Continue To Write & Continue To Dream

When I decided I wanted to write, they didn’t have books that featured African-American people, but that didn’t stop me from writing my first book. My first book the girl was black and the hero was white. Back then at sixteen I was in love with Bo Brady from Days Of Our Lives, so since I couldn’t have him in real life, I made my heroine fall in love with him.

Writing my story, I didn’t consider that there weren’t any African-American romances in the market, I just dared to dream that one day my book could be the break through book to start it off. Of course that didn’t happen, but other books did break down the door and we began to see more books that featured characters that looked like me.

Fast forward to a few years and I’m proud to say we’ve come a long way. We have books in all genres that feature AA characters.

As a writer it has always been hard to break into the business, however with a lot of courage and determination, many have. Now we’re hearing the market is changing, the publishers are doing major layoffs and it will be even harder to get published.

What are our options now? Basically the same as when there weren’t any AA books. We write, we hope and we dare to dream. We honestly don’t have any say over on what happens with the market. All we have power over is our story. Continue to write and continue to dream because once you stop doing both, you fall into the trap that the publishing business is dying. If they don’t have writers it will die.

Get out those notepads, open up that laptop and write.

New Start

I'm over at readersroom.com for my monthly column.

Stop by and tell me:

How do you focus on completing your writing goals?

In Memory of - Andria Hall

Andria Hall author of The Walk At Work, died Monday. I was really sadden to hear this news. Her friend Pam Perry wrote a nice tribute to her. Please take a moment to read it an offer a prayer for her family.

ANDRIA HALL

Going Natural

I’ve never been a hair person. You know the type who spend hours in the salon every week to get their hair did. I went from press and curl to the the jeri curl. I loved the jeri curl. It was easy to maintain and I could wear different styles.

When I got out of the navy I decided to go wild and get a perm, which meant many hours at the salon, trying to keep a good looking hairstyle. Once I had kids my hair changed on me. After my second child the hair refused to hold a perm, and I decided to go natural and try out the twists. I wore this for about two years. It was hard to get use to because with twists you just go with the flow. Some days my hair would be sticking up in the air some days it would look OK. I felt like a mop and I didn’t feel cute. You know we women like to feel cute. I gave in and put another perm in my head. For the next few years I was enjoying my hair but my hair wasn’t enjoying the perm.

After the last baby, my head finally said enough is enough and I decide to not put another perm in it. It was hard looking raggedy by the head. I was on the fence about going natural but I knew I couldn’t go back to the perm. The turning point for me was at my sisters wedding. I had to buy a wig because the hair refused to look good. I loved the wig, but it was so hot I knew I wouldn’t be able to do that forever.

One Sunday over my sister’s, I told her, cut it off. She’s like are you sure? I’m like go for it. She cut all the perm off and shaped it into a short afro.

I talked about going gray, well the gray has seriously taking over and it’s been a wild ride. Some days I like it, some days I want to cry. Who is that woman in the mirror? When did she get so old?

A woman told me I looked regal and that I shouldn’t dye my hair. It made me feel good, but it’s still hard to accept the gray. I can’t even post a picture because I’m not ready.

I’ll be 42 in two months and I’ve accepted that I’m getting older. I like it, I just haven’t accepted the gray.

Will I ever accept it?

Stay tune for more on my journey to naturalhood.

What about you, what do you have a hard time accepting as you get older?

P.S. For those on this natural journey, share your experiences with me.

Getting Organized

One of the things that have helped me a lot with SORMAG and my writing is a calendar. I put everything on my pocket calendar. It helps me keep everything in order from interview dates to how many words I’ve written for the week. I’m lost without it because this old mind refuses to remember everything.

I found a Free Writer’s Calendar I’d like to share with you. It’s another way to stay organized as you write.

http://organizedwriter.com/calendar

What tools do you use to help you keep organized?

Have Tea With Me

To start the New Year off, I invite you to have a cup a tea with me. Pick out your favorite tea or if you hate tea, like my sister told me, have a cup of your favorite beverage.

Take a moment to think about 2008 - the good times and the bad times. I believe the bad times have lessons in them just as the good times.

What lesson did you learn from the bad times?

Losing my aunt, I learned that God is in control and he will bring you through. On those days I really miss her, I just reached for his hand and he would always be there to squeeze mine.

Have you set your goals for 2009? One of my favorite writers, Marilynn Griffith ask her readers to pick a word. My word for this year is commitment.

Do you have a word?

I'm home today with a cold. I started the new year taking it easy. Something I normally don't do. In choosing my word commitment, I made sure to make a commitment to myself. Take time for LaShaunda. Sometimes that means taking it easy.

I look forward to 2009 with my writing. I have three ideas I want to work on and I plan on finishing up on the manuscript I worked on in 2008. I have the online conference this year and the Bring the conference to you tele seminars, so my plate is full.

So tell me what do you have plan for 2009?

My toast to you for 2009, good health, happiness and a peace of mind because I know with all three you can complete all your dreams.