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Do you smell that delicious smell?
It's a delicious batch of cookies that The Reverend Shawn Amos is cooking up in his new book 'Cookies & Milk'!
Amos is on the show this week to discuss his book, a fictionalized re-telling of his childhood growing up as the son of Wally 'Famous' Amos and opening up the infamous cookie shop back in the 70's.
We get into a discussion about the book, all of his latest music releases, and how folks can start to 'reclaim their legacy'.
Enjoy!
Most people know me as blues musician, The Reverend Shawn Amos. I’ve been lucky to meet and work with a lot of very talented people who all taught me how to live a creative life.
I’m the only child of William Morris agent-turned-cookie entrepreneur Wally “Famous” Amos, and singer Shirley “Shirl-ee May” Ellis. I spent my childhood in shadowy nightclubs, on the funky streets of 70s Hollywood, and in my own broken home, watching folks hustle, intently listening to them spin tales. I went to NYU Film School, only to be wooed back west in my senior year to accept a screenwriting gig with A & M Films.
Throughout my twenties, I made music that grappled with my race and identity. I tried on personas, searched for my voice, explored different kinds of music which led me to the blues.
While I was grounded from touring during the Coronavirus Pandemic, I had a lot of time to think—and write. This was the beginning of Cookies & Milk. It’s a book for my son (also named Ellis), my dad, and me. It’s also a book for anyone wanting to discover who they are.
About Cookies & Milk
Eleven-year-old Ellis Johnson has the summertime blues. He dreamed of spending the summer of 1976 hanging out with friends, listening to music, and playing his harmonica. Instead, he'll be sleeping on a lumpy pullout in Dad's sad little post-divorce bungalow and helping bring Dad's latest far-fetched, sure-to-fail idea to life: opening the world's first chocolate chip cookie store. They have six weeks to perfect their recipe, get a ramshackle A-frame on Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard into tip-top shape, and bring in customers.
But of course, nothing is as easy as Dad makes it sound, even with Grandma along for the ride. Like she says, they have to GIT—get it together—and make things work. Along the way, Ellis discovers a family mystery he is determined to solve, the power of community, and new faith in himself.
Partially based on Shawn Amos's own experiences growing up the son of Wally “Famous” Amos in a mostly white area, and packed with humor, heart, and fun illustrations, this debut novel sings with the joy of self-discovery, unconditional love, and belonging.
Listen to The Reverend Shawn Amos' Discography
Read The Cookies & Milk Huffington Post Pieces from 2011
Thanks to Empire Toys for this episode of the podcast!
The DTALKS Podcast has also been ranked #9 in the "Top 40 Detox Podcast You Must Follow in 2020" according to Feedspot.com for our work in the Cultural Detox space. Thank you so much to the Feedspot team!