Author: LaCharmine (L.A.) Jefferson

Contemporary women's fiction author sharing her life with others the best way she knows how.

Things That Make you go Hmmm…

So this interesting thing happened over the weekend. The biggest thing to note is that I attended two events on Sunday afternoon. And that’s a big deal for me, notwithstanding the fact that I also made time for significant yard work before the activities got underway. Bur for some reason, along the way in life, I determined within myself that when I attended an event, I have to go from the beginning to the end. Therefore, if something else was going on during that time, I crossed it off the list of possible activities. Well, I have learned since hanging in my social circle of women are varying ages that I can drop in multiple events that occur within the timeframe.

Who knew? LOL.

Anyway, one of the events I attended was a book signing for ReShonda Tate, the author of The Queen of Sugar Hill, a historical fiction novel about Hattie McDaniels, the first Black woman to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. The signing was at the main branch of the Detroit Public Library. It started at 2pm and I almost wasn’t going to go because I had started working in my yard at noon and didn’t finish until 2. I immediately started talking myself out of going because I was going to be late. Then I began to talk to myself.

“Girl, how many events have you been to where people come in the middle of it? Or even near the end?”

“Being 20 minutes late is not going to be the end of the world. They’re probably not selling the books until the end of the talk. You’ll be fine.”

So I jumped in the shower, then dressed in something that I could also wear to my cousin’s day party–the 2nd event of the day.

I arrive at the library, found great parking at the back entrance more easily than expected (I also use stuff like parking at the downtown library as a deterrent for not going to events there.)

I walk through the entry door and there is signage at the front directing where to go. Still, a helpful security guard guides me anyway.

The room was quite full as I entered. ReShonda was responding to a question posed by the moderator, a librarian FB friend of mine. I was happy to snag an open seat next to a long-time Detroit author, Sylvia Hubbard, who I’ve known, like, forever, it seems.

The talk was over soon after I arrived and the rest of the time was going to be used for the author to sign books and take pictures with attendees.

I wasn’t sure if ReShonda have any idea of who I was. While this was my first time meeting her in person, I was a Facebook friend and I am the Soror to one of her best writing friends, Victoria Christopher Murray. I have been following both of them over their careers before I started my writing career. I don’t know exactly when they started their own joint publishing venture, Brown Girl Books, but when I got wind of that, I’ve been following.

A few months ago, I happened upon the site and saw that submissions were open. Coincidentally, I had just received the edits back for my third fiction novel, which I had every intention of self-publishing.

What do you think I did?

I made the corrections for the first 3 chapters and submitted that along with the others items needed for submission to their publishing company. Knowing it can take anywhere form 3-6 month for publishers to get back with you, I put my focus on my other irons in the fire, so to speak.

So, back to the book signing…

My turn comes and I noticed ReShonda possibly recognizing my face. From Facebook, of course. So she proceeds to ask my name as she prepares to sign my book. I tell her and then spell my name for her.

She surprises me by saying, “Do I know you from somewhere?”

I proceed to tell her of about my sorority connection with Victoria, but she knew that from the Delta symbols on my shirt. Then I mentioned that I had participated in one of the virtual writing workshops they conducted a few years ago.

But here’s where it gets interesting…

She says, “Jefferson?”

My last name? I’m like how does she know my last name? Sure, it’s on my Facebook page, but my thought is, how much attention do you pay to a random Facebook friend to know their last name. It’s not like I’m commenting on her Facebook posts with any kind of regularity.

My mind races with excitement on the way to my car. I was piecing together the possibilities.

What I came up with is, perhaps, just maybe, my submission to Brown Girls Books made it to a short list of considerations for publishing and THAT’S why she remembered my last name.

I don’t know. Only time will tell BUT the possibility, alone, was enough to make my day!

Til Next Time.

L.A.

When You Know You Know

You ever lay your eyes on an item and say to yourself,

“I’ve got to have this.”

No matter the cost.

Those were the words that passed through my mind when I saw the below journal in Books-a-Million book store on a random trip.

Interestingly, I was in another book store a few months back. I was on the prowl to replace a journal that I had just written the last entry in. One of my line sister’s had gifted me the journal. It wasn’t a birthday gift or anything to do with our sorority bond. It was a thoughtful, “just because” gift. And that fact made me like the journal even more.

The journal gifted to me by my line sister.

Coming to the end of the journal was emotional. Not just because of what I was writing that day, and what I had written over the three years since I had received the journal. But it was not lost on me that I was connected to the journal because of the kindness associated with the gift.

Side Note: My love language in receiving gifts. So, I am extra stoked when someone gives me something unexpectedly.

Anyway, I decided I wanted to replace the journal to hold on to that feeling. But when I got to the bookstore and spotted the price of $39, I was put off. Now, it probably didn’t help that it was early January–a.k.a. New Year’s goals and resolution time. My connection to the journal was immediately lost.LOL

I think I was fooling myself with the idea that I could duplicate the emotional reaction of someone else me giving something by buying it for myself.

Nevertheless, purchasing the journal(the same $39 price of the other journal) that I desired for myself filled me with its own feeling of love and appreciation.

Self-love and self-appreciation.

Rejection Follow-Up

Like any emotion, the pain of rejection isn’t long-lasting. Once I poured my emotions into my last blog post, the pain started to lessen. It only resurfaced for a moment when I got to work and had to cross out the “New York” scribbling I’d made on my calendar and remove the “New York, here I come” post-it that I had affixed to my computer monitor.

“Oh, well,” I said to myself. “No one can say you didn’t put yourself out there.”

A few days later, I was searching my email for something unrelated it and I came upon an unexpected surprise. The official rejection letter, only it was entitled, Thank You for your Manuscript Submission.

The email was very thorough, detailing the number of submissions the evaluating team received and the time constraints they had to review them. It also encouraged those of us not selected for this particular opportunity to keep nurturing our craft and to not be dismayed. There will be other opportunities with their organization and beyond.

I was comforted by the acknowledgment and further motivated by this team’s commitment to get more voices of underrepresented writers, specifically Black women published by the major publishing houses.

I posted about the receipt of the letter in the group of us who participated in this program. For those of us not selected, I advised them/us to pat ourselves on the back to being working writers. Because what differentiates the “working” writer from the thousands of people who identify themselves as writers is that we are actually writing, publishing and/or submitting our work for consideration.

All writers can’t say that.

I thought it was important to speak to the women not selected this time because they probably feel forgotten about. Most of the communication in the group has been those posting their plans for New York or planning a Zoom all for those attending.

I wanted them to feel encouraged and motivated to keep going.

Sharing is caring, right?

Til Next Time,

L.A.

Overcoming Disappointments

Friday didn’t go as anticipated.

I’ve been on pins and needles since February 16th, when I uploaded my second manuscript to a joint venture of women publishing professionals and Penguin Random House. After participating in a 6 month long educational series on the publishing industry, the organizer advised of an opportunity for 100 women to attend an in-person event featuring literary agents and publishers. The first 70 women would be chosen on a first-come-first-serve basis. The remaining 30 would be selected based on manuscript submissions of varying genres.

I applied for both. When I wasn’t one of the first 70, I worked extra hard on my manuscript submissions and did everything within my power to ensure my spot. I claimed my spot in my heart. I reserved my PTO at work for the days off that I would need. I wrote “New York” across the dates of March 21st and March 22nd on my desk calendar. And I repeated the mantra that I always say when I want something that is dependent heavily on someone else: What God has for me is for me.

Welp…on Friday, approximately 9:30pm, when everyone in our GroupMe started posting receipt of their manuscript acceptance letters, I kept checking my email for mine and it did not arrive. By 10:00pm, I willed myself to stop checking. After I awoke around 11:30 from crying myself to sleep, I checked my email again, like, Maybe mine was delayed in cyberspace.

Nope. Nada. Rejection by non-receipt.

I congratulated those who received acceptance letters and then promptly muted the GroupMe notifications. I could NOT lay in bed sulking in my rejection and watch their joyful messages of trip planning and connecting with one another.

I’m in no way a hater. I’m genuinely happy for them. But that does not negate the fact that I really wanted this opportunity for myself as well. And it was hurting like hell that God did not have this in His plans for me, at this time.

I mean, really hurt.

That night I thought about giving up on writing.

I’m tired, I said to myself. Tired of pouring myself into dream.

Sometimes I miss the life I had before I ever got the idea that I wanted to be an author. Reading for the fun of it. Reading for the adventure of story. Reading for a view into life’s possibilities.

All of that changed when I started writing my first book, Unfinished Business. Every book that I have picked up since then always reminded me that I should’ve been writing. First, to finish the novel that I started. Then trying to promote the novel after I published it. Then to start the second novel, Reconciliation to Hell. Then, to promote that one. So on and so forth.

It’s an exhausting cycle. But I’ve done it. I’ve written and published two novels. Written a third novel. Contributed personal essays to three anthologies. And, most recently, published my first Christmas romance story, A Christmas Staged for Love, this past December.

On one hand, I am so proud of myself for what I have accomplished in my writing. But, on the other, there are reminders all around me of what I still want to accomplish with my writing.

Sometimes I wonder is it even possible to go back to who I was before I started writing? What would I do with all the ideas waiting for me to give them life? Pretend they don’t exist? Would I be able to pick up novel or book of any genre and read it without thinking of the stories I turned my back on? As I am reading, would I think about the author and consider how many times they thought about quitting when things didn’t happen in their time?

Even in my sadness of this disappointment, I know the answer to these questions.

The morning after my night spent crying and sulking, I woke up thinking about the lyrics to a Mary Mary song that have gotten me through and continue to get me through life’s challenges: Can’t Give Up Now.

“I just can’t give up now…I’ve come to far from where I started from…Nobody told me the road would be easy and I don’t believe He’s brought me this far to leave.”

Words like these encouragement me to keep going. In life and in writing.

Til Next Time,

L.A.

My First Time Seeking out Beta Readers

Y,all…if you don’t know anything about me, you should know that I’ve got a stubborn streak. I will be the first to admit that.

Let me give you an example. I have had enough people over the years tell me that in order for me to burn my stubborn belly fat, I have to really streamline my diet. Like only allow myself pizza once a month as opposed to once a week. Or, drink my coffee black instead of with dairy creamer. But, I will look at people who have the figures, or belly, at least, that I want and swear that they are still enjoying some pleasures of life like creamy coffee and a supreme pizza. Then I rationalize that they are doing some other kind of diet fad to get results they have.

So over the 15 year span of my publishing career, I have heard about writers using beta readers to get timely feedback on their work long before they publish their work. But I was too fearful of criticism to try this.

When I was writing my novel, Unfinished Business, I had friend of mine reading and she was nothing but encouraging. She never said anything remotely negative or critical of the story I was writing. And, of course, as the author, I loved that! But in retrospect, although the story is good, I should have gotten more opinions before publishing. It could have been even better than what it was.

The problem with using family or friends to read your book for reader opinion is their true opinion of your work can be skewed by the excitement about that fact they you’re writing a book in the first place. Their love for you can make them hold back from telling you what you really need to hear.

That’s where beta readers come in.

Photo by Christina Morillo on Pexels.com

They are independent readers who beta read for their love of reading, and maybe a little compensation, too, if they’ve made a business out of it. However, there are still plenty of people who do it free of charge.

But let me tell you this…whatever fee you pay for a beta reader will be far less than what you will pay a professional editor for developmental editing. I can attest to that!

Back in 2021, I decided to use a developmental editor for my third novel. The editor was extremely thorough, which I loved. Her notes were extensive and detailed. From storyline, character arc, plot holes, and character development. I was very appreciative of all of her comments and I used all of it as I commenced rewriting.

But I paid a hefty price for that extensive critiquing! And now, the same editor is line editing the revised manuscript.

More money. More money. More money.

While I appreciate the developmental edit and have no regrets for the experience, I could have saved by letting beta readers guide me from the reader perspective, which is really the opinion that the author wants to capture!

Now, I won’t say that I would never do a developmental edit again. But before I get there, I will definitely employ a team of beta readers during the first and second drafts as a start.

Recently I put out a call for beta readers for a short story I’ve written. So far, I have two. I’m looking forward to their reviews.

Til Next Time,

L.A.

Amongst Detroit Stars for a Cause

One yesterday, October 1, I had the pleasure of attending my sisters’s five year celebration of her nonprofit, AusomCity313.

Her organization brings awareness and provides social activities and celebratory opportunities for children and young adults on the autism spectrum. My sister has been out and about in the community, networking with key people in the community, making the connections that she needs to provide impact with her organization. As a result, the event was attended by a couple of Detroit’s growing or established talent. And I found myself being unexpectedly inspired by some key stories that were shared.

First there’s Detroit artist Lathun. He is most known for his dance, Freak It, also known as the Bad Girl hustle song. The beauty and inspiration of his story is that he wrote and recorded that song in the mid 90s and is still making money and performing this one song. I’m sure that when he set off on his recording journey, he probably had great plans of recording hundreds of songs over a span of years. But as God would have it, he’s being blessed beyond measure with the one.

