The Struggle is REEEEEEEAAAAL!!!! :-(

 I'm going through a really, really tough period in my life, right about now....  😢😢😢😢

Financially speaking, I'm broke. Trying to get this apartment, and trying to pay for this expensive ass hotel has almost completely drained my finances.  I'm literally homeless right now.  I'm surviving by illegally sleeping at my day job, and working some serious overtime hours, where I don't necessarily have to go 'home'.  No book sales are coming in, and my last paycheck wasn't as beneficial as I thought.  Not to mention, I get paid every two weeks, so it's a long stretch of time before I can get any money in my pocket.  I couldn't have written a worse situation for any of my characters... 😢😢😢😢

Technically, I've been homeless since I moved out here, living out of a hotel.  I can't even do that now, since I can't afford to stay there.  Now, I have NO place to stay.  I don't even know if I'll be able to afford to move into this new apartment that I'm trying to get.  I've never hit bottom like this, before.  I'm trying to stay positive & hopeful, but...this is A LOT to deal with.  Nobody really knows about my situation; I'm too ashamed and embarrassed to tell anyone.  Only my new department head, and a handful of associates out here know what's going on with me. 😔😔😔😔

At least if I had some residual income from book sales, this experience wouldn't be so bad.  I would be able to have at least something in my pocket.  Hell, I might have been able to afford to stay at that price gouging ass hotel a little bit longer, if I had any additional money coming in.  Such is the state of my writing career; people can press a fucking 'like' button, but refuse to buy shit.

 

At least when I'm at work, I'm distracted about my situation.  Once my shift ends, though...I'm reminded that I have no place to go, once I clock out for the day/shift.  Working overtime hours helps because that's putting some much needed money in my pocket, but having to wait for that next paycheck is painful and scary.

 

I really pray that I can get into this new apartment.  I need for this to come through for me.  I can't really live like this.  The price for the apartment is one that I can live with, and I know that this new job will provide me with the hours needed to maintain it.  Furnishing the new apartment should be easy; I have contacts at my old job that I can reach out to, to help me with that.  I just need a place where I can lay my head, and I don't have to worry about coming out of pocket to maintain it every few days.

I've been sending prayers to the Creator & the ancestors.  I hope that they are listening, and doing what they can from the ancestral realm.  I just need everything to line up for me, and come through.

Keep me in your thoughts....

😢😢😢😢😔😔😔😔

Feeling the Coming Heat of JUNE

 Greetings to all!!  We are now in the month of JUNE!! The year is officially half over 😳😳😳😲😲😲.  We are now at the midway point. Time is certainly flying by.  Hoping that you're all actively keeping up with your plans and goals for the year...

 

To start off...June marks the nine-year publishing anniversary for my Erotica novel "Demure Nights" (CreateSpace, 2015).  It was clearly an experiment, and a departure from my other works published at the time.  It marked my 5th book, and second novel at the time it was published.  You can download the eBook, or order the paperback through Barnes & Noble from this link here:

  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/demure-nights-kevin-alberto-sabio/1122161393;jsessionid=6DF48510C4AEEFB16216419791E422BD.prodny_store01-atgap15?ean=2940152202618

 

I'm actually quite happy with this literary project.  I got to flex my 'freaky' muscles, and showed that I could write something completely different from what I was known for. 

June also marks Father's Day, and the Summer Solstice.  There was an event this month that I wanted to attend called SableCon, a local comic & manga con out here in Raleigh.  I wasn't able to attend; I had to work the weekend that it was held (June 1st & 2nd).  I'm not blaming the day job...that's just how the ball bounces.  I left my old day job, and recently started a new one.  I kinda figured that I would end up working that first weekend with them, which happened to be the weekend that SableCon was happening.  Hopefully, I'll get to attend (and hopefully VEND) next year.

 

On a personal note...I'm trying to apply for an apartment.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  This hotel shit is for the birds.  I've been stuck living in this place for damn near three years; I want my own place.  I was finally able to find something that was affordable out here, and going through the application process now.  I'm hoping that I qualify.  The sooner I get my own place, the better I'll feel.  It feels like I've been stuck in limbo, the whole time I've been living out here, smdh... 😔😔😔😔😔

 

I'm surprised that I was able to shoot two episodes of The Rough Draft last month.  I'm looking forward to shooting one for this month.  Hopefully. if/when I get my own place, I can be more consistent with making the videos.  I'll have my own space, and can invest in some lighting equipment that I need to shoot the videos (at least, a ring light, or something). Looking forward to shooting & posting Episode 73!!!

 

As I stated earlier, I left my old day job.  I hated that mf place!!  The work was tedious, and my schedule was fucking ass.  The money wasn't worth it, and I just wasn't happy being there.  This new gig seems to be going well.  The pay & benefits are pretty good, and they gave me a signing bonus.  Hell, they even have Employee Referral Bonuses if you can bring in people to work for the company!  Of course, my priority is my writing career.  I haven't told anyone about my writing career at the new day job.  Might just keep it to myself...

 

That's all for now.  Will do my best to keep you all updated on the writing career, and other goings on in my life.  I'll let you guys know how the apartment hunting goes!!  😁😁😁😁

 

Keep the fist raised!!!  Uhuru sasa, y paz!!!

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

 

  

(Hopefully) Flowering In May

 We are now in the month of MAY.  Five months into the new year; almost at the midway point. I swear that time is flying by so fast... 😳😳😳😳

In the month of May, we have my Publishing Anniversaries!!  Celebrating the seven-year publishing anniversary of my Urban Lit novel "Seductra, Web of Desire" (CreateSpace, 2017).  One of my favorite books to publish, I feel that it is severely slept on (much like all of my works).  Also, you have the two-year publishing anniversary of my Sports Drama novel "Second Chance Points" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2022).  Yet another favorite book that I wrote; I loved this story as a screenplay, and continue to love it now as a novel.  I just wish that the book would get the support that I feel it deserves...

Latest updates....Draft2Digital now has a new distribution channel available.  My books are now available on Fable.  It is a social media app, as well as an online bookstore!!  You can create a community, as well as create book clubs based on your book(s).  I'm hoping to get some traction with that new app.  You can check out my titles by clicking on the link here:

https://fable.co/author/kevin-alberto-sabio

Hope that you guys will support me on Fable!!  😁😁😁😁

The promotional grind has been a hard one for me.  It's gotten me deeply depressed, and off my writing game.  I have some ideas rolling around in my head, but I'm not currently motivated to write anything down, or finish my other unfinished manuscripts.  What's the mf point of putting in all of this effort, if nobody is going to support you?  The really sad part is...I have many of my indie author friends who are also in the same boat.  

The day job is really getting me down.  I can't afford to stay where I'm at because of my cheap ass paycheck, not to mention being given the runaround when it comes to my schedule.  A little consistency is all I ask.  And, hold others accountable for they shit they do/don't do at the mf job when I'm scheduled off!  Stop expecting ME to do all this bullshit!!  And, I hate those stuck up ass bitches from the Guest Services department.  Incompetent buncha bitches...

 

Aaaaaaaanyway....

 

Support the books that are out there.  Support your indie authors.  Support your indie bookstores.  Festival/book fair/comic con season is upon us.  Check out the latest episode of "The Rough Draft" posted on YouTube!!

 

Keep the fist raised!!!

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

    

Welcome to APRIL/National Poetry Month

 Greeting my followers & true fans!!  Welcome to the month of April!!  The first quarter of the year is now in the books.  Time really is flying by, isn't it?  Feels like it was just yesterday that we were celebrating New Years Day... 😲😲😲😲😮😮😮😮

A little bit of housekeeping.  In the month of April, we have the eight-year publishing anniversary of my short story anthology "Drum Speaking: Tales From An Inner City Griot" (CreateSpace, 2016).  I thoroughly enjoyed writing that particular book, and feel that it is woefully underrated, as far as my literary works are concerned.  Then, again...I feel that all of my literary works are underrated...

 

Also...April is also known as National Poetry Month.  Shout out to all of my poets out there!!  May you all lyrically represent in this month meant for your creative expression!  To all of my Spoken Word artists out there, and fellow scribes/sesh, happy month-long holiday. 😊😊😊😊

The Read An Ebook Week/Women's History Month sale for March was a total bust.  Only TWO books were downloaded for the entire month.  I shared the hell outta that sale on social media, and all niggas could do was press a mf 'like' button.  That's a complete slap in the face!!  One numb-nut download the book off of the wrong platform (Kindle), paying the regular price for it ($1.99).  So, basically...you could've downloaded the book at any time for purchase, but chose not to.  Really, people....? 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

Yep...this is DEFINITELY going to be the subject matter for my next episode of The Rough Draft....

This is really pissing me off.  The digital version of my books have been on sale for the past TWO months, and my sales have been abysmal. So, exactly htf are you my fan & supporter, and y'all can't purchase shit?!?! But, y'all quick to spend your money with some major multinational corporation, or on some bitch ass celebrity, smdh. Niggas can press the mf 'like' button fifty million times when you share the mf link, but won't come out of pocket to support your career, smgdmfh... 😡😡😡😡

...And then y'all have the mf nerve to be critical, when us indie artists complain about your bitch asses not supporting us, like we the mf problem...

"...You need to learn how to market your books better!".  Market these salty ass nuts, bitch!!  ...After a three month heatwave, AND I ain't bathed!! 😡😡😡😡😡

Oh, well....

Catch you in the next post.  Hopefully, my mood will be much better.

Keep the fist raised!!  Uhuru sasa, y paz!!

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

Women's History Month/The Madness of March

 Greetings to everybody.  Welcome to the month of March.  The first three months of the year are already in the books...

Welcome to Women's History Month!!  Celebrating the accomplishments of all our sistas, and our high achieving women in our communities. You are always honored and cherished, and will always be respected and revered. 😊😊😊😊🙏🙏🙏🙏

March is also a Publishing Anniversary Month!!!  Celebrating the ten-year publishing anniversary of my comedic memoir "In My Lifetime: Funny Stories of Life Experiences" (Outskirts Press, 2014).  Also, I'll be celebrating the four-year publishing anniversary of my Science Fiction/Action novel "Time Will Reveal" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2020), as well as my Young Adult/Street Lit novel "Suicide Amy" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2020).  

Little bit of housekeeping.  So...my eBook sale(s) for February were a bit of a bust.  They weren't well supported by my so-called fan base.  I had 11 downloads in total for the month.  Not too happy about that.  I created a Facebook post about it, shared it all over my social media handles...and nada.  I might say something about it in my next episode of "The Rough Draft", when I finally get the chance to shoot it.  Be on the lookout for Episode #69...

 

Because of the poor support in sales, I was kinda resistant to do another eBook sale for March to celebrate Women's History Month.  I'm planning on focusing on my female-led novels, and have them be available for 50% off, selling at $0.99 (99 cents).  It'll actually be a part of Smashwords' own sale called "Read An Ebook Week", where I'll be selling ALL of my book titles for 50% off.

 

The sale will run from March 3rd to March 9th, on Smashwords' bookstore.  In conjunction with the RAEW sale, I'll be holding my own Women's History Month eBook Sale on Smashwords.  My sale will run from March 10th to March 31st, basically creating a month-long sale.  The titles that will be included are:

 

Knuckle Up

Second Chance Points

Suicide Amy

Seductra, Web of Desire

 

You can participate in both sales, and download your copies here:

 

 https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Kevin_AlbertoSabio

 

Hope that you'll participate, and that you'll help me to  have a better showing for this sale, than I did last month.  I'm saying...the books are basically a dollar!!!  If you can't afford that, then I don't know wtf to tell you...

 

That's all for now.  Hope that you guys will support.  I'll continue to keep you guys updated on my progress.  See ya in the next post!!

 

Keep the fist raised!!!  Uhuru sasa, y paz!!!

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind  

 

 
   

Author Anniversary/Black History Month/Akoma Day 2024

 Iiiiiiiiiiit's February!!!  You know what that means!!  😁😁😁😁😁😁

 

Black History Mooonth!!!  (This is protected by the red...the black...and the GREEN!  With the key...)

Akoma Daaaaaay!!!  (Celebrating & promoting Black love, and the art & science of soulmating)

It's my AUTHOR ANNIVERSARY MONTH!!!  Yaaaay!!! 😊😊😊😊

14 years ago, I started this journey.  My first book was published February 16, 2010, and released to the public that following March.  I was very happy about that, and felt very proud of myself for what I'd accomplished.  After so many years of struggling to get my voice heard in the cinematic realm, I was able to have my voice heard in the literary world.  I have no regrets...

