I received an email from a fellow writer last week who said she was touched by my article. I wrote it over 4 years ago when my sister, who had been working with me as an assistant, had passed suddenly.

I re-read the article and realized it was still appropos.

How Death and Dying Can Inform Our Writing

Recently, I was at a luncheon given by the National Association of University Women to honor my friend and colleague, Dr. Rosie Milligan, (www.milliganbooks.com) and one of the invited participants asked, “Where’s your sister?” (Apparently, she was used to seeing my sister Nancy at all the writer’s events that I attend.)

The table of women fell into an uncomfortable silence. I paused before answering. “You know Nancy passed.”

Just the uneasiness of the people at the table let me know that, as a culture, we don’t deal well with death.

In this culture, we haven’t been prepared to talk about grief. After the funeral, as the bereaved, you’re just supposed to pretend the death didn’t happen. If you talk about it too much, people tell you, “You’ve got to move on. Let it go.” Or, “Maybe you need to see a psychotherapist.”

Since that time, I found an old article (ironically, it was in one of Nancy’s old books), by Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist, later turned bestselling novelist, Anna Quindlen, from the N.Y. Times Service (1994), entitled “The oft-invisible burden of survivors.”

The article dealt with the silence that people expect you to have after death. Quindlen says, “More than sex, more than faith, even more than its usher death, grief is unspoken, publicly ignored except for those moments at the funeral that are over too quickly, or the conversations among the cognoscenti, those of us who recognize in one another a kindred chasm deep in the center of who we are.”

The article raised the question, What is grief? What is loss? It looked at what Quindlen called, “Loss as muse. Loss as character. Loss as Life.”

For me, personally, how do I cope with this new loss, which is making me look gapingly in the face of my own mortality? Particularly, since this was the death of the first of six siblings, but one with whom I had a kinship/friendship. How will death inform my writing?

Well, I’m going to break the silence. The truth is, just as there is never a right or perfect time to write a book, to start a business, or to start a family, there is never a right time or perfect time to get over grief. It has it own season.

Just as the loss of my parents has changed my life, thrusting me into the older generation, the loss of my older sister will shape the rest of my life. In fact, today, I was told that now I’m the family matriarch. As the oldest sister, that was Nancy’s role, so even that’s a subtle shift I will have to adjust to.

The lesson I learned from my sister’s life and her dying was this. By all means, set goals for the future, but also make sure you take time to enjoy the gift of the present. Learn to live in the moment. Learn to just ‘be.” Nancy was a connoisseur of living in the moment.

After all, the future is just some more present moments that haven’t arrived. If you can’t be happy now, you won’t be happy then.

It reminds me of people who are only happy when things are going extremely well. “Oh, God is blessing me,” they’ll chirp.

But how about when things are not going well? This is the time to lean on God. This is the time to be a testament to God’s power.

So what do you do when life puts you on notice? This is what happened to my sister Nancy when she was given a diagnosis of Stage IV Lung Cancer with metastasis on 1-28-08.

Right away, she made her decision to go home. She opted not to have chemo or radiation, as her girlfriend had undergone it two years earlier, lost all quality of life, and died, anyhow, in four months after a Stage III Lung Cancer diagnosis. Nancy chose to do hospice care at home with an alternative therapy.

On 2-11-08, Nancy made her transition from this life. However, she made those 14 days the most joyous she’d ever had. Everyone wanted to be around her because, in spite of being in pain and facing imminent death, she was upbeat, laughing, and positive. I even warned her against talking on the phone and laughing so much.

“Save your oxygen,” I fussed, not wanting to lose her. “Don’t talk so much.” Nancy ignored me and rightly so. Looking back, I was being selfish and stingy with the time she had left. She did the right thing. She called up every one, told them she loved them, and laughed as long as she was able.

“‘I’ve never been so happy in my life’,” my daughter Tamaira related that she told her. “I’ve been surrounded by my loved ones and that’s all I want.’” Tamaira added, “So how can I feel sorry for myself after seeing how Nancy is taking her situation?”

“Stop looking sad,” Nancy admonished me that Friday before she passed on Monday morning. “I was given a death sentence on Tuesday (eleven days earlier), and I’ve had eleven beautiful days.”

Over that two week period between Nancy’s diagnosis and her death, we made sure she had a houseful of loved ones, plenty of flowers, (which she meticulously re-arranged,) her favorite foods such as mustard and turnip greens and butterfly shrimp, her favorite movie “Dream Girls” playing around the clock, maid service, and plenty of massages and facials.

Nancy chose quality of life in two weeks over months of being an invalid, a vegetable, or a pin cushion. In her heart, she knew she was too far gone for chemo or radiation to add any quality of life or length to her remaining days.

When I told Nancy, “I hate to see you suffer like this,” she looked at me as if I was crazy.

“I’m not suffering like Jamina (her friend who died two years ago.) I have quality of life. I’m at home.” (For the last three months of her life, Jamina had lived strapped to a hospital bed, humongous tubes down her throat, and on a respirator in a cold, sterile hospital.)

Meantime, Nancy had closure in that half of our large family was able to make it to her bedside, and her daughter, Denise, made a return trip from Peoria, Illinois to Hawthorne, California, this time accompanied by her husband Herman, and her children, (Nancy’s grandbabies), Kendall and Austin.

That final weekend, when we frantically ran around Nancy’s apartment, trying to keep oxygen machines going, trying to fix them when they broke down, and, in truth, trying to beat the inevitable, I remarked to my older brother, Michael, “This is as real as life gets.”

In retrospect, those last two weeks were filled with sacred moments that taught me so much about real life–how short, how tenuous, how wonderful and how sad it can be, all at the same time.

In Nancy’s typical free-spirited style, the day after her death, we gave her a surprisingly beautiful home-going celebration in my living room.

After we released white balloons in the sky to her memory, Dr. Rosie Milligan told her weeping daughter, Denise, “You should feel proud. Your mom showed you how to live and how to die.”

Dr. Maxine E. Thompson is the owner of Black Butterfly Press, Maxine Thompson’s Literary Services, Thompson Literary Agency and www.maxineshow.com. She hosts Internet radio shows on www.artisfirst.com She hosted on Voiceamerica.com from 3/02 to 12/06 and she also hosted on her own show, www.maxineshow.com. She is the author of nine titles, The Ebony Tree, No Pockets in a Shroud, A Place Called Home, The Hush Hush Secrets of Writing Fiction That Sells, How to Publish, Market and Promote your Book Via Ebook Publishing, The Hush Hush Secrets of Creating a Life You Love, Anthology, SECRET LOVERS, (with novella, Second Chances,) Anthology, All in the Family, with novella Summer of Salvation. SECRET LOVERS made the Black Expression’s Book Club Bestselling list on 7-8-06 (after a 6-6-06 release date.)A new anthology, All in the Family, (Summer of Salvation) was published in April 2007l Another new anthology, Never Knew Love Like This Before,(her novella, Katrina Blues,) was published in June 2007. Never Knew Love has been a bestseller on Black Expression’s Book Club and on Amazon.com/Kindle many times. In 2009, her nonfiction book, Heal Thy Soul: 365 Days of Healing for Women of Color and her novel, Hostage of Lies will be released.

Hostage of Lies was voted a Best Book of 2009 by EDC Creations. A new novel, LA Blues, was published 7-1-11 to rave reviews. You can sign up for her free newsletter at http://www.maxinethompson.com Get a free report on how to write your book at http://www.WriteABookNow.com/cmd.php?af=677480

By Dr. Maxine Thompson
http://www.maxinethompson.com
http://www.maxinethompsonbooks.com

According to Wikipedia, The quote, “Art imitates Life” “has its most notable proponent in Oscar Wilde, who held in his 1889 essay The Decay of Lying that ‘Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life’.”

As an African American, I see things differently. I’ve always felt, in spite of having an African American President (President Obama) in the United States, racism is still like the elephant in the middle of the room in our country. We don’t want to talk about racism or deal with it—until something explodes.
Case in point. In my second novel, Hostage of Lies, (originally self-published as “No Pockets in a Shroud,” in 1997,) a white editor from New York challenged a scene that was clearly a case of racial discrimination. 

The year was 2009, and I was reissuing this same book (HOL) through a New York Publisher when this editorial comment was made. 

 She said that a black male being pulled over because he  was black and driving a Mercedes was out dated or unrealistic. True, I wrote this scene in 1996 in the original self-published book. I pointed out to her the scene was set in 1993.

 However, the word “racial profiling” wasn’t in our lexicon at that  time.

As a historical fiction writer, I was just capturing what happens to professional Black men, who were treated like criminals.

 Shortly thereafter, a high profile case where prominent Black Professor Henry Louis Gates was arrested for entering his own home took place. This incident hit the media like a tsunami.

 I sent the information to the editor, and the scene was left as it was. Racial issues had not changed much from 1993 to 2009.

When I wrote my urban crime novel, L.A. Blues, in 2008, I was perturbed about several murders of young Black teen athletes, which were perpetrated because of gang wars between the Blacks and Latinos here in LA.

Ironically, in my novel, the murder victim, 15-year-old basketball star hopeful, was named Trayvon. He was wearing a hooded black Starter jacket, and later, you find out why he was assassinated because of this outfit. Sadly, we now have the tragedy of Trayvon Martin’s murder.

As I re-read the funeral scene from LA Blues at the Black Writers on Tour Conference (www.blackwritersontour.com) which just took place on this past Saturday, 4-21-12, a chill rippled through me. It was taken from my poem, “Son of God Called Home Too Soon,” which I’d originally written for my 18-year-old nephew, who’d been murdered the year before (2008) in Detroit. (Since then, another great-nephew was murdered in Detroit on 1-10-12.) I used the poem in the funeral scene in LA Blues. As I asked in my poem, SOGCHTS:

“How many more of our young men must we lose
To acts of senseless violence and rage?
When will we learn to love and not hate,
To cherish and not exterminate?
Let’s wake up before we lose our entire future Black Race.”

Although I live in L.A., and my other family is in Detroit, our family is still suffering the loss of these two young family members.

So here we are again, except this time,  it’s real life. The year is 2012. Another young black male gone senselessly. Only this murder has been widely publicized.

Reminds me of the Emmet Till murder, though, this dog and pony show and travesty of justice  that went on with the subsequent arrest, then release of George Zimmerman.

In my novel, Hostage of Lies, I dealt with the LA riots, which is now celebrating its twentieth anniversary, as well as the Detroit riots, (both civil unrests’ which I lived through). In fact, LA Blues opens with the LA riots. I drew on my memory of being out making home calls in West Los Angeles and almost being barricaded by walls of fire and smoke on every street I drove down.

I could have stayed home that day, but being a dedicated social  worker, I went out into the field. I guess it was the writer in me that wanted to bear witness to our explosive history. That day reminded me of what Langston Hughes called, “A Dream Deferred” in his poem. All the deferred dreams found their way into ignited gas cans and Molotov cocktails.

Today I write about things I would like to see changed. I’d like to see no murders among Black or Brown young men. I address this social problem  in LA Blues’s acknowledgment.

After all, isn’t that our job as writers? To bear witness to the truth.

323-750-3592

http://www.drrosie.com

As always, I promise to bring you the best in the industry. Many of you have inquired about how to get your book to a movie—well here it is!
Seize the moment–get your seminar ticket for this seminar for Saturday April 21, 2012 at 3 p.m.. For other dynamic seminars/workshops visit www.blackwritersontour.com

Below is the bio of our presenter:
MARC SCOTT ZICREE
Manager: Mark Wheeler, the Pitt Group

Marc Scott Zicree’s landmark book THE TWILIGHT ZONE COMPANION has been credited with creating the modern genre of books on TV series and inspiring a generation of series creators and filmmakers. The COMPANION was an instant bestseller (over a half million copies to date) and named in 2006 by the New York Times one of “ten science fiction books for the ages,” the only non-fiction book on the list.

Zicree is an alumnus of the Clarion Writers Workshop, the most esteemed science fiction writing workshop in the country. Graduating UCLA, he went on to a successful career as a writer-producer in film and TV, serving on staff on such shows as SLIDERS, THE LAZARUS MAN, FRIDAY THE 13th – THE SERIES and BEYOND REALITY. He has sold over 100 teleplays, screenplays and pilots to every major studio and network, including landmark stories for such shows as STAR TREK– THE NEXT GENERATION, DEEP SPACE NINE, THE NEW TWILIGHT ZONE, BABYLON 5, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, FOREVER KNIGHT, SLIDERS, LIBERTY’S KIDS, SUPERFRIENDS, HE-MAN, REAL GHOSTBUSTERS and SMURFS. He’s written about his odd family in features and pilots for CBS, NBC and Showtime.

