>What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “Feel Good Inc.”- Gorillaz
What I am reading now: “The Good House” – Tanarivue Due
THIS TOTALLY ROCKS!!!!! Enjoy.
>Welcome to the New
>What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “I Don’t Believe You” – P!nk
What I am reading now: “Blind Trust” – Leslie Esdaile Banks
Welcome to 2011 and the new plan. I finally finished the novel I have been working on for a couple of years now. Yes!! Now all that is left is to edit the manuscript. The new plan, research ebook publishing. From everthing I’ve read, this may be the quickest way to get my work out there without waiting on a publishing company to deem it worthy. I feel it is a good book and I want to see how it stands up against the competition.
I am currently working on a short story to submit for Zane’s anthology. Due date is March 1st.
Last note, I plan to update the blog more regularly. No one’s reading now but I hold out hope that one day they will.
RIP Teena Marie
Peace.
>Random
>What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “Rebirth of Slick” – Digable Planets
What I am reading now: “Substitute Me” – Lori L. Tharps
This is one of those songs I like but feel like I shouldn’t. Enjoy.
Peace!
>Book Review – Wench
>What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “Fury” – Prince
What I am reading now: Just finished “Fly Away Home”
Okay, I finished “Wench” by Dolen Perkins-Valdez a few weeks ago. Here is my review:
Wench is a novel set in pre Civil War Ohio which tells the story of four slave women (Lizzie, Reenie, Sweet and Mawu) who travel with their masters to the Tawawa House. It is an open secret that the women come from different planations to “vacation” with their masters in the cottages behind the House. The women seem to have accepted their fate, some even profess to love their masters, until a new woman Mawu, brings up the possibility of freedom. The Tawawa House is situated in free terrritory. But are the women emotionally and psychologically strong enough to leave everything (family and friends) behind for a chance at freedom?
Wench is a beautifully and realistically told story about an overlooked aspect of slavery, the black mistresses that are forced into another level of bondage to their white masters.
I give this book 5 bookmarks out of 5. Read this book.
Next up, I’ll compare this book to “The Help”.
>I Write Like
>What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “One More Night” – Phil Collins
What I am reading now: “Fly Away Home” – Jennifer Weiner
Tried out this new program that analyzes your text and shows who you write like. Don’t know who this is but it was fun to do.
>NBA Free Agency Thoughts
>What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “We Need a Resolution” – Aaliyah
What I am reading now: “Searching for Tina Turner” – Jacqueline E. Luckett
Of course, the NBA free agency frenzy has come to a startling conclusion with Lebron’s announcement that he is joining the Miami Heat. Fans went crazy in both Miami and Cleveland with jersey burning and pronouncements of doom. I believe Lebron can play wherever he wants, he is a free agent, but he could have handled the announcement with more class. If he had heart, he would have spoken to the Cavs owner directly and tell him first before he told the world. And Lebron had the nerve to look surprised at the negative feedback.
I always thought Lebron was an over hyped spoiled athlete that was given too much too soon. The man hasn’t won anything in the pros (okay, two MVPs) and was crowned a “King”. To go on national television and turn his back on his hometown team was just wrong. Cavs owner, Dan Gilbert, took it a step further when he basically went all “Color Purple” on Bron-Bron and did the “’til you do right by me” curse.
This all makes entertaining theatre but the games are won or lost on the court. Will the Miami Heat be a threat to my Lakers? Of the big three, we have a counter. Artest can check Lebron, Kobe takes Wade, and Gasol will handle Bosh. Based on whoever the Heat can get to feel out the rest of their roster, I still like my Lakers to prevail in June. I am looking forward to the upcoming NBA season!
>Networking
>What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “We Need a Resolution” – Aaliyah
In an effort to network on the web with other writers, I came across the website http://www.shewrites.com/
Seems as if they have a lot of valuable resources to writers, regardless of skill level or publishing status. Maybe I’ll make a connection. On the novel progress, I have gotten back on a regular writing schedule after my attempt to work two full-time jobs. I realized that I am too old for that. All I had time for was to sleep. Being in a state of constant work left no time for the creative mind to kick in. Trying to do better.
>The State of Black Publishing
What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “Ring My Bell” – Anita Ward
As an inspiring published author, this is case for concern.
>Summer Reading List
>What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “Words” – Anthony David & India Arie
Here is a list of excellent books to take on your summer vacation. I have read all of them and none of them would be a bad pick. Enjoy!
Perfect Peace – Daniel Black
From Cape Town with Love – Blair Underwood, Tananarive Due, and Steven Barnes
Heard It All Before – Michele Grant
Glorious – Bernice McFadden
Sins of the Mother – Victoria Christopher Murray
Till You Hear From Me – Pearl Cleage
Wench – Dolen Perkins-Valdez
Say You’re One of Them – Uwem Akpan
Known to Evil – Walter Mosley
The Dying Ground – Nichelle Tramble
Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It – J.D. Mason
Upcoming titles to look out for:
Getting to Happy – Terry McMillan
Tempted by Trouble – Eric Jerome Dickey
Love, Honor and Betray – Kimberla Lawson Roby
Torn Between Two Lovers – Carl Weber
Holy Rollers – ReShonda Tate Billingsley
I need to start doing some book reviews for all of these books. Stay tuned!
>The Repeat
>What’s Playing on the iPod right now: “Champion” – Ron Artest
Tough grind but my beloved Lakers are on top once again. Listen and enjoy: