You are the sum total of your parts

At some point in life, we will all come to a crossroads. Whether we are experiencing great success or suffering great loss, there will come a time when the decisions we make become defining moments. 

Life is a series of choices. Coffee or tea? College or trade school? Marriage or the single life? Relocate or stay put? American or foreign? We may choose the beaten path--you know, something that falls well within our comfort zones--or we could take that leap of faith and blaze a trail of our own.

Those who take the leap, I think, have an epiphany of sorts that says, "It's now or never. If I don't do it now, I will regret it. I can do it. I believe in myself."

They will be challenged like never before and will be made to use everything they have ever learned. They could fail miserably or succeed exponentially. Either way, the desire to be true to themselves and to find purpose in their lives far exceeds their fears of both.

It occurred to me recently that with everything that I have lost in the last three years, I am free. I am free to use my skills, talents, and accomplishments in whatever way I choose. Is that overwhelming? Somewhat paralyzing? I've had moments of both.

But, I understand now why I have been given what I have been given. I am grateful. And I must use it all because, like you, I am the sum total of my parts. Visit my new site to see how I am bringing it all together: www.raychellemuhammad.com. Our time is now. Take the leap with me, won't you? 

Keep your pen to the paper! Remember, inspiration is everywhere...

Stop Hiding Already!

It is possible to have many interests, pursue them all, and be great at each of them. Sometimes simultaneously. But, it takes focus, hard work, and courage. We live in a world that teaches us to be a society of "one-trick Nellies", when in fact we are citizens of the universe. The universe is a vastly unlimited realm of possibility. Our accomplishments are only limited by our fears and what we think about ourselves.

Declare who and what you are. Stand in it and apologize for none of it. I am certain that my gifts are from Allah (God) himself, and I would not have them if His intent was that I not use them. My mission in life is to demonstrate my gratitude by being a vessel. I am constantly seeking ways to do better, live better, and help as many people as I can along the way. I encourage you to embrace your bold, bad selves and consider that knowing one thing, doing one job, and being a single-minded robot just isn't enough. The world would be better off if you were unchained in it. The universe has already called you. To whom will you answer?

Keep your pen to the paper! Remember, inspiration is everywhere...

Still Writing, but a Girl's Gotta Eat, Too!

One of the most common pieces of advice that is given to writers is to never quit your day job. Since I left the retail world 9 years ago, I have pursued several entrepreneurial ventures, finished a degree, obtained a professional certification, been accepted into graduate school,  homeschooled my 12 year-old daughter, helped her publish her first novel, published seven books of my own in addition to several freelance articles, started a garden, decorated my homes, built websites, created 3 blogs, started a line of greeting cards, designed a line of fabrics and home accessories, and a bunch of other stuff I can't recall at the moment. When did I have the time to even consider a "day job"?

I have a lot of interests and I pursue them all. Sue me. But, a writer still has to eat (and there are two writers in my house!). This past summer, I designed and taught a course entitled, "The Science of Nutrition", for a group of high school students at Workshop Houston's Summer Leadership Institute. It was incredibly rewarding (shout out to Co-Director Reginald Dwayne Hatter and High School Program Director Jalyn Smith) and led me to find other ways to get out of the house and monetize my passions. Adding to the long list of personal and professional pursuits, I now have a position in sales working with homebuilders--and I love it! I am meeting all kinds of interesting people which should one day make for some pretty intriguing stories.

Needless to say, there hasn't been as much activity on the blogging/writing end over the last couple of months while in transition. Had to pump the brakes a bit as I started the new gig when the school year began. I have found a fulfilling way to do what I have to do now in order to do what I want to do later.

I want to thank all of the guest bloggers who have helped me with some of the "heavy lifting" as well as those of you who follow me and support my work. Smart Girls Like You is nearly finished with Smart Boys Like You coming soon. The Living Well is taking on a life of its own and will be finished by the year's end. Here's to finding many ways to get paid for doing what you love. Absolutely none of it feels like work!

Keep your pen to the paper! Remember, inspiration is everywhere...

The Writer's Block Interviews: Nanette Purcigliotti

1. Tell us a bit about yourself and where you live and work.

I live in the Big Apple and walk around town with my husband, Bob, where I take in the scenes that eventually land in my writing and digital art illustrations. New York City is like living in an open canvas of cultural events. I work at home near a park by the East River; grateful to see the trees, river, and kids with smiles, for inspiration.


2. Describe your journey to becoming an author.

I had the advantage of being born into a creative family; I’d watch my grandfather sketch his murals; my father brush stroke his canvas with magic colors and wished to enter his world; my uncle, a TV writer, inspired my word count. In high school--a reporter for the school’s newspaper--eventually led to a byline for a feature article in my high school’s yearbook magazine. As an independent study in college my professor suggested I retell the Orpheus myth, with a happy ending. I wrote and illustrated Prince Orfeo: awarded the Alpha Chi Honors Colloquium. Although an English major, the door to illustrating opened in college, with art classes in painting and computer graphics.


3. Who is your ideal reader?

My ideal reader is the child, young adult, adult, who reads my story and is transported to another world; where he/she can gain insight into their own world, wherever and whatever, that may be. The reader who delights in my digital art; colors and lines and loops.


4. Describe your path to publication. Has this experience met/exceeded your expectations?

My first path to publication was in print and online magazines. In both cases before I had written one word, research was prime. Gathering information for my articles, I became more passionate about my subject. The writing became an adventure where I learned facts about the subject and happy to tell the tale. My iBook, The Myth of Cyber City, began with text and images on my iWeb page. Out of sheer interest in the marriage of art and technology the roots of my book was born. Who knew? I read Macworld and Mac/Life and have gained insight into the goings on of cyberspace. One day sparkling images flew on my iMac. “Is there a city inside my Mac?” I placed the text and images in my iWeb page into Keynote and found the story. I submitted my story idea to a publisher with a background in technology. My manuscript and illustrations were accepted for publication. Two weeks later I’d gotten an email stating closure of his company. The publisher said to go with Apple’s iBookstore. I did. After submissions to Apple, my book was finally accepted. Got that magic email that stated my book was in the iBookstore. The publication of my book exceeded my expectations.

5. How do your promote your work? What methods have worked best for you?

I have a blog, Windblown Journals, where I post and update any event happenings. I plan to have my book reviewed; and do believe that it’s the best step to promote. I submit my illustrations and feature writing to print and online journals.


6. Who are your favorite authors? What is on your reading list right now?

My favorite author is Jack Kerouac. On The Road. I referenced Kerouac in an online article, http://fmwriters.com/Visionback/Vision39/visualarts.htm
Madeleine L’Engle, Charlotte Bronte’s, Jane Eyre, Gabriel Garcia Marquez. On my reading list. Nine Stories, J. D. Salinger; The Dharma Bums, Jack Kerouac, The Time In Between, Maria Duenas.


7. Describe a typical day in your life.

Every day is set with different priorities. Must finish the next chapter. Final touches on graphic. Go to Barnes & Noble. Research this and that; online and in library. Go to Fairway. What’s for dinner? Take-out? Cook? Go to Sephora for a lipstick fix. Must see that event at MoMA.


8. What projects do you have in the works?

My main project is writing “The End” to my novel, Starstruck Girl; an aspiring actor in search of her father who vanished on her sixth birthday. My manuscript had been accepted by Houghton Mifflin, then returned when a new editor came on board. I left my novel in the back burner. After participating in NaNoWriMo, I decided to work on revising Starstruck Girl. My independent study, Prince Orfeo, is in edits to turn into an iBook, with up-dated text and graphics. My novel, Oliver Pindar, the descendant of Orpheus, "so his mother says," builds the Orpheus myth into the 21st century.


9. What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

Listen to your heart and your passion and what makes you feel magic is happening. READ. READ. READ. Even the back of the cereal box. Believe what you have to write is worthwhile.


Author/Artist Bio

Nanette grew up surrounded by cans of oil paint and brushes and assorted materials; what with a father and grandfather who drew and painted in the corners of the home front. Published feature in her Senior High School Year Book. Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Marymount Manhattan College. Attended the School of Visual Arts. Exhibited at ACM SIGGRAPH, SCBWI; Computer Art Shows, The Marymount Manhattan Review.

After the finish line in the of 2010 National Novel Writing Month, I’d decided revise Starstruck Girl, a novel of an aspiring actor which had been under consideration for publication at Houghton Mifflin. On her revise list is Oliver Pindar and the Mystical Chords based on the Orpheus myth in the guise of mystical realism. Her recent published book, The Myth of Cyber City, "A journey into cyberspace, into the phenomena of Information Art--where cyber robots build mysterious complex structures--on the back roads of Cyber City", is in the iBookstore FREE for download.


