Cardyn Brooks's Blog, page 3

Author Cherry Dawn Fagbemi Chats with TBQ + More Books

Hearing author Cherry Dawn Fagbemi read a cliffhanger of an excerpt from Bad Seed at a Prince George's Memorial Library System event last year led us to stay in touch. Here's our recent conversation about her life, her work, this book and a future project on this episode of The Bitchy Quill podcast with founder Heather Brooks, who's also the founder of The Write Women Book Fest scheduled for Saturday, July 19 & Sunday, July 20 at the Bowie Comfort Inn & Conference Center in Bowie, Maryland, where this author and 100+ more will engage with readers, give away swag, sell and sign their books on day one; an assortment of panel chats on day two: https://youtu.be/a73_k4DQZKI   [front cover of a trade paperback book, "BAD SEED, The Midnight Cries of an Island Girl, A Novel by Cherry Dawn Fagbemi"]  

This week's BAC (Book Acquisition Compulsion) bookstack includes a hockey romance because the Washington Capitals' first-round playoffs win happened during the start of my hockey romance reading binge so it would be irresponsible for me to tempt fate by not continuing. Plus, ebooks available from the public library through the Libby app. 
AND the "Free For All: The Public Library" documentary is excellent! https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/free-for-all/  

[a bookstack of 6 books from top to bottom: The Love Simulation, Shoot Your Shot, Caught Up, Play Along, Bonded in Death, We The Pizza]  
[cover art for 2 ebooks, from left to right: Hello Single Dad by Kelsie Hoss, Chaos by Constance Fay] 


Life is really challenging for most people in multiple ways right now (and always?). Grant some grace to yourself and others. Hydrate. Rest. Meditate. Pray. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Make space to experience some pleasure every day. 
Always wishing you good health, peace of mind & joy.  

Absolutely No Shelf Control

What had happened was... 
[20 books arranged on a piano bench, from left to right: Death of the Author, Kills Well With Others, Savor It, Scot and Bothered, Say You'll Remember Me, Flirting Lessons; a horizontal stack from top to bottom - Break Point, Murder by Memory, A Wager at Midnight, Believing in You, One in a Million, Let Me Be the One, Wild Side, The Perfect Rom-Com, The Usual Family Mayhem, Love on Paper, The Charlie Method; and 3 more books from left to right - Stealing Home, Breakaway, One on One] 
So my nearest library branch needed to close in order to complete some urgent building repairs. At first, it was supposed to take two days, but that turned into seven days. So my book requests accumulated during that time. 
Did I pursue the super practical option of reading all of the other library books in my possession in order to clear the way for this growing and delayed bumper crop of loans? 
No I did not. I borrowed ebooks from my county's library system, and more physical books from a library branch in the adjacent county. 
[cover art for the ebook edition of Manila Takes Manhattan by Carla de Guzman] 
[a bookstack of 6 books from top to bottom: Mister Hockey, Head Coach & Virgin Territory, Mile High, The Right Move, Pucking Sweet, Pucking Wild] 
My hockey romance binge reading continues as every day the #ALLCAPS frenzy for the Washington Capitals gains momentum! 
Deadlines for multiple projects loom closer and there are episodes of The Bitchy Quill podcast to record while the first day of The Write Women Book Fest is only 83(!) days from today.  
So until at least August, my blog and socials posts will probably offer only photos of books, bookish things and BAC (Book Acquisition Compulsion) confessions. 

Always sending you good vibes for overall health, peace of mind & some pleasure every day, especially during these challenging times.   
 

Flashback Friday to an Unexpected Honor

Last Saturday, Jade and Wilnona - the And I Thought Ladies, honored me with an Inspirational Woman in Literature Award for my work in supporting authors and promoting literacy! It was an unexpected honor and much appreciated coming from two people who work so diligently to create successful opportunities for other authors and creatives. A browse of their socials reveals how much time, effort and travel they expend transforming their own and others' publishing aspirations into reality.  

