December in Winter

 Wow...we're in the final month of the year!!  Time has flown by so quickly this year!!  It's about to be New Years, again!!  Has it been a full year already...?

Looking forward to celebrating the Winter Solstice.  Holiday tidings to those of you that celebrate Christmas, and a hearty harambee for my wadugu na wadada who celebrate Kwanzaa!!  Habari za Kwanzaa!! 😁😁😁😁😁

This year could have gone a lot better for me.  My digital sales drives for my eBooks were sorely lacking.  I still haven't been able to do any in-person appearances, like I wanted to do, and my overall sales sucked ass.  Not to mention, my financial troubles that I'd dealt with during the middle of the year, and my stint with homelessness.  Thankfully, I'm more stable, now.  I have a much more consistent work schedule, and have a good amount of money saved up.  I'm sloooowly getting back on my feet.  Getting my holiday bonus from my day job recently helps a lot!!!

Going into 2025, I definitely want to step my game up.  I'm hoping to publish this coming year, hopefully one of the books for my Black Fist series.  If I'm going to publish anything, I can at least get those books out.  None of my other books seems to have any type of traction. I can always focus on that book series, and work the comic book convention circuit (specifically, the Black comicons).

 

My webcam has been down since July, so I haven't been able to shoot any new episodes of The Rough Draft for YouTube.  My two remaining options for next year, is to either buy a new laptop and use it exclusively for the production of the web series, or buy me a camcorder to shoot the episodes.  Now that I have a bit of money in my pocket, neither expense would kill me financially, and I'll still have enough breathing room to take care of my bills, and still add funds to my savings.  I've been consistent for the last five years with the series....despite the lack of support, why stop now...?

 

Since my work schedule is more consistent, I'm hoping to be able to vend at some local events.  I might be able to have a bit of an impact on some of the smaller events, if I'm able to time it right.  As long as nothing financially disastrous happens to me next year, I should be able to vend at an event, or two.  The superhero novel series might have a better impact if I'm face-to-face selling it to people.

 

That's all for now.  My only resolution for next year is to be the best version of my that I can be.  I'll continue to keep you guys updated.  Uhuru sasa, y paz!!

 

keep the fist raised!!!

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

The Cool Fall of November....

 Back again, my peoples.  Two months are left in the year.  Time really has flown by, hasn't it...?

Welcome to the month of November.  In the month of November, we have the thirteen-year publishing anniversary of my second book, "Raise Your Brown Black Fist 2: MORE Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino" (Outskirts Press, 2011).  I'm very proud of this particular book, and wish that it got more support and recognition (as I feel with ALL my books).

 

November 2nd commemorated the 1930 coronation of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia.  It is also the Black nationalist holiday Black Solidarity Day in the United States.  Not too many people celebrate either occasion, but I always try to incorporate our culture into my everyday lifestyle.  Celebrating our holidays and historical cultural milestones is very important...especially passing that on to our youth to continue the traditions...  

The national election was held, recently.  The idiot that won in 2016 got voted back into office.  That confirms it...the people of this country are truly fucking stupid.  Unfortunately, I am unable to execute my escape plan.  My money ain't right, and I still haven't gotten my passport done.  That's partially on me.  At the same time, I haven't really been stable, financially or otherwise, in a few years.  At the same time...my revolutionary ass needs to get myself ready for what may come.  I need to get my ass back into fighting shape, and invest in a machete (and...learn some stick fighting on top of that...)... 

Haven't been able to upload an episode of "The Rough Draft" to YouTube in a hot minute.  Something is wrong with my laptop, whereas I am unable to use my webcam (among other things).  I've thought about investing in a handycam camcorder, and using that to shoot some episodes, as well as investing in another laptop, and using that exclusively to shoot and edit content for my YouTube Channel.  If my money was a little better, I probably would do that.  Of course...option number three is to stop making episodes.  Nobody seems to be watching my videos, anyway.  Why bother to continue...? 😢😢😢😢😢😢

I've decided to not do anymore online eBook sales through Smashwords for the remainder of the year.  People haven't support ANY of the sales that I've done this year, no matter how much online promotion I do.  It's just not worth it.  It doesn't cost me any money to do, per se; it's just the fact that the sales never get supported, and I never make any profits from it.  So, what's the point in continuing to do the sales...?  Apparently people can't seem to afford my eBooks at half price...which is basically ONE FUCKING DOLLAR!!!  😐😐😐😐😡😡😡😡😡

Oh well, I'll decide if I'm going to continue any eBook sales next year.  This one is a wrap.

See you in December!!  I'll let you know more about my literary progress next month.  If you celebrate the holiday, Happy Thanksgiving!!  Uhuru sasa, y paz!!!

Keep the fist raised!!!

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

Falling Into September & October

 Okay, yep...I have reeeeeeeally fallen off.  I can admit that.  It's been a hot minute since I've posted.  My bad, y'all.  I haven't even been all that busy...I just didn't feel like posting.  I kept putting it off.  Now...?  It's been almost 2 months since I posted. Oooooops!!! 😲😲😲😲😲😲

September was the celebration of Latino Heritage Month.  Didn't really do anything for it.  I was planning on doing an eBook sale on Smashwords to celebrate it, but thought better of it.  Nobody seems to be supporting any of my eBook sales, so why fucking bother...?  Going into Labor Day weekend, I was able to attend a local event out here in Raleigh; the African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh & Wake County.  I was lucky enough to get to attend it last year, at least for one day.  Went down there, bought some items, then jetted back home.  It was hot af out there, and I didn't like the vibe.  Didn't really feel any level of Black solidarity from the people that attended.  Plus, you saw a lot of white people out there.  Not my type of scene.  Just glad that I was able to get my hands on some shea butter, and body oils.  I can't seem to find none of that shit out here.  Bama ass town...

 

There was also a Latino festival out here called La Fiesta Del Pueblo, to kick off Latino Heritage Month.  I was actually off for that weekend, but decided not to go.  I don't have any of my paraphernalia out here, save for my blue Honduras soccer jersey.  I usually like to wear my wristbands and hats to shit like that.  It usually helps to lessen any stares or dirty looks that I get when I attend things like that, since moving out of NY.  I could've worn a face mask that I'd painted of the Honduran flag, but naaaaah.

 

So, my birthday passed in October.  I am now an official member of the 50+ club.  I'm actually fucking FIFTY!!!  😲😲😲😲

 

Not to mention, my oldest nephew just turned 26.  My ass is starting to feel really, really old now...

 

Didn't do anything for my birthday. Firstly, I had to work on the actual day.  Secondly, I did have the weekend after it off, but still chose not to do anything.  I did buy myself some books for my own reading pleasure.  They were books on African martial arts.  Hopefully, reading them will inspire me to finally finish some of my unfinished manuscripts.  I haven't published in a little over 2 years.  Considering how poorly my sales have been, my motivation factor is pretty nonexistent.

 

The year is flying by.  Hopefully, I'll be a little more consistent with my blog posts.  Hoping to end the year on a strong note.

 

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

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

       

The Rising Heat of Revolutinary Black August

 Welcome to the month of AUGUST.  We are in the last legs of the summer season.  Time is flying by this year, as the summer is coming to a close, and the new school year is just about upon us. It's also about to be football season, for all you football maniacs out there....

In the month of August, I will be celebrating the 9-year publishing anniversary of my poetry book "Spittin' Lyrics N Waxin' Poetic" (Draft2Digital, 2015).  Originally posted only in eBook format, it's been made available as a paperback for about a year, now. I wouldn't say that it's my best work, but you're able to see me be lyrical with my pen, and hit you guys off with some poetic prose; especially with the love poems.  Hope that you support that project...

Soooo....the Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale was a complete bust.  I didn't sell ANY eBooks for the entire month of July.  I'm not actually surprised, nor am I completely mad about it.  It's actually what I expected to happen, so I wasn't greatly disappointed.  The people who I fuck wit online just aren't my true fans.  Any jackass can press a 'like' button, and keep it moving; a real fan would support the sale, purchase something, and help to spread the word to their circle of associates.  I just need to get back out there, and do the whole festival circuit to generate some hand-to-hand sales.  Quite obviously, this online shit just ain't working. 

August will also mark the 5-year production anniversary of my web series "The Rough Draft".  Started on August 23rd of 2019, I started shooting and posting the episodes on YouTube.  Been five years strong, and the production values have increased slightly.  Still don't get a whole lot of subscribers or views, but fuck it....I actually enjoy doing the videos.  If you're not my fan that consistently watches the series, then fuck you, and your entire family bloodline. You're missing out on some good content.

August also make it three years since I moved to Raleigh.  It's going pretty good for me, and I don't see myself wanting to leave here anytime soon.  Other than wanting to relocate to the continent, I like it here. It's still affordable to live here (for the time being), and I feel at ease.  Once I'm a little more settled in my new apartment, I'm hoping to get back onto my literary grind.  My w.i.p.'s are stagnant as hell, and I'm behind schedule with my book releases.  I value the break form publishing my books, but I have my own personal goals to achieve and reach.  At least my work schedule makes it easier to get that done, I'm sooooo mf glad I left that other job!!!

Well, that all for now, mi gente.  I'll keep you guys updated on my other plans.  Catch you guys next time!!! 😁😁😁😁😁

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

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

Home Sweet Home...

 To update you guys...I've FINALLY moved into my new apartment.  I've lived here little over a week, now.  It's the best feeling in the world, to know that you have a roof over your head.  I was homeless for three weeks, ducking and hiding, sleeping at my day job after hours.  It wasn't fun AT ALL!!  It was so stressful, especially hiding my shame and pain from everyone.  At least now...it's over.

I still have to furnish the apartment.  I don't have a bed yet; not even a mattress to sleep on.  At least I was able to get my clothes and stuff being stored at the day job.  Now, I have all of my stuff in one place.  I can finally change clothes, now.  I can finally wash my clothes.  I can do the stuff that I normally do to feel comfortable.  I don't necessarily have a routine yet, but I'm getting there.  I don't have a TV in here (not that I really watch that much television), but I do have internet, so that helps.  definitely need a dresser, and a desk to work on.  Hoping to get my hands on a mattress sometime soon.  Kinda wish that I could have some of my stuff from New York shipped down here, but I don't want to risk them getting damaged in transit.  Oh, well...

Don't know if I'll be having a house warming party, since I don't have much stuff in here.  I don't have much food to offer, and I don't feel like coming out of pocket to have it catered, or anything like that.  I'm trying to save my money, as it is.  My rent is affordable, but I'm not making any serious bank by any means.  Maybe if people actually contributed to the writing career, I wouldn't feel so hesitant to spend any money. But, we all know how that goes, smdh.. 😕😕😕😕

 

The other good thing about the apartment is...it's close to my day job.  I'm also near several supermarkets.  Whatever I need is actually within walking distance from the new crib.  I'm actually not too far from where I was staying at the hotel, so it's not like I'm in a completely new and different part of the city, and have to learn my way around.  That works to my advantage.  The only thing that concerns me, is that they're building up the neighborhood, and doing a lot of construction.  I hope that doesn't jack up my rent by next year.  My salary is okay, even though I do get occasional raises, but I don't earn a whole hell of a lot of income.  If they raise my rent to a ridiculously high rate, I might have to go through this whole process all over again next year.  😢😢😢😢

You know what...?  Time to live in the present!!  I'll worry about that other shit when it comes.  Right now...I just wanna enjoy having my new apartment. 😁😁😁😁

Here's to having a roof over my head!!  Here's to having my own piece of mind!!  Celebrating having my new apartment!!

The Changing Tides....

 So....things are starting to get a liiiittle bit better.  I've got one more week before I can move into my apartment.  so, in essence...I'll be back to actually having a roof over my head, again.  Man...when I tell you that the struggle has been real, I ain't bullshitting you... 😢😢😢😢😢

I'm still ducking & dodging, hiding out and sleeping at the day job.  I'm still stressing, since I don't want to get caught before I can move into my new apartment.  I tried to rent a cheap ass hotel room for the weekend, and ended up paying only for one night.  These assholes wanted $135 for just ONE fucking night!!  It was a cheap ass, two-star hotel for crying out loud.  GTFOH 😡😡😡😡😡!!  It felt good to sleep in a bed again, though.  It also felt good to finally leave the premises of the fucking day job, and not have to worry about sneaking back in, or looking over my shoulder while sleeping there, hoping not to get caught.  I soooo cannot wait for when I move in!! 😌😌😌😌

Once I'm in the new place, I can concentrate on enjoying my life.  I can work on shooting episodes of "The Rough Draft", and working on my unfinished manuscripts.  Now that I have a fairly regular schedule, I can work on consistently posting episodes, and doing other things to boost my writing career.  I can worry about furnishing the apartment down the line.  i don't really need much; maybe just add a few more books that I want to read.  I can always find a way to use milk crates as a book shelf, or something.  Hey...you gotta learn to be frugal with your money, these days...  

It'll be good to not have to spend a shit load of money, just to maintain a roof over my head.  That fucking hotel that I was living out of was killing me, financially.  My new apartment is only a few hundred bucks a month, plus paying utilities, and maintaining my phone bill.  I don't think that they provide internet for my apartment, but the building does have their own wifi.  I might be able to get away with using it, for the time being.  I'll et you guys know how that works out... 

I need my life to get back to normal.  I feel so out of whack, it ain't even funny. Normalcy is the key.  Once i have a roof over my head, everything else should/will fall into place.  I still like being in Raleigh; I just need my life to get back into sync.  Maybe, after everything settles, I'll be able to enjoy my life a little bit more.  I don't like being in the mental and emotional space that I'm in, right now.  It's completely throwing me off my game, and making me miserable.  At l east i see some light at the end of this tunnel..

 

I'll keep you guys updated after the move.

 

Uhuru sasa, y paz....

Bringing that July Heat

 We have now entered into the month of JULY.  The year is now a little over half completed.  Where has the time gone...?  Is it the process of getting older, that time seems to fly by...?

So, the apartment seems to be coming along.  I should be able to move in within the next coming weeks.  This has been a bit of a headache for me, and will be glad when it's over with.  I know that I should be feeling excited to be having my own place again, but the struggles that I've been dealing with just to get to this point have really been taxing on my spirit.  It's been draining on me spiritually & financially, and I truly hope that it will be all worth it in the end... 😔😔😔😔😔

No publishing anniversaries to speak of in the month of July.  I haven't chosen to publish anything during this month, at this time.  Maybe, once I get me writing mojo back, I'll (hopefully) publish a book/novel during this month.  Other than the month of July, I don't have any publishing anniversaries for the months of September, October, or December either.

This year, I've decided to participate in the Smashwords Summer/Winter Sale.  It runs from July 1st through to July 31st.  For the entire month of July, my eBooks will be 50% off on their platform.  You can purchase any of my titles by clicking on  the link here:  

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

My eBook titles will be priced at $0.99 (99 cents) for the whole month.  You can afford 99 cents.  Stop being so mf cheap, and support the books & writing career. Fuck pressing a gd mf 'like' button; try actually financially supporting, for once.  Acting like my books are trash, or something...😡😡😡😡 

Also...my dinosaur ass finally got with the times, and now have an account with CashApp. If you want to financially support the career, and contribute to the funding of my web series "The Rough Draft", send your donations via CashApp to $KevinSabioKAS to help to sustain all that I do.  None of what I do is cheap, and everything I do is strictly out of pocket.  I have nobody funding me, and I barely make a living off of book sales; paperback OR eBook. 

Hoping to shoot an episode of "The Rough Draft" for the month.  Hopefully, once I get into my new apartment, I can start shooting a new episode, and have it uploaded soon.  With my new work schedule being more consistent, I'm hoping to up the ante a bit, and shoot more episodes per month.  Hopefully, that'll result in more views for the channel, and more more support for the writing career, and boost some sales.  Hopefully, this move will also help me to get my writing mojo back, and finally finish some of the manuscripts.

That's all for now.  Hope that you guys will support me.  I'll update you all on how the move goes, and my further literary progress.  Wish me lots of luck.  I'm gonna need it. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Uhuru sasa, y paz.

Keep the fist raised!!!

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind