It's the Allure

It was 2006. I had just graduated from FAMU and I was on my celebrity interview grind. With Dawn Angelique (now Dawn of Dirty Money), Anthony Hamilton, Doug E. Fresh, Talib Kweli and lesser known artists I interviewed in Tallahassee, I thought why not come home and continue? It was fun and gave me a challenge. So I came back to DC, found out a certain artist was going to be at a party and I wanted to interview him bad. He was one of my favorites and I had five questions, that's all. I contacted the promoter of the party who provided me access and dragged my bff and her camera with me.

I get to the party. I spot the artist. I speak and hug the artist. I let him know about my (then) blog and how I would love to ask him 5 questions. He agrees to it but says, "Find me at the end of the night." Those words are like a shot in foot, btw. Like, what? What the heck does that mean?!!

I wait, I party, I wait some more. Finally, I find him...behind a velvet rope. I approach the rope. His bouncer hates me. Why? IDK. The artist acts like he never spoke to me and waves me off. I'm leaving out more than needs to be told but can I just tell you that he played my life...like PLAYED MY LIFE!!! I left the club with my bestie asking what am I going to do next. I told her I was done. This was stupid. No more interviews...

Just like Jay Z's "Allure," every time I felt that was that, it called me right back...

So what's new? After freelancing for ShowOff Magazine (Bermudian Magazine) over the summer, I got the interview bug back. After a while, a good friend Martin invited me to join JukeBOXDC.com and here I am interviewing in the DC area once again. Last week, I interviewed a hot, new DC artist Rewind- video coming soon. And today, I interviewed the very talented RAtheMC. Both were absolute pleasures to talk to. Oh yeah look out for that video coming out soon as well on JukeBOXDC.com. S/O to Jamoris for being so great!! "It's your show, Sam!" is all he kept saying...

That's the update for now. You know I'll keep you posted on the rest. More interviews, more about the novel and some G 14 classified writing projects I have under the radar.

Love,

Sam

*Photo w/ RAtheMC courtesy of Martin Jon Powell

In The Meantime

I'm at work, I'm hungry, and my eyes hurt. It's just one of those days. I'm blessed to be alive, healthy, and have people around me who love me. Looking on the bright side :-)

Recently I thought to myself, "OMG!! I'll be 28 in 3 months!!" Can I just say that at this pace (I'm really hard on myself btw), I'm moving way too slow. So 2 months left for one writing project (will inform you about that later), I've been freelancing (http://www.jukeboxdc.com/2010/10/inside-box-big-krit.html), will continue and then it's novel publishing time. I have some options. I want to be thoroughly knowledgeable about the company I'm going with and I also need to write my own book proposal because I want to have as much control over this as possible.

I'm also reading more novels by non-African American writers. There's nothing wrong with broadening my scope. It will enhance my writing skills as I set out for novel number 2.

In the midst of all this, work is a challenge but a good one. Family's better and dating has taken a backseat even though truly Tis the Season (by that I mean the male species is starting to really getting serious here) and it's evident...But er uh, I now know where to keep dating until I really (rationally) know when someone's right for me. One key no-no is if he/they at all pull me away from my purpose, my writing, me making more money. My philosophy is if it's right, it shouldn't. Am I wrong?

Love,

Sam