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These Boots are Made for Stalking
by Electa Rome Parks
When best-selling author, Xavier Preston, meets his fanatic fan, Pilar, he gets more than he bargained for. What starts out as an erotic one-night stand quickly spirals out of control into a dangerous game of obsession and pain. . . with both parties playing to win.
Think you know what goes on behind the literary scene? Think again.
When most of us think of stalkers and stalking, we think of high profile celebrity cases that we hear of in the news. Reality is that most of us will be stalked at some point in our lives. One out of every 20 adults will be stalked in their lifetime. Below are examples of normal, everyday people who were victims:
• a retail CEO and family stalked by a 21 year old male who was rejected for employment
• a 58 year old woman being stalked by her 35 year old male next door neighbor
• a 32 year old woman stalked by a 35 year old man she met through a personal ad
• a 40 year old lesbian stalked by two different previous girlfriends
• a female attorney stalked by a client in divorce case
• a 29 year old male dentist being stalked by 22 year old short-term girlfriend (law student)
• a social worker and her family stalked by female patient (with BPD)
 When it first entered my mind to write a stalker story, I wanted to fulfill three
obligations with my new book, Diary of a Stalker:
1. I wanted it to be a realistic and fact-based portrayal of a stalker
2. Secondly, I simply knew the stalker had to be female and her victim a male author
3. Lastly, I knew I wanted the storyline to encompass elements of the goings on in the literary arena
Stalkers can be classified into five categories and in my novel, Diary of a Stalker, Pilar would be classified as the intimacy seeker:
The Intimacy Seeker is a stalker who pursues an intimate relationship with someone whom they have identified as their “true love.” However, the stalker’s attentions are not wanted by the object of their affection. Stalkers who fall into this category often have a delusional disorder (e.g., erotomania), and may suffer from other serious Axis 1 disorders such as schizophrenia or mania.
After deciding on the three aspects that had to absolutely be a part of my book,
Diary of a Stalker, I then proceeded to ask myself a few “what if” questions. What would make a seemingly normal female start stalking a male author? And why this particular author? How far would she go with her stalking behavior? How would he handle it?
Of course the reasons for the behavior were multi-layered and couldn’t be summed up in a neat, tidy book. However, I think female stalkers are looking for something that is missing from within themselves or for something that is absent from their own lives. There is a void. In the case of Pilar, she was missing elements of being protected, genuinely loved, and feeling valued; she thought she had found those things in Xavier. However, she confused sex with love, as a lot of women do.
Pilar envisioned what she thought her life would be like with Xavier, if only she could have him, totally possess him. Many stalkers live in a fantasy world within their own mind. They feel if they can possess this perfect person (male or female), then their life will be complete and any problems or troubles they may have will magically disappear.
In Pilar’s case, she believed Xavier was her soul mate, the one man that made her life complete. All the other men had merely been dress rehearsal in her search for him. She came to believe that what Xavier wrote in his books were to her, about her and for her only. In her mind, because he was kind to her, she felt they were connected at a much deeper, spiritual level. Unfortunately when fantasy meets reality, the two typically clash.
**Visit the The AntiStalking Web Site for more information**
Diary of a Stalker by Electa Rome Parks
When best-selling author, Xavier Preston, meets his fanatic fan, Pilar, he gets more than he bargained for. What starts out as an erotic one-night stand quickly spirals out of control into a dangerous game of obsession and pain. . . with both parties playing to win.
Think you know what goes on behind the literary scene? Think again.
Contact Electa Rome Parks
novelideal@aol.com
www.electaromeparks.com
www.myspace.com/author_chick
www.electaromeparks.blogspot.com
But Tell Me This…How Many Scars Do You Really Have?
Author A. Life…
Few people know or realize that the word scar is a derivative of a Greek term meaning; place of fire. (Hence, the burning sensation one gets when an injury occurs.) In life, we all go through our own ‘fires’ but it is how we come out that determines what type of scar, if any, we will incur. Aside from the fact that a scar’s appearance is the direct result of a previous wound, it doesn't seem so bad if it’s small or in an inconspicuous location that’s easy to conceal. And though we desire ways to treat the scar(s), we often find ourselves trying to hide them behind the walls of clothing. Truth be told, scars never completely go away, but there are some methods that can aide in the reduction of its size and appearance.
 Author
A. Life… displays in her latest release, titled: Secret Wounds & Hidden Pain
(ISBN: 978-1-61623-785-1), the lives of four different women; all wearing the same mask-like band-aid, with the intent of hiding the pain of life’s wounds. She uniquely demonstrates in each woman; how she received her wound(s) and how she will eventually receive her scar(s) of healing. While it is impossible for her to shield us from all injury, it is Life’s desire that we come to know that scars are a natural part of the healing process. And in order to speed up the process we must be willing to remove the secrecy of all masks and/or bandages, so the air of life can act as a healer.
When we openly reveal ourselves to the world, what is seen is truth. Wounds are not always secret and real pain is certainly not something that can be hidden. As stated by the author, “We as a people must try not to falsely hide behind walls of wounds, but showcase our lives in such a way that everyone is able to see a life free of pain, displaying scar-like wounds of beauty. For He promised to give us beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness…” How many scars do you have? Show’em off!
Secret Wounds & Hidden Pain
by A. Life...
As I wrote this book, I pondered the title as a subject and was floored. Tears ran the length of my face because I never really acknowledged the mere thoughts or ideas behind my life's scars; visible as well as hidden. When my visibility was clearer and the tears were dried up, I was able to stand boldly and give what I had been babying; a name. That name as we have come to know is none other than the title of my latest novel; Secret Wounds & Hidden Pain.
As I began to question the similitude of the terms; wounds and pain, along with secret and hidden; an answer quickly forced itself into my mental fibers. How can a wound be secret? How can you hide pain? The answer is simple; a cover-up. We all know what covers were created to do but do we understand fully what they weren't created for as well? COVERS ARE TEMPORARY SHIELDS FROM EXTERNAL ELEMENTS! When the outside threat is extinguished, the cover is to be removed. This is the part we forget about. That which is 'undercover' needs to be exposed. Remember, even the rough has to move, so the brilliancy of the diamond can be seen by the world. TAKE THE COVERS OFF AND YOU'LL BE AMAZED AT HOW GOOD THE 'YOU' YOU'VE BEEN HIDING REALLY LOOKS.
As I close, it is still my endeavor to Help Heal the Hurt with Happiness, by purchasing gifts and/or much needed items for children suffering with cancer. My DEADLINE IS DECEMBER 14, 2009. I ask you to purchase my book for $19.95 so I can use the proceeds for this beautiful task. If you can not purchase the book, I would hope that you could donate to the cause. Thank You All in Advance.
--- written by author A. Life... in her monthly newsletter
Secret Wounds & Hidden Pain by author A. Life...
Charlene; a church-going woman who is married to an adulterous preacher, Denise; an exotic dancer who eventually finds out her ‘best customer’ holds the title of her rapist, Michelle; the wife of an abusive, jobless, porn addict, and Katrina; a successful businesswoman who secretly has abortions to maintain her status. All of them lead totally different lives while unknowingly wearing the same mask. Each woman believes no one else can see or feel what she is going through, but will individually find out that the painful wounds she is experiencing are deep enough to be seen and felt by the world.
STAY TUNED... Secret Wounds & Hidden Pain: The Stage Play will be coming
soon.
For More Info. Visit My Website: www.eborya.com
Saving a Marriage is a Lifelong Process!
By Emma Audley
 Saving a marriage is perhaps one of the prime concern areas of every married couple. With divorce rates hitting an all time high, it is no wonder that couples are permanently in a state of anxiety whether they are playing their roles right in the marriage. But is saving a marriage very difficult? The answer is both 'yes' and 'no'.
Saving a marriage can be a daunting task for people who are overtly egoistic.
Selfishness really has no place if you want a marriage to remain on the right tracks. Unfortunately the term 'compromise' is more associated with submissiveness and subservience these days, but in reality compromise in a marriage can be one of the crucial pillars in saving a marriage.
Yet, saving a marriage is easy for couples who base their relationship on mutual trust, love and respect. It is as much important to trust your partner implicitly, as to respect that trust. Once you deviate from this path, the trust is lost forever. In any case, it can take years to rebuild the lost trust.
Some experts have equated marriage to a young sapling that refuses to grow. It remains tender, brittle and vulnerable to damage nearly forever, unless you nurture and provide nourishment by way of loving, understanding and most importantly with your forgiveness. For saving a marriage, you have to forgive each other for the follies and the inevitable idiosyncrasies, which incidentally differentiate us from being robots.
While there are no clear-cut formula for saving a marriage, as every marriage works on a set of parameters which are unique and individualized, there are still some golden rules for saving a marriage, which are given below:
• Every marriage, after a few years would turn into something predictable and may be boring too. Learn to accept this reality, rather than rejecting it. For the sake of saving a marriage, it is your responsibility to allow fresh air into the relationship. There are countless ways you can do this.
• For saving a marriage, learn to accept the way your spouse is. It is impossible to change a person intrinsically, and remodel him or her according to what you like. You can create a 'customized' individual but this would not help you saving a marriage.
• Develop implicit faith in your spouse's abilities. Obviously he or she would perform in some areas and fail in some. Remember, you too are not perfect.
• For saving a marriage, respect your spouse for what he or she is. Look at their good points while learning to ignore the aspects you do not quite like.
• Always keep the channels of communication open, where neither of you should hesitate to share your confidences with each other. For saving a marriage, you are first best friends and then husband and wife.
• Learn to laugh together. This can have immense therapeutic value in saving a marriage as well as help you tide over many crises in life.
• Be prepared to walk that extra mile if you are really keen in saving a marriage. Whether you like it or not, a relationship only survives and thrives if you adjust to each others' whims and fancies.
• Be an encouraging partner. Refrain from overt and negative criticism. Try and avoid being abusive both physically and verbally.
Whether you are still together and having problems or you are already separated and want to save your marriage the next step is absolutely crucial!
Don't make the mistake of saying or doing something that will kill your chances of getting back together with your spouse. Visit my site to find out what you need to do to save your marriage and emotionally reconnect with your spouse.
About the Author Emma Audley
I am the author of "Loneliness to Happiness - the simple guide to getting your ex back"
as well as numerous publications and articles about relationships and marriages in crises.
I have a degree in psychology and years of experience as a therapist in couples and marriage counseling.
I gave up my career as a therapist when my older daughter became ill soon after she was born. Fortunately, she is perfectly healthy and a very happy child today.
I have since moved to another country and I have no plans to resume my career as a therapist. However, I still enjoy helping rejected lovers put their derailed relationships back on track.
Article
Source
Marriage Self Help - When You Feel Like You're in it Alone
By R P Smith
 Very few marriages exist without reaching a crucial fork in the road at some point and a marriage self help strategy can be very effective when this happens. Many marriages have reached the point where separation and possibly even divorce begin to seem like the only option. Often times, one spouse remains committed to the marriage despite his or her unhappiness and the other spouse seems ambivalent or even unaware that there is a problem.
The following marriage self help strategies can be extremely effective even if you feel like you are in this thing alone:
1. Heal your self - This is not a suggestion to enter marriage counseling. Often times these so-called "marriage counselors" are nothing more than licensed therapists with little or no actual training in how to save a marriage. I'm talking about individual counseling to help you sort through your own issues.
2. Worry about yourself - Do not engage in personal attacks on your
spouse. Do not be critical of them. Stay positive and worry about your own words and actions. Take ownership for what you do and say, regardless of what you may think or feel about the other person.
3. Make time for yourself - Do what you love! Engage in hobbies or activities that make you happy. Involve your spouse if it makes sense and he or she is interested but make time for yourself to pursue what you enjoy doing.
4. Take care of yourself - Regardless of how lousy you may be feeling in this marriage, better diet and exercise are bound to help. You'll feel better and be in a much more resourceful state to handle the adversity.
Marriage self help, as I'm talking about here, is about working on yourself to improve your marriage. This will pay dividends regardless of what your spouse's role is in all this. You can still
save your marriage even if your partner is not willing to try.
Improving yourself to save your marriage is just a beginning. I have so much more stuff I want to share with you
at Marriage Self Help that will help you make your marriage even better than it ever has been. And yes, even if your spouse wants a divorce,
you can save the marriage!
Article Source
Black Pearls Magazine
Intimate Conversations
Meet Mystery Writer Lori G.
Armstrong
 Lori
G. Armstrong left the firearms industry in 2000. Her first mystery novel,
BLOOD TIES, published in 2005, was nominated in 2006 for a Shamus Award for
Best First Novel by the Private Eye Writers of America. The second book in the
Julie Collins mystery series, HALLOWED GROUND, released Nov. 2006, was
nominated for a 2007 Shamus Award for Best Paperback Original, a Daphne du
Maurier Award and won the 2007 WILLA Cather Literary Award for Best Original
Softcover Fiction.
SHALLOW
GRAVE, released in Nov. 2007, was nominated for a 2008 High Plains Book Award,
a Daphne du Maurier Award and was a finalist for the 2008 WILLA Cather
Literary Award. The fourth book, SNOW BLIND, released in Oct. 2008, won the
2009 Shamus Award, from the Private Eye Writers of America, for Best Paperback
Original. Lori is a proud fourth generation South Dakotan and lives in Rapid
City with her family.
Pearl Pick
Mystery Book spotlight: No Mercy by Lori G. Armstrong
Mercy Gunderson is a straight shooter with a hard edge. On medical leave
from the Army, she returns home to South Dakota, which isn’t much safer
for her than Iraq. Arriving just after the death of her father, it is up to
Mercy to decide what to do with the family ranch. Trying to deal with her
irresponsible sister and nephew and feeling guilty that she didn’t make it
home soon enough to see her father one last time; Mercy is suddenly pulled
into the local community when the body of a Native American boy is found on
her land. But nobody seems to be doing anything about it, especially not the
local law enforcement.
When
tragedy strikes again, Mercy is ready to throw all her energy into her own
investigation, and she’s out for revenge. As she digs up the truth behind
the shocking crimes, Mercy uncovers dark and dangerous secrets and must race
to stop a killer before everything she’s fought for is destroyed forever.
Read
the Prologue. Read
the first chapter.
Intimate
Conversation with Lori G. Armstrong
Ella:
Readers, former Army sniper Mercy Gunderson debuts in the first book
in a gripping new mystery series. Lori, tell us more about your main
character.
LA) My favorite description is from a reviewer who said Mercy Gunderson is
as tough as an old army boot. Mercy is a 38-year-old woman who has spent
twenty years in the army, specifically as part of a covert all-female
sniper/black ops team.
She’s
back in South Dakota on medical leave, trying to decide what to do with the
ranch that’s been in her family for over 100 years, in the wake of her
father’s death. Mercy has dealt with more than her fair share of tragedy,
and in her mind it all revolves around the ranch. She’s trying to find her
place as a civilian, as well as dealing with her sister, her nephew, the
community’s questions and expectations about her past and her future puts
her more on edge than when she was getting shot at every day in Iraq.
She’s loyal, cool-headed and tenacious, with a taste for whiskey and
trouble.
 Ella:
Are your characters from the portrayal of real people? Do you
specific
characteristics from friends?
LA) No. I’ve never based a character—main or secondary—on a person I
know, or a person I’ve seen on TV, or in the movies, or in magazines, etc.
Some authors get a kick basing fictional characters on their family and
friends, and if that works for them, great. But it doesn’t work for me—I
prefer making stuff up, picking one or two internal defining
characteristics, throwing in a rational or irrational fear or two, and then
narrowing those parameters to see what chaos ensues.
Also, the
problem with using real people is many readers already assume I’ve written
myself into the lead female role of a book. Not so. Obviously I’ve never
done half the crazy or dangerous stuff my characters do, nor do I want to
experience it firsthand, but it is fun and often exhausting living
vicariously through them. I’ve been asked on several occasions if I’ve
based a character on “so and so”– invariably readers are disappointed
when I admit all my characters, from major ones to minor ones, are 100%
fictional. Yet, I borrow specific characteristics, sometimes physical,
sometimes personality quirks or odd mannerisms from people I run across. I
always carry a notebook with me since I’m a big people watcher. I love to
read body language and attribute meaning to it.
Ella:
What issues in today’s society have you addressed in the book?
LA) Because NO MERCY is based on a ranch in western South Dakota, I’ve
concentrated on the land issues that affect families who’ve been ranching
for generations. The conglomerates coming in buying up land and turning it
into private hunting areas, driving land prices sky-high. The family ranch,
the family farm, and that entire rural way of life is disappearing. Is it a
good thing? Is it a bad thing? What if an outsider’s definition of
progress hurts the entire community? Race relations are still a big issue
here—the “us versus them” mentality of whites and Native Americans. As
much as I try to incorporate the reality of these serious issues facing us
here in the west into my books, I strive to strike a balance between
relaying accurate information and providing engrossing entertainment.
Ella: What sets your book apart from other books in your
genre?
LA) Off the top of my head, I say location and setting separate my books
from the pack. The greatest compliment I’ve received as an author was from
a reader who said they’ve “been” to South Dakota and the setting in my
books is as vivid as the characters. Another plus, few writers are penning
mysteries set in modern-day South Dakota. There’s a lot written about
pioneers and the Deadwood Gold Rush Days, so my goal was to create a
contemporary story that shows the diversity of the people who live here.
Also, what I feel sets my books apart is the fact I write kick-ass female
leads. Strong women, with strong minds, strong bodies, who use strong
language, embody a strong sense of self, and are unapologetic about having a
strong sex drive. Some of what they do and say isn’t politically correct,
but it is accurate. I’d rather stay true to my characters and my vision
for a story arc, than knuckle under to what is selling well within the
genre.
Ella:
What is the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
LA) Write every day. Write what you love. Find a critique group or critique
partner you trust to give you honest feedback about your work. Accept the
only thing you can control in the publishing business is the amount of time
you write. Not marketing, promotion, or conferences. Focus on writing.
Period. Do it every day. My favorite quote is from author Nora Roberts, who
knows a thing or ten million about writing: I live by this quote every day:
“I can fix a bad page, but I can’t fix a blank page.”
Ella: Please share your latest news, awards and online contact
information:
LA) The fourth book in my Julie Collins mystery series, SNOW BLIND, won the
2009 Shamus Award for Best Paperback Original. I’ll be doing an extensive
blog tour for the release of my hardcover debut, NO MERCY, throughout the
month of January. I’ll also be on book tour across the country for NO
MERCY from Jan. 12th, 2010, through the first part of February. The specific
details and event dates are listed on my website: http://www.loriarmstrong.com
I blog once a week on a variety of topics at my group mystery blog: http://www.firstoffenders.typepad.com
I recently joined another group blog where every two weeks I’ll be talking
about writing and maintaining two identities—writing mystery under my
“real” name, and writing contemporary erotic westerns under a pen name: http://www.murdershewrites.com
I still haven’t been bitten by the Twitter bug, but my daughters (and my
publicist) have been nagging me to open a Facebook account, so I gave in!
Ella:
Thank you Lori for joining us today. We love a great mystery!
How to Overcome a Dysfunctional Family Legacy
By Dr. Daryl Green
Are you dealing with negative vibes in your family? Do you feel like your being held hostage by your family
dysfunctional behavior? Unfortunately, no one has a perfect family. In fact, there’s probably some dysfunctional behavior in everyone’s family tree; most people are too ashamed to admit it. Confusion can destroy a close-knit family. In this situation, the word “family” primarily refers to your extended relatives (brother, sister, aunt, cousin, etc.). Communication usually breaks down--feelings get hurt. Disharmony can happen to any family. In fact, this situation can be created either by individual choices or by the decisions of others. You can see it created through many ways: selfish sibling, drugs taking control, dependent relatives, money-stricken friends, or toxic relationships. Can you think of others?
Many issues can cause family confusion. Many people tend to react to their gut feeling without thinking through the consequences. Don’t believe these personal decisions only impact you. No, short-term choices can leave a legacy of total disasters. Do you need examples? Take someone else’s loved one? Threaten to kill someone? We live in a society where no one wants to wait and develop a real relationship.
People prefer to generate quick “soap opera” relationships to shield their insecurities. There are
unintended consequences. In 2000, former NFL star Derrick Thomas died from injuries suffered in an auto accident. Thomas had fame, fortune, and a bright future. He probably hoped to leave fans a legacy of outstanding memories. Unfortunately, this was not the case. It stands as another American tragedy. He left seven children from five different women and no will. While Thomas earned more than $30 million in his football career, his children will long remember the legacy of dysfunctional family memories. Therefore, individual actions can contribute to the level of dysfunctional behavior in families.
Some family members can also create family disharmony. A small dose of confusion can spread like a wild fire in a family. You can always find at least one person looking to generate “mess” in a family. What will start it this time? Family property? Money? This person will not let the problem die down; he is not content until there is a big explosion. The results are generally not positive. In our own family, we have seen family members fight over property. There is generally lots of anger and hurt feelings. Often kids are caught in the middle, left to carry on this confusion (even when they don’t understand the cause). While many involved in these types of situations are left empty, some people thrive on this negative energy and seem to get enjoyment from it (the more trouble, the better). They celebrate disharmony. We call these folks “troublemakers” or “instigators.” Here are some suggestions for improving these situations:
· Recognize the potential problem.
· Deal with the problem immediately. Don’t wait.
· Determine the root cause. What is the situation really about?
· Determine who really needs to get involved. Do you need to broadcast the problem to everyone in the family?
· Find common ground and create a win-win situation, if possible.
· Keep your cool.
Building a strong family bond takes commitment. It’s easy to get sidetracked by “he said, she said” ordeals. It takes courage to look beyond the surface problems to determine the real root cause. You have to be stern in your beliefs…and committed. You need to focus on what’s critical for your family. Make every attempt to live at peace with everyone. Determine to make yourself a peacemaker and don’t allow yourself to be conquered by negativism. Stand Tall. Embrace your relatives with positive vibes. Effective individuals want to build harmony in their families. Start today before it is too late!
© 2009 by Daryl D. Green
Dr. Daryl D. Green writes on contemporary issues impacting individuals, businesses, and society across the globe. With over 18 years of management
experience, Dr. Green’s expertise has been noted and quoted by USA Today, Ebony Magazine, and Associated Press. For more information, you can go to
http://stores.lulu.com/darygre
or http://www.darylgreen.org
Website: www.darylgreen.org
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/decisionmaker
"Helping People Make Good Decisions
Coping with Dementia by Niambi Davis
My mother was a Golden Girl - not Bea Arthur and certainly not Estelle Getty, but one of a group of widowed friends, active anchors of the community, and world travelers. It was an affectionate title, given by a community who loved them.
In 1971 my mother retired after 40 years of teaching. "What will I do now," she asked. It didn't take long for her to find out. She bought a new car when she felt like it, founded a male choir at her church, flew to Africa for the United Methodist Church, sailed on the Queen Elizabeth II, cruised the Western Caribbean, visited me in Trinidad and found her way to more than a few of the 50 states. Add in her 1965 European tour and she had seen more of the world than many.
In the early '90s my mother suffered a stroke from which she made a full recovery. "One day a light bulb went off in my head," she told me. Soon she was at home, resuming the life she led before the bleed in her brain.
A few years later, a second stroke changed both our lives in ways that neither of us could have imagined. This time, I sold my furniture, packed up my family and moved back home.
I had it all figured out - both of us were only children and had always been close. Now I'd be her caregiver and we would exist in the mother/daughter nirvana I'd created in my mind. Talk about unprepared for reality! Soon I wondered who she had become. Had her illness brought out resentments that she'd harbored for years? It didn't help that, even at my age, her opinion of me mattered greatly. Intellectually, I understood what was happening. My mother had gone from a life of total independence to wearing Depends and requiring the use of a walker. And what about me? The evil twins of resentment and guilt became my newest, closest companions. And when they came, they helped themselves to my hair. It fell out, grew back and fell out again. Emotionally, I was hurting. But so was she.
One day I came across an article written by a woman who found herself in my same position. Caring for the woman who gave her life was this daughter's greatest honor. I was ashamed, called myself a witch and vowed to do better. It lasted two days.
In spite of our challenges, there were times when our old relationship surfaced. My mother would talk about her childhood and mine. She spoke often of her love for history. "I should have been a history teacher," she would often say. We spent time researching the ancestry of her maternal grandmother. We laughed together, remembering my father and his fishing obsession. We were happy. Those days were golden. Even now, when I'm in her old bedroom, I can still feel their rare sweetness.
Sometimes in her dementia, she was just plain funny. At 2:00 am one morning, I found her dressed in a nightgown, clutching her purse and wearing a Baltimore Orioles ball cap perched on her head. "I'm ready to go to the game," she announced. When I recovered from shock, I laughed until I cried, listening to my genteel and proper mother let out a stream of cursing. Or tell me that her frail and wheelchair-bound nursing home roommate was a drug dealer.
Eventually she became too much for me to handle. I had to put up the adult version of a child-proof gate to prevent her from wandering, especially after she found her way into the living room and lay down in front of the open front door.
At first, I placed her in a nursing home until I discovered an assisted living center. There were doilies resting on the arms of each big, comfortable chair, a kitchen that smelled like home, and a dining room table for the five or six women residents to share their meals. Some of her former students were aides. It was the best for both of us, although I still vacillated between relief and guilt. Some days she would be the woman I remembered. Other days she would refuse to get out of bed. I was afraid to bring her home for Christmas for fear that I'd have to force her to return. I was let off the hook - that day she stayed under the covers in her night gown even when we arrived to wish her Merry Christmas.
Our last visit was wonderful. It was a warm, sunny day in early spring. Instead of confused and combative, my mother was her sweet and gentle self. We sat out on the porch with her housemates and one of her former students. Everyone shared stories - of the days when she was a teacher, about old-fashioned homemade remedies and the school bus that ran charter excursions to the beach during the summers of the 1950s and 60s. A couple of days later, my mother suffered a third stroke. She passed away a week later at the age of 91. I consider that last visit as a gift. We were the mother and daughter we had hoped to be through the turmoil of her illness. When I left her on the porch with her friends, "I love you" were the last words we shared.
© 2009 by author Niambi Davis
Meet the author Niambi Brown Davis
Niambi was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and raised on the Eastern
Shore of Maryland. She and her family lived for many years in Washington, DC and
for three and a half years, made the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago their
home.
She
has written for Bronze Thrills, True Confessions and Black Romance Magazines.
Niambi indulged her passion for sailing and travel by serving as publicist for
the Black Boaters Summit and as a member of the National Association of Black
Travel Writers. A script for her first digital novella has been accepted
and published by Arrow Publications, LLC. Presently, Niambi writes for
Travel Lady Magazine.
Aside
from travel and writing, Niambi is an avid reader of historical fiction, and
deeply involved in tracing the history of both branches of her family tree.
Her day job is running the business of Sand
& Silk / Soleful Strut, her own line of handcrafted bath and body
products. For more information visit her website at: http://niambibrowndavis.com
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Your
submissions to EDC Creations signifies that you agree to our terms and policies.
We also accept book excerpts, reader's guides and audio interviews.
View our current
newsletter for an idea of the types of articles we share.
Seeking
Book Reviewers
EDC
Creations seeks to add avid readers to our community as book reviewers. We would
like readers to share their honest opinions about the books they read. You do
not have to be a professional writer, we want to feel your passion for reading.
Reviewers receive books from EDC Creations’ publishing partners monthly.
You can review our policy for book reviewers by
clicking here. Email Ella Curry for more details at: edc_dg@yahoo.com
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Seeking
Book Club Interviews
Ella
Curry and EDC Creations celebrates the rise of book clubs in the publishing
industry. We host monthly tributes and parties for our featured book clubs. You
too can become a Black Pearls Bookclub Star! Request that your book club obtain
a interview and receive a gift bag of books!
Your book club and network of friends are invited to check all the great authors
in the Bookclub Reading
Room and to explore the magazine for your next featured book of the month.
Email Ella Curry for more details or to request the interview questions at: edc_dg@yahoo.com
We
host weekly video chat session to introduce authors to our readers. Do you want
an author to visit with you and your friends without leaving home? Add us as a
friend at Skype and you can join the fun.
 Skype
ID: [ edc1creations]
Join
Skype to get Video Messages from Ella Curry and featured authors. Add me to
your Skype friend list. Also, send me your Skype address so that I can add you
too! Email your Skype ID to: edc_dg@yahoo.com
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Seeking
Blog Tour and
Radio Hosts
Each
month EDC Creations hosts a tour of 5 wonderful authors. We travel across the
web sharing our message of Give the Gift of Knowledge. We are now seeking
bloggers, book clubs and book lovers to host the authors on their websites,
blogs or radio shows. If you would like to feature authors on your website or
blog, we provide all the material for you. It's as simple as emailing us your
interest.
We
will hold live readings weekly and would like for readers to share the news on
Twitter, Facebook and Myspace. Gather 5 or more friends and meet us for an
online party! We promote great books via the phone, Skype and the web. Great
benefits available for tour hosts. Email Ella Curry for more details on joining
the tours at: edc_dg@yahoo.com
Please take a moment to view our previous tour
hosts here.
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Business
Interviews Requested
Do
you have a great business that serves our community? Tell Black Pearls Magazine
about it! We are seeking community leader interviews. We showcase 5 business
owners per month. Email Ella Curry for more details at: edc_dg@yahoo.com
The
Black Pearls Magazine family wants to take the time to thank each of you for
joining us monthly in celebrating the best in literature and the arts. Our
team of writers, bookclubs and authors are so humbled that you have allowed us
entrance into your life. It amazes me each month as I check our subscribers how
many of you deem us worthy of your time and support. We appreciate
each of you for telling 10 people about the magazine and for driving people to
this site. YOU make Black Pearls the magnificent publication that it is, by
sharing the gift of knowledge!
Please
know, as we prepare each issue for you, we look for those stimulating
conversations, the most thought provoking articles and most of all the best
books on the shelves. We want each page of this magazine to add value to your
lives! Your comments and feedback are welcomed. Join our
blog and share your news, advice and wisdom with the other readers. Tell us
what you want to read too!
As we take off in this new decade we hope to bring you more provocative topics
and life empowering books to shape your lives. We have contest for the readers
and more interactive sections added to the magazine. Let us know what you think
of the fresh new content by emailing
us here. Thank you!
Ella Curry, President of EDC Creations
Founder & Editor In Chief Black Pearls Magazine
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