I Ain't Said Nothin' But A Word...

I’ve reviewed some interesting things before. This is the first time I’ve ever reviewed a quilt pattern. I was looking for a unique quilt design for my new grandbaby’s first quilt. I wanted something that represented both her parents. The new mommy and daddy are big animal lovers and since my Son-shine is a good-hearted country boy, farm animals seemed perfect. I discovered a delightful kit by Amy Bradley Designs called Animal Whimsy. The kit included full size patterns, placement sheets, and instructions to make a 42" x 54" wall hanging with twelve animal blocks and a 60-1/2" x 96-1/2" twin size quilt with nine animal blocks and nine pieced shoo-fly blocks. The technique to make the animal blocks was fusible applique which I had never done before but will definitely do again. The final product came out better than I’d hoped for and I loved every aspect of the quilting process. Sum total, from start to finish, it took me about two days to complete. I ran int

Ten years ago my very first book, Take Me To Heart was published by BET’s Arabesque imprint. It was not one of my favorites.   The heroine, Marguerite, annoyed me, and Dexter, the hero, was just too passive. The story took a different turn when the acquiring editor deleted some eighty pages and worked her editorial magic to make it a romance novel. But die-hard romance fans hated it because it didn’t follow the romance formula and one well-known reviewer commented that I might not want to give up my day job. But for every one who didn’t care for the story there were many others who gave it rave reviews. It was many years later when it hit me that the original story really wasn’t about Marguerite and Dexter, or at least it wasn’t supposed to be. They just got the spot light in the final edition. And that final edition kicked off my career. Ten years, some twenty-plus books, multiple literary nominations and one or two book awards later and I’m still trying to perfect my craft

It’s just past the midnight hour and I should be in bed, resting up for Turkey Day, but I’m finding it difficult to turn off my brain.   There’s just too much running through my head.   I’m not hosting the holiday meal this year, so thankfully the menu isn’t on my mind. Thanksgiving dinner will be a potluck event. Family and friends were assigned their respective dishes to insure everyone brings their very best to the dinner table. I’m doing my favorite macaroni and cheese. I’ll boil the macaroni and mix it up with my favorite five cheeses when I get up in the morning. I’ll toss it into the oven shortly after breakfast. Big Daddy is pulling his famous pumpkin pudding out of the oven as I type. The smell of cinnamon and sugar is heavy in the air and the house feels festive. After hours of quilting this evening, sipping on a hot cup of tea with my laptop in front of me and the house smelling like a bakery feels darn good. This whole year has felt darn good. Bumps in the road were

Neal was only eleven, maybe twelve when we first met. I was running a business, a video store that his family frequented often. One day, he waved for my attention, his hands dancing in front of his face as he communicated in American Sign Language. With his baby sister interpreting for me, he requested every video I had that dealt with that place called Hell. It was a fascination that he obsessed over for weeks as he devoured every movie I could manage to find. He was disappointed that there weren’t as many as he would have thought, none seeming to give him the answers he was seeking. Over the years there were many topics he obsessed over, devouring movie after movie that dealt with his subject matter of choice. He approached life with a veracity that I have witnessed in few others. His spirit was monumental and despite the hand dealt to him at birth, he approached every day as if it were going to be the best day of his entire life. His life journey has not been easy. He battles la

There's a ghost/spirit in my house. I usually hear her walking around upstairs when I'm writing. Footsteps against the wood floors, doors opening and closing when there is no one there. We had an understanding that if I left her alone, she would leave me alone. But recently something has made her mad as hell and she's been acting out.   On the first day she locked me out of the house. I had made a quick trip down the driveway to collect the mail. I'd left the door wide open but both the front door and the storm door had been locked behind me. I would have blamed my very favorite guy but I had left him in the shower and he was still in the shower as I tried to get back inside.   On the second day I came home to find my favorite rice cooker crushed on the kitchen floor. It somehow managed to "fall" off a shelf it has sat perched on since forever, jumping over the crockpot and past the blender to hit the tile.   On the third day an aerosol can of pai

I had a wonderful time this past Saturday at the Book Clubs United Breast Cancer Fundraiser . The Sistahs of Urban Literature Book Club, Sistahs of the Red Tent Book Club and the Round Table Readers Literary Book Club hosted a “Pink Literary Affair” to benefit one of their book club sisters who is currently fighting the breast cancer battle.   It was an honor and a privilege to be able to lend my support to such a magnificent cause and I was moved by all the love and support that was shown to myself and fellow authors Cassandra Baker-Durham , Suzetta Perkins and A.T. Hicks .   Along with an engaging discussion about the responsibilities writers and readers share, we also enjoyed a wonderful Bourbon Street influenced meal. I really did like that fried alligator! A good time was had by all and I want to extend my sincerest appreciation to Ms. K.Waiters and her incredible team for putting together such a remarkable event.   In honor of breast cancer awareness month I want

Book Clubs United Breast Cancer Fundraiser Saturday, October 5th, 2013  1:30 pm - 5:00 pm New Orleans Bar and Grill Restaurant 4312 Big Tree Way  Greensboro , NC 27409     Please join us as the Sistahs of Urban Literature Book Club, Sistahs of the Red Tent Book Club and the Round Table Readers Literary Book Club host a “Pink Literary Affair” with some extraordinary authors to benefit one of our book club sisters who is currently fighting the breast cancer battle.   Our book club sister has a wonderful loving spirit and a funny personality which brings so much joy to anyone who has conversed with her.  Our hope is to raise enough funds to help relieve any financial stress; so she will be able to dedicate her time to healing and spending quality time with her family. *Authors in attendance: K L Brady Altonya Washington Shawn Black Deborah Fletcher Mello Suzetta Perkins Cassandra Baker-Durham China Ball Reese Ryan Author A. T. Hicks Books  will be

I sometimes have to revisit my older blog posts, needing to repeat a message I'd hoped to convey earlier.  This one is a necessary repeat.  Over the years I've been through some things.  Not all of it has been pretty.  I've had female friends who've been through some things that were down right ugly. When I see or hear of young women dealing with mess that is polarizing to their young lives I want to reach out and shake them until they understand that they don't have to go through things.  There is no reason for any woman to deal with any mess from a man who is not deserving of their love. I have major issues with abuse in a relationship that is supposed to be loving.  So much so that I wrote about it in my book Graye , published last year.  I also touch on it in my upcoming book, The Sweetest Thing , coming in March 2014, and not in ways that readers might expect. And I periodically repeat stories I've told before. Sometimes women going through some things ne

Sometimes in life we have to sever ties with people who are not good for us.   Individuals who are toxic to our spirit, causing us more harm than good.   Severing ties with acquaintances and friends might hurt for a short time but usually proves to be for the best in the long run.   Severing ties with family is a whole other beast.   Twice in my life I’ve found it necessary to sever ties with family who were toxic to my spirit and well-being.   Individuals who seemed to continually thrive in negativity and bitterness.   Life with them was killing me and every breath I took confirmed it.   The ex-hubby was the first.   My sister was the second. Parting ways with the ex-hubby came with challenges.   We raised children together.   Six of them.   We have grandbabies and in-laws.   Our children took sides in the divorce and there were times when it wasn’t the one I wanted them to take.   After the dust settled we had to find balance again.   Navigating holidays wasn’t always e

There are a few award shows I’ve come to avoid like the plague.   My age has finally caught up with me and since I can’t reach into the television set to shake some sense into people I don’t like to upset myself unnecessarily.   Regrettably I watched this year’s Video Music Awards and it took no time at all for me to wish that I hadn’t.   What the VMA confirmed for me is that wealth, nor success, brings maturity.   Maturity comes with age, hard work, heartbreak and a few hard knocks that make you sit back and re-evaluate your choices.   Most of the young participants being honored at the VMA still have a whole lot of growing up to do. Calling out your ex-boyfriend for being your ex-boyfriend is what you do in high school.   And even then it looks childish and stupid.   An expensive, pretty dress won’t mask bad behavior so why would you want to remind everyone that you’ve gone through half the boy bands in the country and are regularly dumped like the locker room tramp?   Yo

I absolutely LOVE this great spin on a classic fairytale!  Cinderella told through Beyoncé tunes...

  I do not know Pam Vap but I would love to meet her one day.   I recently discovered this poem that she’d written and I’ve shared it every time I’m able.   It made me smile and laugh and even bought a tear to my eye.   Pam Vap has a way with words and I appreciate her sharing her gift. I welcomed a beautiful new grandbaby yesterday and as my Sonshine and his beautiful wife shared images of their new baby I thought of Pam and her poem.  They are only just starting to fill their house with angels.  If m y precious granddaughter only knew how she is tugging at my heartstrings!     I LEARNED TO SWEAR by Pam Vap I learned to swear twenty minutes before my first child was born. Since then, it’s been a handy habit to have around, and I expect God to turn his head. After all, he owes me one. It’s a trick to make babies look so good. The truth is they leak. And of all horrors, they grow. They only speak whine; they cry and complain and wipe snot on their slee

Renowned author Beverly Jenkins opened her Facebook page today to authors with a new book out, affording them the opportunity to promote their work to her audience.   It was a very loving and generous opportunity for all authors hoping to gain some attention, myself included.   While I was posting a link to my latest romance, Truly Yours , I couldn’t help but reflect back on the moment I first met Ms. Bev.   It was Romance Slam Jam 2012 in Little Rock, Arkansas.   That first night they had a wonderful Mix and Mingle with a delightful game that had everyone running around the room asking people questions about themselves.   If I remember correctly, I was seated at a table with a bookseller from Books-A-Million , and authors Laura Park Castoro and KD King , when Ms. Bev suddenly appeared at my side and asked me what month I was born in.   I could barely get the word February out my mouth when she looked at my paper, answered one of my questions and then said, “My name’s Beverly

I'm excited to announce that the paperback edition of my newest release, Truly Yours , is now available wherever books are sold.  The KINDLE and NOOK  editions will be available for download this Thursday, August 1, 2013.  A fine work of art…...  Legendary engineer Darryl Boudreaux is a master with his hands, and his creative genius is unparalleled. Many a woman has desired Darryl's expert tutelage, but he is off the market—for anything serious. Experience has convinced him to focus his passion on his work. When architect Camryn Charles gets sight of her new partner, she is determined to keep things professional. This is easier said than done. Is it the heat of the smoldering French Quarter, or is it Darryl's quiet sexiness that is raising her temperature? Camryn would never sacrifice her integrity for a few wanton moments between the sheets. Yet Darryl's burning gaze suggests there could be something more between them—something that could dare them both to lay

I sometimes cuss when I’m in the gym working out.   Not out loud.   Not really.   Just a low dirty word under my breath every now and then when something is particularly challenging.   Or I’ll mouth it, silently, just the expression of it showing on my face.   I am very mindful of the words that come out of my mouth and I try not to use profanity ever.   But I wasn’t always this way.   There was a time I could cuss like a sailor.   Sonshine has a horrible potty mouth.   He blames me for it and puts forth no effort to do better.   I can just imagine the first words that will come out of my new grandbaby’s mouth. I’m more aware of when I swear now and only because my very favorite guy doesn’t cuss ever.   It kind of threw me when we first started dating to be with a man who has rarely, if ever, uttered a curse word.   It actually felt a little weird to cuss around a person who never cussed.   I’d get this look and then the question.   “Don’t you have another word in your voc

Today, I'm thrilled to feature friend and fellow author Deatri King-Bey .  I don't often have guest bloggers but when I do, it's because I really want to share something special with you.  When Deatri was six years old, her mother was told that because of Deatri’s dyslexia, she’d probably never learn how to read. At that time it was recommended Deatri partake in a specialized reading curriculum. Unbeknownst to Deatri’s parents, this additional help their daughter would need was actually Deatri being taken out of reading class to sit in the hallway with a tape recorder for a teacher. When Deatri entered the fourth grade at a different school, her parents were terrified to learn their daughter couldn’t read. For years she’d been reciting the bedtime stories to her mother from memory instead of actually reading the written words from the pages. But times soon changed. In 1999, Deatri was a technical writer at a telecommunications company with dreams of joining the publish

Every book I've ever written has had a theme song or songs; music that played over and over again in the background as I wrote.  There was something about each that moved me, connecting me to the story or the characters.  Some of the songs that have inspired the characters in my Boudreaux Family series have surprised me.  Others not so much.  50 Cent consumed me a few months ago as I plotted through The Sweetest Thing , my March 2014 book in the Just Desserts series that I'm writing for Kensington Books.  His music was hard and raw and one song, Candy Shop , took me and my writing places I hadn't imagined going.  When I finished, I was really happy with the outcome.  Since then I haven't had any need for 'Fiddy'. Maitlyn Boudreaux's story, Hearts Afire , is next in the Boudreaux Family lineup, currently scheduled to come out in February 2014.  Maitlyn required something else and it took me a minute to figure out what that was.  And then a chance click

Headed to be with family for fellowship and barbecue!  I wish everyone a blessed day and may your 4th of July be filled with fun, food, fireworks, fond memories and much love!

 LAST FRIDAY IN HILLSBOROUGH, NC COME SEE ME FOR ONE HOT LITERARY DATE!

Many a woman has desired legendary engineer Darryl Boudreaux, but he is off the market—for anything serious. When architect Camryn Charles gets sight of her new partner, she is determined to keep things professional. But Darryl’s burning gaze suggests there could be something more between them—something that could dare them both to lay everything on the line…. AVAILABLE IN PAPERBACK ON JULY 24th!  AVAILABLE FOR EBOOKS AUGUST 1st!

Family drama!   Family drama!   She insisted that there had to be drama.   According to her the unthinkable had been done.     They had killed off the Stallion family line!   She was adamant that someone needed to answer for such a sin! I assured her that no such thing had been done.   In fact, the Stallions are still kicking, still strong, still entertaining, but their family line has grown, as it should. Then I leaned in close and we gossiped a little.   “That Stallion brother Matthew, he’s the second oldest son, remember?   Well, he and that long lost sister Phaedra both married into the same family; the Boudreaux family!” I whispered. “Now that was a scandal!” she gushed.   Her laugh was just a touch wicked as she continued.   “Papa Stallion was a rolling stone!   That Phaedra girl came out of nowhere!   But what do we know about these Boudreaux people?” she questioned. "You don’t know the Boudreaux’s?” I responded.   “There a very well respected family out of