tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-894876386985659312023-11-16T15:57:50.767+00:00Black Authors Booksbthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-53615090216033798862020-07-06T02:04:00.001+01:002020-07-06T02:04:10.322+01:00Exploring Black Author #7<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9oDLWhRNl6xyrBJLkLv7fNoof_nDS6FljSLxRhoJaUcbwDcCYi5uwDohSuEiU9zh8i7fEfEkP05Opqg-Iu1pjhxuGO9JdbEQTv0hRVoCkqEBJ3SZLgtg1DD7WYgowDRYXGHK_CChuk_/s400/click-trail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://amzn.to/31NV3BS" target="_blank"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9oDLWhRNl6xyrBJLkLv7fNoof_nDS6FljSLxRhoJaUcbwDcCYi5uwDohSuEiU9zh8i7fEfEkP05Opqg-Iu1pjhxuGO9JdbEQTv0hRVoCkqEBJ3SZLgtg1DD7WYgowDRYXGHK_CChuk_/s400/click-trail.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 214px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>(a clue..)
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9oDLWhRNl6xyrBJLkLv7fNoof_nDS6FljSLxRhoJaUcbwDcCYi5uwDohSuEiU9zh8i7fEfEkP05Opqg-Iu1pjhxuGO9JdbEQTv0hRVoCkqEBJ3SZLgtg1DD7WYgowDRYXGHK_CChuk_/s400/click-trail.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}">
</a><div style="text-align: center;">I Know Why The Cage Bird Sings</div>bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-8352027720834614032011-12-23T23:42:00.004+00:002012-04-04T21:39:34.617+01:00Merry Christmas<div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: center; "><span><b>This site is now closed.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: center; "><span><b>I have enjoyed meeting and learning about great authors.</b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><span><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span><span ><span style="font-size: 100%; ">This site </span>will<span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">stay online and become archived</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span><span ><span style="font-size: 100%; ">for future </span>writers<span style="font-size: 100%; "> </span><span style="font-size: 100%; ">and readers.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span><span ><span style="font-size: 100%; "><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span><span ><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Thank You </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span><span ><span style="font-size: 100%; ">to all who where involved</span></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; font-weight: normal; text-align: center; "><span><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 100%; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; text-align: center; "><b><br /></b></div>bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-4568893030674983362011-11-04T12:22:00.009+00:002011-11-04T13:16:13.842+00:00Black Authors Books - Vladimir Nicolas<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOVhArfbflO4RirgNwOFV9pEhdfFJ7Ja8OVRUfgH1fTVhgxKuB4UyaFoZV6Hnexv1O-Hs2O8Pe9FuPhLNDpbmP4xJ-SPvr6Ifp2yvv1WMS-dtnH9S6hyphenhyphenRFeaxtM0EatGRwVlhVSVLdz7b/s1600/black-author-of-the-week.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 50px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462729397285812578" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOVhArfbflO4RirgNwOFV9pEhdfFJ7Ja8OVRUfgH1fTVhgxKuB4UyaFoZV6Hnexv1O-Hs2O8Pe9FuPhLNDpbmP4xJ-SPvr6Ifp2yvv1WMS-dtnH9S6hyphenhyphenRFeaxtM0EatGRwVlhVSVLdz7b/s400/black-author-of-the-week.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBETyu3HTW74MPbaJzCTP3VUSuFqOizEBC-ytdGoljsSiqaQxTfPKtDCC8GADJtLtsqysHemPCZyhjoCPcwxW8HzlesYwaL9O1muDCjQm0pXtIeCxnIVQNR52QdvQFhwfsZvVkT8i-rQ4/s400/Vladimir-Nicolas.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 350px; display: block; height: 301px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBETyu3HTW74MPbaJzCTP3VUSuFqOizEBC-ytdGoljsSiqaQxTfPKtDCC8GADJtLtsqysHemPCZyhjoCPcwxW8HzlesYwaL9O1muDCjQm0pXtIeCxnIVQNR52QdvQFhwfsZvVkT8i-rQ4/s400/Vladimir-Nicolas.gif" border="0" /><br /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Author's name:</span> - <a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2011/11/black-authors-books-vladimir-nicolas_04.html">Vladimir Nicolas</a><a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2011/11/black-authors-books-vladimir-nicolas.html"><br /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where you live or where you from:</span> -<br />I’m born in 1979 in Haiti, but I live currently in Montreal (Canada).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A little bit about yourself:</span> -<br />Since my childhood, I’ve been an artistic person. Most of time, I was drawing cartoons and other pictures I saw in movies and television. In the year 1999 I entered the college, my life took another artistic turning point: I joined a student newspaper named Vox Populi. As the student journalist of the college newspaper, I fell in love with literature and influenced by several friends who studied French literature, so I started writing my first poems until I published my first book (Azrael) in 2007.<br /><br /><span lang="EN-US"><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What Inspires You?: - </span><br /></p></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span>My inspiration, it comes from my observation of human societies and human living conditions from the poor to wealthy countries. Then, the 19th century great minds such as Arthur Schopenhauer, Charles Darwin, Hegel, Karl Marx and 21st century French eminent thinker Jacques Attali influenced my writings about the human societies. From Attali’s books, I got several influences about the outcome of human societies far into the future when I’m thinking about the development of human reproduction means. At last, as a fan science fiction, the cyberpunk themes such as triumphant capitalism, human impoverished societies, sentient machines and human clones and space operas influenced me as well.<br /><br /><span lang="EN-US"><br /><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What 2 tips would you share with a budding writer?</span>:<br /></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Tip 1:</span></span></span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span><span> </span>At first, I will say to him/her that writing is a lifetime vocation in order to master the genre of books he or she likes to write.<br /></div><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Tip 2:</span> <span><span lang="EN-US">is to do never neglecting to rewrite a book because a draft is written with our filled heart of passion while our brain will check, rewrite and correct grammar errors.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">An Outline of your Featured Book?:</span><br /></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal">In that modern fairy tale, Mister Wong, the richest man on Earth, has a big problem: to find true love. Despite his fortune, he is unlucky to find true love because girls dated him rather to get his money than to really love him for his personality. So he will decide with despair to capture the Goddess of Love in order to be lucky in love without thinking his actions will be disastrous for the whole world.<br /><br />Read <a href="http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/dominosvlady" target="_blank">Vladimir Nicolas's Biography </a><br />Follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/VladlandNicolas" target="_blank">Vladimir Nicolas on Twitter</a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/2304018645/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=blackauthorsbooks-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=2304018645" target="_blank"><br /></a><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIagKtiKnV2ZZZiBme_O7R3RBqlwFwAbQ-QrWoFM4u1FPwIdtH3DYh2fBVdA8203yc6xTP3WHDeiZ5ss0p8JRhaqXRUXXkHv7vknQ4X4oJSIIuwu8Mc16AOSDXkSz0TEEKO-ZXXwDWMQJ_/s400/MisterWong-and-the-Goddess-of-lovesm.gif" border="0" alt="" style="float: right; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 260px; " /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBETyu3HTW74MPbaJzCTP3VUSuFqOizEBC-ytdGoljsSiqaQxTfPKtDCC8GADJtLtsqysHemPCZyhjoCPcwxW8HzlesYwaL9O1muDCjQm0pXtIeCxnIVQNR52QdvQFhwfsZvVkT8i-rQ4/s400/Vladimir-Nicolas.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><br /><br /></a>Purchase the Book: </p><div><b><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/2304018645/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=blackauthorsbooks-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=2304018645" target="_blank">MisterWong and the Goddess of Love</a></b> - out now<br /><br /></div>You can also purchase from here:<br /></span><strong><strong><a href="http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/dominosvlady" target="_blank">www.smashwords.com</a><br /><a href="http://www.thebookedition.com/livres-vladimir-nicolas-auteur-13181.html" target="_blank">www.thebookedition.com</a><br /><a href="http://pothi.com/pothi/book/vladimir-nicolas-man-and-his-spiritual-kingdom" target="_blank">pothi.com</a><br /><span lang="EN-US"></span><br /></strong></strong></div>bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-18279079945071933292011-10-10T14:53:00.004+01:002011-10-10T15:00:28.457+01:00Motivation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSU3Jfx1WN64AruS-KApivhOONQWj-VTquDKVet2AIy26hG67qI9ppIG026cxBqZ59Z1gVu5edctuw8u3-7AH5L0SBPM3GrmJ56Apj-2yyfeoaWCqXhi_lv3V4HCdf4Y2AuD3sGf08V6u/s400/Revelations-FinalFrontCover.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 386px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSU3Jfx1WN64AruS-KApivhOONQWj-VTquDKVet2AIy26hG67qI9ppIG026cxBqZ59Z1gVu5edctuw8u3-7AH5L0SBPM3GrmJ56Apj-2yyfeoaWCqXhi_lv3V4HCdf4Y2AuD3sGf08V6u/s400/Revelations-FinalFrontCover.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a>What motivates a writer to tell the stories that they do? How did the author decide to write on a particular topic? Surely the answer varies from artist to artist.<br />As for myself, I admit to one motivation. The African slave trade. That ghastly period in history that I confess I find hard to read about.<br /><br />One of the effects the slave trade has had on persons of African descent is that we face a problem not experienced by other people. No roots. If you have tried to fill out your family tree, you may have noticed that after a few generations, the tree stops. The branches are bare. The trade has severed the ties that connect Africans in the Diaspora to their pre-slavery history. Have you ever wondered what tribe your people came from? What language they spoke?<br /><br />Genealogy is a popular pastime for a lot of people. In between writing, I try to find time to work on my family tree. The Internet has turned some folks into<br />genuine amateur genealogists. In the Bible, the part I’m sure a lot of people skip over is the genealogy - “the begats.” Like the patriarch Abram’s lineage, “Now<br />these are the generations of Terah: Terah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran; and Haran begat Lot.” Look at Jesus’ bloodline: “And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat David.” The Old Testament is filled with such lengthy passages. For me, it reinforces the notion that your<br />descent, your lineage is important.<br /><br />The cultural disconnection created by slavery motivates me to write what I do. When I write fiction, for example, I often include the tribe of my main character. While in reality it’s hard to determine whether or not that is really your ancestor listed on the 1850 Census, because it reads: male black, age 16. That could be anybody’s great-great-great Grandpappy. However, with fiction I can give my heroine an ancestry. If a character’s tribe is Yoruba. I can provide them with an ancestor who lived in ancient (Nubia) Cush, because the Yorubas migrated into West Africa from the middle Nile valley.<br /><br />In my latest novel, “Revelations,” the main character is a young girl from the Fulani tribe. A tribe the late Sengalese historian, Cheikh Anta Diop traces back to<br />ancient Egypt. And yes, the storyline shows her ancestors in ancient times, as well as the setting in the mid-18th century in which she lives.<br /><br />In truth, I suppose it’s fair to say that I’m motivated by a desire to reconstruct African history. Writing stories that take place in the past, before the slave trade, and connecting them to the present is my way of working on not just my genealogy, but all African peoples; especially those who lost their “begats.”bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-51394026939511251832011-07-22T09:00:00.000+01:002011-07-22T09:00:09.162+01:00Good Resources<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLSfKckJXeA69zeLMkv5rEFv__Nf3WqOoZw9xqXM5S5rEMzVDZV8Y187RzYufZ_17Aavn6NwJDElXxGOPGg6qHqGjrk1hUMkX9o6lB12tF5RRRqtb4o4ocb3D-KS_gw-qZcPsnnOy8bJW/s1600/good-resources.