Chelle Ramsey's Blog, page 60

WRITER WEDNESDAY_AN EXCERPT: BEJEWELED

Carrying on her mother’s legacy is not quite as simple as Olivia Morris envisioned. As the owner of BeJeweled Salon she faces the challenge of inspiring the clientele, while trying to pick up the pieces of the lives of her team of talented stylists. 

Paired with their drama she must now fight to keep her heart protected, from the one man who has always laid claim to it. When Raymond Ellsworth returns to town after divorcing his wife, it’s all Olivia can do to stay strong in the presence of her old friend. She wants more than to be his forever friend, but it appears that he still sees her as the young girl he left behind years ago.
Olivia’s determined to not only inspire her clientele, but she’s also seeking to expand her prosperous salon. Quoting scriptures and prayer may not be enough to ward off infidelity, deception, and promiscuity in the gossip filled atmosphere of BeJeweled.

Today's Writer Wednesday features an unedited excerpt from my upcoming novel: BeJeweled. I hope you enjoy.


No one had heard the door chiming again announcing the arrival of someone new. Dressed in an ankle length white coat, with a matching white beret on her head, she was always the personification of class. Her honey-colored face flushed with the chill of the late winter morning air, and her almond-shaped, light brown eyes blazed with merriment. Taking her beret off her head, she ran her fingers through reddish-brown, curly shoulder-length hair to bring fluff back to it, where it had flattened beneath the beret. Her full plum colored lips pulled back revealing beautiful white teeth, and highlighting her high cheekbones as she shared a smile with everyone.
It took only a moment before she realized there was chaos and confusion in her shop. “Ladies! What is going on here?” came the soft-spoken, but forceful voice of Olivia Morris, the owner of BeJeweled Hair and Nail Salon, after clapping her hands to get everyone’s attention.
“What’s going on is Danielle was just leaving!” Kianna answered, never breaking eye-contact with her former client.
“Danielle is there a problem that I can help you with?” Ms. Olivia turned to the young woman to ask.
Olivia had an innate ability to bring calm into any situation she was a part of. It was her God-given talent, one that she did not take lightly.
Standing between the two women she felt the anger radiating off them as powerful as the sun’s beams shining down on a hot mid-July day.
“I just needed to speak with Kianna for a moment, Ms. Olivia. I’m not up in here trying to cause problems in your shop. She just better stay away from my man.”
Olivia turned soft, light brown eyes on Kianna willing her stylist to look her in the eye. “Kianna? What’s going on sweetheart?”
“She’s accusing me of trying to get with her man, Ms. O. I’m not on that. I’m at work and she comes up in here with this drama. If I did call her man, which I didn’t, she don’t need to bring that up in here. She got my number, we can handle this outside the shop. I have a client that I need to be focused on, not her man who can’t seem to keep it in his pants.”
“Alright, that’s enough. I have to tell you both that I’m disappointed. You are two beautiful, strong, black women. I don’t expect you to be in here arguing, much less fighting over a man. You’re both providing shameful entertainment at this moment.” Olivia’s voice had lowered as she spoke with the two ladies. A low buzz of disappointed, gossiping voices filled the background.
Everyone knew once Olivia stepped into the shop nothing would come of the altercation between the two ladies.
“Kianna, I am taking your word that you didn’t call this young man, but I suggest if problems like this should arise again, to please consider the manner in which you handle yourself. Danielle, I think there are some things that you must address, and your problem doesn’t begin with Kianna. It begins with having enough love for yourself not to go through this. I recall you sitting right here in Kianna’s chair just a couple of months ago, discussing the problems you were having with him and some other young lady. You must love yourself enough not to put up with that type of treatment. Confronting Kianna and any other woman won’t stop that. Only you can stop that by letting him know you will no longer accept that type of behavior. Now how you go about that is completely up to you. But you’re a beautiful woman, and when you know and embrace it, so will he. Do you understand where I’m coming from?”    If you enjoyed this post, I encourage you to share it with others by clicking the social media icon below. Thanks for dropping in and as always please leave a comment, because I just love chatting with you. You can link up with me online using the icons above.  If you would like to see more of my works, please visit my website below. Until the next time I'm just...

