Revolutionary Heat of Black August/350th Blog Post!!!!!

 The heat is ON!!!  Literally.  It's been hooooooooooot out in these streets lately!!! 😭😭😭😭   

Welcome to the month of AUGUST.  It is fitting, since this is also my 350th blog post!!! There's lots to talk about, and a lot of info to cover.  Hope that you guys are ready! 😁😁😁

For starters, celebrating the eight-year publishing anniversary of my poetry book "Spittin' Lyrics N Waxin' Poetic" (Draft2Digital, 2015).  It's a compilation of poems and rhymes that I'd written that were never-before-released material.  I'd never shared these works in any of my other publications, up to that point.  As part of the new info that I have to share with you all...the book is now available in paperback format!!  It's already available on Barnes & Noble, but is in pre-order status on Amazon.com.  I guess since the book was originally published on August 17th (in 2015), that they're going to release it as a paperback on that same date. Nooot to happy about that. 😠😠😠😠

Oh, well.  Order you copy of the paperback, while you can....

I've been able to add two more distribution channels through Draft2Digital; Odilo, and Gardners.  Odilo distributes to libraries, while Gardners distributes my books to the UK market.  Hey...D2D is doing what they can to help get my books out there.  Much respect to them for what they do for their authors!!! 😁😁😁😊😊😊

Speaking of D2D...I've finally uploaded my 1st book "Raise Your Brown Black: The Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino" [Book 1] to their platform.  I felt that I wasn't getting the reach that I deserved with the eBook only being distributed to the platforms that Authorhouse set up for it.  Putting it on D2D gives it a wider reach, as well as access to libraries in digital format.  It's all about outreach, baby!!!

2023 this month marks the four-year production anniversary of my vlog series "The Rough Draft" on YouTube.  I have to admit, I haven't posted any new episodes for the last 2 months.  My day job has been keeping me pretty busy (wearing me the fuck out is more like it...), not to mention not having the energy or subject matter to record anything.  I'm definitely going to do one this month to celebrate the four year anniversary, as well as update my followers (what few I have on there) on what's be going on with me. 

This month also marks my second year living in Raleigh.  I actually like it out here, even though I wish that I was a little more stable; not just financially.  Housing is expensive as hell out here, not to mention the issues that I'm currently having with my day job.  I don't necessarily wanna job hop again, but...something has got to give.  I can't really enjoy my life out here, with this fuck ass job.  There's no consistency, and I'm feeling over worked and unappreciated.  I barely have time to strategize my next moves for my writing career. 😕😕😕😔😔😔😟😟😟

 

But...I digress...

 

Looking forward to the celebrations of my achievements.  Celebrating the revolutionary history of this month.  Hope to talk to all of you guys again, soon!!!  Uhuru sasa, y paz!!!

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

  

The Madness of March/Spring In My Step

 What's good, peoples?  We are now in the month of MARCH!!!  The first 1/3rd of the year is over.  The Veneral Equinox will be starting soon (as well as the changing of the clocks), and the spring season will begin.  It will also be allergy season for those of you that suffer from allergies.  Personally I don't, but...thought I'd just mention that, lol, lol, lol, lol.  Yeah...I'm kinda an asshole for that. 😆😆😆😆😆

In the month of March, I will be celebrating the 9-year publishing anniversary of my comedic memoir "In My Lifetime: Funny Stories of Life Lessons" (Outskirts Press, 2014).  This little gem is a favorite of mine, though it's been met with mixed reactions from those who've read it.  Some get my humor, others don't, and wanna impose their bullshit belief systems on me, and shit.  You obviously didn't properly read the book, because you would've figured out that I really couldn't give a fuck what you think. 😆😆😆😂😂😂

March also marks the 3-year publishing anniversary of my books "Suicide Amy" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2020); my Street Lit/Young Adult novel, and my time-traveling Science Fiction novel"Time Will Reveal" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2020).  They were my dual release for that year, celebrating my ten year anniversary as a published author.  Sales were better for Suicide Amy, than they were for Time Will Reveal.  That kinda saddens me a bit; I think that TWR is a pretty good novel.

 

I'm still trying to plan my Black/Brown Bookstore Book Tour.  My mobility is still an issue.  Had a friend who was willing to drive me to one or two of the locations that I wanted, but now they've kinda disappeared on me, not answering their phone.  Can't really plan much, if I don't have a reliable ride.  I'm keeping the hope alive, though...

 

There's an event that's going to be held in Richmond, VA in April called the Kidz Comic Con Book Festival.  I'm hoping to vend at that event.  I need to do more in-person events, anyway.  It will be held on April 8th.  I'm hoping to make it to that festival, and vend two of my books there.  Of course, read the paragraph above, as one of the issues that I face.  I'll let you know if I'll be vending there, or not.  Keep...hope...aliiiiive!!!

