Happy Birthday Ms. Morrison!
Why Blame Helena? Well, here are a few reasons to do so. Enjoy a dossier of Claudia Ross's adventures, musings and epiphanies experienced while writing her novels, Le Baton Chronicles.
Saturday, February 18, 2017
Happy Birthday Toni Morrison
She inspired me so much, even before I knew I wished to write. Well, I figured that out by accident actually.
Happy Birthday Ms. Morrison!
Happy Birthday Ms. Morrison!
Book Expo and Book Con May 31 - June 4th
Visit me! I will exhibit at Book Expo and Book Con, booth #AM67, Javits Center in New York City! I can't wait!
Monday, October 3, 2016
La Rose Book II Le Baton Chronicles Available Now!!!
The next book in the Le Baton Chronicles is now available in paperback on Amazon.com.
In the shadow of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom telecast in 1963 New Orleans, Louisiana, Lela Chevalier Roberts continues her recount of the Chevalier family history to her great-grandson, Julian Charles Chamberie, with the life of her late husband, James Roberts in 19th Century Louisiana. Assisted by angels and heaven, James escapes annihilation at the hand of his father and flees the war torn American South to France, taking refuge with his cousins Emmanuel and Jonathan. Yet, Mammon the Devil pursues him, destroying the life he has created. Clawing his way out of the madness of Hell, the memory of an ancient love compels James to continue on in spite of Satan ploys. He returns to America at war’s end, finding himself faced with the foretold love he has dreamed, at last uniting with his Rose, Lela. Nevertheless, the devil is busy, and executes his greatest plot to destroy Lela’s and James’ love forever, jeopardizing the lineage and birth of the End Time King, Le Baton.
Pick up your copy today!
In the shadow of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom telecast in 1963 New Orleans, Louisiana, Lela Chevalier Roberts continues her recount of the Chevalier family history to her great-grandson, Julian Charles Chamberie, with the life of her late husband, James Roberts in 19th Century Louisiana. Assisted by angels and heaven, James escapes annihilation at the hand of his father and flees the war torn American South to France, taking refuge with his cousins Emmanuel and Jonathan. Yet, Mammon the Devil pursues him, destroying the life he has created. Clawing his way out of the madness of Hell, the memory of an ancient love compels James to continue on in spite of Satan ploys. He returns to America at war’s end, finding himself faced with the foretold love he has dreamed, at last uniting with his Rose, Lela. Nevertheless, the devil is busy, and executes his greatest plot to destroy Lela’s and James’ love forever, jeopardizing the lineage and birth of the End Time King, Le Baton.
Pick up your copy today!
Monday, July 18, 2016
New Releases: La Rose Le Baton Chronicles And Dorothy Jones A Jazz Age Trip Through Oz
It's finally here! As of today, July 18, 2016, La Rose Le Baton Chronicles is available in paperback on amazon.com.
On June 1, 2016, I published Dorothy Jones A Jazz Age Trip Through Oz, also available in paperback on amazon.com.
These past few months have been a crazy time, finalizing publishing details regarding my books. Yet, it has been fulfilling. I am now working towards my goals and making them a reality, instead of just dreaming about them. I can't wait to see what comes next.
Thursday, July 7, 2016
I'm Coming Home
That wasn't a good idea, so now I'm back.
Let me explain...
So I'd decided to add a blog to my website. Typically this is a good idea and folks are encourage to do so. However, my web host isn't great with supporting this feature. I would lose my pictures all the time. It just wasn't working.
So I'm coming back home.
I've been pretty busy while I've been gone. I'll tell you about it tomorrow.
Let me explain...
So I'd decided to add a blog to my website. Typically this is a good idea and folks are encourage to do so. However, my web host isn't great with supporting this feature. I would lose my pictures all the time. It just wasn't working.
So I'm coming back home.
I've been pretty busy while I've been gone. I'll tell you about it tomorrow.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
Moving Day
As of March 3, 2016 I am moving my blog. You can find it at:
I have been on blogger for many years and have enjoyed my experience. But as I've said, this is the Year of Yes. I am letting go of the old to try something new.
Thanks for your support! See you soon.
I have been on blogger for many years and have enjoyed my experience. But as I've said, this is the Year of Yes. I am letting go of the old to try something new.
Thanks for your support! See you soon.
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
The Year of YES
A wonderful friend of mine, K (to protect her privacy) unexpectedly gave me a gift for Christmas. I was shocked. I felt like a heel because I didn't get her anything. But being such a loving person, she knew exactly what I needed to know...
Year of Yes
That's right, she gave me Shondra Rhimes book. I thanked her and took it home. Since I'm always working on my own novels, I'm don't have much opportunity to read like I once did. Most times, I read a few chapters and then the book is left unfinished, languishing on my nightstand.
This book is different from what I anticipated.
I thought it would be more like an Oprah book, be your best self... this it the year were your dreams will come true, the universe is opened to you, just ask.
Nope, not about that.
It's about saying yes to situations and opportunities outside your comfort zone. Interacting with and being apart of your world.
Like leaving your apartment other than to go to work or to go to Mass on occasion. Talking to folks. Going to events.
Say what?
Ms Shondra is talking crazy. I'm a writer. I say at home, drink beverages, write and edit my books. I pay bills. I go to work and I come home. It's the weekend. I ain't going anywhere, unless I need to pay my rent or guilt myself into going to Mass. Hey, they're starting to know me at church. They may ask me to participate in a group. I need to cut back on my attendence.
This book is crazy talk. I'm not reading anymore of it.
Yet, I'm compelled to read this book. Every night, worn out and over taxed from interacting with people at work, I just want to sleep and forget the world and its demands.
But I'll read a few pages. My friend thought about me and gave me the book. The least I can do is read it. Damn. It's a passive invitation to engage myself and others. I've been tricked. At last, This book is a mirror, showing me my introverted, loner underbelly. For much like Shondra, I say no to just about everything. I'm reading about me; it's showing me what I overlook when I face myself in the mirror every morning. It's making me face myself and my actions.
Like when my friend Vickie invited me to Thanksgiving dinner. I said no. Sure I had great excuses...
It's the holiday. I can't drive because my tags are out. True.
My tires are bald I won't have the money to get the two of them replace (driving on the white meat) until next pay check. True.
I'm have cramps and can't be away from the bathroom for more than five minutes. TRUE TRUE TRUE.
I don't have money for gas. Yeah, that's true too.
But the real truth...
I don't want to leave my house. I don't want to share my time. I don't want to interact. I want to be alone.
And there it is. How insulting to one of my great friends. I want to be alone. I cringed when she asked me. I had already planned my holiday, alone. I'm going to drink plenty of champagne and finish writing my book. Although desperately lonely, I CHOSE to be alone. I understand loneliness. It's my friend. I don't have to try. I'm in my comfort zone, being alone with me.
It's better to dream of the ideal me than to make it a reality. The reality may fall short of the dream.
That's why I write, to bring my dreams to life. Living the dream? Well that's no good. It falls short, every time.
So, I insulted my friend and stayed at home, alone and hungry, eating leftover Indian food. It was good. I didn't have to drive. I didn't challenge myself with the outside world.
Easy-peasy.
Yet, Shondra has challenged reclusive writers (and others) everywhere. This is the year of YES. This is the year we say yes to everything, in particular, those things that make us anxious. The things that cause your fingers to turn black and caked with eczema.
Like Christmas. I went home for Christmas. Five days of alone time with my parents. No out. Just in the house with the loving people who gave birth to me.
I thought I would lose my mind.
Why are they talking to me? Why do they want to talk at 6am? Why are you asking me if I'm hungry? No I don't want to cook. We have champagne and beer, won't that do?
I couldn't sleep. I didn't have my TV and fan to lull me asleep.
However, the hermit was intrigue. Social interaction. It was fascinating. Persistence. My parents never give up. The make a way out of no way. Unconditional love. They just loved me.
I'm not accustomed to receiving love anymore. The shields were coming down. I needed to get out. A snow/sleet storm threatened to trap me, but I got out. After one of the worst travel days ever (I once travel for work, I never encountered challenges such as this) I was home.
I was painfully lonely. I missed my parents, their hell hound, the cat. I missed family. I missed love.
So, I pulled out the book I'd been re-writing for six months. I finished it. I figured out how to convert it into an EPUB file and published it not only on Amazon, but Barnes & Noble and Kobo.
I've started saying YES.
This year, I say YES to love and relationships. No matter what the relationship may be or the circumstances surrounding it... Yes honey, I say YES to you.
Oh, and I say YES to updating my technology. I'm getting a new computer and tablet. I still say no to a smart phone. I guess I must take baby steps in the universe of YES.
Year of Yes
This book is different from what I anticipated.
I thought it would be more like an Oprah book, be your best self... this it the year were your dreams will come true, the universe is opened to you, just ask.
Nope, not about that.
It's about saying yes to situations and opportunities outside your comfort zone. Interacting with and being apart of your world.
Like leaving your apartment other than to go to work or to go to Mass on occasion. Talking to folks. Going to events.
Say what?
Ms Shondra is talking crazy. I'm a writer. I say at home, drink beverages, write and edit my books. I pay bills. I go to work and I come home. It's the weekend. I ain't going anywhere, unless I need to pay my rent or guilt myself into going to Mass. Hey, they're starting to know me at church. They may ask me to participate in a group. I need to cut back on my attendence.
This book is crazy talk. I'm not reading anymore of it.
Yet, I'm compelled to read this book. Every night, worn out and over taxed from interacting with people at work, I just want to sleep and forget the world and its demands.
But I'll read a few pages. My friend thought about me and gave me the book. The least I can do is read it. Damn. It's a passive invitation to engage myself and others. I've been tricked. At last, This book is a mirror, showing me my introverted, loner underbelly. For much like Shondra, I say no to just about everything. I'm reading about me; it's showing me what I overlook when I face myself in the mirror every morning. It's making me face myself and my actions.
Like when my friend Vickie invited me to Thanksgiving dinner. I said no. Sure I had great excuses...
It's the holiday. I can't drive because my tags are out. True.
My tires are bald I won't have the money to get the two of them replace (driving on the white meat) until next pay check. True.
I'm have cramps and can't be away from the bathroom for more than five minutes. TRUE TRUE TRUE.
I don't have money for gas. Yeah, that's true too.
But the real truth...
I don't want to leave my house. I don't want to share my time. I don't want to interact. I want to be alone.
And there it is. How insulting to one of my great friends. I want to be alone. I cringed when she asked me. I had already planned my holiday, alone. I'm going to drink plenty of champagne and finish writing my book. Although desperately lonely, I CHOSE to be alone. I understand loneliness. It's my friend. I don't have to try. I'm in my comfort zone, being alone with me.
It's better to dream of the ideal me than to make it a reality. The reality may fall short of the dream.
That's why I write, to bring my dreams to life. Living the dream? Well that's no good. It falls short, every time.
So, I insulted my friend and stayed at home, alone and hungry, eating leftover Indian food. It was good. I didn't have to drive. I didn't challenge myself with the outside world.
Easy-peasy.
Yet, Shondra has challenged reclusive writers (and others) everywhere. This is the year of YES. This is the year we say yes to everything, in particular, those things that make us anxious. The things that cause your fingers to turn black and caked with eczema.
Like Christmas. I went home for Christmas. Five days of alone time with my parents. No out. Just in the house with the loving people who gave birth to me.
I thought I would lose my mind.
Why are they talking to me? Why do they want to talk at 6am? Why are you asking me if I'm hungry? No I don't want to cook. We have champagne and beer, won't that do?
I couldn't sleep. I didn't have my TV and fan to lull me asleep.
However, the hermit was intrigue. Social interaction. It was fascinating. Persistence. My parents never give up. The make a way out of no way. Unconditional love. They just loved me.
I'm not accustomed to receiving love anymore. The shields were coming down. I needed to get out. A snow/sleet storm threatened to trap me, but I got out. After one of the worst travel days ever (I once travel for work, I never encountered challenges such as this) I was home.
I was painfully lonely. I missed my parents, their hell hound, the cat. I missed family. I missed love.
So, I pulled out the book I'd been re-writing for six months. I finished it. I figured out how to convert it into an EPUB file and published it not only on Amazon, but Barnes & Noble and Kobo.
This year, I say YES to love and relationships. No matter what the relationship may be or the circumstances surrounding it... Yes honey, I say YES to you.
Oh, and I say YES to updating my technology. I'm getting a new computer and tablet. I still say no to a smart phone. I guess I must take baby steps in the universe of YES.
Monday, December 21, 2015
The Grinch Stole My Strongholds
2015 has been a challenging a**kicker of the year. It was all I could do to maintain my mental facilities to survive day to day, let alone write. This is my first entry in months. Although I did make it to ComicCon, I never posted the pictures. Everything was a struggle this year. I endured one breakdown after another.
A breakdown of strongholds.
These past five years have been a continuous, non-stop breakdown of strongholds for me. I lost a lot. Not sure what I gained. Here's what I think I gained:
Freedom - There's nothing left I have an emotional attachment to except my writing. That's it.
Hardened heart - I'm not super sensitive to others and their hardships. I don't feel obligated to get involved in everyone's personal problems. Guess what? Live goes on for all concerned.
Self-sufficient - I've learned not to depend on others financially and emotionally. I'm ok being alone with me. If I can't afford it, I typically say forget it and skip purchases/extras (unless it involves parents. ugh)
I kinda sound like the Grinch, huh? Yeah, kinda feel like him too. But it works.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
A breakdown of strongholds.
These past five years have been a continuous, non-stop breakdown of strongholds for me. I lost a lot. Not sure what I gained. Here's what I think I gained:
Freedom - There's nothing left I have an emotional attachment to except my writing. That's it.
Hardened heart - I'm not super sensitive to others and their hardships. I don't feel obligated to get involved in everyone's personal problems. Guess what? Live goes on for all concerned.
Self-sufficient - I've learned not to depend on others financially and emotionally. I'm ok being alone with me. If I can't afford it, I typically say forget it and skip purchases/extras (unless it involves parents. ugh)
I kinda sound like the Grinch, huh? Yeah, kinda feel like him too. But it works.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Thursday, July 23, 2015
Comic Con 2015
ComicCon was a blast this year, as it is every year. I fluffed up my fro and unfurled my petals, anxious to behold the dreams of July in San Diego.
Alas, adieu to my love, Comic Con. Hold my dreams safe until next year.
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| La Rose from the series La Rose, Book I - III Le Baton Chronicles www.amazon.com/author/claudiaross ComicCon 2015, San Diego CA |
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| Thanks to Jim Poole Photography for the photo. To enjoy more of his photos from Comic Con, visit his site at https://jimpoolphotography.smugmug.com/ComicCon-San-Diego-2015/ |
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| Fertilizing my roses at Acqua Al 2 |
 |
| Taking a break with new friends at Trivoli's, where Wyatt Earp once hung his gun belt |
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| My favorite costume - Retired #Spiderman |
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| Watering and Fertilizing my Roses and Trivoli's |
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
AM
I don't have a name for this post. I'm in a transitional phase of my life and have no clear ideals on anything. I'm on a verge of a major shift in my life, but I don't know what it is or when it's coming. I feel it, though. I've let go of some living aids and adopted new ones.
I'm writing Book IV of La Rose (coming next December). It's going alright. It's ok. It just is.
I'm throwing out stuff around the house and office. Fixing up a few things. But mostly, I wait.
Now, Empire is ending. After tomorrow, I will have nothing to do.
Yet at the same time, I feel like Cookie Lyons when her day had come. My day has come, but I don't know it yet.
I'm writing Book IV of La Rose (coming next December). It's going alright. It's ok. It just is.
I'm throwing out stuff around the house and office. Fixing up a few things. But mostly, I wait.
Now, Empire is ending. After tomorrow, I will have nothing to do.
Yet at the same time, I feel like Cookie Lyons when her day had come. My day has come, but I don't know it yet.
That's it. I'm null inside.
I'm just AM.
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