Lathun

The second inspiration came from a Detroit actor blowing up the screen on Tubi. His name is Will Coleman. When he walked in the room, I had to take a second look. Not just because he looked familiar but he was oh-so attractive and well-built. Very pleasing to the eye. Excuse me. I digress. Lol.

After his introduction to the attendees, he informed us about the Tubi movies that he’s been in, and the other opportunities that he has come up with none other than a project working with Tyler Perry. During his talk, he literally encouraged attendees to never give up on their dreams because you never know the path that each opportunity you take advantage of is it going to take you.

Will Coleman

Although I’ve been on my writing journey for a number of years, I know I have barely touched the surface of what I can achieve. Stories like these men inspired me to keep going, to keep pushing through all the bouts of discouragement and self-doubt.

Over the past year, I have been receiving daily reminders in my phone that I created for myself. One of them reminds me that I’m a good writer and that there is a audience for my work. Another one of my reminders tells me that my debut novel, unfinished business, is ready to be turned into a screenplay. And the last reminder that I mention here is a simple statement that writers write.. it reminds me to stay true to my craft. Writing on a regular basis, putting ideas together as often as they come.

I’m excited about what’s to come as I look forward to the day when I’m standing before a crowd of people and providing them with the encouragement they need to keep pursuing their dreams.

Actually, I hope I’m doing that with this post 😀

Til next time,

L.A.

From One Green to Another

If you’re from Michigan you are acutely aware of the tragic events that occurred on Monday, February 13th. Heck, even if you’re not, you likely know about the campus shooting that left three young people dead and five others seriously wounded. Unless you know me personally or follow my blog, you also know that my son started his freshmen year there this past fall. Well, what you don’t know, because I haven’t shared with a lot of people outside of immediate family, is that he decided to leave MSU after the first semester of the academic year. So the good news is that he was not on campus the evening of the fateful shooting, but, as a parent of a former MSU graduate and having many friends with students on campus I was no less glued to the T.V. in absolute terror of what was happening. I’m glad to say all of my friends’ students were safe, but my heart truly aches for families of those students who died that night.

Why have I been silent on my son’s sudden departure from MSU? Well, obviously, no parent is joyous when their child decides to leave college. But for me, in particular, it’s a MSU thing. No, I did not attend the school. However, it was the school I had every intention of attending when I graduated in 1993 when my parents shattered my dreams when they declared that I would not have their financial support if I went “away” to the school that was only one hour away. I sure wish I was more defiant at that time in my life because not attending my first school of choice has been one of my few life’s regret.

Nevertheless, when my daughter attended the school twenty years later I developed pride from being a MSU mom. And I was looking forward to being a MSU mom times 2. But that was my dream, not his. So I had to put on my big girl pants and not shame him or try to guilt him to do what I wanted. That wouldn’t have made me any different from my parents.

Moving Nate in to his MSU dorm Aug 2022

What I wanted most– okay, second to my son continuing his education at MSU, was for him to have a plan for this phase in his life. One of the mottos I’ve been preaching to him since I became aware of it is: Proper Preparation Prevent Poor Performance. So, I reiterated that to him.

“You’ve got to have a plan, son.”

And his plan became enlisting in the military.

Another shocker for me. Another time where I had to put on my big girl pants. I reminded myself, This is his life to live.

Once I was sure that he was sure of his decision to go to the United States Air Force, I got on board and went full throttle into “support” role when you transition from telling your kids what to do to supporting them in the decisions they make.

Walmart run for some essentials the night before he leave Feb 2023

On this day, his last day in our home before his embarkment on BMT (Basic Military Training), I’m holding back my tears that will surely refuse to be held back on the actual day that he leaves. After scouring the Internet about what to expect of BMT (because I’m the one going, right?), I actually feel better about his decision. Over the next two months he will be strengthened physically, mentally, and emotionally, and on the road to true manhood.

What more can a mother ask for?

After Nate’s haircut in the preparation for basic training

In Writing…Happy Friday!

Okay… my pantser writing style never ceases to amaze me. I’m writing a story in which my female protagonist enjoys sexual relations with women as long as her boyfriend is with her. He surprises her with a proposal and she assumes there’s no room for that kind of activity in a marriage so she decides to go on the prowl for her first solo woman to woman sexual experience before they get married.

Over the past week or so, I have been stuck trying to determine her journey to meet this woman, while trying to contain the story to be a short one. Then all of a sudden I’m writing a scene where the character is at happy hour with her best friend talking bridesmaid dresses and when the friend goes to the bathroom, their female server hits on the main character, leaving her phone number on the back of the customer receipt!

And just like that, the plot of thickens.

Happy Friday!

In Writing,

LA

In Writing-Proud 2022 Moments #1

This month I’ve been looking back over things I’m proud of that I accomplished in 2022. One of the things at the top of that list is getting back into reading. As a author of two published books and working as a librarian, it goes without saying that I love books. However, recent times have caused me to feel like a bit of a fraud when I leaved the phrase “avid reader” in my bio. The truth is that I used to be an avid reader BEFORE I started writing. Now I’m more like a “wannabe” avid reader. Since beginning my writing journey, it seems, I’ve always been in some stage of a writing project. When I would pick up a book, I would soon feel like I should be writing (there’s a podcast that goes by that name, which I wish I chosen as my own!)

Nevertheless, reading is a MUST for me. I need to do it like I need to breathe. And no more matter how tempting it is to come home from work or wake up on a Saturday or Sunday morning to stream the latest popular series on Netflix, I had to make time for reading. It is apart of my writing craft. And I have fond memories of cozying up on the couch with a book. It was something I looked forward to. If you follow my blog, you’ll remember my New Year’s post declaring doing more things in 2023 that bring me joy. If reading didn’t make it list, charge it to my head and not my heart, because it’s there.

Through a combination of physical books and audio books, I completed at least 20 books in 2022. Below are a few of my favorites!

Sis Don’t Settle: How to be Smart in Matters of the Heart by Faith Jenkins

Just As I Am by Cicely Tyson

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Reid

You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Awaeke Emezi

The Other Black Girl by Zakiyah Dallia Harris

Rare Danger by Beverly Jenkins

2023 Has Arrived

Happy New Year!

I started thinking about what I want to do differently in the new year a couple of weeks ago. I’m not calling them resolutions because they’re not just for 2023. They’re from this day forward. At the top of my list is swimming, skating, and hula hooping. When I was on my sorority anniversary trip in Cabo, I envied the ease with which one of my line sisters woke up every morning that we were there and went to swim laps in the infinity pool before breakfast. I learned how to swim for the second time about 15 years ago but I didn’t keep it up. I learned because I wanted to stay fit with fun activities that wouldn’t make me feel like I was exercising. Hence why skating and hula hooping are on the agenda.

Next up is traveling. I took two trips in 2022, six months apart. The first one was my friends 40th birthday in New York in July. The second was the Cabo trip in December. I like the idea of spacing out the trips. It allowed for financial recovery from the trip before the next one. So now I’m thinking of a small weekend trip in the first quarter of the year, followed by a bigger one the second half. Likely destinations are Washington, DC and Jamaica.

Next up–writing. I can’t say it enough but National Novel Writing Month really did change my perspective on writing. It’s not enough for me to resolve to write more this year. It’s easy to write more. But it’s another whole thing to produce more writing projects. Finish the writing projects that I’ve started. I have approximately four projects I’ve been working on concurrently. None of which, except one, that had a projected date of completion and that didn’t even happen. At the close of the year, two are near complete and the other two are in the beginning stages. So, I devised a plan to complete all five by the first quarter on 2023.

One will be completed before this week is out. A week ago, I learned about writing in blocks of time. What I used to do was look a day off work and say, “I’m going to write today.” No specific start or cut-off time. That method hasn’t gotten my where I really desire to be. Last week I reached out a fellow writer who joined one of my NaNoWriMo sessions and I remembered her talking about a group she was in that helped be a more focused, productive writer. Heart Breathings Writing Community. I joined the Facebook group and subscribed to the group owners YouTube channel. I watched a video where she described the writing block system. I implemented it that same day. And that’s why I’m almost finished with one of my projects!

Now granted, I still mess up, even with this new method of writing in place. Like watching T.V. or answering calls when I’m writing. But there have been some wins, too, along the way. Like NOT answering a call when I was writing and pushing the guilt away when it came for me. The caller survived over remaining 30 minutes of my scheduled writing time.

I am still a work in progress, in ever area of my life. But I’ll never stop seeking to be better.

May you have a prosperous and blessed 2023!