The Sista Hood on the Mic, A Novel by E-Fierce

If you need a laugh go check out this satire bellow on J-Lo, Marc Anthony, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. This site has other satires on many very jokable pop culture icons.

http://gofugyourself.typepad.com/go_fug_yourself/2006/12/the_pursuit_of_.html

I Love This Man! Go Chappelle!

"It's good to have a vision for your life, but your moral conduct and your moral code should be priceless. You should just have some values that you just hold, that you won;t sell at any price," said Dave Chappelle, as he recently addressed a group of students in Yellow Springs, Ohio.

Dave Chappelle says he's glad he left his TV show. Peep the article here.

I have to say my TV viewing went down to zero after his show left the airwaves. But, being a writer, filmmaker and now, writing for a TV show I have to say I'm down with brother man. The quote above makes me love him even more.

I just had to appreciate, I know none of us are perfect. Life wouldn't be fun if we were. LOL. But, you just don't find people in the industry that are willing walk away from the money if it comprises their vision.

I just had to give props to Dave for keepin' it real! Everyone hears about the GLAM of industry stuff, but few speak of the compromises made and the BS dished. My writing partner, Sofia and I have been working on developing a pilot for TV and we've been lucky to work with a team that let's us do our thing. Not that we haven't had our moments where we're both like, WHATEVER! We also know that our experience, and I will say, thus far has been rare, VERY rare. I guess the SISTER OUTSIDER ENTERTAINMENT JURY will have to reserve our vote for out TV experience until, we actually go into production.

E-Fierce on KALW 91.7 FM

I just heard the interview I did while on book tour with UPFRONT RADIO in my hometown San Francisco aired this past Friday and will AIR AGAIN:

When? SUNDAY, August 27th at 2:30PM PST / 5:30PM EST on KALW 91.7 FM, San Francisco

I still haven't heard it myself, but you can either tune into KALW 91.7 if you're in San Francisco and support PUBLIC RADIO. Or if YOUR NOT in Frisco, you can listen to online via online streaming by doing the following:

1) Go to KALW 91.7FM on Sunday at 2:30 PM PST / 5:30PM EST

2) Click LISTEN on the toolbar at the top of the page
If you don't have REAL PLAYER download it.

3) AT LISTEN click on the LIVE Streaming via Real Player or Windows Media

The Latina sista that interviewed me was amazing. However, you never know what's editied and what's not. So, It'll be my first time listening as well. Let me know what you think on my blog.

If you MISS Sunday you can eventually go to NEW AMERICAN MEDIA Click on UPFRONT RADIO and will be able to download the show.

Are you a HOMEGIRL?

I was thinking and reflecting about the AMAZING homegirls in my life after receiving a beautiful card from my one of my oldest friends, LOLITA who I've known since the sixth grade---like 27 years. We hadn't seen each other since late high school, and when I reading at LIBRERIA MARTINEZ in Los Angeles, she and her husband drove three hours north from San Diego to see me. I was like, wow that was love and felt so honored with her gift of time and friendship. And it's not like they didn't have three beauiful children at home to find child care for. Reconnecting with Lolita, who inspired one of the characters in my book was a gift.

On book tour, the gifts continued to POUR. My homegirl Lourdes, the publicity goddess had my back while in LA and throughout the release of my book. My girl Reyna, Brenda and Claudine came to show their support. During pre-book tour events, my girl Aurora and her LA posse came through at La Feria Del Libro and we celebrated then swam in the Pacific late at night. I

In Frisco, I had a homegirl POT LUCK and was blessed with staying with my girl Tina and her homie sweetheart, Lolan. I read at MODERN TIMES (please support independent book stores) in my old barrio a THE MISSION nd was filled with LOVE from old and new. I reconnected with old friends that remain steadfast in my life like Gilliann, Tina, Roxanne and Elena. And I was further blessed by family time.

Before the tour, my girl Candy came by from Chicago and the love at the Book Party from all the Chica Luna's, Lissette, URBAN ENVY, the actors who read from the staged reading, Sofia, Johanna , Jennifer, and of course MY NEW MY SPACE FRIENDS and my little sister Pattydukes who graced me with her amazing emcee skills on the SISTAHOOD CD. And of course, TRICIA WANG who coordinated the whole book release party with lot's of TLC. I am still high from the best gift a sista could get, the friendship and love of her HOMEGIRLS. And I'm excited about the new homegirls that I met along the way and look forward to building. Not a day goes by that I forget one moment of that love, now and throughout my life. Thank you HOMEGIRLS for your support and love!

As I venture closer to 40, no, not yet-- I got three years still! You start reflecting and come to a time in your life where you understand what it means to have TRUE homegirls. So, this entry is going to be dedicated to my homegirls that I love and throughout my years have become my CHOSEN familia.

Being my usual curious self, I had to check out what the dictionary definition was of homegirl, so here it is:

Noun: homegirl
A fellow female member of a youth gang

I was like, what? Oh, no that biased dictionary didn't! But then I thought about when I was a kid and how my first set of homegirls: Nicole, Norma, Lolita and I were in some ways a gang. Not in the shoot 'em up, vision that people have of gangs. But, we were a clique, a posse, a group and we were a gang of chicas. I don't claim GANG, 'cuz let's be real, when people conjure that word they think YOUNG PEOPLE OF COLOR UP TO NO GOOD (mainly Latino and/or African American). Yet, when I was a child, it was my posse of friends that understood and got me through times when no one else understood. Sometimes, when no adults were to be found, we mentored each other and protected one another in whatever way we knew how. In other words, we survived together.

So, I went looking for another definition. This one is from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Homeboy
(Redirected from Homegirl)

Homeboy (feminine: Homegirl) is a slang term of unsettled origin. It means "friend". It was most current in the 1970s and 1980s among African American and Mexican American youths. It is/was often shortened to "homes", "holmes", and "homie".

Homeboy may refer to:
Homeboy Industries, a youth program to assist gang members

Now specifically, targeting African American and Mexican youths. And of course there had to be a referral to gang. But, my fav was why can't homegirl have HER own entry and homeboy be redirected to her.

I could talk about this forever and continue to look for other definitions, but let me give my own definition of what a HOMEGIRL means to me. For without my homegirls, wow, my life would be so less complete. Since the defintion above, said it was unsettled in meaning, let's define HOMEGIRL for ourselves, hopefully you'll also ADD your own definitions.

According to Elisha:

HOMEGIRL
(also referred to as comadre, 'mana, goddess, sista, sister, soul sista, hermana, homie)

Noun. A girl or woman of ANY age that unconditonally loves, trusts, listens and fiercely supports another girl or woman. She is a friend that has your back and tells you the truth even when it's hard for you to hear. You can either talk with her every day or once a year, but whenever you speak it was as if time never passed, no explanations, you just get one another. She wants you to succeed, and support you in learning to love yourself as you do her. She cheers for your success as you do hers. When your partner is gone, she is still there. When you family doesn't get it, she wipes your tears. When your weary and just plain tired, she gives you the strength to push forward. When no one else has your back or understands, she stands up and fights for you not caring what anyone else thinks. Someone who knows when she is projecting her own shit on you and owns up to it. Someone who gives you props when everyone else is hatin'. Someone who when the world is negative, you NEVER doubt that she's in your corner and even when she makes mistakes you know that is never came from a place of malice.

To my homegirls old and new, I LOVE you! I don't even need to shout you out, because you already know who you are!

Peace y Light!

Pics with a few of my homies, I wish I had photos of them all:

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT ABOUT YOUR DEFINITION OF WHAT A HOMEGIRL IS....

Check out this Amazing Program for Young Women

I will go into detail regarding my entire book tour as time goes on, but I have to start the beginning of my blogging about it with OASIS for GIRLS. Before I got on the plane to come back to New York, I was blessed with the opportunity to meet with the young women from OASIS FOR GIRLS.

About Oasis:

Their Vision: The vision of Oasis for Girls is to cultivate generations of strong and creative women who realize their potential, live healthy lives and make a positive impact in their communities.

Their Mission: The mission of Oasis for Girls is to provide a safe space where girls and young women are inspired and empowered to become strong and creative women in their communities.

I met with the young girls form their Girl 2 Girl program which is a new leadership project that came out of a need for programming that engages the minds, bodies and spirits of girls ages 10-13. From workshops on cultural identity, sexism and hip hop to field trips, cooking meditation and theater, participants have had opportunities to express themselves, build community and work together as a team in a positive and supportive environment.

I came excited as this was the final foot of my book tour and I was going to share and break bread with young girls that grew up in the city that I was born and raised --San Francisco or FRISCO as us natives like to say. I was invited to the program as Tina, whom I've known since she was a senior in high school was once a participant in a youth program I directed and now she's one of the coordinators of Girl 2 Girl. It was so wonderful to walk in and see Tina cooking healthy meals and interacting with the young women, teaching them about racism and homophobia.

All I gotta say is that I was so proud of her. Not like she's a kid anymore, she's 30. But, she's such and amazing leader and an incredible activist. The beautiful thing about healthy mentoring is that you both learn from one another. Somewhere in our journey together, Tina and I transistioned into this amazing, sista fire friendship. I proudly call her one of my sista warriors. Can you tell I adore her?

Tina and I below:

When I arrived the girls were learning to cook healthy food with Tina. Then, I got to sit with them and break bread with them and eating the delicious crepes that they had prepared. We had a great conversation about homophobia and hip-hop. And let me tell you, those young women were ON POINT. Budding little radicals. LOL.

I had done book readings with high school youth, but middle school aged youth I wasn't sure if my book would be too old. It was important for me to connect with these girls, as they are the audience that I wrote this for. I made sure to bring copies for each of the girls to take home.

They were funny asking me questions like: Are you famous?

I'm like, "Not really!" Then I would laugh.

What was great is they got to tell me about themselves and what they liked and we got to laugh too.

What was really cool is they wanted me to read to them.

And as you can see from below the girls loved it.

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I just have to shout out the girls form OASIS. You made my tour special and inspired me to keep writing the SISTAHOOD SERIES. Thank you for sharing with me your chapbook of stories, poems and writings it was a MUST READ for me on my plan ride home and MUCH more interesting than the book I was going to read by an author that shall remain nameless. I look forward to seeing you all writing more and of course, one day coming to your book signing!

And I promise, that next time I will make sure that the pics of THE SISTAHOOD that were designed by Urban Envy, say FRISCO and not SAN FRANCISCO.

For anyone that wants to support a great program for young girls in San Francisco--check out OASIS FOR GIRLS.

For more blog info, check MY SPACE. I've been a lot better about blogging there.

Haiku for Change

CULTURAL HAIKU by Staceyann Chin
You white liberal
how long will you wear double
X hooded sweatshirts?
--
Inspired by Staceyann Chin today while listening to WBAI and for the Immigrant Rights rally today, April 10th in NYC to stop the anti-immigrant House resolution 4437. More to come, but for now my thoughts are humbly reflected by my amateur attempt at haiku. Check out Staceyann Chin at www.staceyannchin.com.

HAIKUS FOR CHANGE by E-Fierce

Hip Hop my first love
how long will misogyny
bring down the sistas?

Mainstream Media
how long will stereotypes
dominate the screen?

You rich Producer
how long will the L-Word show
preach white as queerness?

Latino Gente
how long will our skin color
silence dialogue?

Young women of color
how long will feminism stand
without your support?

You Border Patrol
how long will you dissect me
into many parts?

I wish you George Bush
were an immigrant today
I would deport you.

Which Cover, you chose?

So, my website is up. I got this amazing designer, Miki Fujiwara--check her out at www.urbanenvy.com. Not only does she have mad talent, she quick and really professional. Kudos to Miki for all the hardwork and TLC she put into my website, it's very appreciated.

I finally bit the bullet and joined MY SPACE, so you can also get details on the book at www.myspace.com/thesistahood.

FOUR months till the book is released. Meanwhile, I'm learnng a lot about Marketing and PR. If I don't sell books, there won't be another. However, I only want to create real hip-hop fiction that speaks to young women of color. I remember so many times when I was a little girl, loving to read but never seeing myself or my barrio. So, THE SISTAHOOD is my tribute to girls like me. Many folks just don't read, I think it's because youth just don't see themselves reflected.

So, in my efforts to KEEPIN' IT REAL. I would love feedback from folks about which book cover you like. Atria won't let me change the picture, but I do want to work with fonts and color. I chose the one with the red background. You let me know which one you like best. What would you change? Add? Please post your comments on the blog or send me a note at Efierce@thesistahood.com. Thanks for your support.

Almost Done

Finishing up the Copy Edits for DA SISTAHOOD. After Monday, the writing of the book is finally done. Now, I wait for one more viewing when I get the gallies. Looking forward to the next book and rewriting my script by the end of the year. The hardest part of finishing the copy edits has been the acknowledgements. I keep going through everything making sure that I have remembered everyone that has been supportive during this entire process. Hoping to not forget everyone. People get really sensitive about this type of thingl.

This being my first book, everything has been new and educational. The entire process from contract to marketing. Next, I will be working on the website once Simon & Schuster desings the postcard. All in all this entire process takes over a year. I just feel grateful that one of my dreams of writing has been actualized.

Props

I'm finishing my second pass of THE SISTAHOOD this week. Rewrites are going well. However, life always plunges forward. But as I make this second pass of the book I am again reminded of why writers always have acknowledgment pages. It's for all those dinner's missed, those phone calls not returned and those acts where you disappear 'cause you're found your flow and can't be disturbed. You gott appreciate all those wonderful people in your life that just understand and support you conditionally.

And I must say my biggest supporters for this book have been my partner Alex Ramirez who patiently awaited me to finish as yet another evening was spent alone. My best friend of over fifteen years, Ria Grosvenor who stole me away to Puerto Rico to finish this rewrite. My never ending sista girl and comadre-- Sofia Quintero who's words of wisdom never failed to get me back on the boat. And the foundation of Chica Luna Karly Beaumont and Ana Trinidad that held the fort down and made it even better when I needed to do me. And last but never least-- my super agent Jennifer Cayea and editor, Johanna Castillo who's unconditional support allowed me to soar. The love has been felt and the support has been very much appreciated. Mil gracias as I near the finish line. I just hope I do everyone proud.

17 hours to go

It's 12 AM and the final count down till the 1st pass of my first novel is due. I'm sitting here working side by side with my homegirl Sofia as she works on her third novel, Diva's Don't Yield which will be out in stores in March of 2006. Check it out on amazon.com. We're planning on doing a summer road trip to promote both of our books together. We'll start via van from New York and end in San Francisco. I'm excited! It'll be an adventure.

Meanwhile, we've been going form 7AM till at least 1AM every night for the past two weeks. It's the final stretch. Then I'll have about a week before I recieve my editorial notes, and then on to my favorite--REWRITING. By the end of SEPTEMBER, I should finally have my life back again. Yeah!

Writing is the hardest job, I ever LOVED doing. In the beginning, I was like I've written screenplays--piece of cake. But, writing this book has given me even a greater admiration for the craft of novel writing. It takes a whole lot of vision, focus and of course, a large dose of talent.

So, on the eve of the completion of my first pass of my first book--- I just had to jot a quick note to remind myself that I have finally accomplished my dream of becoming a novelist. Something I've wanted to do since the sixth grade when I proclaimed I was going to be a writer during career day. Dreams do come true, but not without a lot of work, patience and a relentless faith that anything is possible.

Pa'lante Siempre Pa'lante!