Welcome to APRIL/National Poetry Month

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oh, well....

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

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

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

The Mighty Rains of April

 We are now in the month of APRIL!!!  for those of you into mathematics, the FIRST QUARTER of the year is now in the books.  Time certainly is flying by us.This definitely means that you have to seriously get on your grind, and work to achieve all of your goals for the year.

 

To start off, April marks the seven-year publishing anniversary of my short story anthology "Drum Speaking: Tales From An Inner City Griot" (CreateSpace, 2016).  This book is a collection of 13 different short stories spanning several different genres.  I'm quite proud of this book, and feel that it is quite slept on, like much of my other books.  

April also marks National Poetry Month.  Shout out to all of my poetic peoples out there.  May you continue to wax poetic, and bless the world with your words and lyrical rhythms.

Working on shooting the latest episode of The Rough Draft.  This will make it Episode no. 59.  I'm hoping that people will find my videos interesting, but I can only do so much.  I'm considering adding music to the into and end of the video; I wanna use the instrumental to this song produced by this Hip Hop artist that I listen to, and support.

Still trying to work on organizing the Black/Brown Bookstore Book Tour.  Running into a few complications while organizing it.  I'll go into further detail in that new episode of The Rough Draft.  All will be explained there... 

My latest novel "Second Chance Points" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2022) is now ELEVEN MONTHS OLD!!!  My latest baby will be turning a year old next month!!!  Time really does fly by.  Still doing what I can to promote it.  Reaching out to two professional women's basketball leagues (and a few of the teams from one of the leagues), as well as one men's league.  Keeping my fingers crossed on their support for this project....

 

Well, that's about all for now.  Looking forward to keeping you guys updated on my further progress of my writing career.  Shout out to the LSU Lady Tigers for winning the 2023 National Women's Basketball title!!!

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

The Revolutionary Heat of Black August 2022

 We are now in the month of AUGUST.  The last month of the Summer.  A month known for revolution. A personal time of achievement and anniversaries for me.  This month is a very special one, so let's get into it.

"Second Chance Points" is entering it's 3rd month of publication.  Sales still have been pretty flat, despite my continued attempts to promote it.  I've even tried promoting it to two women's professional basketball leagues; the Women's American Basketball Association (WABA), and the Global Women's Basketball Association (GWBA).  I've continued to email both leagues, as well as tag them in posts on both FB and on Twitter, as well as sharing their information.  No response from either league, at this point.  Oh, well...all I can do is continue to promote the book.

August marks the seven-year publishing anniversary for my poetry eBook "Spittin' Lyrics N Waxin' Poetic" (Draft2Digital, 2015).  I don't really talk much about that project.  It's a collection of poetry that I've written, as well as rap verses and NLS songs that I wrote years ago.  Don't necessarily consider it my best work, but it's something that I published, nonetheless.  As you can tell, it's only available digitally.

August also marks the three-year anniversary of the production of "The Rough Draft"; officially on the date of August 23rd.  I'm closing in on 50 episodes of the show, and hope to be able to celebrate both simultaneously.  I've already come up with the concept for Episode 49, but haven't really come up for one for Episode 50.  You guys got any suggestions on what I should cover for that big 50th episode?  I'm open to any suggestions that you might have.  I tried asking on social media, but apparently nobody pays attention to what I post, smdh....

August also will mark the one-year anniversary that I've been living out here in Raleigh; officially on August 28th.  So far, it's been a good year.  I'm still working at my current day job, so that's putting money in my pocket, and keeping a roof over my head.  Haven't really made much progress as far as my writing career is concerned.  I was lucky enough to have done at least one radio interview since I moved out here, but I need to make more of  name and a presence for myself out here.  I definitely need to do more in-person events to make a name for myself.  I'm still looking into doing the Black/Brown Bookstore Book Tour, but that won't start until maaaaaaaaaybe next month.

That's all for now.  Hope to keep you guys updated on my progress.  See you guys next post.

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

The Rains of April

 Welcome to the month of APRIL.  We are now officially in the first quarter of the year.  It is also National Poetry Month.  Shout out to all of my poetic scribes out there!!!

As we enter into the new month, you know that I have to shout out my publishing anniversary for the month.  Entering into April, I will be celebrating the six year publishing anniversary of my short story anthology "Drum Speaking: Tales From An Inner City Griot" (CreateSpace, 2016).  It's a project that I feel is seriously slept on, just like many of my other literary works.  Spanning several different genres, it's a collection of thirteen different short stories, including continuing stories from "Demure Nights" and "The Chronicles of The Black Fist".

