Todays Feature playwright, poet Vanessa Richardson

Vanessa, remember you have Endometriosis.” Those words swirled around in my head but my mind refused to process the meaning behind them. My Doctor's eyes compassionately swept over my face, settling on my eyes, he patiently waited for his word to sink in; unfortunately they wouldn’t. Firstly, I didn’t know what Endometriosis was, and if he had explained it to me during the process of my treatment, it went unnoticed. Secondly, I was battling Catamenial Pneumothorax at the time, this is when a woman has her menses and within 24-48 hours her lung collapses. By this time, I'd underwent major lung surgery and had a total of ten chest tubes, so Endometriosis was the last thing; I was thinking about.

I recall one fateful night, being forcefully awakened by severe pain in my abdomen and lower back. Try as I might, I just could not go back to sleep; as I couldn’t escape the severity of that continued sharp pain. This would go on for months, the pain was blinding and crippling, often leaving me bedridden for days. It seemed to me my life was a constant battle to live (not exist) and be happy in life. My battle was against my own body and mind. Yet, I was determined to win.

“I do?” I asked my Doctor. I barely recognized my voice, it was weak with pain and disappointments. My Doctor nodded his head. “Yes, you do. You have had to be one of my most difficult cases treated. I've removed an incredible amount of Endometriosis from inside of you. Remember you also have it on your lung. These tissues may have escaped to other areas of your body. Doing more surgery runs the risk of causing more damage than good.” Those were not the words I wanted to hear. I wanted to be fixed, to be made whole again. I left My Doctor’s office burden with despair. I was silent and reflective during my ride home. The world seemed a different place to me. In the matter of minutes I had been changed inside forever.

There was a gamut of emotions swamping me. Anger was in the lead, I am not perfect by any means, but, I’ve always been mindful of my deeds and actions. I respected myself and others. I believed in God and attended church faithfully. Yet, I was living a life of daily chronic pain. There was no cure for me. Those words became a song in my head, it played on repeat. “There’s no cure for me.” I looked up at noticed the Sun was still shining, and almost became angry. I looked around and the world was still going on, oblivious to my struggle. How dare the world still move forward, and my world had just been turned upside down!

I made a decision that day. I decided I would not let this situation defeat me. I was too young to carry this cross for the rest of my life. I went home and began to research what Endometriosis was. I was Trojan; I studied and applied what I learned to my daily living. Sometimes it can take up to 10-12 years for a patient to be diagnosed with Endometriosis.


Approximately 176 million women and girls worldwide suffer from Endometriosis; 8.5 million in North America. I’d also learned how to eat all over again. I had to cut out red meats, I’ve gotten rid of dairy products, and I’d removed wheat products out of my diet as well. I started eating healthily, one of the best decisions I've ever made. I removed myself as best as I could from stressful situations, as this could exacerbate pain levels. I began to do meditations. I began to come to grip with the fact that, I could live in spite of my situation. I just had to readjust. I also made it an issue to not remain silent anymore. Respectively, talking about something as private as your cycle can be quite awkward, but this slight discomfort is all worth it; if I can inform and enlighten people about Endometriosis. I don’t want anyone to suffer needlessly for years, because of the lack of information. So, I continue to lift my voice, sharing my testimony, enlightening people about Endometriosis -and I continue to keep the faith, because Endometriosis doesn’t have me.

About the Author

Vanessa Richardson is an author, poet, and playwright. She has written several stage productions and have been blessed to perform them at various venues. Her stage productions include: Someone To Love Me, Why Do Bad Things Happens To Good People? Lord, I Don't Understand, and The Fullness Of Time.Vanessa wrote her freshman Nonfiction inspirational novel titled, The Certain Ones. A spiritual impacting novel that inspires her readers to know that not everyone are called into greatness. Fact: Many can not handle the process that goes along with becoming great. Only the certain ones, who endures; can obtain destined greatness.
Vanessa also host the blogtalkradio show The Certain Ones. In addition, she has created a magazine that it full of purpose. Vanessa is currently working on her fiction novel titled, Love Lifted Me.

www.TheCertainOnesMagazine.com
www.blogtalkradio.com/thecertainones

Author Pamela D. Rice

 Welcome Pamela, The Spotlight Is On You. Tell us about yourself?

Where are you from? 

I am from a small community in South Carolina called Little Africa that was founded by freed slaves in the 1800’s

What was your inspiration for writing name of book? 

I decided to write “The Monday Night Mistress” after seeing so many stories in the media about incestuous relationships. Prayerfully, writing about it will create a dialogue and bring healing. 

What other books have you authored? Tell us about them. 

My first book was “The Sunday Morning Wife”, which deals with domestic violence. You can read the entire first chapter @ www.pameladrice.com

  

Do you use an outline or do you let your story unfold naturally? 

A little of both. When an idea pops into my head, I write a quick synopsis and use it as a guideline to let the story unfold.

  

From your experience, what key ingredients do new writers need to succeed in the book industry? 

Continue to hone your craft. You have to invest time and research your topics in order to write a believable story. Also, develop a thick skin. Rejection comes with the territory.

Besides writing, what else do you like to do? 

I love to travel, cook, and explore other cultures

About the Book  

The Monday Night Mistress

Layla James has fallen passionately in love with Grayson Miles; a handsome man with the charisma to match his looks. The chemistry between the two is ignitable. The fire that lies between them is so tempting that breaking the rules is hotter than maintaining ambiguity. There is only one obstacle preventing Layla and Grayson from being a couple; Grayson is engaged to Layla’s cousin Sofia. Soon what’s done in secret comes out in the wash and the devastating emotional aftermath which follows discovery is overwhelming. The revelation leaves Sofia distraught as she struggles to deal with the infidelity of her fiancé and the added sting that his lover is the one person she loved like a sister.

Psychological torture ensues and brings the emotionally draining experience to a head and Sophia confronts Layla, and they both discover hidden secrets which are darker than anything they ever could have imagined. The family tree is shaken and uprooted from the core by one dark disclosure after another.
Life becomes even more complicated for those involved in this intricate life triangle. As fate would have it, final options for survival lies in the hands of one person – the woman who was betrayed the most.

About the Book  

The Sunday Morning Wife   

The old saying is true. You never know what's going on in someone else's home. From the outside looking in, Yolanda Clarke appears to have it all. She's a beautiful woman, and her husband, Timothy, is the pastor of BrightStar Tabernacle. They seem to have the perfect life. But, looks are certainly deceiving. Yolanda has become a puppet on a string, totally controlled by Timothy. While everyone at church thinks he walks on water, Yolanda knows the person behind the mask. His constant verbal tirades, physical and emotional abuse has become unbearable. In walks Andre Hunter. He's the type of man that can make any woman forget all her troubles. His chocolate skin, pearly whites, and beautiful smile enthrall Yolanda. She has never entertained the idea of infidelity, but the abuse and lack of intimacy at home makes her adulterous affair justifiable in her mind. Andre gives Yolanda everything she's missing at home- respect, conversation, and passion behind closed doors. But, Andre is hiding secrets of his own. Will Yolanda finally climb from the abyss of despair she's lived in with Timothy and move to a brighter tomorrow with Andre? Or will she forever remain "The Sunday Morning Wife?"

About the Author

Known for her stimulating and thought-provoking views, Pamela possesses a fervor for creatively giving a voice to victims who suffer in silence, afraid to speak for themselves. Inspired by everyday situations and social exchanges, Pamela has always enjoyed observing people and dissecting their interactions; this hobby became her muse. It is her desire to become a literary vessel that brings light to the social ill of domestic violence and its reach beyond all racial, cultural and socio-economic class.  Through inspirational prose, she is destined to heal the human soul.

Pamela's Website

Book Trailer

Order your copy!

E-Book

The Monday Night Mistress

Paperbook

The Sunday Morning Wife

Author Pat Simmoms

About the Author

Pat Simmons is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth. She is passionate about digging up the dirt on her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She has been a genealogy enthusiast since her great-grandmother died at the young age of ninety-seven years old. Pat has won numerous awards for her novels which include: Talk to Me, Grace and Humility and Still Guilty, which was voted the Best Inspirational Romance for 2010.

Pat is best known for her Guilty series: Guilty of Love, Not Guilty of Love, and Still Guilty.

She is continuing the series through the Jamieson Family Legacy trilogy: Guilty by Association, The Guilt Trip, and Free From Guilt. Pat has recently been nominated for the best Christian fiction award by the African American Literary Awards for her latest release, Crowning Glory.

Pat and her husband live in Missouri and have two children. Find out more about the series at The Jamieson Legacy.com or visit the author online at patsimmons.net.

 About the Book

Aaron Jamieson is living a carefree life. He's good-looking, respectable when he's in the mood, but his weakness is women. When a woman tries to ambush him with a pregnancy, he takes off in the other direction. Responsibility as an option is something he learned from his absentee father.

Talise Rogers has a bright future ahead of her. She's pretty and has no problem catching a man's eye, which is exactly what she does with Ace. Their chemistry is undeniable and their passion explosive. Trapping Ace is the furthest thing from Talise's mind, when she learns she is pregnant.  She is determined to be a good parent.

When Ace rejects her she lets him know, " I want nothing from you Ace, not even your name," and she means it.  But Ace's big brother and cousins don't plan to let the child who represents the twelfth generation descendant of a royal African tribe leave the fold. Whether Ace decides to accept his responsibility or not, his family embraces Talise and baby.  As for Ace, they turn him over to the LORD.  How long will he be able to endure the guilt trip he's experiencing because of his choices?  What will it take for him to accept responsibility and turn from following in his father's footsteps?

 

About the Series

The Jamieson Family Legacy series follows the lives of the two Jamieson brothers in Boston, Kidd and Ace and their cousin Cameron from St. Louis.  Kidd, the older brother, is struggling with anger and resentment issues toward his absentee father who never married his mother, but had the audacity to demand his illegitimate sons carry his last name Jamieson. Ace, on the other hand, is on a collision course with disaster as he shows how much a "chip off the old block" he is when it comes to women.

Their highly educated MIT graduate cousin, Cameron Jamieson, is all about saving his family from self-destruction. Through genealogy research, Cameron's mission is to show his cousins their worth as eleventh generation descendants of a royal African tribe and give them a choice: to be angry black men or accept the challenge to become strong successful black men.

The Jamieson men in this three book series are challenged with accepting that the past and the present are both in God's hand.  Without Him they can't move forward toward their future blessings. The bonus storyline is one that progresses the story of the much-loved Grandma B.B. character from the author's previous Guilt books and her new sidekick, Mrs. Valentine.

 Visit the author online at:

www.patsimmons.net

twitter.com@patsimmons

facebook.com/patsimmonsauthor.

View the blog tour schedule at : 

http://www.tywebbin.com/blog-tours/authors-on-tour/2012-tours/

Please enter Pat’s Book giveaway contest!

To enter, leave your name and address in the comment section AND answer the following question

List the titles of Pat Simmons books you have read.

Winners will be chosen June 30, 2012.

Purchase the Book Online at:

Amazon.com

BarnesandNoble.com

 

Author Carol Stratton

Who is Carol Stratton?

I am a wife and mother of four children and two grandchildren who remind me how much fun it is to play again!   I spend free moments learn mandolin and fiddling around with guitar. For ultimate writing inspiration I enjoy hiking in the Appalachian Mountains. Of course my favorite activity is having the whole family over for a cookout. I love seeing our table grow larger every year as our family expands.

 I especially like humor and making people laugh. We don’t get enough these days so when I sell a humorous piece it makes my day. I write to help people out of life’s cracks and I coined a name for it:  Crackpatcher is a name I coined. I hope my writing, either inspirational or humorous can do that.

Carol, tell our readers about your journey to writing.

I got published my hometown newspaper, the Palo Alto Times. My sixth grade teacher submitted an essay to the Youth Said It column and I was hooked.

      

What was your path towards publication like?

Slow.  For years and focused on writing songs. After 9/11, I felt compelled to write an essay. Two days later I sat in front of the editor while he read it on the spot and agreed to publish it. (Not the way to query a busy editor!).   I spent about five years sending out article with only one or two a year that got published. Meanwhile I wrote a Middle Grade novel about a boy whose brother had died, a picture book, a moving tips book, and a women’s inspirational novel. Out of pure stubbornness I kept trudging back and forth to writing conferences, pitching books until I pitched my devotional book to Eddie Jones, my editor.

What is your biggest obstacle when it comes to pitching yourself as an author and what steps have you taken to overcome that obstacle? 

Finding the balance between self-promotion and confidence. If I am in this business just to make a name, it’s an awful long journey. But if I focus on my message and know it will help people, it’s easier to pitch my ideas. Probably having several published pieces under my belt has strengthened my confidence but ultimately my passion and take-way for the reader propels me through times of doubt.

How do you balance your life as an author with your duties as a business person, employee, parent and/or spouse?  

I didn’t start writing until three of my kids were teenagers so finding time was easier but you do need to be sneaky and squeeze in time when you can. I’ve been known to shoot out of bed at midnight to write down a rough draft of an essay that will otherwise escape me in the morning. I also write in my mind while driving or walking. It’s a good way to hash out a passage or figure out a description. Writers are always writing, either mentally or on paper.

What is your best advice for getting past writer's block?

My problem has not been writer’s block but writer’s diahhrea! I started talking very early and haven’t stopped expressing myself yet. But when I get stuck on a plot point, for example, I will give myself a break and switch over to another task, such as describing a character or putting together some witty dialogue.  Also, I bounce ideas off of my husband who has a zillion ideas and always helps me get “unstuck”.  He’s my muse!

What was the best writing-related advice you ever received? (Please tell us why you feel this way? How has it helped you, etc?)

I have a card in my office with Churchill’s shortest speech on the front. It says, “Never, never, never give up.” If I believe (which I do) that God gives us certain gifts and motivations, it behooves me to keep going, because, “… he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” Phillipians 1:6. This verse reminds me it’s not all on my shoulders to produce. If I can encourage even a handful of people with my writing it will be worth it.

Can you tell us a little bit about your latest book?

Yes. Changing Zip Codes: Finding Community Wherever You’re Transplanted  is a forty-day devotional for anyone moving or looking for community. The book came out of my many relocations with my husband and children. Moving is difficult but it can be a great adventure and bring your family closer. I share real life stories pared with Bible verses to encourage the reader through all aspects of a move.

How did you come up with the idea for your book?

I had another moving book with tips and stories that I kept pitching to editors and they always turned it down because it was a “niche” market. Evidently editors never move. Last summer I went to Write To Publish, a wonderful conference in Wheaton, Illinois, and heard Eddie asking for devotionals for niche markets. That magic word, “niche” caught my attention and I threw out an idea for a devotional for those who relocate. He took it.

What was the most difficult aspect of writing this book? (Please share why it was difficult as well as insight into how you overcame this difficulty.)

Because I used personal stories, I had to be transparent to my readers. I had to wrestle with myself when I wrote about certain subjects like feeling alone and friendless in the middle of a Bible study, difficult neighbors, and the move I didn’t want to make. But knowing my struggles have been common to many women has made it easier to share.

 I also know when I share my stories I know I might be criticized with some readers thinking how multiple moves must have disrupted our family life. I’ve found the opposite to be true. The truth is a lot of our moves were either when our children were young, or they were moves in the same city from one house to another. Now our children are grown and we are a close family. In fact we all ended up in North Carolina. In a funny sort of a way, they’ve had to learn important life skills such as how to meet people and cope with change- abilities we need our whole life.

Did you have to do any special research for your book?  No.

If you could choose just one thing for your book to accomplish, what would it be?  If I can encourage some young mother who can’t remember how to get to the grocery store, hates the weather in her new state and think she’ll never have a community of friends, I will feel successful.

What’s ahead for your writing?

I hope to publish my Middle Grade novel, Wolverine Hill, and my inspirational romance, Lake Surrender as well as articles. I also see a Changing Zip Codes for children who have moved.

What opportunities have opened up because of your writing?

I have recently had opportunities to speak at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meetings. I know how hard it is to be a mother to small children. At one point I had three children five and under and was climbing the walls. On the way to one of my speaking engagements, I thought, why wasn’t there a MOPS group around when I had young children?  The answer came flying back to my mind…if you had had a different experience you wouldn’t have anything to share with these young moms. It kind of spooked me but also comforted me that God uses everything in our lives. So now I’m excited about expanding my speaking pursuits.

I hope your readers will think of Changing Zip Codes: Finding Community Wherever You’re Transplanted  if they are moving or know anyone about to relocate.

Contact Carol @ carolgstratton@gmail.com

Invisible Enemies Blog Tour May 14-18, 2012

About the Author

Lynda D. Brown lives in St. Louis MO. She has one married son and a beautiful grandson. This is her second book, her first book, Once I Was Lost, was released in April of 2006, and she immediately began working on Invisible Enemies, which took four years to complete. Lynda has been researching Spiritual Warfare for the last six years, and in these last days, she wants to make sure that God's people do not perish due to lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6)

As an avid science fiction fan and a lover of all things supernatural, author Lynda D. Brown’s supernatural thriller series, Invisible Enemies is creating quite a buzz in the independent publishing field. Book one, Invisible Enemies was published in 2010 and became an immediate hit in the authors local library, and when book two, Seed of Satan: Leah’s Story, Book Two of the Invisible Enemies Series, arrived in January 2012, all copies were immediately checked out by fans that eagerly waited over a year for the sequel.

Visit the Author: http://www.authorchat.info

 About the Book

 

Inspired by the Book of Job, Invisible Enemies reminds us that no matter what life throws our way, God is still in control! When God chooses Abby Harris as a pawn in his wager against Satan, poor Abby's life is turned upside down. Banned from her beloved church, Abby's hanging out with a new crew, drinking and getting high. When she runs into her sister's ex-boyfriend, they begin dating and soon she's pregnant and marries Randy Nelson. When the marriage turns sour, due to Randy's infidelities, Abby’s heart grows cold. By chance, she runs into a music producer who hears her singing, and overnight she becomes an R&B sensation. Abby plots to take her twins and leave her husband. When Randy finds out, he teams up with his ex, Candace, Abby's vengeful sister, to destroy her.

 

Book Trailers:

Invisible Enemies Book Trailer http://youtu.be/RCr7NnK9sTI-

Joey Pinkney http://youtu.be/qH9WmK0Vc4I-

Author Website:

http://www.spokenwordpress.info
http://www.authorchat.info

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Invisible-Enemies-Series/123744524306937

Purchase book:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Enemies-Lynda-D-Brown/dp/0615371698/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1335816601&sr=1-1

FaceBook:

Lynda Brown, author of INVISIBLE ENEMIES talks about the occult in her book http://tinyurl.com/7942quo

INVISIBLE ENEMIES author, Lynda Brown bestselling book available http://tinyurl.com/7942quo

 

Author Interview:  

5 Minutes, 5 Questions with… Lynda D. Brown, author of Invisible Enemies: Book One of the Invisible Enemies Series

By Joey Pinkney on December 15, 2011

Lynda D. Brown, author of Invisible Enemies Book One of the Invisible Enemies Series
(Spoken Word Press)

Invisible Enemies is a supernatural thriller that deals with the occult and religion. The story centers around two sisters, Candace and Abby Harris. Inspired by the Book of Job, Invisible Enemies reminds us that no matter what life throws our way, God is still in control!

When God chooses Abby Harris as a pawn in his wager against Satan, poor Abby’s life is turned upside down. Banned from her beloved church, Abby’s hanging out with a new crew, drinking and getting high. When she runs into her sister’s ex-boyfriend, they begin dating. Soon, she’s pregnant and marries Randy Nelson. When the marriage turns sour, due to Randy’s infidelities, Abby’s heart grows cold.

By chance, she runs into a music producer who overhears her singing, and overnight Abby becomes an R&B sensation! Financially set, Abby plots to take the twins and leave her husband. When Randy finds out, he teams up with his ex, Abby’s vengeful sister Candace, to destroy his wife.

Where did you get the inspiration to write Invisible Enemies Book One of the Invisible Enemies Series?

Lynda D. Brown: I was really into the whole New Age movement when it started in the ‘70’s. I started off innocently enough by reading my daily horoscope in the newspaper. That grew into an obsession with astrology.

By the time I was 25, I had a thriving side business creating horoscope charts for clients, doing tarot card readings, and clients booking me to do psychic parties. I had a nice size clientele.

In 2003, a co-worker overhead me talking about a reading I had conducted earlier that day, and she asked me if I realized I was practicing witchcraft. I scoffed at her and told her that I wasn’t practicing black magic, but white magic! The next day, this same co-worker bought me two books; He Came to Set the Captives Free by Rebecca Brown and Pigs in a Parlor, by Ida and Frank Hammond. Both books dealt with spiritual warfare, and showed me biblical text about the dangers of witchcraft and fortune-telling.

I grew up as a Christian and never heard about spiritual warfare in my Baptist church. When I finished the books, I immediately threw my cards away and promised God that I would share this new-found knowledge with others in the form of a fictional book series. That’s how Invisible Enemies was born.

What sets Invisible Enemies Book One of the Invisible Enemies Series apart from other books in the same genre?

LDB: My books have been described as either supernatural thriller or speculative fiction due to the angelic and demonic characters. Diversity is another factor with my series. I have African-Americans, Caucasians, Latinos, Wiccan’s and Lesbians as main characters. Fans of Christian fiction really like my work because it’s not often they read about a church secretary whose really a shape shifting demon that manifests during a church meeting!

As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Invisible Enemies Book One of the Invisible Enemies Series getting out to the public?

LDB: Social media! I have a Facebook Fan Page for Invisible Enemies. I have a Twitter account where I have automatic tweets set up to promote my books. I am involved with the writing groups on LinkedIn, where many first time authors or self published authors were experiencing difficulties promoting their books. With that need in mind, I started Author Chat, a blogtalkradio show, where I interview authors about their books. I also set up a sister website for authors to join, called http://www.authorchat.info.

As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Invisible Enemies Book One of the Invisible Enemies Series?

LDB: It took me about two years and eleven months to finish Invisible Enemies. I started out writing a couple of chapters a day, and then I’d go back and proofread what I had written. It really dragged out the process.

Luckily, I ran into a literary agent who told me to stop proofreading and just write the book. I took his advice and finished the book. The sequel, Seed of Satan: Leah’s Story, only took eight months to finish because I took the literary agent’s advice.

What’s next for Lynda D. Brown?

LDB: I’m currently working on book three of the series. My Author Chat radio show is currently booking authors for May-December 2012, and I’m also planning to publish a short story book under the Spoken Word Press label in 2012.

http://www.spokenwordpress.info
http://www.authorchat.info

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Invisible-Enemies-Series/123744524306937

Connect with Lynda

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/LyndaDBrown

Linked In.com: http://www.linkedin.com/in/lyndadbrown1

Blog:  http://lyndadorenebrown.blogspot.com/