So, I’m flipping through last week’s Jet Magazine and there is an article titled “Where is the Cast of Good Times ? I read it with some interest. I like those where are they now pieces. But what really piqued my interest in the article was the small side bar where they listed the lyrics to the theme song. Now, y’all know how much I love song lyrics and learning the lyrics to TV themes is one of my favorite things. I’m a dweeb. I know. But yes, I sing the theme to Friends , Veronica Mars , The Jeffersons , A Different World , Living Single and many many more… Anyway, I love to sing theme songs even when I don’t know all the lyrics. Case in point… Good Times … I don’t know about you guys, but I can sing along fine with the Good Times theme until the last part. I’ve said everything but what the lyrics really are. And I would have never guessed what the lyrics really were. I bet you all wouldn’t have either. Who would have guessed they were singing “Hangin’ in and jivin.’” I’m so happy I found these lyrics. Because from now on I won’t be saying, ‘la la la la…’ for that part of the song or ‘hanging in the gutter…’ No, I know the lyrics now and so do you. Here they are. You can even sing along by playing the You Tube clip of the opening and closing. Have fun. LOL. How many of you already knew they were saying “hangin’ in and jivin’”? Do we have any more theme song singers in the house? Or am I the only dweeb…
Opening Theme Lyrics to Good Times
(Oscar-winning composer-arranger Dave Grusin wrote the music. Singers James “Jim” Gilstrap and Saundra “Blinky” Williams performed the song.)
Good times! Any Time you meet a payment, Good Times! Any time you meet a friend, Good times! Any time you’re out from under Not getting’ hassled. Not getting’ hustled.
Keepin’ your head above water, Makin’ a wave when you can. Temporary layoffs – Good times! Easy credit ripoffs – Good times! Scratchin’ and survivin’ – Good times! Hangin’ in and jivin’ – Good times! Ain’t we lucky we got ‘em? Good times!!
Lena Matthews wraps up her series on the best selling E-Book genres with a discussion of paranormal erotic romance. Be sure to check out the entire series of articles on Blogging in Black. They are very informative for folks wanting to break into the E-Book market.
There is an interesting article by Vibeke Courtney about book trailer on Romancing the Blog. I’ve been thinking about investing in a book trailer for the new Hightower series. Still not sure if it would be a good use of my hard earned pennies…
And Protect and Serve is available for preorder on Amazon.com. There’s no cover listed yet. But I’m still excited. July will be here before we know it.
Those of you who read my blog know that a sista has a thing for the vamps. I love vampire series and I have been waiting for another wonderful series featuring characters of African descent. Well, author F. D. Davis has answered the call with her breathtaking new series that features a sexy and dangerous vampire by the name of Adam Omega. The first book in the series, In the Beginning: A Vampire Series is a can-not-put-it-down page-turner of a book. And I loved it! Today on Gwyneth’s Blog I have the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Omega.
Here’s the wonderful book blurb:
Adam Omega is a man on a mission. Make that a vampire. Having lived a thousand years, Adam has mastered the sun and lives his life as a mortal man. He seeks to bring his kind into the light without fear to taste the sun or the need of the tainted blood of humans to survive. To his chagrin his kind fears his life and fears Adam. Then he sees Eve and anger burns into existence when he discovers the soul of his long dead Eyanna now resides in this mortal’s body.
Eve’s quest for a more spiritual life is fueled by dreams that she can’t quite remember. She’s running from evil and runs straight into the path of a vampire that desires her. Her only hope appears in the form of Sullivan, another vampire who wants Eve to help destroy Adam. As Eve’s soul realigns with her forgotten memories, her past love for Adam is reawakened. Will her desire to remain mortal save her from the life Adam wants to force on her?
And here’s my interview with a vampire…
GB: So, my first question Mr. Omega is about you and what it is like to be the most powerful vampire walking the earth. I wouldn’t say all that power has gone to your head… because I like living… But, I will say that for someone who didn’t want to become a vampire, you seem to have taken to it rather nicely. So what’s it like having all that power?
AO: Ms. Bolton, allow me to say I’m honored to make your acquaintance. I have heard of you and your great talent through Dyanne Davis and F. D. Davis. Mortals whom I’ve learned to tolerate.
It appears that you’ve asked me two questions so I’m sure you will not mind if I elaborate. After all what can you do to me if I answer? But then of course I digress. What’s it like being the most powerful vampire walking the earth you asked me. My Dear Ms. Bolton, it’s simply glorious. That takes us into your second question. What is it like for me? Did you know that I can pluck the stars from the sky? Were you aware that with but a breath I can create havoc worldwide? I have no fear but I do have wants and needs. You’re correct when you said that I initially did not want this life. In fact I believed this life a farce of the ignorant. That opinion may be one of the only three times I’ve ever been wrong in my life. I have never been one to settle for second best. I am Adam. I could do nothing less than be the best that the Creator made me. And before you ask, the Creator did not turn me but was aware that I would be turned. I was imbued with the powers to take this new role in my life that was trust upon me and be what I’ve always been. Adam Omega. I love the power. Why lie? Power is addictive. Power corrupts. Unless of course you’re me. I control the power it doesn’t control me.
GB: Are you happy about having your life chronicled by F. D. Davis in this new series? It must be so exciting to be the center on this wonderful new series. How do you feel about the series? Are you happy with the way this very talented author brought your story to life on the page?
AO: My Dear Ms. Bolton, slow down please. You mortals are strange. It makes me wonder how I could have ever lived in a mortal body. Let me say this about F. D. Davis. She’s a moronic human that is lucky to be alive. I submitted to her request because of my addiction to Eve. She has lied about me. And in this second work of fiction she’s penned she’s lied even more. I read the dribble and demanded that she tell of my true nature. She wants to make me appear “NICE” Can you believe she refused my request and still lives? For whatever reason she has decided that I must be redeemed. I am not seeking redemption. As I told you earlier I love the power. I find no excitement in being at the center of this human’s series with the exception that it makes Eve happy for me to cooperate. How do I feel about the woman’s series you ask me? When she can make it plan to this mortal world that I am the one they dream of when they fall asleep, that I am their nightmare, that I’m real, then Ms. Bolton we will speak again and I will answer that question. As for now suffice it to say that the human yet lives because of my grace. I gather you can tell from what I’ve said that I’m not happy with her in the least. If she had truly brought my story to life you would be trembling now with fear. And I would rejoice at your fear.
GB: You know I have to ask about Eve Moses. Your obsession with her was so intense. I mean… I can understand given her likeness to your past true love Eyanna… But the way you sort of just took over ever inch of her world was… well… let’s just say that I can totally understand why Eve resisted and fought you every inch of the way. Do you think you will get her to come around eventually?
AO: Ms. Bolton, this answer will be short. I always get what I want. I am Adam Omega. I can accept nothing less.
GB: If they decide to make your wonderful story into a film–which I would love by the way–whom would you cast as the key players? Who would you cast as yourself? Eve?
AO: My life chronicled by film? None could portray Adam Omega but Adam Omega. As for Eve, do you think I would allow another to pretend to hold that honor of my wife but my own sweet Eve? You have given me food for thought and I thank you for that. I will broach Eve with the matter.
GB: Without giving too much away, what can we expect from you in the future? When will the next installments of this delightful new series be released?
AO: The timing of books is left to that mortal. I have nothing to do with that. I have been told that printing problems plague the company. I have offered my services to take care of any and all problems with the printers but once again Eve intervened and asked me to leave it be. The only thing I can tell you is that the mortal relayed to me that the date of her second book will be in September. If it’s not, you will not blame me. I am Adam Omega and I do not lie. As for the second book I will say that though the mortal still lies about my reactions to things you will see firsthand the havoc I reek on this planet when provoked. And believe me I was provoked to the point that my spirit was vexed.
You asked what you can expect from me in the future so I will tell you. Eve issued yet another challenge. She called me arrogant. That may be. I am Adam. She challenged me to give the advice I so freely give to her and that human F.D. Davis to other. So I have. I have gone high tech you might say. I am now dispensing advice in a column called, (what else) Ask Adam. If you have need of my words of wisdom, need to know if your love is a vampire, the best temperature for drinking blood, the best vein to take from, Ask Adam. I am Adam Omega Vampire. I will answer. http://www.adamomega.com and you may send your letters to me at AdamOmegaVampire@aol.com It’s very important to have caps where I have them or you will be unable to reach me.
GB: Thanks so much for taking the time to do this brief interview. I know a man as powerful as yourself is extremely busy. I loved In the Beginning: A Vampire Series and can’t wait to see what you and F. D. Davis have in store for readers in the future.
AO: Ms Bolton it was a sincere pleasure to have spent this time with you. You were respectful. You will do well with me. Take care Ms. Bolton. I will reward you soon with a visit.
Thursday nights used to be TV night in the late 80s and early 90s. If it wasn’t The Cosby Show and A Different World on NBC keeping us glued to our tubes it was Martin , Living Single and New York Undercover on Fox. This strike has me nostalgic like crazy and I started to think about how funny Martin Lawrence’s show used to be before he went crazy and folks quit and sued for sexual harassment… Anyway…
Remember when Martin proposed to Gina? The first proposal wasn’t romantic at all. The brother felt a little pressured and put his foot in his mouth big time. But it was the funniest proposal ever and provided the classic lines: “Okay fine! Fine, baby, Gina… Your little plan worked. You plotted and you schemed and clank-clank you finally got me, Gina. Okay… fine… Gina, I will marry you! Damn! I mean are you happy now?” Probably not the proposal every girl dreams of, huh? I guess having her man compare being married to her as being handcuffed and on lockdown didn’t cut it. Because Gina left Martin and he had to work to get her back.
Sounds like a romance novel to me… Anyway…
In the second proposal the brother pulled out all the stops and even got Brian McKnight to sing to her. It was cute. But to me the first proposal will always be the true classic. It might not be romantic, but it was hella funny… “Clank-Clank…”
A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?” 1967
Man was born into barbarism when killing his fellow man was a normal condition of existence. He became endowed with a conscience. And he has now reached the day when violence toward another human being must become as abhorrent as eating another’s flesh. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Why We Can’t Wait,” 1963
The curse of poverty has no justification in our age. It is socially as cruel and blind as the practice of cannibalism at the dawn of civilization, when men ate each other because they had not yet learned to take food from the soil or to consume the abundant animal life around them. The time has come for us to civilize ourselves by the total, direct and immediate abolition of poverty. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?” 1967
Posted in Tribute|13 People Said|Link|
Last 5 people who had something to say: bettye griffin - Gwyneth Bolton - Demon Hunter - Angelia... - Michelle -
1. I’m a Leo and so are three of my four sisters. Odd. Right?
2. I used to be a huge New Edition Fan and I still know all the words to the songs on their first two albums. Go ahead ask me to sing “Popcorn Love.” I dare you… Isn’t Ralph cute?
3. Gwen Guthrie’s “Outside in the Rain” is one of my favorite songs ever. I puffy-heart loved this song during my junior year of high school. And I still love it. I want to write a steamy love scene where the hero and the heroine are outside making love in the rain.
4. Coming up with random things for these tags is really hard for me. I really can’t think of anything random enough that would still be worth typing out for you all to read.
5. Yes, I know number 4 was sort of cheating. But I don’t care. I’m a rebel. I buck the system every chance I get. *Insert evil laugh here*
6. I’m addicted to the Food Network and I don’t even like to cook. I like watching people cook though. And there’s something about knowing the secret life of cheese puffs that’s so oddly entertaining… I blame Rachel Ray really. My addiction started with her dang 30-Minute Meals. Now I’m watching all kinds of Iron Chefs and partying with Paula Deen… I need an intervention!
7. Living Single is my favorite television show ever. I still mourn the show. I could never really get into the show Girlfriends — even though I watched it — because for me they could never compete with Living Single . I even know all the words to the theme song… “Check, check, check it out… Check, check, check it out… Do what you want girlfriend. Cause it’s your world… We are living single… Ooooo… in a 90s kinda world, I’m glad I’ve got my girls… Hold your head up, what? Hold your head up, that’s right… Whenever this life get tight you gotta fight, with my home girl standing to my left and my right, true blue and tight like glue…” Oh, how I miss that show…
I’m not tagging anyone because I’m a rebel and I buck the system every chance I get. But if you’re reading this and feel like sharing seven random things about yourself, have at it.
Posted in Tag I'm It|23 People Said|Link|
Last 5 people who had something to say: lainey bancroft - Don - Paz Edwards - shelia - Michelle -
Thursday, January 17th, 2008
Those Magic TV Moments…
So, I’ve decided to rename Thursdays “Throwback Thursdays” here on my blog. That way I can feed all of my nostalgia whims in the same space depending on what I’m feeling on any given Thursday. Since I’m a pop culture junkie those whims can be old school movies, songs, books or TV shows. And today I want to talk about one of my favorite shows, the show that had a high school senior in “can’t hardly wait mode” to graduate and be able to attend college during the 1987-88 school year. Between A Different World and Spike Lee’s School Daze , I just knew I was going to have the time of my life in college! Granted, the predominately white university I attended was nothing like the show A Different World. It was a different world but that’s a different post… And I didn’t meet and fall in love with my own Dwayne Wayne in college. (I had a major crush of Kadeem “Dwayne Wayne” Hardison by the way… But that’s also another post…) Anyway, Dwayne Wayne and Whitley Gilbert’s journey from friends to lovers made a believer out of me. The show where Dwayne and Whitley get married is still one of my all-time favorite TV moments. “Whitley, please, baby, please!” Wow!
And you wonder why I write romance… I’m such a girl! Enjoy…
Posted in Throwback Thursdays|29 People Said|Link|
Last 5 people who had something to say: Demon Hunter - Patricia W. - Don - Michelle - Anonymous -
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008
I got the chance to chat with fellow author Samara King the other day. She has the interview posted on her new blog. Go check it out and say hello.
GB: So tell us a little bit about yourself. In addition to the standard biography, what’s one thing about you that most people would be surprised by?
MD: Well, I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and I am married with two children. In addition to being a new author I am also a fifth grade Reading and Language Arts teacher. I love to read and my first introduction to African-American fiction was sneaking to read Waiting to Exhale by Terri McMillan while my mother was working. I must have been about twelve at the time, and have been hooked ever since. I think that people would be surprised to know that I read the Sweet Valley High series until I was nineteen and I am completely addicted to General Hospital!
GB: Girl, don’t tell anyone, but I’m addicted to General Hospital too. I love me some Sonny and Jason and I totally think Sonny and Carly should get back together and… Opps got a little side-tracked… tell us a little bit about your road to publication. What was it like getting the call? Holding your novel in your hands for the first time?
MD: I began writing Where I Want To Be in 2005 and it took about 8 months to complete. I submitted to about 25 agents and small press publishers, and while many were interested in seeing the complete manuscript, one agent offered representation in 2006. From that point, my agent began shopping Where I Want To Be to publishing houses. In January 2007 my agent called with the news that Genesis Press wanted to extend the offer of a contract. I was literary shaking when she told me that they were interested in publishing my book! Holding the finished book in my hands was a surreal experience. It still doesn’t seem real.
GB: Tell us a little bit about your novel, Where I Want To Be. What was your inspiration for writing it?
MD: Where I Want To Be is about a woman who swears off love a little too soon. It is a book that deals with aspects of loves, lies, greed and redemption. It is filled with drama and is very hot! The inspiration to write this romance was born with the characters. One night, the characters of Alexis, Kevin, Massai and Eva just came to me and I knew I had to tell their story. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure what twists and turns their lives would take, but the more I wrote, the stronger the characters became. As a result, the story really began to take on a life of its own.
GB: I love letting the characters just take over. They always surprise me and that’s what makes writing so much fun. The discovery! I hear you already have a release date for your second novel, Things Forbidden . Can you tell us a little bit about it? Is it connected to the first novel? When can we expect it?
MD: Things Forbidden will be released in July 2008, and is a project I am extremely excited about. The novel centers on a woman who is engaged, but falls in love with a man 14 years her junior six months before her wedding. While Things Forbidden is not connected with my first novel I am working on a new project that is. This novel, tentatively titled Unraveling, delves deeper into the lives of Claire and Morgan from Where I Want To Be.
GB: Okay, do you have any advice for other writers dreaming of their own debut?
MD: The most important piece of advice I can give aspiring writers is to write everyday. Practice makes perfect, and the more you write, the better you become. Another tip is to study your craft, if you want to write romance, read romance, if you want to write urban or chick-lit, read those genres. Also, join a critique group. When I began writing I started my own group and without them and their constructive criticism there would be no Where I Want To Be or Things Forbidden .
When Alexis Hunter finds out her boyfriend has a wife and kids, she decides she’s had enough. No more men. No more heartbreak. This promise is soon put to the test when she meets pro basketball star Massai Taylor. Although the attraction is strong, Alexis is gun-shy. To further complicate matters, Massai’s gold-digging girlfriend is determined to keep them apart at any cost. Can Alexis overcome her past before she loses her chance with Massai?
On January 13, 1913, Twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University founded Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Wishing to de-emphasize the social aspect of sorority life, our beloved Founders instead demonstrated genuine concern for social welfare and cultural enrichment while promoting high academic standards. These students wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and to provide assistance to persons in need. The first public act performed by the Delta Founders involved their participation in the Women’s Suffrage March in Washington D.C., March 1913. Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated in 1930.
The Founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated
Posted in Delta Sigma Theta|10 People Said|Link|
Last 5 people who had something to say: Shelia - bettye griffin - Patricia W. - Kimberly Kaye Terry - LaConnie -
