New Adventures Begin With You

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Have you ever had an opportunity to do something or go somewhere and missed it because you froze in fear? It’s okay, because it happens to the best of us. I’ve had my moments. How I have been getting through some of those moments is asking myself, “How will I feel about myself passing up this opportunity?” Usually the answer to this question spurs me to make a decision and I am usually pleased with the outcome.

This past weekend was one of those moments. I’d found out about the Sistahs In Business Expo, in Philadelphia, on Thursday and according to the ticket site Eventbrite, Friday was the last day to purchase tickets. I was on the fence since the expo was Saturday. Then I saw Vivica Fox was going to be the keynote speaker! I knew not going would bother me like when I missed Gabrielle Union’s AND Jenifer Lewis’ book signings earlier this year. Bam! Decision made. I was going and bringing the little ones with me. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

So many entrepreneurs were in the building! It was beautiful and the energy was electric! My children didn’t fully understand the beauty they were submerged in, but as they get older and wiser they will. One of our highlights was not only getting a signed copy of Ms. Vivica A. Fox’s book but pictures with her as well!

Never give up on goals and aspirations you have for yourself. Your future self will thank you for it!

Reflect On The Past. Plan For The Future…

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As National Women’s History Month winds down and the fervor of National Poetry Month begins I can only but reflect on how I fit in at this point of my life. I am a woman. I am a poet. My passion lies in sharing, educating and helping in any way I can.

In reflecting on my own past I realize I can only help others insofar as I have helped myself. That is where my experience and education springs from. Learning from my own past mistakes and then sharing those lessons.

Lesson 1. Speak up. Anything you want to learn you must first be brave enough to speak up. “How do you (insert topic here)?” The worst anyone can say is I don’t know. Your next move is to google it or head to your local library. As a poet, sometimes I am afraid to ask questions because I don’t like hearing no. No hasn’t killed me yet so I continuously push against my fear. I don’t always win, but I don’t stop either.

Lesson 2. Yes. You. Can. Whatever it is you strive to do, you can do. No explanations.

Lesson 3. Ask. For help, for reviews, for sales. Closed mouths don’t get fed. On that note, I am in need of honest feedback on my collection of poetry, Entangled Hearts. In exchange for said feedback I will be giving away free kindle copies of Entangled Hearts to the first ten people to comment below with their email addresses.

Last but not least…

Lesson 4. Inform. Let others know how they can be of service to you so you can be of better service to others! I am preparing to release my second collection of poetry, Reflections: Past, Present, Future and I need a few beta readers as well. Leave your name and email address below with beta next to it so I’ll know you’re interested in being a beta reader. Thanks in advance!

Why Yet

Checking Off Goals…

Posted on by Why Yet

Hello. I haven’t posted sinced NaNoWriMo last year and for good reason. Exhaustion. I needed to decompress from the stress of typing all the words so I can continue to write all the words. Before I go any further, happy new year to you all and I hope you are making everyday count for you. This post is to share what I’ve been up to…

When the New Year comes in we are all flooded with the same “New Year, New You” ads to guilt you into signing up for health clubs, insurance clubs, etc… Me personally, I stopped writing resolutions years ago. They’re usually forgotten by Valentine’s Day anyway. Instead, I think of a few goals I want to accomplish during the new year to improve myself. This year, among my usual take better care of my health goals, I vowed to tackle 2 things I am afraid of and something I have been procrastinating with. I was afraid to knit a pair of socks, afraid to re-enter the realm of spoken word and procrastinating with ending a toxic relationship.

Heh, heh, heh… Growth doesn’t happen overnight. It takes consistent effort. I completed my first pair of knitted socks in January and on February 3rd I recited one of my poems during a podcast interview with Sabreen on Soundcloud, Author Event.

Then on February 9th I attended an open mic night where I performed for the first time in a few years. Along with facing those fears I am pursuing what makes me happy – helping, supporting and promoting others.

With the same heated fervor of the Black Panther release, I strive to reach those who need encouragement through my poetic words. My first collection, Entangled Hearts, is available on amazon.com. My second collection, Reflections, is due to be released later this year. Order your copy of Entangled Hearts and remember to challenge yourself to face your fears. Check them off of your list one by one!

5 Reasons Why Reading is Fundamental

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I read a blog post last month by Allie D that caught my attention. She listed 50 of the Best Preschool Books that she has read to her boys. I instantly wanted to read her post because I love books and I was curious to see what books she recommended. Also, because I have a preschooler and a kindergarten-er who enjoy books also. After reading her post I discovered that quite a few of her books were favorites of my children. One reason I thought Allie’s post was awesome is the reading. I have been a reader since I learned the magic of reading back in the early 80’s. That is something I pass on to my children because – reading is fundamental. Anything on this planet you want to know about, you must read something.

Why I love reading – because of all the interesting stories and characters I discover. I am a romance fiction fan but I also enjoy adventure, science fiction and the occasional biography. I gravitate towards books with a conversational writing style where I can become the main character and transition through the book. Reading is fundamental for me because:

  1. It is how I honor my ancestors who were unable to learn to read because of the color of their skin. Every book I read is for my grandparents who couldn’t.
  2. It is how I learn new things and comprehend what I learn.
  3. Knowledge is powerful. How you wield that power shows what type of person you are.
  4. I love being able to help others using what I have learned through reading.
  5. I love hearing my children laugh when I read to them.

I enjoy reading also because based on the statistics of the neighborhood I grew up in, I shouldn’t be any good at it – but I love proving people wrong when assumptions are made about me.

According to an article by Lauren Gelman for Reader’s Digest (www.rd.com/health/wellness/benefits-of-reading/), reading is good for you for other reasons:

  1. Reading can protect your brain from Alzheimer’s disease.
  2. Reading can melt away stress.
  3. Reading boosts your vocabulary.
  4. Reading improves empathy.
  5. Reading can encourage life goals.

But don’t just take my word for it. Read the article for yourself and then comment with a good book you would recommend for me. I’ll look over the comments and add those books to my list. I’ll start with a couple of recommendations of my own.

On Why Yet’s Watch with Sharai Robbin

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Anyone who knows me (and I mean REALLY knows me), knows that I LOVE a good book. I am a book nerd wrapped in a gorgeous face, lol! On my show, On Why Yet’s Watch, I recently had the pleasure of interviewing an author from my hometown of Philadelphia, Sharai Robbin. Sharai is the author of the novel, Candace Reign, which was picked up by Simon & Schuster in 2015.

Candace Reign Sharai promo

Sharai is an inspirational woman all by herself even before you get to her writing. Sitting and talking with her about her passion for crafting her words into book form was divine! I am at a loss for words to describe the interview. All I can say is you would have to listen for yourself and come to your own conclusion. We need more individuals who are looking to improve and inspire the current generations’ preparing to come of age so that they in turn can improve and inspire those that come behind them. That will create a better world for us ALL!

First Interview of 2016!

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On Why Yets Watch bannerGood evening! Happy New Year! On Why Yet’s Watch was on fire tonight! And what a beautiful way to kick in the new year than with an awesome author, Chase Monet, debuting her first novel, Secrets of a Cheating Heart (available on amazon.com) and preparing for the release of her second novel, One Taste Just Ain’t Enough (January 20, 2016 release date).

Chase Headshots

Chase is so relaxed that it’s no wonder her fans are curious to find out what’s next on her to do list of wonders. Being a freelance writer, Chase is no stranger to the rigors of writing regularly. She has submitted countless how-to articles and web content for companies such as Textbroker, Break Studios and Scripted. She’s written grants, business contracts and proposals for small business owners as well as sales and marketing scripts for lead generation companies.

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With all of that going on, Chase’s passion is for writing fiction with twisting plots and steamy, provocative love scenes. Her debut novel, Secrets of a Cheating Heart, features all of that and more. Her newest novel, One Taste Just Ain’t Enough will be released on January 20th, 2016. You can follow Chase Monet on facebook: Chase Monet; on instagram: @chasememonet; and on twitter: @ChaseNMonet. To listen to her interview you can go to On Why Yet’s Watch with Chase Monet.

OneTaste by ChaseMonet

Now don’t feel bad if you missed this interview. I broadcast live every Thursday evening from 9-10 pm EST on blogtalkradio.com. To keep up to date on who’s coming to the show follow my author page on Facebook: Why Yet, Author. Next week, hip hop artist Matthias All Bars will be returning to the show to share some more of his music and wisdom with our listeners, so don’t miss out!

On Why Yet’s Watch with Darryl Carr

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Victim of Love II just finished a wonderful interview with author Darryl Carr. He is the author of Victim of Love (which is FREE on amazon for a limited time). Being inspired by Stephen King, the writers of Dynasty, Falcon Crest and Dallas, Darryl strives to create believable characters that we can connect with. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY Darryl began writing when he was 16 years old. A lover of words, Darryl already has Victim of Love 2: Master in My Bed ready for release on October 23, 2015. Darryl Carr can be followed on http://www.facebook.com/darryl.carr3, and http://www.twitter.com/dcarr217 . Grab your free copy of Victim of Love, check out the interview On Why Yet’s Watch with Darryl Carr and follow Darryl Carr to keep up on new books being released!

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I Signed Up For NaNoWriMo 2015!

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nanowrimoOkay, I accomplished the re-release of my collection of poetry, Entangled Hearts (available on amazon Kindle for $2.99), and signed up for the NaNoWriMo 2015 challenge. To put it mildly, I’m terrified! 50,000 words in thirty days, how do you guys do it?! Is it insanity or is it normal to feel this fearful of writing? I have ideas floating around in my mind but not sure which one will be THE one to write.

How do you guys decide what to write for NaNo? Do you create outlines on your computer/tablet/phone or write them down in a notebook? How do you decide on how many characters go into your story? Character names? Personalities? Quirks? Are you tempted to start writing before hand or do you wait until November 1? Will the story be finished in time? Will there be time to edit or do you wait until NaNo is over to edit? And will it be good? Do you block everything out for thirty days? I will keep you posted on my progress when the challenge starts. Until then…

keepcalmandwrite

Entangled Hearts is Officially Re-Released!

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11700640_10153533224636979_8335249316132193351_oAfter allowing fear to halt me, I have finally re released my first collection of poetry, Entangled Hearts. With a revamped cover by BlaqRayn Publishing and some new poems, Entangled Hearts is ready to spread some love again. Almost as if to celebrate, I had a flood of poetic inspiration tonight, including a piece I titled The Woman In Me:   Love flows as strong as a river current/ unrestricted by space, time, or circumstance/ once my heart opens the woman in me/ flourishes,/ glows,/ grows,/ and knows that pure beauty is a rarity in the world./ Peace flows as smooth as silken strands/ guided by love like a traveler wandering/ in a golden desert,/ guiding,/ providing direction,/ and connection to the source of the peaceful flow./ Beauty is transcendent/ across space and time/ irregardless of age/ like a wine ripening for the perfect celebration/ of life. / The transcendent, silken, river current of love heals and nurtures/ because of the woman in me. Available on amazon.com (kindle).

On Why Yet’s Watch with Victoria Catherine

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On Why Yets Watch bannerThursday nights are energetic for me. Why you ask? Because every Thursday night I get to interview someone new. This week I have the pleasure (pun intended) of interviewing erotica authoress, Victoria Catherine. Chicago native who relocated to Fort Wayne, IN, Victoria has been writing since she was a “pure, innocent, and virginal pre-teen”. Most of her early stories were based off of the Red Shoe Diaries on Showtime. Fascinated with the psychology of what made people lust after each other she began writing what she coins as “bathtub lit”. Her debut novel, One: Sex & Lies, is available on amazon.com.

ONE by Victoria Catherine

Victoria Catherine is the name of the alter ego created from the love of secrets, anonymity and all naughty things we hide away, but in real life she is a wife and mother with many pets. She is a foodie who has a day job and loves classic movie musicals. Victoria Catherine’s writing goal is to write at her own pace and have fun doing it. If you like secrets and finding out all naughty things we hide away then this is a not to miss interview for you. Join me, Why Yet, as I step into the world of bathtub lit with Victoria Catherine on blog talk radio. The call in number is 773-897-6297. Or you can check it out here. I broadcast live Thursday, September 10, 2015 at 9 pm EST.