Guest Blog Recruiting!

 

Hi Lovies,

I have been inspired to create a guest blog event for women who are over 30 and are childless. There were a couple of social media posts over the last few weeks that I was engaged in where women who do not have a baby and are over the age of 30 are simply tired of being harassed by society. They will not comply with what the rest of the world deems normal and are pushing back. The reluctance to talk about what is happening with their bodies is personal and private. Why do strangers need to know if they can’t have a baby or simply don’t want one?

Well, this blog feature is going to address those concerns and more. It is a way for women to express themselves without the overwhelming cloak of judgement hanging over them. If you are a “childless” woman over the age of 30 and would like to participate in this event, please contact me.

Let the people hear your point of view so they can stop asking you all of the time. Let your voices be heard!  Be sure to spread the word! Like, and share this post.

 

 

Book Review – Revolution: Book 2 in The Nora White Story by Yecheilyah Ysrayl

 

Today is the Release Day for Yecheilyah Ysrayl’s latest creation! I have been looking forward to this one since I read Book 1 – Renaissance: The Nora White Story back in June of last year. 

The story of Nora White continues where it left off from book 1 in the series. As expected it was a whirlwind of excitement.
The story once again toggles between New York, Nora’s new haven and Mississippi, her roots.

I found myself enthralled with this story. The way the author blends the actual events of the past with her fictitious interpretation is compelling. The visual depictions of the surrounding had me inside the room when Nora was waking from one of her spells. I could smell the open air of the South and feel the breeze on my face at the lake. I had the feeling that if I took a step, I would enter into the realm of Nora and her friends as they prepared for the huge Marcus Garvey event at The Garden.

The lesson in this book is something that is needed so much in today’s society. It also shows, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

My one disappointment was that we never hear from Lisa and what happened to her. I was very much looking forward to seeing how karma was going to deal with her. The author did leave a tiny bit of hope at the end so maybe we’ll see a third book about Lisa and her shenanigans. Here’s hoping. Overall I gave this story 4.5 stars, which in my world rounds up to a 5 star rating!

To purchase Renaissance, Revolution and the rest of Yecheilyah’s body of work Click Here.

 

 

Invisible Fat Lady Presents – Montgomery, AL

Hi Lovies,

It’s been a long time. I shouldn’t have left you without a dope place to travel to. Okay, so I am no Rakim, but it has been a while since I wrote a travel blog. Well, the Invisible Fat Lady is back with a historical trip to Montgomery, Alabama. Yaaaaas!

As some of you that follow my blog know, my husband and I recently moved to Birmingham, AL. Never, ever ever in my big thighed life did I expect to live in Alabama! However, when the opportunity knocks, you have to jump in. Since I can write from anywhere, it was only fair to support my hubby in following his career goals. So what do I think so far? Not too shabby! Who knew Alabama, specifically Bham was poppin?

Well, you didn’t stop what you’re doing to read about my likes or dislikes of the Magic City. We are supposed to be chatting about my trip to Montgomery. Don’t get too excited, we took a day trip which meant we had to drive down and back(two hours each way) on a beautiful Sunday afternoon. I read about the new Legacy Museum and the corresponding National Memorial For Peace and Justice that just opened and I had to see them for myself.

For a total of $10 per person, we purchased a combo pack of tickets that allowed us access to

© Lisa W. Tetting

both attractions. Of course we tried to be all tech savvy and purchase our tickets in the car, thinking we could just show the bar code on the phone to gain access. WRONG! There we were, looking at each other, neither armed with a portable printer. Well, damn! Luckily, the lady at the box office/gift shop was nice enough to print out our tickets for us. It only took navigating through a long corridor to find the box office. It was actually a little area that used to be used as a gateway to moves slaves from one holding area to another. It has been renovated and gentrified to house several shops and restaurants in this era.

Once we got our tickets, we walked back over to the museum, which is less than a block away, only to have water poured on my head. I don’t mean literally, but that’s what it felt like. The night before we left, I charged up my Canon SLR and was ready for a day of great picture taking. Well, The Legacy Museum had other plans. You could certainly take your camera inside, because they didn’t want to inconvenience you and make you walk back to your car. However, you were not about to use said camera inside the museum. I had 3 pictures that I needed to get, one of the entry wall, one of the jars of sand collected at the lynching sites all over the south, and one of the sculpture on the way out. Just three measly pictures would have satisfied me, but I was denied.

Security Guards be like… 

Sorry Guys, no pics of the inside of the museum and since I had my petty boots on, I didn’t take any of the outside either. That will show them. Anyway, the tour was self-guided and it didn’t take that long. Give yourself 45 minutes to an hour depending on how busy it is. The displays were ok, but I prefer the ones in the Civil Rights Museum in Birmingham. They were totally different so it is not a comparison in that manner, just the overall feel of the place was different.

