Happy Anniversary to Bernice McFadden!! 10 Years have passed and her debut title Sugar remains at the top of the list when readers discuss their all-time favorite books. In celebration, she launched a campaign to sell 10,000 copies of the anniversary edition of the book, to not just Black readers, but to ALL readers. So not only will we be discussing the book, we will find out how the campaign is going and why Bernice decided to do it. She will also share her thoughts on Black Books and the publishing industry, details about her upcoming release Glorious and more!
So, feel free to leave your comments, questions & anniversary congrats via the comment section below.
Synopsis: In a debut novel that blends the rich, earthy atmosphere of the deep South and a voice imbued with spiritual grace, Bernice L. McFadden tells the story of two women: a modest, churchgoing wife and mother, and the young prostitute she befriends.
“When Sugar arrives in 1950s Bigelow – waltzing down the main square of the sweltering tiny Arkansas town as if she has every right to be there – no one tosses out the welcome mat or invites her in for a Coke. The Bigelow women hate her from the minute they lay eyes on her – on the bouncing blond wig and red-painted lips that tell them she has never known a hard day’s work. All they know is they want her gone, out of their town, and away from their men.”Â
But Sugar has traveled too far and survived too much to back down now. She parks herself in the house at #10 Grove Street, even though she feels there is something about Bigelow that is calling up the past she prayed she’d left behind…Â Â
Deep in her soul, Pearl Taylor knows what it is that Sugar feels, because it happened to her. It was the day her world shut down, the day the devil himself murdered her young daughter, Jude. It wasn’t that Pearl stopped believing in God, exactly; she just couldn’t trust him the way she used to. Then Sugar moves in next door, and Pearl’s life irrevocably changes. Over sweet potato pie, an unlikely friendship begins, transforming the lives of two women – and an entire community.
“Sugar contains fragments of people I’ve known over the years. Her eyes belong to a friend, her color to a cousin. Her dreams are partly mine, and her endurance is my mother’s. Her world is one I’ve seen in black and white snap shots and heard rolled off a tongue during Christmas dinner. She is a gathering of my ancestors, their lives.”
     –Bernice L. McFadden, author of Sugar
“McFadden writes with such beauty that it’s easy to get lost in the novel. The plot is full of drama and realism of the time period and will invoke anger and despair, hope and forgiveness in those who read it. The town, the people, the dialogue is so vivid, so realistic, that it’s easy to believe every account in the novel, even the truly painful. SUGAR is an exquisite piece of literature, and it’s definitely deserving of being on every reader’s bookshelf.”
    –Reviewed by Shonie Bacon, RAWSISTAZ.com
“One of the most compelling and thought-provoking novels I’ve read in years. Bernice McFadden is truly a welcomed voice in the literary world.”
    –Terry McMillan
Again, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Bernice! I’m sure it’s very exciting to look back on 10 years and see the book still listed as a favorite by many readers. Thanks for joining us and allowing us to share with you.
Let’s start off by discussing the campaign.
Welcome everyone!
-Tee
Good Morning Bernice and Congratulations,
Sugar is one of my all time faves and I have had my copy since it came out. I have read it several times, in honor of your anniversary I made sure that my sister and niece had their own copies. Continued amazing storytelling and BLESSINGS~
angelia
Hey Angelia…hope you’re feeling better!!
Hi Sharon,
I feel physically better but am back to work after a long vac and no one does me when I am not here…thanks for asking
I’m so glad to hear you’re doing better, Angelia. Too bad you had to go back to work.
Thanks as always for joining us, too.
Thank you Angelina!
Good morning…Bernice thank you for joining us today!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good morning and thank you for joining us today!!!
For those ready to get the discussion started, here are the first few questions from the discussion guide. Feel free to answer as many as you’d like and/or ask your own. I didn’t get to finish my re-read of Sugar, but I plan to, hopefully this weekend.
1. Sugar opens with the murder of Jude Taylor. Why do you think the author chose to open with this graphic—and horrific—scene? How did this scene set the tone for the rest of the novel? Why is Jude’s murder such an integral part of the storyline?
2. When Pearl first sees Sugar, she is “struck by the familiarity of her face”(pg. 37) because it reminds her of Jude. Pearl also called Sugar by Jude’s name on several occasions. What draws Pearl to Sugar besides her physical resemblance to Jude?
3. By associating with Sugar, Pearl alienates Shirley and some of the other women in Bigelow. Why do these women feel so threatened by Sugar?
4. Sugar and Pearl’s friendship is an unlikely pairing. What does each one gain from the relationship?
-Tee
When Pearl first sees Sugar, she is “struck by the familiarity of her faceâ€(pg. 37) because it reminds her of Jude. Pearl also called Sugar by Jude’s name on several occasions. What draws Pearl to Sugar besides her physical resemblance to Jude? B/c Pearl knew that Sugar needed love…that she was a wounded person but still a good person.
By associating with Sugar, Pearl alienates Shirley and some of the other women in Bigelow. Why do these women feel so threatened by Sugar? Cuz they were mean spirited women and thought she was going to put Bigelow in an upheavel….change everything that was supposedly good in the town.
Sugar and Pearl’s friendship is an unlikely pairing. What does each one gain from the relationship? Sugar helps Pearl come out of herself…to live again and Pearl shows Sugar the feeling of being loved.
Congratulations Bernice!!! I know this is about Sugar today, but I’m also really looking forward to Glorious. Already pre-ordered!
Thank you Carleen – I am going over the final edits now!
Bernice,
What influences inspired you to write Sugar?
Why did you choose the time era of the 50″s?
Sugar is a direct result of me listening to stories my family told about living in the South. I find the era’ before the sixties to be very intriguing – Jim Crow, Slavery and so on
Did you (or anyone else) have any problems with the opening scene and Jude’s death? When I read the book the first time (almost 9 years ago), I didn’t have a child and now having a daughter, it was extremely hard to read about something so horrific happening to a child. How was it to write that scene, since you too have a daughter?
-Tee
I always have issues when reading about cruel things happening to children especially when death is a result. To be intentionally cruel to a child is unthinkable in my book. Nor do I have children that I’ve birthed, but I’ve been blessed with godchildren, nieces and nephews and I don’t want think about them being harmed or killed. On that note how were you able to write this scene in the book, Bernice?
Again, I didn’t have any difficulty writing it – but the aftermath of reading it was bit unsettling.
It wasn’t difficult writing it – The velocity of the act didn’t have an impact on me until I had to read it aloud.
Hey All! First I want to thank Tee and The Rawsistaz for devoting an entire day to Sugar’s 10th Anniversary Celebration! And I want to thank all of you for supporting my 10th anniversary campaign to sell 10K books! I don’t know how many books of I’ve sold since I began the campaign but I emptied out the remaining stock in the warehouse just days before Christmas — SO THANK YOU!!! xoxo – I could not have done it without you!
Well, this is wonderful news! Congrats. Will it go back to print?
Congratulations!
That is wonderful!!
That is so awesome! Glad to hear it~
it was such an honor to read sugar and remains one of my all time favorites to this day! and this bitter earth put the finishing touches on a wonderful project very nicely, so i’m looking forward to celebrating the 10th anniversary of that book as well.
sugar was one of those books that stayed with you long after you finished the last sentence and closed it, and that’s the sign of a wonderful story. congratulations, ms. mcfadden, and hopefully, we”l be back here ten years from now celebrating the 20th year anniversary of this incredible novel!
and more than anything else, thank you for sharing your extraordinary gift with all of us
Aww, thank you JD!
Bernice,
Why did you become an author?
Are you working on a new project?
Who are your favorite authors and how if any influenced your writing?
I’ve always wanted to be an author. I am working on a ghost story — think Beloved!
I love Toni Morrison, her work has been big influence on my writing. But I am also a fan of Gloria Naylor, J. California Cooper, Alice Walker, Stephen King and soooo many others!
For those who may remember, Sugar was selected as our Book of the Month for January 2001!
-Tee
Bernice,
I am a huge fan and hope to make it to BK on Thursday to celebrate the anniversary. Not only is Sugar one of my favorites of all time, but whenever anyone asks me who my favorite author is, I mention you. The Warmest December, This Bitter Earth, Loving Donovan — all favorites.
I wish you continued success and visits from your muse!
My question is: What speaks to you first: the characters or the storyline?
The characters always speak to me first. It’s like a whispering in my mind that gradually grows louder.
More discussion questions:
5.At one point in the story the author writes, “Knowing each other’s past helped both Pearl and Sugar. Secret pains, now told, bonded the women together tighter than anything else in this world” (pg. 125). Why do Pearl and Sugar choose to confide in one other when neither has ever done so with anyone else?
6.In the beginning of the book, the author has included this quote by Sarah Miles: “There’s a little bit of hooker in every woman. A little bit of hooker and a little bit of God.” What do you think of this statement? How does it pertain to the story?
7.Sugar is set mainly in the small town of Bigelow, Arkansas. What “role” does the small town play in the story? Sugar was raised in a small town by the Lacey sisters and later lived in St. Louis, Detroit, and Chicago. Why does she choose to return to a small town?
8.Describe Pearl and Joe’s relationship. What first drew them to one another? How would you describe their relationship when the story first begins? How does it change as the novel progresses? At the end of the story, the reader finds out that Joe is going to make a confession to Pearl. How do you think she would have reacted to the news?
9.”Pearl looked around her. She tried to imagine herself without Sugar. She didn’t know who that might be, the person that existed before Sugar’s arrival was buried deep into the hard, dry memory of Bigelow next to the rotting bones of her baby girl. How could she be anything more with the loss of two in her life now?” (pg. 218). Why does Pearl feel so bereft by Sugar’s departure? Do you think she sensed that Sugar was more than just a neighbor and friend to her and Joe?
10.One reviewer stated that “Sugar speaks of what is real.” What aspects of the novel do you think the reviewer is referring to?
5.At one point in the story the author writes, “Knowing each other’s past helped both Pearl and Sugar. Secret pains, now told, bonded the women together tighter than anything else in this world†(pg. 125). Why do Pearl and Sugar choose to confide in one other when neither has ever done so with anyone else? Because they understood each other…..only they knew what it would take to pull each other out to live. They both were just existing and not living life.
6.In the beginning of the book, the author has included this quote by Sarah Miles: “There’s a little bit of hooker in every woman. A little bit of hooker and a little bit of God.†What do you think of this statement? How does it pertain to the story? There’s a little bit of good and bad in all of us. Although Sugar’s choice of lifestyle is a bad one…she still was a good person.
7.Sugar is set mainly in the small town of Bigelow, Arkansas. What “role†does the small town play in the story? Sugar was raised in a small town by the Lacey sisters and later lived in St. Louis, Detroit, and Chicago. Why does she choose to return to a small town? A small town = a close knit community.
8.Describe Pearl and Joe’s relationship. What first drew them to one another? How would you describe their relationship when the story first begins? How does it change as the novel progresses? At the end of the story, the reader finds out that Joe is going to make a confession to Pearl. How do you think she would have reacted to the news? Joe loves Pearl and just want her back with him. Their relationship changes after Pearl helps her to feel beautiful again. I don’t Pearl’s character would be upset after Joe’s confession.
9.â€Pearl looked around her. She tried to imagine herself without Sugar. She didn’t know who that might be, the person that existed before Sugar’s arrival was buried deep into the hard, dry memory of Bigelow next to the rotting bones of her baby girl. How could she be anything more with the loss of two in her life now?†(pg. 218). Why does Pearl feel so bereft by Sugar’s departure? Do you think she sensed that Sugar was more than just a neighbor and friend to her and Joe? I don’t think she knew there was a connection…but Sugar made her feel alive and whole again and she became a part of her life and family.
10.One reviewer stated that “Sugar speaks of what is real.†What aspects of the novel do you think the reviewer is referring to? That life is not always fair
Hello Bernice,
Congratulations on the 10 year anniversary of Sugar!! I must admit that I have never read Sugar but it is at the top of my TBR list. My fellow Rawsistaz have said some great things about the book and Im looking forward to reading the posts.
Brenda, I do know that the publisher printed 5K books before the Christmas break – I hope that those will sell out this month, if they have not already done so. I know that I emptied the stock they had in the warehouse, but I don’t know how many books were in the warehouse! LOL – And yes, I do have a small non-AF-Am readership – I hope that this campaign will triple that audience.
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!
Congratulations Bernice! What a wonderful milestone–10 year anniversary of Sugar. What nice way to celebrate…with RAW and commiting to a campaign to sell 10K anniversary edition to all readers. Are there any updates on how campaign went with selling to all readers? Do you know if non-AA readers purchase and read your work?
Brenda
I have to give a shout out to Rawsistaz who are also celebrating their 10th anniversary! xoxo
Yes, congrats to Rawsistaz in honor of their 10th anniversary as well! I’m a newbie and have only recently heard of you thanks to Carleen Brice & Twitter. Not to brag on Carleen but she has been quite the source of inspiration and information for this budding writer and introduced me to Rawsistaz via her blog. Thanks, Carleen!
Thank you both for your congrats, but we’re a bit shy of 10 years as we don’t celebrate 10 years until September of this year. It has been a wonderful journey though and I look forward to more great books & new friendships with other literary lovers.
-Tee
I am pulling together the last minute details for the 10th Anniversary booksigning at Brownstone Books at 409 Lewis Avenue (Brooklyn, Ny) on Jan 7th @7PM — Crystal – the owner of the bookstore says that the calls are coming in – so I suspect to have a nice crowd! So if you’re in or around Brooklyn on Thursday come one over and have a glass of wine and a chocolate covered strawberry or two..or three!
While Jan 9th will mark the “official” end of the 10th Anniversary campaign – I will be celebrating this milestone for the rest of the year. This also kicks off the count-down to my seventh literary title GLORIOUS which will be published on May 1st. I’m very excited about this book as it covers a number of different historical periods.
If I lived in the Brooklyn area, I would definitely be there. So I’ll just say CONGRATULATIONS and pray the booksigning will be a huge success!!!
Can you give us just a little more about GLORIOUS?
Originally, I thought I was writing a fictional account of Zora Neale Hurstons life – but there were some barricades that prevented the story from evolving that way – which I now see was a good thing! Glorious is about the life and times of fictional Harlem Renaissance writer named Easter Bartlett. When I was writing the story I was completely immersed in the past – but after the novel was finished I realized so much of what was going on then is still relevant today.
Sounds quite interesting!!
I’m late catching up on things, but I can’t wait to read this. I think I pre-ordered it already, but if not, I will definitely be getting it. I like books with this kinda feel to them, plus I’m sure you did a wonderful job with it. Congrats again!
-Tee
For those who may not be familiar with the origins of the campaign, I thought it would be nice to post the letter that started it all:
Dear Book Lover:
You may not know me, or my novels, because I am a member of a growing band of African-American writers of literary fiction who are slowly disappearing. And not because I am lacking in talent and credentials; in fact I have already published a number of books with major publishing houses and have been reviewed by national newspapers and well-respected literary journals, and have received critical acclaim and awards for my efforts. My work has been hailed as vivid, thought provoking and brilliant. I have been compared to Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Zora Neale Hurston and Gloria Naylor.
The fact that my novels may disappear is not due to the downward spiral of the economy or the pound of flesh it has taken from the book-publishing industry. No, my demise began long before the floor of the housing market began to rot away and the stock market crashed through.
Why?
I don’t rightly know why publisher’s market fiction written by African-Americans ONLY TO African-Americans – but it has become common practice. And by doing this, they’ve placed all AA authors in one box forcing them to compete for the
attention of ONE audience.
The word that has been coined to describe what is happening to AA writers is: Seg-Book-Gation
Segregation is an abominable practice no matter how you slice it – but when you apply it to art — it becomes a sin. Art of any medium should transcend color, race, class, religion and ethnicity, but alas, that is not the case in the publishing world.
AA literary writers like myself are being pushed out of the industry all together as we are no longer able to secure book deals, because publisher claim that AA readers are only interested in buying books about sex, street-life and drugs. We know that this is not the case. We are a diverse people, interested in a variety of subjects.
On January 9th, 2010, my debut novel, SUGAR will celebrate its 10th anniversary. In order to commemorate this occasion it is my great hope that this moving story of friendship and acceptance will sell 10,000 copies between now and the anniversary date.
I am reaching out to you, the independent bookseller, for help. A decade ago, it was independent booksellers that helped to spread the word about SUGAR and I hope that you can do it again.
It is my dream that the surge in order for this decade old novel, will send a message to the publishers that we readers desire …crave and DEMAND a variety of literature from our AA writers because their stories are just as riveting, thought-provoking and universally appealing as the stories coming from their non-African-American counterparts.
Peace & Light,
Bernice L. McFadden
Bernice, thanks so much for posting this! I was trying to post a question about your efforts to reach non-AfAm readers via my Blackberry while out, but it wasn’t happening.
So, let’s talk about segregating books in the bookstores and your thoughts on the publishing industry and their efforts to market our titles.
-Tee
Publishers do not market AfAm writers outside of the Af-Am reading audience. This hurts us – we sell less books because we’re confined to a smaller demographic. This translates into lower sales numbers and the lower your numbers the less likely you are to get another contract, which was the predicament I found myself in.
This is really unfortunate, Bernice and I’m sorry to hear it. Sounds like a lose-lose situation for many authors, but I’m glad to see you were able to secure a contract with Akashic Books and are releasing your new book later this year!
Did you find it easier to work with a smaller press?
-Tee
To be honest I don’t quite remember the whole story of Sugar because it was about 10 years ago that I read it. But I can recall the feeling I had reading it. It was one that satisfied my soul because I had been longing for that story and those images and that feeling for a long time. I’m definitely buying the anniversary copy to see how I experience Sugar now that I’m ten years older and hopefully wiser.
Thank you Denise!
Hi, Bernice
Congratulations for the legacy you have created. I would love to stay on an chat but I see the book is being discussed in detail. When I re-read it I want it to be a whole, fresh, new experience. So I hope everyone enjoys their chat day with you.
Denise
Kudos to you Bernice on your Anniversary!! I read Sugar quite a while ago but I am definately purchasing it again. I actually have a question….Do you think that if no AA readers did not know that the book was by an AA author, they would buy the book for the very reason we buy books…the story? I often wonder how much race of the author plays a part in the purchase. (I know a lot of AA folks that only read AA books too)
**oops I meant non AA readers purchasing books by AA authors …hope that’s clear
I think most white readers just want to read a good book, no matter who has written it. But when a store creates a section that states AA Interest — that’s code for “not for you (insert culture here) man or woman. I’m not saying do away with the AA section – I’m saying that books by AA writers must also be in the general population of the bookstore, making it available to all readers.
I agree, Bernice! While the lack of space on the bookshelves may be the rationale for only shelving them in one area, I so wish they were. I think this alone would help expose Black writers to non-Black readers. I do wonder though if this would cut down some on the Black writers buying books since they wouldn’t be in a special section?
Or would we still manage to find what we want based on word-of-mouth, book clubs & internet interactions. I tend to think the latter.
-Tee
I agree with Bernice that it should be in both places and Tee I think the latter as well. I can remember in the early nineties, living in Hawaii, Waldenbooks placed books by genre, and believe you I found Terry MacMillan, ELynn Harris, Sheneska Jackson and all the AA authors who had books out there. However, by having them in both it satisfies those who would automatically gravitate to the AA section and introduces us to a more diverse audience~
angelia
Hi, Ms. McFadden. Congratulations on the 10th Anniversary of Sugar. This was the first novel that I read by you, and I quickly added the others to my books read list. Thank you for sharing this wonderful work of literature with us.
I am very excited to hear of your upcoming release. Are you at liberty to share any details with us regarding Glorious? Thanks.
Just dropping by during a quick trip home from the hospital to say CONGRATULATIONS Bernice on the 10th Anniversary for Sugar. I read it many years ago and enjoy the book and your writing style so much that I automatically pick up your books (or Geneva’s) when they are released.
Keep up the GREAT work and congrats on Glorious.
THank you Wana!
CONGRATULATIONS and celebratory wishes on the 10th Anniversary of Sugar. Has it been 10 yrs.? WOW! I, like so many others, are looking forward to Glorious. AA writer, I so loathe that classification but am curious where would you like to see your books classified. For example, both AA and fiction, just fiction, just AA, your thoughts?
I want to be known as an American Writer. Period.
here…here!!!!
Congrats to Bernice on the 10th Anniversary of Sugar!!! I look forward to another 10 years of great writing.
Thank you so much for the opportunity!!! xoxo
Bernice, we thank you, too and again, congrats! I look forward to the release of the new book.
-Tee