Vocal Expressions

Although I haven't read Getting Hers, this sequel from Donna Hill certainly had me wanting to learn how this trio (Tess, Kim and Nikki) got together to form a bond that would be tested in this novel. There were a lot of twists and turns but I wanted more action. I felt that Tess and her sister's relationship needed to be fleshed out some more. The ending was somewhat abrupt and left me hanging. Nevertheless, it was a good read! My rating: 3 stars

Author’s Bio :   D.M. Cuffie currently lives in her hometown of Columbia, MD where the main character is from and a few of her beloved locations are highlighted. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland at College Park (GO TERPS) and a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix.  She serves as an usher in her church, line dances throughout the DMV, and runs to keep away the crazy. She absolutely loves football and her Baltimore Ravens (GO RAVENS!). Cuffie rediscovered the love of a good book in high school, and experienced complete joy when reading novels was offered as a class in college. She discovered she could tell a better story   on paper , rather than writing emails to her friends.    At Least Once   is her first of five novels she plans to write. What inspired you to write your book? Two Reasons: 1) I suggested my cousin take a particular singles course. And the first thing out the facilitator’s mouth was, “n...

Well, today was the kickoff of the Baltimore Book Festival which runs from Friday, September 25 - Sunday, September 27, 2015. This is the second year that the festival has taken place at the Baltimore Inner Harbor. Although the weather was overcast, I was thankful that it didn't rain. I was also thankful for comfy shoes because I had to walk for what seemed like forever before I got to the Black Writers' Guild booth (#s 95 & 96). But I had a fantastic day hanging with some very cool authors which made the time fly by very quickly. Here are some photos from the event. I hope some of my readers will be able to make it down to the Inner Harbor for a nice stroll while diving into some good books and engage in some fun activities too!   

I love reading articles in the Muse – an online resource that gives career advice. It’s always chock full of great information that not only serves you well in your professional life but also in your personal life. Recently, I read an article by Jayson Demers of Inc. who stated that confidence is harder to achieve when you are in unfamiliar situations or around people you don’t know. This is so true even if you are confident on the inside. Here are 7 tips he shared to look to always look confident: 1.  Stand Tall – When you slouch, you tend to look uncertain. So, stand tall as a folks will take you more seriously. Since I am not one for slouching (which I find to be a bad habit for your back) this tip works for me. 2.  Make Eye Contact – This goes without saying that making eye contact means that you are engaged in the conversation. If you’re in a group, make sure to occasionally give eye contact to each person. If you look away, you appear to be inattentive as ...

On Sunday, September 13, 2015, I attended the world premiere production of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice at Centerstage in Baltimore, adapted by Christopher Baker and directed by Hana S. Sharif. When the play opened, I felt as if I were watching a movie: the music, the scenery and the stage props were very cinematic. But this was a play and a very sophisticated one. Being a fan of Austen’s plays (I love Sense and Sensibilities ), I was curious to see this stage production and I must say that I was thoroughly impressed. The story centers around the Bennetts, especially Mrs. Bennett’s quest to find husbands for her unmarried daughters. Being of the “fairer sex,” a woman’s place in Regency England could only be secured through marriage since they were unable to own property. In addition, women were believed to be intellectually inferior to men and could only hold certain jobs such as being wives, mothers, and hostesses. There were no universities open to them at the time and so t...

On Tuesday, September 1, 2015, I went on an exploration trip of Fredericksburg, VA. The first stop was the A. Smith Distillery. Erin, the knowledgeable tour guide of only 23 years did an excellent job at giving us the history of how the family-owned distillery came to be, the different types of spirits they produce, the aging process, how the barrels are stored (right side up instead of sideways), the difference between whiskey, scotch and bourbon, etc. At the end of the hour long tour, we were informed of the liquor laws in Virginia (way too strict for me) and then we were offered the chance to try 4 different types of spirits. We selected Bowman Brothers, John J. Bowman, Abraham Bowman and Mary Bowman (this was my favorite). If we didn't like the taste we couldn't give it to someone else, it had to be dumped. Overall, it was a very informative tour and I can't wait to try the bottle of Mary Hite Bowman (a caramel creme liqueur) I bought. I want to try it in my coffee,...