JOIN US THIS WEEKEND AT THE 26th ANNUAL BLACK WOMEN’S EXPO IN CHICAGO.
Members of NK’s Tribe Called Success are featured at the Cavalcade of Authors Exhibitor Booths for the Friday, Sunday, and Saturday event at McCormick Convention Center.
Amazon Gift Cards and a flash drive with 200 free ebooks will be given away every hour to one lucky reader (per hour) who visits the booth and drop their information in the vase.
Autographed copies will be bundled for quick sales. And a free copy of 5 books from Naleighna Kai, Shakir Rashaan, J. L. Campbell, and the rest of the Tribe. See you soon!
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE TRIBE, a collective of NYT, USA Today and National Bestselling authors who guide first time writers on their publishing journey:
Miranda Norwood is well into twelve years of an ideal marriage with her college sweetheart husband, Curtis. They have successful careers in law and advertising, a beautiful home, and two children, fraternal twins, Cameron and Candace. Life is good.
This all changes in one day when she comes face to face with her husband’s infidelity. Even after five years, the scars of that tragic day continue to harden her heart and belief in love to a distant memory.
But after her best friend, Mia, sets her up on a blind date, with the handsome, HR manager, Roy Grander, sparks fly and Miranda’s wall comes down just enough to peer over the top.
Roy Grander is a mystery. Grappling internally with guilt from a past that’s keeping him stuck, meeting Miranda has struck a chord in his heart and as much as he tries to fight it, the battle to resist his insatiable desire for her is slipping through his hands.
Can two people, dealing with issues that are keeping them from moving forward, find a love that will save them?
What I’m Reading: The Other Black Girl by Zakiya Dalila Harris
What’s on the Spotify Playlist: “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” – Whitney Houston
Since I’ve started this writing journey, the one piece of advice I get the most is “write what you know.” But what does that really mean? Is it referring to occupations? If the writer is an attorney like John Grisham or Pamela Samuels-Young, your character is also an attorney. Or could it be as simple as a situation that your character faces?
In my novel, “Moment of Truth,” Adrienne has a three-year-old son with sickle-cell anemia. His disease requires doctor’s visits and one scary emergency room stay. Now everyone has been to the doctor’s office and the hospital, and I thought I did a decent job describing the scene and emotions. That is until real life intervened.
One night my nephew was rushed to the emergency room. He spent two weeks in ICU and even more time in a regular room. During my frequent visits to the hospital, I found myself taking mental snapshots of sights and sounds. I cataloged smells and noted the presence of machines, and watched hospital personnel. This was the type of thing used to enhance my own story. My personal experience allowed me to transfer it to my character.
But I felt guilty about it. While I was focused on my nephew’s recovery and being a source of comfort to my sister, I was also thinking about my book.
Then I had a conversation with a former editor. When I told her my dilemma, she said, “You are a writer! All of your experiences are fodder for your craft. You should use all of your feelings and experiences to fuel your manuscripts.” Her words resonated with my artist self and confirmed something I knew all along. To create these well-rounded characters and make believable worlds, the artist has to use everything within them.
Write what you know is an adage to explore the world and embrace it to breathe life into a story.
In fact, I have several. Depending on the month, day or moment, a song can help you cope.
The song should capture an emotion or motivate you to live your best life. I came across an oldie but goodie today. “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield. The words capture where my head is at now and serves as motivation and prophecy. Some of the words are “I am unwritten, can’t read my mind. I’m undefined. I’m just beginning, the pen’s in my hand, ending unplanned.” This song is an excellent metaphor for my calling as a writer. Just listen to the chorus: “Staring at the blank page before you, open up the dirty window, let the sun illuminate the words that you cannot find…..Today is where your book begins, the rest is still unwritten.”
Back on my writing grind. 56,912 words down. The end is nearing and this book will be done.
So, what’s your theme song? What are some lyrics that help to get you going?
Now, this is a holiday everyone should be able to get behind. Or in front of. Depending on your personal preference.
Which makes me wonder, what’s your favorite kiss or kissing scene in a movie or book?
Is it the Spiderman (hanging upside down kiss)? Or what about the Bad Boys 2 kiss when Will Smith navigates a drug lord and loaded mines to rescue and kiss Gabrielle Union?
How about the kiss on the pages? My favorite one is between Kimba and Ezra in Kennedy Ryan’s Queen Move. You can feel the heat between these two characters. It’s better than watching a visual display because there’s the added bonus of the words letting you feel the chemistry. I aspire to write a scene this good.
