Category Archives: True Story

For all you avid readers….

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So, I decided to make a list of books that I want…as I get them, I will cross them off the list. I might even add some…we’ll see. I’m also planning on starting a new page for book reviews. I’m not a professional book reviewer, but an avid reader. If I LOVE a book, I’m definitely going to tell the world about it.

Love Heist by Jackie D.- PURCHASED!!!!!!!!

A Moth To A Flame by Ashley Antoinette

A Diamond in the Rough by Jacqueline McDuffie

The Dirty Divorce by Miss KP

Onyx and Eggshell by Wyatt Bryson- we’re fellow Winthrop alumni!!!!!! Can’t wait to read this one!

The Dopeman’s Wife by Jaquavis Coleman

After the Party by Harvis Mathis

Prince’s Donor by Sindee Lynn

When A Tattered Past Catches You by Tasha Wright

Black Diamond 2: Nicety by Brittani Williams

Pulpit Confessions by Peron F. Long

Memoirs of a Creole Crime Cartel by Red Snapper- EXCHANGED COPY OF DITR FOR THIS BOOK- YIPPEEE!

Get N’ Serious by Rory Sheriff

Get N’ Serious 2: My Addiction by Rory Sheriff

Perfectly Addicted by Chermean Taylor Gregory

The Journey to Diamonds (Part V)

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In 2004, after my mother passed away, I was lying in my bed in Margaret Nance (one of Winthrop’s residence halls) and I wrote these lyrics…

Life ain’t never what I thought it would be

If you had of asked me as a baby, if I wanted life

No, is what the answer would be

There’s so much pain

So many boys playing games…

Sick of these raining days

No sunlight or change

And I can’t be what I want to be

And I can’t do, what I want to do

All I have is these dreams, that don’t even come true

Back then, that is how I felt. My main support system was gone, the woman who nicknamed me, “Starchild,” at birth. To me, everything seemed unreachable.

However, I proved my own self wrong and these lyrics are nothing, but a reflection of my growth. Dreams do come true. I had the dream to be a published author and I am. Right now, I am pushing the world to follow their dreams. You can do whatever you put your mind to. Don’t let anyone stop you. Don’t even let YOU stop YOU. Life is about taking chances. Take that chance and learn from it. Taking chances is what gets you to where you want to be.

I encourage all of you reading this, to shoot for the stars! YOU CAN DO IT!

*RAZZLE~DAZZLE*

Giveaway: Win a free copy of Diamonds in the Rough!

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 You will have to answer 5 short questions correctly in order to be entered into the drawing. Send your responses to blaq_pearls@yahoo.com. Do not post them on the site. If your answers are posted, you will be disqualified. Two winners will be chosen at random to receive one copy free of charge of Diamonds in the Rough. You will also receive a confirmation email that your responses were received.  Good luck! Deadline is June 30, 2010.  

  

  

1. What is the name of Carmen’s best friend?  

2. What is the name of the real estate tycoon who is pictured in the newspaper with Carmen’s father? 

3. What sorority does Tiara want to pledge? 

4. What is the name of the guy who was staring at Carmen at the diner? 

5. What is this guy’s special physical feature that draws Carmen to him? 

The Journey to Diamonds (Part IV)

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Maybe I should save this post as one of my guest blogging features for the Virtual Book Tour. Oh well, I feel I should unleash this now. To be honest, I should have unleashed this on June 1st when Diamonds in the Rough dropped.

I came into this industry, dumb. Yeah, I said it! Did I do my research like I was supposed to? No. I’m learning as I go, which can be hard at times, but exciting as well. I love to learn. If you can teach me something, you have made my day.

One thing that breaks my heart and will probably  never change is this: Great authors often go ignored because their with a small publisher. I’m not being bias and talking about myself. Let me say this…(shoutout to B. Swangin’ Webster!) I am  a READER and a WRITER. My plan is to buy 1 book everytime I get paid because there are so many authors I’ve met via Facebook whose books have me intrigued. Some of them I feel can potentially be bestsellers or should be, but the politics of the industry won’t allow it. Well, unless they go the literary agent route and sign with a major publisher. Why should we/they have to do that? Why can’t we/they just release a book and have it automatically on the shelves. I know, I know, that would only happen in a perfect world.

Like I’ve read online a gazillion times, its all about the money. Stores don’t want products that won’t sell. However, I’m sitting here looking at all of these authors who are with small publishers AND on the grind. Their books are probably better than what’s on the shelves, but will get ignored because their not with a major publisher. BAH FREAKING HUMBUG!

Or their not marketable because to industry standards, their a little unknown. If you’re talentless, but have a rich family then of course, you’ll get a book deal right off your name. It’s like, people know its going to sell so they will sign you even if your writing is crap (wait, did I just go in on Paris Hilton?-EEEEKKK- not saying her writing is crap, never read her book, but you get my point)

I know I have the option of finding an agent and getting with the “big dogs,” but you know what, I want to prove people wrong. It’s going to take HARD, HARD work, but I have the same ambitious spirit as Carmen Davenport (you should know who this is by now LOL)…I’m going to WORK now. PLAY later.

*Razzle~Dazzle*

Books That I Want…

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So, I decided to make a list of books that I want…as I get them, I will cross them off the list. I might even add some…we’ll see:

Love Heist by Jackie Davis

A Moth To A Flame by Ashley A.

A Diamond in the Rough by Jacqueline McDuffie – yeah, I’m being bias- we have similar titles LOL, however, I read the synopsis and it sounds GREAT!

The Dirty Divorce by Miss KP

Memoirs of a Creole Crime Cartel by Red Snapper

Kat Stacks gets slapped!!!!

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First off, I do not condone domestic violence and there is no BUTS about it. So apparently, Kat Stacks got into it with some guys and they asked her to apologize to Bow Wow & Fabolous. In case you don’t know, Kat Stacks is like Superhead No. 2. She has videos on the internet claiming to be “chumping” down all of our favorite rappers (including someone in the Black Wall Street camp-and the rapper denied even being with her-no, its not Game) such as Fabolous and Bow Wow.

This is what I found on allhiphop.com-

THE LOW DOWN ON KAT STACKS / FABOLOUS / BOW WOW

Apparently, Kat Stacks is going to sue Fabolous. I don’t know all the in’s and out’s with their relationship, but apparently, she made a plea to Fab NOT to release the video of her getting beat down by a person that is allegedly Paul Cain, Fab’s bro. This all went down in Atlanta at a bar. Not sure when. After Kat was slapped once, she was slapped again and then she fell. But, you know all of this, right? Her phone was taken from her too.

Kat Stacks levied down her accusations on Twitter:

yes its true @myfabolouslife sent people today to smack me up at the bar & they stole my phone & recorded it. i dare yall to blast it.”

” got my a** wooped? it was 2 n*ggas yelling @myfabolouslife & @bowwow name … im a female u got 2 n*ggas to hit me LOL lame.”

“i have no marks on my face .. they are lame”

Now, according to allhiphop.com, there is no factual information that states that the guy who slapped Kat Stacks is Fabolous’ brother. All Kat Stacks says is that it was somebody’s in Fabolous’ camp….You can see the video below. It’s not good footage, but its here…

Essence.com- 10 Things You Should Know about Jamaica

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essence.com

The reason I am posting this is because I’m thinking of changing the setting of one of my novels- its actually Diamonds N’ Roses, Book 5 of the Diamond Collection. I’m not sure if I want to move it to the Bahamas or Jamaica, but I’ll figure it out by the time I’m done rewriting and editing Black Diamonds (Book Four)….

Check out this article, straight from essence.com:

  • In 1655, England seized the island and a plantation economy based on sugar, cocoa, and coffee was established.
  • In 1834, the abolition of slavery freed a quarter million slaves, many of whom became small farmers.
  • In 1958, Jamaica joined other British Caribbean colonies in forming the Federation of the West Indies.
  • In 1962, Jamaica gained full independence when it withdrew from the Federation
  • The roots of reggae music are fixed in slavery. Slave orchestras were formed by several of the richer planters. Rhythms, songs, and dances that are purely African have survived in rural Jamaica well into the twentieth century, according to “Reggae Bloodlines.” Think Bob Marley or Jimmy Cliff.
  • Every year poets and writers from around the world gather to attend a literary festival held in Jamaica called, “Calabash International Festival.”
  • According to CIA World Fact Book, the cycle of violence, drugs, and poverty has served to impoverish large sectors of the populace. Many rural and resort areas remain relatively safe and contribute substantially to the economy.
  • Jamaica is a tourist-friendly country. In fact, the New York Times reports, Kingston has been called the nerve centeof Jamaica, offering strip-mall-like boulevards to a Spanish Court hotel.
  • Jamaican alleged drug lord Christopher “Dudus” Coke is described as one of the world’s most dangerous drug lords by the United States Justice Department.
  • Supporters of alleged drug lord “Dudus” took to the streets of Kingston, Jamaica to protest of the government’s decision to extradite him to the United States to face drug trafficking and gun charges. Many believe he has had a greater influence on the people of Jamaica than the government.

It’s Been Confirmed…

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Yep, now the rumors can stop. Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys are engaged and expecting their first child. Peep this info, straight from people.com:

A wedding and a baby are on the way for Alicia Keys and Swizz Beatz.

The musicians “are expecting a baby and are engaged to be married in a private ceremony later this year,” reps for the couple confirm to PEOPLE.

The announcement comes after the two, together since fall 2008, attended Thursday night’s Black Ball in London, which benefits Keys’s Keep a Child Alive charity.

“They’re very happy,” says a friend of the couple.

Rapper Swizz Beatz (real name: Kasseem Dean), 31, has produced music for Keys, 29, and worked with artists including Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez and Gwen Stefani.

It will be the first marriage for Grammy-winner Keys – and their first child together. Swizz Beatz is father to Kasseem Jr., 3, and son Prince Nasir, 9, both from previous relationships.

I’m Going In: Kelis + Nas…

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Let me state this first. I am a fan of Kelis. Don’t get it twisted. Please don’t…but I have to say that I am honestly shocked and appalled at how much money she is receiving. HONESTLY. If you want the exact figures, please visit tmz.com or necoleb****ie.com.

As of right now, Nas owes Kelis almost 90,000 bucks in back child support and back spousal support. Then he has to pay her 10,0o0 a month in spousal support because he still owes her almost 300,000 bucks. WHAT?

Oh, not to mention, he has to pay her legal fees which is over 155,000 bucks.

Come on, now, this is ridiculous.

Wait, there’s more…he has to shelve out almost 50,000 in accounting expenses for her.

I mean, dang, what did Nas do during the marriage? Did he beat her? Did he cheat on her? We discussed this last night at work and one of my co-workers said that Kelis has to maintain her lifestyle which is why she’s getting so much money. First of all, Kelis has her own career. Yes, she may not be able to work as much because she has a child, but dang, how much $ do you need? I love Kelis, but I sympathize with Nas.

Yes, Nas needs to support his child, but how much money is Carmen getting for the daughter she shares with him?

A lot of women feel that Kelis deserves every penny, but for what reason? Yes, I’m a firm believer that she should get child support and maybe some spousal support, but DAYUUMS..

Btw, I read an article on nydailynews.com that reported that Nas was unable to make these payments because he owns 700,000 bucks to his manager and MILLIONS to the IRS. Ouch!~

You do the math. I’m through looking at the numbers.