 

It's almost tournament tiiiiime!!!  What colleges are you rooting for to win the NCAA championship..? Get ready to fill out those brackets!!!  We will soon have a men's champion and a women's champion crowned for this year.  Makes me think about my most recent book "Second Chance Points" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2022).  Yes...I threw that in this blog post.  Yes...I'm shamefully plugging it.  It's my blog, and I can do what I want to.  😆😆😆😆

 

Looking forward to [posting more episodes of The Rough Draft.  Episode number 56 has already been posted.  Need to shoot & post Episode 57, and number 58 to represent for March.  

Marinating on some ideas to write.  Wanna finish up "The Adventures of Don Fiero Valiente", since that one has been ratting around in my brain for the last few weeks.  Hopefully, I get some time off from my day job to actually be able to write something down.

That's all for now.  Will keep you posted!!  Come back soon!!!  😁😁😁😁

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

The Changing Time of November

 We have now entered into the month of NOVEMBER.  There are now officially only two months left in the year. The clocks have been moved back an hour, and election time has come.  It's time to gear up for the end of the year, and prepare for the coming new year.

To start with, I would like to celebrate the 11-year publishing anniversary of my second book "Raise Your Brown Black Fist 2: MORE Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino" (Outskirts Press, 2011).  A collection of political essays, and an extension of my second essay series 'Black Thoughts: A Political Ideological Perspective For Afro Latinos', I consider this book to be one of my treasures.  Available in both paperback & eBook formats, this is definitely a keeper for your bookshelf.

 

 

 

Also...November also marks the 6-month release of my latest novel, "Second Chance Points" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2022).  Sales are still flat, as usual.  I'm doing my part to promote it. Whatever...

 

On a lighter note, I now have a new handle on YouTube.  You can now view my channel by going to the new link www.youtube.com/@kevinsabio, and view all of my videos there.  You will be able to watch all of the episodes of 'The Rough Draft", as well as my book trailers. Please watch the videos, and subscribe to my channel when you get the chance.

 

Apparently, November is also National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo.  I've never participated in NaNoWriMo, as I don't like trying to write a novel in one month.  Usually, I just end up finishing writing the first draft of whatever novel/manuscript that I'm writing in November.  Don't ask me why; it just seems to happen that way for me.  I don't have anything slated for this year, so I don't think that I'll be publishing any new novels for next year.  I guess my poor sales have me too bummed out to write anything new, or finish any of my other work(s)-in-progress.

 

November also marks the start of my initiative, the "Holiday Economic Support Initiative".  It usually lasts from November into the new year, as a means to support Black-owned & Latino-owned businesses & entrepreneurs during the holiday season(s). I don't think that I'll be doing it this year, as I never get the response I feel the initiative deserves.  So, you won't be seeing me push it this year, or using the hashtags of #HESI, or #HolidayEconomicSupportInitiative.  It feels like a waste of my time, and nobody seems to care any mf way.

 

That'll be all for now.  Looking forward to shooting and posting the next TRD episode, and posting it on YouTube.  I'll keep you guys updated on my progress.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

       
 

The Heat of June

 We are now in the month of June.  JUNE!!!  The year is already half over!!  Where has the time gone?  Weren't we JUST celebrating the coming of the new year...?  :-O

A bit of house keeping, first.  As always, I need to start by celebrating my latest publishing anniversary.  For the month of June, I will be celebrating the seven-year publishing anniversary of my Erotica novel "Demure Nights" (CreateSpace, 2015).  This was my fifth book, and second novel that I released.  It's a little gem of mine, and a bit of a passion project.  It was a test to see if I could write something different, something that I wasn't really known for.  It was the first book that I'd written that wasn't political in nature, whether fiction or nonfiction.  You would think that, because of the subject matter, my sales for it  would be much different; much higher that they would be.  Even when I write books that would be considered garbage, I still can't seem to gain any support for my works, smdh...

 

My latest fair "Second Chance Points" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2022) has been out for close to a month, now.  Sales for it so far are slooooooow.  I had four initial purchases for it (2 downloads, two physical copies), and then...that's it.  People know how to press the 'like' button on social media, but don't seem to know how to follow that up with a purchase.  Maybe if I was being backed some corporate literary nonprofit, or highlighted by some celebrity, I might have better sales.  Now that gathering restrictions have been eased somewhat, maybe doing face-to-face events will boost my sales.  This cyber bullshit just ain't cutting it.

 

Speaking of doing some face-to-face events...I've been giving some strong thoughts on doing my whole Black/Brown Bookstore Book Tour idea.  I've been doing a bit of research, and I know of at least three here in the state of North Carolina.  One is a Black-owned children's bookstore here in Raleigh, there's a Black-owned  bookstore in Durham & Charlotte, and one Latino-owned bookstore in Chapel Hill.  That would at least cover the state.  All I would have to do is reach out to them for their available dates, and see if I want to spread them out over a one month period, or knock out two of them in 2 months.  That's a bit of traveling, not to mention, money outta my pocket for ordering books & booking travel.  BUT...you gotta spend money to make money, right?  If I spread them out over a 4 month period, that should ease the financial burden.  At the same time, if I do two appearances in one month, that will build momentum for my book(s).  Plus, I wanna eventually spread out to the other surrounding states to develop more of a fan base out here.  I would definitely love to head out back to my old stomping ground of (central) Virginia, and eventually hit up Tennessee.  I know of some indie Black-owned bookstores in Nashville, and one in Memphis that I definitely wanna hit up.  At least I'm now living in a state where people actually read...not like in fuck ass Delaware..

 

But, I digress...

 

I was able to do a radio/podcast interview covering my writing career overall, as well as the release of Second Chance Points, on a local radio station out here in NC based in Carrboro.  I was interviewed on May 13th on WCOM-FM, appearing (via call-in) on "The Chris or Jenny Show".  I had an absolute BLAST doing the interview, and hope to be back on there, again.  You can check out the podcast on YouTube via the link:

 

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuULm4I3a94&t=172s

 

Hope that you guys enjoy the show!!!  :-)

 

Well...that's all on my end, folks.  Hope to keep you guys informed on my future plans.  I will definitely let you guys know how my plans for the book tour turn out.  Hope that you guys will actually come out to the tour locations, and support me.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyliteraryGrind

 

  

May Flowers Blooming/Second Chance Points Book Release!!! :-)

Welcome to the month of May!!!  We are almost at the halfway point in the year.  Time sure is flying by.  Spring is now officially here, and new energies are blooming.

 

With the coming of the month of May, I would like to announce the official publication of my FOURTEENTH book, "Second Chance Points" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2022).

 

I'm ecstatic about the release of this book.  It was originally a big budget screenplay that I'd written back in 2001.  Since I never got the chance to produce & release it as a film, I decided to converted it into a novel.  You can purchase a copy of it here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZP2JV3T

The book was released on May 6th.  It is now available in paperback & eBook formats.  The eBook formats are still clearing, though it is currently available on Kindle and Nook.

 

Speaking of books, since it's the month of May, I have to go into my publishing anniversary.  For the month of May, I will be celebrating the five-year publishing anniversary of my novel "Seductra, Web of Desire" (CreateSpace, 2017).

I have to admit, this is one of my favorite books that I've released.  I feel like this project is criminally underrated, as far as the lack of support is concerned.  But...I'm doing what I can to continue to promote it.

 

I'm still giving a lot of thought to doing my Black/Brown Bookstore Book Tour.  I'm hoping to be able to target the fall to do it.  I know of a few bookstores here in North Carolina alone that I want to target.  Since a lot of Covid restrictions have been lifted, I want to try to take advantage, and get back to doing in-person appearances.  Since my online sales game is pretty much stagnant & nonexistent, I need to get back to doing hand-to-hand sales.  I want to use my smartphone to shoot some footage, and post it on YouTube for a couple of episodes of "The Rough Draft".  We shall see....

I will be having a radio/podcast interview on Friday, May 13th on a local radio station out here, based in Carborro.  It will be on WCOM-FM 103.5 FM.  The interview starts at 9pm.  Looking forward to it.  It will be my first interview in two years, not since during the pandemic.  You can tune in at www.wcomfm.org.  Hope that you guys get to catch the show!!!  :-)

 

That's about all for now.  I hope to keep you updated, as far as my other plans.  I hope that you will all go out and support my recent release in Second Chance Points.  It's a very good story that I think that you'll all enjoy.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

  

 

Possible Book Tour/What the Future Holds in 2022....

 Things are starting to look up for me.  2022 is starting to manifest itself in a very positive way. I was able to do a podcast interview on "Anansi Reads", and I also have an upcoming radio interview on a local radio station out here in North Carolina; WCOM 103.5FM in the Carborro/Chapel Hill area, scheduled for May 13th.  I'm pretty happy about that.  It's my time to shine!!!  :-)

I was able to shoot & post the latest episode of "The Rough Draft".  Episode 45 has been posted on YouTube and Vimeo.  In that episode, I talk about my publishing anniversary for April, the upcoming release of my next novel "Second Chance Points" (KDP, 2022), and a future venture that I want to do. My idea for an in-person event is a Black/Brown Bookstore Book Tour, or 3BT Tour for short.  Catchy title, huh...?  ;-) 

The Black/Brown Bookstore Book Tour is basically a series of bookstore appearances/signings where I focus my signings in primarily black-owned & Latino-owned bookstores.  Firstly, I'm focusing on promoting my latest literary work, as well as the other titles that I have in my arsenal of books that I've published. Secondly, I want to be able to use my platform to support black-owned & Latino-owned businesses. That's just the activist in me, wanting to support my peoples, and remain true to my political beliefs.  Hopefully, I can shoot some video footage to use for "The Rough Draft", post them online, and use the episodes to help promote these bookstores/independent businesses.

