The Neo-Soul Lit Journal

Is Trust In a Relationship a Worthwhile Investment?

2008-08-21T01:13:00.002-04:00

Dictionary.com defines trust as reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence. A simple, straight forward definition right? Not so when asked in terms of affairs of the hearts. When the average individual is asked, the definition takes on a wanes and ebbs; taking a more personalized annotation. Quite of the question respond with multi-layered questions of what ifs, just supposes, or what abouts; peppered with prerequisites that make the question more complex that the above definition would suggest.

It is quite interesting that in the dating sphere, sometimes trust weakens as affections intensify. Shouldn’t your trust expand, the closer you and your mi amour get? You can cite case after case of friends, male & female alike that have gotten got. Of course, you can reflect within and count at least once if not multiple times when trusts was violated and surmise that people just can’t be trusted and put a wall up… trust is just too damn expensive. It can wreck havoc on your mind, body & spirit, not to mention finances or public reputation. Just suppose for a moment that in actuality you have decided not trust “yourself”. Your lesser judgment has led you astray one too many times, so rather than forgiving your heart (or other parts of yourself) you transpose the self blame to fault finding missions every chance you get. Could it be misdiagnosed inferiority complex?

Can the brokenhearted find the courage to reinvest trust within the confines of their own mind and spirits? Will reciprocity of love & trust yield the dividends you reluctantly desire? Can you allow the nakedness of self to answer back to you and trust in what it says? Or will you continue to play games in the dark with lost hearts; always reaching yet never holding? Only touching but never feeling; learning but never truly knowing. Intimacy with self, lead by faith will reveal truth… and it will be beautiful.

2008-08-01T13:30:00.000-04:00

A stutterer hosting a talkshow... THAT IS CRAZY!!!

I have stuttered for as long as I can remember. I can think of very few moments in my life, where I have not felt a tinge of anxiety before I spoke. As a natural extrovert and people person, stuttering was an aggressively hurdled stumbling block that never ceased to strengthen my humility and challenge my ego. Elementary school was the vestibule of hell but junior high was better. By time I reached high school, I had a gang of friends and was fairly popular. I had taken a clue from the only other stutterer I knew of, James Earl Jones and joined drama. Yes, I did plays and skits and it did help. Strange as this is going to sound, when I do stage voices, my stutter is almost undetectable. Quietly I prayed every night to God that my own voice… the voice of Kenda … would miraculously become as clear and audible as it did in the characters I would portray. Silly as it may sound, I still have that prayer some nights.

Don't get it twisted, once I get my stride you will forget I even stutter... it’s the mounting up that can be tricky. Facing it head on and jumping over it. Yes, it is daunting but can I allow that to hold me from moving toward my goals...HECK NO. Nor should you! What "disabler “have we built into wall that separates us from our goal. Imagine if Ray Charles decided not to play the piano out of fear of missing a key he couldn't see with his natural eyes but saw with vividness in his soul. What if Stevie Wonder had let fear of mocking stares hold his gift hostage? Now, trip on this... the fact that they were blind were footnotes in comparison to more obvious actuality of their talents.

Let them be the example of when a perceived stumbling block becomes a surmountable hurdle. Let me be the work in progress, like a piece of coal that becomes a diamond with time and work. Allow yourself to ponder your own possibilities as you listen to me explore mine.Having a talk show host who stutters, that's crazy...will never happen. Hmmm, they said the same thing about a Black Man being president... think again!

MILLION FATHER MARCH - NO MARCHING BOOTS REQUIRED

2008-08-01T13:28:00.000-04:00

For Immediate Release Contact: Phillip Jackson, Executive Director
July 28, 2008 The Black Star Project
& nbsp; 312.771.1010 cell

One Million Fathers Asked to Lead the Nation
Back to School this Fall

400 Cities Could Participate in the Largest, Organized
Back-to-School Effort in U.S. History

(Chicago) – “Education has become a matter of national security. Because we cannot control our schools, we cannot control our economy. And because we cannot control our economy, we cannot control and protect our quality of life in America,” says Phillip Jackson, Executive Director of The Black Star Project, U.S.A. The Black Star Project is sponsoring the Million Father March 2008 on the first day of school in nearly 300 cities across America. The Million Father March has become a special day that fathers and men use to make a commitment to their children, their families, their communities and their country with their dynamic presence at a school. This is the real fathers’ day!

