A Good Man is Hard to Find

Black Issues Book Review, Nov, 2000 by Victoria Christopher Murray

But Perry Brown's The Shirt Off His Back features a black male hero everyones loves

What do you do if you're an avid reader who enjoys books by African American authors, but you're disappointed with the way black men are portrayed in contemporary fiction? You do what Parry Brown did--you write your own story. Brown is the author of the bestselling, self-published novel, The Shirt Off His Back, a story about a hardworking black man who fights to keep his daughters and still has time to develop a loving relationship with a single mother.

Brown decided writing her own story was the only way she was going to read about the black men that she knew. In 1998, The Shirt Off His Back was born, but Brown's story doesn't begin there. In 1960, Brown was just another six-year-old who loved to write. Instead of being covered with accolades, Brown was told that she was "acting too grown" and a relative tore her cherished story (and her desire to write) into pieces.

That was enough for Brown to think she'd never write again--that is, until she was grown enough to revisit one of her first true loves on her own terms. Brown had been doing business writing when an Internet magazine requested that she write a short story. She wrote an anecdote about an older woman who meets a man in a bookstore where there is an instant attraction between the two. The woman fights the relationship, because her low self-esteem doesn't allow her to believe anyone would be attracted to her as a plus-sized woman.

Brown received so many e-mails on the way her story touched others, that the writing bug firmly affixed its teeth to her flesh. She was hooked, and became a featured writer for the magazine.

The Shirt Off His Back began as a three-part short story about a single father, and again, the e-mails poured in with comments like: "Please keep this character going." "Tell us more about this man!.... We don't get the chance to read about Black men like this."

Fifteen months later, Brown had 30 chapters and it was only then that she realized she had a book. With the excitement of the readers on the Internet (she already had 200 people waiting to buy the book!) and filled with confidence, Brown submitted her story to one publisher. She never received an answer and that was all the rejection she needed.

Self-publishing was her choice but it was no easy road. Brown began with a plan and had a committed investor on board who inopportunely backed out at the last minute. Enter Plan B: Brown, an accountant and database programmer, took on contracts to raise the money for her book. It took three months of 12-hour days, to get the needed funds. And the rest, for Brown, is a sure path to a pretty incredible future.

Brown gave up her apartment and hit or the road for almost a year, booking her own signings and making bestseller lists month after month. Her commitment has beer endless and her efforts have been rewarded with a publishing deal from Random House. Brown knows what it takes to be successful, self-published author and she offers advice to anyone considering her path "Only do this with the intention of being picked up," Brown said. "There is no way you'd be able to keep up this pace for much longer than a year." Brown also says that you cannot just look at yourself as a writer--you're an entrepreneur who must also handle the business side of publishing. This is the hard part that can put your writing on hold for months at a time.

Brown also advises that you get to know your strengths and weaknesses. "You have to be confident, but not conceited" What is the difference? "Confidence is knowing that you are all that. Conceit has you believing that you are better than others. My confidence comes from knowing that I will work hard and do whatever it takes to become successful."

The Shirt Off His Back is scheduled to be released in January 2001. What a way to begin a new millennium!

Dear Dr. Rosie:

I've written a great novel and everyone who has read it tells me that it is excellent. In fact, all of my friends agree that they could not put it down. However, I have over 10 rejection letters from major publishers. Now, people are telling me to self. publish, and I have even heard that if I were to self publish and sell thousands of books, I would have a better chance of being noticed by a major publisher and getting picked up. The challenge is, I don't have enough money to self-publish, but I have heard of something called "e-Books" Is this an option for getting my book into the market?

Good question. E-Book publishing is a viable option, but before I get into the benefits of e-publishing, let me address the point of getting noticed by a major house. It is true, in part, that some publishers may be more amenable to publishing books with authors who have some proven success. However, the writer must have good writing skills. There are several elements that go into a good novel which include: a compelling plot, fully developed characters and story resolution. There are many African American writers who have great stories (we are great storytellers), however, writing good commercial fiction is a learned skill. Major publishers are seeking authors who already possess the basic writing skills. Bottom line: the number of books you sell will not influence an editor's decision if your writing is not compelling and skillful.