Of interest
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Congrats to the Raptors
Before I go into the Raptors thrilling game six win, here’s another promo I’ve created for my New Adult collegiate basketball ebook One on One:
One on One characters: Yohan Sukari, Rhea Chappelle and Jeloni Thorpe. Low resolution promo. Congratulations to the Toronto Raptors. Game 6 of the NBA Finals came down to the wire, with the Raptors winning a 114-110 victory over the Golden State Warriors. This is the first title for the Raptors, and they also made history with point guard Jeremy Lin:
“After the Toronto Raptors won the NBA championship against the Golden State Warriors in Game 6 on Thursday, point guard Jeremy Lin became the first Asian American player to take home a ring. Cleveland Cavaliers’ Jordan Clarkson, who is of Filipino descent, made it to last year’s finals, but did not take home a championship. ”
It’s important to note that Jeremy is the first Asian American, that’s why I have it in bold. The first Asian was Mengke Bateer with the 2003 San Antonio Spurs. The second Asian to win a ring played for the 2009 NBA Champs Los Angeles Lakers and his name is Sun Yue.
The Raptors Pascal Siakam also made history as the first player from Cameroon to win an NBA Championship ring.
TIME Magazine Asia cover, February 27, 2012 Link: http://content.time.com/time/covers/asia/0,16641,20120227,00.html 
Jeremy Lin plays for the Toronto Raptors 
Jeremy Lin holding the NBA trophy I’m a big fan of Jeremy Lin. His NBA journey is a study of hard work and talent.
In my fictional story about an Indonesian collegiate star, Yohan Sukari uses Jeremy Lin as a role model in his own quest to become an NBA player.
Yohan and Rhea – Low resolution promo - #BlackGirlMagic, Adult Fantasy, Adult Novellas, E books, IR erotic romance, Of interest, Paranormal romance, Urban Fantasy
A Discovery of Black Orishas
Orisha, from the Yoruba language is also listed as Orixa in Latin America. The word means Deity.
West African Orishas are vividly imaged by photographer and digital artist James C. Lewis, from a 2013 article in BUZZFEED by Donna Dickens:
Aganju – click his picture to get more information 
OBA – click her picture to get more information 
Osanyin – click his picture to get more information See the full article with additional deities and info here:
Link: https://www.buzzfeed.com/donnad/these-african-deities-are-the-best-gods-youve-never-heard-of
My fictional sister witches:
Pictured: Ondine, Lilith and Pagan, my fictional witches dressed in black latex. 
Witches 3 portrait 
Pictured: Ondine, Lilith and Pagan 
WITCH promo – Ondine, Pagan and Lilith -
Aquaman and an Indonesian baller
Got treated to dinner and the film Aquaman by my family. We all really enjoyed the film.
Jason Momoa as AQUAMAN. Amber Heard is Princess Mera, and his love interest. The visuals were great, and James Wan should be commended for his direction and vision on the picture.
Director James Wan. He was also at the helm of Fast and Furious 7. Aquaman AKA Jason Momoa brought a playfulness and his usual smoldering hotness to the character.
Other standouts imho were Yahya Abdul-Mateen II as Black Manta, Amber Heard as Princess Mera, Michael Beach as Manta’s dad, and Nicole Kidman as Queen Atlanna.
Upcoming new adult ebook:
Pictured: Rhea Chappelle and big man Yohan Sukari, from Indonesia. 
Yohan Sukari playing ball 
Rhea Chappelle, college basketball player goes for a layup 
Yohan Sukari and his girl Rhea Chappelle -
Crazy Rich (and hot) Asians
Gonna see Crazy Rich Asians this weekend. In the meantime I’ve been bingeing on one of my favorite action movies, Ninja Assassin
This movie features the beautiful and talented Naomie Harris as its leading lady, and musical superstar RAIN as the male lead. South Korean born Rain is the ninja Raizo, and the film contains an awesome nod to the past with legendary martial artist and film star Shô Kosugi
Rain was already a mega K-Pop star before he landed the lead role in Ninja Assassin. He trained for months, and grew his hair out for the part. The Trivago guy (actor Tim Williams) is also an extra in the film (the task force officer who lets Mika give Raizo a drink of water) during the scene below:
Naomie Harris plays Mika, an Europol Forensic Analyst. Rain is Raizo, a ruthless, for hire assassin who goes rogue. “Oh Mika, Mika. I like you more and more” – Rain, from Ninja Assassin
Naomie Harris and Rain, in the action packed 2009 film Ninja Assassin -
Black Beauty: “Flexin’ in my Complexion”
Please, please support Flexin’ in my Complexion, the brainchild and creation of a then ten year old (now eleven) entrepreneur Kheris Rogers:
Modeling her own creation, Kheris Rogers. This image is from her website: https://www.flexininmycomplexion.com/ “Kheris Rogers can’t forget the grade school humiliation. During an assignment where the students had to draw themselves, the teacher handed the shy dark-skinned girl a black crayon instead of a brown one.
“I was the darkest of all of them,” the stunning 11 year old recalls of her classmates. “But they were all African-American.”
Rogers had earlier transferred from another school to escape the incessant bullying. It didn’t work. Her complexion set her apart, a label she couldn’t shed.
But now Rogers owns her label, literally. Her clothing line is called “Flexin’ In My Complexion.” The brand has caught fire among some big celebrities. . . ”
Read the full article by Elizabeth Elkin and Ben Burnstein on CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/20/health/sisters-anti-bullying-clothing-line-trnd/
Kheris turned this into a teachable moment. Now her clothing line is taking off!
Oscar winner Lupita N’Yongo is also proudly “Flexin’ In My Complexion.”
Lupita_Flexing in my Complexion If any reader isn’t convinced that this issue is real, please read this speech by Lupita in 2014: http://wikkidsexycool.com/2014/03/06/waiting-on-the-world-to-change/
What Kheris experienced was intra-racism. Black on black bullying due to her dark skin. For others, it can be because they’re not dark (or their outward appearance, such as their hair and features don’t appear “black”, and thus, some will claim that they’re not black enough).
Party poster based on skin color. Yes, this was created by black folks. 
Colorism isn’t limited to women. Males are affected also. I won’t post his before and after photos here, but baseball great Sammy Sosa is an example of how colorism can even affect someone with Sosa’s stature.
Representation of all the beautiful shades of brown is still needed Now, for a bit of history. Ranking black individuals is nothing new, and in America, it was practiced during slavery (lighter slaves with more white looking features worked in the Master’s home, while darker slaves usually worked in the fields). There’s the “brown paper bag test” that was used during segregation (skin color checked against a paper bag) and also a poem that went like this:
If you’re white, you’re all right
In you’re brown, stick around
If you’re black, get back . . .
Ebony Magazine article from 2000: https://preview.tinyurl.com/y8e9odhu
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So Thankful
This is just a post giving thanks and also one of reflection.
I’m so thankful that I got to spend time with my mom before she passed, and also how our family came together. I realize this is the next page in the chapter of life, where elder care and also helping those I love with disabilities will need more focus. I pray that I’m able to do even half of what my mom did.
Maddox and Angel, from the upcoming ebook RUSH Ride or Die. Click the pic for an excerpt. Some of the spin-offs from the RUSH series are turning out to be novellas, while others have been moved up for ebook release. It all started with Somali Bantu refugee Aaliyah and the outlaw biker Aiden:
Top frame – RUSH, featuring biker Aiden and refugee Aaliyah. Bottom – RIDE or DIE featuring Maddox and Angel But why should guys have all the fun?
Introducing Yasmin, a road warrior for the Suicide Kings 
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Our Bodies, Our Stories and Black Female Veterans
Today is Veterans Day.
Nina Womack, my fictional WAC during WWII WAC or WAAC stands for Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps:
African American WACs during WW II 
Nina Womack among her peers during WWII Their stories deserve to be recognized and to be told.
Nina Womack in uniform To learn more about the contributions of African American women during times of war:
Link: http://www.buffalosoldiersresearchmuseum.org/research/women.htm
For more photos of the past:
Link: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/61783826109434454/
Our Bodies, Our Stories . . .
As I look at all the men in power who’ve been accused of sexual assault, I’m reminded of what my foremothers went through during and after segregation. Lets not forget how women of color were treated (and ignored) when they opened up about their trauma. Today, many women are united in solidarity to combat and speak out against unwanted sexual advances and sexual assault (#MeToo). But it wasn’t always so. The voice of black women were rarely believed. It may surprise readers to know Rosa Parks had to fight off an attempted assault while working as a domestic. Read a partial account from The Washington Post:
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Lee and Low New Visions Award for Authors of Color
The deadline is quickly approaching for Lee and Low’s New Visions Award for Authors of Color
Link: https://www.leeandlow.com/writers-illustrators/new-visions-award
- The contest is open to writers of color who are residents of the United States, 18 years of age or older at the time of entry, and who have not previously had a middle grade or young adult novel published.
- Writers who have published work in other venues such as children’s magazines or picture books, or adult fiction or nonfiction, are eligible. Only unagented manuscripts will be accepted.
- Work that has been published in its entirety in any format (including online and self publishing as well as other countries) is not eligible.
- Manuscripts previously submitted for this award or to TU BOOKS will not be considered.
Entrees are currently being accepted online. The deadline is midnight, October 31st.