..

..I'm so proud of him! That's my 19 year old son, Melly Mel. He's a go-getter if I ever seen one!

He recently submitted a proposal to his college board at The University of Pittsburgh to spearhead and start a mentoring program in Pittsburgh designed to help high school students begin the timely process for preparing to enter college. His proposal was accepted and his mentoring program is doing well in the high school where he goes to assist the students with preparing themselves for college entrance.

Of course, we all know what it is like having juniors and seniors who are in a dilemma about writing essays and getting started on the process of applying for scholarships. I was fortunate in this category. My son took this task very serious and he wrote many essays and got astounding results. He ended up receiving close to $30,000 in scholarship awards for his hard work that, as you can obviously see, paid off.

I do give recognition to his track and field coach who is also a fellow author friend, Mister Mann Frisby, (Blinking Red Light, Wifebeater), who gave Melvin great advice and pointers. Frisby also spearheads a mentoring program, Phatback Athletes. I know that we have to remind ourselves that there are leaders out here and this is a perfect example of how we can help one another.

The athlete in Melvin has been rewarded through medals and recognition. Now, I am witnessing the leadership skills he developed along the way.

Now you see why I'm so proud of him!

I awoke this morning with a lot of thoughts pressing on my mind. After giving God his kudos for all he is in my life and for all he's done to preserve my life, I started thinking about heros. And this question came to mind, Who is my hero? I know first and foremost who my biggest hero is and without giving a sermon I want to speak about the earthly and present heros.

Mine is my 82 year old grandmother who not only prays for me and tells me about it, but who keeps me on my feet, striving to do my best while I'm here being allowed to do not only what is required of me but what is given to me as a purpose. I can talk to my "Nana" about anything and affectionately that is the name I have given her. Yes she is grandma but Nana serves her best.

On my most recent trip to see her in South Carolina where she resides and where I was born (while touring with my novel, A Woman Scorn'd) my Nana travelled to my signings with me adorned in her fliest "gear" as the younger generation would say. In my terminology, Nana was dressed to the "tee" looking like a Diva in her well distinguished attire. ( I have posted her photo on my page so you all can say this beautiful woman who looks younger than most can believe.)

My Grandmother is Mohican (her maternal mother's descent) and Cherokee, (her paternal father's descent) something I am very honored to share with others. She has taught me alot about my heritage which I share through storytelling with my children (Something my Nana is very big on. She loves to tell us stories.)

I escorted her on my arms to those book stores and we sat side by side while I signed and greeted my readers. Nana also told those who were contemplating on the book, "You don't know what you're missing. But, you can always come back and ask for the book...it will be here." I laughed and I shared a memorable moment with her. One I will never forget. She is my hero and I thank God for preserving her for me at a time that I can appreciate and reflect on. My Nana and myself, along with my daughter travelled to my signings as "three generations of women." Nana is our history and I enjoy learning all she has been willing to share with me. I spend a lot of time with her and she is one of my "favorites" in this world. She knows she is my hero...like I said, there's absolutely nothing I can't share with my Nana. I value her for her strength and her wisdom.

If you have such a testimony, share it. If you have a hero that you want others to know about...speak about it here and let us get to know who that remarkable person is. I'd love to hear your comments.

What the heck does an abuser look like? Is he or she crazy and deranged looking---you know, all wild eyed and scary? Does a specific look even exist? I question whether one can tell when they are trapped in the presence of a dangerous individual.

It is not always prevalent that this charismatic, warm and so called affectionate person you've just met and had an engaging conversation with on the first encounter is actually who you think they are. What happens when you are behind closed doors with them that causes that beast that lives within to suddenly make an entrance? How much background do you have on people before you go all the way and trust your life in their hands?

With all the media hype that has hit the airwaves and the killing sprees people have gone on, who is to blame for all this pent up anger and frustration? Domestic violence is on the rise. Violence is on the horizon. Who will step up and speak out against it, create a change and get this society back on track. Peace rallies and still nothing has changed.

Do you know who is prone to kill? Can you recognize an abuser?

Roxane counsels the scorned woman

Roxane Brissett is a successful psychotherapist with her own practive in the heart of Manhattan...with her own set of problems, like the clients she counsels through therapy sessions. She cannot stand her Aunt Nadine, who raised her and her brother, Kenny, after the death of their mother. She's also dating, Maurice Walker, a smooth-talking investment broker whose evasive lifestyle is suddenly revealed.

When psychotherapist, Dr. Roxane Brissett sets out to counsel and provide therapy sessions for women dealing with and living in abusive lifestyles, she has no idea what she's about to experience or that all hell is about to break loose.

Born Jamaican-Creole, Roxane struggles inwardly with her own issues; being raped at thirteen by her own father and being raised by an aunt who was never supportive or loving towards her.

She opens her practice right in the heart of Manhattan with the intention of changing these women way of thinking and giving back in her own significant way. But what she finds out is that things are worse off than she could ever imagine for some of her clients. Especially for Bernice McCall; a client who puts her psychology background to work the moment she meets her.

Roxane is not your average psychotherapist. She's the kind of woman who gets wrapped up in her work and commits herself wholeheartedly to her clients. So much that she has lost sight of her own realities for a short period.

When one of her clients turn up dead and the man she's head over heels in love with unfaithful deeds surfaces through a crazy and deranged woman named Karma, Roxane's world is turned upside down.


GET A copy of the novel and find out what happens with Roxane and this twisted tale of events in A WOMAN SCORN'D.

Visit www.dorothygoins.com and read the excerpt.