tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2591994860088272962024-03-18T21:13:37.509-04:00THE MANA SUNRISERThe MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.comBlogger112125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-35766253683764883352024-03-18T21:06:00.006-04:002024-03-18T21:13:06.615-04:00MANA's National Reading Month Special: Excerpts From The Children's Books, "Reesy—A Little Girl Learning Life's Lessons" and "Marvin's Lump"
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">To celebrate</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> National Reading Month, MarketingNewAuthors.com (MANA) presents excerpts from the children's books, <a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/product/reesy-a-little-girl-learning-lifes-lessons/" target="_blank"><b><i>Reesy—A Little Girl Learning Life's Lessons</i> </b></a>by Annie Comor-Jacobs and <i><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/marvins-lump/" rel="nofollow"><b>Marvin's Lump</b></a></i> by Jennifer Weil.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In <i>Reesy—A Little Girl Learning Life's Lessons</i>, Reesy learns about divorce, the deep South, deafness, and death. The excerpt here is about her third lesson—learning about death.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>Marvin's Lump</i> addresses children's fears and helps them see how to overcome them. </span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Listen to the audio below and follow along with MANA's Dr. Fairy-Hayes Scott as she does an interpretive reading of the first few pages of each book:</span></p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="60" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/reesy-marvin-s-lump" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe></p><p><b style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Reesy—A Little Girl Learning Life's Lessons</b></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>by Annie Comor-Jacobs</b></span></div><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO1F2s-f7klJMUVfQLy7vyF7E7ipG4-rLEaTvSO6IWbKImsuCIb4E1S9Yo8mHzbvARMkjUYjY48BiNsKa7kNBpSp9_gaiyEo94XYqj96HDViybE_I2nh0XaoCmqFL5DO3hYrXv6xjLwyKLtdT3DIhNqDkG9Dm6VnXFURpW2wEI_Y3p65n8EHPCKwtbkLo/s428/REESY.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Rm9Lk9qHAS4r7hSE7J2kjdQd0IG63_a5t2kEk3mna7deBsmtz0-wIJka-UNmCNUTGIX71Akv_S_VGxzgEcPKoAG5GDwasBI3qjY7Hfoe2RgRnypps6qEsQkoXWCC9jbKfcpXWCQ7I1MLhDbsRtrjJFwgvT3xHf5npIdUcc0WCXMw0aIGpoeT0VCtPtM/s259/reesy_200.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="200" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Rm9Lk9qHAS4r7hSE7J2kjdQd0IG63_a5t2kEk3mna7deBsmtz0-wIJka-UNmCNUTGIX71Akv_S_VGxzgEcPKoAG5GDwasBI3qjY7Hfoe2RgRnypps6qEsQkoXWCC9jbKfcpXWCQ7I1MLhDbsRtrjJFwgvT3xHf5npIdUcc0WCXMw0aIGpoeT0VCtPtM/s1600/reesy_200.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Reesy was so excited that she jumped out of her bed and rushed into her mother's room. Reesy whispered to her mother, "Mommy, Mommy, are you sure that my dress is going to be okay for today? </span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">"Yes," replied her sleepy mother. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">"I want to look special for Angela's graduation."<br /><br />Reesy’s mother looked at the clock and said, “Reesy, it’s only 6:30 in the morning."<br /><br />After the graduation, the family was invited to Angela's house for dinner. When Reesy and her mother arrived, Angela rushed over and gave Reesy a hug and said, "Reesy, I have something special for you. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">“Oh, no. Mommy said we have a special gift for you because you are the one who graduated."<span><a name='more'></a></span><br />"Oh, that’s okay," said Angela. “But here is something I just wanted you to have."<br /><br />Angela opened her hand and showed Reesy her graduation tassel. Reesy took it and gave Angela a hug and said, “Thank you, Angela, I love you."<br /><br />Angela said, “I love you, too, Reesy, and I want you to come and spend some weekends with me at the college.”<br /><br />“Really?”<br /><br />"Of course."<br /><br />When Reesy and her mother returned home, it was late, and Reesy was very tired. She showed her mother the tassel that Angela had given her. Reesy placed the tassel next to her bed before she went to sleep.<br /><br />It seemed like she had not been asleep very long when she heard the telephone ring. She could hear her mother talking, and then she heard her mother crying. She slipped out of her bed and went to her mother’s room. Her mother was crying softly. But when she saw Reesy, she began crying very loudly. Reesy asked, “What's the matter, Mommy?<br /><br />But her mother just grabbed her and held her in her arms and continued crying. Finally, her mother stopped crying long enough to tell Reesy what had happened.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Angela had attended a graduation party with some of her friends. When they were leaving, some boys in a car pulled up and fired a gun into the crowd. Two people were wounded, and Angela was killed. The boys in the car were mad at a boy whom they thought was in the crowd. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Reesy looked at her crying mother and said, “No, Mommy, there must be some mistake. Angela can’t be dead. She just graduated from high school with honors. She has never hurt anyone. Everyone loves her. She is going to college. Please, Mommy, tell me that there is a mistake."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Reesy’s mother looked at her and said, “No, baby, there is no mistake.”</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Marvin's Lump by Jennifer Weil </b></span></div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbBCOjnPb7jSzl_t7L-R7wSylUKo3ZOYuDpXPG2snZwUSLBoFQWvxjk8R_3jbC6NTVt7SMZg1xRd0vXfhoh_ngcKbScwK0OWfOE5zoCuvRZuXjdCjH54qPFNqKXYUWcHCWq4QunSofeA1ap1bacfF6QnbhwblFO1WfXojWulp17DKIoipIRGBPKxE4jg/s180/marvin_lump_150.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="180" data-original-width="160" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbBCOjnPb7jSzl_t7L-R7wSylUKo3ZOYuDpXPG2snZwUSLBoFQWvxjk8R_3jbC6NTVt7SMZg1xRd0vXfhoh_ngcKbScwK0OWfOE5zoCuvRZuXjdCjH54qPFNqKXYUWcHCWq4QunSofeA1ap1bacfF6QnbhwblFO1WfXojWulp17DKIoipIRGBPKxE4jg/w198-h218/marvin_lump_150.jpg" width="198" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Marvin's new hat sat quite tight on his head'<br />He wore it all day. He wore it to bed.</span><p></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It hid something fat and well-fed,</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">an uglible thing that filled him with dread.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Horribideously nasty, monsterifically bad</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">was a heavy gray lump Marvin hated but bad.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">He was glad he could cover it up with his cap,</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">but he hoped every night for a magical zap</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">and looked forward to waking the next morning lump-free.</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So far, though. . .</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">no magic. . .</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">(unfortunately).</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The lump was still there when he went up to bat;</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It gave him bad dreams of a pet fish or cat.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I probably give them the wrong kind of feed</span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">or give baths to the cat which, of course, cats don't need</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And a dog was impossible, Marvin could see. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A dog needs a buddy, not someone like me</span><br /></div></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>So, what is Marvin's lump? And what happens to Reesy? To learn more about each book, click on the title of each book, </i></span><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/product/reesy-a-little-girl-learning-lifes-lessons/" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;" target="_blank"><b><i>Reesy—A Little Girl Learning Life's Lessons</i> </b></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>by Annie Comor-Jacobs and</i> </span><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/marvins-lump/" rel="nofollow"><b>Marvin's Lump</b></a></i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> by <i>Jennifer Weil,</i> <i>to </i></span><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">go to the book's page on the MarketingNewAuthors.com's website. </i></div></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></div>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-85771049228525439732024-03-13T20:26:00.001-04:002024-03-13T20:26:57.899-04:00A MANA Moment Editorial: Celebrating National Reading Month!<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPE1A-JxiVfNidjwrlq0Lblapm-06v0fHIAQRzUT1omesTCN35w98XE96-UPugku2DXwDoOzQj-5PK1hWghfE1GY9XSul3bq996mas2ACDUPn_uK1HCnJDK5lQlKpO7HSqwfhdMyeSZdH0HPM_WSqyAT2avM7oxaznfqio_BVslIDjDC9UNZOJvu73H0U/s366/f593ba_c87672517177466d8014f7d62d501c55~mv2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPE1A-JxiVfNidjwrlq0Lblapm-06v0fHIAQRzUT1omesTCN35w98XE96-UPugku2DXwDoOzQj-5PK1hWghfE1GY9XSul3bq996mas2ACDUPn_uK1HCnJDK5lQlKpO7HSqwfhdMyeSZdH0HPM_WSqyAT2avM7oxaznfqio_BVslIDjDC9UNZOJvu73H0U/s320/f593ba_c87672517177466d8014f7d62d501c55~mv2-1.jpg" width="245" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Fondly, I recall how my mother opened the world to me by the reading of books. Before I even knew myself, it was she who would read to me just before I went to sleep. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And when I could read, she introduced sensitive subjects, for example, sex. I recall shock, and I ran back to where she was washing clothes and asked, "You and Daddy did that? Ughh!" </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">However, it was through our discussions about so many subjects presented in books that my mother and I developed a very special bond.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I managed to establish that same bond with my children, especially my daughter. My stepson would be with us every other weekend, but it was my daughter whom I read to her <i>The Cat in the Hat</i>, <i>Good Night, Moon</i>, and so many more works every night. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">And every Sunday morn, we would read a passage from the Bible, play chess, and share any concerns she may have had with me. This was when I had to "zip my lip" and listen to her point of view. And to this day, when she visits, we still read a Biblical passage and have that special mother-daughter chat (she has less concerns about me, now‚ whew!).</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.rif.org/nrm" target="_blank">National Reading Month</a> is a celebration of bonds established between loved ones who read, found joy, experienced warmth, and established deep-seated relationships that will never be broken.</span></p><div><br /></div>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-40983618335886279372024-03-12T21:52:00.007-04:002024-03-18T19:55:10.350-04:00MANA's National Reading Month Special: Excerpts From The Children's Book, "Charlie: The Dog Who Lived The Dream" by Charmaine Stangl
<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">In celebration of National Reading Month, MarketingNewAuthors.com (MANA) presents excerpts from the children's book, </span><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/charlie-the-dog-who-lived-the-dream/" target="_blank">Charlie, The Dog Who Lived The Dream</a></i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">, by Charmaine Stangl, which is available on MANA's website. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Listen to the audio below and follow along with MANA's Dr. Fairy-Hayes Scott as she does an interpretive reading of the first few pages of the book: </span></p><p><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="60" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/charlie-the-dog-who-lived-the-dream" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Once not long ago, there was a man named Jake. He had a dog named Charlie who was truly his best friend. That is, if a best friend is someone who listens carefully when you have something to say, does everything you love to do with great enthusiasm, and would rather simply be with you than anything else in the world. Certainly, Charlie fits this description precisely.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="60" iframe="" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4Sxw84qKKqZLI-eNaA2voILrXj3m-ZNQUOFsKn3yVQQHlYfRWOj3uzgLVs7r2_Lhyy-hiXc_duR8d7vQoWANU-3LqQzBPwPFDtOV6_nOEhjyVS1YL_JZowBk-X3_SGajQyfCVhc0_USzSxYc9h0t5v5vDTwov8Gb3f14gi8tqd8Y0YiBDOv8tB__Ysk/s346/Charlie%20cover.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="346" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw4Sxw84qKKqZLI-eNaA2voILrXj3m-ZNQUOFsKn3yVQQHlYfRWOj3uzgLVs7r2_Lhyy-hiXc_duR8d7vQoWANU-3LqQzBPwPFDtOV6_nOEhjyVS1YL_JZowBk-X3_SGajQyfCVhc0_USzSxYc9h0t5v5vDTwov8Gb3f14gi8tqd8Y0YiBDOv8tB__Ysk/s320/Charlie%20cover.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Charlie loved to take long walks in the woods with Jake. He loved to feel the wind cooling his face and ruffling his fur. He loved to smell the scent of other animals in the woods. He loved to sit by the fire and just enjoy the peace and quiet. But most of all, much more even than all these wonderful things, he loved the sound of Jake’s voice when he said “Good boy, Charlie,” and the feel of Jake’s hand on his shoulder.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Once in a while, Jake went away for what seemed to Charlie like a very long time. Charlie always knew, though, that when the light through the window began to fade and the cozy house became a little cooler, he would soon hear Jake coming in through the door and then he would hear his favorite words, “Good boy, Charlie!”</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">But one very sad day, it didn’t happen quite like this. Someone came in the door as the light was fading and the someone talked to Charlie… fixed his dinner… and even played ball with him. But it didn’t feel the same as being with Jake. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6IZujNQf8ND2Fd9teoT4kT3E9YrRhE_rE-EhXfuenbjBTuGx_DD14mppVC8Mj52DyF6t8T0lnUQm1OE5FSI5v6tMV673-YBYKsK72_r9Qp9xROS4mulSrOHy-jC2i681lvRIBD22PUuX0vevgwApEASheZE0mYUGjrfed9rMUTUNTan_-DrxvNTN__A/s533/CHARLIE_PAGE%205.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="533" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6IZujNQf8ND2Fd9teoT4kT3E9YrRhE_rE-EhXfuenbjBTuGx_DD14mppVC8Mj52DyF6t8T0lnUQm1OE5FSI5v6tMV673-YBYKsK72_r9Qp9xROS4mulSrOHy-jC2i681lvRIBD22PUuX0vevgwApEASheZE0mYUGjrfed9rMUTUNTan_-DrxvNTN__A/s320/CHARLIE_PAGE%205.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The next day and the next were the same.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Charlie was happy to see the boy come in the door each evening. But as the next day neared its end, Charlie became worried about Jake. “What if Jake needs help,” Charlie thought. “What if he is lost?”</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He ran for a long time. Then, he walked for a long time. Sometimes, he thought he smelled Jake’s scent and that kept him going, even when he got very tired and very hungry. He found himself on a busy sidewalk with people hurrying by him. No one noticed the man sitting on the sidewalk except Charlie.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“Here boy,” said the man, “you look like you could use a bite or two.” </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">He has a kind voice,” thought Charlie, “and the food smells great.”</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The man gave Charlie a few bites of his sandwich. Charlie settled down beside him against the wall, enjoying the heat from the bricks warmed by the day’s sun.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuskLxQ2C0PuCjwuwEcK7Wer10Os0zm0xoZ272QlepapjCm99bRSEZIM5tY2PZW0oW8zDRSNpP8iXSKCCfBBRG10lppd-psqaYRTzDjxM330oDJyaNZ5Gvziydq5Ez_Mv_vYDD-NSLUlc5BhT8ZoOTM2q2K57Ioyx18vfGyUYETvXyz4bzEZfRoFVSR8/s520/CHARLIE_PAGE%208.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="515" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyuskLxQ2C0PuCjwuwEcK7Wer10Os0zm0xoZ272QlepapjCm99bRSEZIM5tY2PZW0oW8zDRSNpP8iXSKCCfBBRG10lppd-psqaYRTzDjxM330oDJyaNZ5Gvziydq5Ez_Mv_vYDD-NSLUlc5BhT8ZoOTM2q2K57Ioyx18vfGyUYETvXyz4bzEZfRoFVSR8/s320/CHARLIE_PAGE%208.jpeg" width="317" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">Some people began to pause and say a few friendly words to Charlie and the man. The friendly words made Charlie feel less lonely and seemed to make the man feel better too.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Charlie felt so much better. In fact, he soon fell asleep and dreamed of Jake. When Charlie slept, even in that little bit of time, just as he was drifting into sleep, he could see and hear Jake as clearly as if his friend were right there with him.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Charlie saw many wonderful pictures in his dreams and felt many happy feelings. He saw himself walking on his favorite path in the woods with Jake. He felt the wind cooling his face and ruffling his fur. He saw himself lying by the fire watching Jake read.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">But by far, the best thing that happened every night in his dream was the moment when Jake patted his shoulder and said, “Good boy, Charlie.”</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">To learn more about </span><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/charlie-the-dog-who-lived-the-dream/" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Charlie,The Dog Who Lived The Dream</a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> (such as what happened to Jake) go </span><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/charlie-the-dog-who-lived-the-dream/" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">HERE</a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> to MANA's website.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-19616313811790421972024-03-10T23:19:00.051-04:002024-03-13T19:53:48.834-04:00National Reading Month Special: Excerpts From The Children's Book, "Lamar Montgomery and The Freaky Faces Club" by Barbara Gene
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">To celebrate National Reading Month, MarketingNewAuthors.com (MANA) presents excerpts from the children's book, <i><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/product/lamar-montgomery-and-the-freaky-faces-club/" target="_blank">Lamar Montgomery and The Freaky Faces Club</a></i> by Barbara Gene, which is available on MANA's website. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Listen to the audio below and follow along with MANA's Dr. Fairy-Hayes Scott as she does an interpretive reading of the first few pages of the book: </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="60" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/lamar-montgomery-and-the-freaky-faces-club_202403" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKR-wx-KpyHcoC3kpIbW1ULwjhwCTpiO7K22x1-FVaDewmjkt-Sm-i4RgDVEuZCzSpGY9HYr-RCem51rH_vS6oelhzfH_MgfRyY_UOC59PbuRBpT6raddadm5v2Q1MPoUGKi1iqf4mon4-2O0AeGJG9fSQH8bmtuRGL652vzOSK0PxY_ch_Hs1lL4r8ys/s1120/Lamar.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1120" data-original-width="888" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKR-wx-KpyHcoC3kpIbW1ULwjhwCTpiO7K22x1-FVaDewmjkt-Sm-i4RgDVEuZCzSpGY9HYr-RCem51rH_vS6oelhzfH_MgfRyY_UOC59PbuRBpT6raddadm5v2Q1MPoUGKi1iqf4mon4-2O0AeGJG9fSQH8bmtuRGL652vzOSK0PxY_ch_Hs1lL4r8ys/s320/Lamar.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Lamar Montgomery felt very sure of himself as he stood in front of the huge mirror inside Ms. Minerva’s elementary school gymnasium. Standing with his hands on his hips, he smiled at his own reflection. “Well,” he said to himself, like Mama says, “Lamar Montgomery, you are not only smart but good-looking, too. Mama’s pride and joy,” </span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Lamar was six years old, but he already stood a full 5 feet, 1 inches tall, and he was the proud inventor and President of The Freaky Faces Club.<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> <br /> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Lamar giggled as he practiced his moves in the mirror for today’s meeting. He wiggled his nose, flapped his ears, and puffed out his cheeks. Slowly releasing the air from his cheeks in small bursts, it sounded just like kernels of corn popping. He was loosening his lip muscles by furiously pouting them in and out when he noticed the reflections of the other club members filing into the gym behind him. <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Quickly, he stopped his exercises and, playing it cool, turned toward the other kids. “Hey guys, how’s it going? Okey dokey, let’s get this show on the road. The Wednesday afternoon meeting of The Freaky Faces Club is now called to order.” </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Sounding very grown up, he continued. “When I call your name please step up to the mirror and make the freakiest face that you can. Jonathan O’Toole? Are you present?” Jonathan jumped up off the floor where he had been sitting cross-legged. “Yep, I’m here,” he yelped, at the same time tugging at the shoulder strap of his blue jean overalls. He just could not keep those straps fastened. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdCxuFM-vmBbZGCW3RBSp6N6PfeywWX6NgFsh0RNBZdGmJV8K-23_Opyc2iDWTGXufX7dJhN2YN17lne3obevxjz0bfq_NhzAxlZE3ERT7h3r6zThGvy8Ri9IDi7iBefetmlLdsdcxfKQg_Grm7q1OJdOITeUQmUthnxAiuGBLcuwff1rtmwO5FksOHA/s844/Lamar2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="844" data-original-width="604" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKdCxuFM-vmBbZGCW3RBSp6N6PfeywWX6NgFsh0RNBZdGmJV8K-23_Opyc2iDWTGXufX7dJhN2YN17lne3obevxjz0bfq_NhzAxlZE3ERT7h3r6zThGvy8Ri9IDi7iBefetmlLdsdcxfKQg_Grm7q1OJdOITeUQmUthnxAiuGBLcuwff1rtmwO5FksOHA/s320/Lamar2.jpg" width="229" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Looking directly into the mirror, Jonathan stuck out his pink tongue and curled it up, over his lips until it stretched out all the way and touched two green freckles on the tip of his little pug nose. He resembled an anteater about to chow down on a couple of green ants.<br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">“That was really super, Jonathan. I didn’t know that a tongue could stretch that far,” </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Lamar continued. </span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">“José Arroyo? You’re next.” José, a little clumsy to begin with, was having a problem getting off the floor. He tried to push his chunky little body up with his hands but only managed to pull himself back down because he was standing on top of his own untied shoelaces. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">José always wore his favorite shocking neon-orange, high-top, basketball sneakers, and the laces were constantly untied. Jonathan, Julie Chen, and Lamar giggled and shyly glanced toward the floor pretending not to notice. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Finally, José wrestled himself away from the grip of his laces and made it to the center of the mirror. “Darn hair,” he mumbled as he looked into the mirror. Then, he spit into the palm of his hand and tried to slick down the stray hairs that always stood up from the crown of his head. “Sí, aquí,” he continued. “I am definitely here,” and, with a great deal of flair, he neatly folded the outside part of his ears into the inside of his ears. “Pretty good, huh? Bet you can’t do that!”</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">To learn more about <i>Lamar Montgomery and The Freaky Faces Club</i> by Barbara Gene, go <a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/product/lamar-montgomery-and-the-freaky-faces-club/" target="_blank">HERE </a>to MANA's website.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/lamar-montgomery-and-the-freaky-faces-club_202403" width="500" height="60" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" allowfullscreen></iframe></span></div><div><br /></div></div></div>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-68743561012009007382024-03-07T21:51:00.008-05:002024-03-13T19:54:57.367-04:00How to Propel Your Creativity Into the Spotlight<p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">BY CHRISTOPHER HAYMON<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">of ADULTING DIGEST<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">GUEST WRITER</span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycxK0okNnamq1-BXx6Ux-hHoSJUdpS-SwMZ5gJV0oCscvoxsiTo3H-MlnrEdTsVks6Z3bC_wbzTPDYSIusPCYL2HqObsiw0QJ5QNj7quKFEYBpDEAHlzzXRzk5y3nCTTbT12b1lyB3RVrO28shQHuVWxdoWPzaNEwcrCoVyVIjUDalND9lh-NAq6cXZ8/s5616/successful-attractive-young-afro-american-businesswoman-stylish-shirt-sitting-her-workplace-front-open-portable-computer-making-notes-her-diary-having-thoughtful-facial-expression.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3744" data-original-width="5616" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiycxK0okNnamq1-BXx6Ux-hHoSJUdpS-SwMZ5gJV0oCscvoxsiTo3H-MlnrEdTsVks6Z3bC_wbzTPDYSIusPCYL2HqObsiw0QJ5QNj7quKFEYBpDEAHlzzXRzk5y3nCTTbT12b1lyB3RVrO28shQHuVWxdoWPzaNEwcrCoVyVIjUDalND9lh-NAq6cXZ8/w373-h202/successful-attractive-young-afro-american-businesswoman-stylish-shirt-sitting-her-workplace-front-open-portable-computer-making-notes-her-diary-having-thoughtful-facial-expression.jpg" width="373" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/successful-attractive-young-afro-american-businesswoman-stylish-shirt-sitting-her-workplace-front-open-portable-computer-making-notes-her-diary-having-thoughtful-facial-expression_11035102.htm#fromView=search&page=2&position=14&uuid=81992321-fcc4-4b24-a9ee-3e02d5aae169" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Image by karlyukav on Freepik</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In an era where creativity flourishes in every digital nook, standing out as a creator is a formidable challenge and a profound art form. This journey transcends mere talent; it's about strategically presenting that talent to the world to make sure it not only emerges from the shadows but also captures the spotlight it so rightfully deserves. </span><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The quest for recognition is nuanced, requiring not just fervor but a meticulously crafted strategy to prevent your work from fading into obscurity. This article delves into the myriad strategies that authors and other creators can employ to illuminate their work so it receives the acclaim and admiration it warrants.</span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Crafting a Captivating Portfolio</b><br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For creators, the foundation of recognition lies in a carefully curated portfolio. This portfolio serves as a visual narrative, a collection that highlights the zenith of your work and<a href="https://www.blurb.com/blog/how-to-create-a-writing-portfolio/" target="_blank"> traces the evolution and breadth </a>of your creative journey. A portfolio, especially for authors, is more than a compilation of works; it invites viewers to delve into your unique artistic realm. It must be impactful, resonating with the audience and leaving an indelible mark.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Nurturing Financial Partnerships</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The realization of visionary projects often depends on acquiring essential funding. This step extends beyond merely attracting investors; it involves cultivating partnerships with entities that align with and support your creative philosophy. These partnerships are vital, providing <a href="https://blog.hubspot.com/the-hustle/find-investors" target="_blank">the resources necessary to elevate projects </a>from mere concepts to tangible creations. It’s about finding a synergy with backers who can transform stagnation into dynamic growth.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Enhancing Entrepreneurial Expertise</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Building your brand requires a blend of creative flair and entrepreneurial insight, and exploring the idea of <a href="https://www.phoenix.edu/online-business-degrees.html" target="_blank">earning a business degree online </a>is a strategic step.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Such an academic foundation equips you with essential skills in marketing, financial planning, project management, and much more.</span></p><div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">By gaining business knowledge, you can navigate the industry's complexities, effectively promote your work, and accelerate your professional trajectory. And online programs make it possible to manage your other life commitments along the way.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Establishing a Digital Footprint</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In the digital age, a strong online presence is essential. A professional website not only showcases your portfolio but also serves as a magnet, attracting potential clients, collaborators, and followers. It's the epicenter of a creator's identity, a <a href="https://yourwriterplatform.com/build-your-author-platform/">space where your brand comes alive</a><a href="https://yourwriterplatform.com/build-your-author-platform/"> </a>and interacts with a global audience. This digital domain is crucial for establishing credibility and carving out a niche in the expansive digital landscape.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Maximizing Exposure Through Exhibitions</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Visibility is paramount in the creative domain, and exhibitions in public spaces, galleries, and other venues provide a prime avenue for achieving this. These events are not just showcases but also opportunities for </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.magazine.artconnect.com/resources/organize-your-own-exhibition" target="_blank">direct interaction with audiences</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://www.magazine.artconnect.com/resources/organize-your-own-exhibition" target="_blank"> </a>and networking with peers. Every exhibition is a chance to broaden your reach, solicit feedback, and forge a reputation in the competitive realm of art.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Fostering Creative Collaborations</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Innovation thrives on collaboration. Partnering with other artists and creators opens the door to new ideas, mediums, and audiences. Such collaborations can lead to avant-garde projects defying conventions and captivating broader demographics. They are </span><a href="https://www.markup.io/blog/creative-collaboration/" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">a testament to the strength of collective creativity</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">, illustrating the extraordinary results that can arise from unified visions and varied talents.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Connecting with the Community</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Participation in local art scenes and festivals is about more than just visibility; it's about embedding your work within a community that values and supports it. These platforms offer a distinctive opportunity to present your work to an attentive audience and become part of </span><a href="https://artsmidwest.org/resources/ideas/three-ways-to-strengthen-your-communitys-creative-identity/" style="font-family: verdana;" target="_blank">a network of like-minded individuals</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">. They lay the groundwork for cultivating a devoted following and solidifying your standing in the cultural milieu.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Navigating the route to creative prominence is a complex journey that demands a mix of talent, strategic planning, and perseverance. By assembling an engaging portfolio, establishing fruitful financial partnerships, and connecting with the community, creators can ensure your work shines brightly and resonates globally. It's a transformative process, elevating creative visions from obscurity to widespread celebration.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">MarketingNewAuthors.com (MANA) is here to support authors. If you have any questions, feel free to respond to this post by leaving your comments below. If you are interested in self-publishing your manuscript or want more information about the self-publishing process, contact MANA at info@marketingnewauthors.com.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p></div>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-38741508028856530402024-03-04T23:11:00.010-05:002024-03-13T20:45:47.257-04:00Join MANA in Celebrating March Is National Reading Month<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMi9tqUKbgwU_DulzNkyLlhzbNhm2XMM-3ydL4XI26zA16MZf1qUbkgBA5FAvv0ItXAxYWYdmr-mmnwvnPOk09MMnl0VEatpMaaF8CeOmMUTL-gBO4Nu5r_OQK3glXLtwadJuMBAWsoiuuJ19YHnI7Ps2jicFZs1WyTi7Q0PPh5YwZAwaq_ahXEYfE_W8/s640/man-7744408_640.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="640" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMi9tqUKbgwU_DulzNkyLlhzbNhm2XMM-3ydL4XI26zA16MZf1qUbkgBA5FAvv0ItXAxYWYdmr-mmnwvnPOk09MMnl0VEatpMaaF8CeOmMUTL-gBO4Nu5r_OQK3glXLtwadJuMBAWsoiuuJ19YHnI7Ps2jicFZs1WyTi7Q0PPh5YwZAwaq_ahXEYfE_W8/s320/man-7744408_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It's March and that means it’s <a href="https://www.rif.org/nrm" target="_blank">National Reading Month</a>. This annual event celebrates the power and importance of reading for people of all ages. Reading is fundamental to learning and communication. By promoting reading, especially among children, literacy rates can improve, leading to better academic performance and opportunities in life</span>.</p><p></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><p style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">March was designated as National Reading Month to honor the March 2 birthday of Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as <a href="https://www.seussville.com/educators/dr-seuss-birthday/" target="_blank">Dr. Seuss,</a> one of the most popular children’s authors of all time. The monthly observance encourages people to read every day and participate in fun, literary-related activities.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Many schools use National Reading Month as an opportunity to reinforce their literacy curriculum and encourage students to explore a variety of genres and topics through reading assignments, book discussions, and related activities. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Since reading can bring people together, communities often organize events, such as book clubs, author talks, and read-aloud sessions during March, to create a sense of camaraderie and shared enthusiasm for literature.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Here are 5 suggestions for celebrating National Reading Month:</span></div><div><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span><a name='more'></a></span><span></span><br /><b>1. <a href="https://silentbook.club/blogs/blog/how-to-organize-and-host-a-book-club" target="_blank">Host a book club.</a> </b>Bring your friends, family, or coworkers together and start a book club focused on a specific genre, author, or theme. Choose a book to read together and schedule regular meetings throughout the month to discuss the book and share insights. If it goes well, you may want to continue to meet every month.<br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>2. <a href="https://www.thecuriousreader.in/features/creating-your-own-reading-challenge/" target="_blank">Create a reading challenge</a>.</b> Challenge yourself or others to read a certain number of books throughout the month. You can set specific goals, such as reading a new book from a different genre each week or </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">reading books that you started a long time ago but never finished reading.</span></p></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>3. <a href="https://www.wtap.com/2024/03/07/libraries-highlight-reading-activities-during-national-reading-month/" target="_blank">Visit your local library or bookstore</a></b>. Libraries are scheduling a variety of events, such as author talks, book signings, or reading workshops. While there, take time to walk down the aisle to look at books on the shelves or borrow e-books or audiobooks, to expand your reading options.<br /><br /><b>4. Share your love of reading.</b> Consider donating books to libraries, schools, or community organizations to support literacy initiatives and provide access to reading materials for those in need.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>5. Read your books away from your home.</b> Head to a park, cafe, or scenic spot to experience a relaxing reading session. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Overall, <a href="https://www.rif.org/nrm" target="_blank">National Reading Month </a>is a crucial reminder that reading is not just a foundation for learning but also a source of enjoyment, personal growth, and connection with the world around us.<br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrYE2ioYrnwY8EIlFI-M8nqYlxg4T0a6JSEqsfotJDlMYPMBvVRSCDNZKkx8SXdY-sc4KGZO_aCKfu6q4-B2B68AD3SG0xWm_CKWnunT5PndEAUXoW8ww3-rF0sJZYnFPDCW828dUDtwzxpLqZMAefAa5nB-JaKF4_P1c3AY9RkTcMRGrg6sKR9QzaSY/s491/MANA-Logo7.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="184" data-original-width="491" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrYE2ioYrnwY8EIlFI-M8nqYlxg4T0a6JSEqsfotJDlMYPMBvVRSCDNZKkx8SXdY-sc4KGZO_aCKfu6q4-B2B68AD3SG0xWm_CKWnunT5PndEAUXoW8ww3-rF0sJZYnFPDCW828dUDtwzxpLqZMAefAa5nB-JaKF4_P1c3AY9RkTcMRGrg6sKR9QzaSY/s320/MANA-Logo7.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span>If you’re looking for new books to read, check out this blog, the <i>MANA Sunriser</i>, to listen to excerpts of the children's books, <i><a href="https://manasunriser.blogspot.com/2024/03/blog-post.html" target="_blank">Lamar Montgomery and The Freaky Faces Club</a></i> by Barbara Gene and <a href="https://manasunriser.blogspot.com/2024/03/manas-national-reading-month-special.html" target="_blank"><i>Charlie: The Dog Who Lived The Dream </i></a>by Charmaine Stangl.</span> </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Also, go <a href="http://MarketingNewAuthors.com" target="_blank">HERE</a> to visit MANA’s website where you can discover a variety of books to read<span style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;">.</span></span><p></p></div></div></span></div>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-16127819285067573192024-02-26T17:08:00.043-05:002024-03-13T20:26:03.552-04:00Looking For New Books To Read? MANA's Authors Can Help!<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); font-kerning: none;">If you're looking for new books to read during National Reading Month, look no further than the ones from authors at MarketingNewAuthors.com. MANA's authors have created a variety of works, ranging from memoirs to poetry collections. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(16, 16, 16); font-kerning: none;">Go <a href="https://replay.dropbox.com/share/NLaAVVgrUaDvgFdJ" target="_blank"><b>HERE </b></a>to listen to interpretive readings of some works by MANA's Owner, Dr. Fairy Hayes-Scott, and read the excerpts below. For more information about the book, click on the book's title. The books are located on MANA's website. </span></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/2024/01/09/beige-girl/" target="_blank"><br /></a></b></span></p><p class="p3" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/2024/01/09/beige-girl/" target="_blank">Excerpts from Chapter Four —"Boundaries of Love" from </a><i>Beige Girl</i> by Jada Gallery</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcu_2en0rqPikmKUDbMcbK5JSV5InsYFrJau3UWJoHN9atMR60c9Vz0JfcRx-0Tf6w8nm4hydNqrwMB10xdieZFXCRhMCmObe_AooNlTqGc6msulx4oii8jjx1XdwlKchakc-ExesDicMT2p8-hYPlCh2rgvLq9g8nCFmMXsUND_QN_NV8tDlzUoBMZs/s966/Beige%20Girl%20BLog.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="784" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTcu_2en0rqPikmKUDbMcbK5JSV5InsYFrJau3UWJoHN9atMR60c9Vz0JfcRx-0Tf6w8nm4hydNqrwMB10xdieZFXCRhMCmObe_AooNlTqGc6msulx4oii8jjx1XdwlKchakc-ExesDicMT2p8-hYPlCh2rgvLq9g8nCFmMXsUND_QN_NV8tDlzUoBMZs/s320/Beige%20Girl%20BLog.jpg" width="260" /></a></div>During the early 90’s, Black women would get a lot of criticism for dating white men. Some Black people would shame Black women by telling them they thought they were too good to date a Black man, so they would rather be with a white man. These types of comments caused my mother not even to think about being attracted to a white man.</span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">My mother didn’t grow up with having a father in her life. Then, she didn’t have the best experiences when dating, so she didn’t fall easily for the corny lines men would throw at her. My father continued to show her a different type of affection that would later help a friendship blossom. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">After she had developed a friendship with him, she began to develop a deeper love for him. Her sisters, mother, niece, and nephew met him. They treated him like family. She was forced to hear discouraging surprising looks when they were out on dates, comments when they were out in public, or they would receive surprising looks when they were out on dates. She even received some negative comments from some of her other family members. My mother and father continued to get to know one another. My mother grew closer with my father’s son, and, eventually, my parents would move into a home together. . .<span></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My parents have struggled together, gone back to college together, advanced in their careers together, raised their children together, and sacrificed a lot together. They have been married 27 years and enjoy traveling together. I remember the looks they would get when we would take vacations out of state. . .</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Their marriage has taught me what true love is and that it's not easy. They didn't have it easy. There was some work to be put in. Relationships aren't always going to be easy but, if a person really loves someone, that individual will jump through hoops for whom the individual loves.</span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My parents ignored the racial comments, the dirty looks, the hardships, and made their relationship work. A lot of people in my mother's and father's family who had certain opinions about their relationship, no longer question their love for one another. They've learned to accept their marriage. After all, my parents probably wouldn't care what anyone thought. They only have cared about what the Lord thought and lived by His word.</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p7" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: verdana; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;"><b>"Anaya" from <i><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/product/a-soldiers-poetic-response-a-slice-of-his-life/" target="_blank">A Soldier’s Poetic Response: A Slice of His Life</a></i></b></span></p><p class="p7" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: verdana; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;"><b>By Adrian D. Massey, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired)</b></span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYIs0oNU2Zb7Fq0tYauZ64PCJs_ffUEgOB7eDgqfMYIyVBIuci13eyrZSTcpmK_rmZcdEmGZ1jPGjE2EUS58c0x8TmstMnQ0J36Jt0xj-2eCVTfQ7UnwKn-rNTdm2RRg2cXeZoANU6h2r_4DuLYIZ8h2v9La73AzP8-gGrWW_oVfz27r_FipWjd9fSGQ/s113/a-soldiers-poetic_75.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="113" data-original-width="75" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYIs0oNU2Zb7Fq0tYauZ64PCJs_ffUEgOB7eDgqfMYIyVBIuci13eyrZSTcpmK_rmZcdEmGZ1jPGjE2EUS58c0x8TmstMnQ0J36Jt0xj-2eCVTfQ7UnwKn-rNTdm2RRg2cXeZoANU6h2r_4DuLYIZ8h2v9La73AzP8-gGrWW_oVfz27r_FipWjd9fSGQ/w164-h260/a-soldiers-poetic_75.jpg" width="164" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I didn’t cry when I cut your umbilical,</span><p></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">but today, in this dust and heat, I cried for the first time</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Because you are not here</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">with me, but you have taught me something.</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Every day I still enjoy your growth, </span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">your discoveries, the first time you</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">recognized your own voice, the first time you </span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">laughed. Watching you</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">in my memories brings me</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">to consciousness</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">and the essence of my own</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">life.</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>"I Love You" from <i><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/2024/01/31/touchings-of-the-heart-legacy-of-a-lady/" target="_blank">Touchings of the Heart: Legacy of a Lady </a></i></b></span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>by Linda Diana Franshun Callahan</b></span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4EHgAN3bNu3e44GznqlbKlxVS9nu22TPXZTXSfVErkPZgjvXeX0fAO3i6V1Ri5CGlcQZPzUGdEt2uhEhX3zoLRHrUDRaMu9rAqwNBU7S_qAHrm-yv8oCWdIiJRJ_Qb-_0sZdiJdAsyxE-Se382E-BjWdKNqflnagTathUs8Cu9gdC6l-c4S6bznH7fk/s200/Touchings.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="177" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn4EHgAN3bNu3e44GznqlbKlxVS9nu22TPXZTXSfVErkPZgjvXeX0fAO3i6V1Ri5CGlcQZPzUGdEt2uhEhX3zoLRHrUDRaMu9rAqwNBU7S_qAHrm-yv8oCWdIiJRJ_Qb-_0sZdiJdAsyxE-Se382E-BjWdKNqflnagTathUs8Cu9gdC6l-c4S6bznH7fk/w177-h242/Touchings.jpg" width="177" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I love you my darling, my love for you is so great that </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I can freeze fire to frozen flames and melt it to liquid heat.</span><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My love for you is so tremendous that I can push the clouds</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">back</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I can crush the stars and squeeze out the moon I love you beyond measure.</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I need you like day needs light, like night needs darkness.</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I need you like</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Snow needs frost, like fire needs heat. I need you like water</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">needs wetness.</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I want you like plants want sunshine, like all people want</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">happiness.</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I’ll love you until the sun forgets to shine, until the birds</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">forget how to fly,</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I’ll love you until the devil sprouts wings and becomes an</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">angel.</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This my darling</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Will never be…so I will love you forever...</span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><div><br /><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">"Liquid Love" from <i><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/2014/02/11/simply-a-collection-of-poetry/" target="_blank">Simply: A Collection of Poetry</a></i><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">by Jessyca Mathews</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXRnbMBrDFtei51g7LHU3JlHgxiak-qf6Qmly_OAgx0YmMcTsLMHROLsDoM2pJ9Z4EEAugHdU1Mj9i_dDc5Ymp1OGBg0RWmI1o9O_aR2ZX9n3-jy2WrM4uJd-XXuBjhBMLzvFXUI_60ZGLj2IrFpigV8FpLp1XQ3r7Ygeash0gYJsp0D-MmSHvpgRJuk/s675/Simply_revised_2013_version_3.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigXRnbMBrDFtei51g7LHU3JlHgxiak-qf6Qmly_OAgx0YmMcTsLMHROLsDoM2pJ9Z4EEAugHdU1Mj9i_dDc5Ymp1OGBg0RWmI1o9O_aR2ZX9n3-jy2WrM4uJd-XXuBjhBMLzvFXUI_60ZGLj2IrFpigV8FpLp1XQ3r7Ygeash0gYJsp0D-MmSHvpgRJuk/s320/Simply_revised_2013_version_3.jpg" width="213" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You are so sweet on my tongue.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The taste of strawberries, of warming alcohol</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">improve my day.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">The tingle of the ice crystals</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">makes my back teeth ache,</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">but I continue to enjoy you</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">as you slide my throat.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Maybe I am having too much of you,</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">but I can’t stop sipping you,</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">then guzzling you,</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">until I am dizzy with delight.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">I might need help,</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">because I enjoy you each night.</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Am I addicted?</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">No</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">You’re too good to put down.</span><b style="color: #141414;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></span><p></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p8" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(16, 16, 16);"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Excerpts from the chapter, "Making Mothers" from <i><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/2024/01/10/precious-struggles/" target="_blank">Precious Struggles: The Making of a 21st Century Woman</a></i></span></b></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(16, 16, 16);"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">by Jeanette Toomer </span></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 18px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(16, 16, 16);"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></b></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwpiHw7RY5AoVTLFxcC3Y_8J1OKMtWX6iW6yNtPsfANbpiM3C6OAbrwpJ_hT9Zu6R5T0vv4JO9y8uS99ypgz8h13SxK6Mjggnc-8JSJQJScNwXAwKA7w9gLka-Azc8Y_AGd9qBR7H9g1SwDKy3gr9wycI4aLYokQ7UeBFQJc-dX27jH3gwdndi8D9H_w/s596/PreciousStruggles-F-Cvr.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGwpiHw7RY5AoVTLFxcC3Y_8J1OKMtWX6iW6yNtPsfANbpiM3C6OAbrwpJ_hT9Zu6R5T0vv4JO9y8uS99ypgz8h13SxK6Mjggnc-8JSJQJScNwXAwKA7w9gLka-Azc8Y_AGd9qBR7H9g1SwDKy3gr9wycI4aLYokQ7UeBFQJc-dX27jH3gwdndi8D9H_w/s320/PreciousStruggles-F-Cvr.jpg" width="215" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I wondered how I missed that important detail after knowing my friend, a grandmother, for over ten years. The conversation reminded me of my maternal grandmother’s upbringing. One winter, I tried to complete the family tree in Nia’s baby book. I didn’t have several names on my grandmother’s side. I visited her at a senior citizen’s home to fill in the blanks. She gave me her parents’ names, offered me a slice of homemade two-layer butter cake, and then changed the subject.</span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Years after Granny died, I sat at my mother’s bedside in a nursing home. She told me about Granny’s youth. Granny was abandoned by her mother. Her father enlisted the help of a Maryland judge and his wife to care for his young daughter while he worked as a train porter. He visited her as often as his schedule allowed. At the judge’s home, she learned how to cook, and, like many Black women of the 1930s, she later worked as a domestic cook. <br /><br />At that time, Black women weren’t designated as chefs; however, whenever Granny cooked, we were in for a treat. Her six grandchildren never left a crumb in a pot or on a plate. Granny was a looker: tall, thin, and well-dressed. She married twice. From what I recalled she had an air of confidence and self-possession. Determined to have children, she survived five miscarriages before birthing six children. Her happiness turned upside down when her second husband decided that he didn’t want her anymore. Mr. Miller found a new love, Mattie, whom he suddenly moved into their middle-class home in suburban Maryland.<br /><br />“You can’t just bring this woman in here!” Granny cried.<br /><br />“She’s staying,” replied Miller.<br /><br />“You lying cheat.” <br /><br />“Like it or not Mattie is here…You can go… if you want” said Miller coldly.<br /><br />“Yes, I will…you’re not worth another minute.” Turning to her children, Granny asked, “Who is coming with me?”<br /><br />Decades before divorce laws and child support, Granny chose to leave. She asked her children to come with her. Uncle John, the oldest sibling who shared the same father as my mother, had already left home. Ruth, Frank, Ernie, and Bobby stayed with their father and Miss Mattie. Only my mother, a preteen, left with Granny. I wondered how they managed. Mom shared this much with me but never talked about it again. <br /><br />Granny never forgot this deep hurt of abandonment. On a weekend visit from college, I visited her in her senior apartment building, a short walk from Mom’s home. I asked her what it was like to leave her husband and children to start life on her own. Without saying a word, she stared into the distance, unable to speak. As if snapped back to reality, she offered me something to eat. Conversation over.<br /><br />Granny shared with my mother different circumstances but similar outcomes. They both dared to demand respect in the relationships with their husbands and, when that failed, they left. By that point, for my Mom there were several children to raise. For Granny, a motherless child herself, she had to struggle alone as a single parent with one child, my mother.<br /><br />After a few years, my grandmother followed Mom to Philadelphia. Whenever Mom needed a cup of sugar or a few dollars to get by, she would send us to Granny’s apartment to fetch it. Throughout our young lives, Granny remained steadfast and nearby always ready to help.<br /><br />My grandmother died while my children were still young. They were just babies when I visited Mom and Granny in Philly. Unfortunately, due to the demands of raising small children, I was not able to attend her funeral for Mom’s gravesite before she died and placed it next to hers. This loving bond between mother and daughter survived their death.</span></div></div>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-45072497505526600452024-02-25T16:09:00.003-05:002024-03-07T20:50:50.840-05:00The Profitable Pen: Navigating Your Writing Career to Financial Success<b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">BY CHRISTOPHER HAYMON</span></b><div><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">of ADULTING DIGEST<br />GUEST WRITER</span></b><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgq0m_rlUYAm5y_hmf0DbYJ6J550OjocSVNhwaUED7UU_FgOBDyQpnNuiF9kATxsH-7oJNAxoftcMwfQqHtbVAA17Y7gbc1GVZ4zu-2zHD4XZ3vcf71M3_zTD26FM4i9wzNOQcu6eF1XKYeMRHF0gcsF38vZcvzQzyth5mFFhadEazbYqQttvei_sO2ms/s626/image1.