So while I have no idea just how many people have actually gone out and purchased SUGAR since I began the campaign to sell 10,000 copies by Jan 9th, 2010 - I do feel as if I've made some headway in the fight against Seg-book-gation -

I reached out to many book clubs and independent bookstores and did receive some feedback.

Vickie Timmons reached out to me after receiving my letter and this is what she had to say:

Hi Bernice!

I am white. ! And 60. But we are a women's book club with Greek, Latino, Peruvian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino and various mixes. I have two open slots. We read outside our comfort zones. This club has been going since 2004.

You said -"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."

I have two book clubs in Los Angeles - Feast of Passages and Pack Light. They will be very uncomfortable about this literary segregation. More like pissed. So do you have the names of publishing houses that do this? It would be good for them to hear from us.

We are here to softly squeeze through barriers and create a luscious community. It is a friendly
social atmosphere yet we like to have a good meaty discussion. I really want the experience of black women to be brought into our discussions.

I have been reading about you and I know we need to get you on our book list. Thank you for your devotion to being a writer. Every word matters to us in this book club. We are not alone. We don't plow through books. We actually read them.

That you write matters to us,

Vicki

If you are an AA woman looking to join a book club that is made up of women from various ethnic backgrounds who read a variety of work from just as many writers - give Vicki a holler:

Here is the bio for FEAST OF PASSAGES Book Club:

Feast of Passages
We are 9 women from 30 to 60 and read everything that creates inspired discussion, fun food journeys, and treks through fiction and non-fiction. We love it when a book sends us off in search and discovery because here we have an audience that really cheers ancillary finds and enjoys whatever curious explorations one is moved to share. Our diverse cultural richness swirls in the background of our monthly meetings. And we laugh here! There's 2 warm spots on the couch still open. You will feel like you have always been here! Feast of Passages has created a place we can't wait to get to all month long. Come, enjoy! 4th Wenesday of the month 7 - 9:30 pm in Torrance in my home. vtimmons@juno.com