LIFE IN THE FRONT ROW: A NEW YEAR'S WISH FOR YOU

Life in the Front Row

My family and I stopped buying Christmas presents for each other many years ago.  Instead we give part of the money we were spending on mostly stupid stuff to organizations we support, and use the rest to treat ourselves to a concert or other venue during the holidays.  This year, we splurged on front row seats to Cirque Du Soliel’s “Volta.”

We started our holiday tradition with Cirque’s shows with “Quidam” in 1996, which starred a Hayward, Ca local.  It has always been a great treat to be in that front row, to be so close to the performers; close enough to see the joy on their faces as they perform impossible feats along with the seamless teamwork and magnificent talent from all over the world that makes the evening so magical. The shows may differ in act, plot and story, but the consistent theme is the wide-eyed “oohing and ahhing” we audience members do at everything.

This year, we were again in the front row smiling, laughing and clapping at the unicyclist and his partner who were doing crazy acrobatics while they circled the stage at breakneck speed.  And then it happened.  Just as they hit the curve in front of us, the cyclist lost control sending the unicycle flying right at our heads.  Fortunately, our daughter was quick enough to catch it, and as the audience of thousands let out a collective sigh, she calmly rose from her seat and placed it back onto the stage.  As the act resumed, we were all assured that no one had been hurt and the only casualty was a glass of spilled red wine.

Of course, I am thinking what does this all mean?  Well, I decided that it was a good example of living life in the “front row.”  It is where you see things up close, where you can reach out and touch and in some cases, be touched, and where you can feel.  Sure, the front row has its risks but it also has the most vivid and memorable rewards.  It can cripple you with sadness and bring you back to immeasurable joy. You can’t always be prepared for it and have to take it as it comes, but that’s how life is.  It is the raw and the real.  It is the place where the wine gets spilled and everybody ends up just fine.

So be it physical, metaphorical, spiritual or virtual, I hope you go there as often as you can. I hope you smile and clap and stomp your feet.  I wish you the joys and excitements of life in your “front row” for the New Year and always. 

Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte

Copyright © 2018 by Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte

All Rights Reserved

" RUNNING FOR THE 2:10" LISTED BY AMERICAN BOOK FEST

RUNNING FOR THE 2:10

LISTED BY AMERICAN BOOK FEST

www.americanbookfest.com/autobiography.html

I WILL BE READING AND SIGNING...DECEMBER 16, 2018 IN CORTE MADERA

WNBA-SF Holiday Showcase-Book Passage Corte Madera

 

Sunday, December 16
4:00 PM-6:00 PM
Book Passage Corte Madera
51 Tamal Vista Blvd, Corte Madera 94925
FREE and Open to the Public
Light refreshments and wine tasting, books available for sale and book signing.
Please join us for a celebration of 50 years of women in the world of books with member authors of the San Francisco Chapter of the WNBA.
Before women had the right to vote, the Women’s National Book Association was advocating for women writers, booksellers, editors and “women in the world of books,” starting in 1917. This vital part of the Northern California publishing community includes New York Times bestselling authors, writing coaches, award-winning editors, literary agents, National Book Critics, book to film creatives, librarians, and an Indiefab Publisher of the Year, offering insider secrets to getting your book published.
In this 50th year Showcase, authors from the WNBA-SF will read from their books and join in a panel discussion of how women’s voices and those of diversity are more important than ever before. Q&A to follow.

Current List of Participating WNBA-SF Chapter Member Authors:

Sheryl Bize-Boutte, Running for the 2:10
Megan Clancy, The Burden of a Daughter; A Novel
Kim Collins, F is For Feminist
Elise Marie Collins, Super Agers
Lynn Dow, Nightingale Tales: Stories from My Life as a Nurse
Diane Frank, Letters from a Sacred Mountain Place
B. Lynn Goodwin, Never Too Late, From Wannabe to Wife at 62
Joan Gelfand, You Can Be A Winning Writer
Brenda Knight, The Grateful Table
Mary Mackey, The Jaguars That Prowl Our Dreams: New and Selected Poems 1974 to 2018
Sharon McElhone, Basta: Anthology Dedicated to Helping Immigrant Women
Duncan McVean, My Patients Like Treats: Tales from a House Call Veterinarian
Gina L. Mulligan, From Across the Room
Barbara Ridley, When It’s Over
Marcia Rosen, The Senior Sleuths: Dead in Bed
Rebecca Rosenberg, The Secret Life of Mrs. London
Jan Schmuckler, Role Montage
Bev Scott, Sarah’s Secret: A Western Tale of Betrayal and Forgiveness
Michelle Travis, My Mom Has Two Jobs
Sue Wilhite, 21 Templates that Run Your World

Literary gathering and reading!

