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CALENDAR of ELIZABETH’S EVENTS
Going on Now... Dark Secret goes to Hollywood! Movie rights for Elizabeth's sexy thriller are being shopped right now. At the same time, the second printing of this scandalous clash of race, sex and class features Elizabeth's picture on the front and back covers—taken behind her cottage in Idlewild, where she composed most of the novel. Elizabeth Hosts "Write Your Way to Fame & Fortune" Series Downtown Detroit These free seminars are open to the public. Each will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Multipurpose Room of Wayne County Community College District, 1001 W. Fort, Downtown Detroit
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Evening of Poetry on Thursday, November 6, 2008 Elizabeth Gets Standing Ovation from NAACP Her keynote speech "Life on the Color Line: From the Plantation to the Presidential Campaign," drew standing applause from 500 people at the North Oakland County NAACP Fight for Freedom Dinner on October 3, 2008. You can watch her poem White Chocolate and the last six minutes of the speech on YouTube.
Elizabeth Speaks at Idlewild Literary Landmark Ceremony The Governor's Office and the Michigan Department of Libraries hosted this event where Elizabeth delivered a keynote speech "Idlewild: Stimulating the Six Senses in Writer's Paradise." About 100 people gathered at the Idlewild Cultural Center on Saturday, August 16, 2008 to celebrate the phenomenal literary inspiration that writers experience in this lakeside community.
Elizabeth Speaks at Beaumont Hospital Diversity Symposium About 300 people heard Elizabeth's story of "Life in Black and White" and watched a PowerPoint presentation about her interracial family. Many attendees said they learned from her "do's and don'ts" for interacting with mixed-race people, and they said that her presentation instilled in them a greater understanding and sensitivity for America's 6.8 million multiracial residents (according to the U.S. Census Bureau).
Elizabeth Performs White Chocolate Poem, Signs Books and Speaks on Health at Missouri Black Expo Elizabeth joined R&B singer Will Downing to talk about healthy living... then joined him and a dozen other authors on stage to discuss about their writing then autograph books at the two-day event. Elizabeth had the thrill of meeting the actors who played Thelma and Michael on "Good Times."
Elizabeth Speaks at Oakland County Employment Diversity Council "Don't Judge a Book By Its Cover!" That's the message Elizabeth shared with 75 Human Resources executives from across Oakland County at a luncheon that showcased her unique racial perspective.
The Bliss Report Spreads Cheer on Fox 2’s myfoxdetroit.com and ElizabethAtkins.com When a suburban Detroit mother was killed and dismembered by her husband, Elizabeth became so disgusted with bad news that she went on a “news diet” for a month. No radio, no TV, no newspapers. Then, to counteract the negativity about crime, the economy and an onslaught of depressing statistics, Elizabeth founded The Bliss Report, her blog on her website. Another version of The Bliss Report appears on Fox 2’s website, myfoxdetroit.com, where Elizabeth features local folks who’ve turned their tragedy into triumph. Pictures and video coming soon!
Find Your Daily Bliss at The Bliss Report Seminars! Have you gotten your daily bliss yet? What about yesterday? Elizabeth believes everyone should get some bliss every single day — whether it’s for 30 seconds or 5 minutes or 24 hours. It can be as simple as eating a piece of chocolate… listening to a favorite song… painting… counting Benjamins… taking a run… whatever makes you happy… do it! And to get the most bang for your buck, join Elizabeth at her series of seminars that will help you pinpoint your most intense sources of bliss… and mine them daily! Stay tuned for dates and locations for The Bliss Report Seminars.
Celebrate and Create with Elizabeth at the Idlewild Writer's Retreat Save the Date! Father's Day Weekend, June 2009... Summer 2010... Summer 2011... Summer 2012! Elizabeth, a member of the Governor's Idlewild Centennial Commission, is planning to host a Writer's Retreat to celebrate the rich literary heritage of this northern Michigan town where Harlem Renaissance greats W.E.B. DuBois, Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes indulged their passion for writing. Stay tuned for details on the program and registration.
GOVERNOR APPOINTS ELIZABETH TO COMMISSION CELEBRATING CENTENNIAL OF RESORT TOWN OF IDLEWILD, MICHIGAN It’s the Up North sanctuary where Elizabeth’s creative juices created the best selling novel Dark Secret — and where she’s working on her sizzlin’-hot screenplay. The historic getaway is also where Elizabeth relaxes with friends and family to swim in the lake, lounge on the deck, and savor steaks off the grill. In the turquoise cottage that her grandfather built in the 1950s — which was featured in The Detroit Free Press’s Twist section last summer — Elizabeth cherishes the serenity of the place where Motown greats, Joe Louis, W.E.B. DuBois, Madam C.J. Walker, Zora Neale Hurston and Langston Hughes once retreated to relax and celebrate life and love. The magic history of Idlewild is something that Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm wants to preserve and commemorate as a state gem and tourist attraction. That’s why Governor Granholm appointed Elizabeth to a dynamic commission that will host a spectacular celebration of Idlewild’s centennial in 2012. The town was founded in 1912 as a place where African Americans could purchase inexpensive woodland and build cottages around a beautiful lake. During segregation, Idlewild was an oasis of fun and freedom by thousands of folks who — in the everyday world — faced the horrors of racism. It’s playfully called “a place for Idle men and Wild women.” Elizabeth’s mother, 36th District Court Chief Judge Marylin Atkins, who helped GrandPop build the cottage from scratch, retreats to the cottage to relax after hectic weeks at court. Growing up in Idlewild’s heyday in the 1950s and 1960s, Marylin enjoyed Motown shows at The Paradise Club on the lake, roller-skating into the night to hits by the Supremes, and enjoying teenaged fun on the beach with her friends. The end of segregation in 1964 was bittersweet for Idlewild. Other vacation spots opened up for African Americans, many of whom abandoned their Idlewild cottages. But the last two decades have inspired a renaissance in which folks are renovating their cottages and flocking back to Idlewild to celebrate its history and the incredible peace and beauty of its woods and lake. Now, the happy energy of Idlewild still whispers as the breeze sways the treetops, and sparkles like a million diamonds on the lake. And it is that magic that makes Elizabeth proud to serve on the Governor’s prestigious Commission to celebrate our state sanctuary called Idlewild.
Recent Booksignings & Seminars • Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Alumni Weekend, April 4, 2008, New York, New York. • Idlewild Music Festival, July 12, 2008, Idlewild, Michigan • Idlewild Jazz Festival, August 2, 2008, Chestnutt-DuBois Writer’s Institute, Keynote Speech, Idlewild, Michigan. • National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Literary Luncheon, September 27, 2008, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. • International Book Fair, April 19, 2008, Wayne County Community College District, Detroit, Michigan. Elizabeth hosted a fiction-writing workshop for aspiring writers. • 100 Black Men of America, National Convention, Orlando, Florida. Elizabeth autographed White Chocolate at a literary gala reception then spoke on the “Women of Distinction” panel about her career as a writer. • PowerNetworking Conference, June 19, 2008, Atlanta, Georgia. Elizabeth conducted her “HOW TO WRITE A BOOK AND GET PUBLISHED” workshop for the third year in a row. She shared her book-writing expertise with entrepreneurs from across America. Her “10 Steps to Getting Published” cover the creative and the business aspects of publishing. And her high-energy, motivational style inspires future authors to get right to work!
Elizabeth teaches this workshop several times each year at Downtown Detroit’s Wayne County Community College District. In January, the event attracted a standing room only crowd, thanks to interviews on WJR’s Paul W. Smith Show, Karen Dumas’s show on WGPR and a special “Pugh’s Perspective” on the super-hip, urban WJLB radio by radio and TV personality Charles Pugh. Listen to Charles
Elizabeth can host her popular HOW TO WRITE A BOOK AND GET PUBLISHED workshop at your local community center, library, company. • Other People’s Skin: A Panel Discussion, April 22, 2008, Detroit Public Library, Detroit, Michigan. Elizabeth hosted this series of seminars with panelists Dr. Gail Parker, co-author Desiree Cooper and activist Lila Cabbil — to showcase the issues in her latest story Take It Off in the anthology Other People’s Skin (Atria/Simon & Schuster 2007). Each story illustrates a woman’s triumph over the tragedy of colorism — hatred within the race and within oneself over skin color, hair texture and eye color. The characters heal and find self-love... each tale empowers women to celebrate themselves! The editors of this book are bestselling authors Tracy Price Thompson of Hawaii and TaRessa Stovall of New Jersey; NPR Personality/Detroit Free Press Columnist Desiree Cooper also contributed a story. Elizabeth’s novella, "Take It Off!" showcases a biracial college student who overcomes a racial identity conflict, then becomes empowered to make social change. Read an excerpt: http://www.empowerourselves.org/take_it_off.html Elizabeth also moderated this panel discussion at Wayne County Community College District in December and at the Ann Arbor District Library in February.
