I Hate Moving!

I had just finished the ordeal of moving! There is nothing worse than having to move at the same time you have a book due. I have been so stressed this last month that I've gained ten pounds. I've always been a stress eater. I would give anything to be one of those kind of women who loses her appetite when she's under pressure. Right now my entire body hurts from moving furniture. I thought it was all over when the moving truck left and then I remembered I had to go back to my old place and clean it up. It took me all day to vacuum, clean and shampoo. But finally at nine p.m. it's all over...or is it? Nope, because I can't find any clean linen so I stepped out in my garage and remembered I can't park my car inside because I have boxes, lots and lots of boxes filling the entire contents. With a heavy sigh, I turned out the light, shut the door. I'll save the search for another day. Now I'm wondering if I'm going to get this book done in time. Only time will tell....

I'm Back!

I am home after weeks of conforming to the Air Forces way of life. It definitely was not easy at my age but I did it and lived to talk about it. ha-ha! It was definitely the biggest challenge of my life and worth every second. Check out the article below for more information.
http://www.columbiatribune.com/2008/Jun/20080607News005.asp

An Unlikely Soldier, Oops! I meant Airman

For the last several months I've been talking about making a major change in my life. Well, I finally did it. I joined the Air National Guard! I still can't believe I did it but I did. The photo proves it. Maybe I was going through a midlife crisis or was just bored looking for a new challenge. Whatever the reason, I feel really good about my decision and look forward to serving my country for the next six years. I'm off to basic training in February and am excited about getting whipped into shape. There will definitely be a book about my experience in the upcoming future. You better believe it.

Back in the Rat Race

After almost eight years I am back to working full time and have to admit, I love it! It's funny because I thought that staying at home and writing was enough for me but recently I've discovered that it feels so much more rewarding, getting up every morning and going to a job that I truly love. I am working in the Human Resources Department at the National Guard Center. I am using my degree in HR and my brain (not that I wasn't before) and it feels good. Really good. And that big check I'll see in my checking account on Friday is bound to me make me feel even better.

Don't judge a book by its cover

There have been a lot of negative comments being posted about the upcoming release of Big Spankable Asses regarding race, etc. I must say that me and my big SPANKABLE ass are proud to be a part of the anthology. I found nothing degrading about the title or the concept, instead it was a whole lot of laughs and BIG fun. I can't wait to work on the next one. Sure, the model on the cover looks plastic and her ASS nowhere near represents a sistah’s booty, but so what. It ain't about that. Those stories were written by three educated and talented women of color, who would never do anything to shed a negative light on black women. I can't help it if I am spankalicious.

Back from the RT Convention and Feeling So Damn Good

I love conferences. It's a chance for me to learn what's new in the industry, meet new friends and make connections. I shared room with my girl Kimberly Kaye Terry, my partner in crime, and the author that put together the Big Spankable Asses anthology. We met at the last RT and have been friends every since. We think a lot alike and bumped heads once or twice, but I wouldn't trade her. We help each other and it's rare when you find an author who is willing to work together without feeling threatened or jealous. We worked that conference! She and I networked, met with friends, made new friends, and gave a awesome multicultural panel. It was wonderful seeing people from different races all in one room discussing blacks in the publishing industry. One editor mentioned that it was an eye opening experience for her, another said she has a vision to bring African American romance to the forefront. I felt so proud being a part of this event and to meet editors who ARE interested in what we write. I hear so much negativity about how the RT Convention isn't for us but that is a bunch of BS. WE need to stop sitting in the corner feeling sorry for ourselves and instead do what we have to do to be recognized. I have to say I learned some very important things at that conference that at this moment I am putting to action. Because the only person who controls my destiny is me.

I'm Not My Hair

Over the years, I'm sure you've noticed that my hairstyles have changed so much folks haven't been able to recognize me. I've always like change. I've worn weave, braids, wigs, cut it short, relaxed my hair, and of course I am known for dying my hair honey blonde. Sometime last year I realized that with all of the writing I'm doing, who the hell has time to be worrying about her hair. I was at the point that I hated having to use a curling iron every morning, and I refused to spend money going to the beauty shop. I would get up every morning and have to set aside thirty minutes just for my hair. Back in September I finally said enough is enough and decided to start locking my hair. First off, I refused to start from scratch. I began my locks with perm on the ends. it actually looked like I had microbraids with the twisted hair and then the straight ends. it was a long process especially for someone who doesn't have much patience. About a month ago, I finally found the guts to cut off the perm. Believe me, I didn't want to. I could actually pull my hair back in a ponytail and do all those cute twisty styles. Anyway, like I said, I finally cut it off. Now I've got a nappy ass fro that is starting to finally look like dreadlocks. I'm loving the low maintenance. I guess you'll be seeing this hairstyle for a long time.

