Myunique C. Green's Blog, page 13

Just Some Top Picks

Nobody:

Absolutely No One:

Me: Alright, here are my favorite albums of the year so far!

[image error]

1 Everlasting- Sammie

The thing I love most about the Everlasting album is Sammie’s honesty. He’s tackling things like infidelity, the pain of watching someone move on, and having to look yourself in the mirror to say: “You don’t have it all together, and that’s okay.” I listened to this album when it first dropped on repeat, no skips. Even still, I will have days where I just vibe to the whole thing. My favorite songs on the album are: Truth is, Funeral, 3-Side, Times 10, H.I.T.L, and Un-Love You.

[image error]

2 Indigo- Chris Brown

Whew. This album was a lot to take in. I don’t think I’ve managed to listen to all 33 songs that’s on it, but I did formulate a Best of Indigo playlist that I can just listen to. I figure, if I ever get overexposed to the list I’ve created, I’ll listen to the other ones. I think that’s one of the beautiful things about this album–it’s literally like 2 in 1. Which by itself is just a whole lot of Chris Brown, if you’re trying to listen to it straight through. But when is too much Chris ever really a bad thing? I’m still currently cycling through my playlist and it’s just an overall great time. It’s inspired. Now, I have to admit that I thought Exclusive was his last great album–I was also in high school when it came out. After that, I only ever really liked a few singles. Indigo certainly changed all of that. My favorite jams on this bad boy are: Indigo, Emerald/Burgundy, All on Me, Sexy, No Guidance, Part of the Plan, Dear God and BP/No Judgement.

[image error]

3 Happiness Begins- The Jonas Brothers

I have been a Jonas Brothers fan for as long as I can remember. Way back when S.O.S and That’s Just the Way We Roll we anthems of my life. I wasn’t completely heartbroken that they disbanded years ago–I like Nick Jonas as a one man band. Speaking of Nick, his self-titled album and Last Year Was Complicated are among two of my favorite albums of all time–but that’s neither here nor there. Anyways, the reunion was definitely welcome. Especially coming at a time when a lot of old things are coming back into style. I don’t think I really expected to like the Happiness Begins album as much as I did. It’s serving up those “we’re all grown up now,” waves, and I find myself putting it on when I just want background noise when I’m writing. Some of my most played songs are: Used To Be, I Believe, Every Single Time, Hesitate, and Only Human.

[image error]

4 Free Spirit- Khalid

My sister first messaged me about this album awhile ago. Admittedly, I had never listened to Khalid before. The song she told me to listen to first was Bad Luck, which I was digging so much. I eventually just ended up putting on the whole album and listened to it on repeat for a weeks. This one came out around the time I was a rideshare driver, so I put it on for my passengers as well. It’s easy listening, road-trip type of music. The songs I loved most of this album are: Bad Luck, Saturday Nights, Free Spirit, Don’t Pretend, Talk, and My Bad.

Coming Soon to Audiobook + Giveaway

My audiobook family is growing and I could not be anymore excited! As the title of this post says, the next book is Chopped & Skrewed.

When auditions for this book opened, I was so surprised by the response, I had to enlist help to even get through them. In the end, I think we made the best decision in choosing Aaron Goodson! He is so versatile.

[image error]

Chopped & Skrewed is told from a few different perspectives, Cayne, Vivica, and Philip (to list a few) as they navigate the world that they have been thrown into. I’m just so happy to see my little short story, 713, develop into the mystery/thriller and suspense novel that it is today. Amazon actually reached out to me regarding this title to make the conversion to the audio format and how could I resist?

So, who’s ready for a sneak peak?

In this sample, you will hear Aaron read from two different perspectives.

Why not turn this into a giveaway?

If you can tell me at which point the perspective changes, you’ll win a FREE signed copy of Chopped & Skrewed.

Email your answers to:

[image error]

Hold My Pen

Sometimes it really sucks being one of a few people reading a new book. Especially one that is worthy of being talked about. You just sit around wondering: “Why is no one else reading this?”

