Lust Queen

I am in the mist of writing my second book (still waiting for my first manuscript to come back from the editor) and trying to come up with a cover concept for Damn U. I swear, writing a book is easy, it's all of this other stuff that is just ruffling my feathers! Not to mention when I get on a roll in my writing my family decides it time to wake up, complain that somebody hit them or that they can't find that special something that only mama knows where it would be. In talking with another writer today the question came up about needing an editor. "Do I really need one?" Was her question and my answer was "do we need oxygen to breath?" Because that is what a good editor will do my friend, breath life into a manuscript that has been interrupted by family members, ringing telephones, the UPS man (maybe the fleeting images of him after he has left) anyway, you get the picture. No matter how good your writing maybe an editor is a necessity well at least to my career. So Brian...when can I expect my manuscript back?
While I am going on and on about this whole writing thing, I need to put a plug in for local author, Karlyn LeBlanc. Karlyn has taught me a lot about the writing world, stuff she has learned from the school of hard knocks, things you will never find in a how to book. I am forever grateful for her help and guidance in this rat race. So, with that being said, please go out and buy a copy of her spicy new novel, "Characters of Lust." Looking to add some flavor to your love life then this is a must read. Know as the "Lust Queen" her second novel, "When Lust Steps Back In" is due out this fall. Copies of "Characters of Lust" are available on her website, at Amazon.com or locally at The Roots Book Store.

Reality Check

Is it just me or does Ray Nagin, the mayor of New Orleans, need a new speech writer? Maybe the previous person evacuated during the hurricane and never returned? Who knows! But what I have figured out is that this brother is doing a fantastic job of putting his foot in his mouth. And the crazy (or maybe "sad" is a better word) thing about his chocolate comment is that the same people who were "upset" about his comment have made over $60,000 within the last week from the sales of t-shirts tooting "Willy Nagin & The Chocolate Factory. " Don't get me wrong...Nagin was wrong. His choice of words were...umph what's the word I'm looking for? Stupid! Did you know that it was the non-black population who's votes put him into office in the first place. Try 90% verses the "chocolate citizens" 10% of his election votes. Maybe Ray is looking for any easy way out? Maybe he is having one hellified time trying to replace his last writer? Don't know and I don't care. What I do know is that in addition to Ray getting that new writer ASAP, he needs to copyright his name and image and get something good out of his clueless comment too!

Now I know this doesn't have anything to do with Louisiana, but could someone please tell me why have our youth resorted to beating & killing homeless people for the hell of it? I mean really...what IS the world coming to?

If you get a chance check out Danyel Smith's blog. Why am I promoting someone else's blog? Because last week that sista got some stuff off of her chest that had me bobbing my head in agreement the entire time I was reading it. She put some stuff "out there" that I think many of us were thinking, but never voiced when it comes to African American literature.

And why I am at it, why in the world did anyone think the governor of Cali would spare the life of a 76 year old inmate when he wasn't the least bit concerned about a Noble Peace Prize nominee getting the needle (remember Tookie Williams.) This elderly guy had a massive heart attack a few months before his scheduled execution and asked the prison to let him die, but noooo! Instead they do CPR, save his life then turn around and use tax dollars to kill him? What kind of sense does that make? Talk about a reality check.

It's Carnival Time

Today as I was scanning The Advocate Newspaper, I ran across an article about the Twelfth Night. As many of you probably don't know (I didn't) yesterday was the Twelfth Night, the last day of the twelve days of Christmas, marking the Feast of the Epiphany, (for you non Catholics that's the day the three kings laid their gifts before the baby Jesus.) In years gone by the Twelfth Night has also been the official kick off of carnival. Like Mardi Gras and Fat Tuesday, Twelfth Night began as a Catholic tradition, another celebration in preparation for Lent.

But with the devestation of New Orleans, many of us are wondering if Mardi Gras will ever be the same. Changes we will see this year includes the number of party days. Yes, our beloved carnival season has been cut short, from twelve days of celebrating to a mere eight due to a lack of funds and more importantly, residents. Then there's the whole controversy about having carnival in the first place. The city officials say it is needed to generate revenue and to show the world that New Orleans is rebuilding. Some residents say it is a part of the normalcy that is desperately needed, while others feel there are more pressing issues at hand besides floats, beads and half naked women baring their breast.

I am from the school of tradition and if it ain't broke, don't try and fix it. New Orleans may not be broke, but it damn sure looks like Katrina and Rita where going for a TKO! This year will mark the 150th anniversary of carnival for the City of New Orleans. Should we allow all of that tradition to be swept away along with everything else that was destroyed by the hurricanes or rise up and move forward?

Their Playing Basketball...

If you haven't figured it out by now, I love the game of basketball. Not to say that I can play worth a lick, but it is the only sport that I can follow and know what is actually going on. So of course, it is only natural that I enjoy reading novels with a little b-ball flavor. My pick for 2006, hands down is "In The Paint" by Philana Marie Boles. I stumbled across her first novel, "Blame It On Eve" at the public library and I was hooked. Boles breezy writing is filled with themes on self love and appreciation. She challenges the female reader to love herself first, before trying to love somebody else. It doesn't help that she adds theses fine ass male characters that just leaves your imagination going, going and going...

My next all time favorite is Homecourt Advantage. Written by the wives of two pro-basketball players, you get this erie feeling that althought the front page reminds you that this a work of fiction you are like, "yeah right!" You know this kinda of stuff really happens! Juciy is the first word that comes to mind when describing this one. Everyone that I recommed it to simple loves it.

In keeping with the basketball theme, this season I am planning to check out the LSU Ladies Basketball games. I've been promising my kids that we would take in a pro game and since the Hornets are missing in action because of the twins "Katrina and Rita" I figure that these girls are just as good as the pros (and you know I'm telling the truth).

All this talk about basketball and the pros makes me reflect on one of my high school/college friends, Bobby Phills, of the Charlotte Hornets, who was killed in a tragic car accident on January 12, 2000. A gentle giant, I remember him most for shattering the myth that I use to hold in regards to jocks. Not only did he have mad skills on the courts, but in the classrooms as well. A graduate of Southern University with a degree in Animal Science and a finishing GPA of 3.5, Bobby was a very compassionate person who never forgot his roots, and willing gave back to the community. His beloved wife, Kendall, also a Southern University graduate, is keeping his memory alive through her tireless efforts with the Bobby Phills Foundation, a scholarship program for deserving high school students.

As we gear up for another season of hoops and in keeping with the spirit of good sportsmanship, remember to take some time out of your busy schedule to make a difference by doing something positive.