January, 2010

There’s something about new beginnings, no matter what form: a new hairdo, job, home, relationship, month day, or now…a new decade. Can you believe we’ve already zoomed by the first ten years of the 21^st century, that we’ve already witnessed the first decade of the 3^rd millennium? Seems like only yesterday we were wondering if our national computer system would survive Y2K, and were being cautioned to stock up on cash and water. (Well…some of y’all because I wasn’t scurred!)

The first decade beginning with ‘2’, will definitely go down in history. Among the many wars and rumors of wars, Ariel Sharon went to the wall and effectively ended a decade or more of relative peace between the Jew and Palestinian. But it was the “big bang” of our lifetime…when two planes plowed into the twin towers, that turned the world as we knew it upside down. The “war on terror” became a war on our civil liberties, and basic rights under the constitution. This is a war we’re still fighting as even now they now want me to bare my behind via an electronic scanner at the airport to…make sure a bomb isn’t up there? Uh, surely you jest! But no, they don't. We already take off our jewelry, belts, jackets, shoes…that clothing follows is logical, right? My bad…I’m still thinking this is America.  

Global warming heated up, as did a renewed threat of a nuclear arms race. We survived a Bush sequel, by the grace of God. Jesse Jackson warned us to “stay out of those bushes” when the daddy was in office. We should have listened, but didn’t. Oh, wait a minute. We did! But then there were those blasted "hanging chads" in the state the brother ran. As a result, the land of the free and home of the brave "went missing", and among other scandalous affairs, we watched thousands of Americans, mostly poor and mostly African-American, remain stranded in the waters of New Orleans for almost five days. Thousands of people died. Hurricane Katrina demonstrated our government at its worst, out of touch and ineffective. And then, another water-fueled natural disaster that I’d never heard of much less knew how to pronounce, a tsunami, hit Asia and killed a quarter of a million people. I think many of us are still searching for the words to describe that one. Or maybe we’ve realized…there are none.

America’s economy wobbled…twice. The first time was in 2000 when the dot.com bubble burst. That would be eclipsed as the decade came to an end when the US economy as we knew it would also explode, taking billions of dollars, thousands of jobs and as many American’s homes with it. The term “bail out” took on new meaning, and the government tossed around figures with so many zeroes that our eyes simply clouded over and we finally just put on the greatest hits by Marvin Gaye and asked the question…what’s going on?

We elected our first Black president. The real one, unlike when many of us labeled Bill Clinton the first because he liked fried chicken and could play the sax. I was blessed to be a part of this history. My candidate of choice, from the beginning, was Barack Obama, and for the first time in my adult life when it came to electing presidents, I did something besides cast my vote. I canvassed on the phone and on the ground, helped Obama tie in Texas, and attended both the Democratic National Convention in Denver and the inauguration in Washington, DC.

We welcomed in a new age of “must-have” technology gadgets, including iPods, WIIs, GPS systems and Wi-Fi internet. Digital everything – phones, cameras, recording devices – became common household electronics. Wow, doesn’t dial up seem like another lifetime ago? Come to think of it…I guess it was.

The term “social networking” went to another level, with websites like Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn and others becoming standard fare for marketing, networking and basic PR. We “ninged”, “pinged”, “twittered” and “blogged” our way into the hearts and minds of friends and strangers alike. We sent flowers and drinks, and invited a thousand or more people to a zillion events. No matter that the party was most likely not in their city but hey, it’s the thought that counts, right?

In Hollywood, we saw blockbusters go through the stratosphere, with billion dollar worldwide profits, and trilogies that catapulted careers. From the Lords to friends of Harry, to the Matrix (where an even bigger mystery is who was the REAL originator of this story), to old names made new again – Batman, Spiderman, the Fantastic Four. We marched with penquins, learned about slumdogs, and everybody else found out who Tyler Perry is…

And finally, people who’d entertained us – some from the time we were children – would not live to see the second decade of the 21^st century. Sadly, there are too many for me to try and name in one setting, but a few who particularly touched my life, and left this past decade, in no particular order are: Shirley Chisholm (first woman to seek presidency) Johnnie Wilder (lead singer of Heatwave), Ronald Winans (the Winans), McFadden & Whitehead (2004, 2006 – famous writing duo w/popular song, Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now), actress Lynn Thickpen (remember the angry Black woman from Lean On Me?), Sean and Eddie Levert, Billy Preston, Bernie Mac, Coretta Scott King, Yolanda King,  Alaina Reed-Hall, Waymon Tisdale, Levi Stubbs (the Four Tops), Luther Vandross, Bebe Moore, Ed Bradley, Gordon Parks, Richard Pryor, Rosa Parks, August Wilson, Johnnie Cochran, Ossie Davis, Barry White, Gregory Hines, Paul Harvey, Heath Ledger, Rick James, James Brown, E. Lynn Harris and the one that took my breath away...Michael Jackson. 

On a more personal level, I said temporary goodbyes to my Uncle David and Aunt 'Re.

In celebrating the lives of these great lights, I am more determined than ever to embrace every moment, to be thankful every single day, to accomplish my goals and turn my dreams into reality. Here we are, at another beginning…another chance to get it right. I’m going to do my best to make the most of it, and have a string of victories behind me as I welcome 2020. What about you?

