BlogGER

I'm wondering what I can do to make this blog a little more popular. I am going to start reviewing other titles, since I need to be doing that anyway =]. But I would like some other ideas. I'm definitely going to be doing some contests once My Joy is published and I figure out how to do an online random contest. I'm pretty excited about the end of this year and 2011. I'm trying to get nominated for Best Author at the TMA awards here in St. Louis this upcoming March (hint: go to 314hits.com to register and nominate in over 40 categories for free). And I've reminded Shay that she's next to be published. I have some ideas for her stories but I'll let her have most of the creative reign over it! So, if you all have any ideas on how to make my blog pop! Let me know! =]

Peace and Creative <3

Hurts to Know

Most times, I understand when I am in a situation that I should not be in. I see my faults, the faults of others involved and I see the clear solution of eliminating the problem. Yet, like a fool, I stay. Its very demoralizing to know what to do and not do it. Why is it so hard for us as human beings to do what needs to be done? Why do we wait on others to do it? In this situation, I don't want to let go. I want things to work, yet I feel as if I'm not up to the standards. Part of me doesn't understand and another part of me knows that if I do this for him, like I've done so many other things in our past, I'll regret it. I'm praying that God reveals His plan for this situation soon. I'm not sure how much more I can take...

It hurts to know that after so long, after so many promises, after so many dreams...I may not be the one.

Author Christian Cashell & Singer Songwriter Drake Rivers

Author Christian Cashell & Singer Songwriter Drake Rivers

ay your day is blessed!

Hello world. I'm testing my ability to blog in text form. Don't think I will do it much unless I absolutely have to LOL. Its taking a lot of time. Anywho, pr

On to the Next...

So I realized that I had been a little inactive on my search for a literary agent. A friend of mine gave me some perspective on not just trying to get a book deal, but a company deal. This brought my mind back to Birds in the Rain. Not only could this be a tool for our readers to get to know us, but a tool for potiential investors to get a taste of our natural talent and want to work with Dynamic Image Publications, not just us on an individual level.

So, I've set a goal to research at least two agents or companies a day, along with submitting query letters. I am still focusing on Ava's Story for the time being even though my next novel, My Joy, is finished and ready to go into the editing process. I believe that Ava's full potential has not been reached and I will not stop fighting for her. I've sold 4 books in the last week and I am currently looking for more ways to market the title myself. I feel that if I come to a publisher letting them know that this book is selling and I have the numbers to prove it, they'd be more willing to put faith into me.

Also, the Missouri Black Expo is next month and I (and hopefully Jazze) are going to go. Vickie Stringer, the CEO of Triple Crown Publications is going to be there and I am trying to meet and pick her brain a little on how TCP got started. She was a self-publisher herself in the beginning.

So God is good and great on any given day, I am praying for success and never stressing. As long as I push for DI I know that it will live.

As always...walk with me!

Creative love..

Blurb Crazy

I do NOT like writing blurbs...It's like I want to put enough to get you to want to buy the book, but I don't want to give away the plot...urgh!!!!! =] Excuse my vent lol. I feel like Ava's blurb wasn't as hard as My Joy. But maybe it was and I just don't remember. Either way, I am very excited about taking the next steps in my career as a writer and the head of Dynamic Image. I don't mind being the guiney pig for my company so I can get things write whenever I get ready to publish Shay and Jazze. I am working on a collaboration, book mixtape if you will lol, with the above mentioned to give you all a taste of our God-given talent, if you haven't been exposed already, I'm sure you'll fall in love with our writing styles. I am overall excited about the upcoming year. I start school AGAIN next month. I know, I know but this time I am going for my Masters in Fine Arts: Writing! So I'm VERY grateful to God for this opportunity. From now on, it can only get better.

"Let me do what I do, walk with me or move."

Countdown to Birthday

Hey bloggers, its been a while. I've been super busy, but that's not excuse =]. Well, as you should know, Dynamic Image will be for in exactly a month. As expected, there will be a new layout but with some new features as well. I'm really excited to see what Candice is going to do with the new layout, it will be the first to feature our official logo =]

In other DI news, My Joy's copyright came back! I am currently looking for an editor as well as a literary agent. Ava's Story is still my main focus. I will be on a blog talk radio show at the beginning of July to promote it, once confirmation goes through I will post the link so you guys can listen in. It will be my first interview so I am a little nervous, wish me luck! I am wishing for a little more progress on Birds in the Rain, Dynamic Image Publications first compiliation book, but I do understand that Shay and Jazze are both busy women. I do appreciate them for writing when they can, I just see so much potential and I'm ready for the world to see us for the creative writers that we are! I hope you guys are looking forward to our new projects. The business plan is coming along smoothly and everything is falling into place. God has plans for us and all I can do is pray for His direction and take opportunities to learn from my successes as well as my mistakes.

Creative love,

Cash

Wrote It Myself

I saw through you like an open window,
I thought everything you thought.
Your actions blew smoothly through the frame,
but off guard I was caught.

I knew you like an open book,
I read between your lines.
But you added an alternative ending,
that was full of hatred and lies.

I learned you like my favorite song,
I took in every part.
I memorized your lyrics and took every word to heart.

But it soon rained, the storm of lies hit hard.
The thunder of pain cracked the wonderful window I loved to look out of.
The lightning scared me away from my favorite book.
The rain got to you, so you ran away with my favorite song.
But I still remembered the hook.

When the sun came out to explore the sky and chase away the clouds,
I didn't hear your melody a little or aloud.
So I sat and looked out my own window and my own song I wrote
I wrote it all on my own too, every harmonic note.

Can or Cant

not hearing, seeing or knowing anything
not wanting, needing or being everything
not knowing, liking, or loving anyone
not showing, helping or being someone
not listening, or giving advice some time
not stopping to care for something anytime
not having the ability to be there for somebody
not showing emotion towards anybody
the different between hate and love, love and hate
is love can, and hate, can't

Chasing Complexity by me

The normal me would just love to write without a passion
without a hope
without a dream
without a sense of inspiration
The normal me is comfortable in that simplistic state

Simplicity holds the dull fear of one-dimensional dreams,
failed thoughts of life that do not prevail
to curious minds with thirsty hearts that wish to be inspired
expecting to be changed in some way
not wanting to be abused by the
emptiness of overdone fantasies and un-original plots

I lash out against simplicity
its stiffening mist of gray has tried to reign over my very
heart, soul, my total being
pulling me,
but i fight to get to the place of high motivation where complexity reigns supreme

I desire that beautiful sight of complexity that seems so near
the passionate rays and wonderful shades
give hopeful color to my fears
that sky blue that holds inspiration of dreams unfulfilled for determined mines
that fiery red that breaks the barriers of love, hate, passion and fate
that sun-kissed yellow that brings wondrous adventures with each morning
All the different possibilities that thrive in one idea must be evolved into their own

I do not wish to be the normal me
So I strive to catch complexity

Vow of Silence

I'm thinking of taking a vow of silence. I notice that a lot of people seem to have an issue with how passionate I am. Some call it too emotional, some call it outspoken but I just see me. I am an emotional person, but would they really rather I not be? I'm not sure how long I would be able to be silent, lol but I could still write =].

I kept wondering why everyone seems to have such an opinion on my opinions. Isn't everyone intitled to one? Why should mine be weighted more just because I'm passionate about it. Who would Christian Cashelle be without a passionate opinion? I cannot imagine, but I'm tired of feeling wrong because I am. God is not limiting me to anything that makes you feel comfortable. My opinion is my thoughts on things, it was not made for you to accept. You can and I appreciate it, but if you don't...such is life.

I'm not disrespectful and please correct me if you feel I am. I can contain my opinion when I feel like it is not necessary, but can't I still have it?

.......

Creative love

Big Girl Status

I have finally begun to try and get my finances in order. I have consolidated my credit cards, working on my student loans and currently looking for a car that will lower my monthly payments. I am also becoming more responsible with Ava's money.

Although I paid out of pocket for the production of Ava's Story and the money I make is all mine, I have plans for it. I haven't been very good at saving the money I've made so far but now I am starting to pay myself back. The funds for Ava are meant to fund more projects from Dynamic Image. Since I am soley responsible for it, I have to be more responsible with my money.

So I'm being a big girl now, the 23 year old college graduate is trying to be a little woman right now =] I understand that owning my own business will take a lot of sacrifice, dedication and consistency on my part. Walk with me!

Creative love....

23 (like mike)

My 23rd birthday was 6 days ago.

I went to Los Angeles with my boyfriend for the weekend, and although I had fun, it made me think. I'm so ready to move around and promote my company as well as my book but I need to plan things out a little better. I'm starting to work on Dynamic Image's 4th birthday party and I'm real excited about some of the ideas being thrown around. I am also very excited that Ava is on her way to the hands of the manager of Jagged Edge! After having several conversations with them on twitter, they became interested in my work so I sent them a book. Very excited to get some feedback on it from them seeing as most of their music has probably inspired me to write in one way or another.

I realize that God has blessed me so much this past year and not just with big things like graduation and the publication of my first novel, but with little things that we often take for granted. I am in my right mind and all of my limbs have activity and my family has been blessed, even though we are no where near perfect, there are some things in life that just shouldn't matter due to all the blessings we receive. So, I've decided to give 23 random reasons why I thank God, although I know I can give a whole lot more.

23. Both of my great-grandmothers are still living.
22. I have gotten over my father not being around while I was growing up and can actually have a conversation with him.
21. I graduated from SIUE with a 3.3.
20. I have written over 9 novels and 50 poems.
19. I have two very talented writers and two wonderful staff members who inspire me.
18. I can wiggle my toes.
17. I was able to see a beautiful sunset in California.
16. I have a job that allows me to pay my bills and give back and be a blessing.
15. I was born two months premature at 4 pounds.
14. I've been in several car accidents and not seriously injured.
13. My mom and I have been able to take care of ourselves by ourselves.
12. My grandpa was proud of me.
11. I love my church and the things I've learned there.
10. I am able to come up with a poem, story, etc. with just one random thought.
9. A few of my family members have realized God's greatness through some of my actions.
8. My boyfriend was baptized last year.
7. Dynamic Image Publications will be 4 in June.
6. I've sold 131 copies of Ava's Story without any major advertising
5. I've grown a lot from my high school days.
4. I'm saved.
3. I can breathe.
2. God loves me.

And the number one reason I am thankful for God is simply because of who He is.

A Working Movement

poem i wrote last February


Black history,
African- American history
Our ancestors’ struggle through centuries
We have a historyA history that build bridges over any valley,
Tears down all walls and loosens any stronghold
We have a history that crosses barriers,
Blends generations and moves nations

Our history is pain, it is love, its strength and enlightenment
It is, our history
We consume ourselves with
Our history
It engulfs our present and delays our future
we must always remember our history
but we must stop living our history

We must let go of the anguish
Of yesterday and live our present
We are now,
the black future
The African-American future

The end result of our ancestors’ struggle
Our history – no longer a factor but will remain a memory of change
Be our future

Worrying about CC

I'll admit, the last few days I have been in a runt. I haven't been feeling very creative. I haven't been feeling very motivated. My job has been stressing me and I seem to get irritated too quickly.

I had to step back and re-evaluate my outlook. And thank God.

I am allowing too many things to disrupt my groove. I've been upset about the lack of support from people I was sure would be there and for what? They aren't thinking about me. So why am I wasting time and on people God obviously has distanced me from for a reason? Exactly!

So its time to get back focused. My 23rd birthday is coming up soon and Dynamic Image will be 4 soon! : sighs: I still can't believe its been four years since I dreamed DI up (with the help of a few). I can't keep focusing on others and how they treat me. I can only worry about Christian Cashelle and do things according to God's plan for me.

So I hope that whoever is reading this, is ready to go on this journey and grow with me. Hopefully my writing will mature and grow as well.

Creative love...

Meet the Author

So, today at work, one of our loyal customers comes in. He comes in a lot and we've all gotten comfortable joking with him and things like that. Well, last week, he bought a copy of Ava's Story for his girlfriend. So when he came in tonight he was saying how much she liked it and how into it she was while reading it. He said she was standing up reading it, sitting down, by the window, etc. So i'm like thats cool. He then says, I'm going to go ask her if she wants to meet the author and goes outside.

He comes back in a few minutes later and i say hi to her. She's been in before so she's like what's up? When he tells her I wrote Ava's Story she's like...you wrote that!?!? Then she started telling me how into it she was, like he had said just a few minutes before, and how much she loved it. She even said she was carrying it in her purse....

I don't know...but something about people who don't know me coming up to me telling me how much they love Ava's Story is just...an unexplainable feeling. Meet the author.....

just sounds right doesn't it?

Creative love...

Creating a Reality

Okay, so I know I wrote yesterday but hey, its my blog.

Today, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. There is so much to be done and I realize that I'm moving in a new direction and I need some help. I see that Dynamic Image could actually be something great and I would feel horrible to disappoint the people involved. I'm not good with legal issues as stated in my post yesterday and I don't want to mess anything up. When I was in high school all I did was write. I wanted to be a best seller and just write. Back then I never knew I would end up trying to start my own independent publishing company. This is hard work.

However, I am now in the position to where I need to see this through. DI is my baby. I mean I literally cannot just walk away from it unless God himself tells me this is not what he wants me to do. I don't know if I am just venting or what, but I will ask those who are walking with me or willing to walk with me to pray for Dynamic Image, that we become just what we set out to be an more.

Regardless of my feelings, I KNOW that Dynamic Image will inspire someone somewhere...and that's all I could ask for.

Legally Blonde

Man, I believe that I knew starting a business was going to be this hard...but I don't think I understand fully what I meant. Trying to find out what the best structure and things are is not easy but I am pressing my way through the information. However, I have decided that LLC seems to be the best thing for Dynamic Image right now. My Joy is being edited and Birds in the Rain is in production and I'm excited. However, I will need to enlist in the help of some people who understand these legal issues. Don't want to doom my baby to failure because of my "legal blonde-ness"

Anywho...I find it very funny that people around me or wondering why I want to travel and do things...that should tell you a little something about where I stay. I want to experience life. How am I to write about new things if I am not experiencing them myself? I wouldn't even expect to be taken seriously as a writer if I was not curious about life in other areas of the country let alone the world.

I am excited about getting things in order. Hopefully by our 4th birthday I will be able to have a lot of these things accomplished.

Pray with me...walk with me.

Creative love...