From the photographer to the front desk manager and all the way up to the CEO, they all keep pointing her back to God. We even meet the man who hurt Caroline and watch God work the mess right out of his life, too. Don't Write Me Off pours God's word on wounded hearts. There are scriptures and Bible truths dashed and rubbed through the entire love story. No profanity. No vivid sex scenes. Sex did happen, but it's written like the Bible, sort of like, "he lay with her" or "deflowered her." And that's it for housekeeping. By now, you know I'm a sucker for a good love story. This was no exception. There was a very handsome man who couldn't keep his eyes off our sweet Caroline. I was curled up smiling the whole time he got closer only to be pushed away until he fought his way into her heart. I loved this story, especially the wisdom-rich elders like Jack's mom and Aunt Emni. There is something special about having a woman of God to help you sort through all the distractions and see God. Definitely worth more than rubies. Check out this book from Glory Orah on Goodreads.
Before the wedding, I was in knots wondering when the big lie would be exposed. Then, after the wedding, the sweetest love story blossomed. Boy met girl. Married her, and accidentally fell in love. It was like "a kiss on the collarbone" paired with notes of "boy, you betta kiss the girl." 🥰 Oh, it was so nice. And then all hell broke loose. Skeletons tumbled out of closets and uninvited visitors swarmed my honey-filled story like locusts. It was awful and frustrating. I searched for a way out, but my loving couple could not catch a break. Was this the end? Me: Please don't tell me I fell into a tragic love story. I don't do those—ever. Oh, my heart. Will I ever survive? Insert dramatic sigh here. Do not worry, my friends. I am doing well. Breathing comfortably again and no longer trying to find a way to help the newlyweds escape their horrid fate. To find out why, you'll have to read the story because, say it with me: "This is a spoiler-free zone." But I'll tell you about the writing. Crisp and descriptive. Definitely worth the read. When I had to do essential things like sleep, the story would whisper my name and ask me to read one more part. Me: I can't. Story: You must. Me: Okay, but only one more chapter. Housekeeping? She's super clean. No profanity. The newlywed behaviors are sensual for sure, but stops short of the bom-chicka-wow-wow. The love dripped off the pages of this story. I did spend a lot of my reading time wondering if Chara was a mulatto or a tanned, white woman. It's easy to assume that slaves were black, but in this story I couldn't tell. The only reference to skin color was that her skin was tan. It's not a critical piece of information, but I did wonder if her betrothed and high society saw her differently because of her color rather than her family's social status. It's sort of a moot point though. A slave is but a slave until she becomes a Rose. Absolutely loved this story!! Find more Historical Romances from Lily Orevba on Goodreads.
Me: Just hold this part right here. Him: Sorry, can’t help ya. Just go get your hair done. Me: I can do this. I just need a hand. Him: crickets What should have been a two hour project turned into a day long event. By the end of the night, the three year old was complaining about the trail of hair down the hallway, puddled into clumps on the bathroom floor. Ace: Mommy your hair is everywhere. You need to clean up this mess so we can go to bed. TRUE, oh so true.
Have you found any remote learning hacks?
Did any one else know that
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Just Doing ItTo be honest, when I first posted my work on Wattpad, the goal was to be recognized by an incognito Super Agent. Said Agent would champion my loves stories throughout the publishing industry, and I would become the next best-selling author. Insert starry eyes here. |
Join meAlong this journey, I'll leave a trail of blog posts to guide you through your own self-publishing journey. As I shared with MsBrew, my amazing author friend, I love to share what I learn. Please drop a comment if you've decided to take the leap and self-publish, too. |
Season Premiere
Mira stretched her arms out wide and let the warmth of the August sun kiss her mahogany brown skin.
Her favorite song blared through pink earbuds as she danced down the path, sending her short peekaboo romper twirling as she lip synced. Her backup dancers--the lush green grass and the tall trees-- jostled and swayed, celebrating with their lead. Even the winding path embraced her happy feet as she danced.
Mira inhaled the beauty of her first HIV-free day on campus. She held the gazes of each passerby, folding them into her random dance number.
First, she cut off the middle-aged Business professor. The lady laughed, shrugged, and did a little twist. Mira cheered, singing as she strutted onto her next impromptu dance partner.
She grabbed Darien's hand from behind and twirled herself.
"Mira?" he asked, taking in her honey rose extensions at the bottom of her asymmetrical bob. Pinkish blonde highlights peeped out from under the shorter side when the wind blew. Darien laughed.
Mira noticed Sylus next to him. She jailed his gaze, singing, "I had my first heels by the age of thirteen--whoo." She kicked up her glittery, rose gold canvas shoes and smirked at Sylus.
