Happy 4th of July! and check out the July Newsletter by clicking here.

Paula Chase-Hyman is the author of the Del Rio Bay Clique Novels. Whether you’re a teenager or an adult, you’ll find the novels in the series entertaining.

7 Random Thoughts with Paula Chase-Hyman

What’s one thing (besides writing) that you enjoy doing?

I love being active.  Writing is a quiet, solitary, sedentary thing.  So when I’m not doing that, I enjoy being outside.  I’m a total nature chick, so I love parks and bike trails.  Best of all, being outside working out or being outside lying on a blanket looking up into the sky are both great for kick starting ideas.

What’s your favorite quote?

“The only constant in life is change.”  I have no idea who may have said it originally, but my dad used to say it to me all the time when I was a teenager.  It was his way of helping me learn that change is forever.  And to this day, I take that to heart.  It’s why, no matter what, I roll with the punches and adjust as things change around me.

What television show best describes your life and why?

Hmmm…I know what television title describes my life: Mi Vida Loco!  “My Crazy Life” because my life is very full and often crazy.  A typical work load for me is working my full-time job, juggling writing and promotional responsibility for my series, coaching a competitive cheer squad and being a wife and mom on top of all that.  I’m a multi-tasker times ten.  But honestly, Seinfeld is a good pick too because it reinforces how life is simply a series of quirky everyday happenings.  I know my life is.

What is your most valued possession?

My health.  I was in a terrible car accident a month ago and was bedridden for a few weeks.  It was the worst feeling in the world.  Although things could have been much worse, I had a lot of time to lament the loss of independence.  Now I’m still dealing with recovery, as my knee was injured.  And for someone as mobile and active as me, not being able to do for myself and get around on my own terms is as close to hell as I ever want to get.

What would your best friend say about you?

That I’m crazy.  But good-crazy.  I’m the sarcastic-witted friend in the bunch.  The one always dropping observational one-liners.

What does love mean to you?

Love means supporting someone unconditionally.  I’m not saying turning a blind eye to wrong-doing or constantly forgiving someone when they take advantage of you.  I mean, even when you’re angry, annoyed, frustrated or just plain sick of someone, you’re still able to stand by them and give them what they need.

What is your favorite outfit to wear and why?

I’ll probably have to retire these this year, but I have a pair of brown cords that I purchased in the junior department of a store about three years ago.  I’ve always been so proud that I can fit them, so I love wearing them.  They’re skinny at the top and slightly flared at the leg, so it makes me look a little taller – always a good thing since I’m a shortie.

Bonus: Tell me about your teen series and what can readers expect from you in 2008.

My Del Rio Bay series has really taken off.  It’s YA that speaks to suburban teens.  I focused on suburban teens because African American ‘burb teens are often left out of mainstream books.  Or they’re the token, side friend. And honestly, books that revolve around African American teens tend to focus on either historical situations or inner city scenarios.  But what about the teens who deal daily with the duality of living in a suburb where they’re one of only a few black faces in their school or neighborhood?  I grew up in a predominately African American suburb, but my school was predominately white – so I’ve always lived the duality of my neighborhood’s culture vs. the school’s overall culture. I wanted to portray that side of life in fiction.

The third book in the series, That’s What’s Up! will be released July 1^st and I feel like this is the make or break book for the series, because a reader could have picked up the first OR second in the series and been up to speed.  But you can’t read That’s What’s Up! without reading So Not the Drama or Don’t get It Twisted.  This third book signals you’re an honest to God fan of the series – so I’m excited about that.  It anchors the series because now readers need to be familiar with the characters and those who are will understand the characters actions, will understand the growth the characters are experiencing.

This series is truly like my baby, right now.  I’ve taken a group of friends, started them as freshman and hope to get them to graduation.  Even though I’m their puppet master, it’s still fascinating to watch them grow.  And while some people probably expected each book to be about popularity, the series is organic.  I’m having the characters deal with real issues.  The first was about transitioning friendships from middle school to high school.  The second was about crushes and boyfriends.  This third is about forbidden relationships and frenemies.  So they’re dealing with issues that many teens face. 

By year’s end, the fourth book in the series, Who You Wit’? will be out.  The characters are in their sophomore year by then and the book deals with first times vs. abstaining from sex.  So in 2008 readers will watch Mina and the clique mature before their eyes.  What I love about it is, it’s not a from zero to sixty growth in maturity, but a very real step-by-step journey.  I hope readers enjoy going on the journey with the characters as much as I do when I’m writing about it.

Be sure to promote summer reading with your teens. Be sure to pick up Paula Chase-Hyman’s latest book. To learn more about her or her books, visit www.paulachasehyman.com

Meet Parris Mitchell - The R & B Diva

R & B Diva Parris Mitchell says “Don’t call it a comeback. I haven’t gone anywhere, just needed to take some time off.”

The R & B Diva multi-award winning singer Parris Mitchell is back on the music scene after taking a little time away from the limelight to regroup. Her previous albums have hit every chart and she’s had several number one singles.

Her personal life has been filled with turmoil lately with the news of her ex-boyfriend and ex-manager Archie Walker running out with not only her money but her assistant. How does one make a comeback? I recently had a chance to interview Parris and she discusses the fiasco as well as her music.

Shelia Goss: Parris, it’s good to see you making a comeback. We’ve missed not hearing any music from you.
Parris Mitchell: Don’t call it a comeback. I haven’t gone anywhere. I just needed to take some time off.

Shelia: So what happened with Archie Walker? There was a time where I couldn’t open up a magazine or newspaper without seeing you two together. I was shocked to read the news about your breakup.
Parris: Imagine how I felt. I think we all learned about the breakup at the same time—in the newspaper.

Shelia: Now that was low down.
Parris: Well that’s Archie for you. I found out he was leaving me while reading an article in the paper. To top it off, he ran away with my assistant Sylvia.

Shelia: I know that must have been hard.
Parris: It was. He left me emotionally depleted. And as most know, he was also my manager. The business side of my career went a little haywire too. But all is well now.

Shelia: I want to thank you for granting me this exclusive interview. I know you were shying away from reporters so I’m honored.
Parris: I felt it was time to squash the rumors. Yes, Archie did take some of my money—lots of it. But he didn’t leave me broke like some of the tabloids and online gossip sites have been saying.

Shelia: Were you able to recoup any of your money?
Parris: Ha. Ha. If I ever catch up with the joker, I might be able to.

Shelia: You have a great attitude.
Parris: I can’t wallow around in self-pity for too long. Things happen. You deal with it and then you dust yourself off and get back in the game of life.

Shelia: Did your record company give you an ultimatum or was that a rumor too?
Parris: There’s a little truth in it. I love to sing and will sing for free; however this is my career and a record company is in it to make money. I’m a little disappointed that my last few albums didn’t take off like I thought they would.

Shelia: When can fans expect to hear some new music from you?
Parris: Right now, I’m trying to find the right producers. I’ve been doing a little writing. I’m getting back to the core of who Parris is. My goal is to give fans what they’ve been looking for.

Shelia: I heard it through the grapevine that you would be working with CJ the Hitmaker.

Parris: Right now, I’m not at liberty to say who I will be working with. I’ve been looking at him and Lance and a few others.

Shelia: You’ve been around for about ten years now. Do you think you can compete with the new class of R & B singers?
Parris: I hope no one takes my response the wrong way, but there’s no competition. We each do what we do. When some of the new ladies break out on the scene and try to imitate me, I look at it as a compliment. I don’t feel intimidated by it. I am Parris.

DOUBLE PLATINUM in stores March 4, 2008 or order your copy now from AMAZON.COM.

Check out my guest blog post over on Bettye Griffin’s blog. Bettye’s the author of Once Upon a Project - one of this summer’s must reads.

If you’re an avid reader, you’ll definately want to check it out.

For you aspiring writers, here’s a sneak peek at what to expect in my guest blog entry:

I’ve finished my book. What’s next? To read my response and more, click here.

What’s on your “to be read” list for the summer?

Summer Sizzlin’ Reads from the Shelia Goss Collection

Stacy Deanne’s second book “Melody”, published by Strebor/Simon and Schuster, will be in stores June 3, 2008.

7 Random Thoughts with Stacy Deanne

By Shelia M. Goss

What’s one thing (besides writing) that you enjoy doing?
Listening to music

What’s your favorite quote?
“One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying.” —- Joan of Arc

What television show best describes your life and why?
I would have to say “Eve” because the sitcom showcased a young, positive, intelligent, independent black woman doing her own thing on her own terms.

What is your most valued possession?
My computer!

What would your best friend say about you?
That I am very reliable, funny, dependable, easy to talk to and I try my best to give good advice.

What does love mean to you?
Love is the basis of everything for me. I couldn’t be happy without loving someone or someone loving me back. It’s the strongest and most important emotion we could ever feel. To love is to be loved. Love makes everything in life worth while.

What is your favorite outfit to wear and why?
A tall Tee with a pair of jeans or Capri pants.

About Stacy Deanne’s New book Melody:
Melody Cruz is certain her sister’s new boyfriend, the wealthy, charming and handsome Keith Taylor, has a dark past that he will do anything to hide. Wanting to protect her sister, Melody works to uncover Keith’s secrets, not realizing that in doing so, she is sacrificing her own safety—because Keith will go to any lengths, dangerous or violent, to keep himself in control.

At the same time, a man named the “Albany Predator” has been brutally raping black women throughout the city, and Melody is convinced that her best friend is the rapist’s next target. Detectives Brianna Morris and Steven Kemp are placed on the case, determined to bring the sadistic felon to justice. But when things couldn’t get anymore complicated, all evidence is turned around to reveal a surprising suspect.

To learn more about Stacy Deanne, go to http://www.myspace.com/stacydeanne or http://www.myspace.com/everlastingbystacydeanne or she can be reached via email: stacydeanne1@aol.com.

Today I’m featured on APOOO’s website during the Every Day is Mother’s Day Tour.  I wrote An Open Letter to My Role Model and would like to share it with you all here.

There’s a little contest going on too, so I really REALLY need for you to leave a comment :). Share some of your own experiences good or bad or just let me know you read it :) 

An Open Letter to My Role Model:

There are so many words that have gone left unsaid. I wanted you to know it’s an honor and a privilege to have you as my mom. The teenage years were a little rough because of the “you just don’t understand me” phase, but we made it through.  I laugh now at how I thought I knew it all and didn’t have a clue.  Although I may not always say it, the things you’ve taught me over the years have come in handy in more ways than one.  I now realize the things you tried to teach me were for my own good. You didn’t want your precious daughter to go through any unnecessary heartaches and pains. Sadly, I didn’t listen in some situations but you never said the words “I told you so” as you could have easily done. Instead, you helped me through the situations and I learned through the school of hard knocks.

As an adult, I realize that I lived like a little princess compared to how some people grew up. I want to thank you for the “normal” childhood that so many others didn’t get a chance to enjoy. I grew up with two loving parents and got to experience life as it was meant to be.  Through your life example, you taught me so much. You taught me how to be the responsible adult I am now. You taught me how to be grateful.  You taught me how to be unselfish. You taught me how to think for myself. You taught me how to treat others like you want to be treated. You taught me that having faith in God will get you through the good times and bad. You taught me how to show compassion. You taught me how to be a caregiver. You taught me how to live and to love.

You’ve been my number one fan and during the times where I wanted to give up, you were the one who encouraged me. As we celebrate all mothers during the month of May, I wanted to publicly acknowledge to the world that I think I have the greatest mom.

Signed,

Shelia M Goss

Daughter of the Perfect Role Model

This week besides the regular relationship topics, I’ll be showcasing helpful information from Monica Carter Tagore as she offers tips on pushing you closer towards your goals.

Monica Carter Tagore is the author of Zoom Power: Your Key to Hitting Your Personal, Business and Financial Targets.

Learn more about Zoom Power & Monica Carter Tagore below:

What is Zoom Power about: Zoom Power: Your Key to Hitting Your Personal, Business and Financial Targets helps release people from their self-imposed limitations. Many people want to be successful in life, but they think they can’t attain it. They think success is something only “other” people have. But Zoom Power helps readers see success isn’t some mysterious force bestowed only upon a “lucky” few, it’s accessible to anyone who chooses to go after it with focus and perseverance.

What are the keys to success? Two elements essential to success are focus and perseverance. These are the elements that make up the Zoom Power Equation for success. These elements are critical because focus – concentrated effort – creates power. Perseverance is important because it protects against the natural inclination to be discouraged at a disappointment. Perseverance is key because on the way to our goals and dreams, we will meet some hard times, but if we persevere, we can keep moving on and emerge on the other side of disappointment to find success.

What are some strategies people can use to implement what you suggest in the book? Well, there are several strategies. One is to get clear on what you want. Most people are hazy about what they’re working toward. So get clear about what you want by defining your goal: instead of just saying you want to lose weight, say how much weight you will lose and in what kind of time frame. Another strategy is to write down your goal. If it’s not written down, it’s not happening. Taking a goal from your head and putting it on paper kind of seals the deal; it makes that aspiration more real.

What are some other suggestions from Zoom Power: Well, there are several. One is this: Guard your mind. What I mean by that is you can’t entertain all the negative thoughts floating around. When you are on your road to success, you’ve got to fortify yourself with fuel for the journey. That fuel is confidence. One way to build confidence is to see the potential in your opportunities and not dwell on doubt, misgivings and the negativity of others. That may mean you’ll have to reduce – or eliminate – conversations with certain people. It may mean you spend less time reading certain things that don’t support where you are trying to go. We can’t control the thoughts that enter our minds, but we can control what we choose to entertain and embrace.

What if others think your dream is crazy? Well, it’s your dream, not theirs. That means you sometimes have to be your own best cheerleader. You have to believe in the crazy. It may seem weird or off the beaten path to others, but if your dream is worthwhile, then believe in it. You will see it in your mind long before others see it in reality.

You present the counter argument that we can’t have it all. Isn’t this a bit unorthodox? Well, it may not be what people want to hear, but it’s true. And, quite frankly, liberating. The thing that gets people into trouble is trying to do every single thing on their to-do lists and to be everything to everyone. You can’t have it all, so stop trying. That means make some smart choices and do those things that are most important or pressing.

Lots of people hear inspiration, but it doesn’t seem to work. They read books that are inspirational. They attend conferences and events that are uplifting. Yet, they seem to remain in the same positions they were before reading the books or attending the events. What gives? Well, this is the thing about inspiration. Inspiration is something that sparks a thought. It gets you thinking about the possibilities for yourself. But you must then take that inspiration and turn it to action. Whether it’s Zoom Power or some other information source, the information source is there just to get you started. You’ve got to act upon what you learned.

Tell us about Monica Carter Tagore. What do you do? Well, I am the president of a copywriting, design and publishing company and am the publisher with my husband, of Knowledge Wealth Series, www.knowledgewealthseries.com, which is an online resource for entrepreneurship and business for creative people. We launched this project as a way to help other creative people learn how to turn their talents and expertise into impact and income. Many people have talents or abilities but are unable to turn those into real businesses. We give people information and assistance in doing that. We offer articles, books, e-books, coaching and other resources. I also speak on entrepreneurship, success and empowerment through workshops and keynotes.

What other projects are you working on? Well, Knowledge Wealth Series keeps me pretty busy. We are constantly working to add resources to the Knowledge Wealth Series Web site. So I write a lot of articles on business and entrepreneurship, and lately, I’ve been conducting a lot of workshops. We’re sharing the Zoom Power message of personal empowerment so more people realize they can create unlimited success in their own lives.

What do you do when you’re not writing books, speaking or working? Well, I work a lot, because there is so much I want to accomplish. But when I’m not working, I like to watch movies, read, travel, go out to eat and spend time with my husband, typical things. I try to work out on a regular basis, and am more successful some weeks than on others. And during football season, you can find me watching football – most often the Dallas Cowboys. 

by: Shelia in Books, Interviews, tags: Naleighna Kai

Welcome to another edition of eSpot - Interviews on the Go.

eSpot Host Shelia Goss interviews Naleighna Kai, contributing author to a New York Times bestseller, the national best selling author of Every Woman Needs a Wife, Speak it into Existence, Mermaid and Open Door Marriage. To listen to the interview, CLICK HERE.

I’m back from Spring Break. Now, I need a break from the break (smile).

This week I have the pleasure of introducing you to Torrance Stephens. I read one of his books a few years ago and I finally got a chance to ask him a few questions.

Your new book title: dirt behind my ears definitely gets the reader’s attention. Is it fiction or non-fiction?

It is non fiction. Basically it is a collection of opinion editorials from my earlier years from newspapers and my blog. Subjects, albeit mostly on politics, African American Culture and relationships, also covers history, and issues about the family and sports.

I’m a frequent visitor to your blog: http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com/. Will your new book be anything like your blog commentary? Tell us about it.

Well, I use it mainly to express what I thinking. I want to also use it as a medium to inform folks, especially men, that there is nothing wrong with expressing scholarship and thought. I want to present that there are other things that males, especially African American men seriously think about outside of women, money, music and sports.

It also allows for me to promote and sale some of my other published works as well as some of my scientific publications. Most of all it allows me direct access to the general public and that can go along way, especially if one has a penchant for informing the public and getting people to do. That’s what I want my blog to do – to get people to question and think.

What’s your opinion on the state of African-American fiction?

One word – LAME. Do not get me wrong, there are some great and excellent writers in our community; my list would be inordinate. However, we don’t have grasp on any of the whole of classic, estranged, offbeat and other worldly literature. What I read makes me think that folks want to sale books moreso that their craft. No creativity and it is a serious indication o me, that substantial bevy of our writers are not well read and/or versed in issues outside of fiction. That would have not sufficed 100 years ago today. On the other hand, it may be a refection of the reading public we service.

If your life was a reality TV show, what would be the title of it and why?

RAW DAWG BUFFALO – LIVE FREE OR DIE. Don’ know why, but that is just how I live and do.

What advice would you give aspiring writers who want to make it in this field?

Write for yourself first, study your craft, and never, never be afraid of writing what you really feel. Please never right for no one but yourself first.

To learn more or get in contact: 

Torrance T. Stephens, PhD.
Chief Behavioral Scientist, CEO
Braincellinc

Braincellinc@gmail.com
rawdawgbuffalo@gmail.com
http://rawdawgb.blogspot.com

Purchase books at www.bbotw.com (search torrance stephens)