I am Somebody. We are Somebody. ~ Dr. Ralph Hogges
Beyond the Bend of Trees Avenue
By Patricia Reid-Waugh
You would think that a street named ‘Trees Avenue’ would be lined with tall, manicured trees of exotic variety, standing like sentries on either side of the roadway. Strangers entering the L-shaped avenue might imagine that around the bend, leafy branches would shield them from the blistering sun, and a rustling chorus of leaves would welcome them. But such was not the street on which I lived.
My ‘Trees Avenue’ was no different from other residential roads nearby, paved in asphalt, with a strip of grass separating the roadway from the walls of each property. Neither my parents nor the other homeowners thought it important to give the street a personality matching its name. To the casual visitor, it looked tidy, pleasant, but rather ordinary.
The houses stood close to the front boundaries, verandahs stretching wide to court the evening breeze. These verandahs became living rooms in their own right, alive with laughter, morning greetings, neighborly gossip, and the occasional raised voice.
I remember my people; like a piece of sweet, firm sugar cane spilling its juice over my tongue and lips; lips framing expressions of a language of thunder and soft rain. My roots – peopled with characters of such unassuming elegance I could not really see them until, exiled, I craved remembrances like sweet sugar cane. What sweeter dance than a handcart man, lithe, muscled – swinging and dipping, black sinews rippling their way down Orange Street.
Journey to Spiritual Growth: A Path Toward Lasting Transformation
By Dr. Delores Smiley
Journey to Spiritual Growth is a Christ-centered ministry designed to guide believers toward a deeper, more intentional walk with God. Rooted in the call to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength,” this ministry provides practical tools and clear teachings to help individuals grow in spiritual knowledge, examine their hearts, and live out the commandments of love – preparing for heaven as the ultimate home. It recognizes that faith is not a single event but a lifelong journey that calls us to grow in understanding, surrender our hearts, and live out the commandments of love.
With so many books to choose from, you’ll have the hard part of deciding which one to donate.
On Instagram I shared the hard task of purging my books. I have a million with little or no storage space. But what happened was…. During my purge, I ended up reading and re-claiming books.
I decided to share my work (purge in process), and an interested person asked, “where can you donate books?” I responded briefly but decided to post more here on the blog.
Popular and Unique Places to Donate Books
Local Donation Options
Public Libraries
Many libraries accept gently used books for their collections or book sales.
Call ahead—they often have specific donation days or guidelines.
Schools & Colleges
Especially helpful for children’s books, young adult novels, and textbooks.
Contact local principals, librarians, or teachers to ask if they need donations.
Community Centers / YMCA / Local Clubs
Often accept books for literacy programs, tutoring, or community libraries.
Hospitals & Nursing Homes
They may accept clean, gently used books for waiting rooms or patient use.
Churches / Faith-Based Organizations
Great place to donate devotionals, spiritual books, or children’s materials.
Charitable Organizations
Goodwill or Salvation Army
Accepts a wide range of books. Proceeds support their employment programs.
Habitat for Humanity ReStores
Some locations take books to sell in support of housing projects.
Books for Africa / Books Through Bars / Better World Books
Organizations that distribute books to under-served communities locally or globally.
Little Free Library
Find a nearby box via littlefreelibrary.org and drop books off for community sharing.
Online / Specialized Options
Freecycle.org / Buy Nothing Groups (Facebook)
Offer books locally for free and connect with those who want them.
Local Prison Programs
Many prisons accept paperback books only. Check with local chaplains or nonprofits.
Book Drives / Literacy Nonprofits
Check with local literacy organizations or Rotary Clubs—they may be running book drives.
Poetry is ordinary language raised to the Nth power. Poetry is boned with ideas, nerved and blooded with emotions, all held together by the delicate, tough skin of words. – Paul Engle
An evening of laughter, fun and cheer! Yes indeed, it was great ❤️ The Writers Group of South Florida Authors performed. Energy pumped, attendees became inspired, created and shared on-the-spot pieces.
Personally, it was an honor to have lead this initiative and to have read Poet Charmaine Allwood-Hanson’s piece “WE ARE THE CARIBBEAN”, written in recognition of Caribbean American Heritage Month 2021.
An energizing event with promises of more to come.
Thanks fellow author and Poet, Dr. Susan Lycett Davis for the La Veranda venue referral. It was the perfect location to host this inaugural Open Mic event 🎙️
Dance means different things to different people. Enjoy the peace, quiet, and solitude at sunrise with birds dancing in sync. That’s my dance. What’s yours?
Delightful collection of excerpts of 2016 Success writings in Found Poetic form. This dissipates a Renewal of the writings on Success Strategies blog pulled from youmy readers… and my top favs. Your thoughts welcomed amdist.. Cheers!
Stories, Poetry, Writings and Gleanings inspire prowess
Dr. Shelly Cameron
Mentors Matter: Memories of My Lifelong Mentor Dr. Ulysses Van Spiva
By Ralph Hogges
Looking back over my life brings forth memories of my struggles to achieve educational and career opportunities in the White Supremacy’s Deep South and the special person that God put in my life to protect, teach and guide me. His name was Dr. Ulysses Van Spiva. He was an amazing blessing in my life. I write to share some of those memories of my lifelong mentor with you.
After earning my master’s degree at Tuskegee Institute (University) on May 16, 1972, I was hired as a personnel administrator in the University Personnel Relations Department at Florida International University (FIU) on August 28, 1972. FIU was a new university in the Florida’s State University System, scheduled to officially open on September 14, 1972.
Standing on the elevated steps of the Primera Casa (First Building) on that Grand Opening day ceremony, with city, county and state VIP officials and numerous other leaders, I glanced here and there, searching for some black employees, but finding only a few. They were mostly janitorial and lawn workers.
Insightful And Inspirational Wisdom for Aspiring, Beginning and Emerging Writers
By Indiana Robinson
My name is Dr. Indiana Robinson. I am a Jamaican-American author of 50 books, primarily in the nonfiction genre, and minimally in the fiction genre. Among the nonfiction topics I have published and am publishing are memoirs, biography, history, unsung heroes, visual arts, poetry, academics, music, ancestry, children’s activity, animals, meteorology, geography, spirituality, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), proverbs as social commentary, leadership, sports (cricket), culinary arts, and business. My sole fictional work is a novella comprising three short stories on companionship, trickery, and fable. I publish my books under the pen names of Inyaso, Dr. D., and a few others.
I am also an educator/dissertation chair and earned my doctorate at Nova Southeastern University a decade ago. My books are available from: https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Inyaso.
Dr. Ralph Hogges asked me to answer the following questions. I hope my responses will be insightful and inspirational to aspiring, beginning and emerging writers.
Read more in magazinePower of the Blood at Work in You
“Veil Torn in Two” Volume 2
Release Date TBA
www.neatbooks4u.com
By Arnetha Thomas
We already said, “Our growth process is inevitable for maturity.” I’m reminded of the title “No pain, no gain,” secular hit song of 1988 by the late Betty Wright. Her lyrics are prevalent for todays’ problems. She sang about life troubles and to gain something, we must go through something. The late Betty Wright lived and grew-up in Miami, Florida.
Read more in magazineA Woman’s Worth
Excerpt from the Book: Rhythm and Hues – Twenty-Three Stories of
Hardship and Hope
By Corey B. Collins
At times like these, the woman wonders what the point of it all is. Recent news of the unexpected death of yet another close friend, a mere two years her senior, came out of nowhere and rained down on her like a storm for which she was woefully unprepared. Sorrow cements her to the cream-colored recliner in her living room. She looks down. Her lap cradles the framed photo. Moisture wells just beneath the lower lip of her left eyelid. Knowing she must conserve the lion share of her sadness for the marathon day of grief lying in wait at her friend’s funeral, she rations just one tear. It eventually breaches the rim of her eyelid, journeys the length of her cheek and pools at the bottom of her chin. Then, gravity continues to have its way. The picture frame intercepts the liquid before it meets the ground. She wipes the droplet from the glass housing the most recent image of her dog Ozzie. Her furry friend had been gifted by her older brother fourteen years ago as a comfort in the wake of the untimely passing of her longtime human companion and soul mate of thirty-six years. Lung cancer had been the thief that stole her husband. A familiar ring abruptly invades the woman’s airspace, rescuing her from her melancholy malaise. She answers her smart phone.
Read more in magazine
Let Healing Rise
By Rosemarie Cole
You are divided red and blue
My heart ache for you
If - My people pray
There will be ray
Of light and hope
Fill your crevices with love
Then blessing will come from
above
If – My people seek
I will speak
Of life and peace
I set you on a hill
For the earth – void to fill
If – My people turn
You will not be burn
By sparks of fire
Last Time
By S. Ettosi Brooks
The last time I saw Jamaica I’d said goodbye to my heart.
I lost it somewhere between Hope Gardens and Constant Spring.
So we meet, So we part.
I remember staring at the bus as it retreated from me carrying my love, hopes and dreams.
The moon, impassive to human foolishness, sent a soft shimmering sound floating by.
I looked through tear veiled eyes at her hard, bright fulness.
A baby in her mother’s arms stared at me. You know, the way children do as if it was God looking at you through their eyes?
Now, the child full blossoming with the careless beauty of youth, sashays past me. I knew it was her at once, but she did not know me. How could she?
Read more in magazine
Learning Is Important To Your Retirement Journey
Excerpt from the Book, Retirement: The Journey and The Destination
By Patricia Reid-Waugh
A positive senior mindset rejects the idea that “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” This adage has proven not to be true. Instead, we have embraced the reality of lifelong learning. While that adage may have originated from some people’s preference not to have to learn new things in old age, it says nothing about our ability.
Experience shows that it is never too late to pursue a dream. A positive retirement mindset is being willing to start from scratch where necessary. Early in retirement, I realized that almost everything I wanted to do involved learning some new skill or technique to complement the competencies I had acquired over the years. Was this a problem? Not at all.
I wanted to play the violin and the steel pan. Although I was an accomplished pianist and organist, fully functional in music theory, the violin and steel pan required different skills that I had to learn from scratch. I had to put on the beginner’s mindset and become that little girl learning music once again. At first, the idea was intimidating. But then it was invigorating!
I wanted to have an active presence on the Internet to maintain social engagement, access entertainment, improve my knowledge, and buy and sell products and services, among other things. This meant developing a broader range of digital skills than the basic computer competencies I had acquired to get by in the working world. I had to delve into topics like digital marketing, webpage building, and e-commerce, learning these tools and technologies for the first time. These skills did not even exist when I was in school. But, was I able to learn them at seventy years old? Absolutely.
Read more in magazine
Gleanings of Hope, Leadership, Success and Inspiration
The Grave is filled with Dreams that were never realized
Les Brown
The inner feeling that quietly tugs at your heart. Look closely. Listen quietly. You will hear. For years, my mom wanted to write her story. She wrote on notepads, pieces of paper, the typewriter, then reached for the computer. A journey that lasted decades throughout her life. A journey that was never to be fulfilled. My sister too-like a Martyr stricken by the ravishes of cancer, dreamed of telling her story. But, like my mom, she too passed away with it in her heart quietly waiting. She accomplished much yet still had that silent dream that was never fulfilled.
The grave is filled with dreams that were never realized ~Les Brown
Today I write to inspire you, you, and you to go after your dreams, goals, and aspirations. A Certified Professional Coach, I smirk as I reflect on God’s sense of humor. I write on all things business gleaned from my research on success., leadership, and change. Strides before the pandemic I followed the Quest to write on stories of inspiration from over a decade of blogging and journaling. Intrigued by the quiet tug, I followed the lead as the inspirational series unfolded. It began with Green Light: When God Says Go; then My Safe Place and the soon to be published Red Light: When God Says No. Red Light came through a child’s handwritten note on a napkin. It was voiced by my daughter’s 10 year-old son who giggled as he asked me to write it. Intrigued, I looked up with a smile to the Lord and nodded in surrender. The prequel – My Safe Place was just being published. Who am I to disobey? The series unfolded.
Read more in magazine
This Question was posed by Think & Grow Prosper. It sparked my interest so I decided to read a synopsis of the over 4K Visceral responses. Some Synchronized, some humorous, while others left readers in deep thought. Here I share:
No Apologies
I don’t know
God’s Journey
Nope,Wrong Book
Sunshine
Dreamer
Fate of Tragedies
Where’s the Donut?
Burnt Desires with regrets
Journey of Mistakes
Uprising
The Chronicles of Surviving in Today’s Society
The Endless Possibilities of a Life Lovingly Lived
Why me?
Wasted Years
Don’t Have your Children 16 Years Apart and Here’s Why
Do you know why some people succeed while others don’t? It’s simple. They never give up.
People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily. – Zig Ziglar
Motivation And Success. The Link
Motivation is important to success. Give a push start or a power boost to a struggling entrepreneur today. 101+ Empowering Quotes For New Entrepreneurs will ignite their new year with the desire to keep going when they feel like giving up.
Successful people press on when the going gets tough and they become discouraged. J. K. Rowling
The Meaningful Job Decision
Did I make the right choice when I was headhunted? Selena revealed that her 9-to-5 job was an exciting rollercoaster journey. Four years earlier, she was headhunted by a giant company to manage its flagship location. They had called her many times, but she avoided interview invites because of her job’s loyalty. She was not sure how to tell them that she had landed a new opportunity. As time progressed, she went away to a distant country then returned to her home country, hoping that the headhunter would have forgotten, but they had not. On arrival back home, she was invited to an interview. This time she went. Not surprisingly, she was offered the job at twice the salary.
Help someone you know move on from a difficult, stressful job. It might just be that they have been doing the job for 5, 10, 15 years and just want a change. With the book Ditch it, Switch it, you’re sure to give them the ignition to make the decision as they step into the new year.
Quiet Peace In The Midst of Life’s Storm
At three in the morning I received the most devastating news. My daughter’s Godmother had lost her 15-year-old granddaughter. She had died of a massive Asthma attack. I screamed—quietly. I asked the Lord why, why, why? I did not understand. As I sought answers, her aunt encouraged that she did not understand either, but she was safe in the Lord’s loving arms.
Months later as the still grieving mom received a copy of the book My Safe Place, she sat feeling comforted. It brought a sense of peace that quieted her heart. Consider those who mourn this holiday season. Give the gift of prayer and daily inspiration to those who are hurting from sickness, mental incarceration, and loss. GreenLight and My Safe place provides that comfort. Gift it now.
Poetry
A poet’s work … to name the unnamable, to point at frauds, to take sides, start arguments, shape the world, and stop it from going to sleep
Salman Rushdie
Poems revive the soul and encourage the heart. Charmaine speaks these in her book I write. You Recite.
Purpose And Meaning
Nothing brings me more joy than a life dedicated to the personal growth and development of others. Life is about helping others along life’s way. Choose your book today and make a difference in the lives of your friends, family or foe.
Over To You
Which book has made an impact on your life? Do share, we would love to hear.
Do you think ofretirementas a dead-end road to the Departure Lounge of life? Think again!Retirement, A New Adventureis full of ideas how to live an active, fun and enriching life inretirement. There are things to do, skills to learn, new technologies to embrace, people to meet, places to explore. What sets this book apart is the stories it provides from real life experiences of the author and others; stories that range from silly to serious, revealing how satisfying life inretirementcan be.
What does it take to be a writer? That was the question asked in a writers’ forum. Some think it’s rather scary to become a writer. They believe they can’t do it. But isn’t that the case with many new feats that we decide to embark on? The unknown is scary. But I always encourage you to step out afraid, scared, trembling… but do it anyway. Here I share basically verbatim responses as Professional Writers dived in assiduously with their opinions.
Characteristics Of Good Writers
Patience and determination
Perseverance, self-awareness, optimism, logic, self analysis, the ability to listen to expert input, communication skills, your own writing voice, attention to detail
A willingness to learn the skills you don’t have and 50 percent sanity and 50 percent raging eccentricity
“What kind of writer? What do you write? But let’s say FICTION. First of all endurance. You’ll write a lot of ‘crap’. I am not sorry to say. It’s just that the first few years of your writing will. General advice aside, you’ll have to work hard by writing, reading, getting the “feel” for a storyline and characters. And get a touch of the flow. You’ll begin to understand what makes a character, drives a character, what characters fear and desire. And most important what they need. You begin to feel the pulse of the story and where it goes on too thin/long and where things could be expanded on. You begin to understand archetypes too. It is a long path. But at some point you “feel” the story is right. My suggestion is to read a lot and watch good movies. Movies with well done stories and characters. Classic movies. I watched Lord of the Rings many times, it heavily uses archetypes and characters with strengths, desires, and flaws. And yes I read the book many times too! You could read Dracula, watch The Godfather and so on. The classics is where many of the deep archetypes lay”.
Imagination
Words. Words written down. Words woven into a great story.
Write. Simply write
First, ‘butt’ in the chair, pen in hand
Desire, persistence, and the willingness to learn the craft – that’s all.
Passion for writing
Read, read and read. Then you write
Commitment, imagination, and a touch of insanity
Tell a complete story. Beginning, middle and end. It’s shocking how many people can’t do this.
A touch of talent and a ton of hard work.
Keep on learning each day and move forward and up.
Thick skin
Lots of practice.
A good writer just needs something important to say
Faith
Learn to Finishing things.
Keep a journal
Time
Just be yourself. Lots of people grow up feeling like the main character of a crazy adventure novel. At least that’s how writing came easy to me. Know that revision and editing is essential. Don’t see it as too daunting and make sure you save your work. Develop that habit.
Mindset and practicing are the most important basic requirements to become a writer. The other crucial steps are the ability to experiment and research. You need to have the ability to think from different POVs and develop a strong ability of imagination by reading a lot. Building up a proper balance between your fingers and mind is important and that may only be achieved by writing on a regular basis.
To be a good writer, you have to have something to say. Writer’s block is a sign you don’t have a message. I keep a diary of daily observations and what they mean to me. Good writers have an uncanny sense of the motivation of others, and they can capture the human condition in words that repeat their/our thoughts. My diary is often the storeroom for those words. I learned long ago that eloquent words come from eloquent thoughts. You have to write them down in the moment or lose them forever. The rest is ‘craft’ (the tools of the trade, so to speak). There are so many writers, so caught up in craft, they struggle with content continually.
So there you have it, authors giving their feedback to newbies and/or those who aspire to start something new. Just do it!
It’s an outstanding achievement especially for a first time author. Be proud of yourself. But then patrons buy your book and later a reader finds an error or worse–two. It may be his/her interpretation but an error none-the-less. You feel sad. Down. Disappointed in yourself. How could that happen? But before you throw in the ‘author’ towel, here are 3 simple things to do.
Write Quality Books
Write quality books. I can’t stress that enough. Those of you who have worked with me know that is most important. It makes the difference in the success of your product. Quality means, professionally done book cover, formatting, editing and more
Edit. Edit. Edit Some More
Of prime importance is the editing. Nothing is more distasteful than a product that wherever you read, you find errors. That being said, in professionally published books… be it traditional or self-published, you may find errors. That’s the reason reviewing your work with an editor is so important. These days errors are found even in the media. But the great thing now with the media is that it’s mainly online in many cases. Often in their haste to get the news out, they falter. But with online, errors can easily be edited and republished fast. In a printed book, this can also be done so get in touch with your publisher for immediate correction. If self-published, correct the manuscript and republish.
There Will Always Be Haters
Accept the fact. Know that you will always have haters and especially in Poetry, it’s your interpretation, your craft. If the errors are not spelling, then some will still complain because you write as you ‘see’ things.
So in summary, keep your head up. Do something about the complaint. Validate it and if its a fact, correct it. Then move on to writing and publishing your next book. Remember, life is filled with ups and downs. But it’s what you do about it that counts.
Need to write your book? Let’s connect.
Cheers!
Note this discussion does not go in-depth into writing and correcting errors. It is written as a simple recommendation to uplift and rebuild the new author’s inner drive to continue his/her craft.
