ABNA contest

This is my second year entering the Amazon Break Through Novel Award contest. The last time around I entered 'Onyx and Eggshell' and made it until round two. Let's see how far I make it this time :) I will keep you all updated. Literally submitted my entry within the last half hour. I'm excited. This time I entered with 'Sankofa.' I'll past the back cover description below though I know that the few of you on my blog follow list already know all about it ... and thanks so much for your support. Last night Charlie went on a bender. Today he woke up with a tattoo of the mythical African sankofa bird on his right shoulder blade. The solid black tribal tattoo was probably too dark for his pale white skin, but he hadn't actually chosen the tattoo himself. The sankofa bird looked back over its shoulder as it flew forward justifying its meaning - one can not move intelligently into the future without paying attention to the past. Contrasting again with the too dark tattoo and the too light skin was the pretty brown face of the little girl peaking over her father's shoulder as he cradled her. What on earth was he going to do with this little life? Two days ago he didn't even know she existed. Yesterday he woke up with this strange tattoo. Today he decided to go to the hospital and take responsibility for his daughter. He didn't even know what the tattoo was and why those men had taken it upon themselves to have it given to him. Today it was just some dumb bird that he was contemplating having removed. It would be quite a while before he would find out why he had gotten it and what the significance of it really was. He repositioned her into his arms and tenderly kissed little Sankofa on the forehead. "We can do this."

Sankofa tattoo

Last Thursday I finally was able to get the Sankofa tattoo that I have wanted to get for so long. As you know, it is the same tattoo that my character Charlie has in my first novel 'Sankofa'. It is my first tattoo and I got it as a tribute to how serious I am about this novel and my love and desire to be a successful author. I feel that strongly about this thing that I do and realizing my dream. I also have to mention my best friend Dirt Adams for being their in support of me and giving me that all so nervous ride to the next city north of the border to get the tattoo. It meant so much to me. It all still hasn't actually set in with me. Still working the A&D ointment and saying 'wow' over and over and over again :)