WRITING MY DREAMS,By: Chelle www.cmichelleramsey.com   
 

BOOK SPOTLIGHT TUESDAY_STORY OF FRIENDSHIP, LOVE, PAIN, & REVIVAL

Once again it's time to share our common love of books. Yes, it's book review Tuesday. Every Tuesday I bring you a new book that I have read. I give you my personal review of the book, which I have downloaded from Amazon. Today I am taking a different turn, I will be posting someone else's review of a book that's near and dear to my heart.Take a peek »

MOTIVATIONAL MONDAY MOMENT_TAKING A PEEK WITHIN

  Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes. - Carl Gustav Jung

I am by nature a dreamer, it is because of those dreams that I am able to create the books that I do for my readers, and that I can envision a better life for my family and myself. It is because of those dreams that I can go away into a world of books, read, and find peace. My husband alternatively is a logical man. And it's because of him that I don't completely lose myself in my dreams.

If you've been following this blog, you know I call him Professor X. Every member of our household has the name of an X-Men character. So Professor X inspires me and the children to stay focused on humbling ourselves, which allows us to be the best that we can be. One of his favorite sayings is: " If you believe in yourself there is nowhere you can't go, nothing you can't do, nothing you can't achieve. It doesn't start with dealing with those people out there, but it starts with dealing with you in here." - Marvin Ramsey, Sr.

Regardless of what challenges life brings you or what successes you hope to achieve, it starts with you. Knowing you enables you to find the strength within and become empowered and equipped to stand up to adversity and become victorious.  However, this may not be an easy journey because as I have discovered, there are sometimes personality traits or decisions you've made that you regret. 

As difficult as it may be, we must take a look at these choices, behaviors and traits to understand who we are. Understanding these areas and accepting the fact that it is who you are (mistakes and all) is the first step towards a successful life. Because once you know yourself you can learn to work with yourself, to work with the parts of yourself that hinders your growth and progress.

Get motivated and get inspired to move beyond the fear, and learn you.


  YOUR MONDAY HEALTHY LIVING RECIPE:
Ingredients            4 (6-ounce) fresh or frozen sustainable salmon fillets (such as wild Alaskan)               3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided               Cooking spray                 1/3 cup chopped bottled roasted red bell peppers, rinsed and drained                 1 tablespoon tomato paste                                1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil                                7 whole blanched almonds                 1 garlic clove                 Preparation1. Heat grill pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle fish evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Coat pan with cooking spray. Arrange fish in pan; cook for 4 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness.2. While the fish cooks, combine remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, bell peppers, and remaining ingredients in a blender or food processor, and process until smooth. Serve pesto over fish.Sustainable Choice: Look for salmon that's labeled "wild Alaskan," and you can be sure that you're getting a sustainable option.Recipe brought to you by My Recipes.

If you enjoyed this post, I encourage you to share it with others by clicking the social media icon below. Thanks for dropping in and as always please leave a comment, because I just love chatting with you. You can link up with me online using the icons above.  If you would like to see more of my works, please visit my website below. Until the next time I'm just...

WRITING MY DREAMS,By: Chelle www.cmichelleramsey.com  

FABULOUS FRIDAY_WRITER COMEDY

Here's to all my author friends. I thought I would take a day to dedicate a little comedy to you. Enjoy:

A visitor to a certain college paused to admire the new Hemingway Hall that had been built on campus.
"It's a pleasure to see a building named for Ernest Hemingway," he said.
"Actually," said his guide, "it's named for Joshua Hemingway. No relation."
The visitor was astonished. "Was Joshua Hemingway a writer, also?"
Take a peek »

THROWBACK THURSDAY_TAMARA + TRINA = TROUBLE

It's another Throwback Thursday, and today we're taking a look at my 2012 release, Real Secrets. Tamara "Choc-o-Lot" Roman defines the word Trouble; it follows her wherever she goes, and her life is incomplete without it. Mother by day, and stripper at Club Secrets by night she's got her hands full, yet she goes off in search of more trouble. You can take the girl out of the ghetto, but can you take the ghetto out of the girl? Or would you even want to?
Take a peek »

WRITER WEDNESDAY_TE RUSS

Today on Writer Wednesday, we hook up with Te` Russ, author of Dream Lover, Taking Chances, Always You, and her latest release After The Storm.

