On to the Next

Once again I am a published author! I have released my sophomore effort and its getting rave reviews! Its even prompted others to pick up my first novel to catch up. I love the feeling of knowing people read, appreciate and value my work. I never knew others paid attention to me until I began to write. Things that are said take on so much more meaning and recognition. Many thanks to those that have followed me on my journey and to those that have encouraged me along the way. I am well on my way on this long road to success but Im making strides!

...:::Watch Me Do Me::::....

I HAD A DREAM

As a child I used to play secretary with my friends. You know when we used to have President, VP, Secretary and Treasurer. I used to always be the one to take minutes and write! That was the beginning of what I have set into fruition today. I always had a pen and paper in hand. I've read countless books, from Judy Blume and VC Andrews to T Styles and Terry McMillan. I never stopped reading until I decided to write. Even now, as a published author I said I wouldnt ever stop reading because thats something we do in everyday life and we tend to just look at pictures and mull over things as opposed to totally and wholeheartedly ingesting what it is we are trying to learn.
Putting my work into the hands of another is something I said I would be skeptical to do but I've placed so much faith into my wonderful editor that its like when I go to do my always manicured nails.

Do what you need to do, just make it fabulous.

Putting out my 2nd published novel, I am now exposed to so many people that I wasnt privy to before. I am so thankful once again and this is truly like a dream come true for me. As a matter of fact, it IS a dream come true and honestly it wouldnt be happening if I didnt have FAITH. Follow your dreams people.... its one step away from making it a reality. We are only as great as we attain to be. Martin Luther King Jr, had a dream and his dream was FAR more important than mine but he wasnt able to live to see it come to fruition. His legacy lives on within us each and every day. Love one another as you love yourselves and know that whatever you pray for yourself, you can pray for another. It costs nothing to make that happen and you will be blessed because of it. 

Faith is taking the first step, even when you don't see the whole staircase.

Martin Luther King Jr.
US black civil rights leader & clergyman (1929 - 1968)

Trial and Error

Sometimes it takes a whole lotta mistakes to get to the right thing. And sometimes the right thing turns out to be one big mistake. Its all apart of living and learning. For me, it took me 3 tries to self publish my first novel and now I wrote it and sent it out to my editor Brandie Randolph of Editing Couture. She has been a FABUlous asset to me and my work and comes with my seal of approval. I just sent her my manuscript for the sequel "Bound By Lies" which I want to release in Jan/Feb of 2011. I've received such positive feedback and I am excited for people to enjoy my work. Its been a long year but I made it! Whew! Thank GOD for mistakes........ they cause me to learn and grow!

I Think I Can, I Think I Can.... I KNOW I CAN / I KNOW I CAN

OOOOOOMMMMMGGGGGGG!!!! Break time!!! I simply must before my damn brain fries. Im up all night and up early and I dont feel like Im making any headway to finishing my story. I'm almost done!! Thats the frustrating part. I have a few more chapters and I dont know when but I need to complete this and send it to my editor within the next few weeks. :-(
HELPPPPPPPPP MEEEEEEEEEE LOL
I guess I have such a strong story to tell that I dont know when to stop. I do tho! I do know when to stop! I just dont know when I will get there.......... I will keep at it like Lil Toot.......... ;-)

Bound By Lies- Coming VERY SOON

What I Want Aint Usually How It Is!!!

I sat in the dark and cried..... I said why doesnt he love me back. I thought it was something special. I most of all let down my infamous WALL and let him in..... Why? Why me? Why not US? Its because its not of HIM.. Much like everything else in our lives, we have a blueprint and if its not in HIS plan, we wont succeed. I am a true testiment of that. So much has happened in my life but the things that mean the most to me are the things that I've worked the hardest at and have accomplished. My children, My writing career, LIFE in general has been something short of CRAZY but Im making it........

The other day I stepped out on FAITH and TRUST and I am moving progressively forward with my second novel, Bound By Lies. When I made the decision to take what was mine, I was nervous and was up until 4am but that adrenaline rush was something that caused me to say "Ok, this is what Im doing and Im going to make it work for me!"

Anything worth it is a struggle and while my journey is far from over, I know with TRUST and FAITH I will make it.........

Inspiration....... Or Lack There Of!