Then she skipped away to accost a pretty, mocha girl with long braids.
Readers say... | Sylus grimaced, rubbing a hand along his low cut face. His dark eyebrows furrowed as he watched Mira grab the girl's hands. Darien followed his glare. "You still didn't talk to her?" Sy shook his head. "What I'm gon say, 'It wasn't me?'" He mumbled. "I don't even know how long she was standing there." Mira spun away from the girl and skipped along her way, stopping only to shimmy with a blonde student wearing shorts and chunky, open-toed sandals. |
The grinning girl with the long braids waved at Darien and trotted toward them "Mira is crazy," she laughed, hugging Darien.
Sylus peeled his eyes away from Mira and studied the new girl.
"What's up, Lique?" Darien turned to Sy. "This is my boy, Sylus."
Sylus shook her hand and his dark brows furrowed. "Who she look like, bro?"
"She's Leillah's lil sister."
Sylus nodded and a broad smile worked across his face. "She sure does look like like a chocolate version of Lei." . . . Sylus glanced up the path and caught a glimpse of Mira off in the distance, still dancing as she threw her hands up into the air. A lazy smile tugged at the corner of his lips. . . . "Catch you later, Lique," Sylus smiled, making his way toward Mira.
Lalique combed her fingers through her braids and sighed, watching as Sylus walked away.
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Hidden behind a canopy of shadows, SHANTEL glared at Darien from the... | Grandma's secret for stronger nails. |
A Novel IdeaWriting is the thing I love so much that I'd do it for free. And I did. My readers devoured my Love stories for FREE—like virtual donuts—on Wattpad. After much thought, I've decided to self-publish in both ebook and print formats. I loved Wattpad because there was nothing better than viewing comments from readers while deep in the throngs of story creation. The process molded me into a better writer. So, I opened a virtual Ko-fi Shop. |
What is a Ko-fi Shop?my Ko-fi shop is a place where readers are welcome to support my writing by purchasing my Love stories directly from me or by buying me a $3 cup of virtual coffee. So, if you enjoy my stories and would like to say, "Thank you," you are welcome to buy me a virtual cup of coffee. And if you're a super reader, my Ko-fi Shop is where I drop all the sneak previews, works in progress, and the new home of my beta readers. So be sure to follow my Ko-fi Shop. Having you follow would be a treat!! |
Thanks for your support!!
Season Premiere
Hidden behind a canopy of shadows, SHANTEL glared at Darien from the dark sidewalk.
Her eyes darted across the moonlit beach and returned to him. He stood at the shore, staring at the sea. The island breeze spread his linen pants around his muscular legs.
Was he waiting for someone?
Palm trees swayed in the star sprinkled sky as she combed the beach with her eyes. Her glare dawdled back to his caramel skin as her ex fingered his locs, tracing a cornrow of clumped coils to the end.
She fumed, imagining his hair being wound together by random girls during his ‘time to himself.’
“Lies,” she mumbled.
Shantel patted her chest, smoothing the rising fury, and adjusted the bow neck of the designer dress he didn’t even notice.
“If he wanted to see other people, he should have said that. Not ‘I need time to myself’. Time for what?”
She bit her lip to stop the bubbling scream from boiling over. Shantel rolled her eyes, took a deep breath, and scanned the shore once more. Only silhouettes of waving palm trees tickling the blue-black sky and the waves tumbling to the shore.
Darien’s lips moved. She gasped and inched closer to read his lips.
“Man,” she whispered, mimicking his mouthing. “I can’t believe this God.”
God? He’s talking to God.
Shantel slowly crawled across the sidewalk, staying low as she crept closer through the sand. She crouched behind a pair of padded beach loungers.
“This is serious,” she read. “God,” he continued. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
Darien paced back and forth along the shore.
Shantel strained to see his lips as she crawled closer. Grains of sand scraped against her knees.
Darien stopped pacing and smiled. A boyish innocence spread, brightening his entire face.
She froze, and hope woke inside the darkest corner of her heart. Her stomach brimmed with fluttering butterflies. Memories of his adoring smile blazed through her mind and her heart bursted open. Shantel’s lips curved into a spellbound smile as she watched him. She rose from the shadows. If he saw her, he would remember that they belonged together.
The amazing scene played in her mind. His eyes would lock on hers and dance down her short dress. She would run to him and he would lift her into his arms, kissing her deep as he vowed never to leave her again.
Dimples of satisfaction pierced her cheeks as she waited for Darien to see her and finally fall in love.
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
Shantel whirled around.
“Terrance,” she shrieked, combing a manicured hand through her straight, dark hair. She swallowed the nervous energy pulsing through her chest, grateful for her mocha skin that didn’t cave to emotions.
“Hey, baby,” she said, laying her tone even.
Terrance glowered over her shoulder at Darien.
Think, SHANTEL, think.
She panicked, keeping her poker face intact. Her gaze fell to her sandy knees. She let out an awkward laugh and pressed her lips together.
“Please tell me you didn’t see that.” Dusting dry sand from her knees, she feigned embarrassment as she shook her head.
Terrance scowled over her head at Darien, who glanced over at them, gave a lukewarm wave, and walked away. Terrance muttered a string of curses. Then he shifted his attention to Shantel. He absorbed the beauty of her wrought smile, unsure of how to respond to what he thought he saw.
Shantel babbled, shaking her head. Her long, silky hair glossed under the moonlight.
“I’m a mess.” She rolled her eyes. “I was walking over to say hi to D. You know me being the bigger person and all, and I tripped.” Her eyes bulged as she gestured toward the cushioned lounge chair.
“I tripped over the lounger.” Shantel groaned, rubbing her palms together, freeing sand grains from her hands. “I’m dirty now.” She pouted. “What kind of idiot trips over a bright white chair?”
She aimed the self depreciating comment directly at Terrance’s bizarre need to protect her.
He glanced at her knees, squinting back the urge to help her. Instead, his glare trailed Darien until the thick night swallow his frame.
Shantel folded her arms across her chest, biting her bottom lip.
“I must look like a fool.” She tilted her head to the side, commanding her eyes to water. They obeyed.
She rolled her eyes up toward the starry sky, balancing the liquid that threatened to spill over her bottom lid.
Terrance melted.
“Nah, baby, I don’t think you’re stupid. Maybe a little on the clumsy side, but I think that’s cute.” He lifted her chin and kissed her tears.
She pulled away, sulking.
“You playing shy now?” He teased. “Last I checked, wasn’t nothing shy about you.”
A girly giggle ruffled her lips, and she threw her arms around his neck. “All girls get a little shy from time to time.”
“Not my girl. Not with me. Ain’t no need for all that.” He rubbed her back, staring into her chestnut brown eyes. “I love you, girl.”
What? Shantel loosened her grip around his neck and stumbled.
Terrance braced her body with his arms, holding her up.
Her mind raced.
Love? He can’t really be in love with me. It’s only been two months.
Shantel gulped back the flickering desire to tell him the truth. The fear of being alone held her back, locking her into the ruse. With tear-filled eyes, she smiled.
“I love you too, baby.” The lie tightened in her chest. She exhaled, hoping he didn’t feel her body tremble.
A genuine grin brightened Terrance’s smooth chocolate face, and his eyes sparkled shinier than the stars.
Her breath caught.
He really loves me.
The chill around her heart melted and deep dimples pierced her cheeks as she smiled back.
I could grow to love him.
Shantel tippy toed into his loving kiss. Except, when she closed her eyes, she still saw Darien.
Her eyes darted across the moonlit beach and returned to him. He stood at the shore, staring at the sea. The island breeze spread his linen pants around his muscular legs.
Was he waiting for someone?
Palm trees swayed in the star sprinkled sky as she combed the beach with her eyes. Her glare dawdled back to his caramel skin as her ex fingered his locs, tracing a cornrow of clumped coils to the end.
She fumed, imagining his hair being wound together by random girls during his ‘time to himself.’
“Lies,” she mumbled.
Shantel patted her chest, smoothing the rising fury, and adjusted the bow neck of the designer dress he didn’t even notice.
“If he wanted to see other people, he should have said that. Not ‘I need time to myself’. Time for what?”
She bit her lip to stop the bubbling scream from boiling over. Shantel rolled her eyes, took a deep breath, and scanned the shore once more. Only silhouettes of waving palm trees tickling the blue-black sky and the waves tumbling to the shore.
Darien’s lips moved. She gasped and inched closer to read his lips.
“Man,” she whispered, mimicking his mouthing. “I can’t believe this God.”
God? He’s talking to God.
Shantel slowly crawled across the sidewalk, staying low as she crept closer through the sand. She crouched behind a pair of padded beach loungers.
“This is serious,” she read. “God,” he continued. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
Darien paced back and forth along the shore.
Shantel strained to see his lips as she crawled closer. Grains of sand scraped against her knees.
Darien stopped pacing and smiled. A boyish innocence spread, brightening his entire face.
She froze, and hope woke inside the darkest corner of her heart. Her stomach brimmed with fluttering butterflies. Memories of his adoring smile blazed through her mind and her heart bursted open. Shantel’s lips curved into a spellbound smile as she watched him. She rose from the shadows. If he saw her, he would remember that they belonged together.
The amazing scene played in her mind. His eyes would lock on hers and dance down her short dress. She would run to him and he would lift her into his arms, kissing her deep as he vowed never to leave her again.
Dimples of satisfaction pierced her cheeks as she waited for Darien to see her and finally fall in love.
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
Shantel whirled around.
“Terrance,” she shrieked, combing a manicured hand through her straight, dark hair. She swallowed the nervous energy pulsing through her chest, grateful for her mocha skin that didn’t cave to emotions.
“Hey, baby,” she said, laying her tone even.
Terrance glowered over her shoulder at Darien.
Think, SHANTEL, think.
She panicked, keeping her poker face intact. Her gaze fell to her sandy knees. She let out an awkward laugh and pressed her lips together.
“Please tell me you didn’t see that.” Dusting dry sand from her knees, she feigned embarrassment as she shook her head.
Terrance scowled over her head at Darien, who glanced over at them, gave a lukewarm wave, and walked away. Terrance muttered a string of curses. Then he shifted his attention to Shantel. He absorbed the beauty of her wrought smile, unsure of how to respond to what he thought he saw.
Shantel babbled, shaking her head. Her long, silky hair glossed under the moonlight.
“I’m a mess.” She rolled her eyes. “I was walking over to say hi to D. You know me being the bigger person and all, and I tripped.” Her eyes bulged as she gestured toward the cushioned lounge chair.
“I tripped over the lounger.” Shantel groaned, rubbing her palms together, freeing sand grains from her hands. “I’m dirty now.” She pouted. “What kind of idiot trips over a bright white chair?”
She aimed the self depreciating comment directly at Terrance’s bizarre need to protect her.
He glanced at her knees, squinting back the urge to help her. Instead, his glare trailed Darien until the thick night swallow his frame.
Shantel folded her arms across her chest, biting her bottom lip.
“I must look like a fool.” She tilted her head to the side, commanding her eyes to water. They obeyed.
She rolled her eyes up toward the starry sky, balancing the liquid that threatened to spill over her bottom lid.
Terrance melted.
“Nah, baby, I don’t think you’re stupid. Maybe a little on the clumsy side, but I think that’s cute.” He lifted her chin and kissed her tears.
She pulled away, sulking.
“You playing shy now?” He teased. “Last I checked, wasn’t nothing shy about you.”
A girly giggle ruffled her lips, and she threw her arms around his neck. “All girls get a little shy from time to time.”
“Not my girl. Not with me. Ain’t no need for all that.” He rubbed her back, staring into her chestnut brown eyes. “I love you, girl.”
What? Shantel loosened her grip around his neck and stumbled.
Terrance braced her body with his arms, holding her up.
Her mind raced.
Love? He can’t really be in love with me. It’s only been two months.
Shantel gulped back the flickering desire to tell him the truth. The fear of being alone held her back, locking her into the ruse. With tear-filled eyes, she smiled.
“I love you too, baby.” The lie tightened in her chest. She exhaled, hoping he didn’t feel her body tremble.
A genuine grin brightened Terrance’s smooth chocolate face, and his eyes sparkled shinier than the stars.
Her breath caught.
He really loves me.
The chill around her heart melted and deep dimples pierced her cheeks as she smiled back.
I could grow to love him.
Shantel tippy toed into his loving kiss. Except, when she closed her eyes, she still saw Darien.
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"Mira stretched her arms out wide, letting . . ." | Grandma's Secret for stronger nails. |
I was trying to write in my planner. Yes, I still have one of those. I actually have three for 2020. All very important. But like I was saying: I was jotting down a list in my planner, but the keyboard was taking up all the space. I picked up the keyboard and slid it behind one of the monitors. Then, I put the planner in the small space I created. I let out an exaggerated sigh and complained. "God, I need a new office." A heartbeat later, I heard, "Clean the one you have and stop asking me for things I've already given you." I laughed, hard. Super hard. |
Why? Because there are papers, books, and boxes everywhere in my office. My long desk is littered with nail polish, books, mini-binders, tumblers, and bibles. My printer is hidden under papers that I can't even remember printing. And sometimes, I get a headache from simply sitting at my desk.
Message received.
I have been given more than enough. Now, it's time to manage what I've got.
"All I am is a nobody telling somebody about God."
~ Kierra "KiKi" Sheard