Veneral Equinox

So, today is the first official day of Spring....the Veneral (Spring) Equinox.  It's actually quite cold and cloudy today.  BUT.....it's a new season, and the energy is coming anew.  Makes me feel like spittn' somethin' all poetic, and whatnot.....

A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-Ahem-hem-hem......

Poem........

"When ya crushin', really crushin'.....

When she lights up a room when she enters, just by her presence,
Those beautiful eyes, that smile, the sexiness of her voice...
Straight up being sexy, without even trying to be,
That swing, that gait, that sassiness, that shape...
Whether you handlin' your business, or being ride or die,
When temples should be built in your name and honor...
When ya wanna bow down every single day, every single time, in her presence,
When you deserve to be deified, and blessed every waking moment of every day...
As the song says, "You got it....you got it bad..."...

When ya crushin', really crushin'....."

(C) 2018

Hey....it's a work-in-progress.  If you want better examples of what I can spit, check out my  poetry eBook "Spittin' Lyrics N Waxin' Poetic" (Draft2Digital, 2015).

Hoping that the change in season will help to move me forward, and get to where I want to be.  Had to shed some negative energy recently; some punk ass from my past that I had to cut off (actually, had to cut off AGAIN).  Hadda block his stupid ass on social media, this time.  Fuck it....he wasn't worth it.  You can only go so far with certain people in your life.  Snip, snip.....

Trying to boost sales for "Fiesta Girl" (Draft2Digital, 2018).  Been doing my usual outreach, but it's going reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaally slowly.  Not trying to say that I should be a millionaire by now, or anything like that, but come ON!  Can a brother get SOME sorta support?!?!?

Anyway......

Primarily focusing on outreach, and promotions right now.  I'm not even bothering to write a new project.  I'm a little tapped out, right about now.  Sales have been ridiculously stagnant, and I'm trying to gain some sort of momentum.  Basically been spending all of last year trying to rebuild, and get my paper straight, so that I can continue to invest in my writing career.  Hoping to hit the festival circuit this year, and do a few events.  Only time will tell.  Got some other issues that I'm dealing with that might hinder that....

But....I digress.

Hit you back next time!

Uhuru sase, y paz!!!

Author Book Trailer ***UPDATED 2018***

With the release of my latest book "Fiesta Girl" (Draft2digital, 2018), I've updated my Author Book Trailer promoting my literary works.  I've included the cover to my latest project to reflect ALL of my titles that I've written.  So, for all of you that consider yourselves my fans, heeeeeeeeerrrrrreeeee we go:

Hope that you enjoyed the *updated* video book trailer!  Please spread the word about the video, and PLEASE purchase copies of my books.  Available in both paperback & eBook formats!!

Keep the fist raised!!!

UIhuru sase, y paz!!!!

Literary Progress So Far......

So "Fiesta Girl" (Draft2digital, 2018) has been on the market for about two weeks now.  The sales are as I expected them to be....

.......Utterly dismal.

I created a Facebook event for it....created an email e-blast campaign for it....tagged a bunch of people with the link once it was finally published, aaaaaaaannnnnnnnd......

...absolutely NOTHING!!!!  Just my sister, and one sister/comrade purchased a copy.  Oh...a few people clicked the 'like' button, as usual.  But as far as purchases and downloads are concerned...?

Nada.

Yeah....so that's my literary career in a nutshell.

Makes me just want to delist all of my shit, and just throw in the towel.

I don't believe in that whole 'just-write-for-yourself' bullshit.  If that was the case, then why the hell bother going through the trouble of publishing your book/novel, and bringing your work to market then?!  I might as well just write it up, go to Kinkos or Staples to print out a copy for myself, and call it a day.  Why go through all that extra headache of trying to promote and market your work, then?  Especially if you are independently published, or self-published?!

I have a lot of stories to tell, and I want to tell them.  I've been a storyteller for a VERY long time.  what's the point then, if people seem to not want to hear them?!  Even when I tell people that I'm a published author, they seem unimpressed.  Ummm...how many published authors do YOU know?!?!  Especially someone who has written multiple books....?  I don't do that out of arrogance; damn it, it's what I do for a fucking living!  I know plenty of mf who claim to be rappers, or singers....even poets.  Actual published authors/writers....?  Not so much....not unless I'm traveling within those circles.

I would understand if I was wack, and had no talent.  I've gotten plenty of positive feedback from my work.  Even during  my days as an indie screen writer, people have complimented my work.  I have the gift and the skill...just not the support.

STOP pressing the 'like' button, and START supporting the work!  And it's NOT just me...I know PLENTY of my fellow creative artists who are suffering through the same thing.  Y'all can go out and frivolously spend your money with these commercial entities for shit that you don't need, but when any of us indies creates something and asks....no...BEGS for your support, you look at us with some stupid look on your face, and say dumb shit like, "You shouldn't/can't try to shame me into supporting you", or "How do/can I support you?".

Does Samsung have to tell you how you can  support them whenever they drop some new electronic device?  Does Nike have to tell you how to support them whenever they drop a new sneaker?  Does Hewlett Packard have to tell you how to support them whenever they drop a new computer?  Does Sega or Nintendo when they drop their latest gaming system?

But, I digress.....

Learn to support us.  You can run out, and support some commercial entity that's part of the machine, but you can't seem to support any of us on the independent front?

No wonder they just tell you to just get a job, smdh....

Fiesta Girl eBook Novel

IT'S FINALLY HERE!!!!

My latest novel "Fiesta Girl" is finally live!  Published through Draft2Digital, this Urban Lit/Romance novel is one Urban (Afro) Latino love story that you won't want to miss!!!

"Brooklyn's own Alonzo Carrion is a gifted writer and poet....and a hopeless romantic.  After being the victim of a recent heartbreak, not even his writing can help him to clear his mind, and ease his soul.  Enter Rita Lebron, a down-to-earth Fashion Design student student from the Lower East Side, ready and willing to become his muse.  After a chance meeting while out with friends at a party, they fall for each other, fast and hard.

But...Rita has some dark relationship demons that she has to deal with.  Will the lovestruck couple fight through the darkness, and persevere....or, will they let their personal demons control their hearts, and derail their relatioship?  Set in 1990's New York City to the soundtracks of Latin Freestyle and Hip hop, this is one Urban Afro Latino love story that you won't want to miss.  Based on the original screenplay by the author!!"

Available exclusively in eBook format only!!  Distributed through such channels as Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Kobo+, iTunes, Scribed, 24Symbols, Playster, Overdrive, and internationally through Tolino!

Keep the fist raised!!!!!   

So It Is February......

The month of February is now here.....

I'm not as psyched as I usually am for the month, as February has become a special month for me in recent years.

February is the start of Black History Month (BHM) in the United States...
It's also my anniversary month for being a published author (currently EIGHT years)...
It's also the publishing anniversary for my fourth book, and first novel, "The Chronicles of The Black Fist" (CreapsSpace, 2015)...
I'll be dropping my latest novel this month, this year in 2018 [Fiesta Girl, Draft2Digital, 2018]...
Akoma Day is this month (February 14th-20th), though I don't have a special lady to celebrate it with this year...
....And finally....this month also marks my one year anniversary living in Delaware.

Call it what you want; battle fatigue...depression...the 'blahs'....I'm kinda going through it right now.  Thought I'm principally concentrating on my latest book project, I'm just not feeling it right now.  I'm a lot better off now personally, than I was a year ago (hell...try four), but I'm still not close to where I want to be.  My life has improved, but not the way that I've expected it to be, nor have I come as far as I would like to.  I know that I said in an earlier post, that I'm still learning to practice patience, but come ON!!

But, I digress....

Fiesta Girl is coming along.  She drops NEXT WEEK!  I'm excited about it, though my optimism is still negligible, considering my past book launches.  It's always the same; a lot of 'likes', but never any meaningful amount of purchases.  HOPEFULLY, this time will be different.  I'll be making a post about it here on the blog, complete with a few links to download the book.

Working on the latest listing for the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement.  It's coming along really well.  The first draft of the listing is pretty lengthy.  I hope that it helps the other members of the Movement.  It's should be done in another week, or so.  Hopefully, this year, I can participate in a few of those events myself...

Other than that, just keeping my head up, and doing what I do.  Will be branching out to to a web-based TV show with a comrade of mine out here.  We'll be showcasing local ethnic restaurants, and promoting them on the show.  It's a great idea, and a boon to these local ethnic food spots.  Hey...if WE don't support our own businesses, who will?

Catch you on the flip side!!!

Uhuru sase, y paz!!!!  

Publishing Updates.....

I'm going through the final rounds of editing to get "Fiesta Girl" ready for publication.  I'm actually quite excited about this.  I've already posted a Facebook event about it, but only a handful of people replied to it.  I guess that I shouldn't be all that surprised; that's pretty much the standard response that I get to my efforts, whether activism or otherwise....

I remember when I first wrote it as a screenplay.  I was really proud of that particular script.  I put a lot of myself into that particular project. It encumbers a lot of creative elements; my poetry, some of my songs that I'd written for my never-existed group New Latin Swing, a clothing line idea that I had to promote the group, and a music video TV show idea that I had.  Hopefully, I'll have some success with it as a eNovel, that I didn't have as a movie script.  Then again, if sales are successful, you never know...

Other than trying to get my new business cards printed up, I don't have any real plans, other than trying to promote my stuff this year.  Don't know how much I'll chill out this year, and just concentrate on the promotions for my book titles.  I still want to work on the sequels to "The Chronicles of The Black Fist" (CreateSpace, 2015), and get them published.  Maybe when I find the time and motivation....

Still hoping to get my own place.  Next month marks one year that I've been here in Delaware.  Can't say anything negative about it.  I'm on my own, so to speak...I'm working....I have some money in my pocket; I can't complain.  Slowing making friends, and getting my name out there; professionally and culturally.  I'm looking forward to tackling a few new projects in the new year.  The Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement is celebrating its 'unofficial' 10th year anniversary this year.  I can't believe that it's been 10 years, already!  My, how time flies, and how much of an impact I've/we've had. The movement has been around for ten years, and still going strong.  I've made some great friends and connections through the Movement, and hope to continue going on strong.

Well, if I don't get any time next week, to post another entry, hopefully the next post will be "Fiesta Girl's" release.  Stay tuned, and take care!!!  :-)

Uhuru sase, y paz!!!

Welcome to 2018!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!
FELIZ ANO NUEVO!!!!!!

What's good, my peoples?  Happy new Year, and welcome to 2018!  2017 was a transition year for me, and I actually ended the year on a pretty strong note.  I was able to attend a number of Kwanzaa events here in Wilmington that were off the chain, and actually ended my work week on a positive footing . 

2018 is going to be a good year.  I am in better spirits, and I'm in a better place on many different levels.  Though my money could be a little bit better, at least I'm in a better position than I have been over the last few years.  I will be celebrating the 10th year anniversary of operation for the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement; quite an accomplishment I might add, especially without any manpower, or financial assistance.  I will also be celebrating my EIGHTH year as a published author, and will be dropping my NINTH book next month in February.  I'm really looking forward to the release of "Fiesta Girl"; it was definitely a labor of love.  It was formerly a screenplay that I'd written over 20 years ago, and I didn't want the story to go to waste.  Here is the cover for it:

I'm scheduling to have it released during the week of Akoma Day (February 14th-20th), my own way to celebrate the institution of Black love.  February also marks the 3-year publishing anniversary of "The Chronicles of The Black Fist" (CreateSpace, 2015), my Action/Adventure superhero novel.  Though I'll be concentrating primarily on marketing Fiesta Girl, I'm hoping to make a splash in sales for that particular novel; one of my favorite projects to date.

On the personal side, I'm hoping to meet Mrs. Right, settle down, and hopefully start a family.  Brother ain't getting any younger, and I would like to be young enough to enjoy at least one child.  Now If I can juuust find a decent sista/hermana to connect with......   ;-)

I hope that the new year has great plans for you.  Let's make it happen, and move forward.  Hoping to keep the positive vibes going, and to keep progressing.

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