New Year Beginnings: Welcome to 2025

 Happy New Year!! Welcome to 2025!!!  Much has happened towards the end of last year, and it is time to ring in the new year with fresh energy, and a renewed perspective.

 

As we have entered into the month of  January, I need to promote my publishing anniversaries.  In the month of January, I will be celebrating the 6-year publishing anniversary of my novel "The Chronicles of The Black Fist: F.U.R.I. of the People" (2019), as well as the 4-year publishing anniversary of my female fight novel "Knuckle Up" (2021).  I am very proud of both projects, and just wish that they would receive the support that they both deserve.  Of course, I'm talking to the wind whenever I mention that...

A new president has taken office.  He's a fucking idiot.  Of course, as a revolutionary, I still say that we need to prepare for battle.  Get those baseball bats and machetes ready.  Learn some stickfighting, as well as working on your hand-to-hand combat skills.  Since most of y'all seem to be afraid of guns, or only want to get them legally, you need to learn other ways to defend yourselves.  Don't say that I didn't try to warn you...

Trying to improve on my promotional game this year.  Since my laptop seems to have been messed up a few months ago, I decided to break down, and buy me a video camera.  Hopefully, I can  now shoot episodes of The Rough Draft again.  And, since I now own a new video camera, I can actually start to do field productions.  I'm still learning how to use this camera, and getting used to some of its functions.  Hoping to post an new episode before the month is out.  Haven't been able to post any new episodes since July of last year...

Looking forward to (hopefully) publishing a new book this year.  This year makes it THREE years since I've published anything.  I'm off my personal schedule.  I'm hoping to complete Book III of The Chronicles of The Black Fist.  That's the closest manuscript that I have to completion. I've been feeling kinda antsy, not having published any books.

 

That's all for now.  Looking forward to chatting with you all again, next month.  Wondering if I should do a online eBook sale to celebrate my upcoming author anniversary...?  Tried it last year, and it wasn't very successful.  Let me know what you guys think...

 

Uhuru sasa, y paz.

 

Keep the fist raised!!!

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

The Cool Fall of November....

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Keep the fist raised!!!

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

The Rising Heat of Revolutinary Black August

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

The Changing Tides....

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

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

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

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

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

 

I'll keep you guys updated after the move.

 

Uhuru sasa, y paz....

Feeling the Coming Heat of JUNE

 Greetings to all!!  We are now in the month of JUNE!! The year is officially half over 😳😳😳😲😲😲.  We are now at the midway point. Time is certainly flying by.  Hoping that you're all actively keeping up with your plans and goals for the year...

 

To start off...June marks the nine-year publishing anniversary for my Erotica novel "Demure Nights" (CreateSpace, 2015).  It was clearly an experiment, and a departure from my other works published at the time.  It marked my 5th book, and second novel at the time it was published.  You can download the eBook, or order the paperback through Barnes & Noble from this link here:

  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/demure-nights-kevin-alberto-sabio/1122161393;jsessionid=6DF48510C4AEEFB16216419791E422BD.prodny_store01-atgap15?ean=2940152202618

 

I'm actually quite happy with this literary project.  I got to flex my 'freaky' muscles, and showed that I could write something completely different from what I was known for. 

June also marks Father's Day, and the Summer Solstice.  There was an event this month that I wanted to attend called SableCon, a local comic & manga con out here in Raleigh.  I wasn't able to attend; I had to work the weekend that it was held (June 1st & 2nd).  I'm not blaming the day job...that's just how the ball bounces.  I left my old day job, and recently started a new one.  I kinda figured that I would end up working that first weekend with them, which happened to be the weekend that SableCon was happening.  Hopefully, I'll get to attend (and hopefully VEND) next year.

 

On a personal note...I'm trying to apply for an apartment.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.  This hotel shit is for the birds.  I've been stuck living in this place for damn near three years; I want my own place.  I was finally able to find something that was affordable out here, and going through the application process now.  I'm hoping that I qualify.  The sooner I get my own place, the better I'll feel.  It feels like I've been stuck in limbo, the whole time I've been living out here, smdh... 😔😔😔😔😔

 

I'm surprised that I was able to shoot two episodes of The Rough Draft last month.  I'm looking forward to shooting one for this month.  Hopefully. if/when I get my own place, I can be more consistent with making the videos.  I'll have my own space, and can invest in some lighting equipment that I need to shoot the videos (at least, a ring light, or something). Looking forward to shooting & posting Episode 73!!!

 

As I stated earlier, I left my old day job.  I hated that mf place!!  The work was tedious, and my schedule was fucking ass.  The money wasn't worth it, and I just wasn't happy being there.  This new gig seems to be going well.  The pay & benefits are pretty good, and they gave me a signing bonus.  Hell, they even have Employee Referral Bonuses if you can bring in people to work for the company!  Of course, my priority is my writing career.  I haven't told anyone about my writing career at the new day job.  Might just keep it to myself...

 

That's all for now.  Will do my best to keep you all updated on the writing career, and other goings on in my life.  I'll let you guys know how the apartment hunting goes!!  😁😁😁😁

 

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

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

 

  

November Vibes 2023....

 We are now in the month of NOVEMBER!!!  There are only TWO months left in the year 😲😲😲😲😲😲!!  Where did the time go?!?!?!

To start with, November celebrates the 12-year publishing anniversary of my second book "Raise Your Brown Black Fist 2: MORE Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino" (Outskirts Press, 2011).  I was always proud of this book, and it started my string of literary works.  Once I knocked book number two out, I just knew that I had to produce more literary works.  Available in paperback and eBook formats for the masses.

 

Welcome to NaNoWriMo!!!!  For those of you not in the know, that acronym stands for "national novel writing month".  It's when people participate in writing an entire novel in one month.  They actually have workshops, and an organized festival to do this.  Personally, I've never participated in it, but if that's what you wanna do....more power to you.  I know that it's a good exercise to do to get the creative juices flowing, and helping you to be/stay hyper focused on writing your literary project, buuuuut...thaaaat ain't for me.   

The holidays are coming up.  I don't have any plans to participate in any events.  Knowing my shitty ass job, I probably wouldn't be able to participate any damned way.  Since the holidays are coming up, business usually slows down for us at the day job, as they start cutting back on hours.  Normally, that would be good, but since my work schedule is never consistent, it doesn't really matter.  Doing any hand-to-hand sales would help me to boost my career up, not to mention....putting some much needed extra money in my pocket.  Other than hitting off a coworker at the day job with a copy of "In My Lifetime" (at a discount, since the copy was damaged), I haven't been able to get out, and really get my name known out here.  Not than I'm regretting moving out here, but...I thought that my writing career would be in much better shape than this...

 

No real plans publish any works in 2024.  I still have other w.i.p.s that I haven't gotten around to finishing.  These poor ass sales of mine have me pretty bummed out, and it's affecting my writing.  Why bother publishing shit, if nobody's gonna buy and read it?  I need to get back that love for writing, and just get that shit done, if just for my own sake.  Fuck the rest of y'all... 😡😡😡😡

 

Been doing pretty good on the video front.  The latest episodes of "The Rough Draft" have been posted to YouTube, and have been shared across my social media (except for Twitter/X...I haven't been on there for a hot minute...).  We are now up to 64 episodes.  I'm hoping to end this year on a strong note, with a few more episodes...    

Was hoping to do a few local Kwanzaa events, but can't seem to find any (at least, online).  Need to try some word of mouth.  That's the only thing about out here...they actually do do word of mouth, but you usually will found out about it at the last minute.  Oh, well...

That's all for now.  Will keep you posted on my progress.  Until next time...

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

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

The Closing of Black August...

 We are coming to the end of the month.  I'm starting to marinate on a few things, as the month comes to a close...

For starters, I FINALLY got the chance to shoot an episode of "The Rough Draft", and post it up to YouTube.  Episode no. 61 is now live!!!  Since I haven't really posted any content in the last 2 months, I had to get people up to speed with what's been happening with me.  Go to my YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@kevinsabio to see the entire series.  The 23rd marks the four-year production anniversary of the making of "The Rough Draft".  Yay, me!!!  😁😁😁

 

Speaking of the vlog series, I've been considering a few things.  I want to invest in a Sony Handycam so that I can shoot more content, instead of having to use my laptop.  With a Handycam, I can also do field productions, and shoot content from festivals, or comic cons, or book fairs, and add them to my channel.  I'm also considering getting a new/second laptop.  I don't have enough storage space on my current laptop, and need more storage space to shoot & edit my videos.  That was pretty much always the plan anyway; going back to my video production days.  I needed one computer to write my scripts (and hold my other data), and another to use strictly for editing purposes.  I've seen a Handycam online at Best Buy for $229, and I've seen a few laptops going from $279.99 to $379.99 (various brands, like Acer, HP, Asus). Of course, everything comes down to having the money to pay for it all, which is something that I don't have....  😑😑😑😖😖😖😖😞😞😞😞

