End-of-Year Wrap-up 2021

 We have entered the last 2 weeks of the year.  The Winter Solstice starts tonight/tomorrow, Xmas & Kwanzaa are this coming weekend, and News Years Day falls on the following Sunday.  We will then be in the year 2022.  So how did 2021 stack up for me, personally...?

I consider 2021 to be another off year b/c of the pandemic.  I wasn't able to go out and physically promote my latest novel "Knuckle Up" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021), so I had to immensely rely on online promotions for it.  Sales were what is usual for me; basically nonexistent.  I had a sale or two here and there, but nothing major.  It's quite infuriating, especially with all of this hoopla of ppl talking about supporting authors/artists of color; oh, wait....you mean supporting establishment artists/authors of color that get promoted to you by the mainstream, or some bullshit corporate nonprofit, riiiiight...?  Either that, or some fucking clique that thinks that they're setting the standard, or trend.

2021 didn't start off well.  I tore my patellar tendon in January, and didn't realize how severe the injury was.  I had surgery for it in March, and have been working my way back, ever since.  Thankfully, I'm in pretty good physical shape, so it didn't take me all that long to recover from my injury.  I was finally hired back to my day job in May, after being laid off b/c of Covid.  I ended up leaving that job, and the state of Delaware, by late August.  Delaware just wasn't cutting it anymore (it didn't really cut it for me, in the first place), and I needed greener pastures to grow my writing career.  Not to mention, my fucked up ass roommate situation, which was another main reason for me leaving the state.  The ppl out there are mf wacky.  4 1/2 years was long enough; I couldn't take being out there any longer.

 

I've been in North Carolina for almost 4 months now.  I'm liking it so far, as I have peace of mind out here.  I feel like I can breathe, and I have room for my mental sanity.  I was able to complete my latest manuscript, and it is now ready for publication in 2022.  I know that there is still the Delta strain, and now the Omicron variant(s) of Covid that are out here affecting the populous, but I'm hoping to get back to doing in-person appearances in 2022.  I could use the boost to my writing career, not to mention, I just like the interaction with readers & potential fans.  I'm targeting a May release for my next novel "Second Chance Points" (KDP, 2022).

 

I haven't shot a new episode of The Rough Draft since moving out here.  I need to get back on the ball with that.  The show celebrated our two year anniversary this past August.  Once my day job schedule regulates, I'm hoping to continue producing & expand it, by doing field productions, and hopefully some interviews.  I might put this gd smartphone I now have to good use, lol, lol, lol, lol....

 

One sad note for this year for me was having to shut down the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement.  That really hurt me to do it, but I didn't really have a choice.  I couldn't serve two different masters; my writing career, and the Literary Arts Movement.  Something had to give.  Covid was the reason for the shut down; maybe I can revive it down the line...?  I miss the interaction with the ppl on the Mailing List, though I don't know how many of them really care that the Movement is no longer around.  Running the Movement all by myself was a pain in the ass, and I don't know if I want to go through that all over again, by myself.  Only time will tell...

 

Looking forward to bigger & better things in 2022.  Hope to keep you all updated about my plans.  There is still some time left for the Holiday Economic Support Initiative, so keep spreading the word about these different artists, authors, entrepreneurs, and businesses that you know.  Keep posting the hashtag, and FINANCIALLY support these people!!!

 

Keep the fist raised!!!

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

 

 

December Tidings

 We are now in the month of DECEMBER!!!!  we have entered into the LAST month of the year.  My, how time flies.  It feels like just yesterday, we were celebrating the horrible end to 2020, and wishing for new hope and better days in 2021.  :-O

 

I'm reflecting on how things have gone for me this year.  At least I got the fuck away from my fuck ass roommate, and Delaware in general.  I have peace of mind right now...just working at my day job, and staying on my literary grind. I consider both 2020 & 2021 lost years, as I wasn't able to do much to promote my works in person because of the pandemic (blasted COVID-19 coronavirus!!!).  I'm planning on going hard in 2022.

 

Sales for Knuckle Up (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021) have been what I expected; nonexistent.  Either people just don't respect me as a writer, and are just full of shit while they have the audacity to call themselves my friends & fans... or, people just don't care.  It's a great story, and an interesting read; I've even tried to get a few female boxers that I follow on Twitter to support it.  Nope. Nada. Nothing.  Hey...I wrote it, it's published, it's in the marketplace.  I did my job.  You do yours as my so-called 'fan'.

My project for 2022 is now complete.  My women's basketball novel Second Chance Points (KDP, 2022) is ready to be published!  I'm thinking of targeting the month of May.  The cover art is already done, and I just have to come up with a back cover synopsis.  I'll probably use the one that I had set up for it, when it was still a screenplay.  Now that that headache is over with, I can get back to writing my other wip's that I haven't finished.  So much writing, so little time...

Hoping to make some sort of a literary impact out here in Raleigh, and in NC in general.  I know of a few bookstores out here that I would like to visit, and do an event, or two in.  Hopefully, my work schedule at my day job will regulate enough where I can plan some in-person book signing events, or something.  There are a number of cultural festival that I would like to participate in down the road out here, and hope that I get the chance to vend at them.  We shall see...

That's all for now.  Still trying to promote the Holiday Economic Support Initiative online.  Again, if you know of a Black-owned/Latino-owned business, or entrepreneur that you would like to help support, please use your social media influence by tagging them, and using the hashtags #HESI, and #HolidayEconomicSupportInitiative to promote them, and their business/product/project.  Also..don't forget to BUY from them!!!  Remember, the initiative lasts until New Years Day.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

 

 

Holiday Economic Support Initiative 2021

 It's that time of year again.  We're getting close to the end-of-year holidays.  People are busying themselves with what they wanna buy for Black Friday, and get their kids their Xmas presents (and for those of you who celebrate it, Kwanzaa as well).  It is at this time that I want to promote my Holiday Economic Support Initiative.

I started this campaign around 2016, promoted in the aftermath of the uprisings in Ferguson, the killings of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Freddie Gray, and many of the others that have fallen due to the extremes of police brutality, and the systemic racism that plagues our society.  If you didn't feel like marching in the streets, as you might feel intimidated by your workplace, or just couldn't risk losing a paycheck as the sole breadwinner for your family, I wanted to create an alternative means for us to fight back.  We can still participate in the movement, but don't necessarily have to take to the streets to do it.  As I've learned in my own activist experience, not every soldier has to take the same battlefield to fight.

The Holiday Economic Support Initiative in not a boycott per se, but a divestment from the system of oppression that we currently live in.  We use our dollars to invest in OUR OWN businesses & entrepreneurs, and financially support them.  We love to constantly complain about not having our own businesses, especially ones that service our neighborhoods, but rarely do we financially support them on a consistent basis.  You also have those fake @$$ n*ggaz that'll talk shit about Black businesses having poor customer service, but will continue to spend their money with 'alien' businesses that don't ever treat you with respect, or them fake @$$ 'woke' ppl who will spout off rhetoric about supporting a Black-owned business...go ONE time...and then act like they did something important.  This is NOT that type of gesture.  This is an ideologically strategy used to bolster our businesses & entrepreneurs, and provide them with the support that they so rightly deserve.

If you want to participate in the Holiday Economic Support Initiative, you can participate via social media, and use you social media powers/influence to help promote those businesses and entrepreneurs that you know & follow.  Use either of the two hashtags #HolidayEconomicSupportInitiative or #HESI, tag a business or entrepreneur that you know, and help promote their product/company/business to your followers.  Everybody needs a little help with promotion, especially if you don't want to seriously come out of pocket with it.  Some businesses & entrepreneurs may not have the financial means to pay some outrageous fee to promote their business, or their products.  This is a strategically grassroots way for us to promote our entrepreneurs & Black-owned/Latino-owned businesses to the masses.  The Initiative lasts from Black Friday, all the way up until New Years Day of the following year.

 

Please use the hashtags to promote any businesses & entrepreneurs that you know.  I will include my own works into this campaign.  If you are worried about the "supply chain slow down" that's affecting most of the country (if not, the world), my books are ALL available in eBook format, so you can easily download them, instead of having to wait to get the physical copy.  They are available through Kindle, Nook, Kobo/Kobo+, iTunes, Scribd, and internationally through Tolino and Vivlio.

 

So, for this year, and hopefully beyond, don't spend you money with the big box stores and major corporations.  Spend that money with your own.  Support the small businesses.  Support your local entrepreneurs.  Buy Black.  Buy Brown. Shop Latino.  Shop local.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

     

November Anniversaries!!!!

 We have now reached the month of NOVEMBER!!!  The second to last month of the year.  Time has surly flown by, this year.  Weren't we just celebrating new years, just last week...?  Now the year is almost over.  It seems like the older you get, the fast time goes by.

 

As we are now in November, help me to celebrate the TEN YEAR ANNIVERSARY of this blog!!!!!  Ten years ago in 2011, I first started this blog (November 10th, to be exact).  I wasn't really sure if I should start a blog or not, as I wanted to be consistent with its content.  Starting the blog was a testament to my desire to build my writing career, as I was in the process of releasing my second book, at the time.  This blog was to be a platform for both my political activism, especially concerning Afro Latino issues & affairs, as well as a vehicle to help me promote my books, and later, novels.  I have to admit, it's been a struggle to maintain this blog.  People have fallen off with their support, and there were times when I struggled to have content to post here.  People seem to not know that I get viewership analytics, whenever I log into my account.  Basically, I can see how many people have actually viewed my posts; recent, or otherwise.  But...I'm still doing it.  The blog is still here.  I'm still posting content, and promoting my works.  In certain ways, it kinda beats having an actual website to maintain, but it also has its shortcomings.  Here's to another decade of posting content, and spreading my philosophy....

 

November also marks the ten-year publishing anniversary of my second book "Raise Your Brown Black Fist 2: MORE Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino" (Outskirts Press, 2011).

 

 

Ten years ago, I published the follow-up sequel to my first book.  I expanded the "Black Thoughts" essay series, and expanded it to sixteen essays, from the original seven.  It was warmly received when I originally published the book.   Of course, there were a few folks who shitted on me, and didn't support it, claiming that they had never received their copy of the first book, so they didn't want that to happen with the second book (even though I used a totally different publisher with this book).  But, yet...niggas never called customer service to let them know that, or even me for that matter, and I paid for it with their nonsupport.  But....I digress...

 

RYBBF is available in both paperback AND eBook formats.  If you don't feel like buying the physical copy, you can always download it for $1.99 through the various eBook outlets of Kindle, Nook, Kobo, iTunes, Scribd, and in eBook format through libraries, as well.

 

November marks TEN months that "Knuckle Up" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021) has been released.  Sales are still stagnant, though I'm doing what I can to promote it. Haven't received any reviews for it, either.  I've tried promoting it to actual female fighters through social media, but that has been a no-go.  Oh, well....it's out there, and I'm still promoting it.

 

November also marks the beginning of my Holiday Economic Support Initiative.  Lasting from "Black Friday" until New Years Day, this campaign is meant to bolster economic support for Black-owned & Latino-owned businesses & entrepreneurs.  If WE don't support our businesses & entrepreneurs, who will?!?!  Don't be talking all of this rhetoric on social media, and then you don't even back up that shit you be talking about.  Stop trying to act all 'woke' & shit, when yo ass, ain't!  I've being doing this initiative since 2014; if you want to support, you can tag a business of entrepreneur that you know on social media, and use the hashtags #HolidayEconomicSupportInitiative, or #HESI to help to promote & support that business, or entrepreneur that you know, and have actually supported.  Also...SPEND YOUR MONEY WITH THEM!!!!  I'm hoping that this campaign will catch fire, and cause us to actually support our own.  Considering how corporate America disrespects us, and our community (and the larger society, for that matter), let's try to hit them where it really hurts.  You don't have to be marching in the streets to be involved in activism.  Let's start using whatever social media powers and influence that we have for good, hmmm....?

 

That's about all for now.  Help me to celebrate my anniversaries, and to support my economic campaign.  Also...buy a couple of books....and leave a damn review, while you're at it!!!  I'll keep you guys updated on my progress.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 
  

Falling Into October---Birthday Vibes

 We are now in the month of OCTOBER!!!  My birthday weekend just passed (it was on Friday, the 8th), and we've just finished celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day/Columbus Day.  It was a quiet birthday, as I am new to the city, and don't have any friends out here (yet).  I spent the weekend working on my latest literary w.i.p, and just reflecting on the way my life has gone for the past (now 47) years.

I don't regret moving out here to Raleigh, but the new day job COMPLETELY sucked ass.  Currently looking for a new gig.  If worse comes to worse, I can always try & work for Amazon.  I've heard the horror stories of working in their warehouses.  At the same time, I have a friend back in Delaware who works for Amazon, and she loves it.  To each, their own...

We are now in the second half of celebrating Latino Heritage Month.  Being new to town (and not having my own place of residence), I haven't been able to organize any events, political or literary. I'm still trying to get my bearings out here, so I haven't really had time to politic with any local activists, or fellow scribes and creatives, out here.  Not to mention...NOT trying to order any books, and then they can't be delivered to the hotel I'm staying at.  That would be a waste of money, and a headache to go through.

 

Speaking of LHM, my eBook publisher Draft2Digital had a sale going on with one of their distribution partners to celebrate the cultural month.  It's actually been able to help me with sales;  I had 4 eBook downloads last month through OverDrive to libraries in Ga & TN, and 1 eBook download this month, so far.  Hey...my stuff is in LIBRARIES, now!!!  That's an achievement!!!  To me, that's progress.

 

My current w.i.p. "Second Chance Points" (KDP, 2022) is going VERY well!  I'm just about done with the editing process.  All I really have to do now, is create the cover art for it, and choose the month that I want to publish the book, next year.  I should be done with everything for this project by the end of November; that's usually when I'm done working on a new literary project.  The fall season always seems to be my month of completion, usually going into Thanksgiving, or immediately afterwards.

Haven't really done any new episodes of "The Rough Draft".  Haven't really had any ideas to do any episodes on.  Being personally in flux doesn't help, much.  I still don't have a permanent place to live yet, and the job situation has been unsteady, at best.  At least I'm able to get some writing done.

Anywhoo...that's all for now.  I'll keep you guys updated to my progress.  Things are going okay, so far.  I just want to start working on some of my other manuscripts projects, now that 2CP is out of the way.  Maybe now I can get back to writing Books 3 & 4 of The Black Fist book series.  We shall see, Galvatron...we shall seeeee........

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

Celebrating #LatinoHeritageMonth

 It's that time of year again.  Latino Heritage Month is officially upon us!!  You know how I do; I represent for mi gente, mi gente Latino Africano especialmente.  If WE don't promote & hype ourselves up, then who tf will?!?!  That was the whole reason that I did a fall version of my event The Consortium of Afro Latino Communities.  Just to let you know...I'm straight representing!!!

Now that I got that out of the way...

....Time to hit you off with my books!!  Support my works celebrating Latino pride & culture!!

Promoting my very first book to be published!!!  "Raise Your Brown Black Fist: The Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino" (2010, Authorhouse)!!!  Available at Authorhouse.com!!  Also available through Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, & Books-A-Million.  Available in paperback, hard cover, and eBook formats.

Alsooooooo........

My second book that I published!!  "Raise Your Brown Black Fist 2: MORE Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino" (Outskirts Press, 2011)!!  Available at OustkirtsPress.com!!!  Also available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, & Books-A-Million.  Available in paperback & eBook formats!!!

Support the books!!  Promote the culture!!!  Learn your true history!!!  Viva mi gente!!!  Feliz el mes de la herencia de Los Latinos!!!!

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

#LatinoHeritageMonth

Dancing In September...In Raleigh!!!

 We are now in the month of SEPTEMBER!!!  We are officially in the last quarter of the year.  MAN...time really flies!  Weren't we JUST celebrating the new year, and getting rid of 45...?

I FINALLY made my move.  I've been in Raleigh for a little over a week now...and I don't regret it.  Peace of mind is such a wonderful thing!!!  The new day job is going pretty well...even though they're working the living hell outta me.  My first work week was SIX days long!  After working two six-day work weeks in Delaware...then moving out of state...then having to hop into another six-day work week?!?!?!  My body needs a rest.  But, other than that, I'm enjoying the relocation.  I'm learning more & more about my new hometown every day.

September marks the beginning of Latino Heritage Month.  You guys know how I do here, on my blog.  I will also be doing more videos to help promote my Afro Latino characters in my novels.  This is our celebratory month to shine, and I always wanna take the opportunity to highlight the African roots & heritage of Latino people.  We as Afro Latinos need to take this moment, and use it to our advantage.

I've been able to post a new episode of The Rough Draft!  Episode #41 has been posted, and is available to view on both YouTube and Vimeo.  I also just finished shooting & editing Episode #42, and should be posting it by the end of this week.  I've been off my game for a hot minute, but I'm starting to get back on my grind.  It helps that I don't have no annoying ass, fuck ass roommate annoying the hell outta me, and crowding my space.  Let that shitty bitch be someone else's problem!  She caused me six months of pure misery, and I'm so glad to be the fuck away from her dirty ass!!!

 

But....I digress...

 

Haven't had the chance yet to work on any of my manuscripts.  I've been so busy working, and dealing with my relocation, that I haven't had the chance to mentally process my imagination.  I think once my schedule regulates, I'll be able to let my mind flow freely, and finish writing those projects.  Second Chance Points is going really well through the editing phase, and I want to finally finish writing Book 3 in The Chronicles of The Black Fist book series, and start to edit that project.  So much to write...so little time...

 

That's about all for now.  I'll keep you guys updated on my progress.  Check out the videos, and cop the books!!  Spread the word!!  Help to keep a brother's writing career alive!!

 

Keep the fist raised

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

 

Birthdays & Anniversaries/End of August

 So, as the month of August comes to a close, I reflect on certain birthdays and anniversaries that have come up.  To start off,  birthday blessings to the revered ancestor, the Rt. Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey!!!  His birthday was on August 17th.  This great Pan Africanist leader created the government/organization the Universal Negro Improvement Association & African Communities League (UNIA & ACL).  Blessings to  his spirit, and the movement that he created, that was the father of many of these other organizations & movements that came afterward!  :-)

 

My father just recently celebrated his 81st birthday on August 20th.  The man has lived a full life, and has earned by deepest respect.  He immigrated to another country, & built a life for himself & his family.  He raised three children, bought a house, and has been able to retire with all of his faculties intact.  Seven grand kids, two that are in their twenties (and still waiting for ME to produce some for him, lol, lol, lol)....that ain't bad.  That ain't a bad life, at all.  Much respect to my father for putting up with me.  We had our issues in my late teens & early twenties, but THANK GOODNESS we got over them.  Much respect to you, pops!!  :-)

On August 23rd, I celebrated the 2-year anniversary of the production of my web series "The Rough Draft".  Two years ago in 2019, I produced the first episode of the show.  It's gone on for 40 episodes, so far.  I'm hoping to start shooting new episodes of it, again, once I finally move the fuck outta Delaware.  I wasn't able to shoot an anniversary episode, like I did for last year, but I will be shooting more episodes, once I move down to Raleigh.  I need my personal space, which I don't have here in Delaware.  Here's to more continued episodes of The Rough Draft!!!  Continuing to promote my literary career!!

 

The next birthday is kinda hard for me.  My mother's birthday was August 24th.  Since we lost her in 2019, it is always a bit hard for me whenever her birthday comes around. Being the youngest, and close with my mother, it gets hard celebrate her birthday, as I wish that she was still here.  I didn't get the chance to say goodbye to her, before she passed.  I hadn't seen her since the day I moved out to Delaware.  We talked on the phone a bit, But I never got to physically see her.  That's one major regret that I have.  Prayers go out to you, mom.  You're always in my heart, and on my mind.  My parents' wedding anniversary is on the 29th, so I can't even imagine what my dad is going through, whenever these dates come around.  My heart goes out to you, dad.

 

I will be moving to Raleigh on August 28th.  I will soon be a resident of the Tar Heel State.  Delaware served its purpose; I got back on my feet out here.  It is now time for me to move on, and progress as a person, and in my literary career.  As August comes to a close, and the fall season begins, let me start this latest journey with a clean slate, a clear mind, and a renewed spirit.

 

Peace!!!

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

 

 

The Heat of Black August

 Welcome to the revolutionary month of August!!!  It is also the final month of Summer!!!  We are now officially three-quarters into the year!!  Time sure is flying, ain't it...?  :-O

First things, first....August marks the six-year publishing anniversary for my literary project "Spittin' Lyrics N Waxin' Poetic" (Draft2Digital, 2015).

This is a collection of never before released poems, rap verses, and rhymes that I wrote.  The first half of the book is rap verses, and revolutionary poetry, the second half of the book is all love poems.  This particular project is available in eBook format only, so you would have to download it, if you want a copy.  The book is available for download through Kindle, Nook, Kobo/Kobo+, iTunes, Scribd, and through various library distributors.

 

Also...August makes it seven months since the release of "Knuckle Up" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021).  Sales are still not where I want them to be, but I'm still on my grind promoting this project.  Hopefully, once I gtfo of Delaware, I'll have an easier time promoting it to the masses.  It kinda sucks when you live somewhere, and the people there don't read in that city or state.  It's quite sad, actually....and pretty demoralizing.  :'-(

 

Speaking of which...I hope to be out of Delaware by the end of the month.  I'm just so done with this place.  I utterly HATE my mf roommate, and I'm tired of Wilmington.  I don't feel like I can grow here.  I'm not gonna completely knock this place; it served its purpose.  I was able to get back on my feet out here, and put some money in my pocket.  Now, it's time for me to move on.

 

When I have the time, I'm still editing my women's basketball novel Second Chance Points.  There are still some things about the project that I'm figuring out.  I'm hoping to start working on the cover art, once I finally move away.  The jobs are still interested in me out in Raleigh, so I know that I have options, as far as employment is concerned.  Once I have that freedom of space, not to mention...peace of mind, I'll be able to concentrate on writing my projects like I want to.

 

Keeping my fingers crossed, praying to the ancestors & the Creator, and hoping that this move proves to be the boost that I need. I'll keep you guys updated on my progress.

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

Dog Days of July/Future Plans...

 I know, I know......I've reeeeeeeeeally been slacking on here.  Being back at my day job takes up a lot of my time, not to mention, working on a few of my literary w.i.p.'s.  Not to mention, it's been hooooooooot lately, and that saps a lot of your energy.  I know, I need to get back on the ball with this blog, and keep it up to date...

Any whoo...my literary progress.  I actually sold a book!!!  I had a download last month (June) via Scribd, and had an actual book purchase!!  I want to send a SUPER SHOUT OUT to DeMoir Books & Things based in Memphis, TN.  They now have a copy of Knuckle Up on their book shelves!!!  If I have any fans in Memphis, PLEASE come out to the store, and buy a copy of the book!!  I hope that they plan to stock more of my titles in their store!!!  Memphis, stand up!!!  :-D

Still writing my manuscripts.  Second Chance Points is going well.  I'm still in the editing phase of the project.  If things keep going this well, I might actually be able to publish it next year!!  Shocking...well, shocking, but not shocking.  This is me we're talking about, after all, lol, lol, lol, lol.  ;-)

 

Both Black Fist books are on hold, for now.  I don't want to say that I have writer's block, but 2CP is taking up a lot of my mental power, right now.  That particular project is dominating my thoughts, at the moment.   I'm a little pissed about that, cause Book III is about 80%-85% done; I just need to finish off that last storyline chapter.  The book's ending is already written, I just have to close out that preceding chapter.  Ugh...the mind of a writer.  Aaaaaarrrrgggghhh!!!

Now to my future plans.  Since I can't repatriate to Africa at this point, I'm planning on moving out of state.  The plan is for me to move to Raleigh, NC.   I'm totally sick of Delaware.  Don't get me wrong, I was able to accomplish a lot here, but I feel stuck in place, and unable to progress.  I was able to get back on my feet, and put some money in my pocket, but now I need a little bit more outta my life.  I'm planning on getting out of here by the fall; targeting mid September, to October.  Since my day job manages an account there, I should be able to easily transfer out.  Everything is still in the research & planning stages for right now; I even asked my special on again-off again lady-friend if she wants to come.  I'm outta here, regardless of her answer.

Other than that, you kn ow me...always on my literary grind.  Still writing, still networking, still researching.  Always looking for different ways to promote my works.  Fuck it...if I don't promote my own shit, who will?!?!  :-O

That's the latest, for now.  Going to try to be more consistent with posting content here.  As it is, I'm going on the 10 year anniversary of the existence of this blog of mine.  I started it, shortly before the publication of my second book, "Raise Your Brown Black Fist 2; MORE Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino" (Outskirts Press, 2011).  Might make a post about it in the coming months, hopefully after my relocation.  I'll keep you guys up to date on everything.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

June Wrap-Up.......

 So, we are in the final three days of June.  It has been a rather uneventful month for me.  No new sales to report on.  My sales have flatlined for the past 2-3 months.  Yeah...people really support my writing career, smdh...

Guess what..?  The wypipo/'"da gov't" decided to make Juneteenth a federal holiday!!  (***EXTREME sarcasm dripping***)  Everybody was going all apeshit on social media celebrating it, posting a bunch of shit.  Where were y'all back in May during African Liberation Day, hmmmm...?  Or, are you nuccas only woke when wypipo are looking on?  I don't need them to tell me what cultural holidays of my people to celebrate.  Stop looking for they mf approval all the gd time!!!  Be your authentic Black/African self!  The Summer Solstice came & went, and I ain't hear a peep outta none of y'all!  Buncha happy asses, smdh...

Aaaaaaaaanywaaaaaay....

Working on a new conversion project.  Finally decided to convert my women's basketball movie script "Second Chance Points" into a novel.  The conversion part is already complete, so now all I have to do is the editing.  It's actually going pretty well.  I have to admit, there's a lot that I have to add.  Details that I would normally take care of during pre- and post-production as a film, I have to fill in the blanks now, as a novel.  I have to add more characters, and give some background info, for others.  The process is going very well, though, and I'm very excited to finish this project.  If all goes well, I might even release 2CP as my next novel in 2022.  I'll let you guys know how it goes....

Still trying to complete "The Chronicles of The Black Fist: The Diaspora United".  I've been suffering through a bit of writer's block on that project.  I'm pretty much 80% - 85% done with the first draft; I just need to complete the final leg of the story.  The ending is pretty much already written, so I don't have to worry about that part.  I just need a way to finish wrapping up the final part of the story, right before the final chapter.  Of course, my work schedule kinda gets in the way of that, buuuuut what are you gonna do?  I need to earn a paycheck, since I can't make a living off of book sales.  Oh well...

That's all for now.  Hope to keep you guys in the loop for my other projects, and other literary progress.  I would appreciate a few reviews written about my books, if you've read any of them.  Reviews help a lot.  ANY type of feedback helps, a lot.

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

June Vibes/ #AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 We are now in the month of JUNE!!!  The year of 2021 is officially half over!!  :-O!!!  Time sure is flying this year, ain't it....?

Okay...first up.  News about my latest novel "Knuckle Up" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021)....

Sales have been abysmal.  I had ONE purchase (a download) last month, and that was on some quid pro quo type shit.  I'm starting to get really irritated by the lack of support.  I continue to do the online promotion of this project...sending out my weekly e-blasts to my contacts list on my email Mailing List, but I get nothing in return.  I'm getting irritated that nobody is taking me or my writing career seriously, even my so-called 'friends' and 'followers' on social media.  Eleven years, and thirteen books later...you'd think people would finally start to get it.  But, then again....I'm not being mentioned by the white establishment, or have a big hype machine behind me.  Whatever...

ALSO....June marks the six-year publishing anniversary of my novel "Demure Nights" (CreateSpace, 2015).

I dropped this Street Lit/Erotica novel in June of 2015.  It was part of a three-book publishing binge that I was on.  It was in the middle of my trying to work on my writing career full time; from 2014-2017.  2015 was the banner year, as I dropped 3 books that year, and Demure Nights was number two on that list.  The book is still available in both paperback & eBook formats.  I'm quite proud of this novel, as it was a clear departure of my more politically tinged books that were available, at the time.  It's a really good story, but completely slept on, just like a lot of my other novels.  Hey...it's still out there, and available in the marketplace.  

Still currently writing Book III of The Black Fist novel series.  I'm at least 75% - 85% done writing the first draft.  The final chapter has actually already been written, so I just have to find a way to conclude the story, so that the ending makes sense.  The story is flowing really well, for the most part.  I'm hoping to be done with the draft by the end of the year.  Hopefully, I'll be able to publish the project in 2022.  We shall see...

For those of you who do not know....I've created an account on VIMEO!  I've added a few episodes of "The Rough Draft" on there, as well as my latest Author Book Trailer.  I'm hoping to get better results on Vimeo, than I do on YouTube.  So far, it's looking about the same.  Oh, well...I can only do so much to market & promote myself.  Check me out at www.vimeo.com/AuthorKevinSabio.

 

ALSO....I have finally updated my Author Page on Amazon.com.  I have included a picture of myself, as well as added a few photos, and the latest Author Book Trailer.  I'm hoping that this bit of marketing will help to make my books more visible to people on there, and any potential fans out there on Amazon.  Now, if I could just get a few more reviews on there for my books...

 

I'm back at work at my old day job.  They (finally) called me back to work.  I'm actually quite glad, as my savings were starting to run a lot lower than I like.  I kinda miss having the free time to work on my writing, and market my books, but still...I need the paycheck.  Plus, I was going outta my mind with boredom.  I need to have something to do with my life, other than just flip channels.  At least I have options, now.  I'm hoping to take advantage of the job, and transfer to another account in another state by the end of the year, if not next year.   I've mf had it with Delaware, and need a new place to try to grow my career.  Hopefully, I can move to a city/state where people actually read.  I was thinking DC, but it's still pretty expensive to live out there.  I don't know...I still have six more months to figure shit out...

I'm considering a conversion project.  I have this basketball movie that I wrote, basically 20 years ago.  It's about female basketball players called "Second Chance Points".  I loved writing that film, and really wish that I had the opportunity to produce it.  It would've been a big budget movie, so there was no way that I'd be able to fund it on my own.  I think that it would make a great novel, and I'm strongly considering converting it.  I'm just really hesitant to do that, considering the lack of support the majority of my books get.  Knuckle Up is about female boxer, and I can't get ANYBODY to really rock with that novel; not even the female fighters that I follow on social media (Twitter, specifically).  What's the fucking point, then?  I don't subscribe to that bullshit I-write-my-books-for-myself nonsense.  If that were true, yo ass wouldn't bother going through the process of publishing your book(s), and putting it/them out there in the marketplace.  I'm not trying to publish something that won't be supported.  Oh well...we'll see.  I'll let you know what I decide.

That's all for now.  Hoping to post another blog entry for you guys, soon.  It's kinda hard to be consistent, when you don't feel supported in your endeavors.  Until next time...

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

May Progress...

 Yeah...I've been a bit quiet here, for a li'l while...

Book sales have been nonexistent.  Had a dear comrade buy a physical copy of one of my older books, but nothing new for "Knuckle Up" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021).  No downloads OR physical purchases for it, though.  :-(

I'm doing much better, physically.  I'm off the crutches, and I'm walking with the knee brace.  I've been doing physical therapy for a month now, and I'm walking much better.  The surgeon and my physical therapists are very impressed with my progress.  I'm glad to be walking again.  I just wanna be able to run, and then eventually DANCE like Ne-Yo, or at least, one of his background dancers, lol, lol, lol.  ;-)

My old job is hiring me back.  I'm kinda glad about that.  I absolutely HATE sitting at home, doing nothing!  I don't understand how people can actually live like that...just sitting there, waiting on a paycheck from the government.  I'm kinda gonna miss my freedom to work on my literary projects, and work on promotional ideas...but, I need to earn a paycheck.  Book sales ain't sustaining me, so I need to work.  I'm looking forward to seeing some of my coworkers, again.  Not many of us are being brought back.  It's all going slowly, but surly.  

I've started an account with Vimeo!!!  I will be uploading episodes of "The Rough Draft" on there, as well as some of my Author Book Trailers.  You can go to vimeo.com/AuthorKevinSabio to check out all of my videos  (I only have one posted, for right now).  Check out my videos posted there!!  :-)

Other than that, just working on Book III of "The Chronicles of The Black Fist".  I'm about 75% - 85% done with the first draft.  I'm hoping to finish the draft before the end of the year.  Hopefully, it will be my next book for 2022!!!  :-)

Other than that, there's not much else to report.  June is around the corner, as well as the Summer Solstice.  Hit you guys up then!!!

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

Entering the Month of May....

Today is the first day of the month of MAY!!!  We are almost halfway through the year, already!!  :-O

 

My literary progress is as follows:

 

April sucked for me.  I didn't make ANY sales.  I sold only one book (a download), and that was only because I posted about it on social media, griping about not getting some feedback on my latest work.  Speaking of which, "Knuckle Up" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021) is now entering it's fourth month of publication.  It is STILL available for purchase through paperback format, or in eBook format through Kindle, Nook, Kobo/Kobo+, iTunes, Scribd, and internationally through Tolino, and Vivlio.  It is also available through libraries in eBook format through outlets such as OverDrive, Hoopla, Baker & Taylor, and Bibliotheca.

 

Also in the month of May....  my novel "Seductra, Web of Desire" (CreateSpace, 2017) will be celebrating its four-year-publishing anniversary!!  

 

 

 

Dasha Pagan, a trained dancer from Brooklyn, struggles to make ends meet after relocating to the south for greener pastures, and has to make do by working as an exotic dancer.  I believe that this particular novel is pretty slept on (like much of my literary works).  It's considered Street Lit, with a Romantic feel to it.  You can be a hard rock, and still be able to enjoy the story.  The novel is available in paperback format, as well as eBook format.  Support it.  BUY it!!!  Write a review for it!

 

#TheGimpLifeChronicles

 

I'm getting better.  The doctor has cleared me to walk around without crutches.  I still have to wear the immobilizer, though.  I've recently started doing physical therapy.  I'm scheduled to do pt three times a week.  My first week is in the books, and I'm looking forward to going back.  I want to get back to feeling normal as soon as possible.  I still can't move as quickly, or as normally for that matter, as I would like to, but at least I'm a bit more mobile, now.  At least that's something....

 

Still working on my w.i.p. manuscripts.  I'm mainly concentrating on writing Book III of The Black Fist series.  It's actually going pretty good.  I still have several chapters to go before the first draft is complete, but at least I'm making progress.  I've put Walk Like a Warrior on the shelf, for now.  I was making decent progress on it, then drew a blank.  I guess I'm getting writer's block for that particular project, while I'm more inspired to write The Chronicles of The Black Fist.  such is the life of a writer, lol, lol, lol, lol, lol...

 

That's all for now.  Will keep you guys updated on my literary progress, as well as my health.  Until the next blog post....

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMYLiteraryGrind     

Trying Something New...

 Continuing to celebrate the month of APRIL!!!  This coming Saturday, April 24th, will be known as Independent Bookstore Day!!!  Please go out (if you can) and support your local bookstore(s), especially during these pandemic times!!!  They are small businesses, and they need our support.  Let us MOST DEFINITELY show love and support to our Black-owned bookstores, and give them the support that they so rightfully deserve.  #IndependentBookstoreDay

Trying something a little different.  Now that we have at least 3 vaccines available to immunize the public, I'm considering doing in-person appearances, again.  Hopefully by this summer, or even fall, I hope to be able to do more face-to-face public events.  I'm considering creating an Author Clothing Line; rocking some t-shirts, or a polo, and a baseball cap.  I'm planning on calling it BBFG, or Brown Black Fist Gear.  I'm working on a logo for it, as I write this.  I'm hoping that you guys can help me out.

 

Here are the logo designs that I've come up with.  This is logo Version One:

 

 

This is the logo, Version Two:

And finally, logo Version Three:

Looking for your advice.  Which logo do you guys like the best?  Personally, I'm feeling Version Three, myself.  Which logo version do you guys like the best?  Once I make a decision, I'm going to need to hook up with a t-shirt guy, and have a few shirts made up, and test them out.  Please send me your feedback, and let me know which one you guys are feeling the most!!

That's all for now.  Looking forward to the next time I reach out to your guys. Until next time.

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

Incoming April Showers

We are now in the month of APRIL.  The first fourth of the year is now in the books.  Time certainly is flying this year..

 

To begin with...Happy #NationalPoetryMonth!!!  Shout out to the all of the poets out there, that have always naturally waxed poetic.  You make the world a better, brighter, more lyrical place to be.  You are able to articulate what we are feeling, and mentally stimulate us with your words.  You assist in helping to make our people more literate, and worldly.  Thank you, to all of the poets out there.

 

Secondly, April marks the five-year publishing anniversary of my short story anthology "Drum Speaking: Tales From An Inner City Griot" (CreateSpace, 2016).

 

 

Drum Speaking is a collection of culturally relevant short stories, spanning from the genres of Action/Adventure, Political Thriller, Science Fiction, Drama, as well as continuing novellas of both The Chronicles of The Black Fist, and Demure Nights.

Knuckle Up (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021) is now celebrating it's third month of publication.  Sales have slowed considerably, as I've only sold one book in the past month (a digital download).  I'm continuing to promote the book online, as well as send out my weekly e-blasts, but there is only so much that I can do.  On the good note, my best friend since JHS snail mailed me a payment for an autographed copy of 3 of my books.  :-)

 

Other than that, I've recently been able to upload episodes #36, #37, and #38 of my vlog series The Rough Draft on YouTube.  This week, I'll be uploading episode #39, and I've already shot and edited episode #40, and will be uploading it next week.

 

Other than that, I'm just trying to keep my sanity, and keep my spirits up.  The lockdown is starting to ease, as people are getting vaccinated.  I'm still on the mend from my knee surgery.  My Medicaid card finally came, so I'm now able to pay my medical bills.  That's one less thing for me to stress about.  I'm still working on my literary w.i.p.; primarily focusing on Book 3 of The Chronicles of The Black Fist, and on my YA novel Walk Like A Warrior.  Both of them are coming to me pretty slowly this time around.  Hell...maybe I need this down time to further work on promoting my current slate of books that are available....

 

Thanks for checking me out, this time around.  Will keep you guys in the loop of other stuff that I'm working on.  Please send me some feedback.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

     
  

Author Book Trailer: 2021 Edition!!!

 For those of you that have been on the lookout for it, the wait is finally over!!1  I have updated my Author Book Trailer, which now has ALL THIRTEEN book titles included in it.  It took a little effort, as I am dealing with a new video editing system, and I'm still getting used to some of the special editing effects, and transitions.  You can check it out here:

The video will also be posted on YouTube!!!  Let me know what you think of it!!  Feedback is always welcome.  I was trying to keep it in the same spirit as the older versions of the Book Trailer, but since I'm using a new system, I did the best that I could to keep it similar as possible..

 

Enjoy!!!  :-)

 

Uhuru sasa, y paz.

 

#KeepTheFistRaised

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

One Year Later.... [Aftermath of the Pandemic]

 So....we've reached the anniversary of the COVID-19 Coronavirus lockdown that shut down the country.  It's been a full year since we all had to lock in place, and deal with this deadly virus that has wiped out over a half million people.  People are now contemplating and reflecting on what they've been through over the past year, as we've reached this tenuous anniversary.

I myself was impacted by this tragedy.  I'd lost my job working in both hospitality and food service, due to the pandemic. Technically, my last day had been that Wednesday, March 12th, as my days off were Thursday & Friday.  I was supposed to return to work that Saturday morning, but my boss called me before my shift to let me know that the party that was supposed to be coming to our restaurant, had canceled.  I was off for 2 more additional days, basically having a four day weekend.  At first, I didn't mind, as that was the weekend that I'd had held my dual release for my novels "Time Will Reveal" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2020), and "Suicide Amy" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2020) to celebrate my 10-year anniversary as a published author.  By that Monday, my boss had called me back, and let me know that I'd been laid off from the job, due to the impact of the pandemic.  

 

At the time, I have to admit...I didn't think much of it.  I truly though that, after maybe two weeks, this whole thing would blow over, and we'd all be back to normal, and I'd be back to work.  As time went on, and the numbers grew, that's when it really started to hit me that....this shit is serious!  Hundreds....then thousands...of people were dying of this super virus, and it was affecting the entire world.  I have to admit, I went through my own mental trials during this whole time.  My father was stuck out of the country in his homeland, and wasn't able to come back.  I worried about his safety & health on the daily.  Also...I was trying to establish a relationship with a particular young lady from my past.  That experience ended up not going very well at all, and we now don't speak.  A relationship can't work, if there's no communication.  Apparently, she didn't/doesn't know how to answer her mf phone, and return a gd text message.  The occasional selfie is fine, but her ass was sporadic with her communication, at best.  Fuck it.....I didn't/don't need the additional stress, especially if all I wanted was someone to talk to, and connect with...

 

After a full year after this disaster, it left me feeling a little empty.  I ended up shutting down my networking organization the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement, as I couldn't help to network and promote others, and let my own writing career suffer at the same time.  I realized that....I don't really have a hell of a lot of friends; close, or otherwise.  That's quite a lonely feeling.  I didn't feel all that supported of my writing career, as I had books available, and couldn't generate any type of sales, even during a pandemic, when everyone is stuck indoors, and I didn't have to compete with much outside entertainment.  I also felt quite lonely, because that relationship didn't work out.  Politically speaking, I'm becoming more & more disgusted by this country.  The actions, and inactions, of the politicians, the racial violence by the police, the weaknesses that I see with the so-called activist community...I'm just done.

 

So, a year later, we have all grown.  We have all survived.  Hopefully, we've gotten stronger & better through our survival of this pandemic.  I still have yet to return to work, and I honestly don't know if I really want to return to my old job.  Perhaps I just need a mental sabbatical, and take some time to be in a monastery, or something.  Here's to looking forward to better days, and excelling.  Let us overcome, and persevere.  Let's hope that we've come out better, after all of this.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

      

The tides of March/The Gimp Chronicles

 We have now entered into the month of MARCH.  The Veneral/Spring Equinox is right around the corner, which marks the official start of the spring season.  It is the time for new beginnings, and the start to better things to come.

March also marks the 7-year publishing anniversary of my comedic memoir "In My Lifetime: Finny Stories of Life Experiences" (Outskirts Press, 2014), and the 1-year publishing anniversary of my dual release novels "Time Will Reveal" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2020), and "Suicide Amy" (Kindle direct Publishing, 2020). Both books were published last year to commemorate my ten-year anniversary as a published author.  All three of the books are available in both paperback and eBook formats.  Please go out and support these novels (as well as my OTHER books) any way that you can.

March also marks one full year that I've been unemployed because of the COVID-19 coronavirus.  I'm living off of my savings, my unemployment benefits (when I was still getting it), and the insurance money for my mother's passing.  Good thing that I live well beneath my means, or I would be in some serious trouble, by now.  Which leads me to....

 

#TheGimpChronicles

 

Basically, I seriously injured myself almost 2 month ago.  I was coming back from Dollar General, and there's this park by my residence.  I usually always cut through there, as it cuts down the time for me to make whatever trip I'm making on foot.  The problem with that is...dumb asses here in Delaware, Wilmington in particular, don't know how to keep their mf dogs on a leash.  And, it's always some idiot with a big ass, wild dog, like a Rotty, or a Pit.  I'm coming back from the store, crossing past the park, and I see some idiot walking with his Rotty off of it's leash.  I'm not saying that I'm scared....but, I ain't tryna get my ass bit.  So I process to try to cross the street to avoid the dog.  As I step off the curb to cross the street....

...-KRAK!!!

My knee twisted & buckled.  I went down like a ton of bricks.  I crumpled down to the floor in some serious pain.  To make a long story short, I later found out later on that I'd torn my left patella tendon.  I've been hobbled, and hobbling around ever since then.  When I finally took my ass to the hospital, I found out how badly I'd injured myself.  Needless to say, I've been on crutches and an immoblizer for a few weeks now.  I just had surgery to repair the tear yesterday, so now I am on the mend.  All of this, cause I was trying to protect myself, yet I end up injuring myself.

 

Ain't that some shit?!?!?!?  :-O

 

The worst part is over.  Now, all I need to do is heal up, recover, & rehab.  At least I got my medical expenses taken care of; apparently, I was able to qualify for the local Medicaid provided by the state, especially being unemployed.  That helps a lot; that's one less thing that I need to stress about paying.  Considering my porous book sales, that helps me out a lot.  I'm on the gimpy side, for now.  Hoping to make a speedy recovery, and get back to walking around like a normal mf human being.  When I get the chance, I want to dance.  That's right, I said it....I wanna DANCE!!!  Maybe I can invest in come resistance bands, or something....?

Anyway, that's all for now.  Just keeping my nose to the grindstone, continuing to push & promote my books.  Hoping to generate more book sales for "Knuckle Up" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021).  Since its release, I've had a total of seven book purchases & downloads.  I seriously trying to up that, and generate more sales.  I'll let you know about my progress.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

End of an Era--Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement

 February 26, 2021....today is the end of an era.  This is the date when I am shutting down my networking organization the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement.  From it's beginning in 2008 as a mere literary arts festival, to the end of The Movement this year of 2021, it was 13 years of altruistic love & support for my people in the field and industry of literature.

After 13 years of operation, I've decided to shut the organization down.  I'd been mulling the decision over for some time now, but with the coming of the COVID-19 coronavirus last year, it basically helped me to solidify my decision.  I can't serve 2 different masters; my own writing career, and my activism & advocacy for the literary arts.

It all started back in 2007 after I'd relocated to the south, moving to Richmond, VA.  Things were drastically different there, as opposed to what I had available to me, while living in NYC.  I had access to a plethora of Black media and literary resources; Black newspapers (not just AA), book vendors on the streets, access to Black bookstores, etc.  None of that really existed in Richmond, and there was pretty much an intellectual & literary void.  Not to mention...the so-called 'activists' that I'd met and communed with out there, had the attention span of a mf nat.  I needed a way to pass on the information that I had onto others; trying to organize road trips was out of the question, as none of these fake ass 'activists' ever wanted to organize shit, or go anywhere that didn't inflate their bullshit ass egos.  Enter the first incarnation, and genesis for what became the movement, the Black CapaCity Literary Arts Festival.

 

 

Btw...the word is pronounced 'capacity'.  Not 'Capa City".  Ain't no space, ain't no goddamn hyphen.  It's one fucking word!!!!

 

Anyway....

 

The festival was first held in April of 2008.  It was actually quite successful; we had between 150-200 people attend the event.  From there, it snowballed into a movement.  I reached out to the people on the Mailing List that I'd created, thanked those who attended, and for those that hadn't...provided them with a listing of events that I knew were going on.  It grew from there...

Enter...The Movement...

A year later in 2009, primarily because I had a major falling out with those fake ass people that I was in an organization with, we went from being known as the Black CapaCity Literary Arts Festival/Movement, to our current incarnation as the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement.  We grew from there.  I reached out to many people within the literary arts; indie authors, poets, comic book artists, graphic artists, magazine publishers, book publishers, book clubs, Black bookstores, and cultural youth organizations.  I represented for indie Black & Latino literary artists, providing them with opportunities to help them promote their work; from cultural festivals, to book fairs, to comic cons, Black expos, to writing contests, and even promoting their latest releases to the bookstores & other groups & organizations within the Mailing List.  I created the SoE/Schedule of Events list to distribute to the members, and let them know (quarterly) about the different events going on...eventually throughout the African Diaspora, and around the world.

 

Alas....the past 13 years had been a very solitary 13 years.  The Movement was held down and maintained by one man...ME.  I never got the help that I felt I deserved, for the type of work that I was trying to do. I never cared to profit off of the services that I was providing; anybody on the Mailing List could have easily done the same research that I'd done/been doing, on their own.  I would have loved to have some help with the research, creating a website, finally being able to hold our real-world event the Universal Africana Literary Arts Expo, etc.  Hell, I would've loved to have had help with the merchandising aspect of the Movement (developing apparel like t-shirts, & hats).  But, I never got that type of help.  People loooved the fact that I was providing them information...for FREE!!  But...actually helping me to do all of this work...?  Naaaah. People didn't have the stomach for that.

 

There are no heirs to the Movement.  There is no one for me to pass the torch to.  I've had inquiries for taking over the Mailing List, but on a much limited scale.  At the same time, I'm not willing to chase anyone down to do the work.  People like the service that I provide, but ain't trying to hear putting in the level of work that I put into it.  The Movement was NEVER  about me, or making a profit.  It was about representing for our people in the literary field & industry.  ESPECIALLY at the time that I was doing it, when people were complaining about the severe lack of Black/Brown/POC voices in the literary industry.  Then again...I was severely grassroots with my work, so nobody was really trying to hear wtf I was doing.  But yet...folks wanna be all over social media, hashtagging shit like #WeNeedMoreDiverseBooks, but wasn't really trying to holla at any of us indie authors.

 

Oh well....

 

Here is to the members of the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement.  This is for the true believers in what I was trying to do.  Will the Movement ever be resurrected again...?  Who knows.  Shout out to all of those out there who were inspirations to me, who laid the foundation for what became the Movement: Turtel Onli, Ron Kavanaugh, Khadijah Ali-Coleman, Dr. Yumy Odom, E. Wayne McDonald, Maia "Crown" Williams, and so many others that laid the foundation.  Shout out to all of those that had supported & benefited form the Movement, and became dear personal friends of mine.

 

The Facebook page will remain active, but I will NO LONGER be sending out the emails.

 

Always on our literary grind,

 

Kevin Sabio

"Knowledge As Supreme"

Founder/organizer     
  

My 300th Blog Post!!! My Author Anniversary!!!!

 It is now the month of February!!!  This is the month of my AUTHOR ANNIVERSARY!!!  It is also my 300th BLOG POST!!!!

 

Yes...ELEVEN years ago this month, I jumped into the uncharted waters of the publishing world, and independently self-published my first book, "Raise Your Brown Black Fist: The Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino" (Authorhouse, 2010).  I started my professional writing career, and became a published author.  

This was the book that started my publishing career.  Now, eleven years later...and THIRTEEN books later...the career continues.  Though the sales have never been there for any of my book titles, I'm still continuing to be on my literary grind.  Hey...I'm a storyteller at heart.

Everything started in my youth, from my junior high school years (I.S. 383, Phillipa Schuyler...School for the Gifted & Talented), from about 1986-1988.  I originally wanted to work in the comic book field as an artist, as well as writer.  My art skills unfortunately weren't there, but I was always a storyteller.  Years later, during my junior year of high school, I morphed those dreams (by accident, really) into wanting to tell my tales and stories on a cinematic scale.  I spent the next sixteen years trying to get my foot into the door of the film & television industry, without much success.  I finally hung up those dreams in 2006, and called it quits.  For the next 3-4 years, I pretty much floated around between pure community activism, and online journalism.

It was actually through my activism that pushed me into self-publishing.  I'd found my calling, and entered into the fray.  I haven't looked back, since.  I've enjoyed this ride, and will continue to be, as I always hashtag, "always on my literary grind".  The sales have never been there, for none of my books.  But...I'm a storyteller.  I love telling stories.  Telling stories is my passion & my purpose.  From nonfiction, to fiction, to the various genres involved in fiction, my books span the gamut.  Now...if I could juuuuust get people to actually support my books....

But...I digress...

Continuing to celebrate some publishing anniversaries this month, February also marks the 6-year publishing anniversary of my first novel "The Chronicles of The Black Fist" (CreateSpace, 2015), my Action/Adventure novel following the exploits of a costumed crime fighter, and Black superhero...

February also marks the 3-year publishing anniversary of my novel "Fiesta Girl" (Draft2Digital, 2018), a Romance novel featuring an Afro Latino couple; a poet, and an aspiring fashion design student.

 

 

So, there you have it.  All of my books are available in paperback & eBook formats, and all are available for purchase.  Help me to continue to celebrate...not just my 300th blog post...but, also my anniversary as a published author.  I'm enjoying this journey; I just wish that I could get the support for my career that I deserve, considering all of the hard work that I put into it.  Buy a few copies of my books...actually READ them...and leave a review for them on Amazon, or Barnes & Noble.  I'm a writer...I NEED feedback.  That helps me to get better at what I do.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind