Wanted to drop you guys a line to let you know that my short piece "Uma" was selected by Zane to be in the upcoming Purple Panties: The Eroticanoir Collection anthology.
Just when I thought it was a no go too. I'd encourage any fellow authors to submit, submit, submit. Competition is good for the soul and validates your writing, or it does for me in my mind.
ALSO, heard from Kensington Books (Satisfy Me/Satisfy Me Again) and I have been asked to be part of another novella collection. Guess we are meeting the advances. LOL. Satisfy Me Again will drop in either December or January and I'm guessing the next novella collection will be at least a year in the distance.
I'm also getting good feedback on Payback, Inc., my work in progress which is slowly consuming my mind. Who knew I could be as devious as I'm becoming **wicked laugh**. As always, Payback is still posted on the myspace blog, www.myspace. com/sydneymolare (Click on the blog link) as well as being graciously hosted by my author soulmate, Sylvia Hubbard at www.sylviahubbard. blogspot. com.
That's it. Smooches and remember, I'd love to have you join me on my Global Blog Tour! Just drop me a line.
Peace out,
PS: For this impromptu celebration, if you bring the champagne, cognac, wine, MD2020, Boone Farm or a 40...I've got the cups
Syd
Sydney Molare' Books...Fiction that satisfies the soul...
Website * Blog * YahooGroup * MySpace* Radio
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
Kim Robinson- family dedication
Dedication from the Roux in the Gumbo
Watching the shell that remains of my maternal Grandmother, devoid of her vibrant life, her encouraging smiles and constant conversation was the final factor in my decision to vote with the rest of the family to let her expire. We could not allow her to continue to endure so much pain.
Throughout her entire life this woman took good care of any and everyone who came into her world. It just does not seem fair. Then again, how often was fair a factor for black people?
Anyone who had ever been in the company of her spirit would know that she would not want to exist this way–her body twisted from multiple strokes, her limbs failing, and the cancer eating away at her spine. This was more than any soul should have to bear. To starve her to death seemed so cruel, yet it was the only legal way to let her pass on. The fate of someone who had fed half of Los Angeles was to starve to death.
Helen, whom everyone called ‘Mother,’ would feed anyone who was hungry. She always said, “Anything I give, God will make sure I get back tenfold.” You had to know her to understand her way of thinking. Maybe this book will help to clarify and glorify a woman who is certainly an angel in heaven. When she died, she left seven children, twenty-four grandchildren, and thirty-eight greatgrandchildren.
Mother was the kind of woman that no matter what you did she is “gonna” still love you unconditionally. Don’t get it twisted now, she would be the first to tell you when you did wrong, but still be there for you.
Anyone could knock on Mother’s door or come into her café, and say they were hungry and she would feed them. If you needed clothes, she would take you to her second-hand store and clothe you. Many people took advantage of this, but she knew exactly what was going on. More often than not, when these people got on their feet, they always came back to repay her. Some said they could never do enough for her. Her good deeds were often the catalyst in helping them get their lives together.
Mother always said, “Folks is folks. There are good white folks and good black folks. There are bad white folks and bad black folks, She also said, “Every person’s life is like a pot of gumbo, you get out what you put in.
Gumbo is a very popular Louisiana dish, a kind of soup. There must be a million variations on how to make it. Every person who makes it thinks theirs is better than the next. I have seen people arguing over what is the best way to make this dish. Just like life, everyone has some input on what would make the next person’s life better. Some people want more sausage, more shrimp or no shrimp. Some want crab or oysters. Some prefer more spice, more
file’(feelay). One thing they all have in common is a Roux (Roo).
Roux is the gravy base and the foundation of this dish. It gives the soup its flavor and is what makes you get that second bowl.
Everyone has a Roux in his or her life. Someone who influenced every step they took, and in some way gave their life direction.
Mother was my Roux.
In order to see into this incredible woman, you have to know what came before and what came after. That is where we are going in this book. Let’s go, it is going to be an adventure.
Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler
Let the good times roll!
http://therouxinthegumbo.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/therouxinthegumbo http://www.kim-robinson.com/
http://www.jadorepublishing.com/ http://us.f501.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=Kim@kim-robinson.com http://us.f501.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=kimscrew@yahoogroups.com
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler with Kim Robinson this week!
CAN YOU SMELL WHAT KIM ROBINSON IS COOKING? It's gumbo!
Good People, we are welcoming Kim Robinson, author of The Roux in the Gumbo, a fascinating book chronicling her family. Sit back and enjoy a taste of Kim and her family gumbo! ~Syd
Hello everyone:
I want to thank Sydney for being so gracious and inviting me to swap blogs. Please stop in at my blog and myspace and check her out. http://therouxinthegumbo.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/therouxinthegumbo
With the winter months coming, everyone needs to put something warm on their stomach. I am going to share a famous recipe that has been in my family for over 200 years. This recipe kept my grandmother’s restaurant busy, and the Hollywood studios used to cater it in. They say it has healing in it.
I am also going to share a little history about Gumbo and a little poetry.
So get out your biggest stock pot and let’s start cooking. I also prepare my gumbo at book club events. You buy the food and lets get cozy in the kitchen and while you watch me put my foot in it, you can ask me questions about my book, “The Roux in the Gumbo,” which is my family history, or my cookbooks, Food for the Soul and Sweet Satisfaction which features two hundred authors.
I will also give you some juicy excerpts from my upcoming book Street life to Housewife, my life story about how I came to share my testimony in churches across the country. Find out how a drug dealer, addict, madam and call girl washed her sins away.
Use a large stockpot. Fill half way with water and set on high to boil. You
can divide ingredients into 2 or 3 smaller pots. I prefer this method, because it
takes a while to get the water to boil. It will also decrease the chance of your
Gumbo sticking to the bottom. There is nothing worse than a burnt pot of
Gumbo. “Chile just thinking about it makes me want to cry, Gumbo is
something that every time it’s made it just gets better as you add or take away
ingredients to tailor to your taste, much like a fine suit of clothes. Other
variations have bell pepper, tomato puree, oysters, crawfish, rabbit, turkey or
chicken, parsley, green onion and garlic. I could fill this book up with various
ways to prepare this dish. Do not be afraid to experiment.
Good People, we are welcoming Kim Robinson, author of The Roux in the Gumbo, a fascinating book chronicling her family. Sit back and enjoy a taste of Kim and her family gumbo! ~Syd
Hello everyone:
I want to thank Sydney for being so gracious and inviting me to swap blogs. Please stop in at my blog and myspace and check her out. http://therouxinthegumbo.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/therouxinthegumbo
With the winter months coming, everyone needs to put something warm on their stomach. I am going to share a famous recipe that has been in my family for over 200 years. This recipe kept my grandmother’s restaurant busy, and the Hollywood studios used to cater it in. They say it has healing in it.
I am also going to share a little history about Gumbo and a little poetry.
So get out your biggest stock pot and let’s start cooking. I also prepare my gumbo at book club events. You buy the food and lets get cozy in the kitchen and while you watch me put my foot in it, you can ask me questions about my book, “The Roux in the Gumbo,” which is my family history, or my cookbooks, Food for the Soul and Sweet Satisfaction which features two hundred authors.
I will also give you some juicy excerpts from my upcoming book Street life to Housewife, my life story about how I came to share my testimony in churches across the country. Find out how a drug dealer, addict, madam and call girl washed her sins away.
Life Is What You Make It
To be a woman around times of slavery
You are subject to many acts that are unsavory.
In order to be able to keep your head up
through the depravity
You have to command from your soul
a certain kind of bravery.
The only true freedom that you have
no one can enslave
With your brain you fight back,
even if outwardly you behave.
For the people who keep you back and bound in chains
You pray to God that one day they will know this pain.
They can put chains on your arms, your legs,
and even your behind
But the thing that can’t be restrained is your mind.
Keep the curtains drawn on the windows of your soul, your eyes
Don’t let them see the strength that is inside,
your pride.
Say your prayers every day; hold on to your faith
Just in case, the after life is the place,
The place where you get your taste
Of the good life that our oppressors don’t appreciate
But with some hustle and creativity
you might not have to wait
And the days and nights in this life
don’t have to go to waste.
Life is not how you take it
Don’t spend all your time looking for answers
Your life is what you make it.
You are subject to many acts that are unsavory.
In order to be able to keep your head up
through the depravity
You have to command from your soul
a certain kind of bravery.
The only true freedom that you have
no one can enslave
With your brain you fight back,
even if outwardly you behave.
For the people who keep you back and bound in chains
You pray to God that one day they will know this pain.
They can put chains on your arms, your legs,
and even your behind
But the thing that can’t be restrained is your mind.
Keep the curtains drawn on the windows of your soul, your eyes
Don’t let them see the strength that is inside,
your pride.
Say your prayers every day; hold on to your faith
Just in case, the after life is the place,
The place where you get your taste
Of the good life that our oppressors don’t appreciate
But with some hustle and creativity
you might not have to wait
And the days and nights in this life
don’t have to go to waste.
Life is not how you take it
Don’t spend all your time looking for answers
Your life is what you make it.
