An Update From Clara54

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Hi Guys! Just a prelude to what’s coming up for your reading pleasure this Memorial Day Weekend🙂 I know you’re going to just want to chill and enjoy good times with family & friends and believe me, “I feel ya!” however, you might also want to check out an upcoming book review on Monday. Yep, another book review! Marcie Hill, a Chicago journalist, entrepreneur, blogger, live blogger, social media strategist AND a colleague has asked me to review her new ebook, The ABC’s Of Blogging: Blogging Basics From A to Z!

 Marcie Hill is a rare talent in the world of freelance writing and professional blogging. She owns and manages three blogs, one of which have landed her in the top five finalists of The Black Weblog Awards for Best Business Blog. She will also be attending at the Blogging While Brown Conference  hosted in California in July where she is presenting on live blogging ! So this VIP dynamic is a very busy entrepreneur and I’m proud to showcase her ebook here!

Anyhow, this ebook is a no nonsense and sensible read that has something for the newbie blogger as well as the seasoned pro. Come on back after the good food, good friends & fine wine on Monday for The ABCs of Blogging:Blogging Basics From A to Z.. And let’s not forget to honor our troops for all they do and sacrifice for us! 

Clara54

Related articles

• Behind the Scenes of Our New Ebook Launch at FeelGooder (problogger.net)
• The State and Future of Book Blogging (fatbooks.org)
• Why Bloggers Should Also Be Freelance Writers (problogger.net)
• The “T” Groove @ Clara54′s “T” Blog (wwwclara54.wordpress.com)

TNT’s Memphis Beat-A Review

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Because I’ve recently been commissioned to review a  book on politics in Illinois for a local newspaper and I’m currently reading Karen Lowry’s book, The Seventh Inning Sit about her family’s personal journey with ADHD for review as well ( Thanks Karen for sending it to me and people can check out parts of Karen’s story on a previous post here) and the work ahead is serious business, I wanted to unwind with a bit of trivial tv talk first.

TNT have great shows. I watched The Closer two summers ago with Kyra Sedgewick in the title role. It was good then, but I haven’t returned to watch this season because I’ve become accustomed to two new headliners that’s piqued my writer’s interest. Nurse Hawthorne starring Jada Pinkett Smith as an RN working in the Emergency Room of a debilitated hospital, is filled with dramas I can relate to. But the show that captured my attention and pulled at my heartstrings is Memphis Beat. Now, I’m assuming that people automatically think of Elvis Presley anytime Memphis is mentioned. Memphis is definitely a music mecca sort of Southern town.

Memphis is where many of the greats, including Chuck Berry got their start in music. Memphis Beat doesn’t disappoint in keeping the legend of music alive as the story focuses upon real life situations that the local MPD (Memphis Police Department) have to deal with. Alfre Woodard (a legend in Hollywood) is Lt. Rice,  a lone southern  Black woman with a no nonsense approach as the  new commander in chief in a sea of male hormones. She convincingly plays an assertive leader, yet, gentile lady when the situation calls for it.

Jason Lee plays Dwight. The brains and admittedly, the bronze behind Memphis Beat and a great crooner… He brings a bit of sex appeal, humor, wisdom and love for the memory of the hero he thought his daddy(former police office) was when he died in the line of duty. Lots of twists and turns for Dwight  folks!

There’s so much stuff going on within the storyline. Each character has something unique going on in their lives where the viewer is lead to ponder upon, smile about and go, “I didn’t see that coming!”

Why do I luv this new show?

Cast of great actors

Music from the good ole days.

Southern charm

Jason Lee…keeping it real:)

And it takes me away from the reality of the work that lies in wait, lol.

Speaking of work? Keeping in tone with fiction writing mentions here, in a few days, I’ll be posting a great essay by a well known author who has kindly given permission to share just one of her many works with my lucky readers at clara54!  I can’t wait:)

Also a  congrats goes out to Anne Wayman for her blog About Freelance Writing, landing a coveted spot at WEmagazineforwomen’s 101 best blogs for  2010! Way to go Anne!

“Vacation Diary” by Clara54

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Hello all! It’s nice to see clara54’s friends & fans have been faithfully visiting & offering up comments since I’ve been away these last several days_it does warm a girl’s heart:) Anyhow, you’ll be getting to read three installments of a behind-the scenes look into clara54’s vacation/family reunion, inclusive of beautiful photos at the finale …YAY! 

Clara54 ( via voice recorder) at the airport/preparing for takeoff :

Just lost a button on my blouse & my stomach is exposed. Well, at least my stomach is flat ,but it’s playing peek-a-boo through my cute little yellow top that I’ve never worn. Well, my daughter is going to find a tee shirt for me to wear on the plane as this is kind of uncomfortable… We are here at Midway Airport waiting to board the flight that will take us to  our connecting flight.

 (Minutes later)

Ok, I’ve changed into the $14.00 bulls shirt in the bathroom of the airport. I’m feeling some ‘purchase pains’ right about now, because $14.00 is waaay too much to pay for a darn Tee shirt!

After reaching our connecting flight in Atlanta, Georgia, we’re finally arrived at our vacation destination to rent a car, Upgrade advised due to the amount of luggage we’re attempting to pack in the trunk of the rental (hmmm) Ok, agreed, upgrade it is and  we’re on the road again to our reserved lodgings…The use of GPS by this younger travel generation becomes a bit exhausting, but, eventually, we arrive & clara54 falls head over heels with the hotel!

 

We finally gather to review & plan the week’s itinerary…the first evening spent as a family of 30+ was  a generational gathering at a convenient asian eatery where the shrimp was spicy and the drinks ‘NON-ALCOHOLIC’, cool & refreshing… I’m beat so this is clara54 signing off.

Now Give Me What You Promised…

That’s exactly how it felt for me having to actually do the work I’d been commissioned, so to speak, to do…If you read of ‘my challenge’ you’re knowing that I got this amazing opportunity to screen& write a review of a fast becoming well known Chicago playwright’s most recent film…

The challenge for me after corresponding with the filmmaker, was how to view the work from an objective point and not let all of those other marvelous reviews from seasoned film critics, sway my freelance writer’s opinion of the film…also and my most pressing thought “what if I somehow disappoint the filmmaker?” 

Well, I’ll be providing more details in future posts as the deed is done…now I await my fate…keep your fingers/toes crossed for me?