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="626" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgq0m_rlUYAm5y_hmf0DbYJ6J550OjocSVNhwaUED7UU_FgOBDyQpnNuiF9kATxsH-7oJNAxoftcMwfQqHtbVAA17Y7gbc1GVZ4zu-2zHD4XZ3vcf71M3_zTD26FM4i9wzNOQcu6eF1XKYeMRHF0gcsF38vZcvzQzyth5mFFhadEazbYqQttvei_sO2ms/s320/image1.png" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Turning your writing passion into a profitable enterprise is both exhilarating and demanding. Hopefully, this post will provide some practical tips to help you blend your creative fervor with commercial success, equipping you with the necessary tools to flourish in the competitive world of professional writing. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Embracing the Slow and Steady Approach</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The quality of a writer's work is paramount. So, start with <a href="https://www.writersandartists.co.uk/advice/starting-small" target="_blank">small, deliberate steps</a>. This gradual approach allows you to adjust to the business world while preserving the essence of your writing. By doing so, you maintain the integrity and quality that define your craft. </span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Tailoring an Effective Marketing Strategy</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Develop a marketing plan that resonates with your unique writing style. Understanding your target audience is key. <a href="https://www.awebco.com/blog/why-website-content-is-important/" target="_blank">Create engaging content</a> on platforms like blogs, social media, and newsletters to connect with your readers. A targeted marketing strategy not only showcases your work but also builds a loyal readership.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Creating a Brochure </span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Using a brochure to market your writing business offers several benefits. For starters, <a href="https://www.adobe.com/express/create/brochure" target="_blank">you can use a brochure </a>to showcase your business in detail, allowing potential clients to easily grasp the scope of your expertise. Brochures can be distributed at networking events, and conferences, or mailed directly to target audiences, increasing your outreach. Also, by using free online tools, brochures can be easily customized to suit specific needs and trends, ensuring your marketing materials stay relevant and impactful. <span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Establishing a Strong Online Footprint </span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A strong online presence is crucial in today's digital world. Jericho Writers suggests <a href="https://jerichowriters.com/do-professional-writers-need-a-website/" target="_blank">creating a professional website</a> that showcases your portfolio and achievements. Utilize social media platforms to interact with readers, fellow authors, and potential clients. An effective online presence can significantly enhance your visibility and attract new opportunities. </span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Assessing Financial Needs and Opportunities</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Financial planning is a critical aspect of turning your writing into a business. <a href="https://aicontentfy.com/en/blog/how-to-manage-finances-as-freelance-writer" target="_blank">Evaluate your financial requirements</a> for publishing, marketing, or maintaining a freelance career. Look into various funding sources like grants, crowdfunding, or self-publishing platforms. A clear understanding of your financial needs ensures a sustainable writing business. </span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Keeping Passion as Your Compass</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Your passion for writing is an invaluable asset, serving as a steady beacon through the fluctuating tides of the business world. <a href="https://medium.com/new-writers-welcome/its-okay-to-start-again-rekindling-my-passion-for-writing-f95e5bea8a61" target="_blank">Keeping this passion vibrant </a>is essential, as it energizes your journey and helps navigate both triumphs and challenges. By staying loyal to your passion, you ensure that your writing remains authentic, and engaging this resonates deeply with</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">your audience and sets your work apart in a crowded literary marketplace.</span></p><p><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Designing Your Ideal Writing Space</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Giving yourself the writing space you deserve takes meticulous planning. Prior to making structural changes or significant modifications have <a href="https://www.redfin.com/definition/survey" target="_blank">your property professionally surveyed</a>. This step will identify any legal, structural, or zoning limitations that could impact your plans. A well-designed and compliant workspace elevates your productivity, nurtures your creativity, and serves as a haven for inspiration. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Transforming your writing hobby into a profitable business takes effort. By following these guidelines and staying committed to your passion for writing, you can navigate the business world and see your passion for writing flourish into a rewarding and profitable career.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="http://marketingnewauthors.com" target="_blank">MarketingNewAuthors.com </a>(MANA) is here to support authors. If you have any questions, feel free to respond to this post by leaving your comments below. If you are interested in self-publishing your manuscript or want more information about the self-publishing process, contact MANA at info@marketingnewauthors.com</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-30136770027596421602024-02-21T22:02:00.003-05:002024-02-28T20:43:04.177-05:00A Q&A With Carolyn Printup on "Touchings of the Heart: Legacy of a Lady" <p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-bD5GmP38B8nPhV-z3ThjPOqeGKVtuLfpd1eEzDYLwT0sykpdrPDFeSx36CmN6NAD0cG11aaez6URlAHWHvaG86hF-yMLCNW7h8C1ZAgmdxxZfBLXdgFRNflNQxvbxkGyjbUZc8dsXx1UCfEK48_ErJA-D7gQLIy-oaKtDj1VCjhUFKXZ7xCK-RKOVc/s200/Touchings.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="177" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge-bD5GmP38B8nPhV-z3ThjPOqeGKVtuLfpd1eEzDYLwT0sykpdrPDFeSx36CmN6NAD0cG11aaez6URlAHWHvaG86hF-yMLCNW7h8C1ZAgmdxxZfBLXdgFRNflNQxvbxkGyjbUZc8dsXx1UCfEK48_ErJA-D7gQLIy-oaKtDj1VCjhUFKXZ7xCK-RKOVc/s1600/Touchings.jpg" width="177" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">MarketingNewAuthors.com (MANA) celebrates the debut of <i><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/2024/01/31/touchings-of-the-heart-legacy-of-a-lady/" target="_blank"><b>Touchings of the Heart: Legacy of a Lady</b></a></i> by Linda Diana Franshun Callahan. Linda's collection of poetry was self-published posthumously by her cousin, Carolyn Printup.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The book contains seven sections: Pain, Legacy, Spirituality, Black Experience, World View, Love, and Musings. Linda's artwork precedes each section. Health challenges and her death in 2021 prevented Linda's desire to publish her work. However, Carolyn's love for her has made Linda's dream come true. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>MANA</i>:</b> Can you share some personal memories or anecdotes about your cousin, Linda, that might show her passion for writing poetry?<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><b>Carolyn Printup (CP)</b></i>: In response to this question, I do not have any specific personal memories. I can only state that after Linda moved to Michigan as an adult, she shared many of her previous experiences and how she found writing as a way to express how she felt. Her ability to draw was another gift she possessed as a means of expression.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>MANA</i>:</b> <b><i>Do you know if there were any specific events or people who inspired Linda to pursue writing?</i></b><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>CP</i></b>: Specific events were the painful ones she experienced growing up. As a way to handle these events, she moved from her parents' home to live with her grandmother. Her grandmother, along with a dear aunt, inspired her to read and instilled in her the desire to succeed. In addition to these two, spiritual leaders had an influence.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><b>MANA</b></i><b><i>: Were there any challenges or obstacles Linda faced while writing her collection of poetry?</i></b><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>CP</i></b>: To my knowledge, there were no obstacles or challenges Linda faced while writing her poetry.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>MANA: What messages or themes are included in Linda’s collection of poetry?</i></b><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>CP</i></b>: I would say that the way Linda categorized each section expressed the emotions or thoughts she had on that subject. Whatever message a reader gets would be based on their individual experience.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><b></b></i></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaco2YhRA1B7KYpzPYunruz91wQmtoc7PBNKI0iFHTgKnfmMwRmuD79BDh8bgC_mDjLz4PoU-kZ0fc_QILslss_8IhSDL9cmlmJkjqH0TN_OYzRFGNM8aIZXQSyCLe04S4Gof5bKwd7CYU-3cFl96o8nvAE8c2dQbwc45H2lzr2rjAfk16qA_6mpDOgvY/s602/AFRICAN%20PRINCE.jpeg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="457" data-original-width="602" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaco2YhRA1B7KYpzPYunruz91wQmtoc7PBNKI0iFHTgKnfmMwRmuD79BDh8bgC_mDjLz4PoU-kZ0fc_QILslss_8IhSDL9cmlmJkjqH0TN_OYzRFGNM8aIZXQSyCLe04S4Gof5bKwd7CYU-3cFl96o8nvAE8c2dQbwc45H2lzr2rjAfk16qA_6mpDOgvY/s320/AFRICAN%20PRINCE.jpeg" width="320" /></a></b></i></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><b>MANA: Linda has artwork that she created in her new book. Besides being a writer, was Linda also an artist?</b></i><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>CP</i></b>: Linda was not an “artist.” She had the ability to draw or sketch pictures. She enjoyed drawing facial pictures and birds.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>MANA: When did Linda’s interest in art begin? Has she had any of her artwork published?</i></b><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>CP</i></b>: I cannot answer the question as to when she began drawing. I would say at an early age. She did not have artwork published.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><b>MANA</b></i><b><i>: Were there other manuscripts, writings, or artwork that Linda left behind? If so, can you share any insights into these unpublished works?</i></b><br /><b><i>CP</i></b>: No, there is no other work.</span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>MANA: </i></b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b><i>How did you decide to get involved in publishing Linda’s collection of poetry?</i></b><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><b><i>CP</i></b>: </span><span style="text-align: justify;">It was Linda’s desire, for a long time, to try and have her writings published. She assembled and selected the titles before her death. Since I knew this was something she wanted, I was fortunate to meet Soror Cesena and with the help of MANA, I was able to have Linda’s writings published.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>MANA: Besides yourself, did Linda have other people supporting her in her writing journey?</i></b><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>CP</b>: Yes, there were other people supporting her.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><b>MANA: How do you think Linda would want her work to be remembered?<br /></b></i></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><b>CP:</b></i> I am not sure how she would want her work remembered. I would say, that knowing Linda and the type of person she was, she would want her writings to serve as a comfort for those experiencing painful situations and to know they are not alone. For others as a source of inspiration and hope that regardless of the challenges that we all go through continue to have faith and that success and happiness will come.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>MANA: How do you feel about Linda’s work being published posthumously?<br /></i></b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>CP: </i></b>I feel honored that I have been able to complete a desire Linda wanted so passionately to accomplish.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>MANA: What significance does this hold for you, Linda’s legacy, and your family’s legacy?<br /></i></b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>CP:</i></b> For those individuals who knew Linda and interacted with her on her journey of life, either completely or partially should feel blessed and honored to have known her. Linda was truly a wonderful, compassionate, and loving Lady. Her legacy is of tremendous significance to me, her family, and those who knew her.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>MANA: Is there anything else that you would like to add?<br /></i></b></span><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>CP: </i></b>I would just like to add that I sincerely hope that anyone reading Linda’s writings is inspired by her creativity, strength, and compassion.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Visit MANA's website at MarketingNewAuthors.com to learn more about </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">of </span><i style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/2024/01/31/touchings-of-the-heart-legacy-of-a-lady/" target="_blank"><b>Touchings of the Heart: Legacy of a Lady</b></a></i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">by Linda Diana Franshun Callahan.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></span></p>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-40485601147490957722024-02-20T23:14:00.006-05:002024-02-22T14:51:28.018-05:00A MANA Moment Editorial: How An English Handbook Can Reflect Diversity <p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">By Dr. Fairy Hayes-Scott<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Owner, MarketingNewAuthors.com<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Robbie Dean Press</span></b></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qN_I0kMad2PfqP0vEMbwj8DPYS6yC43jjJ_gawmeEdJw9kue4f5nF1upFmEaaOvfnz5rAW7N7nGe99DsgVJMBYo-Ey5Rh3xH3L2i6lUt3oC-QgGOp5E41u1mfOjI_EfqaXFo-z4Ypqec-SRmwMqLEFDNBGHJEJHAPzys-pkeDHQGbcPfa4HhZ-9cVi4/s366/f593ba_c87672517177466d8014f7d62d501c55~mv2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qN_I0kMad2PfqP0vEMbwj8DPYS6yC43jjJ_gawmeEdJw9kue4f5nF1upFmEaaOvfnz5rAW7N7nGe99DsgVJMBYo-Ey5Rh3xH3L2i6lUt3oC-QgGOp5E41u1mfOjI_EfqaXFo-z4Ypqec-SRmwMqLEFDNBGHJEJHAPzys-pkeDHQGbcPfa4HhZ-9cVi4/s320/f593ba_c87672517177466d8014f7d62d501c55~mv2-1.jpg" width="245" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana;">When I decided to write an English handbook, I wanted it to be different from the many I have surveyed. Most showed little effort to showcase their students' works, most definitely not any by Black or other racial minorities. I wanted my handbook, <i><b><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/product/bare-essentials-a-english-handbook-for-beginner-writers-19th-ed/" target="_blank">Bare Essentials: A Handbook For Beginner Writers</a>,</b></i> to be different. </span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Having an essay that focused on the service that Black soldiers gave during the Civil War gave my student, Marcus Howard, much to be proud of and added to the legitimacy of the African Americans participating significantly in history. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Also, the most insignificant I wanted mentioned. For example, the grammatical section of the handbook listed different nouns, keeping in mind different minorities: John Red Feather, Tanesha, Mr. Okemba, and Howard University. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">A section on verb usage, again, provides the reality that the world is not one color: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i></i></span></p><blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i>(Sample sentence): Either Gonero or Mario we're purchasing the car. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i><b>CORRECT:</b> Whether in an "either/or" or "neither/or" structure, the verb should be SINGULAR: "Either Gonero or Mario was purchasing the car."</i></span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><i></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">As a student of twelve years of excellent Catholic education by Dominican and Sisters of Charity nuns, not one of the English texts or other texts I used demonstrated any acknowledgment of more than one race existing. </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The one text, History, contained one paragraph about the Civil War period. There were Black slave children playing. That was it! And so, when I decided to write an English handbook, I did not want to make the same error. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">For something as detailed as an essay about a minority and written by a minority or something as minuscule as a list of nouns or examples of verb errors, I wanted my handbook to reflect diversity. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Yes, even with an English text's content, Black authors have represented the importance of recognizing Black History Month. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">I have recorded excerpts from the essay, "The Early American Black Soldier," by Marcus Howard. Go <a href=" https://manasunriser.blogspot.com/2024/02/mana-presents-excerpts-from-early.html" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a> to listen to the audio and read the entire essay posted on this blog, the MANA Sunriser. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;">Visit MANA's website to preview <i><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/product/bare-essentials-a-english-handbook-for-beginner-writers-19th-ed/" target="_blank"><b>Bare Essentials: A Handbook for Beginner Writers.</b></a></i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-86978960122257667802024-02-16T21:52:00.004-05:002024-02-20T15:47:01.075-05:00MANA Presents Excerpts From "The Early American Black Soldier" by Marcus Howard<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In honor of Black History Month, Dr. Fairy Hayes-Scott, owner of MarketingNewAuthors.com (MANA), reads excerpts from, "The Early American Black Soldier" by Marcus Howard. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The article is one of many in the book, <i><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/2014/02/11/bare-essentials-an-english-handbook-for-beginner-writers-14th-ed/" target="_blank">Bare Essentials: A Handbook for Beginner Writers, 19th ed.</a></i>, by Dr. Fairy Hayes-Scott. The handbook is very wide in its scope teaching students and writers to correct their grammar, write strong essays, research themes, and research papers. The handbook also contains poetry and photos to tickle the imagination. Visit MANA's website at <a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/2014/02/11/bare-essentials-an-english-handbook-for-beginner-writers-14th-ed/">MarketingNewAuthors.com </a>to learn more about the book. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Follow along with the audio, the entire essay is below: </span></p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="60" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/essay-for-black-history-month-by-student-marcus-howard" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>The Early American Black Soldier</b></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>by Marcus Howard</b></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /><span style="text-align: justify;"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRdJvFGd0-7x_QDLt01kQEemoqBxfH6zFMXUzbOSZ-NEeTh6t3zB-xIef3rp1PyiT1GHg1N2JDdTcCJ4FbGwbDVHT-tjcF2XKxvjFk15ZIlqApn27iEKn7Tf2nZPqgxnyYhWMv2yN8NmH7nwV8Xy1EViec9Q_HMx2odR53eBL6Vui73QuwogjCkVeB5M/s1609/BE_LoRes.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1609" data-original-width="1080" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRdJvFGd0-7x_QDLt01kQEemoqBxfH6zFMXUzbOSZ-NEeTh6t3zB-xIef3rp1PyiT1GHg1N2JDdTcCJ4FbGwbDVHT-tjcF2XKxvjFk15ZIlqApn27iEKn7Tf2nZPqgxnyYhWMv2yN8NmH7nwV8Xy1EViec9Q_HMx2odR53eBL6Vui73QuwogjCkVeB5M/w199-h296/BE_LoRes.jpg" width="199" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">American history, sometimes, gives a distorted image of the African American during the War of the Rebellion. The image is of a Black family </span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">sitting on the plantation veranda, spitting watermelon seeds, and singing old Negro spirituals while old Thomas is playing his banjo, all waiting for the Union soldier to liberate them, “glory hallelujah.”</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: justify;"> </span></p></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The truth of the matter is the African-American soldier was responsible to a large degree for his own liberation. However, the forces within the military establishment improperly prepared and inflicted military injustices on the Black soldier. Therefore, the early American Black soldier was improperly prepared for battle, suffered military injustices, but, still, met the challenge and triumphed.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">First, the military establishment did not properly prepare the Black soldier for battle. The Union was reluctant to make the African American a soldier. When it, finally, did, the military did not give its Black soldiers training equal to their white counterparts (Meyer 207). Often equipment issued to the African-American troops was inferior. Some of it was condemned. At the battle of Milliken’s Bend Louisiana, the Black soldier was given weapons one day before the attack by the Confederate Army.</span></p><div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As for the arms and supplies, Brigadier General Daniel Ullman wrote a letter in December, 1863, complaining that his Negro soldier had just been sent into battle with arms which were almost entireable [sic] unserviceable. After inspecting several Negro companies stationed in Mississippi, Lorenzo Thomas, adjutant general, made this report: “This regiment like most of this class of soldier, have the old flintlock muskets, altered to percussion, which have been in use for a long time.” (Johnson 284)<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">These muskets were in serious disrepair. Quite frankly, no soldier should have been using them: "'The muskets of the regiment were condemned once, and have been condemned by an inspector a second time’” (284). </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />The quality of the medical attendants for the Black soldier was just like their equipment—inferior. “In colored units there was a serious shortage of surgeons” (Quarles 203). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Most often the medical staff was white. They did not want to serve with the African-American troops; therefore, the medical staff that did serve had qualifications that were of low or substandard quality (203). The African-American soldier suffered high casualties from the lack of training, inadequate equipment, and inadequate medical attention.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Next, the Black soldier faced problems not endured by his white counterpart. He was paid ten dollars a month with a three dollar deduction for clothing. The white soldier was paid a total of thirteen dollars per month, ten dollars for pay and an additional three dollars for clothing. This was a source of resentment with some units until they would not take any pay until it was equal with that of white soldiers (Fay & Crane 88). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The African-American soldier, also, was assigned disproportionately heavy labor and fatigue duty. The federal government’s original plan was to use Black troops mainly for garrison duties. However, after proving themselves in battle, the policy remained only because of the anti-black feeling (McPherson 196). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Black soldiers faced extreme consequences if captured. Jefferson Davis, Confederate President, and the Confederate Congress developed a plan to deal with the white commanders of Black troops and the Blacks who engaged in “any military enterprise, attack or conflict shall be deemed inciting servile insurrection, and if captured be put to death or punished at the discretion of the court” (William 309). Unfair pay, a disproportionate amount of fatigue duty, and fatal experiences as prisoners were some of the military injustices faced by Black soldiers. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">However, the Black soldier triumphed. The African-American soldier had labored on fatigue duty. He could march and parade splendidly. However, could he fight? 449 battles and campaigns the Black soldier fought in answered that question. His performance during these battles was impressive, a powerful weapon for the Union, and even a greater weapon for the Black man’s liberation (Glattaar121).</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> “There were sixteen all-Black regiments, making a total of 186,000 Blacks in the Union Armies…Sixteen Black soldiers earned the Congressional Medal of Honor for bravery in battle” (Foner 45). </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Black soldiers, also, were, finally, allowed to fight for the South. The final act that broke slavery in the United States was a bill passed by Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Congress to enlist Black soldiers in the Confederate Army on March 13, 1865 (Wesley & Romero 113-114). African-American soldiers secured respect by fighting in Union battles and campaigns, becoming Medal of Honor winners, and being enlisted by the South.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The hardships applied to the Black soldier only focused his determination. Although the Black soldier was unprepared for war and suffered unjust policies, he defied the military and civilian establishment to succeed. Many American history books seem to have lost the contribution and participation of Black people in the Civil War. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The African-American soldier was fighting for the preservation of his family and himself. He did suffer mental torture over pay, fatigue duty, and the possibilities of being captured. The Black soldier felt it was better to fight and die as a step toward equality and freedom. Unfortunately, too many American citizens have failed to honor and memorialize those Black patriots who gave so much and received so little.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Works Cited</b></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Cornish, Dudley T. The Sable Arm. W.W. Norton, 1956.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Fay, David, & Elaine Crane. The Black Soldier, William Morrow & Co., 1971.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Foner, Jack D. Black and the Military in American History. Praeger, 1974.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Glattaar, Joseph T. Forged in Battle. The Free Press, 1990.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Johnson Publishing Co. Ebony Pictorial History of Balck American. Southwestern Co., 1971.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">McPherson, James M. The Negro’s Civil War. Vintage, 1965.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Meyer, Michael, ed. Frederick Douglass: The Narrative and Selected Writings. Modern Library, 1984.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Quarles, Benjamin. The Negro in the Civil War. Little, Brown, 1953.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Wesley, Charles, & Patricia W. Romero. Negro American in the Civil War. Publishers Co., 1977.</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">Williams, George W., L.L. D. A History of the Negro Troops. Negro Universities Press, 1888.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">—Marcus Howard, English 101</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">[Works Cited entries are following the 8th edition MLA format.]</span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p></div>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-55978529358383005922024-02-12T23:34:00.003-05:002024-02-16T21:54:32.025-05:00MANA Celebrates Poetry: The Language of Love<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);">In celebration of Black History Month and February being the "Month of Love," listen to Dr. Fairy Hayes-Scott as she does interpretive readings of the following poems: </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);">"Love At First Sight" and "Soul Mate" from <i><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/2024/01/31/touchings-of-the-heart-legacy-of-a-lady/" target="_blank"><b>Touchings of the Heart: Legacy of a Lady</b></a></i> by Linda Diana Franshun Callahan.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy7EhyphenhyphenhUA5Nxzykjd8Kdvggd2yuPU8NIgO0Fd5npHItJ4rqp0bIEt-6TswDpk6yNXNN1yALqoQSUMIYhEu5GHuXGlbKuWXLsQ4uv0hlofVQoKiSPQJ4jKFok68xG_z4SOebVid1K31TIZagvSddFXd6V-qVEIaSE_VZgY2JEZyoIl2fuTqCiR4Gikfow/s200/Touchings.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="177" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy7EhyphenhyphenhUA5Nxzykjd8Kdvggd2yuPU8NIgO0Fd5npHItJ4rqp0bIEt-6TswDpk6yNXNN1yALqoQSUMIYhEu5GHuXGlbKuWXLsQ4uv0hlofVQoKiSPQJ4jKFok68xG_z4SOebVid1K31TIZagvSddFXd6V-qVEIaSE_VZgY2JEZyoIl2fuTqCiR4Gikfow/w177-h224/Touchings.jpg" width="177" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);">"A Stranger's Touch" by Ronald P. Waters and "Invisible Attraction" by Andre P. Shuford from <a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/2014/02/11/bare-essentials-an-english-handbook-for-beginner-writers-14th-ed/" target="_blank"><b><i>Bare Essentials: A Handbook for Beginner Writers, 19th ed.</i> </b></a>by Fairy C. Hayes-Scott, Ph.D.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItuz4L3rCwGU6MhXaK1ltj31nrF5m1AfGJQDpYZB_de5Jgr2UqslHq0bLWBWxw3xjHoMwTP9bCE2SKVNfCZSuHq0r_K_PrJiAonixNLvA_jckprvsvQvkCX6ncweygoIALEgUyLCqu9Nu6nYFDY6UeQEcx_ouK4grpSrL04481pNRiTm-Z5VaMJWqQ0I/s1609/BE_LoRes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1609" data-original-width="1080" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiItuz4L3rCwGU6MhXaK1ltj31nrF5m1AfGJQDpYZB_de5Jgr2UqslHq0bLWBWxw3xjHoMwTP9bCE2SKVNfCZSuHq0r_K_PrJiAonixNLvA_jckprvsvQvkCX6ncweygoIALEgUyLCqu9Nu6nYFDY6UeQEcx_ouK4grpSrL04481pNRiTm-Z5VaMJWqQ0I/w193-h270/BE_LoRes.jpg" width="193" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);">"Now I Know What Love Is" by Elesia K. Powell, from the poetry collection, <i><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/2014/07/03/sweet-ache-poetry-of-the-soul/" target="_blank">Sweet Ache</a></i>.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyihTH7dPURYblvCmY9H8rBWb5RoBC_-yWtfWdLrl5s1NvitYIYUZ9uB_KaLfk8B20x5s38K4gF0IQAfxY8MUI1a8B-NDNRRlqKhGNs9-XN8fF09j6CDx3ZcRs6PQrjCcUGVryx5_9Ak5iZsA1hsFbQP5hdikKPwepyO7mHB2ZDJkPQnTGbCmnwzBVRN4/s200/SWEET_ACHE_PICTURE_B-cvr200.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="200" data-original-width="132" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyihTH7dPURYblvCmY9H8rBWb5RoBC_-yWtfWdLrl5s1NvitYIYUZ9uB_KaLfk8B20x5s38K4gF0IQAfxY8MUI1a8B-NDNRRlqKhGNs9-XN8fF09j6CDx3ZcRs6PQrjCcUGVryx5_9Ak5iZsA1hsFbQP5hdikKPwepyO7mHB2ZDJkPQnTGbCmnwzBVRN4/w191-h238/SWEET_ACHE_PICTURE_B-cvr200.jpg" width="191" /></a></span></div><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #1a1a1a; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26);">Listen to the poems and follow along by reading them below: </span></span></p>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="60" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/valentine-s-day-love-poems-2024" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe><div><br /></div><span><a name='more'></a></span><div><br /></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT</b></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">When our eyes met the clouds bumped heads,</span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The earth shook like the awakening dead. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The moon beamed with an exquisite glow,</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The rivers ceased its raging and roaring flow.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The stars danced until bright day light,<br />The day star’s smile was jubilantly bright. </span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The birds began to sing a beautiful love song,<br />In the tune of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”<br />For when our eyes met, instantly I knew,<br />That you completed me, and I complete you.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>SOULMATE</b><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thou art my celestial tree of love,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">When I’m with you I soar to the</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">glorious height of the heavens above.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thou alone reside in my pavilion of eternity,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">For you have captured the very soul of me.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thou consoled my grieving heart when my whole world seemed blue,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I know within my heart that</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">you are my,</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Soulmate for our love is true.</span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>A STRANGER'S TOUCH</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Walking down the street<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My hand brushed against yours<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And in the moment of our touch<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I felt the warmth of your soul<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As my soul cried out for me to stop<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And hold onto your hand<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">An instant that would last an eternity<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Expired and in its passing you slipped on<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">by<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In back of the crowd I had just passed<br /> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">through<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I turned around as fast as I could<br /> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Hoping if I fell, it would be in your arms.</span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><b>INVISIBLE ATTRACTION</b><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Noticed your beauty<br />The first time you crossed my sight<br />Stared at your presence<br /> When I thought you weren't looking<br />Admired your features from safely across<br />the room<br />Blinded by your aura<br />As it illuminated brightly<br />Listened to your voice and the sweet melody it sang<br />Vibed on your conversation and the<br />touching thoughts you provoked<br />Wanted to be closer but afraid you could<br /> not catch on<br />Curious to touch your cocoa-buttered,<br /> caramel skin<br />Closed my eyes to imagine more clearly my distant dream<br />Wondered what it would be like<br />To run in your mental to share your hopes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Now I Know What Love Is</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I hold you in my arms<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Knowing you are as much<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A part of me as my own heart<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">You sigh with relief<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Triumphant in this struggle<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A prelude to the journey<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Innocent eyes captivate me as<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I wait for what seems an eternity<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Before you call my name<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Your first steps taken with trust<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Albeit unsteady<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As you bloom<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">My reflection is greater<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">This pure love unconditional<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As a mother's love should be.</span></p>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-87184627736256920012024-01-28T20:00:00.006-05:002024-02-16T21:55:52.982-05:00A MANA Moment Editorial: A Search For Black Achievers <p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEj9T3yTorONKuXScQSIkodagoI2ZrllarY2JyXL4VLKhgthO3yLKvGUTbWTb1BpX1jMw0Z7qMlLzX1FR8ZARRLynMbHXd3tj_X60Lqmkh65_qeCLdnuSp06gsdVlO71zlsPDjM9Y4T0aUgTj-SuH4AlUPl9hUGl7dJxHCColbUEm6_PgN5csxsHNxbg/s350/Dr.-Fairy-C.-Hayes-Scott-Consultant.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="268" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyEj9T3yTorONKuXScQSIkodagoI2ZrllarY2JyXL4VLKhgthO3yLKvGUTbWTb1BpX1jMw0Z7qMlLzX1FR8ZARRLynMbHXd3tj_X60Lqmkh65_qeCLdnuSp06gsdVlO71zlsPDjM9Y4T0aUgTj-SuH4AlUPl9hUGl7dJxHCColbUEm6_PgN5csxsHNxbg/s320/Dr.-Fairy-C.-Hayes-Scott-Consultant.jpg" width="245" /></a><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></b></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>By Dr. Fairy Hayes-Scott</b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><div style="text-align: left;">Owner, MarketingNewAuthors.com</div></span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><div style="text-align: left;">Robbie Dean Press</div></span><p></p></b></span></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">When I was a third grader, I returned home from school and asked my Mom, "Mommy, have Black folks written or done anything?"</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I asked this question because there was no mention of any Black achievements in a book or in TV shows when I was a youngster. And my teachers did not share this information. All I read and learned was about Caucasian individuals. And I guess my parents never really thought about this since they had attended schools with Black teachers who made certain they would know about Black writers and others who had made great achievements.<br /><br />My academic experience was very different. I was in an integrated setting in my elementary and high school. As a matter of fact, the first Black teacher I had was when I was a senior at the University of Michigan.<br /><br />My Mom replied, "Yes, Pumpkin. And we will go to the library tomorrow to show you."<br /><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">And true to her word, we went to the library. I picked out a book that highlighted different Black actors, musicians, writers, political leaders, and inventors. Wow! I was surprised and hungry to learn even more.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />So, before my children even attended school, I made certain they would never have to ask me that question with the feeling of shame and dismay that I felt.</span><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">When I was a youngster, there were no designated months for marginalized American citizens. Now, there are. And MANA looks forward to submissions by a wide breadth of writers! Read our </span><a href="https://manasunriser.blogspot.com/2024/01/a-mana-moment-editorial-search-for.html" style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;" target="_blank">blog post </a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">about MANA's call for short stories and poetry for Black History Month.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As a publisher, I want to give people who have writing skills the opportunity to become published because I firmly believe that the written word lives as long as one person reads the work. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>You can find this MANA Moment editorial in THE MANA HARVESTER NEWSLETTER. Go <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/call-writers-celebrate-fairy-hayes-scott-qfeue" target="_blank">here</a> to read the entire newsletter. </i></span></p>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-87864917063018823962024-01-20T21:17:00.004-05:002024-01-26T21:27:33.222-05:00MANA's Call For Short Stories and Poetry For Black History Month!<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqOHDpKoK5V49s8I24Hy7yIvB6Qba5WZEBCJPI8nFmVvKzYtO6Y1LMIjR21BnR_1cSBudLEXH33AjbXulRlR1713cxpJB4KvhKDXRkTKY9nemIOi97mqs6_bndpwsOA5-l6F7qHolu_bJVyiIZxEhVfDDduqhBwiTCJbU_TjjUR1oUuXt9XrbtF-bDgw/s2654/dreamstime_black%20history%20&%20valentine's%20day.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2654" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqOHDpKoK5V49s8I24Hy7yIvB6Qba5WZEBCJPI8nFmVvKzYtO6Y1LMIjR21BnR_1cSBudLEXH33AjbXulRlR1713cxpJB4KvhKDXRkTKY9nemIOi97mqs6_bndpwsOA5-l6F7qHolu_bJVyiIZxEhVfDDduqhBwiTCJbU_TjjUR1oUuXt9XrbtF-bDgw/w374-h188/dreamstime_black%20history%20&%20valentine's%20day.jpg" width="374" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">MarketingNewAuthors.com (MANA) wants to honor diverse writers' cultures, traditions, history, and contributions. So, MANA is calling for poets and writers to submit their works for Black History Month 2024.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">MANA will showcase the works on its website, MarketingNewAuthors.com</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">, MANA's blog, THE MANA SUNRISER, and MANA's newsletter, The MANA HARVESTER. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">There is no cost to submit. However, the following are the submission requirements: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Submission Requirements:</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">1) no more than 500 words per submission </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">2) submit as a Word file </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">3) the work should highlight the theme of the celebrated month </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">4) Send all submitted files to: info@marketingnewauthors.com or marketingnewauth@aol.com</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">All writers maintain full ownership of every submission. There are no restrictions on the writers to submit their work to another publication. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The MANA Review Board will read and review all submissions. So, s</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">ubmit your work EARLY to give the Review Board plenty of time to read, referee, and give determination regarding publication to the author.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Besides Black History Month, MANA is also calling for short stories and poetry for the following months: </span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>• May—Asian American Pacific Islander Month</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>• June—Pride Month </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>• September—National Hispanic Heritage Month</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>• November—Native American Heritage Month</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The MANA Review Board will determine the best submission during each month, and the individual will receive a $100 prize from MANA!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Remember, there is </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">no cost to submit your work. So, email your short story or poetry today for Black History Month to info@marketingnewauthors.com or marketingnewauth@aol.com</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></div>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-67593167054336130972024-01-13T20:39:00.000-05:002024-01-13T20:39:06.716-05:00MarketingNewAuthors.com Celebrates Martin Luther King Day<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAudzk9efb0S2HeeKfLrUt_V-3q58ucO1i2K5KwtEbnL3W53YOsDGdlUzs4XkCDuejiU2muFWA0nx0QPL_n86e7PBzIVTB5datIaRV7E1tltMvk-C393tnjd9u0ORZ_T1pfoLHaKgzb5VPU3Z1iQVAML373_hb1l2vw7c6603sAmSXgs2Qlm0RZYexXQg/s1488/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1488" data-original-width="992" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAudzk9efb0S2HeeKfLrUt_V-3q58ucO1i2K5KwtEbnL3W53YOsDGdlUzs4XkCDuejiU2muFWA0nx0QPL_n86e7PBzIVTB5datIaRV7E1tltMvk-C393tnjd9u0ORZ_T1pfoLHaKgzb5VPU3Z1iQVAML373_hb1l2vw7c6603sAmSXgs2Qlm0RZYexXQg/w272-h409/Martin_Luther_King,_Jr..jpg" width="272" /></a><br /><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #212529; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: bolder; text-align: start;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."</span></i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-65113815953231135782023-12-25T20:37:00.000-05:002023-12-25T20:37:26.351-05:00Discovering the Impact of Discouragement on Your Story<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIdqDWx82gG1OrD3HjjrJ6Rsqn8KO5PhnEW7gmha7lHnk-8YCF7R_ML-Kyswx5pqqQTlWAVg5wR7hxoY2HNRMStVNdlzuDDuy6cL9MoxijNDZnOOeMOMA9s4MDr_hnDv7ivqsLl-0hZIIWOYQuQE5rPY2sSOPkqpBnYKIYcmyCzP3ncdCnGEJdr5KA8E/s1280/woman-850330_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUIdqDWx82gG1OrD3HjjrJ6Rsqn8KO5PhnEW7gmha7lHnk-8YCF7R_ML-Kyswx5pqqQTlWAVg5wR7hxoY2HNRMStVNdlzuDDuy6cL9MoxijNDZnOOeMOMA9s4MDr_hnDv7ivqsLl-0hZIIWOYQuQE5rPY2sSOPkqpBnYKIYcmyCzP3ncdCnGEJdr5KA8E/s320/woman-850330_1280.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">People enjoy reading a variety of genres, such as historical, romantic, and crime. But nothing hits the right spot like a tragic story, one of disappointment and regret coupled with pain. Even the most positive stories use hardship and discouragement when looking to add a twist to the plot. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">After all, a story that only focuses on love, happiness, and good moments might as well be a fairytale. But even fairytales have highs, lows, joys, and hardships. These elements make the perfect story.</span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">A story about a discouraging event—be it the writer’s own or someone else's experience—can help readers reflect on their own lives, become more empathetic, and see all the things that they can be grateful for. Discouraging stories awaken the humanity in us. So, if you are a writer, don’t be afraid to add real “day-to-day” living into your story.<br /><br />And remember: As you write about your characters’ moments of discouragement, show—don’t tell—readers about your characters’ resilience. Let your readers see how your characters overcome their discouragement and triumphant over their adversities. <br /><br />Resilience is birthed in the most difficult of situations. So, the takeaway from a discouraging story is the art of being resilient in the face of adversity. Achieving this goal requires writing an interesting story that allows readers to see how they can learn and grow from discouraging moments.<br /><br />Keep in mind that every discouraging story should have a plot twist of change and hope. If you have had this experience, why not share your story so that others can experience it as well?</span>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-76894177521835428952023-12-14T11:41:00.002-05:002023-12-14T11:41:34.423-05:00A MANA Moment Editorial: Diary Entries Bring Together Past Holidays and Future Hopes <p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">By Dr. Fairy Hayes-Scott<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Owner, MarketingNewAuthors.com</span></b></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdi3knNqC7zRzwHMGBHoTRVUl5JU4B1q3qsl0qjUXGAhQaY7RT2CG-Bs33B22MxfbdC1eFsOveoF6ZlfAj8DubhRPmnD4_AAVyi9yJzElmJIjC1G4FxdeI4TP8z68vzg4Ux2MWbQUBZZwIngg6lI2jVRvGtJ-llI8HdYn_NOiscfCbE7tEm-_OV6kgCg/s366/f593ba_c87672517177466d8014f7d62d501c55~mv2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdi3knNqC7zRzwHMGBHoTRVUl5JU4B1q3qsl0qjUXGAhQaY7RT2CG-Bs33B22MxfbdC1eFsOveoF6ZlfAj8DubhRPmnD4_AAVyi9yJzElmJIjC1G4FxdeI4TP8z68vzg4Ux2MWbQUBZZwIngg6lI2jVRvGtJ-llI8HdYn_NOiscfCbE7tEm-_OV6kgCg/s320/f593ba_c87672517177466d8014f7d62d501c55~mv2-1.jpg" width="245" /></a></div>At age 13, I began my first entry in my diary. Now, I have volumes of diaries from the 60s to now. I am a sentimental person. So, keeping in mind the season, I have re-read diary entries of past Christmas holidays that I want to share with you.<br /><br />• Dec. 25, 1965–At Midnight Mass I received my First Holy Communion [I was a convert to Catholicism during my teen years]. I felt so clean and pure. I intend to keep that feeling.<br /><br />Christmas was very nice.<br /><br />• Dec. 25, 1970—Allan [a friend in my teen years] and I went to see RYAN'S DAUGHTER, a very good movie. I really enjoyed it and I enjoyed Allan's company.<br /><br />Mark did not call me. Oh well, at least I had a good friend who added to the joy of Christmas.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">• Dec. 25, 1976—A pleasant Christmas, indeed. I visited Uncle Tom and Aunt Rose and Grandma and Aunt Mattie. Grandma really looked good. Gee, I am so fond of her. I am grateful that God has let her remain sharp in the mind. It would be very difficult for Aunt Mattie if this were not so.<br /><br />I enjoyed home very much. I also realized how lovably and kookie parents can be. I wonder if will I be the same way if blessed with children. I hope my children put up with my ways and love me as much as I do Mommy and Daddy. They are jewels whom I treasure very much.<br /><br />This is going to be a busy semester. I'll need Your help and of my Heavenly Friends' prayers and help. I'll be teaching 5 classes and taking 2 courses [for my Ph.D.]. I also pray that I pass my general exams. I'm going to try. However, I realize I cannot make it alone.<br /><br />My New Year's resolution is to make myself remember that and let the Almighty help. It seems when I put things in His hands matters work out fine. So, Help!<br /><br />• Dec. 25, 1996—Thank You, Sir, for a very, merry, Merry Christmas. We realize, my hubby, son, daughter, and I, that You have blessed us beyond words. We have a loving home, a good family, and good friends. Thank You!<br /><br />Happy Birthday to You!<br /><br />I wanted to make sure my daughter never forgets what Christmas is really about. She reads about Your birth in the gospel of St. Luke. I pray that what I am trying to teach doesn't get lost in "the nineties."<br /><br />Was my Christmas nice? Yes!!! Thank You!!!!<br /><br />When I began writing my diary entries, I hoped that it would help any future children and grandchildren I have to know me better, to know that family is most important just as true friends are. They need to know and I need to remember that I have had challenging times and managed to overcome those challenges and so will they...<br /><br />What do these diary entries bring to my mind? Every Christmas I celebrated with people whom I loved. For my first Communion, my mother was with me. In 1970, a dear friend brought joy during that holiday season when my dude did not even call me during the Christmas holidays. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In 1976, I spent time with special people. In 1996, I continued to spend good times with my family and appreciated them. Also, had more apprehensions about an upcoming intense semester I would be teaching and a very important exam to determine if I would be accepted into the doctoral program of the University of Michigan.<br /><br />When I pass, I hope my daughter and granddaughter will keep in mind that family and friends will always be there for them, and they should do the same for those they love. And they must always remember that, whenever they feel challenges are so great, they will overcome them with the help of their Spiritual Maker.<br /><br />Happy Holidays!</span></div>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-87125370389722581132023-11-21T20:34:00.000-05:002023-11-21T20:34:14.218-05:00A MANA Moment Editorial: What I Am Thankful For<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST2AUhrY0aXehJDtRhLUE3E84g2ZrdAXQs4LqXrbcXqsHQgoQm6B2XwOCZW9L-_VM_1F315E8D6l3_voVzpDycjB1a3liu6LRFFCjZ4UZrO_18KQhlx8Kmv7wEvJjmpooC6MZlyx7xfAhg-3qu-gHrscbBUqT29xd8aNPaNboBtJo3nqc8B08TXHv8OI/s366/f593ba_c87672517177466d8014f7d62d501c55~mv2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST2AUhrY0aXehJDtRhLUE3E84g2ZrdAXQs4LqXrbcXqsHQgoQm6B2XwOCZW9L-_VM_1F315E8D6l3_voVzpDycjB1a3liu6LRFFCjZ4UZrO_18KQhlx8Kmv7wEvJjmpooC6MZlyx7xfAhg-3qu-gHrscbBUqT29xd8aNPaNboBtJo3nqc8B08TXHv8OI/s320/f593ba_c87672517177466d8014f7d62d501c55~mv2-1.jpg" width="245" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>By Dr. Fairy Hayes-Scott<br />Owner, MarketingNewAuthors.com</b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>HAPPY THANKSGIVING!</b></span></span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am thankful that I can experience the colors of Fall and the blossoms of Spring.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am thankful that I can feel the heat of Summer and the unique feeling of Winter's snow.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am thankful for the rainbows I have been able to see.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am thankful for my family.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am thankful for my MANA family.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am thankful for the MANA authors.</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I am thankful for those of you who read MANA's newsletters.</span></p><p style="caret-color: rgb(26, 26, 26); color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>HAPPY THANKSGIVING to ALL of You!</b></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Fairy C. Hayes-Scott, Ph.D.<br /></span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Owner/Publisher<br /></span><a href="http://marketingnewauthors.com/"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">MarketingNewAuthors.com<br /></span></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Robbie Dean Press, LLC</span></p>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-92039104060711745662023-11-05T15:13:00.021-05:002023-11-06T21:36:35.504-05:00Read An Excerpt From: "Children of the Tundra and the Animal People: Native and the Aleut Native American Tribe of the Far North"<p style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">The following is an excerpt from one of the short stories in the book </span><span style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/children-of-the-tundra-and-the-animal-people-nature-and-the-aleut-native-american-tribe-of-the-far-north/" target="_blank">Children of the Tundra and the Animal People: Native and the Aleut Native American Tribe of the Far North<i> </i></a></span><span style="font-style: italic; text-align: justify;">by Phil Kelley who served as Village Council President of the Aleut in northern Alaska, taking over from his father, who was the last traditional chief of their village.</span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><p><br /></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="628" data-original-width="436" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnR7w8txU5oIDgkHwFaEVrW9DREnt2qgHS7Trau4vULhb099AO9EfB5Q_owxkfnoWqfCY36Zr-cQGyeph7k6tIZJjdd_sMau3s_Po33-m54vHSWTfo8oTJESRGnw_7w5B6Qu4lhJky93JeS5qU-kEv9YP4oE-5Dhk9dp2OcSpk3DPMNRFPRNhqWF9kFQ/s320/KELLY%20PHIL%20%201.jpeg" width="222" /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The late winter days were getting longer which was the first sign of the coming spring. Warm southeast winds had melted the snow that had covered the tundra for so long. Caribou, the younger brother of Muskrat, decided to go hunting tomorrow for ptarmigan [a northern bird of the mountains and Arctic areas whose feathers and feet turn to white in the winter].</span></div><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">With the snow gone, the birds would stand out among the low bushes they tried to hide in and would be easier to find. They would become aware that they no longer could blend in and hide, being all white with the snow gone. In a few days, this would make them hard to approach. But now would be the best time to go out and catch a few for the family’s dinner. With these thoughts, Caribou snuggled deeper into his fur-lined sleeping bag and fell asleep.</span></p><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><i>Early next morning found Caribou walking slowly </i>up the animal trail that would its way to the top of the hills surrounding the village. In the animal world, early morning was feeding time. To the hunters it was the best time to hunt. From the top of the highest hill, he could see everything below him for long distances. Sitting down, he used the hunting methods that his father taught him in spotting animals. . .<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-tab-count: 3;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">______________________________</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Spring was the time of awakening for all of the people in the animal world. This included the animal that Caribou had to keep an eye out for because they would be hungry when they woke up for their long winter sleep. These were the brown bear people. Usually the large shaggy bears would leave humans alone, but there were those of the bear people that would hunt down and tear up humans. . .</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-tab-count: 3;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">____________________________________
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: verdana;">(Permission to publish by Robbie Dean Press or MarketingNewAuthors.com)<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br />To preview the <i><b><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/children-of-the-tundra-and-the-animal-people-nature-and-the-aleut-native-american-tribe-of-the-far-north/" target="_blank">Children of the Tundra and the Animal People: Native and the Aleut Native American Tribe of the Far North</a></b></i> by Phil Kelley go <a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/children-of-the-tundra-and-the-animal-people-nature-and-the-aleut-native-american-tribe-of-the-far-north/">HERE </a>to the book's page on MANA's website. <br /></span></span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-23355799110685128392023-10-31T21:03:00.003-04:002023-11-08T20:35:59.930-05:00A MANA Moment Editorial: Making Publishing Dreams Come True<p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTYVpJJS3MF1aUGV6G9BlK8lfpNd0527FJmzcQeSbp10w12c7mB8sOxOBI0YworhzftNEito-Q7pwqoNxN1-tadT8S2N6GtJ2fPdpk5DswJuGkDVKj4uK8GC-DfJw4YJKX7liXz4TQ7kQVzbtCbw7gsJI8rjdjJNuBFWMSau4E8BP7uJWSh-H_ZswxWA/s366/f593ba_c87672517177466d8014f7d62d501c55~mv2-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBTYVpJJS3MF1aUGV6G9BlK8lfpNd0527FJmzcQeSbp10w12c7mB8sOxOBI0YworhzftNEito-Q7pwqoNxN1-tadT8S2N6GtJ2fPdpk5DswJuGkDVKj4uK8GC-DfJw4YJKX7liXz4TQ7kQVzbtCbw7gsJI8rjdjJNuBFWMSau4E8BP7uJWSh-H_ZswxWA/s320/f593ba_c87672517177466d8014f7d62d501c55~mv2-1.jpg" width="245" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>By Dr. Fairy Hayes-Scott<br />Owner, MarketingNewAuthors.com<br /></b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">“The pen is mightier than the sword.” This is a well-known quote from the play Cardinal Richelieu by British novelist, playwright, poet, and politician Edward Bulwer-Lyton in 1839. However, I do not want to refer to its political significance. Still, I believe in the strength of the pen, the written word. As a writer and publisher, I appreciate the existential strength of the written word.</span><p></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The written word lasts as long as there is an individual who can read or hear it. The written word gives the writer a true sense of purpose. And this is my joy as a publisher. I have the opportunity to give every writer the fulfillment of sharing academic guidance in a text, mysteries for children, teens, and adults, no-nonsense advice by a senior, a science fiction thriller, poetry, or </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />memoir by seniors and so much more.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">However, there is a special pleasure in publishing works by seniors. There are some who feel and believe once one reaches a certain age s/he should sit in a rocking chair or go out to pasture. If that is what a baby boomer member of the silent generation wants to do, I have no criticism if that is one's choice. However, I know that everyone in those generations has stories to tell, fictional or non-fictional. And they should have the right to do so. </span></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">And that is when I, as the publisher, began to do “my thang.” In 1991, Robbie Dean Press was born. My first work was a text for my Deaf college students. Then, a deaf/blind teaching colleague asked if I would publish her text to guide parents and professionals about these dual physical challenges, Deaf/Blindness. Then, my students and colleagues encouraged me to write and publish my own English handbook,<i><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/product/bare-essentials-a-english-handbook-for-beginner-writers-19th-ed/" target="_blank"> Bare Essentials, An English Handbook for Beginner Writers.</a></i> Another colleague inquired if my textbook company would consider publishing his first text, Process and Voice in the Writing Workshop. The review board recommended that text and two other texts, Linguistics for College Freshmen and Sophomores and Propaganda American Style: A Textbook for Critical Thinkers.</span><br /><br /></span><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-kerning: none;">Then, in 2002 I began MarketingNewAuthors.com, a self-publishing company. </span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This is when I extended my role as a self-publisher. I was able to make the dreams of writers, especially those with a love for prose and poetry, come true by giving them the </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">opportunity to become published at a reasonable cost. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span>For senior citizens, they </span><span>garnered the chance to share work about war, </span><i><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/product/dancer-other-tattered-threads-of-ptsd-lives-after-the-wars-revisited/" target="_blank">Dancer and Other Tattered Threads of PTSD Lives</a>; </i><span>a work for youngsters,</span><i> <a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/product/2-pleasantly-scary-stories-for-children/" target="_blank">2 Pleasantly Scary Stories for Children</a>; </i><span>a mystery,</span><i> <a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/through-the-storms/" target="_blank">Through the Storms</a>, </i><span>a college professor’s science fiction work, </span><i><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/product/nick-christopher-time-traveler/" target="_blank">Nick Christopher: Time Traveler,</a> </i><span>and a currently published memoir, </span><i><a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/product/precious-struggles-the-making-of-a-21st-century-woman/" target="_blank">Precious Struggles: The Making of a 21<sup>st</sup> Century Woman.</a> </i></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As a textbook publisher and self-publisher, I have been able to allow writers of all ages to have their works published, including those who have chosen not to rock in a chair but sit at a desk and type a work to share.</span></p><p class="p3" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Yes, I have been blessed to be a part of the existential value of writing and publishing. The pen is quite mighty; it ensures that whoever uses the pen will establish his purpose and will live forever through his words.<i> </i> </span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p></div>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-70559797383056858182023-10-17T16:13:00.004-04:002023-11-10T19:01:34.927-05:00MANA's Call For Senior Citizen Writers<p class="p1" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16.1px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLU2LB3v9kExUMytdx81uedtURJkNOtZwIz6N5QY0shg-tXjfFqlFmabLKvkEo-trC3zNGfjmN2apVxqj2oSjlPqZN8EhD62JBuvm5e49eoxgUO-LwCcTIc5avnXSesYlgIXOkozzbhylAJFNSr2pMprGWtgKOh6mGYa0CeDoLVRkRbo2sgPOGQqI52eQ/s1037/Senior-pexels-rdne-stock-project-8124232.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="625" data-original-width="1037" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLU2LB3v9kExUMytdx81uedtURJkNOtZwIz6N5QY0shg-tXjfFqlFmabLKvkEo-trC3zNGfjmN2apVxqj2oSjlPqZN8EhD62JBuvm5e49eoxgUO-LwCcTIc5avnXSesYlgIXOkozzbhylAJFNSr2pMprGWtgKOh6mGYa0CeDoLVRkRbo2sgPOGQqI52eQ/s320/Senior-pexels-rdne-stock-project-8124232.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">MarketingNewAuthors.com (MANA) is calling for older adult writers to submit their works of poetry, short stories, and memoirs of no more than 500 words. The topic can be of the writer’s choice.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16.1px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: verdana; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">Please submit the work as a Word document. Once the submitted work is reviewed and recommended for publication, MANA will notify the writer, who maintains ownership of the copyright. Work will be posted on MANA’s blog, THE MANA SUNRISER, and MANA’s newsletter, THE MANA HARVESTER at no cost to writers.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px 0px 16.1px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: verdana; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;">Writers can go <a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/call-for-senior-citizen-writers/" target="_blank">HERE t</a>o visit MANA’s website for information on how to submit their works.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></p>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-25861059907578608892023-10-14T23:15:00.018-04:002024-01-09T14:53:28.619-05:00Are You A Small to Mid-Sized Business Owner With Employee-Related Questions? Then Just Ask Bob<p><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(42, 49, 64);"></span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; font-size: 18px; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHX_Or8DimkVwjaqwrS4w1wgTSV3FhUB5FZNSCOFt1e41sgQorRxN6HvCYSrpo2ImseAXejFu97x_gjjlPsrjaQUoEPnmli7eLbOrsqBYazv4k52hHyggiL67e0EFljDsgVwLBZuHmEwEolk4cgqR-5g3cDeVTDdmOcyHwgVgOVi0GU6gecEMoskxbfEk/s811/COVER_JUST-ASK-BOB_2023-Cvr.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="811" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHX_Or8DimkVwjaqwrS4w1wgTSV3FhUB5FZNSCOFt1e41sgQorRxN6HvCYSrpo2ImseAXejFu97x_gjjlPsrjaQUoEPnmli7eLbOrsqBYazv4k52hHyggiL67e0EFljDsgVwLBZuHmEwEolk4cgqR-5g3cDeVTDdmOcyHwgVgOVi0GU6gecEMoskxbfEk/w237-h320/COVER_JUST-ASK-BOB_2023-Cvr.jpg" width="237" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Just Ask Bob</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Melody (not her real name) had been taking on more work responsibilities assigned by her supervisor. She initially did not mind the extra work because she was pleased that her supervisor had confidence that she would complete her work on time.</span><p></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As time went on, Melody's supervisor gave her more assignments; and now, she's feeling overwhelmed by her workload. However, Melody does not want to mention her frustrations to her supervisor. What's more, her supervisor is also wondering if something is wrong with Melody. So, what should her supervisor do?<br /><br />In the dynamic landscape of today's workplace, owners of small and mid-sized businesses find themselves facing a variety of employee-related situations that demand their attention. While it may be tempting to delegate these issues to human resources or middle management, consultant Robert M. Scott, Jr., owner of Human Resources Assistance, believes it is important that business owners take an active role in addressing common workplace situations involving employees. <br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Before business owners have many questions and Scott knows that they need immediate and clear answers if they want their operations to be successful and retain their employees. So, Robert Scott did just that in his book, <a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/2014/03/19/just-ask-bob-the-human-resources-handbook-for-small-mid-sized-business-owners/" target="_blank">Just Ask Bob: The Human Resources Handbook for Small & Mid-Sized Business Owners.</a></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Scott has worked as a Human Resources administrator for over 30 years in a variety of private and public workplaces, including the municipal sector.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br />Business owners play a pivotal role in shaping the culture of their organizations. How they handle workplace situations sends a clear message to employees about what behavior is acceptable and what is not. <br /><br />Scott's book provides answers to many commonly occurring work situations that supervisors must address, such as: <br /><br />• Employees making personal phone calls<br />• Employees arriving late to work <br />• Employees with hygiene problems<br />• Insensitivity toward a gay employee<br />• An employee with nude pictures<br />• Bad chemistry between employees<br />• Physical violence between employees<br />• The employees' religion at work<br />• On-the-job romance<br /><br />Although the author provides straightforward answers to these and many other situations, Scott suggests business owners who want more detailed answers should contact a professional human resources consultant. The author provides this assistance but also recommends professionals to contact at the end of the book.</span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Common workplace situations such as conflicts, performance issues, or grievances can erode employee morale and engagement if not taken care of by leadership. Businesses that take a proactive approach to resolving these issues show a commitment to creating a supportive work environment.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">For more information on <a href="https://www.marketingnewauthors.biz/2014/03/19/just-ask-bob-the-human-resources-handbook-for-small-mid-sized-business-owners/" target="_blank">Just Ask Bob: The Human Resources Handbook for Small & Mid-Sized Business Owners</a>, visit the book's page on the website of MarketingNewAuthors.com</span></span></p></div>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-11254571810828476592023-10-08T01:50:00.004-04:002023-10-08T01:50:50.607-04:00Author Jeanette Toomer Displays Resilence in New Memoir On Overcoming Her Struggles <p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxjD9YBBLi25Xr-5-HI8D_55m7oc0tVqce6UzV2P8WDVz3IfSYf22PiDbdswmI67Y4y6deFBzG0bXTH__UhZPtJLPlmVEV3j-kTxogi5WERqMTFuiKYi4Yje2iXTur78pcapLDVCSpI-lLruKJQFzL9W_9cBXLpKIUioK-Tq0llij_TPcLeFDe0sS/s960/Toomer_photo.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxjD9YBBLi25Xr-5-HI8D_55m7oc0tVqce6UzV2P8WDVz3IfSYf22PiDbdswmI67Y4y6deFBzG0bXTH__UhZPtJLPlmVEV3j-kTxogi5WERqMTFuiKYi4Yje2iXTur78pcapLDVCSpI-lLruKJQFzL9W_9cBXLpKIUioK-Tq0llij_TPcLeFDe0sS/s320/Toomer_photo.jpg" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">MarketingNewAuthors.com (MANA) welcomes Jeanette Toomer to the MANA Family of Authors. In her debut memoir, <i><a href="https://marketingnewauthors.biz/precious-struggles/" target="_blank">Precious Struggles: The Making Of A 21st Century Woman</a></i>, Ms. Toomer takes readers on a journey of the challenging times in her life, including her marriage and her decision to have children. </span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Ms. Toomer shows readers how she discovered her strength and inspired changes through her activism during the Civil Rights era, her challenges as an educator, as well as navigating through September 11, 2001, in New York City, and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In an interview with "The Authors Show," Ms. Toomer gave an inspiring response to the question: "What is a 21st-century woman?" Ms. Toomer answered:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">"A 21st-century woman is a wo</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">man who endures cultural and societal conflicts and finds a way to overcome even personal difficulties to rediscover and refine her strengths."</span></p><div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">During her interview, Ms. Toomer offered more insight into the process of developing her book. To listen to her full interview on "The Author's Show," use the audio player below:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="60" mozallowfullscreen="true" src="https://archive.org/embed/jeanette-toomer" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="500"></iframe></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Prior to her interview on the popular radio program that highlights new and seasoned authors, Ms. Toomer had a question-and-answer (Q&A) session with MANA, the company through which she self-published her </span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">memoir, </span><i style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="https://marketingnewauthors.biz/precious-struggles/" target="_blank">Precious Struggles: The Making Of A 21st Century Woman</a></i><span style="font-family: verdana;">: </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i style="font-family: verdana;"><b>MANA: </b></i><span style="font-family: verdana;">What inspired you to write your book?</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>Jeanette Toomer (JT): </i></b>I felt that after turning 50 I wanted to leave my</span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">memoir behind for my children and other women to know. It may look normal, but many incidents (including birth) in the life of a Black woman in America are not. Yet, we tend to survive, live and even raise children in a racist, and sometimes, sexist culture. If I share my story, perhaps I can inspire someone else to share theirs. We have so much to learn from each other.