Books by Doug Cooper Spencer
All books are available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and booksellers worldwide-- Also available on e-books.
SUBMISSIONS SOUGHT for THE GRIOT PROJECT (#thegriotproject)
Deadline: May 30, 2020
You must be: African American, born before 1960, and be part of the African American LGBTQ community or self-identify as either LGBTQ or 'in the life'. We are seeking short non-fiction such as: memoirs (‘memory pieces’), personal accounts, letters, or essays. Also, short fiction. If you would like to be interviewed, that is also acceptable (I can conduct them or you can have someone else interview you). All submissions must speak of living/having lived within the African American experience. Most preferred submissions should reflect a sense of time and place (hint: helpful to include in your pieces mention of things like a particular song or type of music of that time, or dances, or styles of dress, or even tv shows, movies and types of automobiles of that time— we are trying to capture the ‘feel’ of being in those spaces at that time). Again, this is preferred, but not mandatory.
Keep in mind: It’s the stories we want to hear— Our stories. The stories of Our community and Our generation and earlier generations (if you are passing on stories from an earlier generation).
An Open Letter:
Hi All!
It is so important that we tell our stories. Rarely (if ever) are the stories of African American women and men from our generation who identify as LGBTQ told. Instead, we see OUR stories being told by folks who were not a part of the rich history of the black LGBTQ community of our era. Usually, those stories are being told by folks who were not a part of our community because they were of a different ethnicity or they were not even born during the times when we came together and shared our laughter as well as our pain. So many of us have come and gone— just think of the faces and the voices, and the experiences— and it’s as if they never existed to the larger world. We shouldn’t let that narrative continue as such.
As many of you know, as a storyteller, I have been pushing to have more stories told by US, so we can leave something behind for the younger generation— for the world to know that we truly existed, and not as in the minds that create the myths and misconceptions of our generation. We struggled and loved through Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Era, the Black Power Movement… While some of our generation came from families who were unaccepting of who they were, many of us came from families and black communities who were more accepting than the myths confer.
Please help me collect our stories. The youth and the world need to know how important those stories are. We need our stories told.
P.S. Even if you have stories that someone who has passed on left behind, we welcome those as well! The farther back we can go in our fantastic journey, the better. Also, know that whatever you write, it does not not have to necessarily be about your sexuality or focus on it. We want to show the fullness of our lives even though we were who we were/are (though, the book will only be written by black LGBTQ people). Finally, don’t worry about your writing, we have editors to make sure the pieces read clear all while keeping your voice.
Sincerely,
Doug Cooper-Spencer
Send submissions to: storiesdougcooperspencer@gmail.com (write 'Griot Project' at the top of your submission(s)).
Deadline: May 30, 2020
You must be: African American, born before 1960, and be part of the African American LGBTQ community or self-identify as either LGBTQ or 'in the life'. We are seeking short non-fiction such as: memoirs (‘memory pieces’), personal accounts, letters, or essays. Also, short fiction. If you would like to be interviewed, that is also acceptable (I can conduct them or you can have someone else interview you). All submissions must speak of living/having lived within the African American experience. Most preferred submissions should reflect a sense of time and place (hint: helpful to include in your pieces mention of things like a particular song or type of music of that time, or dances, or styles of dress, or even tv shows, movies and types of automobiles of that time— we are trying to capture the ‘feel’ of being in those spaces at that time). Again, this is preferred, but not mandatory.
Keep in mind: It’s the stories we want to hear— Our stories. The stories of Our community and Our generation and earlier generations (if you are passing on stories from an earlier generation).
An Open Letter:
Hi All!
It is so important that we tell our stories. Rarely (if ever) are the stories of African American women and men from our generation who identify as LGBTQ told. Instead, we see OUR stories being told by folks who were not a part of the rich history of the black LGBTQ community of our era. Usually, those stories are being told by folks who were not a part of our community because they were of a different ethnicity or they were not even born during the times when we came together and shared our laughter as well as our pain. So many of us have come and gone— just think of the faces and the voices, and the experiences— and it’s as if they never existed to the larger world. We shouldn’t let that narrative continue as such.
As many of you know, as a storyteller, I have been pushing to have more stories told by US, so we can leave something behind for the younger generation— for the world to know that we truly existed, and not as in the minds that create the myths and misconceptions of our generation. We struggled and loved through Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Era, the Black Power Movement… While some of our generation came from families who were unaccepting of who they were, many of us came from families and black communities who were more accepting than the myths confer.
Please help me collect our stories. The youth and the world need to know how important those stories are. We need our stories told.
P.S. Even if you have stories that someone who has passed on left behind, we welcome those as well! The farther back we can go in our fantastic journey, the better. Also, know that whatever you write, it does not not have to necessarily be about your sexuality or focus on it. We want to show the fullness of our lives even though we were who we were/are (though, the book will only be written by black LGBTQ people). Finally, don’t worry about your writing, we have editors to make sure the pieces read clear all while keeping your voice.
Sincerely,
Doug Cooper-Spencer
Send submissions to: storiesdougcooperspencer@gmail.com (write 'Griot Project' at the top of your submission(s)).
Short story collection
~ A man finds the mother who abandoned him and learns the truth behind why she left.
~ In 1976, a night on the town for a group of black gay friends takes an unanticipated turn.
~ Tragedy strikes a marriage leaving the couple to look at what happens to love, when life goes wrong.
~ The summer of 1963 was a milestone in the Civil Rights Movement, just as it is for a boy growing up black and gay.
~ Life in the magazines and on tv is alluring- - but at what cost for a woman and her twin brother? ... These are just some of the stories in 'Gather the Bones', a collection of short stories by Doug Cooper-Spencer. 'Gather the Bones' is Doug Cooper-Spencer's sixth book. (Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and booksellers worldwide-- Also available on e-books.) Excerpts
~ A man finds the mother who abandoned him and learns the truth behind why she left.
~ In 1976, a night on the town for a group of black gay friends takes an unanticipated turn.
~ Tragedy strikes a marriage leaving the couple to look at what happens to love, when life goes wrong.
~ The summer of 1963 was a milestone in the Civil Rights Movement, just as it is for a boy growing up black and gay.
~ Life in the magazines and on tv is alluring- - but at what cost for a woman and her twin brother? ... These are just some of the stories in 'Gather the Bones', a collection of short stories by Doug Cooper-Spencer. 'Gather the Bones' is Doug Cooper-Spencer's sixth book. (Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and booksellers worldwide-- Also available on e-books.) Excerpts
~1969. A brutal murder in an all black town and a pregnant thirteen year old girl at the center of the murder. Years later, the girl— now a middle age woman — struggles with the weight of guilt and against the presence of what seems to be the vengeful ghost of the man who was murdered.~ Available at Amazon; Barnes and Noble; and All Bookstores and Booksellers)
Excerpts
Excerpts
Book 1 of Trilogy: Sentenced to prison at eighteen and afterwards, to a life in the streets, a gay man returns home to confront the minister, family members and townspeople who destroyed his life.'This Place of Men is the first book in the 'This Place of Men Trilogy’. (Available at Amazon; Barnes and Noble; and All Bookstores and Booksellers) Excerpts
Book 2 of Trilogy: A marriage ends when the husband accepts that he is gay. Now the 'ex-couple' must struggle with the love and respect they once had for each other... And what about their children?(Available at: Amazon; Barnes and Noble; and All Bookstores and Booksellers) Excerpts
Book 3 of Trilogy: A gay man discovers he has a son from a one night affair many years ago. Now his son, a young man from the streets has come to live with him.
(Available at: Amazon; Barnes and Noble; and All Booksellers) Excerpts
(Available at: Amazon; Barnes and Noble; and All Booksellers) Excerpts
In 1999, what began as a personal letter became a manifesto against homophobia and a declaration of liberation from homophobia. Giving thought to homophobic tropes and devices such as the idea of God's condemnation of homosexuality, and the view that declares homosexuality as unnatural, 'A Letter to a Friend' challenges those worn ways of thinking with fresh ideas.
(Available at Amazon , Barnes and Noble , and All Bookstores) Excerpts
(Available at Amazon , Barnes and Noble , and All Bookstores) Excerpts
MEMOIRS AT THIS SITE: 'The Visitation (1964)', and 'Dancing for Your Life'
What was thought to be a dream that occurred in 1964 turns out to be much more. 'The Visitation' is a true account of a spiritual awakening. (Click here to read the ‘Memory Pieces’ page at this site) (Photo and cover Design by Gregory Cooper Spencer)
I sat on the plaza and watched the little boy dancing. I was amazed at how well he could dance for someone his age, as if he had more experience than his three or four years would have given him. But I was soon to realize, the little boy was most likely dancing for his life. (Click here to read the 'Memory Pieces' page) (Photo and artwork by Gregory Cooper Spencer)
Essays, Interviews and Daily Thoughts
For essays and interviews look in the listings to the left and click on my blog or 'Essays and Interviews' OR You can keep join me on FACEBOOK and TWITTER for daily conversations and thoughts. (Photo by Gregory Cooper Spencer)
Mighty Real: An Anthology of African-American Same Gender Loving Writing
(I had the great honor of being asked to be a part of this collection)
At over 700 pages, 'Mighty Real' is a collection of African-American Same Gender Loving Literature featuring both new and established writers. Grounded in a poignant and truthful sensibility, imbued with the realities of sex and love, Smith and Williams present a culmination of poems, short stories, radical essays, sermons, plays and interviews honoring notable figures within the SGLBT community. Available at Amazon.Com
At over 700 pages, 'Mighty Real' is a collection of African-American Same Gender Loving Literature featuring both new and established writers. Grounded in a poignant and truthful sensibility, imbued with the realities of sex and love, Smith and Williams present a culmination of poems, short stories, radical essays, sermons, plays and interviews honoring notable figures within the SGLBT community. Available at Amazon.Com
BlackMartiniRadio (I love this online station)
Check out BlackMartiniRadio. I'm hooked and if you love Soulful House Music, you'll be hooked too! http://www.blackmartiniradio.com/