Literary gathering and reading! Includes open mic! 

Presented by

Cristina Deptula's "Authors Large and Small" 

October 14, 2018

2:00 pm

Au Coquelet Cafe Restaurant

2000 University Avenue

Berkeley, CA 94704

Our lineup will include Oakland's own Sheryl Bize-Boutte, MC at the Montclair Library's National Poetry Month celebration, whose stories celebrate our history and our hometown amid change and gentrification, and Henry Hitz, whose novel White Knight gives a unique look at the Jonestown killings and murders of supervisors Milk and Moscone through the eyes of a mentally unstable person who believes he has caused and must rectify the tragedies.

Also former Berkeley resident and Beat writer/social activist PW Covington, whose poetry comes from the hard lessons and adventures of the road, not the classroom. He performed together with Sheryl last month at Bay Area Generations, which brought out 100+ people. Also from Berkeley will be Connie Tyler, creator of the fun, humane and compassionate Earth Woman Tree Woman fantasy quartet, an adventure in which humans learn to join the dance of life. Connie is active within dance and movement circles in Oakland/Berkeley and has a following here. And Mary Parks, author of They Called Me Bunny and Flight to Ohio: From Slavery to Passing to Freedom, tautly crafted historical fiction exploring the tensions between claiming and overcoming racialized identities (Black and Native American) in early American history.
Also, Christopher Bernard, editor of San Francisco's Caveat Lector magazine and author of poetry collection Chien Lunatique,who has previously read at East Bay Booksellers and sparked a lively discussion, and Richmond's Christine Volker, whose sensuous murder mystery Venetian Blood won the Sarton Prize for Women's Fiction for 2018.
We may invite other authors to share as they let us know that they are available, and hope to have space for an open mic should time allow.

POET'S PROGRESS REVIEWS "RUNNING FOR THE 2:10"

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POET'S PROGRESS

 REVIEWS 

"RUNNING FOR THE 2:10"

 ON

GOODREADS

"Sep 07, 2018 Poet's Progress rated it it was amazing

The cover of the book calls these stories but really they are more poetry in prose form. Tightly written vignettes that pack a wallop. Many are centered around childhood memories: events, large and small, that represented emotional milestones. The book culminates with the stories of the deaths of both of the author's parents, first one, then the other. It is fitting that this should be the finale of the book as, no matter how old you are, when your parents die, so does your childhood. Touching, accessible, bittersweet, and relatable, Running for the 2:10 is a great contribution to literature."

 

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https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2522031131?book_show_action=true&from_review_page=1 

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A CALL TO THE QUEEN

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A Call to the Queen

Those of you who have known me for some time and/or have read my book, “Running For The 2:10”, know that while in high school, I worked for the phone company as a long distance operator.  As reminder and introduction to this story, here is an excerpt to set the stage:

“My first job was as a long distance operator at the phone company.  This was back in the day when there were “boards” and “plug-ins” and one had to call the operator to place a long-distance call. As a high school student, I attended classes four hours per day and worked four hours per day under the Oakland Public Schools, “Outside Work Experience” or OWE program.

The phone company was a harsh place to work back then.  The operators were mostly women and all of our movements during the workday were strictly monitored.  We sat on stools in a windowless galley-like room facing the board while waiting for the lights to appear indicating a call to the operator.  Then we would plug into that light and say ever so sweetly,  “Operator.” We would then connect the caller to the number they were calling with another plug and a light would show on the console to indicate conversation.  When the console light went off, it meant the conversation was over and then we would promptly unplug the in and out connections.” 

It was in this daily grind of a job, in the summer of 1967, I was handpicked to  arrange a long-distance call I will never forget.

With my supervisor plugged in and standing right next to me to monitor my every word, I was told to plug in to a certain light on the board with my incoming cord.  There, an unknown caller was waiting to place a person-to-person call. 

