That's the Ish I Dont Like!!!

We , as authors dream sometimes of getting on the best sellers list. It's a dream to much and a reality to some. Throughout the years you will remember the 5 Star reviews but even more so you will remember the 1 and 2 Star reviews! As a person in the creative field, its very hard to place yourself out there for others to critique and discuss. It is appreciated. I receive countless emails and messages weekly telling me how they loved my book. Currently I've received over 100 combined 5 Star reviews on my novels and short stories. You know what I remember most though? The negative reviews. One review stated I must be suffering from nymphomania because she read all my novels and I'm obsessed with sex. I couldn't help but laugh and wonder if she had an orgasm that night because for her to feel that way she must be a nymph herself. She DID admit to reading ALL of my novels.

I remember my first poor review. I cried, I stayed off of Facebook and all social media when I read it. I hated everyone. I didn't want to write anymore. I wanted to quit but then I talked to a dear friend of mine. The fact is out of 100 people that love my novels, there will be one that doesn't. That being said, I focus on the ones that love my work. No one is going to always enjoy everything you do. You will be told of things that you may have done wrong such as editing, or other things. They might not like the cover or storyline. Some might not even like how it ended. Nonetheless, no one will like everything about the novel. Will I bitch and complain? Will I throw tantrums on Facebook or have a twitter rant? No! I will take what the readers and reviewers are saying and take into consideration that they might be right. I will go back and see what the problem is and fix the problem so I can be the best author and publisher ever. 

People will always have something to say. They judged JESUS. So long as you are faithful and true to YOU and yourself as a brand, then you can honestly say you put forth the best effort ever without regret. Be your best you. 

Smooches lovelies 
Allison xoxo

New Year, Same Me

It's been about a year since I came over here but I decided that I needed to come and greet a lot of y'all. I will be blogging more. It's conducive to growth and letting everyone know where I am in my career. I am currently now signed to PEACH DOLLHOUSE PUBLICATIONS; a TBRS company. My first release will be PREPAID MISTRESS and it drops Valentine's Day 2014. I'm so excited because the last year has been absolutely amazing. I thank everyone for checking in with me and be prepared to hear so much more about me. Follow me on social networks so you can always stay abreast of things. 
www.twitter.com/fullofessence
www.instagram.com/fullofessence
www.fullofessence.com

Bestseller

I began the New Year as a BESTSELLER! WOW!! 
What a way to start. I woke up checking emails and Facebook and someone sent me a message wanting the link to my novels. I never check ranking but I decided to check and noticed that my rank was in the top 100!  I checked ALL released parts of the series "Bitch Clique" and they were all in the top 100 on Amazon in Women's Fiction. WOW!!! I am flabbergasted and so extremely blessed. This is only a drop in the bucket and because of that I'm going to push harder to achieve the success that GOD has laid out for me. It is destined! 

Hi lovelies. Today is the first day of January in a new year. I first want to thank all of you that have rocked out with me in 2012. It was quite an experience and I appreciate it. I have been busy the last  months working on projects and promoting and writing my short story series Bitch Clique http://www.amazon.com/Bitch-Clique-ebook/dp/B00937NC4M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1356941021&sr=8-3&keywords=bitch+clique. 

I will be releasing part 6 in a month or so. I know I've been gone for a while but I am making a conscious effort to blog more. I miss speaking my personal thoughts for those that are following me. I'm on twitter and instagram as well as facebook but there's nothing like being on a blog and expressing oneself in more than 140 characters. 

I anticipate alot of projects to come in 2013. I have been working with a few authors that will be releasing projects and I am going to be releasing the much anticipated Bittersweet 2! Im uber excited about that as well as other short stories for those that enjoy them. 2013 will be as amazing as I anticipate it to be. Much love to you all and your families! 

Muchas Smoochas

Allison aka Essence M

A Letter to My 16 Yr Old Self

A letter to my 16 yr old self.