Greetings folks! It is I, Essence coming to you live from my laptop and boy oh boy does it feel strange. The last time I was here I spoke on all thats happened with me during the summer. Well Summer is pretty much over and business will resume as usual. Guess what? I am soooooooooooooo excited about whats brewing. Thank GOD for inspiration. I mean Ive literally been writing in a notebook with a pen and Ive got my next book under way....... Im more than sure I've got at least 4 chapters already which says alot. That book will be ready for July 2011! Im on a train to success and Im not stopping!!! Of course there are some days where I just dont get into the mood to write. When I do, I just listen to some music or even take time to read some of my literary divas books.. Lately Ive read Mahogani P's book, and the Shyt List collection by the Cartel Publications. Next on deck is A Hood Chicks Story by Shonda Devaughn. Reading and writing gives me life........... So Blessed to be able to do what I love and be around those that inspire and support me! So All........ I'll probably be blogging during my hiatus since I'm addicted to what is my lifeline (blackberry) and letting you know first, what Im  up to. Must get my sophomore novel done and out to my supporters......
BOUND BY LIES (DATE TO BE AANNOUNCED AFTER THANKSGIVING)
Be well my lovelies!!!

OOOEMMMMGEEEE

Okay so I know I've been gone for like 3 months but I've been tremendously busy and I absolutely love the support I've been getting. I stay on Twitter cutting up and one of my tweeps suggested I get back on the ball and blog about what I've been up to. She was right! I didnt know how much I was doing and or going through. Let me break it down month by month LOL.

June- I did lots of partying... hey it was my birthday month. I drank, spent time with my friends, family and boos.... hey, Im a single gal in NY.. what did ya think? Just call me the black Samantha Jones with a touch of Carrie Bradshaw ;-)! Anywho, I drank, lived, loved and had a wonderful time. My oldest son graduated and I celebrated some birthdays as I previously stated. But, the lowlight of this was my blackberry lost alot of information and even worse MY LAPTOP CRASHED! GASP!!! YES!!! My precious "Sonya" (I name her #dontjudgeme) crashed and there was absolutely nothing I could do at the time. I was on the phone with people that attempted to help me all damn day (Kenya) and those that stayed on the phone with me and prayed while I cried (Todd) and those that allowed me to rush the hell over and fix my baby so I didnt hyperventilate and die due to lack of oxygen. I know dramatic but um er a......... thats my laptop containing my second book as well as other items that are near and dear to me! I was 80 pages into my book when that happened but I was able to get it up and running and was able to submit to my Fabu editor just in time to promote and order some for the Harlem Book Fair.... which brings me to.......

July- My books are here and Oh jeez am I holding on to them. I sent out about a dozen or so and ordered some to come later on. I was REALLY pushing it but a few days before the Fair, my books arrived! STEPPING OUT ON FAITH!!! YAYYYY!!! So I figure out logistics, what to wear, who Im going to see, how Im going to do this.. yadda yadda yadda...... Fast forward to the day! Im in Harlem and I contact my darlin Reem aka Keith Williams, (excellent author - Open Spaces) so I can hang out with him and borrow a corner of his table LOL. On my way there I see VJ Gotastory and T. Styles and the VP of my family publishing company, The Cartel Publications. The CP and I have history and I adore them all! They are my big sisters and have taught me so damn much! I exchange hugs and all that and make my way to the table. Keith and I exchange pleasantries and do what wackiness we do while on twitterafterdark (SHOTS FIRED LOLOL) becuz hes my twubby... and we feed off each others creativity. Great to find someone like that because they push you to do so much more and I appreciate him. Go cop his book yall.... he's a rare kind. Anywho.... this is the HIGHLIGHT of my day coming up..... Im sitting there selling a book to a supporter and out of the corner of my eye, I see OMAR TYREE!!!! I gasp and Im like OOOOOOOOOOEMMMMMMMMGGGGGGGGGGGEEEEEEEEE!!!!!! I am so happy I lost my breath for a lil I swear because aside from A Hustler's Son by T. Styles, Flyy Girl was THE book that made me say, Okay..... Im gonna write! Anyway, he disappears into the crowd and another person in Keith's camp is alerted and we literally stalk him! Hahahahaa....... he had to come back our way and lo and behold he DID...... and we waited, and waited, and I was able to snag a photo with him as he took my book! So pleased and honored I was to be with a lit legend. That made the Harlem Book Fair so worth while...... despite the fact that I ended up sunbaked, dehydrated and with a strained back muscle...... which brings me to.....

August- I am at 85-90% now but for the last few weeks I was on valium and Motrin 800. Yea I was that bad! I couldnt move my right shoulder, turn my neck or lift my arm. The doctor said it was hard as a rock :-/

I could do NO writing. I laid up and wrote on my blackberry and tweeted and read and researched LOL. But now Im back! Im working diligently once again on my novel and it will be released in 2011... again, cant rush greatness. 2011 is gearing up to be an interesting year! So many projects and opportunities and I am going to jump on them and make it do what it do because failure is not, never was and wont be an option!

Blessings to all!

~E~