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZaihPTWrCwkNNUUTx6A3cOOzd7iHTVLv3FKnTbp-5rTSg0za-R2m_ud6wM4mULg7JvSHHeaedbeYl8sfFQHpr1SYnxB_j0HHYQ-RBgS6tXf1uz7LfbjKroLfebV6mKd6h4lSXtuuu93zlvcKbCKyrDQaIeVCar-2NLtrHRTLN79-LV0jNVwQM0JM/s596/PreciousStruggles-F-Cvr.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAZaihPTWrCwkNNUUTx6A3cOOzd7iHTVLv3FKnTbp-5rTSg0za-R2m_ud6wM4mULg7JvSHHeaedbeYl8sfFQHpr1SYnxB_j0HHYQ-RBgS6tXf1uz7LfbjKroLfebV6mKd6h4lSXtuuu93zlvcKbCKyrDQaIeVCar-2NLtrHRTLN79-LV0jNVwQM0JM/s320/PreciousStruggles-F-Cvr.jpg" width="215" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><b>MANA:</b></i> Is this your first book?<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><b>JT:</b> </i>Yes, this is my first book.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>MANA:</i> </b>How did you find time for writing, particularly if you were working while writing your manuscript?<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>JT:</i></b> It was a long time coming. I had to fit writing into weekends and summer vacations. My children are adults, so I was no longer raising children. But, teaching high school English can require long hours of planning lessons and grading papers. I started by attending a small memoir writing workshop held by African Voices. We would bring our drafts to the workshop and receive feedback from each other. That was over six years ago. I decided to keep writing it with chapters on 9/11 and later surviving cancer.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><b>MANA:</b></i> What was the easiest part of the writing process for you?<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><b>JT:</b></i> I guess the easy part was knowing what I wanted to focus on in each chapter. At least that's how it began and other memories would rise and I'd have to add to it.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>MANA: </i></b>Please describe what your book, <i>Precious Struggles: The Making Of A 21st Century Woman</i> is about?<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i><b>JT:</b></i> My book is about the personal, cultural, and political struggles that I experienced in my life and overcame. Most of them I did not foresee, which was the disturbing part about it. I also realized that many of these struggles were racial and sexist signs of our times.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>MANA:</i></b> How did you come up with the title, <i>Precious Struggles: The Making Of A 21st Century Woman</i>?<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>JT:</i></b> "Precious" means that it was crucial for me to face these challenges, which related closely to who I am as a Black woman, a professional, and a mother. So the struggles are difficult but also precious and allow me to grow beyond my expectations.<span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>MANA:</i></b> For whom did you write this book? In other words, who is your audience?<br /></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>JT:</i></b> My audience is women of all ages and particularly Black women. It is also for anyone studying race or gender studies in the 20th century. It is also for men who want to better understand the choices that women make for their reproductive well-being.</span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><i>MANA:</i></b> </span>What do you hope that readers will take away from your book?</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>JT:</i></b> I hope that they take away inspiration to be the "change" that our country needs. Some of the struggles and issues in the book are still very relevant today. </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>MANA: </i></b>What lessons did you learn about the book publishing process?</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>JT:</i></b> It takes years not just to write the book but also to proofread and edit it.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>MANA:</i></b> Is there anything else that you would like to say about your book?</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b><i>JT: </i></b>Buy it. Reactions from readers have been very good.</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><br /></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span>Go <a href="https://marketingnewauthors.biz/precious-struggles/" target="_blank"><b>HERE </b></a>to MANA's website to preview </span><i>Precious Struggles: The Making Of A 21st Century Woman.</i></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: verdana; font-kerning: none; font-size: medium;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p><p class="p2" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-size: 18px; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 22px;"><br /><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></p></div></div>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-1772057333070612872023-10-07T23:08:00.001-04:002023-10-07T23:08:46.018-04:00 The Art of Storytelling: How to Avoid Five Common Pitfalls <p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDP0H0zpDjwYrSlmRmOKmK1SGx3OL1qEaKy1viEJWAbQZWCi5JFvQKjXtcXBiO0Hm1PGKfW4hshqQwdXhYpRWvvJsCsQ_RGmh9V3Tuhz8p5CO9ZSmAWPr9TGG-sLeOrFc5rA4OX-GlmPxvtIBOhnuUgFmWOBFudyltbUmhCPA0HXnx634h1kwP7SA8P_U/s640/man-7744408_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="453" data-original-width="640" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDP0H0zpDjwYrSlmRmOKmK1SGx3OL1qEaKy1viEJWAbQZWCi5JFvQKjXtcXBiO0Hm1PGKfW4hshqQwdXhYpRWvvJsCsQ_RGmh9V3Tuhz8p5CO9ZSmAWPr9TGG-sLeOrFc5rA4OX-GlmPxvtIBOhnuUgFmWOBFudyltbUmhCPA0HXnx634h1kwP7SA8P_U/s320/man-7744408_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", system-ui; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Image by </span><a href="https://pixabay.com/users/alexandra_koch-621802/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=7744408" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", system-ui; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Alexandra_Koch</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Open Sans", system-ui; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;"> from </span><a href="https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=7744408" style="--tw-border-spacing-x: 0; --tw-border-spacing-y: 0; --tw-ring-color: rgb(59 130 246 / 0.5); --tw-ring-offset-color: #fff; --tw-ring-offset-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-ring-offset-width: 0px; --tw-ring-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-rotate: 0; --tw-scale-x: 1; --tw-scale-y: 1; --tw-scroll-snap-strictness: proximity; --tw-shadow-colored: 0 0 #0000; --tw-shadow: 0 0 #0000; --tw-skew-x: 0; --tw-skew-y: 0; --tw-translate-x: 0; --tw-translate-y: 0; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Open Sans", system-ui; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Pixabay</a></b></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Storytelling is the most engaging form of communication for writers. Why? Because everyone loves a good story. Additionally, authors of well-written stories are more than likely to gain loyal readers. However, writers should be mindful of the mistakes that can detract from the overall quality and impact of their stories. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The following are the most common pitfalls writers should avoid, especiallly when writing fiction:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>1. Overly Complicated Plotting</b></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Have you ever read a book with multiple characters, and the story contained a plot for each character? It's easy for readers to get lost and lose interest in a complicated story. So, avoid overwhelming readers with excessive information or backstories of all the characters. Focus on your main characters and add essential details of other characters when they become relevant to the story.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">2. Overuse of Adverbs and Adjectives</span></b></p><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Writing a story that readers enjoy involves using descriptive language. However, writers frequently overuse adverbs and adjectives to describe nouns and verbs. For instance, writers commonly use an adverb to modify the verb "said," such as "he said, loudly," "she said, smiling," or "he said, laughing." The overuse of adverbs can weaken a story. Similarly, the overuse of adjectives (for instance, "the very big, scary monster) can weigh down and slow the pace of a story, causing readers to become bored and lose interest in the narrative. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">In a letter to one of his students, <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/katelee/2012/11/30/mark-twain-on-writing-kill-your-adjectives/?sh=6d025aa340e8" target="_blank">Mark Twain</a> advised: </span></div><p style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don't mean utterly, but kill most of them—then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are wide apart.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">So, opt for stronger verbs and precise nouns in your story.<span></span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>3. Writing Flat Characters</b></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Characters who lack depth and complexity can make a story feel one-dimensional. <a href="https://kellyabell.com/2016/01/29/writing-tip-avoid-flat-stanley/" target="_blank">Kelly Abell</a>, an international bestselling author, advises writers to avoid giving readers "Flat Stanley," a character her daughter created for an elementary school project. Abell said her daughter mailed a paper cutout of Stanley to Abell's sister, who had to take pictures of herself with the character at different tourist attractions. Abell writes:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><i>My point in telling you all this? Don’t give your readers a Flat Stanley. Write three-dimensional characters. Readers abhor lifeless, dull, and boring. They want to know what makes your character tick.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Give your characters goals and flaws, and let them have secrets and internal conflicts, to make them more relatable and interesting.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>4. Lack of conflict</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Stories thrive on conflict and tension. Avoid writing stories where everything goes perfectly for the characters, and do just the opposite: Embrace conflict. In "<a href="https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-tell-a-story-effectively" target="_blank">How to Tell a Story Effectively: 7 Storytelling Tips</a>" an article on the streaming platform, "<a href="http://masterclass.com" target="_blank">Masterclass</a>," offers the following insight:</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>As a storyteller, you can’t shy away from conflict. Great storytellers craft narratives that have all sorts of obstacles and hardships strewn in the path of their protagonists. In order to be satisfied with a happy ending, audiences have to watch the main characters struggle to achieve their goals. It’s okay to be cruel to your main characters—in fact, it’s necessary. Compelling plots are built on conflict, and it’s imperative that you embrace conflict and drama in order to become a better storyteller.</i></span></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">If you want to write a compelling story, your characters should face challenges and obstacles.<br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>5. Telling Rather Than Showing </b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Telling a story to readers instead of showing them what's happening is a common mistake of new writers. A quote by <a href="https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/anton_chekhov_161950" target="_blank">Anton Chekhov</a> illustrates this point: </span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't tell me the moon is shining. Show me the glint of light on broken glass.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Show readers what's happening or what characters are feeling through actions, dialogue, and sensory details. Let readers experience the story firsthand.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Remember that storytelling is an art, and the rules can be bent or broken creatively when done with purpose. However, this takes time and practice to master. But, it's well worth it. Learning from your mistakes and continually honing your storytelling skills is essential to becoming a better writer.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Do you need help in crafting your story or would you like more information about book publishing? Then contact MarketingnewAuthors.com at info@marketingnewauthors.com. We are here to help.</i></span></span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /></div></div>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-259199486008827296.post-84643427397484143942023-09-13T23:24:00.001-04:002023-09-23T22:52:36.064-04:00A MANA Moment Editorial: The Power of Acknowledgment: Why Every Student Deserves Recognition<p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>By Dr. Fairy Hayes-Scott</b></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><b>Owner, MarketingNewAuthors.com</b></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZq6X7qJgVQHGMAnuRhksPf_XhHvAZ-DDPdbIEdK-nGBdV-us9uX1HJkEsN3bTnicBPoFJCtp59VUMd6pha6D6S519G6h8FE5tvOS0VdPaLKgt_VIaKV1Ro2Hi1EEhSjyCl0jXlaIExhGol2K_8HwZJn0dhHbOOoO5kQ-312wZPfjrwIP6nKe1jmpzu8/s366/f593ba_c87672517177466d8014f7d62d501c55~mv2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZq6X7qJgVQHGMAnuRhksPf_XhHvAZ-DDPdbIEdK-nGBdV-us9uX1HJkEsN3bTnicBPoFJCtp59VUMd6pha6D6S519G6h8FE5tvOS0VdPaLKgt_VIaKV1Ro2Hi1EEhSjyCl0jXlaIExhGol2K_8HwZJn0dhHbOOoO5kQ-312wZPfjrwIP6nKe1jmpzu8/s320/f593ba_c87672517177466d8014f7d62d501c55~mv2-1.jpg" width="245" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">"Mommy, she called everyone in class but me!" </span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">“Pumpkin, are you sure? Perhaps, she did not see you.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">“Mommy, she <i>saw</i> me. And I know I was the only one who had a report on a Black person.”</span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">I was a third grader and decided to choose to report on a Black person since I had not had a book or lesson about any Black people who had accomplished anything. </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Thus, one day I lamented in frustration to my Mom, "Has Black people done anything?" She answered in the affirmative and took me to a public library. It was there I found a book about famous Black people, one of them was Louis Daniel (Satchmo) Armstrong. </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Since I was in a class with few Black students and knew that I was the only one going to report on a Black individual, I was really anticipating the opportunity to do my report. Well, it did not happen. I was hurt.</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">So, when I became a teacher, I always made sure I did my best to answer every raised hand or acknowledge every student letting him or her know I would get to his or her answer as soon as I could. For my students, they knew they could not "hide" from me or be missed because there was no front or back of the classroom. I walked all around the classroom doing my best to make every student feel he or she was the center of my concern. </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">Sometimes, my students (before I retired I taught seventh, eighth, and ninth graders and community college students for 45 years) may have wished they were not the center. I would even call upon students who did not raise their hands (the exception being when I perceived I should not or they would tell me they were having a bad day). I never wanted to embarrass a student, but I wanted to motivate every student to be confident in his or her answers and know that I believed in each student’s personal worth.</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">The community college where I taught had a policy of colleagues evaluating each other’s classroom teaching. Faculty could choose the colleague. I chose one whom I knew we did not have a close relationship. </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">As my evaluator/colleague, in her report to me, she confirmed my efforts:</span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><blockquote style="text-align: left;"><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">It was apparent that Dr. Hayes-Scott's students were accustomed to and comfortable with her expectations for participating and high-energy teaching style...There was a lot of good-natured laughter as Dr. Hayes-Scott called on many students to share their ideas with the class, for they knew she was not going to get anyone off the hook...I feared that one young man, Dan, would be embarrassed by his inability to answer her question immediately. </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;">However, Dr. Hayes-Scott was so respectful and optimistic in her approach, that while she insisted that he dig deeper and find his answer, he was able to explore his ideas with her (while the class listened and watched) until he came to a much better understanding of what had been bubbling in his mind all along. It was a remarkable interchange to observe and learn from, and it was clear that Dan emerged from the experience with a self-confidence and pride that he hadn't exhibited earlier in the class period. </span></span></p><blockquote><blockquote><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p></blockquote><p class="p1" style="font-feature-settings: normal; font-kerning: auto; font-optical-sizing: auto; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variation-settings: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"> </span></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: medium;"><span style="text-align: justify;">So, as the school season begins, I do hope all educators remember the importance that every student feels when acknowledged. Furthermore, students can feel the joy of learning and have pleasant memories of their classroom experiences. And educators can feel personal satisfaction and belief that they have done their best so that no student leaves their class ever feeling hurt.</span> </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><b><i>If you would like to share your thoughts about this editorial, please post your comments in the comment box below. </i></b></span></p>The MANA Teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16440840872660487011noreply@blogger.com0