Of interest

  • #BlackGirlMagic,  Adult Fantasy,  Adult Novella,  Adult Novellas,  Contemporary Romance,  E books,  New Adult,  Of interest,  Paranormal romance,  Urban Fantasy

    My Chérie Amour

    Big man, big love.

    Promos below are from the mini graphic novels that will promote the ebooks for these love stories:

     

    NCAA Basketball players Rhea Chappelle and Yul Sukari

     

     

    NCAA Basketball star Yul Sukari, an Indonesian American leading man.

     

     

    The New Adult Romance of Thai American Rikh ki Khumpai and African American Lolo Benoit.

     

     

    El and Christian, from my upcoming ebook Sex and the Single Paraplegic

     

     

    Three faces of the Gargoyle Karnage Xi’an

     

     

    The Gargoyle Karnage and his lady love, the witch Pagan

     

     

    Main men: Karnage the Gargoyle, Yuri the Vampire, Ronin the Warlock, Khosi the Vampire

     

     

    Karnage and Pagan

     

     

    The witch Lilith

     

    Andre “Dre” Santana, Werewolf

     

     

    Pictured: The witch Ondine and the warlock Ronin
  • Adult Fantasy,  Adult Novella,  Adult Novellas,  Graphic Novel,  IR erotic romance,  Of interest,  Paranormal romance,  Urban Fantasy

    The Hitman’s Vampire Bodyguard

    What an NBA finals game five last night! The Phoenix Suns vs The Milwaukee Bucks

    Fear the Deer indeed. In the final seconds, that steal, the lob, the alley oop. Giannis posing for the camera after the basket:

     

    Power Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks

    Loved it!!!!

    *************************************************************

    My erotic paranormal cast:

     

    Top left to Right: Pagan, Lilith and Ondine (witches). Middle: Karnage (gargoyle), Andre (werewolf) Yuri (vampire), Irina (vampire) and Ronin (warlock). Bottom: Makseem (vampire)

     

     

    The Vampire crown prince Machiavelli “Mac” Faust and his royal bodyguards, Yuri and Irina.

     

    Yuri is Lilith’s love interest. The crown prince Machiavelli Faust was introduced in a much, much earlier book called RAZHER, but that book is in the young adult genre:

    RAZHER, the she-wolf from New Zealand. Also pictured: Mac the Vampire and Havoc the Gargoyle

     

    After I released RAZHER on Amazon and prior to my mom’s cancer, I’d started writing an erotic interracial paranormal featuring witches, vampires and gargoyles.

     

    The Hitman’s Vampire Bodyguard: IRINA, who also protects Yuri.

     

     

    The Gargoyle Karnage Xian watches over the city

     

    The inspiration for Karnage’s promo came from one of my favorite shows, LUPIN, starring Omar Sy on Netflix:

     

    LUPIN 2 is now back on Netflix, starring Omar Sy

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Three Witches: Ondine, Lilith and Pagan
  • Filmmaking,  Of interest

    Black Panther II – What about Azari?

    If ever an actor embodied a role, it was the late great Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa in Black Panther.

     

    Chadwick Boseman was and will always be thought of as Black Panther for many.

     

    Chadwick was also excellent portraying James BrownI must also mention Nelsan Ellis, who died at the the young age of 39. Nelsan portrayed Bobby Byrd to Chadwick’s James Brown in the film Get On Up.

    Chadwick’s stellar acting as Jackie Robinson in the film 42 deserves mention as well. Sadly, Chadwick’s life was cut short by cancer, a disease that claimed my mom a few years ago. Marvel announced that the role would not be recast for Black Panther II, which is a fitting tribute to Chadwick’s legacy.

    So, how can Marvel honor Chadwick and continue T’Challa’s story? Well, how about introducing his son Azari, the child T’Challa had with his ex-wife Storm?

  • Contemporary Romance,  New Adult,  Of interest

    Meteor Garden/Boys Over Flowers

    Dao Ming Si, Hua Ze Lei (just Lei in the series) Xi Men, and Mei Zuo are the four leading males in the 2001 Taiwanese Meteor Garden and 2018 Chinese remake of Meteor Garden.

    The main female lead is named Shan Cai.

     

    “Meteor Garden is the classic love story; rich boy (Dao Ming Si) falls for poor girl (Shan Cai) and obstacles ensue.”                                                                                        -IMDB description

     

    Each version is based on the blockbuster manga BOYS OVER FLOWERS by Yoko Kamio

    Boys Over Flowers by Yoko Kamio

     

    I watched the 2018 version first, then the South Korean version titled Kkotboda namja (2009) “Boys Over Flowers.” Loved Min-Ho Lee as the rich thug Joon Pyo who falls for the poor student named Jan Di. His hairdo reminded me of the late, great Prince:

    Prince with his Purple Rain curls

     

    Min-ho Lee as Joon Pyo in BOYS OVER FLOWERS

     

    The F4 guys (the actors real names are listed) in the Korean version of Boys Over Flowers

     

    Leading lady Hye-Sun Ku portrayed Jan-Di, the “Shan Cai” of the Korean version.

    Haven’t seen the Japanese version yet, but I hope to view it soon.

    I thought the 2018 remake was good, as there were some much needed updates done on the story.

    Chinese version of the fabulous F4 from Meteor Garden. From left to right -Caesar Wu, Dylan Wang, Darren Chen and Connor Leong

     

    Then I saw the 2001 version with Jerry Yan, Vic Chou, Vanness Wu, Barbie Hsu and Ken Zhu, via You Tube.

     

    Meteor Garden 2001 version with Jerry Yan, Ken Zhu, Victor Chou and Vanness Wu as F4

     

     

    Until I view the Japanese version, Barbie Hsu is the best Shan Cai imho. There’s bullying and violence, gaslighting, in short no matter which version please don’t let kids or teens watch without adult guidance.

    The 2001 version is my favorite. One of the reasons is below:

     

     

     

     

    Back in 2001 the Taiwan version at least included a black woman with the “player” of the group, Xi Men. She didn’t have any lines, and her screen time was brief, but still . . .

    NetFlix has Meteor Garden 2018 and Boys Over Flowers 2009, while YouTube has Meteor Garden 2001. All versions have English subtitles.

     

  • #BlackGirlMagic,  Contemporary Romance,  E books,  IR erotic romance,  New Adult,  Of interest

    Love in the time of Covid-19

    Readers, I hope this post finds you and your loved ones safe and well.

    I pray for us all.

     

    Pictured: Interracial Lovers Rikh ki Khumpai and Lolo Benoit.

     

     

     

    Thai-American Rikh ki ริคกี้ and African American Lolo

     

     

     

     

     

    My upcoming NCAA basketball love story:

     

    NCAA athlete Yul Sukari Appreciation pic

     

     

  • Of interest

    Thank you, Misty Copeland and Dana Nichols

    Ballerina Misty Copeland spoke up regarding the practice of blackface/brownface in her profession. Please read her powerful thoughts, as well as a first person testimony from dancer Dana Nichols, who tells a compelling real life experience of being dressed in blackface for a performance.

    It takes courage to speak up in a society where the concerns of minorities are sometimes ignored, laughed at, or challenged as being overly sensitive. I commend both these brave women. 

     

    Here’s Misty Copeland’s response to this continued practice:

    Young dancers in blackface for a ballet performance

     

    Link: https://www.instagram.com/p/B5zGh5cjbmI/

     

    While Misty Copeland is getting support for speaking out she’s also getting some very ugly, racist responses that condone this “tradition.” Check out an example of the responses (many in Russian) on her Facebook page:

     

    A few of the replies to Misty Copeland calling out the practice of blackface/brownface

     

     

     

    Here’s dancer Dana Nichol’s first person account in Dance Magazine:

    I must have been the only dark-skinned person to have been in a Mariinsky production. The women in charge weren’t sure what to do with me. I saw the white dancers around me covering themselves in the brown paint and distinctly remember being at a loss for words because it was so bizarre. It was especially the red lipstick traced around the mouth that disturbed me. I remember looking down at the paints and trying to figure out what they had to do with me. All I could manage to say was, “Do need this?”

    I became that thing in the room that no one had ever had to confront.”

    https://www.dancemagazine.com/black-face-in-ballet-2641581121.html?rebelltitem=6#rebelltitem6

     

     

    Damn. While I’ve never been through this kind of experience, I’ve had my share of uncomfortable and cringe worthy life dramas. Most of them had to do with being a female and a female of color.

    Speaking up always contains a risk. But not speaking up can also weigh heavily, even years later. Again, I thank them both, and all others who decide to question or challenge harmful “traditions.” 

     

    CNN has an article on the response to Misty Copeland’s Instagram post:

    “After legendary ballerina Misty Copeland called out the Bolshoi Theatre for its use of blackface in performances, the theatre told Russian state-run media that it would continue the practice despite the criticism. . . ”

    https://www.cnn.com/style/article/misty-copeland-bolshoi-theater-trnd-style/index.html

     

     

    I can only hope that conversation continues regarding this hurtful practice. I’m not naive to think it will completely stop. But this could be a teachable moment. 

     

  • #BlackGirlMagic,  Of interest

    Making History: Black Beauty Queens 2019

     

    Zozibini Tunzi – Miss Universe 2019

    “I grew up in a world where a woman who looks like me, with my kind of skin and my kind of hair is never considered to be beautiful and I think that it is time that stops today. I want children to look at me and see my face and I want them to see their faces reflected in mine.”  -Zozibini Tunzi

     

    Zozibini Tunzi is crowned Miss Universe 2019

     

    Zozibini Tunzi, Miss South Africa-Miss Universe 2019

     

    **UPDATE**

    On December 14th, Toni Ann Singh was crowned MISS WORLD 2019. Miss Singh is a 23 year old black woman who also holds the title of Miss Jamaica 2019:

    Miss Jamaica Toni Ann Singh is now Miss World 2019 Photo from the Daily Tribute Philipphines https://tribune.net.ph/

     

     

    Miss Jamaica Toni Ann Singh crowned Miss World 2019

     

     

    Miss America, Miss Teen USA and Miss USA Are All Black Women for the First Time

    By 

    May 5, 2019

    Despite a long history of segregation and racism, America’s top pageants have broken racial barriers in recent decades. Vanessa Williams became the first black woman to win the Miss America title in 1984. Carole Gist won Miss USA in 1990. Janel Bishop won Miss Teen USA in 1991.

    Each competition has had multiple black winners since.

    Last week, for the first time, black women wore the crowns of all three major pageants simultaneously.

    Cheslie Kryst, 28, won the Miss USA contest, and Kaliegh Garris, 18, won Miss Teen USA. They joined Nia Franklin, 25, who was crowned as the 2019 Miss America in September.

    Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/05/style/miss-teen-usa-america-black.html

     

     

    ESSENCE Video shoot and interview:

     

    CBS interview:

    https://www.cbsnews.com/news/miss-usa-cheslie-kryst-miss-teen-usa-kaliegh-garris-miss-america-nia-franklin-making-history-2019-05-07/

  • #BlackGirlMagic,  Adult Fantasy,  E books,  IR erotic romance,  Novella,  Of interest,  Paranormal romance,  Urban Fantasy

    Black Witches

    UPDATE – Family comes first, so I had to step away from writing in order to help out.

    I hope to get back on track with book releases. My sincere apologies for the delay.

     

    Here’s a blast from the past:

     

     

    On the cover of Nino Ferrer’s 1974 album Nino and Radiah, beautiful American model/actress/singer Radiah Frye, (wiki bio is in French, view on Google to translate into English). A jazzy soul song from this album can heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s0-tbR-nzs

    Radiah Frye’s daughter is choreographer Mia Frye.

     

    Pictured: Yohan Sukari, whose family is from Southeast Asia (Indonesia) falls hard for fellow basketball player Rhea Chappelle, in the New Adult erotic romance One on One.

     

    NCAA star Yohan Sukari meets his match in Rhea Chappelle, from the novel One on One

     

     

     

    Kinda, sorta cover reveal:

    Pictured: black witches PAGAN, LILITH and ONDINE

     

    The promo above is a mock up cover from my upcoming black witch series, though the title will be different.

     

    Elder witch Lilith and her younger vampire lover, Yuri

     

    Lilith and Yuri Romance GIF

     

     

    石像鬼 is Gargoyle in Chinese.
    Pictured: Chinese Gargoyle Karnage and his lady love, the witch Pagan

     

    Pictured: The witch Pagan and her Gargoyle love, Karnage.

     

    Karnage Xian – low resolution pic

     

     

     

    The witch Ondine and her soulmate, the warlock Ronin circa 1850s

     

     

    Ronin Bey collage

     

    Chic witch Ondine, in the present day

     

     

    Ronin Bey fire promo