The Bridesmaids--Chick Lit Thriller-Coming Soon!!!

Four women head to Chicago to celebrate the wedding of their beloved friend Tara, who is marrying her high school sweetheart. But there are secrets plaguing this group of women that threaten to be revealed during the three day weekend. 

These secrets could stop the wedding dead in its tracks or even cost one of the women their lives. 

Learning From Book Reviews

Writing is a skill that not everyone is suited for. It has always remained a passion for me and will continue to do so until the day I transition from this earthly existence.

When you find yourself sifting through the reviews on your work, the process can be a bit daunting. You have to know exactly how to look at criticism and decide which is helpful and which is not. There are very few legitimate book reviews out there because a lot of times the reader has something personal against the writer. Sometimes they just don't like the layout, the cover art, or more trivialities.

But when you do get that rare chance to read a review, good or bad, it should be relished. It is an opportunity for you as the writer to get good feedback on your work.

There is a reviewer that reviewed two of my books on Amazon. Now she gave them two and three stars respectively, but I appreciate the time that she took in giving my work an honest review, even if I didn't like what she said. I respect it because it was honest and unbiased.

Because of it, I'm working on becoming a better writer and create characters that aren't cookie cutter two dimensional people. I want my work to be better than that and I should strive harder to be better.

To that reviewer. Thank you. I'm only getting better because of your honesty.

What's Wrong WIth Urban Fiction? (updated)

What's Wrong With Urban Fiction? The Top Five Trends in Urban Fiction That Needs to Stop

Plenty.

I can enjoy a great UF book every once in a while but it has gotten to the point where if you've read one, you've read them all.There seem to be recurring themes in quite a few of them. The UF book that doesn't deal with these sterotypical characters will bring a new day in UF and if crafted right, could make a killing with Hollywood beating down their doors. Not to mention agents fighting to sign them to multiple book deals.

Here are a few of the stereotypes that I would like to die a quiet but certain death:

1. The Bad Bitch

There is a bad bitch in every novel. Her skin color runs the gamut from pecan to honey. Her hair is long, past her shoulders due to her Indian heritage. She is no taller than 5'4" and the baddest bitch on the block. Every girl wants to be her while every dude wants to have sex with her. There simply isn't another girl badder than she is in the game.

Really? Why do we stick to the same kind of heroine in our novels? I was guilty of writing like this in my early days. Because I couldn't be the girl that I described, I created her in my fiction. Does it speak to a certain self-hatred in our community? What's hot in the Black community can go from the type of jeans you like to the hue of black skin that you're attracted to. For once I'd like to see the 5'9" dark skinned girl get the guy!

2. A Drug Dealer Named Nino

Does this need any explanation? Obviously it does. Many writers are guilty of writing cookie cutter characters. I am as well. But come on....even though Nino is the perfect name for a drug dealer (no offense to anyone with that name) it's just overdone. Get a baby name book and start there.

3. Label Dropping Fools

Everyone wears Prada, Gucci, Fendi, etc. It sounds like a really bad rap lyric. Everyone is fresh to death wearing the latest in fashions from these designers. The label dropping in Urban Fiction is just atrocious and over used.  Boring and no imagination. 

Of course blacks aren't the only people guilty of this. But it just seems to be a trend in our literature. We base our judgments based on the labels on your clothing. We determine your worth by the purse you carry or the car you drive. Seriously? No wonder so many youths are addicted to a life of crime. They are able to secure the things they want in a rapid fashion. Why go to school and waste all that time trying to earn money when you can have what you want in a matter of days?

4.The N Word

A few of these dropped in an UF book is to be expected but only in dialogue. I was reading a book the other day where the author was using the N word in her exposition!!! Not to sound like a broken record, but if we want people to stop using the word, then we need to stop using this so much in our literature, especially when it's not in the dialogue. The omniscient voice of the narrator should never refer to the characters as N*****s. It's demeaning.

5. No Editing Whatsoever.

Too many Urban Fiction books are written so poorly, they are unreadable. I was recently accused of attacking UF writers and making them look stupid.  I had to think about that for a moment. Was that my ultimate goal? Making UF writers look stupid? Of course not and the thought makes me sad. What really makes me sad is that some of these self published books with poor grammar are a reflection on the educational system in this country.

There is nothing wrong with a gaffe here and there (I know my books have a few) but some books are so unreadable it makes you wonder how the author got through life without the ability to construct a sentence. It's embarrassing. Some authors choose to argue over these reviews instead of taking the constructive criticism and working on their novels to make them better. 

We can do better people. There is simply no excuse. Just like with anything else you take on, learning and perfecting your craft is essential. Don't ever take your readers for granted. Don't feel because you've been told you're a good writer by a few people that it's enough to start writing garbage. You won't last long in this game. Just watch professional singers. Show up late to concerts on the regular, smoking and drinking to ruin your voice, and plain disrespecting your fans will ensure that your next song will flop. 

Be true to your fans and they will remain true to you. The same thing applies for writers. We aren't exempt. Keep writing and putting your best foot forward and your fans will propel you to heights that you've always dreamed about. They keep food on your table and clothes on your back...IF you're lucky to do this for a living! 

Until you reach that level, strive for the best always. Success will follow. 

THE WAIT IS OVER! DIARY OF A SICK CHICK YEAR TWO!

Diary of A Sick Chick Year Two of Chronic Illness

Why were you compelled to do a second book? 

 I never dreamed that I would do a first one! LOL. The blog that I wrote was a personal one so that I could keep track of my symptoms. Shortly, it progressed to something else. I was asked by  many if  I were going to write a book two after the first one was released. Besides, there are many books out there that detail the first year of illness but not many describing the second.

What did you learn from writing Year Two?

I learned many hard lessons. Lessons no one should really have to go through. Loss of friends and just judgments imposed on you from other people. There were a lot of good things too. I learned who I could count on in a pinch.

What do you want your readers to know?

That living life with chronic illness can be difficult but doable.

Diary of A Sick Chick: Year Two of Living With Chronic Illness

Coming soon!!!!!!!!!

February 2013!!!!!!!!!

So many books focus on the first year of illness. But what happens when the "excitement" of your diagnosis wears off? You're left with Year Two. 

2012 was an interesting year for me as I battled flare after flare along with a near miss with death. There were some good times as well and I'd like to share yet another year with you. 

Thank you for all the support! 

Love, 

Sonya

All Zombied Out? There Aren't That Many Shades of Gray!

There are two trends with ebooks today. One is Zombies, Zombies, and more Zombies. The other you ask? Erotica. We have "The Walking Dead," World War Z", and "Fifty Shades of Gray" to thank.

There are literally thousands of books on each subject with different spins. Give me a apocalyptic thriller with twists and turns, and zero unpredictability, and I'm a happy girl. I'm in the bed for hours trying to get to the words The End!

But this is a genre that  has turned outrageous. Erotica is a subject that I'm not too keen on but with the success of Fifty Shades of Gray, the literary world has taken note!

Of course when I'm feeling low, I like to read a book that takes me to a time when the world is a normal place. The dog craps in the same part of the house when you're just inches away from taking him outside. The coffeemaker is broken...again. Your car insurance check is late so they are about to cancel your policy and this is all before you've had your morning coffee.

Then you turn on the news and a zombie is eating the reporter as a snack after finishing off the entire camera crew.

And. Shit. Just. Got. Serious.

Those types of books will have me engrossed for hours. But I must say that I'm getting a little zombied out. I think the subject has been covered a thousand times over. I'm looking for something totally original. Witches and wizards have been done to death since Shakespeare. Thanks to the Twilight series and True Blood, Vampires have had their day. Now it's almost time to say goodbye to the Zombies....or is it?

In terms of erotica, there are those that can write a sex scene so memorable, Viagra would become obsolete. Others, not so much. It's a genre that requires special talent, which many writers simply don't possess. It is an act that many adults find quite pleasure in but have no clue how to put the process into a believable and credible sex scene that can totally engross a reader instead of just grossing the reader out.

Hopefully many writers will stop beating these two dead horses who have been on the side of the road deteriorating and decomposing rapidly. There isn't too much of them left so let's move on shall we? Looking to break the mold? Create a new monster. One the world has yet to see. Then my fellow writers and readers...you've got yourself a freaking story.

What Does She See? **Diary of A Sick Chick**

Another Lupus video
Featuring the poem, "What Does She See?"

Coming soon

Diary of A Sick Chick: Year Two Of Living With Chronic Illness

Available on Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, and Kobo in February 2013