Hey Allison. In twenty years you would have been through so much but you would have survived. The man you felt you would be spending forever with would move on and leave you behind.  The good thing is that from the love you once shared with him there would be offspring from that unity. Two sons to which you will love with your whole entire being. You will go to the heavens and above to make them happy and you and their father will reach a place where you can actually call each other friends. That won’t interfere with any romantic relationships. You will have hits and misses and one of them will cause you to go into a deep depression and almost abandon life itself. . That’s the relationship that will catapult your writing career. You make it through and you will love again. He’s not who you expect him to be but you will know when you see him. Your struggles aren’t in vain and while no one might understand just what you do, or how you think, it works for you and that’s all that ultimately matters.

Remember the journals and poems you used to write in PS 78? Well your writing career will span way past that. You would have begun the steps to build an extensive catalog of novels. You will also be surrounded by peers and mentors that are bestsellers so do your best and soak up all the information from them because they want the very best for you. Your life will be very hard in some aspects and you would have survived illnesses that would almost take your life. You will maintain friendships from junior high school, high school and even elementary school. These people will cause you to remain grounded and you will always be ALLIE to them. Remember who you are always. Trust has always been a problem for you but in time it will work out for you. There will even be times when situations of betrayal and violation make you want to just give up and crawl into our safe and secure Cancerian shell. Don’t. There’s so much beauty and grace within you. The world needs to see.  I know how we are. When its time for you to come out, you will but don’t forget that I love you and I’ve made the best decisions possible so when the time comes we wont have to struggle so much. If no one tells you that they love you, remember always that I love you.

Allison, age 36

He's My Favorite Mistake Launch Party

Boy meets Girl.......... Girl Falls in Love.. Boy Shits on Girl.......... Girl STILL loves Boy.... Boy Leaves Girl........... Girl Never Stops Loving Boy... 

That pretty much sums it up... While I havent read it, I have indeed lived it.. I was gifted a copy of it and I plan on sinking my teeth into this book written by Ni'Cola Mitchell and Tamika Newhouse. I have my own Favorite Mistake and if I see his ass on the street I may gouge his eyes out! I digress however and shall move on to the point of this blog... 

The launch party of He's My Favorite Mistake was at the Harlem Home of Bumpy Johnson.. YES! THAT Bumpy Johnson. It was filled with some of our favorite authors... including myself. 

Arranged  by Lola Sims and Nikki Walker of NWPR, brought out some of the industries top players. Its always good to have the support and love from friends and colleagues. If you dont have it, I advise you to cop it. My review is pending...... I wont let you down! http://www.amazon.com/Favorite-Mistake-Obsessive-Soul-Joint/dp/0615598404/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340168416&sr=1-3&keywords=tamika+newhouse

Part 2..... The Black Pack Party

Ahhhhhh the BEA was successful so now we all gathered to meet at a restaurant in Harlem called Londel's for the Black Pack Party. As seen in the picture above it was filled with African American authors of all genres coming together for one specific purpose..

 UNITY IN LITERACY. Sounds oh so simple! It is! We all dont know each other but for that day it was like meeting aunties, uncles and cousins that we havent seen in a long time It was definitely a reunion of sorts. I had never attended this event before but everyone made me feel so much at home. I appreciated it and look forward to next year's event :) 

BEA WEEKEND Part 1

Earlier this month I was invited to attend the BEA which is the Book Expo America. I went with my editor Brandie Randolph of Editing Couture and Tamika Newhouse of Delphine Publications. Also in attendance was Q.B. Wells of Urbania Magazine and Ni'Cola Mitchell, of NCM Publications. Being around such great literary minds was overwhelming. Little did I know that was the tip of the iceberg. I walked into Jacob Javitz Convention Center like a kid in a candy store. After all, where ever books are, I am excited. Signs that I am a real reader and writer. We walked through the aisles trying to find where Tamika was slated to do her signing at 4pm. Upon arrival we see a big crowd and decide to follow it because quite frankly there were several brown faced people that looked like us. As luck would have it, it was exactly where we needed to be and I was in awe to see Author and Radio Personality Michael Baisden. He was there promoting his newest novel "Maintenance Man 2". Along side him was Heather Covington of Disilgold and ZANE............ yes ZANE....... the erotic author.


