URBAN GRAPEVINE MAGAZINE WHERE READERS GET THE JUICE...
Volume 1, 5/16-6/16 Issue 1 Newsletter Date
INSIDE URBAN READS NEWSLETTER
DAVID L. PRESENTS… DAVID L. 4 PRESIDENT Column Synopsis: A random and unbiased perspective of what is relevant in the world today – as seen through the eyes of yours truly, David L. A column not to be duplicated… but to be emulated. Because after all, groundbreaking material does not come around every day. A comprehensive “no holds barred” opinion on the literary world, sports & music industry, and current social events of utmost importance. NO structured thought scheme – just some occasional and unbiased HATE towards those that deserve it! One-on-one interviews to include abstract, unconventional questions with individuals of relevance. A Q&A with random readers with answers posted to include hints, tips and breakthrough marketing ideas into either getting into the industry of their choice – and/or surviving it! In conclusion – a breakthrough column to for the ages… none before me. None after my departure. ‘Nuff said.
CAN I HIT IT IN THE MORNING?! (Who Controls The Relationship: Men Or Women?) Intro The Art of War is not just a well known and best-selling read – it’s a way of life amongst men and women everywhere… regardless of race, culture or creed. The art of war is simply put – psychological warfare with the primary intention of getting the most from the opposite sex (depending on your sexual preference). Contrary to popular belief, there are subtle nuances in the concept of “leaders were born to lead and followers were born to follow.” There is a “pecking order” of sorts in this game we call life. My sole objective is to prove once and for all – who is the ultimate “puppet master” in the murky waters of romance and relationship? Who is the true “big baller shot caller” and who indeed “runs the show”? Similar to the various forms of abuse, true power takes on a myriad of forms. Physical power is the ability to overpower your mate through physical coercion and/or downright bullying. Domination via presence and stature, most often accomplished by men. There is also mental power. The ability to outwit your mate. Cunning. Stealth. Wit. Psychological power perhaps? A possible raunchy videotape tucked away somewhere… only to be used at a later date? True “tongue skills” is not a reference to how well you can perform cunnilingus. On the contrary, it is your means to seduce with your words… and manipulate with precision and tact.
Control in a relationship is not etched in stone and power can (and more often than not) shift to the other party. To illustrate my point, the individual who asks for the date doesn’t always decide where the date will take place… or what time it will end. The illusion of control is diabolical in nature and lies dormant within the individual who uses it to the best of his or her ability. Ironically, the one in power may not even realize their true potential. Disclaimer: for all you relationship “purists” that are reading this and saying: relationships are about compromise and flexibility – well… I have three words for you: BLAH! BLAH! BLAH! Adjectives like compromise, flexibility and mutuality are contrived and exist only in familythemed television shows made even more popular from channels like Nick at Nite! It’s a façade. There is no mutuality. It only exists in the minds of those that would love to live life with that commonality of achieving it one day.
Reader’s Thoughts: “Women ultimately control the relationship. While the man may take the lead and be the dominant player, it’s the woman who holds down the relationship.” --- T Pretty Lady __________________ “Women run things. Men no longer wish to wear the pants. They wait for the woman to do everything and act surprised when women turn to other women.” --- Anjela Day
The New York Black Expo and Music Heritage Festival will debut on September 14th and 15th, 2013 and will include two full days of business exhibition and the following events and programs: business seminars, literary seminars, entrepreneurial youth seminars, health seminars, business seminars, networking mixers followed by evening concerts and comedy shows. To become a speaker, vendor, sponsor or volunteer send an email to info@newyorkblackexpo.com. Date: Sept 14-15, 2013 Time: 12pm to 10pm Location: Midtown Manhattan
FREE GENERAL ADMISSION TO THE PUBLIC October 24-26, 2013 - 6th Anniversary - Houston, Texas Location: Fallbrook Church - 12512 Walters Rd., Houston, TX 77014
Exhibit Hours: Friday, October 25, 2013 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, October 26, 2013 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. AUTHORS: $100 deposit reserves Festival table; name listing and link are added within 48 hours of registration. Standard Rate is in effect (expires 05/31/13) and balance of $200.00 is due by 07/31/13.
Send your answers to: urbangrapevine3@gmail.com and be entered to win our bi-monthly contest
“Men lead because the world says so.
