Most of you know that my Mom Janice Treece Senter is an artist- well she has some really cool paintings and prints for sale- check it out!

YO!

We only have a few days left before Tracy and I board the plane to Charlotte for the NABFEME conference www.nabfeme.org.  Among other activities- we have the Literary Lounge with all black female writers, The Stilleto Awards, The Celebrity Mom Luncheon (Will Smith's mom, Kaynes, Alycia Keys and more)

I am SO EXCITED!  I've never been to Charlotte before!   I know we are going to have a blast!!!!! 

YOU can still register- www.nabfeme.org.  If you live in Charlotte they have daily rates too- There will be workshops on creating your personal brand, breaking into the industry, starting your own business and more!

Hey ya'll!  Just wanted to let you all know that my book "Doubledutch" along with my other stuff at the NABFEME conference in Charlotte, NC.  YOU can register to at www.nabfeme.org.  Registration is $400 and that includes a weekend packed full of panels, celebrities and more!

To those of you who donated to the school supply drive- THANK YOU!  THIRTEEN children will now have brand new backpacks filled to the brim with brand new school supplies because of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  A special thank you to ANDREW KEATON!  He gave me tons of supplies, so THANK YOU!  I know Aunt Ella is smiling down from above, and this project is making her proud!

We have decided to accept donations year round, so if you want to donate, send it to ELB2S, PO Box 273, Chicopee, MA 01014!  We will accept NEW backpacks and supplies! 

And again, thank you!

So you all know that I lost my Aunt in June, and that I am doing a school supply drive- and so far we have collected backpacks and supplies for SEVEN CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Woohoo!

You can still donate- send it to Ella Louise Back 2 School, P.O. Box 273, Chicopee, MA 01014.  We will continue to collect year round!

Thank you to EVERYONE who filled my PO box with supplies! 

I heard this analogy today- "she's a brick and I am drowning" and thought "how many of us have people in our lives like that?  People who see that you need help and continue to pull you down? 

So thats my thought this mornining :-)  keep them away

its been cool this week so far- it must be because I am an october baby that the cool weather brings out the best in me :-)  ive been writing like crazy!  wait till you see. 

Poetry in the Park is tomorrow and I am featuring in Norwich CT next weekend with Nikki Carr, Heshima and Evelyn Harris (Aug 31)- email me for info

Keep your ears peeled for a new song- its coming!

she has lots to say

on stage

her notebook is filled with pages

about her life and loves

and while she signs books and smiles for the camera

he sweeps the kitchen floor and watches the baby standing at the front door

in most worlds she is a superstar

her face is plastered on every available space

from park trees to street posts

most folks know who she is

her kisses are as sought after as air in this parts

her dart tongue lashing at all the no-good men who left her

she cuts their spirits down to nothing as she is held up, crowned as queen

most folks think she is mean but they like it

from her caramel eyes to her baby breeding thighs

her hair was never a worry for her- as most days it plays atop her head like medusa's second cousin

i got bills to pay- she say

as she cashes yet another college performance check

happy that she is able to buy her baby the newest sneaker line

sad that she won't make it home in time to see him take his first step.

and the last time I checked

$1,000 is not enough to buy another week

another moment

another breath

all of us have seen the yellow ribbons, the car magnets, the bush ratings, the news bulletins.  but today i met a young man with a bright and beautiful baby girl, who will be driving in a convoy in Iraq less than 3 weeks from today..

he reminded me of my brother, showing us videos of his bungee jumping trip, passing out white wine, hanging out.  how dare someone else decide that he should have to leave his wife and baby to fight a war we will never win!!!!

I'm angry. I'm sad for his family.  I'll pray for his safe return, and not only that, that he will return to us just as he leaves us.  Pray for him too. There is strength in numbers

I spent a good part of my evening eating and eating and eating.  mostly desserts.  and wine, lots of wine.  I talked to a friend I hadnt seen in years, and it was good to reconnect with her.  The breeze was cool, and the heat gave us a break for one day lol.

Its hard to believe that summer is halfway gone.  already.  My emergency trip home broke it up a bit, and now my grandmother is in hospital, and they dont know what is wrong.  i dont want anything to happen to her.  she's going to be 90 in april, and i want her to see her birthday...but the loss of her child (my aunt) is taking a toll on her health, and she is not feeling well at all.  these are the times I wish I had lots of money, so I could fly home and take care of her for awhile.

My projects are going well, the cd is on hold for now..i had a few free weeks that didnt coincide with everyone's schedule, and now I have to work on my book.  it'll get done, it always does.  I prefer to work mostly in july and the first part of august because I have more free time, but everything happens for a reason.  I will email you the first chapter of my book if you send me an email crystal@crystalsenterbrown.com.  You'll love it, i promise :-)

And dont forget to check out Gumbolive on Friday www.gumbolive.com.

C

alot of you have been asking about my new book "deona devine" well- its a novel about a good girl done wrong, and how she pulls it all back together- the great thing is that in between the chapters will be photos, poems and other stories by plus size girls- so if you're over a size 10 and want to submit, send it to me at crystal@crystalsenterbrown.com  The book will be published through www.lulu.com. I need the submissions by Oct 1.  I'll probably take 30 total.

I guess thats all for now..get out in the sunshine!