Sistas With Stories - A Book Club For Us

Amazing Opportunity at Barnes and Noble!

2006-06-24T21:42:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I published my first edition of my urban romance novel, Broken Vows, on Lulu in October 2005. When I first began , I created my own cover using Microsoft Paint, and took my own author pic for the back of the book with my camera phone. To say the least, it was very amateurish.

I didn't think my book would go far. I just wanted to test the waters, and see what all the hype was about regarding Print on Demand internet selfpublishing. Sistas With Stories bookclub decided to select the book for the monthly meeting, and I presented it at a high end Cigar Bar and Restaurant in our town of Baton Rouge.

Hearing a large group of women argue and debate over the characters in my book, speaking about them as though they were real, gave me such joy and elation. I couldn't believe it took me this long to get this far. I decided to get serious. I hired a professional photographer and two models to create my vision for my new book cover.

In the meantime, my daughter had mentioned to her summer camp teacher at Athletes in Motion Gym that her mother was an author. The director of the summer camp activities contacted me and asked me to come to their gym to speak to the Book Club workshop about publishing my book. I mentioned to her that my book was comprised of adult themes and material, and she asked that I not let the kids thumb through it or hold it, but just speak to them about the process and not a lot about the contents. I decided to let them see the old "safe" cover, and spoke to them about living out their dreams and not fearing rejection when it came to writing. I stressed that if you want to be a good writer, you must be an excellent READER.

When the hour was over, and I had taken a number of very good questions, the children fell to the ground and began to bow to me, yelling, "ALL HAIL THE AUTHOR!!! ALL HAIL THE AUTHOR!!" No kidding. I have proof!

My book cover was finally done, and my second revised edition of my book was ready for mass consumption. I finally decided to buy the global distribution option. Awesome choice for me. I set a "Google Alert" to let me know if my name popped up on the internet anywhere new. Suddenly, I was being featured in websites in the UK, on Barnes and Noble.com, on Amazon.com, etc. Great!

Shicola Deal, an amazingly supportive woman in my book club mentioned it to the CRM at a Barnes and Noble in Lafayette, LA (an hours drive away from my city!). "Thank you girl!" The CRM contacted me, telling me that he would be interested in featuring me as one of the local authors in his 2006 Summer Book Fest! Would I be interested? Hmmm... let me think about it!!

These are a few pictures of my props that I brought to Barnes and Noble while I was still at home, thinking about the big day. I printed up a three page excerpt of a steamy scene in my book. My thoughts were that some people would be intimidated about coming up to the table and looking at the book because they would feel pressured to buy. How could I approach them and give them a teaser? Why not the excerpt!? This is my number one tip in book signings! Print up a short excerpt and GET OUT FROM BEHIND YOUR TABLE. Approach people and give them a copy. Then leave them alone. They will inevitably go off in a corner and read the handout, and if they are your customer, they will come and approach your table because you have already made friendly conversation with them.

We finally made it to Barnes and Noble. My husband help me set up my display.

There was a decent group of people in the store today, but definitely not a large group of my target audience - black women within the age range of 18-55. I didn't let that stop me. I purposefully made my display so that I would have a hard time sitting down behind my books. I noticed that the other five authors that were there were pretty much stationed behind their tables for most of the day. I worked the store, passing out my excerpt and business cards.

This was my first signing, and like I said, the store did not hold a large portion of my target audience, but I sold five books today, and I am happy. Walking around the store engaging people really sold my books for me, and many people said they didn't have money with them right then, but would but it online with the info from my card.

The CRM, Mr. Gregory Mouton, was awesome to deal with. I intend to send him a care package (a gift basket of some sort) next week to say thank you for the opportunity. He told me that he will put in a good word for me with the CRM in Baton Rouge (where I KNOW I will sell a ton of books - that is my audience!), and he was impressed by my professionalism, my outgoing nature, and my preparedness with my props.

I also met an amazing local author by the name of Jeff LeJeune, who is the author of THE FINAL CHASE. He sold a number of books today. He writes about fantasy, and was very popular. Check him out at www.sterlinghousepublisher.com .

Today was amazing for me, and I can not WAIT for my next signing in Baton Rouge. I will keep you updated. If you have any questions for me, let me know!

