Finally!!

I know it's been a while since I posted anything on my blog. I'm not really good at blogging because I think you really need a platform to do it and not just ranting about your personal business!! LOL I think that can get a little off, since some things about your life others really don't need to know.

Anyway, I wanted to post about my upcoming release in January 2011. Finally, I have another novel being released. FROM THIS MOMENT, is the story of Ivy Hart, Wedding Planner and Jonathan Damon, Banquet Owner. Here is the cover. I will try to post the blurb in another post.

What's On Your Valentine's Day CD

Some friends of mine have been discussing their favorite music for Valentine's Day.
What music do you use to set the mood when you're with your special someone? Here's mine. It's a Double CD.

1. Come Go With Me - Teddy Pendergrass
2. Promise Me - Luther Vandross
3. Til the Cops Come Knocking - Maxwell
4. Share My Love- Magnum Force
5. Other Side of The World - Luther Vandross
6. Darling, Darling Baby - The O'Jays
7. Don't Say Goodnight - The Isley Brothers
8. I Was Made To Love You - Gerald Levert
9. Beautiful Surprise - India Arie
10. Send For Me - Atlantic Starr
11. Come Get To This - Marvin Gaye
12. Sunshine - Alexander O'Neal

CD Two

1. Sunshine - The O'Jays
2. You Bring Me Joy - Anita Baker
3. This Must Be Heaven - Brainstorm
4. For The Love of You - The Isley Brothers
5. Love Is Where You Find It - The Whispers
6. Am I Dreaming - Atlantic Starr
7. Lately - Tyrese
8. Candlelight & You - Chante Moore & Keith Washington
9. Stop, Look, Listen - Will Downing & Gerald Albright
10. I Wanna Be Closer - Switch
11. In You - Glenn Jones
12. When I'm With You - Tony Terry

Now, let's talk about our favorite Valentine's Day Romance Novels. Here's my list:

1. Love Letters Anthology - Rochelle Alers, Donna Hill and Janice Sims
2. Heart To Heart - Jacquelin Thomas from the Cupid's Arrow Anthology
3. Wine & Roses Anthology - Carmen Green, Kayla Perrin and Geri Guillame
4. A Valentine's Kiss Brenda Jackson, Carla Fredd and Felicia Mason
5. I Do Anthology - Gwynne Forester

What's yours?

Kimani Press Authors Celebrate Black History Month

If you haven't already done so check out the discussion on Kimani Press Forum. There will be 28 authors discussing the topic Dare To Dream, YES WE CAN in celebration of Black History Month.

I must say the posts that I read this morning were both thought provoking and inspiring. Go on over and check out what your favorite Kimani Authors have to say.
YES WE CAN



Have a wonderful weekend.

Writers and Blogs

When I decided to have a blog on my website, it wasn't because I thought I had so much to say. It was actually because most of the other writers had one. For a long time I didn't even post anything. I do believe that the blog for a writer should promote their work and works of others that they think readers will enjoy.

I have heard some other authors say that you shouldn't have a blog because people are watching and reading the posts.

I've found some wonderful blogs that offer helpful information on just about every subject. I've also found some blogs that beat down and tear up aspiring authors work, enthusiasm and the publishing industry as a whole.

That is not my goal here. I don't want this to be a place where I'm seen as bitter or scorned. I really want to share the good things in life and that's why I talk about family, my love for music and my work. I would write more about my work, but right now I'm still searching for a publisher and don't want to put false information out there.

I am going to find good topics to discuss and fun ways to do it. I do hope you will stay tuned.

WIP - Complete

Thank you Jesus!!!
I'm so excited about FROM THIS MOMENT
It's completed and submitted.
Now it's time to start on Violet Hart's
story TO LOVE & HONOR.
She will meet hero Garrett Blakemore and
his twin niece and nephew.
This should be a fun story. I can't
wait to get started.

Out With The Old...

Today America starts a new chapter. My prayer is that Obama will do what he was destined to do with greatness and dedication. The world will be watching and I'm sure he knows that the heat is on so to speak.
God Bless You Mr. President!

Happy Birthday Martin

Today we celebrate and commemorate the birth of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
We've come a long way and still have a ways to go, but if Martin and others like him hadn't paved the way with their lives, I'm not sure where we would be today.

Old School Friday

I've been asked numerous times what kind of music do I listen to when I'm writing?

