Remembrance

Remembrance

I received the news of Ms. Cicely Tyson’s death several days ago. I’ve been mulling it over whether or not to post this entry, so I will. This is my memory of this great woman. I remember Ms. Tyson from a speaking event that was hosted at Jefferson Davis Community College in Brewton, AL. That college is now a branch of Coastal Alabama Community College. I was in high school at the time and was able to attend. Anyways, Ms. Tyson was the first celebrity that I’d seen up close and personal. The day was a bit humdrum, and I was getting a little bored, and then Ms. Tyson took the stage. She was so dynamic and commanded the audience’s attention with a scene reenacting the first day of a school was being integrated and the young black girl was being heckled by a crowd as she walked to school. That scene was the teaser, and an awesome one it was. The rest of Ms. Tyson’s talk with us teens was inspiring.  As the young folks say, she was fire! Even though the minute details of that day at Jefferson Davis are a bit fuzzy now, I remember how Ms. Tyson inspired and motivated me. I’m glad that I attended that event.

I had only known her for her role as Ms. Jane Pittman, but I got the opportunity to see her range and depth as an actress. She inhabited her characters and made them her own. The last role I recall seeing Ms. Tyson in was as the maid Constantine in The Help, and her character moved me. I watched some of her last interview with Gayle King during CBS This Morning and parts of another interview that aired on another network. It is interesting because I watched a program on PBS a while ago, a biography of Maya Angelou, and Ms. Tyson was interviewed and was a friend of Ms. Angelou, and she discussed how great Ms. Angelou was. Ms. Tyson moved in the circles of greatness because she was great as well. I was glad to hear that she’d published her memoir, Just as I Am. During the last part of the interview, Ms. King asked Ms. Tyson how she wanted to be remembered, and Ms. Tyson remarked, “That I did my best.” My Big Mama always said, “When you do your best, you don’t have to worry about the rest.” Ms. Tyson definitely did that and then some. Rest in eternity, Ms. Tyson. Now, y’all go on out and check out her memoir. I certainly will. Until next time, y’all hold it in the road. 

 

With Liberty and Justice for All

These days are super stressful. I'm still working from home because of the pandemic, and I'm still dealing with the feelings of isolation, but that is not the subject of this post. I watched the video of George Floyd's arrest which resulted in his death. I also watched one of his televised memorials and his funeral service. Reverend Al Sharpton's eulogies were moving and served as messages for the living to think about things.

I have been watching the coverage of the protests in different cities. The closest to me were in Mobile and Pensacola. Peaceful protests for reform and change are admirable. It takes a lot more energy to maintain peace while trying to enact change than to go wild and get violent to get that same change. This country needs some positive change to affect her. The change needs to come for race relations. When everyone can sit at the table of true brotherhood and be treated as equal is when this country can begin to be great.

The protests didn't start with George Floyd's death at the hands of police, but they have been perpetual. I remember watching recorded footage of them when they happened in the 50's and 60's. I also remember seeing footage of the riots. That was definitely the wrong way to go. Fast forward to the kneeling of Colin Kaepernick. I thought that was a noble and peaceful protest. This upset the White House and many felt that it was unpatriotic. I saw many tweets and rally speeches about it, but how was he unpatriotic? We are supposed to chastise the ones we love when they are doing wrong. That is how I'm seeing the protests that happened then and are taking place now. Everyone should want America to be the best and greatest she can be. I certainly do. I kept remembering some of the speeches of Dr. King, not just the I Have a Dream speech, but also his speech about Vietnam and his letters from the Birmingham jail. So it is our duty to call America out when she is doing wrong. It can help all of us be better and improve our times.

Things must change. When I was younger, I can't remember who said it, but I heard that the world is white, male, and right handed. If that is true, I have one thing going in my favor, being right handed. I am a black female. I have been DWB (Driving While Black) and followed by the police repeatedly, and yes I have been called that infamous racial epithet by someone in ignorance. Ignorance and fear arm that word, and we all know the opposites of those, knowledge and love. That is what the world needs now, more knowledge, understanding, and love.

I think that some white people have not gotten to know their black and brown brothers and sisters. Well now is as good a time as any. If all lives matter, black and brown lives matter too. We need to sit down and talk and quit assuming and tweeting things that aren't true. Get the lowdown on the hoedown, so we can have some honest, but needed conversations. Black is not a threat. It is beautiful! I have been seeing positives also in the form of the protests with all kinds of diversity among the protestors. I like to stay hopeful for the country, the world, the future. I'm going to close now. I keep thinking of the pledge of allegiance. When I was in elementary school, the class would say it every morning before school officially started. The part that comes to mind is, "One nation under God, with liberty and justice for all." Every American must realize this if this country is going to be as awesome as many think she is.

On this parting note, I urge you to study up on Mahatma Ghandhi, read Dr. King's speeches and letters as well as read Emma Lazarus's poem, "The New Colossus". Until next time, y'all hold it in the road.

Doing Some Reading

I’ve been doing some reading, and I thought this is a good series. I thought the books were a good representation of characters of color. I was a bit reminded of reading Octavia Butler, but Ms. Butler wrote science fiction, and this is fantasy.  I enjoyed reading about the world of Orisha that Ms. Adeyemi built. The first book, Children of Blood and Bone, was sooooooo good that I pre-ordered the second book, Children of Virtue and Vengeance. I enjoyed the second book as well, not like the first, but I must admit that the end threw me for a loop, but it makes me curious to see how the series is going to wrap up. The characters and their journeys are interesting. I admit that I’m usually not a fan of the first-person point of view and multiple points of view, but Ms. Adeyemi manages to weave a great story. I’m glad I picked up that first book in the series and decided to read. If you have the opportunity during this time of shelter in place, I suggest that you curl up with these novels. I don’t think you will be disappointed. 

Interesting Times

It's been a while since I've written a post. Times now have become new and some may even say "strange" with COVID-19, the social distancing and everything that follows. I'm going to call them interesting. I can't be negative, gotta try to see that silver lining. I am working from home until further notice. I must say that I miss my little office with its windows and my Pathos plant. I watered it about a week ago. I wonder how it's doing. They (I don't know exactly who) say that plants in the office need people. They have a symbiotic relationship. I wonder does my Pathos need me. I certainly miss it. Sometimes I feel like I'm going through a bout of grief or some twinge of depression. At times I feel like I'm slogging along, sometimes through mud. Today, I was actually motivated. It was a good day, and I'm glad and grateful for it. This is week two of our work from home policy.

I got a little writing done, after doing my office work. I'm on draft six of Water's Memory. The revisions are coming along. I posted each chapter in the novel workshop at The Write Practice. The people that read and critiqued provided helpful feedback. If you're a writing, you may want to invest in joining the workshop.

I also finished reading The Story Grid. I recommend it for those writers who want to sharpen their skills with plots in certain genres.




I've been reading a few books lately and will give the lowdown soon. In the meantime, you be easy, stay healthy, and safe!

New Year and More Promise

Happy New Year! I know I’m running late with this post. Being late is the story of my life nowadays, maybe I should make my resolution to be on time with things. I didn’t make any resolutions for the year. Should I have? Did you make a resolution, and have you managed to stick with it thus far? If you have, that’s great! You deserve a pat on the back and a gold star! You’ve made it through two months now and you’re on your third.

I have started in earnest on Magic’s Memory this time.  I’ve gotten a few chapters completed and about 11,000 words in. I’d like to finish it up by perhaps the beginning of summer or maybe the end of summer. The latest deadline is the end of the year. I have a few irons in the fire. Water’s Memory is in its third edit, and I’m trying to write and revise some short stories in the meantime. Is that too many irons for my fire? I guess ideas abound.

I am looking forward to what the year holds. There is new promise for reading, writing, and publication. I picked up Madeline Miller’s novel, Circe, and I’m reading it now. I have The Children of Blood and Bone waiting in the wings.  I’ll remember to write reviews and post them here when I’m done. Like I previously said, I’m working on a few projects because I’m feeling quite productive, and I hope to have some pieces published. Nothing fails but a try and time will soon tell. Catch ya later!

This month is almost one for the books

November almost over. Another Thanksgiving is one for the books. The turkey and fixings are the story of leftovers, if there were leftovers. NaNoWriMo is almost finished as well. I had all of the intentions of participating this year because I need to finish my novel, Magic’s Memory (tentative title), the sequel to Water’s Memory. You know what they say about the road to hell. Completing NaNoWriMo this year is just one more brick in that road.

I, however, have a backup plan. In the back of my mind, I’m going to try to keep a deadline like I had when I participated in the 100 Day Book Program. Hopefully, I will make this deadline which will be around January or Spring Break, which is in March. I’m almost 10,000 words in, and my goal is around 50,000 or 60,000 words. Sometimes I feel like I have a few too many irons in the fire with classwork and writing looming, but the ideas, especially the novel ideas seem to be steady.

I’d like to begin writing short stories again. Maybe an idea or two will come my way. I have an idea about a siren still marinating in my brain. It has been there for months. The story with this siren happens in the world that is evolving in my two novels. The nexus of the mundane and magical world will be the subject of a future post. TTFN! Happy reading! Happy writing! 😊

A Cool Book

Hey! I finished reading a book Friday. One of my colleagues recently turned me on to audio books. Thanks Marcus! Anyways, since I do lots of commuting, I have ample time to think and listen. I guess you can say that I live in my head most of the day. The radio used to be my standby but, like I said, Marcus turned me on to the app Audible. At first I thought my brain would not adjust to a book being read to me. Boy was I wrong, and I'm glad I was. Marcus turned me on to the author Steven Pressfield's book The War of Art, and it informed me on the problem of resistance, something that everyone grapples with. I know I fought with it when I was trying to write Water's Memory. Well, I enjoyed that book, and I picked another by the same author. After listening to the book, I've started to rethink some of my story and novel plots. It's got me thinking what each piece is really about. After I finished the book, I reworked Chapter One of Water's Memory trying to get to the inciting event.  I'm glad that I listened to the book and found it very useful. When I finish Shawn Coyne's Story Grid, I'll have another tool in my box that will help me better my craft. I encourage you all to pick up Steven Pressfield's book, Nobody Wants to Read Your Sh*t. And while you're in the bookstore, be it physically or virtually, get The War of Art as well.  Let me know what you thought of the books. Until next time, keep it in the road!