Vocal Expressions

My novel, Gotta Let It Go," was named a Finalist in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Books Awards (multicultural fiction category). On Tuesday, May 24, 2011, I attended the awards reception at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. I had a great time, meeting and networking with the other winners. Enjoy some of the pics from the event and my day in NYC!

This movie was hilarious! Take two families from different sides of the track and you get one helluva get together. Jason (Laz Alonzo), an investment banker from a very humble family in Brooklyn is set to marry Sabrina (Paula Patton) who's from a very wealthy family who lives Martha's Vineyard. The problem is they have only been dating for a few months and neither Sabrina or both parents have met each other until the weekend of the wedding. I knew I was in for a fun ride when I saw that Loretta Devine was playing Mrs. Taylor, Jason's mother. She's a postal worker, loves the Lord and not very happy that these "bougie" people, the Watsons once owned slaves. Angela Bassett who played Sabrina's mother was right on time for Lorretta's character. Throw in some scenes with Jason's relatives (Mike Epps and DeRay Davis), Sabrina's cousin (Percy Romeo Milelr) who loves older women (Tasha Smith), the chef (Gary Dourdan) getting his groove on in the kitche...

On Sunday morning, I gathered up my books and other marketing materials and headed to Waldorf, MD. It was 8:15 am and I was excited to make the trekk out to some unknown territory. I got turned around while trying to get to the Waldof Jaycees Community Center but I stopped and asked someone for directions and they were kind enough to take me directly there. When I entered the room I came face-to-face with other writers milling around and getting their author tables prepared. This was my first foray into being out in public as an author. I was greeted by B. Swangin Webster and Karen Minors, the two women who came up with the idea of matching the food that best depicts the author's novel. After setting up, I walked around the room, introducing myself to all the authors and collecting business cards, etc. I saw that some authors had coffee, because their main character is a coffee drinker, others had popcorn and peanuts because their book was about baseball, etc. I sat and anxiously w...

On a Tuesday evening when I should be relaxing at home, I was heading to pick up my mom and head to CENTERSTAGE in Baltimore to see "Crime & Punishment" before it ended the 2010-2011 Season on May 15, 2011. My mom and I thoroughly enjoyed the production and the actors were all awesome in morphing into different characters, all within 90 minutes with No Intermission. Overall, we had a good time and would likely to venture out again during a week night to see another of CENTERSTAGE's productions. Synopsis: Raskolnikov has a lot on his mind: Napoleon, Nietzsche, Darwin, and an axe murder. When a dogged detective starts putting together the pieces, he ignites a battle of wits in which the philosophical gets personal. This riveting, intimate adaptation gives a thrilling new look at one of the most vivid murder mysteries ever written. (www.centerstage.org) Runtime: 90 minutes with NO intermission

Today I learned that my novel, Gotta Let It Go ,was named a Finalist in the Multicultural Fiction category of the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. This achievement will be published at www.IndieBookAwards.com along with the other Finalists and Winners in the next few weeks. Also, a press release will be sent out within the next month announcing the Grand Prize Winners and advising media and others where they can see a complete list of Winners and Finalists. Additionally, my book will be listed as a Finalist in the 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards catalog which will be distributed at Book Expo America (“BEA”) in New York later this month to thousands of attendees including book buyers, library representatives, media, industry professionals, and others.

I'm thankful for my mother and all that she has done for me. She is the most unselfish person I know who is always willing to go the extra mile for everyone. So today, she received the royal treatment: dinner at one of her favorite restaurants, Ruby Tuesday and I showered her with gift. Love you mom! yfrog Photo : Shared by