Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Blatant self-promotion

Update: My essay is now up!

The movie "Sins of the Mother" on LMN THIS SUNDAY, Feb. 21st (8 pm EST, 7 pm CST, 6 pm MST, and 5 pm PST) is based on my first novel Orange Mint and Honey. Months ago I visited the set and met some of the cast, including Jill Scott and Nicole Beharie. I wrote an essay for The Defenders Online describing that experience. Here's an excerpt:

"While I wait for my husband, I turn on my iPod, select Jill Scott, and press shuffle. “Try” comes on and I begin to sob. Time loops in on itself. I remember all those days I cried, fretted, worried and prayed over my first novel. I remember Jill’s mama’s advice to her buoying me too, encouraging me to keep trying. And now Jill is playing the role of Nona, the mother, in my story."

If you go on The Defenders Online to read it, check out the rave review they gave Zetta Elliott's A Wish After Midnight, which pubs today. Happy Pub Day Zetta! Also, Happy Pub Day to Heidi Durrow, whose The Girl Who Fell From the Sky is also out today!

On this blog I encourage you to support authors. Now I'm asking for your support for my work. If you have cable (or know someone who does), please tune in to the movie. If you're planning to watch, consider joining in my watch party contest. You could win signed books from so many cool authors!

I'm also asking you to read my book, Orange Mint and Honey, if you haven't. If you like it, please check out this list I created on Indiebound of other books you might also enjoy.

Thanks for allowing me this commercial time! Next week, we'll return to our regularly scheduled programming with a guest blog post from Virginia Deberry and Donna Grant!



“…With great acting all around, including Mimi Rogers as Nona’s sponsor, this adaptation of Carleen Brice’s novel, Orange Mint and Honey is one dramatic powerhouse of a TV movie. It’d be a sin to miss it!“—NATIONAL ENQUIRER, Best Bets on TV

"As a reformed alcoholic mother trying to reconnect with her tightly wound, emotionally stunted daughter, Jill Scott (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency) delivers a performance that makes you forget you knew her as a singer first." — ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY

“The magnificent Jill Scott shines as a former mess of a mother struggling to make amends to the daughter she abused…“—TV GUIDE, Hot List

17 comments:

Lydia Sharp said...

Awesome, Carleen! I can't wait to see this. And yes, I'm reading your book right now (wanted to finish it before I saw the movie). It's great!

Zetta said...

I'm so excited for you, Carleen! And I'm heading over to read your article now...thanks for sharing my special day with your followers!

MissA said...

I will definitely watch the movie! (I may have to record though b/c I have school, in that case I will leave the TV and still record it). I'm off to go read your essay. And I do plan on reading Orange Mint and Honey.

Girl on a Mission said...

I'm so excited for this movie! I love Jill Scott and can't wait to see her do her thing. Pulling out my copy of Orange Mint and Honey to devour before Sunday right now!

Mardel said...

I read an excerpt of Orange Mint and Honey - read the second chapter. I liked it. Unfortunately, I can't buy any new books for a few weeks, but I'm putting it on my next list - even if I have to order it online.

Then I took a look at your recommendation list. I never got past the first page, because i spent some time looking and linking, and then posting on my blog about books I want to buy from your list....(lot's of energy).

Then....I looked up the books at Borders and found that you have to look for some of them in the AfricanAmerican Section. WHAT? I had no clue (it just never occurrd to me) that I would have to find any fiction in an area separated by labels like African American. So of course, I'm not sure why this is done, so I right a little mini-rant about it. I want to find fiction under fiction. I don't care who writes it- if it's fiction I think it should go under fiction. Seems simple enough to me. If you have time, please read my mini-rant, then tell me if I'm mis-understanding the whole thing. I'm not sure if I explained myself the way I wanted to, but I was surprised, and not much surprises me anymore. (http://mardel-rabidreader.blogspot.com/2010/02/waiting-on-wednesday-poc-reading-list.html)

I don't know if you've ever addressed this before (I'm horrible at looking up old posts) but I'd be interested to know your thoughts on this. It's not a big deal to some people, but it kind of bugs me.

Anonymous said...

Congrats to all involved in this book and TV movie. I am so inspired to see you Sistas doing it big!

Keep Writing!

Marti Parham

Eva said...

I'm right in the middle of your book right now! (I've been waiting to get to the top of the library queue for months.) I had no idea it was set in CO, which has made it extra fun! And I'll definitely be tuning in for the movie & party. :)

Divalocity said...

Thank you for visiting my site today "Queen" and now I will add your books to my reading list.

Doret said...

Congrats - Carleen. I hope more people seek out Orange Mint and Honey, its such a wonderful read.

That was a beautiful review of A Wish After Midnight

The Girls Who Fell From the Sky is at the top of my reading queue.

jessi said...

Hmmm...I was all settled in for the night, but the laptop kept calling my name. The "Omaha native" got me--I'm from Lincoln--but I'm glad I kept reading. Now to backtrack and figure out how I got here, so I can get in get in touch with you!
Congratulations on your success, and wishing you more of the same in the future.

Tyhitia Green said...

I cannot wait to see it, Carleen!! And I posted about you today! ;-)

Val D. Phillips said...

Let's hear it for blatant self-promotion. If (excuse me, WHEN) my book gets made into a movie I will steal all these pages out of your play book--classy and very creative. Congratulations again! I am so, so, so, so happy for you, and I will ask all my family and friends to watch!

Color Online said...

You know we are all over it at Color Online! Link/video up. FB promo up. Let's just hope my friend doesn't flake out on me and I miss seeing it. I don't have cable. I might have to make my way to my parents' house.

Know this means I must really care about you!

Carleen Brice said...

L, I take that as the ultimate sacrafice! LOL Thank you!

Chris Eldin said...

Am watching your movie now! OMG, this is incredible! I love your characters.

Mardel said...

The movie was so wonderful. I looked for you in the audience (church scene) and I think I saw you, but it was quick.

I'm ordering the book on payday (next week!)

prashant said...

Congratulations on your success, and wishing you more of the same in the future.

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