Question of the Week

“How often do you read outside of the genre you write in?”

See ya in September when Question of the Week returns!

Signing Off,

Dominique

 

For my Fellow Writers and Authors!

Good Morning!

Today is the last blog for the POV Lounge. (There will be a question of the week on Wednesday)  I am not giving the blog up, simply going on a vacation and stepping away from the blog to refresh and come back better than ever. I want to let you all know that I will still receive comments if you decide to leave a comment or need to speak with me concerning any of your literary matters. I am  not leaving you high and dry If I receive a comment I will respond to you.

I am not taking any clients through Literary Career Moves until September.

I want to leave you with one last message before I officially get into my vacation mode. Many of us write for only two reasons: We have a passion for the craft or we have a story to tell. Whatever your reason is, always be true to yourself. Always believe in you before you look for others to believe in you. You should be your number one fan. There should not be any other person who loves what you do more than YOU! When the time comes that you need to take a break and step away, please do it. Don’t force yourself to do anything you have no motivation to do. Go find that motivation and then come back ready to rock and roll. One last lesson that I am teaching myself with my everyday walk is to not live in fear. Run towards the fear, not away and when you realize that your wildest dreams have the ability to come true because of your courage and strength, there’s not telling where life will take you!

Happy Writing. See you in September!

Signing Off,

Dominique

 

Question of the Week

“How do you think the process of becoming a successful author will change in the next ten years? What are some things you would like to stay the same?”

See ya next week for another question of the week!

Signing Off,

Dominique

 

Hot Topic Monday; The Off Season of Writing

 

Happy Monday!

Today I want to talk about the off season of writing. I do believe that we go through seasons in writing. I have written several articles about the seasons of writing and just like our seasons of winter, spring, summer and fall, it’s a cycle that we seem time and time again.

Sometimes we stay in a particular season just a little longer than the others. Just like we’ve stayed in winter a tad to long…I’m ready for some hot sunshine! I’m sure I’m not the only person to feel that way. But in writing we do have seasons.

The off season is one season that is in the cycle but doesn’t really have a time of year it will show up. It kinda comes out of no where. Many can call it writers block or you simply aren’t in the mood to write.

So today  want to know about your off season of writing. What do you do in the mean time? How do you get through it and when do you know the off season has shown its face?

SPEAK!

See ya next Monday for my last Hot Topic of the Month!

Signing off,

Dominique

 

AAMBC Blog Tours with Marcia Reid

Finally Reid: The Extraordinary Testimonies of an Ordinary Woman by Marcia Reid is the latest release by WheelMan Press. Finally Reid is about the  process of author Marcia Reid’s personal discovery through various  challenges that helped her grow along the way. It is the life story of a woman with humble beginnings as a little girl from the poor and rural  hills of the island of Jamaica, chronicling her struggles with epilepsy  as a young girl, with Attention Deficit Disorder as a student and the  pain of a child estranged from her father only to feel rejected later  when he finally appears. It also tells of a woman fulfilling her dream  of moving to New York, a dream that was temporarily spoiled by her  marriage to a dark, handsome waiter who hid from her his torrid affairs  and his involvement with illegal drug trafficking. Despite her  struggles, author Marcia Reid raised herself above it all, achieving an  Ivy League education and millions in assets, which she would later lose  in the real estate downturn. Her story is one of final redemption,  culminating in her finding and marrying the love of her life at the age  of 50 — as only an extraordinary, ordinary woman could do.

Marcia  Windross is a Director of Diversity and Inclusion at Interpublic Group  (IPG) where she plays an integral role in leading the company’s vision  to be the world’s most inclusive network of marketing services  companies. In her role as Director, she provides tailored Diversity and  Inclusion solutions and strategic direction to IPG corporate and network of agencies of approximately 40,000 employees globally.

Prior to  Interpublic Group, she was the Senior Director of Human Resources and a  member of the senior management team for Bowne Marketing and Business  Communications (BMBC), a division of Bowne Inc. Before joining Bowne,  Marcia was Vice President, Diversity Head of Citibank Commercial  Business Group, where she led the development and implementation of  diversity and inclusion strategies for Citigroup’s middle market  businesses. She joined Citigroup in 1999, as a Senior Recruiter at  Salomon Smith Barney and was promoted into a variety of HR roles.

Her prior professional experiences include Senior Human Resources Manager  at the Home Shopping Network in St. Petersburg, Florida and Human  Resources Manager at County Seat Stores, NY. She also spent many years  in the Travel and Leisure industry, including 13 years at Cunard Cruise  Line. Her career started at The Half Moon hotel in Montego Bay, Jamaica  before migrating to the United States. She was also an Adjunct Professor at the City University of New York, Borough of Manhattan Community  College.

She holds a Masters degree in Organizational Psychology  with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Columbia  University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from New York  University.

Marcia is a speaker, sponsor and mentor who believe in giving back to her community and being of service to others. She serves on Harlem YMCA, Black Achiever in Industry (BAI) Steering Committee and was selected as IPG’s 2013 National Black Achiever. She also serves on  several diversity councils (AAF Mosaic Diversity Council, AAAA Diversity Council and the RADE Diversity Council). She previously served as an  Advisory Board member for the NY Urban Financial Services Coalition  (UFSC) and sat on the Board of the Jamaica YMCA in Queens, where she  served as Chair for Board Development.

She is a staunch supporter  of her high school, Montego Bay High school, Jamaica W.I. and was  elected as President of the Montego Bay High School International  Alumnae Association (MBHSIAA). The goal of the organization is to  provide financial assistance to the school and provide scholarships for  needy students.

Marcia recently published her first book “Finally  Reid: The Extraordinary Testimonies of An Ordinary Woman.” She is an  active member of her church, Hope Cathedral, located in Jackson, NJ,  where she r

Interview with Marcia:

In writing this book, you are quite transparent … Putting your business out there? Why write a book like this? I made the decision to write this book as a seed was planted by one of  my professors at Borough of Manhattan Community College over 20 years  ago. He told me to write a book to share my challenges and  accomplishments to encourage others. It took me this long to believe in  myself and feel that I had accomplished enough to share my story with  others. I also recognized that one of my purposes here on earth is to  help others and expand the kingdom of God. Sharing my story “Finally  Reid” is to encourage others who have faced difficult situations.  Despite your circumstances and challenges, you can overcome and live a  purpose driven life. “Your latter days can be better than your former  days.”

How long did it take you to write the book? What was the process like?

Many years but it wasn’t until 2009 after an accident that I got really  serious. It was a difficult process as I had to relive some very painful periods in my life. At times, I had to stop and take a break for  several weeks, even months. Once I was able to get through those painful periods and write about them – it was like a healing process. Writing  this book helped me to heal, forgive others and myself.

Why the title “Finally Reid”?

Finally Reid is about the relationship with my father and recognizing that he  actually loved me. It’s about finding myself  and being liberated from  my ex-husband. It’s about recognizing the goodness of God and that he  was always taking care of me, even when I did not recognize it.

Despite your financial struggles. How did you manage to gain an Ivy League Education?

It’s really important to have a mentor or a professor that takes an interest in your future. In my case Professor Blake asked a question “What  next?” He advised me that since I was a bit mature for a college  student, it’s best to go to an Ivy League school. He also felt that with my grades? I would be able to get scholarships. He advised me that even if I had to take out school loans, an Ivy League education would  provide the means to repay. I took his advice and was able to get  scholarships. I received a full scholarship from NYU. I also took out  students loans.

Tell us about your invisible disability…ADD. How do you do all that you have done with this condition?

Living with ADD is a daily struggle but there are many brilliant people out  there with this condition. In fact, there are over 80 million Americans  who are living with ADD undiagnosed. If you do a Google search, you will see all the talented, brilliant and prestigious Americans who have or  had ADD. It wasn’t until 2007 that I got formally diagnosed and it took  me a while to share with others for fear of how others would judge me. I don’t take medication. Over the years, I have developed coping  strategies to manage effectively on a daily basis.

Despite all these challenge? What kept you going?

I was motivated by a few thing. Number 1 was my son. I wanted the best  for him. My Faith in God and believe it or not, some negative comments  from others. I was told that since my mother was a maid, I would not  amount to anything. I had to show them that they were wrong.

What next?

The goal of this book is to help others, share the goodness of God and sell enough books to help churches and nonprofit organizations and if my  book becomes a best seller… That would be an added bonus. A movie would  be great!! Anything is possible. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Find the author:

https://www.facebook.com/FinallyReid

http://www.finallyreid.com/

www.wheelmanpress.com

 

Question of the Week

“Are you a part time author or full time author? Why?”

See ya next week for another Question of the Week

Signing Off,

Dominique

 

Featuring Author Demetria Grissett

Book Title – “In Sickness and In Health: A Journalized Account of Coping With Multiple Myeloma”

Book Release Date: August 29, 2012

Book Synopsis: (My book synopsis would be the same as the ‘Blurp About the Book, correct? I sent that in yesterday’s email. Here it is again)

“In Sickness and In Health – A Journalized Account of Coping with Multiple Myeloma” lets you walk in the shoes of a young woman who was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, cancer of the plasma cells. During her treatment process, she kept a journalized account of her daily and weekly activities. This book shows how her faith was tested time and time again; not only in dealing with the cancer, but with many other life-changing situations that seemingly occurred all at the same time. You will see, as she had to learn, that you must trust God in sickness and in health.

Author Name: Demetria Alexander Grissett

Author Bio:

I am a Baltimore, Maryland native who has worked in the educational arena for the past twenty-six years.  I was employed as a Financial Aid Counselor for eighteen years and the remaining eight years, I have worked for the Public Schools of Robeson County (North Carolina) where I currently serve as the Career and Technical Education Coordinator.  Growing up, I have always loved to write, but had never thought to write a book.  I was lead to publish a book after being diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer of the plasma cells.  Keeping a journal was very therapeutic for me during my treatment process, while trying to cope with other life-altering situations all at the same time.  I desire to help motivate someone to never give up any goal you have in life.  I reside in Lumberton, North Carolina with my husband and two sons.

Author Website: www.deegrissett.com

Links to purchase book (harcover, paperback or ebook):

* www.amazon.com/author/demetriagrissett (Amazon website)

* http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-sickness-and-in-health-demetria-alexander-grissett/1112714635?ean=9781477263419 (Barnes and Noble website)

* http://www.booksamillion.com/search?id=5659867584635&query=demetria+alexander+grissett&where=book_author (Books A Million website)