 While I got no pictures with Michael I was blessed to speak to Zane who may or may not have remembered me but despite that seemed very nice and we snapped a shot together. I am fortunate at this stage in my literary career to be able to connect with so many. The day was just beginning and Tamika had a successful signing. As I was about to walk away I saw my mentor and literary godmother, Best Selling Author Victoria Christopher Murray! Her and I had such a heart to heart, she had to lead me away because I was crying. Done messed up my make up and everything. LOL
She and I spoke about the literary community and what's expected of me and what I need to do in order to succeed. It was then that I was joined by Carol Hill Mackey of Black Expressions. YUP!! I got hugs and all that... Also Yvette Hayward was kind enough to join us and we all chatted it up about me along with other topics.. I was literally like a niece, or lil sis and all my aunties were giving me excellent advice. So here I was amongst literary greats and they all had my back. Its a wonder why I feel within my heart that I am where I am supposed to be. The evening can only get better........ stay tuned for the Black Pack Party later on............ ;)

Day 2! I awaken.. finally after being up all damn night. There was a fire in my hotel and my nerves were bad. My long time friend and fellow author Tanisha Mahogani Pettiford take the trek to downtown. We unfortunately missed alot of the authors and tables but definitely saw old friends and some new ones too... like Towanda and Traci Braxton of the Braxton Family Values. They were there promoting Towanda's husband's book! It was a pleasure to meet these lovely ladies and they were so kind enough to take a picture with us. Towanda even wanted to take a ring I had on my finger. I politely told her to "GET HER LIFE"... I kid LMAO! All in all it was a wonderful day. I spoke to Omar Tyree too!  I saw my usual suspects and some new ones as well.. I had a great time in Baltimore and will be doing it again next year and I will BE there! I always seem to check out events before I go. Thats a wise thing to do. Welp! See ya next year :) 

Closer to "The End"

I begin my novels with several chapters beforehand and then leave it alone. I usually come back to it when I get the itch, urge and inspiration. I lost 2 half completed manuscripts earlier in the year and was devastated. I was able to retrieve them and I am in the midst of working on Stolen Revelations. That drops the end of the year.
 Am I unsure about how it will be received? Absolutely! Do I want it over with? Of course! Am I going to continue writing? Without question! I anticipate when I can type the two words that makes an author smile from ear to ear... "THE END"

Harlem Book Fair 2011

Harlem Book Fair 2011! Where anyone who is anyone can come purchase books, mingle, sell, advertise and rub elbows with the best of the best and those that aspire to be. I totally forgot to update you all about all that I did. I shared a table with another author and got there fairly early. It was HOT!!!! When I say hot I mean well over 100 degrees but I saw lots of old friends, comrades and colleagues. Too many to name but I saw Erick Gray, Wahida Clark, T. Styles and the Cartel Publications, Takerra Allen, Envy Red, Tamika Newhouse, Anna J, rapper Styles P, Treasure Blue and K'wan along with many others. I took pictures with many and they purchased my novels and mingled. The day before was a meet and greet at the DejaVu Book Lounge located in Harlem, NY and alot of the authors I saw were also at the Harlem Book Fair. There are so many people with stories to tell and they aspire to be authors. One never knows how an inspirational story can assist in making ones dream come true. I am never one to kill a dream as I know what it feels like to experience the same. It was my second time at the Fair and I had an absolute blast. People knew me and bought my books. I took pictures and mingled. Its always good to be recognized for your work without anyone having to say, "this is Allison, author of Broken Promises Never Mend & Bound by Lies". Now I get "Oh My God. Why did you end this book that way. Is there another part?" I LOVE that aspect and recognition and its because of readers like you all that allow me to strive to be the best and to do what I do. I want to be the very best at my craft and give it all of my wholehearted attention so everyone can be happy. I believe JOY is at the end of a well written novel! 

Baltimore Urban Book Festival Day 1

I was excited as I packed my stuff to travel to the Baltimore Urban Book Festival the beginning of May. Not only was I going to possibly sell some books but I was going to network and see some of my author friends that I hadnt seen in weeks, months or even the last year. Always good to see my facebook and twitter friends. 

Boarding the bus to MD/DC I thought about who I would see and how would it be. Would they embrace me? Are we still cool? Not that it mattered but I know who's in my inner circle and who I can trust and depend on. 

First on deck was the meet and greet. I was honored to have been accompanied by two facebook friends and avid readers. They were able to see what my life has now become. Its always a pleasure to show people how I "get down" and who I am as an author, friend and person. As I pulled up to the location in Baltimore, Maryland I was excited to see some familiar faces. I first saw K'wan, author of Eviction Notice, Eve, Gangland, and more! I then saw Eyone Williams, author of Lorton Legends and JM Benjamin. Amongst others in attendance were Tamika Newhouse, Azarel. DC Book Diva, Rahiem Brooks, Envy Red, and Erick Gray. Wahida Clark also stopped in to show love and we conversed briefly. I always like to come out and show my friends love and support because you never know when you will need the same in return. 

We all drank, ate and mingled anticipating the next day and what would occur.... I decided to go to my hotel room after. I was greeted by a fire alarm or drill. I was out in the rain for thirty minutes while they investigated. By the time I was indoors I was dead tired but I managed to do a ustream video to update you all about what happened LOL. 

Needless to say I didnt sleep until 5am that morning and ended up getting to the festival late.......... stick with me and see what happens next! 

Coming this Winter.......

Many of you wanted to know when this was coming out and I can say that it will be in your hands Christmas Day. What a great gift! I know its been a while since I have blogged but I have been busy promoting "Bittersweet" and working on this end of the trilogy. Enjoy the preview! Get ready for a whirlwind ride and an ending that will leave you dumbfounded!

The Smell of Newness

Hey lovelies! Its been a little while since I have been able to sit and concentrate on communicating with you all. I have released "Bittersweet", received wonderful feedback and not too wonderful feedback but I have pressed on and I am working on a few new projects for 2012. Stolen Revelations, which is the final installment and concludes where Broken Promises Never Mend & Bound by Lies left off. I am also working on Bittersweet 2 which will be released Summer 2013.
I have learned so much about people and how they feel about success, particularly when it has nothing to do with them. Sometimes its best to be quiet and learn how people are. They usually reveal themselves and you will see who is for you and who isnt. I have been watching carefully and the ones that are there for you are truly there for you and find ways to support you. I sit, watch and PRAY!
Here's to 2012! Stay tuned for something new..................

Very Sweet, Not so Bitter

Sometimes sticking with your first instinct is the best. I have released my novel "Bittersweet" with wonderful feedback and reviews however the paperback wont be available til Jan/Feb 2012. Im working on interior issues with it to make sure its perfect. It is available on Kindle & Nook for your reading pleasure! http://www.amazon.com/Bittersweet-ebook/dp/B006D8FEZ4/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1324397733&sr=1-1

During this time I am working on another installment of Bittersweet......... yes already I know but this year has blessed me so and I want to keep up the momentum dig?
2011 has brought me ups and downs but through it all I kept pushing and succeeded. I published not one but 2 novels and contributed to a soon to be released Anthology and I am excited about that. I encountered people that didnt want me to press on. I encountered those that turned out to be my biggest fans. I encountered harsh criticism and I encountered strong critique that helped me hone my craft. This business is cutthroat but you get out of it what you put into it.
I place  my all into my novels because I want my readers to feel what I feel. I dont just throw words n a page and expect for it to be a hit. I strategically make love to the words and sing them as if in a symphony so that you can feel aroused, angry, sad and ecstatic simultaneously.

                  THANK YOU to all that took this ride with me and I'll see some of yall next year!

I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just when I thought I couldnt do it due to an injury, I accomplished the feat I said I would...... AND with the original date for December! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I typed the famous words "THE END" earlier this week and I am extremely excited to send it off to my editor Brandie Randolph of Editing Couture so that I can deliver it to yall in a nice lil perverse package. :)
Now I can relax and yall can enjoy a part of me that has not yet been revealed to the literary world. I dove deep within to touch parts unknown in order to give you the very best. I hope you enjoy it! There's also a great chance that I will be releasing it on ebook just in time for Thanksgiving! WOOHOO!
All for my lovelies!

