Today, we celebrate Black History Month with a selection of significant works from Outskirts Press self-publishing authors. This collection delves into black history from a variety of perspectives: thoughtful historical recounting, historically accurate fiction, American and international black perspectives, dramatic and true family histories and more. Among this curated selection are celebrated, award-winning books that readers of all walks of life will by moved by. So enrich yourself this February with our Top 10 Black History Books from Outskirts Press.
Do you have a compelling story to tell? Let Outskirts Press show you how to share your story with the world!
Outskirts Press is constantly helping pioneering creators realize their greatest writing ambitions. Self-publishing a book is a huge task, so pardon us while we sing the praises of our independent authors in our weekly Self-Publishing Book Spotlight.
This week we’re proud to feature another of our self-published authors, Whitney J. LeBlanc, and the third installment of the Broussard family saga, Bodacious Blues.
Outskirts Press self-published author Whitney J. LeBlanc’s Bodacious Bluesfollows the coming-of-age trials of Ann and Les Martel, third-generation descendants of a proud Creole family who survived lynching, lust, religious conflict, scandal and, of course, the blues.
As the grandchildren of Martha Broussard, Ann and Les Martel must learn to carve their own paths in a world that at first seems remarkably different than their grandmother’s as they grapple with their own coming of age. Honesty has become weakness, truth is no longer the truth and sexual cross-identification is the new “value” that must be confronted.
Yet, underneath these challenges of a modern society so distinct from their Creole roots, Ann and Les find that they must also still deal with religious controversy and racial exploitation.
Ann Martel ends up a professional success by becoming the doctor that her grandfather always hoped her brother Les would become, but that social achievement pales for her privately as she becomes disappointed in love. Finally she finds happiness and contentment, despite all the reasons not to, with an older woman partner.
Les, on the other hand, defies everyone who challenges him in becoming the man he wants to be. He protests racial discrimination in Estilette. He takes on an abusive lover in Chicago. He fights a Paul Bunyan size giant in the backwoods of Bemidji. After arriving in Hollywood and giving a deserved comeuppance to a backstabber, he realizes that Tinsel Town is not the place he thought, and hoped, it would be. Its values are not his values, its truth is not his truth, and “loyalty” is an unknown word.
Bodacious Blues is a fitting finale to the fascinating tale of the remarkable Broussard family begun in Blues in the Wind and continued in Shadows of the Blues.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Louisiana native Whitney J. LeBlanc has been a teacher, writer, producer, set designer and award wining theatre director. He holds a Master’s Degree in Theatre Arts Production from the University of Iowa and has spent more than half his fifty year career in Hollywood as a television director. LeBlanc now lives in the Napa valley with his physician wife and writes novels and creates stained glass windows.
This author purchased the Book Blast package, saving 25% on 5 powerful marketing services to blast the book into the stratosphere! The Book Blast package includes the following options: Custom Press Release, PR Publicist Campaign, Book Review Submission Service, Book Video (shown above) and Personal Marketing Assistant. Outskirts Press authors can easily and conveniently add this package at any time from the Marketing Options screen of the Publishing Center.
Are you self publishing a book and looking to receive
marketing support and services like this?
As an author in this economy, you have to come up with creative ways to market your self-published book. While book tours are a great way to connect with your readers, they aren’t the most affordable method of promotion. However, technology has made it possible for an alternative.
Take note from self-publishing Outskirts Press author, Whitney J. LeBlanc, who is taking his latest book, Bodacious Blues, on tour – a virtual book tour, that is. He will be featured on several blogs over the weeks and months ahead so keep your eyes peeled to learn more about him and his book.
Luckily for us, Whitney was kind enough to answer a few questions as the tour was getting started so that we can give you a sneak peek into the mind of the creator of Bodacious Blues.
OP: Tell us a little bit about Bodacious Blues. What is it about?
WJL: Three generations of a Creole family in Estilette, Louisiana. It is the final book of The Blues Trilogy about this family’s trials and tribulations with religion, racism, voodoo, lust, love, and murder against the background of the blues.
OP: Why did you decide to write this story?
WJL: Because there is very little written about Creoles. Bodacious Blues deals with all facets in the life of this gumbo flavored marginal group. They are the prototype of the average American—proud, independent, and racially mixed.
OP: What types of readers would be interested in this story?
WJL: Anyone over 18, who likes to be informed or entertained by sex, lust, adventure, mystery and conflict. Racial identity does not matter.
OP: What is special about your book? What differentiates it from other books in the same category?
WJL: This is Historical Fiction. The time line of history is very evident throughout. Although the characters are fictional they react to what we all remember of our past, in new and different ways. It brings history alive again.
OP: Have you published any other books? Do you plan to publish more?
WJL: Yes! Blues in the Wind, and Shadows of the Blues, are both part of the Trilogy of the Blues, as is Bodacious Blues. Yes! I plan to publish more!
OP: Thanks for your time, Whitney! We look forward to learning more about you as you visit other bloggers!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
A Louisiana native, Whitney J. LeBlanc has been a teacher, writer, producer, set designer, and award-winning theatre director. He spent more than half of his 50-year career in Hollywood as a director for television. LeBlanc is the author of Blues in the Wind and Shadows of the Blues. He holds a master’s in theatre arts production from the University of Iowa. LeBlanc lives with his physician wife in California’s Napa Valley, where he writes novels and creates stained-glass windows.
This author purchased the Virtual Book Tour marketing option, which allows self-publishing authors to connect with bloggers and harness the power of the blogosphere by taking their book on the “virtual road”. Learn more about this service by visiting your Publishing Center and reviewing the available marketing options.
Are you an author looking for help to market your self-published book?
