Black Book Chat with Carleen Brice
Written by RAWSISTAZ · November 10, 2009 · 877 views
If you remember, we had a book chat with Carleen Brice earlier in the year to discuss her first book, Orange Mint & Honey and we’re back for a book discussion of our October Alternate BOM, Children of the Waters. Feel free to post your questions or comments and Carleen will be in throughout the day to “chat” with us and will wrap up any open questions Wednesday morning. Now…let’s chat!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Still reeling from divorce and feeling estranged from her teenage son, Trish Taylor is in the midst of salvaging the remnants of her life when she uncovers a shocking secret: her sister is alive. For years Trish believed that her mother and infant sister had died in a car accident. But the truth is that her mother fatally overdosed and that Trish’s grandparents put the baby girl up for adoption because her father was black.
After years of drawing on the strength of her black ancestors, Billie Cousins is shocked to discover that she was adopted. Just as surprising, after finally overcoming a series of health struggles, she is pregnant–a dream come true for Billie but a nightmare for her sweetie, Nick, and for her mother, both determined to protect Billie from anything that may disrupt her well-being.
NEWS FROM CARLEEN
Jill Scott (“No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency” and singer extraordinaire) will play Nona in the Lifetime Movie Network version of Orange Mint and Honey, which is called “Sins of the Mother.” Nicole Beharie (“American Violet”) portrays Shay, and Mimi Rogers plays Nona’s sponsor Lois.
The photo is of Nicole Beharie (“Shay”), Carleen Brice, and Jill Scott (“Nona”) on the set of “Sins of the Mother.”
Also, here’s a link to an interview Carleen did with a bookseller at the Tattered Cover Book Store – http://www.tatteredcover.com/carleen-brice-interview.
AUTHOR’S WEBSITE
RAWSISTAZ Literary Group was founded in 2000 to support and promote the work of African-American authors. The groups, on and offline, represent close to 600 readers, writers, aspiring writers, and others interested in literacy and the impact on our communities.
**AS A NOTE — Please hit “Reply” under the person’s comment you want to reply to as it’ll keep the discussion/thread a bit cleaner. Thanks! **
Carleen, welcome back to our Black Book Chats! It’s great having you with us today and I look forward to discussing Children of the Waters. Please start off with telling us why you decided to write about biracial sisters?
-Tee
The novel is actually based (loosely anyway) on a true story. One of my sisters-in-law is biracial and was put for adoption in part because her birth father was black. When she was an adult, her birth sister found her. When my sister-in-law told me the story, it was just so powerful I knew it’d make a good book. As I began to work with the characters, they very quickly became themselves and not my sister-in-law and her sister.
Fascinating! I really liked that you took the other focus on someone finding out they’re bi-racial. It’s seen a lot in books/movies where the person who finds out is white and it was good to see the other view. I think many will be at a loss initially if they found out they weren’t who they thought they were.
-Tee
How long did it take you to write the book? Did you run into families who’d had experiences similar to this one?
I got a 2-book deal with this and Orange Mint and Honey, so I only had about a year and a half to write it. I have met many people who have this experience or know someone who does. Sad to say, it’s still happening!
Carleen,
Ijust wanted to stop by and say I really liked your book and the story it was so complex but not to the point of being mind boggling. I was going to ask how you came up with the story line but you already answered it.
Good morning, Carleen! Thanks for chatting with us today. As you were writing and bringing life to both Trish and Billie did you find yourself identifying with either one of them? If so, why?
Hey Tee, YES! I was so eager to tell the story from the other point of view. So many stories about white people who GASP find out they have black blood. Wouldn’t it be a shock for anyone to learn?
Jaime, I tried really hard to not identify with one sister more than the other, but I think I failed and I do identify with Billie more.
Hi Carleen ! As you know I REALLY loved this story and sice OM&H will be made into a movie is there talk of this story being made into a movie as well..? Also, I need to speak to you as no one called me to make an apperance in OM&H So I HOPE i get the call for this book..::grin::
ROFL, Linda! And, who do you want to be?
-Tee
Linda, LOL!! I’m just as eager as you are to know if there is talk about a movie, too!!
Huge mistake on Lifetime’s part not casting you!
My agents are working on selling movie rights for Children. Soon as there’s something to tell, you know I will!
Tee: ANY DAM BODY LOL
Jamie: Ya know..???
Carleen: “blowing kisses” ::grin::
Carleen, I definitely agree about the shock value, regarding the race. Like I said, this is one thing I really loved how you did it. I also loved that the characters were able to see a little deeper into their thought patterns and what they thought, on the surface or not, about the other race(s).
-Tee
I had no idea Orange Mint and Honey was going to be a movie. WTG and CONGRATS.
Hello Carleen and Rawsistaz. Carleen can u tell us if u are writing anymore books and a little about them?
Hello! I am working on a novel now about a woman who is estranged from her father. He dies at the beginning of the story and she meets his widow. They become close and through their relationship she finds out who her father really was and it impacts how she chooses to move forward in her relationships. The working title is Calling Every Good Wish Home.
I likey! You come up with the best titles; ones which make the reader want to pick up the book.
-Tee
Yay! I’m glad you like the title. I’m really happy with this one so far!
What Tee said !!!
This book sounds like another winner. I also agree with Tee about the titles. How do you come up with them?
(really hoping you stop by back today to answer questions for stragglers like me)
Hi Wana, I’ve been lucky with titles. A writer-friend came up with Orange Mint and Honey for me. Children of the Waters comes from the Japanese Buddhist tradition I reference in that book. Calling Every Good Wish Home came to me. Very lucky!
Carleen,
Congrats on the Orange Mint & Honey movie. It was truly one of my favorite reads ever! Children of the Waters is equally emotional, but in its own way.
I have to say, I loved how you showed the love Billie had for Nick, regardless of his station in life. I also loved Trish and her doggie antics, and poor little Jigsaw with his empathy was a great touch.
I’d love to hear about how you enter the process of bringing a novel to life from a concept to a book.
I’m very excited about the movie!!! Jill Scott is going to be phenomal!! Kudos to you Carleen!
Jill and Nicole Beharie (who plays Shay) are both WONDERFUL in it (at least the part I saw on set)!
Thanks Candace! I have a literary agent who partners with a film agent and they approach movie studios, TV networks, and production companies to see if they’re interested. Sometimes, a producer or actor will reach out to the writer (I have heard from one producer) to see if they can option the rights. When a book is optioned, it means someone or some company is renting the rights to the story. Options are temporary, usually a year or so. They rent the rights while they try to put together a deal, get a budget, get a cast, get a green light from a studio, etc. Then, if filming actually happens-it really gets made into a movie-the author gets the full purchase price. Most books that get optioned never get made into movies. I’ve heard it’s something like only 5% of books that get optioned ever get made, so I’m extremely happy Lifetime made the movie! And really happy with the casting and the team they put together to make it!
Wow. Thanks for explaining that whole process. I was wondering how it goes from book to movie. I love Lifetime movies! I will definately be watching.
You’re welcome. Happy to have & share the info.
Yes this was so interesting to hear. So, did you help with the screen writing? (Hope I didnt miss seeing that information anywhere, if you already spoke to it).
I didn’t do the screenplay. A woman named Elizabeth Hunter, who wrote The Fighting Temptations did. The bit of the script I’ve seen is pretty close to the book.
Hi Carleen,
I’m so glad to have you chatting with us today.
I would like to know why the movie industry seem have or prefer someone else write the screenplay for a movie adaptation versus allowing the original author to do it? Is this the standard? And could/would you have written your own screenplay?
Brenda
I think that writing a movie is different than writing a book, and Lifetime was interested in having someone who understands those differences right off the bat. Maybe one day I’ll write a screenplay. But I’m ok with having someone else do this one.
Okay everyone, thanks so much for joining in the discussion! Now, for a few questions:
1) Most books have good guys and bad guys, and of course there are favorite characters. Who were your favorites & why? And, were there any bad guys?
2) At the opening of the book, how did you feel about Nick’s reaction to the pregnancy?
3) Share one of your favorite scenes in the book or a favorite saying.
I’ll be back later, but if you have a question for everyone, feel free to post it!
-Tee
I know he’s a secondary character, but I love Fletcher! What did y’all think of the senior drug dealer?
I loved it LOL You KNOW that goes on..for real.
It does! My grandmother has a neighbor like that.
Carleen, you took my answer! ROFL. And wow…it really goes on? I just can’t imagine that.
Fletcher was a trip and the funny things is I could picture him especially when he made his way over to find out who Trish and the boy were…golf club and all.
To answer my own questions…
- I didn’t think there were any bad guys per se. Yes, the characters were flawed, but it was understandable considering the circumstances. My favorite character was Fletcher, despite his “job”…ROFL. Just the idea is kinda funny to me. Okay, not a good thing to say, but I just picture an old guy with no teeth and telling the benefits of his product. ROFL. I also liked that he had Billie’s back when Trish showed up. (Come on now…can y’all see Red Foxx in that role if he were still alive? I could.)
- Even with his reservations about the baby, I still liked Nick. He had his demons and all, but something about him I liked. I will admit I like musically inclined men.
- I had a few favorite scenes, but the one that really tripped me out was Trish and her reaction to Will becoming a Christian. Her commentary was funny, but also had one of those “oh no she didn’t” reactions because growing up in the church, I couldn’t imagine a parent stressing over her child wanting to do what Will wanted. And when she hoped the girlfriend was pregnant instead? ROFL…Whew!
-Tee
I’m always trying to show different perspectives, trying to create characters that we haven’t seen before. I think Trish and Fletcher both fit that description. But Fletcher has teeth. They may be dentures, but he’s got teeth.
At first I thought of Nick as kind of a bad guy but after his story came out I didn’t feel it as much and couldn’t really find a bad guy in the book. I have to say my favorite was Trish because for some reason I felt like I understood her more. Maybe because at times I felt what she felt and she was just out right funny to me especially with some of her statements like when she called Nick out before nosy Fletcher showed up.
At the opening of the book, how did you feel about Nick’s reaction to the pregnancy? Surprisingly I understood where he came from especially since he had already voiced his concerns about not wanting kids. I thought Billie was wrong to make the initial decision for them, that wasn’t fair.
Share one of your favorite scenes in the book or a favorite saying. I enjoyed a lot of scenes like the dinner with Makeesha, the time when Will was worried about Trish’s soul…I could picture a child’s face when they are all worried and concerned or concentrating…sometimes it so cute. I hate to admit my favorite say was F a duck because I’ve used it a couple of times and it was funny to see it used here.
I’m really glad to hear you could relate to Trish. It pleases me that some black readers relate more to the white character and some white readers relate more to the black character. Proves the point that we’re more alike than different.
Carleen, when will the movie be shown on Lifetime? And, tell us how it felt to be on the set. That had to be an amazing feeling, and extra special since it was based on your book??
(I’m so happy to hear that it has passed just the optioned stage and is in the works already.)
-Tee
Also you look taller than both Jill and the other actress..sooooo are they short or are you tall..?? LOL
Both. I’m almost 6 feet.
It’s supposed to air sometime in February, but I don’t know the exact date yet. And it will be on the Lifetime Movie Network, LMN. It was an amazing experience to be on the set. Everyone treated my husband and me so great.
I’m putting this on my calendar now! How exciting.
Actually, Tee, they wrapped. They are done filming too!
Well, definitely keep us posted as I’m looking forward to it.
-Tee
Hello all. I have some questions. Based on the characters in the book..did you think two strangers could become sisters?
How do you think you would handle finding a sister as an adult?
I don’t know that I have handled it very well. I’m a little like Billie.
I’m not sure, I would like to think I would be open minded about the situation, but I don’t know for sure….
I have always wanted a sister, so I think that I would welcome her witih open arms. Both my brother and I are adopted so I know that I most likely have other siblings. It’s just a matter of locating them.
Yes, I think it’s possible, but it just depends. I am adopted, so I don’t really know my birth family. It was just me and my twin sister and we knew all along. I didn’t really feel indifferent about them, but it was like I didn’t know them and I felt God had a plan for me which was my adoptive parents/family, so I never really questioned it much. As a matter of fact, my sister contacted me on FB earlier this week and though we were all together at one time, I don’t remember her.
-Tee
I think we’ll be hearing more and more cases where families reconnect online. It’s kind of a trip, isn’t it?
Yes, I think two strangers could be sisters but only if they both want the connection. I’ve always wanted a sister and I’m sure I would embrace it but I think it may matter whose side the sister is on. I can’t put my finger on why I feel that way but I do.
Since y’all are reading Push this month…I have a blog post up at http://www.welcomewhitefolks.blogspot.com about the controversy around the book and the movie “Precious.” Stop by and leave a comment if you feel like it.
Carleen, thanks for sharing your thoughtst!! I left a comment, too….
I absolutely will stop by. Sorry I’m late getting in on this chat, but I wanted to stop in and congratulate you on your success. You give inspriring writers hope.
Thank you! Keep the faith!
Hi, Carleen. I really love your work. I read both OM&H and COTW and immensely enjoyed both. I’m excited to hear about your upcoming project as well. Keep it coming!
Thanks Hope!
Ladies, thanks SO MUCH for participating. I’m not sure what happened to the rest of the crew, but thank YOU for joining in. I wasn’t able to stop back through yesterday, but I did have some more questions/comments if you guys are still around.
Hopefully you subscribed, so you’ll know I’m posting.
Carleen, it is a pleasure and I’m so glad your book was selected, otherwise I wouldn’t have gotten to it until later in the year or even next year. You’re not only a wonderful writer, but it’s great that you’ve taken the time to give so freely to your audience. Not every author does that and we so appreciate it!
Tee
I am so behind on emails and just got to the reminder email about the chat. I love this book and was just telling a friend about this and OMAH. I want her to read them, but she has to get her own because I can’t risk loaning these out.
Carleen, I forgot one of my other questions, but wanted to ask if you purposely included religion, higher powers, ancestors, etc. the way you did to show that while we may not all agree when it comes to spirituality, it’s an individual choice; one that’s okay to make?
-Tee
I think I included all that to show there are many different ways to be spiritual, but also because all those ways are very familiar to me. We write what we know, right?
Great job Carleen and keep books coming.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and just wanted to let you know I was hooked from the beginning because I wanted to know what Nana’s secret was. I was also curious about those puzzle pieces.
Ah the puzzle pieces! Glad they snagged your attention.