I got an article published in a major American newspaper on Wednesday July 12th 2006. The piece "TV Still Stereotyping Black Women" was published in the Phildelphia Inquirer. I am so excited about this! Its just great because this newspaper is a major American newspaper in a major American city. The article was basically an essay about my opinions of American pop culture. My perspective is far too often black women are treated as inferior to white women. My article simply pointed out the truth.

Its so hard to believe I did not post anything since December 2005. Anyhow, I am back and I have some interesting information to share. My book "You Don't Know Me" is currently in 69 yes 69 libraries worldwide!!! The book also is in five countries and on three continents. Also, the National Library of Australia has ordered a copy, as well as the state libraries of Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania have ordered a copy of my book as well. The book will be in the Christchurch public library in New Zealand and also in the Aukland public library as well. Its just very exciting that people around the globe will get a chance to read my book. But now its time to move on. "You Don't Know Me" my first book was a poetry collection and most poetry doesn't tend to sell that well unless the poet is someone that is famous which I am not. I'm moving on to writing some non fiction or fiction now.

Just found out that my book "you don't Know me" was reviewed by Governor General Award winning poet George Elliot Clarke in the Nov.27th 2005 issue of the Chronicle Herald in Halifax Nova Scotia. This is great news! For those of you that don't know the Governor General Award is similar to the American National Book Award in terms of prestige. Anyhow, I am glad that my book was reviewed again and hopefully more good news will follow.

For those of you that want info on my book:

Title: You Don't Know me

Author: Orville Lloyd Douglas

Publisher: TSAR Publications

ISBN:1894770226

Available on Amazon.com/CA/Co.UK/De. as well

Also available on Barnesandnoble.com

I have begun a new assignment I now will be writing book reviews for an urban publication. A friend of mine whom is also a writer told me about this position. I will see how it goes.
My book has actually got reviewed in London England on this website: www.ukblackout.com
I am excited that my book "You Don't Know Me" is reaching readers outside of Canada. Now of course, since my book is a collection of poetry I am not expecting anything earth shattering to occur. Nonetheless this experience has taught me to never give up on my dreams and that if I do have goals that I can achieve them if I work hard enough. Now I do have some new goals but I can't reveal them right now.

Just forgot to mention my name is Orville Douglas for those of you that may be looking up my book here is all the correct info.

YOU DON'T KNOW ME SYNOPSIS:

MY BOOK "YOU DON'T KNOW ME" BASICALLY DEALS WITH MY EXPERIENCES AS A YOUNG BLACK GAY MEN. IT ALSO EXPLORES THROUGH POETRY MY EXPERIENCES AS A MALE HUSTLER, SEXUAL ASSAULT, RAPE, DEPRESSION SUICIDE ATTEMPTS, DRUG ABUSE, FAMILY DISCORD AND DEPRESSION. I AM SO HAPPY MY BOOK IS PUBLISHED BECAUSE NOW FINALLY I BELIEVE THAT YOUNG BLACK GAY MEN WE FINALLY HAVE MORE OF A VOICE TO SPEAK ABOUT OUR OWN EXPERIENCES.


AUTHOR: ORVILLE DOUGLAS

BOOK: YOU DON'T KNOW ME

PUBLISHER: TSAR PUBLICATIONS

Published: MAY 2005

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.COM. BARNESANDNOBLE.COM. INDIGO.CA, POWELL'S BOOKSTORE.COM. ALSO THE BOOK IS AVAILABLE IN AMERICA AT THE GIOVANNI'S ROOM BOOKSTORE, AND THE VARIOUS LAMBDA RISING GAY BOOKSTORES IN AMERICA. ALSO IN THE UNITED KINGDOM MY BOOK IS AVAILABLE ON AMAZON.CO.UK website.

Well, my first book "You Don't Know Me" was published in May 2005 by TSAR Publications in Toronto. It is a collection of poetry written in the confessional style and tone. My poetry book deals with my brutal and honest experiences as a male hustler, drug abuse, suicide attempts,
depression, family discord. Not all of the poems are autobiographical but all of the poems I believe do reflect in some way how I do see and view the world as a whole. Its a nice feeling to finally be published since I am 28 years old. A lot has happened in the last couple of years. I finally graduated York University with a Bachelor Of Arts Degree in History in June 2004. I finally got my first book published, and yet I am still not satisfied. The reason being that "poetry" isn't considered as big a book genre as fiction or non fiction. Also, poetry is considered to be less of a seller than those other genres. However, I am really proud that I finally got my first book published this year I do indeed feel like a writer. My work for those that have read my stuff has been published for the past four years in various publications such as Toronto Star, Now Magazine, Xtra Magazine, Young People's Press and Excalibur newspaper. I have also been published in several African American Magazines such as the now defunct Honey Magazine, Venus Magazine, and Arise Magazine. I managed to get a short fiction story titled "gried" published in the Rhapsody Review, and I got a story published by Youthoutlook.org in San Francisco. So all in all I do feel good about what I have accomplished but I know I can do a lot more. My next goal is to get my memoir published or to get a work of fiction published. For those of you that are checking out my page. CHECK OUT MY BOOK!!!! My book "You Don't Know Me" published by TSAR Publications is available on amazon.com. barnesandnoble.com, indigo.ca, overstock.com, and powell's bookstore.

Again, I know I haven't been on this site for over a year but I am really going to improve my blog page. Anyhow, some changes have occurred in my life. First, I finally graduated York University last year in June 2004. I earned my Bachelor of Arts Degree in history.Please do not ask "why did he get a BA in history?" Even I'm not quite sure. I am glad that shit is over because quite frankly I just want to move on with my life. Perhaps it was a way of attempting to gain the respect and love of my parents. My parents were so happy when I graduated last year. Maybe it's because let's face it at the graduation ceremony I spotted maybe 8 to 10 other young black men that were graduating with a degree. I also got some articles published in NOW magazine last year so that was good. And this year next month in April 2005 I will finally arrived at the level where I want to be. My first book a collection of poetry titled "You Don't Know Me" will be published by TSAR publications in Toronto. I am glad that at my age
(I am not telling you my age all I will say is I am still a couple years below age 30). I am still a twentysomething. Anyhow, I am just glad this is finally happening. It's about time. I worked really hard for this. But now I ask myself what next? Now what? Well, after writing professionally for the past four years I have noticed that I am finally transitioning from the
journalism of writing for newspapers or magazines to moving to more artistic territory. I am glad I am doing this. A couple of years ago I did get short story published in an African American publication called "Rhapsody in Black" of course they were too cheap to pay me. They had to find some excuse not to pay me that African American publication. I also remember two African American magazines Venus magazine and Arise magazine also were
"short" on the cash they published my work but of course refused to pay me. At the time a couple of years back I just wanted exposure. I wasn't concerned with making money. But now I realize exposure isn't enough I am a professional writer and damn it I deserve the respect.
I've learned my lesson and since then I have written for free occasionally for the university newspaper but I promised myself. I won't let some people try to fuck me over again.

I haven't been on this site for the longest time yet here I am now back again.I am back in university finishing up my
degree and I hope all is going well. I can't believe it's been three years since I've been on this site. Anyhow, my best friend and I we are no longer friends anymore. Not because of fighting but because we just grew distant from each other.