On the road again...

Hi all,

I'm heading off to Madison, Wisconsin. My alter ego is giving a lecture. It should be interesting. I had to give an interview for pre-publicity and every thing. And even though he mis-quotes me when I talk about hip-hop being the culture that rap music come out of, it's still a pretty cool interview. He even asked me about my romance writing and if I I felt conflicted about writing romance as a feminist. Check out the interview and what I said in response to that here. So any way, of course I still need to pack and print out my paper and check my power point.... If any of you are in the area, check it out the lecture. Here's the information:

Sankofa: Hip-Hop Culture, Literacy, and Youth Empowerment Project
English PhD student Eric Pritchard uses a study of hip-hop culture to help young people of color develop skills of critical and creative writing so as to become more expressive about cultural and ethnic complexity in Madison.

Sankofa: Hip Hop, Gender and Youth Empowerment Project Symposium

Saturday, April 28, 2007
11:30 AM - 3:30 PM
6191 HC White Hall, UW-Madison
600 N. Park Street

Keynote: Gwendolyn Pough, Professor of Women's Studies and Writing at Syracuse University

Women, Rap and Hip Hop Feminism
2:00 PM

See you when I get back!

Much love and peace,

Gwyneth

Attention! Attention?

I'm Blogging in Black today. Here's a snippet of what I said....

Attention! Attention?

My alter ego had the opportunity on Tuesday to be on MSNBC. With all the hoopla surrounding the Don Imus situation and Russell Simmons’s recent request that the n-word, b-word and h-words all be bleeped out consistently by the music industry, it seems that the media wants to talk to the Women’s Studies professor who wrote a book on women, hip-hop, feminism and the public sphere. I’ll be doing a radio interview later on today. And although it was set up far in advance of all the hoopla, I’ll be giving a lecture at a Wisconsin university later this week. For the most part, I’m used to giving lectures. I’m also pretty used to giving interviews to newspapers, magazines and even radio shows. The television spot however, had me nervous the entire morning and it made me think about how much I really hate attention.

I’m pretty certain that I’m not the only writer who would much rather let her words speak for her and could do without being in front of the camera. Even though people give me the serious side-eye when I say I’m shy, I am. I’m not painfully shy by any means. I can talk in front of people. And I can even be funny and witty and… well you get the idea… But if given a choice to either be the center of attention or play the background and coast the sidelines, I would more than likely choose the sidelines. I just don’t like attention...

You can read the rest over at Blogging in Black. Please stop by and check it out. Also check out all the other wonderful posts. Lots of excellent writers are offering wonderful pearls of wisdom over there.

Blogging in Black

See ya over there...

Gwyneth

Black Butterfly Review for Sweet Sensation!

The Black Butterfly Review for SWEET SENSATION is in. They give it 5 Stars! Here's some of what they said:

"Ms. Bolton's debut novel I'M GONNA MAKE YOU LOVE ME is the launch pad for her most incredible love story in SWEET SENSATION...

SWEET SENSATION is a mesmerizing story that seems to develop and take on a life of its own right before your eyes...

I could go all day telling you about this story. It is highly recommended for oodles of reasons. It is a sensational love story, the sex is off the hook HOT and the layout of the story is just awesome. On a side note, I must state that I did not necessary agree with Sweet Dee's decision to keep her daughter from her father, but I understand that fear will have you do many things. In the context of this story, it served as a wonderful foundation to bringing this family and this love story full circle allowing something that we all need at one time or another: Closure. " ~ Eleanor Shields for Black Butterfly Review

"Where Have All the Deejays Gone?"

