Carleen's Friend Comments

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Hey, what's going on, ma? If you get a chance, check out the book trailer for my debut novel, Metra City: Destiny's Kiss http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXX76O...

I just caught the encore of "Sins of the Mother" on LMN and I loved it! They did a great job adapting your "Orange Mint and Honey," one of my favorite novel reads of 2009. I hope you were pleased with it!

Hi Carleen! Great connecting with you here! Looking forward to reading ALL your books.

I see you read Before I Forget by Leonard Pitts. Thanks for the reminder to put him on my list! When I lived in Miami his was one of the columns I always looked forward to reading.

Thank you very much for befriending me, Carleen!

Congratulations, Carleen, on winning the 2009 BCALA Literary Award for a First Novel! The sound you hear coming from Atlanta is me, cheering! Your award is richly deserved and I can't wait for your next book!

Carleen,
I've been following your campaign to gain black related fiction a wider audience. It got me thinking about such matters. For example, I look at my CD collection and I would say it's about 75 percent blues, classic soul, 70s funk, zydeco or West African. In other words, mostly music with African American roots. (putting aside the fact that all rock n roll has black roots) But that's not the case on my bookshelf. Why is that?
I look at my fiction books and I have everything from Ha Jin to Hemmingway. I'm currently reading The Known World, by Edward P Jones, a black author who won the Pulitzer Prize.
For me it's not a matter of race, but a matter of gender.
I don't read much, if any, genre fiction. I don't read mysteries or SciFi. I read mostly nonfiction history or literary fiction. A book is a big investment in my time, and I don't have time for escapism. I have the boob tube for that.
The fact is that it's hard for me to find good literary fiction that appeals to me as a male reader. The publishing world is increasingly dominated by women and they are catering to female audiences because they are the ones buying fiction.
So the subject matter of The Known World would appeal to me whether or not Edward P. Jones was black or white.
Water for Elephants, another historical fiction book that I enjoyed reading also appealed to me because of the subject matter. I don't think I would have cared one bit of the author was black or white. Male or female.
It's so hard for me to find novels I would like that I've turned more toward nonfiction history books with a strong narrative form during the last 5 years.
Hope this gives you some food for thought.
Stew

Hi.What We Talk About When We Talk About Love?PLZ Answer The Question In My Profile.

Thanks for the add!
Brooklyn Darkchild
This Ain't No Hearts and Flowers Love Story Pt1

Hope your week is filled with happiness, positivity and inspiration!

Hi Carleen, I hope you are having a good day. =)

http://www.cardshark.com/content/view...

Thanks for the request! I look forward to reading your book!

Hi Sharon,
Yes, my next book, currently called Children of the Waters, will be out next year and I'm really excited about it! It's about two sisters. The two sisters, one biracial and one white (they have the same mother, but different fathers), were separated by adoption. The biracial sister was adopted and raised by a black family. The white sister was kept and raised by their white grandmother. The story explores race and identity and what makes a family.

Hey, Carleen...WELCOME to goodreads...thanks for the invite into your circle of friends...I've been hearing good things about your novel Orange Mint and Honey...I have it on my wishlist...Congrats on all your writings...and much success to you in the future...looking forward to sharing chats, reviews and any/all recommendations...have a blessed week...and Happy Reading & Writing :-)

Thanks for accepting my friendship request. I really enjoyed reading Orange Mint and Honey. Anything new in the works?

Hi Carleen thanks for adding me!
Have a great holiday....

Renny

Hi Carleen,

Thanks for the friendship request. I hope you have a wonderful holiday. Best of luck with the book. I love your website.

Tony Eldridge
Author of The Samson Effect