Naiomi Pitre

5th Meeting of SWS!

2006-06-04T18:13:00.000-07:00

Book Choice: This Bitter Earth

Author: Bernice McFadden

Date: To Be Determined

Early June

Hostess: Ms. Erica Crawford

Thank you, and see you there!

Click here to buy the paperback version of the book starting at $11.20!!

4th Official Sistas With Stories Book Club Meeting!

2006-06-04T17:18:00.000-07:00

Hostess: Tara Mars-Lorraine

Book Choice for May 2006: Sugar by Bernice McFadden

From Publishers Weekly- With her eponymous anti-heroine, debut novelist McFadden breaks the mold of a venerable stereotype. Here, the hooker with a heart of gold is instead a hooker with a past so tarnished no amount of polishing can change her fate. As a baby, Sugar is abandoned by her mother and raised by a trio of prostitutes who run an Arkansas bordello. Turning tricks at age 12, and leaving town four years later to try her luck in St. Louis and then Detroit, brings more degradation, along with an ever-hardening heart. Upon her mother's death in 1955, Sugar is willed a modest home in Bigelow, Ark., but when she moves into town, and supports herself the only way she knows, the female population rises in wrath against her. All except Pearl, Sugar's next-door neighbor, who more than a decade ago lost her beloved daughter, Jude, to a vicious rapist/murderer. Pearl is struck by Sugar's uncanny likeness to Jude, and is determined to become Sugar's friend in spite of vocal disapproval. Although the two women are opposites in nearly every way, they bring out the best in each other: Sugar convinces Pearl to loosen up and accompany her to a Saturday night juke joint, and Sugar promises to go to church for two months of Sundays. Hypocritical gossip spreads among the townsfolk and tension grows when it turns out that nearly every married man in Bigelow pays a visit to Sugar, leaving the apparently frigid wives planning to run Sugar out of town. Pearl gives it her best shot to transform Sugar, but both women's painful pasts come back to haunt them in a crescendo of violent reenactments, betrayals and surprising revelations leading to a poignant, bittersweet ending. While hampered by a forced and compressed backstory, a surfeit of maudlin moments and some overwriting that is inadvertently funny, this ambitious first novel will appeal to readers who can appreciate Sugar's determination to come to terms with her past and fashion a viable future. Agent, James Vines. (Feb.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

The Food: The Outback Steakhouse

The event was held at Outback Steakhouse on Acadian Thruway in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their meals, which included ribs, coconut shrimp, baked sweet potatoes, and salad.

Once our meals were ordered, we began to discuss this month's selection. Everyone was in total agreement that this book was an amazing read. We discussed how much we each loved Joe, Pearl's husband, and that his character seemed to be like the good old time ideal husband from back in the day. One of the truly good men left in the world. We laughed as we recalled the moment when Joe came home from his trip to find the "new and improved Pearl". All of us were anxious, anticipating that Joe would be angry and perhaps even strike out at Pearl. We were relieved when he embraced her and laughed. We discused how Sugar seemed to be living self-fulfilled prophecy. It was as if she didn't believe that she deserved more, so she never tried to excel to more in life. Many of us were eager to read the sequel, This Bitter Earth, so that we could answer some unanswered questions about Joe's past.

Some of SWS' favorite moments in the book:(WARNING! If you have not read this book, the following comments are spoilers, so do not read on if you do not want to know key points of the story.)* Joe's return home to find Pearl made up ala' Sugar!* Sugar walking in front of her windows naked.* The moment when Sugar walked to the front of the church and could have really let the congregation know about what their preacher was doing outside of the church doors!* When Joe discovered the picture and realized Sugar was his child after all. * Seth screaming for Sugar outside of her door, then seeing Lappy Clayton come over and Sugar open the door to him.* Pearl going with Sugar to the blues club, dressed up with baby powder on her face!* The graphic depiction of the horrible crime Lappy committed against June.
This was definitely a book that kept us talking, laughing, and pondering during our meeting. Do we relate to any of the characters? Were we once "Sugar's" ourselves in our lives? Yes! Did we think Pearl should have been friends with Sugar in the beginning, bringing this wild woman into her home? How in the world did Joe last, living years without sex from his wife? Why didn't Sugar stay with Mary and Mercy when she had the chance? Why didn't Sugar tell Lappy to leave her alone, and run off with Seth? Yes, he had threatened the rest of the family, but she could have let Joe know. Joe would have protected her. Would we really want to know all of our friends and families dirty secrets? Once Pearl knew about the many men who visited Sugar nightly, she looked at everyone differently. Would we rather not know? Probably.

Our next meeting will be hosted in July by Ms. Erica Crawford -the book will be the sequel to Sugar, This Bitter Earth.The exact day and time for our meeting is to be determined.

4th Meeting of SWS

2006-04-17T12:11:00.000-07:00

Book Choice: Sugar

Author: Bernice McFadden

Date: Saturday, May 27th, 2006

Hostess: Tara Mars-Lorraine

The hostess was originally choosing This Bitter Earth by Bernice McFadden, but seeing as how that is the sequel to Sugar, she decided to have the book club read Sugar first.

Thank you, and see you there!

Click here to buy the paperback version of the book starting at $10.78!!

3rd Official Meeting of Sistas With Stories Book Club!

2006-04-09T11:42:00.000-07:00

Hostess: Naiomi Pitre

Book Choice for March 2006: Broken Vows by Naiomi Pitre

Review by Chris Williams of Weekly AA News in Mandeville, LA -
In a refreshing novel who's story is rarely told, we meet your average African-American Christian couple, Dominic and Yvonne Long. Dominic's underlying self-loathing because of his unemployed status causes tensions to run high in the Long household. Jealousy runs rampant, and after an argument becomes physical, the couple experiences a short separation - two weeks to be exact. During this time, Dominic commits adultery with Yvonne's envious receptionist, Sandra, while Yvonne runs to the comfort of her close friend (and secretary) Julie, who happens to be white. Yvonne and Julie have their first lesbian encounter, and everyone's emotions spiral out of control. Once they have reconciled, things seem to calm down - until Sandra reveals that she is expecting, and it is Dominic's child! Yvonne reacts as any wife would - spitting in Sandra's face and keying her car. By the end of the book, Yvonne seems to be coming to terms with the situation, and resolves to save her marriage by being the bigger person. Her secret rendevous with Julie is never revealed. The supporting characters to this unconventional dramatic novel include, but are not limited to, an old grade school friend of Yvonne's, Jamal, who is not only gorgeous but is also a successful criminal lawyer as well, and has obvious designs on Yvonne; Julie's weed smoking, club hopping, gay male friends, Kendall and Dietrick; and Sharon Coldstone, the attractive advertising agent who would love to help Dominic with his entrepreneurial dreams to open his own Christian clothing store. You won't want to miss this page turner. I read the book in three days - no small feat for me! I was so enraptured by the storyline, and when I read the final page, I found myself wanting to phone the author to ask when part two would be finished! I anxiously anticipate our next adventure with these endearing characters. Ms. Pitre manages to speak with such a genuine, real voice, that the characters leap from the page and seem to become your closest friends and most hated enemies. You will probably find at least one character with traits similiar to someone in your own life. Three words of advice for you that you would be wise to heed:

"READ THIS BOOK!".

The Food: Delicious and Decadent Appetizers, Dessert, and Wine

The event was held at Churchill's Restaurant and Cigar Bar at 6:00pm in Downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

We all met and enjoyed the wonderful spread. While everyone indulged in oysters, crepes, chicken wings, and more, Debbie Knatt-Jones introduced everyone to eachother and explained her connection to everyone in attendance.

Once everyone was introduced, Naiomi Pitre read the first chapter of the next book in this series.

Soon, the heated discussion was underway. General consesus was that everyone loved the book. Many people mentioned that they had read the book in just a few days.

There were plenty of debates. Some hot issues were:

* Should Yvonne have ended her friendship with Jamal, knowing how uncomfortable her husband felt about it? Is it fair to expect her to end such a long friendship? Should she have shown her husband more respect for his feelings?

* Why was Dominic so insecure? Should he have found other work while he was building his business, so that he wouldn't feel so worthless and self-pitying?

* Would Dominic have cheated with Sharon Coldstone eventually, if given the chance? Had Dominic cheated before?

* Was either Yvonne or Dominic more wrong in their infidelity? Why was it that Dominic was "found out" but Yvonne wasn't? Do women hide their "dirt" better than men?

* How realistic is it that Yvonne would forgive Dominic and accept his child, let alone befriend the woman who had slept with her husband? Did we know anyone personally who had dealt with this same situation? Would you give up your man, your livelihood, your life, everything you worked for together, due to your husband's cheating ways? Would you stay? Would you treat his illegitimate child badly?

* Is Yvonne now considered "gay"? What about Julie? What makes Julie "more gay" than Yvonne? Would Yvonne probably have another sexual relationship with a woman? Would Julie?

* Would you ever consider sleeping with another woman? Why does it seem like in the African-American community, the lesbian story is not told? Why is the topic still taboo, or is it? Where are the "lipstick lesbians", and why do we see more Black
"butch" lesbians in the media, when we do see any gay representation?

* Should Sandra have named the baby something besides Dominic Jr.? Should she have reserved that name for the child Yvonne and Dominic could have had?

Naiomi revealed that a lot of the novel was drawn from personal experience, along with experiences that she has been privy to within her close circle of friends and family. She mentioned that her ex-husband and members of her family had gone through many of the situations in the book. The second part of Broken Vows will be released soon, thanks to many suggestions of possible storylines - given by members of Sistas With Stories. A few examples of ways to continue the story were as follows:

* Sandra's new boyfriend, Malcolm, should be a drug dealer. Yvonne and Malcolm should end up together.

* Julie and Dominic's cousin should begin dating, and she should reveal Yvonne and her own secret relationship to him. He would then disclose this revelation to Dominic.

* Yvonne should go back into the hospital, where Sandra just gave birth, and beat the hell out of her right there, saying, "Since you were in this same position when you were with my husband, I'm gonna take care of you while you're still in this position!"

Final comments to SWS from Naiomi Pitre -

"I really need to thank all of you who came to this book club meeting. I was honored and privledged to hear a large group of Black women discussing my book as though the characters were real, and their situations were truly happening. This meeting was the culmination of my lifelong dream to be a successful writer. When I published the book, that was a wonderful moment. But it pales in comparison to knowing that people have read your book and sincerely enjoyed it. The fact that we were able to have one of our most heated discussions ever, over my own story, just blew me away. My heart grew so large in my chest as you all were debating different points, I didn't know if I'd be able to bear it. You have no idea how important this was to me, and you all made it amazing. It couldn't have gone any better if I could have planned it all myself, and again, thank you, and be on the lookout for the next book, continuing the story of Dominic and Yvonne Long. You asked for it - and you're going to get it!"

Our next meeting will be held in May, and will be hosted by Ms. Tara Mars-Lorraine.

Her book choice is Sugar by Bernice McFadden.

3rd Meeting of SWS

2006-03-05T20:09:00.000-08:00

Book Choice: Broken Vows

Author: SWS's own Naiomi Pitre

Date: Saturday April 8th, 2006 @ 6:00pmWhere: CHURCHILL'S IN THE ATRIUM!100 France Street (Inside of Belle of Baton Rouge Atrium)Baton Rouge, LA

Hostess: Mrs. Naiomi Pitre

(who will be signing books by request)

"An Evening to Remember"

MENU

Spinach Salad - Fresh spinach salad tossed with a unique sweet and spicy bacon dressing and large delicious mushrooms.

Oysters En Brochette - Baked fresh oysters stuffed with pine nuts, rolled in leek leaves and bacon. Topped with creamy lemon butter sauce.

Shrimp Cocktails - Jumbo shrimp served with cocktail and Creole Mustard Sauce.

Eggplant Crab Cake - Served with creamy lemon butter sauce and chives.

Cannelloni Gerard - Crepes Stuffed with fresh ground beef, imported cheeses and spinach. Baked and served with tomato alfredo sauce.

Stuffed Mushrooms with Cheese Sauce

Carpaccio With Asparagus - Asparagus rolled in thinly sliced tenderloin steak served with capers, shallots, and olive oil.

Italian Meatballs

Stuffed Artichoke Bottoms - Artichoke bottoms stuffed with Crabmeat and white wine cheese sauce.

Chicken Wings

DESSERT will consist of the following:

Louise Apple Delight

Banana Foster

Petit Fours

Profitterrolle Au Chocolat

BEVERAGES being served:

Assorted sodas

Coffee

Tea

White Wine

Red Wine

YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS ONE! PEOPLE WILL BE TALKING!

FOOD AND BEVERAGES WILL BE PROVIDED!!!!

(* Please RSVP as soon as possible, and only RSVP of you KNOW you will be attending.

This event is being catered and need an accurate head count as soon as possible.)

Thank you, and see you there!

Click here to buy the paperback version of the book - choose the "PRINTED" option and choose UPS ground shipping to receive your book within 4 days!!

2nd Official Sistas With Stories Book Club Meeting!

2006-03-05T17:15:00.002-08:00

Hostess: Wanda George

Book Choice for February 2006: My Soul To Keep by Tananarive Due

From Kirkus Reviews- Top-flight soft-horror novel by Miami-based columnist Due (The Between, 1995). Some 500 years ago, young Dawit of Lalibela, in Abyssinia, was inducted into the 52-member group called The Immortals by the master Khaldun, who had drunk the blood of Christ. Still looking 30, Dawit (now known as David) lives in Miami, his Khaldun-transfused blood so filled with T-cells that no disease or injury can kill him. He is, for all practical purposes, immortal. He's had many careers. He's also had many lovers, wives, and children, and watched age overtake them while he remained young. Today, his daughter Rosalie, from a liaison in New Orleans in the 1920s, lies infirm in a Chicago nursing home. David stops off to administer euthanasia. Then he returns to Jessica, his wife of six years, a Miami reporter who's just started research on a book about disgraceful conditions in nursing homes. The Immortals think themselves above humans, so when David feels threatened by Jessica's research he kills her fellow researcher, Peter. Although he's killed before to protect his identity, his love of Jessica makes him feel, for the first time, guilty for what he's done. David realizes that he doesn't, for once, want to outlive and, to protect his secret, abandon his human family. Will Jessica discover that her husband's immortal? Will he give his blood to her and their five-year-old daughter, Kira, so that they can always be with him? Suspense tightens neatly with modest melodrama but with a big sense of family life. Due is careful to portray David as both hero (he's charming and talented, polylingual, and a published author) and threat. He is, essentially, an alien trying to mimic a life that can never really be his. A sequel seems likely, though it may be hard to keep up the gripping originality here. ($65,000 ad/promo; author tour) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
The Food: Salad, Veggies, Fruits, Garlic Bread, and Lasagna

The event began at the George household at 6:00pm. We met together in the kitchen, following the delicious smell of lasagna and garlic bread. The spread was definitely impressive.

Choosing to stay in the kitchen, we began to discuss this month's book. It was general consesus that this book was a refreshingly different read for most of us. Although it may not have been the typical book choice for most of the group, we all loved the read.

Some of SWS' favorite moments in the book:(WARNING! If you have not read this book, the following comments are spoilers, so do not read on if you do not want to know key points of the story.)* David attempting to perform the ritual on Jessica and Kira.* The original description of Khaldun performing the ritual on the 52 followers.* The sensual romance scenes between David and Jessica.* Mahmoud's graphic beating and disposal of his body. * The Searchers coming to Mahmoud's aid and telling him to return to Ethiopia.* Alex being thrown off her balcony.* Jessica waking up to find her dead cat staring her in the face.
We also discussed who should play the main characters in the story if the book was made into a movie. For Jessica, Nia Long would be our favorite pick. Blair Underwood was mentioned as a possible actor to play David (Dawit). Dela Reese, Lynne Whitfield, and Jackee' were suggested to play Jessica's mother, Bea. Vanessa Williams of Soul Food was our pick for Alex. This was definitely a book that kept us talking, laughing, and pondering during our meeting. Would any of us choose immortality if given the chance? We weren't sure. Could we watch our loved ones die around us? Would we be able to set ourselves apart and seperate ourselves from the world? Also, why did Peter keep his love life so secret from his good friend, Jessica? We spoke about people in our own lives who did the same thing. A couple of us decided we didn't like Jessica very much, and that she made a lot of stupid decisions during the book. We also didn't understand why David wasn't more careful about revealing his secrets when he knew that Mahmoud was watching them. Our next meeting will be hosted in April by Mrs. Naiomi Pitre -the book is her own first publication, Broken Vows. Due to our treasurer not being able to attend this meeting, dues were not collected. No word was given on our dayspa plans at this time.

