Cheris Hodges's Blog, page 32

Here's an idea, talk to your lying cheating friends

From Steve Harvey to Ray J, men have so much advice for women when it comes to love.

Please miss me with the boo-boo.



Why not tell the lying and cheating masses how to love a woman? Don't think you will sell to many books doing that? Why not tell men who lie to get the panties that the truth is the right way instead of telling women to 'think like a man?'



Why not tell a cheating man to stop cheating instead of explaining how and why men cheat? I'm so sick of men telling women what they are doing wrong without acknowledging their sins. And it's not just the celebrities -- from Facebook to Twitter some random guy has some pearl of wisdom for single women.



Do me a favor, STFU. This means you, Kevin Hart! What are you saying to your friend -- the male ones-- who are cheating and lying to their women? The ones with kids who talk so much junk about the woman who delivered the babies, what are you saying to him when he's talking that noise? If you aren't posting status updates about how he should respect her or tweeting rules on coparenting, don't tell me what I need to do to attract one of those.



Talk to your boys and leave me the hell alone.





Namaste.

So, you thought Django Unchained was just a movie?

I'm surprised by the backlash Spike Lee has received because of his opinion of Django Unchained. Luther Campbell, AKA Uncle Luke, Luke Skywalker, Mr. Me So Horny, called the legendary director an uncle Tom. *Blank stare and major side-eye.* 

Dick Gregory had harsh words as well.



But once again, I have to say Spike Lee was right to question this movie -- seen or not. Have you heard about the WHAT WOULD DJANGO DO? campaign? Not to be confused with WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?

In the wake of the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., the nation is talking about gun control. It's a conversation that long over due. Maybe the government should've reinstated the ban on assault rifles after the Virginia Tech massacre?

You know gun zealots are desperate when they reach out to minorities -- using fictional characters.

That is the skewed logic of gun advocacy group, Political Media, the creator of Gun Appreciation Day.


With the snappy title, “What Would Django Do?” the president of Political Media, Larry Ward,
says that he also plans to form a non-profit of the same name, though
he has not checked into copyright infringement, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it,” Ward said.
“We’ll make sure we aren’t violating copyrights, and if we are, we’ll
have to change the name. But Django is perfect for what we’re
trying to do, which is to promote gun rights to minorities. We’ll tackle
the issue on the Democrats’ own turf.”

I’m assuming the “turf” that Ward is referring to are Black voters who overwhelmingly vote Democrat.


Maybe what Ward is failing to realize is that more guns on the streets means more Black people in jail — or dead.


The Southside of Chicago has enough guns. Philly and New Orleans have enough guns.


But they want to market guns to our communities using the likeness of an unhinged freed slave?

Will the responsible gun owners please speak up and shut these crazies down? 

Waiting For The Other Shoe to Drop --Part 15

             After dinner, I felt stone cold
sober. Rich asked if I wanted to do something and I flashed him a questioning
look. “Something like what?”

            “It’s a nice night, let’s go to Lake Wheeler and take
a walk,” he suggested.

            “Sounds
good, but I need to change my shoes.”

            “You
don’t have a spare pair in your
car? I know most women live like their trunk is a second closet.”

            “That
shows how much you know,” I retorted. “I only have another pair of heels in my trunk. My walking
shoes are underneath my bed.”

            Rich laughed and it sounded like a
melodic chord. OK, I was still a little tipsy. I will not sleep with him. I will not sleep with him.

            “Are
you good to drive?” he asked as I took a shaky
step.

            “Probably
not. Drinking and driving is never a good choice and I can’t believe you let me do that.”
Reaching out, I pinched his forearm and smiled at him.

            He grabbed my hand and drew me into
his arms. “I’m not going to lie; watching you give up control was fun to
see.”

            “Really?”

            He nodded and brushed his lips
against my forehead. Soft. Erotic. Stop
it! I pulled back from him, tilting my head to the side as I looked into
his eyes. Damn it, tequila made me horny and I was about to succumb to the
feeling. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I pulled Rich’s lips to mine. Hot. Wet. And the kiss was amazing too. He
pulled me closer, his erection pressed against my thighs and I yearned to have
him inside. Needed him. Damn Patron.

            He broke the kiss and I was thankful
because I was about to enter the third level of whoredom. “I guess we’re going to blame that on the
alcohol, Jamie?”

            “That
wasn’t funny,” I said, even though I did laugh.

            He tapped my bottom and smiled. “I’m not even going to allow you
to take me there. You’ll wake up in the morning and
start scowling about how I took advantage of you in your drunken state. Let’s walk it off. I’ll drive you home.”

            “And
what happens to my car?”

            “We
can come get it later. There are two things I’m
not going to let you do drunk tonight. Driving is only one of them.”

            Winking at him as we crossed over to
his car. “You might be all right, Rich.”

Check me out in Hot M.A.M.A Land

The only thing I love more than writing is football. In a past life, I'm
sure that I was a smack talking cornerback for my beloved Dallas
Cowboys.


OK, that's a little much. But I have fallen in love with a young quarterback -- named Colin Kaepernick.



Read the rest here. 

What a difference a year makes

This time last January, I was in love. I was washing his shirt because his clumsy ass spilled coffee on it.

You know what I feel now?

Disgust.

Indifferent.

Annoyed.

Pretty much like this:



There is a lesson in all experiences. In my case, there is hell of a book coming. :) There's always a silver lining in every heartbreak.

Waiting for The Other Shoe to Drop--Part 14

By the
time we ordered dinner, I was slightly drunk. Honestly, I’m a super lightweight when it comes to alcohol and tequila,
forget about it. Rich seemed to enjoy my tipsy behavior, which included me
sweating a lot.

            “I’m surprised you’re a nice drunk,” he said.

            “What’s that supposed to mean?”
I asked as took a bite of a crispy chicken tender. I don’t know if it was the alcohol or if that was the best
chicken tender I’d ever eaten.

            Rich toyed with his pasta and watched
me. I put the remainder of the chicken in my mouth and chewed slowly. My body
was heating up under his gaze and that was definitely a result of the alcohol.
I wiped my mouth with a napkin and said, “What?”

            “Hungry
much?”

            “I’m sorry am I not supposed to eat?”

            “The
way you looked eating that chicken tender and the things you were talking about
before have me thinking of something else I’d
rather do than sit here and eat dinner.”

            “And
what does a chicken tender have to do with. . .”
I stopped short, thinking how I must have looked with that juicy piece of
chicken in my mouth.  “Is that so?”

            “But
I was supposed to sit here and prove I want more than to just have sex with
you.”

            Laughing, I nodded. “And I’m not trying to seduce you
while I eat this food. I just want to soak up the alcohol. When’s the last time you had a real relationship and what do you
consider a real relationship? Moreover, why do you think we could have
something?”

            “Who
uses ‘moreover’ in a regular conversation?”
He laughed then leaned in to me. “I guess the start of a real
relationship involves getting to know the other person and spending time
together. You know, women make it hard to have real relationships.”

            Oh, really? I was about to sober up
quickly. “How so?”

            “Because
y’all have these lists that no
one can live up to, then you expect men to be mind readers and . . .”

            “You
should stop while you’re behind. Because what you’re saying right now is the same bullshit that a cheating
man says when he gets caught.”

            “And
what does a cheating woman say?”

            “Nothing,
because we’re better at it than you men
are.”

            Rich leaned back in the booth and
folded his arms across his chest. “Now, who sounds like the
cheater spouting bullshit?”

Chatting with author Brian W. Smith

Brian W. Smith is prolific. He's also gifted. A business man and an all around cool person. With more than 17 novels under his belt and a recent deal with Strebor Books, Zane's imprint, Smith is about to change the game again with a new series centered around the character, Sleepy Carter.



1.  Readers always get something
new from you. Tell the readers what 2013 holds?








My primary focus in
2013 will be the creation of the "Sleepy Carter Mystery" series. I
will drop a few Contemporary novellas toward the end of the year so my
supporters won't forget about me. But for me, 2013 is the year of Sleepy
Carter. 













