Racial identity in American has never been just Black or White. Long before the idea of post-racial, there was Passing. In her novel, PROVENANCE (Creative Cache; $26.00; October 15, 2015), Donna Drew Sawyer explores America’s third race—Americans whose ambiguous looks allow them to pass, virtually undetected, into another racial group.
With the art world as its backdrop, PROVENANCE weaves historical fact with fiction to paint a vivid picture of race in America from the perspective of one family across three generations. It is a sweeping, complex, art infused coming-of-age story like Donna Tartt’s THE GOLDFINCH; akin to Lalita Tademy’s CANE RIVER as a family saga; its flawed yet captivating characters evoke Philip Roth’s THE HUMAN STAIN and in its haunting tale of fear and racial secrets, PROVENANCE is reminiscent of Nella Larsen’s seminal classic, PASSING. Perfect book club fiction, PROVENANCE is a page-turner that keeps readers pondering long after the final page. For additional details on the book and author click on the link below.
From my publisher’s publicity department! I like it!
PROVENANCE ON SALE NOW!
Sweeping Debut Novel Explores America’s “Third Race.”
In America, racial identity has never been just Black or White. Long before the idea of post-racial, there was Passing. In her epic debut novel, PROVENANCE (Creative Cache; $26.00; October 15, 2015), Donna Drew Sawyer explores America’s third race—Americans whose ambiguous looks allow them to pass, undetected, into another racial group.
With the art world as its backdrop, PROVENANCE weaves historical fact with fiction to paint a vivid picture of race in America from the perspective of one family across three generations. It is a sweeping, complex, art infused coming-of-age story like Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch; akin to Lalita Tademy’s Cane River as a family saga and, its flawed yet captivating characters evoke Philip Roth’s The Human Stain. PROVENANCE’s haunting tale of fear and secrets is also reminiscent of Nella Larsen’s seminal classic on race, Passing. PROVENANCE is perfect book club fiction—a page-turner that keeps readers pondering long after the final page.
THE END – I typed the final two words and six letters of my novel PROVENANCE and burst into tears—which I now realize was the appropriate response—but not for the obvious emotional reason. I thought, after seven long years of writing and rewriting, that I had reached my goal, I had a completed manuscript, a book, better yet, a best seller! All I had to do was hand it off to my publisher and they would get it to booksellers who would then supply clamoring readers. As the author, my work, was done.
Those of you who have already published a book can stop laughing now. What I’ve since learned is that The End, is just the beginning of being a published author. When the writing ends, the next phase of being an author begins, the publishing and promotion part.
Once upon a time, in a publishing era not so long ago, authors gladly relinquished all aspects of publishing and promotion to the publisher. They did the editing, proofreading, interior design, cover design, pre-launch promotion, publicity, post-launch promotion as well as whatever hand-holding was necessary to make an author’s book a success. They planned and paid for the launch party, they scheduled interviews, book signings and appearances at book festivals. They got the author on television, radio or whatever broadcast media was available. But that was then, this is now. Today—and it doesn’t matter whether you are traditionally, self- or hybrid published—if you what an audience to discover your book, YOU, the author, have to get involved in all of those previously outsourced publisher responsibilities. That is how you make your book a book a success. Now writing a book almost seems like the easier part.
I realized I can’t do all this publishing and promotion part alone – I need you to come along with me for advice, counsel and moral support. At least a couple of times a week I’ll write about what’s going on in this process of becoming a published author. I hope you’ll read, contribute, commiserate, celebrate and support me as I blog my way to publication and beyond. You can subscribe to my blog (see info on the right) or LIKE my author page on Facebook to see my linked posts there.
Seems THE END was not the finish line, it is just the beginning of the next chapter.
UPCOMING POST: What’s Your Book About? From story, to synopsis, to elevator speech.
Flashy: lacking in substance or flavor; momentarily dazzling; superficially attractive; ostentatious or showy often beyond the bounds of good taste ; marked by gaudy brightness. Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Great News! Artist Kehinde Wiley will be awarded the U.S. Department of State Medal of Arts by Secretary of State John Kerry in a ceremony on January 21 for “substantive commitment to the U.S. State Department’s cultural diplomacy outreach through the visual arts.” The award was first given during the 50th anniversary of Art in Embassies program in 2012.
The honor was reported by the art press, with one interesting take…
Artnet News noted that Wiley is “Known primarily for his large-scale painting of young African Americans, depicted in the style of European royal portraits…”
Artfix Daily said, “Secretary of State John Kerry will present the medal to Yale-educated Wiley who is known for his portraits of people with brown or black skin in heroic poses, representing saints, and oftentimes set against vibrant backgrounds.”
However, ArtNews reported Wiley honor by saying the artist is, “Known for his flashy painting that depict black men and women in the style of Old Master portraiture…”
Racial identity in American has never been just Black or White. Long before the idea of post-racial, there was Passing. In her novel, PROVENANCE (Creative Cache; $26.00; October 15, 2015), Donna Drew Sawyer explores America’s third race—Americans whose ambiguous looks allow them to pass, virtually undetected, into another racial group.
