Connie Briscoe on Writing, Promoting Your Book, the Literary Scene and More

Connie Briscoe Presents–
This week, double the pleasure, double the fun with Essence bestselling authors Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant. Best friends for 25 years, this writing duo has penned five novels together. Their latest, Gotta Keep On Tryin’, was released just last month, and DeBerry and Grant took the time out from a very busy tour schedule to talk to us about a whole bunch of stuff, from how they write together to what they like to do in their free time.

Writing Tips
Sweet book trailer by an up-and-coming author. Creative, provocative, brief! Be prepared to take notes.

And more…

All-in-all, a glorious, memorable evening of celebration for some of our finest authors and photographers. Hundreds showed up at Le Parker Meridien Hotel across from Central Park in New York City.

Unfortunately, Jewels: 50 Phenomenal Black Women Over 50, didn’t win in the category of photography. Yeah, I went there. I really wanted Michael to win ’cause he’s a superb portrait photographer, and women should be screaming to be photographed by him.

Fortunately, many other very deserving people were recognized, including Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe in the photography category for her book Daufuskie Island. Moutoussamy-Ashe gracefully acknowledged the other photographers in this category. I’m very thankful that Essence decided to include the category and I hope it encourages more of us to document and capture African-American people and culture in photo books.

Here’s a list of the victors in all the categories.

First Annual Essence Literary Award Winners

Congratulations to each and every one of them. And hats off to Essence for beginning a wonderful tradition, especially to Essence Senior Editor Patrik Henry Bass for his hard work pulling off the event and to Hoda Kotb and Dr. Ian Smith for being so entertaining as hosts of the stellar evening.

And thanks to all the glittering stars who came out like T.D. Jakes, who received the President’s Award, and Terry McMillan, who got a well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award. Then there was the Emmy-award winning actress Lynn Whitfield who presented the award for most inspirational book. Actress and author Victoria Rowell was nominated in the category of memoirs for her book, The Women Who Raised Me, and she also presented the award for best children’s book.

Just one complaint: It was way too crowded. The reception was packed and the room where the awards were presented was standing room only. Bass did promise that Essence would “have enough chairs” next year. Let’s hope they follow through on that for what promises to be a huge hit in the years to come.

Photo captions: Top–Hosts Hoda Kotb and Dr. Ian Smith; Middle–photographers and nominees Michael Cunningham and Carol Ross; Bottom–Connie Briscoe and AALBC Founder Troy Johnson

As many of you know, I attended the Essence Literary Awards Gala in New York City yesterday, and I just returned home a few hours ago. I’ll have details about the gala posted here this weekend. For now, I’ll just say that it was packed with people, and you could feel the excitement for this first-ever literary event pulsating through the atmosphere.

Author Lolita Files–that’s her real name–has five dogs and one bird. And she loves fried chicken, shoes and the internet. But don’t send her an IM. She can’t stand that. You’ll have much better luck getting a response if you send her a message through e-mail.

Connie Briscoe: How many books have you had published?

Lolita Files: I have six novels, one novella, and three short stories. I’m currently working on my seventh novel.

CB: How do you come up with your story ideas?

Lolita Files: Sometimes the stories just come to me on their own. Other times, I’ll get a spark of an idea from something I read in the news, see on the street, or hear about in pop culture.

CB: This week on my blog I talked about where I write. When and where do you write best?

Lolita Files: Sitting in bed with my laptop–usually during the day and early evening–with the television on the in the background. With the exception of one book, I’ve written everything this way.

CB: Do you outline or write character sketches? If not, how do you organize your writing?

Lolita Files: Historically, I do not outline or write character sketches. I just sit in front of the laptop and wait for the first few words to come–this part can be torture–then I let the characters take over and lead the story.

CB: Those first pages are always the toughest. How much do you draw from your real life for your novels?

Lolita Files: Not as much as readers would think. I may layer in a particular interest I have–travel, pets, food cravings–but beyond minor details, I prefer creating worlds and characters that are unique to the specific story.

CB: How has the publishing market changed since you had your first book published?

Lolita Files: More books by authors of color are available on the market, which is a positive in one regard. Major publishers, however, have attempted to marginalize the types of books that are published by writers of color, focusing heavily on street fiction and erotica-based literature, seriously limiting exposure to the wide range of voices and genres that deserve to be heard.

CB: So true, unfortunately. What can we expect to see from you next?

Lolita Files: I’m doing a sequel to Tastes Like Chicken, which was the last book in the Misty/Reesy series. It ended with a few cliffhangers that I needed to tie up. The book is called Next Day Feathers.

CB: Your books always have such interesting titles. Tell us something about yourself that most of us don’t already know.

Lolita Files: I love snow. I was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, so I never had true winters while growing up. I now live in a place with lots of snow, bitter winds, and freezing temperatures in winter…and I love it!

(Visit Lolita Files at her blog on pop culture–The Lo Zone)

Following on his success in tracing Oprah’s roots, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., returns on African American Lives 2 to journey deep into the ancestry of an all-new group of celebrities.

In part two of the series, Gates locates participants’ ancestors in Africa, Europe and America, including poet Maya Angelou, author Bliss Broyard, actor Don Cheadle, actor Morgan Freeman, athlete Jackie Joyner-Kersee, radio personality Tom Joyner, comedian Chris Rock, music legend Tina Turner and others who were selected from among more than 2,000 applicants.

African American Lives 2 premieres tomorrow, February 6, at 9:00 pm ET. Check your local listings.

African American Lives 2 on PBS

This is a question I’m asked often. Where do you write? The question used to puzzle me to end. It’s something I never gave much thought to when I was planning to write my first novel, Sisters and Lovers. I just sat down at a table and started writing in longhand (after thinking and plotting on paper for many weeks). And yes, it was that long ago. I would write a chapter or two by hand and then type it into the computer. I didn’t start creating straight from the computer until my second novel, Big Girls Don’t Cry.

This is one of those questions that have no right or wrong answer. Some authors work in an office in their homes. Some even lease office space outside the home. They say it forces them to be more disciplined about their writing schedules if they have to get up and go to an office everyday. And if you’re having trouble with discipline–not all that unusual when you have no boss standing over your head–by all means try something like this. I’ve heard of writers renting hotel rooms to get away from noisy houses, an idea that’s come to me on occasion. Others authors write in bed, on the floor, or at the kitchen table with their laptops.

As for me, I usually write at my desk in my home office. But I’ve written in a lot of other places, especially if a deadline is fast approaching, including on the train, on road trips in the car and in-flight. This writing on the fly usually works better when I’m revising or rewriting rather than for the original.

The really fun part of writing fiction is thinking–some call it daydreaming– and I can do that all over the place. A favorite spot–if I can’t get to a beautiful beach or other faraway place–is a really comfy armchair in my office. It’s upholstered in a blue and white pattern that I picked out because I find it soothing to my senses. The only problem with that chair is that it’s so darn comfortable I sometimes doze off.

I also do some great thinking in my car when driving alone. There’s something about the rhythm of the road that relaxes me and stirs my creative juices. Sometimes if I’m stuck in my writing–some call this writer’s block–I’ll hop in my car and hit the road.

So try a few different spots and see where you’re most comfortable and creative. Once you zero in on the right place, you’ll find yourself returning there again and again without giving it much thought.

There really are no rules or standards here. You’re the best judge of where you should write.

Connie Briscoe Presents–

This week, Essence bestselling author Lolita Files, author of titles such as sex.lies.murder.fame, Tastes Like Chicken, Child of God and others, will talk about how she writes and what she’s working on now.

Writing Tips

Where to write. In bed with your laptop? On the floor? Or at a desk? How to find the best spot for crafting your prose.

Video shot by my husband of Obama addressing the overflow crowd following the endorsement by Ted and Caroline Kennedy at American University in Washington, DC, on January 28, 2008. Witness Obama work his magic to get the crowd fired up with Ted Kennedy at his side.

In recognition of Black History Month, APOOO Book Club will shine a spotlight on 31 authors, one author each day from February 1 through March 2, on the APOOO Website, MySpace blog and other places. The spotlight will include an article written by the author on varied topics such as–

• Why Is Black History Important?
• Room at the Table (Is there room at the table for all African American authors no matter the genre?)
• Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner (interracial dating)
• I’m the Head of the Household (coping when she makes more money)
• Help…I’ve Fallen and Don’t Want to Get Up (stepping out of corporate America and not looking back even when the going gets tough)
• ACTING White or Not Black Enough (When did being articulate, intelligent, and financially able become equated to being white?)
• Is the American Dream Real?
• Are We Ready? (for a black president)

First up, Angelia Menchan. And here’s the rest of the stellar lineup. OK, so I’m on there, but still this is a wonderfully eclectic list of authors. Should be exciting.

