Shawnee E.'s Blog
April 3, 2019
The Story: The Skeleton
Watching the love of your life move on with life without you is a special kind of torture. Imagine finding out your past love isn't as cut off from you as you thought? In fact, your ex is tied to you forever and you had no idea. Your mother might have know, but you can't be sure. Even your ex's spouse knows and has no problem with it. They have created life around this connection and completely cut you out. Making matters all the worse; you're still in love!
Damn it!
Yes, still in love and with good reason. The passion. The bond. The shared experiences. The secrets. . . oh, the secrets!
Coming soon. . .
Damn it!
Yes, still in love and with good reason. The passion. The bond. The shared experiences. The secrets. . . oh, the secrets!
Coming soon. . .
December 29, 2018
Little Old Stories
Even though this year is all but 48 hours until it is completely behind us I am still find new things. Today, the things I am finding are actually at least seven years old. Every time I go to find important paperwork or clean out old paperwork for the upcoming year I come across older pieces of work. Stories that I have started, but have yet to finish. In world were technology is advancing by the second and copyright laws are easily infringed, I have been very gun shy about releasing any more work online.
However, on the horizon of a new year, I think I'm due for a change. So, I am creating a new series, which I am calling "Little Old Stories". I hope you will join me on this journey through my writing past. I hope you will enjoy the stories enough to share them and leave feedback. Ask me questions and even commission more stories.
I will post story excerpts here on Good Reads, but for each full story you'll have to subscribe to my Patreon page. I think that's a fair compromise.
Happy Reading! Happy NEW YEAR!
Shawn E.
A Walk With My Father
However, on the horizon of a new year, I think I'm due for a change. So, I am creating a new series, which I am calling "Little Old Stories". I hope you will join me on this journey through my writing past. I hope you will enjoy the stories enough to share them and leave feedback. Ask me questions and even commission more stories.
I will post story excerpts here on Good Reads, but for each full story you'll have to subscribe to my Patreon page. I think that's a fair compromise.
Happy Reading! Happy NEW YEAR!
Shawn E.
A Walk With My Father
April 23, 2014
My Writing Process
This blog was a special assignment which started with the fabulous, Angela Kay Austin tagged our mutual and equally fabulous friend, Laura T. Johnson. Laura then tagged me, Shawn Eskridge. I'm the author of "A Walk with My Father."
To those of you new to my page - welcome! Today's blog, as I said before, is special because we are going to discuss my writing process. Let's begin with the questions I was given.
What are you working on now?
My forthcoming work is entitled Daughter In The Dark. This will be my first published novel. This piece incorporates teen fiction, drama and romance.
How does your work differ from the work of others in the genre?
Although I don't believe I have established myself within a genre yet, I can see key similarities and differences. A Walk with My Father is a poetic piece. Here I allowed myself to speak my truth and the reality of my circumstances. I believe that is a shared responsibility of comedians and poets to help their audiences face the truths of their environment. No matter how hard the truth, poets and comedians make truth easier to deal with by placing it front you with ease or laughter. I believe A Walk with My Father allowed me to share in the responsibility.
Daughter In The Dark holds a contrast from other dramas because we are introduced to the protagonist and her trouble at it's inception. It's typical in a dramatic piece to place the reader with a developed character who has a history. That history then shapes the conflict of the story.
However, with my piece the reader journeys with the protagonist to watch her evolution from a young age. The readers get to see the defining moment unfold which will determine how the main character chooses to walk out her life.
Why do you write about what you do?
Admittedly, I write from a selfish place. I write primarily to heal my heart, first. After that, I am twice as happy for someone else's healing. Initially though, it's about the fact that writing is how I process the things I go through in life. Writing is how I reflect, analyze, understand, learn and adjust.
Last question:
How does your writing process work?
Well, my process starts by me being provoked with a situation from my life. A majority of the time I will write in my journal first. As I reflect, a story usually begins as I wonder "Well, what if it had gone this way?" Or I wonder, "What if I said this instead?"
I grab a pen and a notebook (which I keep all over the house) and those thoughts become my stories. I work all my issues out on the pages. My process always takes a while because I require being alone at home or outside in nature. I also write as the situation is happening to me or relatively close thereafter. I have a degree in Journalism and in the field it’s called presenting a timely story. I start typing once I have finished handwriting the story. I review for errors, flow, character consistency and conciseness. Then I give it to my husband, a few beta readers, and my editor for reviews and suggestions. We repeat this step however many times are necessary (or until I move on to my next story). By the end of the process I am free and we have a great book which I hope frees you too.
Need more tips on the writing process?
Check out two more of my friends Jennifer HayesJennifer J. Hayes and Jonathan Omaree [https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3...] .
March 31, 2014
Character Response: Lenora & Gerald
Lenora: “That's not fair. I forgave you when you did this to me. Yet, you won’t even talk to me.”
Gerald: “And when I did it, we were a few months into a new relationship. We weren’t ENGAGED. Give me the damn ring!”
Lenora, what did you expect? No man wants to find out his woman has options the way Gerald found out. Really, wasn’t this simple revenge cheating? I do not understand how you expected Gerald to simply give you a pass when (1) you did not give him a pass and (2) you never discussed with Gerald that he would have to give you a cheating pass.
When Gerald cheated on you there was an option to forgive him and offense and stay or let him and his offense go all together. You chose to stay. In doing so you projected the message:
“I forgive you and I will no longer let your offense follow us. I will not let this offense dictate my actions in the future.”
The truth is you actually meant: “I will take you back, but this means a freebie for me!”
The problem is, Lenora, your secret feelings should have been said loud and clear. Gerald should have been told you needed to feel or be on an equal playing field in order to be comfortable trying again with him. But who in their right mind would agree to allowing someone to hurt them? You knew that wouldn’t fly and chose to say nothing.
Yet, Gerald, there is this thing called karma. You know it goes around and comes back home. I doubt you bothered to ask Lenora how she went about healing after you cheated on her. Hell, did you even care if she had healed? Going back to Lenora was just as big of a risk for you. You gave yourself no way of knowing what her heart was capable of after such an offense. I don’t think you knew (to consider) cheating changes the fabric of a woman.
Let me guess. Lenora was suppose to just grow up and forgive you? Yet, complete forgiveness didn’t seem plausible or possible because of your behavior. It has been my experience that women do not forgive where they do not see change.
Gerald, you continued behavior which promotes distrust in any relationship: keeping late hours; not being forthcoming with the truth; not engaging in Lenora’s interest. These actions are opposite of those you’d take with a person with whom you’re trying to build a life. If you want something new, do something different.
Neither one of you seem to grasp the cheating happened well before Lenora ever took a step toward another guy. The cheating begins at the point you become separate from your partner. Gerald, when Lenora’s weight became an issue for you that’s when she became open to cheating on you. Lenora, when Gerald’s sex became routine, you became open to cheating on him. In keeping silent, Lenora, you made room for someone else to take Gerald’s place. Cheating starts and goes well beyond the bedroom, or office, or back of a flatbed truck.
The saying is usually there is a woman waiting to do what you won’t. The standard goes both ways. Both of you assume the other had a different mindset about cheating because of the timing. However, if you’ll look closely you will see you both shared a truth: you did not feel secure about the status of your commitment.
Gerald, the relationship was new when you cheated. You probably thought it wasn’t going anywhere much longer anyway.
Lenora, the relationship hit a dry spot for a long time. You assumed it was dying out anyway. More so, you were waiting on Gerald to tell you it was over anyway.
Not to mention, Gerald, your proposal couldn’t have come at a worse time. How was Lenora suppose to feel secure you would stay once the money ran out? (I sure as hell wasn’t convinced!) Gerald, I believe you thought you were safe with Lenora. I believe you were assured Lenora was stable, dependable and incapable of inflicting such hurt on someone else because she was compassionate. After knowing what it felt like, how could she possibly cheat on someone else?
It’s that principle - karma. In cheating on Lenora you gave her, and any woman after her, permission to cheat on you. No woman can ignore completely the knowledge that you have cheated and given the right circumstance would cheat. Now, every woman has to be on guard and cautious. Women have to either choose to confront the issue or be confined by the possibility you may cheat. Either way the issue of trust will now follow you like a wrap sheet or a mug shot. You’ll have to work a little harder and deal with a few more consequences.
Lenora, those consequences will now follow you too. You now have the same mug shot. Men now know they can’t trust whether or not you’re taking them seriously. This is dangerous territory for a man because you’ve proven that if a man doesn’t prove his commitment to you, then you will not fulfill his expectation of faithfulness to him. Instead of leaving, you will hurt him just as openly as you feel he’s hurt you and demand that he stay and take his medicine. No man will stay to play those games.
This lesson was in the works long before the lottery. The money simply made it all come to the light faster.
Gerald: “And when I did it, we were a few months into a new relationship. We weren’t ENGAGED. Give me the damn ring!”
Lenora, what did you expect? No man wants to find out his woman has options the way Gerald found out. Really, wasn’t this simple revenge cheating? I do not understand how you expected Gerald to simply give you a pass when (1) you did not give him a pass and (2) you never discussed with Gerald that he would have to give you a cheating pass.
When Gerald cheated on you there was an option to forgive him and offense and stay or let him and his offense go all together. You chose to stay. In doing so you projected the message:
“I forgive you and I will no longer let your offense follow us. I will not let this offense dictate my actions in the future.”
The truth is you actually meant: “I will take you back, but this means a freebie for me!”
The problem is, Lenora, your secret feelings should have been said loud and clear. Gerald should have been told you needed to feel or be on an equal playing field in order to be comfortable trying again with him. But who in their right mind would agree to allowing someone to hurt them? You knew that wouldn’t fly and chose to say nothing.
Yet, Gerald, there is this thing called karma. You know it goes around and comes back home. I doubt you bothered to ask Lenora how she went about healing after you cheated on her. Hell, did you even care if she had healed? Going back to Lenora was just as big of a risk for you. You gave yourself no way of knowing what her heart was capable of after such an offense. I don’t think you knew (to consider) cheating changes the fabric of a woman.
Let me guess. Lenora was suppose to just grow up and forgive you? Yet, complete forgiveness didn’t seem plausible or possible because of your behavior. It has been my experience that women do not forgive where they do not see change.
Gerald, you continued behavior which promotes distrust in any relationship: keeping late hours; not being forthcoming with the truth; not engaging in Lenora’s interest. These actions are opposite of those you’d take with a person with whom you’re trying to build a life. If you want something new, do something different.
Neither one of you seem to grasp the cheating happened well before Lenora ever took a step toward another guy. The cheating begins at the point you become separate from your partner. Gerald, when Lenora’s weight became an issue for you that’s when she became open to cheating on you. Lenora, when Gerald’s sex became routine, you became open to cheating on him. In keeping silent, Lenora, you made room for someone else to take Gerald’s place. Cheating starts and goes well beyond the bedroom, or office, or back of a flatbed truck.
The saying is usually there is a woman waiting to do what you won’t. The standard goes both ways. Both of you assume the other had a different mindset about cheating because of the timing. However, if you’ll look closely you will see you both shared a truth: you did not feel secure about the status of your commitment.
Gerald, the relationship was new when you cheated. You probably thought it wasn’t going anywhere much longer anyway.
Lenora, the relationship hit a dry spot for a long time. You assumed it was dying out anyway. More so, you were waiting on Gerald to tell you it was over anyway.
Not to mention, Gerald, your proposal couldn’t have come at a worse time. How was Lenora suppose to feel secure you would stay once the money ran out? (I sure as hell wasn’t convinced!) Gerald, I believe you thought you were safe with Lenora. I believe you were assured Lenora was stable, dependable and incapable of inflicting such hurt on someone else because she was compassionate. After knowing what it felt like, how could she possibly cheat on someone else?
It’s that principle - karma. In cheating on Lenora you gave her, and any woman after her, permission to cheat on you. No woman can ignore completely the knowledge that you have cheated and given the right circumstance would cheat. Now, every woman has to be on guard and cautious. Women have to either choose to confront the issue or be confined by the possibility you may cheat. Either way the issue of trust will now follow you like a wrap sheet or a mug shot. You’ll have to work a little harder and deal with a few more consequences.
Lenora, those consequences will now follow you too. You now have the same mug shot. Men now know they can’t trust whether or not you’re taking them seriously. This is dangerous territory for a man because you’ve proven that if a man doesn’t prove his commitment to you, then you will not fulfill his expectation of faithfulness to him. Instead of leaving, you will hurt him just as openly as you feel he’s hurt you and demand that he stay and take his medicine. No man will stay to play those games.
This lesson was in the works long before the lottery. The money simply made it all come to the light faster.
January 8, 2014
Character Response: Kevin
Happy New Year, everyone!
One way to tell a story has captivated you is if you find yourself talking to the characters. Not about the characters, but to them. This year I want to share my captivation with you with character responses. I'll share my thoughts with a character who really stood out to me. First up, Kevin from Connie Briscoe's Sisters and Husbands.
Dear Kevin,
20+ years of marriage and friendship gone! Evelyn has probably done all the fussing any woman could hope to do in that situation. I simply wonder if you understand how, unfortunate, but common your issue was. The issue of leaving the unit that is.
Nothing is ever solved in a good or growing marriage by leaving the marital unit. No, I'm not referring to infidelity, but that certainly doesn't help a situation. However, I am referring to shutting out your spouse because of a growth or change in your path of life. To shut down and shut out is such a selfish thing, really.
You found new values. There is nothing wrong in that. The mistake was in making the assumption your wife would not stand by you in your new found change. Your wife didn't have the chance to decide or speak for herself. A decision that she would not grow with you or compromise with you was made for her. So unfair.
The second mistake was acting on that assumption. Hadn't Evelyn proven to a small capacity to compromise with you in the changes of life once before? Why deny her the opportunity to rise to the occasion again? Why deny yourself a supporter, friend and partner? You denied so much and yet blamed her for not noticing your change.
Could the issue have been you masked a majority of your change and (noble) growth out of a fear of rejection? I'm just saying it couldn't have been 100% Evelyn only seeing what she wanted to see. There must have been something familiar there - at least until you shaved your head.
I completely agree with Evelyn's philosophy on infidelity. However, I'll take it one step further. An affair really doesn't matter because it simply a manifestation of what has already taken place inwardly. You're a different man now, Kevin. You've grown into a frugal man, enjoying the simplicities of life all alone. Someone was supposed to enjoy this change with you until death do you part.
Sadly, the worse part of all this is for your daughter. The example you have now set for her is a dangerous one. You know, Kevin, the example which says men are not accountable for their actions in relationships. A man simply reacts to whatever his woman lacks. Could you imagine your daughter trying to be "Ms. Perfect" to a man who cares nothing about her except the things he can get from her? Or to a husband with the fear that what she doesn't do the next woman is waiting to handle?
What kind of life is that? A life where relationships fall apart solely because a woman failed to please a man - that is not reality. A healthy relationship always takes two. Hopefully, it won't take a series of heartbreaks for your daughter to learn that she's not responsible for making her spouse be present in any relationship.
You changed and your values evolved. That is perfectly okay. Part of you wanted to check out on being attached to someone else, even if just for a moment. That's okay too. Even the best marriages allow people to breathe. It's just you're wife had a right to speak and decide for herself and you shut her out. Not fair.
Do you like where you are now?
Sincerely,
A Reader
One way to tell a story has captivated you is if you find yourself talking to the characters. Not about the characters, but to them. This year I want to share my captivation with you with character responses. I'll share my thoughts with a character who really stood out to me. First up, Kevin from Connie Briscoe's Sisters and Husbands.
Dear Kevin,
20+ years of marriage and friendship gone! Evelyn has probably done all the fussing any woman could hope to do in that situation. I simply wonder if you understand how, unfortunate, but common your issue was. The issue of leaving the unit that is.
Nothing is ever solved in a good or growing marriage by leaving the marital unit. No, I'm not referring to infidelity, but that certainly doesn't help a situation. However, I am referring to shutting out your spouse because of a growth or change in your path of life. To shut down and shut out is such a selfish thing, really.
You found new values. There is nothing wrong in that. The mistake was in making the assumption your wife would not stand by you in your new found change. Your wife didn't have the chance to decide or speak for herself. A decision that she would not grow with you or compromise with you was made for her. So unfair.
The second mistake was acting on that assumption. Hadn't Evelyn proven to a small capacity to compromise with you in the changes of life once before? Why deny her the opportunity to rise to the occasion again? Why deny yourself a supporter, friend and partner? You denied so much and yet blamed her for not noticing your change.
Could the issue have been you masked a majority of your change and (noble) growth out of a fear of rejection? I'm just saying it couldn't have been 100% Evelyn only seeing what she wanted to see. There must have been something familiar there - at least until you shaved your head.
I completely agree with Evelyn's philosophy on infidelity. However, I'll take it one step further. An affair really doesn't matter because it simply a manifestation of what has already taken place inwardly. You're a different man now, Kevin. You've grown into a frugal man, enjoying the simplicities of life all alone. Someone was supposed to enjoy this change with you until death do you part.
Sadly, the worse part of all this is for your daughter. The example you have now set for her is a dangerous one. You know, Kevin, the example which says men are not accountable for their actions in relationships. A man simply reacts to whatever his woman lacks. Could you imagine your daughter trying to be "Ms. Perfect" to a man who cares nothing about her except the things he can get from her? Or to a husband with the fear that what she doesn't do the next woman is waiting to handle?
What kind of life is that? A life where relationships fall apart solely because a woman failed to please a man - that is not reality. A healthy relationship always takes two. Hopefully, it won't take a series of heartbreaks for your daughter to learn that she's not responsible for making her spouse be present in any relationship.
You changed and your values evolved. That is perfectly okay. Part of you wanted to check out on being attached to someone else, even if just for a moment. That's okay too. Even the best marriages allow people to breathe. It's just you're wife had a right to speak and decide for herself and you shut her out. Not fair.
Do you like where you are now?
Sincerely,
A Reader
September 17, 2013
Lord Knows I Should Be Sleep!
A writers job is never done. Check out what I mean in my latest blog post: http://scarlettsmedia.blogspot.com/20...
September 6, 2013
Mr. Del's Rocks God's House
When I'm not working on my next book I write for Rocking God's House. Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Del, GoodReads author of Soul Ties: How To Detox From Toxic Relationships. We discuss his ministry and upcoming book signing at Laurelwood Booksellers in Memphis, Tennessee. Mr. Del's message was truly inspirational. Follow the link and take a look: http://rockingodshouse.com/christian-....
August 9, 2013
eBook Downloads
MEMPHIS, TN, USA, August 4, 2013 – Scarlett’s Media announces a download promotion for Shawn E.’s, A Walk with My Father. The poetic novel is Shawn E.’s first release which debuted on Amazon and Kindle in June 2013. The promotion will run beginning August 10, 2013 through August 15, 2013. A Walk with My Father will be offered exclusively through Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing.
A Walk with My Father transcends from poetry book to poetic novel by telling Shawn's story from young love to learning to accept God's love. Shawn reveals how young love and romance transformed into a spiritual journey in her life.
“I looked over my poetry and realized I had learned a valuable lesson. At some point in your life people should cease to influence your perspective of God. At the same time God should always influence your perspective of people.” - Shawn E.
Shawn's poetry has been showcased on Poetry.com since 2003. Poetry.com selected Shawn as their Editor's Choice over four consecutive years from 2003 – 2007 and again in 2012. In that time, Shawn has also been featured in three poetry anthologies. Shawn has written professionally since her debut on Triond in 2004 and made several appearances within the Memphis, TN writers' circuit.
Starting August 10th readers will be able to download A Walk with My Father from Amazon by following the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DV7LVBQ/r....
A Walk with My Father is available in Memphis bookstores, paperback copies are also available for purchase during the download period.
A Walk with My Father transcends from poetry book to poetic novel by telling Shawn's story from young love to learning to accept God's love. Shawn reveals how young love and romance transformed into a spiritual journey in her life.
“I looked over my poetry and realized I had learned a valuable lesson. At some point in your life people should cease to influence your perspective of God. At the same time God should always influence your perspective of people.” - Shawn E.
Shawn's poetry has been showcased on Poetry.com since 2003. Poetry.com selected Shawn as their Editor's Choice over four consecutive years from 2003 – 2007 and again in 2012. In that time, Shawn has also been featured in three poetry anthologies. Shawn has written professionally since her debut on Triond in 2004 and made several appearances within the Memphis, TN writers' circuit.
Starting August 10th readers will be able to download A Walk with My Father from Amazon by following the link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DV7LVBQ/r....
A Walk with My Father is available in Memphis bookstores, paperback copies are also available for purchase during the download period.
July 18, 2013
Introduction
This message is to say, "Hi readers. It's nice to meet you."
If you've come to my GoodReads blog to learn more about me the best advice I can give you is to read "A Walk with My Father" first. Yes, that's my plug. Go read the book. It's wonderful!
Second, visit my official blog: www.scarlettsmedia.blogspot.com. Truthfully, that blog makes me very nervous because I am almost too open. So, I hope you enjoy the blog and getting to know me. Remember, this isn't a one way street. I would like to get to know you as well; writers, editors, publishers, all of you. I hope to be a helpful resource to you and bring you more great books. In the meantime, nice to meet you!
If you've come to my GoodReads blog to learn more about me the best advice I can give you is to read "A Walk with My Father" first. Yes, that's my plug. Go read the book. It's wonderful!
Second, visit my official blog: www.scarlettsmedia.blogspot.com. Truthfully, that blog makes me very nervous because I am almost too open. So, I hope you enjoy the blog and getting to know me. Remember, this isn't a one way street. I would like to get to know you as well; writers, editors, publishers, all of you. I hope to be a helpful resource to you and bring you more great books. In the meantime, nice to meet you!
