Six Months – A story snippet

This is a snippet of a story that I am working on. I decided to do it as a video just to mix things up a bit. Mixing things up – that’s ok, right? Here is the story. I’m looking forward to your feedback!

Promoting Indie Authors

Thanks to everyone who tuned into Steamy Trails Speaks on Blog Talk Radio last night! It has been over a year since Katrina Gurl and Nita Bee have blessed the BTR airwaves. These ladies have been very busy building and expanding the Steamy Trails Empire and they have some very exciting things going on!

Take a listen to archives HERE if you missed the show and be sure to share it with your friends!

I was on the air with the ladies last night and I announced the next Steamy Trails Network Contest! We are promoting the works of two extraordinary men: Authors Avery Washington and Amillion Mayfield.

The contest rules are very simple:

1. Visit the Facebook fan pages of Avery Washington for his book, “Letters to My Daughters” and Amillion The Poet.

2. Click the Like button at the top of each one of these gentlemen’s pages. Read their comments and their notes. Get to know them!

3. Tell a friend!

4. The contest runs through February 10, 2012. The winners selected by random drawing, and announced on Steamy Trails Speaks with Katrina Gurl and Nita Bee (official date to be announced.)

DON’T WAIT ANOTHER SECOND TO ENTER!!! Click on the names below and connect with these two amazing authors!

Avery Washington

Amillion Mayfield

Today’s Lesson: The Circle of Life

Mufasa: Everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you need to understand that balance and respect all the creatures from the crawling ant to the leaping antelope.
Simba: But, dad, don’t we eat the antelope?
Mufasa: Yes, Simba, but let me explain. When we die, our bodies become the grass. And the antelope eat the grass. And so we are all connected in the great Circle of Life.

This conversation between father and son has rolled around in my brain for the last few weeks. Not quite sure why, but it’s there. Balance and connection. For reasons I cannot pin point, it made me think of my grandmother who passed away last August. I have recalled odd bits and pieces of conversations, things she said that made me laugh, things I said that made her laugh. For example, I used to tell her that I am her most favorite grandchild. She challenged me on that statement a few months before she passed,

“Are you sure you are the favorite?”
I responded with all confidence, “Yup!”
“How do you know?”
“Because I just told you, Mum. So, you can’t say you didn’t know I was the favorite!” She laughed and shook her head, but she didn’t tell me that I wasn’t the favorite. That was enough confirmation for me! The truth is, if she had a favorite grandchild, she kept it a carefully guarded secret.

A particular memory rose to the surface today as I listened to the audiobook, Heaven Is for Real by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent. Todd Burpo described trying to persuade his 3-year-old son to drink the vile tasting beverage provided by the technician prior to the cat-scan being administered. In an instant, I was in the room with my grandmother as she was about to get her cat-scan. She was nervous about being in the machine and the noise it made. She didn’t want me to leave her. So as the rest of her body was guided into the tube, the tech left enough of her legs extended outside of the machine, so I could hold on to my grandmother’s leg, giving her a little comfort. I said something I cannot recall to make my grandmother laugh. She relaxed and before we knew it, the test was over. That happened roughly seventeen years ago. Today, I almost burst into tears thinking about it. I stopped the audio book and took a deep breath. There is no crying during work hours.

Yesterday, I shared with my mother and daughter how much my grandmother used to HATE when I watched Star Trek: Next Generation. I loved that show as a teenager! She would go into a rant as soon as she saw Lieutenant Worf’s rippled forehead appear on the screen! “Laaahhd a mercy!! How you watch dat hugly sumting so? Hits heeevilll,” she would declare in her Jamaican/British accent. And she did not stop fussing until I changed the channel to something more to her liking. That memory had me in stitches.

As my friends post stories about the loved ones that have passed, I think about the “great Circle of Life.” When loved ones pass away, even if we were not around them everyday, the lack of their “being” changes our landscape. They will visit our memories at the oddest of times. Whether you laugh or cry over the memories is not the important thing. Remembering is the important thing. As cliche as it sounds, they are still with us everywhere the light touches our lives and sometimes in the shadowy places where we should not venture, but still do occasionally. The memories keep us balanced; remind us of the living we have yet to do and that what we do, and say, and create shapes the landscape for the next generation.

So, today’s lesson is not so much of a lesson as it is something to ponder: How will your life contribute to the landscape?

http://movieclips.com/ZNpQL-the-lion-king-movie-everything-the-light-touches/0/70.867

CONTEST WINNER – GIVEAWAY BASKET II

After going through a SLEW of technical difficulties, we are finally able to announce winner number two!!! Thanks to each and every one of you for your participation in the book give away! Congratulations to our winner: Ollie Moss of Memphis, TN and….well…watch the video for winner number 2!

Be sure to stay tuned to Nike Writes on WordPress and Facebook, and Steamytrails.com where we will announce the next contest!

Thanks again everyone!

Basket # 1, Winner Ollie Moss

Basket # 2, Winner Brittany Carrigan

First Blog of 2012

I fell asleep at about 4am on January 1st and woke up at 8am. Not good. I tried to go back to sleep, but had too much on my mind. None of it was bad, mind you, I was just anxious to begin planning my moves for the new year. I just really needed to get some rest! I tried to go back to sleep, but ended up dozing off until about 9:30. I had to get up and put my plan down on paper. I don’t want to feel like I’m spinning my wheels this year.

I broke my goals down into a few categories: my writing (next book and poetry) and my writing for Heed, family time and me time.

While I think I have set down an ambitious plan for writing, blogging, church activity and family life, I didn’t overwhelm myself by trying to write a 12 month plan. I’ve given myself a 6 month focus. That is really all I can handle. It gives me time to work my plan, then review what I’ve accomplished by June. Then I can regroup and work my plan for the balance of the year.

A huge part of my plan involves the word “no.” People don’t like hearing that word. I don’t like using it, often. But I have learned that limited use of the word leads to stress and frustration for me. I want to be able to give my best to anything I commit to doing, so I won’t be spreading myself thin this year. In addition to the word “no,” I will be enforcing regularly scheduled “me time.” I also know that “me time” can be easily turned into “we time” for me and my daughter. My daughter and I have also made mental notes about some of the local sites we want to visit this year.

So, what plans have you made? Are they too broad, too specific, or maybe too ambitious? Are you still on track or have you fallen off the track already? Take a look at this clip, some great tips are offered. If you haven’t set goals for this year (not resolutions), it’s not too late! Start planning now!

Bringing in 2012

As I enjoy the last few moments of 2011 with my family, I’m recalling the “adventures” I survived this year. The past year had plenty of challenges, but in the middle of the hard times I saw God opening doors and lining things up for the future. I have no doubt that 2012 is going to be an amazing year!

I’m grateful to all 500+ of you. Your support and encouragement is absolutely PRICELESS!!! I’m looking forward to sharing more with you in 2012! Please be safe in your celebrations tonight and may God bless you and your household real good!! See you in 2012. Happy New Year!!!

Don’t Miss Out!!!

What better way to start the New Year than with a great book and a basket full of goodies!! Register TODAY for your chance to win one of two baskets loaded with treats, including an autographed copy of The Balcony View by Katrina Gurl or Persistence of Vision by Nike Binger Marshall. Click on:
STEAMY TRAILS for complete contest rules! Winner’s will be announced on WDGP Radio on January 7th with Diana Broomfield!

Basket #1 -Persistence of Vision, by Nike Binger Marshall
1 mug, a bag of ground coffee, assorted herbal teas, Pepperidge Farm Assorted cookies, plush blanket, Pumpkin Apple Spice Soul Essentials jar candle (not pictured: Hidden Beach CD, Barnes & Noble Gift card) along with an autographed copy of “Persistence of Vision” by Nike Binger Marshall

Basket #2 -The Balcony View, By Katrina Gurl
Assorted mixed nuts, journal and pen set, Details moisturizing lotion, Barnes and Noble gift card and 1 homemade scented candle by Soul Essentials (not seen in this pic), and an autographed copy of “The Balcony View” by Katrina Gurl.

Book Giveaway!!!

Nike Writes and The Steamy Trails Network want to help you start the New Year right with great books by some the of the best literary talents in the industry!! Register for your chance to win one of two baskets loaded with treats, including an autographed copy of The Balcony View by Katrina Gurl or Persistence of Vision by Nike Binger Marshall.

Complete Contest rules can be found at:

http://www.steamytrails.com/Contests.html

Winners will be announced on January 7th (time to be announced) on WDGP Radio with Diana Broomfield.

Don’t miss your chance to win! Register today!!! (Pictures of the baskets will be posted soon!)

Fresh Faces in Black Books

I mentioned back in November that I was going to be profiled on Faydra Field’s African-American History blog on the Examiner as one of 100 Fresh Faces in Black Books. Well, the deed has been done and the profile is up for your viewing pleasure! Please take a moment to check my profile, as well as some of the other authors! This is a great way to build your reading list for 2010!

Random Thought

(Repost)

I don’t make New Year resolutions. I never keep them. (I commend the 5 or 6 people in the world who manage to keep their resolutions all year!) However, a couple of years ago I decided to pay closer attention to the things that were going on around me. I determined that there were clear signs of impending disaster prior to 90% of the unfortunate events that took place in my life. Had I been paying closer attention to the details, I probably could have avoided 70% of those disasters. So, in order to make sure I remained focused, I set the alarm on my cell phone to go off every Saturday at 4pm and 10pm (just in case I was busy at 4pm). That is my reminder to reflect on the past week and consider the lessons life offered. I think it’s made a difference. My “disaster rate” has dropped considerably…I think!

So this week I have learned 2 things. Lesson number 1:
It is absolutely ok to dream big, mad, crazy, absurd, pretty-close-to-it-ain’t-nevuh-gonna-happen type dreams…just be wise about with whom you share those visions. Now, I’m not talking about anything kinky! I’m talking about those life changing dreams…like the dreams you used to have as a kid. Remember wanting to be a TV personality or well recognized athlete? We never considered the potential road blocks. THAT’S how you dream!!! The one thing to beware of would be the “dream killers.” I’ve met plenty of them and allowed their words to squelch my dreams in the past. I won’t make that mistake again! I’m going to dream like I’m 5 years old!

Lesson number 2:
The “big picture” is so much bigger than any of us really know…every now and then you really have to step back and take a good hard look at your contribution…are you giving your best? This lesson has more of a spiritual focus. God has created us to do stuff…some of us will do big, visible to the world stuff and some of us will do less noticeable (but equally important) stuff. I know that I have a tendency to go through my day without considering God’s purpose in the moment. No wonder I’ve had a 90% percent disaster rate in the past! So, I think I may need to set another alarm on my phone to remind myself to consider how anything that I may have said or done during the week positively contributed to the “big picture.”