The theme of the museum is ‘From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration’. The most intense part for me was seeing the jars of soil that were meticulously collected from each documented site of a lynching in the South. The most astonishing thing was seeing so many jars with Unknown listed as the name of the person lynched. It amazes me the amount of hate displayed there. On a positive note, I saw a lot of families touring the museum. People of all races, many from other countries, learning about our country’s shameful past and present. (Remember the Mass Incarceration part?)

© Lisa W. Tetting

When we left there, we loaded back into the truck, after a brief walk around the area to see what we could see. I found it amusing to find the Hank Williams Museum just steps away. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you the historical significance of the location of the museum. It is housed in a restored building that once served as a warehouse/holding cell for slaves between the time they disembarked from ships and were sold at the market, which is only a few blocks away.

Once we left that area, we traveled over to what I deemed one of the greatest memorials I have ever experienced. I say experienced, because that is exactly what you do there. The National Memorial For Peace and Justice is a sight to behold. Thankfully, the guards allowed pictures there. Starting out along the entry of the walkway, you are greeted by a beautiful quote from one of today’s most important writers, Toni Morrison. Continuing up the slight incline you reach a breathtaking sculpture representing the enslaved ancestors. I was speechless as I viewed the art installation created by West African artist, Kwame Akoto-Bamfo. The attention to detail is evident as you view each representative down to the braids of one woman’s hair. Just beautiful and sad at the same time.

© Lisa W. Tetting

© Lisa W. Tetting

© Lisa W. Tetting

© Lisa W. Tetting

As you continue to walk up the pathway, the wall on the right continues to get taller and taller, with inscriptions leading you along the way. Then you get to a stopping point where you can look over the wall to inspect the lawn down below. The view is stunning, but you continue because you must. The first sight of the monuments is at eye level. You’ll notice the pattern throughout the monument of the name of the county and state where the lynching took place, followed by the names of the people who were brutally murdered, and the dates of the lynching.

Some are individual instances, while others appear to have been a massacre. We counted on one structure at least 17 people all killed on the same day in the same county, but the most unnerving thing was they were all listed as Unknown! I can’t tell you the amount of pain this brought to my soul. Imagine families being dragged out and murdered in the streets for no reason. They didn’t even know the people’s names, just their race.

 The memorial is well structured throughout. As the incline increases, so do the structures. They move from eye level to rising overhead at a slow steady pace. You will be entranced at this level, but I will warn you to watch your step. On the structures that are hanging above you, the name of the county and state are etched into the bottom, causing you to look up. Although the designers have installed frames directly underneath the structures, you will be distracted looking up and may run into one. I witnessed a lady doing just that.   You have been warned.

© Lisa W. Tetting

© Lisa W. Tetting

© Lisa W. Tetting

© Lisa W. Tetting

© Lisa W. Tetting

The next corridor has more structures, but also a display along a wall that tells the stories of several families and individuals and why they were lynched. There is a peaceful water wall placed there to honor the dead. From there it continues. It goes on and on and on. The path leads you around to what I call the garden, where the structures are now laying to rest on the earth, in the same fashion as a coffin. It truly resembled a graveyard. Once you reach the end of this path, you are greeted by a tranquility park, set there to honor civil rights pioneer Ida B. Wells. It is a place for peaceful reflection.

Just on the other side of the peaceful little corner, there is a pathway that takes you back around to the start of the tour. Here you will find more sculptures that depict racial violence from both the past and present. On your way out don’t forget to read the poem Invocation by Elizabeth Alexander that reflects on the past, but gives hope for the future.

I couldn’t believe how many people were killed in this horrific fashion, not to mention their murders going unpunished. I want you all to stop and think about this. How can this country ever heal if we can’t get justice for the blood that has spilled? This memorial is a good step in the right direction and I applaud EJI for sanctioning a memorial worthy of the mall in DC.

I encourage every man, woman, and child who is drawing breath in their bodies to take the trip to Montgomery and see this memorial. We must start the healing process in order for things to get better for ALL of us. That’s all for now.  And remember… 

 

 

 

 

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Indie Shine – Charles R. Butts Jr.

In this edition of Indie Shine, a place for rebirthoflisa to ‘Shine’ the spotlight on indie artists, we welcome author Charles R. Butts Jr.

©Charles R. Butts Jr. used with permission

 

Bio: 

 In addition to being an author, blogger and speaker, Atlanta native Charles R. Butts Jr. is an Army veteran and a retired postal service employee with over thirty-three years of service. When he’s not reading, writing or working out, Charles enjoys spending time with Shawanda, his wife of twenty-two years, his children, Amber and Charles III and his beloved grandson Noah. Influenced by James Baldwin, Walter Mosley and Langston Hughes, he hopes to align myriad, exciting and relatable characters into a single thread.

