Eat, Sleep, Write: El Gouna, Egypt (June 17th - 22nd)

This is my third week here. To be honest, I'm all wrote out! I'm drained of every creative morsel I arrived with. Instead of inspiring me, muse is bouncing around, writing her name in sand dunes.

*sigh*

In other news, Glorious has been nominated for a Hurston/Wright Legacy Award. The other FABULOUS nominees are:

Danielle Evans
Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self

Dinaw Mengestu
How to Read the Air

Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Wench

Rosalyn Story
Wading Home: A Novel of New Orleans

Tiphanie Yanique
How to Escape from a Leper Colony


So sad to report that Leslie Esdaile aka LA Banks is most gravely ill. She has been diagnosed with late stage adrenal cancer.

She is facing an uphill battle in her struggle with serious illness. Please know that as Leslie needs all of her energy in this fight, she is absolutely not able to receive visitors, answer emails, texts or phone calls, or receive flowers. What she is able to receive is your continued prayers.

Also, Leslie’s medical expenses are mounting at an astronomical rate. If you wish to assist Leslie, a fund has been established to help with these ever increasing expenses. If you wish to send donations (please note that donations are not tax-deductible). For further information on how to donate, please see the donations page.

Please respect the privacy of Leslie and her family during this most difficult of times.

On behalf of all of your prayers and support, Leslie, her daughter Helena, Her sister Liza and all of her family and friends sincerely thank you.

Bernice L. McFadden

El Gouna, Egypt June 8th - 16th

Yesterday, I compelted my second week here at The El Gouna Writer's Residency.

We writers took a well deserved "Mental Health Day" and traveled by boat to Mahmya - which can only be described as a "rock in the middle of the Red Sea."

As you know, I am a beach fanatic! I couldn't wait to get away from my daily grind and into the blue, welcoming waters of the Red Sea.

This beach experience was vastly different from what I've become accustomed to. Different as in, you look around and say: Where are the palm trees? There should be palm trees dammit!

But alas, there is only desert...

Side note: The Red Sea is the saltiest body of water I have ever had the pleasure of swimming in. The salt content is so high, that even a day later, I'm still quite ashy - even my homemade mixture of shea and cocoa butter is doing little to combat the ash! *giggle*


We frolicked in the water, lazed around in the shade, ate WAY too much food and in no time, we were bidding Mahyma a fond farewell.

Topping off the evening was the absolutely fabulous lunar eclipse. I'm sick that I didn't have a camera that could properly capture the event. The moon turned a red that I had only seen in movies.

Spoooooky....

Next week Luxor....

Back to work... have an awesome and beyond blessed week...

Bernice L. McFadden

Egypt (June 1- June 8)

One week ago today, after traveling through three time zones, I touched down in The Land of Pharoahs.

I am staying at the Mosaique Hotel In the seaside resort town of El Gouna.

Here, Mountains, desert and sea all come together in beautiful and majestic harmony!

The days are very, very hot. The sky is forever blue and cloudless. The night sky is as black as ink - a perfect canvas for the stars and moon.

I rise early and walk. I take breakfast between 8AM and 9AM. After breakfast I write until noon or one. Then lunch. More writing...a swim at 5PM, followed by dinner. Another walk, reading and then bed.

In between all of that I post on Facebook and Twitter!

There were supposed to be six writers. One became ill, another canceled for reasons unknown to me and the third may still come - apparently she is having issues obtaining a visa.

(In this pic: John Mateer (Australia) Me and Anne Marsella (USA/France)

The people that I have met here (Both Egyptians and Foreigners) assume that I am from Britan. When I tell them that I am American - they are shocked. Apparently, Americans -- and certainly not Black Americans do not venture to this part of Egypt.

Well, we're going to have to change that! LOL

Today, I stumbled across a post on the Emmett Till Blog that warmed my heart.

The first marker on the Freedom Trail was unveiled this week in Money, Mississippi. This marker commemorates the life and death of Emmett Till.

FINALLY!

I don't know if SERENDIPITY is the right word -- but don't you think its kind of wonderfully, mystical that this should happen just months before my novel "Gathering of Waters" is due to be published?

Egypt is already working her magic.............

If you don't know what Gathering of Waters is about -- well let's just say that the story pays tribute to the life and AFTERLIFE of Emmett Till.

While 2012 may seem a long way off, I am hoping that you will pre-order your hardcover or paperback early.



Love there,

Bernice

Bernice L. McFadden