Are you going to eat all that? Confessions from a BFF.

There are a couple of questions that really irk me.  As I was writing in my journal, I realized I had a lot of bitterness inside for the questions that really make me want to hurl.  And being a full figured gal, there were a plenty.  One thing that I hate is when people question my food choices.  I already know I’m plus sized.  I don’t need to look in the mirror to get a reality check because I see myself every day.  I see every imperfection to the nth power.  I don’t need others to point that stuff out.  What I definitely don’t need, when I sit down to eat, is that dreaded question:  “Are you going to eat all that?”

The answer is, “YES.  I’m going to eat this whole cheeseburger with all the fixings and the steak fries because I paid for it and I WANT it.”  It’s better than stopping off at McDonalds before a Lady’s Night (which is supposed to be a night to relax and splurge) to make up for the bird eating for display purposes only.  I shouldn’t have to answer that question.  If I was 5’7”, 150 pounds, no one would even ask.  So, why are they asking me?  No one asks the group drunk if they are going to drink that 6^th Long Island.

There is only one thing worse than eating with the food police.  When I go out to eat, which is not that often anymore, I want to be able to enjoy a meal.  Perish the thought that I, for once, don’t care how many calories are in a meal.  There comes a time when I’ll want dessert and not have to share it with the whole table in a quest to appear less Miss Piggy-ish.  It’s time out for that.  Really.

Come Closer...it's Scandalous.

Come.  Closer.
Feel what U've been dyin' 4
Don't be afraid, baby
Touch it and explode
Understand, understand that I love U
But more than that - I want you

Okay...those few lines are from one of Prince's best songs, Scandalous.  And anyone who knows me, knows that I absolutely love Prince.  There is no other artist like him.  But, this song was from the Batman Movie Soundtrack.  Love.  It.  In fact, I love it so much, I wrote a little short with the same title about a year ago.  I dusted off the cobwebs of this little story and decided to try and publish it.  And y'all?  It's smokin'.  It's Hot.  It's...scandalous.  So, I'm taking a break from The Affair  to polish this short, and hopefully, my muse pushes me to finish soon so I can get back to The Affair. 

Don't get it twisted...Lady is a killer.

As most of you already know, Never Scared is finished.  And some of you may even wonder what it's really about.  And as the writer, I often wonder how many themes actually exist in the book.  When I write, it's all about the characters first....plot a close second.  Once I have the characters down, the plot can basically write itself. 

Everytime an idea comes to mind for a book or short story, I begin the process by writing a very in depth cast of characters.  I want my characters to hop off the page and I want my readers to identify with my characters.  And I want the readers to root for the characters even though they may do questionable things.  My biggest example of this is the protagonist in Never Scared, Alexa (Lady).

When I had the initial dream that inspired the book, I immediately started putting pieces together for Alexa's puzzle.  I developed her back story because I felt like I needed to know her to write this book.  Since she is the lead character in the book, I wanted to breath life into her through her experiences.  These experiences may not even be revealed in this first book but they are always in my mind when I write 'Alexa'. 

Of all my characters, she is definitely one of the favs because there are so many layers to her.  There are so many intricate details to her life that make her who she is.  AND most importantly, I'm rooting for her and my hope is that you will root for her as well.