Hi All,

Thanks for all the love and feedback on my poetry as I celebrated National Poetry month by sharing a little. I really appreciate it! You would think a writer would be used to sharing and putting herself out there. But I guess I'll never really get used to it. Anyway, my alter-ego is off to give a lecture in NYC and I'll be away for a minute. But I thought I'd share one last poem before I headed off to the airport. This is one that Deidre, the heroine from SWEET SENSATION actually performs in the novel. It's titled, "Where Have All the Deejays Gone?" And it's a sort of funny scene in the book because the hero, Flex, used to be a deejay and now he's a big time producer and label owner. Anyway, he's in the audience when she performs the poem and she has no idea that he's there... I guess you'd have to read the book to realize why this is funny... So, before I go into detail and give away spoilers, I'll just leave you with this poem. :-)

"Where Have All the Deejays Gone?"
with a special shout out to those not mentioned by name
(RIP Jam Master Jay)



Not to be on some ole nostalgic tip
but where have all the deejays gone?
Back in the day you couldn't be a fly emcee unless your deejay was a nice as you
Nowadays you can't be a platinum selling artist
without a track from a super producer
And I'm not making a value statement
it is what it is
all I wanna know is where have all the deejays gone?
because back in the day
the right deejay could break an emcee off
something proper
like slowing down the beat
or bringing in a dope scratch
just when the emcee is about to
break it down
switching records like only a
true mix master
a real beat blaster
could
where have all the deejays gone?
I'm not longing for some yesterday long forgotten
though sometimes I do get a little misty eyed
for the days when you knew what deejay went with what crew
you know like
Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five
Run DMC and Jam Master Jay
Sweet Tee and Jazzy Joyce
Gangstar and Premier
Pete Rock and CL Smooth
Salt-N-Pepa and Spinderella
Marley Marl and Dimples Dee
and then Roxanne Shante
and then MC Shan
Tribe Called Quest and Ali Shaheed Muhammad
DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince
Scott La Rock and KRS-One
and I won't even get started on the commercialization of the mix tape
because I know by now you have got to be feeling me
I'm just asking
where have all the deejays gone?
because you know wherever they are
there has got to be a fly ass party going on

Thanks for reading my poetry y'all.

much love and peace,

Gwyneth

"Side Step"

Side Step

I remember being eleven and doing steps in front
of the four-story tenement we called home
twist
sophisticated lady—you know that’s me
spelling Mississippi
and saying ooo-chie-wally-wally
long before nas and the bravehearts made it a hook
I remember older black women looking at us
and shaking their heads as we battled the girls around the corner
to see who could pop that coochie and twist like this
I remember pumping with all my might
and not really knowing what I was pumping
but most of all
I remember what it felt like to be with my girls
as we each took our turn in the circle
giving off more attitude than anyone under fifteen had a right to
and knowing that we were the baddest girls out there
because we deemed it so
we said things little girls shouldn’t even know
but when I remember how we were when outside
playing
and what it was like to be one with them
and how later we’d jump double-dutch
or skate around the block
I think of how innocent we all were even as we chanted
“my man made me do it, he really, really, really . . . got on down”
slapping our hands and stomping our feet in unison
we must have felt invincible
and all of our steps occurred in the dawn
before we learned that black women’s sexuality
should be concealed
lest it be used against her in the court of public opinion
itself steeped in legacies and histories of lies
when I remember what it felt like to be so free
from cloaked and hidden sexualities
it amazes me that girlhood games gave it to me
and I hold on to it now as I smile at kim, foxy, trina, and khai
maybe they took the side step and remembered what we all forgot
I wonder if I can reclaim some of that innocent
yet brazen and brave little black girl back

"Not Another Stereotype"

I don't want it all
but you just can't take some
you have to take the good and the bad
So, you can't be a strong black woman without
being an emasculating, castrating, domineering,
matriarch, man-hating bitch
No matter how you choose, you lose
you can't claim the rhythm or the funk or the
basketball dunk
without being the coon, fool, better off in
slavery, yes sir, no mam, i'se don't know sir, low
end of the bell curve n-----
one stereotype feeds another
and there's no such thing as a positive without
a negative to balance it out
So, what is this all about?
I was simply saying...
I don't want it all...

"Word"

Since April is National Poetry Month and the heroine of my latest novel, SWEET SENSATION, is a poet, I thought I'd share some of Deidre "Sweet Dee" James's poetry with you for the rest of this month. ;-) If you hate it, that's okay. She's not real. (I might go somewhere and cry though... But don't worry about that...) The first poem, I'd like to share is titled "Word." And she actually performs it in the novel.

