I wrote this on February 22nd and F O R G O T about it! So, posting it now. Still relevant!
Let me just say that I am super excited to be in this season of FINALLY launching my book, Harlem’s Last Dance. I don’t remember what I’ve already shared about it in past blog posts, but I want to start by saying this has been a nine year (ten year) journey. Sometimes, I really can’t believe it myself. When Harlem’s Awakening came out in 2013, I remember my mom saying something like, “You’ve got to get the next one out in the next two or three years or it won’t be relevant.” Ummmm. Can we say panic? Her words have echoed in my head for almost a decade.
Welp. Writing Harlem’s Last Dance has taken the time it has taken. Thankfully, I’m really happy with it. It has so much yumminess in it that I can hardly stand it and I hope you feel the same. (I’ll write more about its contents later.)
Now, for the mass message: This stuff is not easy. I just want to keep saying this because what IS easy is to look at others and feel like they’re just popping off books and TV shows and clothing lines and hair care products like it’s nothin’.
This shit takes time. “Following your dream” takes time. And I don’t just mean the 10 years to get out a book. I mean the little bits of time. To make my most recent Instagram post, it took a total of FOUR HOURS to do it!! Geesh. I had to figure out what to wear, what I wanted to say, fix my hair in some kinda way, make the Evenbrite post so I could share the link, put on make up, set up the camera, record and then it took me forever to figure out how to put in the captions (that took finally Googling on YouTube for a tutorial and then figuring it all out.) On top of that, when I recorded, I knew I had a fever blister (from my nerves) but couldn’t wait days for it to go away and after I recorded, I noticed my shirt was on inside out!! (LOL).
And this was only to promote the book — once. There is so much more to do. (I will be getting help.)
I just like to be transparent for people because transparency helps us all stay a little more present; helps to give ourselves a little more grace, and hopefully provides that lifeline to hold onto when you feel like giving up.
I hope I’ve given you a lifeline today. Don’t give up. Keep going.
Here is the 4-hour Instagram post 🙂
PS. If you want to watch the replay of The “How I Did It” Hot Ones Speaker Series, here is the link to all 4 videos. I think they make good podcasts for listening while driving or doing chores.
Pen and Peppur 
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