Please join the GA Peach Authors on National Authors' Day, Sat., 11/1/14 at the SW Library in Atlanta! See you there!!

The GA Peach Authors are headed to Gulfport, MS - 3/15 through 3/16/13!

 

Gulfport, MS, Biloxi, MS, and surrounding areas: the GA Peach Authors, Tina Brooks McKinney, Jean Holloway, Electa Rome Parks, and Marissa Monteilh are embarking on a road trip (which we might have to videotape just for the hilarity of it) to come and see you on Friday, 3/15/13, starting with a 6:00 p.m. signing at Barnes & Noble, 15246 Crossroads Pkwy., Gulfport, and then we'll be featured authors the next day, 3/16/13 starting at 10:00 a.m. during the 5th Annual Unity Festival! We look forward to visiting your city, and hopefully meeting you. We'll have giveaways and lots of fun!!

 

 

Country Living and Deadly Sins

The end of last year I moved to the country (really, there are cows, deer, horses, rabbits and raccoons!)
We (hubby & I) downsized  and believe me, that is no easy task, but I swear I'll never move again.

I've also been busy with the President's Day release of PHE Ink's second anthology, "Deadly Sins." This time I edited the entire book which was a daunting task, even though it did appeal to my OCD. I think I've found my niche and I'm very proud of the results. "Deadly Sins" is a political anthology that gives you several stories of a man so determined to become President that he'll do anything to insure his win. And when I say anything, well...you'll just have to read it and see.

I'd like to invite you to join PHE Ink - Writing Solutions Firm as we celebrate its 4th Birthday. It’s our birthday, but you receive the gifts. For the entire month of March, we’re giving away a title a day.

Winners will be picked from our mailing list. We will announced them
weekly on the website and social networking sites. To join our mailing list, please go to
www.pheinkpub.com

I now have a short break before I hit the road with my literary sisters for the "Peaches in Paradise" event at the Unity Festival, March 16th in Gulfport/Biloxi, MS.

Hope to meet you there!

A Sneak Preview: When Baldwin Loved Brenden by Electa Rome Parks

There is no greater joy than the birth of a new baby, an addition to the family. Well, my 9th baby, When Baldwin Loved Brenden, drops January 29, 2013. As you must know, I'm super excited and can't wait to introduce my baby to the world, to her aunties and cousins! I recently received the sonogram and I want to share the joy:) So, here's your sneak preview!


Fair-weather friends come and go, but true friendship lasts a lifetime. Same goes for true love.

Ten years is a long time. Much can change in ten years, an entire decade. That’s how many years have passed when a former close-knit group of college friends, Baldwin, Brenden, Bria and Christopher, self-proclaimed The Group, are tragically reunited to attend the funeral of one of their own in a small North Carolina town.

The Group hasn’t seen or spoken to one another since an unfortunate set of circumstances placed their friendship in jeopardy ten years earlier. After graduation, everyone went their separate ways and never looked back, until now. The past has a way of catching up with you, sooner or later. Baldwin, the romantic, Brenden, the do-gooder, Bria, the wildchild, Christopher, the pretty boy, are all about to discover the truth in that.

Rihanna was once dubbed the peacemaker of the group. Her death reunites them for an unforgettable, poignant and life changing few days. Each friend will confront their own internal demons and leave a changed person. Secrets are revealed, hurts exposed, tears shed and laugher shared, all in the name of friendship and love.

Can anything truly tear real friendship and love apart?

Here's to a Happy and Healthy New Year - Cheers!

Merry Christmas from your GA Peach Authors!

B&N Children's Storytime - Join us: Saturday, 11/17/12 @ 11:00 a.m.

GA Peach Author Marissa Monteilh's latest, TURNABOUT IS FAIR PLAY

Please check out my latest ebook novella, TURNABOUT IS FAIR PLAY, which I started writing for the A Chapter A Month website, and recently finished. It is the story of best friends, Raven Singletary and Valerie Boss. Raven suddenly announces that she's engaged to Valerie's son, Marquis. Angry and hurt, Valerie doesn't dare take the news lying down, at least not alone anyway. She decides to flip the script by dating Raven's playboy father, Stanley. It's the ultimate in backstabbing. Is turnabout really fair play? It is dra-ma! The ending surprised even me!

TURNABOUT IS FAIR PLAY is available now for only $4.99 - please click here: Amazon.com or bn.com

And please post a review if you can - I'd really appreciate it!

Gracias,

Marissa
www.marissamonteilh.com

A Little Celebration

Hi All,

 

Gail here.  I'm celebrating my birthday this week, and while that alone is cause for celebration and the pleasurable eating of lots of red velvet cake, I want to share the blessing.  Before you call me vain, just know that in my life outside of books, I am a Wellness / Fitness Specialist, and I take the business of health very seriously.  On that note, I want to share the gift of health.  Come join me on Sunday, November 4th at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.  I will be there, participating in the Kiss Diabetes Goodbye event, taking blood pressure readings. 

 

The event will be held in the Multi-purpose Room of the church (directly behind the main sanctuary).   The address is:
 6400 Woodrow Road
 Lithonia, GA 30038
770.696.9600

This event is a wonderful opportunity to get to know not only your b/p, but your cholesterol and Body Mass Index (bmi) numbers.  Other information, like AIDS testing and a wide range of other screenings and support activities including diet and exercise, will also be available.  Free and open to the community, this is a great chance to get to know your numbers.

 

And to say Happy Birthday to me!

 

www.newbirth.com
  

The Atlanta Journal Constitution has written a great article and obituary on our author-friend Dee Stewart - link

With a beautiful wave of her beautiful hand, she has gone home!

 

Our hearts are heavy, as well as the hearts of so many others. We awoke on the morning of 10/6/12 to news that our beloved GA Peach Author Dee Stewart, a.k.a. Miranda Parker, passed away. We knew Dee had serious health issues, but she purged on and stayed busy and showed up and helped out. We just knew she'd beat this because she convinced us of that. She'd resigned as a GA Peach last year because of her health, but she was our guest author 1 month ago in Decatur - we had no idea that was the last time we'd see her. A further reminder of how very short life is. She will always be our GA Peach! So positive and so strong, so sweet and so beautiful! WE LOVE YOU, DEE - and will miss you dearly. Life well lived - on angel's wings you are!!!! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Heading To The Atlanta Black Theatre Festival!

Wow!  Always exciting to be a part of the first anything, but this time, the GA Peach Authors are taking their words to a place where every breath, scene, and phrase matters.  We're sitting with writers, readers, actors, and other visionaries -- August Company, indeed, and we're doing it at the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival!

 

Just in case you haven't heard, Jean Holloway, Gail McFarland, Marissa Monteilh, and Electa Rome Parks are bringing their words, skills, and imagination to the party on Saturday, October 6.  Featured in a FREE 2pm workshop, Jean will talk about "Setting," because every good story has to happen somewhere.  Gail will discuss "Dialogue," because conversation rocks a story.  Marissa will share specifics on  "Point of View," mostly because everybody has one, and fabulous stories are always based in opinion.  Electa will define characterization and how to make your characters memorable.

 

The Atlanta Black Theatre Festival will be held at the Loew's Hotel in midtown Atlanta (1065 Peachtree Street, NW), and we'd love to see you there!  For more details, visit the event webite at:  atlantablacktheatrefestival.org/.
      

 

 

 

Upping Our Game At The Atlanta Black Theatre Festival

The GA Peach Authors are counting down the days to the Atlanta Black Theatre Festival!  The news is out and we are anticipating an amazing time at the midtown Loew's Hotel this weekend.  The buzz is big, so we are also looking forward to great attendance with lots of traffic -- but you can still go to the event website to sign up for our FREE workshop on Saturday, October 6.  We're going to beak down the skills that it takes to bring drama, suspense, and romance to life, and we might even tell you how to do somebody in (only on the page, please).

This is perfect celebration and networking opportunity for actors, directors, authors, and students of all ages.  The event will offer more than 8 staged readings, 9 authors speaking, 6 workshops, 2 parties, a gala celebration, and a huge youth showcase with 26 of the most talented young people in the city of Atlanta.  We strongly suggest that you don't want to be left out -- be sure to bring lots of friends and family to enjoy the fun and excitement. 

The goal is that you have a fantastic experience at the inaugural Atlanta Black Theatre Festival and come back year after year!

 

Visit the website today:

The Atlanta Black Theatre Festival

The Atlanta Black Theatre Festival

October 4 - 7, 2012

The first Atlanta Black Theatre Festival will be held over Columbus Day weekend, at the beautiful Loew's Hotel in midtown Atlanta, and the GA Peach Authors will be there for all of the fun and excitement.  This inaugural event will feature 40 plays in four days, an authors alley, FREE workshops and displays, and a celebration of all that goes into the great traditions of black theatre.

 

This is your chance to meet the GA Peach Authors as we present our informative writers workshop and participate in the Authors Alley book signing.  We're ready to talk books, characters, dialogue, the business, and more, on Saturday, October 6th, from 11am - 6pm. 

 

Visit the event website: http://atlantablacktheatrefestival.org/ for scheduled performances and appearances.

 

Can't wait to see you there!

   

Deep Dishin' With The GA Peach Authors

Today has been an AWESOME day!  The GA Peach Author tour took us to FOR SISTERS ONLY at the Georgia World Congress Center.  Talk about crowds and sounds, they were abundant as visitors and vendors mingled.  Lots of local and national authors were in the house, which meant tons of books, and a chance to meet and greet.  All told, if you are a reader or a writer, this was the place to be. 

 

We even had the chance to meet several actors and some film and photography folks -- so you KNOW that there are lots of pictures to show.  You can check them out on our FaceBook page.  Who knows, if you were there, we may have caught you in one of our photos. 

 

Our time was spent in the McDonald's "Sip and Sign" Lounge.  Set in the middle of the venue, complete with bright red leather lounge chairs and banquettes, and small groups of bistro tables and chairs , the lounge was welcoming, and the smoothies were delicious.   So you have to know that's where we spent most of our time, dishing the drama and the plots for our upcoming work, and talking with the crowd.   It was all great fun and we're offering up special thanks to V-103 and all of their sponsors for hosting our visit, including us in their broadcasts, and interviewing us.

 

The next stop on our tour will be the inaugural Atlanta Black Theatre Festival -- October 6, 2012.

Hope to see you there!

   

Steppin' Out GA Peach Style!

Today's the day that the GA Peach Authors are stepping out for the Atlanta For Sisters Only event at the Georgia World Congress Center.  We will be taking the FSO stage in the McDonald's  V-103 "Sip and Sign Lounge" from 12-2pm.  We won't be hard to find:  we'll be the ones wearing black because its chic and talking books because we love a good read.

 

Come take a picture with us, get in on the chat, maybe find out what's happening with your favorite characters, and have a good time.  Looking forward to seeing you there!

Nobody told me!

When you write "The End" at the bottom of your manuscript, don't mistakenly think your job as an author is done. Believe me, it's just beginning. As a late-bloomer, my early retirement started a whole new career, not only in writing, but also in marketing and promotion. I quickly became tired of the travel, but to interact with my readers is an experience like no other. Each one is a blessing I would never have received if not for my novels.

Take this weekend: Early Friday morning, I fly to St. Louis for the Fall Into Books Literary Conference, Saint Louis University Busch Student Center
20 N. Grand Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63156
http://www.fallintobooks.com/
My Peach Sis, Marissa Monteilh and my business partner, T.L. James are appearing there, too. I'm excited! Then I fly home Saturday night & Sunday afternoon, I'll be with all my GA Peaches at theV-103 Sip ‘n’ Sign @ For Sisters Only from 12-2p.
GA World Congress Center
285 Andrew Young International
Atlanta, GA 30313
http://v103.cbslocal.com/fso-2012/

Well, it's time to pack (mostly books ;o) 
Hope to meet you in St. Louis or Atlanta and have a blessed weekend.

Have You Marked Your Calendar?

Just a quick reminder -- and we're only telling friends and family (you already know which one YOU are)... 

The GA Peach Authors, aka The Housewives of Literature: Atlanta are on the road again in September at FOR SISTERS ONLY.  We're gearing up and getting ready to talk books, plots, drama, and... more drama, just the way you like it!  We're hoping that you've made plans to join us on Sunday, September 16 from 12-2pm in the McDonalds Sip and Sign Lounge at the Georgia World Congress Center. 

Looking for more information?  Visit the event website:  http://v103.cbslocal.com/fso-2012/, tweet the event at #V103FSO21, or visit the GA Peach Authors on Facebook.

But most importantly, show up, say hello, and join us for a GREAT time!

 

Peaches and Passion: Always In Fashion

Okay, so you know we were at the Decatur Book Festival yesterday.  And if you've ever had the chance to chat, sip, sign, dine or FB with any of us, you know we had a good time.  But with a little help from our friends, The GA Peach Authors took their title of The Housewives of Literature: Atlanta to a whole new level on their Saturday panel.  As my mother would say, "this was just a whole 'nother other!"

 

Yes, we brought the words, the stories, and the sass -- and we made it look GOOD!  With guest author Miranda Parker, we strutted the stilettos and flashed the fluttering lashes, but the best thing we did was to meet the readers.  Thanks to sensational Decatur City Councilwoman, Kiesha Cunningham, for moderating and helping us to bring the heat.  And a special thanks is due to all of the great staff and DBF volunteers for making us so welcome that we could make the rest look easy.  It was great fun!

   

My Writing Life: Headed to the AJC Decatur Book Festival

It's finally here -- the annual AJC Decatur Book Festival!  Today, the GA Peach Authors, also known as "The Housewives of Literature: Atlanta," will be taking the stage for a panel discussion from 5:30 - 6:15pm.

Okay, so I'm really excited to be talking books with my GA Peach girls, and a bunch of folks who really like to read.  But the event has also got me thinking about my "Housewife" icon, Nene Leakes, and what she would have to say about my writing, maybe books, and just stuff in general.  So, with a tip of my hat to Nene, here are my four favorite quotes from her:

1. "Close your legs to married men..."  There was a whole lot more to this one, but you'd have to be there.  Anyway, with reference to my latest novel, Doing BIG Things, the heroine should have taken this advice, but since she didn't, you need to read the book.
2. "I wear a size 10, but I could be an 8 if I wanted.  I'm just effin' hungry."  Now, who amoung us does not get this?  I may work in fitness and spend a lot of my life in the gym, but I like to eat, too!
3. "I truly believe that blonde wigs will make you crazy."  Okay, I have no real world connotation for this one.  I just think its funny!
4. "I don't keep up with the Joneses, I am the Jonses."  My thought, paraphrased, with every word I write.  My goal is to make every book, every character, and every scene better than the one before.  I LOVE what I do, and besides, readers deserve that and so much more.

Nene has said a lot of other things, but these are my faves.  You have any?  Send them to me the_fitwryter@yahoo.com.

See you in Decatur!