Zicree is regarded as one of the country’s top media experts and has been interviewed by hundreds of newspapers, magazines, and TV and radio shows, including THE TODAY SHOW, AMERICAN MASTERS, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT, E! TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY, WASHINGTON POST, NEW YORK TIMES and L.A. TIMES. Beyond his three-year stint as a commentator on NPR’s MORNING EDITION he is a regular guest on COAST TO COAST, one of the country’s top rated night-time radio shows.

In addition, Zicree is a lauded novelist with the bestselling MAGIC TIME trilogy, published by HarperCollins and Blackstone Audio.

Zicree has lectured at many colleges, professional conferences and museums in America, Europe and Asia, including USC, UCLA, Stanford and Ithaca, where he was a keynote speaker. Over the last decade with his wife Elaine, he has taught classes for thousands of writers, directors, actors and producers, guiding them to successful careers in film, TV and books. Their classes have been glowingly reported on by such magazines as WRITTEN BY, SCRIPT and CREATIVE SCREENWRITING, and the Writers Store named their DVD on How To Sell a TV Series one of “ten essentials for a screenwriting career.” Beyond this, Zicree is founder and for the last nineteen years has run The Table, which has provided resources and a supportive community to thousands of Industry professionals both in Hollywood and around the world. (The documentary on the Table just won the Best Documentary Award at the SoCal Film Festival.)

One of Zicree’s recent credits is STAR TREK “World Enough and Time” starring George Takei, which he co-wrote, directed and executive produced. The episode won the TV GUIDE Award – beating NBC Universal’s BATTLESTAR GALACTICA – and was nominated for science fiction’s top two prizes, the 2008 Hugo and Nebula Awards. Zicree has also been nominated for the American Book Award, Humanitas Prize and Diane Thomas Award, and has won the prestigious Hamptons Prize and 2011 Rondo and Saturn Awards.

Most recently Zicree has completed LOVE, GLORIA, a memoir about his mother, collaborated with director Guillermo del Toro on GUILLERMO DEL TORO’S CABINET OF CURIOSITIES for Palace Press, worked on LOST MARS, a TV miniseries project with science fiction legend Ray Bradbury, teamed with producer Gabe Sachs (FREAKS AND GEEKS, JUST SHOOT ME, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID) on the TV series version of MAGIC TIME, and written and will be directing the upcoming science fiction feature FUGITIVE SPACE, produced by Chris Wyatt (NAPOLEON DYNAMITE). He is currently working on THE SECRET SCIENCE FICTION TV PROJECT with Oscar and Emmy winner Doug Drexler and producer Neil Johnson.

BLURBS ON MARC SCOTT ZICREE & HIS WORK

“Marc Zicree is a superb writer.” RAY BRADBURY

“As a fan of THE TWILIGHT ZONE COMPANION I reached out to Mr. Zicree and discussed his work, his vast knowledge and passion for the material. Not only did I find Mr. Zicree to have a sharp eye for detail but he was also warm, smart and full of innovative ideas… ‘World Enough and Time’ is a testament to Mr. Zicree’s talent and enthusiasm.” J.J. ABRAMS

“Aside from his Hugo Awards and Encyclopedic Knowledge of pretty much every sci-fi and genre story written or broadcast in the last century, I also consider Marc a genuine writing talent. Not to mention, he is an absolute pleasure as a human being, which is no small thing in a writer’s room.” DAMON LINDELOF, co-creator & showrunner LOST

“Great writer, worlds of experience, completely dedicated, team player, amazing connections, total self-starter. High recommendation!” ROCKNE O’BANNON, creator FARSCAPE

“Marc is an extraordinarily talented writer and director.” BRANNON BRAGA, executive producer 24, TERRA NOVA

On STAR TREK “World Enough and Time”:

“Extraordinarily artfully scripted entertainment… I was riveted. I was sitting on a stool in my kitchen, and I cannot move. I was like, this is amazing… It worked tremendously.” JOSS WHEDON

“Wonderfully done and heartbreaking.” MARK FERGUS, writer IRON MAN, COWBOYS AND ALIENS

“Congratulations on the Nebula and Hugo nominations – they’re richly deserved.” RON MOORE, executive producer BATTLESTAR GALACTICA

