Writing & Publishing
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The Zebra’s Fight:
A Lesson in Sticking to the Plan, Staying the Course, and Fighting for Victory The savannah holds lessons that transcend its vast expanse. Watching a lion battle a zebra is more than a display of predator and prey—it’s a metaphor for life’s unyielding challenges. As I witnessed this zebra’s struggle for survival, it mirrored the…
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When Murphy Comes Knocking:
How to Embrace Life’s Unpredictable Blows Life has a way of humbling us just when we think we’ve got it all together. It’s the universal truth we’d all rather avoid: no matter how carefully we plan, prepare, or organize, there’s always that moment when life decides to test our resilience. It might be a project…
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One Year Later:
How the 2025 LA Fires Strengthened a City’s Resolve A little over a year ago, the skies over Los Angeles turned an eerie orange, and its residents faced a catastrophe that would become etched in their collective memory. The great fires of 2025 swept through neighborhoods, leaving thousands displaced, countless homes destroyed, and a city…
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No Heart & No Soul on Bourbon Street
The Day SiriusXM’s Heart & Soul Host, Michelle Wright, Sold Me a Pound of BS at Essence Festival Bourbon Street is more than a stretch of road; it’s a living, breathing experience. It’s where the rhythm of music intertwines with the pulse of life, and for me, it’s where ambition and opportunity once converged. On…
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Never Giving Up:
A Universal Lesson from Cher’s Wisdom” LaTonya was watching Cher receive her flowers at an older Rock and Roll Hall of Fame event when I caught the moment. The iconic artist, radiating grace and triumph, said something that hit like a thunderclap. “I’ve been through so many ups and downs, but I never gave up.…
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Taking Control of Your Story:
Empowering Authors to Thrive Beyond the Publishing Deal The publishing world can be unpredictable. One day, your publisher is your partner in bringing your work to the masses; the next, they might cease operations, leaving authors scrambling to reclaim control of their stories. A recent example involves Infinity Publishing and Fast Pencil abruptly halting book…
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Old School Hustle in a New School World:
As an old-school novelist whose roots stretch back to the gritty grind of the 90s and early 2000s, my journey has been anything but linear. I’ve seen the literary world transform from a place where books were sold hand-to-hand on the streets to a digital marketplace that thrives on algorithms, social media trends, and viral…
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The Two Sides of Christmas:
My Gentle Hug and a Raised Fist For some, Christmas is a magical time. It’s a season of Santa and Rudolph, of sparkling lights and warm traditions that transport us to a world where joy reigns supreme and anything seems possible. We set out cookies for Santa, write lists for gifts we hope to find…
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Finding Focus
Lessons from A Year with Purpose Life is a series of choices, and each one either aligns us with our purpose or takes us further away from it. In A Year with Purpose, we are guided through a year-long journey of insight, discipline, and fulfillment. Today, let’s focus on three quotes from the book that…
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Prison of the Mind
Let’s Dive In… The cell was a cramped box of concrete and steel, its cold walls closing in like a vice. Bars sliced through the space, a constant reminder that freedom wasn’t mine—it was just an idea, floating somewhere out of reach. The air was thick, sour—a mix of sweat, stale cigarette smoke, and that…