Wordless Wednesday with Linky

My son participated in the Special Olympics basketball tournament this past weekend. He went out of town overnight with his fellow classmates to participate. He was so excited when he returned because they won and he scored 6 points. Woohoo! I was thrilled for him but sad because I didn't get a chance to see him actually play. He participates every year and this photo above is from the year before when he competed in the track and field event that he came in first in. The photo above however, is of the adult women 100m dash. Watch them go!

If you aren't a supporter of Special Olympics, I highly encourage that you look into it. It truly makes a difference in the lives of such truly wonderful people.

For more information on how you can get involved with Special Olympics, click Special Olympics Involvement.

Week in Review and Giveaway

I hadn't had a chance to blog or visit blogs all week :-( I had a jam packed week and eventful weekend. But I enjoyed it. This past Thursday, bestselling authors Victoria Christopher Murray and Reshonda Tate Billingsley came to my area for a book signing. It was nice to see them again and briefly talk. I bought their new book, Sinners and Saints, and I can't wait to read it. The two ladies make a great duo. They are funny, informative and a delight to be around. And I must congratulate Ms. Reshonda on her NAACP Image Award Nomination last week.

Friday, my girls basketball team had a game, and we lost. As the coach, I was devastated. But my team is still number 1 in their league. Woot! Woot! We will have to step it up at the next game. I also saw the film, Red Tails this weekend. It was enjoyable. I highly recommend it. The flight scenes were fantastic. Terrance Howard was sexy as all get out in his pilot uniform.

Then Saturday evening, January 21st, was the She Speaks book signing. I'm a featured poet in the anthology She Speaks, so I was asked to get up and bless the mic. It was my first time reciting any of my poetry. My poem is called, A Song for Queen. Talk about nervous, my knees shook the entire time. I was so elated to finally sit down. I've been in stage plays before, I currently give workshops and I sing in the church choir. So being in front of an audience doesn't bother me at all. I think I was nervous because it was the first time I had recited any of my poetry pieces. But I think I fared well and I can say without a doubt the event was fabulous. Some of the other talented poets rocked the mic as well and I can say that some of them left the mic smoking hot. My hat goes off to Dr. Kim White Glenn and Kimeko Farrar, those ladies always bring it whenever they touch the mic.

She Speaks is by poet Katina Walton and I must say she did a great job putting everything together. Her piece at the end had me snapping and popping my fingers and I got teary-eyed because I knew the emotion coming from her was raw and sincere. Singer, Gina Brown graced us with her voice at the close of the event, she is anointed and talented. She has worked with greats like the late Etta James. Gina Brown's voice is powerful and sultry. I could feel all the love and support in that room for Katina Walton. So I wish her the very best of luck in all her endeavors.

Well, that was my week in review.

I will be giving away THREE (3) FREE copies of the book She Speaks by Katina Walton.  Each book is valued at $15.99. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment below and on Sunday, January 29th midnight, 2012, I'll choose 3 winners randomly using random.org. Winners will be announced Monday, January 30, 2012. Open to International and U.S. participants.

Don't forget my short story collection, If I Had My Way, will be available on February 1, 2012. The date is fast approaching. If you want a free copy of my short story, Tandrin Drive, please sign up for my newsletter located in the upper right hand corner of my sidebar. Everyone that has signed up for my newsletter should receive their free copy before the end of the week.

If you want a FREE copy of If I Had My Way to do a book review for your blog or to do a review for Amazon, Goodreads or Barnes and Nobles, please send me your email address along with your request at lena@lenasledge.com and where you will likely post your review and I will get it to you. I'm also available for book club discussions via Skype. 

Thank You and Have a Fantabulous Week!

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Weekend Update

Hey all. Hope everyone is having a great weekend thus far. My week has been so hectic and out of order. I dislike being disorganized so when life throws in a wrench, I have to reprogram. So here's what I did this crazy, yet blessed week.

I read three books. I haven't read that much in a short period in quite awhile. But I have some book tours coming through so I had to. Which is actually great, because otherwise I may have put it off to do a host of other things. I read Seductive Kiss and Trouble Don't Last Always by Francis Ray as well as A New Prospect by Wayne Zurl. Can't wait to tell you all about them in the coming weeks. I also have tons of blogs to catch up on this weekend, so I'll make my rounds this evening. Can't wait to see what my blogger buddies have been up to.

I will have several guest blog posts coming up in November as well. Some of the authors guest posting will be Barbara Kyle, Wayne Zurl, HP Mallory and GG Vandagriff just to name a few.

Halloween is coming and so I couldn't decide what to give out to the little kiddies, I suggested bags of popcorn to my kids like, Karen, (one of my blog followers) suggested. But my 12 year old daughter responded, "Are we going to be that house in the neighborhood that hands out lame treats?" Of course, I had to give her the side-eye. So I have decided on my old trusty favorite, bags of potato chips. 

I am also coaching my daughter's basketball team this year. Ask me if I have ever coached basketball before. Go ahead ask me. .....Nope. Never. Na-da one time. So this ought to be fun, eight spunky 12 year olds and one determined, destined to win mom who gives one hellava mean side-eye and don't make me come on the court mom stare. Amazingly, there are two other moms coaching in the same age bracket who have never coached either so I feel confident that I can atleast keep up with them. My daughter says she think we will have the best team. That really made me smile. I have been reading book after book on girls basketball, watched over 100 youtube videos and took notes like it was a midterm exam coming up. So wish us luck.

The eBook version of my book is almost complete. I can't wait to tell you about that journey, the ups and downs and the downs and the ups. I have learned a lot of lessons, so many it definitely requires it's own post in the future.

Lastly, I have been staying the course on my eating healthy and exercise regimen. I have lost 4.3 pounds this week. Yay! I'm so excited. Tired from exercising, but excited. Weight Watchers has helped. I like getting the gold stars for my booklet.

Well, that was my week, how was yours?

P.S. Don't forget to stop by and enter the Spooktacular Giveaway. The prize is a $50 gift card to Amazon.com or $50 in purchases at the Book Depository. Good Luck!