Contact Nanette

nanetteppub@mac.com

Website: http:www.nanettepurcigliotti.com

Twitter: @starstruck13

Facebook: Facebook.com/nanette,j,purcigliotti

SCBWI: http://www.scbwi.org/My-Portfolio.aspx

6 Quick Tips for Parents Telling Bedtime Stories By Sheri Fink

1. Tell a story from your heart, let go of perfection and be fully present in the moment.

2. Use descriptive language to engage your child - what does it look like? sound like? smell like? feel like? taste like?

3. Draw parallels that your child can understand. For example, if the character in your story is excited, how excited is she? Maybe she's excited as if she's going to Disneyland tomorrow.

4. Make it fun - use a storyteller's voice to embody the characters and give them unique voices to entertain your child.

5. Keep it short - 15 minutes or less is perfect.

6. Leave them with something positive or hopeful, a feeling of well-being before they go to sleep.

About Sheri Fink


Sheri Fink is the #1 best-selling, award-winning children’s author of The Little Rose and The Little Gnome, the creator of “The Whimsical World of Sheri Fink” children’s brand, and an international speaker. Sheri writes books that inspire and delight children while planting seeds of self-esteem.

Sheri’s next book, Exploring the Garden with the Little Rose, debuts on October 2, 2012 and takes 2-5 year olds on an educational adventure through the garden. Along the way, kids will have fun and learn the names of the plants and animals in the garden. Exploring the Garden with the Little Rose retails for $14.95 and is available on Amazon.com at: http://tinyurl.com/exploringthegarden.

Discover more about The Whimsical World of Sheri Fink at http://www.WhimsicalWorldofSheriFink.com.

The Voting Has Begun!

Raychelle Writes has been nominated for the Best Book Blog in the Black Weblog Awards (sponsored this year by Blogging While Brown). Voting in the semi-final round (9/15-10/1/2012) has commenced and I would really appreciate your support. The top five vote-getters advance to the finals.

Here is the link: http://www.blackweblogawards.com/blog/2012/9/15/black-weblog-award-voting-is-now-open-yay.html

Be sure to peruse all of the categories as some pretty fantastic bloggers have been nominated. I will be sure to keep you apprised of my progress.

Keep your pen to the paper! Remember, inspiration is everywhere...

Guest Post: How My Platform Expanded As An Author by Barbara Ebel, M.D.

To be honest, I’m not sure if it’s my platform that expanded or my dog’s!

When I first moved to Tennessee seven years ago, I had already been vigorously writing adult novels. Since I am also a medical doctor, I had been known as Doctor Ebel in the places and practices I had lived and worked, but in TN, my medical career became secondary.

One of my interests is raising and training dogs. I started working my Chesapeake Bay retriever therapy dog, Chester, in the region at nursing homes and schools and he started to take on a special place in people’s hearts. Along with that, the philanthropic woman lugging the dog around went from Doctor Ebel, a woman sometimes saving lives as an anesthesiologist, to “Doctor Barbara” or “Chester’s Mom.”

One day, after many people had learned I was an author, this remark resonated loudly: “Since you’re already an author, why don’t you write a children’s book about Chester? The kids already love him so!”

So, you know what’s coming. I did. I also took hundreds of pictures of the dogs, made the story nonfiction with real photos, and wrote it from Chester’s point of view.

But here’s the endearing part where my platform grew even more. After the paperback, Chester the Chesapeake, started making it into children’s homes, another question was posed to me: “When’s the next one?”

Well, my adult books with medicine sprinkled into the background of their plots have subsequently become popular, but Chester the Chesapeake now has three paperbacks and four ebooks! I plan on the series wrapping up with two final books in the next few years.

So I guess this writer who is buried in a natural wildlife corridor writing adult novels has expanded her platform, but it’s Chester the Chesapeake who’s the real celebrity.

There’s a whole world out there to write about, but sometimes your story is right under your nose!

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About the Author



Barbara Ebel is a physician and writer. She attended medical school and residency in Kentucky and practiced in Louisville and Florida. She is also a medical guest lecturer on topics ranging from physician suicide to Malignant Hyperthermia and has also written a self-help health book called Younger Next Decade.

Doctor Barbara sprinkles credible medicine into the background of her novels and her operating room scenes shine, but her characters and plots take center stage. Operation Neurosurgeon: You never know…who’s in the OR was her first fiction novel and Outcome, A Novel: There’s more than a hurricane coming… is her latest.



Contact Doctor Barbara

Website for Chester, his books, and his events: http://dogbooksforchildren.weebly.com

Website for Barbara Ebel’s adult books, book trailers, reviews & awards: http://barbaraebel.weebly.com

Twitter: @barbaraebel