African American
Related: About this forumAfro-Bougie Blues - My Book is Out!
Last edited Tue Jun 7, 2022, 07:47 PM - Edit history (2)
It's here! Afro-Bougie Blues is available on Amazon in eBook, Paperback and Hardback.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B2TZD9H7
Please help me get the word out. Just copy/paste.
Afro-Bougie Blues is a collection of twelve original, engaging, and occasionally edgy short stories that dig into the souls of ordinary black women and men meeting lifes challenges with courage and care. A newlywed considers her past abortion after having a miscarriage. An Army veteran subdues his war memories with alcohol. A woman who loses weight watches her marriage crumble around her. A single father reflects on his pre-teen daughters complicated questions about love. A married woman falls in love with a jazz singer. Watch as the protagonists find their way, find love, or find themselves amid the chaos. Explore the world of Afro-Bougie Blues. An extraordinary assortment of stories awaits you.
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My first review:
Well, what a pleasure it has been to read this author. I knew I was going to be entertained from the first few sentences of the book. What a talent! The writing is both humorous and tragic. Some stories are lighthearted and then are surprisingly deep at the end. Each short story reminded me of a different reason to overly indulge in the joy of reading. I was sorry when I completed the last story. They are varied stories with very little in common with each other, each one having its own unique sucker punch. I highly recommend this book and, I look forward to discussing it with my group read buddies. This will be a book that will lead to some very stimulating group discussions. I was honored to have been given the opportunity to read an ARC of these extraordinary stories.
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Second Review:
I devoured this book as soon as I got my hands on it. Due to being so immersed, I was able to finish it in one day. Lauren Wilson isn't just an author; she's also a magician, as she must have used some sort of magic to make her poems so enjoyable to read. "Her Question," a poem from the book that stuck with me, follows the dynamic of a father and daughter relationship and the awkwardness of navigating such without a motherly figure. It reminded me of the Kevin Hart film Fatherhood, which had a similar premise. A small book was able to cover a wide range of topics, including miscarriage, abortion, friendships, weight loss, family dynamics, and many others. It is a must-read for anyone and opens up many topics for discussion, making it a great selection for any book club!
yellerpup
(12,263 posts)Hope you sell a million!
catrose
(5,231 posts)spicysista
(1,723 posts)quaint
(3,465 posts)Enjoyable, interesting, no-rose-colored-glasses stories.
qwlauren35
(6,255 posts)Thanks for the positive feedback.
quaint
(3,465 posts)I felt the emotion and was surprised that this old woman could identify.
qwlauren35
(6,255 posts)It's funny.
Putting this out has cost SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much money.
But I plan to write it all off next year.
The real thing for me, is that each time someone says that they read it and liked it, I sing inside. It really was all about sharing the stories.
quaint
(3,465 posts)qwlauren35
(6,255 posts)I picked that cover from an array of art images that I sifted through in 2011 when I first considered publishing the book. It just fit. The dancing black couple, the music theme for the blues. It really spoke to me.
And I didn't really think anything of it until I started looking at other covers. In most covers, it is the title, not the art, that stands out. It's as if I did it all wrong. And yet, if people are scrolling through books on a website or in an e-mail, mine will be noticeable because it is so different. So, maybe I didn't do it wrong after all!
When I bought the rights to the art 11 years ago, I did not keep a record of the sale. So I could not prove my rights. And I was afraid to use the cover. So I paid my publisher an ungodly sum to design a cover for me. And it was SO awful (two white people embracing), that I doubled down trying to find my original cover. I lucked out, and a WONDERFUL customer service guy from Shuttercock found it for me, on another website. I immediately bought the rights, and let my publisher add the title. The font on my name is so small that you can't make it out if all you have is a snapshot of the cover. But that's okay. My name is secondary.