The Week That Was (the debate that wasn't?)

I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating. One of the nicest things about being a writer is the people I get to meet, either in person at an event like the Romance Slam Jam, or simply on the Internet. I can't say I've had overwhelming success with book clubs - a good number of them have ignored my invitations to provide them with review copies - but one whom I've forged a nice relationship with is the Cozy Corner of Elegance Book Club in the Huntsville, Alabama, area. They have just unveiled their web site. Stop on by and say hello to club president Renee Booker and the rest of the ladies! (Be sure to tell 'em Bettye sent you!).

One of the things on my to-do list in this brief period of free time between contract obligations (I've given myself the date of December 2nd - the 1st is my anniversary - to start work on my 2010 book, a sequel to The People Next Door) is to see what I can do with some incomplete story ideas that have been floating around since before the presidential candidates declared their intent to run, in other words, a long, long time. I'm going to try my hand at storyboarding. Maybe that will unleash those missing ingredients.

Speaking of ingredients, it's time to resume Pick Your Favorite, your choice of two versions of the same song. I'm gonna go waaaaay back this week. When I first heard this lovely song by the Main Ingredient, I had no idea it was a cover of a song penned by the late, great talent Curtis Mayfield and recorded by his group, The Impressions, back around 1961.



The Impressions




I love both versions, but the one by the Main Ingredient is just so dreamy and romantic, I'll have to give that one the edge. (Incidentally, even though the accompanying visuals on You Tube show Cuba Gooding, Sr., he was not the lead singer on this song and not even a member of the group at the time it was recorded. Donald McPherson was the original lead singer of The Main Ingredient. Tragically, he became ill with leukemia and died soon afterward, barely 30 and having recorded just three R&B hits with the group. What a lovely voice he had. (If anybody's keeping score, group member Tony Silvestri (the fair-skinned brother), passed away from multiple myeloma in 2006.)

The Main Ingredient (with the late Donald McPherson on lead vocals)

So share with us, which of these two versions do you enjoy the most, and why?

I'll be parked in front of the TV tonight, watching Barack Obama debate . . . (himself? an empty chair? Or will McCain show up at the last minute, like somebody's white damn knight?). And I hope to heaven that people recognize John McCain's grandstanding for what it is.

Have a great weekend!