Music is an art form that I hold close to my heart. When I was a child, I loved singing and modulating my voice to match the tone and pitch of various artists. Whether it was Prince (Joy in Repetition), Annie Lennox (Love Song For A Vampire), Mariah Carey (Someday), or Stevie Wonder (Signed, Sealed, … Continue reading Lyrics from the Soul: FIYAH’S Issue #5 Ahistorical Blackness Spotify Playlist
Month: January 2018
Lost Heros, Lasting Inspiration: My Thoughts on the Passing of Ursula K. Le Guin
No need for a commentary introduction.
“Come home, Tenar! Come home!”
In the deep valley, in the twilight, the apple trees were on the eve of blossoming; here and there among the shadowed boughs one flower had opened early, rose and white, like a faint star. Down the orchard aisles, in the thick, new, wet grass, the little girl ran for the joy of running; hearing the call she did not come at once but made a long circle before she turned her face towards home. The mother waiting in the doorway of the hut, with the firelight behind her, watched the tiny figure running and bobbing like a bit of thistledown blown over the darkening grass beneath the trees.
—The Tombs of Atuan
My hero died last week.
I never met my hero, although when I was in my twenties and seeking representation for my first book, I received an encouraging note from her literary…
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Review of Lulu’s Printing Service
Lulu Printing Services. You’re looking more sweet as the days go by. 🙂
With this ever-changing publishing world, it’s good to explore other options before the need arises. I feel this way about paperback printing services now that CreateSpace seems to be going the way of the megafauna. Before Amazon Print scuttles the boat (read Amazon’s New KDP Print Feature is Bad News for CreateSpace Users), I want my books settled on solid ground at another printer, so I can still get copies with short notice.
At a friend’s recommendation, I tried the printing services of Lulu. She had printed several of her books using their service. She showed me samples, and the quality was good. I uploaded a book and ordered a copy to see how easy it was and to compare it with the quality from CreateSpace.
Lulu accepted interior files created with CreateSpace’s template, so I didn’t have to redo the book to order the sample. I…
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How to Not be a “Starving Writer”
#SundayBlogShare #SundayMotivation. This post provides tips on how to make money as a writer.
by Sheree Crawford
Writing can pay.
No seriously. Ok, so the average author earns less than the Living Wage (hell, they sometimes earn less than the Minimum Wage), but the great thing about writing is that it’s a versatile skill that can be applied to so many situations. A few conversations with followers about just how hard it can be to make money as a writer spurred this article; these are 5 ways to make money as a writer that are open to everyone.
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5 (Out)+ 5 (Ready) X Patience = SUCCESS!
I teach reading and the title of this post reminds me of a math equation. My oldest son is a Math Wonder and he smirks when I admit to him that the mere mention of mathematical equations makes me break out in hives. 5 (Out)+ 5 (Ready) X Patience = SUCCESS! So, what's with that … Continue reading 5 (Out)+ 5 (Ready) X Patience = SUCCESS!
IF YOU ONLY DID 1 THING TODAY…
Hundreds of Places for Authors to Speak and Present
There are dozens of places where you can speak in your local area or a nearby city. Plus, of course, there are hundreds of more places that love authors who speak and present — especially in cities where you might be traveling for business, for media appearances, for vacations, or for family gatherings.
Where can you speak or give presentations? Here are a few obvious venues and many other venues which might not be as obvious.
read more http://bookmarketingbestsellers.com/hundreds-of-places-for-authors-to-speak-and-present/
Quotes to Write By Revisited
While scrolling through my Quora Digest feed, I noticed this question: As fiction writers, how do you get past the common feeling of "This is awful” when you start to write? Marshall Karp provides a great answer with a hilarious story that frames the difference between having a pessimistic outlook on life or an optimistic … Continue reading Quotes to Write By Revisited
HTGAWM’s sex trafficking storyline shines a light on the racialized sexual violence Black girls experience
REBLOGGED! Had to quote this from the article, "Jasmine Bromelle’s (character from HTGAWM) story was yet another reminder of how little the world cares about Black girls and women and the racialized sexual violence that we experience." Sad and often true.
Take Your Power Seriously. Keep Each Other Safe. Be Indomitable.
REBLOGGED! Kevin is brave enough to say what needs to be said. Often times, situations aren’t black and white. Heck, they’re not even shades of gray. People need to hold themselves accountable and behave responsibly.
“Take your power seriously. Keep each other safe. Be indomitable.”
Above is the ten-word signature line used by a character I write for, a young woman who was put into an impossible predicament and tasked to claw her way out, eventually turning her situation fully to her advantage. She was inspired by many women I’ve known in my life including those who folks knew not to cross: matriarchs who understood how and when to use their power.
I recently advocated online that women should not only be willing to use their power but, in situations where knuckleheads aren’t taking subtle hints, they should damn well assert it. It cannot be 100% on the guy to figure out that “let’s go slow” is code for “back off creep” when that reply sounds in any way coy or negotiable, even under the guise of safety. If the advance continues in spite of…
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Monique L. Desir 