Thursday, January 1, 2009

Reflections


HAPPY NEW YEAR
To welcome the beginning of 2009 I decided this month to deviate from what has become our usual format of interviews. I feel compelled to speak of things that have impacted my life personally and things that have impacted the lives of every American.

First off I’d like to give thanks to the Creator for allowing me and my family to see the dawning of a New Year. All my life my mother would begin the New Year by reflecting on the ones we lost and giving thanks for the ones who made it through. That has also been my practice for many many years. So to the RSJ family, if any of you had loved ones who didn’t make it to this point I extend my condolences. I think sometimes as you get older and the natural state of death starts claming those in your generation, you begin to feel your own sense of mortality. Many well known and loved stars have not made it to 09 and actually as I write this it’s December 26th and I’m listening to the news of Eartha Kitt’s passing. Don’t worry I’m not going to turn this into a gigantic list of names or have this piece be entirely morose. I’m just acknowledging my reason for giving thanks to see 2009(hopefully)


Despite the sadness there was one defining moment of joy that cannot be overshadowed. America has voted for its first president Barack Obama who’s considered to be African American. But in my reflections I will not list that as it would take away his mother’s part in his having been born. Personally I think the fact that our new president is of two cultures worked to unite the country to the extent that it has been united. For it was with the combined votes that he won and made all of us feel a bit of the “Yes we can” spirit. I count it a blessing that Amanda Roberts Jones, a slave's daughter who lived to be 110 and passed away on December 19th 2008 cast a vote for Barack Obama.

In 2008 in my own professional life I’ve had highs and not so highs. The year ended with one of my books, The Critic, being nominated for best AA book of the year. That’s a good and bad thing but I’m not going to elaborate on it here. Another good and bad thing: My first published book, The Color of Trouble is being re-released in mass market with a new cover that I’m sure some will blame me that the story doesn’t match the cover.

Then we have the decision I’ve reached which had a lot to do with my writing a letter of reflections. My muse appears to be moving more toward a paranormal bent and for awhile the RSJ family will not be as connected to me through my work as I have a feeling most of it will not be in the romance genre. (Smile) This is beginning to sound a bit like a letter of resignation isn’t it? Well it’s not. It’s just that my creative muse for fear of becoming stagnated has decided to lead me on a journey, one I’m eager to pursue by the way. I’ve also met challenges in the past year. I’ve used the, “Yes we can” turned it into, “Yes I Can” and found that I not only can write shorter but that I’m enjoying it. Yeah I know you can’t tell it by the length of my reflections. But seriously, I was once told lovingly by my editor, Sidney Rickman, that I didn’t have a short book in me. I laughed but for the most part agreed. I love proving people wrong even me, so I challenged myself to write short stories and did. I’m proud to say two of my short stories will be coming out this year in Love Stories Magazines.


Wrapping this up I could tell you my New Year goals are the usual: get healthy, lose weight, keep up with my blogs, but I won’t for I find I don’t like limitation, even my own. So I won’t have any resolutions this year.

There is a new title I’m adding to my resume and that is literary dentist. I think this one will prove to be the hardest. It appears my patients are extremely reticence so I will be forced to pull the creative teeth of many in order to return you next month and the following months to the interviews that will keep us connected from now until we meet again in April 2010.

So here’s wishing each of you a very prosper, healthy and joyous New Year.

Dyanne Davis
http://www.dyannedavis.com/

5 comments:

Simply Said Reading Accessories said...

Can we have an online Slam Jam this year, since California is out??

F. D. Davis said...

Deatri will have to answer that one for you. On line conferences are also a lot of work. They're a lot of fun but again I say they're a lot of work. It is a great idea though.


Dyanne

Anonymous said...

Hey Dyanne,

Happy New Year and good luck as you embark upon your new writing journey.

Victoria

Romance Slam Jam said...

Truthfully, I'd love to have an online conference, but look at the participation in the blog. Each month Dyanne takes her time to find people to interview and to give the RSJ Family a chance to ask questions or whatever.

Organizing online conferences is quite time consuming and I'd hate to ask the authors to give of their time, then not have the turnout.

By the way, thanks, Dyanne, for keeping the interviews coming. I appreciate it.

Peace
Dee

The Paperback Diva said...

Aw, Dyanne. I'm both sad that you're moving away from romance even though I know I'll enjoy your new creative offerings. I'll miss those couples!