Elizabeth Online! Learn more about Elizabeth on the Internet: YouTube MySpace BlogTalkRadio
Through Toastmasters International, Elizabeth Helps Students Become Better Public Speakers Elizabeth is the Faculty Liaison for SuccessTalkers! — the student chapter of Toastmasters International at Wayne County Community College District. Every week, she helps run meetings that groom men and women to showcase the most important quality for success — public speaking skills. Studies show that people with excellent communication skills earn more money, climb higher on the career ladder, and excel in relationships and in life. Elizabeth’s completion of and certification for her first Ten speeches has taught her how to organize presentations, use voice variation for dramatic effect, and deliver material in a way that inspires and motivates the audience. Not to mention, it’s fun!
RECENT MEDIA
ELIZABETH SHARES THE BLISS REPORT ON FOX 2 NEWS Elizabeth appeared twice on Fox 2 News to talk about her quest to inspire Bliss amongst Metro Detroiters on her blog The Bliss Report on myfoxdetroit.com. EBONY MAGAZINE PUBLISHES ELIZABETH’S ESSAY ON RACE Celebrity couples in love beam just below the question “Do Light-Skinned Blacks Have It Easier?” on the cover of the February edition of this must-read magazine. Are light-skinned blacks are happier, more successful and more accepted than their darker-skinned brothers and sisters? And inside, Elizabeth answers this question with a heart-wrenching anecdote about how a dark-skinned girl at summer camp threatened to cut off Elizabeth’s ponytail while she was sleeping. Elizabeth also provides a historical perspective on the light-skin/dark-skin drama, by quoting the infamous Willie Lynch letter. Back in 1712, the wicked slave consultant instructed plantation owners how to instill jealousy, envy and hate into the minds of black folk regarding complexion and hair texture, so that they would be divided and conquered for hundreds, if not thousands of years to come. Well, here we are in 2008, hundreds of years later, still debating this tragic mentality and reality for too many people. Hopefully Elizabeth’s article, and the equally provocative counterpoint written by Ebony Writer Adrienne Samuels in the Two Sides feature, will inspire you to help heal our hearts and minds forever.
NPR PUBLISHES ELIZABETH’S ESSAY ON RACE Indulge a Short, Sweet, White Chocolate Treat by Elizabeth Atkins, an essay she whipped up for the "This I Believe" feature on National Public Radio. Published on NPR’s website, you can read Elizabeth’s perspective on race and identity at
TV SHOWS — BET & TYRA BANKS Sparks flew on the set of the new Black Entertainment Television show Meet the Faith when Elizabeth joined a raucous debate about race, identity and privilege. Host Ian Smith keeps the conversation crackling by asking questions about passing for white… while Bernie Mac Show Creator Larry Wilmore joins Elizabeth to squash author Bintell Powell’s accusations that light-skinned people “stick together” to oppress darker-hued people. This new show – which aired in December, 2007 -- is hot, hot, hot! Elizabeth was also a guest on The Tyra Banks Show to talk about her Ebony magazine article.
ELIZABETH SPEAKS ON BIRACIAL IDENTITY AT NATIONAL JOURNALISM CONVENTION "What is Race?" Elizabeth answered that question on a panel discussion at the National Association of Black Journalists Convention in Las Vegas. The discussion focused on the race question in relation to Presidential hopeful Barack Obama's quest for the White House. Elizabeth showed the packed banquet room her DVD that you can view on the Home page. And she talked about being a white-looking biracial woman. At the same time, fellow panelist Pearl Duncan, a writer, who has black hair and dark skin, presented a slide show about her journey to Ireland to connect with her clan after DNA linked her ancestry to the Emerald Isle. Also on the panel was University of California Riverside Professor Yolanda T. Moses, who helped create the RACE exhibit that’s now traveling America. The anthropologist talked about the genetic origins of race. Several other experts contributed fascinating facts and opinions that inspired folks to think and talk about race with new intelligence and insight!
ELIZABETH RAISES $400 FOR AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION Take a deep breath. Now imagine that you can't. As a giant fist squeezes the air from your chest... No air in... no air out. Just a horrible wheezing sound... And terror in those witnessing your asthma attack. It's happened to Elizabeth too many times. So she asked friends and family to help her share the breath of life! And they did — donating $400 in pledges for the American Lung Association’s second annual Climb Detroit. All so Elizabeth could huff and puff up 70 flights of stairs... to help people BREATHE. Super-fit, as seen on Oprah, Elizabeth raced up the stairs in Detroit's Renaissance Center. She reflected back 10 years when she was in the hospital with double pneumonia. Coughing and wheezing, it was miserable... and potentially deadly. Now, her super-strong lungs and generous contributions will spare others from such misery and danger. Elizabeth is immensely grateful to her supporters who are helping the American Lung Association fulfill its mission to "improving life, one breath at a time."
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