WELCOME TO BLAQRAYN PUBLISHING PLUS MAGAZINE ISSUE 4
CRYSTAL STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN
In 1966, Bob Lind wrote a song called “Elusive Butterfly”. The line in it says, “I Chase that Bright Elusive Butterfly of Love”. I believe most people are chasing that slippery insect whether they realize it or not. The author of this book was looking for love in all the wrong places also. It took him a couple of Near Death Experiences to find what (who) Love really is. This book tells that story. Even though he came from a loving home and was raised going to church, he had only read of God’s love. Nothing in his religious upbringing could prepare him for the revelation that he would be given in his brush with eternity. I suppose some people are harder to reach than others. Maybe that’s why it took an experience of near death to give this hard-headed author new life.
Available on Amazon.com
HAPPINESS VS SATISFACTION Kristie McGee
Can you be happy and satisfied? Why not? I mean, happiness is a state of mind, just like satisfaction.
But, are you happy being merely satisfied? Our key to happiness is satisfaction. Hear me...our key to happiness is satisfaction....not being satisfied. Being satisfied is to settle for what is, at that moment. Satisfaction is being happy with what is at that moment. Sometimes the word makes all the difference.
Definition of Happiness: A state of well-being and contentment; a pleasurable or satisfying experience Definition of Satisfaction: An act of satisfying; fulfillment; gratification. The state of being satisfied; contentment; the cause or means of being satisfied.
Authors John and JoAnna Poster
A Land of Milk and Honey Meet the poetic duo John and JoAnna Poster. The Posters are poets. Currently, they reside in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Together, they share five children and many grandchildren. . During their first years together John would write a new poem for Joanna almost every day telling her how important she was to him. This activity happened as often as needed until Joanna fell head over heals in love with John and poetry. They were married on 10/17/2010. .
The words they use in their writings come alive as they creatively reflect and resonate emotion and desires from life’s challenged experiences. They listen to their muse while developing an interesting formation with a reverie presentation and colorful experiences of genre wonder. Together, hand in hand, as we walk with them on the beautiful path of life, they hope you will enjoy their first book title: A Land of Milk and Honey. Series title: The Little Black Book of Poetry and Prayers Volume I. Theme: family, friends, inspiration, history, events, memories. At this time, this completes the history of their dossier d’oeuvre of future writings and publications. Stay tuned; there is always room for additions.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
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How long have you been a part of the industry/business and how did you get your start? JoAnna: As for getting our start in the industry we just released our first book on 12/16/17 and attended our first radio interview with Blaq Rayn, Person to Person with Tina on 12/17/17. Blaq Rayn was our start. :) John: We started about 2 years ago when JoAnna decided she would start a book.
Who and/or what inspired you to become an writer/author? JoAnna: I was in seventh grade when my homeroom / English teacher inspired me to write. I started another new school, this time in South Dakota. It was required for students to attend a reading class until eighth grade. After taking a placement test it was decided I no longer needed reading and instead of allowing me a study hall my homeroom / English instructor decided to assign writing and research work. Also, my parents had a little poetry / prayer book mailed to our house every month. Inside the little poetry / prayer book I found Maya Angelou and Helen Steiner Rice. Among other poets and writers Maya and Helen remain at the top of my favorites. Besides all of that when I was younger I felt the written word was powerful and certainly a way to get information to others. With a mix and merger of the list above my dream of becoming an author was well set and ready to grow.
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John: I first started writing poetry in 8th grade. I had a class on Haikus, which were 3-7-5 at the time. The structure of the poems is what inspired me.
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Tell us about your new poetry title “Land of Milk and Honey”, how it came to be and where it can be purchased. JoAnna: I had a different manuscript contract signed with publisher. Unfortunately, they needed $3000.00 before they were willing to publish the book. John and I struggled to make the payments for a long while before we temporarily gave up and decided to do a eBook together and create something we could afford. As for the title, I did a little bit of research and tried to tie in my fascination with bees and honey, my belief with a little change the world could be a much better place, and I liked the Biblical reference it had. When considering most of the poetry I tend to write, it all seemed to fit together. Finally, from other titles I thought of, this title received the most positive feedback. John: At first, my roll was helping JoAnna polish her works. Later, she decided to add me to the book, going e-book. She was the driving force behind the title. At this time you can find our eBook on Amazon.
What is your advice to anyone aspiring to become an writer/author? JoAnna: Develop the “what if” when you consider concepts, or view the world. Envision, exercise, and expand ideas. Mostly, you will know when you are a writer; never give up on becoming an author. John: Read, Read, READ!! I have been an avid reader all my life. Science fiction is my favorite, but as a child, I read a lot of dinosaur and solar system books. The styles and structure of all books has given me a greater vocabulary and a sense of what’s right and wrong with my own writing.
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BRPP Magazine sits down with rising hip hop recording artist YBless to discuss his new single, his inspiration as an artist, music and more! Read all about him here and get more updates on YBless on his blog www.YBlessMusic.blogspot.com Why do you call yourself YBless? It’s more of a political statement. It started from my former name Yungbless. As I have become older and more mature, the former name of Yungbless became less appealing so I dropped the ung and kept YBless. How long have you been rapping? I start rapping at the age of 10. I first picked up the mic after hearing an hip hop crew in my neighborhood called Project Born. I start rapping in my cousin’s basement. That's where my life in music was born. What inspired you to want to become a rapper? A way out. I wanted a way to help build a life of money to help my family and others I love to not struggle. How would you describe yourself as an artist? Very talented, strong willed and strong minded. My music is mostly a story of my life and struggles to become a better person and successful. Who are some of your favorite artists? T.I, Ludacris, Eminem, Ice Cube, Rakim, Jadakiss, Fabulous, Rick Ross, Mos Def, Kendrick Lamar, J-Cole, Joyner Lucas, just to name a few. Could you tell the readers a little about your current single "Warm It Up Bless". Warm It Up Bless.. Was an honor track of the late Kris Kross Warm It Up Kris. It was a way to blend the old with the new and provide a positive message and keep the music type at the same time. What plans do you have for the upcoming year? Just to be more consistent and keep the music coming. To give the people who support me an artist they can be proud of. Is there anything else you would like to plug? Any shout outs? My Team Ill2Def/ Gintv /JReal Promotion/ Sounds Good Audio/ Slice Of Heaven Pizza/ My Album: The Final Countdown/ My Kids/ Crowd Control Music/ Play2Media/ Blocklight Ent/ A.D Da General/Giant Blast by Jonathan Coleman.
INVISIBLE PEOPLE by Jose & Alex
Dedicated to the Homeless in Detroit and around the world It's not where you’re from, it's where your at… Out here in Detroit, you lucky to catch a scrap. Feels like we all stuck in the night, patiently waiting on the dawn's early light. Hope and pray you are right before your turn comes to take that flight. Me, I have always done what I can, simply because I can, that's just the way I am. Excuse me sir, can I get something to eat? I can work for it or dance my G...Thank you sir, you know that’s all I had today to eat. Memories like that I just can't shake, a man with his head on the curb, oh he's ok, he just trying to sleep his hunger pains away. Yeah, but why he sleeping on the wet concrete with no socks or shoes on his feet? I don't know man. beats me. I'm out here trying to stand on these two feet, without anything to eat, that's just the way of life on these streets. You know we’re not all invisible, most of y'all just choose not to see.. that once upon a time, I was just like you my G. I never choose these streets, these streets chose me. I was just to weak to open my eyes and see that this could one day happen to me. Do you still think that there is a huge difference between you and me?
www.facebook.com/everybodymattersdetroit
Welcome to the BRPP interview with Author and Motivational Speaker Kneika Robbins How long have you been a part of the industry and how did you get your start? I have been writing since the sixth grade. My first book was released 6 years ago. I have been in the speaking forum for 2 years,and mentoring for over 17 years. I used my writing as a mental outlet, and once my knowledge expanded throughout the years I started sharing my work with others. My passion with mentoring came from working with homicidal and suicidal children. It makes you wonder how a 9 year old is being institutionalized for homicidal actions, or a 11 year old is trying to take her life right before your eyes because she has experienced so much pain in a short time. Working with high risk families also allowed me an opportunity to give them hope, and no matter what they been through or going through that there is light out of the darkness. Through my work I want to lead people to the light of life, so there vision can hold hope. You have published three books. Tell us about them, where they can be purchased and are there anymore books in the works for you? My first book was Serious Thoughts. I designed this book based off many individuals are living off the thoughts of others. Many have become afraid to speak or think for themselves because of the negative perceptions they may receive from others. So I shared some of my thoughts along with others that I have encountered in my life. When you think you have thought of everything that you can imagine; grab a copy of this book and it will lead you down a spiral of thoughts you or someone can relate to. Speechless was my second book. This book takes you deeper into the minds of the abused, stressed, spiritual, insane, and joyous. Serious Thoughts opened up your mind to thinking, while Speechless is preparing you to go further than just thoughts. It’s opening up your mind to understand the thoughts that go way beyond one can imagine. You will experience the life of uncertainty, triumphs, laughter, and much more on this journey of trial and error. Pain Changes You is a book I co-authored with two other ladies. Everyone hurts and goes through pain. The stories show no matter what you been through that there is light out of the darkness. You don't know pain until your vision has been impaired by tears of hurt and frustration. Innocence has been stripped and you were robbed from finding out who you are or could be. All of my book are designed to teach, empower, and give people the tools they need so that they can live a life where they have control over the decisions that are best for them. They can be purchased at kneika.wixsite.com/empoweringmindsins or Amazon.com. We need more children's books that incorporate more sense of self, self-love, and more. I'm working on my first children's book.
