Birthday Stylee

So, my birthday was last week.  It was on the 8th, to be exact.  I am now officially 46 years old.  Didn't really do much for my birthday, considering how COVID-19 has shut down most businesses.  I didn't really want to go to any of the open restaurants, and I'm still a little leery about going into enclosed spaces.  It wasn't a total loss; I actually had some friends surprise me last weekend, and get me a cake, and some chips.  An elder sister and I had birthdays last week, so as to celebrate both of our birthdays, they equally got us the cake and chips.  I was really humbled by that, and truly appreciated my friends for it.  I don't really have too many people out here in Delaware that I associate with, so this act of kindness really meant a lot to me.  

So, Latino Heritage Month has officially ended, as of yesterday.  The month is celebrated from September 15th-October 15th, so yesterday was the 'official' last day for it.  I've been running a series to celebrate the month on YouTube, through my web series "The Rough Draft".  I called it my #CelebratingLatinoHeritageMonth series, and just posted the final video for it, today.  The series is 6 episodes long, and features my Latino lead characters in my novels, and my Latino-themed books.  I hope that you guys will check out the videos, and hopefully be inspired to buy the books.  ALWAYS remember to celebrate your heritage, and celebrate your culture.  Viva mi gente Latino!!!  Soy negro, y orgullo!!!

 

I'm still working on my repatriation plans.  As I've stated before, my top choices are to repatriate to either Gambia in the west of Africa, or to Tanzania in the east.  Just trying to get the passport taken care of, as well as figure out what I need to transport over there.  I've been following some Youtubers who have repatriated to the continent, and hope to connect with them, before my move next year.  My secondary choices are Senegal in the west, and Uganda in the east.  I'm still open to other countries, I just wanna gtfo of the US.  I've had enough.  I 'm also trying to figure what type of business that I'd like to open over there.  I'm still considering the bookstore & cafe idea, but I'm also considering a gym/fitness center, as well.  Other than building my writing career on the continent, I'd like to have something to pass on to my future children...when I finally find a wife to have children with. 

My next book is DONE!!!  I will be releasing a new novel in 2021.  Knuckle Up is another conversion project of mine, and I'm really looking forward to releasing it.  I have an idea for a release date, and I'll be letting you guys know when within the next month.  Stay tuned!!!

That is all for now.  I'll be contacting you guys, soon enough with the release date details.

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

The OCTOBER Edition-Latino Heritage Month

 We have now entered into the month of October.  October is the SECOND half of Latino Heritage Month.  It is also the start of the fall season;  of course, the Autumnal Equinox was in September, buuut you get my drift.  October also happens to be my birthday month...the 8th, to be exact.  I'll be turning 46 years old.  Yay, me.

 

I'm continuing with my celebration for Latino Heritage Month.  I've been doing my series on "The Rough Draft" on YouTube to celebrate it; my #CelebratingLatinoHeritageMonth video series, profiling my Latino lead characters, and Latino-themed books.  Been doing what I can to promote the videos, but you know how that goes...

 

Speaking of "The Rough Draft"...we're now in out twenties!!!  I've just posted Episode 21, today!!  I've been producing and posting the videos on YouTube at a good clip.  I've gotten at least 2 new subscriptions, so far.  My views are still nonexistent, but that's par for the course whenever it comes to anything that I do.  Niggas don't support me for shit.  I can't even remember the last time I sold a book online.  But, I digress...

 

Don't really have any plans to celebrate my upcoming birthday (Oct 8th).  It seems the old I get, the less that I want to be bothered.  I dunno...maybe is I had a girlfriend or wife, it might matter a little more; hell maybe even kids.  Every year, my birthday just gets hollower, and hollower.  :-(

 

Still working on the next book release for next year.  The cover is now DONE!!!  I've gotten my decision down to two different covers.  I just need to come up with a publishing date, and a back cover synopsis.  Yay!!!  Look out for the publication of Knuckle Up (2021)!!!

 

Still working on my plans to repatriate to Africa.  Either Gambia, Tanzania, or Uganda.  I actually do have a comrade that now lives in Ghana; that's an option, as well.  I met him while living in Richmond, VA.  Most of the people that I was associated with back then have moved on to better things, since then.  It almost feels like a lifetime ago.  At the same time, this year makes it ten years since I first moved to Baltimore, MD.  Maybe my ass just needs to learn to stay in one place, lol, lol, lol.  ;-)    

Well, that's all for now.  I'll hit you guys up, and keep you updated on my future plans, and episodes.

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

Latino Heritage Month 2020

 We have now officially entered into Latino Heritage Month.  The celebration of culture lasts from September 15th to October 15th, as this timeline represents the various days of independence declared by countries throughout Latin America (Central & South).  This year will be different, though; because of the COVID-19 coronavirus, many outdoor festivals celebrating Latino heritage and pride have been cancelled, or have been made virtual, this year.  Other than a few programs aired on television via streaming services, or through PBS outlets, Latino Heritage Month has been a quiet affair this year, so far.

 

As always, you know that I must include my own participation in the festivities.  You know that I have to represent for my fellow Afro Latino people.  We are currently (ALWAYS, actually) and continuously underrepresented, or outright misrepresented.  My fellow activists are also doing there part, always helping to spread info about us, and represent our interests.  We are here...we exist.  As I always say...keep the fist raised.

I will be doing my part as well.  I will be doing a special #CelebratingLatinoHeritageMonth edition of "The Rough Draft".  I will be profiling all of my book titles with Latino themes, and Latino/Afro Latino lead characters.  If you are subscribed to my channel on YouTube, the videos will be posted there, starting from Episode 18.  You will be able to enjoy my in-depth profiles of my literary works, the lead characters, and the concepts behind them.

 

As we enter into the last quarter of the remaining year, I will continue to focus of my future plans.  My next book to be published, Knuckle Up (2020), is in it's final stages.  The cover art has been created, and I just have to pick a date to choose when I want to publish that project.  I'm really looking forward to releasing this particular project, as it is another conversion project. I'll let you know when I finally decide on the release date, and will post it here on my blog, and also create a Facebook Event for it.  Stay tuned for that...

ALSO...I'm furthering my plans to relocate the continent by next year; to either Gambia, or Tanzania.  I'm probably going to target the summer of 2021.  Once I get my passport straight, and do all of the other necessary processes I need to do to relocate there, I'm leaving this shithole. No more worrying about getting shot down in the streets for nothing...no more dealing with racism & prejudice in the workplace, or everyday society...no more fighting for people who don't want to be fought for, and just want acquiesce to the power structure of whiteness & white supremacy.  Fuck it....I'm DONE!!!

 

Catch ya next time!!!

Viva mi gente Latino!  Viva mi gente Afro Latino!  Feliz el mes de la herencia de Los Latinos!

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

Falling Into September....

 We are now in the first week of September.  Summer has unofficially come to an end, and we are now in the last quarter of the year.  Only FOUR MORE MONTHS remain for the rest of the year.  :-O!!!  At last count, deaths from the coronavirus was at around 187,000, and still climbing.  At the beginning of this whole pandemic, the experts were saying that we would suffer anywhere between 100,000-200,000 death from the virus.  Looks like they're n track to be right....   :'-(

My heart goes out to the family of John Thompson, the legendary coach from Georgetown University.  I remember when he was still coaching, and how I used to love to watch his teams take the court, as they were beasts in the Big East Conference.  He wasn't just a great coach, he also stood up for our people, and was unapologetic about it.  He will be sorely missed.  :'-(

 

As far as my work(s)-in-progress are concerned, Knuckle Up  (2021) is going very well.  The cover art is done to my liking, and I'm pretty satisfied with the manuscript.  Looks like it's ready to be published, to me.  I'm still deciding on when I'm going to release it next year.  Hopefully, I'll be able to do some in-person appearances to promote it.  Of course, I'm also planning on repatriating to the continent by next year.  Maybe I'll release it, while I'm living in Africa...?  I sure as hell don't receive much support here in the Sates, that's for fucking sure!  But, I digress....

 

I'm also working on another book project.  I've decided to write a sequel to "Seductra: Web of Desire" (CreateSpace, 2017).  This time around, I'm featuring the character of Kenya Slade.  I'm kind of taking the story full circle, as KENYA was originally supposed to be the main character of the story, not Dasha.  Kenya is a little bit older, and more mature this time around.  The story is kinda interesting and different this time around, as I'm adding some other brand new characters to the story.  The working title is "Seductra: Back 2 Da Stage" (???2022???).  I already have a concept for the cover design.  I'll try to keep you guys in the loop...

 

I'm considering creating an account on Patreon.  I need to find some way to get compensated for my work.  I'm sick of these nonexistent book sales.  I need to find a way to make a living off of my writing career somehow.  Perhaps having patrons investing in my work is a great way to go...?  I don't know too many authors/writers that use the Patreon platform, but I'm interested in using it.  What have I got to lose...?  Anything is better than always seeing a big, fat zero whenever I check my sales...

 

Latino Heritage Month starts in another week, or two (September 15th-Otocber 15th).  I'm considering doing a special about it on "The Rough Draft", and posting them to YouTube.  I'm going to be featuring my novels that star my Afro Latino characters.  Hopefully, the weather will agree with me, and I'll be able to shoot the episodes simultaneously.  I have enough novels that will be able to stretch the entire month long celebration.  I'll probably post the first video by next week...

 

That's all for now.  Trying to start the fall season off strong.  Haven't really been able to do much with the Universal Africana Literary Arts Movement.  With the pandemic cancelling out most of the festivals, and other literary events, there's not much information for me to pass on to the other members :-(.  I guess that's just a greater hint that I need to be focusing more on my own literary career, than other people's careers.  Hopefully, things will pick up sooner, than later...

 

I'm out, peoples.  Hope that you enjoyed this post.  Let me know what you think.

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

      

End of Summer Daze......

 It is going on the final weekend of August.  The summer season is coming to an end.  Starting next Tuesday, we'll have FOUR months left in the year.  I guess for some people, this year can't end fast enough.  There has been a lot of tragedy happening.  Last time that I check, I believe that the numbers for deaths from COVID-19 is about 178,000.  My personal opinion...?  A number of those deaths could have been unnecessarily avoided.  We've also lost a number of cultural icons to natural causes, or other diseases.  It's been a year of loss, and heavy emotional turmoil.

 

As August comes to a close, my sales have continued to be stagnant.  I didn't record any new sales for the month.  My sales have basically remained flat for the past THREE months.  Not for lack of trying.  I send out my email e-blasts, I continue to release the videos of "The Rough Draft" with the info to purchase my books, and continue to post about them on my social media.  I'm doing MY part in this....

 

Speaking of "The Rough Draft"...I posted Episode 17 on YouTube.  It celebrates the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of me doing the web series.  I've gotten a few positive responses for it on some of my other social media account, but none on YouTube, as of yet.  No...I will not be posting the link for it here.  It doesn't help me any, even when I do post the link in my blog.  Take yo ass onto YouTube, lol, lol, lol, lol!

Still working on my latest literary project.  "Knuckle Up" seems to be ready to be published.  I'm satisfied with the story, and don't see any additional editing that needs to be done.  I'm working on the cover art, now.  I produced FOUR different versions of the cover; I'm just trying to decide which one to use.  Maybe I should turn it, into some sort of contest...?

 

Still considering my move to the continent.  Still trying to decide between Tanzania, and Gambia.  I'm leaning a little more towards Gambia.  Hopefully, I can make that transition sometime next year.  I still need to get my passport done.  I don't care WHO wins that damn election....it's time for me to GO!!!

 

Working on a new Author Logo.  I might start using it.  I need to update all of my stuff, anyway.  Of course, I finally learned how to make graphic images while using my freeware programs on Windows 10.  Felt kinda dumb when I finally figure that out, lol, lol.

 

That's about it for now.  Hope to hit ya up in September.  I'm planning on doing something special on "The Rough Draft" to celebrate Latino Heritage Month.  I'm going to feature my Latino-themed books for both September & October.  Let me know what you guys think!!!

 

Keep the fist raised!!!

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

Black August Rising.....

 SOOOOOOOOOO.......

 

We have just about completed the first week of August.  The year is now about 2/3 over with.  Time really is starting to fly by.  We are in some trying times, right now.  At last count, about 160,000 people have already died from the coronavirus in the United States.  A number of states are shutting back down, again, and job losses are at an extremely high level.  The politicians are fighting among themselves, claiming to be negotiating for a relief package for the citizens, but we all know that to be kinda bullshit.  Considering that the election is in another three months, you would think that they would do something significant, if they really want to maintain their office, huh?  But...wtf do I know, anyway...? 

My sales are still flat, overall.  Nothing for the two latest releases, or for any of my other previously published projects  (HAH....try saying that five time fast  :-) !!!!).  It gets a little infuriating, this lack of support.  But yet...niggas will name drop Ibram Kendi, or Ta-Nehisi Coates, and post all over social media how they've bought their books, posting pictures and shit.  But, then again....I'm just a hater.  ***EXTREME sarcasm dripping***

Aaaaaaaaaaanyway.....

"The Rough Draft" turns one years old this month!!!  August 23rd actually makes it one year since I've started the vlog on YouTube.  I'm planning on doing a special episode for it; I've contacted people on my email Mailing List to submit questions to ask me about my career, writing process, character, etc.; basically, it'll be an 'Ask-the-Author' segment.  Surprisingly, I actually got some feedback from people on the questions to ask.  I'll be reading all of the respondents questions in the video, and answering them.  I'm considering posting the link here, after the episode is shot & edited....

 

Speaking of "The Rough Draft", Episode #16 has been shot and posted on YouTube.  No...I won't be posting the link here.  You can go to YouTube, and look for it.

 

My latest literary project "Knuckle Up" is progressing really well.  I juuuust might publish it in 2021.  I'm continuing to edit the manuscript, and I've already designed 2 versions of the book cover.  I'm pretty happy with the progress of this project, and I kinda can't wait to drop it.  I'll let you guys know when I plan on releasing that project next year.

 

August is the month of revolution.  It is the birth month of the Rt. Hon. Marcus Mosiah Garvey, founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association & African Communities League  (UNIA & ACL).  I believe that it is also the month when George Jackson died in San Quentin federal prison, and his brother Jonathan Jackson died trying to break him out of prison.  Learn about your past revolutionaries, and use that information to help improve our communities, and help to make them better.  Shout out to Black Lives Matter!!!  Keep up the struggle!!!

 

Well, that'll be all for now.  Catch ya on the flip side!!!

 

Keep the fist raised.

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind   

The Month of July So Far.....

As we approach a little beyond the midway point of the month, things are looking VERY unsettled.  Coronavirus numbers are starting to climb back up, and states are starting to re-institute restrictions to protect the populace...or, at least to cover their collective asses, for their potential reelection bids.

Oh, yeah...and my book sales ain't been shit.  Yeah...I had to throw that in there, somewhere.

If you're on YouTube, and have an account with them, I've just uploaded the latest episode of "The Rough Draft"; Episode #15.  I won't be posting the link here, as I don't think that it ever helps, or matters.  Subscribe to my channel if you can, and LEAVE A COMMENT!!!  It would be nice to actually get some feedback from people who 'claim' to be my supporters.  I feel like a little kid who gets brushed off, just because he's a little kid, or being annoying.  Just give me SOME sort of feedback!!

Working on my latest manuscript.  Decided to convert my screenplay "Knuckle Up" into my next book.  I'm going through round THREE of editing, so far.  If things keep going at this rate, I'm hoping to have completed editing by the end of the year, and have the book ready for publication in 2021.  I've got few ideas about how I want the cover to look.  I'm excited about this project, as it is one of my favorite scripts.  I'll keep you guys updated on my progress with that project....

The day job front is stagnant.  My state is stuck in 'Phase 2' for the time being, until our COVID-19 numbers go down in the state.  I haven't heard from my boss on when we're supposed to go back to work.  I kinda don't mind, but I just really hate staying at home.  I just can't believe that some people actually live like this, for most of their lives; just staying at home, waiting for a check.  Couldn't be me.  Good thing that I've got my writing career to work on.  At least it gives me something to do, and gives me purpose.

Kinda looking forward to next month.  It's "Black August", for those of us revolutionaries out there.  Personally for me, it marks 1 whole year since I started producing "The Rough Draft".  I might decide to have an episode doing a recap of what I've posted within that year.  Actually...I'd rather do an 'Ask-The-Author' segment, where my fans get to ask me questions, and I get to answer their questions in the video.  I'll let you know what I'm planning...

That's about all for now.  I'll keep you guys updated on my progress.  Hopefully, things will improve, and will get somewhat back to normal.  Stay safe, peoples!!!

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind