THE DECISIONS YOU’VE MADE ARE THE RESULT OF WHERE YOU ARE

You’ll Wont Regret Taking Action!

Have you made up in your heart and mind your decisions to follow the path to greatness is within your reach? Only you can stand in your way. There is nothing impossible for you.

I’ve created a world with characters I wouldn’t have thought possible a few years ago. I wasn’t thinking I could write much less complete the task. I’ve persevered and so can you.  

With decisions, there must be action. What you desire will not come to you by mere talking or affirmations. I join the world of creatives because it’s so powerful, exciting, and rewarding. Take action now and achieve the greatness within you. 

METHODS TO PUBLIC SPEAKING

As I continue on my journey to writing my detective series, I have something indeed to write and talk about. I was not always comfortable speaking on a stage but I feel my writing and books give me confidence. In short, I’m in my element as it pertains to engaging in public speaking.

One topic I would speak on is that ideas are always coming to your brain. Ideas are spiritual. How did you think Albert Einstein got the ideas he shared with audiences. Can you imagine he came from the patent office to the world stage? I’m not seeking fame; I want to get out of the rat race, to tell the truth. A nine-to-five job is not going to do it. 

Every time you write a blurb or a summary of your book, you’re engaging in public speaking. As a matter of interest, I would encourage any writer to use their summaries of their books as a springboard for speeches. In short, the more you know your story, the more you’ll feel comfortable speaking on the subject matter.

In summary, Use your book and story as a calling card. It is a business initiation of introducing to the world. It is your best work put forth and must share it.

WHY I USED MY LEGAL SKILLS TO WRITE NOVELS?

A WORK IN PROGRESS

At one point, I lived in San Francisco before Google lined its office spaces along the drive. I remembered attending an interview for a job as a Paralegal in Burlingame, California less than fourteen miles from San Francisco. The interview went well until I was asked about driving. At the time, I didn’t have a driver’s license. In short, I didn’t get the job.

On the other hand, I worked in a small law firm for six months but hated the fact the owner wanted me to pick up his laundry. I quit. I don’t know about anyone, but I knew all the jobs I had were not what I wanted to do. I must confess, I didn’t like people telling me what to do. I still don’t.  

I knew all the jobs I threw myself into were limited. Writing the novels with the use of my legal skills had made the journey so much easier. I can create my situations, a world I’ve created with no one to tell me it can’t be done or achieved.

 As I write a scene with either attorneys or solicitors in the United Kingdom, I can write what I know from experience. For instance, If a character is reading a contract, I’ll know what elements to write so that the reader can have a clear picture.

 In one of the scenes of my first novel, the character Susan Powers is an inventor. I have a good understanding of copyright law and was able to incorporate some procedures of how she should properly apply for a patent. If it’s one thing I received from college that has been a great benefit to my career is the legal knowledge I learned. So many students should think like this. 

 If you’re undecided as to what you want to do before you leave college think about what would you do if you can’t find a job before you get that diploma. I took legal classes because I like the law and fell in love with Constitutional Law. I thought I would go on to law school but it didn’t happen and so I turned to write, my first love indeed.

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THE DAY I LEFT HOME

Go For It!

You can’t speak your dream only; you have to act it out. At thirteen years old and just finished watching one of my favorite television series, ”The Biotic Man,” with Lee Majors, I kept dreaming or more like visualizing where I’d be in my twenties.  

I spent a lot of time listening to my dad’s wisdom, watching him read the newspaper and viewing the horse race track latest surprise, but not in a million years did I think I would in the future be writing or soon to write or rewrite a novel inspired by a woman horse race jockey.

At thirteen without the fanfare of the internet or my iPhone, I dreamed of returning to the United Kingdom, visiting Canada and my final destination would be the United States of America. This dream was fulfilled within thirteen years.

But what was my expectation when I arrived in America? The great excitement of course. I enrolled in college, debated with one of my professors who attended Columbia University that there was no such thing as a ”Just Society.” I fought him to the dean’s office and won.

I use to use watch the television detective series, ”McMillan & Wife, starring Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James but had no idea one day I’d lived in the beautiful San Francisco, and I did live in the great city. It breaks my heart to see the conditions reported and to hear people are leaving.

If I didn’t leave home, the dreams I achieved wouldn’t have been done. I wouldn’t have visited France and seen Rome. So the day I left home was the start of living and I’m glad I did. The next chapter is to finish the dream by completing the novels and characters I’ve fallen in love with.

A THANK YOU NOTE TO FRIENDS COMING BACK TO HBO MAX

They’re Back!

My daughter said something about the cast of ”Friends,” the other day and I thought of sharing it with you. After all these years, they’re coming back–all of them and it appears they’ve all managed despite challenges to remain and look great!

It’s not often you see this comeback but it’s great to know they’ve finally taken the plunge. The chemistry was great in the nineties. Equally important, I liked about their journey; they stood with each other even off

set and when it came to their compensation, they supported each other.

That’s why I write because that’s what I’m aiming for–to bring something of value to the public that won’t leave your mind.

WE NEED EACH OTHER. WE INDIRECTLY SUPPORT EACH OTHER

We’re not born to thrive alone.

Currently, I’m reading ”The American Duchess,” by Anna Pasternak and ”An American Original-Walt Disney.” Through my purchase, I’ve supported the authors I may never meet. We depend on each other financially and that’s great support. It’s fulfillment and brings joy to someone else in their endeavors.

The mechanical genius Henry Ford picked the brain of another genius, George Washington Carver, a black man who was used by the Creator to develop ingredients of the peanut and is a leading producer of things manufactured today. For instance, your bathing soap from Procter & Gamble.

We’re all connected. We can take a sentence and turned it into a novel. I’m enjoying my Erin Condren planner and stickers that make my workflow easier and prevents me from being idle. Technology has made us all wealthy with knowledge and how we apply it to make our lives more efficient.   

Share a To-Do list for My daily life

By Tim Wildsmith

This is one way I get Ideas to write.

https://www.jessbailey.com.au

I wouldn’t get anything done without my great bed. Sometimes I do alot of my writing in this space.

Every evening before I go to bed I write in my work schedule for the coming day in a planner.

Photo by Jainath Ponnala, unsplash

I have get in my protein before tapping the keyboard.

Lot of milk for the morning brew, I do!

By Patrick Fore, unsplash

Writing short story untitled at the moment.

HOW TO FIND AN EDITOR?

FIND THE BEST

You’re not looking for someone just to correct sentence structure and hear your voice. You’re looking for a relationship. A sort of chemistry because your work is intimate and precious. Do we fit one another? Will we get along?

I chose my editor based on several things:

  • First, I didn’t find her on Facebook. If you have it’s all right. I discovered her on Reedsy.com.
  • I’m interviewing candidates for an important problem I need to solve.
  • Some of the candidates wanted to jump right in and edit but the editor I chose liked the summary but asked me to work on it some more.
  • She edited a few lines of the first chapter of Novel #2 and I was overjoyed.
  • She suggested finding a beta reader, critique partner and paid me a compliment which was encouraging.

Most importantly, I chose her because she was interested in solving my problem without jumping ahead for the money she could earn. She has vast experience working in the publishing world and I could tell by her attitude and knowledge. In short, I felt comfortable with her and sharing my work.

LIST GREAT MAGAZINES FOR READERS

The NewYorker- Great for general knowledge of things you’ll see on standardized tests.

Fortune–Taught me how to invest and saved thousands of dollars in fees.

The Bible of Investing!

25 BEAUTIFUL HOMES–A great way to design your dream palace.

OPRAH MAGAZINE

WHO DID YOU LEAVE AN IMPRESSION ON? HOW DID THEY SURPRISE YOU?

Who Have You Left An Impression On?

In the eighties, I left the United Kingdom and traveled to America and I still call it home. No matter the problems and other issues the country faces, I’m grateful that I have the best of both worlds. For those who weren’t born in the eighties, email or text was unknown but how easier it has made our lives.  

An email was introduced to us in the middle nineties and text followed sometime thereafter and grew to what it is today. But I often miss writing letters to people. Emails can be business-like or plain. I still believe that most of your best writing comes when you sit down and scribble on the parchment.

So recently, I visited the hospital for a final treatment after overcoming breast cancer. As I walked into the clinic room, a woman dressed in a light blue uniform said, ”Morning.” She looked at me and pointed. ”I know you from somewhere,” she said, before taking my vital signs and blood pressure.

I was puzzled at first and politely listened as she brought me back into the eighties when we visited wine bars and dressed like we were business people. I called the encounter ”A divine appointment.” A few days ago, she was looking at letters I wrote her in the eighties from the United States. What was more remarkable, she kept those letters. I don’t remember what I wrote. I was speechless. For her to keep those words I wrote must have made some impression and I was surprised. To top the encounter off, she plans to bring the letters to show me in a week. Wow!

Who do you think you’ve impressed in the past or present? What were the words you exchanged? Could those words have changed that person’s life? I still can’t believe she kept those letters, and it gave me the idea to write a short story and entitle it, ”The letters She Kept.

WHY WE KEEP HURTING OURSELVES WITH EXCESS WORK TO PAY BILLS?

An Encouraging Insight!

Every time I get the chance to see the news, which I’m not sure is any real news anymore. I’m thinking when I hear the financial woes of others, why do we keep hurting ourselves to pay bills that could have been avoided? One exception could be a medical bill.  

When people say to me their house-rich but cash-poor, and I see them still spending like Beverly Hills has thrown a bucket full of cash on the floor, I’m speechless. There’s usually not a straight answer but we have to realize as we stand, no government or a bank is going to bail you out. 

For some, the lack of patience is the biggest driver of putting you into continued debt, and having a mortgage is no different. But you’ll ask or state, but where can I live or how in the earth can I purchase my starter of a dream home? I don’t have to tell you 2020 had shown us all nothing is promised. So many lost homes and many others didn’t even have three months’ savings to pay rent. How long did it take for Congress to act? More than a year?

Well for what’s it’s worth if you have a 401k plan and you can access the funds, take it now. Why?

Your purchasing power is dwindling. Save your home! At least you’ll be able to ride the wave with inflation. With so call retirement accounts, you’ll probably end up crying. Earl Nightingale once said, ”The Strangest Secret,” or I like to say ‘the scary thing,’ is [CONFORMITY] is one reason most people FAIL. My dad had a saying when I was growing up, ”Always be a step ahead of the man.” I close with always have a SURPLUS no matter how small you have to start.

LOSING MY BOUNCY LOCKS TO CHEMOTHERAPY AND MAKING OUR WAY BACK.

My hair, thank God it’s finding its way back from beneath my skull. The curls are showing and I’m learning how to care for my scalp. I found one Youtuber I’m comfortable with. ”Curly Chemistry,” who understands the chemistry of hair products.  

We’re talking about a $1.2 trillion industry in 2020 with estimated sales from 2018 at $2.51 billion (Essence.com.) In short, The pandemic didn’t affect this market.

Well, enough of numbers and let me take you humorously in my hair journey. Although I felt uncomfortable seeing my bald head in the mirror. It’s a woman thing and still, I refused to wear a wig. In the past, my bouncy locks took some time to grow and now I’m back on the pavement for new growth.  

There’s hope for me because I’m excited and on the journey to those long curls. Here’s what I did before the cut of my hair by the invader, Mr. Chemotherapy. I divorced my curling iron, parked my rollers from Sally’s, and introduced my head to Camille Rose and Maui Vanilla Bean. Their job was to let Mr & Mrs. Frizzy know, you’re not welcome at the Hightower of headless.

I need no comb but invited my ten fingers to massage Mrs. Head for her daily The Carlyle Hotel routine. I take my fingers into the marketplace online and there’s so much to choose from. What a great world we live in. Even heads growing their strands get to choose who their present and future mate will be.

Oh! that’s it; I received an email from ”Bridgerton,” to get some newer ideas to style the small curls before my next writing conference.

THE LAST KINGDOM– A REVIEW

Recommended by a friend, I sat on an acrylic chair in the corner of her bedroom and entered into the world of ”The Last Kingdom.” The lead actor, Alexander Dreymon demonstrated a realism of character that sometimes, I thought I was in this occupied territory once owned by Demark.

Set in the 1000s, The series is an overall stage of what happened to make England the country it is today. I want to talk about brilliant writing from the mind and fingertips of Stephen Butchard. I haven’t finished the entire series as of this writing but was overcome by his brilliance with scenes and words. Ernest Hemingway is quoted as saying, [Good] writing comes from an experience [you’ve had.]

Stephen Butchard indeed as screenwriter captured all of my emotions. For example, He captured my heart with the horror of the character Thyra was humiliated, raped, and mentally abused by her captor and his father.  

As the camera moved onto the actress’s face, you knew she wasn’t just in character, she embodied that sole for you saw her strength, perseverance, and will to live. With the spirit of patience, she waited for years to see her dogs eat her captor. It was horrible and I had to stand a few times.  

Anger, rage, and completion were as character Erik digs his knife or sword, it was shocking, I can’t remember [Joke] mutilated his enemy. Above all, With all the suffering, humiliation, and betrayal, I saw the patience in the eyes of Uhtred, played by Alexander. The kingdom of England would be his one day.

A SURPRISE I LEARNED ABOUT MY OWN WRITING–DIALOGUE!

If you think you’re in control when writing a novel, think again. Some weeks ago, I stumbled upon a Podcast by Brad Reed, ”Inside Creative Writing,” and he was talking about dialogue.  

At the beginning of my writing journey, with the detective, and reviewing other novels in other genres, I thought I wasn’t writing enough descriptive or extensive details within the paragraphs. I found myself writing short paragraphs and the pen took over which resulted in writing a great deal of dialogue.

To my encouraging surprise, Brad Reed assured my fingers and brain that I’m doing an exciting thing because after he attended a Hollywood Screen Writers workshop, the dialogue is [adored] and simple action. Also, I didn’t set out to write my novels in this manner; they developed on their own. 

I, myself, have never been to a screenwriters class nor read screenplays, and learning how characters can take over was amazing. I have been writing action scenes all along. Furthermore, another way to write effective dialogue is when characters are not answering each other. Ernest Hemingway used this method a great deal. For example, ”The beer is nice and cool,” he said.

”It’s lovely,” she responded.

TOP SKILLS IN MY NICHE OF WRITING MYSTERIES

  1. Confidence. If you’re not cheering on your characters on who will?
  2. You can’t sell what you don’t believe in and you won’t stay the course.
  3. Do your research. There are so many subtopics in researching because one great thing I’ve experienced is the many twists and angles you can take into writing your story.
  4.  When reading, read to see how words are used and know the meaning because if there’s anything I’ve come to know the English Language it’s a surprising teacher.
  5.  Promote your socks off. I’m telling everyone who loves a mystery.

3 YEARS FROM NOW

Current Self

Writer of three mystery novels.

Where am I now?

Future Self

Meeting with Shonda Rhimes, Television Producer for tea at The Townhouse Kensington to discuss the adaptation of all three novels into movies or drama series.

A MOMENT IN THE EDITING PROCESS, A SONG WHICH MADE IT BETTER

This evening, I know most people in the world are preparing for the big Christmas meal and family tomorrow while I’m preparing the printer for my manuscript ‘Bludgeoned,’ for one last review and editing before publication.

  I also spent time listening to a beautiful song, ‘A Broken Vow,’ which brought me a great deal of comfort. What can I say, I’m a romantic in the world of words, and as a creative, it inspires me more.  

I hope you enjoy it with me this Christmas Eve.

SOME OF MY TIPS TO THINK OF OR PUT A NEW WRITER’S MIND AT EASE EVEN WHEN YOU’RE FACED WITH WRITING OBSTACLES.

  1. The joy of creating several ways to end each story.
  2. You are your director.
  3. You’ll discover how it’s great to create a world you’d love to reside in as to location.
  4. Empowerment and organization.
  5. You’re the custom designer and of the setting and what your characters wear and their appearance.
  6. Negotiation with the future film producer or director.
  7. Licensing deals.
  8. A great body of work to encourage your public speaking skills.
  9. Attending writers conferences in your genre.
  10. Many coffee breaks

ONE CHARACTER’S BACKSTORY

Raised by her widowed mom in San Francisco, Detective Chief Inspector Tammy Luck lost her father in the Vietnam war. They moved to London before she entered middle school. Her mannerisms showed how she handled the experience of loss in work. She was very focused and didn’t tolerate anything that didn’t speak of excellence. She found nothing more vigorous than climbing the racks in Scotland Yard. It was more important than a personal relationship. 

Her closest ally was her younger sibling, Robin became an engineer and worked as a senior draftswoman in one of the most prestigious architectural firms in London. They are a close-knit trio. A lover of words, she reads the Newyorker publication and gleams strategies from the periodical. She types one hundred words per minute. She hates publicity and has a love-hate relationship with the press. 

  We learn as time passed, she’s reunited with a man named Mike Valentino, who is from Spain, lived in London for his schooling years, and resided in Napa Valley as a film studio owner. Their meeting place is the five-star luxury hotel Dorchester Hotel in Mayfair, London. He’s deeply in love with her. As weeks passed, he asked her to marry him, but Scotland Yard duty takes precedence.

MY WRITING STYLE AND WHAT READERS CAN EXPECT IN READING MY BOOKS

I use a great deal of dialogue and describe my characters’ movements in detail. For instance, I use hand gestures. A character’s action is a description of a foot movement, what they do before, they move, and their facial expression.

I don’t use exclamation marks and try to avoid adverbs. I find as I improve, it is true I don’t have to think about it. I eliminate adverbs most of the time. I use a dictionary and thesaurus. Also, I check between American English and British because I want to make sure my characters are speaking the correct way from both sides of the Atlantic.  

Most of the time, I’ll describe an action of the character before showing who is speaking. For example, With pressed palms on the desk, the woman’s head tilted, she said, ‘I don’t know.’

I emphasize on mannerisms of eating and drinking. For instance, my lead detective is a coffee drinker with the occasional sip of Perrier water. As for colleague Jennifer Wang as the sergeant with the detective, she has a thing for jogging suits and fusses a great deal on her long locks. She’s also and not stereotyping a great technological wiz.

I tend to wrap up my thoughts into the writing program Grammarly first. It helps me to change a sentence that might be ‘monotonous.’ When I complete writing for the day, I paste all text into Google Docs because if I’m away from home and anywhere in the world, I can retrieve my work without any issues.

A SUBJECT-FINANCE,I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT AND HERE’S WHY?

 Finance but with a niche. It’s called mortgages. Can you work around them, and would you want to?  

Let’s face it, mortgages have celebrated as the way to wealth, and there’s some truth in that statement but bare with me. I thought so years ago, but not anymore. 

First, Pull up your chair or cozy seat and sip a nice cup or glass of your favorite beverage. If you were born or working in 2000-2008, you can’t ignore a pattern in finance that re-emerge, and it is the loss of personal residences.  

Before I go any further, The wonderful thing about investing in homes is anyone with an informed mind can enjoy the increase and its other rewards. In short, some earning money in the form of dividends and capital appreciation. However, What most people have failed to see mortgages have robbed them of real wealth-building.

Please hear me out-Let me continue. I have the firm belief if anyone is working the insight I’m about to share, it could buy homes without a mortgage and work their way to the dream.  

In the year 2000, we had the Dot.com bust with millions lost in the stock market. Briefly, It resulted in a loss of income and the ability to keep their homes. The question should be this: When are people going to realize what they have before a pattern designed fails them one more time? I know rents have increased over the years, and many people think they have lost out on the dream,

Before you go looking for a real estate agent, looking at homes in a neighborhood, you should count the cost.

  • Have you added up the cost of all those insurance premiums you paid or might have claimed?
  • My reader, this is money or hidden wealth from your purse or wallet that you could have strategically saved before purchasing real estate.
  • For instance, say you’ve paid: $800 for twenty years that equals $16,000.
  • Also, You surrendered- $1200 in taxes per year for the same twenty years that equals-$24,000.

My point is you don’t need to fret yourself over getting a mortgage to build wealth over time. A strategy is essential.

An author who has influenced my writing.

Without a doubt, the great Agatha Christie influence my writing books. One of the main reasons for the influence was her disappearance in 1926 for two weeks, although a bit frightening.
In the end, she got the husband’s attention, publicity, and a police force searching for her. I also have a framed cover of one of her books in my living room.

The best thing about being a writer.

My journey as a writer is encouraged because I’m motivated. Also, I’m blessed to engage in it every day, even when I’m tired. Several years ago, when I had the pleasure of living in San Francisco near the Marina District, I had no idea what I’d be doing, and that’s why I love to write.

How powerful for the human mind to create characters that will be loved or hated. I hope it’s the former. I call writing my card, and I intend on delivering my best to the audience. They deserve my best and excellence. I enjoy listening to other writers, and it’s lovely to know there is help out there.

Equally important, The best part of being a writer is giving people something to enjoy and a way to escape their busy lives. I look at every word and question. Is that way, or word spelled correctly? Moreover, I’ve learned short dialogue is more powerful. Most of all, being a writer for me makes me accountable, persistent, and consistent.

During 2020, I’ve appreciated my time and work. In all the years I’ve worked, seriously, a writer is a tremendous honor to offer something and to put smiles on a mystery reader’s face.

A PERSON WHO INSPIRED MY CURRENT IN DRAFT MODE NOVEL.

After months of pushing my fingers along my computer, I’m completing my first draft of the third novel ‘Vengeance: The Secret of Lady Rose,’ in my detective mystery series headed for publication in 2021. What a year it has been. I want to talk briefly about the woman who inspired the novel.  

Why did I write it? I begin with a question or series of questions. Could I write a story where a young woman experienced a loss in her life and finds herself living in an aristocratic world with her ambitious uncle in Mayfair, London? Rose seeks vengeance in the financial world, but how? Sorry, no spoilers here.

Who is the woman who inspired me to write, and why?

Mellody Hobson is a successful financial advisor and, not to put it likely, a co-CEO of her financial investment firm.  

What are their differences?

Lady Rose is an aristocrat, age thirty-four, and single.

Mellody Hobson is happily married to famed director George Lucas.

Lady Rose earned some of her wealth but enjoyed the life of an aristocrat, while Mellody Hobson accumulated every penny of her wealth. She is all well-rounded woman and advisor on the big news networks. On the other hand, Lady Rose has lived a somewhat sheltered life at the hands of her controlling uncle.

Their continued similarities are as follows:

Lady Rose has taught finances and owns a small investment but has disappeared. Also, Mellody Hobson has been successful in investing in other people’s wealth.

A LIST OF MY FAVORITE PODCASTS

  1. The Voluntary Life.”

The host is Jake. He left the rat race after selling a business and resides in London.  

Let me summarise a couple of his episodes.

Episode 397-” How Do You Know You Can Live From Your Investments?” 

He spoke on the topic of the four percent withdrawal rate for most financially independent individuals, but he also stresses you shouldn’t focus on that figure. He added how you could live with the fluctuations of your portfolio and adjust your lifestyle accordingly without stress.

I agree with Jake. There’s no certainty with a four percent rule to live on without not working forever because you have to take into consideration inflation. I say manage your expenses instead by putting all your hard earn money in 401k, but move the lovely cash into real estate where you have more control to match inflation overtime.  

Once the property has no debt balance, you can use the equity and purchase another property that matches inflationary dollars or pounds. We have more power over the financial system if we act with patience and strategy.  

Jake states if anything happened, he could return to the world of work. He makes a joke about a beach, but it’s not his style. In short, he never stops working. 

Again, I agree with Jake. He states, ”focus on other money earning things that are exciting and do what you want to do. For me, financial independence is writing my novels and imparting to the lives of others.

In episode 394, Jake’s topic is ”Four More Life-Changing Ideas.”

I tuned into ”Quiet Wealth.”   

He mentioned Dr. Thomas Stanley wrote ”The Millionaire Next Door Series.” For me, when reading Dr. Stanley’s books, I focused on a particular story. It stood out. The writing on the topic was one of the most intriguing gems he wrote.  

There’s a saying it only takes one sentence, one line to change a life. The topic or story gave me a different perspective. He described a woman without many details, but it was an insight many overlooked. The woman who brought light to his book maintained her wealthy status by living in an area that was not wealthy. None of her neighbors knew she was materially rich and treated her as apart of the neighbor family.  

The story stimulated my interest so much, I’ve read all the books. I’m glad Jake spoke on the idea of ”Quiet Wealth.” For me, you can never judge a book by its cover.

2.

Afford Anything-Ask Paula.

Paula’s voice is like a storyteller. She is so overwhelming pleasing when listening. You can sense every gesture and enthusiasm in what she does introduces by leaving a semi-detailed message on their financial issues. While still doing your homework, her answers can save the caller money, the time when dealing with an estate broker or banker. 

3.

His and Her Money.

 The episode entitled, ”How Getting Fired Prompted Kiara To Pay off Her Student Loan debt,” showed how by any favored method necessary can eliminate your debt without much sweat. Her debt was $62,000. Unfortunately, while away on vacation, her employer released her, and she sued. The case dragged on for two years, but in the midst of it was settled. She paid off the debt with the settlement.

A monthly post about what I’m currently reading.

A few weeks ago, I decided to re-read ”Think & Grow Rich.” A book has encouraged my writing and persistence. At present, I’m reading the chapter on ”Decision.” In my estimation, there is no way we can get away from making a decision.

If we fail to make any decision, it will and does cost us. In the pages of this topic, Napoleon Hill writes that are going to be people in your life who will try to stir your decision-making in what they think is best for you. For example and this is my interjection. I knew no matter who was talking. I had to push forward because no one was going to save me and make my present or future better. In short, I had enough of employers dictating my income or increase levels. So the second thing I did was to research who earned the highest salaries.

Also, I had no desire to sit in a cubicle for the rest of my life. I know the journey is not straight, but with determination, I made a decision. We’ve come a long way since the nineties, and I’ve grown with technology.

I know without technology, I wouldn’t have been able to work fast, hard, and monitor my results. So a decision to earn more, but not in a slave mode. I owe a great thanks to my English teacher, Mr. Crawford. A man who wore Stacey Adams shoes, straight seamed trousers told me at seven years old I’d be a writer.

For all the short years I lived in San Francisco and saw the beautiful landscape, I had no idea what I would do. What was good for me?
Another thing Napoleon Hill stressed, ”Tell the world what you intend to do, But first show it” (p. 211.) Furthermore, I loved the passage where Mr. Hill wrote on the decisions Abraham Lincoln faced. His decision to even think of ending slavery with the stroke of a pen cost him dearly.

We all know he made a decision that changed the course of the nation. Most importantly, he was born to execute that decision, and he paid the price. At the risk of being hanged or shot by firing squad, they wrote The United States’ Constitution. Today more people know the names of the men who took a risk making way for amendments to include all citizens.  

What decision or decisions you will make in these changing times of technology and financial independence?

Share a piece I wrote and how I’ve grown as a writer and what I’ve learned from it.

The working title started as ‘The Woman Billionaire,’ or ‘Not Letting Go.’

I found in an old bag, in my mini-storage room in my rented house or precisely an extension of the kitchen.  

A few of the characters were the following: 

  •  Detective Chief Inspector Tammy Luck.
  • Sam Powell–Attorney to Miriam Valentino.
  • Miriam Valentino & Mike Valentino-The murdered victims.
  • Setting–Santa Monica–A place I’ve always wanted to live.

So what were some of the problems I tried to introduce?

Mike Valentino, the love of DCI Luck’s life, discovered his mother is the reclusive billionaire Miriam Valentino and found murdered in one of her many gowns in the top suite of her mansion.

Fake adoptions papers appear, but Miriam didn’t give him up for adoption. Due to her reputation, she hired a nanny to care for him in Spain, and that’s where he was hiding away at a boarding house.

Another problem, DCI Luck has to deal with his loss because evidence showed he was in the library with his tongue stuck to the right side of his face–possibly poisoning.

By whom?

Amy Valentino is the relative who stands to gain the family fortune. She befriends Sam Powell, the estate’s attorney, and he ends up in a hospital with a bad issue dealing with his stomach. He thinks poison is involved.

So how have I grown as a writer? I love a mystery. I know for sure the first draft of any writing is not the best. Will I use this information in my next novel? I’m not sure. However, I’ll replace Mike Valentino’s name because he is the love interest of my DCI, and we can’t have him dying off, not anytime soon.

Also, some questions I asked myself for research.

What are some of the most common things woman billionaires share? Besides money. I can spot when a sentence is not right, and reading aloud–does it flow into the other sentence.

Another idea I had of her pictured in Monaco, South of France, and it’s 1965. Her life is an ocean view, and she hears news that she is twelve weeks pregnant with a child and fears of being disinherited by the American prominent strict family who sells buildings and land for public schools.

I’m not sure if I’ll use this piece in the future, but if anyone has an opinion, please share it.

HEMINGWAY’S LIST ON WHAT IS GOOD WRITING

Some time ago, I read a book written by Ernest Hemingway and felt I was in the room with him. He laid the mat, if you will, for me, a writer and explains whose a writer? He answered the question I’ve always asked and couldn’t seem to hear a clear answer from others, such as literary agents and other forms of publication. It was as if the answer was a magic bullet. For instance, If you don’t do this or, that then you can’t write.  

Well, may I say, Hemingway, without any drawn-out prose, stated the real explanation? It was so beautiful that no one anymore should come up with some excuse not to help the writer. 

  1. He wrote Good writing is when the reader learns something new (p.5, 1952).
  2. As you write your fiction and it becomes a real experience the reader can identify with, you are a writer.
  3. Of course, and no doubt the usage of your imagination. I couldn’t agree more.  
  4. What experiences have you had? One of my novels is from experience based on when I lived in San Francisco and the places I visited. In short, Hemingway called it reporting.
  5. I was surprised at this reveal. Write from hurt. I will keep this in mind for my future work.
  6. Put your emotion and feeling into the work.
  7. I wondered what he would say today about longer novels. He said,[I wasn’t sure I could] write anything long’ (p. 33).
  8. He believed in writing with ease and make it simple. (p. 34).
  9. You must travel.
  10. This an easy one. Don’t forget the mention the weather in your prose.

Source Cited: Hemingway, Ernest, ‘On Writing,’ (Larry W. Phillips and Mary Welsh Hemingway, 1984).

THE VELLUM FORMAT PRODUCT AND MY DECISION TO PAUSE

Recently, I uploaded a book trailer, but after much thought, I decided to change the cover and use an illustrator. My formatting process will continue with my usage of a new computer and the software of Vellum.

Also and after further review, I’ll purchase my ISBN Numbers because I want to have more control should I decide to form a Limited Liability Corporation for my books. Moreover, With one more examination of the first manuscript, I’ve asked a friend to give it one more read.  

I also had an insight from Sarra Cannon, a Youtuber, who I receive advice and points. In short, I plan to bring the best of my work to the world.

WHAT IS YOUR DESTING FOR 2020 AND BEYOND?

We attend and graduate from college or University. Some of us travel to the workplace to take care of our responsibilities, but is that your destiny? We were never born just to pay bills and maybe go on vacation twice annually.
Destiny is geographical. On occasion, you’ll have to leave. No time for looking for jobs, you must find your destiny.

So what is destiny? It is the one thing that only you can fulfill on earth to do. You were never trained for it; you were created for it. For example, one of several men was a challenge for Hitler. One noted man was Dietrich Bonhoeffer but was hanged at the age of thirty-five when he stood up against evil.
Destiny looked like when Jesse Jackson whether loving him or hate him, was the one person Saddam Hussein wanted to talk with before the gulf war. Destiny gave us a breath of fresh air when we discovered three African American women held to launch the United States into space as we watched ‘Hidden Figures.’

On a personal note, Destiny has given me the insight and foresight to know that the nations could return every worker to high paying jobs within twenty-four hours or even two months because the world is not running out of resources. It’s not being utilized well.

Moreover, What are some other examples of destinies flourished and celebrated? I’m glad you asked. Here I’ll share some videos to give you an idea. Enjoy!

One of the greatest voices. A picture of destiny.
From humble beginnings in England, no looking back. A true gift and carries out his destiny well.
At fifty, the lady looks thirty years old. Born to grace the fashion industry.
A bold date with destiny that hasn’t been forgotten.
My most favorite classical song.
A long way from Wales but what a destiny!
An effortless road to destiny.

What would have happened to this destiny fulfiller had he took the road to the coal mine?

IF I YOU DON’T ACT ON YOUR IMAGINATION, LET ME SHARE

If I don’t act on my imagination, I’m letting someone down. Our ideas can turn the unemployment, and dismay into an overcoming. My novel ideas have already paid someone’s way. For instance, the copy paper I use to print my manuscripts. Every time a pen runs out of ink, and I refill it, I’m helping another stay empowered.

If I don’t use my imagination, how can great actors and actresses continue to grace the worldwide screen? If I don’t use my imagination, how can a great prolific screenwriter adapt my stories? I don’t use my imagination, how can my blogging become an enjoyable reality?

If I don’t use my imagination how can I walk into a room and ask for an audience with Denzel Washington, Steven Spielberg, Spike Lee, Sofia Coppola, Oprah Winfrey, and Ave DuVernay? I don’t use my imagination, how can I provide a legacy for my daughter?

If I don’t use my imagination, I can’t rest because misery will say, I took no action. If I don’t use my imagination, film and book critics will not forgive me for hiding my characters. If I don’t use my imagination, someone else will take my place and manifest the thing I was born to do.

If I don’t use my imagination, then how will I ever owe a Malibu beach house and visit Ryan O’neal–my new neighbor? If I don’t use my imagination, how can my works be stored and copies in the Library of Congress?  

If I don’t use my imagination, how can I experience what feels like to be successful? If I don’t use my imagination, I’ll fail for sure. Use your imagination, your life depends on it.

IF WE DIDN’T HAVE TAXATION WHAT DO YOU THINK THINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN?

The idea of everyone in the United States and the world living prosperously had changed in 1913. I believe if the taxation program not been introduced, we would have been a far greater community. For instance, I’m confident that most people would have supported the economy to a greater extent and no need for social programs.


One of the greatest incentives, at least in the current tax code found in the United States is the ability to start a home base or online business that allows anyone to reduce their tax liability. Most people don’t know taxation is a liability that we should write in our annual network colmns as a reminder.


Most important, and it needs to be said, the political establishment didn’t trust us enough to work out economic factors among ourselves. Taxation not only slowed down wealth creation. It’s a form of control.


When you look at the Princely House of Grimaldi, in the South of France, you see citizens who don’t pay taxes. They have been given the freedom to thrive, invest, save hard-earned income, and contribute to the rest of the world in the functioning of business at best.


Moreover, there would be no need to print endless amounts of fiat currency which results in two major things: One is it decreases a nation’s purchasing power. Items are more unaffordable and raise taxes.
If taxation is decreased there is more room to develop and sustain a solid workforce.  


As for medical treatments, it can be paid for if we as individual families are allowed to be less burdened with taxes and transfer the money into keeping ourselves healthy without worry.

MY TRIBUTE TO CHADWICK BOSEMAN

You left a legacy for small children and millennials. You didn’t advertise your journey on the fight against the Big ‘C.’ Thank you for the body of creative work that has encouraged me to continue to write the characters I have been able to create in a world dreamed. Thank you for being strong and classy. Thank you for sending a message to us that we don’t give up. Rest in Peace.

THINGS I’VE LEARNT FROM READING MICHAEL GROSS ”740 PARK.”

  1. Michael Gross, writer of ”740 Park,” and may I interject for a moment, Venture Capitalism wasn’t the first introduction of the popular concept as projected in the early 2000s. It grew in the 1930s when some tenants of the famous residence traded apartments without going to a banker.
  2. You must never believe or assume, the ultra-wealthy don’t time the market, as reported repeatedly by financial analysts. They do.
  3. Another interjection of mine is the main reason the middle class is not growing in true sustained wealth, is because every seven to fifteen years, someone decides to sell their property. I understand there might be various reasons, but if it can be helped, it should be avoided.
  4. We must remember wealth is never about us; it’s about the next generation’s stability.  
  5. John Jacob Astor stated, ”Wealth is a result of habit.”
  6. Also, The 1913 issuance of taxation and without its inception, in my view, would have increased everyone’s stress-free ability to grow wealth.
  7. Having a job is the ground floor for building wealth. It cannot be the main source, as we’ve seen in spring 2020.

Sorry Readers for not writing. I’m currently working on a third novel. Here’s a sneek short preview.

I’ve changed the title to ‘Vengeance: The Hands of Enemies..’

So

CHAPTER ONE

The bright pink eighteen feet by twelve feet clipper range stable built with old wood in the centre of a ten acre field in Tonbridge, Kent. There in the right corner, a wired light blue frame twin bed with a stuff mattress. On the left side of the window frame hung a small light, face washing basin,  and brown dirty riding boots were a few signs someone had taken residence.

 Neighbours complained, eyebrows raised about the sight of the stable but prominence prevailed.  Playing daily on the cold hard floor covered with strands of hay, a dream was formed into the mind of a sixteen year old girl to race at Ascot. Now at twenty-five could Lily Barber, an aristocrat, woman of colour, pull it off?

To the right edge of the stables, she stood humming, patted her horse Bluebird and gathered a few strands of hay, as music blasted from another room. She was five feet three inches tall, with brown eyes and her locks were long curls to her elbow. She didn’t leave the estate without her pink retro matte lipstick and weighed one hundred five pounds.

After giving Bluebird a big kiss, she turned, raised her chin at the sight of a few birds flying. The daughter of Sir Lloyd Barber, heir to a dictionary fortune. She was his fourth child and one of two daughters.  Her mother Lady May died of breast cancer when Lily was ten years old, and her father did everything to keep her mind busy. Flat racing became her distraction at first and a love was born.

A year at university was all she could stomach. Horses before Bluebird were at the forefront of her mind. She got into trouble on several occasions for daydreaming. Sir Lloyd was tired of hearing the complaints and withdrew to her delight. She could focus on training and her ultimate goal.

rry, I haven’t forgotten my readers. I’ve been writing my third novel, which is a re-write. Here’s a sneek short preview of its openg.

WHILE WRITING SCENE 16 I HEARD THESE WORDS

In the middle of writing a couple scenes for the next project, I heard this message of motivation that tickled my ears. It was a confirmation of why I’m doing what is the lease effort because I’m using my gift. Sometimes you need the reminder of why you’re doing something. Will there be results at the end? I trust it will be there.

The Process of Outlining Novel 3 -A Rewrite.

ONE PAIR IN HER COLLECTION. LILY BARBER’S BOOTS!

Yesterday, I began writing out the outline for ‘Vengeance: The Secret of Lady Rose. I start with the ‘Whose there?‘ The murder took place in stables painted in pink by one of the characters. Second, I wrote the why? I’m not sharing too many spoilers here. I added the clause or question. Where Are We? In other words, Where are we in a scene, plot? It’s a mystery, so what is happening to the character at this point. There is conflict.

To continue, I wrote the Resolution of the scene.  Is there one? Most times, I’ll write ‘No,’ and continue with a sentence. At the final stroke of my pen, I write the Hook. For example, The police arrived, and they arrested Lady Rose. The sentence tells you it’s not over.

I write the scenes in a single sentence and learn the above mention from the best-selling author who works as a ghostwriter. The method is an easy way to write your outline, and you can see the story coming alive. I’m going to go on a limb here and say, I like Lily Barber, one of the characters in the story, although she does not survive to the second chapter. You don’t have to guess why? She’s the murder victim. Or is she a victim?

If I didn’t write, I’m not sure what I would do at this stage in my life. I’m always looking for my next historical twist to write. I’m writing this novel because I’d like to imagine myself a lady or an aristocrat, be it a nice one. 

My fourth novel setting for beautiful Jamaica, and I might have another lady to write about with all the rich history from the shores of England there. Who knows! I aim to write ten novels and probably quit like Quentin Tarantino. I’m going to use novel 4 in NaNoWriMo and that won’t be until November 2022.

WRITING SCENE WEAVES FOR THE NOVELS

Lily Barber, Jockey

Currently, I’m writing out the scene weaves for my third novel, ‘Vengeance: The Secret of Lady Rose.’ It’s a rewrite because after reviewing the draft some weeks ago. I decided to put some more drive into the story. So I’m changing the motive for the murder. The murder type, if you will, is being changed. In addition, the person or persons who committed the murder.

Writing scene weaves are the best ways to write an outline. You can see what the characters will be doing before you write a paragraph or complete the scenes.  

As previously noted in another post, Lady Rose is a financier based on a person I admire, and she’s a black woman who has made a name for herself in America’s business world. Lily Barber, her cousin in the story, is a tribute to an American Jockey who was not well known to the world but was successful in her own right.

Lily aimed to race at Ascot in England, but her dreams ended upon her untimely death by murder. The opening scene for this first draft will be Lily’s pink stables. She didn’t play by the rules in her personal life, so painting the stables pink was her way of showing off to her stuffy neighbours in the Kent village.

MY UPCOMING FINANCE BOOK WHAT I AM GOING TO TALK ABOUT?

I have a story for you!

Within the United Kingdom, I hear people aiming to get on what they call ‘The Property Ladder, and in the United States, we call it ‘The American Dream.’ Most times, we first aim to get the deposit, but in my finance book, I encourage the reader that is not the first thing they should do or think about doing.

The book is currently in the first draft phase. As a disclaimer, I’m not a financial advisor, but I’m sharing strategies and insights. If I’d know years ago, I would have implemented them for myself. Back in 2008, I heard how so many people lost their homes because of the CRASH. Some weren’t able to afford the mortgages because of subprime lending. Other people lost their jobs from California to Georgia and worldwide.

I, for myself, though, had I stayed the course, I could have purchased three homes with cash with investment proceeds, but I wasn’t ready. Inside my finance book, the title might raise a few eyebrows but not worry. As you go through the book, the title will become clear. I will be putting my words first into an Ebook, and bear with me as you search through the pages. For an excerpt, I’ll share one of the elements inside the book most people overlook when purchasing the home of their dreams.  

Briefly, In one of the chapters, I entitle it ‘Buckets of Wealth.’ 

In short, I explain there are fifteen buckets of wealth to purchasing a home that most people might not have thought. The hint is one of the buckets is first patience. Another is reputation. What do you bring to the table before you ask to get to the table? Do you have a good name, and I’m not talking about a mere credit score?  

WHAT HELPS ME TO WRITE?

THE ART THAT NEVER SLEEPS!

I shouldn’t say currently, I’m reading ‘The American Duchess’ because it is weekly progress. I have a few projects I’m writing on, and my head gets buried one issue after the other. But I’m not complaining. I just wanted you all to know my followers that I haven’t forgotten to write helpful stuff for you.

This past week, I’m keeping my nose into the life of Mrs. Wallis Simpson, Duchess of Windsor. One quick note, I’ve wondered, after all these years of being married to the former king who was a Windsor, why do they still refer to her as Mrs. Simpson?

I want to send a shout-out to the author of the book, Anna Pasternak. She has a delightful voice as an author, and I do hear it. Anna is truly a professional with no aim of wanting nothing but to set the record straight and not throwing the Duchess under the bus.

So how does reading this book or any other help me to write? I write fiction, but I’m delving into the non-fiction world as well. You might have heard some scoffing that Mrs. Simpson wasn’t in love with the Duke, but I beg to disagree. With the Duchess’s own words from letters, diaries, and interviews, Anna Pasternak writes lines like, ‘…Some day, of course, I must learn to be always alone for I will be in my heart also I must develop [the ]strength to look at papers containing your photographs and accounts of your activities… p. 84.

To continue the words that give me as a writer encouragement, Anna penned this line from the lips of the Duchess. ‘…he can’t bring himself to marry without loving…’ Id., 84. In addition, For business, my mentor at this time is John Paul Getty Sr. with his autobiography, ‘As I See It.’

I’M WRITING MY FIRST FINANCE BOOK FOR MILLENNIALS!

First, my finance book will be colorful, short, and sweet. The paragraphs won’t have prolonged repetitive statements. I will be getting to the point with short call-out graphics from Canva that will be easy on the eyes. I most definitely will be hiring a graphic artist for the cover. I take it seriously. I’m offering value.

My aim is the make the visuals and statements rememberable. There should be no need for the reader to lower their head and squeeze their chin. For instance, I don’t want them to say, what did she mean? Or, scratch any heads asking, What is she trying to help us?

As I go through some steps in the creation, I will keep you informed on its progress. I share this will you as a tease. Why I’m creating such a book? Because I hate hearing millennials won’t be able to leave their parent’s homes or buy one themselves. 

 I also heard of struggles some find in ‘climbing the property ladder,’ as they call it in the United Kingdom. Some have also put doubts in their minds as to whether they can achieve such a goal or dream. I don’t believe that, and so I’ll share my strategy. Here is a sneak peek into the first draft of the interior of the book.