Technically, there is a little ‘rithmetic. I’m finishing up my math literacy class for my ASE requirements. In this class we had to teach a math lesson and tie it in with a book. Not a textbook, but a story. I used (see below)

This book helped me to create a lesson on rapid addition aka multiplication. It was a fun book to read.

At first, I was confused about what I needed to do in order to succeed in this class but once the key word stood out to me it was a breeze. Reading definitely is fundamental.

Have I been writing?

Yes and no!

I have been writing, but not a much as I would like. In a previous post, I spoke about me hitting a brick wall in one of my stories. I have since gone back to the beginning and did a major rewrite and addition, causing the story to move a long a bit easier. The other story that I’m working on, would have been close to its completion if I wasn’t doing 50-11 things and neglecting it. I have very demanding people who are waiting for the sequel. Be patient, please. It’s coming.

I have been reading a ton of good books. I will share my reviews in upcoming posts of the books I’ve been devouring like a five course meal with a taste dessert.

Stay tuned for the reviews.

Until next,

Happy reading & writing.

With a title like “batter up” one would believe this post is about baseball. However, it’s not! It has to do with the curve balls that life keeps tossing my way.

Every time I believe I am one step ahead of the crappy things that could possibly happen, I swing and miss that sneak curve ball. After a time, the strikes add up and in baseball three strikes and you’re out. In life, not so much unless you give up.

I am not giving up. My sister-in-law said that I’m a good catcher so I will be just fine. What happens when I’m up to bat?

Well…

I’ve had my pity party. Cried a little and then came up with a major plan. I am not going to fail without a try and in essence even if I fail, I still win because I tried.

While I’m not being specific about my numerous curve ball, this is just a simple reminder that if you continue to forge forward even in the tough time eventually you will come out on top.

Put on your baseball helmet and choke up the bat (it’s been so long since I’ve watched baseball, I hope I used the right term there). Prepare to swing with all your might and knock that ball out of the park.

Until next time,

Happy reading and writing.

I’m a featured author over at SORMAG. LaShaunda Hoffman presented me with some interesting questions that had me really thinking. You have to read the interview to learn my answer and to have a chance at winning a copy of my debut novel Crossing Over or one of my handmade beaded gems. Yes, two chances to win.

Head over to SORMAG.

Last Friday, one of the people I connect with through twitter did a call for a pen pal. Without hesitation I quickly told her I would be her pen pal.

I have wanted to have a pen pal for years. I had one back in fifth grade. I remember her name to this day. It’s was Rachel. I forget where she lived, but my class and her class wrote to each other. Our teachers came up with the idea. I was a really good idea. I only wish I had kept at it.

Now that I have a pen pal in my adult years, I know that I will be more committed. My handwriting isn’t as pretty as hers, but I am willing to try to make it better as time goes by. She also makes the prettiest card stock/paper. She painted on it. That is a treasure in itself. I’m not sure I’m as crafty as she is in that department.

After my daughter saw the letter, she wanted to read it, but it was for me. It wan’t a bill or some letter pertaining to who knows it, what’s it. It was a beautifully penned and painted letter. We share a few common interest. My daughter now wants to have a pen pal of her own. How do I go about finding her one? Where could I begin to look for another 13 year-old that is wiling to hand write anything in this technological savvy period in time?

I hope I can figure some thing out. I don’t want too much time to pass before my child changes her mind. She’s a teenager and they tend to do that, often.

I will share what I come up with, when I come up with it.

Until next

Happy Reading & Writing!

For the last few months, I have had a few interviews done by various different literary people. If you want to find out more behind the scenes information check out the different stops.

INSIDE OUT with Jennifer Coissiere – Author of Crossing Over

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Jennifer Coissiere, author of Crossing Over

Meet Jennifer Coissiere, Author of Crossing Over

Upcoming interview with LaShaunda Hoffman at SORMAG. Will post a link when it’s up.

Until next time,

Happy Reading & Writing.

On Sunday, July 25, the APOOO BookClub began discussing my debut novel. I didn’t know what to expect and will admit when my book was chosen for July’s BOM (book of the month) my heart did a little jig in my chest. I wasn’t sure what would happen.

But I have been tickled pink, if you can imagine, due to the plethora of ideas and interpretations I have been reading. I finally have the first hand experience of how it is to be an author and think about one thing as I wrote and my readers (yup, I can say I have readers) thought something different as they read.

One of my writing sistahs, and really good friend (yes, I can comfortably call her that) Genesis called me and told me her idea and her thoughts. Wait, I need to back up…she had been Black Berry Messengering me some of what she thought as well as the diagnosis for one of the characters. Yes, she got real serious with the book. I liked that, because really this was not a genre she would read. Her opinion matters to me. She really enjoyed it. That’s a great thing.

Anyway, Genesis called me to tell me she knew I was working on the sequel and wanted to tell me which way to take the story next. Of course it was just a suggestion. When I heard it, I laughed, not because it was funny, but because I knew my readers are going to be shocked and some may even be mad.

She even made a valid point of how I could work it into my current wip for the sequel. I don’t even need to begin from the beginning, I can work the idea into what I’ve already written.

I called my number one fan, my mother, and told her the concept/idea and she said NO! She wasn’t willing to accept that major conflict. She told me we need to discuss this before I can do it.

Well, my muse for this story has woken up and is ready for me to move the story a long. Who will be upset? Who will be shocked? Will everyone enjoy the sequel as much as they enjoyed the debut? Only time will tell.

Until next time
Happy Reading & Writing.

This past Friday marked the fourth week in my writing journey with my 6 writer friends. The second week into the journey we posted the first 3 pages of our stories in our online files, and we are an eclectic bunch of talented ladies.

I’m honored to be apart of such an outstanding group of people. Creativity is oozing out of each of our pores.

During these past 4 weeks, I’ve had some up and down in the way I have been producing content for my story. The first two weeks, I had a burst of creativity, then my life in academia decided to rare its ugly head and take precedent over everything. So week three focused on a 16-page field experience for my major.

Then week four wasn’t very productive either because of appointments and my in-laws being in town. Some where along the line I have written myself into a wall. There is a change happening in the main character’s life and for me the transition is not as seamless as I would prefer it to be.

Now I have to go back to the beginning and see how I can possibly incorporate the necessary things in order to move the story a long without the story seeming farfetched or unbelievable. For the next two weeks my goal is to get back to the frame of mind that I had when I first started this writing journey.

I will attempt to checking more frequently.

Until next time,
Happy Reading Writing!

A few weeks ago, my mother asked me to make a few hat pins, to be sold at the street fair being hosted by her church, Grace United Methodist Church.

The first day I worked on them I made 7 in  about 10 minutes. Then this past Sunday, she called and asked how it was going and I did 16 more.

It was so much fun creating the pieces. I have a few, including the one shown to the left, that reminds me of people.

Monday, I had a friend text me and ask me what was a hat pin. Wasn’t the people going to be poked in the head by the pins.

I laughed out loud, because to me the entire thing was funny. A hat pin is a decorative pin that is placed on the hat to help bring out or create the beauty of the hat.

I then told her she could use it as a lapel pin, but she said she didn’t have anything with a lapel. I thought wow, am I really that much of a girlie girl.

It doesn’t even matter. I just know what hat pins are.

A few moments later, another friend texted me to say she loved the hat pins. So, I figured maybe because the both of us are from the islands (me, Jamaica and she, Trinidad) and they love to wear hats. Or maybe my other friend lives in a sheltered environment.

I’ve noticed something tonight while trying to make my daily word count. In all my full length novels, and a few of my short stories, I have to have some kind of food talk.

In my house, we watch a lot of the Food Network channel. I love those shows. And in doing so, I find that part of my inspiration for writing comes from the food programs that I watch.

I also have an aversion to some one having locks. I love my natural hair and feel like I need to represent me in my books, some where some how. I’m only the vessel used to produce the stories placed inside my heart and mind. But while dealing with the characters in the stories, I have to be certain not to lose sight of who I am as a person.

I also like developing stories where the women start off vulnerable, but by the end of the story their backs are straighter than a ruler’s edge.

Well, that’s the things I learned about myself tonight as I was writing.
What have you learned about your story content? How do you leave your mark in all your stories?

As for how I’m doing with my work in progress (wip) take a look for yourself.

I’m taking it one day at a time. And right now my muse is charged up.

Until next time,
Happy Reading & Writing.

I recently finished reading Red Hats by Damon Wayans. I laughed my behind off.

Who knew that a crotchety old woman would be so funny? She wasn’t taking out her teeth but she was speaking her mind freely and taking no prisoners.

The main character, Alma, had her own crosses to bare, but she was one angry one. So angry that some of the stuff she was doing was oblivious to her conscious mind. However, deep down in her subconscious she knew what actions she took that cause her to be where she was at that very moment.

Damon Wayans did an awesome job of portraying the importance of the Red Hats, wearing ladies. They offered an unconditional type of friendship and expected nothing in return. Alma was mean as a gust of wind in the middle of a snowstorm. She offered them honesty.

I laughed out loud through various parts of the book. I would definitely read another offering from Damon Wayans.

I rate Red Hats a 4.5.