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I Love New York… food

Posted by Bryan T. Clark
 June 11, 2018
  · 10 Comments

This month I waited until after my attendance at the 30th LAMBDA Literary Awards on June 4, to write my blog. I wasn’t sure if I would be writing a congratulatory blog about winning ‘Best Gay Romance’ for my book Come to the Oaks or writing about how just being a Lammy finalist was all that mattered. Home from the trip, without the Lammy award in hand, I am sad I didn’t win, but I can say I had a really great trip.

Some say, ‘you’re only as good as the company you keep’. Others say ‘there is no sincerer love than the love of food’. Well, this trip I experienced both, great company and delicious food. I’ve never been to New York, so I had both landmarks and food on my agenda of things to experience while there; things that are important to me.

In three days, my husband, Brian, his parents, and my mother, covered a lot of ground and ate our way from Manhattan to Harlem! Since Central Park was a must, our first day we walked the fifteen blocks from the hotel to the park. Along the way, we visited the ‘Top of the Rock’ for a view of the city before arriving at Central Park. To my surprise, the park was bigger than I imagined, filled with ponds, lakes, bike trails, sprawling lawns and luscious foliage.

My agenda was not the park at all, but the hot dog. From the moment we landed in New York, I had been seeing hot dog carts, and heard a New York hot dog was like no other dog. It took about a half hour in the park before I found the perfect hot dog stand. One hundred percent beef and eleven inches… well what’s not to like about that. From the first bite, I realized it was just another dog. Disappointed, I didn’t let it spoil the fact I was sitting in Central Park eating a wiener.

That night, all dolled up, we had dinner at the Cock and Bull restaurant before taking in our Broadway show, The Lion King. And wow, was that a show! Stunning!

The following day, by seven-thirty-a.m., we were ready to hit the subway for our nine-a.m. tour of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Unfortunately, the tour started at eight and left without us! No worries though, we caught the ferry and did the self-guided tour.

Every bit as grand as in the movies, our Lady Liberty commanded our attention as the ferry drew closer to her. Just between you and me, I imagined her to be a little taller. This was a very full day for all of us, which included a slice of the world-famous New York-style pizza they call pie. LOVED IT! I folded it in half and devoured it.

After that great pie, it was on to Ground Zero for an emotional tour which came to an end at the reflecting pools. This was such a powerful experience and it invoked a wide range of emotions in all of us.

High on my bucket list was our next stop that evening for dinner. Sylvia’s, the Queen of Soul Food in Harlem, was just a twenty-five-dollar Uber ride from Manhattan. As soon as you walk into the dining room, you know your experience will be good. The dining room was buzzing with people from all walks of life; from the African American older ladies in big church hats, to the Jewish young man on a date with a strikingly beautiful Asian woman. With Home Style Fried Chicken with Collard Greens & Mac and Cheese, this was not the time to people watch. Damn that chicken was crispy and juicy, and the cornbread made my toes curl!


The next day started with a fresh air walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, stretching across from Brooklyn to Manhattan. Afterwards, we lunched at Rockefeller Center, and had a glorious taste from a five-pound slice of New York cheese cake! Nope, I’ve never had cheese cake that scrumptious.

As evening fell upon us, at last, the moment for the event we were in the city for, had arrived. It was time for the 30th LAMBDA Literary Awards to start. Well, because we already know how that turned out, let’s move on to life after the ceremony!

For three days, I had been eyeing an Ice Cream truck parked just down the street from the hotel. On the side of the truck, big letters proclaimed New York Style Ice Cream. I was running out of time and since losing the award hours earlier, I needed comfort, real comfort! Still in my tux, with Brian at my side, we headed to Times Square in search of the truck. Brian ordered a chocolate sundae, and I had vanilla ice cream with Oreo cookies and chopped peanuts. The cost of this comfort fix was a whopping twenty-three dollars, and yes it made me feel better!

In three days, we saw everything on my bucket list and then some. It was a trip that was as exciting as my vacations in Greece, Thailand, or the Amalfi coast. The rich texture of people, amazing buildings, and fantastic food is like nothing else in the United States. For those of you that are on the fence about seeing New York, go. I promise you won’t be sorry.

Now it’s time to lose the three pounds I gained and return to work and get this next book finished for you. With a week’s worth of mail and emails to catch up on, Escaping Camp Roosevelt may have to wait until next week!

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Another Freebie

Posted by Bryan T. Clark
 May 3, 2018
  · 7 Comments

Hip-hip hooray! Today is the official release day for my fourth novel, Diego’s Secret. I can’t believe it has been twelve months in the making and that it is finally here! If you love stories about family dynamics, you will love this book!

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And the Winner is…

Posted by Bryan T. Clark
 April 18, 2018
  · 2 Comments

HOORAY! We are happy to announce the winners for my latest giveaway, I CAN KEEP A SECRET!

The Winners are:

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Falling in Love All Over Again

Posted by Bryan T. Clark
 April 4, 2018
  · 5 Comments

With an early Easter out of the way, I am ready to welcome Spring. It is the time of year when I find it increasingly hard to write as I stare out my window enjoying everything that is in full bloom. The bees and hummingbirds are fighting over the jasmine in the yard. The lilies and irises are popping up in the flowerbeds. It is the time of year that I fall deeply in love with my backyard all over again.

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Can you Keep a Secret?

Posted by Bryan T. Clark
 February 28, 2018
  · 2 Comments

My newest novel, Diego’s Secret is set for release by Cornbread Publishing in less than sixty days!  I couldn’t be more excited over my fourth novel. In fact, I am so excited for you to read it, that I’m giving copies of the book away.  Since you are already a member of the Reader’s Lounge, all you have to do to enter is say ‘I can keep a secret’.

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Historical Fiction Book Giveaway

Posted by Bryan T. Clark
 February 19, 2018
  · No Comments

Today, I have a fun surprise that I’d like to share with you.

I’ve teamed up with 30+fantastic authors to give away a huge collection of historical fiction & family saga novels to 2 lucky winners, PLUS a brand new eReader to the Grand Prize winner!

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We Like Free Stuff

Posted by Bryan T. Clark
 January 19, 2018
  · 16 Comments

I know this might be a little personal, but I have to ask. What’s your preference?

No! Not sexually, but what’s your preference in reading? Are you a Hardback Lover, a Paperback Junkie, or a Devoted E-reader? Are we talking E-reader, Kindle, Nook or something else?

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Happy New Year

Posted by Bryan T. Clark
 January 3, 2018
  · 10 Comments

Did we really just come through a whole year? Is it really time to shout from the rooftops, Happy New Year? If your 2017 was anything like mine, you’re shouting louder than an Unbalanced Religious Freak on a street corner! This past year we’ve seen it all, at least I hope so. We have experienced hurricanes that pounded Texas and the East coast, earthquakes in Mexico, California Wildfires, an attempt to institute a ban on Muslims from entering the United States, transgender rights rolled back to Pre-Obama times and an assault on health care for some of the poorest people in our Country. As if this wasn’t enough, we’ve witnessed white supremacy marches and rallies like we haven’t seen since the 50’s and 60’s.

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Tis the Season

Posted by Bryan T. Clark
 December 15, 2017
  · 6 Comments

Our winner this year for the new Kindle Fire 7 is Becca. Congratulations Becca and may it bring you hours of enjoyment in the year to come.

Fear not, if you did not win this time, I have several Kindle Fire 7’s that I will be giving away in the New Year. Watch for the next giveaway in the Reader’s Lounge newsletter, and just maybe, your name will be announced next!

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Joy to the World

Posted by Bryan T. Clark
 December 6, 2017
  · 8 Comments

Behold! Congratulations to all of you that not only survived Thanksgiving, but also the legendary Black Friday! Here, at home, Lil B (my husband) and I spent it with my sister and her family. Mom was here as well, but reeling from a cold, so she was a little quiet. Never the less, the house was full, messy, and loud the entire weekend!

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