Historical romance
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When Black Comedy was King
There was a time when black comedians were king. From Dick Gregory to Godfrey Cambridge, Jackie “Moms” Mabley, to Red Foxx, Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor, the realness and rawness of black comedy took many forms and faces. Whether the jokes touched upon social issues at the time (like inequality), or what it was like to grow up in a diverse neighborhood, the ability to make audiences laugh took a major leap forward during the 1960s.
The Queen of Comedy is about that time period and decades prior to the 1960s. The book was written before I created and released JUKEBOX Volume One. I plan on releasing TQOC shortly, and I’m working on promos for the novel. The story centers on a female comedian’s rise to fame during the late 1930s thru the 1950s, and the complicated relationship she has with a nephew who follows in her footsteps.
I’m really looking forward to seeing director/actor Don Cheadle’s film, Miles Ahead
Don gives some insight on the behind the scenes reality of getting this film financed, here
I love the cinematography on this film, since I’m getting a chance to work on my own color grading skills (for an independent film).
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It’s not just Black History, it’s American History
Since I was already researching the past (The Queen of Comedy, JUKEBOX Volume 1 and JUKEBOX Volume 2) I decided to write a book on African Americans during World War II. Specifically, The African American WAC during wartime.
I’ve also written two books featuring a multi-cultural group of women in today’s military.
- #BlackGirlMagic, E books, Historical fiction, Historical romance, Historical womens fiction, Women's fiction
The Rise of Black Cool and Black Glamour
The beautiful woman with the hourglass figure gracing the cover of author Nichelle Gainer’s book “Vintage Black Glamour” is actress/singer Eartha Kitt.
So don’t let anyone tell you that black people didn’t have a middle class or wealth during segregation and during the swinging 60s, because there are a number of photos and writings that prove otherwise. From Madame C J Walker, to sports heroes, educators, inventors, businessmen and businesswomen and entertainers, African Americans resided in a variety of socio-economic lifestyles.
We were, and still are, not a monolithic group. Whether through education or ambition, undeniable talent or heart stopping beauty, blacks back in the day became successful in spite of obstacles like inequality.
The book Vintage Black Glamour can be purchased on Amazon
Brief bio on Eartha Kitt from The Guardian.com:
” ‘Once called the “most exciting woman in the world” by Orson Welles, Kitt became a singer and dancer whose suggestive and sensuous performances captured the public imagination in the 1950s. Her former lover Charles Revson, the billionaire founder of Revlon cosmetics, even created a lipstick for her, calling it Fire and Ice. In the 1960s she made the role of Catwoman her own when she became the first black woman to achieve mainstream TV success in America with Batman, even breaking racial taboos by flirting on screen with Adam West in the lead role.’ ” – Adam Luck
Read more about Eartha Kitt here
Additional examples of black cool and glamour:
Can you name these famous black celebrities?
Highlight the blanks for the answers: 1. Nat King Cole 2. The Nicholas Brothers 3. Josephine Baker
4. Sammy Davis Jr 5. Dorothy Dandridge 6. Lena Horne
7. Sidney Poitier
Here’s my fictional glamorous heroine from the soon to be released The Queen of Comedy:
- Adult Novella, Adult Novellas, Contemporary Romance, E books, Excerpts, Historical fiction, Historical romance, New Adult, Paranormal romance
Waiting in the Wings
Like Imani, a ballet dancer who waited for her chance to shine in the novel HUI, I’ve got a number of other novels in both the adult genre and new adult genre that I’m currently editing in order to release.
One of my earliest novels dealt with females – specifically a fictional group of gritty women on a navy vessel with interconnecting story lines. I’m going to put up an excerpt shortly. Right now I’m focused on getting HUI ready for release.
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The Final Four plus one!
My March Madness picks, plus one. Each novel is now .99 cents, and also available on Kindle Unlimited.
All my novels, whether YA, NA or Adult contain romance.
HEAVEN: A service dog transforms the lives of the teen inmate who trains her and the wounded marine who becomes her owner.
RUSH: Outlaw Motorcycle gang member falls for Somali Bantu refugee.
The Stone Boy: A girl witnesses the end of her parents marriage while beginning a tumultuous affair with a troubled boy
JUKEBOX volume one: Mid-west teens form an interracial singing duo in their small, still segregated town.
RAZHER: She wolf avoids an arranged marriage with the help of a Russian vampire and Chinese gargoyle.
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If I Were a Boy
His name is Ozzy, and he’s a fictional rapper in my ebook The Player:
Veterinarian and sometime singer Adam Takaura is also introduced in the book. Since I already had Hui’s spot on imitation of Michael Jackson in the ebook HUI, Adam’s passion is for R&B music.
There are a number of Asian singers who can SANGGGG. Check out JiHwan, 지환 He’s South Korean (1/2 of duo called 2BiC). I first saw him on Youtube in these videos: JiHwan covers R&B singer Joe’s “(All The Things) Your Man won’t Do”
JiHwan covers R&B singer Donnie Hathaway’s “A Song for You:
I LOVE his voice.
You can check out his new video here:
Just finished up some new promos for JUKEBOX Volume II, the sequel to JUKEBOX Volume I. Volume II is set in the late 1960s to the 1970s: