Hippophobic

By Kirk Verner

It was a wondrous Sunday afternoon in the middle of August when I was graciously given the opportunity to ride my very first horse. I remember being young, fearless, a cowboy for a day.

The Transcript to ‘Gendering the Text of the iPod’ Audio Piece

By Brikena Ribaj

You may here the audio piece here and you may follow along with the text attached below.

Gadgets have a way of making me happy. Switching to the iPod was the next natural step. The other gadgets were oh-so-20th century. That little gadget. My chosen box of possibilities. The iPod. Having in mind the theoretical approach of Judith Butler on gender I have long thought about how easily the iPod lends itself to being queered. Music precedes partners, relationships, most thoughts and sensations, even good writing. To me, at least.

Sale Until December 31st

Get 20 per cent off everything on Donna Kakonge’s estore! No minimum order required. Enter code HOHOHO upon checkout. Store site is: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

Diaspora Dialogues

	Monday, December 07, 2009 Unsubscribe | Printable Version | Send this to a friend

Books Now on Amazon Kindle

Donna Kakonge’s books are now on Amazon Kindle. You can choose from a selection of 28 books. Check it out at Amazon Kindle today! The website for the store is: http://www.amazon.com/kindle-store-ebooks-newspapers-blogs/b?ie=UTF8&node=133141011.

One Day Only

Buy one paperback book and get shipping free. Buy at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged. Use the code MAILSHIP1.

Expanding Self-Publishing Ventures

I am someone who loves self-publishing. I have spent this entire weekend, with the exception of a bit of marking, expanding my self-publishing pool.

How We Treat One Another

It is interesting that around this time of year, many people start to think about how they treat one another. It’s the holiday season and good cheer is supposed to be the norm. This is the not the case for everyone.

December Book Sales

Another Lulu.com sales contest is underway! You can receive 10 per cent off all of my books and audio material by entering the code HUMBUG on checkout. This is a great time of year to buy a gift for the ones you love, and even buy a gift for yourself. Enjoy the magic of the holiday season with one of my 32 books.

You can select your books at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

Offering Feedback on Stories

I am now starting to offer feedback on people’s writing from around the world. With the help of the internet and for a small fee – I will offer coaching to anyone in need of feedback on their writing. Please do contact me at: dkakonge@sympatico.ca for details.

From Worldwide Freelance Writer

FEATURE ARTICLE

Five Ways To Shine As A Professional Writer

By Dana Blozis

With the growth of social media and marketing techniques like
online article marketing, it seems that everyone is a writer of one
sort or another. In fact, I've read a handful of articles that
assure the reading public that anyone can write. While this may be
technically true, those of us who write for a living know that it
isn't as easy as it sounds. There is much more to the craft than
meets the eye.
 

Writing Workshops and Self-Publishing Offered at Aangen Community Centre

Hello everyone in Toronto!

Please check out this site and scroll to the bottom for workshops I will be offering starting on February 21st and happening once a month. Here is the link: http://www.aangen.com/workshops.asp. Join in the fun!

Authors Access Interview Featured

Donna Kakonge’s interview with Viktor Volkman and Tyler Tichelaar is featured on Irene Watson’s Reader Views. Check it out:

http://readerviews.com/

Authors Access Interview

 

 

Each week Loving Healing Press and Reader Views bring insightful interviews from people around the world who can help you get your work published, and if already published, noticed!

Great Podcast

Here is another great link to listen to a great podcast – featuring Donna Kakonge discussing journalism: http://www.bloggingauthors.com/

Sesame Street Anniversary with Google

I have been thoroughly enjoying the Google themes for the Sesame Street anniversary. Sesame Street was a big part of my childhood with my brother and sister. It is wonderful that it continues on to this day.

Authors Access Interview

On November 5th, 2009 Tyler R. Tichelaar and Victor R. Volkman spoke
with Toronto-based educator and print, radio, and TV journalist Donna
Kakonge about how any writer can successfully refocus their work into
the freelance journalism marketplace.
 

How to Turn Your Writing Career into Journalism

I’ve been interviewed with Authors Access – where authors get published and published authors become successful. To listen to the show, visit:

http://authorsaccess.com/archives/163

Katie and Marc

Katie bumped into her boss as she was leaving the Radio Canada International building in Montreal.

Excerpt from My Story of Transportation

My first bike had training wheels. I believe my Mom bought it for me and I would proudly ride around my neighbourhood in Greek town with my Mom near by feeling free for my age.

Mahdi

Mikel Guillen is the Director of Mahdi, Produced By PickPocket Media Films - Photo Courtesy of Mikel Guillen

The director of Pickpocket Media Films rings my doorbell several times and adds some knocks for emphasis. I know he is here.

Coming Up on Donna Magazine

Director Mikel Guillen - Photo Courtesy of Mikel Guillen

Coming up on Donna Magazine – Interview with Director Mikel Guillen from Pickpocket Media Films on his latest project.

Proposal to University Health Network

Donna Kakonge Writes About the Plans She Has For an Upcoming Documentary - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

First of all I would like to thank the selection committee for taking the time to review my application. I would also like to thank those people who made the UHN documentary at the Toronto General Hospital Psychiatric ward possible.

Airport Flirt – Excerpt from Do Not Know

Do Not Know is One of Donna Kakonge's 31 books - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

It took an old man to touch my young breast to wake me up. I did not hear him come up to me as I sat in a plastic waiting chair because my Walkman blasted “Keep on Moving” from my Soul II Soul CD. I was in concourse E of Miami’s airport, waiting for my flight to Barbados. I was coming from Montreal in the February winter wonderland and did not know how to dress. I wore a beige cotton knit ensemble with my black winter jacket curled over my arm. I was also wearing the burgundy slightly padded bra I got for Christmas from my sister. The old man had touched more foam than flesh.

Michael

Micheal is an Honest Person With Brown Eyes - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

Driven like a car on the highest gear, Michael zoomed through life to obtain his goals. He was a perfect student, a perfect friend; perfect at sports and his deep brown eyes made him an honest person.

Tax Collector

Sarah is a Receptionist Who Works in a Tax Collection Agency - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

Sarah’s hair was too long and straight, that hair that came right out of a commercial prevented her from earning a living as a tax collector. She worked in her office as a receptionist, watching the men and women in three piece suits walk by her desk and only ask if there had been a phone call. Sometimes, when they weren’t looking she would call her friends and they would pick up her spirits.

Excerpt from Digital Journals and Numerology

Digital Journals and Numerology is One of Donna Kakonge's 31 books - Photo Courtesy of Dreamstime.com

Introduction

This book is meant to emphasize how powerful keeping a journal can be with the aid of numerology. I started writing one at the age of seven and keeping a journal has been a constant for me – more than some friends, some jobs and some family members. I used to get a thrill selecting my journals to write in. Now I have decided to try something new by using the computer that I already spend so much time on and money on to show how powerful keeping any journal…even a digital journal can be. Using the principles of numerology can also help in chronicling your life.

To buy this book, please visit http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

Excerpt from How to Write Creative Non-fiction

Donna Kakonge Includes an Excerpt from How to Write Creative Non-fiction - Photo Courtesy of Dreamstime.com

Chapter One Forms of Non-fiction Writing

Welcome to your first chapter! As you go through each chapter you will be asked to complete optional assignments.

Excerpt from Spiderwoman

Donna Kakonge Wrote a Collection of Short Stories Called Spiderwoman - Photo Courtesy of Dreamstime.com

This is an excerpt from Donna Kakonge’s book Spiderwoman. It can be bought at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

New! Dropouts Published

Donna Kakonge Just Published the Book Dropouts on Sale Now - Photo Courtesy of Dreamtimes.com

Fiction and journalism stories about the mind is hot off the presses. You can buy for today only with a 14.92 per cent discount at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged. Just enter the code PINTA. Enjoy and Happy Thanksgiving!

Author profile: James Valitchka

One of James Valitchka's Nine Books is Superheroes Don't Have Dads - Photo Courtesy of JamesValitchka.com

By Rachel Muenz

James Valitchka’s writing has put him on an ambitious road.

Five child authors who have stayed successful

Rachel Muenz Writes About Child Authors - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Rachel Muenz

It’s a common story: An author gets published at a very young age. For a few weeks, she is the centre of media attention, people rave about her talent, her book may sell well, but then she vanishes from the literary world, never to be heard of again.

Away For Too Long

Kirk Verner Writes A Poem About Being Away - Photo Courtesy of Morguefile.com

by Kirk Verner

Wake up, wander the streets, wind stings my eyes,
I have forgotten what a real prairie breeze feels like.

5 video games with the best stories ever

Rachel Muenz Writes About Video Games - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Rachel Muenz

Storytelling in video games seems to be getting bigger and more important year after year. There are now professional video game writers who craft game stories as carefully as any novelist or scriptwriter.

Fall movie season perfect for seeing the fall of humankind

Rachel Muenz Writes About End of the World Movies - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Rachel Muenz

If you’ve thought there have been a lot of movies about the end of the world coming out lately, you’d be right. Based on data from About.com, September has the highest number of films dealing with apocalyptic themes out of all 2009.

Want the best Canadian writing? Read short fiction

Rachel Muenz Writes About the Canadian Giller Prize - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Rachel Muenz

A couple of weeks ago, British Giller judge Victoria Glendinning bashed Canadian writing in the Financial Times of London. She said our stuff is too homogenous and that it’s easy to get grants and be published if you’re Canadian, no matter how bad your writing is.

Canadian content making its mark on U.S. media

Rachel Muenz Writes About the Impact Canada Has on the U.S.

By Rachel Muenz

There’s been a lot of talk lately about how many Canadian TV shows have been picked up by U.S. networks this fall. But while U.S. TV has the most Canadian content, Canadians are having a decent impact on other areas of U.S. pop culture as well.

The Best of Donna Magazine Published

The best from this online magazine is now packaged in hardcover, paperback and ebook format so you can take it with you anywhere. On the bus, in a canoe, wherever and whenever. Check it out at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

Top 5 children’s books that are still fun to read as an adult

Rachel Muenz Makes Children's Book Selections For Adults - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Rachel Muenz

Often, people read books as children that they think are the best things ever only to be disappointed when they return to them as adults. But there some children’s books that, whether you re-read them or explore them for the first time as an adult, are still great adventures.

Here, in my opinion, are the best kids’ books anyone of any age can enjoy:

Canada stuck-up about its writing, but not too much

Rachel Muenz Writes About the Giller Prize - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Rachel Muenz

Canada has often been criticized for being too snobby about its writing.

William Deverell recently wrote in the National Post that in Canada “there is a push to reward insipid stuff that will never sell” and Canadian publishing is suffering because of this.

I partly agree.

J.J.

Rachel Muenz Writes About a Missing Person - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Rachel Muenz

There was this kid who lived in a town near where I grew up. He was a friend of my cousin’s cousin and went missing when I was in elementary school and he was a teenager. His friends might have called him J.J. so I’ll call him that too.

Pen to Computer Screen (Originally Published with Digital Eve)

Trecia Harley Does an Online Magazine - Photo Courtesy of Trecia Harley

Writing and the written word have been a major part of Trecia Harley’s life ever since she could remember. As a child she loved to read and be transported to another world.
 
The magic of words was her main pastime growing up in Parry Sound, Ontario. Thus, writing became her favourite form of expression.
 
Trecia attended the University of Toronto where she studied English Literature, History and Celtic Studies. She also completed a publishing certificate course at Ryerson Polytechnic University.
 
“Throughout my entire education, I loved reading books, reading about the making of books, discussing the power of literature, and debating the need for it in daily life,” says Trecia. “To me, writing was, and will always be, THE ultimate form of connecting the minds of men.”
 
This lead Trecia to becoming involved with The Breath, an online magazine. The Breath was the brain-child of two men from Toronto: Shane Belcourt (Anthony) and Jordan O'Connor. Shane and Jordan are musicians and artists in their own right in Ottawa. Shane and Jordan saw the early possibilities of the Internet and were excited by the idea of forming an arts collective site which would house an e-zine and independent Canadian record label. 
 
Shane and Jordan asked Trecia and her husband Craig to help out - and they were immediately hooked. 
 

Simple writing is best for everyone

Rachel Muenz Writes About Simple Writing - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Rachel Muenz

Every English teacher I’ve ever had has always said using plain, clear language is best in any kind of writing. Authors don’t make readers think by language that’s impossible to understand, but by the complex themes and ideas they write about.

Caterpillar

Kirk Verner Writes a Lovely Poem About the Beauty of Caterpillars - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

As you blossom from a furry bug into a beautiful butterfly, I watch in amazement.

I think I like you both ways?

Your orange fur looks like skin.

Poison

Rachel Muenz Writes About the Anger of a Man - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Rachel Muenz

Dolphin was going to kill the dog because it had desecrated the tree. The tree was the most beautiful monument he had ever seen. He liked it because it reminded him of a snake and he loved snakes and though it was carved with the names of kids who’d been shot to death, it didn’t call them heroes and it didn’t call their killers evil. It simply remembered the dead and he liked that.

Murder?

Rachel Muenz Writes About Murder

By Rachel Muenz

Stan hates Maude and her purple raincoat and the way she trips instead of walks. She even wears that ugly thing in middle of summer when the air chokes you and sits heavy on your head.

The Best of Donna Magazine to be Published Soon

There are now more than 400 posts on Donna Magazine. Updated from Journalism Stories Collection, The Best of Donna Magazine will incorporate the publisher’s personal favourites from this online magazine in a hardcover, paperback and ebook format that you can take with you anywhere such as any magazine you would  find off the racks. Look out for it coming soon to be sold at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

Get 20 Per Cent Off My Books

Old Cover Design for My Roxanne

You can get 20 per cent off my books this Labour Day weekend only. Please enter the code “WHITE” when you checkout. Choose from a variety of books, a CD and two audio downloads in hardcover, paperback and ebook format.  The online store is at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

Adoption

Cori's Newly Acquired Cell Phone Tells Quite a Story - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Rachel Muenz

One afternoon Cori found a token and stayed on for the whole route pressed to the back with her nose against the glass, watching the city leak out behind the red and white canister of people. Someone had opened a window at the front of the streetcar and the air chilled her throat all the way down to her stomach.

W.E.B. DuBois Celebration in New York

Heading down to New York with some old friends of mine from undergrad, we discovered that there was a lot more to black history than we knew about before:

done

Grad School Public Affairs Class

Here is a recording of a public affairs class I took while doing my grad studies at Concordia University. The main important information is at the beginning.  For more stories by Donna Kakonge, visit her online store at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged:

done

Two New Books Published

Donna Kakonge Has Two New Books Published - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

The first book is My Mind Book which features an example of creating a book that will be inspiring and bring the things you want into your life. It is based on the law of attraction, as well as inspired by Mind Movies that were sent to me.

The second book is called Stories in Red and Yellow: Digging Up Work Done in Yesteryear. This is a literary collection of non-fiction and fiction work.

Both can be bought, as well as other books at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

The Discoveries of Columbus

Rachel Muenz Writes that Lorian Has a Deep Love for His Dog Columbus - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert

By Rachel Muenz

Lorian sat in the sand, his lap cold without the dog. He glared at the black and silver points of the waves. His father had no right to get rid of it. But Lorian figured he should have seen it coming because his father had never gone out of his way to make him happy.

BELOVED

Book Review of Toni Morrison's Award-Winning Book Beloved

Terry Otten suggests that while Sethe and the other slaves “might be considered simply victims in slavery, once they move towards freedom north of the Ohio River … they assume responsibility for their own ‘criminal’ act and become `victims’ of their own flawed humanity as much as the viciousness of whites.” In this essay, the validity of this statement will be tested against Beloved. References from the novel will show how Terry Otten is incorrect.

Abandon

Struggling Schizoprenic Mother Tries to Make it on Her Own - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Rachel Muenz

Uneven rows of umbrellas bobbed towards her. Their metal frames frightened her to the edge of the sidewalk and then back into the alley against the cold dumpster. The thin spokes reminded her too much of wing bones. Her fingers dug at the air around her knees. She looked down and jumped, shocked to find nothing there.

Book review of Cane by Jean Toomer

Jean Toomer is the Author of Cane

I came across this book for three dollars at a Lebanese restaurant in the McGill ghetto of Montreal. It was worth every penny, and proves that you can find good books for affordable prices.

The Fool

Afro Almost Plays Dice With Her Life - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

I was embarrassed to tell my boyfriend’s parents I was out of work again. It had been a year and I was on welfare, but at least I had love in my life. Richie, my boyfriend, just got a job as a public relations officer at the University of Toronto. He had been looking for a long time and was feeling lucky. When his parents came into town one mild January weekend for his birthday, we all decided to go down to Niagara Falls to the casinos. Gambling had never been my thing, but going was the only present I could afford for him.

A Good Home

Rachel Muenz Writes About Finding a Good Home - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Rachel Muenz

I don’t like cleaning because it’s not something where you use your head and when I don’t use my head, it wanders into things I’d rather forget. But I don’t like living in filth either. I’ve had enough dirt in my life as it is. So that’s why I’ve got my fingers down the bathtub drain and the smell of Vim burning the inside of my nose. I find the piece of hair and pull. It keeps coming and coming, a whole ponytail slimy with old shampoo.

Stories in Red and Yellow to be Published This Week

Potential Cover Art for Stories in Red and Yellow - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

I am currently working on a collection of stories that have been dug up from past work called Stories in Red and Yellow. It should be published this week. Look out for it! It’s going to be as fantastic as red and yellow. Look for the stories for free viewing on this website.  For my books, CD and audio stories, you can purchase them at:  http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged. For the month of August there is a 10 per cent discount and the code to enter upon checkout is: README.

The evil alternatives to Site 52: Part five of a five-part series

Rachel Muenz Writes About Politicians in Comise County as Parody - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Zema Luncher

North Comise County politicians are disgusted with recent suggestions for the storage and use of garbage at Site 52. Protestors say a landfill is not the best option for the site and there are other methods that would be better for people and the environment.

“We could use one of those new-fangled methane things,” said protestor Shawn Ottens. “Yuh know, like they use over in Europe.”

Brainwashed by Site 52 protestors: Part four of a five-part series

Rachel Muenz Writes About a Character That Loves Garbage in Part Four of Her Series - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Zema Luncher

Charlene Rawston used to love garbage. Instead of keeping it in bins or in the garage, she kept the bags in the living room where she could talk to them and share stories. When Site 52 was first proposed she wholeheartedly supported it, happy that other bags like her close friends would finally have a proper home. But then the protestors came and everything changed.

Financial degradation at Site 52 puts species at risk: Part three of a five-part series

Rachel Muenz Continues With Part Three of Her Series on Garbage - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Zema Luncher

Protests at Site 52 are putting a severe strain on the financial ecosystem, damaging the habitats of taxpayers and politicians, says Comise County Warden Tom Gudgeon.

Blockades at the proposed dump site in Teeny Township are not only harming these species but the protestors as well, he added.

Kiddie Card Whiz (Originally Aired on CJOH-TV)

This story aired back in 1993 with CJOH-TV in Ottawa, Canada while I was doing my undergraduate work in journalism at Carleton University. I was on internship there and found out about a 7-year-old at the time who had his own business:

done

SO IS THIS IT?

Hyacinth Harewood's Poem Asks So Is This It? - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert.com

By Hyacinth Harewood

I’m a parasite on an interminable past that will outlast my gourmet greed,
I’m Tantalus in consummation, never stopping eating – under the curse of my past.
Yesterday’s spices drive me to wishing wells of the future that never fulfill water,
Not a drip from the cup to the caking lip.

Come tomorrow ….
Tomorrow never comes,
Intercepted by an interfering today.

Horrific violence at Site 52 shocks county: Part two of a five-part series

Protests Rock the Small Township Over Garbage - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert

By Zema Luncher

Local politicians are starting to fear for their lives as protests to the dump site in Teeny Township heat up.

Comise County Warden Tom Gudgeon said people have been sending more and more letters of concern about the dump every day.

“My email inbox is always full so other important messages aren’t getting through,” Gudgeon said. “It’s also very painful on my eyes to read them all.

Blue Death: A five-part series by the Teeny Tracer on how protestors are destroying money and lives at Dump Site 52

Rachel Muenz Does a Parody on a Dumpsite - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert

The plight of North Comise garbage: Part one of a five-part series

By Zema Luncher

In homes across North Comise County, the garbage bag is kept hidden from sight in cupboards or garages, unable to socialize with the families it lives with and treated as less than the family dog. After a week, it is stuffed into a bin and left for hours until it is hurled into a truck for a long, crowded journey to an even more crowded landfill. Here, it is dumped in piles with thousands of other bags, left to be torn apart by seagulls, crows and other scavengers, never knowing the taste of clean water or the smell of fresh air.

Diaspora Dialogues

	Friday, July 24, 2009 Unsubscribe | Printable Version | Send this to a friend
	In this issue: Malvern’s triple sensations: Young writers celebrate their fiction, poetry and graphic novel writing

Rookies

A Rookie's Story is Told by Rachel Muenz - Photo Courtesy of Stockexpert

By Rachel Muenz

Jo Henday, Sister:

I should be proud of you but I’m not. Not of a single shot.

Your first goal came off my stick, remember? The puck was pinned to the boards by a couple pairs of skates and there were five of us from both teams working at it in a clatter of wood. Some kid kept cross-checking me in the back – no penalty – but I fought my way through the press of jerseys and dug the puck out. I flung it towards the net because I knew you were there.

Creating Things: Profile of Roger McTair (Originally Published on Impowerage.com)

Roger McTair Creates Magic - Photo Courtesy of Seneca College's Website

Roger McTair is a director, poet, professor and writer who lives in Toronto, Canada. He has had short stories air on CBC Radio and BBC Radio.

He was born in Trinidad and Tobago on October 7, 1943. Not having much to do while growing up galvanized his love of creating things.

Puns to Ponder

Brikena Ribaj Ponders on Puns - Photo Courtesy of Morguefile.com

By Brikena Ribaj

Tip of the hat to Chris for the pointer. He and I have such a great time together playing with language. I thought I’d share with you all what he just sent my way.

Enjoy. And as a medievalist, my very favorite would have to be number one.

Bicycle Time

Rachel Muenz Explores Bicycle Time in a Short Story - Photo Courtesy of Morguefile.com

By Rachel Muenz

The road unrolls before him, cracked and purple-grey. The pavement is worn but good, better than that behind him, cratered and half-repaired with uneven disks of tar. On either side, trees slide past the corners of his eyes, their branches reaching for his arms. Beyond the trees, the hunched forms of hills, shadowed and filmed with pale green, rise and fall. He feels the hum of the tires in his chest, right through to his heart. It is pure joy.

Excerpt from Spiderwoman

This is the Cover Art for the Book Spiderwoman - Photo From Dreamstime.com

Spiderwoman is the third book that I officially published, actually the fourth if you include the short story I did for Headlight Anthology. This book was a long process that started with stories I did in a Carleton University creative writing class with Tom Henighan. You can buy the book at: http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

It’s A Great Deal

This is the Cover Art for the Book The Write Heart - Photo From Dreamstime.com

Can you imagine that I am offering free life coaching on any of your life’s challenges for the low, low cost of one book sale from you? Yes – this is not a gimmick – it is true.

We can do the life coaching through email if you are long distance, or we could do it over the phone if you are local. We can also use such services as MSN and Yahoo Messenger if you prefer a more instant approach to the life coaching. I look forward to hearing from you. Make your dreams come true!

Books You Can Buy With Free Life Coaching

Cover Art for Story Ideas - Help For Writer's Block by Donna Kakonge - Photo from Dreamstime.com

Donna Kakonge has written 25 books that you can choose from along with FREE  life coaching for your challenges in life. You can contact her at: dkakonge@sympatico.ca to find out more.

Appreciation

Discovering Appreciation Can Be Difficult in Our Busy Lifestyles - Photo Courtesy of Morguefile.com

By Nick Goodwin

Sometimes the hardest thing is being able to appreciate something when you know you have it the best. People can be insatiable and often the truth is that you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone. If people could appreciate the “now” to a greater extent they could be more conservative, creative, and intelligent.

1 Love TO

Nick Goodwin Does a Review of a Website - Photo Courtesy of 1LoveTO.com

By Nick Goodwin

A couple of friends of mine have put together a great website. It is a blog website which showcases Toronto’s arts and entertainment, as well as culture and cause.

Inspiration

Feeling Inspired Can Sometimes Be an Effort - Photo Courtesy of Morguefile.com

By Nick Goodwin

I know what it is like to feel uninspired. Sometimes the only option is to channel this frustration and use your strength of mind. Create an opportunity for moving forward with something. Sometimes you won’t find the inspiration you’re looking for until you try something first. I’ve heard it said that experience comes from making mistakes, trial and error. If people did everything right on the first try we would have no need for communication.

Courses Offered at New Opportunties Learning Centre

Starting July 5, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Isabella and Church Streets in Toronto, I will be offering a writing course costing $40.00 for nine weeks. This special course will also include elements of self-publishing.  If you would like to attend the nine-week course, please contact me at: dkakonge@sympatico.ca ASAP. Space is limited to the first 10 registrants.

Mute

Kirk Verner Adds Poem Mute to His Repoitoire

by Kirk Verner

Timid lips finally spew jargon.
You have less of an accent than expected.
Racing eyes, rarely locking.
Your fear lies in direct eye-contact.

Crossed arms, your knuckles are white again.
You look like a librarian, neat and gentle.
Your wet palm leaves streaks across the shadows on the table.
A chill in the air shall calm you with time.

Babylon

Photo Courtesy of MorgueFile.com

By Kirk Verner

A thousand worlds.
Stretching from Babylon,
To the mines below.

I love you more than the beauty of flying geese.
Uniform precision, instinctive direction.
More than a flower needs the sky’s rain.
Bright eyes of a daisy, tall and lean.

I love you more than a crypt-keeper’s chest.
Lacklustre exterior, contents that glow.
More than chef’s secret dish.
Encrusted with sugar, spice just a pinch.

A thousand worlds.
Stretching from Babylon,
To the mines below.

Prague by Morning, Venice by Night

by Aaron Wilson

“Mr. Wilson! Mr.Wilson!”

My eyes snapped open and a man appeared a few feet from my face. “Check Out,” he demanded in an accented voice.  I snatched the phone lying next to my head – 10:34 am.  I sprung up and leaped from the top bunk, negating the ladder, and hitting the floor with a thud.  Immediately the blood and liquor running through my veins rushed to my head and my temples pulsed.

Summertime

Riding on a cool bus

listening to hot tunes.

Windows open so the

air can breathe.

Donna Magazine’s Updates

Donna Magazine has another site called Donna Magazine’s Updates at: http://kakonged.blogspot.com/. There you can find information on education matters. I also have another site at: http://donnasalonutopia.blogspot.com. This site is about beauty issues.

Donna Kakonge, owner of Donna Magazine, also has five new books out called School Works – Other Essays , Yes, School Works, Honest Psychic Chats, The Write Heart, Story Ideas: Help For Writer’s Block, Listening to Music, This is How the Egyptians Fell and Natural Beauty.  You can find out more about these books, as well as her others at http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged and Amazon.com.

For other entertainment related to Donna Magazine, you can check out her podcasts at: http://kakonged.podomatic.com.

Look out for more video on this site soon.

Up to Us

Scene 1 – (Sun is setting and Jake Watkins sits at his dining room table snorting fine white powder into his nose. When he is done, he clears away any remaining traces of the powder and sits back in the chair and waits to feel good. Soon a smile appears on his face and he knocks over the chair when he gets up).

Together Forever

By Marco Biscaini

Marie Johnson is a stay at home wife. She spends her days alone and practices mental rituals and obsessions for hours on end, until maybe the phone rings.

Men and Single

The hallway was washed in yellow light. Penny had spent many days trying to get there. She had seen it on TV and it looked just like the pictures.

Digital Journals and Numerology Just Published

Use numerology to express yourself to yourself

This book is meant to emphasize how powerful keeping a journal can be with the aid of numerology. I started writing one at the age of seven and keeping a journal has been a constant for me – more than some friends, some jobs and some family members. I used to get a thrill selecting my journals to write in. Now I have decided to try something new by using the computer that I already spend so much time on and money on to show how powerful keeping any journal…even a digital journal can be. Using the principles of numerology can also help in chronicling your life. It can be bought at http://stores.lulu.com/kakonged.

Matoke (excerpt from the book Spiderwoman)

You can find the audio version of this story on my e-store

In the early 1980’s, when I was 10 years old, things changed at my school with the arrival of a new vice-principal. At O’Connor Public School in Toronto, Mr. Goldberg set up a close-circuit television studio. The show the students and Mr. Goldberg produced was called OCTV News.

The Struggle of Writing

Writing really is a wonderful thing. I would recommend for anyone to do it if this is what they want to do. I also do some radio when I have the chance and I am looking to either borrow a digital recorder from one of the places where I work so I can work on a private project or save up enough money for one. I have a mini-disc, which used to be the industry standard – however, everything is going digital

Stay Black or Die

www.addenasumterfreitag.com

Her terrific book, Stay Black or Die has just been accepted by many professors throughout Canada as reading material for courses. It is available through Commodore Books.

Story Behind MyRoxanne – Donna Kakonge’s First Book

You can buy My Roxanne on my e-store

One of the books I will publish for 2008 was written when I was 17 years old. I spent a lot of my youth reading Danielle Steele, Sweet Valley High books and Stephen King. I also spent a lot of time while I was in English class writing and reading classic literature. MyRoxanne is a culmination of many years of work and expresses some of the dis-ease I felt at that time.

MyRoxanne (excerpt)

Chapter One

Roxanne has always been attracted to white men. There, she admits it. Maybe it came from watching all those movies and television shows when she was younger, where the good-looking men were always white. But, she does remember being fascinated with the show Fame and thinking Leroy was very sexy. And she does think black men are sexy. But, there’s something about them she has never been able to achieve, and that’s love. Life is hard for black men. And life for black women is even harder. She has never been able to find a black man who compared to her father. That’s why she always fell for the white ones.