Prayer Request

My computer has died.

Yes I'm in mourning. This is the wrong time of year for a computer to die. My funds do not see a new one in the near future.

Which is why I'm asking for your prayers. I know the Lord will make a way.

As a writer we are lost without our computers.

I'm taking donations, love offerings even new computers. :)

Thanks for your prayers.

You're the one that I love

November 16, 1996 - LaShaunda & Clyde Forever

Nine years with my hero. Where did the time go?

I met my sweetie in high school. We didn’t date. If you ask him, he’ll tell you I was mean to him, but he liked me. I liked him as a friend, brother figure.

We graduated and didn’t see each other until our 10 year high school reunion. I tried to hook him up with my friend, but they could never get their time together right. Everyone thought we were dating, so we decided why not. To our surprise we fell in love.

Against my mother’s wishes, we moved in together. It was one of the best year of my life. My feeling for him grew and one day I popped the question. OK I didn’t drop to my knee and ask him to marry me. I told him November 16th and he said OK.

We didn’t want a wedding just a reception. However I wanted to walk down the aisle at my church. My step-father was suppose to escort me but he didn’t show so my father had the honor. My walking down the aisle turned into a beautiful wedding which I will forever cherish.

As with any couple we’ve had our ups and downs, but we always come out together. He has been my rock when I thought I was sinking. He has kept my writing dream alive by never letting me forget why I write. He’s the best father in the world. I wished my own father was more like him when I was younger.

I’m glad I asked my best friend to marry me. I would do it all over again, but this time I would drop to my knees.

Thank you Lord for blessing me with my friend, lover, father of my children and best of all my husband. May we be blessed with many more anniversaries.

Quote Of The Week

Chapters "The first chapter sells the book. The last chapter sells the next book." --Mickey Spillane


The Written Word (http://www.topica.com/lists/TheWrittenWordEZine) is a daily source of inspiration for writers, editors and publishers. If you would like to submit a publishing-related quote, please e-mail the quotation with the accurate source to Maidenfate@aol.com. Use the subject heading "The WrittenWord." We do not accept anonymous quotes.Feel free to forward these quotes on to your friends and encourage them to subscribe. If you would like to unsubscribe from this list, simply e-mail TheWrittenWordEZine-unsubscribe@topica.com.

Encouragement

As a writer we need encouragement too. I know I have those days, when I wonder what in the world am I doing.

Last night I received a call from a fellow writer whose books are about to hit the shelves in January. Yes you read right, books. She has two books coming out in January. Made of Honor and Pink.

Marylynn Griffith is about to make her next mark in the literary world. Many online readers know of her because her online newsletter Word Praize or they’re fans of her wonderful blog, Rhythm of Grace.

Mary as I call her probably doesn’t have a clue her call was very encouraging to me. You see, Mary understands how it feels to be where I am now. Wanting to be published and praying for the Lord to help me find the right publisher for my books.

She called for my advice on promotion and marketing, but her words lifted my spirit. They let me know not to give up on the dream because she is a living testimony that the Lord hears those I want to be published prayers.

I’m too excited about Mary’s book. They are the kind of books, I wish existed when I became a Christian. There’s nothing like looking for a book to encourage your spirit, and not being able to find them. Her books make you laugh, scream and praise the Lord. She calls them serious fun and they are.

I’m looking forward to promoting her book on SORMAG’s blog and introducing our readers to these wonderful books. I know they will be encouragement to other readers.

Thanks Mary for your encouragement.

Contest

One of my favorite bloggers – Brandilynn Collins is sponsoring a contest to win an Advance copy of her book.

I highly recommend signing up for the Sneak Pique newsletter if you a fan of Christian fiction. She has some excellent information in it. Also if you’re interested in writing suspense fiction, her blog is the place to be. Start from the beginning and read how she got published. Its very helpful for the new writer.

Win An
Advanced Reading Copy
of Web of Lies!

Just urge your friends to sign up for Sneak Pique, my e-mail newsletter on Christian fiction sent six times a year. Each time a friend of yours signs up for Sneak Pique, your name will be "put into the hat" for the drawing. So the more friends you send along, the more chances you'll have to win.

Steps to enter contest (please follow all steps in order to qualify):

Forward this e-mail to friends/family not currently receiving Sneak Pique, urging them to sign up. (They can read the latest issue on my Web site).

Friends receiving this forwarded e-mail must:
~ Sign up for the newsletter through this link.

~ Send an e-mail to gayle@brandilyncollins.com, stating (a) the name of the person who referred them to Sneak Pique, and (b) that person's e-mail address. Use the subject heading: Web of Lies Contest.

A wild week

We lost a great shero, Rosa Parks. Rosa decision to stay seated, change our world.

I survived the online conference. It was crazy. My computer decided to crash and there was no saving it. Thank God for my sister and mother having a computer. Just as I was back online, I was hit with a sinus infection. It tried to take me down, but the prayers went up and the Lord held on.

The conference was as my daughter says THE BOMB. We had some excellent panels, I felt like I was in the room with them. They shared their wisdom and I gained so much new knowledge about the crazy writing business.

No I haven’t given up on the dream. I do believe it will happen, in God’s time and not LaShaunda’s time.

The other day I was discussing this with my writing partner, my mother. I told her I’ve learned what patience is. With writing you have to learn patience. Just because you want to become published doesn’t mean it will happen. You have to wait and see. Its not easy, but its worth the wait.

I know there are a lot of you out there waiting too. STAND and know the Lord is on your side. When he makes a way it will happen.

A good book is a good book

Since BET announced Harlequin is buying them. A few blogs have been talking about it and how it will affect the authors and their books.

As a writer I’m sadden to lose another company that focuses on our books. It took years before the publishers recognized that African-American would like books that featured characters that looked like us.

I’ve been reading since I was four. I love books. The fact there is racism concerning books is appalling to me but unfortunately there is.

When our books came out instead of being marketed as romance novels they were marketed as African-American Romance Novels then Multi-Cultural Romance novels. We didn’t come up with the term, the publishers did. They decided to segregate our books. It wasn’t always like this. I remember going to the books stores looking for the books when they were announced. They were in the romance section. I found them by the spines because the book covers weren’t showing. I recognized the logo.

Later the section became the African-American section. So I had two sections to go to now. The AA sections and the romance sections. The romance to get my other books, did I stop reading white romances because they started writing AA romances? No, I’m not color blind a good book is a good book. I just had more authors to buy now.

When I joined RWA, I was surprised by how many of the members had never read an AA romance or even knew an AA author’s name. I was surprised because they were writers and as writers I thought we tried to keep up with the current market. I guess not.

I try to introduce readers to all writers. Yes SORMAG catered to Multi-cultural authors, however every chance I got I was promoting other authors too. I still believe a good book is a good book.

To get passed the racism, readers need to focus on the writing and not who is writing it. For years African-Americans only had books to read by White authors. Did that stop us from enjoying a book NOPE. A good book is a good book.

Here’s my comment I posted at ATBF about the topic about authors being on online communities

Promotion is something I preach to authors all the time. One of the reasons I started SORMAG was because the AA books and authors weren’t receiving a lot of promotion. Wayne started the online promotion, I joined on and then a few more sites did.

Most of the authors I interviewed, I approached them. They didn’t approach me. The ones I’ve never interviewed were because they didn’t have the time or no email. In this time and era its sad if you don’t have an email address. Its even sadder if you can’t make time to do a FREE interview that will help promote your books.

Many readers are now online and they meet new authors by visiting sites, groups and forums. If you’re not promoting your book online how will they know who you are.

Yeah we can moan and groan about white readers not reading our books, but if they don’t know about them how can they.

Many of SORMAG's readers were white, they wanted to find new authors writing good books.

No matter how tired you are, you have to make time for promotion. Because if you’re not promoting , nobody will read your book because they don’t know it exist.

Rejection :(

My book was not what they were looking for. Don’t you just hate those form letters? It makes you want to scream. Tell me what’s wrong with the book so I can fix it or know I should throw it in the closet.

My friend told me rejections let you know that you are working.

I like the sound of that. Especially since I’ve been doing a lot of writing lately.

I was a little hurt when I saw the white envelope on the table. I knew instantly it was a rejection. They never send your stuff back.

A little of me was relieved too. It wasn’t ready. I was so eager to send out, I should have waited and did one last review.

How do I know this? This past weekend, I read a book and as I reading it, I thought of a million things wrong with my own manuscript and how I could improve it.

I’m learning, its not easy but I feel I’m getting better with each book.

I don’t plan on doing any more submissions this year. I’ll start the new year off submitting again. I’m going to finish this year by completing the new novel and one last revision on the manuscript that was rejected. Who knows maybe next time I’ll get the please submit the complete manuscript letter.

Happy writing

Are You A Pumkin?

From one pumpkin to another!!!!!!!

A woman was asked by a coworker, "What is it like to be a Christian?"

The coworker replied, "It is like being a pumpkin." God picks you from thepatch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts offthe top and scoops out all the yucky stuff.He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a newsmiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

Sexy

This past Thursday was my daughter’s eighth birthday. I treated her to her first manicure and pedicure. She was too excited about getting her nails down professionally.

No I didn’t get the fake nails. She’s a baby. I don’t get the mothers who put on fake nails on kids. She had her own nails. They painted them a soft pink. She was too cute.

While having my own nails done, I read an article about Toni Braxton. I’ve been a fan of her’s since she debuted with Sad Songs. Which I believe is her best record.

She talked about being sexy after two kids. It made me think about being sexy. I haven’t felt sexy in a long time. In my twenties you couldn’t tell me I wasn’t sexy. After I had children, I stopped thinking about being sexy. I now know that was the wrong mentality to have. If you don’t think you’re sexy who will.

I cut my hair a few months ago, and the word sexy came up again in my vocabulary. I remembered being sexy and why I liked being sexy. When you feel sexy your whole being changes.

I plan on treating my baby girl to more manicure/pedicures, because I want her to grow up believing she’s beautiful and sexy. As a young girl those words weren’t in my vocabulary. Hopefully this salon visit will break that mode and start a young girl on a different path.

Do you think you’re sexy?

New Book

I’m working on a new book. Its set in St. Louis. The hero is inspired by Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinal.

Its exciting meeting new characters. All kinds of ideas are jumping in my head. I need to be doing my day job, but the characters keep calling me to the pen. They won’t listen when I tell them NO. LOL!

My goal for today is 10 pages.

Do you have a page goal? How do you keep up the motivation?

Getting Ready

I’m in the mist of planning an online conference and getting my book ready for submission.

Yeah I’m glutton for punishment. I usually plan the conference in six months, but with the power of internet, I’m getting it together. We have some great topics, and I think its going to be fun.

I’m trying something a little different this time. I’m using the SORMAG blog. I’m hoping it cuts back on the emails that the yahoo group used. It will also be immediate a little like instant messages. At least that’s what I’m hoping. Send up a prayer for me.

I’ve decided to submit on my own for now. This agent hunting is worst than submitting. You have to find someone who likes the book. Which can be months of waiting. Then if they like the book, they have to sell it. Another couple months of waiting. I’m telling you writing is like the Navy. Hurry and wait. UUGGHH!

I’ve found two publishers I’m interested in. I’m going to submit to both. See what happens. I’ll keep you posted.

Yes I watched Nip and Tuck last night. It was off the chain. That’s all I’m going to say about it. I also watched R U the girl. Oh so crispy won. Congrats Girl, your new life began last night.

I thought Mirrah would win. She seemed like she fit, but hey what do I know. LOL!

Happy writing!

Writing is a lonely business

If it wasn’t for the internet, I don’t know what I would do.

I started writing at 16. I asked for a typewriter for my birthday. My mother bought one for me and my writing career began. I worked on one book for the next ten years. Yes you heard me right ten years.
I think I was infatuated with the idea of writing. I never thought I had another book inside of me. Maybe if I’d had some writing buddies or an organization, I’d would have learned there was more stories inside of me.

As I started contacting other writers and talking, I realized, I needed to let go. Yes this is hard, but I learned I could put the book in the closet and move on.

For some writers, myself included, finishing the book is hard. I think its about letting go. We’re afraid to let go.

As I grow as a writer, I’m learning how to be a better writer and this doesn’t have to be a lonely business.

Go online, meet a free writers. Join an organization make a few friends. Those friends will pull you along, when you want to give up. They will encourage you when want to say this isn’t any good. They will make you smile when you receive those rejections.

Writing can introduce you to some of your best friends.

Thanks to my writing buddies – Ann Clay, Mary Griffith, Cindy Appel, and Tracy Gardner. I thank God for sending you in my life, so I can no longer be a lonely writer.

Thanks to my writing group – SORMAG’s writer’s group – You guys are the best writing support group ever.

Cutest Thing

Today as I was walking my baby boy to his class. One of his friends came down the hall towards us. He put out his hand and CJ gave him so dap. It tickled me because I’m thinking when did he learn how to give the man handshake.

I giggled because my baby boy isn’t a baby anymore. This kindergartner knows how to give dap.

I’m not ready :(

Pictures From The Retirement

ME & CJ

LENORE

CONGRATULATIONS - YN1 Lenore Tyler

This past weekend I was a part of my friend Lenore Tyler retirement ceremony. After twenty years in the Navy she was retiring.

It was a wonderful experience. Below is the speech I made.

I met Petty Officer Tyler in boot camp. We became friends because my bunkmate was a screw up and they reassigned us to new bunks. Mine happen to be beside Tyler as I called her. We started hanging out with each other. We loved to dance and we got our groove on every weekend while in seaman training.

We had some wild weekends together. Like the one time we rented a hotel room with some other girls and one of them decided to bring us some men to our room. We had to get girlfriend told. We didn’t play that.

Tyler and I cried together when we received our first duty stations. I was going to Guam. I had never heard of Guam. She was going to Iceland. Who goes to Iceland? We promised to write to each other.

We kept the promises. We wrote about our pitiful love lives. The places we visited and how much we enjoyed the Navy. Together we served our country and our friendship grew. I know now our friendship is a gift from God because she’s the only person I’ve kept in touch with since boot camp.

When I decided not to re-enlist, my friend came to visit me in Florida. We hadn’t seen each other in years, but with old friend, you pick off where you left off.

I went home to St. Louis and she re-enlisted. Through her letters and phone calls I visited Puerto Rico, Spain, Greece and many other places she was stationed. I prayed for her when she went up for her different ranks and cheered when she made them. When I decided it was time to become a wife, Tyler was right there with the video camera. She never did give me the bachelorette tape. Claimed it was for blackmail later.

Like a good friend does, she is always a good listener and never beat me up for never having the chance to visit her. She’s a good supporter who will never know how much it meant to me when she sent a check to subscribed to my magazine. A friend who believes in your dreams is a true friend indeed. I hope I’ve been that type of friend to her as she has been to me.

Tyler did what my mother wanted me to do, she continued to serve her country. I’m truly proud to be here today to help her celebrate her accomplishment of 20 years in the Navy. I consider myself bless to be able to say I was there when she started her career in the Navy and I’m here to see her end her career twenty years later.

Lenore I know this is a new beginning for you. It might be a little scary but if you can survive the Navy for twenty years. Your next adventure will be a piece of cake. May I be blessed to continue being your friend and experiences your adventures with you. I love you and I’m glad the Lord sent a friend like you to me. May he continue to bless you and fulfill all your dreams. Congratulations on your retirement.

I'm So Excited!

Once I posted the information about the book drive. I started receiving messages. Everyone wants to help. Their goal is 30,000 books. I know we can make it. I feel great knowing I’m doing something. Feeling helpless is not a good feeling. Having no money to share is even worst.

What can I do I kept asking myself? This is my way to help. It might not seem like much, but if you’re a book reader, you know a book can take you away from your problems. Maybe for a few hours someone can be transported into a new world. Maybe when they finish the book, they’ll see there is hope for them.

Right now it looks bleak, but there is calm after the storm. The Lord hasn’t left them. This is the time when he’s carrying them. Hold on my people, the Lord knows what he’s doing. You will make it through this and be a better person because of it.

LITERARY EVENT - Writer's Conferences

There is a writers' conference being held on September 16, 2005 in Roswell, GA. This is a great opportunity for anyone who is a serious writer. If you are a published writer this is an excellent opportunity to promote and sell your books.

For more information log onto: http://fountainpenn.com/WritersConference05.htmlor email to: robdani2001@fountainpenn.com

Danielle-Kim DavisVP/FountainPenn Enterprise

Successful Self-Publishing Seminar

Join some of the industry's leading professionals in a comprehensive seminar about how to turn your manuscript into a nationally or internationally distributed publication that SELLS!

We will cover pre-press and formatting issues, printing 101, POD and eBook technology, publishing law 101, marketing and promotion, bookseller relations, and distribution. We will also present a bonus segment on copyright basics for writers.

Confirmed presenters:

Brian L. Jud, BookMarketing.com
John F. Harnish, Infinity Publishing
Lisa Gibson-Wilson, Renaissance Management Services
Kevin Wayne Johnson, author of Give God the Glory series
Nancey Flowers, author of A Fool's Paradise
Tonya Evans-Walls, intellectual property and literary lawyer and author

EVENT INFO

Saturday, September 24, 2005

9:00AM-3:00PM

Philadelphia Airport Hilton
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19119

$90 per person, includes lunch, seminar materials, and FREE CD of the most important forms in the publishing industry.

$75 per person for groups of 4 or more!

http://www.fyos.com

To Participate In The Book Drive

Send an email to the following to let them know you’re participating:

Tony Rose - Amberbk@aol.com or Heather Covington at Disilgold@aol.com

Below are the Addresses to donate the books.

Gwen and Willie Richardson, Cush City.Com, 13559 Bammel North Houston Road, Houston, TX 77066,281-444-4265

Reshonda Tate Billingsley (Channel 26, Fox News Reporter),3714 Poplar Springs,Missouri City, TX 77459,281-799-7415

Tom Joyner,BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund,P.O. Box 803209,Dallas, TX 75380-3209

Dorris Ellis, Publisher, The Houston Sun, 1520 Isabella St. ,Houston TX 77288, Tel: 713-443- 9774

Yolanda Bridges, Publisher;LOF Publishing, 7500 Bellerive Suite 412,Houston, TX 77036,713-899- 7904

Andrea Brown 14220 Park Row #122, Houston, TX 77084, 281-759-1470

If you want to donate to the shelter here in St. Louis

Send to :

L.C. Hoffman
7127 Minnesota Ave
St. Louis, MO 63111

I'll see that they receive the books.

THANKS!

Bless Someone With A Book

Hello everyone,

I’ve been off line for a few days. I’ve prayed for a way that I can help the hurricane survivors. My church has adopted a shelter who will receive 2000 survivors this week. This weekend, we will be painting the rooms they will live in.

I also received a press release for a book drive. I can do this. I had planned on compiling a list of the books I have for the SORMAG community; however life has been crazy so I haven’t had a chance. I’m sure you won’t mind if I donate them instead. If one book can give someone a little comfort in these crazy times, then we’ve done something to help.

I hope you can share a few of your books for this cause. Think about how the books make you feel and you’ll want to share those feelings.

My prayers continue to go up for these survivors. Let’s bless someone with a book.

