Chicki Brown's Blog, page 52

Writer Wednesday - Indie Author Spotlight #2

Today I am pleased to welcome author Cynthia Meyers-Hanson. Cynthia is one of Twitter pals, and a very interesting person. Below is the story of her fascinating and prolific self-publishing journey. Welcome, Cynthia!


My favorite question during book interviews is: How did you get started?  The short answer is that my mother died.  Some people dream of being authors; my writing began as what could be described as a nightmare!  However- as she died, mom's experiences ran the gamut from going through all the grieving steps a terminal soul follows to having what would be called a Christian NDE- if she had lived.  I was in the room most of the times that she visited with God, Jesus, or multitudes of angels and souls.  Believing everything she said even during what others called babbling, I became her translator.  When most of her messages from God panned out, people in Orlando buzzed with the story of my parent's death or Cindy's tale.  My grief counselor listened to my version of the events requiring I write my first book: Mom's on the Roof and I Can't Get Her Down . That covers 1991-1994 or until interest in my saga died.

Years later, to my surprise- people from all over the USA suddenly called asking for copies.  I had no paperbacks of my first book left even though 1,000 had been in print. Meanwhile, computers changed so drastically that my backup disk was useless.  So, I input one chapter at a time freely e-mailing my new fans the story that way.  The demand became too great, and my e-mail provider balked or locked me out.  Soon, I found a POD and distributed through them.  At about the same time or starting in 2000, mom or God's prophecies found in my first book began to materialize.  My story-copyrighted in 1994- was proving itself as the truth!  It felt miraculous- even for me!

Much later, I produced more books including chronicling my niece's merge into my family Stacey's Song .  Another short paperback The Evans Terrace Girls was about small miracles as my neighborhood grieved seven parents' deaths within about two years.  Right after that hard time, I met Wavie Green.  After a car accident, while pregnant, she outlived a 14-day coma. The lady claims that she talked with God during while unconscious state; according to her story, she still communicates with HIM even while wide-awake.  After reading my three works, Wavie asked me to write her sage Through the Storms He Performs .  That was my first book outside of my personal realm; I have written and rejected other books since then.   Most of my first seven books were about faith, God, hope, faith healings, angels and miraculous interventions. 




Changes were coming!  Due to a genealogy study, after meeting with some cousins at a local grave yard, I wrote my first novel.  Talk about relatives coming out of the woodwork when they think you are famous.  I am jesting- of course!  My relatives handed me some incredible family secrets asking me to compile a book.  I acquiesced but only if it could be a novel.  Their notes became my very first attempt at writing fiction; I came up with a pen name of Sydney S. Song to differentiate between my true stories and my novels based on truths or half-truths Surreal- The Hell in the Family .  Soon, some of my other readers with secrets wanted stories told anonymously and autonomously.  Thus, I released three more books based on true lives of normal people!


Then, the really fun writing started.  While working for free at my daughter and her husband's Christmas tree lot, I blogged my experiences.  This effort became It's a Celebration, a limited edition non-fiction book that you can only get from me- as a gift.  My experiences that holiday, also, led to my first children's books Frasier the Fir is Forever Green .  After completing that story including the illustrations, I only gave copies to my children and grandchildren; for obvious reasons, I kept my real name on these three books.  The youngsters asked for more books. Quickly, I wrote an Easter tale and a book about accepting your 'Lot in Life.'  Three is a charm!


When my books were written, what did I do to market them? How do I do my PR?  In my self-promotion work, I've run the gamut of suggestions from other authors and people. I've done it all. I queried publishers and agents.  I used a small publisher willing to risk a thousand copies on my first printing of mom's miracle story.  I had a marketing agent but got my own interviews and book fairs for my first book.  I even handed out copies of my books to strangers and celebrities. I ask for reviews and ratings from those reading my books.  I giveaway free books hoping for a following as well as ratings, rankings, and FB likings- which doesn't always pan out- but I'm a believer!

