Dear Reader, I didn't read Devil in a Blue Dress until grad school but the first line still grabs me. "I was surprised to see a white man walk in to Joppy's bar." Good Lord, are you allowed to write that? See, up until then I understood the tenants of fiction to be that you … Continue reading Meeting your heroes: How not to fan girl when you meet Walter Mosley.
Dear Reader, I wanted to recap something amazing that happened recently. I'm really bad at self promotion. Yes, it's such an ironic statement coming from a blogger and former journalist. I am getting better at it but I am very much a work in progress when it comes to promoting what I'm doing. So...this happened! … Continue reading 20 minutes.
Dear Goodreads, Usually I address the readers of this blog. In fact, that's the name of it, Dear Reader. But for this topic, I'm addressing you because, well, you need some help. So this week you have proclaimed it Mystery and Thriller Week. YES! We all could use more thrills in our lives. And as … Continue reading Dear Goodreads: You’re missing out but I’m here to help.
Dear Reader, It's National Poetry Month! This is an awesome month when we can read poetry, appreciate it, and learn from it. Well, actually, every month is poetry month in my world. So, I was actually reading two collection before poetry month and just finished one them in time for the celebrations. Danez Smith's collection, … Continue reading Death or a reclaiming: Danez Smith’s Don’t Call Us Dead
Dear Reader, It's been weeks since I've read Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage by Haruki Murakami. It took that long to digest it completely. In fact, this book took me two tries. I tried reading this in 2015 but wasn't ready. Glad I was ready now. See, this was a quiet book. It … Continue reading Slow, quiet – Haruki Murakami’s ‘Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage
Dear Reader, So a thing is happening on March 12. I'm reading!!! Yes, some folks thought it would be a good idea to put me in front of an audience and share my work. It's my friends Jasminne and Lupe Mendez, They thought it was a good idea. You should probably praise them (or blame … Continue reading So a thing is happening soon…
Dear Reader, It always starts with the skin on my forearms. In Spanish, the phrase is se me enchina la piel. It is a warning that soon my breath would catch. And when it does I am eager but I don't know why. I can't keep a thought in my head because they are marbles racing in my brain. They … Continue reading Triggers
Dear Reader, I wasn't going to write about this experience for awhile since I'm still in the middle of the experience but my dumbness is listening to a podcast called Therapy for Black Girls and my thoughts and theories from the weekend have been solidified. Last weekend, I started day one of two of … Continue reading Anticipating Self Care or Be Ready to Open the Wound
Dear Reader, But for the grace of God today I am 40 years-old. Forty. I have been on this earth for four decades today. And DAMN I look and feel good. Ha! No, it's not a humble brag, I feel it and know this to be true. When I look in the mirror I like … Continue reading I make 40 look good
Dear Reader, Here's my semi-annual complaint about how I'm not writing and how wretched I feel. Blah. Here's the thing though, I don't feel wretch. And I have nothing to complain about. I've put some projects on hold for the time being -- two to be exact. Jennie Manning and my memoir. I had this … Continue reading Pencils vs Books
