tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9420666820922321072024-03-13T21:35:31.600-05:00Billion Dollar WinnerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-12743356261116812292012-06-01T17:20:00.001-05:002017-07-16T14:51:48.050-05:00BILLION DOLLAR WINNER - THE NOVEL PROLOGUE<br />
~~2007~~<br />
<br />
"Senators,” Val said loudly, “This is the pain of my community.” With that, Val held up a brand new crisp fifty dollar bill. She continued, “Far too many poor people in my community because of the new multi-state Lotto-50 lottery game are spending at least this very amount every time there is a drawing!”<br />
Val had just begun her testimony in the Illinois Senate chamber. Located on the third floor of the State Capitol Building, the room is a cavernous wooden-paneled structure with large oval-topped windows and archways. The rich architectural details of the heavily gilded ceiling and crystal adorned chandeliers were a beautiful contrast to the sky-blue painted areas. The senate seating arrangement was designed to allow each senator to sit facing the main podium of the Senate President. Hidden behind each senator’s roll-top desk were the microphones, laptops and push-buttons that they could use to vote or request assistance from the Senate Pages.<br />
Val’s eyes scanned the senate chamber. As she looked at the faces of the members in attendance, she was hoping to attract the attention of at least one senator. She looked from seat-to-seat. Surely, she thought, one senator would be interested in what she had to say. Yet as her eyes focused on each legislator, their composure was unmoving. Their faces were blank — as if each one was in a trance.<br />
Val had expected that she would meet with some resistance to her testimony. But to see even the African-American senators gazing off into space was frustrating to her. Val decided she wouldn’t let their indifferences deter her. She had been given ten minutes to speak before the Special Session of the Illinois General Assembly regarding the newest lottery game. Val was adamant—more than ever—to be heard.<br />
Val raised her voice a notch louder. The silence in the room battled against every word as it came out of her mouth. If ever there was a time that each person’s body language gave off the I-don’t-want-to-hear-it vibe, it was now. But Val wouldn’t be swayed. She calculatedly spoke her next words distinctly and deliberately, expecting that the sound of her voice would sink into the subconscious of each senator.<br />
“Senators, in the report that I have prepared for you and I might add; contrary to what others have previously stated…the data will show that prior to the new Lotto-50 game, there were three zip codes in the Chicagoland area where the greatest amounts of money was spent on lottery tickets as compared to anywhere else in the state. Now that the Lotto-50 game is available, there have been eight more zip codes added to the report. In those newest zip codes, they have in the past few months equaled or exceeded the previous three zip code’s sales amount—ten fold!”<br />
Val paused a second and took in a deep breath before continuing, “It is also not a coincidence that those newest zip codes are in some of the poorest communities in the state. In those areas, people believe that if they buy the Lotto-50 ticket with a fifty dollar bill, they will increase their chances of winning. So rather than buy a single one dollar ticket with a fifty dollar bill, they are spending the entire fifty dollars on the game. They are buying fifty tickets. Some of the people believe that if one fifty dollar bill will bring them luck, then two fifty dollar bills will double their luck. People are spending more and more money everyday to play this newest lottery game. They are spending more money on it than what anyone could have ever imagined!”<br />
Val stressed each <em>fifty</em> louder than the last. There was the <em>fifty</em> in the name of the game. Then there was the <em>fifty</em> in the money. Even more ironic was that nine senators had opted out of being at the Special Session so that left exactly <em>fifty</em> senate seats filled!<br />
Val could hear with each tick of the clock her time coming to an end. She turned her head very slowly as her eyes panned the room. Val was now desperately looking to connect with at least one female senator.<br />
“Surely there is a woman senator who would have some sympathy for people spending fifty dollars on lottery tickets,” Val thought. Sadly, even though one fifth of the Illinois Senate was female, Val was unable to connect with a single woman who would meet her glance.<br />
“I’m not going to win this one,” Val acknowledged mentally to herself. But Val was a fighter who didn’t give up easily. Val broke her stare just long enough to take a brief glance down at her watch. She saw that she had less than two minutes before her testimony time would be up. Val didn’t mind losing a battle. She just couldn’t and wouldn’t let the lottery game and these stubborn state officials win the war. So she stood up. All five feet seven inches of her.<br />
Val pointed her finger at the senators in the room, “Tonight’s drawing of Lotto-50 is worth one billion dollars! There are parents buying tickets for it and not milk for their children. I’ve heard of wives and husbands who are missing making the mortgage payment to buy those damn tickets. I have workers pooling their entire paychecks to buy tickets. Yet…I can tell from the lack of a response that I am getting from you folks here today is that…you don’t care! You just don’t care! You… just… don’t… care!”<br />
Val’s voice began to crack from the pain of realizing that the senators didn’t care. Val had with each mouthing of the word care, pointed a finger at the senators who represented the various areas of Illinois. She had a “don’t care” for the Chicago senators. She had a “don’t care” for the downstate senators. She had a “don’t care” for the ones from the collar counties surrounding Chicago. But even with the personal accusation ringing in their ears, the Illinois state senators remained stone-faced.<br />
Just as Val was turning toward Senate President Charmaine Tyson’s seat to point her finger at her and get in one last “don’t care,” the Senate President’s microphone boomed even louder than expected. “Thank you for your testimony,” President Charmaine Tyson said. “This Special Session is adjourned!”Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-9636452333528916862012-05-29T16:57:00.002-05:002010-07-14T11:40:19.897-05:00You Finished The Book - Now What Did You ThinkTo my readers who have finished the book or are partway through the book, -- What did you think? Be sure to leave your name so that when the books becomes the bestseller, you can let everyone know that you were instrumental in making it happen. I will publish all comments except those that are spam. <br />
<br />
Click here first to read the reviews for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Billion-Dollar-Winner-Arlene-Jones/product-reviews/1599971461/ref=sr_1_1_cm_cr_acr_pop_hist_all?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&qid=1273507947&sr=1-1">Billion Dollar Winner</a> at <a href="http://amazon.com/">Amazon.Com</a>. Then read the reviews from the "average everyday reader."<br />
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WARNING: COMMENTS IN THIS SECTION CAN BE A SPOILER AND GIVE AWAY INFORMATION.<br />
<br />
New to commenting on a blog? Just click on red comment link below. Scroll to the bottom and write<br />
your review. If you are already on Google, your userid name will automatically show. Otherwise, Click on the "Comment As" and a Drop down menu will appear. Choose Name/URL and put in your name and enter on Continue.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-4547400872565419512011-05-03T18:36:00.000-05:002011-05-03T18:36:37.901-05:00Billion Dollar Winner - Book Trailer<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/LweYeOzNKig" width="425"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-89546441749968353892011-02-05T05:17:00.000-06:002011-02-05T05:17:23.502-06:00Photos From Christmas and Kwanzaa 2010<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3lO6PCNfgI2YBRLdb9BBP6EQ_frW3yE1EaEzSUuiWhGPYD1M8voBLiGy4Of_DJT5LV3Fw7RQhN9HeQnXpBzSKbzpWk7KlVQu8TvyqtJd-oE5d2Q789ZY5F01uXmGjznfF0YkbLptYn4/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge3lO6PCNfgI2YBRLdb9BBP6EQ_frW3yE1EaEzSUuiWhGPYD1M8voBLiGy4Of_DJT5LV3Fw7RQhN9HeQnXpBzSKbzpWk7KlVQu8TvyqtJd-oE5d2Q789ZY5F01uXmGjznfF0YkbLptYn4/s320/022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jOx5Ri2eBPyakxq-7NpPARGlqPvB0T-PRmwcmg5Fz-G1jX5Is2sAFb8jeGhOfLaQ1idtpvCcGvdz4nngCBUXnAEjZzfa2u5sgY7qQqGcZeD76Kp4SoYY7qjXyZH-Wf6DKv4WapcGB00/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8jOx5Ri2eBPyakxq-7NpPARGlqPvB0T-PRmwcmg5Fz-G1jX5Is2sAFb8jeGhOfLaQ1idtpvCcGvdz4nngCBUXnAEjZzfa2u5sgY7qQqGcZeD76Kp4SoYY7qjXyZH-Wf6DKv4WapcGB00/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirVf2cJ5hoSU0uTnQZhgviU8MjhDxYiUbXVtYN9RYUU2saS7dSLS-n3q0GTVWFUWd5ff8EUQ8UqZvr2qeeoNZxQ5pfJwTpjh1L3TARhxsFlHb0Nm_KCEHi1sGCaTQnpsT66iaoYxqq5o/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhirVf2cJ5hoSU0uTnQZhgviU8MjhDxYiUbXVtYN9RYUU2saS7dSLS-n3q0GTVWFUWd5ff8EUQ8UqZvr2qeeoNZxQ5pfJwTpjh1L3TARhxsFlHb0Nm_KCEHi1sGCaTQnpsT66iaoYxqq5o/s320/041.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-17140845373323461962010-11-26T20:35:00.000-06:002010-11-26T20:35:53.527-06:00CHICAGO BLACK AUTHOR'S NETWORK AT CHEZ ROUE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3vHamf_4RwjTH4Qj6EmckQJbs7MfqYPtvU-tMdjCLnl3Rcx613fAT5sTJLZoUPphXx0eebNhJDhjbqehyphenhyphen5X3TEUzJDPUbPaFtz_8_Qnm7d-DynDPnJAZvnsjwbCMQspllx9egGp2KA8/s1600/cban+chez+roue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX3vHamf_4RwjTH4Qj6EmckQJbs7MfqYPtvU-tMdjCLnl3Rcx613fAT5sTJLZoUPphXx0eebNhJDhjbqehyphenhyphen5X3TEUzJDPUbPaFtz_8_Qnm7d-DynDPnJAZvnsjwbCMQspllx9egGp2KA8/s320/cban+chez+roue.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-44174671434656886332010-10-28T07:12:00.000-05:002010-10-28T07:12:20.749-05:00Photos of Me at Cliff Dwellers - Private Social Club in Downtown Chicago<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDYUtUBTqcs5Mn3rpnqq6U6V4bK0DkssnFbcTu51V2hOIUIJojJxOhAQlDlk116QALh5N-N4dliHOivzldecNOirDFnk1-Z3Ab9kAOGJEeKf50t45mZElfJc5Z4fMQobaNGIpt80FWFU/s1600/Cliff+Dwellers+AJ1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDYUtUBTqcs5Mn3rpnqq6U6V4bK0DkssnFbcTu51V2hOIUIJojJxOhAQlDlk116QALh5N-N4dliHOivzldecNOirDFnk1-Z3Ab9kAOGJEeKf50t45mZElfJc5Z4fMQobaNGIpt80FWFU/s320/Cliff+Dwellers+AJ1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNr9Uz4fEG85q9Hlee-IExpaE4jvCkPLwlxVAzm5_Q6YuRbIOv5BlbLLGPLSJKFEvmsGOhhPTlzW79ESq4QIVdCFeX5I_BG8d7u_CQaemO5ItFkOdHGpdaVue0MLAGQUf2DQwonGXSh0Q/s1600/Cliff+Dwellers+AJ2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNr9Uz4fEG85q9Hlee-IExpaE4jvCkPLwlxVAzm5_Q6YuRbIOv5BlbLLGPLSJKFEvmsGOhhPTlzW79ESq4QIVdCFeX5I_BG8d7u_CQaemO5ItFkOdHGpdaVue0MLAGQUf2DQwonGXSh0Q/s320/Cliff+Dwellers+AJ2.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-58093385873864340372010-10-18T07:14:00.000-05:002010-10-18T07:14:31.287-05:00Literary Queens Book Club Read My Book!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5f7X_jzZTeFw1S-o53TRJmzfAGB9mG2gBPKhk5BqR_yw9rAQcMkVcRea_pFfYjgxO8rTaGF5mx2B99TfmfU-UCcvAcgtPKUAg3illWQjEuegteVRaxGCdJi2SIm6yO4rmxbMPWmKg24/s1600/DSC01803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX5f7X_jzZTeFw1S-o53TRJmzfAGB9mG2gBPKhk5BqR_yw9rAQcMkVcRea_pFfYjgxO8rTaGF5mx2B99TfmfU-UCcvAcgtPKUAg3illWQjEuegteVRaxGCdJi2SIm6yO4rmxbMPWmKg24/s320/DSC01803.