Two Brothahs...Two Soon

Here it is more than a month since Michael Jackson made his transition, and I still feel I don’t have the words to adequately write about his passing. But as this week has painfully shown me, life moves on, and so do people. So with the transition of E. Lynn Harris, a mentor I never met, I realize more than ever that now is the only time I have, and so now is the time to write about these two, 50-something brothahs who have, in my opinion, gone too soon. Yes, I know that in the grand scheme of things everything is in divine order and perfectly orchestrated, but that still doesn’t stop me from wanting to hear another MJ original or read E. Lynn’s next chapter. And so I write…

 I grew up with Michael Jackson. At one time almost a whole wall in my bedroom was covered with pictures of the Jackson Five, and even though I decided to have a crush on Marlon (who I felt wasn’t getting enough recognition) most of my pics were of his little brother, Michael. I recently read a review post on Amazon regarding one of the zillions of MJ products now flooding the net. In it the writer said that while the book he reviewed had a bunch of information on the Jackson Five, he wasn’t interested in that but “only in the stuff Michael did as an adult”. This self-proclaimed MJ enthusiast and probably 20/30-something music lover wrote as if the early days weren’t all that important. BABY! You haven’t heard Michael until you’ve heard him with his brothers. Okay??? Stop, The Love You Save, ABC, Never Can Say Goodbye, Who’s Lovin’ You…that young blood wanna be startin’ somethin’! :) It was because of the love affair that for millions of us began with the Jackson Five and continued through Off The Wall and beyond, that we were able to love MJ through his trials, tribulations and complexion changes. We just love Michael. Period. Unconditionally. End of story.

I kinda met Michael once. I say "kinda" because we only said hi.  Since I try not to live with regrets, I'm trying HARD not to regret passing up what could have been "more than a moment". It was at the Crown Center complex in Kansas City. I was walking from the shops to the hotel side with a friend when who walks toward us but Michael and his brother, Randy. If looks could kill, Randy's would have laid me out. But Michael smiled, and when we passed each other we both shyly said "hi". That's it. "Hi." I must have been in shock because seconds later, when my brain screamed "THAT'S MICHAEL JACKSON!!!" and I turned around, he and his brother were staring at us, but "the moment" was gone. I never got it back. I did hang out backstage during that concert and partied with his crew. Saw him in concert twice more after that, on the  famed "Victory" Jackson brothers reunion tour and Michael's "Bad" tour.  Each show was amazing, fantastic, incredible....even  the Victory tour at Arrowhead Stadium, where the stage was so far away it could have been in a different zip code! But for the Bad concert, me and my sister, Cella, were on the 13th row! So when the news that shocked America made its way to me on June 25^th, I just couldn’t quite grasp its truth. Not through the 24-hour news coverage or the televised funeral seen by a billion or...now. I guess that’s because Michael may be gone in body, but he is still very much alive in spirit. We’re still “rockin’ with you Michael”…all night…

I don’t know how I first found out about E. Lynn Harris, but what I do know is his story indirectly changed the course of my life. I was already a writer, poems and plays mostly with an article or a news story or two in between, but there was this novel floating around in my head. I quickly learned after writing the manuscript that that was only half the job; the second half was going from manuscript to finished novel and getting it to the reading public. That’s where E. Lynn came in. I read about his now legendary story—how after being rejected from every major publishing house in NYC, he used his life savings to self-publish Invisible Life, which he sold from his car trunk to salons and beauty shops across Atlanta. The rest, as they say, is NY Times/USA Today/Essence/Ebony/Etc. bestselling history! This is the story that inspired me to follow in his footsteps and independently publish Sex In The Sanctuary in 2004. The book sold out of its modest, limited run, was picked up by Kensington a year later and released through its Dafina line in 2007. I am now working on book six of what is now the Hallelujah Love Series and in addition, have donned an alter-ego, Zuri Day, who writes sizzling romance novels. Almost ten books later, I’m on the path that began by walking in the steps of one who inspired…E. Lynn Harris. I never met him, but I’ll never forget him. I won’t forget Michael either. This gives me comfort--that when it comes to my heart these two brothers, who left earth way too early, will never truly be gone.

April 23, 2009 - Valentine's Day, Barcelona Style...

On April 23^rd, the city of Barcelona, Spain celebrates a holiday that is unique to the city: La Diada de Sant Jordi, or St. George’s Day. The closest equivalent holiday in America is Valentines Day, except the way they do it here in Barcelona is an author and booklover’s dream. Men give women roses. Women give men…books!

            According to various internet sources, this holiday dates back to the Middle Ages when legend has it that Saint George, the patron saint of Catalonia, rescued a damsel in distress. He slew the mighty dragon that threatened to kill her, then plucked a rose from the bush that sprang up from its blood. A fairy tale if there ever was one, huh? But for this hopeful romantic, the whole damsel/knight thing always has a certain appeal. The less fantastical version, however, is that George was a 4^th century Roman soldier killed for his Christian beliefs and later canonized as a saint. This “fact” is why the holiday is named in his honor, the legend is why every knight gives his lady a rose. The idea of the woman also giving a gift, a book, was added in 1923 by some anonymous soul who was obviously either a reader, a writer, or both! I’m sure bookstores and authors have been singing this person’s praises ever since, as the entire city engages in the act of buying books on this day. Can you imagine the literary impact if this type of celebration was adopted in cities like LA, DC, NY, Atlanta and/or others? Where everyone in the city participated? Even though almost all of the books being sold were in Spanish (including several tables boasting this version of our president’s Audacity of Hope, La Audacia de la Esperanza) this writer felt good being surrounded by thousands of people who love to read!

            There are several tidbits of history that make this day even more interesting for locals and visitors alike. One is that April 23^rd is also World Book Day. Did you know that? I didn’t, or if I did, had forgotten. Secondly, this date is also listed as when famed English playwright William Shakespeare and Spanish writer, poet and playwright Miguel de Cervantes both died. I say “listed as” the date because in actuality at the time this happened, 1616, Spain was using the Gregorian calendar—Cervantes actually died ten days earlier. Among other writings, Cervantes gave the world Don Quixote de la Mancha, probably his most famous work.        

            If you think the whole date thing is confusing, you’ll also shake your head at an interesting phenomenon in Barcelona that makes this a very unique city, in a country that is fairly distinctive to the rest of Europe. There is a culture within a culture here, those who are native to Barcelona, called Catalonians and those, even of Spanish descent, who were born elsewhere and moved here. These natives consider it a big deal to have been born in Catalonia, to be who they are, and there is a sort of snobbish exclusivity among them. Lest you doubt this, not only do they have their own cultural practices, and their own region of Spain of which Barcelona is the capital, but also their own language. There are two official languages here: Spanish and Catalan. You can get by very well in the city speaking Spanish, but you will only truly be accepted, truly belong, if you speak Catalan: a mixture of Spanish, French, Italian and words original to the region.

            On this holiday it is tradition to walk down La Rambla (the avenue), a lively, pedestrian street in an area of the city called Barri Gotic. It is near the Placa de Catalunya or when spoken in English—Catalunya Square, and the main hubbub of activity for this event. While mingling with the thousands of others who sought to uphold this tradition, and amidst this day of love for all and thoughtful gift-giving, I witnessed an interesting protest between a group of Spaniards waving the Catalonian flag (oh, yeah, they have their own flag too), speaking Catalan and singing indigenous songs; and a smaller group that countered this exuberant declaration of Catalonian pride with some Spanish pomp of their own. They chanted: La lingua es espana, si que mole! Roughly translated, this mantra declares that for the masses, the language is Spanish! There was some fairly innocent shouting back and forth, but when people began giving the universal third finger to each other, and someone threw a couple rocks at a man in a window above the crowd, this sistah decided it was time to move on. Still, I find it interesting that all countries have prejudicial dynamics: even when a majority of the people involved are the same color.

            On any given day, La Rambla is a lively place to be: with street musicians, circus-like acts of juggling, miming, stilt-walking and more. But on Sant Jordi’s Day, it was especially festive—and for the booklovers in Barcelona…a wonderful treat!

January 28, 2009 - Can He Get A Witness (Inauguration, '09!)

Anybody who asked this question last Tuesday, regarding Barack Hussein Obama, our nation’s 44^th president, already knows the answer. Not only could he get one witness, he got about fifty million of them, and that’s just stateside. Forty million by television, five million by other electronic means such as internet or Ipod, and in the United States capitol of Washington, D.C., about five million more. The streets fairly teemed with united masses, singular in purpose, fulfillment and pride. Everyone was there to participate in history, to bear witness to the truth, that times…they indeed are a’changin’. And I was in the middle of this melodious madness…as a witness.

            Even now, a week later, I grapple with words adequate enough to express the experience. And then this writer of more than ten novels accepts reality: there are none. No words, adjectives or superlatives that can accurately convey the measure of the moment: the energy, the feeling of Oneness that blanketed our country, and the world. Where for a span of time, whether by choice or accident, all colors, cultures, religions and ethnicities came together, gave a collective amen…and bore witness.

Finally, I realize I don’t have to describe it. Because you were there too. Whether you were on the mall, or on a side street, or in your home, or at a community center’s viewing party, restaurant, church or bar, maybe even at work, you know how it felt when you witnessed history, when you bore witness to the truth of a page turning to a new chapter in America’s history. We probably felt the same way. Amazed and elated, trying to juxtapose the reality with the surreal…watching the staid, rigid, one-dimensional regime of old make way for the multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-dimensional new leadership. Finally, a man leading our country who truly reflects its diversity…on so many levels! Even as we watched our nation’s first Black president saunter up to the podium and speak of a new day and a new way in America, this “change we can believe in” was hard to believe. But it is here.

            My inauguration experience officially began on Monday, when I traveled into the city to pick up my coveted viewing ticket. From the time I stepped out of Union Station, I was enveloped in the magic. Street vendors sold any and everything that boasted either Barack or Michelle’s name or face. Tourists from every part of the globe mingled with the natives, the residents of “Chocolate City,” and we did it with grace, and ease. The first remark I heard upon reaching the street was from a conversation between two Caucasian twenty-somethings who I later learned were from Portland, Oregon. “Wow, it sure is different here.”  I turned and smiled. Not only because of their rich, new experience of being the minority in a world of color, but of their awe and joy, instead of fear, at this fact.

            That night I attended an inaugural ball where we hoped the Prez and his wife would pay a visit. The closest he got was across the street, where Joe Biden was being honored. But still we were the beautiful people, standing on the shoulders of our ancestors, having arrived in DC by way of lynchings and riots, peaceful protests and affirmative action. Listening to Afro Blue, Howard University’s a cappella chorus, we were joined by the spirits of those who’d witnessed the emancipation proclamation, the underground railroad, the civil rights movement; who’d endured sits ins and shout outs and “no ways tired.” We stood in the shadows of a grandmother’s toil and a father’s sacrifice. And I’m sure I felt their energy and their joy as we kept it real at the end of the evening with a robust rendition of the electric slide! 

The next morning I boarded a chartered bus for D.C., a city that was virtually shut down, inaccessible. There was no transportation from Baltimore, where I was staying, to the Capitol. The Marc train had been sold out for at least a week. Improbable neons signs, with messages like “no parking in D.C.” flashed as our driver barreled down the highway. We joined dozens, if not hundreds of other buses at the RFK stadium, and were herded (a very appropriate description for the thousands in line) on to a very efficient shuttle system, and dropped off near 7^th and Frontage Road, about a thirty minute walk to the action, to Capitol Hill.

We arrived early, seven-thirty, and I was glad. Later I would learn that my arrival to the mall an hour later was just in time. Around nine-thirty, the mall was shut down completely, unable to accommodate the ever-growing mass of people wanting to take their place in history. The official count for attendance at President Obama’s swearing in is 1.8 million, but that is only the number that could get on the mall! I would guess that a million more lined the streets, both outside the initial ceremony and along the parade route. It was a controlled chaos, and patience abounded. We laughed, joked and plodded through the streets in a millions-strong throng, and then waited for more than five hours, our closely assembled bodies providing much needed heat, until the moment when we heard it become official: “I Barack Hussein Obama do solemnly swear…”

I am bursting with memories, could fill a book with them: the seventy-something church mother who abandoned her wheelchair to stand as the oath was administered, the forty-something bishop from Florida who had brought her there, along with thirty other church members, children of all races on the shoulders of their fathers, mothers and daughters holding hands, calls from friends and family wanting a long-distance, real time “play by play”, high-fiving friends and hugging strangers, a plethora of accents and dialects amidst a bouquet of nationalities and genders, spectators breaking through barriers for a closer view, policemen letting us do it, teenagers skating on the frozen pond, tears mingling with laughter as we heard from our president, the human grid that locked retreating pedestrians for moments, even hours, after the ceremony was over.

But the best part, for me, was “the moment”. After the pomp and circumstance of introducing our government, Aretha’s homage to our country, Rick’s inclusive prayer and the roll call of presidents who had served before him…then they came, Mr. & Mrs. Obama, to take their unique and special place inside a selective history. To break from the past and embrace a new present, leading to a more positive future. We are blessed to have been alive in this time, to experience firsthand what others will read about in history books. We were there. When “yes we can” became “yes we did” and is now “yes we will”. Because Tuesday, November 4^th, 2009 wasn’t just the end of an era, but the beginning of another one; a more positive America, an expectant, hopeful world. And with the power of our vote, it’s a world we helped create. Can I get a witness?

November 7, 2008 - Change Has Come...

(Photo: Nancy and I performed in a theatrical production called "A More Perfect Union". It was a "dialogue" between Barack Obama and Jeremiah Wright, the entire script of which were their own words taken from their speeches on race. This picture was taken as we waited to witness history, Barack's acceptance of the democratic nomination in Denver.)

It all started at a dinner party. That’s where I met Valarie Kaur, a fiery, Sikh American whose passion for positive change matches my own. She’d produced a film, Divided We Fall (www.dwf-film.com) about life for diverse America in general and Sikh Americans in particular in the aftermath of 9/11. We began talking about our country, its problems and possibilities. That rambling and lively conversation during the course of a wonderful evening sparked a lifelong friendship, and my beginnings in politicking for Barack Hussein Obama.

Valarie had been a precinct captain for Obama during the primary and after receiving an email from her requesting volunteers, I found myself, along with thousands perhaps millions of others, phone canvassing for Obama from the privacy and comfort of my home. The campaign’s astute use of the internet made it as easy as the click of a mouse to log on, get a caller list, and join the process. I called citizens across the country, and was encouraged and inspired as I talked to, at that time, Clinton, Obama and McCain supporters. What struck me was not how different we were, depending on our political preference, but what we shared in common: a desire for change, a right to our ideals, and the American flag. 

From that first phone call in late 2007 until election night, I engaged in the political process: phone calls, knocking on doors, talking to friends and fellow citizens about why I felt Barack offered positive change that transcended politics. I believed then and know now that what was happening was not a campaign, but a movement: a response to the collective consciousness’s desire to see the glass half full instead of half empty, to believe that we can turn poverty to prosperity, hate to love, enemies to allies, “no we can’t” to “yes we can”. 

Words can’t express my gratitude in participating in the TX elections, winning a small, suburban, heavily Republican community called Pflugerville for Obama and helping him to win the very important caucus vote in that state. Words can’t describe being at the Democratic Convention, and at Invesco Field, as a microcosm of America: every race, age, religious affiliation, military branch, and socio-economic background imaginable came together with a shared sense of purpose. Not a campaign but a movement…to change the world. Eighty-five thousand strong, with millions watching, we shared the historic moment when our next president accepted the Democratic nomination for president of the United States of America.

Millions of us across America continued to campaign for change until the last possible moment. My final push was at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Los Angeles, at a mega phone bank where hundreds of us dialed frantically to secure swing state voters. I made my last call at 6:00 pm PST, which was 7:00 in Colorado, the time their polls closed. Afterwards I followed the sound of cheering and screaming, which led me to the hotel lobby where the state-by-state results were coming in. Vermont was first, then Maine, New Hampshire, etc. Pennsylvania: a big one. Ohio…oh my. Can this be real? Yes, it’s really happening. At 7:59 Obama had 207 electoral votes. We knew he’d win, but I wanted to see a Virginia/Florida security blanket before I celebrated.

The last poll closed at 8:00 PST and we counted down a momentous election day: 10, 9, 8…3, 2, 1! And then something happened that I didn’t expect: the announcement that leapt onto the MSNBC screen: Barack Obama Elected President. That’s when life became a high from which I’ve yet to come down. Change has come to America, and to the world.

I am an American who has African, Native American and European blood flowing through my veins, with friends of almost every ethnicity spread across almost every continent. Under the cover of darkness, my great-great-grandparents used cloth to muffle their horse’s hooves and fled slavery in South Carolina. They settled in Arkansas and continued to struggle against racism and economic disadvantage. One day a White man called my great-grandfather the n-word. It was the wrong day to do so. After enduring this and other indignities his entire life, he'd had enough. A fight broke out between the two men and when it was over, the White man died as a result of his injuries. A posse came looking for my great-grandfather and he ran to save his family from harm. They never saw him again.

My grandparents were sharecroppers, and while my grandmother didn’t have a college education, she had common sense. So when the landowner kept promising to upon his death, give them the land that they farmed for a pittance, my grandmother insisted the promise be put in writing. As a result, more than one hundred acres of rich Arkansas soil is now our inheritance. (We got more than forty acres, but we’re still waiting for the mule. :) My mother pulled us from working to middle-class America by getting first an associates, then two bachelors and finally a masters degree in the areas of nursing and social work. My father, who never finished high school because he had to help work the farm, told me that I could go anywhere, and could be anything. And I have. I am the person Barack speaks of when he talks about the parent that didn’t achieve their dream, but believed if they worked hard, their kid could.

In short, I am an embodiment of the American dream; one who is standing on the shoulders of the people who’ve come before me. I’ve seen much of the world, its warts and its wonders, and continue to do so now in the blessed position of full-time, published author. All because millions of people before me of every religion, age and race believed the words President-Elect Obama has once again made our positive mantra: a new message for a new day…yes we can. And today, November 5^th, a day after the earth has shifted into a positive paradigm, I am grateful to have witnessed this firsthand, to have been a part of creating a world as it should be, and to participate in a democracy that is unparalleled. Last night, when a woman began singing the national anthem and the television station went to commercial, thousands of us at the Hyatt Regency continued singing. With hands over hearts and tears in eyes, we embraced America as it should be: …the land of the free, and the home of the brave. Yes.

If you are on my mailing list, that means you are my friend. So whether you voted for McCain or Obama, I love you. And I ask that you consider this woo-woo vibe to usher in a brighter tomorrow, for all of us. I ask you to believe in yourself and this country’s ability to make the dream of peace and prosperity for all a reality. I ask that you embrace this one simple word…YES. I ask you to believe in the world as it should be, divinely ordered and permanently perfect as Spirit ordains.

PS: A photo album of my journey with Barack can be viewed at: www.myspace.com/lutishialovely.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008 - I Give Up!

You want to know what's better than continuing to try something that isn't working? Getting to the place where you know it's not working!

That's the situation with my well intentioned blogging efforts. It's just not happening! Nothing beats a failure but a try. I tried and...it's just not happening right now. 

Not that I'm not writing. On the contrary, I am blessed to be writing up a storm as we speak, with five books coming out in the next twelve months! Maybe that's it...maybe after all that fiction, there's just nothing left for real-life blogging.

Don't give totally up on me though. I think once I have the time to get into a regular blogging rhythm, I'll actually be pretty good. I always have a variety of things on my mind, read alot, love to network, and love to write. But after several weeks of being unable to update this page on a regular basis I'm ready to quote Victoria Rowell's foster mother, Agatha Wooten Armstead, and say: enough is enough and too much is foolish!

I guess I'll say goodbye to the blogs for now with two things: one, if you haven't already pick up Rowell's bestselling novel, The Women Who Raised Me. It's now out on paperback and is an excellent read. Two, if any of you are going to the Democratic Convention, or more specifically going to Denver to see Barack Obama officially accept the nomination for president...let me know. I'll be there and hey...we can share a toast together!

Oh, and one more thing...be sure to check back for information on the new author I'm promoting, Zuri Day and the October release Lies Lovers Tell, and also remember that book # 3 of the Hallelujah Love Series, A Preacher's Passion, is only a few months away from making its debut! 

Thanks everybody for sharing the love. It's appreciated and returned a hundred fold!



Tuesday, June 24, 2008 - The Blogging Blues!

(Picture at right: Reading from the latest novel in the Hallelujah Love series,  Love Like Hallelujah, at this years Book Expo in L.A.)

Okay y’all…I got the blogging blues. Yes, I know, grammatically it’s “I have”, but my feeling is “I got”…like you’d say in a blues song, about something low down and dirty, or a somebody-done-me-wrong country song.

It’s not that anybody’s done me wrong or that I have the blues. Quite the contrary. Life is good and getting better. Only thing is…I’m busy as h&%^#! And here’s the crazy thing: I feel absolutely sure that I should be doing everything I’m doing right now: finishing my second romance novel, editing my first to send back to the publisher, and my most endearing project right now…acting in a play called A More Perfect Union, inspired by Obama’s and Rev. Wright’s speeches on race and religion in America. (I had to do it y’all…I’m a huge supporter and this is just one of the ways I’m trying to help a brothah get elected!) All this while still trying to stay in shape by working out, eating right, hang with my honey and get a little R&R.

The thing is, there are only so many hours in the day and before I knew it…I’d missed two weeks of my Tuesdays with Lutishia (I just came of up with that name for my blog…like it?). So for anybody out there wondering where I’ve been with the blogging beat…now you know. Busy living the blog instead of writing about it…but I miss hearing from you!

What about y’all? How do you balance the busy lives that most of us lead? And especially the parents…I am continually amazed at the work that gets put out by people with kids! And how do we stay balanced through it all? And get enough rest?

I’m still trying to figure it out…while I try and get back into the weekly groove of Tuesdays with Lutishia. See you next week!

Tuesday, June 3, 2008 - History in the making: Obama clinches Democratic nom today!)

But this isn't the title of today's blog: it is...
To BE: The Book Expo and the Barack Expectation.

(But before I get started, the picture at right is of me and Jack Canfield, founder of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and one of my inspirations. Like him, I initiated by first book deal at the Book Expo.)

Okay, let's go...

First of all, I’m still recouping from this year’s Book Expo America that went from Thursday night until Sunday afternoon at Los Angeles’ Convention Center. It was fabulous, as usual. I always enjoy catching up with fellow authors, meeting fans, and networking with those in the industry who hold it down for us writers. At the risk of leaving somebody out (which I probably will so just forgive and hollah at a sistah so I can say wuzzup), I must send a shout out to just a few of the people with whom I was blessed to connect: Selena James, Adeola Saul and all the rest of the Kensington gang (my publisher), fellow K-pals Vanessa Davis Griggs, Donna Hill, Gwynn Forester, Anna J., Earl Sewell, Victoria Rowell, Monda Webb, West Coast Biz, Jack Canfield, Ann Hopson, Naleighna Kai, Freedom Speaks, Sandra Kitt, Barbara Walters, Garrison Keeler and “Nikki”. Also much love to Tony Rose and Amber Communications for holding it down in the African American Pavilion and to AALBC’s Troy Johnson and MosaicBook’s Ron Kevanaugh for their marketing expertise. Check out a few pics from the weekend on myspace, including my reading from the current Hallelujah Love Series installment, Love Like Hallelujah. Enjoy!

In writing the above I was and am reminded of how important other people are to our lives. Not just to our business or to a particular project, but to our everyday existence. In a world that thrives on independence, I am reminded of the importance of INTER-dependence. In short…we need each other, and that’s a good thing. I need you, you need me, we are one big family…okay, let me not get maudlin. But you get my point. We’re in this thing together…this world, this life. And for having you as one of the ones sharing mine…I’m grateful. Thank you.

And on a final note: I can’t blog today without a comment on Barack Obama. As we all know today, Tuesday, June 3, 2008, will hopefully and finally be the official day this once obscure senator from Illinois can declare that he is the Democratic Party’s presumptive nominee for president of the United States of America! Honestly, I didn’t know if the true possibility of electing a Black man as president would happen in my lifetime. I remember when Jesse Jackson ran in 1988 and while that moment felt significant, the numbers never put him in serious contention for the highest position in American government. And let’s not forget that Congressman Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman to run for president in 1972. But Barack? Y’all, he really has a chance. Are we about to do this? Are we about to do the d-thang and put the first Black family in the White house? Tonight may be yet one more step on the road to that possibility. And for being alive to watch it happen, and to share the moment with my 70-something mother and my 80-something aunt…again…I am grateful.

What about you? Who are you sharing your moments with today? Let them know they matter…

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Is Sex Nasty?

          When I began the “Hallelujah Love” series with a book called Sex In The Sanctuary, I knew the title would raise a few eyebrows. But even after being raised in the church and the daughter of a preacher, I was still taken aback at just how offended that one, small word, s-e-x, was to some people. 

       This week I’ve been fascinated by the fallout that occurred when one online magazine to which I’m a subscriber promoted a book on erotica. People were offended, subscriptions were cancelled, opinions were hurled and judgments made. All of this based on the cover alone—with no excerpt.

     During a recent internet radio discussion on love scenes in romance novels, the moderator asked the participating authors how we conveyed these passionate moments while “keeping it clean.” I believe that’s the first time I openly asked the question, “Is sex nasty?”

      At first blush, this question may appear elementary but over the course of the past several years I’ve found that it “taint necessarily so.” My thoughts regarding sex have evolved from thinking it nasty, to believing it natural: a wonderful gift from God to be shared and enjoyed by consenting adults, in whatever ways bring them pleasure. But, trust, I didn’t always feel this way.

     It has been medically proven that a healthy sex life is, well, healthy. A December, 2007 Newsweek article entitled Six Reasons To Have Sex Every Week, by Temma Ehrenfeld, cites among other things that regular sex raises the body’s level of the immune-boosting antibody immunoglobin, which fights colds and flu. Regular love-making helps to relieve headaches and stress, promotes regular menstrual cycles, and raises a woman’s estrogen levels promoting healthy hair and supple skin. In other words…regular sex keeps us look young!

       But like I said this thinking for me was an evolution. Like many women, especially Black women who grew up in traditionally religious households, very little was said about sex and what little I did hear was not good. My sex education went something like this: keep your panties up and your dress down. Sex, translated fornication in religious circles, was a sin, together with adultery, homosexuality and later, in more “forward-talking” congregations, oral or anal copulation, masturbation and pornography were also included in the sexual list of “thou shalt nots.” And even though according to scripture the marriage bed is “undefiled”, anything beyond the missionary position, including those acts listed above, was viewed with raised eyebrows. These acts went beyond being “nasty,” they were and for many still are viewed as vile, depraved, twisted, unnatural and, of course, unholy. One first lady went so far as to say that sex was strictly for procreation, and never for pleasure.

       To be fair, not all churches take this hard line. Several years ago I heard a prominent LA minister and biblical scholar say that when it comes to the marriage bed “anything goes,” and further stated that the Bible takes no clear position on masturbation. It is now rather common to hear pastors make sensual overtures regarding their mates, talking of Victoria’s Secret purchases or even listening to Marvin Gaye during romantic moments. I believe this healthier, less judgmental approach to sex is slowly gaining ground in religious circles, but we, especially in the Black community, have a long way to go.

       For the most part sex is still a taboo topic both in and out of religious circles. Judgment and condemnation commonly accompany any discussion on homosexuality, lesbianism, masturbation, oral sex, etc. so we simply don’t talk about it. It’s the big elephant in the community that we refuse to openly acknowledge. Adults won’t talk to each other about it, children feel embarrassed or afraid to come to their parents with questions, and schools are limited on the types of sex education classes they can offer. But one look at statistics shows that while we may not be talking about it…we’re doing it. More than seventy percent of Black children are born to single mothers, one in three Black teenagers have been diagnosed with an STD, the highest and fastest growing group of AIDS cases is Black, heterosexual females and forty-two percent of Black women have never married but a large share of this percentage are sexually active. Because of the silence on the subject, however, much needed information about protection, prevention and positive perspectives on sexuality is not being shared. Too many people believe sex is nasty, not natural, something to be hidden and literally done in the dark. As a result everyone suffers: our children, our community, our churches, ourselves.

      I would not be so arrogant or ignorant to think my opinion is the end-all be-all on sex. I believe that much like the act itself this is a personal issue of which the interpretation of “correctness” should be left up to the individuals involved. What works for one couple may not for the other, what feels “right” to one might be a “sin” to another, and so on. I do believe, however, that it is past time for all of us to have an open, honest, non-judgmental, non-condemning, ongoing dialogue on sex and sexuality, and that this should start early with age-appropriate dialogue with our children. 

       In the early 90’s a female rap group, Salt-N-Pepa, made a suggestion. They said, “let’s talk about sex.” I think they were on to something.  What do you think?

The design of this site isn't the most "blog-friendly" however, I welcome your comments. Please post them to the link below and I will add them here. Blessings!

Post your comment here: LutishiaLovely@yahoo.com  

Please leave at least a first name and city you're posting from....thanks everybody!!!
 

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Welcome everybody to my new blog! 

I don't know why it's taken me so long to get into this whole "blog" thing; and I'm not sure how much I'll get into it now...but here goes. I have a small one on my myspace page, but I'm going to try and update this one regularly, every Tuesday morning after returning from my 6:00am step class. I plan to talk about whatever's on my mind as well as what's on yours; whatever's going on in both the literary and real world. I'm just gonna type and flow and see what we end up workin' with...!

This was formerly my "bookshelf" page and while I'll continue to promote and showcase other authors and their books, the truth is, I've been too busy writing to read much lately so the page stayed stagnant much of the time. The last book I read was by new author Trice Hickman, called Unexpected Interruptions. It is an excellent read; one I recommend. So as I meet new authors and read good books, I'll be sure and pass it on...as well as info on my stuff....of course! :)

This week is all about finishing up my second romance novel. The first one in this new genre for me, Lies Lovers Tell, will debut in October, '08 under my romance pseudonym, Zuri Day. 

Why a pseudo? Several reasons: 1) it separates these books from the Hallelujah Love series; 2) it gives those who may connect my name only with Christian-themed fiction to pick up a fresh book by this "new" author; 3) it creates a multi-tiered business, taking my eggs out of one basket so to speak and 4) it allows me to have several "brands" or types of writing. So for all of you Lutishia Lovely fans...meet Zuri Day! She'll have her own website and myspace page soon. Yes, y'all, I'll address her in third person as a totally different "persona", not hard for this former actor (well, I'm still an actor, just haven't performed on stage lately) and, truth be told, owner of several personalities depending on the time of day and...the time of month. ::wink, wink::

If you haven't already, check out the excerpt for the latest novel in the Hallelujah Love series, A Preacher's Passion. The official release date is January, 2009 but it will start selling on Amazon in December, with pre-orders starting as early as September, according to my publisher. I'll keep you posted!

Lastly, y'all, my mind is on the primaries today in Indiana and North Carolina. Aside from voting, this is the first time in my life I've been truly active politically, volunteering on phone banks and travelling to get out the vote. The picture to the right is of me in TX, helping with the caucus in an Austin suburb. It was a crazy, great experience. Contrary to popular belief, that suburb I worked (Pflugerville) and eventually the state went to Obama! Yes, Hillary won the popular vote by 4 percentage points, but he won the caucus and the most delegates! I'm a part of the Obama-nation and it's been really interesting how crazy its gotten. What do you make of Jeremiah Wright? I mean why in the h*&%^ did he have to do what he did and say what he said right before the primary? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for freedom of speech and right to expression. I just think he could have waited, that's all. At any rate, I'm praying for a miracle and that Barack pulls off both states so we can stop the madness. And for any of you readers who are Hillary fans...it's all good. I believe in Divine Order; whatever happens is what's supposed to...

The design of this site isn't the most "blog-friendly" however, I welcome your comments. Please post them to the link below and I will add them here. Blessings!

Post your comment here: 
LutishiaLovely@yahoo.com  

Please leave at least a first name and city you're posting from....thanks everybody!!!

There’s something about new beginnings, no matter what form: a new hairdo, job, home, relationship, month day, or now…a new decade. Can you believe we’ve already zoomed by the first ten years of the 21^st century, that we’ve already witnessed the first decade of the 3^rd millennium? Seems like only yesterday we were wondering if our national computer system would survive Y2K, and were being cautioned to stock up on cash and water. (Well…some of y’all because I wasn’t scurred!)

The first decade beginning with ‘2’, will definitely go down in history. First, Sharon went to the wall and effectively ended a decade or more of relative peace between the Jew and Palestinian. And then there was the “big bang” of our lifetime…when two planes plowed into the twin towers and turned the world as we knew it upside down. The “war on terror” became a war on our civil liberties, and basic rights under the constitution. This is a war we’re still fighting as even now they now want me to bare my ass via an electronic scanner at the airport to…make sure a bomb isn’t up there? We already take off our jewelry, belts, jackets, shoes…that clothing follows is logical. My bad…I’m still thinking this is America.  

Global warming heated up, as did a renewed threat of a nuclear arms race. We survived a Bush sequel, by the grace of God. Jesse Jackson warned us to “stay out of those bushes” when the first Bush was in office. We should have listened, but didn’t. As a result, we watched thousands of Americans, mostly poor and mostly African-American, remain stranded in the waters of New Orleans for almost five days. Thousands of people died. Hurricane Katrina demonstrated our government at its worst, out of touch and ineffective. And then, another water-fueled natural disaster that I’d never heard of much less knew how to pronounce, a tsunami, hit Asia and killed a quarter of a million people. I think many of us are still searching for the words to describe that one. Or maybe we’ve realized…there are none.

America’s economy wobbled…twice. The first time was in 2000 when the dot.com bubble burst. That would be eclipsed as the decade came to an end when the US economy as we knew it would also explode, taking billions of dollars, thousands of jobs and as many American’s homes with it. The term “bail out” took on new meaning, and the government tossed around figures with so many zeroes that our eyes simply clouded over and we put on the greatest hits by Marvin Gaye and asked the question…what’s going on?

We elected our first Black president. The real one, unlike when many of us labeled Bill Clinton the first because he liked fried chicken and could play the sax. I was blessed to be a part of this history. My candidate of choice, from the beginning, was Barack Obama, and for the first time in my adult life when it came to electing presidents, I did something besides cast my vote. I canvassed on the phone and on the ground, helped Obama tie in Texas, and attended both the Democratic National Convention in Denver and the inauguration in Washington, DC.

We welcomed in a new age of “must-have” technology gadgets, including iPods, WIIs, GPS systems and Wi-Fi internet. Digital everything – phones, cameras, recording devices – became household must haves. Wow, doesn’t dial up seem like another lifetime ago? Come to think of it…I guess it was.

The term “social networking” went to another level, with websites like Facebook, Myspace, LinkedIn and others becoming standard fare for marketing, networking and basic PR. We were “ninged” “pinged” and “twittered” and “blogged” our way into the hearts and minds of friends and strangers alike. We sent flowers and drinks, and invited a thousand or more people to a zillion events. No matter that the party was most likely not in their city but hey, it’s the thought that counts, right?

In Hollywood, we saw blockbusters go through the stratosphere, with billion dollar worldwide profits, and trilogies that catapulted careers. From the Lords to friends of Harry, to the Matrix that we’re still wondering who created, to old names made new again – Batman, Spiderman, the Fantastic Four. We marched with penquins, learned about slumdogs, and finally, everybody else found out who Tyler Perry was…

And finally, people who’d entertained us – some from the time we were children – would not live to see the second decade of the 21^st century. Sadly, there are too many for me to try and name in one setting, but those who had particularly touched my life, and left this past decade, in no particular order are: Shirley Chisholm (first woman to seek presidency) Johnnie Wilder (lead singer of Heatwave), Ronald Winans (the Winans), McFadden & Whitehead (2004, 2006 – famous writing duo w/popular song, Ain’t No Stoppin Us Now), actress Lynn Thickpen (remember the angry Black woman from Lean On Me?), Sean and Eddie Levert, Billy Preston, Bernie Mac, Coretta Scott King, Yolanda King,  Alaina Reed-Hall, Waymon Tisdale, Levi Stubbs (the Four Tops), Luther Vandross, Bebe Moore, Ed Bradley, Gordon Parks, Richard Pryor, Rosa Parks, August Wilson, Johnnie Cochran, Ossie Davis, Barry White, Gregory Hines, Paul Harvey, Heath Ledger, Rick James, James Brown, E. Lynn Harris and of course, Michael Jackson.

In celebrating the lives of these great lights, I am more determined than ever to embrace every moment, to be thankful every single day, to accomplish my goals and turn my dreams into reality. Here we are, at another beginning…another chance to get it right. I’m going to do my best to make the most of it, and have a string of victories behind me as I welcome 2020. Would you care to join me?

July 25, 2009 -