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The Pruning Principle
3 years ago
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Write is Might Writing Contest
As part of its year-long 35th Anniversary celebration, The Shrine of the Black Madonna Cultural Center & Bookstore ("The Shrine"), one of America's largest and oldest Black-owned bookstore chains, is sponsoring a nationwide Write is Might short story competition open to all new and unpublished writers. Along with cash prizes, the winning entry will be published on the website of the Black Issues Book Review, the only large circulation forum solely devoted to covering both fiction and nonfiction books written by Black authors.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Before Dawn
If you read my blog entry at The Master Artist today, you saw an excerpt from another Christmas short story I wrote. I will post the entire story in parts here throughout the week.
Before Dawn: A Christmas Story
by Davidae Stewart
"Are you telling me that the Ritz Carlton is booked to capacity?" My husband, Joe asked the guest services clerk, Rhonda. "That never happens. Can you check again?"
Rhonda looked at my belly; then at me; then back at her computer screen. Shook her head. "Sir, there are no rooms available tonight."
"Any rooms nearby?" I asked.
"With the Microsoft Tech Conference, Vibe Music Fest and NBA Finals all in one weekend..." Rhonda bit her lip. "Atlanta's booked solid. Sorry."
Joe turned and looked at me with those Bambi brown eyes that sucked me into his world six months ago. They made me feel safe, because I always knew what he was thinking. But I couldn't bare riding in that truck another minute let alone to Decatur or Marietta. My hips were feeling crampy and I just needed to sit still for a minute.
He turned back to Rhonda and whispered. "She's in her final trimester. My wife needs to rest like two hours ago."
***
Rhonda hooked us up with a construction trailer out in the back where they were adding a new wing to the building. "Look, the contractor are gon' for at least two days. Soon as a room is available, I'll key you in."
Joseph handed her a wad of money and shook her hand. "Bless you, Rhonda."
Before she closed the door, she peeped back in. "You sure she doesn't need to go to Northside. Look like she's about to pop."
I shook my head. "I'm good." I wasn't completely sure, but I prayed the belief into truth.
She nodded her head and left us to the trailer and the task at hand-- to have this baby sight unseen and definitely before dawn.
Saturday, December 17, 2005
And the Romance Novel Winner is...
The winners is:
Kendra Norman-Bellamy's Grace Series
Special mention to Janet Elaine Smith, Marilynn Griffith, Suzanne Wolfe, Tia McCollors, Dee Henderson, Karen Kingsbury, and Deanne Gist for being nominated. Thanks to all who participated via email or commenting here.
Put your thinking caps on for our next contest: The Best Christian Fiction Novel of 2005. Start emailing me your nominations.
Maurice M. Gray is the winner of Marilynn Griffith's Made of Honor novel prize. Maurice, email me your mailing address, so that I can send your prize.
Related articles:
Dee's interview with KendraNotice: The prior winner was changed, because the book nominated was not published in 2005. Sorry.
OT: Chapbook Review: Marcus Harris
Following yesterday's conversation on Walter Moseley's Washington Post article, I thought it was great timing to be in the process of preparing a review of a rising American poet, Marcus Harris. As Moseley states that poetry and politics should have a place in writing fiction, Harris speaks on the things of controversy, sound and reason. Notice: This is not a book of christian poetry.
Marcus Harris Songs in Search of a Voice doesn't have to look any further than its author for what it seeks. This lover's lament, romantic refrain, psalms politik paints a truthful experience line after line. Divided into six chapters appropriately titled for the sound of mood: umbrous undertones (hushed quiet,) key of melancholy(lover's lament), etc. when read aloud these poems sing at their loudest. Tight prose, packed emotion. A perfect compliment to the silence in the room.
My favorite poem, "Heart Shaped Bruises: The Truth According to Tonya." Great small, huge work!
;so your heart must have been tucked
somewhere in your fist...
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Moseley's Writer's Truth
"The foremost goal on our minds should be to create a story that is true to its own world view...The job of the writer is to take a close and uncomfortable look at the world they inhabit, the world we all inhabit, and the job of the novel is to make the corpse stink."
-Walter Moseley's Writing Life from the Washington Post
Great article about a writer's purpose. Some may not agree, but I do. The stories that have moved me to change my actions were books that pointed out some wrongs in my life.
I want to write such a book that shed a light on a truth God wants me to show. But I must confess, oftentimes I think that my personal relationship with Christ is not where it needs to be for me to illuminate someone else. I need truth for my own self.
I've been sick this week. Didn't won't to talk about it. But the truth of the matter is I have a chronic illness. I overextend myself as if my body is still 100% and then suffer for my pride. Pride is a problem. Perhaps it is the truth I need to shed light on, the thing my protagonist Marlo grapples with as she raises her daughter own her own.
Tell me. How do you view the world in your writing? Or do you?
Dee
Related article:
Tayari's Blog: Walter Mosley Tells the Truth
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Friday, December 16, 2005
ACFW Book Club
American Christian Fiction Writers has launched its own book club with a launch on January 2006. The four books selected for the book club are:
- Black Sands by Colleen Coble
- Leave it to Claire by Tracey Bateman
- Outriders by Kathryn Mackel.
- *Pink by Marilynn Griffith
*Christian Fiction Blog will be reviewing this selection for January.
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