Behind the Scenes: Adelle & Brandon: Friends for Life

Adelle & Brandon: Friends for Life is a short story about a young woman's hope that a long time friendship will grow into something more. In the meantime, she remains as a shoulder for him to cry on whenever he has a breakup.

Inspiration / Muse:
During a South Jersey Writers' Group meeting, a guest speaker talked about about the best way to write descriptions of the scene so the reader isn't bored. In response, I started writing the first half of this story the moment I arrived home.

Theme:
Friendship, love, and longing pretty much covers it.

Journey:
For two years after finishing the first part of the story, no additional scenes came to mind. I thought the story was complete until a dance performance with a similar beginning inspired the rest. Only then did I know the end of the story had arrived.

Meaning behind the cover:
The pinky-swear and Coney Island are involved in a major turning point in Adelle's and Brandon's lives--the day they promised to remain "Friends for Life" despite the fact that they'd be living in different cities. When the graphic artist asked me whether I wanted to use warm or cold colors on the cover, I had no idea how to respond. After a bit of research on the internet, I choose a rainbow of cold to warm colors from top to bottom to depict the progression of Adelle's friendship with Brandon. I'm very pleased that this cover has received many compliments.

Impact / Tribute:
I enjoy rereading Adelle and Brandon's story over and over. I've spoken to others who feel the same way. It's a sweet, feel good kind of story with a bonus short, a tribute to my dad, to wrap up the small book. I hope you enjoy it too.

The eight in the Behind the Scenes series is planned for June 20, 2020.

Behind the Scenes: Encouraging Through Sharing: A Christian's Perspective

Encouraging Through Sharing: A Christian's Perspective is a collection of poetry that delves into the heart and deep thoughts of a person of faith dealing with a variety of situations, whether good or not. This collection speaks of hope, desperation, joy, an aching heart, suffering, and perseverance.

Inspiration / Muse:
Some people mistakenly think that people of faith never get depressed, are hardly ever sad, or tend to think they are better than others. Although these types of people may exist, so do ones who struggle with insecurity, want to do what's right, and treat others with respect no matter what their beliefs. These poems open the door to a different view.

Theme:
What does this Christian do when dealing with what life throws at her? Answers to this type of question fill the pages. However, the main theme is that she kept focused on God and His willingness to help the downtrodden out of the dumps and into His wonderful light.

Journey:
The poems are an expression of a person who survived abuse, bullying, and rejection by fellow classmates in high school. Yet, the words point to a better future where thriving is possible. And even in the midst of struggle, a poem was written to encourage a friend to hang on.

Meaning behind the cover:
This cover was painted by the same college student who painted the covers for Real Purpose: You Are Special and Life Experienced. The golden glow among the clouds depicts a breaking through of hope from where rain once poured.

Impact / Tribute:
The words written in these pages encourage the reader to persevere no matter how bleak the circumstances.Even though I'm the one who wrote the poems in this collection, the words continue to inspire my heart as well, for which I am grateful.

 The seventh in the Behind the Scenes series is planned for June 6, 2020.

Behind the Scenes: Billiard Buddies

Billiard Buddies contains a love rectangle where the two main characters are avid billiard players and the female pool shark meets a guy who dared to challenge her on her turf. She had no intention of losing her game much less her heart to him.

Inspiration / Muse:
I played billiards in college and loved it. My dad, a bartender, had received two pool sticks from tourists visiting the island. The one he gave me is the one I describe in the book. I often competed with other players, all of whom were males. I remember how impressed they were that I had to screw the two halves of my stick together prior to the first game. I don't have my bedazzled pool stick anymore, but I found a way for it to live on in the minds of every reader.

Songs by Colbie Caillat in Coco influenced the overall mood of the story and even some of the plot. So much so, that even Gina, the female protagonist, depended on the contents of this album to get her through heartbreak and unrequited elation at newfound love. This love drama already has a Tailor Made soundtrack.

Theme:
This is a story about friendship, family, heartbreak, dreams, desire, respect, fun, and, of course, intense focus on a game where passions explode and the winner takes all.

Journey:
I wanted to write about a female pool shark, and Kindergarten teacher, Gina, fit the bill. She became the embodiment of the songs in the Coco album. However, Gina wasn't the only one to experience heartbreak. This book struggled through three rejections before landing a contract. After a few years, the publisher closed and returned the rights to me. I relaunched Billiard Buddies in 2019

Meaning behind the cover:
Well, no one should be surprised that the cover started with some kind a drama. First try: Not enough clothes. 😲 (I needed Oxygen) Second try: Guy looks like he was teaching the pool shark. Really? 😒 So, I searched for the picture with the help of a friend. You wouldn't believe how hard it was to find fully clothed people playing pool. Third try: Ahh. Finally. 😌 Not perfect, but it'll do.

Impact / Tribute:
This story has made many readers smile. Some have told me the descriptions of the games are spot on.  It also brought about some interesting reviews. This is a sweet contemporary romance, meaning nothing too steamy (just to be clear). I mistakenly thought the fully clothed characters on the cover would make that crystal. Um. Apparently not. 😂

Thanks, Dad, for giving me that bedazzled pool stick so many years ago. Like Gina, I lost an influential and devoted father from my life.

The sixth in the Behind the Scenes series is planned for May 16, 2020. 

Behind the Scenes: Life Experienced

Life Experienced is a collection of poetry depicting colorfully splashed moments of activity from life in the U.S. Virgin Islands to college in Chico, California, including daydreams, observations, and memories, some happy, others filled with sorrow or hope. Life is too short not to be experienced to the full every day.

Inspiration / Muse:
These poems were written during or after some experience snatched up an emotion and brought it to the surface. They span my life from middle school through college, a time when I did a lot of gut-felt meditation on who I was and what I wanted to be. Nature (of which humans are a part) affected me in many ways and that became apparent in the titles and stanzas of my poems.

Theme:
In one word? Experiences. I never wrote essays in a journal. I wrote poems to express what I thought and felt. I showed in words the things I saw, remembered, or longed for. They give hints to my valued friendships, my fears, and my prayers. I attempted to bring sounds to a blank page.

Journey:
No matter where I lived or what I went through, I kept God close. My choices always kept me moving from the few friends I made. However, those same choices took me away from those who bullied me. No matter what, I asked God to guide my steps (Psalms 119:105) and He has brought me through some unforgettable experiences. Poems are my memoir.

Meaning behind the cover:
The college student who painted the cover for Real Purpose: You are Special also painted the cover for Life Experienced. I wanted green as the main color to represent the life-giving essence that experiences can potentially bring. Flowing water means a lot me, so I am pleased that both water and trees ended up in the painting although I had not specifically requested it. The poems spoke on my behalf.

Impact / Tribute:
Although I've experienced many things since middle school, high school, and college, the words in this book brings back all the emotions of that time and place. I hope that this collection can encourage others to live their lives to the full as well.

The fifth in the Behind the Scenes series is planned for May 2, 2020.

Behind the Scenes: Love's Intensity

Love's Intensity delves into a love drama with many of the complications that come with having one's possible soul mate and family move into the same house as employees. Then, things get even crazier when their kids stumble upon a telepathic attraction.

Inspiration / Muse:
I am a teen at heart where love is continually coming alive and evolving into something more than when it began, constantly renewing itself. My interest in young adult stories and motion pictures paved the path to writing this Young Adult paranormal romance with tension, passion, and martial arts. (I grew up looking at Bruce Lee, so, yes, martial arts.) What I found interesting was that the biggest muse for this story was Christian music. What now? With keys of G and C, those songs fueled the love center of my brain. How in the world does that happen? I wish I knew. Although I enjoy experiments, science may not be able to figure this one out. Oh, and Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet left a huge impression on me, so there's elements of that story in Love's Intensity (hint: sword fighting).

Theme:
In a word, LOVE. Of old friends, of young friends, of parent to child, of child to parent, of young attraction. It affects how someone deals with grief and anger and sorrow. Love heals where indifference cannot and can be reborn in interestingly powerful ways.

Journey:
Starting out as a dream, this story took nine months to write, another nine to fix up for submission to yield a contract, and yet another nine to edit. But even after its release, this labor of love (no pun intended) required many more months of work before the print, which is coming soon, can be released. As for the characters? There's a bit of me in both Brad and Kressa, but characteristics of people I've known also found their way into Bradford and Nina, the soul mates, as well as the other characters, even the bullies, who scarred my high school experience. So it's no surprise there's negative drama for Kressa in that space. She had Brad. I had the intuition God gave me to make it to graduation day.


Meaning behind the cover:
Nine tries at a cover and a few hundred dollars later strained my sanity and my pocketbook. No one warns you about the challenges behind creating the right cover for a story. This cover was no doubt my biggest challenge (and I thought editing Love's Intensity was tough).

Impact / Tribute:
This story is a tribute to everything Shakespeare and my dad who often performed monologues with me after watching one of Shakespeare's plays on PBS. Those are precious and happy memories for me. Over the years, I've learned to be grateful for the ability to love and be loved. So, in your life's journey, remember two things. Live Life. Love Intensely.

The fourth in the Behind the Scenes series is planned for April 18, 2020. 

Behind the Scenes: Real Purpose: You are Special

Real Purpose: You Are Special is a collection of poetry born out of the determination to show that a person's real purpose is grounded in their existence. Each individual brings something special to this planet. Points of view and decisions made along this journey affects the outcome, but each one of us is loved and valued by our Creator.

Inspiration / Muse:
I spent much of my middle school, high school, and college years thinking. I thought about who I was and who I wanted to be. I mused over why I made certain choices. I studied the beauty around me and the reasons why I existed on planet Earth in this wonderfully vast universe. I'd listened to so many of my friends ask, "What's my purpose in this life?" My response, "What if our primary purpose was to love God and others while doing good on this planet, whatever that might be?"

Theme:
The collection contains statements, declarations, questions, and devotion. In no way do the poems directly answer the question of purpose, but they point to a path that leads to more questions and a guide book, The Bible. Interestingly enough, The Bible doesn't specifically answer the question of purpose. Instead, it points to something deeper--the value of the human soul. Love is woven throughout the pages.

Journey:
Although I grew up believing in a monotheistic God, I questioned everything. I still do. I made friends who practiced other religions or none at all. I still have friends whose lives and faith are vastly different than mine. Why? Because I believe God wants me to love Him and others (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18; Matthew 22:37-40), no matter the differences. This has been most challenging with others who fall under the umbrella of Christianity. It's why I hold on to Christ first and foremost. He was/is the only perfect human being and interacted with people who were considered societal/religious outcasts and showed them love.

Meaning behind the cover:
I met with a college student and read a few poems from the collection. Although North American born, she captured my Caribbean heritage with the gorgeous blue skies I grew up under. I like that it shows people just going about their daily routine. Nothing superstar and that's just fine.

Impact / Tribute:
I wrote all these poems before I graduated college, yet they are fill with a depth that surprises me now that I'm older. There's an innocence imbued with maturity that amazes me. People from youth to seniors have told me how much these poems have encouraged them.

So, whether you believe in God or not, I hope you can find inspiration and encouragement in the words I penned some time ago. Here's to you feeling loved and valued.

The third in the Behind the Scenes series is planned for April 4, 2020. 

Behind the Scenes: A Beautiful Girl

A Beautiful Girl is the story that almost didn't get written, yet it has inspired, nurtured, and restored the emotional well-being of many who have read its pages.

Inspiration / Muse:
I remember listening to The Story of Beauty by Destiny's Child, thinking it would make a meaningful story for those who have been abused. Never did the thought cross my mind at the time that I'd be the one writing this story. In fact, I didn't want to and fought the idea once it planted a seed in my mind.

I'd seen many movies about young women whose lives had been shattered by others they trusted, but the story usually ended with a downturn, leaving the viewer to wonder if the woman ever thrived in this new reality, post-abuse. I grew discouraged because I'd lived through, no, clawed through my own #metoo story, and I've graduated from just surviving to thriving on this planet.


Theme:
Once I'd decided to write the first word, I wanted the story to inspire others to keep striving until their lives represented what they wanted for themselves. I'm not just talking success: good job, decent friends, positive social etiquette. I'm referring to a deep sense of love for self, a looking at yourself in the mirror and saying, "I love you," to your reflection kind of thing. That might seem trivial, but for an abuse victim, it's the most challenging thing, to love your broken self so that healing can begin. The goal? A healthy self-esteem, not based on looks or the past, but on the internal beauty struggling to burst out of every pore, every word, and every task in order to develop strong characteristics. I wanted this book to inspire courage.

Journey:
Writing the words only took two months, but the emotions swirling through my heart and mind felt like a lifetime's worth. Every heartbreak, disappointment, and self-loathing I'd felt, bled over the pages. The process of expressing those hurts acted as a sort of therapy in addition to the ones I had undergone over the years. Since the manuscript was written from the end of October thru the end of December, I spent Thanksgiving at my in-laws' house and the travel time writing out some of the more disturbing scenes. I hadn't realized I was hugging myself until my husband spoke to me, asking if I was okay. I knew I was fine but Sara in the story wasn't. I'd slipped into her head for a moment and wanted to rescue her. I believe that was a foreshadowing of how others would be helped from reading about Sara, A Beautiful Girl.

Meaning behind the cover:
The cover on the book is the second try and the one I connected with. When I'd seen the girl on the original cover, she didn't match the girl in the story. I needed someone who seemed vulnerable with inner strength instead of someone who looked mean with well developed biceps. Although victims come with different features and from all walks of life, Sara had a certain persona I wanted to represent accurately.

Even the font and colors on the original cover caused me some angst. The t's were topped with carots, making the title look a bit too festive, and red and green reminded me of the holidays, not the painful journey Sara would live through in the story. The mostly neutral colors except for the red-checkered dress which contrasted with the girl's demeanor, and the broken font which represented Sara's broken spirit was the perfect match to this inspirational story.


Impact / Tribute:
To date, many people, women and men, older and younger, from different ethnicities, have read Sara's story. Some couldn't stop reading until the last page in one sitting. One expressed disappointment in having to disembark from a plane before she finished the next chapter. Another confessed that he hadn't dealt with being abused as a child and that he now knew he needed to deal with his dark past in order to have a brighter future. Teens who lacked self-esteem found it again after living Sara's story and reading about how she progressed through the story. A teen who hated reading said it was the first book she'd ever read all the way through and that she loved the story. A grandmother sought me out in a book event to tell me how the book helped her previously suicidal granddaughter get the help she needed.

The real-life stories go on and on. Over time, I realized that this was no ordinary book. It contained life-giving energy born out of love. I often tell people that God dictated the book and I merely wrote down the words. To date, I've not written any other book in just two months. Other than correcting typos, I've left the story with its original editing. A Beautiful Girl doesn't need to be perfect in everyone's eyes for its perfection comes from all the lives it inspires.

So, I dedicate this story to all the beautiful girls and boys. Don't ever give up on yourself. You are worth much more than you may realize. Peace and Love to you all.

The second in the Behind the Scenes series is planned for March 21, 2020.