It’s natural to let a man lead his family, household, and especially his woman.” --- Author Veronica Blackbeauty “Women control the relationship mentally and physically. Some women use mind games and some use pu**y control.” --- Anonymous “Women control the relationship. The man is the head and the woman is the neck that controls the head (only a strong woman can control without belittling her man.)” --Elayne Brinson “Women control the relationship. We are attracted to their beauty and we build on that. We fall in love with their heart and continue to love them because of the person they truly are. We go thru with the wedding to please them. They plan the wedding. We as men just want peace, sex and knowing our woman care and appreciate us.” --- Darrell Freeman Jr. “Women because men are weak when it comes to being in a relationship. The power of the pu**y keeps them powerless and timid – especially if it’s good!” --- Rochelle AllenWoods “The man. He is the natural hunter, provider and protector of the household. It’s in the woman’s nature to follow the lead of her man.” --- Author Nah’Sun “Historically the assumption has always been the man but by seeing the innate resilience of women of all races, I feel women more times than not control the relationship.” -- Kevin Chase “In the beginning, men naturally lead, but later down the line, the roles switch. Woman are the drive behind why men get up and out on their grind. Women control the sex and when and if kids get involved.” --- Auntie Joy Alas, we’ve reached that time in which I provide you with my long-awaited answer to the million dollar question – and the point of this article in the first place. The answer which connects the dots typical, everyday relationship between men and women. Remember folks – this is bigger than all of us. Bigger than your well-meaning aspirations of equality and compromise. It’s about who comes out on top in an argument, who comes out on top in the judicial system (divorce, alimony, child support, custody, etc). This is about who comes out on top in the execution of the initial and subsequent date, sexual intimacy and quite possibly one day, marriage. Drumroll please… the WOMAN wins – hands down! This is a no brainer people and only those of you who actually think you learned something new from Steve Harvey’s infantile rants on the alleged “book” he wrote should be in for a surprise. Let’s use the aforementioned examples: women will always win in an argument. That’s a game of verbal warfare we as men do not stand a chance on winning. Women are meticulous creatures that will dissect everything we say and regurgitate back towards us. And we will be frozen in place – unable to provide any meaningful response. Women will always win in a court of law. Do I even need to elaborate? The motto “it’s cheaper to keep her” has been conceived from this notion. And sex – FORGET ABOUT IT! Next to money, sex is the world’s oldest, most lucrative and effective weapon towards the male species. Wars have been born because of the power of the pu**y and the mind control it has inflicted upon men. Marriages have been dissolved because of it… and lives have been irrevocably ruined over it.
May 3-4, 2013 - Grub Street Writer's Conference, Boston, MA. For more information, go to: http:// www.grubstreet.org/?id=173 May 23-25, 2013 - Backspace Writer's Conference, New York City, NY. For more information, go to: http:// www.backspacewritersconference.com May 16-19, 2013 - New England Young Writer's Conference, Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT. For more information, go to: http://sites.middlebury.edu/neywc/ May 2013 - Colorado Christian Writer's Conference, YMCA Estes Park Center, Denver, CO. For more information, go to: http://www.writehisanswer.com May 2013 - Children's Writers Conference, Toronto, Ontario. For more information, go to: http://www.canscaip.org May 2013 - Sydney Writers' Festival Sydney New South Wales (Australia). For more information, go to: http:// www.swf.org.au May 2013 - National Black Book Festival, Houston, TX. For more information, go to: http:// www.nationalblackbookfestival.com May 2013 - Book Expo America, New York, NY. For more information, go to: http://www.bookexpoamerica.com June 2013 - Kachemak Bay Writers' Conference, Homer, AK. For more information, go to: http:// writersconference.homer.alaska.edu June 2013- Wesleyan Writers Conference, Middletown, CT. For more information, go to: http:// www.wesleyan.edu/writing/conference June 2013 - Black Writers' Reunion & Conference, Atlanta, GA. For more information, go to: http:// www.blackwriters.org June 2013 - Write! Canada Conference, Guelph, Ontario. For more information, go to: http://www.writecanada.org June 2013 - 39th Santa Barbara Writers' Conference, Santa Barbara, CA. For more information, go to: http:// www.sbwriters.com
STAY TUNED for upcoming installments of “CAN I HIT IT IN THE MORNING?!”
June 24-July 3, 2013 - Rutgers-Camden Summer Writer's Conference, Camden, NJ. For more information, go to: http://www.camden.rutgers.edu/Academics/summer/ writconf.html
I welcome all feedback… illogical or otherwise. Get at me.
June 2013 - Write to Publish Conference, Wheaton, IL. For more information, go to: http://www.writetopublish.com
This has been my public service announcement and until next time…
Welcome Readers to the 2013 Black Authors & Readers Rock Weekend - October 18 & 19!
