After many months (and even more drafts) I have completed the screenplay adapted from my sophomore novel Snitch.
But now the truly hard part begins - getting the screenplay sold. This should be an exciting journey!
Stay tuned for updates...
I have officially reentered the world of Tory Tyson aka Terror Tory - the producer and DJ who is never taking sides, but always taking over - terriTory that is!
After writing my second novel Snitch, and then adapting Snitch into a screenplay, it was a challenge to get back into the head of a 16 year old protagonist. But after numerous attempts I am finally able to see the world through Tory's eyes again. Stay tuned for another entertaining journey through Tory's world along with Precious, Moms, Mr. Lord, Boo Boo, X Wretch and a host of new characters.
I can assure you that book 2 will be as emotional, action packed, comical and informative as the first book.
There will be three total books in the Unsigned Hype series. Be prepared to navigate more Uncharted Terror Tory!
Watch the book trailer for Unsigned Hype here: http://vimeo.com/7586638
I was excited to be a panelist at this year's Congressional Black Caucus Author Pavilion.
The topic of the panel was "The Black Writer's Responsibility to the Black Community: The Power of Words." Fellow panelists were actor turned author Isaiah Washington, best-selling authors Tayari Jones and Tananarive Due and author/professors Dr. Carla Peterson and Dr. Lawrence Jackson. The panel was moderated by poet and author Kwame Alexander.
It was a lively conversation about the value, influence and critical role that Black writers play in telling the story of mankind. I can honestly say that (for once) I was not the most talkative person in the bunch!
The Author Pavilion is part of the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference, an annual event that hosts over 12,000 people who attend more than 100 policy forums in our nation's capitol.
For the past three years I have been fortunate enough to be a part of Book Expo America, the premier publishing industry event in North America. But this year was especially busy. In addition to launching my novel Snitch there I joined a panel experts to weigh in on the topic "African American Books in an eBook World."
Other panelists were Kelli Martin, Senior Editor, Kimani/Harlequin; Eric Hamilton, Executive Director of The Web Academy; Guy LeCharles Gonzalez, Director of Content & Digital Product Development, Library Journals, LLC; Troy Johnson, Founder/Webmaster, African American Literature Book Club and C. Jeffrey Wright, CEO, Urban Ministries, Inc. The panel was moderated by publicist and founder of The African American Children's Book Project, Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati.
In addition to discussing the digital reading revolution and how African Americans fit into that universe, we discussed cutting edge ways to market eBooks in an ever evolving marketplace.
BookExpo America delivers the largest gathering of booksellers, librarians, retailers, and industry professionals anywhere in the country. BEA is the leading rights fair in North and South America for agents, scouts, sub-rights as well as movie/television production and development personnel. It is the media event for publishing with more than 2,000 credentialed media personnel.
My sophomore novel Snitch received a starred review in Publishers Weekly. Even more exciting is that the reviewer said that Snitch "reads like it's ready for screen adaptation." It just so happens that I'm in the throes of writing the screenplay, and producer Stephanie Allain Bray ("Hustle & Flow" "Black Snake Moan" and the forthcoming “We the Peeples”) is attached to produce. Needless to say, the buzz on Snitch in advance of its May 1st publication date has been palpable.
You can read the review by clicking here
We are putting the finishing touches on post-production for “Bama and Fred” which I am Executive Producing. The film stars Novella Nelson ("The Antwone Fisher Story") and Ted Lange ("The Love Boat").
"Bama and Fred" is the story of an elderly widow who battles depression after the death of her husband, and her daughter's desire to put her in a nursing home. An unexpected visit from Fred forces Bama to confront her painful past in order to win her fight for independence. Watch the "Bama and Fred" trailer here: http://vimeo.com/23748784
"Bama and Fred" is produced by Courtney Jackson and directed by Brian Gerber from a script written by Sandra Bowes.
Look for it at a film festival near you!
I was pleased to discover that my novel Unsigned Hype was nominated for a 2011-2012 South Carolina Book Award, which is presented by the South Carolina Association of School Librarians. According to the South Carolina Book Award co-chairs Jennifer Kaufman and Kelly White:
The purposes of the South Carolina book awards are to encourage our students to read good quality contemporary literature and to honor the authors of the books annually chosen the favorites by student vote. The book award medals will be awarded to the winning authors the following year at the annual conference of the South Carolina Association of School Librarians.
This is a special honor to me because both of my parents are from South Carolina and I spent many summers there when I was growing up! Thanks Jennifer and Kelly!
My novel Unsigned Hype was recognized as "culturally responsible literature for young minds and hands" by the National Black Child Development Institute. I am deeply humbled by this distinction because I am called to uplift, encourage and challenge readers, but to do it in a way that is morally and ethically responsible. As a media professional, I am acutely aware of the power that media has to introduce and nurture ideas in the minds of young people. And it is these ideas that ultimately shape their worldview. However, I also recognize the proliferation of books and other mediated communication that is harmful to not only children, but our culture as a whole. All of which makes my inclusion on this list especially gratifying. The list was compiled by an esteemed group of educators that includes Dr. Toni S. Walters from Oakland University, Dr. Vivian G. Johnson from Marygrove College, education consultant Dr. Jonella A. Mongo, and Ashelin Currie who is a Doctoral Student at Oakland University.
Founded in 1970, The National Black Child Development Institute is an organization devoted to improving and advancing the lives of Black children and their families through advocacy and education. Using a volunteer network that is spread across the nation, NBCI is committed to improving child welfare services, advocating for universal early care and education, building family support services, pressing for educational reform and providing vital information regarding children’s health.
I accepted a tenure track, assistant professor position in the School of Communication and the Arts at Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. I will be teaching in their graduate and undergraduate film schools. Classes that I teach are Advanced Directing, Advanced Motion Picture Production, Actor Coaching and Screenwriting, among others. This will be my first stint as a full-time professor. My previous teaching experience was as an adjunct instructor and lecturer at The College of New Rochelle and Brooklyn College in New York.
I’m excited to play a role in shaping the voices of future filmmakers.
Unsigned Hype was selected for the Detroit Public Library’s Author Day 2011, which is done in conjunction with the Detroit Public School System. Author Day coordinator Linda Curvey- Brown describes the event this way:
"Author Day is an annual, ongoing reading incentive program to encourage recreational reading and reading as a toolkit among young adults between the ages 13-17. The teens will read books from a list of four young adult titles, and complete a report form for each book. Students will vote in late March for their favorite author and the winning author will speak at the Author Day Grand Finale held at Detroit’s Main Library in May 2011...The Author Day program has won many local and regional awards and was named one of the top ten Young Adult programs in the United States by the American Library Association."
This is all pretty exciting but the competition is stiff. The other titles that Unsigned Hype will be up against are Gamer Girl by Mari Mancusi, Accidental Love by Gary Soto and Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles. Over one thousand students will vote for their favorite title.
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