Happy 2024!!
2024 Out with the old and in with the NEW!
2023 is gone and 2024 is HERE!
2023 wasn’t exactly bad, but it wasn’t great. Still, I’m thankful to be healthy and of sound mind in this brand-new year!
As I fully embrace ‘out with the old and in with the new’, figured I’d throw out a couple of traditions that haven’t seemed to work. You know the one about eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day? I heard it’s supposed to bring prosperity. I’ve been eating a tablespoonful on New Year’s Day for YEARS. I can’t tell you how much I loathe them. Honestly, I don’t think what I’ve gained in prosperity was enough of a trade-off. This year, I left them in the pot (sorry Aunt Bobbi). More for others to enjoy! I also washed two loads of clothes. I’m going to leave it to y’all to Google why I shouldn’t have done that. Promise, I’ll let you know how bucking tradition works out at the end of 2024! Keep me in your thoughts AND prayers 🤣!!
This year, I’m doing something a little different. I’m manifesting the FANTASTIC! I can barely sit still from all the exciting things I have in store. I can’t share with you just yet (what’s the fun in that) but I can give you a hint. Let’s just say this is the year of MORE. More books about sexy, black women with purpose, and the men who adore them! And that’s not all. I have several other surprises coming your way!
I’m REFRESHED, RENEWED, & UNLEASHED!
From LaShawn Vasser Publishing to you and yours get ready and
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
I STILL BELIEVE IN LOVE
Mary J Blige
ON-SITE BOOK CLUBS ARE MAKING A COMEBACK!
How many of you are a part of a book club? One where you actually leave the house and interact with other people? Just curious since I'm doing some traveling this summer and it would be nice to visit a couple!
It is so much easier to commune with readers online for so many different reasons, but I’ll tell you, since I’ve been a published author, I haven’t had an opportunity to be a part of many on-site book clubs! The laughter, the discussion, the WINE! Lordt…I miss sharing two of my favorite past-times with my friends - drinking wine and discussing books we enjoyed (or didn’t enjoy)! Apparently, on-site book clubs are making a comeback. I know I for one can’t wait to hit the road this summer to visit a few!!
I saw this list in another blog - Read It Forward and thought I’d share the 13 Reasons Why Book Clubs are Changing the World. Check it out!
1. Book clubs bring people of all backgrounds together to talk about great propellants of change: books.
2. They provide people with a sense of community and remind them that they are not alone.
3. Book clubs champion diverse thought and points of view. From the members in the club to the authors of the books, voices that are not always heard finally have a chance. Empathy is built and strengthened, which is no small feat.
4. Lifelong friendships are formed through bonding over the same book.
5. Wine and cheese platters are everything. Seriously.
6. When everything else seems unstable, you can rely on your regularly scheduled meetings to put your mind at ease.
7. They create a chance for conversation, which seems simple but really helps those who might not have an outlet for such things.
8. Reading and finishing a book that you picked with a special group feels intimate and even more rewarding.
9. You will learn things about each story from your book club that you may have not noticed on your own.
10. They provide an escape from reality.
11. You will read books that you may have not picked for yourself.
12. Regular reading becomes a must because you don’t want to miss a meeting or discussion.
13. Book clubs are uniting and not dividing, which is a huge deal today.
Are you a member of a book club? Let me know and maybe I’ll see YOU this summer!