“Hello, this is the operator.  How may I help you?” 

A cheery male voice replied, “Oh hi there.  I would like to place a person-to-person call to Aretha Franklin at area xxx, number xxx-xxxx.

I had not been nervous at first. But when he said “Aretha Franklin” I almost fell off my stool, much to my supervisor’s amusement.  Remember, I was only 16 years old at this point and the closest I had ever gotten to Miss Franklin was singing R-E-S-P-E-C-T in the living room with my sisters or trying my best to mimic the torturous love I knew nothing about when I sang “I Ain’t Never Loved A Man “ at the school talent show.

And since the call was person-to person, I had to have the name of the other person and managed to ask, “And whom may I say is calling?”

The male voice replied not with a name but with a phone number.  I looked at my supervisor in fear and frustration and she just nodded her wigged head in the yes position, which meant, “Go with that because it’s all you are going to get.”

And so, I placed the connected plug into the outgoing light and dialed Aretha Franklin’s number.  By then, I had climbed down off the stool and was standing at the board.  No way I could sit down for this. 

The phone rang once, then twice and I thought no one would pick up and I would never get this opportunity again.  Then on the third ring,

“Hello,” a young child’s voice spoke loudly into the phone.  There was a lot of chatter and laughter in the background.  It almost sounded like a party, but as I waited I was able to listen closer and realized it sounded more like just a gathering of family.  A big, talkative and happy family.

“Hello.  This is the long distance operator.” I was smooth as glass.

 “I have a person- to- person call for Miss Aretha Franklin from phone number xxx-xxx-xxxx..” Without another word, the phone landed with a thud on some hard surface.  I thought we were done.

Then after a few seconds, another “Hello” in that unmistakable sweet and lyrical voice I knew belonged to the Queen herself.

I swallowed hard. Twice.  Back to smooth I said,

“This is the long distance operator.  I have a person- to -person call from phone number xxx-xxx-xxxx for Miss Aretha Franklin.”

“This is Aretha Franklin.”

“Hey Ree”, the male voice said.

“Hey…..”, she said as I did my professional duty and flipped the microphone off, leaving them to have their private conversation. 

I took other calls during my shift that day, but had one eye on that magic light the whole time.  The conversation went on for about fifteen minutes before the light went off and I could unplug the call.

I never knew who the caller was and my supervisor never gave any hints.  I did ask her why they picked me to do the call and she said,

“Because these grown chicks who work here would have kept those numbers and who knows what they would have done with them.  I knew you wouldn’t mess it up.”

“But you were there the whole time! How would I have done that anyway?”

She looked me in the eye and said, “ Please, I wouldn’t have missed the chance to hear Aretha’s real life voice!” 

From the real life voice of the “Queen of Soul” to my ear for if only for a second, it will stay forever and ever in my heart.

Copyright © 2018 by Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte

I WILL BE READING WITH PW COVINGTON AT BAY AREA GENERATION'S 5TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW ON AUGUST 27, 2018

I will be reading with celebrated poet and author PW Covington  

at the

Bay Area Generations 5th Anniversary Show #60

 
Monday, August 27th, 2018
A literary salon featuring a curated works of San Francisco Bay Area poets, writers and storytellers.

Tasha Mini + Susan Nordmark
Bronwyn Emery + Fred Dodsworth
Carol Dorf + Grace Grafton
Laura Fanning + Erica Peck
John McNulty + Heidi Benson Stagg
Daniel Ari + Jon Sindell
Leah Markos + Don Markos
Libra Kaplan + Robin Heyden
Peggy Simmons + Xochtil Larios
Maurisa Thompson + Avotjca
Tobey Hiller + Maw Shein Win
Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte + PW Covington

CURATORS:
David Brehmer (guest)
Amos White + Marise Phillips (board)

Bay Area Generations 5th Anniversary Show #60
Monday, August 27
7:30pm
at Joyce Gordon Gallery in Oakland
Map: http://bit.ly/BAGJGGmap
Tickets: http://bit.ly/BAG60Tx

Wine bar | Easy Access on Public Transportation
From BART: http://bit.ly/BAGJGGmap

Doors & Wine Bar: 6:30 p.m. Show: 7:30 p.m.
Suggested donation $10, includes with chapbook
*No one turned away for lack of funds.*

Get tickets: http://bit.ly/BAG60Tx

Bay Area Generations literary reading series features paired readers of differing generations in a curated submission based show. Since 2013, over 350 hundred notable authors, poets, writers, playwrights and musicians have read poetry and stories, or performed at this celebrated literary salon.

Website: www.bayareagenerations.com
FB: www.facebook.com/bayareagenerations
Events: www.facebook.com/bayareagenerations/events

MY STORY "UNCLE MARTINA" IN THE 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY ISSUE OF "SYNCHRONIZED CHAOS"

 MY NEWEST SHORT STORY

 "UNCLE MARTINA"

HAS BEEN PUBLISHED 

IN THE 1OTH ANNIVERSARY ISSUE 

OF 

SYNCHRONIZED CHAOS MAGAZINE

 

 FIND IT HERE

http://synchchaos.com/synchronized-chaos-august-2018-dichotomies/#

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL 

 AT

 "SYNCHRONIZED CHAOS MAGAZINE" 

ON THIS MAGNIFICENT MILESTONE

GROUP READING AT THE OCTOPUS LITERARY SALON JUNE 23

 Come and see me with other local writers and poets

 in 

Cristina Deptula's "Authors Large and Small" Group Reading

 at 

The Octopus Literary Salon  

4121 Webster Street 

Oakland

 Saturday, June 23

4:00 pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/2467504356600491/?acontext=%7B%22ref%22%3A%2222%22%2C%22feed_story_type%22%3A%2222%22%2C%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D

GETTING READY FOR THE DUBLIN LIBRARY LOCAL AUTHOR SHOWCASE JUNE 9, 2018

SAVE THE DATES, SHOW YOUR FACES IN THESE PLACES!

COMING IN JUNE 2018!

SAVE THE DATES

SHOW YOUR FACES IN THESE PLACES!

COME AND SEE/HEAR ME AND MY WRITER FRIENDS AT THE FOLLOWING VENUES IN JUNE

 

JUNE 9, 2018

1:00 PM

DUBLIN LIBRARY WRITER SHOWCASE

I WILL HAVE MY BOOKS ON DISPLAY AND FOR SALE AT THIS FIRST ANNUAL AUTHOR SHOWCASE!

DUBLIN LIBRARY 

200 CIVIC PLAZA

DUBLIN, CA

__________

JUNE 16, 2018

3:00 PM

CALIFORNIA WRITER'S CLUB- BERKELEY BRANCH AUTHOR READINGS

LAUREL BOOKSTORE

I WILL BE READING FROM "RUNNING FOR THE 2:10" ALONG WITH OTHER CWC- BERKELEY BRANCH MEMBERS WHO WILL READ FROM THEIR NEWLY PUBLISHED WORKS

LAUREL BOOKSTORE

1423 BROADWAY

OAKLAND, CA

___________

JUNE 23, 2018

4:00 PM

OCTOPUS LITERARY SALON

READINGS BY CRISTINA DEPTULA'S  AUTHORS LARGE AND SMALL

I WILL BE READING SELECTIONS FROM MY POETRY AND OTHER WORKS ALONG WITH P.W. COVINGTON AND OTHER POETS AND WRITERS REPRESENTED BY CRISTINA DEPTULA*

OCTOPUS LITERARY SALON

2101 WEBSTER STREET

OAKLAND, CA

 

*AUTHORS, LARGE AND SMALL

HTTP://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/AUTHORSLARGEANDSMALL

THEY HELP ME WRITE.  YES THEY DO.

BABY GIRL IS THAT REALLY YOU?

Ran into my first car today at a neighborhood gas station. Owner was kind enough to let me take pics. Read about her in my book "Running For The 2:10," chapter entitled "A Valiant Effort," and you will understand why I was so happy to see her again.

www.amazon.com/author/sheryljbizeboutte

SEE MY INTERVIEW WITH LOIS LANE INVESTIGATES AUTHORS

SEE MY INTERVIEW

WITH 

LOIS LANE INVESTIGATES AUTHORS

https://loislaneinvestigatesauthors.tumblr.com/post/172356718540/a-baby-boomers-ongoing-journey-sheryl

JOANNE W'S REVIEWS: 5 STARS FOR "ALL THAT AND MORE'S WEDDING" ON GOODREADS

Joanne W's Reviews > All That and More's Wedding

All That and More's Wedding
by Sheryl J Bize-Boutte
Joanne W's review for Goodread's

 

"it was amazing

I am reading and thoroughly enjoying S J Bize-Boutte's collection of poetry and will be singing its praises when i am done with it. in the meantime, I finished this wonderful collection of short stories by the same author.