Te` just released her most recent novel After The Storm, in November before the holidays. Today, Te` joins us in a one-on-one interview about her hobbies, life, and storytelling.

Take a peek »

BOOK SPOTLIGHT TUESDAY_BABY DADDY (SCANDALS)

OVERVIEW:

An inheritance brought her more than she ever could have imagined…

Killeen Ames has it all…beauty, brains, a college softball scholarship and a rich and handsome boyfriend who has helped to stretch her college funds and fill her social calendar. He is the only boy she ever allowed past second base and now he’s her baby daddy. However, being a father was not in his short-range plans. He graduates, then he splits, leaving Killeen to decide what she wants to do about the pregnancy…and to worry about how she’s going to keep her scholarship. With no marketable skills, no job, no home and medical bills for her and the baby on the horizon, she knows she must move forward. A knock at the door of her boyfriend’s apartment changes the game forever when an attorney gives her the news of an inheritance from an unknown dead relative.

After traveling to Austin, Killeen walks into the meeting and is surprised to find out that the relative was actually her birth father, and he had been a popular music star who recently died of an overdose. Even more shocking are the four strangers who share the same absentee dad. He has left them a highly successful private investigation agency, Scandals. The catch is…they have to make the commitment to work there.

Baby Daddy is the first book in the Scandals New Adult series of romantic suspense. Each book of the series will focus on one of the offspring of Roger Elliott, a famous musician who left them with a legacy they weren’t expecting.

MY REVIEW:

Kathy Clark takes us into the minds of young adults just beginning to deal with the realities of life. Killeen Ames has recently found herself pregnant and alone. As with many young adults in this situation, she faces a scary and uncertain future, as she wonders if she will lose her scholarship, and how she will support herself and a baby. With no one else to turn to, she begins to map out her plan day-by-day. Yet, an unexpected knock at the door brings life altering changes that will revolutionize her entire world.

Almost like winning the lottery, when Killeen learns she has other family members and an inheritance that her mind cannot grasp, she straps on a powerful and independent attitude, guaranteed to see her through any ordeal. Ms. Clark gives us a behind the scenes look at the inner operations of a private investigation firm. The dangers, the thrills, and the secrets that go into making these operations successful are exposed. She also peeks into the music industry and provides insight into the scandals, the lies and manipulation artists must deal with.

We get a peek at some of the characters to come in the rest of the series and you can't help but fall for them, too. Ms. Clark serves up the mystery, suspense, romance, and drama rolled up in one. I look forward to reading the rest of the series. I rated this book a 5 - On Fiyah! (Rating System)


If you enjoyed this post, I encourage you to share it with others by clicking the social media icon below. Thanks for dropping in and as always please leave a comment, because I just love chatting with you. You can link up with me online using the icons above.  If you would like to see more of my works, please visit my website below. Until the next time I'm just...

WRITING MY DREAMS,By: Chelle www.cmichelleramsey.com  

MONDAY MOTIVATIONAL MOMENT_GET YOUR RESOLVE ON!

If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you. If you go to work on your plan, your plan will go to work on you. Whatever good things we build end up building us. - Jim Rohn

It's a brand new year, with brand new plans, hopes and determination. We start the year off making resolutions to ourselves and others, yet we find that once the year starts we lose track of those resolutions. This is often a result of becoming engaged in our busy lives.

You don't have to lose your resolve; whether your goals include living a healthier life, becoming fiscally responsible, or pursuing your dreams, you can attain your goals.

Attaining those goals come first with determining what they are and then writing them down. When you determine your goals you need to clearly think about what makes them attainable and what resources must be employed to reach them. If they are too lofty you may need to scale back a bit, or if they are too easy they may need further adjustment to help you grow.

Write your goals on paper to make it clear. Visualizing your goals make it is easier to understand them and ascertain what you must do to accomplish those goals. This also enables you to feel that you are one step closer towards reaching them, because you can see them now.

Speak them out loud, whether to yourself or others. When you have said them in the air, know that you are speaking things into existence as though they were. Saying your goals out loud to others and yourself makes you accountable. Having an accountability partner causes you to become responsible for fulfilling the goals you have set.

Look at the work towards your goal as an investment in yourself. Investing in yourself is priceless, the return invaluable, and therefore, well worth any time or work you must put in.

This year whenever you find yourself losing track of your goals just remember it's an investment. You wouldn't put invest money in a bank and just leave it never to collect on it would you? It's the same way with the work you're putting into your resolution. Invest...invest...invest, so that you can collect later on and build on you.

Something special: This year your motivational moments will include a healthy recipe you may want to try out. Today's recipe is Chicken Peanut Chow Mein from the My Recipes website. The recipe and the link to the site are included below.


YOUR MONDAY HEALTHY LIVING RECIPE:
1 cup precut matchstick-cut carrot                 1 cup snow peas, trimmed 2 (6-ounce) packages chow mein noodles (substitute spaghetti or linguine)                                1 tablespoon dark sesame oil, divided 1/2 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast                                3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, divided 3/4 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth 2 tablespoons oyster sauce 1 teaspoon sugar                                1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1 cup presliced mushrooms 2 teaspoons bottled fresh ground ginger (such as Spice World) 1 cup (1-inch) sliced green onions                             2 tablespoons dry-roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped                                PreparationCook carrots, snow peas, and noodles in boiling water 3 minutes; drain.Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cut chicken crosswise into thin strips. Add chicken and 1 tablespoon soy sauce to pan; stir-fry 3 minutes. Remove chicken from pan; keep warm.Combine remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, broth, oyster sauce, sugar, and pepper, stirring well. Heat remaining 1 teaspoon oil over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and ginger to pan; stir-fry for 3 minutes. Add broth mixture, and cook for 1 minute. Add noodle mixture and chicken to pan; cook 1 minute, tossing to combine. Sprinkle with onions and peanuts.http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/chicken-peanut-chow-mein-10000001173828/


If you enjoyed this post, I encourage you to share it with others by clicking the social media icon below. Thanks for dropping in and as always please leave a comment, because I just love chatting with you. You can link up with me online using the icons above.  If you would like to see more of my works, please visit my website below. Until the next time I'm just...

WRITING MY DREAMS,
By: Chelle
www.cmichelleramsey.com  

A YEAR IN REVIEW_2013's TOP 13 FAVORITE BLOG POSTS

While this year has presented its own unique challenges with my laptop being down on a couple of occasions for lengthy periods, I must admit the blessing outweighed those challenges by far. I still worked to bring you your weekly book reviews, author interviews, inspirational posts, and random ramblings.  As I reviewed 2013, I couldn't help but share a list of the 13 most popular posts of 2013:
Take a peek »

HAVE YOU WRITTEN THE VISION?

We're down to the last couple of days of this year. You've just about made it through 2013. Pat yourself on the back and sing a shout of praise. Whether you were down and out and barely making it through as you faced turmoil, or if you were on top of your A game celebrating your way through the year, you made it.

As you reflect on the ups and downs of 2013 think about the moments you are most proud of? What moment would you most want to re-do to make it better than it was? Did you have any regrets? Did you have some areas that you knew needed some improvement? Did you break your promise to exercise more, eat healthier, or stay away from toxic relationships?
Take a peek »