/ en-US Fri, 01 Mar 2019 23:10:08 -0800 60 / 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg /author_blog_posts/6792065-bad-reviews Sat, 09 Aug 2014 11:07:00 -0700 /author_blog_posts/6792065-bad-reviews
Now, I am on the receiving end of judgment. An uncomfortable seat. Very uncomfortable. A poor review affects a writer, even if they subsequently dismiss it and move on. It's like being a parent and having a teacher tell you that YOUR child ruined the classroom. My Baby? Not My Baby!!

A poor review makes you protective of your work, of the purpose of the book and what you were hoping to accomplish with the story. It can be difficult to separate yourself from the work, in an emotional capacity, and to accept the criticism on its face.

A real book reviewer, with a proven record, often offers a valid perspective-whether we want to hear it or not. It is important to read negative reviews along with the positive ones, and improve upon them. As difficult as it may be to swallow, the poison pill may just turn into the vitamin that your writing needs.

Now, this does not apply to the random, unidentifiable amazon reviewer who slaps you with a 1 star because you "took to long" with publishing the book, or they are mad at what you did to their favorite character. The emotional responses that sometimes result in a low rating have to be swallowed and ignored-it comes with the territory. Also, pay no mind to the person who clearly didn't read the book, but took the time to post a low rating, just because. Always take a second to discern the difference between a reader and someone with a different agenda.

But, when posted by someone with literary integrity, sometimes the low review is the small hurdle an author has to jump to push themselves to write a greater story.

posted by Kai . on March, 01 ]]> /author_blog_posts/6706490-daughter-of-the-game-is-back Fri, 25 Jul 2014 21:04:18 -0700 /author_blog_posts/6706490-daughter-of-the-game-is-back
So, here it is - Daughter of the Game Prequel: In the Shadows released July 24, 2014!()

Now, to answer the most common question: no-this is not the finale. The final book in the series, Daughter of the Game III: Burning Waters is slated to release on Black Friday, 2014.

Daughter of the Game Prequel is the early story of the Waters - their life growing up in the shadow of Pete Water's street life and the Waters family legacy. Monique, Michelle and Ricardo have different mothers and the same father. They walked three different paths before their father finally connected them to be the family you see in the original Daughter of the Game. Those different paths explain why they are who they are and why they make the decisions that amaze us in each of the books. Even Armand's life was directly affected by Pete Waters, and it is possible that he suffered the most.

This book expands the series, and it prepares you for the finale. To understand the ending, you must know the beginning. Read Daughter of the Game Prequel: In the Shadows by KAI.

As always - I sincerely appreciate all your support and for staying with me during the wait. These books will make up for the delay!

posted by Kai . on December, 14 ]]> /author_blog_posts/6706488-gutta-mamis-review Fri, 25 Jul 2014 20:53:30 -0700 /author_blog_posts/6706488-gutta-mamis-review
Already the book is getting rave reviews. The most recent by Library Journal () states:

VERDICT: Urban fiction readers will rejoice at the tight writing, authentic street slang, and bold push-the-envelope-sensational stories. Even though these ladies are nasty, this reviewer is thinking female readers will secretly cheer for these hardened women who are equally ruthless as street literature’s hard-core male characters.

This collection is a must read - make sure you tag it!

posted by Kai . on February, 18 ]]> /author_blog_posts/3805086-power-or-words Sat, 02 Mar 2013 20:51:30 -0800 /author_blog_posts/3805086-power-or-words
Within minutes, it was evident that the story had been oddly distorted. First, key characters were missing, which is understandable in some cases, but weird here. The ancient aunts were eliminated. The Keeper Marian was morphed into Amma the Seer. Even subordinate characters were confused. This immediately killed fan familiarity. Second, the plot was completely manipulated, until it was an entirely different story. And, unfortunately, the climactic scene of the novel was more a rushed, inverted, scene in the movie. I was disappointed-confused about what choices the writers faced that caused them to accept the destruction of their great story.

As disappointed as I was, the couple behind me seemed devastated. She kept saying, "No, really?" and he kept groaning. After the movie, I looked back at them-their faces expressed not only disappointment, but also betrayal.

Which led me to thinking about the power of the written word. They, and I, were so intrigued by the novels that the movie was a painful experience. We had bought into the dream painted by the writers pens, had attached emotion to the characters and feelings to the plot. And the movie, by redefining every aspect down to the simple characters, tore apart those expectations, was a complete let down.

While the movie (which was well-acted)was certainly not the novel, our emotional rollercoaster ride is a testiment to great novel writing. It really is a classic, wonderful series. The movie will be something different - good in its own right, but not the pure simplistic genuis of the novel. Maybe capturing the entire story was difficult. Maybe, like in Harry Potter, mystical characters - such as Boo Radley-have to be deleted. I have not been so fortunate to know the process of adapting a novel to a movie.

But I will say that I learned the power of words last night, the wonder of drafting a story so intriguing that strangers would sit in a theater and bond over the disappointment of not seeing those exact words turned into a visual performance. And accomplishing that...reader buy in, so to speak...is what I strive for in every story I tell...

posted by Kai . on December, 13 ]]> /author_blog_posts/3804891-soul-destruction Wed, 23 Feb 2011 07:25:00 -0800 /author_blog_posts/3804891-soul-destruction like shards of glass
splintered and sharp
the slightest touch
drawing the deepest red
exposing liquid life

a thousand pieces
like a ripe fruit
tossed from a
fifty story window
juices scattering across
broken remains and
shattered seeds
forever wasted
against the black top
of my life

a hundred peices
like the torn paper
from a child's scissors
snipping and cutting
trimming and hedging
always going too fars
laughtering the beauty of the creation
for the thrill of the cut
the joy of power and domain
of control over something's destiny

freeze dried so that the crash
would be more devastating
more damaging
undeniably permanent
that is what it is
the destruction of my soul

*repost

posted by Kai . on October, 04 ]]> /author_blog_posts/13403312-you-don-t-know Mon, 24 Jan 2011 09:10:00 -0800 /author_blog_posts/13403312-you-don-t-know after all this time, after all these words
after dreams shared
fears revealed
weakness displayed

you don't know me

was I the only one listening?
the only one studying
the only believer
the only understander

were you simply talking
pontificating
placating and time filling
plugging up your own void
by swallowing down my time
soothing your own itch
by devouring my need

how is it that months, weeks, days
hours, minutes, seconds later
you actually don't know me

you don't know me
and I, like a fool, studied all of you

posted by Kai . on September, 04 ]]> /author_blog_posts/13403313-and-then Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:24:00 -0800 /author_blog_posts/13403313-and-then he smiled
and my heart responded
before my brain could deny
as my lips
slowly turned up
dimples slowly pressed in
my heart reclaimed its hum
my essence discovered
a more melodic flow

and then...
his arms
encapsulated me
his hip
pressed against mine
his palms
kneaded out a new rhythm
his lips
whispered a sincere promise
and my soul
found home

*repost

posted by Kai . on January, 03 ]]> /author_blog_posts/13403314-envy-s-child Wed, 05 Jan 2011 07:38:00 -0800 /author_blog_posts/13403314-envy-s-child convincing you that my grass is greener
although you stood at the center of my fields
when they were brown and dry

How dare you have the audacity to judge me
roll your eyes and suck your teeth
behind my back
believing my current life
is some rare trophy
to which you are more entitled

You don't know my pain
can't begin to comprehend my strife
haven't suffered my misfortune and
insanity has not caved in your
delicately constructed walls of cards
maiming you through parental tools

Yet, you envy me
judge the external nonsense you think you see
denounce and refute all evidence that
the Most High has bestowed peace upon me
restoration for years
of pain and torment

So, I laugh at your spite
relishing in His perfect resolution
thankful that He, at least, is completely true
and gave my spirit the follow revelation:
you are nothing more
than envy's child

*repost

posted by Kai . on July, 03 ]]> /author_blog_posts/13403315-remain-quiet Tue, 28 Dec 2010 13:02:00 -0800 /author_blog_posts/13403315-remain-quiet afraid to say
i love you
afraid it might be
too little, too late
I have doubted it
every time it passed your lips
frowned my face wondering how
wondering why
why would you
or anyone else
love me

But I am ready
ready to believe me loveable
ready to believe me worthy
ready to try to bestow upon you
an emotion
I barely have for me

can I love you
if I don't know how to love me?
I want to try
I want to say it
I want to utter those three words
that seems so easy
but feel like stones passing through
myvocal chords
I love you but, dammit, I just can't say it
i can't force it

maybe one day you will realize but,
then again,
maybe you won't
either way
I just remain quiet.

*repost

posted by Kai . on July, 09 ]]> /author_blog_posts/13403316-no-comparison Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:54:00 -0800 /author_blog_posts/13403316-no-comparison while you study and watch
focus in from afar and
notice my secret emotion
observe bubbling well overflowing
longing to lap up the sweet water
knowing only you can
keep my well from running dry

He ignores
while you tap in
creating conversation
light and easy butdeep and thick
underlying want and tension
raising the small hairs on the
nape of my neck
your intention
laid out and clearly spelled
your eyes promising joys unmentionable
and adventures unforetold

He takes for granted
while you raise up high
glorifying and praising clear
womanhood
identifying lushful bloom and
buzzing near like
bee sipping nectar
storing and protecting
fiercely and selfishly
guarding natures sweetest honey

He wallows in self pity
while you find future in
the curve of my hip
the swell of my breasts
the sway of my lower back
the ridge of my inner thigh
present, no time for
lost hopes or dreams
you achieved and attained it all
leaving blame at the door
funneling time and energy and
desire for manifestation
into a clearly and highly wanted
perfect solution

(*repost)

posted by Kai . on July, 04 ]]>