First Black Romance Novelist Died at 66

My sister forwarded this information to me yesterday, so I thought I would pass it along.

Elise B. Washington, the first Black Romance novelist died last month from cancer and multiple sclerosis.  (See http://shar.es/b1yh for New Jersey Examiner article)

Her only novel “Entwined Destinies” was given three stars by Romantic Times magazine (See http://tinyurl.com/qmr4fe)  The story deals with Kathy Godwin, a reporter for a London-based magazine that discovers Lloyd Craig, a top TransGlobal Oil executive, while covering business conference.

Washington worked primarily as a journalist and blazed the trail for black romance novelists today.  She believed in the showing the depth of love black men could show to black women.  And she is one of the reasons why Multicultural romance will continue to thrive and grow.

Below is a quote one of my sistafriends shared with me to keep me motivated to achieve my dreams of becoming a published writer.  I wanted to share it with you to keep you motivated in reaching your goals.  (See quote below)

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. 

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? 

Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. 

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

- Marianne Williamson