To start off...celebrating my fourteen-year publishing anniversary of my 1st book "Raise Your Brown Black Fist: The Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino" (Authorhouse, 2010).  It's a collection of political essays that I'd previously written individually on the internet, and gathered them together, consisting of two different essay series that I wrote...plus, three additional entries  (two blog posts, and a stand-alone essay).

Also celebrating the nine-year publishing anniversary of my 4th book (and 1st novel) "The Chronicles of The Black Fist" (CreateSpace, 2015).  It was my first foray into fiction, and I'm very proud of this character, and the book itself.  I'm hoping to finish writing Books III & IV in the series, and have them published in the very near future....

You also have the six-year publishing anniversary of my Afro Latino Romance novel "Fiesta Girl" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2018).  Based off of the original screenplay of the same name, I decided to put this into book format, turning my collection of songs that I'd written for my former music group into book form.  For the lovers of Latin Freestyle music, and Hip Hop culture.

In honor of Black History Month, Akoma Day, and my Author Anniversary...I've decided to create a sale of my eBooks that are on the Smashwords platform.  For the entire month of February, I'll be having several of my titles available for sale on their platform for 50% off, selling for $0.99  (that's 99 cents).  The titles to be sold are:

 

Raise Your Brown Black Fist: The Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino

Raise Your Brown Black Fist 2: MORE Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino

The Chronicles of The Black Fist

The Chronicles of The Black Fist: F.U.R.I. of the People

Fiesta Girl

Drum Speaking: Tales From An Inner City Griot

 

Those six titles will be made available for sale at $0.99 for the entire month of February for Black History Month.  To help to celebrate the holiday of Akoma Day, I will be adding additional books to the sale: 

Demure Nights

Seductra, Web of Desire

Fiesta Girl* ( * = already on sale)

You can purchase these titles for 99 cents on the Smashwords platform here:

https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/Kevin_AlbertoSabio

The Akoma Day Sale runs from February 14th until February 20th.  The Black History Month/Author Anniversary sale ends on February 29th.  I also talk about the sale on the latest episode of my web series The Rough Draft; Episode #68, to be exact.  Hope that you'll head over to YouTube, and watch it.  

That's all for now.  Hope that you guys will come out, and support me during my sale(s).  It's been a wonderful journey, and I hope that it gets better, from here on out.  Celebrate our history!!  Celebrate our culture!!  Celebrate Black love!!  Support our indie Black authors!!  Nya Akoma!

Keep the fist raised!!!!

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

Welcome to 2024

 Yeah...it's been a really, really.....really long time.  I admit it...I seriously fell the f**k off for a while.  Need to definitely get back on my writing grind.

December came and went.  Smashwords had their End-Of-Year sale happen from December 15th running until January 1st.  I entered my books in the sale.  Ain't sell shit.  Nuccas ain't download none of my books.  Was not too happy about that.  The shit was half off at $0.99, and people still couldn't bother to buy/download a copy of any of my books.  No wonder my writing career is in the dumps...

Other than that, I was off from the day job for the final week of 2023.  Took some vacation time, finally.  That week went by waaaaaay too quick.  I relaxed for most of it.  Just really vegged out, and watched TV.  I kinda messed up my laptop by spilling tea all over it.  Had to wait until after the new year to buy an external mouse because I fucked mine up that came with the laptop.  Oh well...

 

Since we are now in the month of JANUARY, I can't forget to mention my publishing anniversaries.  January will mark the five-year publishing anniversary of my novel "The Chronicles of The Black Fist: F.U.R.I. of the People" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2019), as well as the three-year publishing anniversary of my boxing novel "Knuckle Up" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021).  Both are available in paperback & eBook formats through all major distributors.

 

Considering getting back into writing in 2024.  I still got a few manuscripts that I want to complete.  The lack of sales really got me down last year, and took me off my writing game.  I need to get that fire and drive back.  Fuck the wack ass nonsupporters.  If you haven't bought any of my shit by now, you ain't gonna buy none of my shit.  I have at least three books that I'm close to finishing up.  Will I be able to publish in 2024...?  Only time will tell.

 

Working on the latest episode of "The Rough Draft".  Gonna change the original concept of the episode.  That encounter on my Facebook status pissed me off, and I need to put some people on blast for they bullshit.  Check it out when it airs...

 

That's all for now.  No extra promises, or other types of updates.  Gonna work harder on keeping this blog more consistent. 

 

Keep the fist raised!!!

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind