Baby Steps

I have wonderful news. A story that I penned is going to be published in a new anthology by XPressYourself Publishing, entitled the Erogenous Zone. I am very excited and happy. This will be my fourth published contribution this year, not including my own works. I'm getting out there, at a slow steady crawl, but spreading nonetheless.

Which means its time for another website. Yep, another one. It is in the works. Actually, I designed most of it last night, although it is still very much under construction you can glimpse the shell at www.opheliapub.com. THis website will be for my publishing company, so it will encompass all of my works, and a couple of other authors - yep, I write under a couple of psuedonyms that even you, my beloved loyal readers, no nothing about (and you wont' find them at ophelia publications either). If I tell you, I'd have to.....naw, just playin. but as a working professional I have to maintain some separation, which is the reason for even the a.kai moniker.

Additionally, five poems were originally created and accepted for publishing in the poetic anthology Step Up To the Mic. Now, if I could just get myself organizd enough to perform some of my poetry, I could get myself out there. Baby steps, though, Baby steps....

SO, when you have a chance, check out my site and let me know your thoughts

Advertising

SO, it looks like I am going to make my deadline of "in stores" by August. I don't want to do it this way, but resources are limited, agents are slow to respond, publicist and media experts cost for real money, just when mine is drying up, and I feel anxious. And, yes, I know I should move forward on feeling of anxiousness, but my time is now, my window is opening, starting its semicircle rise, and if I don't jump through it I may miss it....

Check out my latest advertisement if Internal Indulgences


at Blogging In Black

Also, look for Light at the Edge of Darkness in stores and on line.



I will keep you posted.

Puffy Gives Good....

Television. Drama. Excitement. Entertainment. Power. (what did you think I was going to say?) Making the Band 4 debuted tonite. For a glimpse into P. Diddy's world, I woulda watched. For a chance to look at Joe, Mario and an ol crush, M. Bivins, I woulda watched.

But this season, my husbands cousin is participating - and he will make it, have no doubt. You know how you can pick out a star, even when their little. Like when Beyonce first debutted in No No No and took over the entire screen. Or when Janet came out with COntrol (tellin my age). Well, this gentlemen has always shone, has always been a star. Even if somehow Diddy doesn't pick him, he is guaranteed to shine. So Qwanell, we are cheering you on...

Other things I noticed - Wasn't that Julius kid really the singing version of the wild Miami kid from Da Band - Fred, right? He is Fred's equally anguished R&B twin. How is it DC could only find DeAngelo (who was pretty good) and an Asian kid named Sam to represent. Now, I am not dissing the two (Sam was surprisingly soulful) but does DC aka Chocolate City always have to be pathetic in the performing arts department. Come one, millions of black folks, only one can make an R&B talent show? Lauri Ann can dance. I mean, she can do it all. Wasn't Joe more handsome on the show, talkin and chillin, than in his normal videos. I don't know, it coulda just been me, but he was doin it. Did Puffy mention Nsync as an all time great band? Yep. But, luv me some Justin so I let that go. To his credit (I rarely disagree with him) he didn't add Boys from the Back Alley or somethin or other to that list.

Finally, aren't you so glad to see Michael Bivins back to being, well, Michael Bivins. What happened to BBD and the East Coast Family anyway? Wonder how much of that Boyz 2 Men money he is still getting. Guess he didn't have to work after they popped off anyway.

David John Bush

DO you know what I did today? While I was grocery shopping and talking on my pathetically ancient cell phone which I refuse to discard until my contract ends and I am eligible for another phone, I grabbed a bok of vanilla wafers.

Vanilla wafers.

And I didn't even think about it until just this moment, while reading a Myspace friends blog (Yasmin/APOOO books). I haven't purchased Vanilla wafers in years.

When I was little, some time immediately following my parents separation/divorce, we lived for a few months in North Little Rock, Ark. Although we spent summers and holidays there, this was the first and only time I actually lived there. And during that period, my grandfather transformed from the man who fell asleep in front of the television, to my rock and strong source of normalcy. He never engaged in the swirl of activity, gossip, discussion...just exercised, worked, cleaned, and exercised some more.

Oh, and one more thing. He picked me up from school. Every day. And we went to the grocery store. Every day. And purchased one box of vanilla wafers. Every day.

We would take that box back to the house to snack on while we watched cartoons and the Three stooges. We didn't talk much, but said what was on our minds. Whereever he was, I wanted to be. And he allowed me to follow behind him, something he grumbled about on a regular basis with others. But his grumbling never really bothered me. I found something safe and comfortable in his presence that I was missing at that time in my life. And it is the base of my center, the security in regularity that allowed me to find daily peace.

So I dedicate this Father's day to my grandfather, David John Bush. I love you.

A Diamond?

Today was a hard day. An emotional roller coaster. Very difficult, because I am being pressed, under some type of test. And I know that's whats happening, that I just have to maintain the faith and keep my composure, but as deadline's loom near, and the dinero es muy pequeno, it is getting difficult for me to stay focused.

Leading me to ponder, without pity partying. Why is this life so difficult for some, so easy for others. Yeah, I know that what I think is easy may not really be, but its hard for me to swallow that a peer with mommy, daddy, a million in the bank, and every financial concern covered could ever understand me and my childhood of lettuce sandwiches until that teachers salary kicked in September 18. Or me now, trying to stretch each inspiration like a thin rubberband, thinning until it finally bursts. Tryin to make a dent, a mark, without losing ground. And it is not an easy. It is never easy. There is never a connection, a family tie, someone who knows someone, nada....

At the end of the day, the cliches always seem to fit my life. But, hell, how many trials are necessary to pressure this rock into a diamond?

When I See You Fantasia

ALright people - can I tell you how much I love Fantasia's new song. Well, not so new anymore, but finally getting main stream play. This song captures that incredible breathless state, love from afar, infatuation by just a look, a glance, it has happened to me so many times....SO anyway, I am posting her video here, so the song can play continuously

Fantasia - When I See You [www.kovideo.net]

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BTW- isn't this the best Fantasia has ever looked - they finally did her right, she musta hired the right stylist. Her hair is flawless, outfit perfect -red shoes to die for. Can I rock those shoes without fallin? - I will certainly try.

Doesn't this song just remind you of .....sigh....love past, lost, or never admitted to? I fall in love so easily, this song must have been written for me....