Latest Progress Report....

So, I've made a cosmetic change to the blog page to make it look more like a website.  Hopefully, that will attract more people to visit the page by making it more visually appealing.  Not to mention, people might actually have more of an idea of what the page is about.  Only time will tell.

So, my new novel "The Chronicles of The Black Fist" is done being edited (at least from my perspective).  I've spent the last month or so going over it, correcting any spelling mistakes and fixing any plot holes that I've found.  I've even designed a cover for it that I think gets the point of the book across.  I originally thought about hiring a cover artist, but the way that my finances are looking, it doesn't seem doable.  I still need to come up with the cash to print the damn thing; wanted to start the process by next month (February) at the latest.

I'm still working on doing appearances and book signings.  One of the locations that I was looking into FINALLY hit me back.  I originally wanted to do a book signing at their location in February, but they only had available dates in March (and I hit them up in November).  Hopefully, they'll get back to me in time, and I can let all of you know exactly when you can look forward to seeing me at their bookstore...

Trying to step up my promotional game.  Been trying to network with some of these cable access shows out here in BK, not with much success.  I FINALLY heard back from one show host, and she's willing to bring me onto her show.  I'll let you know what show, when the interview will take place, and when it will actually broadcast on the air.

Still working on getting my books into bookstores.  THAT is never an easy feat.  I'm concentrating on targeting bookstores outside of NYC, since my hometown stores aren't showing me much love.  That also goes for appearances and lectures; I don't know if it's because of all of the transplants that are here now, or what.

I'll keep you posted on my further progress.  Wish me luck!  :)

Uhuru sase, y paz!

Proyectos Futuros (Future Projects)

The one question the writers/authors get frequently asked, especially either during an interview or a book signing, is this....

So, what are you working on now...?

What's my response to this question....?  What am I not working on?

Currently, I'm still writing several screenplay projects.  Film and television has always been my first love, so I continue to write my cinematic stories.  I'm working on several new projects, as well as trying to finish a few others that I've temporarily put on hold.  I still have several TV series projects that I have yet to write the pilot out, and only have in treatment form.  There are others that I want to continue to write out additional episodes, and at least complete a first season. At the same time, I'm considering getting together a writing team to do those projects...

On the literary front...I'm working on three fiction novels.  One is an Afrocentric sci-fi space opera, in which I've actually posted an excerpt of it here on this blog.  Another novel is an action/adventure project about a community activist-turned-crime fighter; also excerpted as an entry in this blog.  The third project is another sci-fi action/adventure project that deals with the Earth defending itself from an oncoming alien invasion, using the aliens' own technology against them (a la Robotech).  That one I plan to turn into a series....   

Lastly....I am currently writing PART THREE of the "Raise Your Brown Black Fist" book series.  I have finally figured out the direction that I wanted to go in with this particular book.  Now that I am back in New York, I have access to the materials and information that I need to complete the book.  This book will be the most ambitious of the three, and I hope to complete it and have it published by the end of next year (2015).  I was kinda hoping to stick to the schedule that I gave to myself to have published at least four books in five years.

Meanwhile....I'm still trying to get my grind on by getting my books stocked in bookstores, and doing more book signings, festivals, and speaking engagements.

Stay tuned for more!  :)

Afro Latino Allliance event: Afro Latinos In Washington and the Diaspora

February 18-19, 2014
3333 14th Street NW
Washington, DC

To register, go to the Eventbrite page listed on the flyer.  FREE and OPEN to the public.  Interpretation will be provided.

The Afrolatin@ Project/El Proyecto Afrolatin@ Black History Month events!!!

Representing for my peoples at The Afrolatin@ Project!!!  Mark your calendars!!!

Tuesday February 18, 2014
6pm-8pm (reception from 8-8:30pm)

FREE!!!

The Consortium of Afro Latino Communities: Black History Month 2014

The Universal Negro Improvement Association, in association with the Baltimore City Community College History Club,

Presents....

The Consortium of Afro Latino Communities
Lecture, Panel Discussion, & Book Signing

An educational and politically cultural event, The Consortium aims to highlight, promote, and expose the African roots and heritage of Latino people and culture.  The event will comprise of a Powerpoint lecture, brief panel discussion, and a book signing by participating authors.  Part of the UNIA's Centennial celebrations (1914-2014), this event is meant to help bridge the gap between the two communities, and get us to work and interact with our diasporic brothers and sisters.

The event will be held on Friday, February 7th, from 6pm to 8pm.  It is FREE and OPEN to the public, and is accessible by public transportation.

Baltimore City Community College-Liberty Campus
Gaare Auditorium, Nursing Building
2901 Liberty Heights Avenue

Cuban Revolution Anniversary/Free the Cuban 5/Free Oscar Lopez event!!!!

January 4, 2014
Casa de las Americas
182 East 111 Street (East Harlem)
6pm reception, 7pm Cultural program

BE THERE!!!!

"The Sovereign Agenda" : Lecture & Book signing by Ezrah Aharone

On Saturday, October 26th, my division and I brought in a well respected brother and scholar that I know to Baltimore to speak on his literary works.  Ezrah Aharone, a scholar of Sovereign Studies and professor at Delaware State University (an HBCU), is the author of "Pawned Sovereignty" and the follow up sequel "Sovereign Evolution".  He came to Baltimore at the request of my organization;  We had brought him to town once before back in 2011, and his lecture was well received.  It was always on the agenda to bring him back, and have a repeat performance of his last lecture.  Having read both of his books, I KNEW that we needed to have him come to Baltimore, and do a return engagement.

The event was held at a local black-owned bookstore called Wisdom Book Center & Cafe.  Though the attendance wasn't what I wanted it to be, the lecture went VERY well.  All were engaged in the conversation, and left the lecture with a greater understanding of the concept of sovereignty, and it's ideological and conceptual meaning for the community.  I look forward to bringing the brother back to Baltimore again, for his message is sorely needed in our community. 

AFTERMATH: The Consortium of Afro Latino Communities Fall Edition 2013 (Part II)

The second part of The Consortium of Afro Latino Communities was held on Saturday, October 12th.  For Part II of this edition of the Consortium, we were having the Panel Discussion and Book Signing on a separate day.  Two of the participating panelists crashed with me at my apartment, while the other participants met us at the room where the event was to be held. 

What can I say....?

It ROCKED!!!!!!

It was such a WONDERFUL experience!  I got to work with some dear friends, and was able to make some new ones.  Everyone came away from this very inspired.  The college was thoroughly please with the event, and my panelists were able to really enjoy themselves.  Here is a brief snippet of footage from the event:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8KLX935HGE&feature=youtu.be

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYQrJ4AEJBM&feature=youtu.be

I would like to thank my panelists Tony Polanco, Robert Oriyama'at, Roxanne Cox, and Clarissa Mendez for wanting to participate on the panel.  It was truly an honor to have you all be there, and look out for a brother!  ;)

Special shout out to Chris Rodriguez and Elvia Duque-Castillo!  I wish that you guys would have been able to make the panel! I hope that you will be available for the next one!  I DEFINITELY want you guys to be a part of this!

Additional shout outs to the History Club, Anthropology & Sociology Club (ASC), BCCC Student Government, and all of the students that came out and supported our event.  It was GREAT to see our brothers and sisters from the continent come out and support our event.  The discussion was quite lively and informative, and everyone came away with a greater understanding and different perspective.

Enjoy the footage, and stay tuned for info about our 2014 edition!!!

Afrolatinas Creating Positive Media: Discussion on media

Shout out to my sisters Alicia Anabel Santos, Crystal Shaniece Roman, and Marshalla Ramos!!!  If you are free on October 4th, PLEASE come out and support this event!!!

Friday, October 4, 2013
              2pm
Bryn Mawr College, Thomas 224

Aftermath: The Consortium '13

Oaky, I'll admit it....I was worried.

I had a few last minute curve balls that threw me a bit.  We had a room change at the last minute, and one of my panelists backed out on me.  Therefore, I only had TWO panelists...myself included.

WE ROCKED!!!

It went really well...better than I expected.  It was actually well attended, people actually turned out for the event.  The members of my division came out in full force (ok, we're not a HUGE group, but they came and supported nonetheless), and a few other friends of mine came out to support us as well.  Considering that I only had three weeks to promote the event, I'm kinda satisfied with the result.

The people at BCCC we're truly impressed.  They're hoping to do more with us in the near future.  Everyone found the program to be very informative and insightful.  The attendees were quite diverse; African Americans, Latinos, and Afro Latinos came out to support the event.

Personal critique...I think I tended to babble.  My thoughts weren't very coherent.  I was just so tired from work, and stressed out from trying to put this whole thing together.  NOT one of my best showings as a public speaker.  I need to step up my game.

I definitely want to thank the BCCC Office of Student Life, and professors Rebecca Hackett (our moderator), Zak Kondo, and Dr. Boyd Mariano.  Your support for us helped to make this happen.  Thank you for all of you help, and for providing us the use of your facilities.

Much respect to my fellow members of my UNIA division!  I couldn't have done this without your support.  This is just the beginning of our resurgence....

And MOST definitely....my dear, dear hermano Christopher Rodriguez.  Thank you for coming out and supporting me in this endeavor.  You are an inspiration to me, and someone who I truly look up to.  I hope for my work to reach the standards that you have set.

 
See you in the fall for the Latino Heritage Month version of The Consortium!!!

Contact information

Gotta work on the self promotion part more.  You know...they whole getting-your-name-out-there-so-people-will-know-who-you-are-and-buy-your-book type of thing?  Well, doing it through either publishing company will cost me a lot outta my pocket.  SO...since I have some graphics skills of my own, and this blog of mine, might as well put them to good use, right?

I would be interested in doing more lectures, panel discussions, and interviews in the coming new year.  Conferences, panel discussions, festivals, radio/TV shows, documentaries...you name it, I'd like to do it.  Feel free to follow a brother, and hit him up.

Once I get this to the print shop, it's ON!

Holla

Aftermath---The Consortium of Afro Latino Communities

I'll keep it brief...the panel ROCKED!!!  The films were very informational and inspiring.  People learned a lot, and were VERY pleased.

As for some of the other stuff that happened at the event...no comment.

Enjoy the pics....

I would like to thank my fellow panelists Robert Oriyama'at,  the very lovely Crystal Shaniece Roman, and the ever brilliant Christopher Rodriguez.  It was an absolute honor sharing the floor with all of you.  Let's do this again!!!  :)

Brooklyn Book signing: The Aftermath

Well, my special day has come and gone.  It was my very first book signing in my hometown of New York City (BROOKLYYYYYYYYN!!!).  It was something that I've always wanted to do ever since I was first published.

I was able to arrive early, and set up my table the way that I had envisioned it in my mind.  I was able to speak to a brother that was in the area, and who personally knew the brother who ran The Marcus Garvey Center (shout out to Bro. Dumari).  Once he left, and I had finished prepping the table with my books and writing pad (to gather contact information from any attendees), I basically had nothing left to do but sit and wait for the attendees to arrive.

People came late.  Granted...it was a Friday, and the start time was 5pm.  People were still getting out of work.  In hindsight, maybe I should have had the book signing at a later start time (if I ever decide to hold one on a week day, that is).  People didn't really start arriving until around a little after 6pm.  I didn't really kick off my presentation until about 6:45.

It wasn't a packed house by any means.  People showed up; that was a good thing.  I had emailed a large number of people, and posted the event on Facebook.  Even Bro. Dumari contacted several people that he knew to come out and support this event.  Hell....the brother was even able to get in contact with the members of the Brooklyn division of my organization to come out (UNIA--Universal Negro Improvement Association); unfortunately, they never showed.  People who told me that they were going to come through...didn't.  Others did, at least.  There were more than enough people there that made it worth it; hell, it was a lot more than I had in Baltimore.  I had friends and family come out to support me, and that made me feel really blessed.  Especially with the fact that I got to meet somebody that I had known mostly through the internet, that made it really worthwhile to me.  They came out to support me without even knowing me all that well.

I gave my presentation, the attendees applauded, and I was able to sell a number of my books.  It didn't go quite exactly as I had planned, but it was a great experience to have.  I look forward to having a second homecoming in the coming months.  Hopefully, I can build off of this mounting momentum that I'm trying to create for myself.  I'm shooting for May to return to Brooklyn; I already have a location in mind as to where I want to do the next one.  I may just strictly sign books at that one, and skip the lecture part.  Oh well, we'll see what happens.

Stay tuned....!

Raise Your Brown Black Fist: Lecture & Book Signing

MARK YOUR CALENDERS!!!!!!!!

February 11, 2012.....the start of my ascension.

On Saturday, February 11, 2012, I will be holding my first lecture and book signing of the year, based on my two books.  I am very excited about it, and am really looking forward to it.  Of course, I'm looking to do more this year, as well as vending opportunities and other speaking engagements.  The location for the book signing will be as follows:

Wisdom Book Center
5116 Liberty Heights Avenue
Baltimore, MD, 21207

The event will be from 12pm-3pm.  The first half of the program will be lecturing about my two literary works.  The second half of the program will consist of me signing copies of my books for those that wish to purchase them.

Come one...come all!!!  Bring a friend, and tell as many people as you can!

Clemente In Context/Clemente En contexto

On December 10th, I was fortunate enough to be able to participate in a great event here in Baltimore.  The Reginald F. Lewis Museum is displaying an exhibit about the life of baseball great Roberto Clemente, and had asked me to participate in an event that they wanted to do as part of the exhibit.  Naturally I jumped at the chance to do it.

Clemente In Context was a panel discussion about the life, legacy, and struggles of Roberto Clemente, and what that means to African Americans, Afro Latinos, and issues of race as they stand today.  Joining me on the panel:

Modesto Lacen- Actor
Danny Torres- Sports Journalist
Miriam Jimenez Roman- Educator, author, activist
Juan Flores- Educator, author, activist
Clarissa Mendez - Activist, advocate
moderator: Michelle Joan Wilkinson--Reginald F. Lewis museum; Dept. of Collections and Exhibitions

The panel was quite well received, and very informative.  The audience was well engaged by the panel, and were really appreciative of the information that was provided.  It took a while for the audience to finally trickle in, but I enjoyed the opportunity to participate nonetheless.    It was quite comfortable being on the panel; we all warmly greeted each other, and no one came with an ego.  It was great for me, considering that I'm already friends with Miriam and Juan.  I had actually participated in their conference on/about Afro Latinos last month in November back in NY (Afro Latin@s Now! Conference), so it was great for me to get to see them again.  I really enjoyed meeting the other panelists, and hope to continue a long lasting friendship with all of them.

After the panel discussion, I had a lecture based on my book(s).  I have to admit, I was a bit nervous in the beginning; this was my first actual lecture since becoming a published author.  Once I started talking, however, I just went with the flow.  I have to admit, I personally felt like I babbled a little bit, but I think I did a pretty good job.  Maybe next time, I'll use index cards to keep me more focused on what it is I'm trying to say; it felt like I was jumping subjects a lot (imho).  My lecture lasted for about an hour, plus a (very) short Q&A afterwards (like I said, I babbled a bit).

After the lecture, the event was capped off with a book signing in the museum's Gift Shop.  I had copies of both of my books, Juan and Miriam had copies of their book, "The AfroLatin@ Reader", and Danny had copies of some articles that he had written about Roberto Clemente; he even donated the proceeds of the sales of the articles to the Lewis Museum.  It was great to experience all of this, and I was glad to meet people that were impacted by both what I had written in my books, and what I had stated during my lecture.  I was glad to have met people who identified with what I was saying, and had experienced that same struggle that I did.  In return, they thanked me for being able to articulate what they have felt (in some cases, for a very long time) in a book format for the masses to see.  A few of them worked with children, or specifically in the educational system, and wanted to connect with me to have me come and address their students at some future date.  This was all great for me, because it showed that a lot of my hard work and activism is finally starting to pay off.

So...December 10, 2011 will forever live in infamy for me.  This was truly a great experience, and I hope that it is a start for better things to come.