The Million Father March 2008 will play-out at thousands of schools across20America and in other parts of the world. About 300,000 men from 127 cities participated in the Million Father March in 2006. An estimated 400,000 men in 238 cities participated in 2007. This year, an estimated 600,000 men from 400 cities are expected to participate. The Million Father March also provides an escort of safety, support, and encouragement to children of all ages on their first day of school. Jackson says, “Gang recruitment, bullying and random violence goes way down on any day that a group of men are at a school.”

Research shows that children whose fathers take an active role in their educational lives earn better grades, get better test scores, enjoy school more and are more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. Additionally, children have fewer behavior problems when fathers listen to and talk with them regularly and are active in their lives. A good father is part of a good parent team and is critical to creating a strong family structure. Strong family structures produce children who are more academically proficient, socially developed and self-as sured. Such children become adults who are valuable assets to their communities. “Better parents produce better communities, better schools, and better students with higher academic achievements,” says Jackson.

Participants in the event include fathers, grandfathers, foster fathers, stepfathers, uncles, cousins, big brothers, significant male caregivers and friends of the family. Although this event is created by Black men, women and men of all races are also encouraged to take their children to school on their first day. Businesses are asked to give fathers and men 2 hours off that morning to take their children to school. Men will also be encouraged to volunteer at schools throughout the year. A special effort will be made to coordinate Latino Fathers in La Marcha de Padres.

Since schools across America and the world start the new school year on different days and months, the March will be a rolling event that takes place on the first day of this school year in cities, villages, and towns between August 7, 2008, and October 13, 2008. The 2008 Million Father March is managed by The Black Star Project, U.S.A., sponsored by The Schott Foundation for Public Education and in partnership with the National PTA, the National Association of Black Social Workers and the National Fatherhood Initiative. Please visit our website at www.blackstarproject.org to bring the Million Father March to your city or for complete information about the march. You may also email blackstar1000@ameritech.net or call 773.285.9600 for more information.
Cities Participating in the Million Father March 2008
270 Cities as of July 28, 2008

Accokeek, (PGC) Maryland
Adelphi, (PGC) Maryland
Alamo Heights, Texas
Albemarle, North Carolina
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Apex, North Carolina=0 A
Appling, Georgia
Aquasco, (PGC) Maryland
Asheboro, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlantic Beach, North Carolina
Baltimore, Maryland
Beaumont, Texas
Belmont, North Carolina
Beltsville, (PGC) Maryland
Berwyn Heights, (PBC) Maryland
Bessemer City, North Carolina
Bettendorf, Iowa
Beverly Hills, California
Birmingham, Alabama
Black Mountain, North Carolina
Bladensburg, (PGC) Maryland
Boone, North Carolina
Boston, Massachusetts
Bowie, (PGC) Maryland
Brandywine, (PGC) Maryland
Brentwood, (PGC) Maryland
Brevard, North Carolina
Brighton, Massachusetts
Bristow, Virginia
Burlington, North Carolina
Calverton, (PGC) Maryland
Camden, Alabama
Camden, New Jersey
Camp Springs, (PGC) Maryland
Capitol Heights, (PGC)20Maryland
Carrboro, North Carolina
Cary, North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlottesville, Virginia
Cheverly,(PGC) Maryland
Chicago - Northside, Illinois
Chicago - Southside, Illinois0A
Chicago - Westside, Illinois
Chicago Heights, Illinois
Cincinnati, Ohio
Clayton, North Carolina
Clemens, Michigan
Clemmons, North Carolina
Cleveland, Ohio
Clinton, (PGC) Maryland
Clinton, North Carolina
College Park, (PGC) Maryland
Colmar Manor, (PGC) Maryland
Columbus, Ohio
Compton, California
Concord, North Carolina
Conover, North Carolina
Converse, Texas
Cornelius, North Carolina
Cottage City, (PGC) Maryland
Dallas, Texas
Danville, Illinois
Davenport, Iowa
Davidson, North Carolina
Dayton< size="1">, Ohio
Decatur, Georgia
Des Moines, Iowa
Detroit, Michigan
District Heights, (PGC) Maryland
Dothan, Alabama
Duduza, Gauteng, South Africa
Dunn, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
E. Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Eagle Harbor, (PGC) Maryland
Eden, North Carolina
Edmonston, (PGC) Maryland
Ekhuruleni, Gauteng, South Africa
Elgin, Illinois
Elizabeth City, North Carolina
Elon, North Carolina
Enterprise, Alabama
Fairmont Heights, (PGC) Maryland
Fayetteville, North Carolina
Ford Heights, Illinois
Forest City, North Carolina
Forest Heights (PGC) Maryland
Forestville, (PGC) Maryland
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Washington, (PGC) Maryland
Fredericksted, Virgin Islands
Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina
Garner, North Carolina
Gastonia, North Carolina
Geleksdul, Gauteng, South Africa
Geneva, Alabama
Glenarden, (PGC) Maryland
Glenn Dale, (PGC) Maryland
Goldsboro, North Carolina
Graham, North Carolina
Greenbelt, (PGC) Maryland
Greensboro
Greenville, North Carolina
Hamlet, North Carolina
Hartford, Connecticut
Harvey, Illinois
Havelock, North Carolina
Hazel Crest, Illinois
Henderson, North Carolina
Hendersonville, North Carolina
Hickory, North Carolina
High Point, North Carolina
Hillsborough, North Carolina
Hillside, New Jersey
Holly Springs, North Carolina
Hope Mills, North Carolina
Huntersville, North Carolina
Hyattsville, (PGC) Maryland
Hyattsville, Maryland
Indian Head, (PGC) Maryland
Indian Trail, North Carolina
Indianapolis, Indiana
Inglewood, California
Inland Empire, California
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Tennessee
Jacksonville
Jamaica, New York
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Joliet, Illinois
Kalamazoo, Michigan
Kannapolis, North Carolina
Kansas City, Missouri
Kernersville, North Carolina
Kings Mountain, North Carolina
Kinston, North Carolina
Kirby, Texas
Knightdale, North Carolina
Kwa Thema, Gauteng, South Africa
Landover Hills, (PGC) Maryland
Landover, (PGC) Maryland
Langley Park, (PGC) Maryland
Lanham, (PGC) Maryland
Largo, (PGC) Maryland
Laurel, (PGC) Maryland
Laurinburg, North Carolina
Lenoir, North Carolina
Lexington, North Carolina
Lincolnton, North Carolina
Lithonia, Georgia
Little Rock, Arkansas
Los Angeles, California
Lumberton, North Carolina
Madison, Wisconsin
Manhattan - Harlem, N.Y
Marlow Heights, (PGC) Maryland
Matthews, North Carolina
Mebane, North Carolina
Memphis, Tennessee
Mint Hill, North Carolina
Mitchellville, (PGC) Maryland
Moline, Illinois
Monroe, North Carolina
Montgomery, Alabama
Mooresville, North Carolina
Morehead City, North Carolina
Morganton, North Carolina
Morningside, (PGC) Maryland
Morrisville, North Carolina
Mount Airy, North Carolina
Mount Holly, North Carolina
Mount Rainier, (PGC) Maryland< /div>
Muskogee, Oklahoma
Nashville, Tennessee
New Bern, North Carolina
New Carrollton, (PGC) Maryland
New Haven, Connecticut
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans, Louisiana
New York City - Brooklyn, New York
New York City - Manhattan-Harlem, New York
New York City - Queens, New York
New York City - Staten Island, New York
New York City - The Bronx, New York
Newark, New Jersey
Newton, North Carolina
North Brentwood, (PGC) Maryland
Oak Island, North Carolina
Oak Park, Illinois
Oakland, California
Omaha, Nebraska
Oxford, North Carolina
Oxon Hill, (PGC) Maryland
Ozark, Alabama
Panama City, Florida
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pinehurst, North Carolina
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Portland, Oregon
Prince George's County, Maryland
Raleigh, North Carolina
Reidsville, North Caro lina
Riverdale Park, (PGC) Maryland
Riverdale, Illinois
Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina
Robbins, Illinois
Rochester, New York
Rock Island, Illinois
Rockaway Beach, New York< /div>
Rockford, Illinois
Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Roosevelt, New York
Roxboro, North Carolina
Salisbury, North Carolina
San Antonio, Texas
San Diego, California
San Francisco, California
Sanford, North Carolina
Sauk Village, Illinois
Schertz, Texas
Seat Pleasant, (PGC) Maryland
Selma, North Carolina
Selma, Texas
Sere Kunda, The Gambia
Shelby, North Carolina
Siler City, North Carolina
Smithfield, North Carolina
Southern Pines, North Carolina
Spring Lake, North Carolina
Springdale, (PGC) Maryland
Springfield, Illinois
St. Croix, Virgin Islands
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
Stamford, Connecticut
Statesville, North Carolina
Suffolk, Virginia
Suitland, (PGC) Maryland
Summerfield, North Carolina< /div>
Tallahassee, Florida
Tampa Bay, Florida
Tarboro, North Carolina
Temple Hills, (PGC) Maryland
Thomasville, North Carolina
Topeka, Kansas
Trinity, North Carolina
Tsakane, Gauteng, South20Africa
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Universal City, Texas
University Park, (PGC) Maryland
Upper Marlboro, (PGC) Maryland
Wadesboro, North Carolina
Wake Forest, North Carolina
Washington, D.C.
Washington, North Carolina
Waukegan, Illinois
Waynesville, North Carolina
Weddington, North Carolina
Whiteville, North Carolina
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilson, North Carolina
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Woodmore, (PGC) Maryland

Blk Women Voters Split?

2008-01-24T01:27:00.000-05:00

We all know how the media can build up a person one day then tear them down the next. The 2008 Presidential race is no exception. With the hot spot light beaming down on the South Carolina primaries, we see the media serving as broker of the Black vote, specifically Black women. I have never to date seen such an emphasis on that voting demographic, nor have I seen such pressure placed on their ballots by the media. Black women can never be split between gender and race because the two are intertwined. From the minute my African foremothers stepped on this shore we were political , social and economical commodities for the exploiting. A woman of color may try but if they are honest they can never separate the two.

From CNN to NBC, special reports have been centered on Black women voters in South Carolina... stating that Black women voters are split ... either to vote on gender versus voting on race. Democratic analyst Jehmu Greene stated in the CNN report that "In the African American community, there is a perception that race trumps gender." Green went on to add she believes "black women will stick with Hillary" , basing her analysis on gender and experience. The NBC spot focused on the campaign managers from both camps, with semi-candid blurbs from voters. Now, is the media attempting a swing? Remember the "Cinderfella" moment they placed on Obama after the IOWA win... pretty much telling New Hampshire how they were going to vote. Perhaps, the NH voters didn't like their voting being counted before they were being cast and decided to flip it. Better yet, did they idea of her being an underdog against a "wonder kid" seemed unfair? We will never know for certain. What we can say is that the demographics Obama does better with (younger adults & college professors) were blocked out due to vacation and the date move up of the primary. Rather than explore that ... the media cried "race must have been the factor!" ... "Women came out for Hillary!" Why in NH and not in IOWA as well? Hmmm... the spin is getting faster. Well, I for one am not split.

I am not voting for Clinton because:
A) I am not going to waste my time pointing out that the 35 years of experience that she has recently narrowed down to 16 years mainly consisted of being 1st lady in the state house of Arkansas and the White House.

B) The civil rights work she did was noble and let's not forget the work she did with Marian Wright Edelman and the Children's Defense Fund...the work she dismantled when President Clinton issued the "Welfare Reform Bill" in to law. No wait ...that was her husband not her...yet she claims his years as her own ...right. Her mentor, Marian Wright Edelman was quoted as saying “His signature on this pernicious bill makes a mockery of his pledge not to hurt children.” (http://www.democracynow.org/2007/7/24/childrens_defense_funds_marian_wright_edelman)
C) Universal Health Care- The problem I have is the savings I will have in the form of a tax credit! How is that going to benefit working class/ low income families? We have to wait until tax time to reap the benefit? With the rising cost of food , gas and utilities most people (regardless of race , gender or income) need to see the savings on their paycheck... not once a year at tax time. The insurance companies will be able to accrue interest on our premiums. Can working families afford to lend money to corporations.

NOW, why I am not voting for Clinton as a WOMAN

A) I have neither heard nor read where Clinton has given acknowledgement to Congresswoman Geraldine Ferraro (D-NY), Republican Elizabeth Dole, and Democrat Carol Moseley Braun, or Congresswomen Shirley Chisholm (D-NY) Chisholm’s strong primary showing won her 152 delegate votes or five percent of the delegate votes cast at the Democratic National Convention—an unprecedented historic victory for women. Were their candidacies’ fairytales?

Lastly, why as a BLACK WOMAN I will not vote for Clinton:

Why would a candidate, specifically a woman ,feel that an endorsement from someone whose cable channel served as a showcase to the world of derogatory videos and after dark soft porn hip hop videos that devalued the images of women ... mainly Afr Amr & Latino women. If Edwards or Obama had Johnson as a spokesman for them, all those female congresswomen would be all over them... rightfully so. Is it lack of awareness about Afr Amr women? Does she not know that Bob Johnson is not held in highest esteem amongst African Americans?

Nuf Said... what are your thoughts?

The Love We Had Stays On My Mind

2007-12-17T18:03:00.000-05:00

The two principle characters, Keilah and Norelle, definitely have some ghosts of past loves creeping behind them. As with Keilah and Norelle, the former relationships we have witnessed or found ourselves in, shapes all relationships that follow them.

If you were like me, between Sesame Street and Romper Room I grew up watching The Young and The Restless with my babysitter. Back then, there were no VCRs and I had often finished my activity books by 12:30 when the soaps began. By 3pm when General Hospital came on, I was faking my nap and peeking at the television through the blanket. Now granted, the soaps were not as explicit as they are now, but they would still left impressions on me. When you factor in Cinderella and Snow White, I was heading for the big set up.

Whether it was two sisters via for the same man or men running to the rescue of damsels in distress, my tender little mind began to form ideas about love. Then when I got home, the image was slanted. My mom never cascaded across the room in a flowing gown with a silver platter of food in her hand. My dad didn’t come home, sweep my mother off her feet after he chugged a glass of cognac. Most often, once we arrived home from another busy day, my mom changed from work clothes to comfortable sweats and pulled some Murray’s steak out of the freezer for dinner while my dad had just enough time to fix a sandwich and head to his second job. In between the hustle and bustle, I saw plenty of hugs and kisses and few arguments. By time I was teenager, I was looking for the Luke & Laura love experience and didn’t even realize it until I was well into my twenties.

No matter if we came from a two parent home, a single parent home or none of the above, what we saw or didn’t see will run head on with the not so subtle images society at large has given us, leaving us in some cases with a warped idea of love.

For both Keilah and Norelle the relationships of their parents became lessons in do and don’ts that followed them well into their adulthood. Whether they got right or wrong could only be determined by the course of actions these two ladies took. Each is duplicitous in their approaches with Keilah as an idealistic pessimist while Norelle was a starry eyed realist, with all the rest of the cast falling in between.

*************************more to come**********************more to come**************more to come***********************more to come********more to come

For Every Love There Is A Reason - Chp 1 Excerpt

2007-12-17T13:32:00.001-05:00

Chapter 1
“I never really prepared for our winter, because I held onto our summer.”
— Keilah

When Keilah’s mom told her André called, she smiled. She knew André missed her because she missed him too. No matter what, or who, he was doing, she always felt she was his heart. In the back of her mind, she always knew she would forever be a “special one” and never “the one.” Her heart reluctantly lagged behind; dragging bags of memories, making getting over him difficult, like one emotional hurdle after the next. She was reluctant to return his call. Time passed and she was able to put her feelings in check, even though she knew, deep down past the apathy, the anger, and the hurt, love still endured. He seemed insistent on seeing her, and she was curious. Did he miss her? Did André finally want to share how he had been a fool all this time and beg her to come back to him? Ha!
As Keilah sat across from André, she heard nothing but the three words he casually slipped into the conversation. The clatter of dishes and the chatter at nearby tables were barely audible. Keilah’s concerns about the little pimple, which formed along her right temple, seemed minuscule. Even her weight gain was of no importance at the dropping of those three words.
Breathe, Keilah, breathe.
Keilah learned to hide her emotions. Through the years, it had become something of an art form. She quickly learned how to pull lipstick from her purse when she felt her bottom lip quiver, gliding a fresh coat of paint across a false grin. The stiffening of her jaw line could easily be camouflaged by resting it casually within the palm of her hand, while she averted attention to something else in the room. Yes, awkward moments brought out the actor in her.
Yes, that is what the hell he said. Get it together.
Keilah played repeatedly in her mind, how she’d run her lines, the gestures, the movements . . . this one moment she unwillingly prepared for. The one thing she didn’t factor was overwhelming her, the solitary tear. One monumental tear, burning the more she tried to hold it back, was building up in the well of her left eye. There is nothing capable of holding back that type of tear. Unlike actual crying, where each tear has its own specific emotion to attend to, a single tear must do the job of a million tears and contain every emotion within itself. As she sat across from André, absorbing the shocking news, she felt like she was trying to hold back a tsunami. That one salty tear was filled with so many powerful emotions—shock, hurt, anger, surprise, mourning, hate, jealousy, envy, and remorse.
After all those emotions built up that one tear, love ran from the back, thrusting through emotional commotion and desired nothing more than to submerge itself deep within that one solitary tear. Aligning itself on the rim of her left eye, love took hurt and anger by the hand and dove in. Hoping to be overwhelmed by hurt and anger, love rode the wave from the corner of her left eye, sliding quietly down her cheek, only to be caught by a napkin and tucked away for later. Hate laughed because love wanted to drown and die—surprise and shock looked on, wondering what was next. Jealousy and envy joined hate and mocked love. Remorse sat close by and wept. Mourning hugged love tightly and whispered, “You know you can’t die.” Love pushed through and she hated it. She heard those three words clearly. “I’m getting married.”
André had found her.

Tell me what you think... wanna read little more...post a comment and tell me so!

Kenda

On finally getting published..now what

2007-02-22T08:40:00.000-05:00

Wow, what a journey!!! I am finally a published author. The excitement has not waned but the reality has finally set in...I gotta work!!

We aspiring authors imagine as soon as our books hit the shelves that fortune and fame will be quick to follow. We look at the Nora Roberts and the Terry McMillians and immediately imagine our novel on the small small screen or nearest cinaplex. We imagine reviews pouring in from Publishers Weekly , blurbs in Essence Magazine or radio interviews galore. Then we realize that the phone hasn't rung , no one has yet to return your email and your publicist has assured you that the book signings are being scheduled. Doesn't anyone recognize my gift! Yes, you just have to wait until the pass on the good news about your novel to their friends. In the meantime, keep positive, don't slack on your day job, and use every opportunity to promote yourself and your novel.

Now, I don't have all the answers nor am I an expert but I have started off to a modestly good start. Here are a few tips that I think helped me make steady strides.

1) A Myspace page - its free and you have access to more people than you can imagine. Post excerpts from your novel ( with approval from your pub if you have one), thoughts for the day, etc. Make friends with not only fellow authors or book clubs but people that may fit your demographics. Do not narrow your friends down by race or gender. But be wise, a 55 year old retiree may not appreciate your literary rendering of hoodlife. If you feel your novel falls into a genre that an established author writes in , acquaint yourself w/ some of their friends.

2) Enlist foot soilders - Friends and family should be armed with postcards, promo excerpts and what ever else you may have that can promote your novel. Try get family and friends that work at hospitals and large corporations. Choose your troops carefully. If they are not the most loquacious or outgoing do enlist them unless the specifically ask you. While they may support you , don't make them feel guilty of they are not comfortable being outgoing.

3) Become an internet sleuth - Surf for sites that feature authors or post work. There are tons of web sites that feature authors, post book signing, interview, etc. Some are fee based, so decide of the fee is worth it.

4) Be an online columnist or blogger - What better way to build a readership than writing an online column or blog that revolves around the subject matter of your novel or book. Many website and web zine take on columnist. Even though you in most cases you will not get paid, you have a world wide presence.

5) Join online groups- Make sure to not only join writers groups but reader and literary lovers groups. Be interactive and post comments and questions regularly so people can get to know who you are.

6) Vistaprint.com - this website by far has the lowest printing cost I have ever seen.

7) Exhale - If you can work overtime for a J-O-B. , you can work overtime to make your dream a reality. Rome wasn't built in one day , it took hard work , planning and faith.

I hope this little list helped... check out my synopsis and excerpt !!!