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-49154302422358820802010-10-12T23:01:00.000-05:002010-10-12T23:01:00.189-05:00Vice President Joe Biden Knows a Winner!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5p0S2EJD4_mB0CaOGDURAp6CgTRAZSWcpGlmM03pO_Wm7gxx-B9StVHqW6cUrD1H1Ejapk7xuR80LJhVtJatS73h076xuT0t47DHWgUHLsPQvinO95P5THpL6L8P56L6BG25VN6XZ0w/s1600/DSC01795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ex="true" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic5p0S2EJD4_mB0CaOGDURAp6CgTRAZSWcpGlmM03pO_Wm7gxx-B9StVHqW6cUrD1H1Ejapk7xuR80LJhVtJatS73h076xuT0t47DHWgUHLsPQvinO95P5THpL6L8P56L6BG25VN6XZ0w/s320/DSC01795.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-2982010703177358042010-08-07T17:58:00.001-05:002010-08-07T18:05:41.952-05:00April 2010 Book SalesMy publisher reports that I continue to be his best selling author on Amazon.com. Watch out JK Rawlings. I'm trying to join your club. <br />
<br />
Seriously, I want to thank everyone who has bought my book and taken the time to come to this website and learn more about my book. Together we can get this book on the radar where it belongs.<br />
<br />
I hope all of those that bought the book will write a review.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-900066843822776032010-05-19T09:15:00.003-05:002010-07-28T02:25:04.960-05:00My Book to Be Used to Teach Young People Financial LiteracyMy novel has been chosen by Dr. Louverta Hurt, retired CPS educator and head of Congressman Danny K Davis' Education Task Force to be used this summer by 25 Upward Bound students (15 is the maximum number in a group) to learn Financial Literacy, Economic Development, Business Creation and Entrepreneurship. Dr. Hurt is a certified Great Book instructor. Although my novel isn't a "Great Book", she can opt to pick whatever material she wants to use. <br />
<br />
What is a Great Book? The <a href="http://www.greatbooks.org/">Great Books Foundation</a> promotes reading, thinking, and the sharing of ideas for people of all ages. Since 1947, the Foundation has helped millions of people make the reading and discussion of literature a lifelong source of enjoyment, personal growth, and social engagement. <br />
<br />
I am going to help work out the lesson plan. My minor in college was education. I will keep folks updated as the time approaches and how it goes.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-74528175905249375542010-03-31T10:14:00.000-05:002010-03-31T10:14:05.912-05:00Blogtalk Radio InterviewI was <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conversationslive/2010/03/31/author-a-p-jones-on-conversations-live-radio">interviewed</a> by Cyrus Webb. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-80988498776529140712009-12-02T00:37:00.001-06:002009-12-02T00:42:29.349-06:00MY BOOK WAS PROFESSIONALLY REVIEWED!I sent a number of books out to different people for it to be reviewed. APOOO (A PLACE OF OUR OWN) BOOK CLUB agreed to review the book. It was very intimidating to get an email from them saying that if one of their reviewers like the synopsis of the book, only then would they be willing to read it.<br /><br />Well someone did agree to read my book and she gave me FOUR STARS!<br /><br />Here's the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Billion-Dollar-Winner-Arlene-Jones/product-reviews/1599971461/ref=dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1">link</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-85913121457972851872009-10-22T15:03:00.000-05:002009-10-22T15:09:35.698-05:00Interview In Austin Weekly Newspaper<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1PGJKWuOHali07wBOaZgUMRwqOMOZJCl2G08wOMd1wXIkgl38N_3pQzOkBA5yXwUPwlMlEf7-BF6oBkCIWLG1e-oAPaeVA1osHJ6P3qytPwHVWLbwxwzlFpaRS4kTHi7A8iGPr9MRCc/s1600-h/008.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395518022927912642" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL1PGJKWuOHali07wBOaZgUMRwqOMOZJCl2G08wOMd1wXIkgl38N_3pQzOkBA5yXwUPwlMlEf7-BF6oBkCIWLG1e-oAPaeVA1osHJ6P3qytPwHVWLbwxwzlFpaRS4kTHi7A8iGPr9MRCc/s320/008.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><a href="http://www.austinweeklynews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=2472&TM=57776.94">http://www.austinweeklynews.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=2472&TM=57776.94</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-68822798117295756582009-10-22T14:51:00.000-05:002009-10-22T15:02:11.469-05:00Literacy Event at Marquette School<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNlY14Xjhqpqzc8C9vfka-edLBLzsDWcT_HL3h2eOoSM6n9cOflD2eBrmapr6JFU7mOLTyqE1DDiYKxLFTFB-47ko70mM1Hxn-bGz7JXMJTYV0k4QwbY1wI0eDMrkMfnx98tiMTRXQis/s1600-h/004.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395516387569023186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNlY14Xjhqpqzc8C9vfka-edLBLzsDWcT_HL3h2eOoSM6n9cOflD2eBrmapr6JFU7mOLTyqE1DDiYKxLFTFB-47ko70mM1Hxn-bGz7JXMJTYV0k4QwbY1wI0eDMrkMfnx98tiMTRXQis/s320/004.JPG" /></a><br /><div>I attended a literacy event at Marquette School this past Tuesday. It was so wonderful to see all the young children and hear of their dreams and apirations. Their featured guest was Pulitzer Prize winning journalist Clarence Page. So you all know I had to get a picture of him and me with my book.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-16049463763382147222009-10-13T02:53:00.000-05:002009-10-13T02:58:55.112-05:00TenYear Old Discovered On Couch Reading My Book<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVKIQIRrJ4f0tqa20drgofUNIw3w8ZLxAufoEQDr692t-bTrULbwP5SYDqcg4_nC10LoV5hZbvgYkNnLHWTAhO-PGZY4kdpHi3vmm4TQG2JAcKCSQzxvIaiMsx7L27F79395kqnME6AQ/s1600-h/003.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391990142171278914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVKIQIRrJ4f0tqa20drgofUNIw3w8ZLxAufoEQDr692t-bTrULbwP5SYDqcg4_nC10LoV5hZbvgYkNnLHWTAhO-PGZY4kdpHi3vmm4TQG2JAcKCSQzxvIaiMsx7L27F79395kqnME6AQ/s320/003.JPG" /></a><br /><div>Thank goodness I can take better photos than I can do the video. I was amazed to walk into a friend's house and find her grandson so engrossed in my book that he didn't pay me any attention. </div><div> </div><div>Althought I wrote my book with adults in mind, young adults are showing an interest. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-89510312641642231502009-10-13T02:39:00.000-05:002009-10-13T02:51:47.829-05:00Unscripted Interview with a Ten Year Old Who Loves My Book!<p><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyGKZ3OofECKSLymBzSYhp8rIR9TcZFIIdcgAr-RX-Veh6LPaf0iq8RBte7kn4KxUL-vBhwkLvcUYhLqOYwsg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p><p> </p><p>When I visited a friend and saw her ten year old grandson reading my book and smiling, I was given affirmation that it is what many of our children need. A well written book that they can relate to that is not filled with gratuitous sex or profanity just to be profane.</p><p> </p><p>Forgive the darkness of the film. </p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-18873727099650883802009-09-07T21:39:00.000-05:002009-09-07T22:03:25.420-05:00Promoting My Book at the African Festival for the Arts<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kyQGs0_TIKYTecuaNIjfnCQ1kkA6T_RXT7END7Uq1KaUD8kX3dsOpDw7pyLtKhf9KVzafePdLVaqpQZoQVBPtq7CviSD0jEFF6ofDzXCXB3MMUiwGf0_ou_vI2XYlBmXzYNdyyFdTFc/s1600-h/009.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378922547187713522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7kyQGs0_TIKYTecuaNIjfnCQ1kkA6T_RXT7END7Uq1KaUD8kX3dsOpDw7pyLtKhf9KVzafePdLVaqpQZoQVBPtq7CviSD0jEFF6ofDzXCXB3MMUiwGf0_ou_vI2XYlBmXzYNdyyFdTFc/s320/009.JPG" /></a> Yogo the Clown and WVON Volunteer Pat<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXi0Czzr6OIM8pDYZvx3ASNwCiiZ293QXDfqVVBF-iYORSEC3uN2JkNXaTkD-Vi6yPoI7v6mlCrgL_sDSzUjoxOP0nPovRxGjrQYsIRLLDU_7H9Ndav5n7rSjQNGPtuhv2St5R6m3jJ3w/s1600-h/011.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378922234821226850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXi0Czzr6OIM8pDYZvx3ASNwCiiZ293QXDfqVVBF-iYORSEC3uN2JkNXaTkD-Vi6yPoI7v6mlCrgL_sDSzUjoxOP0nPovRxGjrQYsIRLLDU_7H9Ndav5n7rSjQNGPtuhv2St5R6m3jJ3w/s320/011.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGG973yi8JiKczl7MvplSGKCgeiKLcAmk3_BRVU-iMrKltJxlmi7yvgLJ3dme22OvGtgu-5soDoNMiISylYwJ17P0KQzRtQ0QdFxocwYHD_4qAXE8htmlDNcfxukDVUMkqLaYanoNWig/s1600-h/007.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378921894068830322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGG973yi8JiKczl7MvplSGKCgeiKLcAmk3_BRVU-iMrKltJxlmi7yvgLJ3dme22OvGtgu-5soDoNMiISylYwJ17P0KQzRtQ0QdFxocwYHD_4qAXE8htmlDNcfxukDVUMkqLaYanoNWig/s320/007.JPG" /></a> Zakiyyah Muhammad Community Activist<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4Uq0zWzdm2xrLx6xBqfcDjBDM40SMTHSikiUCq0pLC0PmpaS9Tp1LetbQAI8nFcFoMCYALP_Yy4byYPIGXy7w_oRakK5EPq0wTAd6x6hAb2fvvQ0JxVSKn4w9YagoHj8TrAoX-j6tfo/s1600-h/006.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378921573119140242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW4Uq0zWzdm2xrLx6xBqfcDjBDM40SMTHSikiUCq0pLC0PmpaS9Tp1LetbQAI8nFcFoMCYALP_Yy4byYPIGXy7w_oRakK5EPq0wTAd6x6hAb2fvvQ0JxVSKn4w9YagoHj8TrAoX-j6tfo/s320/006.JPG" /></a><br />Father Pfleger in Red Shirt<br />Tommy R. Bennett host of He Say - He-Say<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSBIHNjcw2LxiVtE_CW8oaTWh8qeO5zZU3MeX1NMiIATIS6kWtDOvED1I7JFImE_9fJRS58cxMu4Tr1_6YsocxAtT36uLHeOUztHFuwIJXrLJm7ve56diQC2Vlfyz6mZXiwwxXjfspW8/s1600-h/005.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378921139520653554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHSBIHNjcw2LxiVtE_CW8oaTWh8qeO5zZU3MeX1NMiIATIS6kWtDOvED1I7JFImE_9fJRS58cxMu4Tr1_6YsocxAtT36uLHeOUztHFuwIJXrLJm7ve56diQC2Vlfyz6mZXiwwxXjfspW8/s320/005.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>Matt and Perri from WVON 1690</div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-52035076162850764432009-08-29T13:10:00.000-05:002009-08-29T13:11:45.059-05:00PUBLISHING UPDATEJust got another advance copy of the book and still there are printing problems. Now postponing having actual book online until September 15.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-9935748756272019582009-08-27T20:53:00.000-05:002009-08-27T21:50:32.258-05:00PROMOTING MY BOOK - MALCOLM X COLLEGE - 08/27/09With Bill "Dock" Walls - Candidate for Governor for the State of Illin<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_IfYYkZSdkajBCQJFZpv7qiGwu5ASGIl507TdEf4OxeEiOyzkMX7ExG1r9vyPPNoeQuaWs05l7JfXVOLeNww3J98gi6adFrpct0SI8BrJ1hzZRLkvscGFIQ4GPZadWohblM3K55ULAU/s1600-h/013.JPG">ois<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374833699685391474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC_IfYYkZSdkajBCQJFZpv7qiGwu5ASGIl507TdEf4OxeEiOyzkMX7ExG1r9vyPPNoeQuaWs05l7JfXVOLeNww3J98gi6adFrpct0SI8BrJ1hzZRLkvscGFIQ4GPZadWohblM3K55ULAU/s320/013.JPG" /></a> Below - With My State Representative LaShawn K. Ford<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMWbeY1nEcpXB8ACFxBlH90Srrf7DSp7T75kR8BFnvA278oMZHi0YbnypO0SM01HMwxFZkOsRBjVXMOPdnvDgt5Fb2wOg2XO29u_ygBTb_N2nNsja9wIsK-86JaQLZQ_xL6ZqnjxSH8c/s1600-h/010.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374832722899897410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMWbeY1nEcpXB8ACFxBlH90Srrf7DSp7T75kR8BFnvA278oMZHi0YbnypO0SM01HMwxFZkOsRBjVXMOPdnvDgt5Fb2wOg2XO29u_ygBTb_N2nNsja9wIsK-86JaQLZQ_xL6ZqnjxSH8c/s320/010.JPG" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><br /><br /></div><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7eUb0paSwJ_tniJbdM9OLIe3z2pYf8unrTkCYka5LlN1C1MyIpuzQ31HI8HTY9uY8Osjvze1BgiLFP0qUVB-hR0ndrjzFmebLNAItzTehfp1bUjE6vQQSxzu2pRKKf2Pbw6CVQS332I/s1600-h/012.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374831154627709682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO7eUb0paSwJ_tniJbdM9OLIe3z2pYf8unrTkCYka5LlN1C1MyIpuzQ31HI8HTY9uY8Osjvze1BgiLFP0qUVB-hR0ndrjzFmebLNAItzTehfp1bUjE6vQQSxzu2pRKKf2Pbw6CVQS332I/s320/012.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br />(Above) Cliff Kelley of WVON 1690 AM<br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-14958162890899573972009-08-22T17:49:00.000-05:002009-08-22T17:52:39.733-05:00UPDATED STATUS UNTIL FINAL PUBLICATIONI got a sample copy of the book. Physically the book looked good. But there were some printing problems. Book is back at publisher and I am still awaiting another advance copy with correction made.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-68654699132603031962009-06-27T20:47:00.000-05:002009-06-27T20:55:04.548-05:00Updated Front Cover<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8WYBKsXd7vw/SkbMrmIeq9I/AAAAAAAAABA/86WqlY5vmlY/s1600-h/UPDATED+IMAGE.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5352190256518966226" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_8WYBKsXd7vw/SkbMrmIeq9I/AAAAAAAAABA/86WqlY5vmlY/s320/UPDATED+IMAGE.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Added Chicago skyline background to the picture. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-78139894076317844062009-06-23T07:03:00.001-05:002009-06-23T07:04:43.339-05:00Book is at my PublisherJust a quick update. My book is at the publisher. Final editing is being done before the book will be off to the printer. I want to thank everyone involved who has read the prologue and has supported me as I under take this labor of love.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-35996450988300867632009-05-23T16:49:00.001-05:002009-05-23T21:00:21.639-05:00Just Got the Artwork for My Cover<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8KaMiyWO7SpTDBhrJ6B8W84dY61weOfiqzlntZTtosCvPTaESjHAKX4x-VUyyfHdTUdK-249_U6FzUACvLyH7gZkyR5F-39Yp2U52Ci2UaGlxcWFCKQU1xeZO1_gIT47p3yF2CuKzTw/s1600-h/IMG+copy2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339140406340032642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 193px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz8KaMiyWO7SpTDBhrJ6B8W84dY61weOfiqzlntZTtosCvPTaESjHAKX4x-VUyyfHdTUdK-249_U6FzUACvLyH7gZkyR5F-39Yp2U52Ci2UaGlxcWFCKQU1xeZO1_gIT47p3yF2CuKzTw/s320/IMG+copy2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div> CLICK ON PICTURE TO MAKE IT ENLARGE. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-942066682092232107.post-22405692933333827222009-04-26T11:03:00.000-05:002009-04-26T11:07:46.126-05:00Writing A Novel - A Leap Of FaithI have written my first novel. The title is Billion Dollar Winner. I am in the process of getting it published. I found writing it to be very easy. But what wasn't easy was having to take a leap of faith and say to myself that I can earn a living off of my "writing talents". I put the term in quotation marks only because for me it comes so easy that I find it hard to even imagine that writing can be difficult for someone. But I guess Tiger Woods would feel the same way if I told him how difficult Golf was for me.<br /><br />I hope to have my novel ready to sell soon. And when I do, I will be out there doing all I can to promote it as it is a very good book. I will tell you more once I am closer to having it ready for market.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0