Merry Christmas & Prosperous New Year

The Christmas season is always a time of reflecting and looking forward for me.  In reflecting, I think of 2007 as a time of becoming more willing to give up myself for the divine destiny of my life.  The more I give up, the better things become because I'm in sinc with  the reason I'm on this earth.

In 2007, I found some loyal friends on this Internet and even in my hometown.  On the Internet, I found a bunch of New Image Writers. They appreciate my take on writing, and I can so much appreciate theirs. In looking forward from that perspective, the great will come out of 2008. So in 2008, it is my goal to bring those voices to the forefront of the Black literary Renaissance. From the writing classes, nurturing and the Think-Out-Of-The-Box Marketing they (we) will become a force for positive African American characters in 2008. That is who we are, and we will be heard. New Image Writers does not mean limited and dull, we just want something to be happening in the Black community beside murder, drugs and sex.  We know those things happen, the New Image Writers group just wants the world to know that we're intelligent to be working on some things of excellence too.

Reflecting some more:  I met Idrissa, and Margie, Yolanda, Winfred, and others in this cyber world that became human friends. I can'twait to meet them in LA this year at BEA.  I knew I had made the right decision to self-publish when I won the prestigious Cush City "2007 Best New Author Award" on June 1, 2007.  I was so blessed that I didn't go on my cruise this year, as I had been given my first paid job as a motivational speaker.  Well, guess what?  Gary, Indiana rolled out the red carpet and brought me home to be honored. I was given my own Martha Hinton-Tucker day, September 7, 2007--and it's in the records forever and I hit the front page of the Gary Post Tribune.  Meanwhile, Cush City made it possible to take my cruise in 2008.  Talk about God's favor! I needed that favor because last year, my dog, Joshua, the Akita, remember, was on his last leg, and we were putting him down by December.  That was so painful. He was my daily walking/jogging buddy for five years, and had been in the family for 16 years.

Then on October 12, 2007, the months of planning the New Image Writers Bus Tour came to fruition. When we rolled out of the 4-Points Sheraton on a bus, it was magic. All day, readers encouraged us to keep those positive images out there.  Well, the purpose of the tour was to start the world to think of African American people as more than pimps, drugs, and sex. We took, read, and performed New Image African American characters--There was Indigo Tate, the first black Mayor's wife the world ever met. A white man told me that. And I realized it was true. I met a sharp black female lawyer in Pamela Samuel-Young's mystery, and cozy love in Corlis Martin's Expressions of Love, Charles Chatman's Voices of South Central extoled the Black female, and cursed her not. Mary Wilridge offered a strong lesson in Build That Man Up.  Sheila Spencer talked about the life and beauty of brown hands in her poem included in Chicken Soup For the African American Woman's Soul.  Staci Robinson, like Anjuelle, came from the Bay area, with her Secrets.  We met Kelly from San Diego at the Huge Center Book Fair, under the guidance of dedicated Maxine Jackson.  Now Kelly is much a part of New Image Writers. We were hosted by SPA 313, Crown Book Store in Crenshaw Mall, Border's at Fox Hills Mall, and Howard Hughes Center by Maxine Jackson.

The Mayor of Inglewood sent a commendation, the Inglewood Library included us in its collection of AA books, KTLA TV shadowed us for a half day and aired the show on August 12, 2007,  10:25 p.m. Furthere, New Image Writers went out of our way to support failing Black bookstores.

After the tour, I tried to get back into writing the sequel to The Mayor's Wife Wore Sapphires. There were too many phone calls, thank-you-letters and people calling about how we could expand the effort.  As for the present, there has been a whirlwind of social activities with my grandchildren's plays and dance recitals, friend's birthdays and holiday fanfare.  I got the flu for the first time in years.  It raged for almost three weeks. But, thank God, my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the power of the Holy Spirit, I'M ALIVE!!!!  My limbs are strong, my joy is full, and next year's business plan is almost done, much slower than I wanted. 

As for the future,  I'm rearing to rush out the gate into 2008, because I just feel that God is about to do something great. Come on and believe that with me-- I believe Black "males" will be lifted up from maladies and dysfunction--females too. I believe African American  images will become 3-dimensional, and broad, not limited to the dregs of human existance.  I believe that African Americans will be a truly equal part of this land, a race respected for productivity and contributions to our country.  On a personal level, I pray that all of you will be able to earn a living from and make an impact with your writings. Now, won't that be a great day in 2008? 

DON'T FORGET BEA--IN LA--IN 2008. 

Meanwhile, life always has a few punches for us, but don't despair. This too shall pass--My daughter-in-law fell down her townhouse stairs and broke her ankle in three places.  Surgery is set for Thursday if the swelling goes down.  Now I know most of you know how to pray for swelling to go down, so get to it. LOL.

, I'm being a bit quiet now and praying for her.  Please send your prayers for less pain and perfect, speedy restoration.

All of you have been a source of joy, nurturning, uplifting when I'm down, and generally helping me become the kind of writer that will make us proud. Just remember, Jesus Christ is the reason for this season.

I am still autographing books for Christmas.

Happy, blessed, Christmas, and a prosperous Happy New Year,

Your Friend and colleague,

Martha "Marti" Tucker, The Mayor's Wife Wore Sapphires

www.myspace.com/author_marti_tucker

www.urbanclassicbooks

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