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 166px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYLSfKckJXeA69zeLMkv5rEFv__Nf3WqOoZw9xqXM5S5rEMzVDZV8Y187RzYufZ_17Aavn6NwJDElXxGOPGg6qHqGjrk1hUMkX9o6lB12tF5RRRqtb4o4ocb3D-KS_gw-qZcPsnnOy8bJW/s1600/good-resources.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />At present, I’m putting the final touches on a short story, a novella, and am knee-deep in revisions for my latest novel, due out next month. So, please excuse the shortness of this post.<br />Because I write historical fiction, I have a mini-library at home for quick reference. True, historians do not always agree on the date an event occurred. Sometimes I have to check two or three books, and use the information from the two that agree. Take the list of kings in Egypt as an example. The date a pharaoh of Egypt reigned in one historical text can be completely different in another. I’ve worked around that by using the reference that fits the timeline of my story the best. As long as the dynasty is correctly identified, I don’t bother with a few years’ difference in dates.<br /><br />Aside from the Bible, there are a few books which I consider invaluable:<br /><br />-Before the Mayflower - A History of the Negro in America 1619-1964 - by Lerone Bennett Jr.<br /><br />-The Destruction of Black Civilization - Great Issue of a Race from 4500 BC to 2000 AD - by Chancellor Williams.<br /><br />-Bible Legacy of the Black Race – The Prophecy Fulfilled -by Joyce Andrews.<br /><br />-Black Spark White Fire – Did African Explorers Civilize Ancient Europe? - By Richard Poe.<br /><br />-The African Origin of Civilization – Myth or Reality - by Cheikh Anta Diop.<br /><br />Plus a few books by the late Ivan Van Sertima, Basil Davidson, and Bill Manley. But my all-time favorite is The Black Presence in the Bible by Reverend Walter Arthur McCray.<br /><br />McCray’s books were the first that I read that broke down who’s who in the Bible. If you remember the story of Noah’s Ark, you know that the whole earth following the flood was populated by Noah’s three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.<br /><br />In the Reverend’s books, he lists all the sons and their descendants, and where they settled. For example, Shem’s first-born son Elam founded Persia. Japheth’s son Javan is the patriarch of the Greek people, and Javan’s son Tarshish is known as Spain.<br /><br />Ham’s first son, Cush settled a nation in the eastern Sudan, referred to as Ethiopia in the Bible. Though it isn’t the exact location as modern day Ethiopia; the land of Cush in also known as Nubia. The second son of Ham, Mizraim founded one of the most famous civilizations, Kham/Egypt, known in the Bible as “the land of Ham.”<br /><br />These volumes form the core of my research. If you love African history, I highly recommend each of these books. Now…I have to get back to work.bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-58234108431647234642011-06-25T12:30:00.028+01:002011-06-25T12:30:01.393+01:00Write On: Overcoming Criticism<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">“Authorship is not for wimps.” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Repeat this quote over and over as many times as needed until you muster up enough courage to overcome your fear(s). It’s the truth. Writing is an art form. Sharing your work with the public means you are giving others permission to review, judge, ridicule, criticize or reject it. The public has more avenues now, than ever before to vocalize their opinions and views. Every review is not going to be a good one. People are harsh and everyone’s interpretation of your work will be different. Being tough skinned is a necessity. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">When I sent out the first draft for “Lust-Have Recipes: IN-Gredients for Stimulation”, one of the reviewers sent it back to me with a negative review of almost every poem. It was harsh and I took it personally, at first anyway. I talked it out with a few people and then I went back and reviewed the comments made throughout the draft. Some of the feedback I used to improve the work, the rest I discarded and decided to stay true to my original vision because after all it was only one person’s opinion. Looking back on it now, I am extremely grateful for the negative review. It made me aware of the fact the book would not appeal to everyone. It also prepared me in advance for the blunt negative feedback which is inevitable. Below are some tips I use to combat the naysayers and keep myself encouraged on the road to bestseller status.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Tips to overcome and leverage negative criticism:</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">#1- Confidence is the key. An unwavering amount of self-confidence is needed before you even decide to get started in a writing career. From editors, to publishers, to reviewers there will be a lot more rejections than there are people praising your work, when you get started. Confidence will allow you to be persistent; persistence is a must in order to be successful. One rejection shouldn’t deter you; it’s an opportunity for someone else to say yes. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Be confident enough in your work and craft to know eventually someone will open a door.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">#2- It’s all about perspective. Don’t take negative criticism personally, acknowledge that everyone has a right to their opinion, but their opinion should be taken with a grain of salt. Opinions are like buttholes, everyone has one. However, it should in no way affect, influence or change the way you view yourself or your work.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">#3- Learn to laugh. Having a sense of humor, I feel is a great way to take some of the sting out of the comments of the negative naysayers. I recently had a heckler at one of my readings, who was obviously not pleased with the event, me, my book, etc. I didn’t feed into her negativity. I actually found it quite amusing. I thought to myself, “I had the power to evoke emotion from a stranger I had never seen before in my life. Wow, I am doing exactly what I am supposed to do.” I laughed to myself, smiled and continued the event unaffected.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">#4- Use the criticism you get as leverage. Don’t be ashamed when someone dislikes your work. You can turn it around in your favor, by getting other people to read it for themselves and be the judge. Who doesn’t want their chance to give their thoughts, etc? It can spark curiosity in others and in turn grow your reach. Maybe they’ll agree the work sucks or maybe they’ll think you’re a genius, however you got them to read your work, which is the point.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">#5- Keep going. Don’t second guess yourself or your talent. Keep your eye on the bigger picture. “An ant is a small thing to a giant. I can overcome this.” (TI Quote) You are on your way to bestseller status, meaning there are going to be millions of people reading your work. Are you really going to let one person derail you from your end goal? </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Everyday there are going to be a million and one things which will arise to discourage you from living out your dream as a writer. Keep your end goal in mind and remember to use the negativity as fuel to get you closer to your destination. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">Until Next Month, Write On.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">C. Nzingha Smith is the author of "Lust-Have Recipes: IN-Gredients for Stimulation" and the principal writer and editor at SNC2 INK, a writing agency providing technical writing and editing services for small businesses and creative entrepreneurs. Visit her author site <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.cnsmithbooks.com/">www.cnsmithbooks.com</a> </span>to preview her new release or <span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="http://www.snc2ink.com/">www.snc2ink.com</a> </span>for more info on services.</span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-52303656051429609072011-06-24T13:24:00.004+01:002011-06-24T13:31:50.446+01:00Black authors: More history, please.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OcYuzmjoydS6PUiVTP_x6kpTu8DyqC053Usa9wqCmF8zY6JNaqfkBpi0ciPILlDD15j4GpMphJYT5Xp1sjHMbc0B0sgroKtOBz9hxYrpcfcVReFEvOOHXYJCCOc6Vaya2XbUwGfRmDjt/s400/will-smith-the-last-pharaoh.gif"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7OcYuzmjoydS6PUiVTP_x6kpTu8DyqC053Usa9wqCmF8zY6JNaqfkBpi0ciPILlDD15j4GpMphJYT5Xp1sjHMbc0B0sgroKtOBz9hxYrpcfcVReFEvOOHXYJCCOc6Vaya2XbUwGfRmDjt/s400/will-smith-the-last-pharaoh.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Actor Will Smith is producing a movie titled, “The Last Pharaoh.” He is set to play the leading role in the motion picture slated for release in 2013. Who is the last pharaoh? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Tirhakah</span> – He ruled both Egypt (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kham</span>) and Nubia (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cush</span>) during the 8<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">th</span> century BC. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Tirhakah</span> was the last black African to rule Egypt, known in the Bible as “the land of Ham.” – See Psalms 78:51, 105:23, 106: 21-22.<br /><br />This production is a major step forward in the motion picture industry. A significant episode in African history will be portrayed by a person of African descent. But, will the audience know enough about Egypt’s 25<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">th</span> dynasty to empathize with the hero? And who, black or white, would believe an African king fighting to save his lands against a white aggressor (Assyria) plausible? In the starring role as King <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Tirhakah</span>, would Smith be seen as just “playing a role” or truly re-enacting the life of an ancient African king?<br /><br />After my first, rather pathetic novel was released back in 2001, I explained the book’s premise to a white co-worker. Her reply to the storyline stunned me. She said, “I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">didn</span>’t know the ancient Egyptians were black. I always thought they were white.” Huh? Then again, why should she think otherwise? Movies and books featuring Africans in history are hardly ever depicted as being black.<br />Ancient historical fiction is sorely lacking in Black literature. Why is that? I mean, we have a rich history. From ancient Egypt (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Kham</span>) – <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Narmer</span>-Menes war to unite the Two Lands, to Nubia (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Cush</span>) and the rise of the 25<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">th</span> dynasty. What about the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Axumite</span> King <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Ezana</span>’s invasion of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Cush</span>? Now there’s a topic for a novel. Any takers?<br /><br />The most popular historical novels are the ones set during slavery. For sure, our history in the West begins here, but what about before our ancestors were enslaved? It is as if our history as a people began during the Middle Passage.<br /><br />I admit there are challenges to writing fiction set in ancient Africa. The number one hurdle is the research. Many history books gloss over African contributions. The books that should be used to write historically accurate fiction are often riddled with errors, or worse racism. Since my fiction is based upon Scripture, I find it easier to sift out error from fact. The Bible records that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Cush</span> (Nubia) and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Mizraim</span> (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Kham</span>/Egypt) were brothers, both sons of Ham. End of story, for me.