“Word”

When I first heard
brothers on the block saying word
I got excited
I sensed we would be getting our power back again
There is power in the word
the strength of NOMMO
was going to take us home

But when I tell you of this new coming strength
all you can say is
Word!

I try to get you excited
I tell you about the Griots
the storytellers of the motherland
telling history in ceremonial detail
I told you about the power of slaves and ex-colored men
using the word to tell their narratives
to illustrate incidents in their lives
to punch holes in that peculiar institution

And all you can say is word?

In the 70s the word was spoken and Black was beautiful again
We’d lost the knowledge
of our beauty for so long
And all it needed was to be spoken into existence
We spoke it and there was power
Black Power

I tell you this and you, awed by history I suppose, simply say, word. . .

I mean the word is supposed to be more powerful than that
The word is supposed to take us back
The word and the drum they are with us again
We have the word in rap
and the drum in the boom-bap
But no one seems to be using them in the way they were meant
to be used
They don’t uplift, inspire, or even engage

And I complain to you and all you can mutter is word.
WORD

I know that you know that word is bond
Word is life
In the beginning was the word
God spoke it and created day and night
“In the Beginning was the word
the word was with God
and the word was God
He was with God in the beginning”
There is power in the word

And don’t look at me or even fix your mouth to say word, but
Be word enact word
Be word enact word
Be word enact. . .

Easter Weekend

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! If you're celebrating Easter, don't load up on too much of that good food on Easter Sunday. And don't steal all the good chocolate from the kiddies' Easter baskets. Even if you aren't celebrating Easter, I want everyone to have a great weekend. I'll catch you on Monday!

much love and peace

Gwyneth

RAWSISTAZ Give SWEET SENSATION 4.5 Stars!

Hi all,

The RAWSISTAZ review is in for SWEET SENSATION. They gave it 4.5 Stars! So that means I have my second RAWSISTAZ Favorite. I'm so geeked. Here's a blurb from the review:

"I highly commend Gwyneth Bolton for creating a wonderful tale that shatters the stereotypes surrounding the hip hop generation.  Despite the fact that SWEET SENSATION follows the general rules for romance, it is a unique story that offers a few surprises.  The hero and heroine are multi-dimensional, quirky, and imaginative and the supporting characters add depth and texture to the story.  I enjoyed that there were numerous positive male characters, the social commentary, and the fact that the story highlighted the human side of hip hop artists.  SWEET SENSATION is likely to appeal to a broad audience of readers.  Fans of traditional romance will enjoy it." ~ Reviewed by Stacey Seay of The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers

But you can read the entire review here:

RAWSISTAZ Review of SWEET SENSATION

much love and peace,

Gwyneth

April Interview with Shelia Goss

GB: Hi Shelia! Thanks so much for visiting my blog and doing an interview. What drew you to the romance genre? Were you a reader of romance novels before you started to write them?

SG: I've been reading romance novels since high school. My aunt was an avid reader of the Harlequin romances and she was the person who introduced me to my first romance novels written by AA authors. Between the both of us, we have a nice romance book collection.

GB: Hmmm... I'd like to see that collection... So, I noticed that you have some experience with self-publishing. What was that like? What are the significant differences between taking the self-publishing route and going with a publisher? Would you consider self-publishing again in the future?

SG: I learned a lot about publishing during the time I was self-published. Publishing is definitely a business no matter if you're self-published or with a major. There are several differences between the two. As a self-publisher, you're responsible for everything and I do mean everything. As an author with a publisher, you primarily concentrate on writing and marketing your book and your publisher takes care of the rest. To answer your last question, I really can't answer it; but for right now, being with a publisher works for me.

GB: You are an Essence Magazine and Black Expressions Book Club Bestselling author. Congratulations on those amazing achievements. You know that me and just about everyone else who reads this blog want to know how you did it. Any secrets of bestselling success you want to share?

SG: I wish there was a magic formula, but there isn't. I look at those achievements as blessings from God. I can't help but give God the praise, because I've had a limited marketing budget. Fortunately for me, the word about my books spread because of the readers.

