Book Squawking

What's Jack up to? Jack had a calm and, I think for a dog, pleasant weekend this weekend. Knowing Jack he thought it was a bore. The weather was nice, so decent walks and the nights were cool, so good sleep. That plus food and treats what more could he want? With Jack-trouble.

Today I'm happy to introduce you to a new blog called Booksquawk. It's a writer's book review blog and I'm honored to be one of the contributors. The tagline for the blog is: really good book reviews by professional writers.

Now that for me is humbling. Really good? Hmm... I'm not so sure. Now I'm new to this review game, but, um, let's just see how it goes. Shall we?

And as for the professional writer part... I don't think I've been a professional since my fashionista days and I sometimes had to wear heels and even then it was kinda loosey goosey. But hey, I am writing and I do want it to be my profession so, well, I guess that counts. Hey, they called me. I don't know who did their background checks.

Either way the cool thing about Booksquawk is that all different genres will be represented since the contributing writers have such varied tastes (yeah, expect some romance from me, yay!).

So there is lots to look forward to and you may find a new favorite author.

Please stop by Booksquawk here and stop by often because new reviews are popping up all the time. Heck, if you're feeling fancy become a follower and get a big cyber type smooch from me! Thanks.

Oh and scroll down on Booksquawk to read my review of ACCORDING TO JANE by Marilyn Brant. Thanks again!

Best,

Kwana

And Writing

What's Jack up to? As I type this in the basement he's being such a loyal dog and has come downstairs to keep me company. Though I know it's much warmer upstairs. But he's laying by my side on the couch being a quiet sweetheart. Thanks Jack.

I'm up and writing and that is pretty much my plans for the weekend besides bowling badly and running around with the teen twins. The NaNoWrimo words are adding up which makes me happy. I'm not sure if they make all that much sense right now, but hey, they're adding up and that's the point. December is for revisions.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Best,

Kwana

Dance it Out

Happy Friday!
Thanks to author Liza Palmer for this smile of the day. When she posted this link on Twitter From Buzzfeed I just about spit my coffee across the room.

The story is someone noticed him outside their office window and filmed him over a 15-month period. Way to wait for the bus. Enjoy.



Best,
Kwana

Let's Hear it for New York!!

I'm all about the NYC today. Well every day for the this NYC girl

but particularly today when celebrating

The Yankees!!

Big Congrats on winning The Worlds 2009 World Series.

Best,

Kwana

Walking with Friends

Jack took a stroll yesterday with one of his oldest friends, Bentley!

Though they paid each other little attention each going their own way.

And Jack clearly was in no mood to be photographed. Ugh, paparazzi!

But he was happy to catch up with this friend and so was I.

Patricia of pve design. Why don't you pop over here and give her a Hi. I'm sure she'll have something inspiring to get you over this hump day.

Best,

Kwana

P.S. I'm still rolling along with The NaNowrimo challenge. The words are addling up nicely. Yesterday was a bit of a bust with the being election day and the kids out of school, but I hope to put it in a higher gear today. I think I can hear you all cheering me on from your homes. Thanks.

Smart Women Reading

What's Jack up to? The Jackster is chilling still recuperating after a busy Halloween weekend. Spending much of his time under the bed or lazing about in the couch. For Halloween he just about barked himself out with the ringing doorbell. My favorite was him trying to push through the glass door and my little neighbor girl dressed as a very annoyed nun holding it shut with one hand and looking at him with reproach and he bounced up and down just tuckering his self out.

Last night I did my monthly escape to Lady Jane's Salon. New York's only romance reading series and once again had a fine time.

This month the featured guests were:

New York Times and USA today Bestselling Author Caridad Pineiro.

Caridad read from her newest book Sins of the Flesh. A sexy paranormal suspense novel that at times can hit a little to close to home. You can check out Caridad here.

Also reading was Joanne Rendell who did a mock play of sorts with excerpts from her book Crossing Washington Square with the help of a hilariously funny cast of helpers.

It's the story of two strong willed university professors and the tensions between them. Check out Joanne, her musings and her first release here.

Lastly, helping to MC the night was Elizabeth Kerri Mahon of the Scandalous Women blog who was celebrating her birthday while dressed as Marie Antoinette who shares the same birthday! Happy Birthday again Elizabeth. You looked wonderful. You can check out Elizabeth's scandalous blog here.

Best,

Kwana

P.S.

Please remember to vote today. Thanks.

Nana not NaNo

Good Monday to you and wishing you a good week ahead.

Thanks so much for all the well wishes on my Nano challenge. Speaking of Nano, today I’m talking about Nana, my Nana. All my regular readers know her very well. She’s a regular here on the blog and Jack’s best girl well everyone’s really. Sweet as pie and can bake a heck of a pie. Smarter than anyone I know she also has the secret mouth of a sailor and can bring a hardened biker to his knees with lash of her quick tongue so stay on her good side. She’s also been a caregiver for many years since I was first born until she retired taking care of many children mostly for single mothers in Harlem. Lots of time for little pay, just doing what she could to help them get on their feet, have a job and take care of their children.

Well Nana got a fright on Halloween. I picked up the phone to give her a shout and say hi see if she was all ready for her trick or treaters. She was out of breath when she picked up the phone and I could tell she was upset.


Me:What‘s wrong?
Nana: I’m just back from my pharmacy and something has got to give baby.
Me: What happened?
Nana: Well you know I have to take 6 pills a day since I’ve had these stints put in.
Sidebar: such a scary time for our family when Nana was ill over a year ago and we’re so grateful for her continued improving health.
Me: Yep
Nana: I can’t take how these costs keep going up. My income is fixed you know. My one pill that was $38.00 last month has jumped to over $90.00 this month and there is no alternative medicine. I have to take it. I can see why these little old people skip pills or meals. Anymore of this and no one will have to worry about me needing meds. I’ll end up with a heart attack.
Me: Oh Nana don’t say that.
Nana: It’s true. I get so mad over all this heath care bull@#*$. People putting a price on lives. Without the little help from my family that I get I’d be dead now. This is just awful. Something had to give. They have to pass a bill and stop messing around. It’s always the little people that suffer.


Well, that’s it people there was much more said, but I won’t go into it. I was pissed and so was she so the rating on the blog would have to go up. So this is all I have to say is that. Tomorrow is Election Day. Please go out and vote and remember to be good stewards over all.

Please.



Best,
Kwana

You Nanu-I NaNo

Today starts NaNoWriMo or National Novel Writing Month where you are challenged to write 50,000 words in 1 month and for the first time I'm in. Eek!! Time to buckle down with some serious kamikaze writing.



Wish me luck coming out on the other side sane and alive.

If you are feeling up to the challenge you can sign yourself up here or if you are already in be my buddy my name is kwanawrites.

Nanu-Nanu or NaNo-NaNo!


Best,
Kwana

Trick or Treat

Happy Halloween from me and Jack!

We hope you have more treats than tricks.

Best

Kwana

Feeling Squirrelly

What's Jack up to? As I write this he's asleep under my bed paying no attention to the Yankees about to win game 2 and tie it up. Go Yankees!!

Today I'm feeling squirrelly. We've been fighting with squirrels for most of the summer getting into our gutters keeping us up at night and now we think we hear them in the attic crawl space which we have never been in. Quite scary.

So we have to have a guy come and venture into spaces where Lord knows what lives. Wish us luck.

Sigh. Never a dull moment around here. Have a Happy Friday!

Best,

Kwana

Harlem Heights

The other day I was in Harlem over at Nana's house hanging with her for a bit when I looked out the kitchen window and was struck by the beauty of the view of the back park and the turning of the leaves. This is the same 15th floor view that I grew up with so I've seen it all my life but it's been quite a while since I really looked at it.



On this rainy day I remembered being a kid and always in awe over how Nana could yell so clearly from so hi up and make her voice carry that far down to tell me it was time to come in. Her voice one of so many woman with their eyes peering keeping careful watch of the children in their care. Playtime over. Must come in before the streetlights come one. Besides dinner's ready and we're hungry. The old back park has been remolded a few times over since I was a kid playing kick the can, but the heart of it is still the same I'd guess. Well at least I hope.



Best,
Kwana

No Idle Hands

What's Jack up to? Jack never lets things get dull around here. The poor thing has gotten a bit of a rash. I know probably TMI, but there it is. It's all over his belly and even his back and made me itchy so I took him to the vet and come to find out it's doggy acne. WHAT!? Some strange thing they can pick up from who knows where. So it's pills for Jack that he doesn't want but I have to get down him for about 21 days. So, um... there.

As for me today, I'll be trying to get some writing done. So very necessary. A few loads of laundry. Also very necessary. Then there is knitting group today. Not a necessity, but for mental heath, yeah, I think so.

So no Idle Hands for me today.

How about you?

pic from my knitting group last week

Oh and thanks to all who voted for Valorie aka Visual Vamp in the Apartment Therapy contest. She has made it through 2 rounds and is still in. You can vote for her again here to keep her going strong. Thanks!

Best,

Kwana

Halloween Glam

Halloween is less than a week away (don't ask me how that happened) and the stores are already stocking Christmas decor and totally ignoring Thanksgiving all together. Ah well...

But for those of you getting excited about this Saturday and ready to get all dolled up for a ghoulish or glamorous night out check out this how to video inspired by the princess of shock Lady GaGa.



Best,
Kwana

Mojo Monday

What’s Jack up to? Jack had a very happy 3rd birthday yesterday. Filled with fun and new toys. I even let up on his special diet and got him a birthday cupcake which though his was happy to eat, didn’t stay down. Oh, well at least he enjoyed himself.
Jack, says thanks for all the well wishes yesterday!




I’m back from the NJ romance writer’s conference and happy to report that I had just THE BEST time. It’s such a well run conference full of friendly people with top speakers and presenters. The only downside? The 4 and 5 am fire alarm. That stunk. Here is some of the NY crew at dinner lunch. Notice the wine on the table. The hotel thought it would make up for lack of sleep. It did not. That cute little sweetie there did not partake.
But as you can see I think the rest did.

(Carolyn, Isobo (holding other the cutie Jack) Leanna, Stacy)

Upside. Rooming with my PIC Megan and Liz M. too for a hot minute. Sorry I don't have a picture of Liz. Hi Liz! Here are Megan and I in the hotel's faux Soho lounge. It's pretty. The only pic I have of Liz was taken during the fire alarm. I think it's nice. I'm afraid she may not.



Some of the great workshops I attended were:
One on digital publishing with super smart Icantalkdigitalinmysleep and, yes, I think she can, Angela James.
Darn, how did I let her leave without telling me what format was best for my Sony.


A dialogue workshop with Bestselling author Karen Rose. Here is Karen with friends and fans Louise and Danielle.

Also a super workshop on Collages with Jennifer Crusie that blew my artist mind. I already do story boarding but this will have me taking it to the next level. I knew Jennifer was Ms. New York Times Best Seller but now that I know she was an art teacher and is quite an artist I think I’m more in love. Notice it says behind her "creativity is play" something to keep in mind.
Finally I spent many an hour hanging around Bestseller (I was doing that a lot trying to get some mojo to rub off) Madeline Hunter. She had 2 workshops


1. Surviving Almost There (a place where I seem to have been hanging out for quite a long time)

2. Alaso a double session on conflict that rocked my world. I learned so much. She really got the gears working.
Now I just about thought I’d swoon when I went to the book signing later and gave Madeline my card and she said that she had been to ye little old blog before. Oh happy, swoony day! Thanks for that moment Ms. Hunter.



And now for your viewing pleasure a few more pics from the signing:

Golden Leaf Winner YAY!!! Anna DePalo. Congrats Anna.

Leanna Renee Hieber







Isabo Kelly






Janet Mullany. Lucky me getting her last copy of: A Most Lamentable Comedy.

So as you can see I've had quite a weekend. Now time to put all that inspiration and fun into practice. Gotta hit the writing cave. Will be popping out for brief sips of air.
Bye!

Best,

Kwana