Living as a Lesbian by Cheryl Clarke (Feb. 2014 Pick of the Month)

Publisher/Date:  A Midsummer Night’s Press, Jan. 2014
Genre(s):  Poetry, Politics, Sexuality
Pages:  152
Website:  http://www.sinisterwisdom.org

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

LIVING AS A LESBIAN is a book right wingers warn you about. About riots and clits and pride in being black and lesbian, Living takes these subjects, infusing them with her observations and insight, pouring a wickedly-worded brew that wakes up your senses.

To read Living is to know Cheryl Clarke. Born in 1946, this poet, educator, essayist, feminist and activist was raised in segregated Washington, D.C. where she became captivated by words, learned deprecating humor from her mother, father and aunt, and spent time spying on grown folks conversations. Clarke saw and felt the turbulence of the 1960s, especially the violent outcome following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a disturbance that haunts her still to this day. This unjust world nurtured her poetry beginnings, especially when she was an English major at Howard University from 1965 to 1969. Her Chocolate city education – followed by a Masters and Ph.D. from Rutgers University, where she later retired after 41 years as a professor – is what lead her to become the rebel she is, even to this day.

This realization of Clarke is integral to reading Living. It frames the words you’ll find inside: metaphors draped in turquoise, descriptions of dirty politics and provocative sex, jazz riffs that carried Clarke into adulthood.

When I was approached to review Living, I was told it was a reprint of the book originally published in 1986. In saying yes to this review, I was slightly intimidated. Clarke is one of our living legends, a woman who has written influential essays and pronounced her lesbianism proudly and apologetically. She doesn’t mince words, but instead asserts her own capabilities as a black gay woman. In Living, Clarke poetry reflects this strength and her considerable knowledge of the world through her black lens.

Unfortunately, almost 30 years later, Living still has resonance. The police brutality Clarke refers to in “Miami: 1980”, still as relevant with our black men being gunned down by crooked cops, mostly recently with recent FAMU grad Jonathan Ferrell last year in North Carolina. The unadorned passion Clarke shows to her woman in “Kittantiny”, can be found in our own bedrooms. The same white privilege Clarke denounces in “we are everywhere” now shows up in racially inappropriate social media posts and half-assed apologies (I’m looking at you, Madonna). When blacks are increasingly undervalued, Clarke told you that back then with “urban gothic”.

And poor people
black, purple, umber, burgundy, yellow,
red, olive, and tan people.
In neat-pressed vines.
On crutches.
In drag.
With child and children.
Dissidents, misfits, malcontents, and marginals
serving out our sentences on the streets of
America
spread-eagled against walls and over car hoods.
Frantic
like rats in a maze
an experiment in living
down at the jail,
the courthouse on the highway.

I think it should be said that Clarke’s Living as a Lesbian can be complex, daunting almost. It’s not a quick read, and it should definitely be consumed with plenty of thought and afterthought. Some of her references are from a different time, but the reprint of Living does include Clarke’s notes that fill in the gaps, for the generations that might not understand her references. It’s as if Clarke is a godmother of sorts, passing along the history that she’s seen and overheard and lived, and that is worth the challenge Living presents.

Reviewed February 2014

Who is First Lady Wanda Davis? (Book 1: Greater Harvest Saga) by Michael Drain

Publisher:  CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, Dec. 2013
Genre(s):  Religious, Romance, Coming Out
Pages:  114
Website:  http://www.browninkentertainment.com

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Wife. Mentor. Friend. Shopaholic.

In WHO IS FIRST LADY WANDA DAVIS?, a story of the perfection it takes to be a pastor’s wife by Michael Drain, we’re introduced to all sides of Wanda, even the ones she tries to keep cleverly concealed.

Wanda Davis followed her husband, Howard, from their college days to the pulpit. In the years since his installation, she’s been the “perfect” pastor’s wife: steadfastly supportive of Howard’s mission, mindful of her words and actions, and helpful whenever needed. This dedication and her husband’s strong word ascend Greater Harvest Cathedral to megachurch status. Once a rock in the South Bend, Indiana community, the church is now in the wake of a scandal, and Howard thinks Wanda is a catalyst to getting the church back to its roots.