 

The 28th make it two years that I've officially been living in Raleigh.  I like it out here, and don't regret making that move.  Just wish that I was a little more stable, both financially, and domestically.  There's a lot that I want to do, but my living situation makes things a little bit harder for me to do.  It's expensive to live out here, and with there not being any regulations put out there for housing, and other things, these crazy ass people can do whatever they want.  I have a place to stay, just not my own place.  These politicians out here are fucking ass, and pretty much let people be exploited, and treated like garbage.  Oh, well...

 

Recently found out that some of my books actually are not listed on Books-A-Million.  It seems like half my inventory isn't listed on there.  All of my books published after the merging of CreateSpace and Kindle Direct Publishing (2017) aren't listed on there.  I'm a little pissed off about that.  All this anti-Amazon hate is really fucking with my livelihood.  My books are still listed on Barnes & Noble, though.  Still, that's taking money outta my pocket.  For anybody published through Amazon, they're making it really difficult for us. 😡😡😡😡😠😠😠😠

 

That's all for now.  hope that you enjoyed this wrap-up.  See you next month!!

 

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

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

      

July's Rising Heat

 We have now entered into the month of JULY!!!  We are now past the halfway point of the year, and are smack in the middle of the summer season.  The temperature is rising, and so are the opportunities to make an impact.

 

First off...I gotta promote the latest sale that I have going on...

 

Smashwords is having this annual 'Summer/Winter Sale' on their store site.  My books are listed on Smashwords, and I've made them all available for the sale.  My titles are discounted at 75% off the regular eBook price.  Quite honestly...they're actually FREE for the entire month of July.  Feel free to cop a few, if not all, of my book titles!  Support a brother!!! 😁😁😁😁

 

I will be adding my 1st book "Raise Your Brown Black Fist: The Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino" to Draft2Digital as an eBook.  I want this book to be made available to libraries, and other outlets.  It's already listed on the major eBook distro channels of Kindle, Nook, and Apple Books; but I want to be able to reach a wider audience.  My publisher for it (Authorhouse) only distributes the eBook to the main eBook carriers, so I gotta do the additional legwork to get it out to other audiences.

 

Speaking of Draft2Digital...I'll be releasing the paperback version of "Spittin' Lyrics N Waxin' Poetic" this month through their P.O.D. arm, D2D Print.  I might as well bite the bullet, and see what happens.  I don't really have anything to lose by doing that, since I haven't been having any success with it solely as an eBook.  At least now, all 14 of my books will available in physical paperback format.  I'm still debating about printing "Fiesta Girl" through them, and delisting it from KDP.  Let's just see how this one goes, and then I'll decide if I want to use them to print some of my other books...

 

I'm planning on discontinuing the plan to do the Black/Brown Bookstore Book Tour.  I don't have the mobility to get around to some of these bookstores that I want to promote & do the signings at.  I'm trying to be as economical as possible, and lugging all those books through Greyhoud or AmTrak just doesn't sound feasible. I might just try to concentrate on doing some of the local festivals to vend at, which would be much easier.  Maybe if I knew some fellow local authors out here who would be interested in doing the tour as a joint venture, I'd commit to it.  I don't want to say that it's hard for me to make any friends out here, but it's not very easy to find any like-minded people that think the way that I do.

 

That's all for now.  Looking forward to keeping you guys updated on my other upcoming plans.  Stay tuned!!! 😊😊😊

 

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

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

The Struggles of Indie Authors/Creatives [***RANT SESSION***]

 For those of you that actually pay attention to my videos, this is the continuation of an episode of "The Rough Draft" that I shot; Episode #48, to be exact.  Felt the need to blow off some steam, and set the record straight, and apparently...I need to blow off a little more steam.  Been feeling really frustrated & disrespected lately, and I think that I need to go deeper in depth...

As an indie author, I'm carrying the same mentality that I had when I was still involved in the film & television world, being a screenwriter; I wanna work in the industry, not for it.  I choose to be independently published b/c I know the headache of trying to find a (decent) agent, or at least, a good small publisher to publish your book.  Also, you know your story best, so you know how & who to market your book to, no matter what genre that you write in.  I know plenty of authors that write speculative fiction that can attest to that.  Not to mention, the rash of consolidation within the publishing industry within the last two decades, or so...?  The publishing world is getting smaller & smaller by the day (if not, the waning minutes).

