Cardyn Brooks's Blog, page 8

Pivots, New Challenges, Surprising Revelations & Joy

 

Creative Sparks: 21 Affirmations and Inspiration forCreativity at Midlife by Sharon J.  Burton

non-fiction, SJB Ventures, LLC, May 14, 2024

 

There's a shift happening. From #grayhairdontcare to Killersof a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn and other bestselling fiction titlesfeaturing women (and all kinds of people) who're over 50, a popular home shoppingnetwork’s Over 50 & Fabulous programming, and advertising campaigns thatpresent “seasoned" people as vibrant, engaging, and interested in pursuing assorted new challenges, attitudes toward midlife are moving from doom andgloom to excitement about what comes next. Creative Sparks… supportsthat endeavor in pursuit of the arts. As stated in the introduction, “In this bookyou'll not only learn how to use affirmations to gain more confidence with yourcreative life, but you'll discover how to use affirmations to overcome creativeblocks and create your own that are tailored to your specific needs and goals.”

The introduction defines the intention and the scope ofthe entire text, leading into the affirmations. Each one provides an openingcontext for specific goals, then practical strategies for achieving thosestated goals, followed by personal revelations about a named individual’screative pursuits. Journal reflection points as prompts to inspire relevantjournaling close out each chapter.

The“Moving Forward on Your Creative Journey” section offers concluding reflectionsand suggestions for next steps. The itemized list of contributors embodies abroad range and depth of all things creative. A detailed bibliography providesadditional resources for further study. Acknowledgements and the author's bioencourage and inspire readers to explore their creative potential. 

http://amzn.to/3UENMyj 

[Note: Sharon J. Burton and I connected years ago through my work as outreach director for The Write Women Book Fest, which is hosted by The Write Women Network. She was kind enough to give me an ARC without any strings or expectations attached.]  

Girls' Night Out @Turn the Page Bookstore in Boonsboro, Maryland

[a collage of 4 photos, from left to right, top then bottom: a standing chalkboard sign with "Girls' Night Out Guest Authors: Nora Roberts/JD Robb Lucy Score Madison Score Carla Vergot Lisa Proulx Sherianne Nemby; 3 stacks of paperback copies of Iktome by Sherianne Newby and 1 stack of Nomad Through Time: A Poetic Collection by Sherianne Newby; 1 stack of Lily Barlow: The Mystery of Jane Dough and 2 stacks of Lily Barlow: The Mystery in the Mangroves; a canvas tote bag with "Turn the Page Bookstore Boonsboro, Maryland"]   

[a collage of 2 photos from left to right: a tall street light post with an attached banner reading "LOVE your Local Boonsboro, Md Gifts Inn Boonsboro; a standing chalkboard sign with "GNO Thur May 9th 5-9PM curiouser & curiouser Town Wide Event" leaning against the outer wall of a boutique that sells a variety of new and vintage merchandise]   [a collage of 2 photos from left to right: smiling author Lucy Score seated at a table while "a patron" stands next to her; paperback copy of The Blast from the Past by Lucy Score with the Turn the Page Bookstore sales receipt sticking up above the front cover] 
Fun road trip to Turn the Page Bookstore in Boonsboro, Maryland Thursday night! It was cool, gray, and rainy as we stood in line, but the experience was worth the wait. Nora Roberts spoke to me and gently touched my arm but I was too awestruck to ask to snap her picture (and I'll force myself to wash my arm even though my inner fangirl doesn't want to erase the touch DNA as proof of the encounter). 
Also, telling myself NOT to start reading The Blast from the Past* tonight no matter how much I really, really want to despite my early start time Friday morning. 
Thought I'd already requested Bride or Die by Madison Score from the library but I was wrong so adding the ebook to my TBR; same for Lily Barlow: The Mystery of Jane Dough by Carla Vergot. 
Our group met up with friends from Charm City Romanticon and multiplied the vectors of fun. 
Concerns about the weather during the return drive meant we left without dropping in to browse the intriguing items offered by Josie's on Main and other charming businesses. Next time we'll arrive early enough to explore more shops! 
Bookish fun was had by all. 

*Note about a supporting character with a potential for embodying a problematic trope introduced in the first book in the Riley Thorn series, The Dead Guy Next Door: He's mysterious, possibly mystical and devoted to one of the main characters while not seeming to have family or backstory. The Corpse in the Closet begins to address those details. 

