It is so easy to rush through life as an adult and just get things done. We work. We take care of our families. We live...or do we? I mean do we experience life or do we get through it? Ponder that for a moment. I have a busy life...many of you know that considering how often I blog on my own site. I realize not nearly enough content is added here on a regular basis. I justify that I have to do this and that...join this...help out there...take care of these people... is there anything wrong with getting things done? Nope. Not at all. I do want to share some good news and tie all of this together in a semi stylish bow for you though. So first, let me back up. One of the ways that I bring myself to center is I think about the little girl that I used to be. The dark-skinned, thick-haired, often teased child that I remember had dreams. She had imagination. She loved to create stories. When I tell you this little girl loved to create stories...let me be clear she lived for it. She created a while fictional school just for her stuffed animals and dolls. She created a feelings class skit because she knew that it would be cool to focus on emotions in class in favor of math. What happened to her? She got published. She cranked out five books in a relatively short period of time. She traveled. She signed. She lived. She lived her dream. She got her advanced degree and certifications and she did more. and more. and more. and more. She became a mom. NO regrets here. She was inspired by her son to write more. She was awarded for her work again and again by business magazines, her local and state business groups and more. Recently I decided to let that little girl bask in a dream that she had for a long time. You see as a child I often saw Essence Magazine in my home. I noticed the dark-skinned girls with the big smiles that reminded me of myself. I wanted to be in there one day. I finally was! I just shared with many of you the feature https://www.essence.com/beauty/natural-hair-books That I got to be acknowledged in. Often when I talk about image I think about what this magazine taught me as a child. The magazine taught me to create, to be smart, to have fun and to embrace who I am. As an adult I have to remind myself that the committees will get filled, the errands will get ran and the practice will be taken care of but I cannot forget to let that little girl in me have an opportunity to write. It is that little girl who is still there who will inspire other little girls in the same way that Essence inspired me. So that being said here we go. More writing. You will see it. I promise you. Not just on the blogs and publications of others but right here. You will also see more works coming to the market. Creativity is the breeding ground for so much good in my life and my favorite magazine featuring my work reminded me that I need to honor their commitment to the work I do by doing the work of creating more. -Read something great

READING, LEADING AND CELEBRATING MARCH

As many of you know this is Reading month. Sure we celebrate literacy daily here on this blog but March is special. We take time out to connect to books that motivate us, as an author I visit schools and read my own works, we recall the passages that first reminded us that we are inspired any the words of others on pages. What are you doing to make this month memorable? How can you get your family excited about adding to their own reading lists? What special ways can you connect books to your life? Let me know! -Read something great!

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body. Joseph Addison

I don't know about you but when I have something great to read...I feel smarter, happier, more confident and fulfilled. It can be hard being a writer myself and running a business to take the time to make reading for pleasure a priority. As a mom of a toddler I am very adept at making sure my little guy sees and understands the value of books. We have even began telling each other stories off the top of our heads. His stories usually consist of: Once a time Mommy and Daddy and ice cream the end. I know I know...but he is two! We are working on it. I am fascinated when he grabs a book and appears to read it. Keep in mind he has memorized most of his favorites. So if you are looking for an in-depth conversation on "How to give a mouse a cookie" or "Goodnight Moon" he is your orator. This week I got to meet up with some great readers and writers at an event focused on literacy. Bookstock Michigan will take place on May 15th-May 22nd at Laurel Park Place Mall in Livonia. Opening day will be a great day to bring the whole family. For a $20 donation you can even get first pick of all of the stock! This special admission allows you to get in as early as 8:15 a.m. and the pre-sale runs through 11:00 a.m. I am more than thrilled to take my kid and hubistrator because we will have first choice of over 100,000 books, dvds, cd's, etc. So if the quote above is true my mind is getting prepped for a great workout! I hope that you can join me! Here is the website for those who want to research more intently: bookstockmi.org Read something great!

What do writers do when they are not writing...

Hi Readers! I am working on a new manuscript and I am excited to finish it so that you can all read it I was asked a great question by a young lady today. She asked me "What do writers do when they aren't writing?" I felt like it was most appropriate to answer it publicly. I write often. It is my core job and also a very big passion. I love that being a writer allows me to sign books at stores, libraries and programs. When I am not writing...here are a few things that I am doing. 1.) I have a counseling practice and I listen and help people who want to make a change in their lives. 2.) I go to schools and other locations and read my books and give talks. 3.) I contribute to magazines, radio stations, etc. and answer questions about self-esteem, diversity and anti-bullying. I could add a lot more but as you can see my schedule gets pretty full. I will add a 4th past-time...I give back. I am involved in many charitable programs and organizations and I lend support, expertise, money and time to help people who need it. Our time is valuable so think about what you can do while you might have some time off in the summer or on one of your upcoming breaks. Can you give back? Take on a new hobby? You might even decide to start writing. -read something great

Summer Reading Round Up!

Have you compiled your list of books yet? Summer is beginning this month and hopefully your love of reading will be reinvigorated! This is a great time to browse your library, bookstore and favorite review sites for your upcoming book adventures. As an author I am busy writing my own adventures-but also getting prepared to read my favorite authors to myself and to my toddler. How often will you decide to read? Will you set the proper environment for your favorite books? Make it special. Read in the park, on the beach by the pool, in bed, the possibilities are endless-just make sure that you do it. Many of your local libraries have contest-see if you can join. You might just get rewarded for it. -Read something great

Spring Cleaning... off your bookshelf

Readers! Spring is here! If you are anything like me-you have a ton of books on your shelves. How often do you get to dive into them? I strongly suggest that you get ready for summer reading and summer giving early. You might be wondering how...I'll tell you. Grab 2 boxes or bins. Mark one: "Donations" and mark the other one "To Read List". Take a look at items that you have read a ton of times that no longer belong on your shelf and make plans to donate to a library, a school or a community group. The other one is your start to getting your summer reading goals met. Spring cleaning can be fun. -Read something great

Reading Resolutions

Everyone is making goals and checking them twice. Welcome to January! Fresh ideas, new perspective and a clean slate is on the horizon. As an author and an avid reader my goals tend to lean towards literary objectives. Do you have any goals that focus on literacy? Here are a few of mine: Have at least four library visits each month, read and complete one fiction book and one business oriented book monthly, read through my son's personal library collection in entirety every week (this goal is shared between my hubistrator, sitters and myself because he has a lot of books), write in a gratitude journal daily, work on incomplete manuscripts. Those are my reading resolutions-what are your goals when it comes to literacy? Read to a classroom, volunteer at your library, work on a project related to helping others with their literacy goals. The list can be quite endless. Readers are leaders-let's begin this year by leading by example. Read something great.