If I am able to do the 3BT Tour, I'm shooting for late Summer, if not the Fall.  The Fall would probably be more ideal, as it leads into Latino Heritage Month, and I would be able to promote my book titles that feature my Latino/Afro Latino characters. Right now, I want to target local bookstores in the North Carolina area; primarily here in Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, and Greensboro.  I also want to target black-owned/Latino-owned bookstores in nearby Tennessee, and also Virginia; primarily Richmond, since that's my old stomping ground.

I'll let you guys know the details, as the tour comes together.  I'm debating if this should be a solo tour, or a joint book tour with another author, or a few other authors.  Still haven't met any other brother-scribes or sister-scribes out her yet, so I'm holding out hope. I'm still ironing out the details of it, so it's still in the planning stages, for now...

Uhuru sasa, y paz.

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

Tides of March

 Hello to the month of March.  We are now in the first third of the year.  Time really is flying by, isn't it...?

As we enter into the month of March, you know that I have to shout out my publishing anniversaries of my books published during the month of March.  I have three...

Celebrating the eight-year publishing anniversary of my comedic memoir "In My Lifetime: Funny Stories of Life Experiences" (Outskirts Press, 2014).  My third book that I wrote & published, it was a change that I wanted to make, as I felt that I was being a little stigmatized as just being "angry" because of my first 2 books.  I wanted to show my creative side, and a little bit of my wacky sense of humor.

 

March also marks the two-year publishing anniversary of my dual release for my Sci fi/Action/Time Traveling novel "Time Will Reveal" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2020), and my Street Lit/Young Adult novel "Suicide Amy" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2020).  Both book were released to celebrate my ten year anniversary as a author, and were both special project for me to write on their own merits.  Suicide Amy represented the very first screenplay that I had written (and liked), and Time Will Reveal was an interesting science fiction idea that I would loved to have produced; a time-travel story focusing on Black people, and coming from a black perspective.

 

Sales haven't been there for Black History Month.  It was a complete flatline on both the eBook and paperback fronts.  All I can do, is continue to push & promote, and continue to do outreach.  Hopefully, I'll be able to reach someone, and snag that target audience that I intended to reach.

 

I'm really looking forward to the publication of  "Second Chance Points" (KDP, 2022).  I was finally able to create a Facebook Event for it, and sent out invites to all of my FB contacts.  Not too many people have accepted their invites, but I'm continuing to post content on there.  I'll do what I can to continue to promote it.

 

The day job front is very trying.  I don't like my current day job, as it is now not only becoming unfun, bust also biting into my savings.  I didn't move out here to be stressed out & unhappy.  Thankfully, to the ancestors & Creator, I was able to find me a new day job.  I'll get to start this week, sometime, and hopefully have something more stable, and less stressful.

 

That's all for now.  Hoping to produce a new episode of "The Rough Draft".  I'm also looking forward to celebrating the Veneral Equinox.  Hope to keep you all updated on my literary & life progress.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

 

   

The Heat of Black August

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

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

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

June Wrap-Up.......

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

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

Aaaaaaaaanywaaaaaay....

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

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

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

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

The tides of March/The Gimp Chronicles

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

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

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

 

#TheGimpChronicles

 

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

...-KRAK!!!

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

 

Ain't that some shit?!?!?!?  :-O

 

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

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

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

The January Vibes....

 January is here.  The first month of the new year...

Hey...that rhymes!!!  That might get me back into rapping, again!!!  :-)

 

But, seriously....

A new administrations has taken over the country.  People are back to sleep walking again.  The death toll from the COVID-19 coronavirus has risen to damn near half a million people (430,000 at my last checking).  There is a vaccine that's out there...two, actually...with maybe two more on the way, waiting for approval from the FDA.

 

For me, personally...I dropped my latest novel; my thirteenth book overall.  January is also the 2-year publishing anniversary of my novel "The Chronicles of The Black Fist: F.U.R.I. of the People" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2019).  This month also marks the 2 year anniversary of my mother's passing.  :'-(

 

It's the start of a new year.  It's the beginning of 12 months of whatever you make it.  I wanna work on promoting my novels, and continuing to work on m writing career.  At the start of this year, and after my follicle cleanse, I decided to shut down the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement after 13 years.  I want to focus solely on my writing career; the pandemic forced me to make some tough choices towards the end of last year.  I can't really serve two masters, and something had to give.  I chose my writing career, and rightfully so.  I loved what I did with "The Movement", but it was very taxing on me, with little help, and almost no real recognition for what I did/was doing.  I love my people, I always want to represent for them, but...I gotta do me.  Nobody is going to help me with furthering my writing BUT me.  People out there can do the same research that I did, to access all that information that I freely provided.  But, I digress...

 

My new novel "Knuckle Up" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021) has just been published.  I'm really looking forward to continuing to promote it, and hopefully generate some sales.  It's been almost a week already since its release, and I've had a few purchases; not as many as I would've liked, but it's something, so far.  It's not like people are distracted by having to go to work outside of the house, and compete with people going out to clubs, and bars, and other shit like that.  You can't really go anywhere.  And yet you still can't support, and buy the book...?!

 

Anyway....

 

February is on the horizon.  That's my author anniversary month.  No big plans, as of yet, but I wanna do something kinda big.  Stay tuned for that....

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

    

Exit 2020

 Today is the LAST day of 2020.  This has been a somewhat horrendous year to live through.  The country was struck with a deadly pandemic that has taken about 340,000 lives....no thanks to the incompetence of the political leadership of the country.  Celebrities and citizens alike have lost their lives, and ordinary citizens have lost their livelihoods, and even their homes/place of residence.  Others have lost their business(es), as well.  Not to mention, the rash of racial shootings by the police across the country, and many of the street protests, as well as the riots/rebellions that followed them.  Bigotry had shown its ugly face within the presidency, the general populous, and many of the political leaders too afraid to stand up to the (so-called) leader of the country.

Yeah....a lot of people are glad to see this year come to an end.  Who can blame them?

I lost my own job in this mess, even though I did get to release TWO books this year, to celebrate my Ten Year anniversary as a published author.  My lack of sales left A LOT  to be desired, but that's pretty usual for me, since most people would rather press a 'like' button, than to actually buy/download my books.  But, I digress...

Farewell to 2020.  It was a tumultuous year for one and all. If you made it through it, let's hear it for those of us who survived.  Let us continue persevering, and trying to maintain our sanity, and move forward.  Do what you can, and need to do, to deal with the trauma of this year.  Hopefully, 2021 will be full of better days.

Oh yeah...Happy Kwanzaa!!  Habari gani...?  Kuumba!!!

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

***NEW*** 2021 Book Release!!! :-D

 MARK....YOUR....CALENDARS!!!!

 

 

I've finalized my plans for my NEXT BOOK RELEASE!!!  I will be publishing my novel "Knuckle Up" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021) next year in 2021.  The date for the book release will be January 22, 2021!!!  This will be my THIRTEENTH book, and EIGHTH novel!!!  Yaaaay!!!

 

 

Set in 2005, the novel follows the boxing career of Mandinga "The Manhandler" Mason, a fighter from the streets of Red Hook, Brooklyn.  As she transitions from the amateur ranks into the pros, you see the trials and tribulations that she goes through in her career.  Will she be able to go on to have a successful fight career, or will she allow her inner demons to derail her boxing career?  What secrets is her new trainer, Yusef Johns, hiding?  What derailed his boxing career, to lead him into training?

January 22, 2021!!!  Mark your calendars!!!  There is already a Facebook Event posted online!!!

Keep the fist raised!!!

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind
 

November News....

 We have entered into the month of November.  The numbers of deaths from the coronavirus has reached 230,000+ people.  Also, the presidential election has just passed, as as of this post, they are still counting the votes.  The last time I checked, the Democratic candidate, former V.P. Joe Biden was ahead in the electoral college vote 263 to 214 against (so-called) President Donald Trump.  My nephew Enrique's birthday is this coming Monday, November 9th, and my childhood best friend from junior high school Alexander also has his birthday this weekend; Sunday November 8th, to be exact.

Yep...we're living in interesting times.  At least the year is almost over.  2020 has been a whopper of a year.  A lot of death, and a lot of other losses.

My web series "The Rough Draft" is going well.  I just posted Episode 26 on YouTube.  Wish that I could get a few more views and a lot more feedback for my online work.  Comments help, people!!!  A few purchases wouldn't hurt, either.  The books are available in both paperback AND eBook formats, so you have NO excuse for not supporting the writing career.  You'd think that, after doing this shit consistently for TEN years, people would actually start to take me seriously, by now....

Speaking of books...NEW PUBLISHING RELEASE!!!  :-D

I finished writing "Knuckle Up" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021).  The cover art is finished, the backcover synopsis is done, and the project is ready for publication.  I've finally chosen a release date for the book.  Be on the lookout for the book to drop on January 22, 2021!!!

That's all for now.  Looking forward to keeping you guys in the loop.  Catch you in the next post!

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

July Beginnings....

It is now JULY!!!!  The day before so-called "Independence Day" for the country.  The SEVENTH month in the year.  The year is now officially little over half over.  Time truly is flying...

It's been FOUR months since the Dual Release of "Time Will Reveal", and "Suicide Amy" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2020).  Sales haven't been what I wanted them to be, DESPITE all of the promotion (pre- AND post release) that I've done for the novels. I think May has been my best sales month so far, which isn't really saying much.  June was a big fat ZERO, which is actually typical for me.  So much for my so-called 'fan base'....

It's also been four month since the lockdown because of the COVID-19 coronavirus.  as it is....a few states have had to halt their reopening because of a surge of cases hitting certain states.  They're actually going back to lockdown mode, and shutting down their reopening.  Other states or just moving A LOT slower than before, holding off on easing some of the restrictions that they were planning on lifting.  I'm actually growing more concerned, now.  I don't want to say that I took this lightly, when this all first started going down, but...The people in charge OBVIOUSLY don't know what the fuck they're doing, and I'm not willing to risk my life cause these idiots wanna play politics, and appease stupid ass white people who think they they're invincible, or that their lives CANNOT be inconvenienced under any circumstances...

On the literary front....I have no anniversaries for this month.  I haven't published any books during the month of July.  Oh well.....

Haven't posted a new episode of "The Rough Draft" yet, either.  Trying to figure out the topic for my next episode.  If any of you out there has any ideas, or wants to participate in an 'Ask-The-Author' segment....let a brotha know.  I'm tired of not getting any feedback.  Let a brotha know what's on your mind, for once....

Still considering the repatriation to the continent of Africa.  Still continuing to do the research.  I follow a number or repats on YouTube, and am trying to follow some of their advice.  Especially once the travel restrictions from the pandemic are lifted, I really, really REALLY need to gtfo this country.  I'm disgusted by a lot of what I see.  FUCK marching in the streets, protesting!  Bust somebody's head open!  Bomb a few police stations!  Go into some white neighborhoods, and beat the shit outta some of them!  Fuck shooting a gd video of some white person acting a fool, and acting overly privileged!  Grow a fuck pair, already!!!!

Anyway.....

Finally decided to convert one of my screenplay projects.  Since I haven't written anything since the Dual Release, and the start of this pandemic....this is actually very good news!  I was feeling quite blocked up, in a literary sense.  This pandemic had me worried.  I'm starting to feel a little bit more like myself, in recent days.  It's probably the frustration that I've been feeling with what's being going on politically...not just with the killing of #GeoregeFloyd, and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement....but also with some of the utter bullshit that I've been seeing online with the so-called Afro Latino Movement.  No wonder I left that bullshit behind six years ago, smgdmfh....

Anyhooo....

The project is called "Knuckle Up", telling about the trials and tribulations of a female fighter named Mandinga "The Manhandler" Mason in her fight career.  I'll let you all know how it goes.  Hope to publish the book sometime next year, or in 2022!!!  :-)

Later peoples.  Talk to you next time.  I'll keep you updated, when I can.  Catch ya on the flip side.

Keep the fist raised!!!!

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

June News/My Revolutionary Rant....

So, it is now the month of JUNE!!!  The year is now half over!  :-O

First off...I have to acknowledge the 5-year-publishing anniversary of my novel "Demure Nights" (CreateSpace, 2015). 

Dropped this project FIVE years ago.  My...how time flies :-O.  This novel was actually an experiment; I wanted to see if I could write something other than something that was politically tinged.  Wanted to see if I had the skills to write something that would've been deemed out of character for me.  Of course, people seem to not know that I have a dirty mind, lol, lol, lol....

Secondly.....I dropped episode TWELVE of "The Rough Draft"!  We're hitting the double digits, y'all!!  If you're on YouTube, PLEASE check out the videos, and drop a comment!  A writer/creator loves nothing more than to hear feedback on their work.  You can check out the link for it here:

Episode 12:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfsX1uWWFfY&t=37s

In Episode 12, I profile my THIRD book "In My Lifetime: Funny Stories of Life Experiences" (Outskirts Press, 2014), and what lead me to write it.....

Okay...now that that shit is out of the way...

I'm about to get political on your asses.  Haven't really done that here for a LOOOONG while, but because of recent events, I felt the need to get back to my political speak....

The weekend of May 30th & 31st was hectic.  After the killing of a brother in Minnesota named #GeorgeFloyd, the streets erupted in protest and anger; deservedly so.  The killing of yet ANOTHER Black body by the police/powers-that-be, caught on camera (again) at that.  Since I live in Delaware, I saw the affects of that in nearby Philadelphia.  We had protests here in Delaware, as well, but let me get to my point.  People came out and protested and were rightfully MAD.  As the day wore on, it went from protest, to rebellion.

I agree with rebellion.  Fuck all this peaceful shit.  We've been doing peaceful shit for SIXTY years, now.  We gain some concessions, and then they take them back through laws and other political trickery.

What I DON'T agree with....is the aftermath.  You originally rebelled in THEIR financial districts.  Good...that was smart of you; disrupt their capacity to financially gain from your oppression, or fund their oppression of you..  Then...you took that shit back to YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOODS, and looted.

NOT smart!!!!  :-(

I was glad to see what was done in Center City; fuck 'em all.  Then...y'all did some nigga ass shit, and went back to West and North Philly, and ransacked your own 'hoods.

WHYYYYYYYYYY?!?!?!?!??!

That defeated the whole purpose of what you were rebelling for.  It's bad enough that Black businesses don't get supported by the greater Black community as it is; then you went back to your own neighborhoods, and tore shit up?!  Don't start out doing a revolutionary act, and then do some nigga ass shit afterwards!  STOP listening to YouTube niggas, and READ some REAL revolutionary, conscious history and political thought!  Learn about the BPP-SD, Deacons For Defense, Umknoto We Sizwe, or read some Frantz Fanon, Amilcar Cabral, Amos Wilson, or Robert F. Williams!!  LEARN what you need to know about how to actually be real revolutionaries, and activists!  Keep the rebellion FOCUSED!!!

Anyway........

Keeping my nose to the grindstone.  Trying to continue to pump out episodes of "The Rough Draft", and promote the dual releases.  Hoping to catch on, and gain a following, so that I can make my writing career my full-time gig.  Check out the videos, purchase/download the books, continue to support me.

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

May Day, and the Pandemic Continues...

What's good, peoples?

Today is the first day of the month of May.  The year is chugging along at a steady clip, despite the pandemic.  The year is almost half done, if you think about it.  Quite shocking, huh...?  :-O

May marks the three-year publishing anniversary of my novel "Seductra: Web of Desire" (CreateSpace, 2017).

Three years ago, I published that novel, and it continues to be one of my favorites.  The project is available in both paperback AND eBook formats.  Please purchase, or even DOWNLOAD a copy of the novel, as well as my other projects.  If you get the opportunity, PLEASE also write a review of the book .

The Dual Release is still going on.  "Suicide Amy" seems to be fairing better that "Time Will Reveal"; I've had more purchases and downloads for that particular project.  Of course, this pandemic isn't helping matters, much.  At the same time, my eBooks are no more than $2-$3; not enough to damage your bank account.

My heart goes out to the indie bookstores that are suffering through this pandemic.  I've been reading some articles posted on Literary Hub about some of the trials and tribulations that a lot of indie bookstores are going through because of their shuttered doors.  Some are moving to do more online sales, while others are making deals with a new company called Bookshop.org; apparently a indie bookshop alternate to Amazon.com.  I believe that my titles are available on Bookshop.org through my eBook publisher Draft2Digital (don't quote me on that, though).  You especially saw the growth of indie bookstores in our Black & Latino communities, a much needed growth, at that.  That growth has been seriously stunted with this pandemic.  They might not survive the recovery, once this pandemic ends.  This really makes me sad; they are a much needed resource in our community, considering how Black bookstores have been ravaged in our communities over that past two decades...

I'm still getting used to my new laptop.  I've had to try to recover some fonts that I'd lost with my old laptop going kaput.  That sucks for me, not only as a writer, but also for some of my graphics that I do for my book covers, and other projects.  Not to mention, I had to get me a new video editing program to continue to produce "The Rough Draft".  I'll let you all know how that works out...

Well, that's all for now.  Hoping to keep you guys in the loop.  The books are available, and ready for purchase.  Please continue to support my works.  I'll let you guys know what else I have coming down the pipeline.

Keep the fist raised!!!!

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind   

Radio Interview Aftermath/Adventures in Laptop Hunting

First off...the radio interview was GREEEEEEAAAAT!!!!  :-D

I had such a wonderful time doing the interview!!!  The interview on Dock Radio went on for a little over an hour, but it was great.  The show's host Donya Craddock and I really hit it off, and had a great conversation talking about my various book titles, and my two current books that I recently released.  I got the opportunity to discuss my networking group the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement, and talk a little bit about my overall activism.  All in all...this was probably THE best radio interview that I've ever had.  Most of my other interviews were rather blah, and it felt like the interviewer never even really paid attention to whichever book I was being interviewed about at the time; this time was different. Donya was very engaging, and was really interested in my work.  The interview flowed really well, and we ended up going a little over our time.  That's what happens when you really enjoy the discussion :-).  I hope to do a return engagement on the show, and also to make a trip out to their bookstore The Dock Bookshop in Ft. Worth,Texas, once this pandemic is over. :-D

Secondly....my old laptop died last Friday, the day after the interview.  :'-(

It was to be expected.  My old laptop was actually old; I'd had it for 9 years.  It wouldn't hold a charge anymore, and it was coming apart.  Once it broke, I was a little frazzled; I didn't really know what to do.  I know that I needed to get a new one, but...with this mf pandemic going on, I didn't know how to get my hands on a new one.  It's my only means to getting online, and writing my books...

Then...I saw a TV commercial for Target...

Wait a minute!!!  Target is considered an 'essential business'!!!  Target is still OPEN!!

YEEEEEEES!!!!!   :-D

Since I don't drive, I figured out which bus line I needed to take to get to the local Target out here, and made plans to go the next day.  I got on the bus, took the ride, and made my way to Target.  Once I got there, I made my way to the electronics department, and started looking at their available laptops.

The pickings were really slim.  There weren't any laptops in the cases.  I was lucky enough to have a really, really cute salesperson come up to me, and ask me if I needed any help.  I let her know what I needed, and that's when she dropped a bomb on me....

"I'm sorry sir...we're out of laptops.  If there aren't any in the display cases, then we're really out.  Because of telecommuting, and schooling from home, we got smacked..."

:-O!!!!!!!

I was SO hurt!!!  This was NOT good!  I really, REALLY needed to get my hands on a laptop.  But, then she said the magic words...

"They should have laptops at Best Buy.  Did you try there, yet...?"

?!?!?!?!?!?!

YEEEEEEEEES!!!!!  :-D

She told me what i needed to hear.  She told me where the nearest Best Buy branch was located, and I went.  I didn't know that they were going to have me stand outside, while they were going into the store to get whatever electronic device you needed.  You basically have to rely on the knowledgeability of the salesperson to fit your needs.  Oh well...I got what I needed, and made my way back home.  Luckily for me, I'd backed up all of my files on my flash drives prior to the old laptop going kaput.  They're now all saved on my new laptop, as well as being able to download all of the programs that I use.

On another note...I was able to shoot and upload the latest episode of "The Rough Draft"; episode number TEN!!!  The show is now in the double digits!!!  I'm proud of myself for that!!!  If you go on YouTube, please watch the episode, and leave a comment!!  And don't forget to subscribe to my channel!!  :-)

Well, that's it for now.  I'll keep you updated on my progress.  Now that I have a new laptop, I can continue with my projects.  Hit you guys up soon!!!

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind      

APRIL RADIO INTERVIEW On DOCK RADIO!!!!! :-D

It's finally been confirmed!!!  I will officially be a guest on OnShore, a radio show on Dock Radio, courtesy of The Dock Bookshop, based in Ft. Worth, TX!!!  YAAAAAAY!!!!

The interview will be taking place on April 16, 2020 at 7pm (Central Time).  The call-in number is listed on the flyer at 972-427-7795.  Hope that you all tune in!!!  I'm really excited about this!!!  I have to admit...it has been a while since I've been able to do any active promotion of any of my literary work(s).  I'm really looking forward to this interview.  We'll be discussion my latest two releases, as well as my writing career spanning the last decade.

I've been getting a few downloads for my books.  Not as many as I would like, but it is something.  Haven't checked for any recent sales (yet), but at least I've gotten a few downloads.  Hey...it's something.  If you can't get a physical copy, at least my work(s) are available in eBook format.

Wish me luck on the interview!!!  I hope that you all tune in!!  SPREAD THE WORD!!!!!

Keep the fist raised!!!

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

March Madness: My DUAL Book Release!!!

It is now the month of MARCH!!!  The 1st third of the year is already upon us.  Man....time sure does fly nowadays, doesn't it...?  :-O

There's this new super virus out technically called COVID-19.  It's scaring the hell out of a lot of people.  Countries have shut down, and quarantines are in full effect.  Situations like these remind you of just about EVERY zombie apocalypse movie you've ever seen, and wonder just how true those flicks really were to reality.

Now that THAT is out of the way....

The DUAL Book Release!!!!  The books are now HERE!!!!!

Both "Time Will Reveal" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2020) and "Suicide Amy" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2020) are now LIVE!!!  They are both available in both paperback AND eBook formats!  YAAAAAAY!!!!  You can get your paperback copies here:

Time Will Reveal:
 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085RQNF33

Suicide Amy:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085RVQ5MB

The eBook versions are available through Kindle, Nook, Kobo/Kobo+, iTunes, 24Symbols, Scribd, Playster, Bibliotheca, Hoopla, OverDrive, Baker & Taylor, and internationally through Tolino.  PLEASE go out and support the books.  I've been pushing these two promotionally through my personal Mailing List, as well as through my social media on Facebook and Twitter.  If you truly consider yourself my fan and supporter, don't let me down.  Especially if you're gonna be stuck inside because of COVID-19 precautions, what better way to past the time, than by reading a few of my novels...?

Haven't set up a date to do any public readings, and who knows how long these COVID-19 precautions and quarantines will last.  I MIGHT  do a viral book reading online via YouTube, but I'm still debating that.  Speaking of YouTube....I dropped my SEVENTH video for "The Rough Draft" series. I've also just uploaded my updated Author Book Trailer for this year 2020.  Check it out when you get the chance.

That's gonna be all for now.  Hope that you guys enjoyed this latest entry.  Don't know when I'm going to post another blog, since they're shutting down the libraries here for an undetermined amount of time; I go there for the internet access.  Stay safe, and keep reading!!!

Keep the fist raised!!!

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind