I almost forgot it was Black History Month, and then President Obama popped up in my LinkedIn feed. Thank you Prez!
One of my top-ten authors is a Black author, Walter Mosley, and he’s in the news!
Way to go Walter!
I had mentioned before that I’ve met Walter a few times, not that he’d remember, but once was way back when I was teaching at Community College of Philadelphia, and I took my class to see him read at the Borders in the Art Museum area. My students were incredibly excited, and Walter was so gracious to them and answered all their questions. I remember how he told them that he’d written his books while working a boring overnight job. I think we all found him inspiring.
Closer to home, and a guy who does remember me, is James Goodridge.
When I was teaching at UMES James used to be a virtual guest in my creative writing class. We would read one of his stories, and he would take questions from the students about writing, being an adult, and how to navigate a writing career. I’m crazy about James, the human. Just a nice, giving person.
I also love James’ book:
Terror By Night is about two detective who also happen to be monsters (I won’t reveal here what kind, or how they came to be that way). However, because they are immortal (barring silver bullets or wooden stakes), they can keep solving crimes, down through the ages.
The mysteries begin right around the early 1900s, and continue forward. The tales have horror, unusual creepy events, and Black history Easter eggs: characters from Black history appear in the stories. Often the stories take place across actual events, like the Vietnam war. If you like a Nick and Nora Charles mystery for its charm, I recommend you try these, which have the charm and all the glamour with a supernatural and sometimes fiercely scary twist.
James also runs the incredibly successful group for authors: Who Gives You the Write. I belong, and I recommend membership to all the authors I work with. It’s good to meet other writers who are getting it done.
I also want to highlight another Black author you’re going to be hearing from, world.
I had the pleasure of working with Peggy for a bit on her forthcoming book: The Pretender’s Game. Peggy has written a sweeping novel that covers generations of women with special gifts. And as Peggy tells their stories she imagines a new mythology. Part origin story, and part almost a creationist story, The Pretender’s Game is dark, exciting, sexy, a little gothic, everything you could want in a book. I helped Peggy get her website set up, and she has been talking about the real deal of writing.
Like that post on the scenes she let go of as part of the process of writing her book. Stories take their authors places before they ever take readers, and Peggy is open and honest about her process. Check out her blog, and get your money saved up to buy her book later this year.
For now you can buy James’ stellar collection.
Maybe because I grew up in Philly, Black people and Black culture were always part of the landscape. Philly soul was everywhere. Want me to do you a favor? Ask me while Lou Rawls is playing. Loving a country means being willing to look at both the good and the bad, and knowing that every nation has shameful chapters. I am editing a historical romance right now, and what the Romans got up to? Phew. History is messy everywhere. What matters is acknowledgment, not denial.
So how do we do that without posturing? One way is simple. Read widely. Try a mystery by a Black author, like my friend James. Interested in origin stories and women’s power? Follow Peggy’s blog as she brings her first novel into the world. Listen to some jazz or hip hop. I happily saw Earth, Wind and Fire at the Hollywood Bowl last summer, and I would do it again.
Black History Month is an opportunity to learn
Black History Month can be an invitation to explore the richness of a culture that is right here. When I first moved to California, one of the first things I did was drive into Mexico. My future spouse worried about my safety, but I was thrilled. We could just… go. In some ways, Black America and its history can feel like another country, except it has always been right here with us.
Access to that richness of culture, the art, the dance, the music, the literature, the… (c’mon, you knew I was going there) FOOD! It’s a privilege. So spend a little time with Black culture this month. I guarantee you will enjoy it.
And RIP Demond Wilson. One of my all-time favorite TV shows. Iconic. Sleep well, star.