Mel Hopkins

Guest M.L. Ginn, I think it would be easier to give you recommendations if you share what genre you're writing in and what audience you're targeting such as YA reader, New Adult, Women's fiction etc... also consider joining us over at the club readingblack.com - for tips on how to help your audience find you and your books.

Excellent recap! I had to download the nbc5chicago app - because none of the cable stations carried the verdict live. Two of my three daughters work in the loop - so my anxiety was dialed up to “high”. As for the grifters in Washington; well, I do my best not to think about any of them so that I may maintain my good health.

@Troy it appears you have urban fantasy in your ten. correct?

"the devil in silver" by Victor Lavalle. I just started it so please no spoilers (smile). This is my first title by Lavalle - so I'm just getting to used to his style. We meet the protagonist "Pepper" as he is being escorted to a mental institution in Queens, NY. He allegedly got into a fight with a man who was attacking his neighbor - (the man was his neighbors ex-husband. It appears he has a crush on her.) When the plain clothes cop arrived on the scene he started fighting them too. Now, he is being admitted to the institution for a 72-hour observation. In addition to being locked up with no way to contact an attorney or next of kin - he's already beginning to possibly hallucinate. He thinks he's heard and smelled something snorting that smells like sulfur. One of the cops heard and smelled it too. But the cop left as soon as Pepper was admitted. Looks like this one is going to get under my skin.

erm...Troy? 😄

Or even be mean just to engage and get attention. I now spend more time reading fiction than reading “thoughts” and “commentary”... I still want to know what others think I just prefer it have a narrative structure.

Excellent episode! Especially since a few anger management classes would have worked wonders. The sad part is this episode is allegedly a reality in the People's Republic of China... Actually, we here have a similar system - FICO

Are you using the information from the website? Also have you reviewed interviews from the founders? That may help you craft your argument for the morality of the organization - Specifically , how an organization working against police brutality could lead to community policing - and more cooperation between residents and law enforcement. This keeps police safe as well as black residents. Back in the early 2000s there was an organization called weed & seed - it was an USDOJ office of justice programs - and black communities and police worked together... and million dollar funding made it possible. So maybe there’s where morality can come into play - https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/black-lives-matter-a-catalyst-for-philanthropic-change_us_582234bae4b0102262411df7

Outside the Perimeter West -

HW is out on a million dollar bond - his next hearing is in November 8 postponed from September 20th in New York Supreme Court. Weinstein wants the charges thrown out. He’s also being investigated for a federal case, Los Angeles and in the UK - -

I see this as cooperation. These partners care for each other and their values are the same and they are working towards shared goal and maybe longevity.

The most random thing is he had enough money to pay for his freedom - Like the other wealthy folks do. I think he sacrificed himself for Camille.

i agree ... and you know I’m OTP west, right? I’m going to have to think long on that one - because I can’t think of any “spiritual mecca” that’s landlocked. Re: Mark Z , Bezos And a bit of Kabbalah and I Ching too! Btw @Troy commerce grew as a result of the energy - not the other way around. Malidoma Patrice Some speaks about this phenomenom, I think, in “Of Water and The Spirit”...

I cooperate with others but I don’t compromise. I think compromise is disingenuous and the injured party will always look for their comeuppance. In an intimate relationship, cooperation is my tool of choice. For example, I had a lover who was polyamorous. I’m not. I love him like cooked food. He loves me and wanted to continue our relationship - but that would mean I’d have to compromise. I wouldn’t and didn’t. I let go. You can compromise your values but you can cooperate them. In intimate relationships, values match and goals are the same - or yes, partners will compromise themselves - and as @Delano mentioned that’s a soul killer.

Yes! @Delano you and I twin in esotericism... I felt so strongly you could hear me on this subject. Africans are drawn to the energy spots. If you came to georgia you’d live near me... I live above the water yet I’m surrounded by it... in a energy vortex. I didn’t consult my charts but I knew my career would have a bright spot this year... So, yes Billionaires use astrology - and Queen Elizabeth knew it was time to get an African woman in the monarchy... also speaking of Billionaires - Richard F Smith didn’t get married in Rome - but he did marry in Italy ... (Rome is still financial district and “home to the Gods”

😄 Oh snap! This is like Marley Dias, her mom and their close relationship with Black Thought and The Roots! - I love it! Black folks are forming powerful coalitions!

Thank you for the acknowledgement @Troy ! Seriously, how many hours in Stacey Abrams’ day?

You really do crack me up... you disagree but intuitively hit on all the right notes. (You know that’s why I hang around here... it’s like manna for my 3rd eye) It’s not a spiritual mecca because it’s home to financial markets - it’s home to financial markets because of its spiritual energy. Thank you for reminding me - 😊 By the way, does Dallas have a Giant Ferris Wheel ? Oh never mind - I guess the churches aren’t working - they have plans for their own Giant Ferris wheel on the water.. (I didn’t even know Dallas had a body of water lol! Welp, now they’re getting their own Sun Dial... to Join London, New York, Dubai, Chicago , and the list goes on

@Troy, I kind of feel sorry for you - most likely when you marry again it will be to some PYT and you will have to revisit fatherhood again... That is another thing that hasn’t changed. Yes, I’m casting a wide net with my generalizing but if a woman wants to marry these days it’s for financial asset growth and babies! As for your comment lol - my mother always says, “men come into this world through the Pu-C and spend the rest of the life working to get back in it.” 😊

THE ARTS and OCEAN! - New York is a spiritual mecca - it is situated on energy vortex that I think I’ve only felt in Peru and Rome... (I’ve never been to African or Australian continent )

Me too! And She’s on my list to read too! Thank you for introducing her!

When I read the Hugo caption I thought about Octavia Butler too! However, I was thrilled two black women won the coveted award. Thank you for the follow-up. I thought about it but didn’t care enough to find out since I’m not a huge fan of awards.

That’s the best part! I used to love having men finance my entertainment. There is no shortage of men willing to take a woman out on a great date. And I’ve been on a few - my daughter called one of dates a “bae-cation” because we went to Peru for a week. Another date - was so good it was the end of all dates because I know no man can top it. Further, dating just to date gets old fast. I find that most men bore me for the very reason you’ve expressed @Troy - They can’t shake the hack ... and so to sit across from a shell of a man who has been socially engineered to the point that he doesn’t know who he is - is heartbreaking. I’ve been single longer than any relationship I’ve ever been in, including my marriage - and I’m good. So, unless, I meet my wealthy prince charming and marry him -this woman is leaving the planet the same way I arrived.

I left the black church back in the early 80s... why would any woman listen to some man spew misogynist bs. I Also left because I’m not into worshipping Ha’Satan.. It never made sense to me to give equal time to an entity that according to scripture work for but is no where near the greatness of THE ALL. The reverend at my church helped baptize me into the First Christian disciple of Christ denomination -and they don’t mention the accuser in sermon, song or praise or worship. Only thing I missed was some “ Sanging”. I can’t imagine black american women are actually leaving the church - but i can see the young women not joining in the first place.