Wonderful things happen in June.  It’s the month where graduations, blockbuster movies openings, vacations,
and weddings seem to fill everyone’s calendars so I’ve always look forward to this enchanted month. 

When I look back over my life I’ve noticed most of my pivotal transformations took place in June. It has become a month when fashion makeovers, life vicissitudes, and spiritual adaptations implore me to embrace winds of change, and strengthen my soul.  It’s funny that I feel this way now because when I was a child I use to fear any part of my world changing suddenly.  Yes, it’s true.  I didn’t like change because my childhood residence was switched very many times, and across many states.  So when I first came to New Jersey, in June 1990, I knew this place was going to improve and mature me, as it wooed me into making it my permanent home.

Now before you start wondering, I was born in Washington DC and proudly declare it as my birthplace. But I’ll never deny that New Jersey is the place that transformed me from a naive nineteen year old girl to woman of quiet determination. I’ve learned lessons here that altered my life forever and deepen my admiration and empathy for my fellow New Jerseyans.

That’s why I chose to base the Sheridan series around a New Jersey family. It was my small way to give the public outside of the state a glimpse of the state I’ve grown to love. The people that give back are the key to New Jersey’s success and the love stories I see every day transcend anyone's race and/or socioeconomic status.

Well, let me stop before I start naming my favorite exits on the New Jersey Parkway.  I really wanted to let you know the Book Two of the Sheridan Series delighted the staff of Soul Mate Publishing.  YES!!! They are really excited about South Beach and will announce a publication month real soon.  I’m feeling so blessed right now because I took some creative chances that I hope you’ll enjoy in this novel.  Book Two will continue Laila Sheridan’s storyline and introduce some very interesting characters but don’t worry you’ll also learn more about Graham and Caresse.

Oh, and before I forget I’ve been reading your emails (sent to me from my ‘contact me’ page) and it seems all of you REALLY adore Yvette.  She’s quite a woman, right?  During my current research for Wild West, I’m finding myself jotting notes about Yvette’s story so she’ll be back real soon. I don’t want to give too much away so I won’t say anymore about Yvette until I get the story fully fomed in my mind.

Well this was suppose to be a short blog to let you know June is a great month to embrace positive changes in your life.  It’s the halfway point for 2012.  Can you remember the changes you wanted to make at the start of the year?  Well, have you done any of them?  If you did, great.  If not, then don’t beat yourself up about it, you still have time.

There’s are certain goals I have for 2012 that I hope to achieve before December 31st and I know with everything in my being that I’ll do them. That's right, I have unwavering faith because God is guiding me steps and I wake up joyful every morning. As some of you have noticed on Twitter, I’m trying not to end my days without mentioning what I’m grateful for and I must tell you, my life is completely altered by this small habit. Gratitude is a very powerful  emotion that acknowledges the miracle of God around you. No matter how big or small something touches your life, its magical existence will increase the joy in your life…if you stop long enough to notice  it.

Look for magical moments this month and embrace the positive changes around you because you deserve all the happiness your heart and hands can hold.

There are very few things that a person can attribute to contentment and none of them should be external things.  A house, car, clothes, or any accoutrements of status aren’t designed to bring true happiness.  Joy comes from within, and it always will, because God designed it that way.

Some people are so obsessed with creating an image that’s bigger than life that the façade can take on a life of its own and suffocate the spirit.  I caution those people to don’t get burnt by the fire you’ve built.  Make sure the light within shines brighter than any lights that are around you. Take time, every day, to ground and re-center yourself.

This year, I was lucky enough to see, up front and personal, a public servant gives a good part of his heart and soul to his constituents.  His hard work and sacrifice are admirable but he also taught me how important it is to surround yourself with people with no hidden agendas.  Trust and loyalty are rare commodities within personal connections.  And when you’re lucky enough to achieve a certain level of success it becomes more elusive.

I’ve taken that lesson to heart; I totally trust my inner circle and appreciate all of the time and memories they've share with me. When I watch people like Oprah, Tyler Perry and author JK Rowling operate with a sense of gratitude in their business ventures, I’m inspired to write and create out of a similar place of truth.  My readers are so supportive and they understand I’m working hard to achieve a certain goal.  I’m not chasing their dollars; I’m sharing a part of myself.

When you read North Star and my upcoming novel South Beach, there are glimpses of my personal experiences and my philosophy of life. I reveal characters that have many layers and in my book series you’ll be able to understand their motivations, dreams and fears about life and love.  It’s reminiscent of the moment you met a person for the first time.  They seem so wonderful, daring or whatever they chose to show you, or what you chose to see, at the onset.  Then you spend more and more time with them and you observe them in different situation and around different people and the truth always comes to the surface. You see the depth of a person the good qualities and their annoying ones, the things that make them tick, and glimpses of the journey they’ve taken in life. It's always laid before you if you decide to pay attention.

I want my readers to know my characters and root for them just like I do every time I sit down at my keyboard. It make my job as an author so enjoyable.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend and keep believing in ‘our love stories, our community, and our connections’.