UPDATE: Decided to not jump into this “urban fiction debate”.  People have issues, want to feel  important or better than, can’t be happy less they complaining, want to seem qualified and or/quantified to be an elitist, etc., whateva. Boo-Bye-Be gone.  I got more important ish to do than help people buy a clue.  MOVING ON…

Just read an article tearing down urban fiction and those who read and or write it. I am so PISSED so I am going to calm down and compose my thoughts…and then I’m going off.

Blog post to be continued….

grudge [gruj] n (plural grudg·es): a feeling of resentment or ill will, especially one lasting for a long time

“My name is Niobia and I hold a grudge like a muhfuhker.”

Okay I said it and the majority of me wants to correct it. But then, that small part of me, that part that refuses to take ish like I used to in elementary school, wants to know how you handle those who piss you off.  I’m definitely not a turn the other cheek kinda girl unless I’m looking sideways to see where the person I just slapped landed.  Sigh. Just being 100% real with how I feel.

My Mama always told me to learn to forgive.  She said my grudges were weighing me down and blocking my blessings….BUT again I wonder what do you do if someone betrays you,  insults you, pains you, doesn’t give a flying f*ck about you either. Why forgive them? Why give them a chance to hurt you again? I live, breath, sustain, and maintain by:

“Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”

Humph, ya girl AINT having it. Not gone be able to do it. No way. No damn how. 4 Real.

I know why I grip my grudges so tightly like Linus does his little blue blanket, because I am so loyal to people. I am so fair to people.  I am the negotiator in the group.  The counselor. The ear and the shoulder.  The compromiser.   I treat people the way I want to be treated.  I am the kind of friend to people who  everyone wants.  I hold on to other folks’ secrets and fight other people’s battles.  I’m far from perfect but I am good to people.  The flip side of all this goodness? When someone I have been good, kind and loyal to doesn’t return the favor it really PISSES me off and I cut them off like a rotting limb.

So in the mist of writing this blog, I stop and make a run to the bank and I see this person–a relative by marriage–who I haven’t spoken to since my mother’s death. Someone called his name, I turned and I spoke to him. It flowed naturally like I hadn’t cussed this fool the last time I saw him.  Shocked the shit of my myself and probably him too. Usually I just ignore him or pierce him with a look that will not only kill but shrivel and evaporate ANYONE into dust.

So now this blog entry has taken an entirely different turn. I was prepared to defend my grudges and lay out justifiable reasons why some people deserved to be ignored.  I would have laid it out better than any attorney. Trust and believe that.

But now? Now, just like that, everything has changed.

The lesson in this for me?  In the midst of struggling with my issue of holding a grudge I run into this mofo and I speak.  I have to believe that was my mother spirit that eased that greeting out of me. It was her way of solving this dilemma for me. It was her answer, her nickel, her vote on what to do.

Just speak and keep it moving. It’s just that simple.  Don’t welcome them into your inner circle.  Don’t make them privy to your thoughts and feelings. Don’t waste your energy on holding onto the grudge with a death grip.

Just speak and keep it moving.

Sigh.

Okay, okay.  I hear you, Mama. I hear you. It wont be easy, but for you…for you I will try…one grudge at at a time.

Pray for me y’all.

Not when it comes to my books. Seriously.

Pre-order and first week orders have never meant so much. Trust and believe that. (smile) I encourage you all (if at all possible) to pre0order your books now or to buy them on the actual release date.  Just like the music industry, first week sales and pre-orders matter. Thanks in advance, y’all.

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDERS ON AMAZON.COM:

Live and Learn

(Mainstream by Niobia Bryant) *REISSUE*

Fabulous (A Pace Academy novel)

(YA/Teen Fiction by Simone Bryant)

Message from a Mistress

(Mainstream by Niobia Bryant)

Give Me Fever (Romance by Niobia Bryant) 

Hi all,

I know I haven’t blogged in a long while. I’ve been in deadline hell and it feels good to be free. lol.  Here are some news and updates on upcoming projects, plus I will be back blogging on this site and www.meeshamink.com next week.

UPCOMING RELEASES:

My Teen Fiction debut: FABULOUS written as Simone Bryant drops in February as planned.  Check out my YA page for more info on the upcoming series about a private school for rich and famous celeb-kids.  If your teens/tweens are on Facebook or Twitter and loved to read send them to www.twitter.com/beApacesetter or Simone Bryant - Teen Fiction author on Facebook.  Cover coming soon. 

Here’s the cover from my upcoming book, MESSAGE FROM A MISTRESS, dropping MARCH 2010.  Check out my Mainstream Fiction page for more info on the drama filled book.

And GIVE ME FEVER (book 3 of the Strong romance series) drops May 2010.  Kaeden and Jade’s romance is sure to sizzle as the very epitome of opposite attracting is personified.  I LOVED writing this book.

More info on my Meesha Mink debut to come as we near the release date.

Don’t forget I will be attending the Romance Slam Jam cruise in April and you can find me on Twitter and Facebook.

Very excited to announce the SOLO book deal of Meesha Mink–THE Diva of Drama. The book will not drop for a minute (like late 2010 or early 2011) but the contracts are all signed and the check has been delivered. POW! lol. Please stay tuned for more upcoming info, relaunch of this website, and more posts in the near future.

I want to thank everyone for making the Hoodwives series so successful and perhaps Denesha and I will revisit the series and bring the crazy ass drama you can only find in Bentley Manor. For now, we’re both doing our solo thing as we discussed before we even began the series and I hope you all support both of us as we keep bringing the drama you love.