• Feb 1st: Angelia Menchan
• Feb 2nd: Ebony Farashuu
• Feb 3rd: Cheryl Robinson
• Feb 4th: LA Banks
• Feb 5th: LaConnie Taylor-Jones
• Feb 6th: Donna Hill
• Feb 7th: Bettye Griffin
• Feb 8th: Deatri King-Bey
• Feb 9th: Kimberly Brooks
• Feb 10th: Maryam Diaab
• Feb 11th: Vincent Alexandria
• Feb 12th: Gloria Mallette
• Feb 13th: Djuanna Brockington
• Feb 14th: Niambi Davis
• Feb 15th: Earl Sewell
• Feb 16th: Sheila Goss
• Feb 17th: Gwyneth Bolton
• Feb 18th: Tinisha Johnson
• Feb 19th: Tracy Price Thompson
• Feb 20th: Paula Chase
• Feb 21st: Francis Ray
• Feb 22nd: Angela Benson
• Feb 23rd: Felicia Pride
• Feb 24th: Desiree Day
• Feb 25th: Eric Pete
• Feb 26th: Jewel Parker Rhodes
• Feb 27th: Reshonda Tate Billingsley
• Feb 28th: Shelia Williams
• Feb 29th: DeBerry and Grant
• Mar 1st: Tananarive Due
• Mar 2nd: Connie Briscoe

Bestselling author Anita Bunkley has written nine fiction books, two romance novels, three novellas, and one work of nonfiction. She was rejected 32 times before finding her first publisher and has gone on to write for Signet, HarperCollins, Kimani, Dafina and others. Bunkley also mentors aspiring authors.

Connie Briscoe: I read somewhere that you faced 32 rejections before your first novel was published. How did you find the strength to keep on trying?

Anita Bunkley: I loved my story! If you love what you write, the chances are good that others will love it, too. I believed in my material, so I just kept pushing ahead.

CB: How do you come up with your characters?

Anita Bunkley: I try to visualize the people who will be walking across the pages, and I work hard to make them so interesting that readers will believe they are real. I also tear pages out of magazines when I see an interesting face and use these as inspiration.

CB: That’s a great tip! Do you outline? If so, can you tell us how you go about it?

Anita Bunkley: Yes. I outline. I spend a good deal of time setting the parameters of the story. I nail down the central conflict, the main characters, the climax and the resolution. It always changes as I write the novel, but it serves as a road map to keep me from going too far away from the heart of my story–it is soooo easy to wander!

CB: I can’t help but laugh because I know how true that is. Do you write the first page first or last?

Anita Bunkley: I start at the beginning and write to the end. If a scene pops into my mind that I plan to use later, I might stop and write it but not often.

CB: How many times do you rewrite your novels?

Anita Bunkley: An outline and two drafts before my agent gets it. Then another pass after we’ve talked about it and then off to my editor. The editor may send it back for revisions then there is copyediting. So the novel gets four to five edits before it is printed.

CB: Do you feel pressure to write more frequent or more intense sex scenes in your novels these days?

Anita Bunkley: It is necessary to keep up with the market and the demands of the readers. Since I began writing seventeen years ago things have changed a lot. Sex in mainstream women’s fiction and romance has evolved, becoming more open and explicit. I strive to write sex scenes that are realistic expressions of the storyline and not sex for the sake of sex.

CB: Good points. How much do you draw from your real life for your novels?

Anita Bunkley: Very little. I do travel a lot and incorporate locations I have visited.

CB: Tell us something personal about yourself that most of your readers don’t know.

Anita Bunkley: I love to invent things and hold a US Patent and three Trademarks. My Read-EZ!Ô Reading pillow–seen on my website– www.anitabunkley.com–has become a very poplar item among serious readers.

(You can join Anita Bunkley for a live chat on February 19, 2008, at 8:00 CST. Register today at www.niapresentsanita.com/register.html)