NATIONAL BOOK DONATION LAUNCH FOR THE VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA

For Immediate Press Release: Amber Communications Group, Inc. (ACGI), sends condolences, prayers, warm wishes, hope for immediate disaster relief, and a safe recovery to the victims of Hurricane Katrina. In our efforts to help support the victims and families stationed at the Astrodome, relief centers and homes in Houston, Texas, Amber Communications Group, Inc.'s Publisher/CEO Tony Rose and Associate Publisher Yvonne Rose, along with Bill Cox, Publisher and Adrienne Ingrum, Associate Publisher, Black Issues Book Review; Heather Covington, CEO, Disilgold Worldwide Communications; Faye Childs, President, BlackBoard Bestsellers; Max Rodriguez, Publisher, Quarterly Black Review/Founder, Harlem Book Fair; Kassahun Checole, Publisher, Africa World Press, Inc.; Wade Hudson, President/CEO and Cheryl Hudson, Publisher, Just Us Books; Willie and Gwen Richardson, Co-Founders, CushCity.com; W. Paul Coates, Publisher, Black Classic Press, Jessica Care Moore;Moore Black Press, Mark Anthony, Publisher, Q-Boro Books; Nancey Flowers, Publisher, Flowers In Bloom Publishing; Azania Brown, Publisher, In Time Publishing; Tonya Evans-Wells, Publisher, FYOS Entertainment; Earl Cox, Publisher, Writers and Poets.Com; Gina Clark, Publisher, Alight! New York Grit Books; Willie and Gwen Richardson, Co- Founders, CushCity.com; and W. Paul Coates, Publisher, Black Classic Press (The Katrina Literary Collective) are spearheading a book fund drive.

As African-American Publishers, we recognize the importance of reading for education and enjoyment. In the case of the Katrina Hurricane victims of New Orleans, we recognize the importance of reading for mental and emotional stability. Reading can help pass the time, perhaps help victims take their minds off their trouble, offer some small pleasure, and provide an opportunity to gain knowledge on various topics that can help them gain a new foothold on their lives.We can collectively comfort their stay, promote love of Black literature, foster literacy among youth and let our people know the Black literary community at large supports them.

As Publisher and CEO of ACGI, we are urging all Independent African American publishers, book clubs, self published authors, literary services, libraries, authors, editors, and publishers at the major publishing houses, to join the donation drive to submit books to the Katrina Hurricane victims.

If you wish to participate by donating books, please email us at Amberbk@aol.com or Heather Covington at Disilgold@aol.com .

At this time our designated receivers and transporters are:

Gwen and Willie Richardson, Cush City.Com, 13559 Bammel North Houston Road, Houston, TX 77066,281-444-4265

Reshonda Tate Billingsley (Channel 26, Fox News Reporter),3714 Poplar Springs,Missouri City, TX 77459,281-799-7415

Tom Joyner,BlackAmericaWeb.com Relief Fund,P.O. Box 803209,Dallas, TX 75380-3209

Dorris Ellis, Publisher, The Houston Sun, 1520 Isabella St. ,Houston TX 77288, Tel: 713-443- 9774

Yolanda Bridges, Publisher;LOF Publishing, 7500 Bellerive Suite 412,Houston, TX 77036,713-899- 7904

Andrea Brown 14220 Park Row #122, Houston, TX 77084, 281-759-1470

We will update you as more designated receivers and transporters are involved.

If you live in Houston and would like to volunteer to receive books and transport them to the Astrodome, relief centers or homes where some victims are staying, please include with your email, your destination address and phone number.

Thank you for your support of the victims of Hurricane Katrina and taking a stand at large with the African American literary community. http://www.amberbooks.com

Thank you and God bless. Best regards,Tony Rose, Publisher & CEO , Yvonne Rose, Associate Publisher , Amber Communications Group, Inc. , www.AMBERBOOKS.COM


LITERARY ARTISTS UNITED BOOK DONATION PARTICIPANTS THUS FAR

Heather Covington- Disilgold Soul Magazine Editor - Disilgold.com,Tony Rose- CEO/ Founder Amber Books- Amber Books.com,Linda Dominique Grosvenor- “The Hamptons- LindaDominque Grosvenor.com, Marti Tucker- Author of “A Mayor’s Wife - marthatucker.com,Sydney Molare- Fishbowl International Inc. - Fishbowlinternational.com,Nathaniel Portis- Things In Between- nathanielportis.com,Electa Rome Parks- “Almost Doesn’t Count‚ - ElectaRomeParks.com.LaShaunda Carruth Hoffman – Shades Of Romance – http://sormag.blogspot.com