stephanie Nikolopoulos and Paul her, Jr. - http://stephanienikolopoulos.com

Heart Turned Back by Bertha Rogers - http://www.bertharogers.com

Sleeper, You Wake: Poems by Bertha Rogers - http://www.bertharogers.com

Inland by Kat Rosenfield - http://katrosenfield.com/the-book/

Amelia Anne Is Dead And Gone by Kat Rosenfield - http://katrosenfield.com/the-book/

All I Need To Get By by Sophfronia Scott - http://thebooksistah.com/authorsite/m...

Chicken Soup For The Soul: Inspiration for Writers by Sophfronia Scott - http://thebooksistah.com/authorsite/m...

How the Fierce Handle Fear: Secrets to Succeeding in Challenging Times by Sophfronia Scott - http://thebooksistah.com/authorsite/m...

The New Black by Evie Shockley - http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/e...

Angels Make Their Hope Here by Breena Clarke – www.BreenaClarke.com

River, Cross My Heart by Breena Clarke – www.BreenaClarke.com

Stand The Storm by Breena Clarke – www.BreenaClarke.com

Living As A Lesbian by Cheryl Clarke – www.CherylClarkepoet.com

The Days of Good Looks: The Prose and Poetry of Cheryl Clarke, 1980 to 2005 by Cheryl Clarke – www.cheryclarkepoet.com

The life of an enslaved child

Angels Make Their Hope Here

"The life of an enslaved child held no guarantee that she would not be involuntarily separated from her mother and father. She might be sold, she might be put to work on another plantation, she may be beaten, she may be raped, she may die of disease or malnutrition. The only certainty in her life is that the people who love her cannot protect her. They can only facilitate her escape. Fear, uncertainty and a certain certainty motivate Dossie’s parents to make a plan and implement it.”

from the interview with Breena Clarke on LATE NIGHT LIBRARY

I was pleased to have the opportunity talk with Anne Rasmussen for Late Night Library and muse on my characters, discuss their roles as parents and offer insights about the tri-racial community of Russell’s Knob. I shared some of the photographs that I use to nourish my creative imagination. Once I’ve “adopted” a soul captured by chemicals and light, I feel as though they’re my own People.

read my entire interview at : http://bit.ly/1vimpLq

Mapping the real and imagined

Robert S. Duncanson (1821 – December 21, 1872) was an African-American painter associated with the Hudson River School. - wikipedia

When I read about Robert S. Duncanson’s intriguing, complex identity and saw photos of the romantic idyllls he painted, I wanted to get an upclose look to see if I could feel inspired by his work. I went to Newark Museum’s American Art collection to see an important Duncanson painting, Mountain Landscape with Cows and Sheep, that is part of the Museum’s permanent collection of American paintings.

go to: http://bit.ly/1pEMKP0 to see several pix of Duncanson's paintings.

link to Placing Literature and check out the locations in ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE I've mapped. http://bit.ly/1llQEqG

Check out this podcast interview. I discuss the creation of Russell's Knob.

Today's the Day! ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE is on sale!

My latst novel, ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE

is ON-SALE today in all formats.

read an excerpt here: http://on.fb.me/1mTY0Wt

listen to an excerpt of the audiobook: http://bit.ly/UZxal7

Celebrate Independence Day

Celebrate Independence Day by purchasing your copy of ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE from an independent bookstore in your community. Find a location at Indiebound:

http://bit.ly/VjDy6R

Sale! Sale! Sale!

Extra! Extra! Hachette is offering a sale on eBOOK preorders of ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE beginning today( June 26th) through July 8th, Publication Date.

Watch the video trailer at: http://bit.ly/Vp6pac
Helmar Cooper and Breena Clarke read out loud a few tidbits from ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE

Take advantage of this excellent opportunity to suit up your eReader and be ready when the coach calls . . . I mean when pub date comes on July 8th.

Here's a list of links to ebook retailers who are excited to take PREORDERS for ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE:

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/ange...

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/eboo...

Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=te_i...
Ebooks.com: http://www.ebooks.com/1335182/angels-...

Barnes and Noble (ebook): http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angel...

Whet Your Appetite

Read an excerpt of ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE

http://on.fb.me/1qrGHhL

Letting Go

Motherhood for an enslaved mother is a cruel, but simple calculation: all of the issue of an owned woman are owned. Would you free your child by sending her away and understanding clearly that you would not ever see her again?

For a fuller discussion, read my blog at: http://angelsmaketheirhopehere.tumblr...

The Writing Blog Tour

Who started the Writing Blog Tour you ask.

I don’t know.

Who passed the baton to me?

Esther, Esther Cohen, author of BOOK DOCTOR and NO CHARGE FOR LOOKING

Who?

My friend, Esther Cohen, the vivacious, wickedly daring writer who grabs you by the hand and pulls you into some kind of trouble. Check out what she says about writing: http://esthercohen.com/writing/

Oh.

Yes, that Esther Cohen. I met her at A Room Of Her Own Foundation’s Retreat 2011 at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico. I’ve admired her and her writing ever since. I invited her to be one of the first participating writers at The Hobart Book Village Festival of Women Writers in 2013. Her reading/performance piece was wonderful. She’s the kind of person and writer that your friends are always glad you introduced them to. She’s been a stalwart for me and my fellow organizers of The Festival and she’ll be back with us this year as a participating writer.

What Am I Working On?

I am working on a novel that, in some ways, will build from the one I’ve just completed, ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE. The exciting part for me is that I’m experimenting with the narrative voice for this novel. I’ll be looking for a nimble contemporary voice that can speak from the soul of this novel. I’m in an outlining stage. Part of the fun is creating the fictional genealogy. Pictured above are a couple of my muses.

How does my work differ from others of its genre?

I suppose I am in the genre of historical fiction. I won’t pretend to be writing anything other than the kind/type/genre of book that I myself like most to read. I most like to be carried along in the lives of characters — borne along on a carpet of stunning literary turns as in the work of the giants. I don’t say I do this. I say I ASPIRE to do this. I aspire to illuminate the lives of people from “The American Previous” who have been unrecognized especially those of African descent. There is a bit of chippy-ness in it - a bit of wanting to make HIS story MY story and enshrining bits and pinches of the oral legacy of my specific ancestors onto the permanent written record.

Why do I write what I do?

I think, upon reflection, that I write my feelings. Often these are wounded feelings. As my father used to say when I was small and easily tearful, I wear my feelings on my sleeve. I am motivated to elicit emotions when I write. I can name what feelings either drove me or led me into the novels I’ve written. I wanted to capture feelings like those of my mother’s, a young girl growing up in a segregated city wanting opportunities that were denied to her. I wrote RIVER, CROSS MY HEART. I wanted sudden shock, separation, lack of autonomy and the pain of a besieged, oppressed humanity to be felt and I wanted to explore 19th century Washington, DC. I wrote STAND THE STORM. I wanted free rein to imagine a town, a place that I wished was real and possible and viable. I wrote ANGELS MAKE THEIR HOPE HERE to try on that feeling.

How does my writing process work?

Slowly. I understand myself to be a plodding sort of writer. I am not one to throw everything down on a page in a flash of brilliance. I’m not being falsely modest. I know how I accomplish what I consider my writing. I know how it feels when its done. I have learned over the years to schedule assignments according to my pokey little puppy world view though I have to balance my slow pace with the anxiety of getting everything written within my reasonably conceivable lifetime. I have a very regular, sort of rigid stretch of early morning writing time. When I’ve been at my desk - actually a set of three tablemates because my two so-called desks are less useful and piled with books and papers and office supplies — and I’ve advanced my projects and plumbed my thoughts, I feel accomplished and satisfied.

I venture out to look at material goods in historic houses and museums and libraries. I find that I enjoy constructing characters with insights I glean from work tools and implements, furniture and clothing.

When I had an office job, I felt like this, too because I was lucky enough to work at TIME magazine and later for the corporate administrative side of TIME INC. One of the magazine’s wunderkind writers when I was there was Sophfronia Scott.

So … drum roll … I’m PASSING THE BATON to my new/old buddy, Sophfronia Scott, who was one of the participating writers at the first Hobart Book Village Festival of Women Writers. She’s the author of the novel, ALL I NEED TO GET BY and she’s graduating with an MFA in writing, fiction and creative nonfiction, from Vermont College of Fine Arts in July. Yeah! She’s deep in revisions on her second novel, which is currently titled THE LIGHT LIVES HERE Yeah! Yeah! She’s also working on a collection of essays and is ghostwriting a memoir, Eyes in My Fingertips, for a Harvard classmate who has been blind since birth.

For goodness sake continue this Writing Blog Tour by checking out Sophfronia’s answers to the four questions beginning on May 14, 2014 at www.Sophfronia.com

And continuing my good fortune in discovering friends and colleagues through the slightest little slivers of chance, I became acquainted with Dara Lurie and her writing because someone in someone’s reading group said that reading Dara Lurie’s book, GREAT SPACE OF DESIRE: WRITING FOR PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION, was a transformative experience for them and that she had a Hudson Valley connection and maybe she’d be willing to come to the first Hobart Book Village Festival Of Women Writers and offer her workshop. I contacted her and we met for a lunch in the city and we bonded. Serendipity! Dara has created and conducts workshops that lead other writers to a practice of writing and exploration of their deepest, fullest creative notes. I’m so delighted to have Dara Lurie in my circles and thrilled that she’s agreed to link up on this Writing Blog Tour. She, too, will answer the four Writing Blog Tour questions and will post on May 14, 2014 at http://www.transformative-writing.com She also knows a lot about self-publishing and she shares her insights so then you’ll know what she knows so well.