GB: There is nothing like good old word of mouth! If you can start a buzz about your work you are on your way. Kudos to you for writing a book that folks couldn't stop talking about! Anyway, I noticed that you have a journalism background and have interviewed some pretty high-profile folk in the entertainment industry. Besides hoping that you won't laugh too hard at my little amateur interview techniques… I'd like to hear more about how you feel your training as a journalist enhanced your fiction writing?

SG: A little about my history. Although I originally wanted to be a journalist, I went to college and got my engineering degree. I worked in corporate America for the majority of my adult life. Up until my dad's death, writing was a past-time. After he died, I decided that life was too short not to do what I wanted to do, so I decided to pursue it as a career. Between the workshops and courses, I stepped out on faith and pursued a career in writing. To me, non-fiction and fiction writing, although different are the same. With each, you are required to write a story. The only difference is one is true and the other is a figment of your imagination.

GB: See... if I wasn't an amateur interviewer, I would have known that you had a background in Engineering and not Journalism. LOL. So... anyway... I really enjoyed MY INVISIBLE HUSBAND. I think the concept was original. And I really have to give you kudos for the way you worked it, girl. One thing I noticed is that, while it was definitely a romance novel, you played with the plot and upped the drama in a way that made it stand out from the typical romance novel. Without giving too much away, can you talk a little bit about why you wrote the novel the way you did?



SG: I'm an avid reader so I wrote the type of book that I like to read. I wanted to place a comical spin on a somewhat annoying question asked to singles, "So when are you getting married?" Once I came up with the theme for the novel, I knew the number one question would be, how does the main character (Nicolette Montana) pull off a fake marriage? That's when the fun began. The characters made it easy to come up with the twists and turns because each had their own personality and had something to contribute to the story.

GB: I haven't had a chance to read your latest release, ROSES ARE THORNS, VIOLETS ARE TRUE. But it's definitely on my to-be-read pile. Can you tell us a little bit about it? Just enough to tease us and make those of us who haven't purchased it yet run out and buy it.



SG: Its sibling rivalry at its best. Rose Purdue is a movie star and feels the world is at her anchor. Her fans adore her, but her twin sister Violet knows that thorns are beneath all the glamour. Rose puts on her best performance as she attempts to redeem her reputation with the public after Violet gives a tell-all interview to the media. There's plenty of drama between the pages.

GB: What's next on the horizon for you? Tell us a little bit about your upcoming projects and give us a sneak peek at some of the things you have in the works.

SG: My next book is about an event planner, Paige C. Webb, who is an expert at organizing her clients events, but when it comes to the affairs of the heart--that's another story. At this point I don't know what the title will be, but it should either be out in the fall of this year or the beginning of next year. Paige also has an issue with commitment. I wanted to show that men aren't the only ones afraid of committing. The story is a romance and has comical scenes. I can't wait for it to be released. As soon as I get a confirmation on the title, I'll be sending out more information about it.

Besides writing romance, I'm also writing in another genre and have a few things in the works; however right now I'm not able to go into details. I've contributed to a few anthologies, so just waiting to hear back about those. If any of your readers are looking for other contributors, feel free to contact me (smile).

GB: What are you reading right now?

SG: I just finished reading THE PERFECT SHOE by Kimberly Matthews and PERFECT FOR YOU by Sylvia Lett. Up next is POSTCARDS FROM LAST SUMMER by Roz Bailey and IRRESISTIBLE YOU by Francis Ray.

GB: Do you have any advice for aspiring writers about the publishing business?

SG: Develop a thick skin. Let rejection fuel your desire to succeed and last but not least, write. Write when you feel like it; write when you don't.

GB: How can readers best contact you?

SG: Readers can contact me via my website www.sheliagoss.com or www.myspace.com/sheliagoss.

Thanks Gwyneth. I appreciate you interviewing me for your blog.

Anytime, Shelia! Thanks for stopping by!

Well, that's all folks! Be sure to check out the authors coming in the following months:

May – Michelle Buckley

June – Delilah Dawson

July - Patricia Sargeant

August – Acvernon Menchan

2006 Romance in Color Reviewer's Choice Nominees Announced

THE BEST OF 2006

The Romance in Color reviewers are pleased to announce the nominees for its annual Reviewers' Choice Awards.  The winners will be announced on 15th April 2007.  At that time the winner of the BOOK OF THE YEAR and BEST COVER ART will be announced.

The staff of RIC congratulate you on your nomination.

KIMANI ROMANCE OF THE YEAR
AN INNOCENT MAN - Deirdre Savoy (Aug)
NIGHT HEAT - Brenda Jackson (Sep)
SHE'S MY BABY - Adrianne Byrd (Sep)
FINALLY, YOU AND ME – Lisa Harrison Jackson (Oct)

  ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

BEST KIMANI ARABESQUE OF THE YEAR
A TIME TO KEEP - Rochelle Alers (June)
LONG DISTANCE LOVER - Donna Hill (June)
ALWAYS A CHANCE – Angela Weaver (Nov)

 ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

DAFINA ROMANCE OF THE YEAR
GOODBYE HEARTACHE - Doris Johnson (Feb)
DEPTHS OF DESIRE - Sophia Shaw (May)
TROUBLE - Ann Christopher (July)
BITTER SWEET – Candice Poarch (July)

  ~   ~   ~   ~   ~ 

GENESIS PRESS BOOK OF THE YEAR
THROUGH THE FIRE - Seressia Glass (March)
ROCK STAR - Roslyn Holcomb (Sep)
NO ORDINARY LOVE - Angela Weaver (July)
CAUGHT UP - Deatri King-Bey (Feb)

 ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

INSPIRATIONAL FICTION/ROMANCE OF THE YEAR
A SIN AND A SHAME - Victoria Christopher Murray – Simon & Schuster/Touchstone (May)
SHADES OF GRAY - Jacqueline Thomas – Harlequin/Steeple Hill (Jan)

  ~   ~   ~   ~   ~ 

ANTHOLOGY OF THE YEAR
VEGAS BITES – L.A. Banks, Natalie Dunbar & J.M. Jeffries, & Seressia Glass – Parker Publishing (Nov)
YOU NEVER KNOW – Niobia Bryant, Melanie Shuster & Kimberley White – Harlequin Kimani/Arabesque (Jan)
BACK IN YOUR ARMS - Sandra Kitt, Deirdre Savoy & Celeste O. Norfleet – Harlequin Kimani/Arabesque (Jan)
CHOCOLATE KISSES – Renee Luke, Francis Ray & Marianne Reid (Jan)

 ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

MAINSTREAM FICTION OF THE YEAR
THE DAMNED - L. A. Banks – St. Martin’s Press (Jan)
DIARY OF A MISTRESS – Meisha – Simon & Schuster/Touchstone (Aug)
A DEAD MAN SPEAKS - Lisa Jones Johnson - Genesis/Vibe (July)

~   ~   ~   ~   ~

WOMAN'S FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR
BRASS ANKLE BLUES – Rachel Harper – Simon & Schuster/Touchstone (Feb)
BEST-KEPT SECRETS - Rochelle Alers – Harlequin Kimani/Sepia (Jan)
WHEN YOU DANCE WITH THE DEVIL – Gwynne Forster – Kensington Dafina/Fiction (Aug)

  ~   ~   ~   ~   ~ 

NOVELLA OF THE YEAR
“Heat” in VEGAS BITES – L.A. Banks – Parker Publishing (Nov)
“Double Down” in VEGAS BITES – Seressia Glass – Parker Publishing (Nov)

 ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

NEW AUTHOR OF THE YEAR
Ann Christopher
Roslyn Halcomb
Deatri King-Bey
Gwyneth Bolton

  ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

AUTHOR OF THE YEAR
Brenda Jackson
Rochelle Alers
Ann Christopher
Seressia Glass
L.A. Banks


 

Kimber An does SWEET SENSATION

Kimber An has a new blog that she is devoting to reviewing romance novels and industry issues. The blog is called Enduring Romance. And she has posted her review of SWEET SENSATION there. Stop by and check it out and be sure to support this wonderful new endeavor.

I'll get back to posting soon. Playing catch up after traveling and then getting sick means I don't have time right now to tell you all how stupid I think the people giving Oprah a hard time about the rules at her school are. And I realize I haven't called Puffy an idiot in a while or ragged on Essence Magazine in a minute. And you don't even want to hear what I think about that disgrace to Black womanhood New York... Maybe in the near future... For now, check out Kimber An's review here:

Enduring Romance

much love and peace,

Gwyneth

Back from NYC but sick as all get out...

I tried to fight it... But the sick bug has caught me. I knew that all the traveling and not getting the proper rest would catch up to me sooner or later. I hate being sick. And I especially hate being sick when I still have to go to work. BLAH!

Gwyneth

The Fourth and Final Winner is....

Hi All,

The fourth and final winner of my first contest is Denise Anderson. She writes of Latonya Stevens-Harrington the heroine in my second novel, If Only You Knew: "I really don't want to choose because all of your books have touched me. But here goes. Latonya really loved Carlton. She could never express this feeling because of her mother and father. And she always put other people before herself. She love her son, grandmother and sister. That is why she took the grandfather's threat to heart. Because she knew he was a powerful man. Latonya was a very sensitive loyal and caring person to go through what Carlton did to her. And his problem was how his mother was toward his father. I read this story so much my pages are tearing. Is there going to be a sequel?"

I'd say my first contest went well. I learned some things about my characters and what readers like. I think I may blog about it soon.

much love and peace,

Gwyneth

On the road again and MySpace...

Well I'm off to attend the Conference on College Composition and Communication. This is a very busy and crazy hectic conference for me. So, I probably won't be able to check in with my blog buddies. The good thing is the conference is in New York City. YAY! I hope I have a spare moment to sight see and get some good food. :-)

Also, the last MySpace hold out in the universe has finally caved. I have a MySpace page now. And I only have one friend... Tom. If you're on MySpace please be my friend... please... I'm still working on the page. But I have most of the things up that I want there. I'll more than likely use the same blog entries...

Gwyneth's MySpace Page

Much love and peace,

Gwyneth

After spending the past day and a half at the airport...

I am finally back home. My flight from Miami was delayed for about three and a half hours on Sunday. This of course made me miss my connecting flight. And then I had to fly stand-by on a much later flight, the last flight of the evening as a matter of fact. And after sitting there all day, I found out that I wasn't going to make that flight. So after making a big fuss, I got sent to a hotel for the night and booked on another flight. But instead of a direct flight, I had to fly to another city and then connect to another flight to get home. I'm home now and I couldn't be happier.

It's nice to get away, but the ups and downs with travel these days, makes the "getting there" part of it too aggravating for words.


Much love and peace,

Gwyneth

And the third winner is...

Tonie Schoolfield has won the third copy of Cuffed by Candlelight. She writes that her favorite character is "Darren Whitman from your book I'm Gonna Make You Love Me, and that is because he has loved her since they were kids and even though she got on his nerves there was always something about her that kept him coming back and then as they got older his love grew stronger. It reminded me of a guy I know that is very sweet and does things a little off the cuff but for the right reasons."

There is one more copy left to be won! But you have to be in it to win it.


much love and peace,

Gwyneth

Making It Hot and the Emma Awards

Saturday was a busy day at the Romance Slam Jam! I did a workshop with A. C. Arthur on the love scene in romance novels and it was wonderful! You all might remember I interviewed A. C. a little while back on the blog. It was fun to get the chance to work with her on this workshop.

Here's the description for our workshop:

"Making It Hot: The Love Scene in Romance"
This workshop will examine those scenes in the romance novels that keep readers turning the pages: the first time, the hook-up, doing the deed... The love scene often has a prominent place in the romance novel, and we will explore why. In romance the best scenes are not only hot and steamy, but also deeply emotional. To be blunt, it's more than a little bump and grind. This workshop will explore what makes these scenes hot. What keeps us coming back for more? What makes us stop reading so that we can pause to fan ourselves with the book? And most important, what touches us in that special place in our hearts? We will get the discussion going by reading some of our favorites as well as some of our own work.

The workshop went well and we had a pretty packed room by the end. Some of the other workshop ran a little over and the room filled up as they got out of the other sessions. The interaction was great and I think it was useful for readers and writers. It's clear that the love scene is important for a reason... I read from Sweet Sensation and Cuffed by Candlelight. And I have to say that I need to read those love scenes a little more often. I couldn't get through the scene from Cuffed by Candlelight with out giggling. My friend Eleanor said it was because I was getting hot. LOL. But I think it because I'm just so innocent that reading the scene made me blush… Anyway A. C. read some pretty heated scenes from her work that had me fanning myself…

The rest of the conference was wonderful. You'll notice that I missed posting on Friday. But it was a pretty full day. I attended a session on "Reading and Reviewing African American Romance" by Eleanor Shields of Black Butterfly Review. The discussion in that session was lively and it was very clear that readers know what they want in their romance novels. I then went to Evelyn Palfrey's session, "It's not about you. It's about the book." That session was very informative and all about how writers can go about building their careers. Then I had to go and have a mojito for K. D. King since she couldn't be here. And then there was a bus trip to the Hard Rock casino. I lost $26.00… :-(

Saturday I heard two amazing writers speak. The lunch keynote speaker was Deirdre Savoy and then I heard Terry McMillan speak. I was in awe of Terry McMillan. The woman was amazing. There are really no words to express how it felt to see her in person… None.

Finally, Saturday evening was the Emma Awards and I'm so excited to share with you all that I won! I'm still in shock. But I'll recap all the winners for this evening.

Brenda Jackson won the Career Achievement Award. And although she couldn't make it this year, she sent a lovely speech that was read by Slam Jam founder Emma Rodgers. And Terry McMillan presented the award.

I won the Emma Award for Favorite New Author.

Vegas Bites won the Emma Award for Favorite Anthology. Congratulations to L. A. Banks, J. M Jeffries, Seressia Glass, and Natalie Dunbar.

I'm Gonna Make You Love Me won for Book of the Year. (I am still in shock.)

Darren Whitman from I'm Gonna Make You Love Me won for Favorite Hero. (Shocked.)

Alicia Taylor from I'm Gonna Make You Love Me won for Favorite Heroine. (Pinch me am I dreaming?)

Love Me Carefully by A. C. Arthur won for Favorite Romantic Suspense. Congrats A. C. !

The Closer I Get to You by Melanie Schuster won for Favorite Sequel in a Romance Series. Congrats, Melanie!

Delight Before Christmas by Angie Daniels won for Favorite Steamy Romance. Congrats, Angie!

Defining Moments by Jacqueline Thomas won Favorite Inspirational. Congrats, Jaqueline!

"Chocolate Kisses," by Renee Luke won for Favorite Novella. It was in the anthology by the same title which also had novellas by Francis Ray and Mary Ann Reid. Congrats, Renee Luke!

Francis Ray won Favorite Author! Congrats, Francis!

Dyanne Davis's Misty Blue won the award for Favorite Cover. Congrats, Dyanne!

I want to thank Adrienne McSweeney, Tisha Hill and the other members of Inner Elevation from the Written Word book club for planning and hosting such a wonderful event. I hope these ladies take a much need rest after this. They deserve it! Next year the Romance Slam Jam will be in Chicago. I can't wait. I really look forward to it each year.

Well, I have to fly back to home in the morning. I'll be leaving this wonderful Miami sunshine for the lovely snow… So, I better get some sleep.

Much love and peace,

Gwyneth (Who is still very much in shock)

Finished My Workshop!

Today is the first day of the Romance Slam Jam and I did my workshop this morning. It's great to go first and get it over and done with. Because now I can relax until I do a panel on Saturday with A. C. Arthur. I'm supposed to be having lunch right now. But I thought I'd post first because I'm trying to be nice and make you all feel like you are here with me. :-)

Anyway, my workshop was geared toward readers but I think it was useful for writers and aspiring writers as well. The workshop was titled, "Couldn't Put It Down: What Makes a Compelling Romance Read?"

Here's the blurb:

This workshop will explore the question, what makes a romance novel good. We have all had the experience of finishing a book and smiling, sufficiently satisfied with money and time well spent. We have also had the experience of finishing a book (or not finishing a book) and wanting to throw the book against the wall. The reasons for these experiences are as varied as the personalities of the readers. But I believe that there are certain elements that we can point to in a particularly great book and pretty much all agree on. Things that say to us all, this was a good read! In this workshop we will share some of these using examples from contemporary romance and encourage lots of interaction from the audience as we all try and figure out: what makes a compelling read?

I had them think and free write for a few moments at the start of the workshop just to get us all thinking about our likes and dislikes. Here are the three things I had them free write on:

First, list five traits that any good romance novel should have, in your opinion.
Second, come up with your own short definition of what makes a page turning read, what makes a book one that is hard to put down.
Third, give us the names of five romance novels that you have read that fit your qualifications.

The workshop had about ten women in it and we really had a great discussion and it felt like a really good book club discussion. I had a great time. And I feel like we had a nice exchange.

I talked about the things that I feel make for a compelling read and most of them agreed with me and had wonderful things to add.

I came up with a brief list of must-haves for the compelling read.
~ The "You had me at hello" factor: Have you ever noticed that most books that you can't put down usually grab you from page one. You start reading it at the characters, the language and the plot, all come together on that first page in such a powerful way that you are immediately captured in the prose. This doesn't always happen from page one. But when it does... wow...
~ Characters, Characters, Characters: When a writer gets me emotionally invested in their characters in anyway, I'm there until the last page and sometimes even after. All of the women noted the importance of characters and they had a variety of qualifications. But characters were high on the list. I talked about the fact that for me, I don't have to like or love the characters immediately. But I have to feel something, even if it is dislike and I'm reading and waiting for said character to get what's coming to them or the wake-up call. If I feel something for the characters then I will keep turning those pages.
~ Plotting and pacing: The whole point of "I couldn't put it down" is based on the fact that you don't want the reader to put the book down. If the plot starts to drag or it get off track and veers off then the read may put the book down and not pick it back up. For me plotting and pacing is important. You want to keep upping the ante adding to the drama, emotion and tension so that the reader is constantly feeling as if she can't wait to see what will happen next.
~ The "When the Stuff Hits the Fan" or "When All Hell Breaks Loose" Factor: This is important and goes along with pacing and plot. Usually books that keep us turning the page keep us hooked because we are in on a big secret that the character has yet to find out and when they find out, oh boy. And we keep reading because we know that when it unfolds, oh boy. Or writers who are really good will have the big secret hinted at, giving the reader clues and just enough information to keep the reader guessing. And then when everything comes out, wow! These are all things that have to be navigated carefully, because you don't want to have the reader continue to turn the pages thinking something huge is going to happen and then it fizzles or the reader says, is that it?! The pay off has to pack a punch.
~ The "Don't be a Spike Lee Flick" factor - The final part of creating the compelling read for me is knowing that perfect place to end it. Have you ever noticed that no matter how excellent a Spike Lee film is he always seems to drag them out just a tad too long? I find myself watching his films and thinking, he could have ended that movie right there and it would have been perfect. And then there is usually a half hour or so left on the film. Writers don't want readers thinking, dang when is she going to end this. You don't want readers thinking, okay, she's just adding stuff to be adding stuff now. Or the dreaded, dang, are we there yet. We want readers to close the book and say "ahhh, perfect."

So that was my workshop. There are more workshops at 2:00 and then a 70s party! I will try and check in on Friday. But I can't promise. I might have too much fun at the 70s party.

much love and peace,

Gwyneth

I made it! I'm in Miami!

After being on airplanes and sitting in airports since around 6:00 am, I'm in Miami, y'all. The Romance Slam Jam officially starts on Thursday morning. YAY! I'm going to try and be good and give updates while I'm here. But I am in Miami, y'all! LOL. And I'm with my romance reading and writing folks. So, there is no telling how much time I'll have to post. :-)

Anyway, I thought I'd leave you all with the Will Smith cut that has been playing in my head since last week--Miami.



much love and peace,

Gwyneth