<br />There are those who find non-fiction books too stuffy and boring to read. Especially young people still attending school, reading a history book is like doing homework. But with fiction…you can craft a compelling story and add in some of our history.<br /><br />Here is my latest <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnWjsnKoasAfCTYzlfZY_GpCl6eiMkWs2m5DyqkQuTRb7RMdO1tWczQADkQzg-s6l5f550Pp95RSyHxjjUrVRjHIzsvAs6fwXxaIbYU0Gzk57bvT3oA_2RWa3ZdeNOQDGtRMQo0iyeG3J/s400/TheScepterandDiadem_Revised_FinalFrontCover.gif"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 250px; height: 386px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnWjsnKoasAfCTYzlfZY_GpCl6eiMkWs2m5DyqkQuTRb7RMdO1tWczQADkQzg-s6l5f550Pp95RSyHxjjUrVRjHIzsvAs6fwXxaIbYU0Gzk57bvT3oA_2RWa3ZdeNOQDGtRMQo0iyeG3J/s400/TheScepterandDiadem_Revised_FinalFrontCover.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">attempt</span>: “The Scepter and Diadem.” The novel was released on June 1st, and is now available at Amazon.com. My favorite kind of novel is one with a story that connects ancient events to the present. The Scepter and Diadem opens in ancient Egypt, relating the history of the scepter and diadem, and closes in modern times, telling the story of an aspiring archaeologist named Cher Madison. When Cher purchases the scepter, she learns that the Egyptian relic has a connection to her family’s distant past.<br />For the first time, I did the formatting for the book’s interior (uh-oh). I used Book Design Wizard 2.0, a software program recommended by author K.L. Brady (cheapindieauthor.blogspot.com). The software can be purchased at Self-pub.net. My book’s cover was designed by <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Tyora</span> Moody at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Tywebbin</span> Designs. She did a great job at a reasonable price.<br /><br />C’<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">mon</span>, I know you’re out there. You love novels set in ancient Egypt. You know hard facts about the rise and fall of Ghana, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Songhay</span>, and Mali. And you yearn to read more novels about it. Maybe even write one. Now you can. The “revolution” in the publishing industry now makes it possible. Black writers no longer have to write for the market. We can now write for the readers. Let’s add more historical fiction to Black literature. So by the time Mr. Smith’s movie is released, people would know that this motion picture is not the work of an artist taking “creative license,” but based on a historical fact.<br /><br />A Biblical one at that – See 2 Kings 19:9.bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-61920166567272785212011-06-16T21:18:00.009+01:002011-07-21T13:38:11.016+01:00Black Authors Books - Steven A Barthell<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOVhArfbflO4RirgNwOFV9pEhdfFJ7Ja8OVRUfgH1fTVhgxKuB4UyaFoZV6Hnexv1O-Hs2O8Pe9FuPhLNDpbmP4xJ-SPvr6Ifp2yvv1WMS-dtnH9S6hyphenhyphenRFeaxtM0EatGRwVlhVSVLdz7b/s1600/black-author-of-the-week.gif"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 50px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462729397285812578" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOVhArfbflO4RirgNwOFV9pEhdfFJ7Ja8OVRUfgH1fTVhgxKuB4UyaFoZV6Hnexv1O-Hs2O8Pe9FuPhLNDpbmP4xJ-SPvr6Ifp2yvv1WMS-dtnH9S6hyphenhyphenRFeaxtM0EatGRwVlhVSVLdz7b/s400/black-author-of-the-week.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmt04Relo2SyMJxHb-eWn31lpFL8f4zplHlVfkwppzMWTBX_F0PzZH0KBWXQhCsOl-oXMYwiQOoQDcsJaVKcJWbFiNF9Wj-Y0NtqHu9yauC14ssKOZjrdhkWI0-zshpoXEHvrzYsb2jS_Q/s400/Steven-Barthell.gif"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 350px; display: block; height: 232px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmt04Relo2SyMJxHb-eWn31lpFL8f4zplHlVfkwppzMWTBX_F0PzZH0KBWXQhCsOl-oXMYwiQOoQDcsJaVKcJWbFiNF9Wj-Y0NtqHu9yauC14ssKOZjrdhkWI0-zshpoXEHvrzYsb2jS_Q/s400/Steven-Barthell.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Author's name:</span> - <a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2011/06/black-authors-books-steven-barthell.html">Steven A Barthell</a><a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2011/06/black-authors-books-steven-barthell.html"><br /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where you live or where you from:</span> -<br />Currently Live in Boston, MA. Raised in Miami, FL.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A little bit about yourself:</span> -<br />27 year old author, television personality & public figure who believes he is the future leader for his generation,very articulate & open minded about whats going on in today's society but also very critical on its future.<br /><br /><span lang="EN-US"><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What Inspires You?: - </span><br /></p></span>Knowing that I dare to push the envelope with my writing & what I stand for. I am one of the only people in the New England area who published a book, host a television show & hold motivational workshops at the same time. My generation motivates me.<br /><br /><span lang="EN-US"><br /><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What 2 tips would you share with a budding writer?</span>:<br /></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Tip 1:</span></span></span><span> </span>Just dare to be different<br /></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Tip 2:</span> <span><span lang="EN-US">Dare to push the envelope .</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">An Outline of your Featured Book?:</span><br /></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal">A guide of telling my generation to get it together; its about the battles we go through in relationships, friendships & everything in our society.<br /><br />Read <a href="http://steve305koncept.com/?page_id=2" target='_blank'>Steven A Barthell's Biography </a><br />Follow <a href="http://www.twitter.com/StevenABarthell" target='_blank'>Steven A Barthell on Twitter</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D13%26ref_%3Dnb_sb_noss%26y%3D18%26field-keywords%3DWomen%2520R%2520Stupid%2520%2526%2520Men%2520R%2520the%2520Reason%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps%23&tag=blackauthorsbooks-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=1634&creative=19450"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 193px; float: right; height: 300px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3n77oPFWrKEd-V2f6SC0PWJIGgaTdXjOq2pOETgb5lcxUYNkSelulW4cQdrq0ztCjpvJVnSDx2pfx-2z7WIDU2x0qEIUDdWnpidnH-I_u96WNv7m-GfnVPGmow4Hu8bfYE9ybcjZ_2RUy/s400/WomStupdMnReason_cover-193x300.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Purchase the Book:</span> - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.co.uk%2Fs%3Fie%3DUTF8%26x%3D13%26ref_%3Dnb_sb_noss%26y%3D18%26field-keywords%3DWomen%2520R%2520Stupid%2520%2526%2520Men%2520R%2520the%2520Reason%26url%3Dsearch-alias%253Daps%23&tag=blackauthorsbooks-21&linkCode=ur2&camp=1634&creative=19450"><strong><strong>"Women R Stupid and Men R the Reason"</strong></strong></a> - out now</p>You can also purchase from here:<br /></span>www.stevenkoncept.com<br />http://azizapublishing.com<br />www.barnesandnoble.com<br /><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Further Information:</span> -<br />Published by Aziza Publishing www.azizapublishing.com My 1st exclusive workshop "Court You, Learn You, Love You, Marry You" gives details on how relationships & commitments should be conducted, I am also now a weekly panelist on Single Ladies Cafe Radio www.musicfeen.com after my interview on their show increased their listeners by 600% helping them reach their record number of listeners. I host a local television Show SHINE on the Boston Neighborhood Network BNNbthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-70853240630518695712011-06-02T19:58:00.002+01:002011-06-02T20:00:32.353+01:00It’s cool to be an indieIt’s official. It’s now cool to be an indie. “Cool” meaning we are no longer looked down upon because we self-publish our work. By no means am I implying that we are better in any sense than traditionally published authors. I don’t buy into the “indie” vs. “traditional” mindset. We are all scribes, and now thanks to the advances in technology, we all have more ways to get our books to the people who count: readers.<br /><br />If you’ve been paying attention to the publishing industry lately, you may have read about this change in perception toward self-pubbers. Authors Amanda Hocking, J.A. Konrath and John Locke have had tremendous success indie publishing. Konrath has been traditionally published, but there are many others including Hocking and Locke who have not. Some of Konrath’s colleagues have followed his example.<br /><br />International best-selling author Barry Eisler turned down a half a million dollar deal with St. Martin’s Press, opting to self-publish. NY Times and USA best-selling author L.A. Banks stepped into the self-pub arena with her YA novel, “Shadow Walker.” Christian authors, Tiffany L. Warren, Sherri Lewis, and Rhonda McKnight teamed up to form their own press, 3 Sisters Books. They released their first book, “A Woman’s Revenge,” last year. These examples and many others have been hailed throughout cyberspace as the “indie revolution.” Authors no longer need literary agents and publishers to act as “gatekeepers.”<br /><br />Mind you, this so-called revolution is barely a year old. When I self-published my non-fiction book, “The Spiritual Root of Slavery,” in early 2010, I did it the old-fashioned way. I sent the manuscript and cover design to a printer and paid a couple of hundred dollars for a short print run. At that time, traditional publishing was still the goal for aspiring writers, and self-pubbers were still hoping their sales would attract the attention of a literary agent. Not so much anymore.<br />Writers are gleefully indie publishing their own works. Traditionally published authors are putting their out-of-print back lists up on Kindle, Pubit and Smashwords. They are celebrating this new found sense of control. Now, they have a say in everything from the cover design, trim size and price to the simple pleasure of writing what they want. Would you like to do a sequel? Oh, yes… Would you care to take this character from your novel and use her in the short story you are writing for e-publication? Sure, why not…<br /><br />New authors are hiring editors, copy-editors, cover designers, and typesetters to whip their manuscripts into shape. Many are learning to perform these tasks on their own, and saving money in the process. In addition to e-pubbing projects, U.S. authors can use Create Space and Lightning Source to produce the print versions of their masterpieces. U.K. scribes can also use Lightning Source and Xin Xii (for e-books)<br />The genres that are selling well as e-books thus far include thrillers, mysteries, erotica, horror and romances. It would be interesting to see if literary fiction, children’s books, and my personal favorite, historical fiction does as well.<br /><br />So, if you’re an indie. Be proud. You’re in good company. True, not all of us will pull in the money that some of the above mentioned authors have. However, seeing your work in print is a huge reward in itself. And now you can. It’s a lot easier to do than ever before.<br />Another phrase that is going around cyberspace and echoed by commentators on various indie blogs is this: It’s a good time to be a writer. And it’s now cool to be an indie.bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-82806596072070795732011-05-16T21:44:00.008+01:002011-05-16T22:09:33.562+01:0022 Ways for Readers to Support Authors<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-e92lofE9L8zGU29BKz_JVBRqTMXg5LrIZc0cfn4ofKgmYWKq65KCqlaIyGIKAOir6r9hg_Zizp-6oU1McuKcplXysqSxron2krcYUem-WIgbMj6h-kBsq2C5Rkqj7xaUw50bhqnZYjA/s400/support-authors.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0-e92lofE9L8zGU29BKz_JVBRqTMXg5LrIZc0cfn4ofKgmYWKq65KCqlaIyGIKAOir6r9hg_Zizp-6oU1McuKcplXysqSxron2krcYUem-WIgbMj6h-kBsq2C5Rkqj7xaUw50bhqnZYjA/s400/support-authors.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >I always get contacted by both authors and readers about how they can support authors or how authors can get support from fans. I don’t always have time to answer this accurately. However, I do have a method to my own madness. Therefore, I think that it is best share what I do in hopes that it will help both authors and readers connect.<br /><br />There are many different ways to support the authors that you love to read. Although, authors reading this blog post may think, “Sheesh just buy a book already…” I believe that there are a number of ways to support authors that will ensure that the authors you love get the support that they need, the books you love get the exposure they deserve, and the authors get feedback on their work to create better work with each release.<br /><br />I have been writing for about a decade. I currently have three children’s book releases out. However, with each book release my writing gets better. The reason for this is that I am not afraid to read critiques of my writing, and I depend on fans (mainly kids) to tell me what they enjoy about my work. The support and feedback allow me to push my own boundaries as a writer without fear. This way I can feel liberated to create work that inspires children to become creative, proactive, and adventurous. Below is some of the wisdom I accrued over the years of interacting with authors, readers, and fans about how to support authors.<br /><br /><br /></span><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;font-family:arial;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="">22 Ways to Support Authors</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;font-family:arial;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><br /></b></span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;font-family:arial;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <ol style="margin-top: 0in;font-family:arial;" type="1"><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Follow an author’s blog.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Buy one or all of the book releases by an author.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Write a one or two line review of the author’s book on a blog, Amazon, social networking site, shelfari, etc.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Follow your favorite author on social networking sites.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Go out to book signings.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Bring friends to the book signing with you.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Host authors on your campus, in your church or at meetings.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Recommend your favorite books to a friend.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ask a reference librarian to order all of your favorite author’s books.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Host a theme night for your favorite book with your friends.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Take a picture with your favorite author and post on-line (facebook, MySpace, blogs)</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Tweet an article about your favorite author’s interviews.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Make a YouTube video of your favorite books.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Start a blog about your favorite books.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Start a book club to discuss your favorite books.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Vote for your favorite author to win book awards.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ask bookstores to order copies of your favorite books for their stores.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Host a literacy event and invite authors.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Skype with your favorite authors.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Host an on-line chat with your favorite authors.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Listen to interviews or call in when an author is being interviewed on blog talk radio.</span></li><li style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Participate in contests held by authors.</span></li></ol> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;font-family:arial;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;font-family:arial;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I hope that this blog was helpful.</span></p><p face="arial" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2010/02/black-authors-books-tiffany-flowers.html"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2010/02/black-authors-books-tiffany-flowers.html"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></a></p> <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-family: arial;" class="yiv96461297MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2010/02/black-authors-books-tiffany-flowers.html">Tiffany A. Flowers</a> is a reviewer, literacy advocate, the literary director for <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.blogger.com/onixlink.com" target="_blank">onixlink.com</a>, and the author of three children’s books. You can find out more about her work by logging on to <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="http://www.blogger.com/www.goldenbutterflypublishing.com">www.goldenbutterflypublishing.com</a> or following her blog at <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.authortiffanyaflowers.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">www.authortiffanyaflowers.wordpress.com</span></a>.<span style=""> </span></span></p><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span>bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-78720239980121460182011-05-09T14:06:00.000+01:002011-05-09T20:17:43.204+01:00Exploring Black Author #6<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9oDLWhRNl6xyrBJLkLv7fNoof_nDS6FljSLxRhoJaUcbwDcCYi5uwDohSuEiU9zh8i7fEfEkP05Opqg-Iu1pjhxuGO9JdbEQTv0hRVoCkqEBJ3SZLgtg1DD7WYgowDRYXGHK_CChuk_/s400/click-trail.jpg"></a><a href="http://madamenoire.com/9575/great-books-for-little-brown-babies/" target="_blank"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 214px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9oDLWhRNl6xyrBJLkLv7fNoof_nDS6FljSLxRhoJaUcbwDcCYi5uwDohSuEiU9zh8i7fEfEkP05Opqg-Iu1pjhxuGO9JdbEQTv0hRVoCkqEBJ3SZLgtg1DD7WYgowDRYXGHK_CChuk_/s400/click-trail.jpg" border="0" /></a>(a clue..)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9oDLWhRNl6xyrBJLkLv7fNoof_nDS6FljSLxRhoJaUcbwDcCYi5uwDohSuEiU9zh8i7fEfEkP05Opqg-Iu1pjhxuGO9JdbEQTv0hRVoCkqEBJ3SZLgtg1DD7WYgowDRYXGHK_CChuk_/s400/click-trail.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Children's books at Madame Noire</div>bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-46142315008683684332011-04-26T10:12:00.002+01:002011-06-25T05:20:43.310+01:00Write On: Believe in the ImpossibleMy name is <a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2011/03/black-authors-books-c-nzingha-smith.html">C. Nzingha Smith</a>. I believe in the impossible. I am a dreamer. I am a painter. The pen is my paint brush and any form of paper is my canvas. Painting masterpieces with the written word.<br />
<br />
"The pages are worn, stained and man-handled<br />
the sheets smell of a mixture of smoke and longing."<br />
-Excerpt from, "IN-Gredients for Stimulation" Poem<br />
<br />
Did you see the paper? Were you able to smell the smoke? Did it get in your clothes and cling to you for dear life?<br />
<br />
I dream with my eyes wide open, defying reality by operating in faith. Finally catching up with myself, a person I had been running away from my entire life. Writing is as much apart of me as my arms and legs. I've been writing poetry since I was a little girl, but don't consider myself a poet. Love is my beau and we have had passionate affairs and nasty breakups throughout the years, but the addiction is strong, so I always find my way back to him.<br />
<br />
Reading is something I do to escape my mind and thoughts, allowing it to temporarily transport me to another place and time. Currently I am taking notes from Ayn Rand and Paulo Coelho.<br />
<br />
"Tri-colored trees stand at attention, leaves dance around my feet, rays from the sun kiss my smile, imaging the weight of your arms heavy on my shoulders as you hold me close...wishing you were here." Excerpt from "Thoughts of You" Poem<br />
<br />
I'm inspired by life. Music is a great source of inspiration for me. Watching others operate in their gifts is a blessing and I always leave being filled and having to release by creating something of my own.<br />
<br />
"Lust-Have Recipes: IN-Gredients for Stimulation", my first book is evidence in my believing in the impossible and dreaming with my eyes wide open. The cookbook features recipes containing aphrodisiac ingredients to help increase libido in men and women coupled with erotic poetry. My purpose for writing the book is to help rebuild connections through intimate acts of love. Plus there is no better combination.<br />
<br />
I'm excited about the opportunity to encourage other writers, authors and lovers of words in their journey to achieve their impossible as I become a regular contributor for Black Authors Books.<br />
<br />
"Sometimes it's hard to see what's right in front of us and the reflection we see in the mirror differs from the glance a stranger takes in passing. I'm grateful to finally be able to see an accurate reflection of me...a diamond in the rough, a star that needs polishing a bit, knowing that every diamond has to go through the right amount of pressure to be formed so that her true brilliance can shine through and value be increased. Believe in the impossible. The impossible is you."<br />
<br />
Until Next Month, Write On.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="color: black;">C. Nzingha Smith is the author of "Lust-Have Recipes: IN-Gredients for Stimulation" and the principal writer and editor at SNC2 INK, a writing agency providing technical writing and editing services for small businesses and creative entrepreneurs. Visit her author site</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.cnsmithbooks.com/">www.cnsmithbooks.com</a> <span style="color: black;">to preview her new release or</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.snc2ink.com/">www.snc2ink.com</a> <span style="color: black;">for more info on services.</span></span><span style="color: black;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-65178845269976154472011-03-22T16:24:00.001+00:002011-05-09T20:19:08.569+01:00I am an Indie<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">My name is <a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2011/01/black-authors-books-marcella-denise.html">Marcella Denise Spencer</a>.<span style=""> </span>And I’m an indie.<span style=""> </span>I write and produce my own work.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Though, I will confess, I did not want to self- publish.<span style=""> </span>I went into self-publishing “kicking and screaming.” I wanted the traditional route badly.<span style=""> </span>Even while I was researching self-publishing, learning how to form my own company, etc… <span style=""> </span>I was still sending out queries to agents and small presses.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The general responses to my queries to literary agents were the same: No.<span style=""> </span>There is no market for your work.<span style=""> </span>And it’s the truth. <span style=""> </span>I <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">could</span>’t find books similar to what I write in the bookstore. <span style=""> </span>I was unable to reference books like mine, to see who their agent was, what publisher released the book, or how that book sold.<span style=""> </span>Why?<span style=""> </span>I write Christian, historical, multicultural books, a niche audience for certain.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>I found plenty of Christian fiction, many historical as well, but none set in ancient times with African characters.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Four years ago, when I opened my publishing company Hamitic Press, publishing outside the traditional routes was still looked down upon.<span style=""> </span>And now?<span style=""> </span>Now self-publishers are getting respect.<span style=""> </span>Now on Amazon’s Top Selling <span style="font-variant: small-caps;">Kindle </span>List there are several indies.<span style=""> </span>And now I have two completed works done under Hamitic Press, with a third book due for release this spring 2011.<span style=""> </span>And I started a new imprint, Date Palm Publishing (A division of Hamitic Press).<span style=""> </span>Under the Date Palm imprint, I intend to write and publish stories based entirely in the ancient Near East.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Being an indie appeals to my entrepreneurial side, I love having my own business.<span style=""> </span>Although having to do everything, and I do mean <i style="">everything</i> by myself has been both fun and frustrating.<span style=""> </span>Why do I keep going?<span style=""> </span>I love it.<span style=""> </span>I enjoy the entire process of producing a new book; and I intend to keep doing it whether the books sell or not.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I hope that my upcoming novel, “The Scepter and Diadem,” is better written and better plotted than my last project, “And the Sons of Ham.”<span style=""> </span>My goal as an indie writer and publisher is to keep improving with every book.<span style=""> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I will be a regular guest blogger here on Black Authors Books.<span style=""> </span>If you’re an author, I’d love to hear about your journey to publication.</span></p>bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-59071470792656842632011-03-21T15:05:00.002+00:002011-03-21T16:45:16.890+00:00Black Authors Books - Daniell Harshaw<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOVhArfbflO4RirgNwOFV9pEhdfFJ7Ja8OVRUfgH1fTVhgxKuB4UyaFoZV6Hnexv1O-Hs2O8Pe9FuPhLNDpbmP4xJ-SPvr6Ifp2yvv1WMS-dtnH9S6hyphenhyphenRFeaxtM0EatGRwVlhVSVLdz7b/s1600/black-author-of-the-week.gif"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 50px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462729397285812578" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOVhArfbflO4RirgNwOFV9pEhdfFJ7Ja8OVRUfgH1fTVhgxKuB4UyaFoZV6Hnexv1O-Hs2O8Pe9FuPhLNDpbmP4xJ-SPvr6Ifp2yvv1WMS-dtnH9S6hyphenhyphenRFeaxtM0EatGRwVlhVSVLdz7b/s400/black-author-of-the-week.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3n168fuEd0pr-jG-Jyx-4lgO0DMmb0dZBZGLd3mOdVSQrlyXpLON_wXl2_LZV198odYdbOawzPESpPAqzgU_j7XWf0GduVc3eV_5x1bNZWGHqBuNv47t-n4pBMSw1vdbNs3sQ3kkxN4iu/s400/Daniell-Harshaw.gif"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 260px; display: block; height: 370px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3n168fuEd0pr-jG-Jyx-4lgO0DMmb0dZBZGLd3mOdVSQrlyXpLON_wXl2_LZV198odYdbOawzPESpPAqzgU_j7XWf0GduVc3eV_5x1bNZWGHqBuNv47t-n4pBMSw1vdbNs3sQ3kkxN4iu/s400/Daniell-Harshaw.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Author's name:</span> - <a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2011/03/black-authors-books-daniell-harshaw.html">Daniell Harshaw</a><a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2011/03/black-authors-books-daniell-harshaw.html"><br /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where you live or where you from:</span> -<br />Detroit, Mi<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A little bit about yourself:</span> -<br />Author Daniell Harshaw author of 9 books comes out into the world, after being incarcerated 13 1/2 years with his first release Bulletproof Love "Loyalty Before Betrayal". Growing up on the Eastside of Detroit and having muliple run ins with the police Daniell had decided while being incacerated the 2nd time that everyone has a story to tell.<br /><br />He decided to start taking his thoughts and putting them on paper creating stories. Once released in 2009 Daniell took to the streets his books to tell his story and hopefully make a difference.<p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><span lang="EN-US"><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What Inspires You?: - </span><br /></p></span>My mother and sister, wife and family. To make a difference one step at a time.<br /><span lang="EN-US"><br /><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What 2 tips would you share with a budding writer?</span>:<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Tip 1:</span></span></span><span> </span>Keep writing<br /></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Tip 2:</span> <span><span lang="EN-US">Never let anyone stear you away from your dreams no matter how many doors close because another one will open.</span></span></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">An Outline of your Featured Book?:</span><br /></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal">This book goes deep into the streets. Drugs selking, murders and loyalty of two friends who called themselves brothers. This book may changed the mind of those who plan on plaing theor role as a "gangsta".<br /><br />Read <a href="http://www.allnpublications.com/bio.html">Daniell Harshaw's Biography </a><br />Follow <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.twitter.com/cnsmithbooks"></a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/Daniell244789">Daniell Harshaw on Twitter</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1453574565/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=blackauthorsbooks-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1453574565"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 300px; float: right; height: 300px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFqyiaFLAPtnQorEvN77YQHuFG69LL-yJHWnuPM0M3iQ3RRVuOEpswBXQpRdnVBANXgWOLfz2blhT0nXu9_Tt5UqGr8x0QizMGtYYVwn5NoJtArOncqqOmW6rSS-QT7wFKBl7UvAqsoUb/s400/Bulletproof-Love-.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Purchase the Book:</span> - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1453574565/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=blackauthorsbooks-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1453574565" target="”_blank”"><strong><strong>Bulletproof Love: Loyalty Before Betrayal</strong></strong></a> - out now<br /></p><br /></span><span lang="EN-US"></span>bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-12567037119261500922011-03-17T00:45:00.000+00:002011-03-17T14:32:54.959+00:00How I cook a story... or three<div><span style="font-family:arial;">When in the kitchen of the mind, it is always good to know what it is you are cooking and how you are going to cook it.<br />Short stories, novels, poems, to some, seem like daunting recipes to even try and attempt in your own kitchen, yet we all have the spices and condiments for a good meal, right?<br /><br />If this is you, and you've got a character who you think would make a good story, or the idea for a story but you can't seem to unwrap it and find where to start, then this is for you...<br /><br />Hi, my name is <span style="font-weight: bold;">Mr Oh</span> which stands for Making Repetitive Orgasms Hourly and I'm a three-time author and writer of the Little Black Book trilogy from London.<br /><br />I've met a lot of people who ask me how I write a story, how is it possible to take a wealth of ideas and lock them down into an order that people can read and understand.<br />Well, it's not as difficult as you would imagine.<br />Because you already have the ideas, you just need to stop them floating around your head and lock 'em down on that chopping board. Soon as you do, the rest of it can flow.<br />For me, when it comes to writing a story short, novel or otherwise, I like to start with something simple. Like a name, a character, a place, a sentence, ANYTHING.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">You have the Idea, Now the Next Level of Thinking</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Once I have an idea of something, I base a next level of thinking around it...<br /><br />OR... and this is such a simpler OR...<br /><br />I could stop being so complicated and let you know the fun way I like to do it.<br />There's no idea, there's no characters, no background, no nothing.<br /><br />Just a blank page.<br />OoOoOoOoOo... that is the REAL deal fun right there.<br /><br />This how I used to do it when I started writing and still do today. What this does is that it takes away all the stressful planning that comes with the planning of a story.<br />You don't have to think about where your writing about, what the characters are doing, how much of the background you want to describe.<br />All that goes out the window.<br />All you have to think about is what is going to be your first line.<br />And the beauty of it is that you don't HAVE to think about it... just let it come to you.<br /><br />Every story you read in my Little Black Book trilogy was written that way. I find it opens my creativity more because after the initial freestyle aspect of it, I have to build around that first line or paragraph and create the story around that.<br />I could just as easily write a plan out for the story (and I go into that later on) but this style goes back to the beauty of why I write. Just being able to create lives with my mind. Being able to make something up that someone not only relates to but PHYSICALLY feels. All with one line or paragraph.<br />That first line can spark off a train of thought that could create the next big thing.<br /><br />But, let's play with an idea for a minute, just to get a taste of what I'm talking about.<br /><br />For example, if you had this as your first line of a story, what would come next?<br /><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">'Russell barged the door open and was instantly taken aback by the sight in front of him...'<br /><br />What would you write next?<br />What was Jayden looking at?<br />Why did he have to force the door open?<br />Whose door was he forcing open?<br />Was someone in danger?<br />If Jayden was strong enough to barge the door open, what could have taken him aback?</blockquote><br /><br />It's one thing to think about writing a story and putting plans down to write it, but its another candle when you have to write the story. And I find this exercise helps you be able to take the words from your head to the page. You don't have to think about what you write, just let your fingers go.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">You Know What to Write & have a Plan</span></span><br /><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">But here Mr Oh's TWIST</span></span>..<br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Now for those of you who need to plan ahead and KNOW what you are going to say and how you say it, then I'll let you know about the OTHER way I like to get books started.<br /><br />I like to start with a book.<br />Slightly ironic to start a book with a book but this is no ordinary book.<br />Oh no no no...<br />This book is going to be more important than the book you write. Because this book will be the blueprint, the sketches, the intricate plan for everything that will go into the book you want to write.<br /><br />This book has no words in it... yet...<br />Just lines and lines of space for you to plan.<br />When I plan, I get INTO it...<br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;">I go a little bit deeper than just the names of the characters and where they live.</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;">I like to know the CRUST of a character and who and what they are.</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;">I go into their star signs, job descriptions, ex-partners for the last 10 years, what car they drive, their style of dress, planned journey to work, what phone they use, etc.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family:arial;">And this all precedes a detailled description, chapter-by-chapter, of how your entire book will go.<br /><br />Start, middle, end, epilogue, finish...<br /><br />By the end of this book, you should be able to read through it at any time and feel like you've just read the book that you are yet to write. I have about four A5 books, written front to back, of stories I am yet to get to. OoOoOoOoh, a fun thing to do is write the date, time and place of where you wrote said book. May not seem like fun now, but if you are like me and you have ideas up and down the place and sometimes you don't get round to writing according to the plan, the flashback is a small grin.<br /><br />I know the prospect of writing all that out seems like a process that will just be ongoing but at least you'll be able to go and come back to it over time.<br />Slowly surely like Jill said.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Date Stamps for your Book, is Like having Flashbacks but on Paper! </span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />But when you start your book BOOK, a date stamp is a giggle...<br />I'll give you a prime example.<br /><br />After my the Little Black Book trilogy, which ends in 2012 with Little Black Book 3 (and a lil surprise after that), I am going to be releasing my third novel, which is called Who's The Bitch Now?<br />It's a return to novel writing for me and, according to my book BOOK, I initially had the idea for this story on Monday 16th August 2005 at 22:49pm in Covent Garden, London. I cannot remember for the life of me what the hell I was doing there or what I was possibly drinking to have the idea but I had it.<br /><br />I wrote the chapter-by-chapter breakdown on 31st March 2006 at 22:50pm on the Victoria Line.<br />But, over the years, I've constantly picked it up and reread it, just to remember how it goes and it's been ready to write for over four years... but I've been waiting for the right time for it. I'll use what I've written in the book for Who's The Bitch Now as an example for the type of things I like to know about the different elements of a book before I write it.<br /><br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;">So my first page is a general breakdown of the story with the main characters from beginning to end.</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Then I'll have the main and background character descriptions so I know who is who. This goes from their physical attributes down to any tattoos or piercings they have.</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;">I like to know where they live, who they've been with, personality traits, who drives and what do they drive, connections between any of the characters, places they like to go, descriptions of their jobs and back stories that may relate to the main story.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Once you have every piece of salient information that you can think of about the story, then it's time to write your story.<br /></span><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;">Well between 8-9 lines of each chapter of your story (depending on your writing style. I'm an italic writer so I can get a dramatic chapter into 7-8 lines)</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="font-family:arial;">All you want to capture is the essence of what happens in that chapter. Just enough so that you can read it another time and trust in your talent that you will be able to write a full chapter based on what you've written.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family:arial;">Again, I'll give you an example...<br /><br />In Who's The Bitch Now, the story takes places within a week.<br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">On Tuesday morning, Selah (main character) comes back from work and she visits her war room and watches videos of Thadeus, sent by James. She's interrupted by Charli and Syreeta and she tells them that she wants to land Thadeus in a big way and she breaks down her plan.</blockquote><br /><br />Now when I write that same Tuesday morning chapter, it will span two/three pages.<br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Selah can come home, listening to music on her phone and may need to go to the toilet before she goes to her war room. She may want to make a drink or something to eat or play music before she gets comfy in her war room. She may plan to go to the gym straight after work and come home to get changed and suddenly be distracted by an email on her phone which makes her go into the war room. She may have to download the videos from her email before being able to watch them. When Charli and Syreeta come over, she may have to buzz them in before they come in. They may have a good old girly natter before they get down to talking about business. Selah may watch the videos with her friends while she breaks down her plan.</blockquote><br /><br />With each day of the week broken down, I've given myself enough of a guideline in those 8/9 lines so that when I get round to sitting down and writing it out, I'll know what my thinking was back then, possibly update if and where possible and, if I need to check something for reference, I've got all the info just a few page turns away.<br /><br />Doing this is a good way to document your ideas and be able to put them down, in a way. Because this allows you to have the luxury of being able to choose when you work on it. All the information is there, any time you need it.<br /><br />I've got books like this written for my next few novels including Organised Entanglement, Marie's Toy Box and The Finishing School.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Take what you Need & Put your own Slant to it.</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Hopefully, some of my ways of cooking words together has given you something positive that you can take away and think about and use in the kitchen of your mind.<br />Don't be scared of the ideas that you have.<br />Sometimes they CAN run rampant and make you feel like your climbing a mountain in flip flops.<br />But, Lil Wayne did say, “I'm staring at a mountain like bitch, I will climb you!”<br />Not exactly literary genius but you know in your mind, body and soul that you have the potential for a good story rattling around in your brain.<br />Once you can attach it to a linear train of thought, your winning.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Show Me What You Got..</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />So, I want you to try something for me.<br />After you've read this, when you have some time, open a blank word page or whatever text document you rock and roll with and stare at it for a second. If you wanna play some music or have a drink then do so.<br /><br />Then just type the first thing that comes to your head.<br /><br />Don't really think about it.<br /><br />Just let your fingers choose the utensils for your meal and cook away.<br /><br />Then after a moment of pure free writing, sit back and admire what you've done.<br /><br />It may not always be pretty but that allows you to keep things, change things, maybe delete it and start again with new thinking. But your at least inspired.<br /><br />What you do with the story after you've written it?<br /><br />That's a blog to come...<br /><br /><br />So says Mr Oh<br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><br />Little Black Book 2 – APRIL 2011 <img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 214px; display: block; height: 320px;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584845055358538738" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGyww_ipHOjWf68wVpYdnnyEP2ACyGp0wTtVzkVanHQOoAxiA9d8cALV0pFbryM5ov7NkY5AJqRFzhOnaqnV30LiS02BWZlfoGbQSkOMNhroUxsulm3zIDI3xhRbxGkhNSdTEQKs1Sjo/s320/LBB2+sample.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />'When was the last time you had your eyes, mind and thighs opened at the same time?'</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-91140266492494077792011-03-09T21:13:00.000+00:002011-03-17T14:35:53.496+00:00Fictional Writing - Being ObservantFictional writing involves the composition of short stories, plays, and novels using imaginary characters and events. There is a large number of fictional writers who create new stories everyday.<br /><br />The question here is how do you get from a small idea of a story to a full length novel? Your idea has to be backed up by a great plan of action and to begin you must keep a journal. Your journal will list:<br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);"></span><blockquote><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Characters (people you encounter who do or say things in a natural or novel way)</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Places you have visited (things that stood out - the unusual and the mundane)</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Your feelings about people, places and things</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Sounds, the lack of sounds, colour, light, darkness, tastes, smells</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Animals of all types</span></li></ul><ul><li><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">New words that you have learnt and the context in which they are used</span></li></ul></blockquote><br /><br />You will also need to develop your skills of observation- sight, sound, feelings will help you with adding depth to your writing. As a creative writer you will begin to use all your senses when you view the world. You will also need to develop your vocabulary. TV will offer you a wealth of new words and their usages. For example, watch programmes that will help you with the vocabulary for writing fictional period novels which will give you a peek into the behaviour and lives of the people of that era. Likewise modern programmes will give you a broad incite into current trends and behaviours.<br /><br />Most importantly you must read. Read to learn what other authors are writing about; how they express themselves; and the style they use.<br /><br />Most importantly, read to enjoy the stories written by othe authors.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-29644715330584296622011-03-07T14:05:00.000+00:002011-03-07T14:28:41.056+00:00Exploring Black Author #5<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9oDLWhRNl6xyrBJLkLv7fNoof_nDS6FljSLxRhoJaUcbwDcCYi5uwDohSuEiU9zh8i7fEfEkP05Opqg-Iu1pjhxuGO9JdbEQTv0hRVoCkqEBJ3SZLgtg1DD7WYgowDRYXGHK_CChuk_/s400/click-trail.jpg"></a><a href="http://www.afriprov.org/index.php/news-archive/446-short-stories-by-african-writers.html" target="_blank"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 214px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9oDLWhRNl6xyrBJLkLv7fNoof_nDS6FljSLxRhoJaUcbwDcCYi5uwDohSuEiU9zh8i7fEfEkP05Opqg-Iu1pjhxuGO9JdbEQTv0hRVoCkqEBJ3SZLgtg1DD7WYgowDRYXGHK_CChuk_/s400/click-trail.jpg" border="0" /></a>(a clue..)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9oDLWhRNl6xyrBJLkLv7fNoof_nDS6FljSLxRhoJaUcbwDcCYi5uwDohSuEiU9zh8i7fEfEkP05Opqg-Iu1pjhxuGO9JdbEQTv0hRVoCkqEBJ3SZLgtg1DD7WYgowDRYXGHK_CChuk_/s400/click-trail.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Short Stories. </div>bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-14382414119198785322011-03-07T14:04:00.002+00:002011-07-21T13:32:43.918+01:00Black Authors Books - C. Nzingha Smith<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOVhArfbflO4RirgNwOFV9pEhdfFJ7Ja8OVRUfgH1fTVhgxKuB4UyaFoZV6Hnexv1O-Hs2O8Pe9FuPhLNDpbmP4xJ-SPvr6Ifp2yvv1WMS-dtnH9S6hyphenhyphenRFeaxtM0EatGRwVlhVSVLdz7b/s1600/black-author-of-the-week.gif"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 50px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462729397285812578" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOVhArfbflO4RirgNwOFV9pEhdfFJ7Ja8OVRUfgH1fTVhgxKuB4UyaFoZV6Hnexv1O-Hs2O8Pe9FuPhLNDpbmP4xJ-SPvr6Ifp2yvv1WMS-dtnH9S6hyphenhyphenRFeaxtM0EatGRwVlhVSVLdz7b/s400/black-author-of-the-week.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjZMdT23f_DTYJRcV3abxJLJysl_6VDmaoNkDkUN8rTC5WujoTQpDpIpDH5P0sdb3rkXZdp7f-NwDCGTztdVWfFMV18LWmWGnt_ge_Yok22Ipb-vvczbPxYTzavzmPmY2p4dPkBjUy8Un/s400/cdot-smiling-pic-sm.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 265px; display: block; height: 399px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjZMdT23f_DTYJRcV3abxJLJysl_6VDmaoNkDkUN8rTC5WujoTQpDpIpDH5P0sdb3rkXZdp7f-NwDCGTztdVWfFMV18LWmWGnt_ge_Yok22Ipb-vvczbPxYTzavzmPmY2p4dPkBjUy8Un/s400/cdot-smiling-pic-sm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Author's name:</span> - <a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2011/03/black-authors-books-c-nzingha-smith.html">C. Nzingha Smith</a><a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2011/03/black-authors-books-c-nzingha-smith.html"><br /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where you live or where you from:</span> -<br /><span lang="EN-US">Live in New York, NY & Atlanta </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A little bit about yourself:</span> - <p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">A native of Chicago, I discovered my love for writing at the age of twelve. I have spent the last ten years working in the fashion and event planning industries and wrote in my spare time. I made the decision to begin my full time freelance writing career two years ago.<br /></span></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">At that time I also decided to begin working on my first three books as well. I am an avid traveler, love to cook and love all types of music. In the summer you can find me in the park, people watching, reading a new book or listening to live music, under a sun hat and big shades. In the winter I am wrapped up like an Eskimo (I hate to be cold) so the most you’ll get is a glimpse of my eyes right under the brim of my hat and a smile. Summer and fall are my favorite seasons.</span></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></p><span lang="EN-US"><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What Inspires You?: - </span><br /></p></span><span lang="EN-US">Witnessing other people operate in their gifts and talents is my first source of inspiration. Traveling also inspires me, new locations and meeting new people. Nothing is arbitrary, so you never know how a stranger will touch, inspire or motivate you to create.<br /><br /><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What 2 tips would you share with a budding writer?</span>:<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Tip 1:</span></span></span><span> My first tip for a budding writer is to learn discipline. It is something I haven’t mastered yet, but am better now, than I was a year ago. Writing is easy, having the discipline to stop, sit down and actually do it, is the hard part. You don’t have anything to sell if you don’t get it onto paper or a computer. </span></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Tip 2:</span> My second tip is to learn the business of writing. Unless you are already rolling in the dough and you’re writing is a hobby verses a source of income for you, teach yourself the business, it is not enough to simply create. The reason for you writing is to have others read it. You are your best salesperson. You have to learn how to market and sell yourself first and then your product. Both are imperative for your success. </p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">An Outline of your Featured Book?:</span><br /></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal">Lust-Have Recipes: IN-Gredients for Stimulation, is a cookbook of aphrodisiac recipes and erotic poetry and images. Lust-Have Recipes , IN-Gredients for Stimulation reignites a desire and passion for readers in the bedroom as well as in the kitchen. The cookbook is a collaboration from C. Nzingha Smith, the Founder and Principal Writer of SNC2 Ink and Lifestyle Expert and Certified Foodie, Melissa Roberts. Lust-Have Recipes celebrates food, art, intellect and romance. The book will explore the wonderful relationship food and sex share and give the reader a different view of dinner time!<br /><br />Read <a href="http://www.cnsmithbooks.com/about/meet-c-nzingha-smith" target='_blank'>C. Nzingha Smith's Biography </a><br />Follow <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/cnzingha" target='_blank'>C. Nzingha Smith on Twitter<br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHoJH1vikg1vgLmDjfMS7Grscp7llXGzjywTTExRUUpR2LK7ocPeehtg4QHr0I8CKompXEO77cueA0gltJjhU7IIenEekc09rB4l3x7nI1I0vpMW8mCBzVtWn_uhB3AAUdm2kD2UQUqB3/s400/Cookbook-3-D-sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 250px; float: right; height: 271px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHoJH1vikg1vgLmDjfMS7Grscp7llXGzjywTTExRUUpR2LK7ocPeehtg4QHr0I8CKompXEO77cueA0gltJjhU7IIenEekc09rB4l3x7nI1I0vpMW8mCBzVtWn_uhB3AAUdm2kD2UQUqB3/s400/Cookbook-3-D-sm.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Purchase the Book:</span> - <a href="http://www.cnsmithbooks.com" target='_blank'>Lust-Have Recipes: IN-Gredients for Stimulation</a> - out now<br /></p><br /></span><span lang="EN-US"></span>bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-56086205523536581602011-03-07T14:03:00.001+00:002011-03-07T14:06:41.129+00:00Exploring Black Author #4<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9oDLWhRNl6xyrBJLkLv7fNoof_nDS6FljSLxRhoJaUcbwDcCYi5uwDohSuEiU9zh8i7fEfEkP05Opqg-Iu1pjhxuGO9JdbEQTv0hRVoCkqEBJ3SZLgtg1DD7WYgowDRYXGHK_CChuk_/s400/click-trail.jpg"></a><a href="http://baffledbooks.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/caribbean-writers-challenge-2011/" target="_blank"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 214px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9oDLWhRNl6xyrBJLkLv7fNoof_nDS6FljSLxRhoJaUcbwDcCYi5uwDohSuEiU9zh8i7fEfEkP05Opqg-Iu1pjhxuGO9JdbEQTv0hRVoCkqEBJ3SZLgtg1DD7WYgowDRYXGHK_CChuk_/s400/click-trail.jpg" border="0" /></a>(a clue..)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9oDLWhRNl6xyrBJLkLv7fNoof_nDS6FljSLxRhoJaUcbwDcCYi5uwDohSuEiU9zh8i7fEfEkP05Opqg-Iu1pjhxuGO9JdbEQTv0hRVoCkqEBJ3SZLgtg1DD7WYgowDRYXGHK_CChuk_/s400/click-trail.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Are you up for the Caribbean Writer’s Challenge 2011. </div>bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-37269021464505431592011-02-28T02:12:00.000+00:002011-03-07T13:53:36.710+00:00Black/Caribbean WritingsIf you are a Caribbean writer or you plan to start writing, the question here is, where do you find inspirational material? I have found my inspiration from many areas of the black experience.<br /><br />There is a wealth of information just in your family stories. One word, one memory can be the beginning of a series of short stories or the beginning of a full length novel.<br /><br />There is a lot of verve and energy in the black family to be the backdrop for many stories. However, if it is a fictional piece be careful to build and blend your characters so that you family members and friends are not recognizable in your creative piece.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-62500959930320524232011-01-25T11:24:00.001+00:002011-07-21T13:37:16.145+01:00Black Authors Books - Ortavia Jackson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOVhArfbflO4RirgNwOFV9pEhdfFJ7Ja8OVRUfgH1fTVhgxKuB4UyaFoZV6Hnexv1O-Hs2O8Pe9FuPhLNDpbmP4xJ-SPvr6Ifp2yvv1WMS-dtnH9S6hyphenhyphenRFeaxtM0EatGRwVlhVSVLdz7b/s1600/black-author-of-the-week.gif"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 50px; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462729397285812578" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOVhArfbflO4RirgNwOFV9pEhdfFJ7Ja8OVRUfgH1fTVhgxKuB4UyaFoZV6Hnexv1O-Hs2O8Pe9FuPhLNDpbmP4xJ-SPvr6Ifp2yvv1WMS-dtnH9S6hyphenhyphenRFeaxtM0EatGRwVlhVSVLdz7b/s400/black-author-of-the-week.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wzr0QNhqCY0SC5jIy6B9WqXcYBhhF0QWEGYq-YKWLjeDX9_SZqKoW27s8zr6uxxY0Hu1AzFYnspTVNs4M13m9yso3EurHf5jde1I8y_hlEVhGUN9bF8_ETff3Pm-VwnTp3nTMUtlvLLR/s320/Ortavia-Jackson.jpg"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 264px; display: block; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3wzr0QNhqCY0SC5jIy6B9WqXcYBhhF0QWEGYq-YKWLjeDX9_SZqKoW27s8zr6uxxY0Hu1AzFYnspTVNs4M13m9yso3EurHf5jde1I8y_hlEVhGUN9bF8_ETff3Pm-VwnTp3nTMUtlvLLR/s320/Ortavia-Jackson.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Author's name:</span> - <a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2011/01/black-authors-books-ortavia-jackson.html">Ortavia Jackson</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A little bit about yourself:</span> - <p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">My stage name is Wisdom, I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. I am a Nuclear Medicine Technologist by profession but considers myself a Poet by Life. I currently attends Christian Cultural Center under the leadership of Dr. A.R. Bernard Sr. </span></p><span lang="EN-US"><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><br />I have been writing poetry for over 13 years, I have recited/ministered my poetry at multiple church services, youth cafes, woman’s conferences, juvenile detention centers, fundraisers, and choir anniversaries. I have broadened my ministry to conducting poetry workshops, various open mic venues, street fairs, and colleges for motivational speaking. I have also submitted my works for various anthologies, one specifically for a fundraiser to help the Hurricane Katrina victims, book is entitled; The Lion Speaks. </p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><br />I am currently the Editor for Psalmist Production’s online Poetry Salon. I was also a nominee for Poet of the year at the Kingdom Choice Awards in 2009/2010.<br /></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal">I have a passion for the youth which is why I am a mentor but I believe I have been given a gift that will reach the masses. I am the Author of 2 poetry books, one entitled Divine Destiny through a Journey called Life & my most recent entitled; Life By Wisdom, Poetry for your Body, Soul, and Spirit. </p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><br />My mission is to convey that; You will never experience the true value of LIFE unless you approach it BY seeking WISDOM…the WISDOM of God not the rationalization of man. </p><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What Inspires You?:</span> - </span><br /><span lang="EN-US"><br />My inspiration to write is, “Life” itself. My life, the next generation, co-workers, friends, strangers, etc., Life is a story to be told. I address people’s character by bringing my writing to there level of thinking, what they love to do, aspire to become, things they don’t understand, etc. In other words I feel that in order for one, to be interested in something, they must somehow be able to relate to it or understand it. And if they can relate, it will empower them, motivates them, and assures them that they are not alone in this journey.<br /><br /><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;">What 2 tips would you share with a budding writer?</span>:<br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"></span></p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Tip 1:</span> Believe in the gift that you have within you and know that it has a purpose in your life and the lives of others.</p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Tip 2:</span> Keep Writing!!! </p><p style="margin: 5pt 0cm;" class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">An Outline of your Featured Book?:</span> - Poetry for your Body, Soul and Spirit<br /><br />Read <a href="http://www.lifebywisdom.com/fr_intro.cfm">Ortavia Jackson's Biography </a><br />Follow <a href="http://twitter.com/lifebywisdom" target='_blank'>Ortavia Jackson on Twitter<br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgF9rchHXgp_lqK1F66_jaAOhB5pXLaiNTyGqtU6cx6FmLoUL-Zs4YURICVUbftfnMitGAYPWLyw_xiNJ6CvDStLV-mOeo3je6pXACgI4a6AFqQQv-9qkrwoGbAp7xLphs26ssRKtvuzF1/s320/life-by-wisdom.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 206px; float: right; height: 320px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgF9rchHXgp_lqK1F66_jaAOhB5pXLaiNTyGqtU6cx6FmLoUL-Zs4YURICVUbftfnMitGAYPWLyw_xiNJ6CvDStLV-mOeo3je6pXACgI4a6AFqQQv-9qkrwoGbAp7xLphs26ssRKtvuzF1/s320/life-by-wisdom.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Purchase the Book:</span> - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1606966545?ie=UTF8&tag=blackauthorsbooks-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1606966545">Life by Wisdom</a><img style="border: medium none; margin: 0px;" alt="" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=blackauthorsbooks-21&l=as2&o=2&a=0755211448" width="1" border="0" height="1" /> - out now<br /></p><br /></span><span lang="EN-US"></span><br /><br /><object id="Player_e7cee65b-653b-43c0-a998-3ab37f6438d2" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="300" height="250"><param name="_cx" value="7937"><param name="_cy" value="6614"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="http://ws.amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=GB&ID=V20070822%2FGB%2Ffreshstyleuk-21%2F8003%2Fe7cee65b-653b-43c0-a998-3ab37f6438d2&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param name="Src" value="http://ws.amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=GB&ID=V20070822%2FGB%2Ffreshstyleuk-21%2F8003%2Fe7cee65b-653b-43c0-a998-3ab37f6438d2&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param name="WMode" value="Window"><param name="Play" value="-1"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value=""><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="Scale" value="ShowAll"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value="FFFFFF"><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="false"><br /><embed src="http://ws.amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=GB&ID=V20070822%2FGB%2Ffreshstyleuk-21%2F8003%2Fe7cee65b-653b-43c0-a998-3ab37f6438d2&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_e7cee65b-653b-43c0-a998-3ab37f6438d2" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_e7cee65b-653b-43c0-a998-3ab37f6438d2" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300px" align="middle" height="250px"></embed></object><noscript></noscript>bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-6253780013994500072011-01-18T19:26:00.000+00:002011-01-18T12:55:51.610+00:00Black Authors Books - Marcella Denise Spencer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOVhArfbflO4RirgNwOFV9pEhdfFJ7Ja8OVRUfgH1fTVhgxKuB4UyaFoZV6Hnexv1O-Hs2O8Pe9FuPhLNDpbmP4xJ-SPvr6Ifp2yvv1WMS-dtnH9S6hyphenhyphenRFeaxtM0EatGRwVlhVSVLdz7b/s1600/black-author-of-the-week.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; 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MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: pointer" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBzKn8mZgwf4-75r8XdUelwphtmVbI0_B8ctrztuSwAOPV0yqL-f5SgAXCJN3u28gJ7sLyEAPb9XLhXcj8X3zv6zWIc-QpiLRKXQIdSv0vNHv60pAJA2vEGRFgquxKH4rx3TJdcfjX9OVW/s320/Marcella-.gif" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Author's name:</span> - <a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2011/01/black-authors-books-marcella-denise.html">Marcella Denise Spencer</a><br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">A little bit about yourself:</span> - My featured book, "The Spirtual Root of Slavery" is non-fiction, though my passion is writing histotical fiction set in ancient Africa.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">What Inspires You?:</span> - Knowing that there is still a lot of African history waiting to be written.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">What 2 tips would you share with a budding writer?</span>:<br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Tip 1:</span> Write what you love to read.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Tip 2:</span> Do your homework. Learn what you can about the Industry, everything from crafting query letters to marketing techniques.<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">An Outline of your Featured Book?:</span> - The ancient Egyptians held the Hebrews bondage from 1870-1440 BC.<br /><br />the Europeans enslaved the Africans from 1440-1870 AD.<br /><br />Is there a connection? Can seeds sown in antiquity harvest in the modern era?<br /><br />Read <a href="http://www.marcellaspencer.com/#/bio/4536181071" target="_blank rel=nofollow">Marcella Denise Spencer's Biography</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXc10MYZYI2CT9b5O0AiI6u4XQ1h44fZvvS2kZrRXe4ayMpVFZKElVOLluIrgu4EA59xm6SNeYuVzCSERZcT_28jZqkHnXzC0q3MarKE-avwBCE7z1Cfr0Cz8pFmyzKer8JipWoXywLwM/s320/sonsofhambook.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; WIDTH: 100px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: pointer" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwXc10MYZYI2CT9b5O0AiI6u4XQ1h44fZvvS2kZrRXe4ayMpVFZKElVOLluIrgu4EA59xm6SNeYuVzCSERZcT_28jZqkHnXzC0q3MarKE-avwBCE7z1Cfr0Cz8pFmyzKer8JipWoXywLwM/s320/sonsofhambook.gif" /></a><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Purchase the Book:</span> - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0984362401?ie=UTF8&tag=blackauthorsbooks-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0984362401">And the Sons of Ham</a> - out now<br /><br /><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Explore fiction books written by Caryl Phillips</span><br /><br /><object id="Player_bad329da-767e-4bcb-b39b-670b69cc6634" codebase="http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/current/swflash.cab" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" width="300" height="250"><param name="_cx" value="7937"><param name="_cy" value="6614"><param name="FlashVars" value=""><param name="Movie" value="http://ws.amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=GB&ID=V20070822%2FGB%2Ffreshstyleuk-21%2F8003%2Fbad329da-767e-4bcb-b39b-670b69cc6634&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param name="Src" value="http://ws.amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=GB&ID=V20070822%2FGB%2Ffreshstyleuk-21%2F8003%2Fbad329da-767e-4bcb-b39b-670b69cc6634&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate"><param name="WMode" value="Window"><param name="Play" value="-1"><param name="Loop" value="-1"><param name="Quality" value="High"><param name="SAlign" value=""><param name="Menu" value="-1"><param name="Base" value=""><param name="AllowScriptAccess" value="always"><param name="Scale" value="ShowAll"><param name="DeviceFont" value="0"><param name="EmbedMovie" value="0"><param name="BGColor" value="FFFFFF"><param name="SWRemote" value=""><param name="MovieData" value=""><param name="SeamlessTabbing" value="1"><param name="Profile" value="0"><param name="ProfileAddress" value=""><param name="ProfilePort" value="0"><param name="AllowNetworking" value="all"><param name="AllowFullScreen" value="false"><br /> <embed src="http://ws.amazon.co.uk/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=GB&ID=V20070822%2FGB%2Ffreshstyleuk-21%2F8003%2Fbad329da-767e-4bcb-b39b-670b69cc6634&Operation=GetDisplayTemplate" id="Player_bad329da-767e-4bcb-b39b-670b69cc6634" quality="high" bgcolor="#ffffff" name="Player_bad329da-767e-4bcb-b39b-670b69cc6634" allowscriptaccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300px" align="middle" height="250px"></embed></object><noscript></noscript>bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-48149171576770140892011-01-18T12:47:00.000+00:002011-03-07T14:08:23.302+00:00Exploring Black Author #3<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9oDLWhRNl6xyrBJLkLv7fNoof_nDS6FljSLxRhoJaUcbwDcCYi5uwDohSuEiU9zh8i7fEfEkP05Opqg-Iu1pjhxuGO9JdbEQTv0hRVoCkqEBJ3SZLgtg1DD7WYgowDRYXGHK_CChuk_/s400/click-trail.jpg"></a><a href="http://hiphopbookclub.com/" target="_blank"><img style="text-align: center; margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 400px; display: block; height: 214px; cursor: pointer;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9oDLWhRNl6xyrBJLkLv7fNoof_nDS6FljSLxRhoJaUcbwDcCYi5uwDohSuEiU9zh8i7fEfEkP05Opqg-Iu1pjhxuGO9JdbEQTv0hRVoCkqEBJ3SZLgtg1DD7WYgowDRYXGHK_CChuk_/s400/click-trail.jpg" border="0" /></a>(a clue..)<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIO9oDLWhRNl6xyrBJLkLv7fNoof_nDS6FljSLxRhoJaUcbwDcCYi5uwDohSuEiU9zh8i7fEfEkP05Opqg-Iu1pjhxuGO9JdbEQTv0hRVoCkqEBJ3SZLgtg1DD7WYgowDRYXGHK_CChuk_/s400/click-trail.jpg"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;">There's more to Hip Hop than lyrics and fashion trends.. </div>bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-47394706373276195032011-01-18T11:48:00.000+00:002011-01-18T12:47:24.635+00:00The Black Urban Fiction Genre has a Queen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcw6NSUVhwhDaDfAVP0_GA6YTw-SVtaeqv4guRTrxrXVGWu_RP-oFWQpori-65BEqPXh1oYukjvitUGquyjEea3RAI0DtwLmmtRltrpSX0fKCOdpNZX554EE0WddMzkMEDg0jiEKZQdti/s320/Vicky-Stringer.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 241px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcw6NSUVhwhDaDfAVP0_GA6YTw-SVtaeqv4guRTrxrXVGWu_RP-oFWQpori-65BEqPXh1oYukjvitUGquyjEea3RAI0DtwLmmtRltrpSX0fKCOdpNZX554EE0WddMzkMEDg0jiEKZQdti/s320/Vicky-Stringer.gif" /></a><br /><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBcw6NSUVhwhDaDfAVP0_GA6YTw-SVtaeqv4guRTrxrXVGWu_RP-oFWQpori-65BEqPXh1oYukjvitUGquyjEea3RAI0DtwLmmtRltrpSX0fKCOdpNZX554EE0WddMzkMEDg0jiEKZQdti/s320/Vicky-Stringer.gif"><span style="font-size:0;"><span style="font-size:0;"></span></span></a></div>Not all readers of African American urban fiction know this, but the genre has a godmother. Vickie Stringer has been called The Queen of Urban Novels and can be considered The Godmother of Hip Hop Literature. Stringer started out by self-publishing her book Let That Be The Reason, which was an Essence best selling book, and went on to launch Triple Crown Publications, which has been a leader in urban fiction and gangster literature for ten years.<br /><br />Triple Crown Publications continues to publish black urban novels by Vickie Stringer, but it also has a long list of other authors that it publishes as well. A sampling of Triple Crown authors includes Darrell Debrew, Buffie Carruth, Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker, Jason Poole, Tanika Lynch and Leo Sullivan.<br /><br /><a href="http://blackbookclub.org/african-american-books/books/black-urban-novels-and-the-queen" target="_blank">Read more here</a>bthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89487638698565931.post-42996743355051894742011-01-15T19:24:00.001+00:002011-01-15T21:12:35.110+00:00Black Authors Books - Rashaun J Allen<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOVhArfbflO4RirgNwOFV9pEhdfFJ7Ja8OVRUfgH1fTVhgxKuB4UyaFoZV6Hnexv1O-Hs2O8Pe9FuPhLNDpbmP4xJ-SPvr6Ifp2yvv1WMS-dtnH9S6hyphenhyphenRFeaxtM0EatGRwVlhVSVLdz7b/s1600/black-author-of-the-week.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 50px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnOVhArfbflO4RirgNwOFV9pEhdfFJ7Ja8OVRUfgH1fTVhgxKuB4UyaFoZV6Hnexv1O-Hs2O8Pe9FuPhLNDpbmP4xJ-SPvr6Ifp2yvv1WMS-dtnH9S6hyphenhyphenRFeaxtM0EatGRwVlhVSVLdz7b/s400/black-author-of-the-week.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462729397285812578" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_eQ6PCHzK_V2Rge8uLieCkJa_8PR4Kx6qFbMtnLNhNxNVXdDCX1hciE9_nWknw755bo-S87ZzI1knMjq9pJC8wfgp0b1kyG1QO3i9CJ4tj7u3PIZSPgPuZz2IzcFXfwjPTVgOw0HeYxu/s320/rashen.gif"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo_eQ6PCHzK_V2Rge8uLieCkJa_8PR4Kx6qFbMtnLNhNxNVXdDCX1hciE9_nWknw755bo-S87ZzI1knMjq9pJC8wfgp0b1kyG1QO3i9CJ4tj7u3PIZSPgPuZz2IzcFXfwjPTVgOw0HeYxu/s320/rashen.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Author's name:</span> - <a href="http://black-authors-books.blogspot.com/2011/01/black-authors-books-rashaun-j-allen.html">Rashaun J. Allen</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A little bit about yourself:</span> - <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:pixelsperinch>72</o:PixelsPerInch> <o:targetscreensize>544x376</o:TargetScreenSize> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US">I am an author, writer and entrepreneur. I have been writing and performing poetry for many years. I enjoy writing because it gives me the ability to paint pictures with words. I wrote “A Walk Through Brooklyn” to show experiences African American males goes through in American society.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style=""></span>I<span style=""> </span>published “A Walk Through Brooklyn”<span style=""> </span>through my publishing company Rashaun Enterprises.<span style=""> </span>Our mission is to publish, promote and advocate for aspiring authors. We provide book formatting, custom book design, ISBN/Barcodes, Editing, Marketing Materials, Copyright, Author Bios, Press Releases, Book Proofs and Distribution. </span></p><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What Inspires You?:</span> - <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:pixelsperinch>72</o:PixelsPerInch> <o:targetscreensize>544x376</o:TargetScreenSize> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:donotoptimizeforbrowser/> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;color:black;" lang="EN-US" ></span><br />I am inspired to write because it gives me the opportunity to share my life experiences.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What 2 tips would you share with a budding writer?</span>:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Tip 1:</span> Network with fellow writers.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Tip 2:</span> Read books on the genre you plan to write in.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">An Outline of your Featured Book?:</span> - “A Walk Through Brooklyn”, a collection of nineteen poems that express the black experience from a vivid point of view of an African American man who has experience growing up in American society without a father and losing a loving mother. It covers a range of topics such as self-motivation, love, friendship, abandonment and loss.<br /><br />Read <a href="http://www.rashaunenterprises.com/ABOUT-US.html" target="_blank rel=nofollow">Rashaun J Allen's About Page</a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIol1qyoYfAr_xAZ79fDvIoHPYqXsVQd9Mzo4qAd60LizxrV9LHGa9UIYsoGQf9YI0EHbtxh1dldvpLjGP4r2NhTqoTewJ8K0QLMPoX4oe2Ns54_P63RcZ_i_edeQDxcCYrwDfsKAGNon/s320/A+Walk+Through+Brooklyn.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 100px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEIol1qyoYfAr_xAZ79fDvIoHPYqXsVQd9Mzo4qAd60LizxrV9LHGa9UIYsoGQf9YI0EHbtxh1dldvpLjGP4r2NhTqoTewJ8K0QLMPoX4oe2Ns54_P63RcZ_i_edeQDxcCYrwDfsKAGNon/s320/A+Walk+Through+Brooklyn.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Purchase the Book:</span> - <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0755211448?ie=UTF8&tag=blackauthorsbooks-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0755211448">A Walk Through Brooklyn</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=blackauthorsbooks-21&l=as2&o=2&a=0755211448" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" border="0" height="1" /> - out nowbthankfulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600459219131044160noreply@blogger.com0