Thought I’d share this again…

As an author …

I wish I could tell you I know all there is. I don’t.

Truth is, when i first started writing I barely saw a return on the investment I put in. Hours upon hours of writing but no money was being made. Time spent away from family and friends and even some of them will not support. My name printed real cute on the front cover of books and you can find me on Amazon but that’s about it.

I should quit, right? I BET NOT and neither should you.

Here’s some unsolicited advice.

1. Invest in yourself and your gifts. The same way you go to school for a degree or certification; study your craft. Spend money on the best book cover, editors, proofreaders and promoters. Cheap is not always the way to go. Trust me, I know.

2. Build you a team. People who will push you, encourage you and pray for you. Have someone on your side who will tell you the truth, even if it hurts your feelings. Get to know people who are on the level you’re trying to make it too and one day surpass. Ask their opinion and take their advice.

3. Do NOT write book series if you don’t have the time to finish it. You will lose readers that way. If I have to re-read the first book just to read the second one, issa no for me.

4. Believe in yourself. There will be some folk who will not like what you put out and you may get some bad reviews. Trust your gift. Family may not support. Trust your gift. Nobody showing up at your celebration, trust your gift. It will pay off.

5. NEVER GIVE UP. I told you, for years the royalties I received couldn’t even pay my water bill (the cheapest bill in the house) but I did not quit. Don’t misunderstand me, I am not in a position to quit my jobs but I am finally seeing a return on the investment I’ve been putting in. IT TOOK YEARS though! You will see it too.

6. Stop comparing yourself to someone else. You are you and they are them. I don’t care how many of their books you read, you will not write like them. It’s their gift the same as it is your. Find your own footing. Sure, I said before, take advice but don’t copy them because that will only make you a copy of them and not you.

That’s it for now.

I don’t know it all. I haven’t made the New York Times’ Best Seller. My books are not in Barnes and Noble or Walmart stores. My name is not rolling in the credits of movies. I am not being called on to headline book events. Fact is, I’m Lakisha … Author Lakisha and people know me and they read my books.

“Writing didn’t find me, God etched it within my soul when He formed me in my mother’s belly.”

authorlakisha@gmail.com

Daily Devotional – 7/22/19 “Stand your ground!”

Pastor Deldrick Leasure of New Genesis Christian Church penned a message this morning that I want to share a snippet from. He said, “A stand-your-ground law (sometimes called “line in the sand” or “no duty to retreat” law) establishes a right by which a person may defend one’s self against threats or perceived threats, even to the point of lethal force regardless of whether safely retreating from the situation might have been possible. Such a law typically states that an individual has no duty to retreat from any place where they have a lawful right to be. The enemy is trying to fight you off of your ground. He’s after your ground. When the Bible says, “Neither give place to the devil,” it literally means neither give territory to the devil. It literally means stand your ground. He’s after your ground. That means on the deed, it’s yours. Oh, my God. The deed says it’s yours.” #preachsir

His message was on time and I simply wanted to encourage somebody today. You’re looking at your situation and the enemy is wanting you to believe, you made the wrong choice. You’re starring at the current condition of your life and the enemy is beckoning you to throw in the towel. You’re facing a hardship and the enemy is tricking you to believing God doesn’t care about you. LIES … STAND YOUR GROUND! Whether you’re my niece who moved to a new state and the enemy is attacking everything, maybe you’re in a new relationship, started a new job, car broke down, account in the negative, more bills than money or maybe you’re at the edge of give up and it’s looking tempting. STAND YOUR GROUND! Unuh, don’t you dare move.

You can even be good, financially, healthy, wise and family doing alright and the enemy is still messing with you. Depression, you thought was managed, hit you in the gut. Brokenness, you thought was gone, came back with a vengeance. Self-doubt and fear, you thought was under control; got you crying in the car. STAND YOUR GROUND! Not only do you have the right, to stand your ground, you can use lethal force. Why? Because the enemy is after your ground. Why? Because if you have no ground, you have nowhere to plant. Why? Because if he takes your land, he’ll come after your life next. STAND YOUR GROUND beloved. Even when you’re getting hit, stand your ground. Why should you stand? Because bible says in 1 Peter 5:8-10, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are. In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. (Here’s where you shout –>) So after you have suffered a little while, He (God) will restore, support, and strengthen you, and He (God) will place you on a firm foundation.”

ATL … I’m coming!

This weekend, me and an entire plethora of authors and readers are bombarding Atlanta. Naw, chile, this ain’t Freaknik … it’s better! We’re joining with the 556 Book Chicks, for their annual Kick Back Book Event.

I know … it’s exciting, right?

This is why, if you’re in Atlanta or the surrounding areas, I’d love to see you. Stop by my table, purchase a few books, pick up a few pens and snap some selfies. Then move to the next table and repeat.

I hope y’all are ready because I am.

 

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New Book Alert …

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My newest release #WhentheVowsBreak is a remake of my very first fiction series, #ASecretWorthKeeping.

Is it the same book? No! The characters are the same but the story line is completely different.

Is it Christian Fiction? Not fully, as book 1 takes you on a journey, with these 6 women, to find their way back to God, Faith, trust, etc. With this being shared, there is some cursing and sex scenes (although not as explicit as before).

Is it available? Yep! On #Amazon and #KindleUnlimited.

Do I need your support? ALWAYS!

Get it HERE!

Synopsis:

Dearly beloved, that’s how it begins,
What God has joined together, let no man put asunder; that’s how it ends.
Happily married, wedded bliss and with these rings, we do take;
But what happens to happily ever after, when the vows break?

Shelby, Raylan, Chloe, Lynesha, Kerri and Camille have been friends since freshmen year of high school. They’ve been together through college, failed relationships, deaths, and sickness. They’ve watched each other grow and become business leaders and owners, wives and mothers.

They’ve survived when most people say, women can’t be friends.

Then, all hell breaks loose in each of their marriages.

Secrets, lying, cheating, drugs, alcohol, and temptations prove that not everything is what it seems.

Will the chaos of it all be more than they can take? Find out in part 1 of When the Vows Break

 

Get it HERE!

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Daily Devotional – 7/9/19 “And these signs shall follow them that believe!”

I don’t know why this is heavy on me, but I need to tell somebody, again, you got the power. Mane, some of y’all got power to cast out demons, shake the foundation of hell, walk among vipers and not be harm and be lied on and not moved. Mane, some of you have the power of intercessory and prophesy but because some badly taught man said you couldn’t work in that vein, you’ve shut your mouth. Some of you are fearful of walking in your calling because you’re fearful of being judged by your past. Some of you possess the power lay hands and folk will be healed but you’re afraid. Well, in the words of Pastor Kia Moore, “Tell me why we are afraid to HANDLE something we have DOMINION over & why we are often willfully forfeiting our destiny by engaging something that we should be OVERPOWERING?”

Again, God’s word says in Mark 16:17-18, “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” You won’t know this unless you take up the serpent, drink of anything deadly or open your mouth and flow. Now, hold up, before you go and take a shot of poison, stick your hand in the cage of a snake or lay hands; you need to know the word says, “AND THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW THEM THAT BELIEVE; IN MY NAME SHALL …”

In other words, this isn’t for those of you who boast and brag. This isn’t for those of you who are trying to prove to folk you are as holy as you lie to be. This isn’t for those of you who are in a season of rebellion. Neither is this for those who want to ‘one up’ somebody else. This is for those who believe, those who have been called according to God’s purpose, for those whose destiny is keeping them up, for those who have been silent too long, for those whose belly is burning from the fire of the spirit and for those who are tired of running from what God has commanded you to do. Here’s what you do. Pick up the serpent. Open your mouth and prophesy. Stop standing on the wrong side of the altar, getting prayer when you know God has called you to offer prayer. Stop hiding all those sermons you’ve written. Stop acting like God isn’t speaking in your ear. For if you believe, you’ll be able, by the power of God, to do like Paul did, on the island of Malta when a poisonous snake fastened himself to Paul’s arm. You’ll shake the snake into the fire and be unharmed (Acts 28:5).