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by Semaj Brown (Author)
What do you get when an author who is a committed vegetarian, an innovative cook, a storyteller and a poet sits down to write a book? You get ? Feasts and Fables from the Planted Kingdom, a delightful cookbook which offers practical, healthy, vegetarian recipes, accompanied by whimsical stories told by the vegetables themselves The prim Mrs. Brown, a reporter "embedded" on the Green front, takes us on fanciful forays into the world of vegetable intrigue, and then offers recipes to bring each story to a delectable end. While the stories make us smile, the recipes represent serious nourishment for body and soul. Given its rare, one-of-a-kind approach to cooking and nutrition, Feasts and Fables from the Planted Kingdom is certain to become one of your treasures. Fables are also available in an awe inspiring lyrical spoken word audio format as Feasts and Fables from the Planted Kingdom CD. Gloria House, Ph.D. Detroit And, so many ask how did this innovative idea sprout into a story cookbook? Where did it root from? Well, the seeds germinated off from the "What's for Dinner Mrs. Brown?" popular radio segment on the Dr. James Brown Freedom From Fat Radio Broadcast (Cumulus WCK). Semaj Brown recounts, "I was running late, there had been a family emergency that prevented me from doing the weekly nutritional and historical research associated with the feature vegetable introduced in Mrs. Brown's "Delicious Nutritious Dishes." Up until this time, my segment had been fairly conventional, deliberately retrograde with Dr. Brown singing, a 1950s style introduction: "What's for Dinner Mrs. Brown?" and me demurely responding, "Good tasting, delicious." Time was running out and I went on-air in a flurry. I conveyed my on-air fluster in a new character who spontaneously generated. I explained to the listeners I sounded frazzled because I had been trapped in the garden, attacked by the Onions People loved it; the first Fable, "Onion Revolt " and a Mrs. Brown who could speak plant was born. After substantial prodding from Planted Kingdom enthusiasts, I went on to record nine of the eleven Fables from the Story Cookbook in the spoken word CD format. The recipes remain in the more accessible print story cookbook format." Many feel these Fables stoke a revolutionary way of thinking about plant based nutrition. Reminiscent of Ray Bradbury's personification of animals in the American classic "Animal Farm," it is fascinating how Semaj blurs the Two- Footed and Rooted worlds., how themes of vegetable determination are colorfully buried in the context of whimsy. These fables could be described as "Alice in Wonderland meets the Enchanted Broccoli Forest." But know, something deeper is at root. Semaj sews subconscious seeds toward a Vegetable Consciousness which could possibly create healthy pathways that could facilitate positive behavioral change. Here are some direct quotes regarding the Planted Kingdom Effect: "It kind of opens up your mind in a new way about something as non-descriptive as vegetables." "This is theatre of the mind " "It's so cute, but these themes are weighty." "This should be animated." "It's powerful because of it's beauty and poetic prose. Hey I'm a believer, how do I get to the Planted Kingdom?" "I could listen to her voice all day." "This should be an animated series on PBS" "As a teacher, I can use this with my students" "Hey, girlfriend I'm going to throw a Planted Kingdom Party, we're going to listen to the tracks and cook that food " ENJOY
Author Biography
How does Semaj Brown respond to being called a genius? She says,"I am a gilded soul mirror to a borrowed star" Those who know Semaj's work express amazement at the gifts that allow her to excel in both right and left brain capacities. On one hand, Semaj is science driven having developed integrated curriculum in the public and private sectors in areas of physiology, chemistry, and biological sciences. But, on other hand Semaj is a published poet, editor, musician, performing artist, and lifestyle change architect of Butterfly Building. Semaj has loss over 100lbs and collaborates with her husband James Brown, M.D. How does Semaj move seamlessly from science to art? Semaj: "It's all the same like Monk or Vivaldi. I write the same word melodies andante, allegro. But, with this work, the resolve (the art piece) is inverted, a fraction. Instead of being fully formed as a poem, the very structure of the art piece suggests, this is an unfinished composition in which the reader must play the recipes. After all it is a story cookbook. My muse intended to blend the esoteric with the practical, so there would be less of both, neutralizing one another, in the the same manner in which a strong acid neutralizes a strong base. Water has a neutral ph, yet it is purifying, powerful necessary for sustenance. Our bodies welcome ease associated with drinking a pure glass of water as opposed to swilling harsh carbonated liquids. I hope people will be able to consume the book and CD with the same gratifying flow." Semaj belongs to a generation of writers referred to as Broadside Progeny. The name derives from Broadside Press, the oldest continually operating publisher of African American poets. Broadside Press was founded by Dudley Randall in 1965. Most of the contemporary national poets-Nikki Giovanni, Sonja Sanchez, Etheridge Knight, Audrey Lorde, Haki Madhubuti-were published first by Broadside Press. Semaj comments, "I came of age in the context of political and literary advances made by Broadside Press and the writers of the Black Consciousness era. Those writers were on the cutting edge, struggling for greater freedoms and human rights in our country. Because their works established a record of excellence and pushed back political barriers, my literary landscape is vast. It is because of those writers I can pursue my creative instincts and interest and dare to write about singing, recalcitrant vegetables that are offended by dirt! ENJOY!
