Life Updates, Career Pivots, and What's Next

It’s been five years since I last posted on Raychelle Writes. Five years of living through a pandemic, supporting my daughter Halima as she earned both her degrees at the University of Texas at Austin, and quietly reshaping my own professional direction. 

During that time, I worked as a CRM onboarding coach at Progressive Insurance, helping new hires make sense of complex systems and customer‑focused workflows. It reminded me of something I’ve always known: I’m at my best when I’m teaching, guiding, solving problems, and creating clarity for others. Decades of business experience have taught me how people learn on the job, how organizations grow, and how to support success. 

I also went back to school myself. I completed my MBA and earned certifications in data analytics, sports marketing, agile project management, and instructional design. Each one added a new layer to my skill set, but instructional design stood out. Not because I’m pivoting careers, but because it strengthens the direction I’m already moving toward — Learning and Development and, ultimately, teaching at the college level. 

Instructional design gives me new tools to support that path: better ways to structure information, deeper insight into adult learning, and the ability to build experiences that help people grow. It’s an expansion, not a reinvention. 

And that brings me back here. Raychelle Writes has always been a home for author interviews and reflections on my writing journey. Writing is still central to who I am - I've been told that I speak in paragraphs. Now, I’m weaving in the next chapter — how learning, teaching, and design intersect with storytelling. 

I’ll be sharing pieces of my career journey, glimpses into the projects I’m building, and thoughts on how writing continues to shape the way I teach and design learning. I've also read a few books that I'll be reviewing, and I'm looking forward to catching up with some of my author friends. 

It feels good to return. It feels right to evolve. And it feels timely to share how my path is widening in ways that honor both my experience and my future. If you want to check out some of my completed projects, visit my portfolio site at RaychelleMuhammad.com.

Keep your pen to the paper. Inspiration is everywhere... 

— Raychelle

Agent You: Show Up, Do the Work, and Succeed on Your Own Terms by Nicole Lynn (Book Review)

 

Hold on to your seats, people. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on an advanced copy of NFL agent Nicole Lynn's new book entitled, Agent You: Show Up, Do the Work, and Succeed On Your Own Terms (Harper Horizon, July 13, 2021). Now if you don't know who she is, then let me get you up to speed. 

Nicole is the first Black female sports agent to represent a first-round pick in the history of the NFL Draft. Her client was none other than Quinnen Williams (DL) of the New York Jets who was selected 3rd overall in the 2019 class. The way that story unfolded will tug at your heartstrings, but you will have to read the book for yourself. She also reps Houston's own Jalen Hurts (Alabama '18, OU '19), quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles (Yes, I am biased. H-Town represent!).

After graduating from the University of Oklahoma and a brief stint on Wall Street, Nicole returned to OU and earned a law degree. While working as a corporate lawyer, she got certified as an NFL agent. She worked both jobs full-time for years, found time to get married somewhere along the way to Coach Gabe Lynn (OU Alum and DB coach at Houston Baptist University), shot a pilot for a tv show about her life, won a few awards, and wrote this book. She recently took the reins as Director of Football Operations at Klutch Sports Group. Oh, yeah. She is busy-busy. Check out her bio here.

If you know me, then you know how I love a good self-help book. The best ones address all of the questions that need answers: Who? What? When? Where? How? And, most importantly: Why? In Agent You, Nicole teaches you how to do for yourself what she does for her clients everyday. She is a gatekeeper, financial advisor, life coach, relocation specialist, cheerleader, mentor, and advocate. Each chapter breaks down the 13 critical actions that we must all take to position ourselves for success--however, we define it.

I literally read this book from cover to cover in about 3.5 hours yesterday (Did I mention that Gabrielle Union wrote the foreword?). In the intro, you will learn Nicole's "why" and how to discover what your purpose is. She will then invite you on a journey through each chapter where she shares anecdotes from her life and the lessons she has learned along the way. My favorite parts of this book are the exercises at the end of each chapter. They make you think about what you read and then put it into action.

Here's an example: In chapter 2, Nicole talks about getting your dream job. Sometimes life happens and your dreams can be deferred. The good news is that you don't have to stand by waiting for an opportunity to present itself. The assignment is to compile a list of 10 small things that you may work towards in the interim. The best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time. Be diligent. When you get to the bottom of your list, start a new one. When the opportunity does present itself, you will be ready.

The super-agent doesn't mince words either. She shares many cringe-worthy moments throughout the book that she turned into triumph. In chapter 3, she talks about being your authentic self. We hear that all the time though, right? But Nicole really spells out the perils of not having a "me statement," not knowing what you believe in, not having a true sense of what you stand for AND against, and not knowing what you want your legacy to be. Every decision that you make is rooted in the knowledge of self. Do the work in this chapter and you will be on your way to figuring all of this out.

There are some parts of Agent You that will stay with me forever. Nicole talks about why Black women should never "cover" and why we should take our "seat at the table" sooner (no pun intended) than later. She talks about the real definition of self-care and what to do when you lose. And the chapter about letting go and letting God? Whew!

I could go on and on, but I dare not stand in the way of your blessing. Get the book. Read it. Let me know what you think.

Agent You is available for pre-order on Amazon.com now. 

Remember: Keep your pen to the paper! Inspiration is everywhere.

Medium Has A New Platform For Writers, But This Jury Is Still Out...

I am trying out Medium's new platform. If you haven't heard, they are taking a different approach to pay-for-performance writing. Creatives can either post articles for the general public in exchange for building a following or post content exclusively for Medium's paid members and earn based on your article's popularity.

It's too soon for me to tell how lucrative it might be, but I have been able to import evergreen articles from my portfolio. This platform seems to be a pretty cool way to hone your skills, test out your content, and build your following.

Yesterday I posted a long-form personal essay that wasn't "quite the right fit" for the publication I pitched entitled, "Milroy was here: The story of how my cankles drove me to otherwise become an overachiever." Thought I would share an excerpt of it here.

If it catches your fancy, consider reading the entire post on Medium. If you don't want to join Medium, let me know in the comments below. If I get 25 or more requests, I'll post the essay in its entirety here. Either way, I appreciate your continued support!

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

*     *     *

"Out of nowhere, when I was 10 years old, my left foot ballooned. It wasn’t the result of an allergy attack or a sports injury and I didn’t have a known chronic ailment as a precursor. For reasons unknown, I had developed this swollen foot and calf and nobody could tell me why.

"This would be the beginning of a journey into endless prodding, needle pricks, and blood tests which yielded very little in the way of a reason why it happened. What I did know was that on top of being the tallest and thinnest Black girl in my class, I was now also the weirdest.

"Being deformed all of a sudden immediately began to shape my self-worth. There was something wrong with me and maybe I wouldn’t be accepted for who I was when people found out. Dressing the way normal people do in shorts, dresses, sandals, and flats put my feet on front street. I had to find a way to compensate for my flaw.

"I was well into my adult years before I could give my condition a name. Doctors scratched their heads trying to figure out how I could be on the planet for over 10 years before it manifested itself. They called it lymphedema, which is just swelling due to a blockage in my lymphatic system.

"Trying to explain my diagnosis to the average person, especially fifth and sixth-graders, only caused me more angst and frustration. Now I know that what I have is called Milroy’s disease. It is a congenital defect and if anyone wants to know more, I can just tell them to Google it..."

How My Article On Terry Crews Became A Top News Story

Our success as writers is rooted in creating strong content. But how good is a story if nobody reads it?

In the digital world, if Google or Bing doesn't pick up your story then your readership will be significantly lower. And let's face it--we live in a world where news has to be delivered quickly and concisely.

After all, the news cycle waits for no one. If writers can't boast authorship of a couple of viral clips, then the chances of getting more work are reduced significantly.

I recently completed a writer's internship at the Inquisitr and became a regular contributor. Compensation for freelance contributors is based solely on article performance. In other words, the more folks read and share your work, the more you get paid.

The good news is that there are residual earnings for every news story you write. So as long as you are active on the site and a minimum number of people click through and read your stories, you can make money.

I was excited today to do a quick Google search on Terry Crews just to see if there were any updates to the story I wrote on March 12 entitled, "The Criminal Complaint Terry Crews Filed Against Adam Venit Has Been Tossed By The LA County District Attorney." To my surprise, my article appeared in the search engine results as a top story.

Giving credit where credit is due, the Inquisitr does a really good job of teaching its writers SEO strategies and social media promotion that will help give articles more reach. It makes me feel pretty good to see my efforts paying off.

A few tips to try include strong use of keywords in titles, subtitles, and article text; appropriate tags; a great lead image that is properly sourced and captioned; appropriate article length for your targeted audience; and, as always, writing a great story.

Once you publish the story and editing is complete, start sharing to your social sites and groups wherever appropriate.

Know that this kind of writing platform is a marathon, not a sprint. If you are looking for a get-rich-quick scheme, this ain't it. However, the Inquisitr has been a great place to hone my skills as a news writer and learn some best practices on promoting my work. I'll let you know how it goes. :)

In the meantime, feel free to get caught up on my musings over there by following this link to my author page. If you see something that interests you, give it a read. If you have a friend or two who might want to read it, feel free to share. Thanks in advance!

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

Why Black People Need To Stop Giving Racists A Pass

From the Clinton Crime Bill to mass-murderer Dylan Roof, we as Black people seem take a blind eye to the never-ending atrocities committed against us. Before the bodies of our loved ones are even taken to the morgue, some insensitive member of the press sticks a mic in our faces asking us if we forgive the killers. After over 450+ years of slavery, Jim Crow, and present-day institutional racism, Black folk are still expected to turn the other cheek. And when we do, they slap us on the other one. 

Trump said it right during his campaign when he pointed out that Black people have no jobs, education, or money. They have no intention of paying Black folks a dime in reparations. No 40 acres or a mule for us. He wanted us to accept our deplorable condition and vote for him. And a few of us did--to the tune of 8%. But, really--what do we have to lose by standing up for ourselves once and for all?

Once we got off the plantation and moved on from sharecropping, Black people were thriving in freedman's towns across America. We had music, culture, refinement, a Black Wall Street, a Harlem Renaissance. We educated our children in our own schools with teachers who looked just like the students. Black people did everything from building their homes and churches to farming and buying land. We made being separate better than equal. According to The Atlanta Black Star, integration reversed that trend and destroyed most of our progress. Did we forget that we now have and have always had everything we need to be a thriving people?

"In the good ol' days..." #13TH pic.twitter.com/2IzF87ODP6

— 13TH (@13THFilm) October 12, 2016

If we learned nothing else during this last election, we were reminded of the things that many White people believe makes America great. According to Donald Trump, the good ol' days didn't require being politically correct. They could count on cops to enforce law and order keeping troublemakers, meaning Black folks, in line. This new administration promises to expose more of alternative right agenda that they have been suppressing for the last eight years. It is their time now, let them tell it. And who's going to stop them?

I have never been more disgusted... Dylan Roof is a monster that deserves a fate worse than death. pic.twitter.com/hmgLRvOOHf

— Shamz (@heebeejabi) January 4, 2017

Black people have wasted so much time holding their tongues, forgiving bastards like Dylan Roof who are not even sorry for slaughtering innocent people because they are Black and, therefore, expendable (even Greta Van Susteren is scratching her head over that one.). Like Daryl Davis of "Accidental Courtesy, " we are still seeking understanding and acceptance from loyal and committed racists who will take a bullet to protect the future of their people at the expense of ours. 

Many of us forgot all about Hillary's hero, Margaret Sanger, whose genocidal plan aimed to destroy Black people through Planned Parenthood. Clinton helped her husband push through the 1994 Crime Bill which is responsible for incarcerating Black men in particular from coast-to-coast. Black people have about a one in three chance of spending time in jail and/or prison while Whites face one in 17 odds.

And yet, she threw some hot sauce in her bag, did photo ops with Mothers of the Movement, and founded the United Negro Concert Fund in an effort to get the black vote. When Charlemagne Tha God called her out on her pandering on "The Breakfast Club", she shamelessly replied, "Is it working?" Many of us drank that Kool Aid in every flavor while the majority of White women didn't even vote for her. As reported by The New York Times, Trump racked in 53% of the White female vote.

In just a few days, the new regime takes over. It will be headed by a man who had Blacks and Muslims tossed out of his campaign rallies, called Mexicans "very bad people" and rapists, plans to re-start DAPL, vows to repeal Obamacare, plans to cut social programs, and grabs women where the sun don't shine. Trump will probably be the very first politician to keep every last one of the promises that he made during the election. Many Americans are afraid of what is to come, but the reality is that Black people will suffer the most.

If there was ever a time in history that racists should be called out, it is now. Our focus and attention should be on what we can do for ourselves. We must rediscover our value, reconnect with our rich heritage, and rebuild our communities. If we are going to sit down at the table every time they call, we must go with not just an agenda, but a list of demands. They must be put on notice that Black folk have a new regime of their own. It's called the liberation of our people.

Keep your pen to the paper! Inspiration is everywhere...

A Few Things That Do Not Belong in 2017, 2018, 2019, etc.

As the first day of the new year comes to a close and the hype leading up to it starts to fizzle, it is high time that we address the elephant in the room. New Year's resolutions. Though well-meaning, many of us have told ourselves some big fat lies about how this year is going to be better than the last. And the one before that. And still, the one before that. This is the year that we become the best version of ourselves. This is the year that we lose the weight. This is the year that we finally write that book, start or grow our businesses, and kick that dreaded smoking habit that everybody keeps nagging us about.

Why haven't we managed to check at least one of these things off our lists thus far? Consider this. Before we can change our conditions and solve our problems, there must be a shift in our thinking which will lead to a change in the folks in our circle. We have to be willing to let go of people and behaviors that do not serve us well. Let's face it. Not everybody is meant to travel with us along every leg of the journey. Their doubts, insecurities, and fears magnify our own and keep us off the path of progress. If we decide that we will only permit positive, forward-thinking thoughts to take up residence in our minds, then we will only permit positive, forward-thinking people to take up space in our lives.

Here are 10 behaviors that we need to change immediately. That's ASAP. Right now. Today. More like yesterday, really. And pronto. The sooner we send these spirit-killing, brain-draining activities packing, the better off we will all be. Here goes nothing.

1) Self-Hatred: If we don't love ourselves, NOBODY else will. We must stop telling ourselves that we are unworthy of our blessings. We have gifts, skills, and talents that we have an obligation to use. We must rid ourselves of people who do not recognize and celebrate our value. Tell them and the little haters inside to kick rocks. Oh, yeah. They need to take those who try to hold our pasts against us with them. None of their BS is welcome here.

2) Fear: We must have faith and just take the leap already. We must be decisive and move out like what we aspire to do is already done. The best part of success is failure. It is better to do our best and learn a lesson than it is to do nothing and have regrets.

3) Jealousy and Envy: We must immediately stop worrying about what other people are saying and doing. What is in front of us requires our full and complete attention. What we have been blessed with is enough to accomplish whatever it is that we set out to do. What is ours nobody else can take and what somebody else has is for them and them alone. Put on the blinders and keep running.

4) Procrastination: No one is promised the next 5 minutes, so I'm not going to waste time explaining this one. Get up off your duff and get moving. We got work to do.

5) Lack of Discipline: We are the boss of ourselves and we must take ownership for our lives. There are certain things that we must do consistently to make progress. It might be studying, writing, training, planning, etc. Having discipline means that we do what we need to do whether anybody is watching or holding us accountable. No babysitters needed.

6) Lack of Focus: This is a common problem that we can tackle if we simply put clear, measurable, goals down on paper and assign deadlines to them. An example might be that we must start writing by 9 am and reach at least 1,000 words by 12 noon every weekday. As a safeguard, there might be a self-imposed ban on social media until the goal is reached. Oh, and that includes anything or anybody else that takes our focus off the tasks at hand.

7) Entitlement: Look, nobody owes anybody anything. Whatever it is that we say we want, we must earn. That is all.

8) Pettiness: Every minute we spend engaging somebody in foolishness is a minute we could have and should have spent doing something positive and productive. Let small people be small. Their diminutive lives are none of our business. Small minds breed small results. If you want the little bit of something that they have, then do the little bit of something that they do.

9) Dishonesty: If our efforts are not yielding the results we desire, we have to be willing to face some hard truths about ourselves. We must also strive to be honest in our dealings with others. Our successes and failures are wrapped up in how we play the game. Being deceptive is a recipe for disaster, likened to a house of cards built on a mound of sand. We all have mirrors. Let us use them, shall we?

10)Indecisiveness: There is nothing more powerful than a made-up mind. Let's make a decision and move out on it to make it a reality. We can have whatever kind of life we want if we just choose it.

I pray that you and yours will have peace and prosperity this year and in the years to come. And remember, keep your pen to the paper! Inspiration is everywhere...

The Writer's Block: Where Are They Now? Catching Up with Sheri Fink

Today on The Writer's Block, we head to sunny California to check-in with award-winning children's book author and marketing machine Sheri Fink! Following her passions has established her brand and fueled her creativity. Prepare to get inspired!

1) Welcome back to The Writer's Block, Sheri! Please tell everyone a bit about who you are and where you live and work.

I'm an inspirational speaker, #1 best-selling author, and award-winning entrepreneur who creates books, products, and experiences that inspire and delight kids of all ages while planting seeds of self-esteem. I live in sunny Southern California and write everywhere I go around the world. 

2) What were you working on when we spoke last? (Interview link:http://raychelle-writes.blogspot.com/2012/03/writers-block-interviews-sheri-fink.html )

When I was last interviewed on The Writer's Block in 2012, I was preparing for the release of my second children's picture book, The Little Gnome. 

3) Catch us up on what you have done since then.

OMG ... so much magic has unfolded since 2012! I've published a total of 7 books including 5 #1 best-selling children's books (The Little Rose, The Little Gnome, The Little Firefly, The Little Seahorse, and Exploring the Garden with the Little Rose), an inspirational journal (My Bliss Book), and a sweet and sexy romance novel (Cake in Bed). The Little Rose was adapted into a stage play, I debuted a beauty line inspired by my characters, recorded and released two inspirational albums, and have had the privilege to share my story with over 35,000 people throughout North America. My children's books have been released in audiobook, ebook, and paperback editions ... It's a whimsical life! 

4) Whimsical indeed! What is next for you?

I'm currently working on a few potential book projects as well as expanding The Whimsical World of Sheri Fink brand globally. I want to bring the empowering messages of my books to kids worldwide. I love speaking to inspire and plan to do even more in 2017. One of my joys today is mentoring aspiring authors to achieve their dreams of publishing their books. It's an honor to nurture the spark of creativity in others and to see their books and their careers blossom and grow.

5) How did The Writer's Block help you promote yourself? What advice would you offer to aspiring author/illustrators?

The Writer's Block was one of my earliest author interviews and I was grateful for the opportunity to share. 

My best advice is to focus on what you really want without watering down your dream. Don't settle for safety or mediocrity ... Get in touch with the passion for achieving your goal every day and visualize yourself already having achieved it. Feel the feelings you'll feel when it's come true. Marinate in the juicy goodness of living your dream. Then, take action each day toward your goal and keep going no matter what. You are limitless and everything is possible if you stay in alignment with your highest vision and continually take inspired action in that direction. It's hard work, but your dream is worth it. You will get there and it will be even better than you imagined! 

Congratulations, Sheri! Thanks again for joining us on The Writer's Block!

**********

Sheri Fink is an inspirational speaker, a #1 best-selling author, an award-winning entrepreneur, and the creator of “The Whimsical World of Sheri Fink” brand. Sheri writes books that inspire and delight kids of all ages while planting seeds of self-esteem. All five of her children's books have become #1 best-sellers, including The Little Rose which was a #1 Amazon Best-seller for over 60 weeks.

CBS Los Angeles selected her as one of the top three authors in the local area, a distinction she shares with Dean Koontz. Sheri’s brand is the recipient of the prestigious Mom's Choice Award for the best in family friendly entertainment. She was recently named an inspirational beauty by supermodel Cindy Crawford’s “Beauties Give Back” campaign.

Sheri’s newest adventure is a contemporary romance. She was inspired to write Cake in Bed, her debut novel, to empower women to be their authentic selves and to not settle for less than they deserve in life or in love, because everyone deserves to have their cake and eat it too ... preferably in bed! Discover more about Sheri and her books at www.SheriFink.com.

Keep up with Sheri!