2nd Meeting of SWS

2006-02-07T23:03:00.000-08:00

Book Choice: My Soul To Keep

Author: Tananarive Due

Date: Saturday March 4th, 2006 @ 6:00pm CST

Hostess: Mrs. Wanda George

Members, please attempt to bring your $10.00 monthly club dues to this meeting. Dues will be collected by club Treasurer, Shicola Deal.

We will also be deciding on our ultimate 2006 goal for the club dues at this meeting. Come with ideas!

Thank you, and see you there!

Click here to buy the paperback version of the book starting at $10.85!!

1st Official Meeting of SWS

2006-02-04T22:16:00.000-08:00

Hostess: Debbie Knatt-Jones

Book Choice for January 2006: The Darkest Child by Delores Phillips

From Publishers Weekly - Phillips's searing debut reveals the poverty, injustices and cruelties that one black family suffers—some of this at the hands of its matriarch—in a 1958 backwater Georgia town. Thirteen-year-old Tangy Mae Quinn loves her mother, Rozelle, but knows there's "something wrong" with her—which, as it soon becomes clear, is an extreme understatement. As the novel opens, Rozelle is getting ready to give birth to her 10th child (by a 10th father) and thinking about forcing the obedient Tangy Mae, who longs to stay in school, to take over her housecleaning job. Using a large cast of powerfully drawn characters, Phillips captures life in a town that serves as a microcosm of a world on the brink of change. There's Junior, the perpetual optimist, who wants to teach people to read and write so they can understand the injustices of Jim Crow laws and the Ku Klux Klan; Hambone, a here today/gone tomorrow rabble-rouser whose anger against white men and their laws inflames those around him; and Miss Pearl, the only true friend to the Quinn family. At the dark heart of the story is Rozelle, the beautiful mixed-race head of the Quinn family whose erratic mood swings, heart-wrenching cruelty and deep emotional distress leave an indelible mark on all her children. Through all the violence and hardship breathes the remarkable spirit of Tangy Mae, who is wise beyond her years; forced to do unspeakable things by her mother and discriminated against by the town's whites, she manages to survive and to rescue a younger sister from the same fate. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The Food: Chips, Dips, and Cheesecake

The event began at the Jones household at 6:00pm. With childcare graciously provided by Ms. Denise on the second floor, the downstairs living room was open for adult interaction. We congregated together in the kitchen and complimented Debbie on her exquisite culinary skills.

Next, we sat in a circle to discuss this impressive debut novel by psychiatric nurse, Delores Phillips. It was general consesus that this book was incredible, and often outrageous. We all loved the read. We even had our very own "Tangy Mae" in the group (much to her dismay)!

Some of SWS' favorite moments in the book:(WARNING! If you have not read this book, the following comments are spoilers, so do not read on if you do not want to know key points of the story.)* Rozelle's revelation to her only friend Pearl that one of her youngest children, Edna, was actually fathered by Ms. Pearl's husband!* Rozelle throwing her infant daughter, Judy, off of the front porch to her death.* The nightmare that is the farmhouse, and the beating Tangy received from Chadlow within its' walls.* Rozelle's unbelieveable actions which resulted in her second oldest daughter, Tarabelle's tragic death by fire.* The many torments suffered by Rozelle's deaf daughter, Martha Jean, by her mother.* Tarabelle's frequent abortion horrors.
We also discussed who should play the main characters in the story if the book was made into a movie. For Rozelle, Jasmine Guy would be our favorite pick. Ving Rhames and Bernie Mac were jokingly mentioned as possible actors to play Tangy Mae's dark-skinned father, Crow.This was definitely a book that kept us talking, laughing, and gasping in disbelief throughout our meeting. Everyone also decided that we needed to put Rozelle in the middle of our circle and beat the mess out of her!Our next meeting will be hosted in March by Mrs. Wanda George -the book is to be determined.Stay tuned for details on the SWS' goal for 2006 in regards to where our club dues should be directed - some suggestions were a trip to New York to see Oprah's broadway rendition of The Color Purple, a group cruise, a SWS sponsored Christmas party, and a dayspa weekend retreat!