Spreading the Love: "Where is the Love" by Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway

So...back in June, I had lunch with one of the smartest and sweetest couples I know - Tammie & Andrew - in downtown Portland. I met Tammie through my local writing club. At that time she was the webmaster for the club's website and an aspiring author. Now she is the book review tour-de-force behind Night Owl Reviews (NOR). It was during our yummy lunch, that Tammie asked me if I would like to cover the diversity desk for NOR's free monthly e-magazine.

I'll be honest and admit that prior to her asking, I really hadn't entertained the notion of becoming a book reviewer. However, once I picked myself up off the floor, thought about it, and asked a few questions, I felt the gears in my brain start to churn with ideas.

You see, the world is full of untold stories and firsthand accounts that remain unspoken. As I continue my journey towards publication, I've crossed paths with several like minded authors from all walks of life and cultures. Here was my opportunity to shine a spotlight, even if it's a small one, on some of their amazing stories. In addition, here was my opportunity to connect with readers interested in these stories, too.

Without further ado, here is the debut of my new column: The Melting Pot.

The subtitle is "Stories with Diversity and Multiculturalism." Just so we're clear, the word 'stories' is key to that phrase. The authors of these stories will not always be from a minority population, however the vast majority of books that feature minority leads are written by minority authors. In this column, I will also explore cultures, countries, and locations we don't often see in commercial fiction.

I'm an avid reader of several genres. I'm particularly fond of unusual mashups or fresh takes on standard totems. My first column features a Latin twist on ghost stories. My September post will feature a Russian aesthetic applied to young adult paranormal and the romance thriller genres.  And I will most certainly cover Chinese, Native American and African-American stories before the end of the year.

In the end it is my goal to showcase a wide variety of books that feature a broad spectrum of characters. It's just my way of trying to spread a little love and highlight all the flavors the world has to offer.

"Where is the Love" By Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway

Boy, this song brings back many childhood memories. I was truly blessed to grow up in a house full of love, laughter, and music. If I made a mix tape of songs from my childhood, Stevie Wonder, Isaac Hayes, The Hair Soundtrack, Dionne Warwick, Motown, and Roberta Flack would dominate the list of songs. (Throw in a few of Moms Mabley's jokes and my young year's soundtrack would be complete.)

Given the events of this week in Ferguson, MO, I felt this song was somehow very appropriate. My hope is that as more people and authors stand up to tell their stories, we see more empathy, sympathy, and action towards equality.

"Where is the love? Where is the love?..."

Check out my new column in NOR's free e-magazine each month!

Blog Hop: "Hold On" by Alabama Shakes

Many thanks to Gina Fluharty and Sarah Raplee for asking me to participate in The Writing Process Blog Hop. Gina asked me to post in January and I failed <miserably> to get my post done. But I did manage to snag Melia Alexander and Linda Mercury into the fold. Now Sarah requested my participation and I am taking it as a sign from God and the universe that I need to comply. Here are my answers to the four key questions:

1) What am I working on?
I am working on a young adult Americana Steampunk novel that takes place in an alternative 1860. It is the first book in a planned five book series.

2) How does my work differ from others of its genre?
Well....my story features escaped slaves. The lead character is sixteen years old. She is a mechanic and a healer with paranormal abilities. Having an African-American lead in a Steampunk novel is still rather rare. The physical transition from slavery to freedom happens in the first book, however throughout the rest of the series the mental transition is also explored. How does one learn to live like a free person when subservience is literally beat into you from an early age? There are romantic elements in the series, too. Specifically, the son of the plantation master is in love with my heroine...but she has to decide if she really loves him or if she has 'a love' for him because he provided a level of protection for her when they both lived on the plantation.

3) Why do I write what I do?
Let's just say that I grew tired of reading books that did not include people like me. :D Black and brown skinned people were present in every time period in some way, shape, or form - yet we are missing from most works of fiction. I started writing, because I felt like my stories weren't being told and my perspective wasn't adequately represented.

I write both futuristic fantasy and steampunk. I am an engineer by degree and a time traveler by choice. I love doing research and I love gadgets. Plus, I get to either rewrite history or create a new future. Writing ties all of my interests and hobbies into one big ball of good times!

4) How does my writing process work?
I typically start with a kernel of an idea that usually takes the form of a 'what if' question. Any little thing can plant the seed of a story in my head. Often I hear things on National Public Radio that prompt an idea. In my day job, I work on products for smart / green buildings. I have to stay current on new and developing technology, so it is always interesting to wonder what would happen if the technology is misused or abused in some way by some maniacal person.

After I have the idea, I plot my first draft of the story using Michael Hague's Six Stage Plot Structure. It is the three act, five turning point structure used in screenplays and it is a great way to lay out the rough skeleton of your stories. To be honest, I am a mix of plotter (planner) and pantser (writing by the seat of my pants - stream of thought writer). I like to plot the 'big rocks' (major turning points) for my story, then pants my way from rock to rock. I subscribe to Stephen Covey's Seven Habits of Highly Effective People school of thought. Specifically, habit number two "Begin with the End in Mind" applies to my life and my writing. I have to know where I am going, so that I can pants my way there.

I put my plot diagram, story timeline, word count tracker, submissions, and other key story information into an Excel spreadsheet to keep everything organized. Yup, that's the engineer in me rising to the surface!

The artist in me, creates fun world building journals that include maps, character pictures, drawings of gadgets, character profiles, and other mementos that pertain to the story. I even use these journals to pitch my books.

All of this work is being done while I'm doing research and hammering out the first draft. Getting that first draft done is soooooo key. I used to get stuck in a loop of rewriting the first few chapters. I learned the hard way that you just have to power through that first draft, because the characters and story lines will take twists and turns that you didn't plan...and often these twists affect the opening chapters.

For me organization is key, then it's just a matter of getting the words on the page.

"Hold On" by Alabama Shakes
I LOVE this song. I get a chill every time I listen to it, because it is the story of my life! I fell in love with Alabama Shakes during their performance on The 2013 Grammy Awards ceremony. I remember being mesmerized by lead singer-guitarist, Brittany Howard, and her soulful crooning.

I'm adding "Hold On" to my mixtape, because as a writer you just have to keep plugging away at your dream of writing a novel. Don't worry if people tell you it's 'unmarketable' or 'I'm tired of reading about vampires / werewolves / whatever.' If the story is on your heart and keeping you up at night, then write it and see what happens. If you don't write your book, you'll never know where it would've taken you...

"But I don't want to wait......"

My world building journal for my latest work...

Afrofuturism & My Big Chop: "The Rain [Supa Dupa Fly]" by Missy Elliott

I am an Afrofuturist. Though the term has been around since the nineties, I am just now discovering the Afrofuturism community.

What is an Afrofuturist and what is Afrofuturism?

Good question. Ingrid LaFleur, art curator and Afrofuturist, explains it best in her TEDx presentation on the visual aesthetic: "I generally define Afrofuturism as a way of imagining possible futures through a black cultural lens..."

In a nutshell, it's people of African descent creating stories, music, literature, paintings, multi-media works, and all manner of creativity you can imagine that project black people into the future. Organizations like the Black Science Fiction Society; comic book artists like Erik Reeves; musicians like Janelle Monae; authors like Octavia Butler and Ytasha Womack; and sooooooo many other academics, scientists, and visual artists are producing amazing images of a more diverse future.

For me, Aftrofuturism combines all of my interests. As a mechanical engineer (the only black female in my undergraduate class), artist, and author of futuristic and steampunk stories - I'm used to seeing very few representations of black and brown skinned people in science fiction literature, movies, and television. (If they were present, they seemed to get killed at some point during the movie. At least Idris Elba survived most of Prometheus, thank you Jesus! LOL!)

In all honesty, I am one of Lt. Uhura's children. It was Nichelle Nichols as Lt. Uhura who inspired my interest in space flight that ultimately led me to engineering school. I'm sure that Uhura's lack of story lines / screen time is at least part of the reason why I am a writer, today.

So what does all this have to do with my 'Big Chop'?

Ok - for those of you who aren't familiar with the term 'Big Chop,' it is the 'going cold turkey' form of transitioning from chemically straightened hair back to your natural hair texture. You can Google 'Big Chop' to find tons of videos and stories sharing individual experiences with going natural (both good and bad).

As I began my research on slavery, plantation life, the American Civil War, and Reconstruction for my current steampunk manuscript, I felt a need to find ways to honor the sacrifices made by my ancestors that have allowed me to be who I am today.

On an even more personal level, I had a difficult time finding artwork, children's stories, coloring books, and dolls for my three year old niece that utilized images of black and brown skinned females with natural hair. (Etsy was a godsend in this area.)

In the end, what ultimately made me decide to start off 2014 with a fresh head of hair was this:

I believe that WE need to be the change we want to see in the world.

Which means that if I want to see more diversity in literature, I need to contribute my stories. If I want to see more women of color sporting their natural hair, then I need to let my natural hair out to play, too. Talk about a real root revival on soooooo many levels. My goal is to write stories that allow all little girls to think, explore, and see a place for themselves as leaders today and in the future. My hope is that they have ways to freely express and accept who they are and what they value.

A 'one size fits all' approach to beauty no longer applies. I am beautiful, just as I am. And now I feel that I really OWN it.

"The Rain [Supa Dupa Fly]" by Missy Elliott

Missy Elliott is a true creative powerhouse. What I love most about her is all the collaborative work she does. With a variety of 'partners in crime', Missy Elliott defied the traditional standard of 'skinny-video-ho' imagery. Raising rap music videos to a new level of artistic expression, while utilizing a futuristic aesthetic, quickly became her visual calling card.

Please enjoy this latest addition to my mixtape. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

"Me, I'm supa fly, supa dupa fly..."

Day One photo after my Big Chop - feeling Supa Dupa Fly!

Happy: "Happy" by Pharrell Williams

Yes, it's that time of year where most of us pause to focus on friends, family, and our unique place in the world. If you are like me, you are very thankful and (dare I say it)....happy.

It seems like complaining has replaced giving thanks. Rude behavior has all but ousted civility and gentility. Sadness, loneliness, covetousness, and marveling at crisis after crisis (some tragic and unavoidable - some completely fabricated and absolutely avoidable) has taken over like a plague.

I believe with every fiber of my being that happiness is a choice. And, quite honestly, it can be the tougher road to follow - especially when you are surrounded by negativity. I choose to be happy. Instead of seeking out crisis, I choose to bask in the warm hug from a friend, sip fine wine, eat chocolate, and laugh til my sides hurts. Call me crazy all you want, but I refuse to be swept away by a tide of negative energy.

So, as we head into 2014, I challenge you (dear reader) to choose happiness, focus on your personal goals, and embrace life with an open heart and a dash of whimsy!

"Happy" by Pharrell Williams

I dare you to listen to this song and NOT smile! Even if you don't have rhythm, you can't help trying to keep time in some way while listening to this song. This song is featured on the Despicable Me 2 soundtrack, so 'The Minions' make a grand appearance in the video link above.

I hope that you enjoy this little bit of happiness and I hope that you and your families have a wonderful and safe holiday season. See you in the New Year!

"Clap along if you feel like HAPPINESS is the TRUTH..."

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Christmas Tag Albums for Friends: I made some of my gifts this year!

See Jane Publish: "We Are Young" by Fun featuring Janelle Monae

Ok, so I'm a little slow off the mark on this one....

In October, yes - October, I joined a rag-tag bunch of heroines embarking on a mission to take over the world...well...ok...we are actually embarking on a mission to get published AND be successful authors. (Way too many headaches to take over & run the world, just ask President Obama. Ha!)

Our new-ish blog is: See Jane Publish! Here you will find posts on our thoughts, processes, goals, and dreams written around a monthly theme. We post twice a week on Mondays and Thursdays. Each day's  message is composed by a different Jane.

See Jane Publish was founded by Nancy Brophy, Susan Lute, and Cassiel Knight. This fall, they handed the reigns over to eight new Janes:

1. Gina Fluharty
2. Asa Marie Bradley
3. Jessa Slade
4. Jamie Brazil
5. EJ Russell
6. Mary Oldham
7. Jessie Smith
8. Me (C. Morgan Kennedy) :D

In December, we are giving the gift of story to our readers. We organized a 'Round Robin' where each Jane's post is a stand alone short story that somehow incorporates a moo-cow creamer. (Trust me when I say that some of everything happens to that poor thing.) At the conclusion of my post scheduled for Monday, 02 December, I included instructions on how to enter a drawing to win the silver necklace  mentioned in my story.

Check out our shared blog and let me know what you think....Please visit us often!

"We Are Young" by Fun featuring Janelle Monae (Acoustic Version)

I love this song. And if you follow this blog, you also know that I LOVE Janelle Monae!

I'm not sure if us Janes are going to 'set this world on fire,' but I am positive that we'll make an awesome bonfire on the beach. I, personally, plan on running gleefully around the flames while eating toasted marshmallows - but, that's just me, doing my usual thang!

"So let's set this world on fire!...."

Celebrations: "Celebration" by Kool & The Gang

I am officially a published author. Yup - you can buy my first nonfiction work here and here and here.My partner in crime & business, Therese Patrick, and I are on cloud nine. <sigh>

Trust me when I say that our work has only begun. You see, most people think that authors write books and then they are done. Not true. In fact, once your book is available for sale, every author needs to do two things:

1. Tell your audience that your new book is available for sale.
2. Write another book.

More often than not, authors tend to focus on #1 and ignore #2.I am going against the grain and working hard on both. I am hammering away on my YA Steampunk novel, while working on presentations for AM101 training classes....we have four training classes booked between now and March 2014. There is so much to do! Oh, and did I mention I have an international growth strategy to formulate, design, and present for my day job!

Despite the flurry of activities, it is important to take a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate the accomplishment of a life long dream. Therese and I will celebrate some this weekend, I promise. Stay tuned for pictures from our first book signing!

"Celebration" by Kool & The Gang

Growing up in Cleveland, OH in the 70's, 80's, and 90's was a magical time. Our river (the mighty Cuyahoga) and our mayor caught on fire in the same year. {Yup, the river was so polluted, we were able to set water on fire and our mayor got a little too close to a blow torch while cutting a metal ribbon at the opening of a new plant.}

WZAK 93.1 FM was (and still is) Cleveland's R&B radio station. Back in the day, if you heard Celebration by Kool & The Gang, you ran to your phone in the hopes of being the lucky caller to win some money. I never won the money, of course, but to this day every time I hear Celebration my hand itches to reach for the phone. And for this reason, the Celebration song will always have a special place in my heart.

"Celebrate good times, come on!..."

Time: "Time (Clock of the Heart)" by Culture Club

Time is truly a precious thing.  Yes, time is money, as well as any number of time related cliches, but most importantly time is finite....once it's passed, it's gone. The sci-fi nerd in me wants to launch into a discussion about parallel dimensions, time tracks, time travel, and worm holes.  But for the sake of this blog post, let's stick to one timeline and one plane of existence.  :D

Last week, I was offered a job at a different company than my current day job. To say that this new job included a boat load of money and perks, when compared to my current job, would be an understatement.  I found myself torn over the possibilities of starting fresh at a new company, what I would do with all that money, and how my daily life would change....dramatically. It's that last point that tied my stomach in knots and kept me up at night for days.

You see, this new job was with the company I worked for several years ago. I left that company for VERY specific reasons. Yes, they pay well, but in return they are overly demanding of your time. I remember one manager fretting over the fact that part of his family vacation included a few days on a cruise ship without wi-fi. "I'll just have to pay for some sort of satellite modem," he said.  Now I know I'm dating myself, but the main point is that this guy was genuinely worried about missing an important email - and yes, dear reader, this was the norm among all the workers!

So I paused and asked myself, "Do I really want to buy a one-way ticket on that Looney Tunes train to Crazy Town?" My evenings would be spent sending emails and catching up on work that I didn't have time to finish during normal working hours. Mornings, my usual writing time, would be spent talking with east coast contacts to expedite orders and get answers to technical questions. During the interview, my potential coworker stated that he wakes up to at least  fifty-two emails each morning that he tries to answer before her goes into the office - are you kidding me?

Which all brought me to the questions: "Who would I become, if I took this job?" and "Do I really want to be that person?"

After hemming and hawing for a week, a dear friend gave me some good advice. Over beers and burgers he simply said, "Don't take the job. It's not worth it. It's not worth sacrificing your writing."

I finished my pint, tore up my ticket to Crazy Town, and for the first night in days I slept like the dead. My time and my writing are more important to me.  Who would I become, if I took that job? Certainly NOT the person I truly want to be.

"Time (Clock of the Heart)" by Culture Club

Aaaahhh, Culture Club! Boy George in all his 80's, eyeshadowed glory. My best friend, Noel, dressed up as Boy George for Halloween in the fourth grade.

Culture Club was on the front line of yet another British music invasion. This time, they were armed with fresh videos that seemed to stream constantly on MTV. Aaaaaahhhh, MTV - remember when all they used to play were music videos and live concert recordings???

Anyhow, check out this video and let me know what you think. I have to admit that when I watched it for this post I started laughing. Today was the first time that I noticed the fact that their backup singers are wearing clock faces around their necks. I'm from Ohio, so all this time I assumed they were wearing some wacky Amish-Quaker-Puritan costume. How that all related to time, I'll never know - and it doesn't matter, cause I was just as wrong as two left shoes!  LOL!

"Time, won't give me time..."

Gag gift - Homicide Murder Board, complete with red string, I made for a friend's birthday.
Nope, I wouldn't have time for such projects if I'd taken that job.