Meeting Margaret Johnson-Hodge

I recently had the great honor of meeting the author of my favorite books of all time Butterscotch Blues. A few years ago I was grazing my local library shelves waiting on my next book to jump out at me when the cover of her book caught my eye. I picked up Butterscotch Blues and from chapter one Ms. Johnson-Hodge had me captivated. I devoured that book in one sitting and went back to the library were I checked out every Johnson-Hodge book I could get my hands on.

Not long ago I ran across her home page and nervously sent her an email saying how much I enjoyed her books. Much to my surprise she responded almost immediately. I have cherished that email and every other dialogue between us. She does not host traditional book signings so I was beyond delighted when she started to pop up around town to promote her new book Red Light Green Light.

I finally got the chance to meet her as she attended a small book discussion at a local library branch. (She had surprised the group by popping up the last time they picked one of her books, imagine the surprise on their faces) It was hands down the best book discussion I have attended. Ms. Johnson-Hodge is a pure joy. She is very "real" and laughed, joked and spilled a few secrets that had us sworn to secrecy. She even remembered me from our email dialogue.

In the past few months I have attended book signings diligently on my quest to have my small hardcover library completely signed. Not all of my book signings have made posts here to The Quiet Storm, but this one definitely deserved a spot all its own!

Many thank you's to the wonderful Ms. Johnson-Hodge who had me laughing, crying and cursing for the first time while reading a book. She says her job is well done if you feel anything while you read her stories. "You don't have to like it, but I want you to feel something."

The next time you are wondering the aisles of the bookstore or your local library, check out the novels of Margaret Johnson-Hodge. Her books will take you on a wonderful emotional roller coaster and have you running back to the store for more.

Of course I got a picture with my favorite author...

My Creator Don't Make Mistakes

Every year I hear people talk about their resolutions and the new lists of dos and don'ts. I have not made a New Year's Resolution list since I was a pre-teen. Instead, I learned working on yourself and being a better person is a process that takes constant work and dedication.

My fellow blogger and parallel universe walker Lovebabz had an interesting post on being sick of hearing Lady O talk about her weight. I must agree. Ms. O has access to a personal chef, a trainer and more money than most of us could blow through in a lifetime. Proof positive that money isn't everything, right?

What is having everything? What does that mean to you?

It means so many different things to people. For me, it means loving me. How can I expect anyone else to love me when I can't stomach looking at myself in the mirror? My line-sister tells me all the time "God doesn't do coincidences and He doesn't make mistakes."

It took me a long time to realize I am good enough as is. Take it or leave it, baby. I choose to take it and I carry it well. Another one of my sistergirls was cracking up at me at a recent event we attended. They had a hoola hoop contest and yours truly is mean with a hoop. In fact, I made a couple of bucks from a few men that thought my hoola hoop skillz were good enough to pull money out their pocket. (Wasn't sure if I should be offended or flattered, but I sure put the money in my back pocket, LOL! :)

Wait for it, I'm bringing it back full circle.

I don't walk around with my nose in the air or think I am better than anyone else. There will always someone prettier, there will always be someone curvier, there will always be someone who has nicer hair, jewelry, eyes or drives a nicer car. What sets you apart from them is your confidence, and you get that from the love you have for yourself.

Love yourself first, and everyone else will follow...Sing it India!

India.Arie - Video
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What Does Good Love Feel Like?

I have been awarded by MsKnowitall.

I am deeply honored to be on her Brilliante 5 list.

I started blogging as an outlet. An outlet for my fears, emotional abuse, and loneliness that I suffered in a not-so-easy marriage. I have met wonderful people while going through this journey. They have shared my struggles, pain and evenutally joy as we set out on a path of healing. It is amazing how someone can encourage you and give you strength when they don't know your real name, while the people who see you everyday trip you up.

Makes me think of the Anita Baker song, Good Love. Yes, I want to know what it feels like...

I wanna know what good love feels like
good love, good love
I want a love that's sure to stand the test of time
I wanna know what good love feels like
good love, good love
Morning, noon and night
Forever all my life...

It's coming. God has not brought me this far to leave me.

I give my Brilliante acknowledgement to the bloggers who help me with my journey. I don't have to list them, they know who they are. They encourage me on my difficult path when I take 2 steps forward only to find myself stumbling 3 steps back. They celebrate with me on the highs and poke me to get up from the lows.

They help me to celebrate my brillance.

Compliments are Contagious

"You are a joy to know."

"You are glowing, what's his name?" (HA! Not answering that one)

"You are a wonderful person."

"You can take those negative vibes and spit them back out positive. I know you can handle it."

"Your office is peaceful, I can feel it walking through the door." (Yep, you can't walk through my door with negative vibes)


In the last month or so, I have received these wonderful compliments listed above. Granted, I did not receive them all in the same day (I don't think my ego could've taken that) but I received them in the matter of a few weeks.

Receiving a great compliment is a wonderous thing. It surprises you and gives you an unexpected lift to your day. It just makes you feel good. When I received these compliments it made me aware that I needed to spread more positivity and keep the compliments going. They made me feel wonderful, like I finally got it. I am finally becoming the person I always knew I could be. How do I know? Because not only do I feel it but other people can see it, and they are complimenting me on it.

Positivity births more positivity.

Make sure to spread some positive energy today...let me know how it goes.

Oh yeah, when someone compliments you...simply smile and say "Thank you!"

Meeting Pearl Cleage

Pearl Cleage is one of my favorite authors. I discovered her first book What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day in 1998 after asking an employee in Books-A-Million for a title that was not in stock. I do not remember the employee's name, but she suggested Ms. Cleage.

I devoured that book in a couple of hours and went searching for more of her titles. I have since been a devout fan of hers and seemed to always miss her book signings and appearances.

Until last week.

With a leisure stroll through the local newspaper, I stumbled upon Ms. Cleage's next book signing and eagerly drove into downtown only to find her appearance rescheduled. Bummer.


Disappointed, I put the new date on my calendar and almost stayed home. The book addict in me took over and I am elated that I ventured back into the mangled asphalt of downtown. Ms. Cleage is an inviting, honest and sincere warm-spirit that can be described as nothing short of simply a joy to be around.

She read from her new novel Seen it All and Done the Rest. With a small crowd, it was delightfully easy to have a great question and answer section and even have my first purchased Cleage novel signed.


Thank you Ms. Cleage for the open and honest discussion. I enjoyed myself tremendously, and the writer in me is soaring with inspiration and new ideas ;-) Can't wait until the next book signing. (I have a few friends who are peeping my book, but this one is not being loaned out!)

New Beginnings

While watching one of my all time favorite movies Purple Rain, I was listening to the opening sequence:

Dearly Beloved,
We are gathered here today to get this thing called life.
Electric word life it means forever and that's a mighty long time
But I'm here 2 tell you there's something else, the afterworld

Get through this thing called life, huh?

I have watched this movie hundreds of times, I love good live music and since Purple Rain is more of a long concert with bad acting it fits the bill, but I digress to say I love this movie and the opening sequence got me to thinking about life and change.

It's that time of year when everyone is focusing on the "new." Resolutions, promises, engagements, babies, moving into new places and trying new things. I don't believe in resolutions, they are easily broken and make you feel bad about yourself for not being able to stick to them.

What do I believe in? Change.

Gradual but steady change. Change is a word that exicites some people and terrifies others. Last year was a major year of change for me and I checked off many things on my important "to do" list. The most important was to amend fallen friendships and broken relationships.

Some time back I mentioned an important phone call that I was terrified of but felt I had to make. Working through my fear I finally made that phone call and although it did not go as well as I had hoped, it did not go badly either. So now I await the effects of that call. Impatiently I might add (I am still working on changing my patience level) but it feels good to have so much off of my chest.

This year will be better than the last, and next year will be better than this year. I have journeyed through the flames and have emerged a better person, a stronger person and it is time to start enjoying this short period of time we call life.

Timing is Everything

Religious conversations and debates are slippery slopes that almost always end in heated arguments. I avoid them at all costs, unless I know you well enough to know you can handle a serious debate and discussion without overheating. That being said, I attended church last week and the topic was "What to do when you reach the end of your rope?"

If you read my previous entry you know what a timely sermon that was for me. Sometimes, timing is everything. Timing can be a great thing or it can be one of the most frustrating things you can encounter.

So, what do you do when you reach the end of your rope? In a nutshell....tie a knot and hang on!