Yes We Can.

Zoe Kravitz, et al. - "We Are the Ones"

I love this.

A Horse of a Different Color

So I always dreamed of being like Jackie Collins or Danielle Steel. Of having a career that had nothing to do with my color, everything to do with my stories.

I dreamed of reaching an audience so large that I, too, would one day sell over 400-500 million novels. Or over 300 million, like Sidney Sheldon. Or over 200 million, like Nora Roberts. Or (even) over 70 million, like Sandra Brown. My dream was sooo bright; as bright as the sun itself. I always believed it was attainable. Sink or swim...

I thought there was an equal opportunity.

But despite the current atmosphere, I still have a great deal of faith in the American publishing industry. I am an American. And I believe we can repair the hurtful, Jim Crowesque climate that plagues American publishing. We must. For as Eckhart Tolle carefully explains in A NEW EARTH: What we do to others, we do to ourselves.

I maintain confidence that my stories will find their way into the American mainstream, where they belong. Like any other, they deserve to have a fair chance in the marketplace, don't they? Unfettered by any "color-of-the-author" impositions?

If Reginald Brooks and family can be Polish, and Turkish...surely they can be American. Very few self-published novels prove themselves to be captivating stories with tremendous universal appeal. So that proven appeal validates the dream I've always had for my stories, and keeps it alive. Who knows? I may even be inclined to launch my own (equal opportunity) publishing empire to help foster fair chance in the industry; set an example for what it means to provide equal opportunity...

The last three years of my life have been dreadful...but now, thank God, healing begins; because what I know for sure is this: I am, as they say, a flame keeper. And the flame glows brightly. I can see it going before me now, leading the way to a much better experience.

On Writing.
The seeds of a third book (THE GREAT MASTERMIND) have been patiently awaiting my return to the keyboard. Those seeds deserve life and nourishment; it's high time I saw to them. And ditto for my blog! There's so much going on these days, and I've not had an ounce of energy to participate. But I'm getting back to creating now. After being down in the dumps, unable to write for such a long, long time - I pledge to start living again. That means birthing my next page-turner! I know my fans have been patiently waiting...and I love them for it.

The Discrimination Lawsuit.
I've received several inquiries about the status. I'm very pleased to share that the matter has now been resolved to my satisfaction through an agreement, the terms of which can never be discussed.

In the interest of my blog's archival integrity, I fully disclose that all previous discussions about the case have been removed. There will be no further information about the lawsuit on my blog. I'm extremely happy to have this heartbreak behind me - I give beaucoup thanks to my wonderful attorney. And I likewise send a deep, heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who offered their unwavering support. I'll remember it always.

Census: Bestsellerdom.
Beyond all of that, here's a very important question:

Was having such a dream foolhardy?

Would Jackie Collins, or Danielle Steel, or Nora Roberts all have been foolish to dream of achieving what they have, in fact, achieved?

Should the horse have known not to enter the race? Is having a white body a prerequisite for access to the stratosphere of the commercial fiction business? Access to the upper crust, where Jackie, Danielle, Nora (et al.) reside?

"The Negro was to accept the biracial system and his subordinate status. He was to seek advancement within the confines of his segregated black world. He was to develop the friendship of influential whites and use their assistance.

By cultivating habits of hard work, thrift, and honesty, he was to demonstrate his claim to wider acceptance and better treatment. Above all, he was never to present any organized challenge to the existing order of things or engage in movements which might be regarded by whites as detrimental to their economic and political interest." - Booker T. Washington

Boy. Why can't we simply stop making color distinctions and just allow love to unite all Americans?

Is Booker T's observation of 100 years ago -still- true for commercial fiction publishing in the United States? If so, who bears the responsibility?

At this time in our history -2008- does our publishing establishment have any non-white, commercial fiction authors with sales/audience comparable to Danielle Steel's? Jackie Collins'? Or (even) Sandra Brown's? If so, who?

(Well, I guess there are a few very important questions.)

The Great "Turkish" Pretender

As most of you can imagine, I've been experiencing some very trying times, and just haven't had the energy to blog in the last few months. But I had to make a special effort to share the cover of the Turkish edition of THE GREAT PRETENDER (ROLKESEN) with my readers; as I've previously shared the Polish cover (WIELKI KLAMCA).

And it's worthwhile to note (though I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it before) that these foreign versions were garnered by the 2002 self-published, general fiction edition of TGP......

