I must say, having desired to write a book for sooo many years, envisioning what it would be like to be an author, what the road to getting a manuscript published would look like, and how it would be received, especially given the subject matter, has been great! Everything about it! Even the tedious parts. Releasing The C Word Book has been better than I’d imagined for almost ten years!
Let’s Get Started, Shall We?
Once I put together the Table of Contents for the book, and got all the chapter summaries written, it was important for me to convey a few things: one… this was not a religious, teaching guide about one’s sexuality; two… this was not a “how to” book on being celibate; and three… this was not a “how to” book on dating and relationships. I never wanted to come across as any kind of “expert” on any of those topics. I simply wanted to share what the consequences of my choices looked like, and how I felt along the way to getting to today. I wanted this book to speak to the person who always seems made to feel less than, not enough, unworthy, too weird or different. I wanted to convey that it’s okay to live your truth. Whatever your truth is. If it’s based in who you are as a child of God, human being and resident of the universe, then it’s okay to embrace it with no excuses and no apologies necessary. It turns out, that is exactly how it’s been received and I can’t be more happy about it! For more on why I wrote The C Word, you can watch my video HERE.
Where “The C Word” Has Gone So Far…
I’ve had the opportunity to discuss my journey as chronicled in the book on a few platforms, like… Terry Cato’s “Real Talk With Terry” Online Show, “Life Matters” with Roslyn Williams television show (airdate coming soon), an ABC15 interview with Sonoran Living’s Susan Casper, a talk and presentation at Pastors Peter and Pamela McDonald’s Church, Valley Praise, and at Pastor Pamela’s Gorgeous Godly Girlfriends Conference, an interview with Mary Mary’s Erica Campbell of the Get Up Mornings with Erica radio show, presented at the Release the Chains Conference in Vegas (you can read about that awesome event HERE), and The C Word Book even made it’s rounds unofficially at last year’s Essence Festival. You can read about those escapades HERE. The C Word has been endorsed by Minister Chad Johnson, Pro Sports Chaplain-Pastor-Youth Speaker-Motivator, movie producer DeVon Franklin, and Alfred Edmond, Jr., Senior Vice President and Editor-at-Large of Black Enterprise. I feel so amazingly blessed to have received wonderful accolades and endorsements for this book.
On the Horizon for The C Word…
What’s coming up for The C Word? I will continue to make appearances, do talks and book signings for sure. But what is currently making my heart pitter patter when I think about it is… an audio book. I’ve always known that I would record and release one at some point. And I have a little bit of an advantage because I’ve recorded, produced, released and distributed two cds, done extensive background singing work, AND, little known fact… I worked as a voice over artist for a few years in Chicago before moving on to Atlanta. So I know my way around a studio well. I have no idea when this version of The C Word will be released, but my target is sometime before the book’s May 11th release anniversary. (Read HERE and see all the photos from The C Word Book Release Event.) I get really excited thinking about it because I love being in the studio, and while I’m not singing, the process is still the same; hours and hours before a microphone with headphones, sometimes doing repeat after repeat, eating bad food, or not eating at all, wait… this doesn’t sound enjoyable at all. Haha!!! But I think it’s the process I love; knowing that at some point I’ll leave the studio, having put in the work, and shortly thereafter the finished product will be presented. Insert deep sigh of fulfillment here 🙂
To Wrap Up…
Eight months after it’s debut, The C Word is still on a journey, and in some ways it always will be. The words are forever immortalized on those pages and it’s an accomplishment that will always live. And that makes me feel super proud, extremely joyful, and very gratefully content :)xo
Do You Have Yours?
If you haven’t gotten your copy of The C Word, here’s your chance. You can click the link below and grab one now!