Diary Entry of a FUNNY Man

Sunday: Book Release Party

Me: I invite, I clean, I cook, I wait. And wait. Yay! Them: Folks show up this past Sunday for my Official Book Release Party, but it’s not like a usual art in harlem gig with folks milling about, chatting, laughing, that sort of gig. Nope. Over the course of the day maybe 12-15 brothers showed up (and 3 sisters) and sat demurely. Us: Donald, Niki and Larry worked to make everything nice and dandy and comfortable with food, music and two air conditionaires. Me: I watched a number of peeps thumb through FUNNY with a mild interest, which kinda freaked me out a bit. Ego: I was waiting for gales of laughter to permeate the room, coupled with images of folks pointing and laughing and quoting from the book while elbowing each other. Maybe a pregnant woman would laugh so hard that her baby would go shooting out of her like a bottle rocket. None of that happened. At one point, the room was buzzing with conversation, but no loud “hey girrrrrrrrrrrrl!” type which in my humble opinion, would have got the party started. Larry said that maybe we should turn on a light, which made me wonder if people would have gotten up and started acting like they were at a party, clinking glasses and throwing their heads back with laughter.

Highlights of the day. Me: So I sold, like, 13 books, and was absolutely grateful for it. Kevin McGruder, part owner of Harlemade, a wonderful store in Harlem stocked with the latest books, t-shirts and other fab souvenirs, came to party, left and brought back two guys who wanted to purchase the book. YAY! Me: I had a chance to finally talk with Ronn Taylor of A Burst of Light, about the ins and outs of the publishing industry. In addition to working in the mainstream publishing for a number of years, he owns Black Lion Publishing, which offers services such as editing and manuscript review. Him: Ronn is authentic, a treasure of information and anecdotal information. What a gift to know him.

Sweetness: Larry, a man who always finds creative and wonderful ways to delight and surprise me, gave me one of those sweet hot surprises during the party. Ah, lovely. Anyways, the folks who showed up were supportive and lovely and seemed to like the book. But let me be Frankenstein. Seriously: I mean, really, if one person would have showed up, ate and left without even looking at the book—I would still be in awe of this whole experience. Why, you ask, after what I just wrote? All kidding aside, being able to connect with anyone is a blessing. Connecting with a reader is sublime. So far, that relationship is being developed and I am so excited that I just can’t hide it/I’m about to lose control and I think I like it!

Right now, I am a little overwhelmed because so much of what has transpired in the last year has been simply magical. I have the best friends anyone could ever want, although they are insane. I generally do what I want to do with my life, because I am insane. I have a great (insane) family, and this fruit didn’t fall far from that tree. My partner/boyfriend/pal/husband is…love. And now, there’s FUNNY, the baby. Gurgle.

Finished: I have other tales to share, but I’ll do so at a later date. Right now, however, I must drain the weasel and then get something to eat. Till next time.

Monday, June 28, 2004 @ 12:39 PM