[image error]

That’s what it’s been like for me with a couple of Melissa Simonson’s books. The first was Burning September. I think I needed a support group after that book, for the best of reasons of course, but there was hardly anyone around. Burning September was my hands-down favorite book of 2017, which would hold a lot more weight if I were Oprah, I guess, and could inspire the masses to go and give the book a chance to steal their hearts as it did mine.

I haven’t quite achieved that status yet, but I’ll stay on the course.

Anyways, after Burning September (which you can read my full review here) I added Melissa to the list of authors whose books I will read no questions asked. It took awhile, but then Lingering happened. I downloaded the digital copy on release day and dedicated a large portion of time to reading as much of it as I can.

Completely binging, I tell you.

Now, contrary to Burning September, that I read obsessively until I finished, I did eventually put Lingering down and vowed to come back to it. The problem wasn’t with the writing, or the story, it was just that I don’t really like reading ebooks; I like turning pages and giving dog ears, or inserting my fancy metal bookmarks. So, I waited until I could get my hands on the physical copy of it, which took longer than I thought.

Anyways, you don’t want to hear that tangent, and this is sort of like a prologue to the full review of Lingering that will be posted later. What I really want to talk about is the fact that so many great books and amazing authors are so overlooked. I’m aware that it isn’t just limited to authors, but the fact remains true.

[image error]

It just raises so many questions about how social media could have you running out to your nearest Popeye’s for a chicken sandwich, or how things just become popular overnight for no apparent reason at all.

I’m reminded of F. Scott Fitzgerald and how he died believing he was a failure at writing. After the release of The Great Gatsby, he received so many critical reviews about it; he thought he would be better off not writing at all.

Then, after his death, suddenly he was a raving success.

Lil Wayne probably said it best in his song Don’t Cry from Tha Carter V:

“Gotta lose a life, just to have a life…”

We’ve seen it happen countless times before, where people criticize, or even worse, don’t pay any attention until after a person has gone on to glory.

I lay awake a many of nights hoping that isn’t the case for me.

Recently, I received an email from someone who wanted to give up writing because it just isn’t panning out how they imagined. As in, the level of skill and dedication it requires to bring forth a single book, wasn’t producing the volume of readers.

Now, it’s true that as writers, we write for the joy of it, and the passion. But, like most careers and passions, you should be able to monetize it. Sure, you could trump it up to the level of marketing it requires, promotion, and it’s true, things are never going to be handed to you. But, for some people, it is just handed to them.

Of course, I believe all stories have the right be told. No matter how poorly written, barely legible or strange intent.

Sorry for the Wait

I’m going to keep this short and sweet, because what you really want to read is just below.

Say hello to Consignment!

I took a break on the whole self-love, self-validation kick for a while, just to write something else. Why? Because I want to get out of my own head. I must reset. Maybe I’ll board that train again, but for the moment, I’m kind of just over it.

Anyways, you don’t want to hear me monologue about that.

Here’s a sample of my upcoming novel, Consignment.

It’s a little gritty.

[image error]

A little dark.

But, it’s a romance novel nonetheless, I promise.

I’ve also included some bonus material! However, I won’t spoil the surprise.

Consignment will officially be released October 18, 2019.

Click the download link for your digital copy, and happy reading!

ConsignmentDownload

Can You Hear Me Now? (New AudioBook)

To Mend a Broken Heart will be on Audiobook streaming platforms everywhere in just 7 days! I couldn’t be more excited. There’s just something about hearing these words out loud that takes this whole experience to the next level.

I’ve known that I wanted to have an audiobook available for awhile now, and what better way to get acquainted with the whole process than by releasing To Mend a Broken Heart, one of my most inspiring stories to date.

So, guess what?

Here’s the first 15 minutes!

I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do, and if you want to get a printed copy of To Mend a Broken Heart ahead of the Audiobook release just in case you want to read along, I’m happy to also be announcing a FLASH SALE.

Standard Edition Books are $9

Special Edition Books are $13

Orders can be placed below!

Happy Listening!

Standard Edition

$9.00

Special Edition

$13.00

I Don’t Know Everything

I’ve never confessed to know it, really. But I think people have assumed that I believe I do sometimes. I’m imperfect, I make mistakes, but that never stops me from trying my best and learning more things. So, today I’m going to write how I feel. Which happens to be a combination of sassiness, frustration and gloom. I’m sure the gloom is due to the weather outside being rainy and grey.

Anyways, I’ve been the target of a few misguided missiles the last couple of days. The first is that my one of my husbands sisters decided to take to Facebook and be disrespectful by cursing us out. When I sent my husband the screenshots of the comments she made, he was a lot more understanding than I had been. He simply said: “Well, I’m glad she’s expressing her feelings for a change.” Now, because I know my dear spouse, I wasn’t really expecting him to be raging mad and fly off the handle, but I was expecting him to have a little bit more of a reaction than he did. It raised a question in me: Could anyone just curse me out and he just be completely fine with it? I think it was more to the effect that I actually didn’t deserve the heat for what was even happening, and at first I tried not to take it personal. Now, I won’t go into great detail about the situation, but, I don’t think anyone would disagree that I tried to help. The sister ended up deleting the post, but, once things are said, they’re said. I always wondered why my husband never had a relationship with his siblings, then I quickly found out why.

Moving on to the next item on the docket.

I really hate people who prey on young, inexperienced, or first-time authors. Like, it really grinds my gears. Granted, I fell into some pitfalls when I first started out, made some bad investments, or got down on myself for not being perfect. I get it. What I don’t get is the people who thrive from that. The people who push their own agenda. The ones who see first-time authors as a money truck.

About a month ago, I was invited to join this event as a featured author. I was excited because the event sounded like a good thing. Now, I should probably mention that I’m at a point in my career now where I’m not pressed about reviews, features, interviews or any of those things, especially not enough to pay for them. In fact, I only think things like that exist is because people ARE paying for them. Why would I pay you to review my work? Either take a free copy and do it for the love of the craft or get out of my inbox. With this particular event, they wanted me to pay over $300.

You should have seen my face.

So, I asked them the questions that you should always ask when going to these kinds of events:

Is this a first year event?What is the anticipated turn-out?What is the refund policy?

Or any other question that will help you have a clearer understanding of the purpose, or intention for the event. In this case, the end didn’t justify the means. There was a no refund policy, the turn out was less than 100 and it was a first year event. All of those things were huge red flags. Paying them $300 for a feature for an event that no one knows about was absurd. So, I politely declined and was scheduled for another event that would happen on the same day. Later on, I found out that the event had indeed go cancelled and everyone who had signed up essentially lost their money.

But looking at the roster of people who had forked over the cash, they were all first-time authors who were just happy to be included in something and trying to get their name and book out there. These little pop-up events are almost as bad as Vanity Presses.

I’ll save my rant on Vanity Presses for later.

Anyways, that kind of leads me to the next docket item: people with hidden agenda’s. I was recently informed that a project I had worked on wanted to be pulled from digital and print media. Doesn’t really sound like a big deal, right? Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t be. Of course, I had to ask for a cause that would produce this effect–that’s when I came to find out it was because of one bad review the book had received.

Because I’ve just decided that I no longer care about it, and I mean just as in right in this instance of typing, I’m choosing not to pour any energy into it. *shrug

One thing I will say is that you live and you learn. Some times we can defeat ourselves.

I may not know everything, but I do know a lot of things. Things that I’ve learned from experience. Things that have helped me to grow. Things that I haven’t allowed to stop me from achieving my goals.

I do have good news though! Let’s Talk will be coming back soon. I’m so excited to get back to connecting my VLOG. I may do an episode on this topic in more detail.

Also, have you entered the Sweet Savage giveaway? No? What are you waiting for? Fill out the form below for your chance to win a signed copy of the sequel of To Mend a Broken Heart.

Summer Reading!

Check out the line up for FREE Kindle books from May until July.

[image error]

A Bundle of My Own

I’ve been transparent about a lot of things over the past couple of years. Including my fertility expeditions. Now, I’ve known I want to be a mom for a long time. It was a motive that caused me to make very poor decisions in the past.

I don’t think it’s something that a lot of black women openly discuss since so often we are shamed into thinking that having babies is something we’re naturally supposed to be good at. How else would all these women be able to live on welfare with multiple children, right?

Wrong.

Without even touching on the stigmas within our society about it, I just want to talk a little about my experiences, and save the tangent I have created for another post.

My husband and I want children.

I’m such a goal-oriented, planner that I mapped everything out. I did my research, put all of these things in place just to set my body up to healthy home.

So, where’s my bundle?

I don’t think it’s because I “can’t” have children, but it’s taking a little longer than I thought. I find myself often getting downhearted about it because it’s been a few cycles now, and there’s a whole lot of nothing.

Recently, I was talking with a good friend about my baby blues and she expressed to me how she and her husband have been trying for years; still, they believe that nothing is impossible for God and they’ll get their babies by keeping faith. She asked me a series of questions and gave me so much encouragement.

I woke up this morning to a piece of art she had done for me, and a message on how she felt when she was doing it.

Let’s just say I was in a puddle of tears because this is something that has really been eating at my heart for a while now.

Sometimes I find myself extending so much of myself in trying to encourage and inspire others, that I often take the backseat to myself.

What she did for me was more than just art. It was uplifting. A reminder that timing is everything. That this time, together with my husband to build and grow our relationship is needed. Because children are a gift and a reward.

Anyways, I’m sharing what she sent and I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did.

[image error] [image error]

Til Death Do Us Part

I like to see other peoples excitement about a movie, whether it’s the common movie-goer, the actor, or even the producer. So, imagine Myunique sitting there behind her phone screen looking at Marques Houston excitedly promoting this title, and telling us all how proud of it he was.

Finally, it came to Netflix for my viewing pleasure.

Now, imagine the complete look of disappointment I had when this movie just went from bad to worse. I wanted to like it so much, but, the sloppy writing, cut scenes and the use of the same aerial view of downtown LA made it yawn worthy, at best. But, painstakingly, I watched the whole think, hoping that it would pull itself together.

It didn’t.

[image error]

The movie was all over the place, and some parts made absolutely no sense. For instance, the protagonist of the story fakes her death to get away from her abusive husband. In doing so, she get life insurance money to start her life over. What does she do? Changed her name, and moved practically down the street from where the now ex-husband lives.

I guess LA life is just too hard to escape. Either that or the writer were just being lazy. This movie also employed actor Taye Diggs who is decent at his best, but even he couldn’t bring anything to this movie to bring it back to life. Even down to the filter they shot this movie with had enough and completely washed out everyone’s face, even poor Take, who must have gotten in on this movie as a favor to someone.

Anyways, I wouldn’t watch this again, and I’m glad it’s over.

But, even with all of that, you know what? I can’t say that the movie was all-bad. There were some huge successes, like being able to produce a movie in this genre with minimal onscreen violence and absolutely no curse words. I’m sure that has a lot to do with the religious beliefs of both Marques Houston and Chris Stokes.

2/5

New Service Guide!

I am happy to introduce my new service guide, available for download TODAY! Don’t worry, it’s completely free and will prove to be a useful tool in getting to know a little bit more about the different types of services I offer, and touches on some of the basics of what it means by choosing iWriteBooks for your publishing needs.

This guide is full color, and quite beautiful, if I may say so myself. But it does make it a rather hefty file size, so it may take awhile to download.

Click the download button to get in on this FREE guide, and let me know what you think in the comments.

Some of the key things featured in the guide are:

What Indie Publishing involvesPricing & TimingCancellationCopyright BasicsPaid Services



service-guideDownload



[image error]