Sistahs on the Shelf Blog

As if you hadn’t noticed, Sistahs on the Shelf has been on hiatus.

But don’t worry, the site will be back for January, bringing you more of what you’ve been asking for. New changes will be made and I’ll definitely keep you abreast.

Enjoy New Year’s and best wishes to you in 2007.

Cause Sistahs will be back.

Author Cheril N. Clarke’s new novel, Tainted Destiny, has a promotional trailer on YouTube that you should check out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSFFRuPpdtg

Sistahs on the Shelf is one year old today!!

It’s been one year ago that I began this site, starting out with only a few pages and a small mission: to bring Black lesbian books to our community.

And it’s been more than I could have ever imagined.

This site has been my inspiration, my baby that I’ve seen thrive and grow, surpassing all of my expectations.

So now it’s time for a few thanks…

Thank you to all the women who’ve given me great feedback and to those who gave me constructive criticism. It can only make the site better.

Thank you to all the authors who’ve been involved in the site, from interviews to passing along news or just dropping me line from time to time.

Thank you to the future readers, because the best is yet to come.

You’ve all made SOTS what it is…and what it will become.

I’m proud to say that your very own Sistahs on the Shelf has gotten a mention at After Ellen, the wildly popular lesbian visibility website.
Last month, AE columnist Linda Villarosa wrote about the plight of black lesbian literature, sighting how little exposure we get surrounding novels about our lifestyle.

“Read any good erotica lately? Probably not if you’re looking for African-American lesbian love,” Villarosa wrote.

I emailed her about Sistahs on the Shelf, making her aware that there was a source for black lesbians to read books for us and by us.

And she gave my site the greatest compliment, calling it “wonderful, thoughtful, thorough.”

Many thanks to Linda, and the women who also suggested the site to her.

Being the founder of SOTS, I can tell you that I’ve read a lot of black lesbian books.

It’s my passion. There’s nothing like a book you can truly identify with, and that’s what books about Sistahs in the Life do for me. You always feel like you either are that character or know someone just like her.

I have my favorite books from the genre, ones that have moved me to tears or to think. No bias here, but Water in a Broken Glass is my all time greatest. It’s so raw and passionate, the story of a woman torn between her true feelings for a woman and what everyone else wants for her. Something in this novel spoke to me, as if I were Tonya, enduring her struggles to be herself.

A question for you: What black lesbian novel has spoken to you? What’s your favorite?

Last weekend I had the chance to meet Fiona Zedde.

In Atlanta for a much needed vacation, I was excited when I heard about a book signing for Fiona’s new book, A Taste of Sin, recently published July 6.

The place was Charis Books & More, the date was July 8, and the time was 8:00.

Actually I arrived about 20 minutes late.

When I walked in, Fiona was in the middle of reading a steamy passage. In case you haven’t picked up her newest novel, A Taste of Sin, it follows the passionate encounters between characters Desiree and Victoria, who, from the pages Fiona read, can’t keep their hands off one one another. Of course the novel goes much deeper, but the scenes I read more than piqued my interest.

Afterward, Fiona answered a few questions from the audience. The hottest question of the night came when someone asked if Hunter, the stud extraordinaire from her first novel, Bliss, would ever reappear in a future novel. The women were clamoring for that answer, as I heard several ladies swoon about the woman who sweeps Bliss Sinclair off her feet. The answer was possibly but not right now, especially since Ms. Zedde has several other books to complete first. Up next is a vampire novel. (Ooh, sounds intriguing.) She is also preparing selections for upcoming anthologies, as well.

Afterward, audience members got the chance to purchase Sin, and have it signed by Fiona. I waited in line with plenty of excited women, and I finally got my chance.

Now I must say I was a little nervous.

A picture on a website is one thing, but meeting an author in person is another. Fiona was dressed very casually, decked in a sun dress with brown, gold and red tones. Her reddish-brown dreads flowed nicely over her bare shoulders. She seemed approachable and down to earth, always adorning a smile on her tawny-colored face. That made it easier. She signed my book as I was introducing myself as the founder of Sistahs on the Shelf. Just her acknowledgement of meeting me and finally putting a face with a name meant a lot to me.

And the polite hug we exchanged went a long, too.

I hope all my author visits turn out like this.

Tainted Destiny, the new book from Cheril N. Clarke is scheduled to hit bookstores October 6, 2006.

Here is a synopsis from her website:

Back in the welcoming arms of New York City after a tumultuous relationship, Sadira Cooper is ready to breathe again. It isn’t long before she finds herself entering the dating scene. As she struggles to understand the meaning of true love, Sadira has to confront a past that she’d fought very hard to forget. After a failed first attempt at reigniting an old flame she begins an affair with Olivia, but makes a fatal mistake that gets her trapped in Olivia’s web of destruction. This coupled with the return of her venomously sexy former lover leaves Sadira quickly approaching an unavoidable collision of hearts and shattering of lives.

Tainted Destiny is a suspenseful romance that paints a vivid picture of turmoil and passion. Sadira experiences every facet of emotion—fear, pain, love, anxiety and utter confusion as she is stretched from one extreme to another in trying to find a balance. Does Sadira have what it takes to survive the obstacles put in her path or is her destiny forever tainted?

To order Cheril’s new book, visit http://www.cherilnclarke.com/books.html

Just in case you didn’t know, SOTS has returned to its old forum board at www.sistahsforum.proboards59.com.

There you can find discussions with women like us.

So go there and check it out.

“[Tananine] Jenkins’ book delves into a lot of action that will keep you flipping the pages. It’s a read in one night kind of book because you won’t want to put it down. The fast cars, the crazy parties and the beautiful women will capture both studs and femmes alike. A little slow at first, it picks up and keeps you on the edge of your seat till the end; the ending will leave with watery eyes. Jenkins, grammatical errors aside, is a good storyteller—and that counts for a lot.”

 To read more, visit www.sistahsontheshelf.com/pick.html

Yes, Sistahs on the Shelf has a blog!

It’s just another way to get the site out there, as well as a way to get any information out there between site updates (which by the way happen monthly). This blog will be kept up to date with any information or just my general witty reparte (which I know you all secretly love! :-))

So I’d love for you to keep stopping by, and keep up with Sistahs. I’m proud of the progress my site has made.

I hope you are, too!