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my Bible Study Hack: Awesome View

8/12/2020

 
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The Best View

I was hanging out on Christian author, Kim Cash Tate's website. Just browsing around. Then I happened across a blog post about her view one morning. 
She was sitting in front of her laptop. There was not a mountainscape spanning the horizon or an amazing sunrise creeping up into the sky. There wasn't even a breathtaking beach.
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There was only a cup of coffee and a hardcover Bible, but it really was the most beautiful view. In that moment, I wanted nothing more than to sit with my Bible, enjoying God's company.

Simply Perfect

So, I read with a soft smile as she shared the simplest detail that has forever changed my Bible reading and  studying experience. 
The heavily worded, thin sheets of her juicy hardcover bible were highlighted using COLOR PENCILS. Wait. . . what?
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For years, I've been using hightlighters and searching for the perfect no bleed, thin point pens for my Bibles, and none of them worked. BUT Color pencils? It was the biggest 'aha' moment of my life. 

Happily Ever After

That same day, I grabbed one of my hardcover Bibles with those impossibly thin pages and snuck an orange-yellow colored pencil from the kiddos. Right on my sofa, chilling in Numbers, I fell in love with my own favorite view, speckled in color pencil. God is love.

Did any one else know that
​color pencils are a Bible Study must have?

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How to Self-Publish Your Novel

6/29/2020

 
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Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

​Just Doing It

To 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.
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Photo by The Lazy Artist Gallery from Pexels

My Hero

While that may still happen, it is no longer my goal because today's tech has made it 'paint-by-numbers' easy to self-publish. I might as well champion my own love stories.
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Photo by Ann H from Pexels

Join me

Along 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. 
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SAMPLE: milkbath | Suds 2 by Love makeda

5/8/2020

 
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Read FREE Sample Now

​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...

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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. 

Get your Autographed Print Edition
exclusively at my Ko-fi Shop.

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Click the Ko-fi mug to buy your autographed copy of milkbath, today!!
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SAMPLE: Suds
​by Love makeda
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my Ko-fi Shop is Open!!

5/5/2020

 
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A Novel Idea

Writing 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.
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COMING SOON: Mira's Bubble | Suds 2.5

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!!

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SAMPLE: Suds by Love makeda

5/4/2020

 
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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.

Get your Autographed Print Edition
exclusively at my Ko-fi Shop.

Picture
Click the Ko-fi mug to buy your autographed copy of Suds, today!!
Picture

You'll Also Like:
Picture
SAMPLE: milkbath | Suds 2 by Love makeda
"Mira stretched her arms out wide, letting . . ."
Picture
How to Make Weak Nails Stronger
Grandma's Secret for stronger nails.

God, I need a new office...

2/20/2020

 
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Photo by Plush Design Studio from Pexels
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
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