Category Archives: The Morning Talk
Behind the Book: Brookstone University
One of the first locations introduced in The Diamond Collection is the fictional Brookstone University. Located in East Brookstone, New York, the school is one of the primary settings in Diamonds in the Rough. Carmen, Tiara, Monifah, and Rakim are all attendees although none of them will graduate with degrees from the school for various reasons.
Kinard Hall
The university is heavily modeled after my alma mater, Winthrop University (Rock Hill, SC). This is only natural since I wrote the first two books while in attendance (I attended Winthrop from August of 2003 to December of 2007). There are only two differences between the two. The first difference is that one school is fictional and the other is not. The second difference is that Winthrop is located in a small city while Brookstone University is located in a large city. In terms of the structure of Brookstone University, I did not describe the buildings or the campus. If I had of, the buildings would’ve been very similar to those on Winthrop’s campus. For example, Gardner Hall (which is mentioned at the very beginning of the novel- it is the place where Carmen meets Tiara before they head to the diner) represents Kinard Hall. There is also a nameless auditorium where Carmen meets Tiara to discuss the possibility of her being intimate with Jay. This building could very well be Byrnes Auditorium.
The French Toy Poodle, official mascot of Sigma Gamma Rho
As for similarities, both universities have the presence of Greek Life. This part of the story came from the fact that I joined Sigma Gamma Rho in 2005 and wanted to incorporate Greekdom into my novel. In the book, Carmen’s mother, Patricia Davenport, is a member of Delta Sigma Theta and Rakim is looking to pledge the fictional Theta Beta Psi Fraternity.
When the book first came out in 2010, I got the question of why Carmen’s mother was a Delta. Well, the honest answer is that I felt that if she was a Sigma Gamma Rho, it would be expected. I decided to go against the grain and make her a Delta. I also knew that if I ever wanted to create conflict between Carmen and her mother, one of the causes could be that Carmen became an honorary woman of Sigma against her mother’s wishes. This would only contribute to the strife that will already have formed between the two.
Next, the decision to create a fictional brotherhood for Rakim came during the editing process of Diamonds in the Rough. Originally, Rakim was pledging Omega Psi Phi. There is also a scene in the book where Carmen goes to Rakim’s house, sees his line brothers there, and they discuss brief details of his pledge process. I didn’t want to attribute hazing, an illegal activity, to any organization that was a part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) so I decided to create a fictional organization. By using Theta Beta Psi, the image of NPHC and Omega Psi Phi remained protected.
Since I am on the subject of Greek Life, I thought it would be only fair to disclose that the original version of The Ace of Diamonds focused on Carmen’s daughter, Kristian, pledging a fictional sorority, Lambda Pi Omega. Whether or not, I will keep this same story, but introduce it with new characters and as a book that is not part of the Diamond Collection is up in the air. For right now, it shall remain in my vault of unfinished works.
Something else you want to know about Brookstone University? Leave a comment!
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Behind The Book: Carmen Denise Davenport
The best place to start when discussing Carmen is with her name. Let me first say that there is no significance or meaning behind her middle name (Denise) or her last name (Davenport). Those names were just chosen randomly when I started writing the first book. For her first name, I chose the name “Carmen,” after watching Carmen Jones, a 1954 adaptation of the play Carmen, which starred Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte. I fell in love with the way the name sounded and wanted to use it in a novel. Thus, the character of Carmen was born.
Then, in 2001, another adaptation of the play came along that showcased one of the traits that I wanted Carmen to have. That trait was ambition and the movie was Carmen: A Hip-Hopera, which starred Beyonce Knowles and Mekhi Phifer. In the movie, Beyonce plays Carmen Brown an aspiring actress whose aspirations to make it to the top are so great that she doesn’t care who she hurts along the way. Sound sort of familiar?
While I definitely did not want to make a spin-off of Carmen: A Hip Hopera, I did want to take the trait of ambition and illustrate it in my novel. I showed this in the journey that Carmen takes to save Flame, the clothing boutique she inherits from her mother. If you’ve read the book, Diamonds in the Rough, then you know that Carmen does a few things that will make anybody question her morals and values. My goal was to create shock value by first showing her as a virginal, well-to-do college student who evolves into a woman who is somewhat of a femme fatale. The ultimate good girl gone bad. The good part about all of this is that Carmen is able to work through all of her obstacles and still come out on top.
It is this position of power that brings me to my next discussion. It may seem that every man wants or desires her, but it is not because of Carmen’s looks. Yes, she is attractive, which almost every main female character of a novel is, but it is Carmen’s wealth and power that attracts her to men. It is often said that a man will run from a financially independent woman, but if you are on the same level as her than there is no need to run. You are attracted to her status because her status is equal to yours. Besides, most of the men who are running after Carmen are on the same financial level as her. (Some of you may argue that Kane wasn’t, but you have to remember that Carmen was not rich or successful when they first met. She was a struggling store owner whose parents had moved to Dallas, Texas, leaving her to fend for herself.)
Speaking of attraction, I would like to share the visual I see when I think of Carmen. I see a woman who has a curvaceous shape, stands about 5’6, with dark brown eyes that matches a dark mocha skin tone. Her hair is relaxed and hangs just past her shoulders. I think the model depicted on the front cover of Diamonds in the Rough is a good representation of what I see. Even the model on Diamonds are Forever is a good match.
What do you see when you think of Carmen? Feel free to share
For those of you who haven’t read the books, check them out, and concoct your own visual masterpiece!
Tidbits about Carmen
-At the beginning of Diamonds in the Rough, Carmen is 21.
-At the beginning of Diamonds are Forever, Carmen is 39.
-Her favorite wine is Alice White Chardonnay
-One of her favorite foods to eat is honey barbecue ribs which is served at the fictional Old Town Bistro
-Her ethnic makeup consists of African-American, Bahamian, and… (This will be revealed in a future novel!)
-At the conclusion of Diamonds are Forever, Carmen is mother to 6 children!
-Carmen is an only child (currently)
Something else you want to know? Leave a comment!
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Behind the Book: Brookstone, New York
The fictional Brookstone, New York is the main setting of The Diamond Collection. Other minor settings are San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dallas, Texas, and the fictional Copperton City, Georgia, which will be introduced in The Ace of Diamonds.
When I first started writing Diamonds in the Rough, I knew that I wanted the main characters to live in a city that matched the lifestyles that I wanted them to have. In other words, I wanted them to live in a populous city that was fast-paced, vibrant, had glitz, glamour and offered a wealth of opportunities. In addition, I wanted it to be a place that was also crime-ridden. The first place I thought of was New York City. The added bonus was that it was known for being immersed with entertainment and fashion. To me, it was the perfect setting for the novel.
Having never visited New York, I realized early on when I first started developing ideas for the novel that this would be somewhat of a problem. Almost everything I knew about the city came from what I saw on television and the internet. Deep down, I knew that I could make it work. The plus of having a real city/state in a novel is that it allows your readers to form an instant connection with the book. It is easier for them to visualize the setting if it is a place that they are already familiar with. For example, if the setting was New York City and I had the characters in Times Square, most readers will automatically see busy streets, tons of people, and billboards everywhere.
However, with a fictional city, you can create more of your own world. You can create your own restaurants, your own street names, your own colleges, etc. You have more creative control with a fictional city than one that actually exists. The good part about this is that you can take some elements of various “real” cities and combine them into one.
Realizing this, the city of Brookstone, New York was born.
To begin, I’m unsure of where the name actually came from. I just remember writing and typing Brookstone. It’s like it came to life on its own. In the series, Brookstone is one of the biggest cities in the state of New York. It’s not as big as New York City, but it’s a decent size. It is also divided into two parts, East Brookstone and West Brookstone. East Brookstone is stereotyped as the part of the city where the upper class resides while the lower class is considered to live in West Brookstone. To illustrate this, I have Carmen, whose family is well off, living in East Brookstone while her best friend, Tiara, whose family is lower middle class, lives in West Brookstone. I put these characters in two different parts of the city to show that they do mingle despite the stereotypes.
As for the businesses that are established throughout the book, most are in Downtown Brookstone, which is on the Eastside. Below are a few major landmarks that are mentioned in the series.
Landmarks in Brookstone, New York
Brookstone High School- attended by Carmen and Tiara (and a few others who I’ll discuss later *winks*)
Brookstone University- attended by Carmen, Tiara, and Rakim
Davenport Realty- owned by Harold Davenport/ Lotus Pagua (Carmen’s father)
Flame, Inc. – clothing company owned by Carmen (previously owned by her mother, Patricia Davenport)
Sapphire- hip-hop club and bar owned by Jay (was previously an elite gentleman’s club owned by his father, Hector Santiago)
Blue Magic- soul food restaurant owned by Jay and Carmen (introduced in Diamonds are Forever)
Iceland- jewelry store owned by Jay Santiago (introduced in Diamonds are Forever)
Something else you want to know? Leave a comment!
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Get Your Popcorn Ready: Basketball Wives Miami
necolebitchie.com
Come February 20th, the women will be taking over the court in a new season of Basketball Wives: Miami. Of course, I plan on live tweeting during every episode (unless I’m writing) as the drama unfolds. There are also two new ladies joining the cast: Kenya Bell and Kesha Nichols.
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Book Signing: Rhoyal Rendezvous
Greetings all! Just wanted to drop a little note that I will be signing copies of Diamonds in the Rough and Diamonds are Forever at the Rhoyal Rendezvous event on February 3rd. Please see details below!
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Theta Eta Sigma presents RHOyal Rendezvous: It’s All About Me
Please join the lovely ladies of the Theta Eta Sigma Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. for “Rhoyal Rendezvous: It’s All About Me.” The event will take place on Friday, February 3, 2012 from 7-10pm at The Clebourne House located at 138 Clebourne St Fort Mill, SC.
General admission is 10.00/ 15.00 at the door
VIP admission is 20.00/ 25.00 at the door (VIP includes massage, drink and gift)
You may purchase tickets at www.thetaetasigma-sgrho22..com.
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The Dunkumentary Parts I-III
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Game featuring Wolf Haley and Lil’ Wayne “Martians Vs Goblins”
The video also features a cameo from Kid Red.
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Skee TV goes Behind the Scenes of Martians Vs. Goblins w/ Game and Tyler the Creator
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~|~ RIP Slim Dunkin
This is straight from rollingstone.com:
The rapper Slim Dunkin was fatally shot at an Atlanta recording studio on Friday evening.
According to Atlanta police, Slim Dunkin was shot once in the chest with a handgun last night around 5:30 p.m. The rapper, whose real name is Mario Hamilton, was preparing to record a video in the studio when an argument broke out.
“Before the video shoot took place, it appears the victim and suspect got involved in a verbal altercation,” Atlanta Police Maj. Keith Meadows told the Associated Press. “We don’t know what that altercation was about.”
The police have not yet identified the shooter or recovered the handgun. They say that between 13 and 20 people were in the studio at the time.
“Right now we’re just trying to . . . identify who may have seen what, really just trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together,” Meadows told the AP. “It seems everybody witnessed something very different. We’re just trying to go back and make sense of everything.”
The rapper was taken to Memorial Grady Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Slim Dunkin was considered to be a rising star in Waka Flocka Flame’s Brick Squad Monopoly. He was featured on several tracks by Waka Flocka Flame, including “Fuck the Club Up” and had recently released a 20-song mixtape featuring Gucci Mane, Roscoe Dash, and Pastor Troy. Atlanta police say that Slim Dunkin was in his early twenties.
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Frank Ocean “Thinkin’ About You”
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Update on The Diamond Collection
It has been almost a year since my last book release and I have gotten numerous messages regarding the third book. The Ace of Diamonds is complete and has been submitted to my publisher. I am waiting to see if it has been accepted or not. So, let’s keep our fingers cross! In terms of Black Diamonds, which is Book Four, I am halfway finished with the re-write. A big thank you to everyone who has supported me! *Razzle~Dazzle*
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Food Whore Alert: Chicken-Taco Cornbread Pie
This recipe is straight from kraftrecipes.com. The picture is of the pie that I made :-0)Ingredients:
1 Tbsp. oil
1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 pkg. (1-1/4 oz.) TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Taco Seasoning Mix
3/4 cup water
1 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 pkg. (8-1/2 oz.) corn muffin mix
Steps:
HEAT oven to 400°F.
HEAT oil in large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook and stir 5 min. or until done. Stir in peppers, seasoning mix and water. Bring to boil; simmer on medium-low heat 10 min., stirring occasionally.
SPOON into 9-inch pie plate; sprinkle with cheese. Prepare muffin mix as directed on package; spoon over cheese, completely covering cheese layer.
Bake for 20mins or until it is golden brown. Let it stand for at least 5mins.
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Book Review: Secrets on Lake Drive by Tina Martin
I was supposed to write a review of this book last year, but I am still catching up on my blog. Since my recent change in careers, I hardly have the time that I used to for posts. Still, I wanted to take some time out today to actually talk about this book. For one, because the book was exceptionally good and two, it was hard for me to put it down. When I read books such as this, I want to share it with the rest of the world. (I just have to find the time to, SALTS)
Secrets on Lake Drive by Tina Martin tells the story of Monica Smith, a school teacher, who is still feeling the effects of heartbreak from her first love, Cornelius. It is because of this relationship that she hasn’t fully allowed herself to love again. In her class, there is a boy named Roman who Monica has developed a special relationship with. His father is Sean Beauvais, a wealthy and handsome man (with memorable green eyes) who Monica meets for the first time at a parent-teacher conference. Instead of them having a “love at first sight” moment, Monica and Sean are involved in a slightly heated argument regarding Sean’s parenting skills with Roman.
After several run-ins with each other, Sean offers Monica a summer babysitting job. The gig comes with a nice paycheck and gives Monica the chance to spend quality time with her favorite student. Throughout the summer, Sean and Monica’s attraction for each other grows. There are several suspenseful incidents in the book, in which you will expect the unleashing of some very powerful secrets, which will leave you on the edge of your seat. Believe me; Monica and Sean both have a countless number of secrets that they’re hiding from each other.
Aside from the suspense, what I loved most about the book is that the writer gives you an in-depth look into Monica’s thoughts and emotions. Also, the book did not focus majorly on sex, but more on Monica and Sean’s transition from frienemies to soulmates. It was the perfect combination of romance and comedy. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a great read.
Rating: ***** Literary Classic
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Food Whore Alert: Shrimp Alfredo Pasta
Since I live by myself, I don’t feel the need to cook every night. I like to cook things that spread that I can take for lunch at work for more than 1 day and still possibly eat for dinner. Let’s be real, you waste money not eating leftovers. So since I’m trying to branch out and try different things, I’ve been trying new recipes. I recently found a recipe for Chicken Alfredo Pasta. It would be very costly if I cooked the pasta according to the recipe, so I created a quick and easy way to go about it. I also decided to use shrimp instead of chicken. Here’s what you’ll need:
1 box of pasta- you can use pretty much any kind of pasta noodles that you like. I’d prefer to use Garden Rotini, but elbow macaroni or even spaghetti noodles can work
1 jar of Alfredo sauce
1 bag of frozen mixed vegetables
1 bag of cooked/peeled shrimp
First, cook your pasta according to the directions on the box. You can cook your mixed vegetables at this time as well. Once the pasta is cooked, drain off the excess water. Return the pasta to the pot that you cooked it in, add the mixed vegetables, shrimp and finally the alfredo sauce. Stir and season with pepper.
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NSFW: Nicki Minaj “Did It On ‘Em (Internet Version)
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The Author Project promotes Unloved on Conversations Radio!~
What is the Author Project?
Seven authors (Jo Davis, HD Hatcher, Omegia Keeys, Autumn Prince, Lisa Rusczyk, KJ Thompson, and Vogue) have joined forces to send one message. That message is, “You are not Unloved!” Unloved is an anthology dedicated to those who have been the victim of bullying, or know someone who has been bullied.
What is Unloved?
Bullying was once considered a harmless rite of passage. Some were either bullied in school or they were the bully. What was once considered an acceptable practice has now been drawn into the limelight by the national attention of highly publicized suicides due to bullying.
Bullying can take on different forms. Bullying is not just a physical act but can also be an emotional, written, or verbal act as well. Bullying can take place in the workplace, school, online, and even while we are traveling in our vehicles on the road. Bullying is a form of abuse that has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and civilized nations across the globe.
When bullying goes too far, the end result is sometimes suicide. Suicide should never become an option. One life lost to this senseless way, is one too many!
All proceeds from Unloved will go to charities in support of Bully Prevention and/or Suicide Prevention.
You can purchase this book from http://www.passionatewriterpublishing.com or amazon.com!
Check us out on Tuesday, March 22, 2011 at 8pm on Conversations Live Radio-
www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive
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Check me out on WordSexy Radio- 02.14!
WordSexy Radio is Here! Talk live with author Redsnapper on Blogtalkradio Monday, February 14, 2011 8:00 PM (CST) 9:00 PM (EST) at (347) 215-8539.
Special Guest on this upcoming show will be Author Vogue, Author of the Novel: “Diamonds in the Rough”
She will be discussing her upcoming events as well as her new upcoming projects.
…
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Book Review of Wyatt Bryson’s “Onxy & Eggshell”
I think we all can agree that we judge books by their covers. If the cover does not catch your attention then you are less likely to book buy the book. I will be honest and say that when I first saw the book covers for Wyatt Bryson’s novels, Sankofa and Onyx and Eggshell, the idea of buying the books was miles away from my mind. It wasn’t until I actually read the synopses of the novels and learned the meaning behind the titles that I wanted to actually read the books.
The first book I bought was Onyx and Eggshell because it was focused on five girls pledging a sorority (Gamma Beta Alpha). As a member of Sigma Gamma Rho, my interest in this book was almost automatic. I haven’t read a lot of books which focus on Greek life so I definitely couldn’t wait to start this one. (Sidebar- the sorority’s official colors are onyx and eggshell hence the title of the book)
To begin, Onyx and Eggshell centers itself around five main characters, Sabina, Akia, Tammy, Luci and Chilli who attend Freedom College. The first thing I instantly loved about the characters was the fact that they were all noticeably different and every character had something that made you feel connected to them. As much as I would love to go into grave detail about each character, I won’t, because I don’t want to give away anything. There are a lot of things that come out in the novel about each of these characters, but giving away the goods is not my style. I will say this, though- out of the five characters, my favorite was Chilli. Despite her obstacles, Chilli always had sort of a calm demeanor about herself. It seemed as if certain things never got to her. I honestly felt that her name fit her to the T. However, towards the end of the book…things took a turn. Yep, a big surprise in the plot!
Although this book was about pledging, do not expect to read a story about five girls being hazed. Expect to receive more of a history lesson on Gamma Beta Alpha and how the organization embodies African traditions. It’s obvious that Mr. Bryson did his research with the amount of references to African culture that is in the book. As the characters receive their history lesson, please believe that you will be getting yours as well!
In the end, the point that I really want to make is this. Although we judge books by their covers, we really shouldn’t. Onyx and Eggshell is an example of that. I would definitely be missing out on a great story if I had let the cover discourage me from buying the book. I highly suggest that you look pass the cover and head directly to the pages!
Rating: ***** (Literary Classic)
Simply Vogue 