You can always tell prose that was written by a great poet. The words spring to life off the page and the attention to the smallest word choice or phrasing option shows expert craftsmanship. Its not just the plot, the characters, and the stories that take your breath away, its the way its put together.

These stories are surprising and vividly alive. When you're done, it will be like you have had the experiences yourself. It will feel like your own memory going into the filthy messy home of a friend and discovering something ugly you wish you hadn't."

 

 

JD DeHART REVIEWS "RUNNING FOR THE 2:10"

WRITER AND TEACHER JD DeHART

  REVIEWS 

BIZE-BOUTTE'S  "RUNNING FOR THE 2:10"

"... Running for the 2:10 by Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte packs much experience in for the reader.  Each chapter is a kind of reflective essay from the author.  What I appreciated most here is the way Bize-Boutte shares her true-to-life narrative in what Amazon calls a series autobiographical short stories.  For its exploration of culture along with personal story, I probably enjoyed "Little Girl Gone Under in the Jambalaya Sea" best...and what a great title for a chapter!"

https://www.amazon.com/Running-Stories-Boomers-Ongoing-Journey/dp/1545409951/ref=la_B00MS628XQ_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1519607440&sr=1-2 

NATIONAL POETRY MONTH 2018

Elizabeth Hughes’ Book Periscope Reviews Bize-Boutte Books in Synchronized Chaos Magazine

Review of A Dollar Five by Sheryl J. Bize Boutte

A Dollar Five by Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte is a collection of short stories and poems that cover the author’s childhood memories in Oakland CA starting in 1956. Some of the short stories bring back memories. The first poem “Childthink” is one that brings back memories of playing cards attached to the spokes of bicycle wheels. I also liked Crossing Bridges with Perry Mason very much. I enjoyed each and every poem and short story very much. They are a mix of happy, sad and funny. This book of short stories and poems is a very unique look into the author’s life and how a young African-American girl grew up in 1950’s Oakland CA. I enjoyed this very much and very highly recommend this book.

A Dollar Five is available here. 

All That and More’s Wedding by Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte

All That and More’s Wedding by S. J. Bize-Boutte contains 4 short stories. The stories are humorous and suspenseful. My particular favorite is Inky and the Carpenter. It is about a man that does maintenance in a hospital that is scheduled for demolition. He finds out his favorite childhood star is in a room in one of the buildings that is no longer in use. Inky and NickRon develop a companion type friendship. NickRon tells his wife about Inky and all the stories she tells him. Then one day things go very wrong. It is a very gripping tale that will keep you reading to the end. Perfect for a quick read or a gift for yourself or a friend. I highly recommend this book, I enjoyed it very much.

All That and More’s Wedding is available here. 

Running for the 2:10 More Stories From a Baby Boomer’s Ongoing Journey by Sheryl J. Bize-Boutte

Running For the 2:10 is a collection of autobiographical stories of the author’s life. Once again she has written the stories with humor and of course, as with anyone’s life, some sadness. This is a very well written book that anyone, of our “certain age” can relate to. I enjoyed each and everyone of the stories. This would be an excellent book for yourself or a gift. I very highly recommend Running for the 2:10.

Running for the 2:10 is available here. 

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT BOOKS 
AND
READINGS

 BY 

SHERYL J. BIZE-BOUTTE

" I just finished reading your books that have captivated me from the first lines to the end."

      G. B., France

"Your work and writing are very impressive."

    D.W.,  Oakland-SF Bay Area

" Loved it!"

  K. B., Oakland-SF Bay Area

"There is just something magical about the way you read your work."
 Bay Area Generations Reading Series Attendee

"Oh, I am so happy I did not have to follow you!" "You had us on the edge of our seats to the end!"
Fellow reader and audience member at B Street-Hayward Writer's Collective Reading

"Absolutely beautiful and stunning."
Attendee, Mills College Writer's Salon
 

https://www.amazon.com/Sheryl-J.-Bize-Boutte/e/B00MS628XQ