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

 

      

Viral Living During the Era of COVID-19

Soooooooooo.......

Because of the coronavirus pandemic, a lot of events have been cancelled, and people have been ordered/advised to self-quarantine.  In this day and age of 'social distancing', people have been asked to stay at home, and cancel public events.  That has hurt a lot of us independent creatives who are trying to make a living through our art.  Interpersonal interactions are a way for us to be able to make a living, and compete with  those that have commercial backing to support their careers.  This 'social distancing' is financially hurting us, and are forcing us to be more creative in the ways that we have to reach out to our potential audience.

For me, I have been able to catch up on shooting a few episodes of "The Rough Draft", and post them on YouTube.  Here are the links to the two latest episodes:

Episode #8:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt4WH7J6x-o&fbclid=IwAR01gyp2KRhlEO0Sx8JsUstQhPSQMdsheQQCfQIhXVuHm5UFIiUCHTKAywM

Episode #9:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlSl_pNkQZY&t=26s

Since COVID-19 will be a part of our everyday lives for the forseeable future, We need to find other alternative ways to get the word out about our works, and gain support.  I listed a few ideas in Episode #9, and hope that it helps.  I really had to think about my fellow members of the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement, and how some of them may be suffering through these tough times.  I wanted to find some way to help them, as the majority of the events listed on the Spring Season SoE list have been cancelled due to the pandemic outbreak.  I wanted/needed to find a way to help support my brothers & sisters out there, my fellow creatives, and give them options and alternatives to help them to promote their work(s), and maintain their careers.

Hope that you guys enjoy the videos.  Here's to hoping that you'll all go out, and support my career.  Since we're all stuck indoors, nothing beats curling up with a good book to take your mind away from your recent & modern troubles.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

Keep the fist raised. 

Author Book Trailer ***UPDATED 2018***

With the release of my latest book "Fiesta Girl" (Draft2digital, 2018), I've updated my Author Book Trailer promoting my literary works.  I've included the cover to my latest project to reflect ALL of my titles that I've written.  So, for all of you that consider yourselves my fans, heeeeeeeeerrrrrreeeee we go:

Hope that you enjoyed the *updated* video book trailer!  Please spread the word about the video, and PLEASE purchase copies of my books.  Available in both paperback & eBook formats!!

Keep the fist raised!!!

UIhuru sase, y paz!!!!

Celebrating Akoma Day 2017

It's that time of year again!  Looking forward to celebrating Akoma Day, which runs from February 14th through February 20th.  It is a CULTURAL alternative to Valentine's Day, without the commercialized stress of the holiday.  Akoma Day is more of a celebration of the union of two souls, and the joining of those two souls in a committed union, and building a family.  It's somewhat of a Rites of Passage in the realm of relationships, and love.  It's more about building a community through forging a healthy relationship between a man and a woman, and their roles in a relationship, and to one another.

As of yet, I don't have anyone to celebrate Akoma Day with, but hoping to change that in the near future.  Looking forward to eventually finding my queen/empress/goddess/Omega to my Alpha.  Instead of suffering through the commercialization of Valentine's Day, lets learn to culturally build our relationships, and forge a stronger union with our significant other.  Happy Akoma Day!!!

Black Comic Book Festival 2017

Might decide to go to this.  Black Comic Book Festival will be held on January 13th-14th from 10am to 7pm at the Schomburg Center.  It is FREE, and open to the public.  I'll know a good number of the vendors there, as I know them through the Mailing Lists for the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement.

Support Black entrepreneurs!  Support Black business owners!  Support Black Comic Books!

Cultural Caravan Interview airdate: November 20, 2016

My interview that I shot for "Cultural Caravan" aired on Sunday, November 20, 2016.  The interview aired at 5:30pm on WNYC-TV Ch 25.1 (over air), and Ch. 22 (Cablevision) on cable.  I was unaware of the airdate until the day before. I'd received a phone call and an email from the show's producer on Saturday to inform me of the show's airing.

Cultural Caravan is also rebroadcasted on Cablevision's BRIC Media cable access channel Ch. 68 during the week.  Since you probably missed it when it aired last night, you will have an opportunity to catch it during the week on cable access.  I am unaware if they have uploaded the video to their website yet, or on their YouTube channel.

Just wanted to let you guys know about it.  Please check it out if you can.


Cultural Caravan Productions
www.ccptv.org
  

Poets & Passion, A Carribean Literary Lime: Emancipated Voices

On August 3rd, the Caribbean Cultural Theatre presented their latest installment of their series "Poets & Passion, a Caribbean Literary Lime".  The theme for this event was "Emancipated Voices", considering that this year marks 50 years that a number of the island have been free and independent.  You were graced by the poetry and literary minds of Samantha Thornhill, Vladimir Lucien, and Tiphane Yanique, speaking on the campus of Medgar Evers College.

Since I don't live too far from the campus, I was lucky enough to be able to attend the event.  It was well attended, and the speakers DID NOT disappoint.  All of them read from their respective books of poetry, and we were graced with a short panel discussion and Q&A afterward.  Their individual works were all available for sale at the event, both before and after they spoke.  Having been a featured panelist/participant in a past Lime, I needed to come out and support my fellow writers/artists.  Plus, I have not been able to enjoy myself as of late, and felt the need to come out, and have my face seen.  It was also good, because I got to see a few people that I haven't seen in a while, due to my financial struggles.

I hope to be able to make it out to more events like this.  I'm still plugging away with the promotion of my own works, as well as focusing on relocating.  If I'm not going to be appreciated here in NYC, might as well find someplace else where my work will be.  ANYTHING is better than struggling like this.

Pre-Harlem Book Fair Meet-N-Greet 2016

Won't be able to make it to this event this year.  I was able to attend last year, and had a great time.  Got to network with some new people, as well as meeting the organizer Author David L., who I'd only known through the internet at that time.  I was also able to see some old friends at this as well.  It's great to network with like-minded people.  Hopefully, I'll be able to attend next year.

Pre-Harlem Book Fair Meet-N-Greet
July 15, 2016
Harlem Nights Bar & Lounge
2361 7th Avenue  (W. 138th & W. 139th)
New York, NY
4pm-until

www.totalpackagepublication.com

Afrolatino Festival NYC 2016

Won't be a part of it this year as a vendor.  I don't have the funds to participate.

Afrolatino Festival NYC
July 8-10, 2016
Brooklyn, NY
www.afrolatinofestnyc.com

Supporting Akoma Day

One thing that I've always suggested was for Afro Latinos to embrace more African/Afrocentric cultural traditions and expressions.  This is one that I've come to learn about a few years ago, and is starting to pick up steam (at least from my perspective).  Akoma Day is an alternative to to St. Valentine's Day, and lasts five days, from February 14 to February 20.  They follow a certain set of principles and virtues that are mean to help build a strong relationship between two people engaged in the relationship.  It has a strong foundation in building, not only a strong relationship, but also a strong family bond.  You can equate it with Kwanzaa, as it follows the same guidelines.  I don't see this as a 'made up holiday', but something that we can make culturally relevant to our everyday lives.

The creators of the holiday have a website available that further explains the holiday, and has published literature about it to express their philosophy on how to build a strong relationship to, not only strengthen your marriage, but also to help build a strong community.  They have outlets and celebrations in several cities; you try to find one that is close to you, and attend one of their events.  Or, you can contact the founders/creators of the holiday, and coordinate and event right in your own city/state/region.

Happy Akoma Day!!!

www.akomahouseinitiative.com

 

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!! Updated Author Book Trailer

I just wanted to wish all of you happy holidays.  To those of you that have stuck by me as true friends, and fans of my literary and activist work...thank you SO much for all of your support!  It is truly appreciated.  I know that I've gone off a few time on here, so I need ot thank you for bearing with me through the low times.   Here's to a better 2016!

I've updated the Author Book Trailer that I'd created.  I've changed the music up from the last time.  I hope that you'll be able to view it and enjoy it.  You can (hopefully) see the trailer here:

I hope that you'll be able to enjoy it.  So, may you enjoy the Winter Solstice, have a very Merry Christmas, have a VERY Happy Kwanzaa, and may you all have a blessed, prosperous, and positive New Year.  Here's hoping that things will change around onto the positive side in 2016!

Paz!!!  :-D

UPDATES: End-of-year progress

Well...I'm trying to end the year (or, at least this week) on a good & strong note.

I have an end-of-year literary event that I'm going to on Saturday night (Dec 19th).  I'm looking forward to it, specifically because it gets me the hell out of the house.  I've been pretty complacent lately, mostly due to lack of funds.  It's very hard to travel when you're broke.

I recently found out that the company that published my eBooks has added another distributor to their staple.  My eBooks are now available through a carrier called 24Symbols.  You can click the link to my books here:

https://www.24symbols.com/author/kevin-alberto-sabio?id=500618

You'll be able to have access to my titles "The Chronicles of The Black Fist", "Demure Nights", and "Spittin' Lyrics N Waxin' Poetic".  Apparently, 24Symbols also has access to the market in Spain.  I hope that this bodes well for me.  I've been promoting 24Symbols to my other social media accounts.

The Winter Solstice, Christmas, and Kwanzaa are all next week.  I was hoping to get out of town for the holidays (specifically Kwanzaa since it lasts an entire week), but I don't know if that'll happen.  I've cut off quite a few people over the past year+ that I've been back in NYC, and my funds are nonexistent for travel.  Hopefully, something will pop off.

I've been working on an Author Book Trailer to promote myself, and my literary works.  I hope that I'll be able to upload it here for your viewing pleasure.

I hope that you will be able to view it.  I've actually fallen off on my media/video production skills over the last few years.  I can write, shoot, and edit a project, but learning all of the ins and outs of uploading/downloading media files still escapes me.

So, that's what I have so far.  May you all enjoy the holidays, and may the coming new year be a prosperous one for you.  I'm looking forward to getting this ratchet ass year over with, and start over with a new beginning, and some positive energy.

Ujamaa Effect: Putting "El Negro" in Viernes Negro [Holiday Hustle]

It's that time of year again for me, and other indie creative content creators....

The holidays are coming up, and it's time for all of us indies to fight for your dollars along side the big industry behemoths of the world that have all of the marketing power at their disposal.  In recent years, they've tried to expand it beyond the usual confines of just "Black Friday".  It is now Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and more recently added, Cyber Sunday.  My usual plan is to constantly promote my published works from November, all the way up to February, taking advantage of not only "Black Friday" after Thanksgiving, but also Christmas, Kwanzaa, MLK's Birthday, and Black History Month.

I think that people need to work harder at supporting our entrepreneurs and indie artists, and not just give our money away to these big conglomerates and box stores.  I know too many of my fellow content creators who are struggling to get supported by the consumer community, especially our own people.  Our people like to complain a lot, but don't really back up a lot of their complaints with any real concrete action.  There are too many of us that are promoting the heck out of our works online, and not getting any type of support.

Let's try to really support our Black/Brown entrepreneurs.  Speaking for myself, my works are all available online at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble [www.bn.com], and Books-A-Million [www.booksamillion.com].  You can also go to the publisher's site for each book, to purchase a copy during the holidays.

So...lets REALLY try to put the 'black' into Black Friday.  Let's talk with our dollars, and really show some financial 'black/brown power'.  If we really do have TRILLIONS in disposable income, then lets spend that money wisely, and with our own.

Raise Your Brown Black Fist: The Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino
Publisher: Authorhouse
www.authorhouse.com

Raise Your Brown Black Fist 2: MORE Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino
Publisher: Outskirts Press
www.outskirtspress.com

In My Lifetime: funny Stories of Life Lessions
Publisher: Outskirts Press
www.outskirtspress.com

The Chronicles of The Black Fist
Publisher: Createspace
www.createspace.com

Demure Nights
Publisher; CreateSpace
www.createspace.com

1st Afrodescendant Puerto Rican Congress

Taking place in Viejo San Juan (Old San Juan), Puerto Rico
November 9-12, 2015

Celebrating the African roots of Puerto Rico!!!

RECOGNITION* JUSTICE* DEVELOPMENT

The Ujamaa Effect Redux

Been trying to wrap my head around this for a while now....

So my birthday passed a few weeks ago.  I am now 41.  What exactly have I accomplished...?

What?!?!?!  Why would you say that?!  How can you say that?!?!?!

Easily.  How many of you have actually contributed to my literary "success"?

Go ahead....I'll wait.  I've got time.....

**crickets chirping**

My lack of support has really got me questioning this path that I'm on.  I DON'T want to go back to being a wage slave, working day in and day out as some job that won't fulfill me, just to make a check.  That's the whole reason I started on this journey.  I first started out trying to be a screenwriter, and wanting to break into films.  I could never find any people that were willing to work with me on any of my script projects (of which I have MANY).  I wasn't trying to work FOR the industry, I just wanted to work IN it.  If I have to explain the difference to you, then you're NOT the right person to read this post.  I've wasted most of my twenties, into my mid thirties being on that journey.  That's what really steered me towards being an author.  It was more of a solitary project, and I didn't need to deal with anyone else's bullshit ego/issues.

My books cover diverse subject matters; two nonfiction political books, one nonfiction comedic memoir, two novels (one erotic, one action/adventure), and an eBook of poetry.  You would think that I would be able to generate SOME sort of cash flow from all those different titles, right...?

Wrong!!

But, if I complain about it, I get some bullshit artist talking about, "You need to learn how to better market you books!".

Motherfucka....you've SEEN the damn link posts to my shit, and all you've ever done was pressed the damn "like" or "favorite" button!! Fuck you mean, I need to learn how to better market my book?!?!  Stop pressing the fucking "like" button, and BUY the damn thing!!!

I've seen people make a lot of complaints on social media about what we don't have.  I know PLENTY of creative artists/content producers who are making these products that the mass claim don't exist; comic books with Black/Brown lead characters, children's books for children of color, independent films, etc.   People just need to do ONE simple thing...

STFU AND SUPPORT!!!!!

I've always wanted to make a living using my creative skills for the benefit of my community.  At the same time, I'm not going to continue down this path if I'm not going to be supported.  It's a waste of time on several fronts.  Why put forth all of this energy to create these products, produce them, and promote them...if nobody is going to support you?  This isn't a hobby for most of us; it's a part of who we are, what we do.  Many of us put a lot of time and effort into what we produce.  If we're working hard to make our products/projects available to you, the least that you in the community can do is support us, and help to spread the word.

I have several projects planned for publishing next year.  Now, I'm wondering if I should even bother.  I haven't been supported very much the past year+, so now I'm wondering if it's even worth it to continue?  Especially with these rhetoric spewing zealots, talking all this crap about supporting Black businesses and entrepreneurs, I haven't seen much of THEIR support either.

Are we really about, what we say we're about..?

Stories From the Dominican Diaspora: Open Mic Event [La Galeria Magazine]

Got this from my peoples that work at La Galeria Magazine.  Please mark your calendars, and make it out to their event.  Pass the word on!!!

Stories of the Dominican Diaspora
Open Mic
November 7, 2015
New York, NY
7pm; $5 suggested donation

Da Latest....

So, I'm continuing to do research into the new city that I want to relocate to.  I've actually been looking into relocating for about a month and a half already, before I even announced it here.  I'm now trying to make some connections there on the ground; networking with groups and people, researching possible employment opportunities, etc.  I wouldn't say that I'm trying to hit the ground running when I finally do move, but I just want to be prepared for when I finally get there.  I'm sick of being here, and need a change of scenery.  I'm tired of being broke, hungry, and frustrated.  I need piece of mind.

I'm considering working on a new literary project.  I'm putting together an ebook-only project; as in it will only be available in ebook format.  I'm compiling the project together now, and am considering my cover art options.  I don't want to say what the project is that I'm working on exactly at this point, but it will definitely be something different, and very creative.  I'll just say for now, that it encompasses some previously unreleased works that I've written in my past.  Stay tuned for more...

I'm still working on my other official literary projects.  I'm actually in the middle of writing several novels.  of the titles that I'm currently working on, I'm writing the draft for the sequel to "The Chronicles of The Black Fist".  It's an interesting universe that I've created, and I'm looking to expand upon it, possibly turning it into a series.  I'm also trying to complete two Sci-Fi novels that I've been working on for the past few years.  I'm also contemplating turning some of my screenplay ideas into novels. I have two of them that I think would work well as novels, and have already started working on them.  I'm not working on them as consistently as I should, since I'm now concentrating on moving, but they're still getting attention.  Maybe after I finally move and get settled into my new home base, I'll begin to work on them full blast.  Since the storyline  and character development is already there, the only thing that I really have to worry about is finally writing it out.

I know that I'm being a bit Secret Squirrel about where I'm planning on moving to.  I just want to have everything confirmed before I announce where I'll be moving to.  I'm not one of those types of people that will announce that I'm doing something, and then just not do it.  Unless there's some sort of official delay, I want to keep it under wraps until I feel that it's necessary to publicly broadcast it.  The one thing that I will say about it, is that I'll probably be returning to the Mid Atlantic region; it's conveniently located, as far as any travel that I want to do for my books.  I can travel to points in the north such as NY, Jersey, CT, and Boston, or points south such as my old stomping ground of Bmore, DC, parts of VA, and so on.  As it is, I was hoping to be able to travel because of my books, and have completely fallen off in that respect.  I was too busy focusing on this bullshit city, instead of just trying to be out and about.  Hopefully, I can rectify that once I move.

So, here's to the advancement of my travel plans, and the furtherance of my writing career.  I'll let you all know when my latest ebook project is released.  Hopefully, this newest project will actually be supported.  I'm sick of people just pressing the stupid ass "like" button, and not supporting my literary works.  I'm trying to make a damn living at this; the least that you can do is financially support me.  But, I digress...

Stay tuned!!!

"AfroLatinos: The Untaught Story" film screening 7-16-2015

I was lucky and honored to have been able to attend a film screening for the documentary film/series "AfroLatinos: The Untaught Story", screened at Subrosa in the West Village.  I had been aware of the film/series since around 2007-08, when I was writing for an an online e-magazine at the time.  They were promoting the film for the producers (Alicia Anabel Santos, and Renzo Devia), and I just knew that I had to come out and support them.  I've been lucky enough to establish a friendship with the producers/directors of the film since that time.

They had had an earlier screening for the film as part of this year's Afro Latino Festival NYC, but I was unfortunately unable to attend that particular screening.  I was able to get tickets for this particular screening, and attended with one of my closest friends, Robert Oriyama'at.  I was also lucky enough to see a few other friends attending the screening as well, and finally get the chance to meet a few people in person.

The film is WONDERFUL!!!  It was originally supposed to encompass 7 hours of footage, each hour to be it's own individual episode in the series; but even in it's currently condensed form of 90 minutes, it still made an impact.  They only screened an hour of it, a teaser if you will, and it left us wanting more.  The entire crowd was thoroughly satisfied, and really appreciative of the film.

It was especially wonderful for me, having always been a strong supporter of the project, ever since I found out about it.  I was lucky enough to have met Alicia three years ago at the first Afro Latino Festival NYC.  Last night was the first time that I got to meet Renzo in person, and it was well worth it.  It's great to be able to connect with people that you respect, admire, and support.  The plan now, is for the producers to take the film on the road, and do a college tour, screening the film on various campuses.  After that, the plan is to take the film abroad to Latin America, and hopefully have it air on television.  

If the film comes to a campus near you, PLEASE go out and see it!  It is very informative, and thoroughly enlightening and entertaining.  Please support the producers and the film.  They are telling OUR stories from OUR perspective, giving us a voice.

Afro Latino Festival NYC 2015

Proud to announce the THIRD annual Afro Latino Festival NYC, to be held in BROOKLYN, and various other parts of the city.  The event has been expanded the THREE days this year, from July 10th through July 12th.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!! 

BE THERE!!!!!!

International African Arts Festival 2015

Not able to particiapte in the festival this year, but I'll still do what I can to help promote it.  One of my most favorite events of the year, or all time!  Please pass the word, and come out and support!!

I mean...REALLY support!  Not just coming out there...taking pictures...posting them on social media...and then going home.  SUPPORT THE VENDORS!!!

International African Arts Festival
July 2-5, 2015
Brooklyn, NY
www.iaafestival.org

BE THERE!!!!