I am happy to announce that I will be doing a podcast interview, scheduled for April 2nd.  I will be interviewed on "Anansi Reads" at 6pm EST, airing on AnchorFm.  I'll probably be sharing the link here after the interview.  I'm really, really looking forward to it, as I haven't done an interview in at least 2 years.  I will be interviewed by my brother, fellow activist, and brother-scribe Aaron Huff, aka Bilal Al'amin.  We will be discussing my writing career, and a few of my books that may fall in the Black Speculative Fiction range, including "The Chronicles of The Black Fist"; my novel that he is a fan of. :-)

 

We have ONE MORE MONTH to go before the release of "Second Chance Points" (KDP, 2022).  I've made the Facebook Event for it, and have shared it on several of my social media accounts.  Not many people have joined the event, so far.  I'm hoping that changes over the next couple of weeks.  at the same time, I'm not holding my breath...

 

The new day job is going well.  I can hang with it.  I don't feel over-worked, and I don't hate going in to work everyday.  We have some really nice people working there, so that helps a lot.  I might stick around for a bit.  I still haven't told anyone about my creative endeavors; they don't need to know everything about me.  I'll give it a few more weeks.  Have to admit though...they got some niiiiice looking women working there, lol, lol, lol.  ;-)

 

This entry is going to be short.  That's all that I have for now.  Other than needing to shoot & upload a new episode of "The Rough Draft", I don't have much else planned.  Looking forward to Second Chance points dropping.  I also have a radio interview lined up next month after the books release on a local radio station out here, WCOM.  That interview will air on May 13th.  Mark your calendars for that!!!  :-)

 

Uhuru sasa, y paz.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

When You Just In a Shitty Ass Mood....

So, it is now April.  The first third of the year is now in  the books.  In literary circles, it is National Poetry Month.  I have a poetry eBook that is available for download, called "Spittin' Lyrics N Waxin' Poetic" (Draft2Digital, 2015).  You can acquire a copy (through Kindle) from here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FMVCUD6

It is available through various eBook channels.  So, if you are NOT on Kindle, it is also available through other distributors.  Since people always wanna give some damn excuse for not purchasing my stuff, I've made my books available through a wide distribution base.

But.....I digress......

Sales for "Fiesta Girl" (Draft2Digital, 2018) haven't gone the way I planned at all.  We're going into the second month of it's release, and I've only had a total of THREE downloads so far.

Really......?   :-(

What's the fucking point?!?!  Hell, I'm not even getting 'likes' anymore when I share the flippin' links to my works.  But....cats will always wanna post some dumb shit in response to a rant that I'll write online, and say, "How can I support you...?".

Buy/Download a mf book...actually READ it...WRITE a gd review....TRY to get some of your peoples to help support my work!  Yeah...shares of the link(s) are nice, but....have YOU actually read it?  What are you gonna tell ya peoples about my book, when they ask you what it's about, hmmmmmm...?

But....I'm the dumb one here, smdh....

I want to be able to invest further in my writing career, but that is becoming extremely hard to do.  My current day job isn't giving me enough hours to pay for anything, other than my living essentials (dickhead ass boss!!!).  I can't invest in business cards...can't order copies of my book titles to do either a local book signing, or a festival/conference/book fair/convention....can't afford to pay for vendor fees to any conference/book fair/festival/convention that I may want to attend, local or otherwise.  At the same time, I wish that I didn't have to rely on the day job solely to fund everything that I need to do.  I have NINE books published, damn it!!  I should be able to make SOME sort of living off of all my titles.

Yes...I'm ranting!  This shit is frustrating!  Niggas won't support SHIT that you do.  I've done all that I can think of (that is financially possible) to promote my work on a grassroots level, hoping to reach SOMEBODY with my work.  I'm getting sick of this.  If you don't have some sort of machine behind you, pushing your product, it's like people just won't give a damn...

But, y'all will run out to watch some commercial ass movie, financed and created by white folks, profiling and perpetrating like you doing something culturally Black, smdh....

Hopefully, my next post will be more positive.  Sometimes, you just gotta let off some stream....

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.

Mercy Tullis Bukhari--Spoken Word & Arts Showcase

First off....HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!  Welcome to 2016!

Wanted to support and shout out mi hermana Mercy Tullis-Bukhari!!!  She's being featured at this Spoken Word & Arts Showcase in the BX.  The event will be held  on Friday, January 15th.  Cover charge to get in to see her is $5.  PLEASE help to spread the word, and come out to support her.

