An Honest Look at the Indies

...it's all about putting out heartfelt work and then after that, Indie Authors and Indie Books gets my Honest VOTE!

But here's the thing, too. Books published by mainstream publishers have the edge when it comes to visual quality. Nothing beats the visual that doesn't turn the eyes inward. Today, mainstream publishers are putting out some really visually aesthetic books. Back in the day it wasn't like this. Mainstream publishers back then were in the business of selling stories, I presume. Go back and look at those old books. Nothing but pure jumpy text laying on thick yellow paper, and just about hand sewn to plain cloth covers.

Now, I'm not sure if this is what really happened but I'm going to go on and assume one of the literates started telling people who were not privy to what was going on in these books, what was going on in these books. People must have been clamoring to see what the big fuss was about, but couldn't see a thing for all this jumpy text. That's when someone must have shouted out, "hey, maybe if we add some visual-ness to all this jumpy stuff, then maybe people will see what the big deal is with the jumpy stuff."

I imagine this is how we arrive at today, getting our books more and more visual to get buy-in for reading books. That's great... I guess... except here's the deal with me. I remember the plain old jumpy cloth books, and I wasn't the one shouting about adding visual-ness to books. I was the one standing in libraries moaning loudly, wishing writers would write quicker, to keep pumping out the stories, so that these publishers could get them just as quickly onto library shelves.

And now would you just looka here! Here comes the Indies giving us more books than we know what to properly do with. How's that for be careful what you wish for? Thankfully, on this wish I was pleasantly rewarded.

I don't care what the visually astute say, Indie books 'generally' contain that raw element, which makes for better pacing, not often found in books that have been washed clean of this jewel. And true too, books coming out of the big houses 'generally' contain the large stones everyone in the world is told beforehand will be in the book... except... well, I don't have to tell you what happens... sort of like a lot. Either way, whether browsing mainstream territory, or Indie, there's quite a bit of mining to do to get at the jewels.

And so now you know I'm not just saying this because I'm an Indie author, and publisher. For its sheer volume and great pacing, I (currently) give Indie books the edge. Not sure if I've blurbed my top Indie reading list yet, but even if I have, it's worth putting it back out there again.

Way to Go Indie Authors and Publishers!!!

(in no particular order... in fact, I listed more than 10!)

Greatest Word in the Dictionary: LOVE

Forever Remembered, Forever Loved

Being an iffy fan of Valentine's Day, here's an author, and book, writing about love in a way I enjoyed. Something's Wrong With Your Scale?: A Romantic Comedy by Van Whitfield

I absolutely adored this book. I give it two thumbs, and all ten toes up. I read it a while back during my hunt to find novelists who not only shared my culture, but shared my brand of humor, and storytelling too. Looking back, I actually found quite a few, but for this post, Van Whitfield is the one.

Opened this pearl of a romantic comedy and at first thought I was about to be in for some name dropping/club hoppin' and "I'm fat" sneers. Next thing I know, I'm right there... in the novel, laughing my fun-loving butt off. And not to worry. I won't miss the part I laughed off.

A Piece of History on Aunt Jemima

(New York Tribune) Ad showing
the Aunt Jemima character
with apron and kerchief
as described,1909. – from Wikipedia.

Visit Michele Norris's website to read her memoir, The Grace of Silence. Details in the book surrounding the Aunt Jemima characterization were unexpectedly enlightening. Myself, until this book I hadn't given much thought of the character, other than general assumptions assumed based on the time period in which the character first appeared. An interesting and informative resource, especially paired with Wikipedia's sources.

I read the hardcover version. Here's the link to an updated version.

Colorful, Soulful Reading

1897 sketch by Norman B. Wood
Paul L. Dunbar from Wikipedia

Most times sinking into a book is all the treat I'm looking for. Where from the moment I open the book to the first page, the words string and loop together in such a way that I feel that I am there... right there smack, dab in the center of the story...

...where both feet and all ten toes go in and then, something like this happens!!!

Well wait. You know good in well no true storyteller ever drops something like this without first sharing the backdrop to get earnest readers all caught up. That's right, it was a long time ago, 2nd grade to be exact, when I joined a newspaper club where we, for whatever unknown reason, were reading from this poetry book. Can't recall the title, actually still don't know the title of that book, as it happens to be the crux of this account. But I do recall the cantons in this poem that sort of locked up my senses.

Going Back to the Basics…

In honor of opening this month to celebrate my culture, Black History Month, I'm starting off by commemorating those individuals most influential to my early development.

The importance of knowing our history was impressed upon me. "Never forget where you come from." "Know your roots..." and some other high volume quotes eluding me at the moment framed what I recall most growing up. As a child I saw the phrases as a reminder to remember the fact that 'you are black' and not to forget the struggles of those who trailblazed a path for us. Today I respect, and reflect on the true wisdom buried in this age old adage. There can't be any message more powerful than going back to the basics, for everything we build and create has a foundation. As a personal influence, from time to time, I look at this foundation to take from it worked well, and to learn from past mistakes.

Nodding Along...

Seriously... it's been a week of nodding along over here. That's what happens when I'm thinking far faster than I can type, and typing so fast I forgot what I was thinking. All teasing aside, all I can do when this happens is sit back and see (and sometimes read) articles sifting by, and hear comments here and there, but do nothing but nod along and think, 'yes, I agree.'

So let me get on with the post to drop this one quick in-passing quote that had me nodding along... coming to me from of all places, Flavor Pill. Wow, the irony. To the question: 'What, exactly, is outsider art?' here's the quote that had me nodding along, agreeing.

"It's a pejorative term and it's terrible because it reduces the price of very good artists. The self-taught artists that I deal with are honest people. I've been a collector for many, many years, and I know the difference between contrived art and non-contrived art. I love the fact that these people don't have any boundaries, that they haven't been taught what the end of the envelope is. They've got something in their mind, and they have to create it. You don't go to school to learn how to do this. You either have it or you don't, and that's what turns me on."  — George Viener, Owner of Outsider Folk Art Gallery

(Now wasn't that a nice quote? Here's the link to the full post.)

Think tomorrow I'll try to write a post titled; 'Writing on E!'

A Little Late...Otherwise On Time for Wednesday's Meme!

Guess I'll join the others in following today's Reflections of a Bookaholic Wednesday's Meme. Please consult Wikipedia for a definition, if you don't already know what a meme is. I don't remember exactly, and a little pressed for time to spell out.

The topic this Wednesday (for this meme) is... 'Types of Endings', where just so happen, I happen to have something to add here.

I enjoy realistic endings. Realistic in a way that fits the story. And I know that's saying way too much of nothing, but hopefully you get my point; unpredictable to the point of being unbelievable, yet realistic all the way around. This is the mix I'm going for when I write my books. I'm always looking for that great start, non-stop pacing throughout the chunk of story, and the grand slam ending. Isn't that what everyone, both readers and writers, want? To be knocked off his or her feet when they come to that ending?

Proofing! Perception? Pet + Peeves

Disclaimers first.

I had this post perfectly written when I happened to glance back on previous blog posts. All I have to say is, "HEEELLLP!!!" Somebody please help me! I want to get back to reading... to pick up my mood... but I can't... because you know why!!!

That expatriate out of the way, I wholly respect editors, proofreaders, or any reading specialist looking out for the best interest of writers and readers. To the contrary of what I may write further along in this post, I have been affably surprised by comments received from editors. One who's feedback I really looked forward to, told me she didn't want to change my sentence structure(s) because she recognized it would disturb my voice, which she found "...and she used some really powerfully trendy words here." Of course this told me she wanted to change my sentence structure, but I was none-the-less very pleased by her work, and the corrections she ultimately made. Luckily I had reached out to a professional editor, and have every confidence there are many more like her.

Breaking Up, Making Up, and Staying Motivated

What keeps us motivated? Of course, ahead of this question should be, what is it that truly relaxes us, followed in close pursuit by what is it we really like to do?

I pose this question because it seems easy to see a cause to pursue, but then become dejected by the obstacles that stand in the way of pursuing the cause. A while back...that being a loooonnng while back, after picking up projects I thought I wanted to pursue, and then letting the ball go when things got more involved than I wanted to bother with, I gave myself a pep talk so that I wouldn't have to go through this again. Honestly, it made me feel like a failure, strumming up all this energy, (particularly for things I really wanted to pursue), and then flaking out when the going got going.

In the Eye of the Public

In the spirit of continuing to honor Dr. King's Birthday, here's the link to Beverly Diehl's MLK Blogfest. I plan to spend the evening visiting the other posts, but at least two I've visited so far touched on what they do to help themselves and others learn about diverse cultures; quite warming to read. Overall, I must say the Internet has proved to be a valuable resource to learning about each other. I've certainly noticed a shift in the 'mood' of comments I used to read in various forums, from the mood I've recently encountered.

Social Networks such as Book Blogs, and She Writes, and now World Bloggers are currently my favored online forums to visit. Sharing our perspectives and knowledge is openly welcomed in a mutually respected virtual environment. There are many others out there as well... 2r1nChrist, OWN: Onyx Woman Network, Super Woman Lifestyle, and too many others to list, that promotes networking that in addition to many pluses, helps us *treat each other better* as we navigate the learning curve to bettering our social manners. Yet, if there is anyone to personally thank for what I see unfolding before us, it would be the site hosts of such unbiased online forums. They are truly the engines behind our new brand of social networking, allowing us to meet members such as Bev Diehl, who I really appreciate for hosting the MLK Blogfest.