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One Week Out Of This Writer's Life . . .

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Saturday, December 27, 2003

I had a GREAT holiday! I trust that you all did too! I didn't put up a tree this year and don't think I will again. It was nice being with friends and talking with family. I also got more gifts (don't know why) this year than I have since I was a kid. And cards-cards-cards! My home has cards all over it!! And now - I am glad the holiday is over. There is so much expectation that comes with Christmas. The greatest gift is renewed life through Jesus, the Christ. I've decided to make it a less hectic holiday so I can truly enjoy the day. In a few more days we'll be ringing in a brand spanking new year! I'm looking forward to 2004! It's gonna be a year of change, growth, and blessings!

I'm gonna do more magazine writing in 2004. I already do 4-5 website columns each month, but I want to go back to writing more for offline magazines this year. It will all be freelance work. I prefer the freedom that freelance writing allows. It fits in with my personality so well. I do not like feeling tied down or hedged in at all.

I hope you got what you wanted over the holiday. Let us remember the principles of Kwanzaa and practice them each and every day! I also hope you took time for yourself during this busy time and didn't just push-rush-push-rush straight through the entire season. LOL! I've done that before. That's no fun.

I'll be hitting the road again in a few weeks. I plan to stay close to home as much as I can this year. I tell you 2003 went by almost like a blur. I think I started to get tired from having such a JAM-PACKED schedule this year the last few weeks. I was battling something - a virus, allergies or something. I don't know what it was, but I felt so tired. It didn't matter how much sleep I got, I still climbed (crawled on some days - grin) out of bed feeling exhausted. I feel MUCH BETTER now! I think my body was sending me a message. This is the first year I hardly remember because I was just so busy! I don't want to have that happen again in 2004. I'll never be a sit around and do nothing person, but I ran hard this year. People kept asking me, "How do you do it?" By the grace of God. Beyond that, I'm glad I didn't sit down and really think about the question, because I might have put on the brakes. I got a lot done this year, but I there was still a lot more I could have done. Have you ever felt like you were spinning so incredibly fast and then you looked over your shoulder and thought you should have lurched forward rather than just make a moderate amount of progress? That's how I felt about 2003. I think 2003 was a year of learning for me. Now I feel good change (God sent) coming and I most certainly welcome it!

Take it easy as the year comes to a close. Enjoy the community and laughter of family and good friends. Be good to YOU! You certainly deserve it! Make 2004 a great year - it's up to no one but you to make sure that happens!

Peace and Best wishes!

Denise

One Week Out Of This Writer's Life . . .

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Read the 1st 10 pages of our new mystery, Spiral, for FREE! To get your FREE pages of Spiral, Click Here

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Sunday, December 7, 2003

It snowed here Friday in Philly. It was snowing when I drove to work and snowing when I drove home. The roads are still snowy. I like the snow so I enjoyed it. I was glad to see the Eagles win today. I'm not a huge Eagles fan but after the start they had and the way the players handled the media here, I'm happy for them. I think Donovan McNabb showed how mature he is by the way he handled the hard criticisms earlier in the year, being injured and playing better and better as the year progressed. A lot of times fans (and even sports writers and commentators who used to be athletes themselves) forget that the season is long. The same holds true for basketball. I've watched teams start off the first half of a season doing exceptionally well only to finish mid-pack or lower-pack at the end of the season. In any field (except 100% pure business ventures) I would not measure my performance based on fan/customer reaction. Many fans can say they LOVE you one week, then turn around and tell you how much they think you suck the very next week. Like I said in my last journal entry - guess everybody likes to roll with a 'winner'. But if you're not winning for yourself just sitting on the sidelines watching someone else live their life and reach their goals doesn't count as a win (or a loss - for that matter) for you. I think many people forget that which causes them to become so incredibly emotional after a win or a loss.

My son's hoping there's no school tomorrow . I remember those days. When it snowed when I was a kid, I kept looking out the window and hoping-hoping-hoping it snowed enough to cause school to be closed the following day.

Tuesday I'm in New York at a booksigning. I'm glad they are having a car pick me up and drop me back off at home, so I won't be driving. Part of the proceeds from the book sell are going to a good charitable cause. The signing's organizers are also supporting a womens/childrens community organization. I like that.

Next weekend I plan to knock out all of my holiday shopping. I haven't put up decorations yet and am debating whether I'm going to put up a tree or not this year. I will put up some type of decorations. I ran to the store today because my son wanted to look for an NBA hat at Modell's and I'm glad I saw a few things I can get him (my son) for Xmas. Yesterday I did a mad cleaning - don't know why. I just did. I mean I cleaned out my closests and everything. I just took my time and it took quite a bit of time. It's amazing how much we can accumulate over several months because I do a big cleaning like that about 2-3 times a year. Sometimes I hold onto things for nostalgia's sake and after awhile things pile up. Anyhow, I'm glad I cleaned my home from top to bottom beyond the normal vacuum, dusting, etc.

It's holiday party time. I have been invited to so many holiday events. I wanted to go to one of them, but it was on an evening I would have had to rush to get home from work and make it into Center City Philadelphia in time, so I decided not to go. A lot of people have events at Jillian's which is close to where I live. I think Jillian's is a good place to have a holiday event because there's so much to do there. When you host an event a lot of people attend you have to keep in mind that everyone likes different things and Jillian's has enough to satisfy a lot of what people like to do when they go out. Whoever thought up the concept Jillian's has is smart (and probably also very wealthy).

I'm gonna bounce. I want to get a good night's rest and I'll be up early-early tomorrow morning. It's about 11 PM right now as I'm typing this.

Have a good one! To everyone on the East Coast - stay warm!

Denise

One Week Out Of This Writer's Life . . .

REMEMBER: Our books Inspire, motivate, encourage, teach and entertain! All of our books come with FREE *Priority* Shipping and Handling!

Read the 1st 10 pages of our new mystery, Spiral, for FREE! To get your FREE pages of Spiral, Click Here
ORDER SPIRAL NOW!

Saturday, November 29, 2003

After spending half an hour looking for a page at my website and not finding it I’ve decided to update my Pen Pal page while I’m working on my site. (I think I might have accidentally deleted the other page.) Next year I’m getting a new PC and getting a website design package so I can make changes to my site quicker. I want to add some more good links to the Sports page at my site. I came across Earl Campbell’s official website last night. Houston Oiler fans will remember him. He was an awesome running back. There were days I wondered if he was human the way he carried defenders while he just kept on running. He’s a businessman today. I was glad to hear he shifted from professional sports to a different arena successfully. That’s always good to hear because I imagine that to be a challenging adjustment or change. I want to look for an official Bo Jackson site. I read his autobiography when he was still playing football and baseball. It was a good read. He sounded like he was grounded. I added Ricky Williams of the Miami Dolphins official site to my Sports page but now his site is down. Not sure why. He had an online journal that was good. I hope he gets the site back up and running soon. I also want to find some more good track and field official websites.

This morning I enjoyed a wonderful interview with Vincent Roazzi on my radio program “Off The Shelf” at blakeradio.com. Vincent is the author of the book The Spirituality of Success. I especially enjoyed how he shares where he came from in his own life. It’s almost like he’s two different people when I look at where he was years ago compared to the inner changes he made in his life that allowed him to be where he is today. He’s a millionaire and successful businessman who speaks at companies around the country. Amazing how you change when you start to think differently about yourself. Simply amazing!

The Philadelphia Eagles are winning games. It’s almost funny to watch the change in the way they are received by the media here in Philly since they’ve started winning. Before I was hearing about inner conflicts on the team and between management; I don’t hear any of that anymore. LOL! I guess everybody wants to roll with a winner. Thing is you can’t win sitting back watching someone else get their game going. You have to win for yourself! And you can! I like watching sports a lot because I grew up as an athlete and watching sports, but I no longer get so wrapped up in a team’s performance that I think something’s wrong with the players or feel badly just because they lost a game. In the world of professional sports everyone is capable of playing well (that’s why they’re professional athletes!!), so anyone can win on any given night. For the serious sports fans I agree that it feels good when your favorite team wins. Just make sure you’re not spending your life watching someone else live their life and that you’re doing what you want to do and are going after your own dreams while you’re cheering and rooting for your favorite athletes, entertainers or teams. I said that because far too many people (one is too many) spend their life watching other people live theirs.

Thursday was Thanksgiving. I celebrate the holiday for the family/friends togetherness. From the Native American standpoint, I don’t believe the story behind the pilgrims and Indians because history has not reflected that as truth. But I do enjoy connecting with family and friends, so I use the holiday as an occasion to do just that. I spent Wednesday night cooking. I made a huge dinner. Know why? I don’t plan on doing any cooking this weekend. I’m not kidding. I have been cooking more than normal, so the few days break is most welcomed. Tuesday I started to feel not totally myself. I didn’t feel 100%. I came home and took my temperature and found out I had a fever. I was glad to know why I felt odd. I spent Wednesday (during the day) in bed. Got up and started cooking that evening. I still feel I could use more rest. When I called family on Thursday (my family is spread all out) one of my brothers said his family was trying to fight off the flu. He was getting papers together so he can graduate this Sunday with his Master’s Degree. He’s also studying for his Ph.D. I almost have to chuckle. I remember when I wanted to get a Ph.D. I tell you. I went to college for one year and got bored. I had very good grades, but I began to wonder if I wanted to stick with my major – Psychology. Oddly enough I still read books about how the brain works and benefit from what I learn from these books, but I don’t think I would want to be a psychologist. I do love helping and serving people – helping people to become better and reach their goals. I say that because so often we can get caught up trying to do what we think would cause others to admire and honor us rather than doing what we truly want to do. Make sure you’re following your dreams and not someone else’s.

Anyhow so I did a year at university and there went my aspirations to become Dr. Turney (LOL!). It’ll be my brother who’ll do that. My oldest brother and his wife were feeding the homeless/hungry on Thanksgiving rather than having a dinner at their house. They’re very active in the community where they live. My dad told me their phone rings so much they usually just let it go to their answering machine. I hope no one who knows them is reading this (LOL!). But my brother also isn’t home much. Me and all my siblings stay so busy. I can’t think of one person in my family who just sits around watching TV. My baby brother now works for the Orlando Magic, but he’s still going after his acting/singing. I really wish he’d go after it harder, but he has to do his own thing. I asked him, “What’s up with the Orlando Magic?” He said he didn’t know. I hope they get it together. I think they have the worse record in the league right now. I don’t want to see anyone lose and especially like that.

The 76ers are getting ready to play the Atlanta Hawks. I’m still a 76er fan. Plan to make some of their games this year although I heard all their good seats are sold out. Anyhow, they have been playing so up-and-down this season. I want them to get in a groove and line up some wins one after another. They seem to be playing very emotional right now. They get up for certain games and refuse to lose. Then they play the very next game and lose and I just shake my head. I’m still a 76er fan, but I hope they go well above .500 soon. But I don’t get twisted anymore the way I used to if they lose. You all should have seen me about two years ago when they lost. I just got way too into those games. I finally told myself that I’m not out on the court and - hey – it’s just a game.

A week or so ago I heard from an editor at the Quarterly Review of Black Books (QBR), the organizers of The Harlem Book Fair. They may review Spiral in QBR. That was good news. The Weekly Challenger, a newspaper out of Alabama, sent me a piece they ran on Spiral. Nearly 200 newspapers and websites have run a spotlight or story on Spiral since it came out this summer. I’ve heard from more readers and editors about Spiral than any other book I’ve written so far. I’m grateful that Spiral has touched as many people in the ways it has. It’s actually caused people to think about serious real-life issues tackled in the book and I’m not sure I ever had an intention of causing people to think while reading the book in the ways people have told me they have. My experience has been that when I do what I know is “right for me” when and where I’m supposed to, blessings I didn’t even see coming or expect flow my way. I give the Creator all the credit, and I truly am grateful.

I’m gonna get ready to bounce. I want to get up and exercise and watch the 76ers vs. the Hawks. I haven’t even started my holiday shopping. I’m Miss-wait-until-a-few-days-before-the-holiday to go get gifts . My dad was like that when I was a kid and I said I would not be like that when I grew up. Guess what? I picked up his good qualities too . I always get all the gifts for family, friends and loved ones on time though. At least as best as I recall I have. One of my aunts is a manager at Target in Dayton, Ohio. She worked until 2:30 in the morning the day before Thanksgiving to get ready for the sales on Friday. I remember those days. I used to work at Target in Knoxville, Tennessee as a cashier. Phew! You talk about crowds of shoppers! I would look up and wonder if the line to my register had an end. The store was PACKED!! I’m not one for dodging in and out of people at crowded malls and stores. That’s not my thing. Some people like it, but I’d rather just wait until a slow day and get what I’m looking for. I’m definitely not a big mall/store person and not a window shopper at all. I know what I want, go get it and get out.

I got my holiday cards for people who have bought my books this week. That’s something I love to do. You all are GREAT!!! Thanks for supporting me and my books. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Have a good night and relaxing rest of the weekend.

Peace,

Denise

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Saturday, October 18, 2003

Wow! It's been awhile since I updated my pen pal page. I'm supposed to be updating this once a week? LOL! I've been busy, but what's new? The important thing is that I'm busy doing what I LOVE!

I watched The Matrix Reloaded on DVD with my son tonight. It's the first time I saw it. I didn't catch it when it came out at the movie theatres. I still don't get that movie. Any of you understand it? I mean REALLY understand it?

I had no radio interview this morning. I was glad, because that meant I could stay in bed a little later on a Saturday morning. After how busy I was on Thursday and Friday I was very glad for the break. So much has been happening lately. I finally nailed a contract with a major book distributor I'd been trying to get into for about 2 years. I heard about that on Thursday. Yea! I was happy! I also got Spiral into a large national bookstore chain. I was happy about that too! I'm busy working on my fourth novel and tossing the idea around about getting my own TV show. It would just be local in Philly. It's amazing what you can squeeze into 24 hours!! LOL! Truly amazing!

Last night I ordered Chinese. I have been cooking a lot lately, but I sure didn't feel like turning on an oven or stove last night after I came in. I was tired, probably mentally tired more than anything else, because I was frustrated. I'm staring at a tight deadline and got antsy about it. Anyhow, I was GLAD to be home and came right in and ordered a Chinese take-out feast! I had a lobster dish that was -ummm, ummm good!

Well, you all we only have a few more weeks - actually just one more week - before Daylight Savings Time ends. I miss the extra sunlight, but the change will make me welcome spring and summer that much more, plus I really ENJOY the snow!! I think it looks so beautiful when it's falling and early in the morning before folks have gotten up and started walking on it. I can still remember being at my grandparents' when I was a girl, gazing out the window of the bedroom my sister and I shared when we visited our grandparents, looking out at the newly fallen snow.

I'm gonna go. Thanks! Thanks! Thanks to everyone who has supported Spiral and there have been AWHOLE LOT of folk who have done just that. This week I got an order from Ghana, Africa. God is so good! Life is so good when we believe in GOOD for ourselves!! Believe in the best for yourself! Expect the VERY BEST!!

Have a FANTASTIC weekend, everyone!!!

Peace,

Denise

Saturday, August 9, 2003

I have been busy-busy as usual. It's raining on the East Coast right now. It's hard to believe school will be starting again (has started already for some students). The summer flew! I stayed up late last night working on promotional mailings for Spiral. I should say I stayed up early-early this morning. When I did get up, I jumped out of bed to make it to the post office before it closed. I made it in time. Me and the post office. I'm usually getting there minutes before they're scheduled to close.

I've been on the computer for awhile updating my website. I'm getting ready to get off of here. I think a person should only spend so much time watching TV and being on the Internet. I don't think it's healthy to spend too much time with either. So, I'm getting ready to bounce.

I hope you all did the things you wanted to do over the summer. There's always time to take a vacation or do something different! Make sure you get out and enjoy the warm weather, sunshine and hanging with family, friends and loved ones! I want to get to Great Adventure at least once this summer. The last two weeks forecasts called for rain. If next weekend is sunny, I want to get to Great Adventure. I love their Wild Safari because I love animals!

Before I go, I want to thank each of you who have chosen to support my books and other writings! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! I sincerely appreciate your support! Let me know how you enjoy Spiral!

Have a good summer!

Denise

Sunday, May 25, 2003

I'm sitting here watching E! It's a long holiday weekend and I am going to rest . . . in a way . I'm always doing something, but I am starting to slow down or either get used to my schedule more. I actually think I'm getting used to my schedule more. My legs are sore right now from running. It reminds me of when I was in high school running track and cross-country.

Earlier in the day I had a surprise phone call from my grandfather. He'll be 83 in September. It was so nice hearing from him. Time flies! I told him how my son is taller than I am now. That's not saying a lot because I'm short, but still. My son is young and taller than me already.

Spiral will definitely be out late June/early July. I want it for some road events I'm attending. With each new book I put out it seems the release date gets pushed back more and more, and I'm the one doing the pushing. I see another thing I can change. I can make it stronger here. Let me take this out, it doesn't move the story forward. Did I use that word correctly? And on and on. But it is almost done, and thank God for fresh eyes to look at a writer's work - fresh, professional editorial eyes! It's tough, if perhaps one of the closest things to impossible, to catch every glitch yourself. The more I write and the more I work to improve my work, the more I'm convinced that writing is hard-hard-hard work. And yet I love it! You have to love what you do and believe in your own skills, talents and success. If you don't, you probably won't stay the course because all phases, all careers, can get rough from time to time. You have to love what you do!

I think I'll catch Matrix 2 tomorrow. I heard it's better than the first one. I wasn't crazy about Matrix 1. The action scenes were tight, but I don't think I saw the storyline the way it was intended to come across. Perhaps I'll understand Matrix 2 more clearly.

The 76ers are out of the NBA playoffs. Boo-hoo! I think they need to make changes -- not a lot of changes, but some changes. Sports careers are so very short when compared to working careers in white and blue collar working fields. Athletes don't have forever to gel with teammates and win a championship. I trust that this coming year the 76ers will win it all. I'd like to see Larry Brown and all the guys on the team enjoy winning it all.

I'm gonna go. Thanks to each of you for supporting my books. I finished an article for a Philadelphia magazine today and sent it in. Another project done; I'm glad!

Enjoy the holiday weekend! -- Dee

Monday, February 17, 2003

I got the snow I wanted this winter! The last few winters on the East Coast have been mild. I wanted lots of snow this winter. We had about two 3-6 inch snowfalls, but I wanted to see a huge snowfall. This weekend that's just what we got! I LOVE it!! It's like a wonderful gift from God. My colleagues and friends tease me. I like to enjoy all the seasons. I like change and variety. The one thing I don't care for is freezing rain. That is just no fun to drive in. I remember the time I was going to college at The University of Tennessee in Chattanooga. My roommate (who I'd gone to high school with) got it into her head that she was going to drive to some friends and spend the weekend. I tried talking her out of it when it started to freeze rain. She wouldn't hear it, so I hopped in the car with her and off we went. She had a small car. I don't even remember the model, but it was small and red. I think I prayed the whole way there. LOL! We passed so many stalled cars it wasn't funny. Then we came to the last big hill we had to drive up to get to the friends' house. That was one steep hill! Even my friend started to get scared and say, "Maybe we ought to turn back." I was into by then. I told her, "We've come too far to turn back now. You should have just stayed on campus. But since you came out, let's keep going. I'm not going through all this and get this close to their house just to turn back now." I think we were one of the few cars to make it up that hill. I can still see my roommate patting the dashboard of that little, red car and thanking it for getting us there. LOL!

It was nice-nice being home today. I went to the grocery store yesterday, because I figured we'd be inside today. It has been cold here the last few days. On Friday night I went to see the movie "Dare Devil". Have any of you seen it? I thought it was okay. I've getting kinda action hero movie'd out. But it was all right. The last movie I saw that I *really* liked was "About Schmidt" with Jack Nicholson. I really, really enjoyed that movie. I want to see "Chicago" but for some reason I keep passing it up. I heard it's up for several Oscar Awards. It was cold walking to and from the movie Friday night and I don't normally get cold. No wonder. It was 10 degrees outside. We reached the 20s today.

I spent a lot of the day writing and working on a book review for Indigo Magazine, a new magazine I'm writing reviews for. I read, write and edit so much, doing reviews is easy. Right now I'm reading Growing Up King by Dexter Scott King (Coretta Scott and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s son). I'm enjoying it. It's his memoir and reads as such. I like that about the book because that way if offers something new to readers and historians.

Since I last wrote in my journal at the beginning of January, the Eagles lost their run to the Super Bowl. LOL! I shouldn't laugh, but when I think about how Philadelphia was building that up -- well . . . I laugh. They have to stop choking. They have the talent to win it all. They just have to make up in their minds to do just that and nothing short of it. I was surprised that fights didn't break out after that game as passionate as some Philly fans can become. I'm halfway finished with my fourth novel. It's coming to my easier than I recall any other book I've written coming to me before. I get up early in the morning and work on it and I also work on it at night sometimes and on weekends. I was scheduled to be at a literary event this past weekend. It was postponed, and I'm very grateful especially considering the weather that came through. My next out-of-town event is in Baltimore, Maryland in April.

I'm going to go. Enjoy the remainder of the holiday weekend. To those on the East Coast - enjoy the snow!!

Saturday, January 4, 2003

This morning I had the awesome privilege of interviewing Martha Miller, found of No Longer Bound, Pennsylvania's first African American owned and operated drug and alcohol prevention program. I interviewed her on my radio program "Off The Shelf" at Blakeradio.com. I learn something from every interview I do. I know Ms. Miller personally and have known her for 12 years. She is a true grassroots community warrior! Just talking with her energized me that much more. She is a true gem. No Longer Bound is based in Bristol, Pennsylvania under the umbrella of Norton Avenue First Baptist Church where the Rev. James G. Evans III is the pastor. The church is a true community church. Their outreach is AWESOME!! I thank God for them.

Yesterday my son and I went to see "About Schmidt", the new movie with Jack Nicholson. What can I say? Jack Nicholson is Jack Nicholson is Jack Nicholson is an incredible talent, a great entertainer, true to his craft. What can I say? Yes. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie! There are a few entertainers I'll support just by hearing their name, because I know they hold themselves to such a high standard they will not disappoint - Jack Nicholson is one of those very few entertainers I put in that category.

Today a writer colleague let it be known that she may be in an upcoming movie and also that she has been asked to take her books to the screen. I'm so happy for her and told her so! We are not islands. When one becomes stronger, everyone becomes stronger. I believe it was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who said that we are only as strong as our weakest link. If that doesn't encourage each of us to help someone else become stronger, I don't know what will. When you help someone else, you, in effect, help yourself.

I'm gonna go write. Enjoy your day and the rest of the weekend! And again - to everyone who supports my writing and my books - Thank you!!

Peace,

Denise

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LOOK FOR DENISE'S 3RD NOVEL SPIRAL IN 2003!

Thursday, January 2, 2003

I am nearing the end of a two-week vacation that I have thoroughly enjoyed. It's been six years since I have taken a two-week vacation. I have been writing-writing-writing. I am in the process of working to land freelance work with two large newspapers in the Philadelphia area and weekly programs with two large radio stations in the area. I am going to continue to write a column for New Citizens Press out of Lansing, Michigan and Blakeradio.com. "Off The Shelf" is my baby. I love working that weekly radio program! The program is booked clear into May of this year already.

I went to go see Denzel Washington's latest movie, but because I was just going on a whim, I got to the theatre a little more than two hours before the next showing started. I tried to blow some time at the mall, but ended up coming back home. I might go see it tomorrow. I really want to see the new Jack Nicholson movie that starts tomorrow. I think Jack Nicholson is hilarious. I've already seen Harry Potter 2 (like it a lot) and Twin Towers (also liked it a lot). Twin Towers was a bit long, but it was good. I want to see part three of both Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings, that's how much I've enjoyed those movies.

I might get a new computer this month. I'm defintely getting a new printer. I want a faster printer. The one I have now has served me very well over the last nearly 3 years, but I want a faster one. For Christmas, I bought myself one gift -- some Elizabeth Arden cologne and body lotion. I like body lotions. Don't know what happened, but I heard from people I hadn't heard from in awhile this holiday season. I was happy to hear from them. I guess it was one of those "keeping in touch" years . I think that's a good thing! I hope you all are grateful for the gifts you received over the holidays and that you enjoyed the company of family and friends. To me, people are the best things about the holidays. Not much compares with being in the company of people you love and who love you right back.

On the artistic front, my new book, Spiral is receiving very good reviews! Yes. I'm happy about that. I'm nearly halfway finished with my fourth novel. I also knocked out a lot of website article writing. I write for several websites and prefer being ahead of the game rather than having to write articles on tight deadlines over and over again.

There's talk in Philly about whether or not Donovan McNabb will play for the Eagles in the playoffs. I hope he does. It's been a big issue since Donovan was hurt. You never know how much an athlete is talked about until you move to the city where the athlete plays. Folks in Philly are big Eagles fans. Huge Eagles fans! My favorite team in Philly is without a doubt the 76ers. My son wants to go to the Milkwaukee game. We may go. Milwaukee hasn't been playing the way I'm accustomed to them playing. They've lost quite a few games this year. I think they miss Glenn Robinson's presence not to mention the tension their coach's comments from last year likely caused the team. When you're an effective leader, you don't diss your crew; you motivate and guide.

ESPN just showed the top vote getters for this year's NBA All-Star Team. I think this year made it clear that the All-Star Team is about fan favorite AWHOLE lot. I think the voting results diminish what it means to make the team. Jason Kidd should have scored higher (and I'm not a Jason Kidd fan, but he can play the game as well as anyone in the league). Shaq should have gained more votes. He's good to the point where his talent is taken for granted, but he probably already knows that. I think an athlete can reach that level where they are so good consistently that what is expected of them would be AWESOME for someone else. For them fans just see it as "average" because they perform at such a high level consistently. And I'm not a Shaq fan either, but truth is truth.

I finally got my issue of Track & Field News. I subscribed to help a college student with his tuition. I haven't read a Track & Field news magazine in years. All the faces and names in the sport have changed since I competed. I didn't recognize one person in the magazine. LOL!

I'm gonna go. I trust that you have taken the time to write down your 2003 goals and the steps/resources you will take/make excellent use of to reach your goals. Please do remember that each of us IS responsible and accountable for ourselves, where we are and our future. Believe in the best. Work with the Creator to make this the best year of your life so far!!

Peace and Love! As always, thanks for supporting me and my writing career! I am truly grateful!!

Denise

Read the 1st 10 pages of Denise's third novel, Spiral, for FREE! To get your FREE pages of Spiral, Click Here
LOOK FOR DENISE'S 3RD NOVEL SPIRAL IN 2003!