**HOLIDAY ROMANCE SERIES**

I get so excited around fall because it kicks off all of my favorite holidays- Halloween, Thanksgiving, & Christmas.

There's nothing like sitting at home on a cold, rainy day, watching the cheesy holiday romance movies that come on the Hallmark and Lifetimes Channels every December, which is where I got the inspiration to write a Holiday Romance Series of novella's and short stories.

I know in this crazy world we live in, there is no such thing as 'happily ever after' but that's why we watch/read these love stories...they make us happy (at least for a little while) even if some of them don't seem very realistic. 

So, the first book in the series is Passionate Christmas Kisses- a story about a girl who's heart was broken by her boyfriend on Christmas Eve. She vows to leave men alone for good...until she meets one who dares to make her change her mind about men & love.   

It's short, sweet, and to the point but full of drama and steamy romance. 

It's still in it's editing phase, but I plan to release it around the first of December and I hope you'll check it out. 

**SPOILER ALERT**

So I haven't seen a good movie in a long time. I just haven't had much time to go this summer like I'm used to. However, once I saw the trailer for this movie, I knew I had to be front and center when it hit theaters for two reasons: 

(1) Idris Elba is in it- DUH!!!!! and 

(2) I love a good psychological, suspense, thriller.

Another reason is because African-Americans don't get a variety of movies in Hollywood these days (I know I'm not the only one who's OVER all the slave movies). 

Now, I saw Twelve Years a Slave, D'Jango, and The Help and all the rest and while they were interesting, we are so much more than slaves and maids. About the only time WE are portrayed in roles other then these is if a biopic is being made about someone's life. 

**Sidenote: I still need to see the James Brown movie**

Anyway, back to No Good Deed. I was so happy to see Idris playing a role we don't normally see him in. I think he does crazy quite well. I knew almost from the beginning that he was out for blood and wouldn't stop until he accomplished what he wanted to do. 

I've dated guys like his character, Colin- they start out sweet and charming then all of a sudden they turn on you with seemingly no warning. As for Taraji's character Terri, I could see from the moment her husband came onscreen that he was having an affair. His interaction with her was so dry and forced. She wanted his attention and he had no time for her which is more than likely, the reason why she was obviously so smitten with Colin the moment he knocked on her door, i.e.-trying to fix her hair when she ran in the bathroom to get him a towel to dry off. Here was this dark, sexy, mysterious man at her door and for a moment, she let her guard down and gave in to his charm.

As the movie went on, she began to realize he was crazy as hell and the cat & mouse game played out until the end and while I couldn't wait to see what would happen in the end, I was left wanting more. The movie was only 84 minutes, which made everything go fast and it seemed rushed. I wanted the scene to play out more once Terri found out her husband was sleeping with Colin's girl- which is the reason for him going to her house in the first place. I enjoyed the fight scene between Colin & Terri but again, it seemed to be over so fast. And am the only one who thinks that Colin still wasn't dead in the end? 

Overall, it was a good movie and I hope to see more movies like this from Black Hollywood in the future. Good job to all the actors. I give this movie an 8 out of 10.

If the camera man had aimed just a tad bit lower when Idris stripped down in the shower, I would have rated it a 10. I mean I get it was PG-13, but I see more nakedness and teens kissing and making out like grown folks on Lifetime and other tv shows. A little butt cheek action  up against the shower door wasn't going to hurt nobody...IJS!

BOOK SIGNING...

I had my very first book signing event in my hometown of Prescott, AR on Wednesday September 10, 2014. I've never been to a book signing so I had no idea what to expect, nor what I was supposed to do other than sit there-which is pretty much what I did. My first thought was: I could have stayed home in bed and promoted my books better on social media but eventually, people started coming by. 

I ended up selling all but a few of the books I'd brought with me and when I went back to visit the next day, I sold more. I did take into consideration that it was a weekday and most people were at work.

Overall, I had fun and I will be holding more events like these in the future. Thanks to everyone who was able to come out and supported me. I really appreciate you guys more than you know.

Got my shipment of books in today for my first book signing on Wednesday at Nevada County Library in my hometown of Prescott, AR! Not bad for a country gal coming from a town with a population of less than 5,000 folks (we say folks in the south) LOL!

I don't give myself credit for many things, but I have to say I am proud of MYSELF for finally doing something that I've always wanted to do. Publishing a book/ being called an author, was one of those things that I never thought would happen- right up there with getting discovered, becoming a singer, and being the next Whitney, may she R.I.P. I would write and think of stories in my head, but I had no idea of what to do with them, how to have anyone 'discover' my skills, or where to even begin trying to get published. 

Once I found out that I could self-publish, I've been on a roll and I don't plan on stopping any time soon. I have a million people & characters living in my head, just dying to come out LOL. Stay tuned!