The Meriden Black Heritage Festival is hosting its 24th annual festival on June 15, 2013. It is the largest African American event in Connecticut. We invite you to join us in our efforts to “Educate, Empower, Entertain “ Connecticut residents regarding the achievements and diversity of the African American culture. The Meriden Black Heritage Festival celebrates the spirit of African-American life, music, history and culture. This family oriented event provides an array of educational and fun filled activities for the entire community and brings awareness to the contributions of African-Americans and others in the vast African Diaspora. A melting pot of backgrounds the heritage of African Americans is truly “A Multicultural Affair”
CONFERENCES & TRADE SHOWS
Friday, October 18, 2013, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Pictured are the 2012 Best Dressed Book Club Winners!We hope you will make this a "weekend affair". Contact the Comfort Inn (301/464-0089) directly to make reservations please request the "Black Authors Rock" group rate! The group room rate is $119.Group tickets must be purchased together, at one time.Ticket prices increase September 1, 2013. TICKETS GO OFF SALE ON SEPTEMBER 30! ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday evening we will kick off the weekend with "Men In Literature" a panel discussion featuring Solomon Jones, Leonard Pitts, Jr., and Austin Camacho, Norwood Holland and Harold Fisher Our keynote speakers for the Saturday Luncheon are the incomparable award winning Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley Comfort Inn Hotel and Conference Center 4500 Crain Hwy. Bowie, MD 20716
Go to www.realdivasread.com - Authors Rock for a complete list of participating authors & info on panel discussions! We anticipate 20-25 authors will participate in the Author Expo on Saturday from 10 am til 4 pm. All Saturday ticket holders may attend the morning panel discussions. Choose from:How to Prepare for & Facilitate An Effective Book Club DiscussionThe Art of Writing a Good Book ReviewSo You Wanna Be a Published AuthorNetwork for Good: Authors & Book Clubs Sponsorship opportunities are available for publishers and other interested organizations, corporations or individuals. Please contact the Reading Divas for more information.
National Book Club Conference August 2-4, 2013 Atlanta, GA Los Angeles Black Book Expo August 17, 2013 Los Angeles, CA http://labbx.org National Black Book Festival October 24-26, 2013 Houston, TX http://www.nationalblackbookfestival.com
September 2013 A Brooklyn Book Festival Bookend Event The Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College, CUNY Presents The John Oliver Killens Literary Salon Saturday, September 21, 2013 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 22, 2013 10am - 6pm Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn NY 11201 http://www.brooklynbookfestival.org/BBF/Home
October 2013 Las Comadres y Compadres Writers Conference Saturday, October 5, 2013 8:00 a.m.- 6:00 p.m. Once again the Center for Black Literature’s National Black Writers Conference will partner with Las Comadres on their second writers conference. The Comadres y Compadres Writers Conference, which will take place at the Medgar Evers College of the City University of New York on October 5, 2013, will provide Latino writers with access to published Latino authors as well as agents and editors who have a proven track record of publishing Latino writers. In addition, the CCWC will offer an insider’s perspective on how best to navigate the particular challenges and opportunities faced by Latino writers in the current publishing landscape, as well as foster a vibrant national community of writers akin to what Las Comadres has already created with its Las Comadres international network and its Las Comadres and Friends National Latino Book Club and Teleconference Series. www.lascomadres.org
The Center for Black Literature 10th Anniversary Celebration Thursday, October 17, 2013 Details Coming Spring/Summer 2013
David L. is the award-winning author & publisher of 4 novels: Over Your Dead Body, My Life Is A Movie, Chalk Outline Confessions: The Remix & Represent. All are available for purchase on his official author website at: www.totalpackagepublications.com, and via E-book (Kindle & Nook). Email David L. at: contacttpp@totalpackagepublications.com. Follow David L. on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/almightydavidl; and on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/theauthordavidl and on Instagram at: Almightydavidl.
So You Want To Be A Best Seller? There is a saying that states, “You are what you eat?” Meaning what you put into your body becomes a part of you. So, would you say you are what you write? If so, then what you write brands you and vice versa. Branding in any form of business is very vital. How you represent your work or business will have a bearing on how people perceive you.
How to find your brand? What is your specialty? What have you written? Is there a common denominator; street life, love and relationships, thrillers or mystery? Maybe there is an even combination of it all. Either way you must find a hook to your style, like a tagline. I write urban fiction but I’d like to think I am versatile so I use Urban Fiction and a subgenre; Urban life. My tagline for my work is “Urban living, loving and street drama.” Whatever you decide make sure it sums you up as best as possible. Every now and then you can tweak it but keep the theme focused. Now that you have a theme to your writing style, who do you want the world to see? The business woman or man in you or the everyday you? Make sure this is relative to your brand. I love my writers to see me as I am on an everyday basis. When I am on my social media pages I stay connected to the everyday reader. I want them to know that I am just a ‘round the way type of person. So when I post a picture it’s the real me.
The Platform Is You! Where do you start? The first step should be a place to find you? Email. When you do connect with social medias, blogs and your own website you will need a main port for contact. The second step is to find an affordable home for your webpage/site. Now you can prepost your book information. You should start informing your audience about your book: Pics of self, bio, short book synopsis, excerpts, character synopsis and book cover pics. This brands you! Now let’s brand your book with you. Book trailers are a great idea. It’s a short movie that pitches your book out to potential readers. Set up book club discussions based on your journey and introducing your book. It’s as easy as 1-2-3. $Social Networking=Social Net Worth$
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