Love ya to pieces
~Essence~

Hiatus :-/

Those of you that have been following my journey know that I have been SUPER excited about my latest release "Bittersweet". After the Harlem Book Fair I went full steam ahead with book signings and promtions and things of that nature. Sadly my body caught up with me and I am currently out on "break" with no writing. So how am I blogging you ask? VERY CAREFULLY! This always happens however when I release a book. Something happens whether its related to a computer issue or some illness and it will delay my progress. That being said my novel Bittersweet wont drop in December........ but it WILL drop in Feb/March 2012! AND........ I would love to have a big party to celebrate and have a book tour. I guess all wont be lost as we once thought. Now just to organize everything for that gradiose occassion. I hope you all will join me in celebrating :)

I still have my other novels and Im working on the final installment of the trilogy as well as other surprises. This journey is FAR from over! Love ya to pieces :-)

Internationally Known......................... !!!!! :-)

Hey lovelies! Long day but I wanted to share with you the news that I got today! It wasnt what I expected but I am still super happy and proud!

I occassionally check online for sales from Amazon and Barnes and Noble to see where my numbers are as far as sales. I decided to peek over and see if there were by chance any international sales and LO and BEHOLD  I see that there was a sale on Amazon UK! Yeah I know its ONE sale but who knows WHERE that sale was originated and Im believing that the person loved my novel "Bound by Lies" and decides to tell others about it. That would be fantastic and a swarm of new sales and international following! I think outside of the box! Word of mouth spreads quickly! I never thought that this would be occurring so soon. I believed I had at least a few more novels to crank out LOL. Im blessed nonetheless and thank you all for encouraging me on my journey! Love ya to pieces!

The Countdown is ON!!!

Hey lovelies! So I am in the batcave working on my latest and I made some revisions and also changed the cover a bit. You know I am a bit of a perfectionist. I simply adore how things are coming into play. Ive had alot of help from my peers and inspiration from mu favorite people. My latest will drop January 2012. I know! I know! So far but I promised myself I would release a novel a year and I am going to do it. The funny thing is my other 2 novels are still doing extemely well. I am not on the New York Times Bestsellers list but all in due time I will acomplish a feat met by my author friends and mentors! I just love them! So I will give yall a sneak preview of the first chapter of my novel... its unedited! I hope you like it and I will also include the NEW cover! Love ya to pieces!
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My Prerogative

            A juicy gob of spit dripped down her chin. Brianna had never done this at work before but as soon as he mentioned he would pay extra for private service she decided to go for it. I mean what the fuck! Women have been giving up pussy for years without being compensated for it. Its time to get paid for services rendered!  

            Her hand moved up and down the shaft of his erect penis as she kept it in her mouth, He groaned and grunted in pleasure while Brianna sucked on his dick like a Hoover Vacuum. The throbbing in her mouth was felt as it bobbed and remained warm and wet causing her to taste his pre cum. Brianna knew he was about to blow his wad down her throat and was ready to keep sucking  and stroking until he did.

Brianna said she would only do this when she was in a relationship but lately was tired of being mistreated for where she worked and how she made her money. Any man that wanted to be with her would have to know and understand that Brianna was an exotic dancer or a plain ole’ stripper and this is how she made her money. The Golden Palace was a place where friends and foes were made on a daily basis. Every man/woman and child for themselves and no one was exempt from being a target no matter who you were.

            Brianna began to hum so that the back of her throat massaged his dick in her throat and tickled the tip. She was determined to keep her mouth wet because Brianna decided she wasn’t going to fuck him. That was really the last resort. This man was big as a house, about 350 lbs and smelled like stale cigarettes and Heineken beer. His sweaty belly kept hitting her in the face when she changed positions and she felt the prickly hairs on his crotch rub her hands as she grabbed and massaged his dick.