Yet Wanda is in the midst of her own spiritual storm.

Being a first lady doesn’t allow much room to be herself. Where she felt other wives in her position wielded their power in a greater capacity, Wanda felt stifled. She can’t speak her mind or tell what’s bothering her, lest she be judged. This pressure builds into an addiction she can’t shake: shopping. Hiding expensive clothes and thousands of dollars in mounting debt, Wanda’s compulsion may stem partly from her first lady pedestal, but it actually masks an even deeper craving: being with a woman.

As a pastor’s daughter, Wanda couldn’t reconcile her spiritual self with being a lesbian. After breaking it off with a female classmate in college, Howard was the man who accepted her as she was, and she saw him as her rock and deliverance.

Even when she didn’t see it, Howard has always believed in his wife and their relationship. He places Wanda front and center over the church’s women’s service during revival. Wanda, with her heavy heart, is not so convinced, especially when the occasion pairs her with an alluring event planner. How can she lead the women when she is so conflicted in her own soul?

The pastor’s wife element in Who is First Lady Wanda Davis?, the first in a series, adds something extra to Drain’s story, but I feel Wanda could be any woman confused in her sexuality and her love for God. Her turmoil in living up to the self-imposed standards of a first lady — and the behind-the-scenes church drama — are real to the black church. We do make it hard for our gay brothers and sisters, but what I found moving was how understanding Howard was to Wanda’s transition then and now as she figures out her life. Howard’s a good guy.

The book’s formatting could use work, and the sermons throughout are slightly repetitive, but Drain engages.

By the conclusion, I can tell something more sinister is coming in Wicked Harvest, Book 2 in The Greater Harvest Saga. I’ll be reading it.

Reviewed February 2014

Valentine’s Day E-Book Roundup

Feeling romantic this Valentine’s Day? Or feeling a little hot under the collar? Then pick up these e-books and enjoy the holiday!

Hot For It by K.A. Smith
Publisher/Date: K.A. Smith, Feb. 2014
Website: http://krystalarnelle.wordpress.com

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

A sweltering New Mexico day and a frozen “treat” allow spouses Jordan and Kathy beat the heat in a sensuous way in HOT FOR IT by K.A. Smith. Considering the cruel winter weather we’ve been having this year, Hot comes right on time. This short is a fun romp between loving partners and makes you wish your lover was just as creative. Smith, who’s also a published poet, has a flair that I’m looking forward to more of.


Placencia by C.A. Clemmings
Publisher/Date:  Amazon Digital Services, Inc., Nov. 2013
Website:  http://www.caclemmings.com

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Was it an accident or fate that Elodie becomes stranded in Belize instead of Honduras where she was to meet her girlfriend Andrea? After missing her bus, the night she spends in PLACENCIA is colorful to say the least, surrounded by eccentric natives, and most especially a tempting woman named Sage. But the few hours are also therapeutic for Elodie, who comes to some headway about her feelings for Andrea and her father’s death. Though I was a tad confused by a scene right before the story’s end, C.A. Clemmings’ prose breezily flows in Placencia, and I could see this short becoming a full-fledged novel. *hint hint*


Safe Passage by Kate Owen
Publisher/Date:  Less Than Three Press, LLC, Feb. 2014
Website:  http://writerkateowen.blogspot.com

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

Jules Delacroix has never been much of handy[wo]man, so restoring the New Orleans house inherited from her great Auntie becomes even more of a challenge after her sledgehammer happens upon a secret wall safe. Inside are letters written in French – and code – between Auntie and a mysterious recipient only known as “E.” Jules uses this discovery to recruit the help of Genevieve Dubois, the sexy French teacher (is there any other kind?) at the school where she and Jules teach. Jules, a former rowing Olympian, is excited by Gen’s help to decipher Auntie’s love letters – she’s had her eye on her for a while – and it’s where her own love story begins. SAFE PASSAGE is a novella I really enjoyed for its genuine characters. Jules and Gen are so insecure and hilarious and downright lovable. I laughed out loud at the banter between but aahed their affair and solved mystery by the novel’s end.


First Taste: Kendra by Portia M. Delaney
Publisher/Date:  JTM Creations LLC, Dec. 2012

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

A workplace romance is one thing, but workplace sex? Yes ma’am, based on Portia M. Delaney’s FIRST TASTE: KENDRA. This is the story of a uptight lawyer, namely Kendra Holliday, attempting to fight the advances of her hot-in-the pants, demanding co-worker, Lea Jacobs. There’s a few entertaining negotiations between the women, but it’s a case that both women eventually “come” to terms with. Delaney’s writing is descriptive and fully-fleshed, in that she created whole characters where it could have been only about the sex. Don’t get me wrong though: the sex is hella erotic.That’s what makes me want a bigger slice of what Delaney is serving.


Back to You: Series Premiere (Bookisode 1) by Rebelle 
Publisher/Date:
JustUs LLC, Nov. 2013
Website:  http://www.livejustifiedbooks.com

Rating: ★★★½☆ 

Even a war-torn country can’t extinguish the love between U.N. Peace Keepers Penny Price and Sophie Mitchell in BACK TO YOU: SERIES PREMIERE. They’ve served together for two years and are each other’s life jackets in a land that could rob them of their lives in a moment’s notice. Especially in this first “bookisode” where Penny makes the decision to either kill or be killed. Rebelle captures this anguish, although there are a couple situations I felt were a wee bit far-fetched. It’s a keep-you-on-the-edge story, and I can feel the love between Penny and Sophie. I’m ready for Book 2 already (which is out now).

Reviewed February 2014

Books 2 Check Out – Feb. 2014

Looking for something new to read? Here’s a round-up of a few novels you should check out (the titles are linked to Amazon, but most are available for purchase at Barnes & Noble, as well):

Back To You: Series Premiere by Rebelle

When war rips through their relationship Penny and Sophie are forced to fight their way back to each other. Penny Price and Sophie Mitchell are U.N. Peace Keepers on a mission to protect their love and preserve the peace in a war torn country. But how can they safeguard peace when there is no peace to keep? How can their relationship survive when death draws nearer with each passing day?

Join them on an epic journey to nurture a blossoming romance rooted at the epicenter of war and peace. They vow to defend their love even in the middle of a murderous place where ethical lines are etched in stones of social unrest and political turmoil.

This thrilling new series will have you on the edge of your seat all season. New bookisodes are released bi-weekly. Visit www.livejustifiedbooks.com for future release dates, discounts and exclusive details about your favorite bookisodes. Back To You: Bookisode 2 (Expiration Day) is available now.

Feeling for the Wall by Monique ‘Being True’ Thomas

Feeling for the Wall explores a relationship that is in crisis. What happens when one person is forgotten or taken for granted? Adanna Johnson is a successful bank manager who may be a bit of an over achiever but everything she does is for her wife’s happiness. The love they have is deep even if their marriage may be in the eye of the storm. Erica Johnson thought that she would never see the day when she would question the love that Adanna and her share. However, lately that seems like all she can think about. Adanna’s changing behaviors has turned the warmth in their home pure ice. Erica doesn’t know if she can take being treated as an afterthought any longer. Marriage can be beautiful but when the balance of things tumble over will Adanna and Erica leave or fight for their love.

G.R.I.T.S. – Girls Raised In the South: An Anthology of Southern Queer Womyns’ Voices and Their Allies Edited by Poet On Watch and Amber N. Williams

G.R.I.T.S. – A MARVELOUS AND DIVERSE COLLECTION OF WRITINGS AND WRITERS! This cutting-edge anthology G.R.I.T.S : Girls Raised In The South- An Anthology of Southern Queer Womyns’ Voices and Their Allies, edited by Poet On Watch & Amber N. Williams, can be compared to the pioneering anthology Home Girls which featured writings by Black feminist and lesbian activists on topics both provocative and profound. G.R.I.T.S. is a critical self-analysis and celebration with multicultural queer women voices and their allies through essays, short stories, poetry, photo stories and healing comfort recipes. The perspectives are of womyn who live in the Southern region of the United States and/or have a strong affinity for this locale. The theme of the publication surrounds the subject matter of erotica while enjoying food, our connection to the South, the bonds created between lovers, and in sisterhood, personal growth, be it spiritual or otherwise and our best G.R.I.T.S. recipes. Come and sit a while on the porch and bask in this Southern hospitality. We have the iced tea waiting. Welcome to our lives.

K-Rho: The Sweet Taste of Sisterhood by La Toya Hankins

K-Rho: The Sweet Taste of Sisterhood chronicles the strength of sorority life for three Copper Road University sophomores. Track star Kiara Michaels didn’t expect to find two lifelong friends at her sorority membership interview. But life had other plans, leading her to meet Donna-a Bible quoting straight talker-and Gloria-a loquacious high achiever. In the semesters following membership induction, Kiara confesses a festering secret, Donna steers a bumpy course with her unfaithful boyfriend, and Gloria can’t find a love match. When a lustful encounter and brutal assault turn Kiara’s collegiate experience upside down, the two friends are her saving grace. Fast-forward ten years later and Kiara can’t balance life’s increasing responsibilities, Donna has departed a broken marriage, and Gloria can’t reconcile feelings of attraction for a close friend. Join Kiara, Donna, and Gloria on a dark, clear night at Copper Road to discover how these friends find happiness through sorority redemption, relationship forgiveness, and best friend intervention as you savor the sweet taste of sisterhood.

Living as a Lesbian by Cheryl Clarke

Poetry. African American Studies. LGBT Studies. Living as a Lesbian is Cheryl Clarke’s paean to lesbian life. Filled with sounds from her childhood in Washington, DC, the riffs of jazz musicians, and bluesy incantations, Living as a Lesbian sings like a marimba, whispering “i am, i am in love with you.” Living as a Lesbian chronicles Clarke’s years of literary and political activism with anger, passion, and determination. Clarke mourns the death of Kimako Baraka, “sister of famous artist brother”; celebrates the life of Indira Gandhi; and chronicles all kinds of disasters natural and human-made. The world is large in Living as a Lesbian but also personal and intimate. These poems are closely observed and finely wrought with Clarke’s characteristic charm and wit shining throughout. In 1986, Living as a Lesbian captured the vitality and volatility of the lesbian world; today, in a world both changed and unchanged, Clarke’s poems continue to illuminate our lives and make new meanings for Living as a Lesbian.

Pieces of Me by Vickey Simmons

A compilation of four original short stories from Vickey Simmons:  Toni Knows Best, In Love & Lust, Spring Fever, and Go See The Doctor.

Placencia by C.A. Clemmings

Elodie decides to sojourn in Placencia, Belize for a few days. This comes as a surprise to her girlfriend, Andrea, who is waiting for her in Honduras where they planned to meet up for their vacation together. Elodie says she is “coming to terms” with some things. Also visiting Placencia – a beautiful woman named Sage, who is not afraid to go after what she wants: Elodie.

Sageburner: Simple Pleasures by Poet on Watch

“Do you know why some text sticks to your soul, plays havoc with your perceptions of love, life and truth; while others fall short, leaving you unsatisfied and wanting? The erotically expressive and humorously honest words of Poet On Watch are displayed like art in a gallery; after indulging in reading Sageburner: Simple Pleasures you will text your lover “Let’s meet in a hour, make passionate love and plan world peace.” Trust, when making love is the start to world peace, then we’ve truly understood the political erotic messages of Poet On Watch. – Sunshine Vega

Tastes Like Cherry by Renee Cronin

Sherry “Cherry” Milton has had six months to get over Anya Prye, her ex-fiancé. Six months to accept that what they had was over and that she needed to move on with her life. Cherry was certain she had done so, until Anya reappears. Anya Prye has come to the realization that life was not complete unless she had the love of her life to share it with. Six months ago, she made a decision that changed everything and now she’s back to make amends. Can she convince Cherry that they were meant to be together? What will it take to prove it? Or is it too late?