It really depends on what kind of mood I'm in. If I've re-read the chapter I'd written previously. I sometimes listen to alot of Luther Vandross, Atlantic Starr, Teddy Pendergrass and Marvin Gaye. I love R&B ballads and they help me use my imagination to set the tone or the mood of a chapter I'm writing. Sometimes I like it very quiet

In my WIP From This Moment, I had no idea that Ivy and Jonathan would connect on the level that they have. I really love this couple and believe that they love each other. My prayer is that the reader will see, believe and feel the same way I do.

Some of the songs that I've been playing while writing their story are:
The Other Side of The World - Luther Vandross
From This Moment - Shaina Twain
Promise Me - Luther Vandross
Come Get To This - Marvin Gaye
So Amazing - Luther Vandross
They'll Never Be - Switch
Come Share My Love - Mikki Howard

I'm coming to the end of the book and I'm excited about the outcome and pray my readers love it.
Here are my two picks for old school Friday.

Marvin Gaye - Get To This





Luther Vandross - Other Side of the World







Have a wonderful weekend.

Happy New Year

I pray that you had a wonderful holiday season. I know I did.

Well 2009 is here and we all get a new start of sorts. Really everyday that we wake up is a new opportunity for each of us. Anyway, I'm not one for new year's resolutions. I don't think bad of them, but I just think that we should strive to do better not just because it's a new year, but because we just need to.

I've heard some people say it's going to be fine in 2009. Well, if we don't put any effort into what we're striving to accomplish it won't.

There are areas in my life that I want to improve and I'm going to do my best to do just that. I would like to be more consistent with my writing. I love my stories, but can easily get discouraged when it comes to turning things in or stopping altogether when I get a rejection. I am going to try to keep moving forward when it comes to that.

I'm going to try to be a mother to a grown up son and a teenager. I've had to remind myself during this holiday season that my boys aren't little anymore. I'm accepting it. It's hard because they will always be my babies, but hey I'm still going to be mommy. That will never go away, but the way I treat them has to change.

Here's hoping that with prayer and hardwork 2009 will be fine.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Old School Friday - Merry Christmas

Christmas is a beautiful time of year and you know how much I love music. So I've decided that Old School Friday would feature tbree Christmas Songs. Two aren't actually videos, but just the music to the songs.


I pray that your Holidays will be all that you desire. Enjoy family and good friends that will make memories that will last a lifetime. We are just a few days away from a new year. I'm so glad that everyday brings new mercies from God. Happy Holidays once again.

Luther Vandross - Every Year, Every Christmas






This Christmas - Donny Hathaway




River - Peter White with Kenny Lattimore

Old School Friday

This week has been very productive. I'm almost at the finish line with my WIP. I have to remember to update my little progress graphic here on the blog.

Okay, here is my second installment for Old School Friday.

Let's get some dance music going on here.

Tom Brown - Funkin for Jamaica.




Johnny Kemp - Just Got Paid



Enjoy them both.

Have a wonderful weekend. Enjoy yourself this holiday season. Surround yourself with family, good friends and positive people.

Keep praying and I'll keep writing.

Buy Books for the Holidays

I've always bought books for people for Christmas and birthdays. If you have just started to read romance or introducing a reader to romantic fiction, here are my suggestions. I've started many people off on these authors. If they read these, I'm sure they'll be hooked.

1. Rochelle Alers - Hideaway Series - I believe she's up to book 14.

2. Brenda Jackson - Madaris Family (I loved the first 8 books and the novellas in Cupid's Heart and Trask and Felicia's Story)

3. Francis Ray - Heart of the Falcon is my favorite story.

4. Jacquelin Thomas - Her Ransom Family Series. She is also a wonderful Christian Ficiton Author.

5. Gwyneth Bolton - Hightower Family Series



These are just a few with series books as well as single titles. But there is a long list of AA authors that have wonderful books. You can check out my list on the links page of my website.



On Another Note...

I came across an interesting National Buy a Book by A Black Author and Give it to Somebody not black. The idea was posted on this blog by Careen Brice White Readers Meet Black Authors

Intersting...

