What I Learned At My First Booksigning

I had my first booksigning at the Black Writers Reunion and Conference on Jun 24th, 2010. The experience was unlike any other--I can't describe it. It was a great success, and I'd like to share what I've learned.

1) Make sure you have ALL your booksigning accessories before the event. Postcards, business cards, poster, pens, receipt tablet, bookmarks, flyers, water bottles, charged laptop (and accessories) sunny disposition--account for all of them. Of course, don't forget your books, too.

2) Don’t party like it’s 1999 the night before. This moment definitely calls for celebration, but do that after the book signing. You should be wide-eyed and alive the day of, not looking like someone who just left the club. Who wants to buy a book from someone reeking of alcohol, anyway?

3) Dress to impress. I don't think a suit and tie or evening gown is necessary, but something semi-formal and presentable (i.e., blazer and nice jeans for the guys). Remember, this may be the first and only time potential customers see you in person. You want to make a great first impression!

4) Bring an assistant. If you can get one, of course. You want to engage your readers as much as possible while someone else takes care of the money transactions and other behind-the-scenes work. Luckily for me, I had my two Pantheon Collective co-warriors by my side.

5) Have a great pitch ready. Somebody asks you, "Wow...Sellout, huh? What's it about?" Now is not the time for a barrage of "ums" and "uhs." I admit, I fumbled a few times, but hey, practice makes perfect. Having a good pitch memorized will help keep the jumpy nerves down. And you might want to keep the gum, chew or food out your mouth, too.

6) Stand up and keep smiling. If you're standing, you catch people's attention more and it's hard to pass up a great smile. If you're sitting down, a stack of books or your poster may block your face and make you look unapproachable, especially if you're not smiling. People want to know the person behind the book, so let them see you and the pearly whites.

7) Engage passerby’s. Even if a customer walks by, try to engage them, especially if they have that I'm-not-sure-if-I-want-to-stop-at-this-table-but-it-seems-interesting look. There's no harm in asking them to come over. If they're still not moved by your pitch, maybe you can at least get their information on a mailing list or give them a business card.

8) Get contact info from buyers. If someone parts from their hard-earned cash to buy your book, you should send a follow-up "thank you" to them.

9) Autograph their book. Readers love a personal message from the author. Make sure you ask how to spell their name first! “Toni,” “Tonie,” “Tony” and “Tonee” all sound the same, but spelled differently.

10). Support your fellow author in the struggle. Hey, we’re all in this together! Support by buying a book or two from your authors-in-arms. It’s all about helping out each other, right?

SELLOUT (First Three Chapters)

You can get your hands on an advanced copy of SELLOUT, BEFORE it goes on sale worldwide by sending an e-mail to pantheoncollective@gmail.com. We will send you an autographed copy for ONLY $10! This offer will last until July 11. Send an e-mail to pantheoncollective@gmail.com indicating your interest and GET YOURS!

Open publication - Free publishing - More sellout

No More Chief Package

WARNING: NAVY JARGON!

Around this time a year ago, I would still be a Navy sailor in my utilities as an Aviation Maintenance Administrationman (AZ) First Class, browsing my OMPF file for the umpteenth time, gathering all the necessary documents for submission to the 2009 Navy Chief Selection Board. I knew the routine, and to be honest with you, I was tired of it. After eight tries, I’d pulled a Boyz II Men and had come to the end of the f*ckin’ road. My retirement was right around the corner. My last shot at khakis.

I thought my chances were…okay. Had the Safe-for-Flight qualification under my belt, passed the last AMI with flying colors, came off a four-year tour on the USS Ronald Reagan. Divisional CFL, Mentorship Coordinator, FEP Instructor. Not too bad, but definitely not great. And unfortunately, I didn’t have that all-important breakout EP.

Before I left the RR, my highest rank was 13 out of 44, which was #5 MP. Wasn’t an LPO at that time, either. Worked in QA…as a CTPL. Yeah, I know. Not the kind of position for a senior AZ to do back flips over. But they recognized me on my eval for doing QAR-related work, overseeing the AZ programs. Ended up with all my programs on-track after the AMI.

But when August came around—the last month of my active duty status—I wasn’t on pins and needles like everyone else in my shoes, biting my nails and sh*t like “will I make it? Will I make it?” Hell no. Matter of fact, I was on terminal leave and had just enjoyed a month-long road trip, a little celebration my girlfriend set up for me. Kinda like a going away party. The way I saw it, I was done with active duty. Twenty years is a long time, but at thirty-seven-years-old, I was young enough to start a brand new chapter in my life.

So when I saw that big “N” (Non Selected) next to my name, I didn’t trip. Mindset wasn’t with it any more: Even if I made it, I would’ve “anchored away” the hell out. No, it’s true. By the time I got the results, I’d packed up my house, sent my belongings up north and put my first home up for sale.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of my service and I owe a great deal of gratitude to the Navy. I receive my retirement, disability and the GI Bill monthly. I did for my country; now my country is doing for me. That’s a cool thing.

But you know what? I can’t lie. Even though I’d made my decision to roll, I still wanted to say, “I made Chief.” A small part of me will be forever pissed that I didn’t.

Get Dat A** Movin'!

Awwww, sookie, sookie! Weather at sixty-sum degrees, sun shining, people out and about wearing short sleeves and shorts…you know what’s up.

No, it’s not summer yet, but close. Winter retired for another year and has turned over the duties to spring, giving us a sneak peak on the next season to come. Before you know it, days at the beach and hot bikinis will come knockin’.

But by now, you’ve probably fallen off track on your fitness goals (you know you made them as a New Year’s resolution). Hey, it’s human nature--sh*t happens. But don’t fret. If you reclaim that determination to spark up your fitness, you can lose up to twenty pounds around the start of summer. Starting today, if you shoot for two pounds a week until June 21st—and succeed—you will be twenty pounds lighter. Simple as that.

Well…maybe not that simple. Commitment to health can be hard work, but not impossible. Important thing is to view health and wellness as a life choice (a marathon), not as a short-time fling (a sprint). A magic pill and surgery provides a quick fix, but you need to train your body to keep the weight off, otherwise you’ll look at the mirror six months later and be like, “damn. I’m flabby as hell again?”

But how do you attain that magazine cover physique? Well, there’s no magic formula; a proper diet, lots of water, cardio exercises and resistance training will do the trick. Females struggle with weight issues arguably more than men (especially around the belly), but for some reason, weights are scary to a lot of women--not because they think they’ll injure themselves, but most of them believe they’ll lose those feminine curves and look more like men.

Don’t sweat it, ladies. It takes years of training and testosterone injections to look like a beef-cake dude. However, resistance training does build muscle and burn fat, a nice compliment to cardio exercises. If you do only cardio (jogging, elliptical machines, bike riding, etc), you risk losing muscle—and you don’t want that. If you build muscle, you will burn fat even at rest because your body requires energy to maintain muscle. Where does it get the energy? From burning fat!

Of course, before you embark on a new exercise routine, it’s a good idea to consult with a personal trainer (such as myself :)) and/or medical professional (if applicable). Once you get knee-deep into resistance training, I recommend combining isometric and isotonic exercises. Isometric is when you contract a muscle with no movement (where you hold a position, such as planks); isotonic involves your typical up-and-down or back-and-forth repetitive movements (such as using a curl-up bar). Isotonic includes concentric (shortening of muscle fibers) and eccentric movements (lengthening of muscles fibers). Isometric and isotonic exercises build strength and muscle (isometric focuses more on strength while isotonic on building muscle).

In the graphics below (yeah, that’s me), I show two examples on how to combine isometric and isotonic exercises, so let’s get dat a** up and movin'! Summer will be here before you know it!

Note: NEVER hold your breath while doing these exercises. Remember to breathe!




1. Starting Position




2. Do a full curl, then bring the bar down 1/3 of the way and hold it for five seconds.





3. Bring the bar down at the half-way point and hold for another five seconds. Return to starting position. Try to do 8-12 repetitions and 2-3 sets. Increase the weight with each set.



1. (Top of bar). Pull-ups are great for upper body strength. Use a dumbbell to add more resistance and incorporate isometric holds.



2. Half-way down, hold for five seconds. Do as many as you can.

The 38-Year-Old College Sophomore

I thought everyone knew Rodney King. This particular woman didn't, and it irked me. How can you not know the man whose beatdown sparked one of the deadliest riots in the country? Was she asleep when they showed the video 89 trillion times?

But I'd forgotten something: The young woman who said, "huh? Whose that" was probably born on the year or year before the King beating; and no more than two-years old during the LA riots. It's easy to have a generation mismatch with a nineteen-year-old when you're thirty-eight. I'm two times older than her. Two times. Damn. Father Time can be so cruel.

But ya know what? It's all good. Just one of those things to expect when you go back to college after spending twenty years in the Navy. And I don't feel out of place at all, despite my age and color (not many brothas at my school). Most students are shocked to know my real age, anyway. Everyone thinks I'm in my 20s. Big ego boost right there.

Yup, I like my new role as full-time student. Unlike what I felt in high school, school is cool. I go to Cabrillo, a junior college just south of Santa Cruz. Courtesy of the Post 9/11 GI Bill, I not only don't have to pay for tuition, I get a monthly allowance AND book stipend. Free money for school. Yeah. Can you say "sweet?"

Flyers of school events posted everywhere. Posters of the next play by theater students. Young adults lying in the grass, chillin', studying, developing a fling. Conversations about the next exam sprinkling around me. It's all part of the vibe of higher education, and I'm knee-deep in it.

Some things haven't changed for me, though. While in class, my eyes sometimes stare at the instructor, but my brain floats somewhere to the next basketball game or something. Still late to class, too. That's a damn shame, huh? How the hell am I late to class when the military teaches punctuality in boot camp?

Probably because I'm no longer military. I'm on my own schedule now, dag-nabbit.

It's funny, too. Specks of pop culture's past seem to spring up everywhere. The other day, I saw a kid wearing a Dead Kennedys shirt, a punk rock band from the 80s. Some students are still carrying on the legacies of Bob Marley and Bruce Lee on T-shirts, just like my generation did. And will Chuck Taylors ever go out of style? Probably not. It's cool to witness retro stuff almost everyday.

But I don't think I'll ever get used to students taking notes with laptops. That's too 21st century for me.

The End

For Military: If you're about to separate from active duty and looking to go back to school full-time, here are some tips:

1. Make sure your SMART transcripts are up-to-date. You'd be surprised at what some colleges will take. That includes NKO courses, military schools, and specific certifications.

2. Know which GI Bill you want (Montgomery or Post 9/11?). Just because the Post 9/11 GI Bill is the best thing since Starbucks coffee, it doesn't mean it's the best for your situation. In some cases, the Montgomery GI Bill will pay you more monthly.

3. Know what kind of school you want. Junior college, public university, private university, trade school--which one? Brick-and-mortar or online? Or do you just need a specific certification? Full-time or part-time student? These decisions affect your GI Bill status. Also, I've yet to see a school that isn't veteran friendly. Cabrillo has a great veteran support system. University of Santa Cruz has received a lot of attention for its support of veterans.

4. Get familiar with the certifying official. This person will help you with all your GI Bill needs. You should know him or her by first name.

5. Seek out other veterans. Hey, they're just like you and they can be another resource, especially when you're fresh out the military. Cabrillo actually has a veterans club comprised of all branches. If your school doesn't have one, you may consider starting one.

6. Consider pausing the GI Bill. If the tuition is not too expensive and you can afford it, it may be better to pause it and use later for a more expensive school. In my case, I'm pausing the GI Bill until I transfer to a university. Also, you can apply for financial aid if you qualify, even with the GI Bill (because it's not considered income). Nice!

7. Get Involved. Don't be idle! Get involved! Join a school club! Volunteer! It's amazing how much you can grow your personal network system simply by asking questions and just "doing." I volunteer at a veterans center (where we help veterans with PTSD) and stroke center. I wouldn't have known about them if I hadn't asked questions or gotten involved.

Birth of The Pantheon Collective

Too many no-thank-you's came to this.

After seven years, two agents, and umpteen rejections from publishers, I decided to listen to fate and try another route to book publication. It just wasn't in the cards for a brotha, so I seized a new opportunity.

I found it in my partners Stephanie Casher and Poet Qwantu Amaru. Together, we created The Pantheon Collective (TPC), a new venture for publishing our work and eventually, other authors. Do the damn thing ourselves. Screw the big dogs. We can do this "ish" together.

That destiny includes the launch of my debut novel Sellout in July. I'm still editing this book, so it's nowhere near ready. The pressure's on. Man, it's on.

In our blogs, we will detail the ups and downs of starting the business, the "dirty dirty"--interpersonal conflicts, financial obstacles, logistical issues, deadlines, burnout--all of it. This way, you can see what it's really like to start a business with other people. We hope you learn from us and avoid some of our eventual mistakes. We're intelligent people, but TPC is bound for roadblocks. We either have to climb over them, walk around them, or bust through those mofos.

But I won't just rant about TPC. Oh no. I'm a man of many interests and if you looked at the banner, you'll know what I'm talking about. So, I plan to talk about all kinds of ish because I have a lot of ish to say.

Tips for Writing Query Letters

Here are my 15 tips for agent-friendly query letters:

1) Research the agent first. You don’t want to query a questionable agent who requires a “reading fee” (biggest scam ever.) Preditors and Editors is a good resource (http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/pubagent.htm).

2) Use quality paper. I love bright white, 20-lb paper. No notebook, color, flimsy or paper with zig-zag, cutesy, third-grader designs. No hand-written letters, either.

3) Use one sheet for your query. Agents get dozens of queries a week. No agent wants to read three pages. Agents want "to-the-pointness."

4) Know the standard query letter format: 1-inch all around, Times Roman or Courier new, 10-12in font. Double space paragraphs only.

5) Know the submission guidelines. Not all agents accept email queries. Some agents have a word-count requirement. And you'll feel like a fool if you submit an erotic thriller to an agent who only accepts religious fiction.

6) No "Dear Agent" or "To whom it may concern." Address the agent by name. If you don't know it, research it. And definitely spell the name right!
Note: Be careful with gender. A name like Jerry Michaels sounds male, but "Jerry” could be female, too. "Dear Jerry Michaels" would suffice.

7) Cover the main points of a query: opening, description, qualifications (i.e. doctor writing a medical thriller), publication credits (including awards) and closing. Have a good hook!

8) From the gate, get to the point. An opening shouldn't say, "be prepared to experience the greatest adventure of your life when you partake on a fantastic voyage courtesy of my sure-to-be New York Times bestselling novel entitled..." Say the genre (fantasy, thriller), word-count, title and what the story is about.

9) In the main body, describe your story in two to three paragraphs. Nothing cute, no gimmicks, no fancy words such as "filled with belly-bustin' humor..." or "it will make you laugh, cry, pissed-off..." The description should be similar to the back of a book.

10) If no qualifications or credits, don't sweat it. Write about your writer groups or conferences you've attended. Or if writing a book about a detective who's also a mother of three boys, definitely include you’re a Mom of three boys!
And if a well-known writer referred you to the agent with permission, mention that!

11) Research similar books. Describe a book or two like yours, but definitely write what makes your masterpiece stand out.

12) No outlandish reviews from family/friends! Agents don't want to know how much Mom, Dad and your brothers Moe, Larry and Curly loves your story!

13) Pitch one story at a time in your query. Of course, you can mention a sequel is
in the works.

14) State why you solicited that particular agent. Maybe they represent an author you admire? Or their twenty years at Random House convinced you? Think about it: Doesn’t a prospective employer ask, “so, why do you want to work for us?”

15) Know the difference between fiction and non-fiction queries. For non-fiction, the project can be incomplete. For fiction, the novel must be complete and preferably, professionally edited. Never query with an incomplete novel.