If you have a manuscript from 5,000 to 30,000 words, Kindle has a platform where you can send in a new or already published manuscript. Kindle Singles are submitted to Amazon where they are considered for publication.
If you are considered for publication for a Kindle Single, congratulations! It is quite an honor, especially if you have been rejected time and time again for publication with other agents and publishing companies. Only the best ( in some opinions) are selected for publication which means it is a really big deal.
Should you consider publishing your manuscript as a Kindle Single? Why not? Many indie writers are getting discovered in a big way here. It also looks wonderful on a resume as you seek other options in your writing career.
I've had one manuscript for consideration, but alas, I was turned down. I won't stop trying though. I would recommend that you submit your very best, making sure that it has been edited for errors and clarity.
Good Luck!
Monday, July 29, 2013
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
New Book: Serial Me from Sonya Dickerson
 |
| Coming September 2013! |
What would you do if there was a woman going around killing all the eligible and gorgeous men in your town? What would you do if you and that woman happened to look like twins?
Vanessa Johnson has it all as a Health and Fitness editor for a popular magazine; except a boyfriend and a body to die for.
Meanwhile a serial killer is on the loose in the city of Chicago causing mayhem and destruction everywhere she turns.
It isn't long before all fingers begin pointing at her. Vanessa must make a decision; watch her life go down the drain or help the police nab the killer before it's too late and she finds herself behind bars.
Thursday, May 30, 2013
REVIEW: The Haves and The Have Nots- Tyler Perry's New HIt or Miss?
Does "Tyler Perry Hate Black Women"? Did Oprah damage her brand and reputation by airing this show? Was the show "so awful that the awfulness appears intentional"?
Even though the ratings were sensational, the reviews from others were absolutely brutal. I used quotes in the sentences above because they were direct quotes from sources like NewsOne and the LA Times.
I did watch both episodes of the show when it aired on Tuesday night but I also caught the hour interview that Oprah did with Tyler Perry beforehand. It was an interesting view of Mr. Perry and he made some valid points about his work.
Paraphrasing, he stated that he writes from his experiences, particularly coming up in New Orleans. He can only write what he knows and they are his stories alone to tell. Now that is quite understandable but in my opinion, Mr. Perry can no longer use that as an excuse.
We are speaking about a man that has paved his own road into Hollywood when he was constantly pushed and shoved to the side. He made Hollywood see him for the force that he is. He opened his own door when so many were closed in his face. He is a multi-millionaire and has the ability to widen his experiences. He has the means to create new opportunities for himself and those can be used as new inspiration for his writing.
It should no longer be used as an excuse when people ask him why he tends to stick with the same material over and over again when he has the means to expand upon it and become much greater. Sure he has an audience and a sure formula. He creates what this particular group wants to see, produces it, and is well rewarded.
But shouldn't a man of his stature be willing to take more chances just to create a wider audience for his work? This is a golden opportunity to snag those who are not impressed with the body of work that he has created so far and turn them into fans. Or at least capture the respect that he deserves.
It seems as if Mr. Perry gives into a paranoia (refusing to let critics view his work before released) in keeping others outside, but somehow wanting the respect from those who just don't see him in the same light as the "Hollywood Elite". This is a man who, by all rights, has earned his spot at the table with the greatest and yet gets stiffed every single time.
The Haves and The Have Nots is a soapy dramatic series which I held high hopes for. I must say that while I don't consider myself a fan of his work, I do have tremendous respect for Mr. Perry. I fall in love with his story every single time I hear it. It gives me great courage to continue my writing as well.
However, I am not in love with this show. The show seemed to be a mish-mash of some of his earlier work with the same characters over and over again. I understand that Mr. Perry was greatly influenced by other bodies of work that came before him, such as The Color Purple. At some points in the show, I sat on the edge of my seat wondering when a line from The Color Purple was going to come spitting out of Hanna the maid's mouth. Kathryn Cryer seemed to come straight from Kathy Bates' character in The Family That Preys. Candace seemed as one-dimensional as Sanaa Lathan's character Andrea. Other characters were just plain strange such as Wyatt Cryer and Jeffrey Harrington.
There were contrived plot lines that drove me to almost change the channel. Why would Amanda insist on having Candace tutor her when her father is a skilled litigator? Why does Amanda insist on having Candace around her all of a sudden? This girl one minute was giving John the time of his life in a bedroom and then shows up at the house because Amanda happens to be friends with her. Not only that, Amanda INSISTS that Candace spend the night and....gasp....the family hasn't heard one word about her in the past and now she's hanging around like she's family! It holds onto the notion that if Amanda decided to tell her to f**** off, she would have no OTHER reason to even be in the house to provide the tension. It's just too contrived to be believable and Amanda would have to be doing cartwheels because she just loves this beautiful black girl Candace so much to keep her in the house and under John's nose for no other reason than making him squirm.
I am not sure where Wyatt and Jeffrey are going but their introduction into the story seemed a bit rushed. There was too much exposition...too much telling and not enough showing. The first episode pretty much stuck to the main house, with the exception of a hotel room and Hanna's house. That left the dialogue too stilted. The characters were forced to tell the audience too much. It was like watching a play in which the backstory must be explained rather than revealed to the audience slowly. Pacing...Mr. Perry. Pacing.....
I still can't figure out why Wyatt, their son, walked around the house naked for seven minutes. It delved the somewhat serious tone into complete lunacy.
Lastly, who physically licks their lips (when NOT done in jest) when they see someone physically appealing? Oh come now, Jeffrey Harrington. Or was that a really bad stereotype of the gay community? I haven't figured that one out yet.
Does Tyler Perry hate black women? Of course not. I think that notion is patently absurd. Tyler Perry sticks with his winning formula and doesn't deviate. Women in his world are either church going fanatics, stuck up and bourgeois, or hypersexual and in need of a good man/God. His characters are just the same ones over and over again but he just changes the names on the script. It's like he's plagiarized himself again and again. Morally, it's not wrong to do so. Financially? He laughs all the way to the bank. Smart? Depends on how you look at the situation. Is he being fair to himself? Not even close.
Mr. Perry stated that he feels burdened by the fact that so many people depend on him. They need to continue working and making names for themselves which means he needs to continue producing.
If I were standing in front of him right now and he asked my lowly opinion, I would simply tell him to take a year off. Explore the world if he hasn't already done so. Talk to people of different backgrounds. Read lots of books...books he would have never read in a million years. Watch movies that he wouldn't have normally watched ever because you just don't care for that genre. Talk to aspiring writers and budding actors. Dare to be different. Open your heart and your mind to something new.
Mr. Perry. This is what you are here to do. Creation is stifled when it's forced and it's time for a new formula. I, of all people, know that you have what it takes. It's time for something new.
.
Even though the ratings were sensational, the reviews from others were absolutely brutal. I used quotes in the sentences above because they were direct quotes from sources like NewsOne and the LA Times.
I did watch both episodes of the show when it aired on Tuesday night but I also caught the hour interview that Oprah did with Tyler Perry beforehand. It was an interesting view of Mr. Perry and he made some valid points about his work.
Paraphrasing, he stated that he writes from his experiences, particularly coming up in New Orleans. He can only write what he knows and they are his stories alone to tell. Now that is quite understandable but in my opinion, Mr. Perry can no longer use that as an excuse.
We are speaking about a man that has paved his own road into Hollywood when he was constantly pushed and shoved to the side. He made Hollywood see him for the force that he is. He opened his own door when so many were closed in his face. He is a multi-millionaire and has the ability to widen his experiences. He has the means to create new opportunities for himself and those can be used as new inspiration for his writing.
It should no longer be used as an excuse when people ask him why he tends to stick with the same material over and over again when he has the means to expand upon it and become much greater. Sure he has an audience and a sure formula. He creates what this particular group wants to see, produces it, and is well rewarded.
But shouldn't a man of his stature be willing to take more chances just to create a wider audience for his work? This is a golden opportunity to snag those who are not impressed with the body of work that he has created so far and turn them into fans. Or at least capture the respect that he deserves.
It seems as if Mr. Perry gives into a paranoia (refusing to let critics view his work before released) in keeping others outside, but somehow wanting the respect from those who just don't see him in the same light as the "Hollywood Elite". This is a man who, by all rights, has earned his spot at the table with the greatest and yet gets stiffed every single time.
The Haves and The Have Nots is a soapy dramatic series which I held high hopes for. I must say that while I don't consider myself a fan of his work, I do have tremendous respect for Mr. Perry. I fall in love with his story every single time I hear it. It gives me great courage to continue my writing as well.
However, I am not in love with this show. The show seemed to be a mish-mash of some of his earlier work with the same characters over and over again. I understand that Mr. Perry was greatly influenced by other bodies of work that came before him, such as The Color Purple. At some points in the show, I sat on the edge of my seat wondering when a line from The Color Purple was going to come spitting out of Hanna the maid's mouth. Kathryn Cryer seemed to come straight from Kathy Bates' character in The Family That Preys. Candace seemed as one-dimensional as Sanaa Lathan's character Andrea. Other characters were just plain strange such as Wyatt Cryer and Jeffrey Harrington.
There were contrived plot lines that drove me to almost change the channel. Why would Amanda insist on having Candace tutor her when her father is a skilled litigator? Why does Amanda insist on having Candace around her all of a sudden? This girl one minute was giving John the time of his life in a bedroom and then shows up at the house because Amanda happens to be friends with her. Not only that, Amanda INSISTS that Candace spend the night and....gasp....the family hasn't heard one word about her in the past and now she's hanging around like she's family! It holds onto the notion that if Amanda decided to tell her to f**** off, she would have no OTHER reason to even be in the house to provide the tension. It's just too contrived to be believable and Amanda would have to be doing cartwheels because she just loves this beautiful black girl Candace so much to keep her in the house and under John's nose for no other reason than making him squirm.
I am not sure where Wyatt and Jeffrey are going but their introduction into the story seemed a bit rushed. There was too much exposition...too much telling and not enough showing. The first episode pretty much stuck to the main house, with the exception of a hotel room and Hanna's house. That left the dialogue too stilted. The characters were forced to tell the audience too much. It was like watching a play in which the backstory must be explained rather than revealed to the audience slowly. Pacing...Mr. Perry. Pacing.....
I still can't figure out why Wyatt, their son, walked around the house naked for seven minutes. It delved the somewhat serious tone into complete lunacy.
Lastly, who physically licks their lips (when NOT done in jest) when they see someone physically appealing? Oh come now, Jeffrey Harrington. Or was that a really bad stereotype of the gay community? I haven't figured that one out yet.
Does Tyler Perry hate black women? Of course not. I think that notion is patently absurd. Tyler Perry sticks with his winning formula and doesn't deviate. Women in his world are either church going fanatics, stuck up and bourgeois, or hypersexual and in need of a good man/God. His characters are just the same ones over and over again but he just changes the names on the script. It's like he's plagiarized himself again and again. Morally, it's not wrong to do so. Financially? He laughs all the way to the bank. Smart? Depends on how you look at the situation. Is he being fair to himself? Not even close.
Mr. Perry stated that he feels burdened by the fact that so many people depend on him. They need to continue working and making names for themselves which means he needs to continue producing.
If I were standing in front of him right now and he asked my lowly opinion, I would simply tell him to take a year off. Explore the world if he hasn't already done so. Talk to people of different backgrounds. Read lots of books...books he would have never read in a million years. Watch movies that he wouldn't have normally watched ever because you just don't care for that genre. Talk to aspiring writers and budding actors. Dare to be different. Open your heart and your mind to something new.
Mr. Perry. This is what you are here to do. Creation is stifled when it's forced and it's time for a new formula. I, of all people, know that you have what it takes. It's time for something new.
.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
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.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
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.
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.
Monday, April 8, 2013
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.
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
THE WAIT IS OVER! DIARY OF A SICK CHICK YEAR TWO!
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.
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