What inspired you to become a motivational speaker and do you speak to a certain group of people or are you available to speak anywhere? Working with so many individuals that need help empowered me to go further than just writing. Individuals need words of encouragement outside of litetature, workshops for hands on activities to help them work through the challenges. There are individuals who have no one to talk to, so the opportunities that are given to them is worth more than many can imagine. You don't know who you are building through a speech or workshop. Just knowing that I am touching lives, keeps me motivated to continue. I speak to everyone, because again everyone hurts. Where I am needed, I will be happy to speak. My passion is sparking the minds and touching the hearts of the people who want to lead their life in a direction to do what's best for them in their life. You founded Empowering Minds. What is it exactly and where do you intend to take it in the future? Empowering Minds is a program that covers 5 cores of empowerment; self-love, sense of self, self-empowerment, control, and knowledge. I designed this program so that I can teach individuals how to give themselves permission to make the best decision that is right for them. This is done through my mentoring, literature, workshops, behavior management workshops, and early childhood training and workshops. I plan on collaborating my services with other organizations and implement my empowerment skills. I am currently putting together a team to help with my upcoming workshop B.O.S.S.(Boss Over Stressful Situations). It will: 1. Define Empowerment 2. Tear down barriers to emotional growth 3. Allow you to face painful situations and remain in control 4. How to become your own B.O.S.S. 5. How to truly love yourself 6. This is just one of many collaborations to come. Where do you see yourself as an author, entrepreneur, motivational speaker in the next 2 years? I see myself touching more lives, my work spreading to different parts of the world. My work being more visual to the population versus hidden or not known to many. My work will speak for itself and climb to its peak. I work in Early Childhood as well, I am working on building my own early learning center/along with a home schooling segment connected to the center. My displeasure with the educational system leads me to want to do more for our youth. We need more social/emotional implementation, along with entrepreneurship training, investment knowledge, finances/budgeting just to begin with.
What does being a Life Coach mean to you? Coaching individuals on living a better life. Many know what they want, but don't know what steps to take in order to get it. A person of passion, who approaches issues with the question of “what happened to you?”, not “what's wrong with you?”. How do you feel about mentoring/being a mentor? It has been rewarding as I see the lives I have transitioned for the better. There are not all success stories, but the time and effort put in was well worth it. Not only do people learn from me but I learn from them as well. When you have the passion of helping others of all ages, a role of a mentor is a blessing. I am doing God’s work, we are here to help each other. Some don't know how but mentoring them in the right direction builds more mentors for society. Please add any words of encouragement, advice or any shout outs you may have. I want to thank my husband and family that has supported me on my motivational path along with friends. Many have been plagued by fear. That fear has disabled them from being the person they were meant to be. My goal is to help break that bondage of fear. Don't keep living your life off the control of another person thoughts or actions; in reality you are not truly living. I will give you the tools that gives you the power to live free from getting permission from others on how to live your life.
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Author Nicole Martin-Hill
Nicole was born in Batavia, New York to Thomas and Dorothy Martin. At the age of 6, her mother moved them to Montezuma, Georgia. Nicole developed a passion for writing at the tender age of eight. Being the youngest of five siblings, that was the way she entertained herself. Nicole received an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Medical Billing and Insurance Coding from Herzing University online in 2009. Nicole is the mother of three beautiful children, Gabrielle 26, Jaleel 24 and Jaquille 20. She has also been blessed with three amazing grandkids, Jaylen 8, Ja’Niyah 5 and Jaleel jr 6 months. Nicole always shared her dream of becoming a published author with her children and on March 13, 2015 that dream became a reality. Her first novel, Betrayed was released. To date, Nicole has 10 published books under her belt, with hopes of adding many more. When Nicole is not writing or working as a Medical Expense Tech at GEICO, she’s enjoying quality time with her husband and family.
Find all of Author Nicole’s titles on Amazon.com.