Upcoming Book Signings & Discussions
Posted by Cherise on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at 7:28am
Check out these FREE author events. Cherise will be at each to chat with guests and sign books. America Remembered Book Signing & Discussion Who's Invited: Everyone! Bring a friend. (Appropriate for all ages.) What: Meet the authors of America Remembered (including Cherise Bopape) as they read from/discuss their new anthology. From our heritage to our hopes for the future, enjoy stories of community, devotion, memories, and tributes to the enduring qualities of life in America. Featured Authors: Members of the Christian Authors Guild (including Cherise Bopape) Where: Borders Books, 605 Ernest Barrett Pkwy, Kennesaw, GA When: Entertaining readings from 12-4 p.m.; panel discussion starts at 2:00 p.m. ******** Lessons From the Littlest Book signing & Discussion Who's Invited: Everyone! Bring a friend. (Appropriate for all ages.) What: Meet Cherise Bopape and several other local authors for an exciting event at FoxTale Book Shoppe. Each of the authors will give a brief talk about their respective books. Come ready to chat with these hometown celebrities, purchase their work, and browse the beautiful FoxTale Book Shoppe. Featured Authors: Several authors from the Atlanta Metropolitan area (including Cherise Bopape) Where: FoxTale Book Shoppe (Woodstock, GA) When: August 6, 2010, 6:00 p.m. ****** Authors Galore! - Book signings & Author Chats Who's Invited: Everyone! Bring a friend. (Appropriate for all ages.) What:** Meet Cherise Bopape and several other local Christian authors for book signings and friendly chats. Christian Authors Guild members will sign their newest anthology, America Remembered, and will have copies of their other works on hand for signing/purchase. Featured Authors: Lynn B. Pugh, Cynthia L. Simmons, Judith Becker, Michael Anderson, Diana J. Baker, Marcus Beavers, Cherise Bopape, Sue Schultz, Joanie Spicer, Polly Balint, and June Parks Where: Yawn's Books & More, Inc. When: August 21, 2010, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cherise's Events/News
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News Release
Posted by Cherise on Friday, April 30, 2010 at 10:22am
Author Cherise Bopape Signs, Reads, and Discusses Book for Moms, Lessons From the Littlest Just in time for Mother’s Day, moms are invited to meet Cherise Bopape for an author event on May 1, 2010, 3:00 p.m., at The Emerald Earth Coffee Shop in Acworth, GA. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Acworth, GA, USA (Free-Press-Release.com) April 28, 2010 – Lessons from the Littlest: A Devotional for Mothers of Young Children, the 31-day devotional book by Cherise Bopape, offers valuable insight for moms, showing them how to be cognizant of God at work in their lives as they interact with their young children. “I tend to make things complicated,” Cherise Bopape says. “By mimicking the innocence and faith of a child, we please God. Through spilled milk, poop-filled diapers, and a slew of Little League games or cheerleading practices we can still praise God, be thankful, and give service with a smile. I had to learn this the hard way.” Many moms would nod in agreement. However, Cherise Bopape uses these everyday scenarios to inspire today’s busy mothers. During a 3:00 p.m. book signing on May 1, 2010, at The Emerald Earth—a coffee shop nestled inside the Acworth Bookstore (4857 N. Main Street, Acworth, Georgia 30101)—parents will meet two authors, Cherise Bopape and Mayor Tommy Allegood. They will be reading excerpts from their respective works and conducting a question and answer session. Moms will enjoy this opportunity to be inspired, gain parenting insight, and hear stories on child rearing. A door prize will be offered. Admission is free. However, donations ($5 to $10) are suggested. Coffee, tea, chai, and pastries will be available for purchase. Cherise Bopape is an author, freelance writer, blogger, and speaker. She encourages single moms, inspires mothers with young children, offers tips for women who struggle with work-life balance, and provides hope for victims of domestic violence. She volunteers on the advisory board for Dream Again, Inc., a non-profit organization that serves single mothers. Having been a guest on various television and radio programs, Cherise Bopape has also written articles for The Lookout Magazine, MustardSeedMinistries.org, and various newsletters for non-profit organizations. Cherise's Events/News
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Single Moms: Unsung Heroes or Disrespected Damsels?
Posted by Cherise on Thursday, March 4, 2010 at 12:12am
I gasped while reading the article, “Most Americans Don’t Respect Single Moms,” posted on Elearners.com. According to a survey conducted by this dot com, “only 44% of those surveyed would classify single moms as ‘respectable.’” Reading a bit further, my reactions went from gasps to disgust as I glimpsed at American’s poor perception of single mothers. After seeing results like this, it’s important to show the “lemonade” that can come out of the “lemon-laden” life many single moms experience. Obviously, America needs to be reminded of successful people like movie industry mogul Robert Townsend; Olympic medalist Michael Phelps; actor and producer, Tom Cruise; award-winning neurosurgeon, Dr. Benjamin Carson; and even U. S. President Barack Obama—all who were raised in single parent homes. During my interview with Robert Townsend last week, I was happy to find that he’s using the arts to educate the masses on single parenthood and offer solutions. He does this through a web-based series he produces and directs, Diary of a Single Mom. Townsend stated, “Being raised in the ghetto of Chicago … how my mother did it, I have no idea. We grew up in the roughest neighborhood. I think they praise NBA stars and athletes … and the unsung heroes are single moms.” Despite appalling survey results and bashes from the public, continue to press on, ladies. God loves you, sees your struggle, and desires to empower you to an awesome finish. Letting Him guide your steps, build your faith, and provide all you need to excel, you’ll soon realize that you really can be someone’s hero. Interesting Articles
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Interview with Cheryl L. West - Screenwriter for Diary of a Single Mom
Posted by Cherise on Thursday, February 25, 2010 at 11:21am
Seemingly, Cheryl L. West does it all. A film and TV writer and an award-winning playwright, she is an absolute inspiration. Did I mention that this mastermind is also a single mother? Whew! Her recent web-based original series, Diary of a Single Mom, is in its second season. Cheryl’s credits don’t stop here, though. She has worked on projects at HBO, MTV, CBS, Disney, and several other well-known corporations. Diary of a Single Mom can be seen on the Public Internet Channel (PIC.tv), a Web site featuring free media to help encourage viewers to take steps to improve their lives. Yesterday, I had the pleasure of talking with Cheryl to discover why her newest series has so many women—including me—gushing. Expect a dousing of encouragement and insight as you follow our conversation. *Cherise: Raised by a single mother, the show’s producer and director, Robert Townsend obviously has a passion for sharing the single mother’s plight. What piqued your* interest? West: I’m also a single mom and I was raised by single mom. Cherise: I assumed you had either done some incredible research or had actually lived the message you portray in Diary of a Single Mom. You do it well. West: [Chuckle] Thank you. Cherise: You’ve lived through the struggles and triumphs of a single mother. You effectively relate that to others. Excellent job! West:** Thank you so much. I think when I became a writer one of the things that I wanted to do was validate working class black people’s lives and identify with them in some way. … The more specific your characters are, the more universal they become; and then, the audience can relate. [They] may be Jewish, [they] may be Hispanic, Afghanistan … but you can see it’s about them. It’s about love it’s about protection, it’s about encouragement, it’s about fear. [These things are] universal … human, too. Cherise: There is something in this series for everyone. I love the way you’ve pulled in different ethnicities and age brackets to demonstrate each mother’s unique journey into single motherhood. West: When One Economy [a global non-profit organization that launched PIC.tv] envisioned this, one of their goals as a company was to reach out to single mothers and the entire working class—women and men. Robert [Townsend] and me wanted to have different ethnicities in this piece. I remember having to fight for an older white woman. You know, we’ve got an entire generation of grandmothers and grandfathers raising children now with support of communities. [I included] one who was very well off and had everything done for her. Now she has to—in her mind—fall from grace and be in the poverty line. [She] also has to sort of learn how much grace she actually has and then raise her grandchild. That’s quite a fascinating dynamic; and yet, she needs [the assistance of] these other two women. She brings an offer to the table [to] actually help tutor Ocean [the protagonist] to help get her GED. So, I think that … we all have these strengths but sometimes it takes other people to reveal them. Cherise: Exactly. How do you keep your material realistic for unwed moms today? West: Writers read; writers listen. I am always reading The NY Times ... different newspapers … The Washington Post. You read and you see stories. You see human life stories. So you’re not always pulling from people you know because that would be very small in the scope of writing and you have to be expansive. So, you read and you listen. You think, hmm … What if I take this situation and marry it to … hmm … something even more unusual that I could imagine? Let me see what I could come up with. I think that is the craft of the writer. Cherise: Why release the series on PIC.tv and not the big screen or a major television network? West: I think that it’s certainly under consideration at this point. I think that you [grow] where you’re planted and this is where we started. I’m certainly not sure what the future may hold. This is a question that has been brought to us and I’m sure at some point they’ll be exploring that as an option. Cherise: Whose big idea was this series, anyway? West: Ray Ramsey who’s the director of One Economy. I think this was their idea as a cinematic approach to the work that they were already doing. Then he talked to Robert [Townsend], found some money, and then, Robert came to me as a writer. [Ray wants] to use the tools that they have for women to get more information—or men, or whomever—to help change their lives. Then we dramatically create stories that encourage people to think about something differently and to want to take some different actions. Cherise: This is wonderful. When you find something that matches your passion, it’s hard to keep quiet about it. I’ve told so many people about the series and PIC.tv. You guys didn’t stop at making a good film; you provided valuable links concerning topics in the episodes. West: [Chuckle] I appreciate that, too. We appreciate that. Well, One Economy [provides] the resources. I was, years ago, a social worker and a full time writer. You know, it’s one thing to give people a notion, but to have it readily available now by a click and a link…it’s amazing. When the social worker leaves you some pamphlets, that’s not the same thing as being able to click on [a link] and see [an answer] right now, [instead of], "I forgot where I put that paper." I think that is so helpful because sometimes, we need a fix immediately. We need … one little sign … someone to call … some information … another way we can talk to the landlord … another way at looking at your resume. This can make all the difference in someone’s life. Cherise: Briefly tell me how your journey started and progressed as a screenwriter. West: I always wrote, even as a kid, but it was my secret—my way of making sense of the world. But I had a mother who said, “Always have something to fall back on.” So, I always had a “B” plan. Plan "A", for me, was to help people as a social worker. I have a degree in criminal justice, a masters in rehabilitation administration and another masters in journalism. Cherise: You’ve been pretty busy, huh? [Chuckle] West: [Chuckle] Yeah, but at some point I said that I’m going to give myself five years [to become] a writer. I set [my goals] and I worked two and three jobs. Then I went for it. I was able to do it in four. I kept working the other jobs and then I could support myself as a writer Cherise: In the beginning, how did you stay encouraged when you started out in journalism, screenwriting, and film writing? West: It’s a basis of ups and downs. That was the first acceptance I had to finally come to. [Chuckle] It is a business of that. And the first thing I always tell people: Get to a circle—a safety circle. A circle of people who love you whether you’re published, produced—whatever. Circle and wrap them around you. ‘Cause there are gonna be times when you’re going to need someone to say, “Keep moving, keep going, and, what do those people know”. That has served me so well throughout my career. That circle of friends … family who believe in me first as a person, as a woman, then as a creative artist out here. Robert [Townsend] has been one of those people. And it was interesting because I was having a real dip in my career. I just called Robert out of the blue and said, “Hey, you see anything...send it my way.” (I work in theater primarily and there can be long stretches sometimes before you see any financial [returns].) About … hmm … maybe a month later, he called and said, “Hey you think you wanna rock and roll with me on this project [Diary of a Single Mom]?” [Laughter] So you never know when the blessing is going to come to pass. You have to work at your craft constantly. Put out there constantly that I’m willing and able to work. And you have to sort of generate that in the universe through contacts that you make along the way. People forget about sending thank you notes; they’re invaluable. You have something to say that no one else will have because no one else has your DNA. That’s your experience. No one else has your drive. We have something to offer the world that is unique. If you are committed, if you don’t give up, then eventually, you’ll arrive some place where your words can get out there into the world. Sometimes it starts with you self-promoting, self-publishing. When I first started in theater I was working a couple jobs. I had a group of friends. I wrote some stuff. They said "Okay, we’ll [help put on the show]." I used my credit cards to rent the van, then we started taking it to little towns in Illinois. That’s how it started. Cherise: Humble beginnings. ... Oftentimes, verbal abuse is not rebuked in the media. How do you plan to address verbal bashes against your protagonist from her husband who suddenly appears after a long jail term? Women tend to cover their hurts, and this leads to stress-borne illness. West: Women deal with anger different than men in that many women tend to have seething anger that we feel is not always ladylike to express. Sometimes I think holding on to that anger, … [it ends up] being medically manifested. So, Ocean is certainly one of those people who goes within. Then she acts out. You can have the other extreme of people who are blurting all over the place at people and every time they get a pinch, they’re going to hit somebody back. I think you have the two extremes and the two sort of moderate your life and the ups and downs. Then, faith comes in again and that circle of friends and family that I talked about. Cherise: Cheryl, what’s the most rewarding part of your work? West: Creating a new world that surprises me, and then certainly, the external validation when someone says, “This is my life that she wrote about,” and they feel validated because of that. Cherise: There is purpose behind our work. We may not know who’s affected, but when we get those little comments, it’s confirmation that we’re doing the right thing. West: It certainly does help. ‘Cause if you don’t get criticism you’re not doing your job as a writer. You get an ample amount of that. You really must look at that as part of doing your job well. Cherise: Is there anything else you’d like to share that I haven’t asked already? West: As Ocean does in this series, persevere. You have something to offer the world. I believe every human being put here is a teacher to someone else so it’s our obligation, our responsibility, our gift to the world to be the best that we can be. Check out the latest episode of Diary of a Single Mom at http://www.pic.tv/singlemom. Interviews
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See Cherise at LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE...A Luncheon for Ladies
Posted by Cherise on Monday, February 22, 2010 at 12:02am
WHAT: First Annual Ladies Luncheon hosted by C&C Creative Parties and Events WHO: Ladies 18 & older WHEN: March 13, 2010, 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm WHERE: Holiday Inn Express, 2485 George Busbee Parkway, Kennesaw, GA COST: $5.00 early pricing through March 10, $7 at the door DETAILS: Lunch included Two speakers (Cherise Bopape & Charlotte Bailey) Open panel discussion Door prizes Vendors Cherise's Events/News
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