California Dreaming...

Last night *correction* Very early this morning I finally dragged my very tired self into my house and plopped down on my couch - where I remained until my mother telephoned me at 7:30AM.

I had spent three electrifying days with some of the brightest names working in African-American fiction today.

The California Book Summit was a dream come true for Sigrid Williams who in one year and basically single handily, put together a the event, which was the first of it's kind for African American writers in that part of the country.

Yes, you read right....FIRST OF IT'S KIND FOR AA WRITERS - cause the myth is that black people on the west coast don't read....!!

Sidebar: How much longer will we have to endure this stigma on ANY coast?

The summit allowed me to finally meet up close and in person, three women who follow this blog and who are also wonderful and successful authors in their own right - never mind their beauty and golden spirits! If you don't J.D. Mason, Electa Rome Parks and Trice Hickman - please get to know them!

Have I mentioned here that sometimes I feel like I'm living under a rock? Which has to be the reason why I had not heard of Kimberly Terry and China Ball - two authors making a name and carving niche for themselves in this industry.



And of course there were the "old heads" -- and I say that with all of the love and respect in the world-- LOL -- "old-heads" denotes those of us who has been around the publishing block a few times. Us seasoned scribes who've been in the game for at least ten years and counting!

Ya'll know who you are -- it's always a joy to be in your presence

*bowing graciously*

Blanche Richardson and her daughter Cherysse Calhoun are the proprietors the oldest black owned book store in the country and they were on hand selling books and sharing stories. They are a dynamic and informative duo who is trying hard to preserve the legacy their fore bearers began some fifty years ago. So you if you or anyone you know reside in the Bay Area, please make it your business to drop in and patronize Marcus Book where hand-selling is still a vibrant tradition. We AA authors owe them a debt of gratitude, beucase without them..............*sniff* - well ya'll know the rest!



The California Book Summit provided many highlights. But for me the following three get the gold star:

Of course J. California Cooper is always a joy and while I did not get to sit and speak with her this time around, I was happy just to be in the room with her and breath the same air. Ya'll know how that is.



I was moved to tears as I listened to Educators and Authors Dr. Peggy Brooks Bertram and Barbara A. Seals- Nevergold and contributors - read letters from Go, Tell Michelle. their ground-breaking collection of letters addressed to First lady Michelle Obama. The letters came from Black women living all of over the world.
I will use the word Powerful, to describe what I heard - but that is probably an understatement.


And while the collection will knock your socks off - the story of how the book came to fruition and the success it has had without the benefit of a traditional publisher - is so awe inspiring and mind blowing that my faltering belief in publishing on ones own terms has been...well...revitialized.

And last but certainly not least, I finally met an author who I have long admired and who has always been a friend and mentor in my head: Ms. Tina Ansa McElroy.

Sunday morning Ms. Tina and I were finally able to spend a little time together. We hugged and held hands and she confided in me that she thought we had met before - I assured her that we had not - but I kinda understood why she felt that way - cause I feel like I have known her all my life. That's how powerful the written word is ya'll....




Sidebar: On the morning of 9/11/09 thunder marched across the sky and the dark clouds began to leak. A rainstorm right? Not unusual for an East Coast gal like myself -- but that small storm caused quite a stir amongst Bay area residents.



Apparently, it never rains in sunny, northern California until November - so the small cloud burst came as a shock and surprise to the residents.

Do you think we AUTHORS had something to do with that? I think so -- 'cause anything is liable to happen when you gather a bunch of talented, intelligent, beautiful, creative BLACK folk in one place!

I think I finally understand their fear and loathing...........humpf......and it just might be justified.....WATCH OUT NOW.......BOO!......

*rubbing hands together..cackling, menacingly*

Bernice L. McFadden