Your Next Read is Almost Here

There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I've been working on this book for almost two years now. It's been a long journey, but it's almost over — and I couldn't be more excited about it!

I heard from the Layout Editor and she informed me that I will be able to review the book as a book by next week. WOW! Ya'll, I can finally see a light at the end of this tunnel.

Your Next Read is Almost Here.

Getting this book ready for publication AFTER writing it is a process. For real. We went through four phases of revisions and edits until we finally came up with something we were all happy with in the end.

Now it's time for layout, which is when all of my hard work comes together in one beautiful package. The cover image will be added to the back cover, along with the title page, copyright page and all the other elements included in my manuscript during the revisions and editing phase.

The LAST part of the process after layout is the creation of the index.

So when do you get your copy of Me Power?

I do not have a firm date yet but we are aiming for the end of October 2022. We are going to do a soft launch with the electronic version and then a hard launch with the paperback version, which will be available at independent bookstores online and in these communities (to start):

1. Long Beach, CA

2. Los Angeles, CA

3. San Diego, CA

4. San Marcos, CA

5. Santa Fe, NM

6. Washington, DC

7. Baltimore, MD

8. Richmond, VA

9. Chicago, IL

10. Minneapolis, MN

11. Sioux Falls, SD

12. Indianapolis, IN

13. Missoula, MT

14. Austin, TX

15. Atlanta, GA

16. Princeton, NJ

17. Memphis, TN

18. Nashville, TN

19. Oakland, CA

20. San Francisco, CA

21. Berkeley, CA

22. Honolulu, HI

23. New York, NY

24. St. Cloud, MN

25. Portland, OR

26. Medford, OR

27. Ashland, OR

28. Las Vegas, NV

29. Philadelphia, PA

30. Seattle, WA

31. Albuquerque, NM

Notice a bias for a certain State? 😉

Once we have the book from layout and the process with the Indexer begins, I will have a better sense of the release timeline.

Layout is the final phase of the process and then we will see Me Power in print!

For the Love of Independence

The dominance of Amazon and other big-box retailers is a growing problem across the world. We’ve seen how they’ve shuttered Borders (remember that?) and crippled Barnes & Noble. Independent bookstores make up less than eight percent of retail outlets, if you can even call them that, nationwide.

A large part of this shift is due to the convenience of online shopping—who doesn’t like one-click purchasing? But another reason is that it’s cheaper and more efficient for retailers to ship goods directly from a central warehouse than have dozens or hundreds of stores do so themselves.

We can’t let Amazon and other big-box retailers take over the world.

Fortunately, there are creative solutions that allow independent, small, local, brick-and-mortar businesses to compete with the huge internet retailers.

Bookshop.org supports independent bookstores while also being easy and convenient for online shoppers. Bookstores make more money when they sell with Bookshop as Bookshop does not take a cut of store’s sales. Their profit model is an “everyone-shares-all model.”

Did you know you can make a book registry or wishlist with books you’d like to read or purchase on Bookshop?

Three ⚡️ in 31 Seconds

⚡️ How are you checking in with yourself? How are you creating space to be checked in on? Shout out to Kesha Kent, my BlackLinkedIn is Thriving co-moderator for the clarity with which she asked this question during our meeting on Sunday. We meet every Sunday on Clubhouse from 9-11 am Eastern. Join us!

⚡️ Everyone has come face to face at some point or another with their version of the Me Power/empowerment question. In Me Power, I aim for you to embrace hope, live boldly, and access the unlimited potential of your various aspects of “ME” by Embracing Your Barriers (Motivated Energy), Focusing On Your Strengths (My Education), Speaking for Your Life (Myself Expressed), Choosing Your Guide(s) (Mastering Excellence), and Ritualizing Your Reflection (You Are More than Enough).

⚡️ Did you know that parrots and rabbits are the ONLY two animals that can see behind themselves without turning their head? The latest from my working-mom life with a two-year-old and four-year-old.