RawSistaz Conference 8-13 2008

My good friend Bettye Griffin posted an announcement about the RawSistaz Event which will take place this week. I decided to post it as well, I don't think any author or reader should miss this event.
It runs from December 8-13. The agenda is below. http://www.rawsistaz-affair.com

Agenda

MONDAY

Event Overview

Meet & Greet

TUESDAY

Book Discussion - What Readers Want

Panel - Self-Publishing vs Mainstream vs POD Renee Flagler, Shelia Goss, Earl Sewell, Tina McKinney, Nakea Murray

Panel - On Writing: From Romance to Christian Fiction to Non-Fiction Michelle Larks, Gwyneth Bolton, Bettye Griffin, Marilyn Griffith, LaConnie Taylor-Jones

Workshop - Creating a Publishing Business Barbara Joe Williams

Workshop - The Road to Getting Published Gwynne Forster

Spotlight - Authors Ana’Gia Wright, Pynk, Trice Hickman, Terra Little, Dyanne Davis

WEDNESDAY

Book Discussion - A Different Kind of Blues by Gwynne Forster

Panel - Books, Book Clubs & Book Reviews aNN Brown/RAWSISTAZ, Renee Williams/All the Buzz, Dee Dee Dalton/Sexy Ebony BBWS, J’me Adams/Passion for Reading, Eraina Tinnin/Piedmont Triad RAWSISTAZ

Panel - Guiding Young Readers Through the Literary Jungle Paula Chase, Varian Johnson, Kelly Starling-Lyons, Carla Sarratt and Don Tate

Panel - Depicting the Black Family in Literature Angela Winters, Swaggie Coleman, Evelyn Palfrey, Carleen Brice, Toschia

Workshop - Focus on the Story Dwight Fryer

Workshop - Blogging for Fun Sheila Goss

Workshop - Fast Books Victor McGlothin

Spotlight - Poetry & Non-Fiction RJ Poet, a. Kai, Ms. T, Vanessa Johnson

THURSDAY

Book Discussion Unexpected Interruptions by Trice Hickman

Panel - On Writing: Why We Write What We Write Allison Hobbs, Rodney Hurst, Rose Beavers, Nikki Rashan, Angeline Bandon-Bibum

Panel - Book Promotion & Publicity Dana Pittman/Nia Promotions, Lissa Woodson/Macro Marketing & Promotions Group , Nakea Murray/Literary Consultants Group

Workshop - Mistakes First Time Authors Make Barbara Joe Williams

Workshop - Structuring Your Novel Dr. Fredrick Williams

Workshop - How to Be Your Own Publicist Ella D. Curry

Spotlight - Authors Robert Greer, Byron Harmon, Nicole Bailey-Williams, T.L. James, M. LaVora Perry

FRIDAY

Book Discussion - Our Favorite Books of All Time

Panel - Industry Insider Roundtable Candace K - Web Designer/CanDann.com, Melissa Forbes - Freelance Editor/Carbon Copy Editing, Doug Siebold - Publisher/Agate Publishing, Misherald Brown - Literary Agent/ML Brown & Associates, Chanel Smith/Web Design Presence

Workshop - What You Need to Know Before You Sign on the Dotted Line Pamela Samuels-Young

Workshop - The Inner Self/The Outer Self Dr. Ni

Spotlight - Literary Professionals Marlive Harris - TheGRITS.com Literary Services, Pam Perry - Ministry Marketing Solutions, Ella Curry-EDC Creations, Sylvia Hubbard - Motown Writers Network, LaShaunda Hoffman - SORMAG, 3 Chicks on Lit

SATURDAY

Workshop - So You Want to Write Renee Flagler

Author Spotlights - TBA

Event Wrap-Up

Friday Ramblings

I think being a music lover is a trait in my family. Every single one of my relatives love music, be it gospel, r&b, blues, jazz, rap, hip-hop, etc. We always
have music at every gathering. You can hear a song and it will take you back to a fond and sometimes even a painful memory. I think music can be healing and fun at the same time.

When I'm writing my stories, I use music to inspire me and the mood of my characters. For example in my WIP FROM THIS MOMENT, I chose the title
from the song FROM THIS MOMENT by Shania Twain. The words are so beautiful
and I felt it was a good fit for Ivy and Jonathan. Now, will the publisher(when
I find one) change the title? We'll see.

Anyway, I've decided to post each Friday some of my favorite songs. Now, that's alot
of music, but I hope you all enjoy them. And, please don't hesitate to post the titles of your favorites.

Several of my friends: Authors Bettye Griffin and Gwyneth Bolton
feature music on their blogs as well so don't forget to check
them out.

Here are my entries for today:

Atlantic Starr: One of my favorite groups.
Send For Me (I love, love, love this song)




Champaign - How 'Bout Us
My Uncle Jesse loved this group. He used to play this song all the time.


Have a wonderful and safe weekend. The holiday season is definitely underway. Take care.

Holiday Recap & Expectation

Well, Thanksgiving came and went. I hope you had a good time with your friends and loved ones. I know I did.