Snow and more damn snow!

I live in the midwest and let me tell you if it snows again I'm going to jump off my roof. This has been the worse winter we've had in years and I just don't know how much more of this I can take. I still have two sixty pound bags of sand in my trunk, a can of de-icer and a scraper. I have a bag of salt and the shovel sitting right inside the garage ready for action. I went to sleep last night and woke up to seven more inches of the white slippery mess. Right now, I'm sitting looking out the window at all the SUVs racing up the street and with everyone, comes my salute, a stiff middle finger. That's why I need to win the lottery so I can buy that big house on the ocean and every winter while I'm basting in the sun I can watch the weather channel and laugh at all those who live in the midwest. I wonder if someone in Florida is watching and laughing at me?

Big Spankable Asses

Okay, I just received the cover to my October release. I love it. It's different from any other Aphrodisia. But where the hell is her ass??? I love the concept and you can definitely tell she's a sistah (although she looks a little plastic), but as I said before does my girl look spankalicious to you?

Happy New Year!

It has been a long holiday season. I took two weeks off from writing so that I could mentally regroup. Writing four books in one year took a lot out of me mentally. I put the computer aside and spent a week trying to organize my junky office and another week just watching television and organizing my closets. Now that the second school semester has started, I am back in front of the computer trying to get ready for the new year. A Delight Before Christmas was released in November and I am still in shock at how well the book has done. Thanks to all of my wonderful and supportive readers, the book has managed to stay on Amazon's multicultural bestseller list for the last eight weeks! It is definitely a good feeling.

The Wait is Over

Finally after weeks of anticipation, A Delight Before Christmas has been released! Yeah! I received my copies last week and all I can say is, "Wow!" The web photos don't do the cover justice. The red is vivid and the man is sexual as hell! This marks my eleventh release and it is a wonderful feeling. I remember looking forward to making it to number three and here I am well on my way. 2006 has been a fabulous year with three releases and A Delight Before Christmas is just in time for the holiday. It will make a wonderful stocking stuffer if I say so myself. Readers have been asking for years for love stories about regular folks. Well this story is exactly that. Reginald is a maintenance man sporting cornrows, low riding jeans and Timberland boots. Oh yeah, and he's wearing the hell out of them boots. Reginald is everything Berlin doesn't want in a man, yet she can't seem to resist this sexy, chocolate dipped brotha. Mmm, Mmm, Mmm. Get ready for a delicious treat.

A Little Me Time

I'm almost done with an anthology coming out next summer. I woke of this morning and decided instead of opening the file, I'm going to take some time out for me today. I spend my days writing and my evening working my part time job as an adult education supervisor that I barely ever get to clean house or just read a book for enjoyment. Well, today is that day. I slept late this morning then woke up and listened to some soft R&B while I stared out my window. I live on a wooded cul-de-sac which is really nice. When I finally rolled out of bed I typed a few letters I've been dying to write and got them out just before the mailman arrived. Then I moved into the bathroom and took a long bubble bath while flipping through the last three Essence Magasines. It was really nice and so long overdue. Now I'm on my way out to treat myself to lunch and I just might get my nails done as well. After all today is all about me.

Snakes in the grass

It's just a shame how someone can try to get over on someone else. It's one thing to know you're wrong and admit to it and try to make amends, but it's another thing all together when a person knows there wrong and gets pissed off when it's brought to the light. Those type of people drive me crazy because they think they are smarter than everybody else. When they get caught in a lie they even try to twist the story around to make you look bad. It's crazy! Those are the type of people I try not to associate myself with for obvious reasons.

Burning The Midnight Oil

I have been hard at work on my next mainstream novel for 2007. With sequels you always try to make the second just as good if not better than the first. So the pressure is on. The kids go back to school on Wednesday, which means the house will be quiet during the day. Now I'll just have to find a way to stay away from my bedroom. I love spending the day curled up in the bed, sleeping late and reading. I definitely don't have much time for that these days Some of us do well under pressure but sometime deadlines caused us to make a lot of unnecessary mistakes and to produce substandard work. I liked to hear how others handle under pressure.

Feenin'

Finally! Today I mailed my anthology Take Me that I have since renamed Feenin. The title is much more appropriate for what I have written. My mouth still drops wide open when I think about some of the stuff I put in that book. The mind is definitely a powerful tool. I'm writing for a house that says anything goes, so I'm putting my foot to the floor. I am currently working on my next mainstream manuscript, which is due Sept 1 (ain't gonna happen) and sex keeps popping up in my head. OOh! Kayla needs some. Okay, now you've got to let Danielle get her freak on, and most definitely you can not forget about Renee's trifling ass. Trouble Loves Company is turning out to be a lot of fun. I'm letting my imagination run wide with this story. I'll probably drop my head and hide later but I believe in living for the moment. Life is just too short. Things that I can't get away with I allow the characters in my book to do. haha! I guess you can say there is a little of me in all of them.

A Freak At Heart.

I have just finished Take Me and I must say I had a ball writing my first erotic anthology. I got to use every word out there and had those two screwing like rabbits. It was hilarious because I get to fulfilled all my sexual fantasies in a book and even got to use the word FUCK as a verb. Hallelujah! The only downside was that when they were bumping and grinding I had to pause long enough to put on a damn condom. Okay, I know with as many disease as we have out here we need to be promoting safe sex, but damn it kills the moment. It's like watching a mystery and as soon as you're about to find out whodunit the phone rings. Damn! Anyway it took two weeks to write and I had fun using my imagination. Just wait until you read what they did on that airplane. Oooh-weee! LOL! Anyway get ready for A Delight Before Xmas. Hot story but no words beginning with P or F so for you that are offended by those, you don't have to worry. This book will be a treat just in time for the holiday. Word of advice...get the whip cream ready cause you about to learn some thangs!

Freaky Deaky -- Now the truth comes out

It's funny because I never thought of myself as a romance author yet I'm writing it. Now somehow I have gotten into the market of writing erotic fiction and I am loving the shit. In the last year erotica has become one of the hottest selling books because it give women the fantasy and the orgasms they ain't getting at home! Those stories allows me to live that fantasy and it is so much fun it is amazing. I just finished a full length erotica for Parker Publishing slotted for the Christmas season and have just landed on an anthology with another crazy ass author by the name of Kimberly Kaye Terry. Horny is probably the best way to describe her cause it definitely shows in her writing. But don't hate, participate. We're teaming up along with Lisa Riley to do a sizzling book for 2007. I can't wait. I'm writing this story and loving everything about it because I get to control the man and do everything I would love to have happen to me. I sitting hear laughing my ass off. Drunk as a skunk cause you know I wouldn''t be writing this if I wasn't. I already have two other erotic tales in my head just ready to come out and play. How about a little sucking, licking, you want it. I got it. Many will be appalled while others applaud.

Now what?

I can't believe it, after weeks of stressing over a book that I didn't think I'd ever get down it's finished! I couldn't wait. As soon as I sent it off I said to myself my editor is gonna hate it because I felt like I wasn't writing for me I was once against writing against a deadline. So after not hearing from her for a week I just had to call becaue the suspense was kiling me and guess what, she actually loved it and thinks it's some of my best work. go figure. So I went and treated myself to my favorite restaurant Outback Steakhouse. The next day I received revisions for my september release which I put in the mail today. Hoorah! now I am lying across my bed watching every DVD I've bought in the last three months and haven't had the opportunity to watch. now that I have watched the last movie I find myself wondering what next? it's crazy. my house is a mess. I've neglected my kids for months and yet I am feeling disconnected and totally at a loss as to what to do next. call it crazy. I call it trying to find a way to return to reality after living in fantasy for three months. hopefully I'll get together by friday.

Maybe Florida Will Motivate Me!

In ten hours I will be heading to the airport and be on my way to Dayton Beach. I'm so excited I can't contain myself. Something about Florida always does that to me. I don't know if it's the palm trees, the ocean breeze, or the tranquil ocean, but whatever it is, I love it and can't ever seem to get enough of it. Some day, somehow I am going to buy me a house on the beach. I don't care if I'm 70 when it finally happens. Hopefully this trip will inspire me to finish this book. I still have 100 pages to edit and two weeks to do it! Why has it been so hard????

Nineteen Days and Counting

Well, it's been almost a month since the last time I've posted anything. Alot has happened in the last month. More things than I can begin to explain. Lots of time spent flying up and down the highway. With a new book I'm trying to get out there a little more even though it means I have less time to write. One positive thing is that I am starting to flow on this book. Which is about doggone time since I have less than three weeks to go. The pressure is on and that is usually when I do my best work. Remember I said usually. I started editing page 85 this morning, which means I'm about one third into the book. Okay, enough said. I'm getting back to work. until next week.