Vocal Expressions

Just when you thought Easy Rawlins was down and out, Walter Mosley finds a way to resurrect him yet again. And in the quintessential Mosley’s mystery style of writing, there’s always an offbeat crime or two that intertwines and overlaps each other with colorful characters you’ll come to love and feel their angst and pain. In Little Green , the reader finds Easy Rawlins on the brink of death having driven himself off a cliff. He’s saved by Mouse, his best friend in crime only to be tasked to find a young man, Evander “Little Green” Noon who disappeared during an acid trip while exploring the Sunset Strip in L.A. Still not out of the woods, Easy agrees to help out Mouse but he's also intrigued why Mouse is so keen on finding Little Green. So, after taking Gator’s Blood one of Mama Jo’s concoctions Easy becomes a man who could stomp you into the ground and fall into a deep sleep just as quick. What happens during those waking hours will have readers wondering who will test Ea...

Now this is a GREAT way to start my New Year! #covergirl #writerslife

Author’s Bio : Cerece Rennie Murphy first fell in love with science fiction watching Empire Strikes Back at the Uptown Theater in Washington, DC with her sister and mother.  It’s a love affair that has grown ever since. In addition to working on the 2 nd book in the Ellis and The Magic Mirror children’s book series with her son, Mrs. Murphy is currently developing a time-bending romance and a 2-part science fiction thriller set in outer space.  Ms. Murphy lives and writes in her hometown of Washington, DC with her husband, two children and the family dog, Yoda.  To learn more about the author and her upcoming projects, please visit her website at www.cerecerenniemurphy.com . What inspired you to write your book? What inspires me to write is having a story to tell.  I’m someone who NEVER thought I could write a book much less publish it on my own, so to have a book idea is nothing short of a miracle to me.  Each of my story ideas have came to me, eit...

Be the B.O.S.S. (B – be a leader; O - own your stuff; S – settle only for the best; S – sky’s the limit to your success). So you’ve decided that writing or even speaking is not a hobby and you are engaging in it for profit, then be the BOSS and treat it like a business ( see, https://www.irs.gov/Businesses/Small-Businesses-&-Self-Employed/Checklist-for-Starting-a-Business ). This means you should: Develop a business plan. Obtain a separate Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN), a seller’s or resale certificate, and any business licenses required in your local community (if selling a product like your book). Promote and brand yourself and your book or services on social media and other outlets. This includes maintaining a website, printing business cards, etc. Collect and pay your sales tax (don’t forget to keep good records). Separate your personal and business finances. Network (join professional organizations, attend writing related conferences, be a speaker...

Do you have a story to tell but the words aren’t coming fast enough or not at all? Well, you may be suffering from writer’s block (the inability to think of what to write or how to proceed with writing). Writers including myself use this phrase a lot. But to be honest, there were times when I was simply being too lazy to write. Anyway, here are some tips to ignite your creativity juices and get them flowing: Do freewriting (forget about punctuation and write whatever comes to the top of your head). Eliminate distractions. Change your environment. Listen to music to inspire you. Read a book. Clear your head (go for a drive, run, walk and commune with nature, etc.). Brainstorm ideas. Develop a productivity rewards system. For instance, for every 1,000 you write, give yourself a reward (chocolate, watch 30 minutes of your favorite TV show, buy yourself a notebook, chat with a friend, etc.). Note: Let’s ignite your creativity by forcing yourself to write every day. It doesn’t...

Community. Network. Group. Association. Club. Call it whatever you like as long as you become a member (online or in person). And whether you’re a reader, writer or speaker, here are some of the benefits you will enjoy: Socialization and collaboration. Commitment and accountability. Opportunity to expand your knowledge. Evaluation and critique of your work. Motivation, encouragement and inspiration. A valuable network. Increased visibility. Shared tips and information about writing, marketing, publishing, contests, workshops, conferences, speaking opportunities, etc. Note: A sense of belonging is always better than flying solo!

This week I'm the featured expert in the Trailblazer Entrepreneur Nation (TENation, a closed group on Facebook). On Monday, I answered several questions related to the business of writing, publishing and speaking and was tasked to provide a business tip for the remainder of the week, So, here's the business tip I posted today in the group.  Read. Read. Read. Write. Write. Write. Speak. Speak. Speak. If you’re serious about being a writer and branding yourself as a speaker as well in 2016 and beyond, you must do a few things: 1) read books within your genre (and sometimes outside your genre) and about the craft of writing, 2) write every day if you can and don’t be afraid to try a new writing style every now and then, and 3) start aligning yourself with others to obtain speaking engagements. Furthermore, to sharpen your skills you may want to take a non-credit or credit writing class as well as join your local Toastmasters club to learn from the experts. Note: No ...

Author’s Bio: Michelle Morgan Spady, writer of diverse genres, collaborates most of her writing projects with her twenty-two year old son, Bradford. He is an artist and visual storyteller. Michelle has worked in corporate America, taught English, Business and Computer Technology in schools, and has owned and operated her own state licensed childcare center. To date, she has written and co-authored four self-published books and one comic book. The titles include: An Artist and His Obsession , 7 Days 2 Tell , ShoozyQ and the AB Crew in Bully on the Playground and her debut novella, Enough was Never Enough . Newly released is Kiana S.M.A.R.T. for Class President . Michelle and her son are Principals of B’Artful LLC. B’Artful is a company that offers book signings, workshops, and classes to empower, inspire, and promote emerging and seasoned authors and visual artists. Michelle is featured in the 2015 release of LEGENDARY LOCALS OF MCLEAN by Carole Herrick, and penned two reflectio...

I love the sounds of Annie Lenox (Eurythmics), especially “Sweet Dreams.” However, my dreams of 2015 weren’t always sweet. For the most part, they were filled with challenges that stretched me both personally and professionally. But in the midst of these trials, I stood steadfast knowing that I had to make some choices. The choice to stand still and work them out.  The choice to be grateful for the love and support of my family and friends. And the choice to press on and look forward to brighter days. So, I bid adieu to 2015 with the hopes of sweeter dreams to come in the New Year. Yes, sweeter dreams made of fresher ideas, new collaborations, continued celebration of my friendships, and new ways to expand my horizons. Oh, what joy it will be to have these dreams fulfilled! And while I’m keeping my head up and moving on, I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your love and support.  Shouting from the top of my lungs: Happy New Yea...