We always have a good time during the holidays. Eventhough as the years have come and go, we've lost loved ones and it seems each time it's different. But we keep moving forward.

I went to the movies twice this holiday season. I took my youngest son and my two nephews to see BOLT. It was a cute little movie. The kids thought it was good, but didn't comment on it too much. Which meant the movie was just okay to them.

I also went to see THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES. I don't ever have to see this movie again in this lifetime. Now, don't get me wrong, the acting was great, I just don't like films that have racial violence in them. There were many other things in the movie I didn't like, but won't post them here for fear of spoiling the movie.

All that got me to thinking about what the readers expect when they pick up a book by a certain author. I wonder what people expect when they pick up one of my books. I would hope they would expect to get a funny story that would also touch their heart. But I also realized that we are not going to be able to please everyone all of the time.

Creativity is subjective. I have been saying this for the last couple of months. Each person comes to the movie or the book with their own thoughts on what they are about to see or read. Once they've had the experience, sometimes they will feel that the actor, author, writer etc got it right. Then sometimes they might feel they missed it all together. The same way I did with this particular movie.

As for movies, I like romance, some suspense, family drama and comedy in movies. I do have favorites because I'm an avid movie watcher. Just to name a few: THE FIVE HEARTBEATS, THE PRINCESS DIARIES 1&2, LOVE JONES, BAPS, CLAUDINE, POETIC JUSTICE, THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT, THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION, WHAT A GIRL WANTS, LEAN ON ME, BOOMERANG, COMING TO AMERICA, SEX IN THE CITY, THE FAMILY STONE, BABY BOY, TALK TO ME, DADDY'S LITTLE GIRLS, and many, many more.

Do you have a favorite movie?

Happy Thanksgiving

Oh Give Thanks Unto The Lord for he is Good!!!

I just wanted to drop you a line to say
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your loved ones.
Take some time to share with the ones you love
and let them know how thankful you are for their
friendship and love.

I want to thank everyone for all the emails and ecards with words of encouragement. Thanks for the notes saying you loved my books and most of all WHEN IS THE NEXT ONE COMING? I appreciate your kindness.
Have a wonderful holiday.

Friday Ramblings

It's Friday. It's seems like I blinked on Monday and now it's already Friday.
I've been cruising the net this morning and came across another wonderful blog from a literary agent Rachelle Gardner.


Rachelle is a Christian Literary Agent who uses her Rants and Ramblings Blog to share her experiences and other important things with the world. I love her post from Monday Your Calling As A Writer When I read it, it confirmed to me that I'm not the only person that has wondered if God really called me to write or if it was just a season. She received some wonderful responses.

One woman's thoughts mimicked mine exactly. It's amazing how the Lord works. I was just feeling a little down after receiving a rejection. I love God for his mercy and his grace. This is not an easy business and now with the economy on a downward slope it is getting more and more competitive.

I also found this awesome blog called So You Want To Be Published. Check it out.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy Rachelle's offering and you have a successful weekend.

Sean

Article Worth Reading by Author Jane Porter

I just wanted to drop a line to tell you about an article I found on popular fiction novelist Jane Porter's blog. Her book Flirty with Forty is a lifetime movie starring Heather Locklear. I really like Jane's personality and go to her site frequently. I thought I'd post the link to an article she wrote titled: A WRITER'S PERSPECTIVE: ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING
Check it out.

The Weekend/Writing

I hope everyone had a great weekend. I didn't get much writing done, but it was a great weekend. Our church celebrated our Pastor & First Lady's Anniversary. My mom was chairperson, so of course I had lots of work to do.

Anyway, I am proud to say that I am getting ready to start Chapter 15 of my novel FROM THIS MOMENT. This story has been the easiest to write thus far. I am hoping the readers will enjoy it as much I've enjoyed writing it. Jonathan and Ivy are definitely a great match for each other. Looking forward to typing the words THE END. After I complete FROM THIS MOMENT, I will start work right away on Lili Hart's story I THEE WED.

Keep praying and I'll keep writing.


Sean

This is The Day That The Lord Has Made

...I will rejoice and be glad in it.
Barack Obama is now our 44th President.
The jubilation and passion of the American
people really touched my heart.

The first thing I thought about was
all the people that paved the way for him
to get where he is. I also thought about
those people who were blessed enough to have
experienced the change that some never
thought they'd see in their lifetime.

I know there is a long road ahead, but this
makes the road a bit easier to travel.
Congratulations Mr. President.