How often do self-published books sell foreign translation rights?

It's interesting how these covers reflect and illustrate the universal substance of the very same book.

Clandestine Trap Contest - Congratulations!

Of course, the deadline has passed. Thanks to all the participants, you were great sports!! I received over 40 entries, but only 4 had the correct answer. Here are the winners:

Gladys Howard, WA
Shelia Goss, LA
Faith Covington, UK
Christy Hawkes, UT

Congratulations! Hope you enjoy THE GREAT BETRAYAL - all copies have been mailed!

Now, what was the narrator's secret? The narrator is an unsolved murder victim.

TGB Contest Extended

Deadline to enter is now Sunday March 25th! Click here for the original post.

Good luck!

Publishing Survey

Blogger Karen Scott's conducting a survey. Check out what she has to say about it, and participate if you're eligible.

"This Is a Man's World...

But it wouldn't be nothing, nothing without a woman or a girl."

I have to highlight this performance! It left me speechless. I had to join the audience with a standing ovation in my living room the night of the Grammy Awards!

JB would be proud. I have a new respect for Christina's talent. Dynamite!

Enjoy!



And this trio simply stole the show! Beautiful.

Clandestine Trap | Exclusive TGB Giveaway

Who's Paying Attention?

Want an autographed copy of THE GREAT BETRAYAL? Here's an exclusive chance for 5 blog visitors to win a free copy!

Click the link below to e-mail your take on the following poem. What's the narrator's secret? 5 winners will be drawn from all correct replies received on or before Sunday, March 25, 2007, 12:00 a.m Eastern Time. (International participants are also welcome.)

Thanks for visiting - Good luck!

CLANDESTINE TRAP

I have a secret.

I know the truth.

I can tell no one,

No one who doesn't already know, anyway.

I left with the secret.

I've had it ever since that night.

I left them forever.

It's not an easy secret,

To be trapped with.

Especially after all these seasons.

I try to tell my family,

When they sleep.

They think it's a dream.

Those who share similar secrets,

Know my pain.

Jean Harlow. Thelma Todd. The Black Dahlia.

They're trapped with their truths, too, as am I.

I dwell in my secret,

In my trap,

And wait for my freedom.

For it lies within,

The disclosure of my truth.

(c) 2007, Millenia Black


SUBMIT ANSWER HERE

The Wall Street Journal Investigates

There's a very interesting article by Jeff Trachtenberg in today's WSJ entitled, "Why Book Industry Sees the World Split Still by Race."

Definitely worth reading.

If I Did It (Updated)

Ed Wyatt at the Times reports.

Why is O.J. Simpson doing this? Why is there a publisher out there willing to lift so much as an ink cartridge to put something like this in circulation?

Moral propriety anyone?

Even if the book doesn't contain the implied content, the insinuation of such content is condemnable. They (O.J. & publisher) knew the ubiquitous uproar this would incite - they must've counted on it.

Perhaps his primary goal is to earn the 33.5 million he owes the Browns and the Goldmans, but with a good dose of malevolent sarcasm?

I can't imagine what he's saying to his children, both sets. This entire happening - the upcoming book, the insidious publicity being generated, the notorious Fox interview coming up on the 27th - it's all unbelievably mean-spirited, not to mention cruel. Disrespectful squared. And the title's all wrong, no? Personally, I think WHEN I DID IT has a better ring to it.

At any rate, let's see how many curious viewers Madison Avenue thinks there'll be on the 27th.

Update 11/21/06:

NEW YORK (AP) "Maybe we won't find out how he would've done it. After a firestorm of criticism, News. Corp. said Monday that it has canceled the O.J. Simpson book and television special "If I Did It". "I and senior management agree with the American public that this was an ill-considered project," said Rupert Murdoch, News Corp. chairman. "We are sorry for any pain that his has caused the families of Ron Goldman and Nicole Brown Simpson." A dozen Fox affiliates had already said they would not air the two-part sweeps month special, planned for next week before the book's publication.

Better late than never, I suppose, but you can't un-ring a bell. No doubt this book - and interview - will turn up online soon, if they haven't already.

You know....this calls the Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam acquittals to mind. They were both acquitted for the murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till, but later confessed to journalist William Bradford Huie in a story for Look Magazine--a story for which they were paid. Why was there no public outcry toward Look Magazine? Take a wild, wild guess.

I'm exhausted just thinking about it.