Q & A:

What do you do and Why do you do it?

I write compelling and thought-provoking fiction about the real life issues we face today using flawed and relatable characters. I write about racism, violence, temptation, mental illness, rejection because of albinism. I do so because problems can’t be resolved until they’re addressed.

Tell us about your most recent work.

 My most recent work is a compelling, diverse and thought-provoking collection of short stories entitled Running In Plain Sight & Other Stories. Four stories dealing with murder, temptation, rejection and mental illness (Bipolar Disorder)

Who inspires you?

Numerous writers like James Baldwin, Walter Mosley, Toni Morrison, Dr. Maya Angelou, Nikki Giovanni and Paulo Coelho (The Alchemist) among others.

What do you consider your “Masterpiece” at this time?

 While I’m proud of my works, I’m not going to call them “ Masterpieces” Because of the positive reviews and feedback I’ve received, I’m encouraged to create greater works.

What is your motto in life? 

 The golden rule. Treat everyone the way you’d like to be treated regardless of how you’re treated.

Name your wildest dream. The one you can not imagine achieving, but would love for it to come true. 

 I would love for my novel, For Only A Season to be made into a movie.

What is your favorite quote? 

 “ To thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night does the day. Thou canst be false to any man.” William Shakespeare

When it is all said and done, what would you like to be remembered for? 

 Being a good person, husband and father.

Tell us about your next project and when will it be available to the public? 

 My next project is the sequel to For Only A Season. It’s entitled The Storm Is Passing Over. I’m hoping to release it at the end of the year.

Where can fans purchase your work? 

My work is available on Amazon and Amazon Kindle. You can also order through my website, www.charlesrbuttsjr.com

Social  Media:

©Charles R. Butts Jr. used with permission

Facebook: Charles R. Butts Jr.

Twitter: @Charlesrbuttsjr

Instagram: charlesr.butts

Website: www.charlesrbuttsjr.com

New Short Story in SOUL Magazine Issue 5

Hi Lovies,

Just a quick chat to let you guys know what I have going on. I wrote a short story called Nneka’s First about a little African American girl who deals with discrimination on her first day of kindergarten. Her parents, with the permission of her teacher, teach her classmates a lesson in tolerance.

You can read my story along with other stories and poems from some very talented writers in Issue 5 of SOUL Magazine, edited and curated by Candis Johnson, available on lulu.com. Click here to purchase it.

Indie Shine – Nadine Tomlinson

In this edition of Indie Shine, a place for rebirthoflisa to ‘Shine’ the spotlight on indie artists, we welcome poet and soon to be author Nadine Tomlinson!

©Nadine Tomlinson used with permission

Bio :

Nadine Tomlinson is a writer of speculative fiction. She enjoys sharing ideas, resources, and storytelling to help writers and other creatives find inspiration for their art and a thriving life. She is writing her first novel.

Q & A

What do you do and Why do you do it? 

I write because it’s my gift and I want to share it with the rest of the world. Also, I believe in the power of storytelling to transform lives and shape new narratives. That’s what I want my stories to do.

Tell us about your most recent work. 

I’m working on my first speculative fiction novel. It has elements of magical realism drawn from Jamaican folklore. It’s about family and facing the consequences of one’s actions, among other things. My protagonist is plus-sized and an anti-heroine. I love her. She’s way different from me. I hope I do her story justice.

Who inspires you?

So many, but here are my favourites: Octavia E. Butler, Nnedi Okorafor, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Margaret Atwood, JK Rowling, Olive Senior, Kei Miller, Maya Angelou, Alice Walker.

What do you consider your “Masterpiece” at this time? 

When I’ve created it, I’ll get back to you. (laughs)

What is your motto in life? 

I think my motto has been subconscious in that I’ve never articulated it or written it down before. Now that I’m thinking about it, it would be to always be true to myself, and that includes never conforming to the status quo.

Name your wildest dream. The one you can not imagine achieving, but would love for it to come true.

To visit every continent and live in one of those places for a while.

What is your favorite quote? 

Gosh, I have so many. But I love the first part of Charles de Lint’s quote: “We’re all made of stories.”

When it is all said and done, what would you like to be remembered for? 

That I made people know that they’re not alone, that I understood and cared and did my best to show that through my lifework.

Tell us about your next project and when will it be available to the public? 

When my novel is ready for publication, I’ll let you know.

Where can fans purchase your work? 

This isn’t my work per se, but some of my short stories were published in a Jamaican anthology.  It’s available on the publisher’s website: pelicanpublishers.com 

The Anthology is a fitting follow-up to the Literary Anthology Festival published by the Jamaican Cultural Development Commission (1987). It is a colourful presentation of gold-medal winning short stories that reflect the many scenes of old and new Jamaica.