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SheriFinkFan

Instagram - http://www.instagram.com/Sheri_Fink (@Sheri_Fink)

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/Sheri_Fink (@Sheri_Fink)

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

**Ready to give your writing career a jumpstart? Promote your project on The Writer's Block!

Free E-Book Download Until December 31st for Fans of Raychelle Writes!

Greetings, All!

Author Stephen Black, a two-time alum of The Writer's Block (read his most recent interview here), is offering all of his e-books to you for free starting now until the end of the year! His titles include Obama Search Words (enjoyed this one--check out my book review), Bali Wave Ghost, I Ate Tiong Bahru, Flame Magnet (this one challenges the idea of what a book is), and Furikake.

Interested? Just drop Stephen an email to bookmerah16##at##gmail dot com and let him know that you are a fan of Raychelle Writes (You know, like you follow my blog and Facebook page or maybe Twitter @RaychelleWrites...). He will forward a link to his books and video interviews. From time to time, he send you updates on his upcoming projects. That only happens maybe 4 times a year, so no spamming or flooded inboxes to worry about here.

Happy reading!

The Writer's Block: Where Are They Now? Catching Up with Sherrill Cannon

Today on The Writer's Block, we head to New Hope, Pennsylvania to check-in with award-winning children's book author and playwright Sherrill Cannon! This former educator shares with us her mission to write positive, self-affirming stories for young people about mutual respect and following the Golden Rule.

1) Welcome back, Sherrill! Please tell everyone a bit about who you are and where you live and work.

I am a former teacher and grandmother of ten, and the author of eight published rhymed children's stories which have received forty-five 2011-16 National and International awards. I am also a playwright with seven published plays for elementary school children, which have been performed internationally in over 20 countries. Most of my books try to teach something, like good manners and caring for others.

Married for 56 years, my spouse and I are now retired, and live in New Hope, PA for half the year and then travel in our RV from coast to coast the other half to spend time with our children and grandchildren.  I have had a varied career:  I’ve been a teacher and coach, a professional newspaper sports writer and photographer, a dinner theatre stage manager, and a business administrator. Now I have time to write, when I’m not marketing (which is the other half of writing.)

2) What were you working on when we spoke last? (Interview link: http://raychelle-writes.blogspot.com/2012/05/writers-block-interviews-sherrill.html)

When we spoke last, I was just releasing my 4th book (Gimme-Jimmy) and had won 8 awards.  Since then, I have doubled the books to 8, and have totaled 45 awards (so far.)  I have found that entering contests has been my most successful means of marketing my books, and if you’d like to see a complete list, I will include it at the end of this interview, or please check out my website.  The subliminal message of all my books remains consideration for others – disguised as fun stories – and because of my awesome illustrator, Kalpart, I have been able to use my characters in subsequent books.  This is especially fun for me when I am reading another of my books at a school and a child remarks, “Oh look! I see Gimme-Jimmy!!”

Manner-Man followed Gimme-Jimmy, which along with The Magic Word, I term my “manners” books.  Manner-Man is a superhero who helps children cope with bullies and teaches them to look within themselves for their own superhero. Manner-Man includes both the characters Jimmy and Elisabeth – and also the illustrations include some of my CureJM kids.  All of my books are part of a Fundraiser for the CureJM Foundation where 50% of the cost of the books goes to CureJM.  Juvenile Myositis is an incurable children’s autoimmune disease, and many of the kids have interacted with me.  Both Addie and Cassie are part of the Manner-Man illustrations!  (http://sbpra.com/curejm )

3) You have been one busy lady! Catch us up on what you have done since then.

After Manner-Man in 2013 came My Fingerpaint Masterpiece in 2014 which has won 9 awards including both a Gold Medal in Children’s K-3 as well as an Illustration Award in the Reader’s Favorites contest.  It’s all about perspective and perception and is told from the perspective of an unidentified child (boy? girl?) for all the illustrations are what the child sees. There are also many hidden objects in the “masterpiece”!  I usually get a 50-50 vote when I poll the kids at the conclusion of reading the book to them.  Not surprisingly, it seems the boys vote for a boy and the girls vote for a girl!  I consider that a success!!!

Mice & Spiders & Webs…Oh My!, published in 2015, has won 5 awards including the recent Global eBook Gold Medal.  It emphasizes the importance of good listening, as well as being an introduction to computers.  A child is worried about returning to school since her teacher had mentioned they would soon have mice and spiders and webs in the classroom, but only for the girls.  Rosemary discovers that this means a computer mouse and the internet web, but why only females? Could she have misunderstood again?