2.   How did you come up with the
character Sleepy Carter?




  Those who have read my
novels have come to expect surprise endings so I believe I've always been a
closet Mystery writer. This past Fall, I could feel myself getting bored with
writing. I was also a little frustrated with the industry. I knew that if I was
going to continue to write I needed to do something fresh and new to re-spark
my interest. I started researching the literary industry and discovered that
ninety-five percent of the authors in the Mystery genre were white. That
reality combined with my boredom, frustration, and love of sleuths like Sherlock
Holmes and Hercule Poirot, gave me an idea - I was going to join the likes of
Walter Mosley and make a mark in the predominantly white Mystery genre. Two
weeks later, the idea for a former New Orleans Detective named "Sleepy
Carter" was born. 









3.  Brother, you are prolific.
Where do you find the time to write all of these books?




Thanks for the
compliment. I am a full-time writer. When I left Corporate America nearly four
years ago, I vowed that I would use my time wisely. So, I'm always writing. I
may not be the best writer in the world, but I refuse to let any author outwork
me.















4.   What advice would you give to
an aspiring author?








I would tell aspiring
authors to do their research. I enjoy helping young authors, but nothing annoys
me more than being asked questions that a simple google search can answer. When
you and I started in this business, there was an internet, but there weren't
search engines as powerful as google. When an author comes to me asking
questions that they can find an answer to in seconds, that tells me they aren't
looking for guidance, what they want is a handout. So, if you don't want to get
your face cracked by a more seasoned author, do your homework. Once the
aspiring author has done his/her due diligence, I advise them to do three
things: Pray. Be steadfast in their faith. And prepare to work harder than
they've ever worked before. This is a marathon not a sprint. The phrase
"overnight success" usually isn't associated with African-American
authors.









5.   Nina’s
Got a Secret was reissued under Zane’s
imprint in September. What was that experience like, since normally publish
your own titles?




My experience with
Strebor/Simon and Schuster was cool. I only signed a one book deal with the
company so I don't have much "experience" to speak of. The deal I
signed was great for me because it didn't prohibit me from running my own
company, Hollygrove Publishing. I'm appreciative of that. 















6.   How has publishing changed
since you released your first book?







Wow, this industry has
changed so much since I entered in 2005. Black owned book stores were still the
backbone for black authors. E-books
weren't around. Borders (which was the most AA friendly major retailer) was
alive and kicking. And there weren't as many authors vying for the same
customers. Truth be told, authors entering the "game" now have more
challenges (as it pertains to creating a brand) then I had when I started.
Although the emergence of E-books has made it easier for new authors to get
their work out to the public, those authors who don't have the writing skills,
work ethic, and/or people skills needed to sell a book, won't make it to book number two.



Follow Brian W. Smith on Twitter



@AuthorBWSmith



Buy his books:





www.hollygrovepublishing.com and Amazon.com

Like the Sleepy Carter Fan Page on Facebook.

Waiting For The Other Shoe To Drop: Part 13 B

“Wh-what can I get you two to
drink?” he asked.

            “I’ll have a Grand Patron margarita and a shot of Patron,” I said. I needed to put something in my mouth – other than my foot. The waiter quickly turned away from me
as if he was so not trying to look at me. Rich ordered a Coke and I almost felt
bad about all the alcohol I’d just ordered. Like I said,
almost.

            “What
was that about an orgasm, without an s?” Rich asked, leaning into me
once the waiter left. “I know I felt you come more
than once.”

            “Let
me quote another contemporary poet, you have big ego.”

            “Thanks.
Because you know ego was a . . .”

            “I’m not talking about that. Anyway, are we going to be bed
buddies or is this supposed to develop into something deeper?”

            “That’s a good question. Are you going to let me in and get to
know the real Mimi or do I get the sarcastic and caustic girl?”

            “If
you think I’m all of that, why bother?” When I saw the waiter approaching, I stopped talking. He
looked as if he was about to drop our drinks and I needed that shot now.

            He set the drinks on the table and
asked if we were ready to order. “Give us a few minutes,” Rich said as I gulped my Patron.

            It burned. “One more,” I said to the waiter. “Thanks.”

            He nodded and headed back to the
bar. I turned to Rich and propped my chin on my fist. “So,” I probed.

            “I
like you. I like your style and even that attitude of yours. I feel like there’s more to you than that, though.”

            I took a sip of my margarita. “Really?”

            “Come
on, I’ve been building up the nerve
to talk to you for a while and I’m glad I finally stopped being
a punk and did it. You’re a firecracker. I like your
heat.”

            “You
like my pussy.” Damn it! The waiter was back
again. He heard everything.

Waiting For The Other Shoe to Drop: Part 13-A

When
Richard and I linked up for dinner, I tried really hard to let my guard down
with him.

            “You
look beautiful,” he said when we met at Chili’s –of all places—his choice. I smiled and smoothed my hand down the side of
my simple black dress, which stopped at my ankles. The neck line, however, put
my girls on display. I bet I did look beautiful to him.

            “Thanks,” I replied.

            We waited for about five minutes
before we were led to a table behind the bar. “You
were the talk of the office when you left today.”

            Rolling my eyes, I kept my sarcastic
comment to myself. “Really?” I said as I picked up the menu. I really hated Chili’s food but I knew I was going to need a huge margarita.

            “What’s the deal with you and Amie?”

            Shrugging, I rolled my eyes and
waved for the waiter. “I don’t have a problem with her; she has a problem with me. And
to quote the great poet, Vanilla Ice, if you got a problem, you know I’ll solve them.”

            Rich laughed and shook his head. “You’re something else.”

            “I’d really like it if we didn’t
talk about work anymore tonight. I got a three day cooling off period and
thinking about that place when I don’t have to be there is going to
piss me off.”

            He threw his hands up. “All right. Message received. What are you going to do with
your time off, other than searching for a new job?”

            “Who
said I’d be looking for a new job?” I laughed at my lie. “Maybe I’m going to buy a bunch of lingerie and wait for you to get
off from work.”

            “That’s a great idea. But the last time we were together that
way, it ended horribly. I never thought we’d sit down to have another
meal together. Who knew orgasms made you cranky?”


            “Orgasm,” I said just as the waiter approached the table. Me and my
big mouth.

HOLLA! Literary Festival

It’s Time To HOLLA


The annual literary
festival brings a diverse group of authors to Anson County this February.




Wadesboro will play host to a variety of authors on February  2 as the annual HOLLA (Helping our loved ones
learn and achieve) puts on its annual literary festival.

The authors include:

Brenda Strokes Lee

Cheris Hodges

Isaiah David Paul

Allyson M. Deese

Tressie Lockwood

Dahlia Rose

Tamika Newhouse

Stacey Covington-Lee

J. Hale Turner

Sly Fleming

Jaye Cherie

DeVondia Roseborough

Yolanda Briggs

Yolanda M Johnson-Bryant

Suzetta Perkins

Felicia Fleming

Dedrick R. Briggs

Sharry Spencer

The festival begins at 10 a.m. at the Hampton B.
Allen Library and runs until 2 p.m.

"I am truly inspired to be a part of HOLLA! Literary
Festival 2013, surrounded by fellow authors and readers. This is a grand
opportunity to connect and network on a greater scale,” said DeVondia
Roseborough, author of Put It On Paper  and My
Last First Kiss. Roseborough is also an AIDS and HIV advocate.

Author Dahlia Rose, who has
written 80 books, including her latest: Baby On Board, And Baby Makes Three, Christmas Three and Seal of Honor said bringing literacy to smaller communities in North
Carolina is an exciting venture for her.

“I've been part of HOLLA once before and loved it. It brings
literacy in smaller North Carolina communities to light. I loved interacting
with the readers and community members of Anson County and I'm looking forward
to doing so again!”

Authors will be selling and
signing copies of their latest works.

There will also be choir
performances and praise dancing.

Want to go?

What: HOLLA! Hampton B. Allen
Literary Festival

When:  Feb. 2, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where:  Hampton B. Allen Library, Wadesboro, NC

Cost:  Free