1112 Jackson Avenue, Underground Suite

January 15, 2016
Bronx, NY 10456
8pm-11pm
$5 cover

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

Spittin' Lyrics N Waxin' Poetic [Poetry Ebook]

My latest literary project!  A poetry book, featuring a collection of previously unreleased material that I've written over the years.  Wanted to show a different side of my creativity this time around.

Available in ebook format ONLY!!!  Available through Nook, Kobo, iTunes, Page Foundry, Scribd, and Oyster. 

Only $2.99!!! ISBN #: 9781516327188

Spread the word, and PLEASE SUPPORT!!!!  

The Consortium of Afro Latino Communities: June Reading & Book Signing

The Consortium of Afro Latino Communities
Reading and Book Signing
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Yaya Network
224 West 29th Street, 14fl
New York, NY
2pm to 6pm

Featuring:
Cindy "Black Angel" Peralta (Dominican Republic)
Kevin Alberto Sabio  (Honduras)
Robert Oriyama'at  (Cuba)

FREE entry, and easily accessible by public transportation

Come out and support!!!  Please help to spread the word!!!!

Poetics of Reparations--Featuring Monica Carrillo

Poetry, film screening, and music
Featuring the work(s) of Monica Carrillo aka "Oru":
The screening of her film "Afroperuanos", as well as the performance of her poetry.
Music played by Martin Fuks

Sunday, September 7th
5pm to 7pm

187 Prospect Place
Brooklyn, NY
$5 suggested donation

RSVP today!!!
 http://www.martinfuks.com/rsvpmaker/poetics-of-reparation/

La Marqueta Stories Literary & Arts Festival

Brooklyn's prodigal son will be participating in this years festival.  I will be on hand with copies of all three of my book titles.  Celebrating East Harlem, while bringing some Brooklyn flava!  :D

La Marqueta Stories Literary & Arts Festival
Saturday, August 16, 2014
12pm to 3pm
1640 Park Avenue (between E. 116th and E. 117th Streets)

FREE and open to the public!! Accessible by public transportation.

BE THERE!!!!!!

Afro Latino Festival NYC 2014

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!!!!!

Brooklyn's prodigal son will be RETURNING for the SECOND annual Festival AfroLatino NYC!  It was such an honor for me to be asked to participate in the inaugural festival last year, and I am SO pleased to be asked to return!  PLEASE spread the word, and COME OUT AND SUPPORT!!!

Saturday, June 28, 2014
12pm to 6pm
Brooklyn, NYC
[Ocean Ave and Prospect Pl, by Parkside Avenue "Q" train entrance.]

 BE THERE!!!!!

Word! Caribbean Book Fest

Word! "Islands in the City"
Caribbean Book Fest

Medgar Evers College
1650 Bedford Aveneue
Brooklyn, NY

2pm-8pm
$10 adults/$5 children

Brought to you by the Caribbean Cultural Theatre

Spread the word, and please support!!!!

Two Nations, One Island

Tuesday, March 13, 2014
12pm to 2pm
City College of New York (CCNY)
New York, NY

PLEASE SUPPORT!!!!

Afro Puerto Rican Poet Not4Prophet appearing in Baltimore January 24th

Not4Prophet: Last of the Po’ Ricans y Otros Afro-Artifacts

Friday January 24, 7:30PM @ Red Emma's

With wrenching immediacy, not4Prophet’s debut collection, LAST OF THE PO’RICANS Y OTRAS AFRO-ARTIFACTS, provides an incredible verbal and musical profusion of poetry that reflects the cultural landscapes of the perpetual islands of Puerto Rican and New York City through the eyes of a Puerto Rican born in Ponce, living in El Barrio, Brooklyn and the Bronx. As he elaborates this “otherness,” which includes the hassles of poverty, racial pride and racial discord, Not4Prophet pays homage to the old school cats from the Nuyorican and Black Arts movements. Written in free verse and layered with cultural and historical references, LAST OF THE PO’RICANS breaks boundaries and challenges us with iconic imagery and word play that dares to speak of the unspeakable.

About Not4Prophet:

NOT4PROPHET was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and raised in East Harlem and the South Bronx in New York City. He is a community activist, underground-Hip Hop MC, street-soul-slinger or singer of sorts, graffiti writer/vandal, off-peak-hours actor and last but never least, a poor (mans) poet and barrio bard.

