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
  

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!

   

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!

 

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!
   

My Writing Life: A Review To Remember!

I just got a really amazing review from a GoodReads reader, and I thought I would share.  Wow, and thank you, Vivian!

     

Jul 19, 2012

Vivian rated it

Shelves: first-reads, women-s-fiction, summer-2012-read

A first reads winner.

Wealthy Loi Cramer recalls the life she began with her late husband, Alex Cramer. It is your typical poor, down on her luck girl meets wealthy man who sweeps her off her feet story but with a twist. She meets him while she's employed at his house while caring for his ailing wife. An affair begins. Gossip spreads. Loi begins to wonder if the mistress ever becomes the wife.

Then the story really begins. Cannot possibly add more details without spoiling the book. You are just g...more A first reads winner.

Wealthy Loi Cramer recalls the life she began with her late husband, Alex Cramer. It is your typical poor, down on her luck girl meets wealthy man who sweeps her off her feet story but with a twist. She meets him while she's employed at his house while caring for his ailing wife. An affair begins. Gossip spreads. Loi begins to wonder if the mistress ever becomes the wife.

Then the story really begins. Cannot possibly add more details without spoiling the book. You are just going to have to trust me. It gets better with each turn of the page. I completed this novel in the matter of hours. A really great read. 

  

We Survived!

The GA Peach Authors are breathing a collective sigh of relief today -- we have just survived our very first Vignette Buffet and Benefit! 

Clamping down on our nerves, we stood tall and proud, tried not to clutch our pearls, and watched our work roll out onto the stage at the Green Room Actors Lounge last night.

Trusting in prayer and the love of our friends, families, and a crew of talented actors, we stood together and watched characters from Hot Girlz, Ace of Hearts, Diary of A Stalker, and Doing BIG Things come to life.  The process of getting to this point has been so much more involved than any of us could have envisioned when we began this journey together.

It would take so much more space and time than we have here to list all of the lessons that we've learned along the way, but like I said, we made it!  All in all, it was a memorable experience for all involved, and we GA Peaches know that we have just taken another HUGE step on the path of our writing journey.

Thanks for all the support!

   

 

Here We Go!

Hard to believe, but TONIGHT's the night!  In the immortal words of Kool and The Gang, "It's ladies night," and the GA Peach Authors are ready to shine.  If you haven't already heard, we hope that you'll consider this your invitation to join us tonight at the Green Room Actors Lounge, here in Atlanta, for the Vignettes Buffet and Benefit. 

We've turned scenes from our novels into stage productions and will also be signing books to benefit Actors for Autism.  Event attendees will also be able to enjoy the cool and sultry ambiance of the Green Room and an amazing buffet supper prepared by Chef Shelia of Cookin' With Flava'.

If you can't make it to the Green Room and want to support our charity or congratulate us, you can now do so via live streaming! Just buy a $5.00 congratulatory message ticket. There's also a $10.00 ticket for businesses that want to run an ad for the evening.  Both will stream live on the Green Room's website and on Facebook. When you buy a streaming ticket, you will be emailed with details on how to proceed.

We're excited, and hope to see YOUR face in the place!

  

  

A Little Summer Delight

Hot weather, holiday week, and time to enjoy it -- what could be better? 

How about four FREE ebook downloads?

From now until July 5th, enjoy relaxing, sensual, intimate beach and patio-perfect novellas and short stories, all ripe for the reading.  To download your copies, simply click the link for each story.  On the Smashwords site, take your pick of any one -- or even all four -- ebook freebies, then enter the discount code at check out.  Choose from:

    

A MATTER OF MARRIAGE (code TW74V)

WHAT ONE WON'T DO (code CZ63H)

ONCE (OR TWICE) IN A LIFETIME (code QQ99R)

THIS SIDE OF FOREVER (code KD72M)

   

Read your new ebook on any reader, including your Kindle, Nook, iPad, iPhone, Sony Reader, or PC.  Just click the link, download, and enjoy!

Oh, and tell a friend!

   

Notes From My Writing Life: Book Coaching

Believing that literacy is an amazing gift, knowing that people have shed blood and tears for it, I take reading seriously.   I also take writing very seriously.  So you have to know that when a friend approached me about acting as his book coach, I was enthused and took the request seriously.    What I should have done was to take a paraphrased cue from Forest Gump:  “Mama says, ‘reading is what writers do.’”  Suffice it to say, my friend is not a reader.

Hindsight being what it is, I suppose that I should have gone into the project realizing that someone who does not read fiction simply won’t have an automatic “feel” for it.  I probably should have asked to see an outline or proposal, but I love my friends , so I jumped in with both feet, from word one. 

On the surface, the job of a book coach is pretty straightforward:

·         Walk the author through the step-by-step process of writing, publishing, and promoting their book

·         Explain the structure of a book and how the parts fit together

·         Help organize ideas, research, main points, and written material

·         Help create a writing plan, set realistic deadlines, and create a schedule for meeting them

·         Work with the author to find their own unique voice

·         Help develop the book from the original idea through the outline, rough drafts, and revisions to polished manuscript

·         Provide feedback and advice on flow, grammar, substance, and writing style

·         Point out inconsistencies, word repetition, weak vocabulary, and lack of clarity

Knowing what the job entailed, I knew that I could handle it.  To his credit, my friend is not lazy and didn’t expect me to write the book for him.  What I didn’t plan on was that I would have to begin by tutoring him in grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, and spelling.  What I wasn’t prepared for was that he would grow more than a little angry with me for doing EXACTLY what he asked me to do.  That left me with some questions like:

·         How do you become annoyed with someone who mentors you on the use of YOUR native language?

·         How can you stay irritated by someone who insists that you use quotation marks in a novel?

·         How does anyone fume over the need for paragraphs?

·         What kind of novel has only one endless chapter?

Okay, so you probably already know how this ends…  My friend is convinced that he has developed a new 400-page art form, and that book coaching and traditional novel forms are over-rated.  He also now thinks that I am an anal-retentive book Nazi and I am not going to tell him any different.  For my part, I am hoping that he will figure out another way to tell his story.

Probably as a video.

A New Novel From Gail McFarland

Doing B I G Things

Ever wonder if nonmedicated menopause was a justifiable defense for murder?

Loi Cramer has gone from rags to riches and has the stories to prove it, but nobody is more surprised than she is when fate, a cheating husband, and a false friend conspire to take her back to rags.

When Loi's wealthy husband is found dead, Loi is devastated. And if that's not enough, she finds herself penniless! Without much more than the clothes on her back, Loi has to make a way for herself. Survival takes priority because a woman has got to keep body and soul together, but Loi knows you should never waste time sweating the small stuff when you could be doing big things.

Besides, revenge is a bitch.

Take a FREE read of the first three chapters!