REFLECTION & REASON

She done did it again. This woman can write! Sister Souljah has created yet ANOTHER classic novel with the Porsche Santiaga Story, " A Deeper Love Inside " released in January of 2013. Re-reading " The Coldest Winter Ever " helped to bring the characters of the Santiaga family back to the forefront of my mind. Winter, the spoiled and beautiful princess, Lexus and Mercedes, the twins and babies of the family, the stunningly gorgeous queen of the family, Lana, and of course the charming and powerful Ricky Santiaga...legend, respected drug lord, and eventually the fallen soldier who's demise is the downfall of this envied clan of Brooklyn's finest. And then there was Porsche. Younger than Winter, older than the twins...she fell in between and was almost an oversight it seemed. Her most impactful moment in " The Coldest Winter Ever " was in the last scene, at the funeral of Lana Santiaga when through Winter's narration, we see Porsche a...

I read this book over 10 years ago, and it was an instant favourite . In fact, I've never met a person who read this book and didn't automatically crown it as the best book they had ever read. This story was phenomenal. It was groundbreaking. This book, these characters, and this author were the foundation of many great things to come. Now despite loving this book so much, I actually didn't remember much about it when I found myself ready to read Sister Souljah's latest novel, "A Deeper Love Inside." So with my autographed copy in hand, I realized that I couldn't read Porsche Santiaga's story until I had revisited the journey of her older sister, Winter. It was like I was reading the book for the first time, all over again. All I could remember that Winter was beautiful, and the story was gritty and an exhilarating page-turning journey...but the details had been forgotten. After entering the world of Midnight and his family and adventures in S...

It was like meeting Michael Jordan. Or The Rolling Stones. Will Smith. It was like the opportunity of a lifetime, being able to connect face-to-face with THE top of the writing game, and the woman who has single-handedly written a collection of books that have defined a generation of urban fiction. Sister Souljah's visit to Toronto this weekend was legendary for me. I got to meet my literary role model. I got to connect with a tangible example of what I would love to achieve: storytelling genius. I can't remember exactly when I first read " The Coldest Winter Ever ." It wasn't long after it's 1999 release. I just remember hearing SO much about this book, that I had to pick it up. And when I picked it up...I couldn't put it down . It was freaking fantastic, from top to bottom. That story moved me on so many levels that it made me forget about the dozens and dozens of other books I had read in my life. This book was the TRUTH. After discovering this gem...

This book. I swear. If I didn't remember what literary inspiration felt like...author extraordinaire Sister Souljah reminded me yesterday when I finished reading her novel "Midnight and the Meaning of Love." I felt great. Refreshed. Pensive. Motivated. Thankful. I probably sat silent for a good 15 minutes after reading the last words, just taking in the essence of the story, the power of her words, and the extreme level of gratitude for the fact that I was able to read a novel that would make me seriously consider the effect of my own words and my intentions as an author. It doesn't happen often. Last year I wrote a review of Midnight (A Gangster Love Story) , and in re-reading the review, I've remembered that her previous books had the exact same effect on me when I finished reading them. My feelings were similar, and my praise was echoed. This is her standard: greatness . Every time. If the characters Midnight and Akemi inspired me last time with ...

Black History Month has new significance to me each year. This particular Black History Month, 2011, I would like to pay hommage to the Black Writers who have influenced and inspired me with their words through the various stages of my growth as a writer. Inspiration is a difficult thing to describe--but something I can't deny when I feel it. Whether it comes from music, a conversation, an observation, or deliberate instruction, inspiration as a writer is the moving spirit that leads you directly to the nearest computer, notepad, or BlackBerry to jot down your thoughts and your plan to develop them. As a writer, I seldom have a specific method to my literary madness. There's no set writing "time," writing "place," or writing "process." When the inspiration hits me...I write. And so I often find myself seeking inspiration in experiences: concerts, travel, music, productions, new friendships, or by witnessing the legacies and creations of those writ...