Currently, my goal is selling more books to people outside my circle of colleagues, neighbors, friends, and family!  I started at the local book fair circuit where I found myself in the darkest corner tables in the less trafficked areas so I decided to branch out online.  I dove into Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook to establish relationships for promotion.  I needed more PR and awareness of my writing. Years later, instead of me asking them, people have begun asking me to write essays for inclusion in their 'Chicken Soup' type books- to write short stories for their anthologies- to become the subject of their blogs- to compile articles- to ghostwrite- to co-author, and the like.  In fact, some people have blogged my works or done nice reviews of some of my books without me even asking them to do it. Plus, as my book count grew from one to more than fourteen, I have learned other avenues of publishing and PR from fellow authors in social networks.  Some fellow writers have introduced me to Kindle, Smashwords, and e-formatting so that I could convert my work into eBooks.  I, also, left my stories as traditional paperbacks, which broadens my audience. Other authors have made me a part of their blog hops and fests.  In other words, being online has opened new branding opportunities as well as sales and writing avenues for me.

It's a numbers game- for sure! After working a short time at a celebrity branding company, I've been trying to brand myself so people know what they are getting.  For example, my forte is being honest; this sincerity helps me with my image or branding because - half of my books are non-fictions. I try to be and remain authentic for my readers.  Therefore, I write fiction under a pen name so that my reader knows the difference between my inspirational, miraculous, true books- and my fictions full of embellishments with poetic license but based on half-truths. Furthering my PR efforts, I do interviews whenever possible.  Plus, I write a book based blog http://mchanson714.blogspot.com.  Using my computer skills, I built a web presence; my author page is http://mchanson714.weebly.com; it's where people can get a feel for my books by category and find all my sales links.  I speak at churches and other gatherings when possible; I continue to go to local book stores and fairs for signings.  Also, I am trying GoodReads and similar sites, now!  Better late than never?  

Now for my last truthful comments for this piece!  PR- including good marketing and branding- are very time consuming.  If there was a better way to promote my books that was truly affordable- I'd do it!  Plus, let's face it; there is an explosion of writers especially in the e-book arena.  Let's be honest!  The place is so flooded that even free books can lag in sales.  That is why branding and PR has been my focus for over a year, and I have not written any new non-fiction or novels for that long.  I'll let you in on a final secret; people like free stuff!  If you give too much, they begin to assume freebies!  Sometimes, I have pulled back on contests and free books to make people aware that I have them for sale.

My author page points to my other online locations; it contains a blog as well: http://mchanson714.weebly.com/

You can find all my paperbacks as well as Kindle versions through Amazonhttp://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=mchanson714

some I-books are via LULUhttp://www.lulu.com/spotlight/mchanson714

and most e-versions of my books are available through Smashwordshttp://www.smashwords.com/books/search?query=mchanson714

My first and longest running blog site is http://mchanson714.blogspot.com/

Fun Friday

This weekend I am feverishly working on finishing up the revisions to Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing. My editor is working on the first half, and I promised I'd get the balance to her by November 14. With the exception of attending the 100th birthday party for a friend's mother tomorrow, you know what I'll be doing all weekend ...

Hope these will help you start yours with a laugh:



What I'd really like to do this weekend is rearrange my tree-book keeper shelves in the family room like this. Since I'll probably never read them again, they don't need to be in any particular order. Nice, colorful idea, isn't it?

 Okay, I'm heading back to the revision cave. Maybe by Sunday night I'll be able to chill for a while ...

Writer Wednesday - Indie Author Spotlight

Starting today, my Writer Wednesday entries will have a different focus. I want to let other indie authors talk about their experiences in this "brave new world," as some have called it.
Today I am proud to introduce Pamela Kay Noble Brown.


I met Pamela Twitter several months ago and we have since become faithful tweethearts (loyal followers that retweet each other's posts.) Her writing journey is very similar to my own in that her venture into the publishing world also began as a result of a job layoff, But I'll let her tell you about that.

***
Thank you so much, Chicki for having me as a guest on your blog.
Like many other authors, my road to indie publishing came by way of what I thought at the time was a horrendous detour on the highway of life.  I have always been an avid reader from the time I was a small child.  My parents started my love of words and stories by buying me toys that were fun, but always had an educational bent.  I also remember them reading to me constantly.  And I don't think a summer went by, up until the time I was 16 or 17, when they didn't have me enrolled in the reading program at the local library.  I was always so proud to get the gold star on a certificate at the end of those summers, signifying that I'd read the required number of books.
My love affair with books came to an abrupt halt in college with its required reading lists.  There was just something about being forced to read certain books that turned me off immediately, not to mention the book reports and exams on those books.  As an adult, I look back on those days and know it was not the quality of the books but rather youthful rebellion on my part that fueled my aversion to those volumes.  Much to my surprise, from time to time I've come across books I avoided like the plague in school ("The Great Gatsby" for one) and have thoroughly enjoyed reading them on my on terms, in my own time frame.
Now back to my self-publishing journey.  In addition to being a voracious reader, I have always loved telling stories.  Even though I have written short stories and poems for years, I never explored getting an agent or trying to get my books published the traditional route.  I wasn't afraid, but as odd as it may sound, it just never occurred to me to try traditional publishing.  I'd see all of these books in the bookstores and libraries and that whole world just seemed shrouded in mystery to me.  It seems funny now, but somehow I equated them with some of the stories you hear of actors getting discovered sitting in Schwab's Drugstore and someone approaching them and saying they could make them a star.  I figured that someone happened to read the stories of any given author and begged them to publish with their company.  Having since read the biographies of many authors, I now realize the huge effort that many of them put in to making their success stories happen, i.e. queries, agents, and receiving numerous rejection letters before that big break came along.
My horrendous detour referenced earlier came in the form of being laid off my job last year.  Although I'd purchased books and other things from Amazon, I didn't know self-publishing existed.  My friend, author Sharon Oliver, introduced me to the concept of being an indie author.  Pointing out that sometimes life's detours can actually be roadways to an unexplored destination, she encouraged me to use the forced downtime to consider publishing some of my work.  I was astonished and pleased to learn that writers have an avenue to put their works out there and let the readers decide if they like them.
I published my first book Revelations in February 2011, the second book Handcuffs and a Pyramid of Satin in July 2011, and am currently editing my third book.  What has my journey been like?  Well, one surprise was that every self-publishing story isn't a carbon copy of Amanda Hocking's monetary success.  One author said self-publishing is a not a sprint, but a marathon, and I have come to agree. Another thing I definitely was not expecting was the amount of time that would have to be devoted to marketing/promoting my books.  In my naivety, I assumed that as an author I would devote all of my time to writing.  But I quickly learned that even the most prolific author in the world will have their books rot on the virtual shelves unless they get the word out.  People can't read a book that they don't know even exists. 
Being an author is also an opportunity for constant growth.  Almost daily I learn something new about formatting, promoting, and different software packages.  As I learn, I'm still struggling to find that somewhat elusive balance wherein my day job, family life, writing, and marketing all work together to be mutually beneficial.  Wish me luck. LOL!
I must note that with writing being such a competitive field, I was amazed at the giving nature of the self-published authors I've come to know.  Instead of scoffing at newbies, they readily take time out of their busy schedules to answer questions.  Indie authors are one of the most welcoming communities I've ever had the pleasure to be a part of.  There is a prevalent and abiding "pay it forward" spirit.  I can't count the number of times a more seasoned author has stepped up to kindly point the way and saved me hours of frustration and anguish.
I'll close by saying that I wouldn't trade the self-publishing experience for anything. I enjoy writing stories that make people think, but most of all, stories that make the reader feel something and care for my characters. I encourage anyone who has a story to tell to take the plunge, because you never know whose life your story was meant to touch, motivate, or entertain.
"Revelations" (Christian Fiction/Family Drama/Inspirational)

Melanie has finally met the man of her dreams, but life is never easy for one who has suffered a lifetime of horrific loss. She was compelled to return to her hometown, sure that enough years had passed since the tragedy. But why does she keep having those same horrible nightmares? Was domestic abuse a curse that was passed on from one generation to the next with no escape?
And her boyfriend's mother Mrs. Harriet Cornelius seems to be a sweet person, but there's something about her that Melanie just can't put her finger on. A shameful family secret may just keep Melanie from becoming too deeply involved, yet she longs for the kind of life and love others have. Will she find a way to overcome her fears, or will she simply walk away?
"Handcuffs and a Pyramid of Satin"   (Christian Fiction/Suspense Thriller/Romance)
Everybody knows Kelly has a wonderful marriage.  So why is she so restless?  Determined to get that elusive spark back in her life, Kelly takes off to her birthplace of Frankfurt, Germany, for the adventure of a lifetime.  There she is befriended by the ever so charming David, who immediately appoints himself as her translator and tour guide.  Kelly is so totally in love with her husband, but finds herself wishing he were more like her new friend David.  But it isn't long before Kelly realizes that life is not always greener on the other side of the fence.  In fact, it can be downright deadly!

*Pamela Kay Noble Brown's books are available on Kindle, Nook, and Smashwords.  You can follow her on Twitter, Facebook, and her Blog.

The Search for Balance

This weekend came to a close with me finding myself exhausted - even with the extra hour of sleep.

[image error]Of all the disciplines required for a full-time author, I have the most trouble with striking a balance between work and recreation (or relaxation). No matter what plan I concoct in my mind, write down on paper, confess to my critique partners, etc., I end up working seven days a week. This is not bragging, for sure. You see, I am not a proud workaholic like some.


My predicament could very well be because I don't have much of a life outside of my writing. Don't laugh. I'm serious. Other than church and the infrequent literary or family event, my daily schedule consists of housework, errands and television. I know that's sad, but by the time I finish working I'm too tired to do anything else.

After an early morning trip to Home Depot, for items to finish up the new bathroom floor, we spent Saturday morning sprucing up for Thanksgiving. Everyone comes to our house on Turkey Day, and we all go to my sister's for Christmas. After returning newly washed dishes to the now sparkling clean china closet in the dining room, we stripped the living room slipcovers and I vacuumed and Febreezed the furniture while the covers washed. He put the clean covers back on while I finally got to work on revisions for The Real Thing , which is supposed to go to my editor by this coming Friday.

Yesterday was the first Sunday of the month, the day I serve in the nursery. Over the years I've served in different ministries, and taking care of the babies so their moms can enjoy the service is my favorite. Unfortunately, one of my sweeties wasn't feeling well and had a case of diarrhea which resulted in my having to change her three times.


Another one of the little ones is relatively new to the church and still hasn't grown accustomed to being away from her parents. Needless to say, she wasn't exactly a happy camper yesterday. Thankfully, I did have one joyful, smiley child. Thank you, Miss Kyla!

By the time we got back home from church, after hubby stopped at Blimpie for subs, all I wanted to do was crawl into bed and read for the rest of the day...

Only I had 104 e-mails, 24 Facebook messages and a few Twitter DMs to which I needed to respond.


Granted, all of the e-mail is a result of the groups I belong to, and most of those messages aren't addressed directly to me. Still I have to at least sort through them and delete the ones I don't need to read.

Once I dealt with the mail, I needed to continue working on the TRT revisions. But I just couldn't do it, and instead went upstairs to read and finish watching Fast Five on DVD. Within fifteen minutes of starting the movie, I was out cold with my Kindle resting on my chest (and people wonder why it takes me so long to read a book these days...).


By five o'clock we were hungry again. You know who wasn't cooking anything at that point, right? Curbside To Go from Applebees provided dinner while we finally watched the end of the movie. At eight o'clock, BET aired the fabulous Black Girls Rock special, and I watched that while I typed the questions for a blog interview I'm doing next week.

I've said all this to say that I think I'm losing the time management battle. There seems to be more and more to do and less time in which to do it. I feel as if I'm drowning.

Well, I'm done with my rant (and with my Monday blog entry.) I'm not asking for answers to my mess, just some listening ears.

Thanks for listening ...

Sample Sunday

Romance author, Shontae Nichols is spending the summer with seven very friends – four women and three men. 

This year her housemates will be a drama instructor, an accountant, a hip-hop video dancer, a cosmetologist, a calculus professor and a film actor.

For eight weeks sibling rivalry, girlfriend drama, and sexual attractions threaten to change every one of their relationships. But when one of the housemates faces a tragedy, it affects how all of the friends view life and each other.
***"Remember I said I had this funny feeling about Devon?"

I crossed the room and sat on the edge of the bed, hoping she wasn't about to reveal something about our new housemate that would require me to run a background check on him.

"I couldn't figure out what it was until I got back to working on my story," she continued.

"Nothing like this has ever happened to me since I've been writing."

"Will you please tell me what you're talking about?"

"He is the exact likeness of the hero in my book right down to his voice."

"Fascinating," I said, sounding like Spock from the original Star Trek.

"After Kinnik said who he was, I thought he looked familiar from the commercial or maybe from the few times I'd seen him walking the red carpet with Shari Wilcox on one of those magazine shows. That wasn't it. Here, read this." Shontae got up from the desk and patted the chair so I could sit in front of her laptop.

She pointed to the screen. "Start with the second paragraph."

"Every eye was glued on Gregory when he walked into the conference room. This was the new district director? He looked like one of those models from the cover of Details magazine. The custom-tailored suit he wore emphasized his height and the straightness of his shoulders. Thick but neat brows framed his deep-set brown eyes. I'd never seen such a stunning face on a man. But what did irreparable damage to my nervous system was his voice. When he opened his mouth to greet the staff, it captivated every female at the table, the kind that demanded obedience, in the boardroom or the bedroom. My body immediately reacted in ways I didn't want to be seen in a business meeting. I squeezed my thighs together and tried to will it away.

The passage described Devon perfectly.

"I don't know how that happened. A few months ago I saw this face in a dream and when I woke up I decided to use it in my next manuscript then completely forgot about it until this afternoon. I don't put too much stock in coincidence, but this is scary."

Shontae and I had been friends for a long time. I knew she wasn't easily flustered. That's why I was so surprised at how shaken she appeared.

"Could be automatic writing. It's writing produced without conscious thought; like a written message given through a spirit guide. And maybe Devon was sent here for a reason. You probably don't believe in that sort of thing."

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Like what?"

"Don't ask me. Is this guy in your book good or bad?"

"Good." She smiled a coy smile. "Very good. He's the hero. They're not the same person, Lin. Devon is an actor."

"Don't say it like it's a disease."

"Isn't it? Look at Kip. The man is so in love with himself and his looks, it's sickening. I think the attitude comes with the job. They have so many women running after them. It can't help but go to their heads."

Now I was confused by the way she'd brushed Devon off. "So if he's your dream man, what's your problem with him?"       

"Come on, Lin. The man in my book is a fantasy. I created him to be the way I'd like him to be. My character is a serious businessman who's developed a good reputation in the business world by being honorable and trustworthy."

Right away I knew what her issue was. "For all you know, Devon could be the most honorable man on the planet. You've already made up your mind that he's got issues."

"He gets paid to pretend," she insisted.

"He's not Ronald, Tae. Don't hold that idiot's sins against all men."

Her mouth twisted and her eyes narrowed to slits. "Did I say anything about Ronald?"

"You didn't have to. This is a different summer. Devon's a different man. I know you don't believe in karma like I do, but I think you saw him in that dream to let you know he was coming into your life. Give the man the benefit of the doubt."

Shontae studied my face for a few beats and considered my words. "Yeah, I have to admit it is a little strange."
4/5-star reviews!  On Kindle - http://amzn.to/dWZSxA  and Nook  http://bit.ly/k4Z172

Fun Friday?

I'm sitting here trying to come up with something funny for today's entry. Usually I have something waiting in the wings, but not this week. What I need to do, rather than post blog entries, is finish up the revisions on Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing so I can get it to my editor next week.

So, I'm putting my nose back to the grindstone and getting back to work ...

Indie Spotlight - Author Christy Hayes

I am beginning a new feature on Writer Wednesdays called the Indie Spotlight. Every Wednesday (or whenever I can get a willing participant) other independent authors will tell the story of their experience with self-publishing.



Today my first guest is author Christy Hayes, whom I met a few years ago at a Georgia Romance Writers meeting. If you don't know anything about these meetings, they are held at a local hotel. The room is set up banquet style with round tables that seat 8-10 people. Those of us who aren't particularly outgoing can find this arrangement a little intimidating. At the time I didn't know anyone in the group, so I scouted around for a friendly face. Christy introduced herself to me, and we ended up sharing about our writing. Neither of us have been regular participants in GRW lately, but we caught up with each other online.

I'll get out of the way and let Christy tell her story ...

©Thank you, Chicki, for having me on your blog!

I've been writing since 2004 when my youngest child started kindergarten. As my daughter prepared to graduate from elementary school and head to middle school in the spring of 2011, I made the decision to go rogue as a writer and join the ranks of Independent Publishing.



I'd just completed my sixth full-length manuscript, letting it breathe before my final round of edits. I was gearing up for the query process when I read an article by writer Kristine Kathryn Rusch about success. In a nutshell, Ms. Rusch told writers to figure out how they define success and then she encouraged them to do everything in their power to achieve their stated goal. Basically, she said the only one putting boundaries on the writer was the writer.
Her article sparked something inside me at a time when I felt proud of my work and yet sore from banging my head against the wall in terms of trying to get it published. I'd done everything right. I researched and queried agents, diligently following their guidelines. I spent lots of money attending conferences and lots of time at writers meetings, networking and pitching to agents and editors. When my material was requested, I followed their submission requirements to the letter. All the while working on my craft.
[image error]Something shifted inside of me that day and suddenly the ugly term self-publishing sounded like the most efficient route to achieve my goal—to reach readers. Believe me, this was not an easy decision to make. In my close-knit critique group, you could have heard crickets when I announced my decision. But as loyal friends and writers who have endured the ups and downs of the publishing business, they supported my decision and wished me the best.
The learning curve was huge. From formatting to cover design (which I now thankfully outsource to the fabulous Laura Morrigan) to marketing and social media, my head still spins with the sheer number of options available to the self-published author. As technology changes, so does the publishing industry and writers who publish their own material have to know what's coming around the bend. That means hours of time researching online while still trying to write the next book.
For me, publishing my own work was a huge step. I'd always treated my writing like a job and yet considered it a hobby because I hadn't earned the validation of a publishing professional. I wrote in secret, only letting my closest friends know I spent hours writing and pursuing publication. God knows what they all thought I did all day, but now everyone knows I'm a writer because I've had to market my work. Coming out of the closet, so to speak, was a giant leap out of my comfort zone.
But here I am, with five books published and sales steadily climbing from month to month. I've changed my covers, tweaked my blurbs, played with pricing and joined an incredibly supportive independent writer's online loop. In less than a year, I went from pounding the keyboard in secret to running my own small business. Looking back, I wouldn't have done it any other way. It's a wonderful time to be a writer no matter how you define success!
BIO: Christy Hayes writes romantic women's fiction from her little basement office in the South. She's cooked up all kinds of trouble for her flawed characters when she's not driving her kids to one sporting event or another or walking her pesky rescue mutts through the neighborhood. She lives outside Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband, two children and two dogs. Check out her books at her christyhayes.com, follow her on twitter @SeaHayes, and read her bi-monthly blog at Women Unplugged. Christy donates a portion of the proceeds from her book sales to charity.

Learning to close the door

No, this entry is not about sex. It's about a timely post by Lisa Unger on getting your writing done without distractions, something I struggle with daily. Check out what she has to say here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-unger/post_2588_b_1038502.html

Please come back on Wednesday, when I will feature Christy Hayes, a fantastic indie novelist.

Have a great day, especially those of you in the Northeast who have a snow day on Halloween!!!!!

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Sample Sunday

Here's a little Hot Fun for a chilly fall Sunday. Hot Fun in the Summertime is a contemporary women's fiction story featuring an ensemble cast.


Seven very different singles – four women and three men – rent a New Jersey beach house for the summer: author Shontae Nichols, self-employed accountant and realtor, Linda Harris, Linda's sister, hip-hop video dancer Kinnik Watkins, cosmetologist, Jovita Blassingame, Calculus professor Curtis "Doc" Whetstone, actor and drama instructor, Kip Lee, and new housemate, up and coming film actor, Devon Burke.
During their two month stay, romances bloom, friendships are tested and when a tragedy strikes one of the housemates, they all learn the answer to the age-old question: Can men and women ever be just friends?
Scene setup: Beach housemate Linda's goal for the summer is to convince her sister, Kinnik to reconsider her questionable career.

- - - - - - - - - - -

I left the sunroom and climbed the steps to Kinnik and Jo's room at the top of the landing. Jo's good-natured cackle drifted through the door.

"Enter, Lin," my sister responded, sounding irritated. From the way Jo hurried past me into the hallway, I assumed Kinnik had been griping about my coming to "lecture" her.

"You don't mind if I keep unpacking while you talk, do you?"

With the amount of luggage she had, I knew I'd have plenty of time to say what needed to be said.  "I was hoping we could talk about how your career is going." I used the term loosely.

She yanked open the zipper on her biggest suitcase. "Obviously I'm doing very well. If not, do you think I could afford shoes like these?"

The gasp I held back came from seeing no less than twenty pairs of shoes inside the bag. I knew she never paid less than three hundred dollars for her shoes.  My mind did a quick calculation; I was looking at four months' rent. "I'm not only talking about the money."

"Isn't money the reason most people work?" She giggled and sent me a sly glance over her shoulder as she methodically lined up her footwear in the bottom of the closet.

"Sure it is, but I'm worried about you. You spend like it's the end of the world. We need to sit down while we're here and see if we can come up with an investment you can put some money into. If you're bringing home good money, you should be saving some of it."

"Oh, look at you trying to be the black Suze Orman." 

Kinnik always made jokes when she wanted to avoid confrontation. Only her financial status wasn't a joking matter. She needed to face up to this. "You don't even have health insurance. What happens if you get sick or hurt where you can't work for a few months? Who's going to pay your bills? And don't look at me."

"Don't worry about me, I can get money when I need it."

I didn't like the sound of that. "What do you mean?"

"It means I know some ballers who'll loan me money if I need it."

"And you'd have to pay those ballers back, you know."

"Not necessarily," she contradicted me with a mischievous wink.

"K, I understand you know rich people. You can't count on them to do what you should be doing for yourself. Let's face it; you might have a good five years dancing in videos, if that many. What will you do after that?" Her blank expression answered my question. "You haven't even thought that far ahead. Have you?"

"God, you're starting to sound like Ma. At least if I give her cash she'll leave me alone for a while."

"Giving Ma money isn't the only thing. You're still living there, and she's watching your kids while you run the streets."

She brushed her hair, swept it in a circular motion around her head and tied it with a silk scarf. Her eyes narrowed and two lines appeared between her arched eyebrows. "I'm hardly ever there anyway. Did you come up here just to pick on me, because I'm not in the mood?"

"I'm not trying to give you a hard time. Did you ever consider that I make my living helping people with their finances, and I can help you prepare for the future?"

"All right. I'll think about it. Okay?" The tone of her voice said she'd already shut me out. There was no need to continue the conversation.

"Sure. I'll let you finish unpacking and catch your snooze." I scanned the piles of clothes she'd dumped on the bed. "From the looks of it, you'll be up here until dinner time."

I left with the sinking feeling that Kinnik was on a runaway train to disaster, and not just in her financial life. I had to find a way to help her before something terrible happened.

4/5-star reviews! Kindle -  http://amzn.to/dWZSxA Nook - http://bit.ly/k4Z172

Fun Friday - sexy scary ...

All over the blogosphere people are talking about Halloween. Since this is one "holiday" my family and I don't do, I thought I'd talk about a semi-related subject.
Real fear is nothing to play with, and it's topic I'll leave to the psychological and ministry blogs to elaborate on.
I want to talk about men ... the sexy, scary ones. In my opinion, the king of sexy scary has always been Dracula. Growing up, the only Dracula I knew was the original, played by Bela Lugosi.

For his day and time, he was the slick, mysterious count that made women swoon under his power. As a little kid, he scared the heck out of me when he'd suddenly morph into a bat and fly away.
Lugosi's character provided the foundation for all of the cinema vampires to follow - some who were drop dead (pardon the pun) sexy and some who were downright frightening.
This is my take on the evolution of the Transylvania count:

Christopher Lee just plain creeped me out ...

William Marshall was the first black Drac, but he made my skin crawl.

Frank Langella was definitely well dressed, sexy yet frightening. He also probably brought the best acting to the role.

Back in the 70's, Michael Nouri of Flashdance fame, gave me goosebumps (not the frightened kind ...) during his ten-episode portrayal on the TV series, Cliffhangers.

  In the 80's, Eddie Murphy brought back the slick, sensual nature to the part, and he used it well on Angela Bassett in A Vampire in Brooklyn. It just freaked me out that he bore such a strange resemblance to the late R&B singer, Nick Ashford:

Eeeew ....
Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise took the vampire thing to another, and in my opinion, very feminine, level in the 1994 Interview with a Vampire.
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The Count is my all-time favorite unscary (if that's a word) Dracula. He has spent decades inhabiting Sesame Street.


Now there are two incredibly sexy bloodsuckers that have recently caught my attention ... Bill Compton and Eric Northman, as played by Stephen Moyer and Alexander Skarsgård on HBO's True Blood. If you've never seen the show, here's a great article on why these two guys have become so popular - http://bit.ly/uuu48d
I'm not sure why we find these scary men sexy, but it's probably because they represent the ultimate bad boys. What do you think?