When not4Prophet read Piri Thomas’ Down These Mean Streets at ten years old, he was encouraged and inspired to read other old school writers from the Nuyorican Poets Movement. In time, he began scratching out his own “puerto-poems” on napkins, toilet paper, and whatever else was handy and wasn’t a wall or anyone’s particular private property.

not4Prophet has released several indie music cds, two self-published poetry chapbooks, and his work has been featured in a few books and magazines as well. He currently teaches “resistance writing” to those identified as homeless folks at the Homeless Organizing Academy located in the South Bronx section of New York City.

Red Emma's Bookstore

30 W. North Avenue

Baltimore, Md

Friday, January 24, 2014,  7:30pm

Back in Da Dayz (Reminiscin' From Way Back)

Felt like waxing poetic today.  Hope that you enjoy......


Back in da dayz...when early Hip Hop culture was a reality,
Instead of this corporately controlled commercialized fallacy...
Back when you were respected because of your verbal, artistic, and dancing skills,
And selling lots of records, or commercial acceptance from the mainstream didn't mean that you were ill...
The culture was in your heart, you felt it and you dealt it,
Now, you just wanna be ignorant and act hardheaded like a helmet...
FUCK rockin' Prada, Gucci, Hilfiger, and DKNY,
Stick to rockin' Mecca, FUBU, PNB, and Karl Kani...
Street dreams used to be made of these,
But now we suffer from a commercially controlled, corporate disease...
People like MTV and VH1 telling stories of our culture that are ALL wrong,
Profiting off of our genius and creativity; historically, always the same old song...
Our culture regionally represented, giving rise to the masses a voice,
Now being able to tell of OUR stories, now having an alternative choice...
No longer about Civil Rights, it's now about Power to OUR people,
Historically, always were we separate...and we DAMN SURE weren't equal...
The telling of our stories, the way things were in our hoods,
A new form of Black media or Black Press; telling it in a way that only the griots could...
Verbally, visually...displayed in some new dance form,
Even musically through DJs; these true hip hop elemental forms...
Back in da dayz...with graf artists, and breakerdancers that popped and locked,
Back in da dayz...when the only true hip hop beats were the DJ's scratch, and the Human beat box...
Bck in da dayz...when B-boys and B-girls could dress alike,
It wasn't about thug cats and hoochie mommas always lookin' for a fight...
Flattops, Fades, Gumbies, bald heads, and braids,
Hightops, waves, cornrows, Gheri curls; hairstyles that were all the rage....
Sweatsuits, hats, sunglasses, and then the baggy style,
Cross Colours, 8-Ball, Lees....yeah, names that you haven't heard in a while....
'86-'93 was the Golden Hip Hop era,
The music, the messages; that's when it was for real y'all!!
Cable television never had hip hop music videos on lock,
Religiously watching New York's #1 music video show, Video Music Box...
Back in the dayz, when WBLS and KISS-FM musically kept it real,
With DJs like Red Alert, Mr. Magic, and Kid Capri....yeah, y'all know the deal...!
Also DJ Chuck chillout, and local mixtape DJs that you know,
Always there to set the mood, helping to get the clubs and house parties ready to go...
Back in da dayz, during the times of my youth,
Back in da dayz, when the culture was foolproof...
Back in da dayz, when the culture was pure,
Back in da dayz, when the love for the culture was honest and sure...
Back in da dayz, in my youth looking back,
Back in da dayz....reminiscing from way back.


Kevin Sabio
a/k/a "Knowledge As Supreme"
(C) 2002

Fiesta Girl

A love story set to the pulsating beat of Latin Freestyle, and the smooth sounds of love poetry....


Alonzo Carrion has never been too lucky in love.  His relationships never quite seem to work out the way they do in the poems that he writes.  A talented wordsmith with a heart of gold, he just never seems to catch a break when it comes to love...

Enter Rita Lebron...

On a chance meeting during a night out with some of his boys, Alonzo meets Rita at a house party in the city.  Their attraction is instantaneous, and leads to a whirlwind romance.  Life and love have never been better for the two, falling for each other fast and hard.

But with the good...comes the bad.

Alonzo needs to prove, especially to himself, that this isn't just another rebound relationship.  Added to the fact...Rita has some skeletons in the closet of her own to deal with.  Will they be able to overcome the obstacles, and stay together? Will they be able to keep their love strong, and everlasting?  Or, are the obstacles and darkness just too much for their relationship to bear and survive?

Fiesta Girl
A Kevin Alberto Sabio film

Fiesta Girl (Oh, you're one of a kind)
Oh, Fiesta Girl (want you to be mine)
Oh, Fiesta Girl (oh, you're so swett)
Oh, Fiesta Girls (please be with me...yea)