Brianna wanted to get this over with so she could get her dough and finish her shift. One more hour was left on her shift for the night and she wanted to get home to rest up for her other job as a Home Health Aide. She hated that she had to have two jobs but it was the only way she could legitimize why she couldn’t finish school when she was suppose to. Financial aide ran out and she had to take a semester off but that was a year ago and now she’s stuck stripping by night and nursing by day. She was determined to move out of the projects if it killed her. Way too many things occurred and she was beginning to be fearful of her life. Living at home wasn’t an easy task either and that’s another reason why she remained at work.

With the task at hand, she focused back at her client and sucked harder in order to speed up his process. He grabbed the back of her dark brown hair and began to fuck her face hard and fast causing her to gag, He knew he wasn’t going to get the pussy so her tongue was the next best thing. Brianna had her 42DD’s out of her purple bikini top and he played with her nipples and she kneeled between his legs going to work on his chocolate penis.

“Uh Yeah, Ooh take this dick! Ooh Damn! Im gonna cum!”he said as she took her mouth off and let him bust his jizz all over her tits. She was supposed to swallow but at the last minute decided against it.

“That’s a dumb move bitch!” he said wiping the tip of his dick with a baby wipe and pulling his pants up above what should be his waist but his big gut hung over. He struggled to buckle the belt and just left it dangling which made it jingle when he walked.

“This is why they call it ‘VIP’ and you didn’t treat me like a very important person!” He pulled out his wallet and began to count out five single hundred dollar bills. They were crisp and rustled as he did so he licked his fingertips and used the saliva to separate the sticky bills.

“This is why they call it ‘prerogative’. Just run me my money so I can tend to my other clients. I got shit to do” Brianna adjusted her bra top and grabbed some baby wipes to clean up her mouth and chest which was dripping in his ejaculate. She didn’t want her next client to know she did this or else they’d all want it and while he was her first, she didn’t particularly care for it. Besides going home to her mom’s house, she didn’t want to smell like sex. Smelling like old people was bad enough and she did that every day to pay the bills. Stripping was for extra shit she wanted and she didn’t intend to stop until she got what she wanted.

“You know I give two fucks right?! I just did you a favor so give me what’s owed to me and I’ll be on my way”.

Her mouth was slick and she knew how to make people give her what she wanted. Brianna stuck a piece of gum in her mouth and re applied her ruby red lipstick.  She stuck her hand out for payment and waited patiently for him to give her the money owed. He placed it in her hand and he smirked. She counted the money and rolled her eyes.

 “This isn’t all my money”

 It wasn’t what was agreed upon and she kinda wished silently that she did what he wanted.

“Its my prerogative remember!” he said as he kissed her on the cheek and walked through the curtains. He looked back and said, “next time do what you are supposed to do and you’ll get all that you want”

“Shit!”, she exclaimed as she threw the money on the rust colored sofa in the VIP section of the club. Another fucked up night at the club but it gave her an idea that would change her life forever!

Behind Those Books Premiere

On Friday May 27, 2011 I attended the premiere of a documentary that took three years to bring together and was told to us through the eyes of authors and readers in less than ninety minutes. The documentary was entitled "Behind Those Books" and it was created, produced and directed by Kaven Brown and Mills Miller.



In the film, which premiered in New York City it opens with a rapper speaking of how he is not a role model yet he speaks on that which he sees and is surrounded by in his environment. It then continues to show interviews by the likes of such authors such as Omar Tyree, Michael Eric Dyson, Caroline McGill, T. Styles, Terry McMillan, Treasure Blue, K'wan and more. What these authors tell are the foundations to why they author books and how it affects or doesn't the society to which we live in. We also hear from the minds of creative designers such as Davida Baldwin as well as vendors that sell the books that we love to love or hate.


Tales of "tits and ass" being all over book covers, misspelled words and copycat "rap songs" are praised as well as frowned upon. One author even gets personal and speak of his living situation as a child and how he brings it with true grit and passion to the novels that he writes.


This film is something that we needed to unleash to mainstream as many only see a one dimensional side of the literary world. Authors and readers alike will now understand what goes on behind the pages and even moreso Behind Those Books!!