Wednesday, June 8, 7:15pm– Decatur, Georgia
Georgia Center For the Book
Reading and Signing
Thursday, June 9, 7:30pm– Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County Library
Reading and Signing
Friday, June 10, 7:30pm— Atlanta, Georgia
Charis Books and More
Reading and Signing
RSVP to silver.sparrow.events[at]gmail.com
So, Silver Sparrow is a novel about James Witherspoon who has two wives. The other day on twitter, the people involved in the #silversparrow on-line book chat unearthed this amazing gem. Jimmy Witherspoon, a true bluesman, singing about his two lady friends. Enjoy!
and speaking of twitter, are we friends?
This weekend, I traveled to Amelia Island, Florida to attend Mama Fancina’s Fancy Hat Literary Luncheon. Simply put, it was a magical event. The host, Jennie Blue (wearing a white hat), explained that the annual event is named for her gradmother who loved reading– and hats. Once a year, Jennie (aka Jay Bee) invites dozens of women wearing fancy hats to gather at the Ritz Carlton to discuss a new novel and honor the memory of Mama Francina. This year, she chose Silver Sparrow. I was there at the luncheon enjoying the delicious spread, but no one knew that I was the author. We came up with an elaborate cover story to explain my presence. I used the name “Zaria” in honor of my adorable neice.
name, so Morrisonian!) And wait to see you the gift Jennie gave me. *faints* And then after the luncheon, she sent me to the spa! *faints again*
black hat which shielded my face.
Pearl Cleage’s lastest Blue Hamilton novel stays #winning. This novel combines all the noir-ish intrigue of Baby Brother’s Blues and the optimistic romance of Some Things I Never Thought I Do. And you would think that would be plenty. But then, she adds vamipres. Black women vampires living in the West End area of Atlanta. I wanted to save this book for when my book tour took me far far from home, but I just couldn’t wait.
Here’s an excerpt, and you can click on the image to buy it from an indie bookstore.
Tuesday, May 31, 7:00pm– Washington, DC
Politics and Prose
Reading and Signing
Wednesday, June 1, 7:00pm– Clarksburg, Maryland
Novel Places Bookstore
Reading and Signing
Thursday, June 2, 7:00pm– Iowa City, Iowa
Prairie Lights Live!
Reading and Signing
Friday, June 3, 4:00pm– Champaign, Illinois
University of Illinois Bookstore
Reading and Signing
Saturday, June 4– Chicago, Illinois
Printers Row Book Festival
Panel Conversation, Signing
Monday, June 6, 7:30pm– Portland, Oregon
Powell’s Books- 1005 W. Burnside
Reading and Signing
Tuesday, June 7, 7:00pm– Seattle, Washington
Elliot Bay Books
Reading and Signing
RSVP to silver.sparrow.events[at]gmail.com
On May 25, Greenlight Books hosted the launch party for Silver Sparrow. It was a magical night, as you can see from this wonderful photo collection taken by Rachel Eliza Griffiths who was kind enough to shoot the event. Thank you, thank you, to everyone who came out to bless this boat.
My last “Countdown to Publication” coloumn is up at SheWrites.
My publicist, Lauren Cerand, recently shared with me an email I sent her back in 2005 when we were first working together on PR. She asked me to put together a wish-list that would serve as our working goals. With Silver Sparrow, we’ve been able to mark almost everything off the list. Yesterday, I received an email from an “aspiring” writer who had one simple question, “How did you do it?”
It’s a question I have asked myself. My philosophy goes against of almost everything that I have ever read about having a successful writing career. I don’t want to have a one-sentence elevator pitch. I don’t want to go anywhere just for the sake a making connections. I don’t even subscribe to Publisher’s Lunch. I am not saying that all those how-to books are wrong, but I do believe that there are other ways to go about having the literary life you want.
I use the term “literary life” instead of “career.” About four years ago, I was feeling very frustrated because my books were not selling enough. I don’t know what “enough” was, but I knew that I was nowhere near it. This worry was taking the joy out of my writing life. When I gave readings, I was looking at the bookseller when I should have been looking at the audience. This is not to say that I don’t want to sell books, but I didn’t become a writer just to move units.
A writer friend of mine told me, “This is an ugly business, but a beautiful life.
Friday, May 20– New York City
CHAPTERS: The Girls Write Now Reading Series
Reading and Signing
Wednesday, May 25, 7:30 pm– Brooklyn, New York
Greenlight Books
Book Launch: Reading, Signing, Frolicking
Thursday, May 26, 7:00pm –Montclair, New Jersey
Watchung Booksellers
Reading and Signing
Friday, May 27, 7:30pm– Maplewood, New Jersey
[WORDS] Maplewood’s Bookstore
Reading and Signing
RSVP to silver.sparrow.events[at]gmail.com
Dear Everyone,
For the most part, I am usually a pretty do-it-yourself kind of person. In the past, I have been able to send out all the postcards, emails, or what have you to prepare for the launch of a new book. This time, the promotional activities cover so much ground that I am constantly on the move. To be really honest, I’m totally exhausted and the tour hasn’t even started yet. (Why did I fall alseep at the dinner table yesterday??) Now, I’m finally facing the fact that although I have a terrific team and I am doing everything I know how to do, I need to ask for help.
My idea is that I would ask you to help me get the word out about my book signings. My graphic designer has made lovely a invitation for each event which can be easily sent as an email attachment. If you have friends, sorors, family members, bookclubbers, etc, you would like to invite, you can just let me know what city you would like help out with and I’ll send you the .pdf invitation. The events are going to be posted in all the local media, but a personal invitation from a friend can do more than any impersonal notice in a newspaper.
My events are all at libraries and independent bookstores, two of the most imporatant support systems for writers and readers. (Read my love letter to the indies.) If we work together, we can help pack the house. If you vouch for me (and Silver Sparrow) to the readers in your life, I promise that I will bring my A-game to every event. The Silver Sparrow tour is flying all over the country– from Atlanta to Albequerque and everywhere in-between. You can help out in the city you call home, or just a place where you have people.
The last time I reached out to this blog community was about a year ago when I needed help listing media contacts for my author questionairre. I was so knocked out by the responses– and don’t think for a second that it didn’t impact all the great media coverage for SILVER SPARROW. So I hope that you don’t mind if I come to you again.
Yours truly,
Tayari
This weekend marked the 20th anniversary of my graduation from Spelman College. Imagine about two-thousand black women lead by the sisters of the class of 1941– who were celebrating their 70th reunion. Picture all of us wearing white– two by two and arm in arm. Have you ever had a feeling of perfect belonging– not worried that you are “too” anything or “not enough” of anything? For this miracle homecoming, we each came as we were and took our places in the fold.