• Authors: Rudolph Wallace, Dionne Jackson-Miller, Verone Johnston, Michael Reckord, Claudette Beckford-Brady, A-Dziko Simba, Nadine Tomlinson, Charmaine Morris, Rhonda Harrison, Carroll Edwards

Social Media

Twitter: @naditomlinson

Facebook: @nadinetomlinsonwriter

Instagram: @nadine.tomlinson

Pinterest: naditomlinson

Tumblr: nadine-tomlinson

Indie Shine – Erica L. James

In this edition of Indie Shine, a place for rebirthoflisa to ‘Shine’ the spotlight on indie artists, we welcome recording artist Erica L. James!

©Erica L. James used with permission

 

Bio:

A timid nine-year-old decides she will try out for her school’s Glee Club. She is nervous and practices all night, hoping her hard work will pay off. The music teacher calls her name and she walks over to the piano awaiting his note. She sings “Happy Birthday.” He stops playing the piano and she sits down uncertain if she’s made it. After all the auditions, the music teacher stands up and says,”…the following students should remain seated,” and this is where it all began… Erica James is a R&B Hip-Hop artist from Brooklyn, NY. From her days in the Glee Club to high school singing groups, Erica has music vibrating in the core of her being. Her earliest influences were: Mariah Carey, SWV, Mary J. Blige, and HiFive to name a few… Her passion for music doesn’t rest with just singing, but is coupled with her songwriting skills. Far removed from those Glee Club days, now as an adult she shares her love of music, seasoned with the commitment to uplifting her people. Her catchy lyrics flavored with soothing melodies are for those wanting music of substance. Music that people of all ages can listen to. Music that is righteous. Her mission is just one…to create a space where love is safe.

 

Q&A

What do you do and Why do you do it? 

I make music that promotes positive responses to life’s challenges. My destiny is to help people heal themselves. Many of us are hurting and suffering from self-inflicted guilt, shame, and fear. We have enough music about turning up, but my music is about “turning in.” It’s time that we fix ourselves and I truly believe once this happens, the world will be a better place.

Tell us about your most recent work. 

My recent single, “Other Side,” is about using meditation to find peace in stressful situations or to envision success in your endeavors. As a practitioner and teacher of Hatha Yoga, I think it’s important to share the tools I use to create a more balanced life. This song serves as a reminder to take time for yourself unapologetically.

Who inspires you?

My grandmother inspires me greatly. She is, and has given the purest form of love I know. She taught me how to be: (1) assertive but compassionate, (2) adventurous but practical, and (3) confident but approachable. I have several college degrees but my education doesn’t stand a chance against my grandmother’s wisdom. She is the smartest person I know, and her dedication to her faith and family strengthens my very own commitment to my life’s goals.

What do you consider your “Masterpiece” at this time? 

My “masterpiece” has not yet been created, or maybe it has. It is my hope that my music inspires one person to change something about themselves for the better. If I have done this, then that is my “masterpiece.”

What is your motto in life? 

My motto is: “Nothing is a problem unless you make it one.”

Name your wildest dream. The one you can not imagine achieving, but would love for it to come true.

My wildest dream would be Erykah Badu, Indie Arie, Lauren Hill, Jill Scott, and Ibeyi participating in my yoga retreat. We would all sing, eat good food, detox, share, and create a space of power.

What is your favorite quote? 

“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” ~Maya Angelou

When it is all said and done, what would you like to be remembered for? 

I want to be remembered for creating music that changed peoples’ lives. I hope that people will say that I made it cool for music to be spiritual without being gospel.

Tell us about your next project and when will it be available to the public?

My next project is my album, “Always In Love.” Hopefully it will be available to the public next Spring.

Where can fans purchase your work? 

Fans can purchase my songs on iTunes, Amazon Music, Google Play, and Tidal. In addition, fans can stream my songs on Apple Music, Spotify and Pandora.

Social Media

Website: eljmusic.com

Facebook: @songsbyEJ

Instagram: @songsbyEJ

Twitter:  @songsbyEJ

 

Motivational Monday – 10/9/17

There’s an expression ‘When you snooze you loose’. I heard that this weekend and thought that is not always the case. Sometimes when you snooze you win. How? Because you stay out of drama. People these days are notorious for bringing others into their issues seeking validation, but we have to decide what issues are important to address and which ones to walk away from.

Motivational Monday – 9/25/17

Sometimes we sit around waiting for other people to make us happy. At times we think if I only had enough money or if I could find the right person. We can’t fall into that trap. Happiness is not found through monetary things or in someone else. 

Wise Words Wednesday – Holmes

Today’s wise words come from Oliver Wendell Holmes. At times we tend to stick to what we know because the familiar is comfortable, but it is only when we embrace something different that we really see things for what they are.