May Days of Note & Finding Love in Unexpected Ways

 

[bookstack of 5 books: Finders Keepers by Sandra Kitt, That Time I Got Drunk and Yeeted a Love Potion at a Werewolf by Kimberly Lemming, That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Human by Kimberly Lemming, The Rule Book by Sarah Adams, The Boy Who Cried Bear by Kelley Armstrong] 

[two packaged "Golden Bowl fortune cookie" next to a set of decorative chopsticks and a stainless steel dinner fork arranged against a crinkled sheet of tissue paper - image inspired by Sandra Kitt's book] 
It's been a lovely start to the month of May with celebrating workers and the labor movement, a cultural phenomenon of a decades-long movie franchise, and Mexico's 1862 victory over France. 
And no, I'm not ignoring the civil unrest and protests across the United States and around the world. We're at a crossroads as a society that's deciding if we are sincere in our claims of liberty and justice for all [people]. 
For clarity: I am pro-freedom, pro-equal justice, pro-people, anti-racist, anti-terrorist, pro-inclusion, anti-homophobia, pro-The Golden Rule regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, physical or neurological accommodation, weight, height... 
Always sending waves of peace, good health, safety & joy your way 

Unlikely Friendships, Farewells, New Beginnings & Brunch

[book stack of 9 library books from top to bottom: Can't We Be Friends: A Novel of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe, Don't Go Baking My Heart, Only and Forever, Maya's Laws of Love, The Corpse in the Closet, One of Us Knows, Happily Never After, Double Lives, The Poisoner's Ring]  [Brave. Black. First. box of 100 postcards with Faith Ringgold postcard angled on top of the box] 
[resolve.org Walk of Hope for fertility awareness at the Charlotte Knights stadium]

[outdoor table setting: a white china dinner plate trimmed in silver with a floral border - a friend green tomato sandwich arranged next to basket of rippled potato chips and a thimble of ketchup; a Mason jar glass of lemonade, 2 water glasses, a bowl half-full of Mac & cheese] https://www.pennyroyalstation.com/ 

Waiting for the Dough (298 Days So Far)

 

My usual weekend post about books and bookish topics is being pushed aside today by the ongoing stressful aftermath of what had been an awesome experience with Howard University's PitchHU 3.0 cohort business incubator last year from April to June. More details here: https://swimmissionswimcapsaga.blogspot.com/  
Sometimes it's so hard to make progress as a creative, indie inventor, founder or entrepreneur or someone who's working toward expanding access for themselves and other people who are routinely excluded. 
My SwimMission Swim Cap prioritizes the hair health, appearance and protection needs of people who wear a swim cap to cover their hair, especially very thick coily, kinky, curly, voluminous, long or otherwise high-maintenance hair types like braids, locs, chemically straightened, color-treated or fragile, when it's dry and to keep it dry. So typical swim caps with "wet hair first" instructions automatically exclude them. 
The tedious patent application process ended successfully for me, but made me understand why so many applications were listed as "abandoned" during my research for application prep. This frustrating situation with PitchHU and the ongoing delay in receiving the awarded funds also explains why so many inventors and entrepreneurs with marketable ideas quit. 
On my worst days, I tell myself that what Soul Cap, Hairbrella, YouGoNatural and the few other brands offer in swim caps prioritizing hair health, appearance and protection is good enough, much better than typical swim caps, and that's true. It's also true that my U.S. utility patented combination of features and functions offers even more protection, security, volume accommodation and comfort. Plus, swimmers and pre-swimmers deserve options and variety according to need, mood, fashion or other factors just like with other kinds of head gear. 
I'm feeling discouraged right now, but I've worked too hard for too long to quit. Somehow I'll find a way to produce more prototypes for additional beta testing. (I'll keep saying it and pursuing it until it's true.;-) 
As a Swim Inclusion Advocate for Life my ultimate SwimMission remains: expanding access to the water safety, medical and mental health, physical fitness, training, fun, and employment benefits and opportunities knowing how to swim offers by "keeping the water out of your hair so your hair doesn't keep you out of the water. (TM)" 
Thank you for reading this post! Writing it helped me feel less sad and defeated. 
Always rooting for your good health and success, C. 

 

Celebrating Libraries, Authors & Books Every Week

[Silver Under Nightfall by Rin Chupeco, Hathor and the Prince by J.J. McAvoy, Flirty Little Secret by Jessica Lepe, A Governess's Guide to Passion and Peril by Manda Collins]  
 Silver Under Nightfall (Silver Under Nightfall #1) by Rin Chupeco dark fantasy with romantic elements Saga Press, 2022 
Remy Pendergast is dealing with a lot: unsavory family dynamics, deadly conflicts, uncomfortable desires, insidious coercion, zealots, painful truths and more. His angsty journey is heartrending and terrifying with moments of unexpected humor. Silver Under Nightfall creates a fantastical universe that blends assorted undead tropes and royal court intrigues in fresh ways. And as usual, the humans are as monstrous as the monsters. 
This passage from chapter 36 seems particularly relevant to the story and real life:  The only true power within Elouve, it seemed, lay with old men who should long ago have been relegated to obscurity. Change only occurred when they allowed it, according to what they considered proper, never for the most affected by it.  


And to celebrate the end of National Library Week, the Laurel College Center hosted their 1st Annual Book Fest! 
Author, founder & organizer of The Write Women Book Fest H.L. Brooks read from her upcoming witchy mystery and presented her "Manifest a Writerly Life" workshop with practical tips and strategies for moving from thinking about writing to actually writing. Other talented TWWBF authors who were there: Amy L. Bernstein offered a mini publishing basics tutorial, singer & award-winning memoirist Michelle M. Brown, multi-hyphenate creative Tyauna Bruce, J.S. Living read a passage from her riveting dark fantasy romance The Covenant of Blood, and Calliope Parrish tempted us all with an engaging snippet from Dragon War. 
Denise "D.M." Cross entertained with her poignant and humorous reading from "M.I.A.", and Joan Wahl combined meeting up with a close friend with teasers and context about Summer Love in Music City, the first book in her siblings and musicians series. 




[H.L. Brooks sharing hard-earned wisdom about the pursuit of a writerly life; engaging with interested readers; a TWWBF2023 journal and H.L.'s worksheet packet]  [the writing duo of Calliope Parrish, J.S. Living, Michelle M. Brown and some of her lovely author swag] 
The weather was sunny and warm, but the high winds made Saturday a perfect day for being inside and spending time with bookish creatives and book lovers.
Happy creating & reading! 

Poetic Justice & Much More During National Poetry Month

  My book bingey ways of reading for joy and to alleviate stress - and my life is very stressful right now - continue:  

Her Own Happiness by Eden Appiah-Kubi Escaping Mr. Rochester by L.L. McKinney The Breakup Tour by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka The Duchess (Scandalous Ladies of London #2) by Sophie Jordan Really Cute People by Markus Harwood-Jones Relit : 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories edited by Sandra Proudman This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets edited by Kwame Alexander Sylvia's Second Act by Hillary Yablon Every Single Secret by Christina Dodd 
Take time to write actual reviews or use that time to read more pages? 
My decision is obvious. 
Happy Poetry Month! Keep reading (which includes audiobooks, comix, graphic novels, Braille...:-) 

Spring Showers Reading Hours

Saturday's deluge made it easy to stay home and read rather than go run errands. Today's lovely weather means no more outdoor to-do list avoidance and reading has to wait until this evening. 
Hope your week is filled with reading (& all kinds of) joy! 
currently reading, already read & will read eventually 
Girls with Bad Reputations by Xio Axelrod, Always Only You by Chloe Liese, Faking It by Beth Reekles   Magnolia Flower by Zora Neale Hurston & adapted by Ibram X. Kendi; a "Read a new book that is primarily intended for children" prompt from The Ultimate Reading Challenge, Complete a Goal, Open an Envelope, and Reveal a Bookish Prize! 

Forget What You Know by Christina Dodd, First Down by Grace Reilly, Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair by Laura Piper Lee, All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata, The Dead Guy Next Door by Lucy Score 

Making Your Own Luck

Calamity (Uncharted Hearts #1) by Constance Fay Sci-fi romance Bramble, November 2023 
Temperance Reed has fallen from being a recognized member of one of the most elite families in the universe to being a banished scout among a ragtag band of other outsiders. Romantic drama collides with political intrigue and double-dealing in this outstanding sci-fi genre mashup that's action-packed, funny, and tender.  
  Winter's Eve: Then, Now & Always (Three Kings #2) by A.E. Valdez, author/publisher Contemporary romance/fiction/women's fiction  August 2023 
A decade earlier, Eve Valentine and Winter King's love burned hot and bright until tragedy struck and the devastating fallout ended their relationship. Now connections between family, friends, and the best interests of their community force them back together. Will their love rekindle or incinerate? 
The exquisite blend of intricate family and friendship dynamics combined with themes of trauma, grief, and recovery as an ongoing, evolving process make this second-chance romance something much more than the sum of its excellent parts in the tradition of Kennedy Ryan.   

Many thanks to Patti Ross and her EC Poetry & Prose team for inviting my kidlit co-author and me to read our upcoming book, How Our Family Was Made (A Love Story for My Child), about a single-parent-by-choice family at this month's Second Sundays at OCA Mocha Cafe UMBC in Arbutus, Maryland! We enjoyed our experience of reading while sharing the images on a screen (that we did make level after this pic was snapped), and listening to a line-up of talented poets and other spoken word artists. 
Happy creating! 

Finding Your People, Creating Home

[The American Queen by Vanessa Miller, Bride by Ali Hazelwood, Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday] 
  [Goal by Alexandria House] 
What's even better than a hockey romance? A BLACK hockey romance that incorporates multiple facets of the complexity of Blackness while delivering humor and tenderness along with lots of family and relationship drama. Plus, scorching hot sexy times. Nuri and Maleek's love story beautifully depicts ways in which two people work on themselves as individuals as they become a healthy couple. 
(cw: miscarriage) 

Currently reading The American Queen by Vanessa Miller. Enjoyed Bride by Ali Hazelwood, and Canadian Boyfriend by Jenny Holiday is a binge read option  for later this week.  
Happy creating!