D.L. Sparks's Blog: A View From My Pen

Aim for failure and you’ll always hit it. 

Soooooo, I’ve been a way for awhile. Way longer than I should’ve been I will admit.

I do have a few things going on that I’m excited about!!

I’m finished up  with the follow up to BETWEEN FRIENDS. I can’t wait for you all to read it and hear what you think! All your favorites put in a lot of hard work to make this one come together, Phil, Trip, Idalis and even Lincoln!! Also, I’ve enrolled in Shonda Rhimes course on writing for T.V. and that has me over the moon! My dream has always been to be a part of a strong group of writers for a show or series! So I’ve been preparing myself to soak up all the knowledge and tips I possibly can during the course.

Stay tuned for snippets from my next book and I promise to keep in touch!!

Okay so I’ve been gone for a minute……actually I’ve been gone for more like years. LOL! I’m sorry. Life sometimes just has a way of sending you on detours that you never expect or even see coming. I like to call it my life GPS and yes…..it was tripping! I have definitely been through a lot and experienced a lot but i’m hoping that it will enable me to bring something great to my writing. I love giving you guys the best of me and I truly believe everything happens for a reason and my GPS malfunction is definitely one! I look forward to bringing your the best that i have to give and learned. And I have learned a lot!!

Now if you are like me….you now have Diana Ross jamming in your head right now, and you’re very welcome for that. I was doing some soul searching lately and this has been on my mind heavy. I am single and up until recently been okay with that so I decided to enter the world of dating. This did two things: made me appreciate being single and realize that there are a bunch of fools out there and not a stitch of love in sight so Ms. Ross got some ‘splainin’ to do!

In a world of Catfishing and the ever present accusations of “thirst traps” online dating is all but ruled out of the search for Mr. or Miss Right and then when you add in all the people that have been burned by the aforementioned issues taking it out on everyone you really just have a bunch of people running around mentally and emotionally abusing each other; all in the name of ” finding love”. Now I know I am not that old but I do know that at one point dating was a REAL THING. No really……it was…….for real…………….stop laughing. It was real!!! A guy would call and ask a girl out to dinner and they would go and eat and laugh and talk and maybe even hold hands for a while.

Now it goes like this:

1. Can I have your number?

2. Text message (not a phone call): Him: Hey! It’s ________ you met from _________

3. You: OH! Hi how are you?

4. Him: I’m good. So when can I come through?

What………In……..All……….The………………………………….

Or something like this:

1. Him: Text message (usually at some unGodly hour): WYD?

2. You: Just relaxing

3. Him: *sends you string of pictures of himself you didn’t even ask for* Send me a pic.

*blank stare*

So is it safe to say that the days of dinner and a movie are dead and gone? There will be no more walks in the park or carriage rides through downtown? No flowers for no reason or surprise gifts just because it’s Tuesday? What’s even sadder than that is that a good bit of women are fine with this missing component. So a good MAJORITY of men don’t even consider it as an option when pursuing women anymore.

In my opinion technology killed romance. Yes….I said it! The only useful tool is Skype because of the number of long distance relationships due to travel, military, etc. But other than that, texting, Tweeting, Facebooking, etc took a knife and chopped romance up into little pieces and dumped it in love’s lap. And well you know love wasn’t having that mess so love turned tail and disappeared altogether. I hate to break it to you but love is more elusive than a bundle of #2 wet and wavy at the beauty supply store. You just can’t catch it and end up having to settle for some mess that you KNOW doesn’t look right with your hair type but hey……..at least you have something……right?

Wow, I was looking at the date of my last post and it has been a minute since I’ve been here. I’m sorry. Sometimes life gets in the way and it’s harder to push aside than we think.

Well you’ll be happy to know I am 3/4th’s  of the way finished with the next installment in my “Friends” series. I’m really excited about the work that Trip, Idalis and the rest of the crew are putting in on this one. There are some new faces/names and of course all your favorites. This one is definitely a heavy hitter not just for me but for the characters as well. I am pushing all of us to our limits and then demanding just a little bit more.

Thank you all for the great reviews and emails I’ve received in relation to the book and I see that Trip, Phil, Idalis and Lincoln’s Facebook pages are steadily growing. LOL! You guys are awesome!

Well I gotta run but I promise to get back here more often.

Until next time!

D*

It’s Confirmed! The GA Peach Authors are excited and proud to announce Atlanta’s literary event of the summer.


You are cordially invited to
Terri J. Vaughn’s
The Green Room Actors’ Lounge
featuring the Georgia Peach Authors’
Jean Holloway, Gail McFarland, Marissa (Pynk) Monteilh,
Electa Rome Parks and D.L. Sparks
Vignettes Buffet and Benefit

Catered by Chef Sheila of Cookin’ with Flava

Where: 25-D Bennett Street Northwest
Atlanta, GA 30309
When: Saturday, July 28th, 2012
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Tickets: $40.00 each/$70.00 per couple
http://vignettebuffet.eventbrite.com

Watch the drama of the pages of your favorite fiction get brought to life by members of the Green Room Actors’ Lounge. And, according to the March, 2012 Ebony magazine article, you never know who might stop by. You can also join us online for streaming video @

Dinner is included and every attendee who purchases their ticket through  http://vignettebuffet.eventbrite.com   will be automatically entered to win the Grand Prize gift basket which includes an advance uncorrected proof of the late Gordon Parks’ A Hungry Heart.

The novels of the Georgia Peach Authors will be available for purchase. A portion of our sales will be donated to the Take Wings Foundation whose goal is to build the self-esteem of at-risk girls between the ages of 13-18 and to Color My Mind, founded to aid children with autism.

Expert Book Publishing Blog

Over the years, I’ve seen manuscripts and college assignments riddled with commas and I’ve seen them without even the basic commas. When I asked one student what rules he used for inserting commas in his writing, he said, “I put a comma everywhere I pause to take a breath when reading.”

What? Is that in an English textbook somewhere?

It is just a bad to have too many commas as it is to have too few, so check your own writing against these basic comma rules.

Use a comma after an introductory clause. (Example: If you are looking for a job, try the Internet.)
Use a comma before the conjunction that joins two independent clauses (independent clauses could stand alone as two sentences without the conjunction joining them). (Example:  Job candidates should match their skills to the position, and they should know something about the target company.)
Use a comma…

View original post 118 more words

Originally posted on Expert Book Publishing Blog:

Over the years, I’ve seen manuscripts and college assignments riddled with commas and I’ve seen them without even the basic commas. When I asked one student what rules he used for inserting commas in his writing, he said, “I put a comma everywhere I pause to take a breath when reading.”

What? Is that in an English textbook somewhere?

It is just a bad to have too many commas as it is to have too few, so check your own writing against these basic comma rules.

Use a comma after an introductory clause. (Example: If you are looking for a job, try the Internet.)
Use a comma before the conjunction that joins two independent clauses (independent clauses could stand alone as two sentences without the conjunction joining them). (Example:  Job candidates should match their skills to the position, and they should know something about the target company.)
Use a comma…

View original 118 more words

Reblogged from Expert Book Publishing Blog:

Over the years, I’ve seen manuscripts and college assignments riddled with commas and I’ve seen them without even the basic commas. When I asked one student what rules he used for inserting commas in his writing, he said, “I put a comma everywhere I pause to take a breath when reading.”

What? Is that in an English textbook somewhere?

It is just a bad to have too many commas as it is to have too few, so check your own writing against these basic comma rules.

Read more… 181 more words

Soul Pitt Media Presents

“MEET THE AUTHORS”

Saturday, April 28, 2012 @ Hill House Kaufmann Center

If you are a published author, editor, publisher or other literary professional and would like to participate or submit book promotional items email Bonita Penn at soulpitte2@gmail.com

Now in its 4th year, Soul Pitt’s

“Meet the Authors” event promises to be an intellectually stimulating networking affair!

Featuring authors, publishers and editors and to celebrate National Poetry Month there will be a group of talented Pittsburgh poets there to share their poetry. Light refreshments will be served.

Come and enjoy the readings and then stick around to meet authors and purchase their books.

- - - Get Inspired to Write Your Book! - - -

- - - Get Tips from the Professionals! - - -

- - - Connect with local publishers & book coaches! - - -

– Learn ways to promote your book online —

FEATURED AUTHOR:

D.L. SPARKS

Soul Pitt Media’s 4th “Meet the Authors” EventDate: Saturday, April 28, 2012 Time: 3:00 PM until 6:00 PM – Tickets $15.00

Hill House Kaufmann Center

1825 Centre Avenue | Pittsburgh, PA 15219

http://www.eventbrite.com/event/3111230775