The Publishing Journey Continues

CrimsonTide4 · #1 05-21-2003, 01:44 PM

Well, well, well, after having several PM convos, IM convos, etc. etc. etc. about the book, I figured why not tell everybody all at once?

I started writing back in November when I was still teaching. Over the past 3 years, I had 3 different people tell me that I should write a book: my former roommate, Novella000, and I forget the other one. Well in November, I was at a meeting bored as hell and thought to myself, let me just start writing. So I did. I gave birth to Kendra and Lamar. Now I wish like hell I could remember the date that that happened. At any rate, Kendra and Lamar are best friends from birth. They are freshmen in high school.

I want to make this a series like Sweet Valley High, but they will go through each grade unlike SVH. The book is set in Charlotte, North Carolina. Other details will be on a need to know basis.

Last night, I finished chapter 17. I am now on page 200. I had a slow start because I was still teaching and would write occassionally but since I have been unemployed (yall keep praying for a sista to find a job), I have been able to write more. If I were not such a procastinator, the book might be finished by now.

Let's see what else. Oh. . .thanks to HoneyKiss1974 and her sister for inside tips on going from the writing part to getting published. Thanks also to HoneyKiss for words of encouragement and motivational forwards (my mom loved the New Shoes too

)Thanks to Kelli and Ideal08 for reading the drafts of each chapter. They along with my mom read each chapter, catch errors, offer feedback, and push me to write the next chapter. Ideal08 really pushes me too.

So now, I am going to get started on Chapter 18. . .

How many chapters will I have? Your guess is as good as mine

What is the title? God knows it and one day will reveal it to me.

What made you go from thinking about the book to literally writing it? Thank God once again for boring meetings and for dreams and my imagination. Kendra and Lamar came to me years ago, but God kept them there until I was ready

What advice would you give other aspiring writers? Write a little every day. Believe you can and let God do what he does best. Can you all tell I am ready for an interview?

Well that's all for now! Any other questions, just ask.

ETA: The book is at an all Black high school named after a prominent BLACK person. You not only meet the kids, but the teachers, parents, grandparents, etc. I want my books to be a family thing for everyone. Oh and BLACK folks kill me asking for their name to be in the book, but won't read it.

eager2learn · #2 05-21-2003, 01:49 PM

I hope that everything goes well with your book, Soror!

Honeykiss1974 · #3 05-21-2003, 01:59 PM

CT4,

YAH!!!! I know your series will be a success.

AKA2D '91 · #4 05-21-2003, 02:08 PM

I'm sure ALL of the books will be great!

kiml122 · #5 05-21-2003, 02:16 PM

Hey CT4,

This is what's up, and congrats for finally putting it down on paper. I am the same way, I am a big procrastinator. I some short stories that I need to send off to a magazine, but I keep putting off putting them in some kind of order, but after hearing about you, I'm going to stop it right now. Keep up the writing, and I would definitely love to read it.

Gina1201 · #6 05-21-2003, 03:13 PM

CT4,

Keep on, keepin' on! You know your GC peeps have DEFINATELY got your back!

Don't forget about the book tour also!

zetafg · #7 05-21-2003, 03:19 PM

Three thumbs up for your book!!!

Now stop procrastinating and get it done so I can make my purchase please.... I like to support those I communicate with on a somewhat frequent basis in their dreams....especially with writing a book.

One of your Sorors, whom I graduated from High School with in 1989....(Class of '89 In Full Effect) wrote several books and I bought one last year just for support......little did I know that the book was OFF THE HOOK.

Her name is Nancey Flowers, and the book is titled: Shattered Vessels. I read it in 1 1/2 days. I just couldn't put it down.

I'm looking forward to later on this year, or early part of next year when I can read about Kendra and Lamar, and add to this posting: CT4, SURE CAN WRITE A STORY!!!

Mz Destiny · #8 05-21-2003, 03:48 PM

Blessings on your endeavors!!! I've been trying to write a book for years! I just pulled it back out yesterday and re-read what I had already written and I started to get excited about it all over again! Who knows??? I may publish one of these old days...

Keep us posted!

btb87 · #9 05-21-2003, 03:53 PM

because I looooove to read, and I see I'll have lots of reading material soon! Also, since I feel like we're family, I can say "yeah, I know them!" You know how we are. . . you know somebody that knows somebody that knows somebody. . .or "that was my Uncle Joe's 1st wife's brother's daughter's child, but we wuz real tight!"

Anyhoo, much success to all of you!

FeeFee · #10 05-21-2003, 03:55 PM

Now hurry up and finish that book of yours. You know you got support from your GC fam (both financially and emotionally). Don't forget about a book tour.

Can't wait to read your book.

Ideal08 · #11 05-21-2003, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Ideal08 really pushes me too.

And you know this, maaaaaan!

I'm really proud of CT4!!! And the book is GOOD, y'all. I just provide that extra lil' push, y'know what I'm saying?

Pump out Chapter 18 while you practicin' for your interviews.

CrimsonTide4 · #12 05-21-2003, 04:03 PM

Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement and for the prayers as well. Congrats to Soror KimL and SF Mz Destiny. MAy God bless your endeavors.

I AM working on chapter 18. Right now I am putting together the names of the patients in the hospital that the characters are going to meet.

I want to once the book is finished and I get it copywritten to put a chapter on the Internet. I read that Angela Nissell did that with The Broke Diaries. That way I drum up interest in between book completion and book publication.

I will definitely be the GCer who knows the most GCers with my book tour. I am hoping to also definitely be on Delta author tours as well.

btb87 · #13 05-21-2003, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4

I want to once the book is finished and I get it copywritten to put a chapter on the Internet. I read that Angela Nissell did that with The Broke Diaries. That way I drum up interest in between book completion and book publication.

I first read about that book from everythingblack.com, so don't forget to post it there as well as every place else!

Mz Destiny · #14 05-21-2003, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CrimsonTide4
Thanks everyone for the words of encouragement and for the prayers as well. Congrats to Soror KimL and SF Mz Destiny. MAy God bless your endeavors.

Thank you!!!

mccoyred · #15 05-21-2003, 05:17 PM

One question, you mentioned that you wanted this to be a family book but you also mentioned SVH. Will this be a Teen book or one that I can read to my little ones?

Good luck.