Please share. What’s your favorite kiss in a book or movie?
#obscureholidays #best kiss #internationalkissingday
Book 3 Purpose- Florenza Denise Lee Shattered, weeping, unnamed— an outcast who gave so unselfishly that nearly two thousand years later, we are still sharing her story, but do we fully know the price of her sacrifice? Her story beautifully overlaps with the author’s personal testimony, poured out upon the pages to reignite a sense of wonder and praise. Reminding us that there is beauty in brokenness, God’s light will always shine through even the most minor cracks.
Purchase Links for Chosen: Life According to God’s Plan Amazon: http://bit.ly/FDLPurpose B&N: http://bit.ly/FDL_BN_Purpose KOBO: http://bit.ly/FDL_KOBO_Purpose Apple: https://bit.ly/FDL_APPLE_Purpose
Book 4 Growth – Janice M. Allen The Bible says that the steps of a good man or woman are ordered by the Lord. But sometimes those steps take us down a road of pain, disappointment, misfortune, and trials that we would not have chosen for ourselves. It’s at these times that we can experience tremendous growth by allowing God to work all things (even unpleasant things) together for our good.
On Instagram add these as well: @naleighnakai @jlwoodson @woodsoncreativestudio @nkliterarycafe @coachicago @jlcampbell @janiceallen7519 These will TAG people and fall into their algorithms.
Book 5 Transition – Naleighna Kai She made one mistake. Leaving him under the cover of darkness to escape the consequences of her actions would spiral into something so horrific that it cost the innocent lives of many. What she had done was enough to put her in an early grave, but what her husband did was downright diabolical. Time after time, the women and children paid the price, when men made decisions without consulting God first.
The Forgotten The women in this story resonate with Naleighna Kai because she also suffered the pangs of her mistakes. Going from one place to another to find safety, landed her in the grip of someone who did not see her value; someone who tried to end the game before she realized it was being played. The Forgiven and Highly Favored
Years of healing and working towards forgiveness brought a unique set of earth angels to help Naleighna in the process. She was finally able to put her pain on the page; the page became her passion, and the passion became her purpose.
Book 6 Choices – Pat G’Orge-Walker Facts: You stood in the gap. Interceded on behalf of someone or something. What you prayed for was what you thought was needed. Accept that there is a difference between choosing to pray God’s Will and making a choice to pray yours.
Fiction: Abigail and Nabal’s marriage had all the necessary ingredients to fail or succeed. One spouse was self-serving, greedy, and unwise. The other was thoughtful and meticulous, despite being married to a “fool.” When Nabal, a man of means, offended King David with his stupidity, Abigail used wisdom to turn back catastrophe from her homeland and family.
Full Circle: Although not a lot is known about the couple, one thing was certain—Nabal was a fool and felt no reason to hide it. On the other hand, Abigail loved peace and used good sense to neutralize messy situations. In the end, Nabal died when God struck him, and Abigail eventually became one of King David’s wives and lived happily ever after…finally.
http://bit.ly/choicespgwalkerBN
http://bit.ly/choicespgwalkerAMAZON
https://bit.ly/choicespgwalkerKOBO
Book 7 Patience – Terri Ann Johnson When God’s plan doesn’t seem clear, patience and perseverance will carry you to His promise. When it seemed like life was doing all it could to keep me from having the desires of my heart, I was convinced motherhood was a dream that wasn’t meant to be.
Patience is a journey that’s granted from God … and it was going to take almost a decade and a whole lot of faith and perseverance on my incredible path to becoming a mother.
Book 8 Persistence- U. M. Hiram PERSISTENCE – THE POWER & BREAKTHROUGH OF FERVENT PRAYERS (MERRY HEARTS INSPIRATIONAL SERIES BOOK 8) – U.M. HIRAM
Have you dealt with the tremendous loss of a loved one? Has the trust and kindness you’ve shown been taken for granted? Did your life take an alternate path from where you originally planned? Life’s journey can deal us a number of challenging moments both mentally and physically. Prayer is a powerful tool that can be used to provide the strength and wisdom needed to deal with as well as overcome these moments. Knowing there is a higher power at work on our behalf that we’re able to tap into, it can bring a sense of comfort and peace.
Amazon: https://bit.ly/PersistenceAMZN Apple Books: https://bit.ly/PersistenceAPPBK BN: https://bit.ly/PersistenceBN Kobo: https://bit.ly/PersistenceKOBO
Book 9 Transformation – Naleighna Kai Tamar and Amnon. He saw. He came. He conquered. And he didn’t care that she would bear the brunt of his bad choices. As a King’s son, nothing would be denied him, even though this particular experience should. Passion for him, became pain for an innocent woman. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the worst of sins in this scandal. The man who was supposed to love and protect her did nothing, forcing her brother to take deadly action that plunged the kingdom into chaos. Broken. Naleighna Kai was adopted by her biological mother. Yes, you read that right. What’s more, is the horrific circumstances surrounding her conception meant her mother was forced to do the best she could to place Naleighna in the arms of someone who would love Her. Life had other plans; and the trauma of those childhood years would result in the need to heal in a miraculous way. To Blessed.
People come into your life for many reasons. In this respect, several amazing men brought life lessons that affected the healing Naleighna craved. Then there is the tribe—a group of dynamic women and men, writing angels who show her how blessed and highly favored she is on a daily basis. Transformation tells of her trials, but also the triumphs.
✨✨✨NEW RELEASE✨✨✨ In Growing up Joplin, Kadesha Powell vividly brings to life her obstacles and triumphs while being raised in a predominantly white, Midwestern town. The constant struggle with racism and deep-rooted micro-aggression in the educational system, workforce, and her personal life, chipped away at her self-image.
For far too long, she allowed others to shape her identity and limit available opportunities. A range of cultural experiences allowed her to see the beauty of the world around her and within herself.
Growing up Joplin is the emotional journey of a feisty, energetic, and talented Black woman, who has bloomed into something much more than she ever dared to dream possible.
Amazon: https://bit.ly/GrowingUpJoplinAMZ B &N: https://bit.ly/GrowingupjoplinBN Kobo: https://bit.ly/GrowingupJoplinKBO
Apple: https://bit.ly/growingupjoplinAPP
Cover designed by: J. L. Woodson for Woodson Creative Studio
Life would never be the same for Erica B. Davis once she entered a conference room in the Richard J. Daley Center in Chicago. After hours of tense negotiations, high emotions, and finally, an unfair agreement between both parties, she was single again.
Learn how this influential professional overcame obstacles to achieve success in her personal and professional life after sliding into a situation she never envisioned reliving. By applying the principles Erica used to regain control of her life, you can also chart your course to experiencing pleasure and achieving your goals while temporarily or permanently single.
Let’s explore ways you can be satisfied in whatever state you’re in. It’s doable. You truly can be content without a significant other, until …
Erica B. Davis, a Chicago native, is a twenty-plus-year Public Health professional who manages large-scale projects, as well as develops and implements effective behavioral health program models.
Single Again? Living Satisfied Until …. is her transition from academia to the literary world of Contemporary Fiction and Non-fiction genres. This mother of two adult children loves international travel and live performances of the Arts.
This new Release is a must read. Here’s the synopsis: . It came in a white mist which left death in its wake. Children playing in the St. Louis streets inhaled the clouds and embraced the cooling mist as it danced around our bodies. Who would have thought that these mystical veils were part of a diabolical government plot that had the potential to destroy our hopes and dreams? , Dr. Vanessa Howard’s book From the Projects to a Ph.D. discusses humble beginnings, challenges in pursuing higher education, and the determination needed to succeed. You will be inspired by the resiliency of the human spirit, as she shares personal insights, and experiences of racial inequities that shaped, but did not define her life. . Amazon: http://bit.ly/projectstophdAMZ B&N: http://bit.ly/projectstophdBN Apple Books: http://bit.ly/projectstophdAPP Kobo: http://bit.ly/projectstophdKB . Cover designed by: J. L. Woodson for Woodson Creative Studio
If you’ve ever wondered whether faith and determination are a recipe for success, “Things That Keep Me Up at Night” answers that question.
McKenzie takes you through her journey from adversity to triumph in this compelling memoir.
From sexual assault at the age of eleven, through to becoming a successful Registered Nurse, McKenzie charts her path through the hills and valleys on the way to success.
She pays tribute to the people who inspired, encouraged, and supported her through various stages of her journey. ✨ Marie McKenzie is a Registered Nurse, educator, community volunteer, victims’ advocate, and trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. Born in Jamaica, Marie migrated to the United States of America in 1989, and currently resides in Orlando, FL. ✨ Buy links:
