Welcome to 2024

 Yeah...it's been a really, really.....really long time.  I admit it...I seriously fell the f**k off for a while.  Need to definitely get back on my writing grind.

December came and went.  Smashwords had their End-Of-Year sale happen from December 15th running until January 1st.  I entered my books in the sale.  Ain't sell shit.  Nuccas ain't download none of my books.  Was not too happy about that.  The shit was half off at $0.99, and people still couldn't bother to buy/download a copy of any of my books.  No wonder my writing career is in the dumps...

Other than that, I was off from the day job for the final week of 2023.  Took some vacation time, finally.  That week went by waaaaaay too quick.  I relaxed for most of it.  Just really vegged out, and watched TV.  I kinda messed up my laptop by spilling tea all over it.  Had to wait until after the new year to buy an external mouse because I fucked mine up that came with the laptop.  Oh well...

 

Since we are now in the month of JANUARY, I can't forget to mention my publishing anniversaries.  January will mark the five-year publishing anniversary of my novel "The Chronicles of The Black Fist: F.U.R.I. of the People" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2019), as well as the three-year publishing anniversary of my boxing novel "Knuckle Up" (Kindle Direct Publishing, 2021).  Both are available in paperback & eBook formats through all major distributors.

 

Considering getting back into writing in 2024.  I still got a few manuscripts that I want to complete.  The lack of sales really got me down last year, and took me off my writing game.  I need to get that fire and drive back.  Fuck the wack ass nonsupporters.  If you haven't bought any of my shit by now, you ain't gonna buy none of my shit.  I have at least three books that I'm close to finishing up.  Will I be able to publish in 2024...?  Only time will tell.

 

Working on the latest episode of "The Rough Draft".  Gonna change the original concept of the episode.  That encounter on my Facebook status pissed me off, and I need to put some people on blast for they bullshit.  Check it out when it airs...

 

That's all for now.  No extra promises, or other types of updates.  Gonna work harder on keeping this blog more consistent. 

 

Keep the fist raised!!!

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

  

November Vibes 2023....

 We are now in the month of NOVEMBER!!!  There are only TWO months left in the year 😲😲😲😲😲😲!!  Where did the time go?!?!?!

To start with, November celebrates the 12-year publishing anniversary of my second book "Raise Your Brown Black Fist 2: MORE Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino" (Outskirts Press, 2011).  I was always proud of this book, and it started my string of literary works.  Once I knocked book number two out, I just knew that I had to produce more literary works.  Available in paperback and eBook formats for the masses.

 

Welcome to NaNoWriMo!!!!  For those of you not in the know, that acronym stands for "national novel writing month".  It's when people participate in writing an entire novel in one month.  They actually have workshops, and an organized festival to do this.  Personally, I've never participated in it, but if that's what you wanna do....more power to you.  I know that it's a good exercise to do to get the creative juices flowing, and helping you to be/stay hyper focused on writing your literary project, buuuuut...thaaaat ain't for me.   

The holidays are coming up.  I don't have any plans to participate in any events.  Knowing my shitty ass job, I probably wouldn't be able to participate any damned way.  Since the holidays are coming up, business usually slows down for us at the day job, as they start cutting back on hours.  Normally, that would be good, but since my work schedule is never consistent, it doesn't really matter.  Doing any hand-to-hand sales would help me to boost my career up, not to mention....putting some much needed extra money in my pocket.  Other than hitting off a coworker at the day job with a copy of "In My Lifetime" (at a discount, since the copy was damaged), I haven't been able to get out, and really get my name known out here.  Not than I'm regretting moving out here, but...I thought that my writing career would be in much better shape than this...

 

No real plans publish any works in 2024.  I still have other w.i.p.s that I haven't gotten around to finishing.  These poor ass sales of mine have me pretty bummed out, and it's affecting my writing.  Why bother publishing shit, if nobody's gonna buy and read it?  I need to get back that love for writing, and just get that shit done, if just for my own sake.  Fuck the rest of y'all... 😡😡😡😡

 

Been doing pretty good on the video front.  The latest episodes of "The Rough Draft" have been posted to YouTube, and have been shared across my social media (except for Twitter/X...I haven't been on there for a hot minute...).  We are now up to 64 episodes.  I'm hoping to end this year on a strong note, with a few more episodes...    

Was hoping to do a few local Kwanzaa events, but can't seem to find any (at least, online).  Need to try some word of mouth.  That's the only thing about out here...they actually do do word of mouth, but you usually will found out about it at the last minute.  Oh, well...

That's all for now.  Will keep you posted on my progress.  Until next time...

Uhuru sasa, y paz.  Keep the fist raised!!!

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind 

The Cool of October/My Birthday Month

 We are now in the month of OCTOBER!!!  Time really does fly, don't it?  The year is less than two months over with... 😲😲😲😲

It's my birthday month!!  I will officially be 49 years old on October 8th.  I'll be entering the final year of my 40s!  Had a lot of up-and-downs during this particular decade of my life; mostly downs.  A little bit of that fight that I used to have, has now left me.  I still have a lot of my hustle/drive, but I'm trying to be a lot smarter about that; there's always gonna be an angle to find when slinging the books.

We're entering the second half of Latino Heritage Month.  The month officially ends on October 15th.  Still considering doing that controversial episode of The Rough Draft, speaking on my negative feelings towards the current state of the so-called 'Afro Latino movement'.  There's a loooot that I see that's wrong with it.  It's not the same movement that I was a part of, so many decades ago.  Too many clowns are jumping on this, like it's a trend.  It's very fractured, and you have a shit load of posers involved that are only in it for their own self interest, and their own selfish gain. 😡😡😡😡

 

Doing what I can to promote the books.  I might need to look into some local Kwanzaa events, and see if I can get down as a vendor.  I need to find a way to end the year on a strong and positive note, especially financially.  Sales are abysmal and nonexistent, and it's really getting me down.

 

Doing a lot of reflecting, since my birthday is coming up.  Still considering that relocation to the continent.  I just really need to get on the ball with that.  I definitely need to get my passport straight, as well as make some final plans to make that move.  I want to gtfoh by the end of 2024.  With the way shit is going here in this country politically, I don't want to stick around and witness the fallout from all this craziness, especially if the community isn't prepared for the repercussions of that fallout.  Fuck that...you can have this fallen so-called empire...

 

That's all for now.  Will keep you guys updated on my literary and political progress.  Hoping to also get my writing groove back.  Maybe if I can make some sales, that would help.

 

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

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

 

The Falls of September.....

 We have now entered into the month of SEPTEMBER!!!  We have officially entered into the LAST QUARTER of the year!!  The final FOUR months of 2023!!!  MY...how time flies... 😲😲😲😲

 

With the coming of the month of September, you have the celebration of the Autumnal Equinox.  It's the official beginning of the season of fall.  It's a time of renewal; yet another change in the season.  The temperatures will cool significantly, and the leaves will soon be a-changing.  Kinda glad for that, cause that heat this summer was whupping my ass something serious...

 

Also in the month of September, you have the beginning of Latino Heritage Month.  The month officially starts on September 15th.  We get to celebrate our pride and culture.  And...as always...I strive to highlight and promote our Afro Latino/African roots & heritage during the month.  I'm still trying to figure out what it is that I'm going to do, exactly.  I have an idea for an episode of "The Rough Draft" to do (probably episode no. 63), but it's going to be quite controversial.  I have some serious issues with the current state of the so-called 'Afro Latino Movement' (basically, I think that it's all bullshit 😠😠😠😠).  I'll definitely go further into detail as to why I have issues with the current state of the movement, once I shoot the video.  Stay tuned for details...

 

Speaking of The Rough Draft...don't forget to go to YouTube, and check out the latest video, Ep. 61!!

 

I had an issues with my books not being made available to Barnes & Noble, and to Books-A-Million.  I am happy to announce that I have resolved the issue, and that my titles are now being made available on both platforms 😁😁😁.  I think that it was a bit of a fuck up on my end; I guess I assumed that my books would be made available to those platforms automatically, like they were when CreateSpace was a separate entity.  Oh well...you live, and you learn.  The books are available now, so that's what really matters...     

Still working on my promotional grind.  The shit gets pretty tiring, but if I don't do it, it won't get done.  Nobody is out here in these streets, helping me to sling my book titles.  I definitely wanna get back to doing in-person appearances at festivals, and the like.  I miss interacting with potential fans.  I just don't wanna have to deal with the assholes out there, though.  Ya feel me...?

That's about all for now.  Catch y'all on the flip side!!!

Uhuru sasa, y paz.

Keep the fist raised.

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

The Closing of Black August...

 We are coming to the end of the month.  I'm starting to marinate on a few things, as the month comes to a close...

For starters, I FINALLY got the chance to shoot an episode of "The Rough Draft", and post it up to YouTube.  Episode no. 61 is now live!!!  Since I haven't really posted any content in the last 2 months, I had to get people up to speed with what's been happening with me.  Go to my YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/@kevinsabio to see the entire series.  The 23rd marks the four-year production anniversary of the making of "The Rough Draft".  Yay, me!!!  😁😁😁

 

Speaking of the vlog series, I've been considering a few things.  I want to invest in a Sony Handycam so that I can shoot more content, instead of having to use my laptop.  With a Handycam, I can also do field productions, and shoot content from festivals, or comic cons, or book fairs, and add them to my channel.  I'm also considering getting a new/second laptop.  I don't have enough storage space on my current laptop, and need more storage space to shoot & edit my videos.  That was pretty much always the plan anyway; going back to my video production days.  I needed one computer to write my scripts (and hold my other data), and another to use strictly for editing purposes.  I've seen a Handycam online at Best Buy for $229, and I've seen a few laptops going from $279.99 to $379.99 (various brands, like Acer, HP, Asus). Of course, everything comes down to having the money to pay for it all, which is something that I don't have....  😑😑😑😖😖😖😖😞😞😞😞

 

The 28th make it two years that I've officially been living in Raleigh.  I like it out here, and don't regret making that move.  Just wish that I was a little more stable, both financially, and domestically.  There's a lot that I want to do, but my living situation makes things a little bit harder for me to do.  It's expensive to live out here, and with there not being any regulations put out there for housing, and other things, these crazy ass people can do whatever they want.  I have a place to stay, just not my own place.  These politicians out here are fucking ass, and pretty much let people be exploited, and treated like garbage.  Oh, well...

 

Recently found out that some of my books actually are not listed on Books-A-Million.  It seems like half my inventory isn't listed on there.  All of my books published after the merging of CreateSpace and Kindle Direct Publishing (2017) aren't listed on there.  I'm a little pissed off about that.  All this anti-Amazon hate is really fucking with my livelihood.  My books are still listed on Barnes & Noble, though.  Still, that's taking money outta my pocket.  For anybody published through Amazon, they're making it really difficult for us. 😡😡😡😡😠😠😠😠

 

That's all for now.  hope that you enjoyed this wrap-up.  See you next month!!

 

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

 

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind

 

      

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

 

  

July's Rising Heat

 We have now entered into the month of JULY!!!  We are now past the halfway point of the year, and are smack in the middle of the summer season.  The temperature is rising, and so are the opportunities to make an impact.

 

First off...I gotta promote the latest sale that I have going on...

 

Smashwords is having this annual 'Summer/Winter Sale' on their store site.  My books are listed on Smashwords, and I've made them all available for the sale.  My titles are discounted at 75% off the regular eBook price.  Quite honestly...they're actually FREE for the entire month of July.  Feel free to cop a few, if not all, of my book titles!  Support a brother!!! 😁😁😁😁

 

I will be adding my 1st book "Raise Your Brown Black Fist: The Political Shouts of an Angry Afro Latino" to Draft2Digital as an eBook.  I want this book to be made available to libraries, and other outlets.  It's already listed on the major eBook distro channels of Kindle, Nook, and Apple Books; but I want to be able to reach a wider audience.  My publisher for it (Authorhouse) only distributes the eBook to the main eBook carriers, so I gotta do the additional legwork to get it out to other audiences.

 

Speaking of Draft2Digital...I'll be releasing the paperback version of "Spittin' Lyrics N Waxin' Poetic" this month through their P.O.D. arm, D2D Print.  I might as well bite the bullet, and see what happens.  I don't really have anything to lose by doing that, since I haven't been having any success with it solely as an eBook.  At least now, all 14 of my books will available in physical paperback format.  I'm still debating about printing "Fiesta Girl" through them, and delisting it from KDP.  Let's just see how this one goes, and then I'll decide if I want to use them to print some of my other books...

 

I'm planning on discontinuing the plan to do the Black/Brown Bookstore Book Tour.  I don't have the mobility to get around to some of these bookstores that I want to promote & do the signings at.  I'm trying to be as economical as possible, and lugging all those books through Greyhoud or AmTrak just doesn't sound feasible. I might just try to concentrate on doing some of the local festivals to vend at, which would be much easier.  Maybe if I knew some fellow local authors out here who would be interested in doing the tour as a joint venture, I'd commit to it.  I don't want to say that it's hard for me to make any friends out here, but it's not very easy to find any like-minded people that think the way that I do.

 

That's all for now.  Looking forward to keeping you guys updated on my other upcoming plans.  Stay tuned!!! 😊😊😊

 

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

#AlwaysOnMyLiteraryGrind