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

 

 

August News....

Peace, folks!  Yeah, I know....it's been a hot minute since I posted a blog.  My apologies.  The day job has been dominating my time as of late.  But now, I'm back with the latest news.

First off....it's the 4 year publishing anniversary for my poetry eBook "Spittin' Lyrics N Waxin' Poetic" (Draft2Digital, 2015).  Can't believe that it's been fours years since I published that particular book, my first eBook only project.  Sales haven't been impressive at all, but I'm proud of publishing it nonetheless.

It's the birth month for both of my parents.  Their birthdays (not to mention, their wedding anniversary) are in the same week & month. Feeling a little sad about that, as my mother is no longer here among the living.  That's gotta be hard on my pops.  Happy birthday, dad!!!

I FINALLY got around to shooting the pilot episode of "The Rough Draft".  It is now available on Youtube.  You can view it through the link here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyfPsiWOXmA&feature=youtu.be

Hope that you enjoy the video!!!  I apologize for the poor sound quality, as I didn't realize that I was mumbling when I was talking.   I was tired when I'd shot the episode; that's what I get for shooting an episode after work.  I should've waited for one of my days off, but I was working multiple days that week, I just wanted to get the shit done.  I can hear my communications professors screaming in my ears about the "5 Ps"...  (Proper Planning Prevents Poor Productions).

On the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement front, I've finally compiled the preliminary Schedule of Events (SoE) list, and emailed it out.  I still have some November events that should be added, but I need the info to do that, and the outlets haven't posted any updates to their websites.  Oh well....I do what I can.

Time Will Reveal (2020) is DONE!!!  The cover art is finished, and the book is ready.  I just need to figure out when I'm going to actually publish the book next year. I haven't picked a date, yet.  If you guys have any suggestions, feel free to let me know when you'd like ot see it come out.

Other than that,  I'm just trying to figure out a strategy for the upcoming fall, to finish out the year on a strong note.  I wouldn't mind doing some vending, or a few public readings of my latest book.  The promotions for my books have been lacking as of late, an unfortunate consequence of a having a day job with an inconsistent schedule.  Weekends are out, and my days off aren't always consistent; not to mention, my days off always fall on weekdays.  Oh well, I'll figure something out....

That's it for me, right now.  Hope to be a little more consistent with my blog posts.  if not, I might just do more videos, and post the links for them here.

Keep the fist raised, my peoples.....

End-of-Month Wrap-up [JUNE]

So, we've entered the final week of the month of June.  Time really does fly, dosen't it?

The Summer Solstice has just passed.  Welcome to summer!!!  I had to work that day, but wanted to send out some positive energies for the official coming of the summer season.  Light a candle, light some incense, and say a prayer or two to the Creator.

Just entered a THIRD book entry into the North Street Book Contest.  I decided to enter my short story anthology "Drum Speaking: Tales From An Inner City Griot" (CreateSpace, 2016) into the mix.  Since the deadline is this coming Sunday (June 30th), I decided to take advantage of the opportunity.  It couldn't hurt; hell, it might actually up my chances at winning at least one of the three main prizes.  Getting the recognition is what really matters to me.  Since my sales are stagnant, I need to generate some attention for my work somehow.  The exposure is what really counts, for me.

I just outlined the first four episodes of "The Rough Draft".  I'm hoping to start shooting some footage for it by this weekend/the start of next week.  Once it's shot and edited, I'll post it here on the blog, and on Youtube.  I already have my Author Book Trailers uploaded there, so feel free to look me up, and view the videos.  I might share them on Facebook as well, but as a link. 

The day job is going pretty well, so far.  Not that I'm looking to hook up with any co-workers there, but we got some niiiiiiiice looking women working in my department. My first month has gone by on a good note, and I've earned my boss' and coworkers' respect for my work ethic.  As long as they treat me right, I might actually stay there for a while...

Been networking with a brother out here, who is ALSO a transplant from NY.  Met him at the local library out here ( and people wonder WHY I like going to the library so much).  I'm getting that hustle-mode mentality back, like I've always had.  Since he knows of my literary activism, he's trying to help hook me up with some people that  he knows that could help me, not just with my literary career, but also with my efforts for the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement.  ANY help that I can get with both would be much appreciated.  a brotha is TIRED of struggling, and not getting supported....

That's about all for now.  Hoping to hit you back in July with some good news.  Hopefully, I'll have the first episode shot & edited in time to upload it here.  Wish me luck!!!!

Keep the fist raised.

The Consortium of Afro Latino Communities 2015: Black History Month Joint Book Signing

Once again...IT'S ON!!!!

Come celebrate Black History Month with the Afro Latino experience!!! 

The Consortium of Afro Latino Communities:
Black History Month Book Signing

Featuring authors Kevin Sabio, Clarissa Mendez, and Robert Oriyama'at.

Saturday, February 21, 2015
La Casa Azul Bookstore
143 East 103rd Street  (East Harlem)
5pm to 7pm

FREE!!!!

The authors will be discussing their literary works, and about their activism; giving visibility to the once invisible, and voice to the formerly voiceless.

Clarisaa Mendez; "The Empowered Woman"
Kevin Sabio: "In My Lifetime"
Robert Oriyama'at: "Heaven O Hell: Black Omen" 


Representing for the International Decade of the Afrodescendant!!!

End-of-Year Progress Report

So as 2014 comes to a close, I have a few upcoming events and initiatives that I'm working on.  This year didn't go exactly as I'd planned, not to mention ending on a bit of a weak note.  But hopefully, the new energies of the new year will help to bring me greater prosperity.

I'm trying to continue to do the joint book signing tour that I had started organizing this fall.  I have three potential dates already; I'm just awaiting confirmation from the establishments that we/I contacted.  I was severely disappointed with how the tour went this fall, with us having to cancel most of the dates because of the incompetence of the local Parks and Rec department in some of the other boroughs.  Hopefully, we can officially book those dates, and move on from there.  We're also trying to book some events that are OUT of NYC; we didn't have too positive of an experience in our own hometown, and so we're looking to get some recognition elsewhere.

On a more personal note...I've just recently completed writing my very first novel!  It's an action adventure piece I'm calling "Chronicles of the Black Fist".  I'm going through the editing process right now, and I hope to have it published by early Spring.  This time around though, I might have to hire a cover artist to do the cover for my book.  I know how I want it to look, but I just don't have the necessary artistic skills to do it myself.  Once the book is published, I know of a few book fairs and comic book conventions that I want to take it to, to promote it.

Once the novel starts going through the final publishing stages, I'll post pictures and excerpts of the book here.  Also, once the dates have been confirmed for the book signing appearances, I'll post the image of the flyer(s) here as well. It's all about staying on your grind. I'm hoping to keep pace with my goal to publish four books in five years.  I'll probably just focus on the publicity of the books after that, and then go wherever the Creator directs me afterward.

So, here's to the new year, and the new energies that come with them!  Wish me luck, and thanks for the continued support!!!  :)

Uhuru sase, y paz!!!

    

La Marqueta Stories Literary & Arts Festival

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

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

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

BE THERE!!!!!!

Brooklyn Book signing: The Aftermath

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

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

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

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

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

Stay tuned....!

Raise Your Brown Black Fist: NYC Book Signing

Once again....IT'S ON!!!!

It's my homecoming.  I will be returning to the NYC area (BROOKLYYYYYYYYN) to be doing a book signing in my hometown.  It's something that I've been longing to do since my first book, and I'm finally able to take that opportunity now.  Please join me on Friday, March 23rd from 5pm to 9pm as I speak and sign my books for the general public.  Admission is FREE!!!  Come on through...spread the word...and bring a friend! 

DATE: Friday, March 23, 2012
TIME: 5pn to 9pm
LOCATION: The Marcus Garvey Center
                       5105 Church Avenue
                       Brooklyn, NY 11203

2 or 5 train to Church Avenue, B35 bus to Utica Avenue
OR
3 or 4 train to Utica Avenue, B46 to Church Avenue
The Marcus Garvey Center is located on the corner of Church Avenue and E. 51st Street.


Hope to see you all there!!!!  :D

Book Signing & Lecture: The Aftermath

It finally came and went, my big day.  I was able to FINALLY hold my very first book signing.  It was a bit of an error on my part the first time around when I got published.  I attended a few events and was able to vend at a few festivals, but never quite got around to actually having a lone event to promote my work.  With publishing the second book, I wanted to correct that mistake this time around.

I was able to get to Wisdom Book Center the night before, and helped Bro. Tehuti (the owner) set up the store in the seating arraignment that I envisioned.  He was actually quite impressed with the set up; I had my back to his inventory on the bookshelves, and had all of the seats facing me.  That way, while I'm speaking about my book, they can also see what he has in stock at his store, and also want to purchase something from him along with my own book(s).  That way, we both win; it will gain him some new customers that will want to come back.  I saw that same setup once on C-SPAN, on a program that they have called Book TV.  I always did want to try that set up....

The big day came (February 11th), and I arrived a good 45 minutes early.  I was able to set up my MiniDV video camera, chilled out a bit with Bro. Tehuti, and just waited for the people to come.

They were late...by almost an hour!  CP time, man...CP time....
People who told me that they were going to show up...didn't.
...OR they came really late.
Smh....

Since the event was three hours, I was going to spend the first hour and a half speaking.  Since the folks came late, I cut it down to 45 minutes.  The attendees were tardy, and it wasn't a packed house by any means...but it went GREAT!

I was able to provide a lot of information to my audience, I was able to get my points and views across.  Hell, I was even able to answer some audience questions both during and after my lecture.  I felt really good about it, and felt like I was able to really accomplish my goals.

Afterwards, I was able to sign and sell a number of my books.  I decided to stay past the 3pm deadline, with Bro. Tehuti's blessing.  It was a great day for both of us.  I felt very proud of myself, and was thankful to the brother for allowing me this opportunity to use his space.  I look forward to doing more book signings; not only at brother Tehuti's establishment, but at other locations as well.  Right now, I'm trying to set up book signings in DC, and in my hometown of New York City.  Stay tuned.....

Raise Your Brown Black Fist: Lecture & Book Signing

MARK YOUR CALENDERS!!!!!!!!

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

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

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

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

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