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

Who Are They Series? Pastor Yolanda Davis

Okay, yes. You may know the woman in the above picture as Grammy Award winning gospel artist Yolanda Adams. But for the purpose of my novel, this woman is Pastor Yolanda Davis, a redeemed, drug addicted woman of the streets who was pursuaded to make better choices for her life after a chance interaction with Kania, as a young attorney with a passion for helping others. Neither of them knew how influential they would be in each others’ lives from that first encounter and their reconnection fifteen years later.

Interesting Facts About Yolanda:

She may look like Yolanda Adams but singing is not her ministry

On any given day you can find her with a stylish wedged-heel gym shoe

She’s an unapologetic sugar addict stating that it’s better than what she used to be addicted to

Favorite Scripture: “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 38-39

Favorited Cocktail: Sex on the Beach

Although my main character, Kania, is becoming more fully developed in this novel, I especially enjoyed creating Pastor Yolanda Davis. She’s one of the few new characters created in these last two books I’ve written. All of the other characters were born in Unfinished Businesss. I’m really excited introduce this unintentional troublesome character.

Who Are They Series? Lydia Love

She’s an oldie but goodie! The one who started it all! If you read Unfinished Business, you’re very familiar with this lady right here. That silly, lost woman who kicked a good man to the curb to backslide into an old relationship with a man who has only broken her heart.

In the current story, Lydia is the supporting friend to Kania. She isn’t nearly as silly as she was in the first book, making herself available to a man who means her no good. No good at all! Instead, as a happily married woman, she is one of the main voices of reason to Kania, much like Kania was to her in Unfinished Business.

She’s still ultra independent, though she’s married to Roy, a man who adores her and can more than take care of both of them and their child as the owner of a successful local chain of auto supply stores.

Interesting Things to Know About Lydia:

She’s an only child.

Her favorite workout class has changed from Kickboxing to Barre.

She loves to cook. Her recent thing is making pasta from scratch.

Her favorite movie is Imitation of Life.

Her favorite activity with her husband Roy is taking long, scenic drives

She’s low-key resentful of Kania’s budding friendship with Pastor Yolanda but she’d never let on to Kania

Who Are They Series? Kenneth

The lucky lady that this man, with her mesmerizing brown eyes, full-kissable lips, and sly grin, belongs to is none other than my main character, Kania. Making his name start with a “K” like Kania’s was pure happenstance, but it fit perfectly for the nickname their friends’ gave them–K-Squared. He is the man who captured Kania’s hear while it law school and properly turned her out! Got her exploring things in the bedroom that she never thought she was capable of. But, like women often do, she went along to get along with her man and to explore her own curiosities.

In the novel, we’ll see how Kenneth responds when he notices his wife altering their once agreed upon activities in their relationship after she starts hanging out with her pastor friend and what secrets he may have.

What else would you like to know about this handsome guy?

The Writing Continues: 3rd Novel Loading

The story of Kania Johnson, the third and final friend introduced in my debut novel Unfinished Business, is loading for publishing in the early fall of 2022. I started writing her story sometime in 2017, maybe 2016, when I realized she needed a story. Her character evolved from the friend getting married in Unfinished Business, to the friend who transformed from being career driven to mom driven in my second book, Reconciliation to Hell. Her relationship and marriage appeared perfect, untouchable from the vantage point of her friends. But no marriage is safe from strife and temptation. Kania, and her husband, Kenneth, are no different.

So the question,then, became, what should this well-put together, loving couple encounter to test their marriage? How about a threesome partner, a pastor, and a family secret? Sound juicy? I hope so!

I was having a ball creating this story in the writing software, Scrivener, and just when I decided to a do a copy and paste from that software to Google docs, the software crashed! YIKES!

Let me tell y’all..I was thanking God for the spirit that led me to back up my work or else I would have been starting from scratch. But here I am 3 years later, in the rewrite stage following a developmental edit of the book last summer.

Just to give you a snippet of what it’s like to rewrite based on a developmental edits, here ya go:

But at this mid-point of January, I’m trudging along making progress everyday. I’ve set a had goal to get through the edits by March 1st. I’ll definitely keep you posted.

Naturally Yours,

Delta Authors of Tour recap

Just before the Friday author only event

It goes without saying that the Midwest Delta Authors on Tour was a success! I sold the most books that I have ever sold in one event. Thank God I had additional inventory on the way for the weekend of the event. But for real, I must say I really enjoyed this virtual event as I have all the other events that I’ve participated in since the start on the pandemic. As someone is gets quite nervous when front and center before a crowd, the virtual events are right up my alley! The comfort of home calms my nerves.

However, like any event, though, there are still some takeaways.

Assistance during virtual events is as important as in-person event. Now the committee in charge of this event was aware of this fact. I was assigned as shadow for both days of the event. However, there really wasn’t a need for a shadow on the first day, which was a private event for the authors of local chapter and regional leadership guests. But on the second day, there definitely was. And my shadow was no where to be found. I needed her during the breakout room to manage the chat while I was speaking to the people who joined my room. I still have no idea why she wasn’t there. It may have been something out of her control but I was left to manage alone. Obviously, I missed some comments in the chat but I handled the pressure like a pro. Now, what I didn’t handle so well were my own plans for the event. Since the breakout rooms weren’t going to be recorded, I had the idea to record myself doing a reading of one or both of my books to add to my online media kit. Unfortunately, when those guests started filling up my room, pressing record on the phone was the farthest thing from my mind.
Following directions is key. The participating authors were asked to sign books. I can’t recall if we were asked to do this before the event but that would make sense. While I did begin the process, I stopped entirely too short. Likely due to some self-doubt that I wasn’t going to sell that many books. But boy did I? I’m sure attendees wouldn’t be that upset if they received an unsigned book. However, I didn’t want to take that chance. So I’ve been signing each book before I send it out. Then on top of that, I got the late idea to include a personal note with each book thanking them for their purchase and reminding them to sign up for my newsletter. It’s time consuming but I’m taking full advantage of contact with possible readers and longtime fans of my work.
Prepare for the unexpected. And I’m not just talking losing one’s internet connection or flubbing your prepared presentation. How about your dad, son, and your son’s girlfriend waltzing into the front door, leading into the living room where you’re doing your presentation? And, of course, they don’t come in quietly. Noooo. My Dad comes in announcing that he brought me some fish back from the outing. SMH. He totally looked past the message in my eyes screaming, “Hey!!! I’m in the middle of something.” It wasn’t until that moment that I realized I should have put a sign on the door, “Presentation in Progress”, for the off-chance that they were going to return from fishing before I was expecting them. It was also at the moment that I was happy that the breakup room wasn’t being recorded.
Don’t forget Amazon appreciation day. I don’t know if this day exist but it should. After selling over 100 books, I definitely appreciate the order fulfillment that Amazon provides for my print-on-demand books ordered through them. Because, let me tell you…making multiple trips to the post office over lunch or after work to fulfill these orders is a true labor of love. But I’m loving every minute of it.

Front view of my fav gift for participating in the event!

Back view of my fav gift for participating in the event!

Delta Authors on Tour-Detroit Style

The big day has finally arrived! I couldn’t be happier.

I have been a member of the Detroit Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc for nearly 9 years. And as soon as I got the chance, I registered my first novel, Unfinished Business, in the yearly Delta Author directory compiled by our National Arts & Letters Commission of our national organization. When I published my second novel in 2016, Reconciliation to Hell, I included that one, too.

As I a result, I have been invited as a feature author for literary events on two different occasions by two different local chapters. First, the Inkster Alumnae Chapter, followed by the Southfield Alumnae Chapter. But this is my FIRST time being featured by my home chapter, the chapter where I was initiated–the Dynamic Detroit Alumnae Chapter. I am super geeked! It’s nothing like the support of home!

Detroit Alumnae Chapter is the final stop on the National Delta Authors on Tour. There is a private event taking place on Friday, May 1st, in which the featured authors will hobnob (virtually, of course) with national and regional leadership and fellowship with one another. The next day, Saturday, May 22nd is the event for the public to meet and greet (virtually, of course) with the authors and talk about the awesome, exciting, and intriguing books that everyone has written.

If you haven’t had the chance to register, here’s the registration link. If you can’t make the event you can go here to order books.

National Reading Month: What I’m Reading

This book, The Woman God Created You to Be, by Kimberla Lawson Roby, has been on my shelf for several months. I figured, not only because it’s National Reading Month, but also sisterhood month, that I’d read this book selection with my sorority chapter. Am I finished with the Stacey Abram’s book from last week? No. But that’s no reason not to start another one. We don’t just watch one T.V. series at time, do we? The same can be done with books. Just read! You’ll eventually finish the book if it’s good. I haven’t read anything by Mrs. Roby that wasn’t good. I don’t expect this book to be any different!

Conversation with the Author

I’m happy to announce that I am the feature author this month for the Detroit chapter of Rotary Club. They host an author every month and it’s no coincidence that I’m up for National Reading Month. Or is it? Lol!!

Mark the date in your calendar and join us!