Leimert Park Book Fair

Saturday I signed and spoke at the Leimert Park Book Fair and Eso Won Book Store. Thank you James Fugate for inviting me! The highlight of the entire trip happened when I walked in the store and heard (not saw because she was surrounded by fans) that Nikki Giovanni was there. I quickly made my way over to thank her in person for the lovely blurb she gave me for Orange Mint and Honey. This is the part I still can't believe: She thanked ME for "writing such a beautiful book" and hugged me.

On Saturday wish a Happy Birthday to Nikki and to Prince (and to my friend Kim)!!!

This is my editor, the wonderful Melody Guy.

This is Gia Amado, a film producer who had expressed interest in turning my book into a movie.
In a special tribute, Tananarive Due and Steven Barnes spoke about Octavia Butler (who wrote some beautiful, disturbing, scary stuff!). Due and Barnes are accomplished authors separately, but also write together along with Blair Underwood. The three's first book was Casanegra (which is in my TBR pile). Their next is In the Night of the Heat, and it's out this fall. So far, the only book of Due's I've read is Joplin's Ghost, which I really enjoyed. My Soul to Keep is now also in my TBR pile.

Steven, a novelist and screenwriter, was kind enough to give me his card and offer me advice should I need any about adapting Orange Mint into a movie. That's the great thing about L.A.: everybody's in showbiz!
For example, here's Bern Nadette Stanis, remember Thelma on Good Times?? (My best friend and I still answer the phone "Chello" a la JJ) She was at the book fair to talk about her book.

I had no idea I gesture so much when I speak. And no I wasn't singing!