How Storytelling Will Lead to Change

While I was re-reading “Mockingjay” last month, I came across a quote that I hadn’t noticed the first time.  It really struck out to me.  It said: “Outbursts are short.  It’s stories that take time.”  I found that quote to be incredibly powerful and had a noticeable amount of truth behind it.

The quote resonates well with not only “Mockingjay,” but also with what’s been happening in the news as of lately.  As we all know, our justice system is proving itself to be completely screwed (let’s just say it as it is).  On November 24th, it was announced that former Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson will not be indicted for shooting and killing unarmed 18-year-old Michael Brown.  Then, earlier this week, we find out that New York police officer Daniel Pantaleo, who killed Eric Garner back in July with a choke hold (a move banned by the NYPD) will also not be indicted for his very illegal actions.  In both cases, it was a white cop that had killed an unarmed black man.

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Finding Bravado

Come this Tuesday and it will be three weeks since I released A Moment’s Worth.  While three weeks normally feels like a relatively lengthy period of time to me, in this case scenario, it feels like a shorter period of time than that.

Consider me being overly optimistic in thinking that things would improve drastically from the time I wrote the post the Saturday following the book’s release, but in reality, things haven’t gotten too much better- and if they are, then they’re at a progressively slow rate.  My stats on the book’s purchase history have improved only slightly, and apart from a review a man from Colorado left on Goodreads (for whom I shall remain grateful for), I haven’t gotten any reviews yet.  With that, along with other pathetically petty issues that have been occurring in my life as of lately, haven’t been relieving me of any stress at all.

So that’s why I spent today walking; all over and any place worth walking- because walking is still a down-to-earth honest action almost any human can do.  I just needed to clear the air, clear my mind, and just let go for a while.  I needed time away from advice-givers and voices in general just to let me be.

Representation and Diversity Through Books

It’s Day 3 of the #WeNeedDiverseBooks campaign, and when not being occupied by schoolwork, I partake in it with my own contributions in social media, as well as checking out some of the others by other people (some of them coming from my favorite authors).  It was such brilliant timing when I heard about it, because it’s a subject that I’m really passionate about, and really involved in.

That’s right, you heard me.  Let’s talk about race.

Special Sunday Post: We Need Diverse Books Campaign May 1-3

Surprise, surprise.  The weekend isn’t even over yet and I already have another blog post for you all.  And here’s the kicker… this one wasn’t even planned.

3 Months of Blogging: What Can I Work On?

As of this weekend, I’ve had this blog for three months.  Within that time, I’ve been able to convey to readers what’s been going on and what’s on my mind, all the while tying it in with the book that has yet to be released.  It’s all for the sake of getting to know me and understanding where I’m coming from; to get a better understanding for when the book comes out.

Within the past three months, I’ve learned a lot about blogging, in terms of how responsive which topics are over others, maintaining a blog and what not.  I’ve been able to come to terms with what it’s like to have a personal yet public form where you really get to share yourself with the world, beyond the mechanisms otherwise found in social media… and yet for me, I want to do more.  I want to improve.