 

At the same time...I don't have an MFA.  I have no connections to any literary nonprofit organizations.  I've never held a fellowship.  Nor do I have a well paying day job that allows me the financial flexibility to pay for reviews, or a publicist.  My hashtag #AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind has meaning BECAUSE I'm actually ON my literary grind!!  Whatever accolades (which ain't many) that I receive, it's because of my hard work to promote my shit, & get the word out to the public.  NOBODY helps me to do shit, when it comes to my writing career.  My grind is really MY grind.  Nobody promotes my books for me, or does any type of outreach for my books.  I've even created a mf video series to help me promote my writing career in "The Rough Draft" (that apparently nobody watches).

 

It's a little infuriating to see people just brush you off, and dismiss any & everything that you do, as if it's big joke, and nothing to be taken seriously.  They don't watch the videos & comment, they don't buy & review your books, nor do they come out to any events that you organize and/or participate in.  Out of the fourteen books that I've published, I'd pre-promoted the last seven books ahead of their publication.  Hardly anybody joined the gd Facebook Events that I created for them; I didn't even crack TWENTY people to accept the invite. Whats' the fucking point?!?!?!  😡😡😡😡😡     

The sales afterward have been even more abysmal.  Htf is it that I know all of these different people, activist,  & organizations, but can't get none of you mf bastards to buy a copy of my books?!  And, even if you do actually buy it, do you even bother to read it, and leave a fucking review for it, or even recommend it to your circle of friends and associates...?  Hell...I'd be happy with a personal dialog with you, just to get your feedback on the book. At least then I'll know that you actually read the motherfucka!  Which character(s) did you like...?  What worked for you?  What didn't..?  What was your favorite chapter/scene...?  What character(s) didn't you like/hated..?  Did I intend for you to hate them, or did you just not like the way I wrote that/those character(s)...?  This is the type of feedback that I'm looking for & crave; they make me a better writer.  It also lets me know if I achieved my goal with that particular book, as far as your response is concerned.  Or...I know that you're not the right audience for that particular book, depending on your response/understanding of that particular book.

Would it kill you to actually watch the episodes of my vlog series, and leave a mf comment?!?!  Even if you don't have a YouTube account, can you nuccas say SOMETHING under the post?!?!  None of that 'good job' bullshit; that's so fucking generic.  Say something about the mf episode, whatever tf the discussion topic is!  Don't just press the 'like' button, and keep it mf moving!  I hate that shit!!!  It is so mf disrespectful!!  This isn't a mf joke to me; it's my calling, my mf career!!!  How would you like it , if I acted all dismissive about something that you were passionate about...that you felt was your purpose in life...?  Writing the books...producing the vlog series...and promoting the books is VERY time consuming!!

STOP acting as if my writing career is some huge joke!  It's not a fucking hobby that I don't take seriously, or don't really care about! I'm not some one-shot bucket lister, writing a book just to say that I wrote a mf book, and check it off my bucket list!  I've been writing for fucking YEARS!!!  Just because some of you out there don't have any passions, that doesn't mean that I don't!  I need more out of life, other that just getting liquored up, getting high, or randomly getting sexed up!

Feel however you want to feel about this post; I couldn't give a shit.  I'm tired of feeling disrespected, and not supported.  You dumb niggas know that my shit it out here, available in more that one format, I might add...but still won't support my career, or my books.  But...you niggas will jump on any bandwagon, and prop up some author with a name, because the mainstream media (white ppl) told you to do so.  Fuck y'all.

That's my rant session....

Author Book Trailer for 2022!!!!

 So, I have finally been able to update my Author Book Trailer!!!  I have been able to add the covers of ALL FOURTEEN books to the video.  I've even updated some of the contact info, and the different outlets where you can get my books, via paperback & eBook formats.  So without further ado, here is my Author Book Trailer 2022!!!  :

Hope that you enjoy it!!!  Let me know what you think in the comments section!!  Don't forget to go out and buy the books!!  :-)

Keep the fist raised!!!

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

Interview on Anansi Reads Podcast

 Was able to recently do a podcast interview on April 2nd on AnchorFm.  Shout out to my brother Aaron Huff, aka Bilal Al'amin for having me on his podcast, "Anansi Reads"!!  You can listen to the interview here:

https://anchor.fm/aaron-huff7?fbclid=IwAR1x58o2gHyiID86g7Opya06jnnbG3TBhBOH_0w0ViW5PcgZ_oABzTILLnE

Please subscribe to the brother's podcast.  It is also available on Spotify.  Help to spread the word!!!  Also, please support my books, and buy/download copies of them!!!

Keep the fist raised!!!

Uhuru sasa, y paz

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

Plans for 2022

 There's actually a lot that I want to do to get my writing career (back) on track. Being that this year makes it TWELVE years that I've been a published author, there are a few things that I'd like to do to improve my writing career, and boost my sales.

First off...publish my FOURTEENTH book.  My latest novel "Second Chance Points" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2022) will be dropping on May 6, 2022.  I'm really excited about this project being published, and hope that it gets the support that I feel it deserves.  It's a novel about women's basketball, and follows the life and career of the main character Adwoa (Ah-joe-wah) Carrington.  I loved this project when it was originally a screenplay that I wrote back in 2001.  If I would've gotten the chance to produce it, the film would be a big budget studio project. 

Secondly...health permitting...I want to do more in-person events.  The coronavirus severely cramped my ability to do face-to-face meetings with people, and do in-person events like festivals, or stand-alone book signings.  I want to get back to doing that, especially here in my new home state of North Carolina.  There's a new black-owned bookstore in Durham that I want to do a reading & book signing in called Rofhiwa Books Cafe, as well as a Latino-owned bookstore in Chapel Hill called Epilogue Books that I would love to network with.  I'm really hoping to make that happen, once I get more settled in my new day job, and Covid restrictions ease up.

 

Thirdly....I need to get back on my grind, and do more episodes of my vlog series "The Rough Draft".  I would like to expand it, a little more.  Since I now have a smartphone, I could use it to shoot some field production footage, or even do some interviews.  Hopefully, I can meet more fellow authors out here, and interview them for future episodes. 

Fourthly....I'm still considering doing an Author Clothing Line.  If I ever do any vending in the near future, I could sell the clothes for some extra cash.  I'd done 2 more logo designs, bringing the total to five versions.  I need to choose which one I'm going to use, and print up some shirts, hoodies and hats.  Plus, the clothing line would be a great identifier for anyone that gets to meet me in person while vending, or doing my own personal events.

 

Those are the main goals, for now.  Other than improving my book sales, there's not much else that I'm planning on working on.  Those are the main goals for this year.  I'm putting my repatriation plans on hold, and hoping to complete that move in 2024.  I'll keep you guys updated on my progress.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

Ringing In 2022---January Publishing Anniversaries

 What's good, my peoples?  How are you, mi gente?  Welcome to 2022!!!  We have been in the new year for a full week, already.  I hope that you were able to stay safe, and enjoy the coming of a whole new year of possibilities.

 

New Years is generally tough for me, as that was the day when I lost my mother (in 2019).  This year, I had to work on New Years Day, as that year I lost my mom.  Had to deal with a few surprise deaths in the family, as the year started.  Not to mention...we just lost an iconic actor in Sidney Poitier.  The coronavirus is still raging, this time in the Omicron variant.  It's getting tough out here.  Let's hope that things improve for us, as they year goes on.

 

Gotta get into my publishing anniversaries for the month.  In the month of January, I have two.  I have the three-year publishing anniversary of "The Chronicles of The Black Fist: F.U.R.I. of the People" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2019), and the one-year publishing anniversary of my latest novel "Knuckle Up" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021).  Both projects are available for purchase in bother paperback & eBook formats through various outlets.  Please help to financially support these projects, and help to spread the word about them.

 

GOOD NEWS!!!  :-D

 

I have a new publishing project slated for this year.  I will be publishing my fourteenth book called "Second Chance Points" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2022), a Sports Drama novel about female basketball players.  It's a conversion project, as it was formerly a screenplay (still is, actually).  I'm really proud of this project, and hope that it sells well when it drops.  I'm targeting May 6th as the publishing release date for it.  Mark your calendars!!!

 

   

I will be starting a new day job this coming week.  Yeah, I know...how many jobs does this n*gga have?!?!?  I needed to make a change.  Hopefully, this new job will be much more steady schedule-wise, and I'll actually be able to have a life (not to mention, get some actual rest, once in a mf while).  I moved out here to have peace of mind, not be a mind numbing slave, like I was, before.  Y'all ain't gonna work me to death, and keep me from having a life, and pursuing my literary dreams.  Fuck thaaat!!

That's all for now.  I'm hoping to shoot a new episode of "The Rough Draft" pretty soon.  I need to update people on my progress (if anybody even bothers to watch my videos).  Hope to catch you all up on my latest adventures.  I'll let you guys know how the new day job fairs, and any new projects that I'm planing on working on. 

Keep the fist rasised.

#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 

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 

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

End-of-Year Roundup

As I've stated before, we've reached the month of December.  We've finally reached the last month of what could be considered a really treacherous year.  The country was severely impacted by the coronavirus, having shut down for most of the year.  Due to the utter incompetence of the presidential administration, many lives were lost, as well as people becoming sick, and becoming jobless.  Many people lost their jobs due to the countrywide shutdown, and the sheer audacity of the political leadership offering pittances that they called 'assistance' to the populous.  Not to mention, the continued racial oppression of our people by the police, and so-called political leaders offering wordplay for assurance, trying to shield their complicity in such matters.  

But...I digress....

I released two novels this year to celebrate my TENTH YEAR as a published author.  My sales were lackluster, to say the least.  Part of it could be blamed on the pandemic, but people also had the option to download copies pf my books, new AND old, and still didn't support the releases.  I wasn't able to go out, and promote my released works in person, due to the rise of the pandemic, and the restrictions that followed.  At the same time, people have never really been all that supportive of my writing career.  None of my books have ever flown off the shelves, nor have my royalties ever been high off of online sales.  Even my in-person sales have been hit-or-miss, depending on the event that I vended at; whether it was a book signing event that I organized on my own, or a book fair/festival that I chose to vend at.

I am still preparing myself to repatriate to the African continent, hopefully by the end of next year.  I've downloaded some PDF files to teach myself to speak Swahili, as well as continuing to do my (mostly online) research on the countries of Uganda, Tanzania, and Gambia.  Every day, i grow more and more weary of living here, and dealing with people and their bullshit, and frustrating ignorance.  I'm done fighting; if the rest of you want to remain mental slaves, go the fuck ahead.  I choose to be free.  I'm hoping to do some outreach to let people on the continent know about my literary works, and hopefully be supportive of them.

Episodes of "The Rough Draft" are continuing to be produced.  I just uploaded our THIRTIETH episode to YouTube.  Not a bad amount of episodes to have, for having only produced the show for little over a year; a year and four months, to be exact.  This latest episode will be the final one for the year.  I'm planning on shooting more episodes in the new year, and posting them.  Feedback has been minimal, as usual.  Oh well...

 

Considering shutting down the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement.  It's becoming a burden to me, as much as I like helping people, and passing on information.  I'm not receiving any type of assistance, or real support.  I've been doing this shit for twelve years, with little to no help at all.  With the impact of the pandemic, I really have to prioritize what's important to my own personal literary career.  I'll make a decision by next February...

 

That's about it for now.  Hopefully, I'll be able to hit you guys up again before the year is fully out.  Please stay safe & healthy.  Please, also help to download and purchase my books.  Help to spread the word!!!

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind     

The Itch Is Still There....

Contrary to the title of this post, it ain't about catching an STD, lol, lol, lol, lol.  ;-)

Soooooo...I officially gave up on being involved in the film/television/video production field back in 2008.  I gave up on trying to get my foot in the door in NYC in 2006, when I initially left the city (the first time), and thought about trying my hand in greener pastures in the south, or the 'New South', as they were billing it.  Opportunities were opening up in the southern states, and I though that I might try my hand out there.  Be that as it may, the last project that I did, was to shoot and produce a dvd for the organization that I belonged to at the time; a benefit dinner made to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the existence of our local chapter.  Since these broke ass bamas ain't have no money to PAY me for my services, the deal was that I'd shoot and edit the event FOR FREE, and get hit off with a portion of the proceeds (60%-40% split, they got the majority). Since these simple minded bamas don't know how to sell shit, they wanted to complain about it being a bad deal, and want to try to reneg on our deal. After that bullshit, I was completly DONE.  I moved on to becoming a (self-published) author, after that.  I never wanted to become involved in video/film/television production again, after that experience.  Considering that I'd wasted my late teens and twenties trying to get my foot in the door, with no success, I might add...I was done with that whole field.

Apparently....the itch has never faded.

