Finding the right Writers

Yikes! Two whole months and not a single post... to my defense
a) who is really reading this? and
b) the school year has started and thus my little life ends.

I have been reading the Jen Lancaster books back to back and out of order, and it has totally inspired me to get back into the blogosphere. I feel less like the only one on my own personal 'bitter hotline' - and now I can finish the last book that I started, because I know I can get a quick fix of her wit and wisdom at her blog site. It's been a while since I've found an author that I look forward to reading.

My last great find was Octavia E. Butler. She being of the science-fiction genre, this was new and news to me. But I became an avid fan and devoured everything I could get a hold of. That was me running to Barnes & Noble (I can't wait for shipping and handling) to retrieve my copy of Fledgling. Before anyone ever heard of Bella & Edward, Butler had begun a new series with the tale of a young Black girl as heroine and vampire. I really looked forward to the unfolding of several more novels, but sadly Ms. Butler’s life came to an end in early 2007. I can remember crying when I heard the news. I cried like crazy, because I felt like I lost a friend. A friend I only knew through written words, but a friend who opened my world to science-fiction, a friend who made me think and challenged the writing world by proving that yes, oh yes African-Americans can brave the world of science-fiction literature.

I remember roaming in the local Black book store in my old Park Slope, Brooklyn neighborhood and in asking for suggestions; the owner guided me to Octavia's Wild Seed... I read a bit of the cover and glanced at the first few pages, but it was the self-deprecating mini bio in the back of the book that made the sale. I'd repeat it here, but I'm sure that's when someone would actually read my blog, and I'd be sued. And this way, you’re now curious enough to perhaps check her out yourself. My work here is done.