Author, Poet , Playwright & Publisher, Julia Press Simmons On BTR Show Conversations With Renée

Dec. 27, 2010 - PRLog -- Harrisburg, PA:  Julia writes on her webpage @ Queen Midas Books: “I've spun tales for as long as I can remember—big ol' fat tales from my imagination. I was twelve years old when I began to write them down. Four years later, a couple of months after the birth of my son, I recognized my gift for what is was. Deep in the bowels of postpartum depression, I penned my first poem entitled “Suicide.” I poured all of my hurt into verse, and when I was done, the pain was gone. Since then I’ve received awards for my poetry, and I’ve had plays staged in Tennessee and New York, but nothing can compare to the overwhelming joy of “STRAWBERRY MANSION,” my very first novel and now my second novel BEGONIA BROWN the second in my series titled A PHILADELPHIA STORY.
Join us at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yolandarenee for a conversation about everything from writing to publishing and beyond!

A PHILADELPHIA STORY:
   STRAWBERRY MANSION – Dramatic is one of many words used to describe Strawberry Mansion:  A Philadelphia Story, a story based on a strong, often dismissed notion:  the sins of the parents can and often do embed themselves in the children, creating devastating effects. The story is centered around three young women, friends, who must rely on their connection to each other to weather tragic storms. Tabitha, 19, lost her freedom in high school when she hooked up with a boy who would impregnate her and make her his punching bag. Lisa, 17, is deemed “the strong one” by her friends, but her own past of sexual abuse and pregnancy at the hands of her step father keeps her one second from falling apart as the drama builds. Shanice, 14, is a hellion, ready and willing to let any boy have her just to get the affection she believes her mother has withheld. As their world spirals out of control, they cling fast to one another in the hope that love, friendship, and strength will not only keep them together, but will also move them to a better place in their lives.

   BEGONIA BROWN – We were named for the flowers in Grandma's Garden. Begonias, Violets and Daisies, and much like those flowers, we were showered with a love that rivaled the sun’s rays. We knew nothing of pain, or sorrow, or just how cruel the world could be until the day God saw fit to call Grandma Home. Her heart stopped two weeks after Daisy was born. My mother smoked us homeless two weeks after that. Now with Grandma gone and mommy on a constant crack high it's up to me to keep our little family together, and you best believe I'll stop at nothing to do just that. My name is Begonia Brown. I am a 17-year-old hustler and this is my story.
   From the critically acclaimed author of Strawberry Mansion comes the tale of Begonia Brown. Raised in the unforgiving streets of North Philadelphia, Begonia Brown is undoubtedly a product of her environment, young, ruthless, and criminally minded.
Julia Press Simmons is an award winning Spoken Word Artist, and Playwright. Her play “Down There” was selected by the Shades of Black Festival Emerging Playwright’s Series in Nashville, Tenn. “Down There” also received a staged reading by the African American Playwriting Exchange in New York City. Her flash fiction has appeared in 34Parrallel, an independent magazine

Join us Thursday afternoon for a fascinating conversation.
Just follow this link to listen via your computer:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yolandarenee/2011/01/06/a-co...

Or call (347) 215-9536 – you can listen to the show or ask Julia a question. All shows are downloadable from iTunes.

About “CONVERSATIONS with RENÉE”
“CONVERSATIONS with RENÉE” is an interactive, live Internet talk-radio show that focuses on authors and writers of all genres and mediums. Host Yolanda Renée explores the careers, advice, writing style and personality of each guest. Callers are encouraged to call (347) 215-9536 to listen or ask questions. The stream and archives are available at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yolandarenee. The show is live every Thursday at 3 p.m. Eastern/ 6 p.m. PT. The show is hosted on BlogTalkRadio. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/yolandarenee

About Blog Talk Radio
BlogTalkRadio is a free, web-based platform, which allows any user with a phone and a computer to host a live, interactive Internet broadcast. Hosts call into the service by phone, managing callers on the web-based host dashboard. Shows stream live directly from the host’s BlogTalkRadio web page with archives available for all past shows. Blog Talk Radio has been featured on ABC News, The Washington Post, Portfolio, Talkers Magazine, and TheStreet.com. The citizen-broadcasting network can be found at http://www.blogtalkradio.com

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As the host of “CONVERSATIONS with RENÉE” I explore the careers, advice, writing style and personality of each guest. If you would like to be a guest contact me at yolandarenee@hotmail.com.