On the MAGIC TIME trilogy:
“The best new dose of magic to hit the world of fantasy literature in a long time.” ORSON SCOTT CARD
“A great read! Even non-science fiction fans will find themselves caught up in this ambitious and exciting story.” LEONARD MALTIN
“A terrific story featuring powerful, strong characters…a must for fans of post-apocalyptic fiction.” BOOKLIST
“A rare achievement.” CINESCAPE
“Rousing… Most will applaud the upbeat message about humanity’s survival, if without cell phones or TV.” PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

”The conclusion of the trilogy is as spectacular as its predecessors… captivating from page one on… A powerful, intelligent, deeply human, and many times abruptly laugh-out-loud funny wrap-up volume.” BOOKLIST
ON LOVE, GLORIA:
“Beautiful and moving and smart… so perceptive and delicate.” NEIL GAIMAN, author CORALINE

“Just wonderful! What a remarkable woman your mother was. You have brought her alive and created an enduring tribute to her. “ EARL HAMNER, creator THE WALTONS

“An astonishing accomplishment! I always knew Zicree’s best stories were about his family, but I never suspected anything of this magnitude or effect. I can honestly say that reading it changed my life.” MICHAEL NANKIN, writer-director-producer, CSI, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, LIE TO ME

Over the years, I’ve made contacts I would not have made otherwise, gone to conferences, and built my literary agency and literary services business.

Internet radio, like ebooks, is here to stay. It can really help an author reach an audience one might not have been able to reach.

 Thank you to the Artistfirst.com Network and to everyone who has listened to the show over the years.

“Be still and know that I am God…” Psalms 46:10

I’ve never been blessed, as of yet, to go to a writer’s retreat, but through serendipity, a bad circumstance became a good circumstance. First, I fell and broke my left leg and ankle on 11-18-11 just  before Thanksgiving. This both literally and metaphorically sat me down for 6 weeks. I stopped doing my Internet radio show for 6 weeks. (I’ve been hosting for  ten years this upcoming March 5, 2012. )

Next, on the downside, I had water damage to my home on 12-6-11. But on the upside, this  afforded me a 2 month stay in first, the luxurious Marriott Hotel, then, next, in a beautiful kitchenette. Also on the upside,  I got part of my home renovated.

Anyhow, as I sat still for 2 months, I  was able to court the muse for the first time in a couple of years.  I finished writing my sequel to LA Blues. The Muse had been drowned out for the past 5  years  a half by my care giving duties for my husband, and other family members, my other obligations to my literary agency and my literary service, but due to circumstances, I found myself in a sit still mode. I went on  a Facebook  and twitter fast.

The change of scenery was good.

What I discovered during this moment of silence, was what my heart  truly desires.

1. I found out what I liked and didn’t like.
2. I’ve made different business decisions, which I think will be more profitable for me.
3. I plan to do less; achieve more.
4. I was able to hear my character’s voice and follow Z’s journey for her second book in the series; LA Blues 2.
5. I’m aware of the changes in the industry, which will influence different business decisions for me.

In conclusion, I think all writers need to take time where they shut down. This is part of the creative mode. I know social media is a necessary and wonderful part of being a writer today, but sometimes it can serve as a distraction.

For one, when you are promoting and moving around, it’s difficult to  get in touch with the muse and to write.  For some of us, it can become an excuse for not writing.

Writing comes  best in our moment of silence. Try it.  You might like it.

Sixteenth Annual Black Writers On Tour Conference Is Larger Than Ever!
Bring The Whole Family—There’s Something For Everybody
Dr. Rosie Milligan brings the Black Writers On Tour Writers’ Conference back to Carson, California—a Los Angeles neighboring city. This powerful one-day event will be held on Saturday, April 21, 2012 from 9:00 A.M to 6:00 P.M at the Congresswoman JMM Community Center, 801 E. Carson Street, Carson, California 90746. This conference will be more dynamic than ever, showcasing more than 100 Black authors. There will be literary agents and publishers gathering for this powerful one-day event. The publishing industry has changed; the Internet, Social Media, E-books and Print-On-Demand have taken the publishing industry in a completely new direction. The days are gone forever for aspiring writers to have to beg and to wait to have their work published. This conference has been designed to provide writers and aspiring writers with the practical information they need to be successful in the literary industry. This year’s theme is, “Literacy is Everybody’s Business—Who Will Tell Our Story?” There will be local authors and authors from across the country participating. For past events we have had 5,000-6,000 in attendance.
This year’s highlight: “Children Writers Showcase—Listen To The children! There is a free writing class for children ages 10-15. Children wishing to enter the writing contest and win cash must submit their stories or poems no later than March, 15th, 2012. We are encouraging teachers to have their students enter the contest. Our youngest author was 7 years old. Our children are our future writers; they are the ones who will continue the preservation of African-American culture, via telling their stories and helping others to tell their stories.
Chat with Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Children, Hip-Hop, Urban Street and, Christian writers. Attend the Poetry Jam Competition from 4 to 6p.m—WIN CASH! There will be open exhibits and authors signing throughout the day.
Writers’ workshops will be held throughout the day and will cover a variety of topics. Authors wishing to gain exposure, attract new readers, or sell books, and for all wishing to participate in the Poetry Jam Competition, visit www.blackwritersontour.com or call (323) 750-3592
WRITER’S SEMINARS
1. How To Write A Book Made Simple And Your Publishing Options
2. How To Write A Best-selling Novel
3. How To Develop Characters That Leap Off The Page
4. Protecting Your Writing Rights, Trademark And Patent Rights
5. Creative Writing Class For Beginners
6. How To Increase Your Book Exposure & Sales Via Social Media, Face book, Twitter, My Space, YouTube, Blog, LinkedIn, etc.
7. What You Need To Know To Be A Great Guest On Radio, Keep The Phone Ringing, Sell Books, And Get Invited Back.
8. Turning you book into movie
9. How To Operate A Successful Home-based Business; Recordkeeping For Tax Compliance.

GENERAL PUBLIC SEMINARS, SHOWCASES AND DISCUSSIONS
1. Children’s Writing Class
3. Children’s Writing Class Contest Showcase
4. A Dialogue About Street Fiction, Hip-Hop, Urban Fiction—Are They Helpful or Are they Harmful/
5. A Close-Up look At Jobs/Careers In The Publishing Industry—Many!
6. Poetry, Open Mic.
7. Poetry Jam Competition
8. Let The Elders Speak Forum: They Will Address: Sex, Music, Health, Money, Religion, Education, History, And The Impact Of Each On The Next Generation

http://www.maxinethompson.com

http://www.maxinethompsonbooks.com

“The principle mark of genius is not perfection but originality, the opening of new frontiers.”
–Arthur Koestler

Steve Job’s life has reassured me more and more that having an idea and doing what you love are the best ways to live a life of passion and purpose.

Six years ago, someone called me and asked if I thought we had launched my radio show too soon, because I stepped back and slowed up for a moment (the year I had 3 grandbabies born within 8 months.) No, I told her all major companies roll their products out, (take action), then go back and do corrections.

How many glitches did Microsoft have in all its products when they rolled out Windows 98, XP, then even Vista? The Apple products have had their ups and downs as well.

 To get the lead on your competition, you have to leap and rest assured, that the net will appear.

You can’t wait for perfection. Don’t wait for the perfect time to start a business or take an action step towards an idea. Just like there is never a perfect time to have a baby, given our present economy, there is never a perfect time to make a change that could transform your life.

In the case of the Internet radio shows I’ve done, I think they have helped up the standards of the publishing industry for both self-published and African American writers.

Many things I’ve tried to do failed, but it didn’t mean it was over. For instance, I’ve tried to sell ebooks back in 2000, when they were fairly new. But now I’m going to step out there and try again. This time we have Kindle, and other devices to assist with the sales. I’m seeing a world of difference in sales.

As a literary agent, it took two years for me to get my first book deal, but once they started, I obtained 8 book deals for 4 authors within a two week period. From that time, I’ve seen many relationships form in a serendiptious manner, which have led to business in one form or another.

So now I know there’s a thing as try, and if it doesn’t succeed, try again, until you get it right. They say Edison had numerous tries before he developed the light bulb.

In the end, when you take a chance, you become stronger, whether you succeed or fail. It is in the process that you become a thought leader, one who encourages others to take chances.

Become a thought leader! Push your given industry to the next level.

“I am willing to take risks and do what I need to do NOW.”

What’s your next step?

Dr. Maxine Thompson

http://www.maxinethompsonbooks.com

http://www.maxinethompson.com

nanowrimo. My goal is to write 2 to 3,000 words per day. I will see.

Dr. Maxine Thompson

http://www.maxinethompson.com

http://www.maxinethompsonbooks.com

Happy Autumn to all readers and writers!

This has been a hectic summer! I had the honor of participating  as a literary agent panelist guest at the National Black Book Festival Conference in Houston, TX on 6-8-11 to 6-10-11. I had a great time! I met new writers, and reconnected with other writers.

In August, I was offered a book deal for LA Blues II. I’m working on the sequel to LA Blues II, so I will be brief. The deadline is approaching—11-30-11. I’ve done a lot of prewriting, research, but now it’s time to bite the bullet, so I’ll be going underground.

  I will be joining the Nanowrimo, which I’ve done 3 times before and never completed, but this time I’m more motivated.

NEWS:

Congratulations Tamika Newhouse, my latest literary agency client, for  winning as self-published author of the year & best anthology of the year. Kudos to you! http://literaryawardshow.com/ 

Check out The Miraculous Power of Massage by Van T. Womack http://alturl.com/efve8

Look for upcoming book published by Black Butterfly Press: The Woman Behind the Badge: The Journey by Joanne Neely.

Please check out LA Blues Book Trailer http://alturl.com/qhu77

Healing the Racial Divide: Book Review of LA Blues by Yvonne Perry http://alturl.com/37xpw

WRITING TIPS AND RESOURCES:
Nanowri month is coming up! Write your novel in one month!http://www.nanowrimo.org/

Blog regarding Nanowri month:

http://abundance-blog.marelisa-online.com/2009/10/12/nanowrimo-how-to-write-a-novel-in-30-days/
Using research to find Writing topics http://alturl.com/9h9nq 

“There’s a word for a self-published writer who never gives up… rich.” –Joe Konrath, Successful Author.  

“There is … no such force as the force of a person determined to rise. The human soul cannot be permanently chained. – W.E.B. Dubois

Small Press vs. Self-publishing in the new Millenium http://alturl.com/2vm9u

 Sell More Books to Schools and Libraries:

http://www.facebook.com/sellmorebookstoschoolsandlibraries

Award-winning novelist Randy Ingermanson, “the
Snowflake Guy,” publishes the Advanced Fiction Writing
E-zine, with more than 28,000 readers, every month. If
you want to learn the craft and marketing of fiction,
AND make your writing more valuable to editors, AND
have FUN doing it, visit
http://www.AdvancedFictionWriting.com.

Nine-year-old Black/Spanish Zipporah Saldano (a.k.a. “Z”) made a panicked phone call to her father, who lived across town, to let him know that her mother, Venita, was being beaten by her latest live-in boyfriend. That phone call changed Z’s life forever. Even though Z was sent to live in a loving, foster home, she blamed herself for getting her father killed, having her pregnant mother put in jail, and sending her siblings into multiple foster homes. She turns to alcohol to cover the pain she refuses to feel.

Z decides to become a cop and join the LAPD, hoping to stop some of the gang violence she and her people have seen way too much of. Her time on the force is cut short when her drinking problem causes her to be fired after her partner is killed. Her downward spiral lands her at rock bottom where she has no choice but to deal with the pain that is destroying her life. She joins AA and finally begins sorting through the years of emotional agony she has buried within her heart.

This story takes the reader deep inside the home and hearts of Z’s infertile foster parents, Daddy Chill and Shirley, who love all their foster children unconditionally. Even after Z and her foster siblings reach adulthood, Shirley continues to provide emotional support during the hardships this bunch experiences quite often. Shirley even takes in the children of her drug-addicted foster child, Chica, and raises them as if they are her own grandkids.
When death hits close to home and nearly devastates the entire family, Z, who has become a private detective, begins her search for their loved one’s killer. That search turns up more answers and secrets than she ever anticipated finding. I’m thankful for a happy ending to this tragic story that caused tears of compassion to well up in my eyes as I read.

The storytelling skills of this author are great. The story is told in first person. While I was a bit puzzled by the narrator’s shift from present to past tense (sometimes in the same sentence), I must admit it helped define the protagonist’s character. I finished the book in one weekend even while tending to my young grandsons because I couldn’t put the book down. I had fallen in love with the characters and had to see what was going to happen next. The pace of the story is perfect.

Knowing that inner healing can change an entire culture–and ultimately our world–I recommend this well-researched book to all races because it gives hope that our Black and Latino brothers and sisters can take responsibility for their choices and find peace within themselves. There is no place love cannot reach!

Yvonne Perry,
Author of Whose Stuff Is This?: Finding Freedom from the Negative Thoughts, Feelings, and Energy of Those Around You