I have to be the least likely writer anyone would peg as the author of a chick-flick novel. But, Black & Singles Blues (Indie Gypsy Press) is, cross my heart and hope to eat a dead frog, that very thing.
Not that I should be surprised. After all, the original story, One Going, One Staying, ran in Essence. And ran as the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder series for a good year and a half. You don’t get much more marketable to women than that. It’s in the same bag with, say Think Like A Man or Baggage Claim (Paula Patton would make a perfect Lesli). Celebrating the thoroughly modern, love-challenged black man and woman, trying to fit two individuals in one relationship.
Expanding it into a book weren’t no cakewalk. However, between MSR senior editor Jerry Freeman and Adrianne Hamilton-Butler, who I knew from Insight News, things panned out. Throw in that IG publisher Shelley Halima is a hellified novelist, herself, who understands how respects a writers and, all said, it’s been pretty damned productive. Release date is the end of March, but you can pre-order it now and save a few bucks.
Next up, it’s finish revising the play Ella Stanley, inspired by Effa Manley, female owner in the old Negro Baseball Leagues, which I used a Mixed Theatre commission to write. Jack Reuler turned the previous draft down (shape it was in, I don’t blame him) but the Public Theatre (NYC) agreed to consider it. Then, the essays collection, How To Find Love Without Losing Your Mind (Kindle/Amazon.com).
One thing I can’t resist patting myself on the back about, Black & Single Blues and Ella Stanley both center around strong women. That, for some reason, has a habit of happening in my work. The plays You Can’t Always Sometimes Never Tell (Illini Press) and Shelter (Pangea World Theater – Kindle/Amazon.com), same thing.
Have to laugh. Dwight Hobbes writing a chick-flick novel. Go figger.
Comment