[a framed 8in x 11in "Certificate of achievement, Inspirational Woman of Literature, Cardyn Brooks, You have shown excellence and innovation as an inspirational woman of Literature 2025, Jade Dee, Wilnona Marie, And I thought Ladies"] 
We enjoyed a cozy lunch at the Reynolds Tavern in Annapolis, which provided a charming atmosphere and scrumptious food. 
[three women standing in front of the corner of a brick building with a "Reynolds Tavern..." plaque above their heads; a "1747 Pub" sign hangs higher and farther behind them] 
[a dinner plate filled with one slice of quiche Lorraine, a tossed garden salad and a small dish of salad dressing] 
They also were very thoughtful and generous in the assorted swag they gave me. 
[a small chick keychain, an And I Thought Ladies business card, a trade paperback copy of The Alyse Diaries by B. Danielle Watkins, a pair of "Melanin Goddess" earrings, a pair of pink footie socks with smiley faces on the heel] 
We enjoyed a lovely afternoon of personal engagement, lots of laughs, revelations, encouragement and the sharing of future goals. All of that was a gift of quality time spent with quality people. The good vibes carried me through the week. 

TBR or Not TBR...

Rereads, new reads, reissues and more evidence of my BAC (Book Acquisition Compulsion) problems 
[a vertical row of trade paperback books from left to right: Played, Pucked Up, The Garden of Small Beginnings, Get Lost with You, My Big Fat Fake Marriage - on top of a vertical stack of TBR books from top to bottom: Flirting Lessons, Say You'll Remember Me, Scot and Bothered, Savor It, Kills Well with Others] 
Comfort reread contemporary romance, Played by Naima Simone and (not shown) historical romance, Devil In Disguise by Lisa Kleypas. Indulged in another angsty YA hockey romance, Pucked Up by Helena Hunting. Emotional upheaval and struggling through the stages of grief in contemporary women's fiction with romantic elements, The Garden of Small Beginnings by Abbi Waxman. More struggles and triumphs of moving forward after returning to one's childhood home in contemporary romance, Get Lost With You by Sophie Sullivan, and an amusing break from the glorification of a-hole billionaires in contemporary romance, My Big Fat Fake Marriage by Charlotte Stein. 
And of course for me the answer is almost always yes to reading. 

Talented authors and good friends Kia DuPree and V. Efua Prince discussed Kin: Practically True Stories during a compelling chat at the Barnes & Noble Booksellers at the Bowie Town Center in Bowie, Maryland. The author read some passages, answered questions, shared details of her life and author journey, and dropped intriguing teasers about one of her upcoming works that includes themes on laundry.

[a poster in the front window of a bookstore: "Presenting V. Efua Prince, April 12, 2025, 3-5pm" for Kin: Practically True Stories] 
[author Kia DuPree seated on the left and author V. Efua Prince seated on the right as they discuss Kin: Practically True Stories] 


The Bowie Branch of the Prince George's County Memorial Library System hosted a preview screening of Free For All: The Public Library. It's a fascinating documentary that highlights the champions of expanding access to information and the evolution of the services provided by public libraries.  [a long rectangular table with several library books about libraries; a calendar of library events in April; a "What's the Draw?" worksheet, and a QR code for a questionnaire] 

Make time to experience some pleasure every day. 

DIY Extremes, Puck Dreams & Media Themes

A woman creates the man of her dreams and sets off a problematic chain of cascading consequences.   [a hardcover book arranged face up: "BLOB, A Love Story by Maggie Su" with a "NEW" sticker in the upper right corner] 
BLOB, A Love Story by Maggie Su contemporary speculative fiction Harper, January 2025 
Comparisons to a more lighthearted Frankenstein are appropriate for this poignant tale about excavating the fundamentals of identity. Vi Liu is experiencing a very rough entry into adulthood. She's lonely. When a chance to create her perfect mate presents itself, she goes for it. Unexpected revelations and mayhem ensue. Similar to The Blob movie of the 1950s starring Steve McQueen, once it starts absorbing things it's hard to stop. BLOB is ultimately a provocative self-love* story that explores the ways in  which people reconcile the various elements of themselves - or don't.  
*For romance fans: This is a love story, not a romance. 

[6 books arranged from left to right atop a piano: binding side - Back After This; horizontal stack from top to bottom - Collide, Unsteady, Down in Flames, The Last Guy on Earth, Pucked] 
Maureen Smith, Maria Luis, Xio Axelrod**, Naima Simone, Marika Ray & Sylvie Stewart have written some on my most favorite hockey romances in addition to the authors of the books in the stack shown above. What is it about hockey romances that makes them extra compelling? Authors Bal Khabra, Peyton Corinne, Kate Meader, Sarina Bowen, and Helena Hunting know the answer. 
And last but not least, Back After This by Linda Holmes offers a humorous and heartfelt behind-the-scenes look at the cutthroat world of podcasting, reality entertainment, and influencers. Readers familiar with the DMV (D.C./Maryland/Virginia) area will recognize many of the location references. 
And BAC (Book Acquisition Compulsion) again  [6 books arranged vertically from left to right: Death of the Author, Kilt Trip, The Garden of Small Beginnings, Get Lost with You, My Big Fat Fake Marriage, Played] 
A browse of the "new arrivals" shelf at my local library branch proved too tempting to resist, as usual. And my recent binge of hockey romances combined with the enthusiastic coverage of Ovechkin's #GR8 Chase sparked a desire to reread Played by Naima Simone (not that an excuse to do so was necessary). 
Wishing you good health and some pleasure every day.  
**At an event at the Hershey Public Library last year my inner reader fan girl burst free upon seeing Xio Axelrod in-person in the form of tears and not being able to speak. She gave me a hug, which made me boo-hoo even more. She was so compassionate toward me. Similar behavior from me when meeting Ms. Beverly Jenkins and Leslye Penelope with varying degrees of embarrassing nerdiness.   

City Lights to Country Roads

Reading my feelings in addition to eating them.   [3 trade paperback romance books arranged face up from left to right: Story of My Life, Stuck in the Country with You, Unromance]  [2 books arranged face up, from left to right: Black Woods Blue Sky; Once Smitten, Twice Shy] 
Stuck in the Country with You by Zuri Day contemporary romance Harlequin/Afterglow Book, December 2024 
When life rains down challenges into Genesis Washington's life, it pours in mayhem that leads to unexpected opportunities. Jaxon King offers support and so many temptations. Their charming second-chance love story is irresistible. 

Unromance by Erin Connor contemporary romance Forever, January 2025 
A trope-a-licious, emotionally fraught, super funny, clever and sexy homage to all things distinct to the romance genre. Looking forward to reading more from this talented author. 

Once Smitten, Twice Shy by Chloe Liese contemporary romance Berkeley, January 2025 
Two people who are awkward and unsuccessful when it comes to romance work together to improve their odds of finding love. Hilarity and compelling emotional intimacy ensue - along with scorching sensuality. A compassionate, realistic approach to neurodivergence and chronic illness adds emotional nuance. 

Black Woods Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey literary fiction with magical realism & romantic elements Random House, February 2025 
This tender reimagining of a centries-old fable offers readers an engaging poignant study of themes on the individual, family, community and cultural legacies people accept and reject, and why. Melancholy feelings generated echo long after reading the last page. 

Story of My Life by Lucy Score contemporary women's fiction & romance Bloom Books, March 2025 
Everything that can go wrong personally and professionally for a once bestselling romance author continues going wrong in spectacular fashion until an impulsive decision leads her way out of her comfort zone and into love (eventually). HGTV collides with Green Acres in this madcap romp with lots of heart and incendiary passion.  

More evidence of my BAC (Book Acquisition Compulsion) problems  [11 books from left to right: face up against an open cardboard mailing box - Down in Flames; binding edge up - Blob, Blood Moon, Unsteady, Collide, The Last Guy on Earth, The Devil's Charm, A Five Letter Word for Love; 3 more face up - Unromance, Story of My Life, Stuck in the Country with You] 
This is only a sample of the books currently in my possession through purchasing and borrowing. There are ebooks loaded on my phone, tablet, and laptop. My insatiable craving for books seems eternal. Public libraries, book swaps, generous author freebies, ARCs, my local and indie bookstores all keep me stocked up with outstanding reads! 
Treat yourself to some moments of pleasure every day.
Happy reading & creating (which sometimes looks like simple survival, especially during these very challenging times)! 

AI Bots or Human Trolls?

My social media engagement is minimal because at the end of my life I won't think, "I should have spent more time on social media." Earlier this week some comments from accounts that I don't follow and don't follow me commented on my "We Are a Book Sanctuary" photo showing books wrapped in solid-colored paper; no titles/authors/genres, no text at all beyond the letters spelling out the phrase from a display at a local library branch 5 months ago. Rather than responding to or blocking them, I'm sharing my thoughts here.   

[screen shot from the Unite Against Book Bans website homepage with their open book logo in the upper left corner and "Unite in Your Community" links to resources to defend books from censorship] 

Engaging with social media every day isn't my usual pattern so it took a day or two for me to see these. [a chain of comments from 3 different formerly-twitter accounts in response to an October 2024 post with a photo of a "We Are a Book Sanctuary" display at a local library: 3/25/25 "Groomers" from 3 different accounts; 3/25/25 "Pedos" from 1 account]   [3/25/25: a somewhat zoomed in screen shot of Maryland State Constitutional law concerning the distribution of child pornography as a reply from 1 account to my "We Are a Book Sanctuary" post from October 2024]
[3/25/25: smaller image of the Maryland State Constitutional law screen shot; 3/27/25: a reply claiming to have once enjoyed and appreciated and benefitted from public libraries, but now anti-library (my interpretation)] 

If I were to reply to these accounts, here's what I'd write: Since you needed 5 months to compose a one-word comment, maybe spend more time reading the assorted books and accessing the vast educational, intellectually engaging, and entertainment resources that inspire empathy and critical thinking at public libraries instead of falsely maligning its services. Maybe then you'll be able to articulate more eloquent and coherent fact-based, truthful arguments beyond immature, irrelevant name-calling and screen shots of legalese without any substantiated context. Miracles happen every day. Bless your heart. 
And here are my speculations: Is it a coincidence that during the week an executive order to defund public libraries and museums was signed, then suddenly 5 months after my "We Are a Book Sanctuary" post to formerly-twitter about a display at my local library branch, multiple accounts that had never engaged with me felt compelled to leave nasty accusatory replies to it? Probably not. 
Uninformed people who can't think critically for themselves are much easier to mis/lead and control than people who can and consciously choose to do so. 
Where are you, major book publishers? This attack on funding public libraries and museums is a direct hit to your bottom line. So if you won't fight for their cultural necessity due to ethical motivations, fight for your profitable business model. More on that some other day. 
Any time authorities wield their power to limit access to legitimate, substantiated fact-based information resources, that's a warning sign of oppressive intentions. 
The surge in book bans and other tactics of oppression is disturbing. Feeling overwhelmed is a reasonable response to these overwhelming circumstances. Overwhelming the resistance of the masses is the objective. 
Breathe. Hydrate. Sleep. Eat the most nutritious food that's available to you. Exercise. Spend time with people you love who love you also. Then choose one issue that's important to you and choose one way to defend it. Connect with others who support actual freedom, safety, justice, good health and overall equality for every human being. We're in this fight together.   
Public education: Are you able to call your city, county, state and/or federal representatives, and keep calling them? Attend school board meetings? Volunteer at your child's or neighborhood school? 
Funding public libraries and museums: Same questions as above, plus have you ever considered being a docent (if your circumstances allow)? 
Are you able to donate to organizations with a verified track record of serving people in need like NAACP, The Emancipator, Downtown Women's Center, I Support the Girls, American Library Association, Black People Will Swim, Water lust...? 
Think about what you CAN do because that's a much more manageable list than what you can't do. 
My enslaved ancestors fought for generations in order to make my whole life possible. Everything I am, every opportunity to read, to learn, to succeed or fail and try again and again, to relax, to enjoy, to thrive, to love - they suffered, endured, struggled, overcame to give me so much more than they ever received. They had physical, emotional, spiritual stamina. That inheritance sustains me, especially when I feel discouraged. 
Always rooting for the manifestation of your divine purpose, C. 
P.S. A return to a joyful celebration of books tomorrow!  

Hindsight, This Present Moment & Looking Forward

Last week ended with a lively virtual book launch of a writing craft how-to delivered as a new memoir from the living literary icon and educator Marita Golden. Similar to the way in which August Wilson composed "The Pittsburgh Cycle" to examine the complexity of the African-American experience throughout the 20th century, each Marita Golden memoir offers insights into different aspects of her life as a Black person, a woman, a creative, an academic, a wife, a mother with compelling discourse that urges readers to excavate their own lives, motives, and lessons learned in easy and hard ways.  

 How to Become a Black Writer: Creating & Honoring Black Stories That Matter by Marita Golden non-fiction memoir Mango, February 2025  
"All writing is autobiographical." Marita Golden  https://maritagolden.com/ 

This memoir offers an examination of self as a way into engaging public conversation with a variety of subjects: the evolution of the publishing industry during the past four decades; the expansion of memoir as a category that's broad in approach and popularity, especially beyond focusing on white men; gaining perspective on one's life and behavioral patterns, and recognizing one's purpose along with healthy ways to pursue it. 
During this spirited event, Marita Golden shared that she's had the same literary agent for 40 years, a person who from the beginning declared her commitment to the author as a distinct,  multifaceted human being in addition to the source of creative output, which is very rare these days. She underscored the importance of unplugging to make space for inspiration. Silent retreats are one of her methods for releasing mental clutter and reclaiming her focus. She reminded us that thinking about ideas for writing is a fundamental element of the writing process, and to strive for clarity on why we're writing, which may change and evolve over time. 
She also mentioned the work of Dr. Ope Lori. https://opelori.com/ 
There was so much more, but these were some of my personal highlights. 

[a blurry screenshot of author Marita Golden seated in front of shelves filled with books; How to Become a Black Writer is facing forward on the shelf visible over her right shoulder] 
[6 books arranged with their spines up from left to right: Cold As Hell, Dream Girl Drama, Let's Call a Truce, Spiral, Unloved, Wreck My Plans] 
Read and enjoyed the six books shown above plus Give Me Butterflies (not shown). My personal and professional to-do lists are so long that my choice this week was to use as much time to read rather than to compose reviews. Thank you to these talented authors for providing hours of escapist pleasure: another installment of a series about dangerous people with dangerous secrets living off the grid; messy-borderline-taboo family dynamics and hockey; real grown folks with issues; 2 more New Adult hockey romances; overcoming an abundance of trauma responses; assorted grief experiences and strategies for healing.  

Treat yourself and those you love who love you in return with compassion. We're living in challenging times, but we all have within us what is required to meet this moment. 
Happy reading & creating!   

Getting Things Done & Countdown to TWWBF2025!

Only 4 months plus a few days until The Write Women Book Fest kicks off on Saturday, July 19th from 12 noon - 5 p.m. & Sunday, July 20th from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. at the Bowie Comfort Inn & Conference Center in Bowie, Maryland! Details here: https://www.thewritewomenbookfest.org/#/ 
This is how our planning sessions usually start. 
[a dining table covered in a white linen cloth; 2 linen napkins, 2 salad plates, 2 filled water glasses, 2 glass goblets half-full of red wine, charcuterie plates of fruit, meat, bread, crackers, brownies]  
[6 trade paperback library books from left to right: 2 arranged spine up - Deep End, Better Than Friends; 4 arranged face up - A Lifetime in 30 Days, A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke, Maybe in This Lifetime, Single Player] 
A Lifetime in 30 Days by A.C. Arthur contemporary suspense fiction with romance Montlake, December 2024 
key themes: a weekend getaway gone astray, intrigue, danger, regrets, healing, letting go, moving forward into healthier possibilities 

Single Player by Tara Tai contemporary romance Alcove Press, January 2025 
key themes: gamers, adversaries-to-allies-to-lovers, workplace romance, haters gonna hate, Hollywood ending 

A Tropical Rebel Gets the Duke (Las Leonas #3) by Adriana Herrera historical romance Canary Street Press, February 2025 
key themes: overcoming narrow-minded gatekeepers, unexpected allies, emotional connection and vulnerabilities, scorching sensuality, creating trustworthy community 

Maybe in This Lifetime by Asia Monique contemporary speculative fiction with romanceJanuary 2025 
key themes: a little spin on "While You Were Sleeping" and "Inception" with alternating POVs - and realities? Or is something else happening? Finding out provides a bumpy emotional journey and a pleasurable read. 

Deep End by Ali Hazelwood contemporary new adult romance Berkley, February 2025 
key themes: collegiate sports, grief, injury rehab, therapy, power exchange sexual dynamics (some squick), sibling dynamics, relationship evolution, emotional safety nets 

Better Than Friends by Jill Shalvis contemporary adult romance Avon, January 2025 
key themes: second chance, neighbors, secrets, grief, family drama, scorching sexual chemistry, organic inclusion of neurodiversity in secondary characters 

Happy After All by Maisey Yates contemporary adult romance Montlake, January 2025 
from chapter 33: "... The work that goes into a happy ending is the hardest work. The world doesn't value it. The work to be in love, the work to be happy..."  

This week's stack of reading temptations  [a bookstack of 4 titles from top to bottom: Spiral, Unloved, Give Me Butterflies, Blob]  
While funding for the arts and libraries and other essential cornerstones of an enlightened and educated society are under attack, please prioritize maintaining your mental, medical, physical and emotional health during these challenging times. Also, please support your local public library system by using its resources. That usage data helps them justify their existence and their budgets. 
Happy reading (in whatever formats meet your needs)!   

Timely Reads

An unconventional memoir, a study guide and two romances. Plus, more library books! 
[3 books face-up: A Good Cry: What We Learn from Tears and Laughter, The Beginner's Guide to Karma, Only for the Week; books arranged atop fabric with a repeating pattern of suns, moons & stars; a small clock set to 2 o' clock covers the lower half of Karma] 

A Good Cry: What We Learn from Tears and Laughter by Nikki Giovanni contemporary literary nonfiction memoir William Morrow, reissued 2024 (originally 2017) 
In poetry and poetic prose, Prof. Giovanni* honors the people, families, communities, and places that nurtured and schooled and educated her. She shares insights from personal and professional lessons learned. 
from "The Tassel's Worth the Hassle: An Introduction" Sometimes people confuse school with education. School is a good idea. Education is the exciting trip... 
Her immediate family, friends, neighbors along with mentors and creative counterparts Dr. Maya Angelou, Ruby Dee, Rita Dove, and many more receive eloquent tributes and nuanced observations all delivered with lyrical precision and sharp commentary about herself and society offering an invigorating blend of humor and pathos. 
*How my VT Hokie brain always thinks of her. 

The Beginner's Guide to Karma: How to Live with Less Negativity & More Peace by Lama Lhanang Rinpoche & Mordy Levine contemporary nonfiction New World Library, 2024 
A dedication of merit, two exhortations, a preface, twelve succinct chapters that begin with a question and conclude with an exercise, three appendices, acknowledgements, notes, and detailed author bios all work in concert to encourage mindfulness and intention in a person's feelings, thoughts, speech and actions. Its practical approach to the philosophy of Karma is very accessible and engaging. 

Only for the Week (Forever Falling) by Natasha Bishop contemporary romance Zando/Slowburn, 2024 (originally published 2023) 
Destination wedding insanity amplifies the tension of challenging family dynamics and tangled romantic connections, and even though Dr, Janelle Cross longs to escape, she doesn't. Instead, she indulges in what's supposed to be a week-long vacation fling with her ex's best friend, entrepreneur Rome Martin. 
This super sexy romance is funny, poignant and compelling. The book layout is also appealing with a lovely beachfront dunes image preceding each chapter, the two parts, epilogue and behind the epilogue. Affectionate nods to Baltimore City and the DMV area included throughout this gripping romantic and family saga. 

A Man for Mrs. Claus by Rebekah Weatherspoon, author & publisher contemporary romance December 2024 
from chapter 26: "... You deserve to be a priority, not a consolation prize." 
This clever origin story for Mrs. Claus is a charming, whimsical tale that addresses themes on grief, duty, purpose, and the courage to acknowledge one's deepest heartfelt desires. Being seen and appreciated as a unique individual is another thread that resonates as particularly relevant. 
MORE books borrowed from the library!  [a book stack of 5 paperbacks from top to bottom: Once Smitten Twice Shy, Work in Progress, My Inconvenient Duke, The Lodge, Let's Call a Truce] 
 Treat yourself to moments of pleasure every day. Happy reading & creating, surviving & thriving!