The Ivy League Book Club met in January to discuss Orange Mint, written by a phenomenal woman, Carleen Brice. Carleen Brice, a life-long reader and writer, has written several inspiring novels over the years: Children of the Waters, Lead Me Home: An African American’s Guide Through the Grief Journey, and Walk Tall: Affirmations for People of Color. Carleen is currently living in Coloroda working on her lastest project, Calling Every Good Wish Home.1. What was the spark that initiated the idea behind Orange Mint and Honey? Rather than a spark, I'd call it more like a slow simmer. I first had the idea to write about a mother and daughter relationship the year my mother died, but I didn't follow up on it. Which is good. I needed time to grieve and grow up some more before I could tackle it. Then after 9/11 I was thinking about what I wanted out of life and decided to get serious about trying fiction.
2. Think about the writing process for Orange Mint and Honey. Describe that process to us. Was it a quick write? Did you have to map and outline the storyline? I wrote a draft for about 4 years. When I'd get feedback and try to edit, it would seem to shift the whole book. I didn't have a map. I just knew it was about 2 women who were estranged from each other at the beginning of the story and wouldn't be by the end.
3. Imagine the movie poster for Orange Mint and Honey on the billboards of New York City? What would be the catchphrase for it? Well, I don't have to imagine. You can see the movie poster on Lifetime's website. Though it was never on a billboard anywhere. But my catchphrase would be "With the help of the mother she never thought she would forgive, a late bloomer finally blossoms."
4. When did you discover you wanted to be a writer? I was always a reader and writer, even as a kid. I don't think I really admitted to myself that I wanted to be a writer until the year my mother died. I was 28 and that's when I started working on my first nonfiction book WALK TALL: AFFIRMATIONS FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR.
5. What makes you stand out amongst other African American female authors? Ok, I think I'll let readers answer that question for themselves. But I can say that one of the things I set out to do is speak for people like me: non-big-city, non-rural, non-fatally-hip, contemporary sisters. In other words, my experience isn't slavery or post-Jim Crow and I grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. I wanted to present that world to readers as a valid African American experience.
6. What do you want readers to gain from your debut novel? I want them to feel moved by the story and I want them to believe that change is possible.
7. Growing up, what inspired you the most in writers and readings? I always loved magical stuff. My favorite book as a little girl was CHARLOTTE'S WEB. I still like stories with magic realism or mystical qualities.
8. Who is one of your favorite authors? How did he/she inspire you to be a writer?
Bebe Moore Campbell was a major inspiration to me because she started as a journalist (that's what my degree is in) and moved from nonfiction to fiction. And she was such a great writer. I'm so sorry we've lost her, but so glad we still have her books.
9. What sparks your literacy magic (i.e. music, yoga, glass of wine, etc.)? Coffee and, very sad to say it, cookies.
10. Word Association: When you see the following words, what comes to your mind?
WRITING: Work that should be fun.
RELATIONSHIPS: Infinitely complex.
MICHELLE OBAMA: Amazing, graceful, lovely, fierce.
STRESS: What else is new?
BOOK CLUBS: Thank God for them!!!!!! People who love books enough to form a club around them? Oh thank heavens! You are life-savers!
MEDITATION: Something I finally able to do just a tiny little bit.
www.carleenbrice.com
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