I've been telling you guys about this idea that I have for a new vlog called "The Rough Draft", right?  I wanted it to be styled after "Uncensored" on TVOne, except that my vlog was supposed to focused on writers (me, specifically), telling of our literary journyes from our perspective, raw and uncut.  Basically...telling it like a rough draft of a story.

The more that I think about it...the more that I'm interested in doing it, but in a more professional manner.  My background as a Communications major in now starting to kick in.  There's actually technology out there that can make the production of this show easy, and affordable.  You can shoot it on a smartphone, or tablet, rather than a video camera, and there are apps that you can download to edit the footage.  You don't even have to heavily invest in lighting, or microphones, which can make the production easier and cheaper (financially) to make.  As Arsenio Hall would say...things that make you say hmmmmmmmm....

I have the contacts through my networking group, the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement.  I know plenty of them that would LOVE to get that type of exposure.  I still have some other stuff to figure out, as far as the viewing outlet is concerned; should I just post it on YouTube, or create my own site for the UALAM?  I would at least need a camera person, and an editor to help me put it together, after all of the footage is shot.  Should it be my own thing, or an extension of the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement...?  Am I just overthinking this too much...?

I'll still keep working on the idea, and let you all know how it goes down.  I guess that itch never faded, after all.  I just needed to find my niche....

Kinda taking a break from writing, and trying to figure out this promotional thing.  Considering entering my book into this writing contest, and at least gain some exposure for my work, if I don't win.  I'm figuring out which titles I'm going to enter into it.  I'll keep you guys updated on that....

The Literary Arts Movement merch should be arriving this week!  Hopefully I can take a picture of my rocking the gear, and post it here, as well as on social media. Stay tuned for that!!!  :-)

Other that that...still job hunting, and chilling.

Keep the fist raised.

HAPPY NEW YEAR: updates & progress

My first post of 2017.  Let's see what I can make of it this time around....

Good riddance to last year.  That was one for the books.  Glad that it is now over with.  Time to move the fuck on.

My latest literary project "Seductra" is going well.  I've decided to publish that book this year, instead of waiting until 2018.  I still have two other manuscripts that I can wait to complete and publish in 2018.  I will probably publish Seductra in June, to coincide with the 2-year publishing anniversary of Demure Nights; both books are similar in contact (Street Lit/Erotica).  Basically, I wanna do a marketing double-whammy for both projects. I'm just going through the final edits right now.  I've already designed the front and back cover for the book; all I have to do now is wait until I'm ready to publish it.  It's good when I can really take my time to work on a particular book project.

Speaking of publishing anniversaries....mine is coming up in February.  Next month makes it SEVEN years that I've been published.  Not to mention, February marks the 2-year publishing anniversary of The Chronicles of The Black Fist.  I'm really hoping to go hard in promoting that anniversary; seven years of consistently working on my craft, and celebrating the release of my first novel.  I have to admit, TCoTBF is a favorite project of mine, and I've been working really hard to promote it to the masses.  Hopefully, I can get to do more festivals, and other appearances, to help market it more.

Moving forward with the relocation plans!  I've suffered enough for 2 1/2 years struggling as a fulltime writer in NYC.  That place just isn't conducive to be an artist anymore; not unless you're a trust fund baby being bankrolled by filthy rich parents, and investors.  I've known a number of my fellow artivists and authorpreneurs that have left the city/state, and are doing MUCH better in their new home state.  Hoping to be out of here before the end of January.  Been looking into jobs, and looking for a place to crash.  If I have to start from scratch someplace else, then that's what I've gotta do.  Fuck it.

I'm looking to expand upon the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement.  I want to be able to (FINALLY) organize the annual Expo, as well as do some other extension programs.  Not really willing to go the nonprofit route with it; I don't care to be chasing people down for funding, just so I can organize an event.  I'm too much of a grassroots activist to be shilling for funding like that.  I've had a number of ideas rolling around in my head, I just don't have the support, finances, or manpower to enact them, especially not here in NYC.  Better to do them someplace else, where my efforts will be better appreciated.  I want to do a monthly/weekly showcase of local literary, poetic, and artistic talent (comic books).  I already have the idea written out (the Nommo Kuumba Literary & Poetic Showcase); I just have to be able to organize it, which is the issue.

That's all for now.  Just working on building up my writing career, relocating, and working on other activist and advocacy projects.  I'll keep you guys updated on my progress.

Keep the fist raised!!!!