The Golden Rule is my current 2016 book and is doing very well, since it already has 6 awards including the recent Book Excellence Award Gold Medal, a Children’s Literary Classics Silver Medal, and a Mom’s Choice Award. The focus is very direct in this book:  Treat others the way you’d like to be treated.  All of my books try to teach children to be nice.  This book shows children ways to do that.  When I read to the children, I like to ask them, “Have you done something nice for someone today?”  Fortunately I usually get a nice show of hands!

4) That's awesome, Sherrill! What is next for you?

My next and perhaps final children’s book for release in 2017 is My Little Angel.  It’s for a slightly younger child, and is obviously for those who believe in angels!  It’s about a little guardian angel who helps a child throughout the day.  All of my books are multi-cultural, but at the request of a fan I have included a couple of animals in the illustrations in this one. Extended family, you know!

5) How did The Writer's Block help you promote yourself? What advice would you offer to aspiring author/illustrators?

I loved being able to participate in The Writer’s Block earlier, and am so happy to become a part of it again.  It’s lovely to be able to share my books and the emphasis on being kind… We seem to need the reminder to get along with others – especially in this political environment.  As one of my thoughtful fans commented about The Golden Rule…”This is how we change the world…”

My advice to authors/illustrators is to be sure you find your niche in the children’s book world, and to send a positive message.  This is the same advice I offered in my previous interview, with the addition that it is very important to also be sure to include multicultural characters and illustrations so that ALL children can identify with your books!

Thank you, Sherrill! Congratulations on everything. My best to you!
*****
You can keep up with Sherrill by checking out her websites www.sherrillcannon.com and http://sbpra.com/sherrillscannon, by connecting with her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sherrillscannon/, and by following her on Twitter @SherrillCannon. Her plays can be found at www.lazybeescripts.co.uk.

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

**Ready to give your writing career a jumpstart? Promote your project on The Writer's Block!

The Writer's Block: Where Are They Now? Catching Up with Joey Pinkney

Today on The Writer's Block, we head to Tennessee to catch up on the latest with Joey Pinkney! Fun facts: Joey is a super-bad book promoter. His interview on The Writer's Block has been the most viewed post on my blog since February 2012. And he has a thing for coffee and chocolate. Let's get caught up!

1) Welcome, back! Please tell us a bit about who you are and where you live and work.

Hello to Raychelle and everyone at The Writer’s Block. I really appreciate being back a second time around. Thank you for having me.

My name is Joey Pinkney. I am an author and book promoter. I live in Murfreesboro, TN, with my wife. For many years, I have maintained a book blog at JoeyPinkney.com. On that book blog, I have the JoeyPinkney.com 5 Minutes, 5 Questions With Author Interview Series. I promote authors and books via by Twitter Book Promotion Service - JoeyTweets.com.

Most recently, I write with publication in mind. I have a few standalone short stories published, and I have a few writing projects coming down the pike.

2) What were you working on when we spoke last? Read Joey's first interview here: (http://raychelle-writes.blogspot.com/2012/02/writers-block-interviews-author.html)

It’s been four and a half years since my debut on The Writer’s Block, and obviously a lot has changed since then. I was looking forward to a year filled with many interviews with authors from many different genres. I was just getting my feet wet with a couple of short stories published in anthologies. I had a few story ideas that I thought were going to make it to the market, but I allowed a lack of discipline and confidence get in the way.

3) It has been a long time indeed! Catch us up on what you have been up to since then.

In 2012, my published writings were contributions to larger works. I had two short stories in different anthologies. I had an essay featured in a third book. In 2016, I have 4 standalone short stories and a short twitter guide published. Those titles are “Cardinal Rule,” “Children in the City of the Fallen Towers,” “To Catch a Book Cover Model,” “Swiggers,” and “8 Simple Twitter Tips for Authors.”

I’ve decided to focus on publishing shorter works of literature for more reasons than we have space and time for. One reason would be because there is a group of readers who are looking to begin and finish a story within an hour or so and still get a proper beginning, middle and end. I personally like the challenge of the short story.

4) Glad to see that you have found your niche! What is next for you, Joey?

Next up for me is a novelette that fleshes out a fictitious neighborhood that has formed over the course of writing two previously published short stories. The story is entitled “The Legend of Tanisha Biggers,” and it will be published through SolaPress.com. It is the story of a young woman wrongfully accused of an old man’s death while struggling to move up and out of the neighborhood that she calls home.  

5) How did The Writer's Block help you promote yourself? What advice would you offer to aspiring author/illustrators?

The Writer’s Block help me gain exposure to a new group of people. It’s always good to get a diverse group of viewers, and The Writer’s Block does just that.

As a writer/illustrator, you are the “first reader/viewer” of your work. Be true to yourself. Be willing to take chances with your art.

Well said, Joey. We need diverse voices in literature and I am glad that your hat is in the ring. My best to you as always!

Joey Pinkney is a book promoter (http://joeytweets.com), blogger (http://joeypinkney.com), author (http://joeyspen.com) and chocolate enthusiast. He writes short stories that linger with the reader long after “the end.” To connect via social media, please see http://about.me/joeypinkney.

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

**Ready to give your writing career a jumpstart? Promote your project on The Writer's Block!

The Writer's Block: Where Are They Now? Catching Up with Stephen Black

Today on The Writer's Block, we head to Singapore to catch up on the latest with Stephen Black! He is quite an accomplished and interesting fellow. Be sure to read his first interview on The Writer's Block to get Stephen's take on marketing and branding: 

"The idea is simply that my "brand" is whatever I do: art, writing, photography, video, music and breeding thoroughbred Chihuahuas. (Just kidding about the Chihuahuas.)"

1) Welcome back to The Writer's Block, Stephen! Please tell our new readers a bit about who you are and where you live and work.

I am an American artist/videomaker and writer. I live in Singapore and Bali.Ten years ago I wrote my first book.

2) What were you working on when we spoke last? (Interview link:http://raychelle-writes.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-writers-block-interviews-stephen.html )

Well, that interview was a refreshing reminder of what my life was like then! The book which was then called being called Tiong Bahru is now called i ate tiong bahru...and it has become a national bestseller in Singapore.

3) Catch us up on what you have done since then.

Since that interview, I have done very little marketing and a lot of writing. I completed the following books: Furikake, Contact With Shadow, Bali Wave Ghost and Flame Magnet, which is a "secret project " that could lead to a new way authors and readers connect. All of these books are on Amazon, but only one, i ate tiong bahru, has been printed.

4) What is next for you?

I am working on the follow up to i ate tiong bahru, which will be called tiong bahru mouth. tiong bahru mouth could be two books: one consisting of photographs I have been taking of Tiong Bahru, the other a collection of short stories. I should mention that I am also very interested in virtual reality. I have two projects related to this, one at www.gallery.sg, the other at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.Hiverlab.BeachRd&hl=en I hope to be able to work on other projects like these.

5) How did The Writer's Block help you promote yourself? 

(The) Writer's Block will always be one of my strongest memories related to ebooks and epublishing. My experience with Raychelle was friendly and very professional, in that her blog was one of the first places where my work as a writer was shared. And, Raychelle also kindly wrote a review on Amazon, which I think was the first.These were both very encouraging!

6) What advice would you offer to aspiring author/illustrators?

If you are considering becoming a full-time writer, ask yourself if you are prepared to go through very difficult times. There will be the difficulty of creating great work and then there will be the difficulty of paying the bills, not to mention getting the work in front of readers.To paraphrase Tolstoy and to repeat what I wrote for Writer's Block  many years ago, ink is blood.

Thank you, Stephen! Wishing you the best in your future endeavors!

An American who has lived most of his life in Asia, Stephen Black is an artist/videomaker, photographer and writer. His works have been shown in galleries and festivals around the world and his fifth book, i ate tiong bahru, is a national bestseller in Singapore. 

You can keep up with Stephen by checking out his website www.blacksteps.tv and by connecting with him on Facebook as Stephen Black, and following him on Twitter @bookmerah.

Keep your pen to the paper! Inspiration is everywhere...

**Ready to give your writing career a jumpstart? Promote your project on The Writer's Block!