MY FAMILY’S GUMBO
3 lbs. snow crab, cleaned and washed
15 chicken wings, cleaned and washed
1 lb. chicken gizzards, chopped fine
4 lbs. diced smoked sausage (Hillshire Farms).
Fry lightly to remove some fat
3 lbs large shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 packs dried shrimp
2 lbs. baby shrimp
4 stalks of cleaned and diced celery
3 diced onions
3 packs of onion soup mix
2 cans of okra; preferably “Trappeys” brand. Drain off liquid and fry in ¼
cup of oil. This removes the slime
gumbo file’ (ground sassafras leaves)
seasoning salt
black pepper
celery salt
prepared rice
Roux:
1 cup of vegetable oil
1 cup of flour
3 lbs. snow crab, cleaned and washed
15 chicken wings, cleaned and washed
1 lb. chicken gizzards, chopped fine
4 lbs. diced smoked sausage (Hillshire Farms).
Fry lightly to remove some fat
3 lbs large shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 packs dried shrimp
2 lbs. baby shrimp
4 stalks of cleaned and diced celery
3 diced onions
3 packs of onion soup mix
2 cans of okra; preferably “Trappeys” brand. Drain off liquid and fry in ¼
cup of oil. This removes the slime
gumbo file’ (ground sassafras leaves)
seasoning salt
black pepper
celery salt
prepared rice
Roux:
1 cup of vegetable oil
1 cup of flour
If you prefer a thicker soup, add more flour. Heat the oil over medium
heat. Sprinkle flour over grease while constantly stirring, so as not to scorch,
based on your preference. I prefer a nut brown or caramel color. Some people like a darker roux. You can always taste as you go along. Set aside.
heat. Sprinkle flour over grease while constantly stirring, so as not to scorch,
based on your preference. I prefer a nut brown or caramel color. Some people like a darker roux. You can always taste as you go along. Set aside.
Gumbo
Use a large stockpot. Fill half way with water and set on high to boil. You
can divide ingredients into 2 or 3 smaller pots. I prefer this method, because it
takes a while to get the water to boil. It will also decrease the chance of your
Gumbo sticking to the bottom. There is nothing worse than a burnt pot of
Gumbo. “Chile just thinking about it makes me want to cry, Gumbo is
something that every time it’s made it just gets better as you add or take away
ingredients to tailor to your taste, much like a fine suit of clothes. Other
variations have bell pepper, tomato puree, oysters, crawfish, rabbit, turkey or
chicken, parsley, green onion and garlic. I could fill this book up with various
ways to prepare this dish. Do not be afraid to experiment.
Add gizzards, onion, celery, onion soup mix, dried shrimp and sausage.
When it reaches a rapid boil, reduce flame to low and cook for an additional 20 minutes. Add Roux and stir. Add chicken, crab legs, okra, black pepper, seasoning and celery salt. Be very careful with celery salt, it can overpower the other flavors. Add 1 teaspoon to entire pot. You can always go back and add more. Boil for 35 to 40 minutes. Add shrimp and boil 5 minutes more. Remove from heat add 1 teaspoon of gumbo file to each pot.
Serve in a bowl over rice.
Sprinkle file’ to taste. Do not be afraid to get your fingers dirty. Also, do
not forget to suck the gravy out of the crab legs before you open them up.
not forget to suck the gravy out of the crab legs before you open them up.
Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler
Let the good times roll!
http://therouxinthegumbo.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/therouxinthegumbo http://www.kim-robinson.com/
http://www.jadorepublishing.com/ http://us.f501.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=Kim@kim-robinson.com http://us.f501.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=kimscrew@yahoogroups.com
Let the good times roll!
http://therouxinthegumbo.blogspot.com/
http://www.myspace.com/therouxinthegumbo http://www.kim-robinson.com/
http://www.jadorepublishing.com/ http://us.f501.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=Kim@kim-robinson.com http://us.f501.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=kimscrew@yahoogroups.com
Friday, October 19, 2007
Tamara Grant's Last Stand....
for this tour anyway...LOL. Syd
**********************************
I sincerely hope that you enjoy the story that I have crafted for you. You've had a chance to meet me and get to know some of the characters in Promises Made, Promises Kept. The book takes you on the journey of a family that could be yours, mine, or the next door neighbor.
The characters experience love, heartache, and the need to make decisions that will affect not only themselves, but the family as a whole. Readers will definitely be transported back to their teen years with Mia to experience first love, friends, family, and that familiar feeling of being too young to be grown, but to old to be a kid.
Promises Made, Promises Kept guarantees to bring you a well crafted story that can be related to by all. The story is meant to be a catalyst for conversation between mom and their teens. As an author, I promise to bring you stories that have real 3-D characters that experience some issues that we may not want to talk about. I have to. It's my duty. I would be doing you a disservice if I didn't challenge you or hold that mirror up to our society and what's really going on!
So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and get your copy of Promises Made, Promises Kept today! And please don't hesitate to visit http://www.tamargrant.com/ and leave me a message to let me know what you think. I always answer my emails!
Tamara Promises Made, Promises Kept
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Aunt Lena has PLENTY to say...
Aunt Lena
Family has always been important to me. There is no way that I would ever turn my back on my family. So I knew what I had to do when my sister was not in her right mind to care for my niece. I love Mia as if she was my own. She and my son were raised like brother and sister instead of cousins. It's hard enough to be a single mother raising a son, and now added to the mix is me taking care of my niece while my twin sister, Patrice gets herself together.Really, Mia's father should be here taking responsibility for his own child. But you can't squeeze water from a rock. I wonder what he was thinking leaving the way he did? This child needs him desperately. Don't get me wrong, Mia's a good girl, but kids nowadays have a big chance of making that turn down the wrong road. That's why I keep my own son, Mookie so close to me. I know what happens when these young kids mess around in these streets.Mia can stay as long as she has to. My home is always open. I'm just praying everyday that my sister understands that there is a good reason for her to take the medication that her doctor prescribed for her. She needs to be stable enough to be a parent to her child since Mia's father is obviously not going to step up to the plate. I just pray for the strength to raise these two kids to do their best and be positive and productive. I know things can get crazy and it's no joke out in these streets. If my job in the family is to be the peace maker, then so be it. I know I just have to make things work out for the best.
Promises Made, Promises Kept
http://www.tamaragrant.com/www.myspace.com/maraangel
Available on sale at http://www.tamaragrant.com/http://www.amazon.com/
Family has always been important to me. There is no way that I would ever turn my back on my family. So I knew what I had to do when my sister was not in her right mind to care for my niece. I love Mia as if she was my own. She and my son were raised like brother and sister instead of cousins. It's hard enough to be a single mother raising a son, and now added to the mix is me taking care of my niece while my twin sister, Patrice gets herself together.Really, Mia's father should be here taking responsibility for his own child. But you can't squeeze water from a rock. I wonder what he was thinking leaving the way he did? This child needs him desperately. Don't get me wrong, Mia's a good girl, but kids nowadays have a big chance of making that turn down the wrong road. That's why I keep my own son, Mookie so close to me. I know what happens when these young kids mess around in these streets.Mia can stay as long as she has to. My home is always open. I'm just praying everyday that my sister understands that there is a good reason for her to take the medication that her doctor prescribed for her. She needs to be stable enough to be a parent to her child since Mia's father is obviously not going to step up to the plate. I just pray for the strength to raise these two kids to do their best and be positive and productive. I know things can get crazy and it's no joke out in these streets. If my job in the family is to be the peace maker, then so be it. I know I just have to make things work out for the best.
Promises Made, Promises Kept
http://www.tamaragrant.com/www.myspace.com/maraangel
Available on sale at http://www.tamaragrant.com/http://www.amazon.com/
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Cliff...I'll never understand a man's logic
Cliff
What kind of man just walks out on his family? I guess I never knew that man could be me. I was suffocating and there was no way that I could achieve my goals if I continued to live under the same roof as Patrice. I love that woman. I love my daughter. There is only so much that one man can take though. The threats, the abuse, the yelling and screaming. It wasn't what I envisioned when I dreamt of that happy home that we all want.Patrice and I have been together since high school. She was what I saw in my future. There was no one else. There was just no way to make her understand that. You just can't rationalize with her. She gets into these rages and then all hell breaks loose. One minute she's this sweet, loving woman. The next, she's attacking me violently and accusing me of things I didn't do. We're supposed to take the Bar Exam soon. How are we supposed to concentrate on accomplishing all that we planned if I can't be in the same room as you half of the time?Don't get me wrong, I would never put my hands on a woman- EVER! But Patrice drives me to that point where I want to hurt her. That's when I knew that it was time to go. I won't be gone for long though. Right now, I have to clear my head and get on point to pass this exam. I- I mean, we had a goal of becoming lawyers and I intend on making that happen so that I can provide for my daughter. My child is the best thing that ever happened to me. And to be honest, I thought that motherhood would make Patrice mellow out, but I was wrong. So I've made my decision to go stay with my mom and get on my feet. I know that I have to still provide for my family even if I'm not there, so I'm committed to doing that. I just hope that my daughter can understand the type of sacrifice that I'm making here and that there will be no ill feelings between us. I promised that I would be back for her, and I always keep my promises.
Promises Made, Promises Kept
http://www.tamaragrant.com/, www.myspace.com/maraangel Available for sale at www.tamaragrant.com and amazon.com
Check out my novel "Promises Made, Promises Kept"! ISBN 0-931761-33-6 http://www.tamaragrant.com/
Or leave a comment for me on www.myspace.com/maraangel
Tamara Angela Grant
What kind of man just walks out on his family? I guess I never knew that man could be me. I was suffocating and there was no way that I could achieve my goals if I continued to live under the same roof as Patrice. I love that woman. I love my daughter. There is only so much that one man can take though. The threats, the abuse, the yelling and screaming. It wasn't what I envisioned when I dreamt of that happy home that we all want.Patrice and I have been together since high school. She was what I saw in my future. There was no one else. There was just no way to make her understand that. You just can't rationalize with her. She gets into these rages and then all hell breaks loose. One minute she's this sweet, loving woman. The next, she's attacking me violently and accusing me of things I didn't do. We're supposed to take the Bar Exam soon. How are we supposed to concentrate on accomplishing all that we planned if I can't be in the same room as you half of the time?Don't get me wrong, I would never put my hands on a woman- EVER! But Patrice drives me to that point where I want to hurt her. That's when I knew that it was time to go. I won't be gone for long though. Right now, I have to clear my head and get on point to pass this exam. I- I mean, we had a goal of becoming lawyers and I intend on making that happen so that I can provide for my daughter. My child is the best thing that ever happened to me. And to be honest, I thought that motherhood would make Patrice mellow out, but I was wrong. So I've made my decision to go stay with my mom and get on my feet. I know that I have to still provide for my family even if I'm not there, so I'm committed to doing that. I just hope that my daughter can understand the type of sacrifice that I'm making here and that there will be no ill feelings between us. I promised that I would be back for her, and I always keep my promises.
Promises Made, Promises Kept
http://www.tamaragrant.com/, www.myspace.com/maraangel Available for sale at www.tamaragrant.com and amazon.com
Check out my novel "Promises Made, Promises Kept"! ISBN 0-931761-33-6 http://www.tamaragrant.com/
Or leave a comment for me on www.myspace.com/maraangel
Tamara Angela Grant
Monday, October 15, 2007
Mia sets things straight...
Mia
Life is so unpredictable. Here I am trying to pick up the pieces of my family when I'm supposed to only be worried about things that teens worry about. You know things like what boy I like or what I'm going to wear to school tomorrow so I can look real fly. But no, I have to figure out how my otherwise normal life went into a tailspin.
You could say that it started when my dad walked out. No goodbyes. No "I'll see you later." He just didn't come back home. No warnings. No closure.Living in a two parent home wasn't all it was cracked up to be, but come on, who doesn't want that? Sure my parents were always at each other's throats and they were arguing all of the time. I wonder if they ever knew that I was listening in when they argued? There was a lot of love in my home too, but I guess it wasn't enough to keep my dad at home with us.
So now I'm pissed 'cause my dad rolled out on us. he could have let me know about how my mom flips out though. I heard my aunt, who is her twin sister, say something about her needing to take the medication that she is prescribed. Maybe that's why he left. Shit, I really don't know what's going on anymore. All I know is that I prefer to chill at my aunt's house where shit ain't so crazy. I get a little piece of mind there. I love both of my parents, but I'm too young to have to deal with their mess.My dad breezes back through and promises that he's going to be back for me. Thanks, but no thanks. I think I'll be just fine without you here.
My mom promises that she will get herself together and be a better parent. But that's in between puffs of weed and when she doesn't have some random man coming in and out of our house.Really, I don't believe either one of them. I'm just glad that I have my aunt and my cousin here with me to have my back!
There's been so much going on in my life already at 16 years old, what else could possibly happen next?
Promises Made, Promises Kept
http://www.tamaragrant.com/www.myspace.com/maraangel
Available for sale at http://www.tamaragrant.com/ and amazon.com
Life is so unpredictable. Here I am trying to pick up the pieces of my family when I'm supposed to only be worried about things that teens worry about. You know things like what boy I like or what I'm going to wear to school tomorrow so I can look real fly. But no, I have to figure out how my otherwise normal life went into a tailspin.
You could say that it started when my dad walked out. No goodbyes. No "I'll see you later." He just didn't come back home. No warnings. No closure.Living in a two parent home wasn't all it was cracked up to be, but come on, who doesn't want that? Sure my parents were always at each other's throats and they were arguing all of the time. I wonder if they ever knew that I was listening in when they argued? There was a lot of love in my home too, but I guess it wasn't enough to keep my dad at home with us.
So now I'm pissed 'cause my dad rolled out on us. he could have let me know about how my mom flips out though. I heard my aunt, who is her twin sister, say something about her needing to take the medication that she is prescribed. Maybe that's why he left. Shit, I really don't know what's going on anymore. All I know is that I prefer to chill at my aunt's house where shit ain't so crazy. I get a little piece of mind there. I love both of my parents, but I'm too young to have to deal with their mess.My dad breezes back through and promises that he's going to be back for me. Thanks, but no thanks. I think I'll be just fine without you here.
My mom promises that she will get herself together and be a better parent. But that's in between puffs of weed and when she doesn't have some random man coming in and out of our house.Really, I don't believe either one of them. I'm just glad that I have my aunt and my cousin here with me to have my back!
There's been so much going on in my life already at 16 years old, what else could possibly happen next?
Promises Made, Promises Kept
http://www.tamaragrant.com/www.myspace.com/maraangel
Available for sale at http://www.tamaragrant.com/ and amazon.com
Tamara Grant guest blogging this week...
People ask me when did I know that I wanted to write. My answer- when I learned to read.
Writing is not a hobby to me, it's my passion. I'm an avid reader, so I love to get caught up in the worlds that other authors create for me to enjoy. There is nothing better than picking up a book and time stopping as you say to yourself, "I just have to know what happens next!" You're flipping through the pages, about to burst because you have to know what the character is going to do next. Now as a writer, I can bring people into my world, into my realm of thought and hook them the same way that my favorite authors do for me. Writing is a beautiful thing. It allows me to not only express myself, but to be therapeutic for my readers as well.
People are reading my work and saying, "I've felt the way that Mia did when I was that age," when they talk to me about my debut Promises Made, Promises Kept. They have come to me and talked about my characters as if they were as real as you and I. It always makes me smile, because that's the way I feel when I read the authors that I like. My characters will always be people with real problems and feelings. I'm intrigued with the way that people react and interact with each other. The characters in my books will not always make the right decisions and things will not always end happily ever after. They will be in conflict with each other and themselves. They will be hooked on drugs, promiscuous, walk out on their spouses and families. I promise, if you don't find yourself in my characters, you will find someone that you know. My characters are not necessarily based on real people, but they are based on real emotions that we all will feel or have felt before. That's why you will be able to connect and cheer for them!
Writing is not a hobby to me, it's my passion. I'm an avid reader, so I love to get caught up in the worlds that other authors create for me to enjoy. There is nothing better than picking up a book and time stopping as you say to yourself, "I just have to know what happens next!" You're flipping through the pages, about to burst because you have to know what the character is going to do next. Now as a writer, I can bring people into my world, into my realm of thought and hook them the same way that my favorite authors do for me. Writing is a beautiful thing. It allows me to not only express myself, but to be therapeutic for my readers as well.
People are reading my work and saying, "I've felt the way that Mia did when I was that age," when they talk to me about my debut Promises Made, Promises Kept. They have come to me and talked about my characters as if they were as real as you and I. It always makes me smile, because that's the way I feel when I read the authors that I like. My characters will always be people with real problems and feelings. I'm intrigued with the way that people react and interact with each other. The characters in my books will not always make the right decisions and things will not always end happily ever after. They will be in conflict with each other and themselves. They will be hooked on drugs, promiscuous, walk out on their spouses and families. I promise, if you don't find yourself in my characters, you will find someone that you know. My characters are not necessarily based on real people, but they are based on real emotions that we all will feel or have felt before. That's why you will be able to connect and cheer for them!
Promises Made, Promises Kept is the first of many books to come. There are plenty of stories floating around in my head. I hope that the literary world is ready! So sit back with your hot cocoa or your steaming cup of tea and get ready and grab one of my books! Tamara Angela Grant has much more on the way and I'm here to stay!
Check out my novel "Promises Made, Promises Kept"! ISBN 0-931761-33-6
http://www.tamaragrant.com/
Or leave a comment for me on www.myspace.com/maraangel
Tamara Angela Grant
Check out my novel "Promises Made, Promises Kept"! ISBN 0-931761-33-6
http://www.tamaragrant.com/
Or leave a comment for me on www.myspace.com/maraangel
Tamara Angela Grant
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Tamara Grant will be the guest blogger this week!
Tamara Grant, author of Promises Made, Promises Kept will be the guest blogger this week! So sit back and enjoy what she had to say. You might find your next "must have" read!
Syd
Syd
Bamboozled?
A cousin of mine recently accused me of writing about our family in my short story collection, Somewhere In America. This surprised me. Yes, my book is about the outlandish things humans do, but is it primarily about my family? No, indeed!
Anyone that knows me knows I believe in F-A-M-I-L-Y. And to break the family code and spread our business to the massess...uh uh. Ain't gonna happen.
Honestly, when I was writing Somewhere In America, I was venting. I was trying to deal with a difficult situation and letting my fingers exude my stress positively. At no time did I want to spotlight my family issues in print. And let's be honest here. Foolishness is universal.
Like my back cover says..."You'll see your family, your friends, your spouse...you might even see yourself!"
Guess she saw herself, huh?
Peace out.
Sydney
http://www.sydneymolare.com/
Anyone that knows me knows I believe in F-A-M-I-L-Y. And to break the family code and spread our business to the massess...uh uh. Ain't gonna happen.
Honestly, when I was writing Somewhere In America, I was venting. I was trying to deal with a difficult situation and letting my fingers exude my stress positively. At no time did I want to spotlight my family issues in print. And let's be honest here. Foolishness is universal.
Like my back cover says..."You'll see your family, your friends, your spouse...you might even see yourself!"
Guess she saw herself, huh?
Peace out.
Sydney
http://www.sydneymolare.com/
Friday, October 12, 2007
Love...Redux
I originally posted this over at my friend Minnie Miller's blog:http://msprissy-dreamweaver.blogspot.com/ but after yesterday and the ridiculous comic book sex references, I was stressed and needed to read this again. I also wanted my fans to also read what I had to say BUT there is more, much more I had to say in my visit with Ms. Minnie. You'll just have to travel over to Ms. Minnie's blog to read it for yourself though. LOL.Syd*************
LOVE!Something that everyone desires to have tons of. It's amazing how the routine thought process is that love is a "woman's" thing. Not true. Hide behind the gruff exterior, clamp down on your emotions, but men love L-O-V-E as much as any woman.
But how do we view love? Do we have a healthy view? Respect, everyone feels they are getting what they deserve out of the relationship? Or is it toxic? Let's just say things are...lacking, for whatever reason in whatever area.
A few years ago, my agent submitted a romantica novella I'd written to various publishing houses. I'll never forget the comment one company, I think it was Avon books, gave me: Great imaginative writing, just not "romantic" enough.
Now my friends (i.e. local critic group) thought the piece was a killer. The sex was sizzling, the situations over the top...A WINNER. Then, I'm told it wasn't romantic enough.An eye-opener indeed.Made me rethink my whole love viewpoint. Made me rethink the focus of my "romantica."
See, in my writing experience, toxic love sells, especially in the AA community. Sad but true, but I'm finding that the more one-night-stands, infidelity, and degrading sex/toxic love you can put on a page, the faster the check arrives in the mail. That had to change. I've made a commitment to my writing fans that sex will either be paranormal (ghosts) or within the confines of marriage.
Unrealistic?
Not really. I was reared in a two-parent household and my parents were married 44 years until my mother’s death this year, so out of all the people in the world why wouldn't I believe in deep, committed love?I do and I plan to stay true to my True to Life Colors.
Syd
Sydney Molare' Books...Fiction that satisfies the soul...
Do you MySpace? http://www.myspace.com/sydneymolare; http://blog.myspace.com/sydneymolare
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Sex has gone down the tubes...
I am rarely surprised at human nature, but this tidbit I just learned has floored me. Have any of you heard of the terms: Supermanning or Spidermanning?
Now, I was just like you. What is this comic book stuff about now and what does it have to do with sex? Well, it's NOT good.
First of all these terms apparently are from a song by Soulja Boy entitled "Crank That" who, amazingly has the #1 song this week on all the charts--R&B and Pop according to Yahoo.
Here are the ugly details:
Supermanning- When a woman turns you down for sex, the man waits until she is asleep, then comes on her back. He then pushes/shoves the sheets onto her back covering the come. It dries and when she wakes up, the sheets are stuck to her...like a cape. Ridiculous.
Spidermanning- You're having sex in the "doggie style" position, when the man climaxes, he captures his come in his hand and spits on the woman' s back so she will think he has ejaculated there. When she turns around, he slaps her in the face with a hand full of semen.
Are you as pissed as I am right now?
Why are people so interested in toxic love? Why is this degradation so "embraced" by the younger people? I can't imagine either of the above scenarios.
**Let me calm down, my blood pressure is rising...**
Give me your thoughts..
Syd
Now, I was just like you. What is this comic book stuff about now and what does it have to do with sex? Well, it's NOT good.
First of all these terms apparently are from a song by Soulja Boy entitled "Crank That" who, amazingly has the #1 song this week on all the charts--R&B and Pop according to Yahoo.
Here are the ugly details:
Supermanning- When a woman turns you down for sex, the man waits until she is asleep, then comes on her back. He then pushes/shoves the sheets onto her back covering the come. It dries and when she wakes up, the sheets are stuck to her...like a cape. Ridiculous.
Spidermanning- You're having sex in the "doggie style" position, when the man climaxes, he captures his come in his hand and spits on the woman' s back so she will think he has ejaculated there. When she turns around, he slaps her in the face with a hand full of semen.
Are you as pissed as I am right now?
Why are people so interested in toxic love? Why is this degradation so "embraced" by the younger people? I can't imagine either of the above scenarios.
**Let me calm down, my blood pressure is rising...**
Give me your thoughts..
Syd
Monday, October 08, 2007
Are you a sports mom?
I can't speak for anyone else but I am the proverbial soccer, football, basketball, track and field, baseball, will whoop you if you say anything bad about my kid mom.
I am the average sport's enthusiasts worse nightmare. I'm the wild-haired woman running up and down the sideline, screaming for you to move the stroller--complete with sleeping baby--out of my way when my kid is about to kick a goal.
I'm the woman standing up, blocking your view in the bleachers when my kid makes a great hit on the running back.
I'm the woman chewing the umpires butt down to gristle when he calls a strike.
I am the woman heckling the referees when they call a foul.
And I'm definitely the woman about to burst your eardrums when my kid is crossing the finish line, first or not.
You see, I LOVE sports. Football is my favorite. I watch games galore and go into a funk when February rolls around. Yet, I can't seem to get into the arena football at all. Just seems worse than high school to me. I am excitable anyways and when it's my flesh and blood playing, it just increases my excitement.
I know many think I need a dose of Prosac...but it ain't gonna happen. And if you say too much, we'll exchange words and...I really don't want to show up on YouTube as a video but I MUST do what I must do to protect my child's honor, right? LOL.
So what about you? You a sport's enthusiast for you kid?
I am the average sport's enthusiasts worse nightmare. I'm the wild-haired woman running up and down the sideline, screaming for you to move the stroller--complete with sleeping baby--out of my way when my kid is about to kick a goal.
I'm the woman standing up, blocking your view in the bleachers when my kid makes a great hit on the running back.
I'm the woman chewing the umpires butt down to gristle when he calls a strike.
I am the woman heckling the referees when they call a foul.
And I'm definitely the woman about to burst your eardrums when my kid is crossing the finish line, first or not.
You see, I LOVE sports. Football is my favorite. I watch games galore and go into a funk when February rolls around. Yet, I can't seem to get into the arena football at all. Just seems worse than high school to me. I am excitable anyways and when it's my flesh and blood playing, it just increases my excitement.
I know many think I need a dose of Prosac...but it ain't gonna happen. And if you say too much, we'll exchange words and...I really don't want to show up on YouTube as a video but I MUST do what I must do to protect my child's honor, right? LOL.
So what about you? You a sport's enthusiast for you kid?
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Hear me roar!
Actually this is an invite to hear my radio interview!
Roar...talk...make the leap, people!
But, if you have the time, take a listen to my interview with Writer's Life chat @ http://www.blogtalkradio.com/WritersLifeChats/2007/10/05/writers-life-chat.
Get inside my head...
Syd
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Payback has been moved...
If any of you are looking for the next installment in my WIP Payback, Inc., I've moved it over to my MySpace blog. The language was a bit spicy for some so if you can handle the storyline, join me at : http://myspace.com/sydneymolare. As always, please leave feedback!
Monday, October 01, 2007
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Many of you know October is Breast Cancer awareness month. As a woman who has fibrocystic breast disease, surgical biopsies and cyst removals, this disease is never far from my mind. But so far, I've been one of the lucky ones whose "lumpy-bumpy" breasts are noncancerous.
With all these things on my mind, I wanted to give away four Victoria's Secret gift card to just celebrate all things feminine. No, no purchase necessary. Just stop by and leave a comment on any of my blogs and that will do. I'll draw a name each week.
And remember, think pink!
With all these things on my mind, I wanted to give away four Victoria's Secret gift card to just celebrate all things feminine. No, no purchase necessary. Just stop by and leave a comment on any of my blogs and that will do. I'll draw a name each week.
And remember, think pink!
LaDonna Tutt stopping by to tame a hide or two...
LaDonna Tutt, author, moderator and dominatrix extraordinaire will be sizzling our sensual senses over on my erotic blog- Pout Erotica, www.thepout.blogspot.com .
LaDonna...who knows what she'll have in store, but hold onto your honey or your battery powered toys...you'll probably need them soon.
She'll be there beginning later on tonight! Stop by and leave a comment!
LaDonna...who knows what she'll have in store, but hold onto your honey or your battery powered toys...you'll probably need them soon.
She'll be there beginning later on tonight! Stop by and leave a comment!
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