Intimate Conversation with
Carmela Hicks Gordon
Virtual Branch of Sistahfriend Book Club
Virtual Branch of Sistahfriend Book Club
Carmela Hicks Gordon is the site leader for the Virtual Branch of Sistahfriend Book Club. She also is a contributing writer for the BookClub University Magazine started by fellow panelist TaNisha Webb and a reviewer for the Book Referees started by fellow panelist Orsayor Simmons. She enjoys reading and volunteers in her community as a tutor to help children to read and write and firmly believes if you can read, you go anywhere and do any and everything!
BPM: How was your bookclub or reading group created? Give us your history.
The SistahFriend Book Club was founded by Tasha Martin in 2004 in Columbia, SC. It was decided a little over a year ago to branch out and form a virtual branch where I am the site leader. The SistahFriend Book Club is a live and online reading and networking group for women that focuses on reading and discussing books by or about African-Americans and promoting unity through women empowerment and fellowship.
Online book club members drop in 24 hours a day on our forum, where lively book discussions and sistah bonding occurs all day. Chats are held Monday evenings at 9pm.
BPM: What is the vision for SistahFriend Book Club?
Our vision for the SistahFriend Book Club is to be a source of promotion and support for African-American literature by authors of various cultural backgrounds and to build intimate discussion groups everywhere, appreciating and discussing quality literature as well as the power of unity among women.
BPM: What do you love the most about reading? Who are your favorite authors?
Reading is relaxing. Reading is therapeutic. Reading is definitely fundamental. My favorite authors are Rickey Teems, ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Victoria Christopher Murray, Kimberla Lawson Roby, Rhonda McKnight, Patricia Haley, Brian W. Smith, Trice Hickman
BPM: How does your group serve your community or the literary industry?
The virtual branch contributes to the literary industry by reading AA authors as well as we do a community service event. This year the virtual branch decided to help someone who is ill and has no income. We also will be purchasing a book to donate for a child for Christmas.
Thank you,
Carmela Hicks Gordon
SistahFriend Book Club Website: http://www.sistahfriend.com
