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!!!

Taller de Identidad Afroperuana

Share by my sister at Lundu, Monica Carrillo....

TALLER DE IDENTIDAD AFROPERUANA
February 7-8, 2015
Universidad Peruana de Ciencias e Informatica

Organized by:  Ashanti Peru
www.ashantiperu.org

An event celebrating the International Decade of the Afrodescendant!!!

The Chronicles of The Black Fist!!! (upcoming book excerpt)

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Latest Progress Report....

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

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

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

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

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

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

Uhuru sase, y paz!

HAPPY NEW YEAR/ My Resolutions

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  WELCOME TO 2015!!!!

Hopefully, everyone had a joyous new years celebration.  2014 was definitely an up and down year for me.  It ended on a somewhat negative note, but I'm looking forward to the new year, and the positive energies that come with it. 

Of the positives: I ended the year quitting my position in my organization (not to mention my day job), and moving back to the city of my birth.  I got the chance to be more active, and enjoy myself a little more, attending the various cultural events that take place in NYC and other places.  I also dropped my 3rd book in four years.  I got the opportunity to participate in more festivals/book fairs to help promote my books.  Also, I've been lucky enough to network and make friends with other authors and Afro Latin@ activists, specifically a lot of young hermanas getting into the movement.

Of the negative, though...the move back home hasn't been as smooth as I'd anticipated it to be.  I haven't been getting the type of book sales that I've wanted, nor have I gotten much traction as far as being able to promote myself to the local media, or consistently put together book signing appearances.  Not to mention, a dear friend of mine who I looked up to passed away in December.  2015 couldn't get here fast enough for me...

For the new year, my plans are to publish yet another book; this time a novel.  I'm hoping to have my latest book, "The Chronicles of The Black Fist" published by early Spring; a superhero novel.  I know of a few black comic book conventions to debut it at, and I think that it can take off from there.  Most likely, I will focus solely on promoting that particular book; it might be easier on me to focus my energy promoting only one book, instead of all of them.  I know that having written as many books as I have shows a high level of skill and versatility, but I think personally it would be easier to focus my marketing energies on one book for the time being.  Besides, nobody seems to care too much for my nonfiction stuff.  Why beat a dead horse...?

So...here's to a better 2015.  I'm planning on rebounding back in a strong way, improving on what I did or didn't do well last year.  Hopefully, you guys will come out and support me once the book drops.

Uhuru sase, y paz.

Afrolatin@ Project: Afrolatin@s Presente! 2015 Kickstarter Campaign

Representing for my peoples at the Afrolatin@ Project/Proyecto Afrolatin@!!!!  Wanted to help spread the word about their Kickstarter campaign.  Please support them in their efforts!  Please pass the word on!!!!

The campaign runs from December 23, 2014 until January 28, 2015!!!  PLEASE CONTRIBUTE!!!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/afrolatinospresente/afrolatins-presente-2015

Uhuru sase, y paz. 

PLEASE SUPPORT!!!!

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!!!