This morning I had a call with the Amazing Annie Hart in which my Dreamer made some discoveries and my Wimp hit a huge epiphany. I’ve made the decision to share this in real time:

DISCLAIMER: I drop quite a few “F Bombs” so please be aware of where you play this.

NEW “EXCALIBUR RECLAIMS HER KING” WEAVES REAL LIFE STRUGGLES WITH SIXTH CENTURY LORE TO INSPIRE ALL TO SEARCH FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL HOLY GRAIL
“Readers will be spellbound, captivated by the tale Ms. Harris and Mr. Blake have spun in ‘Excalibur Reclaims Her King.’ It’s a book they won’t want to put down.”
—Robin M. Buehler
Gannett News Service writer,
journalist, poet, photographer, Author: Hunter’s Big Race

NEW YORK (May 15, 2009) – Author Angelica Harris has always had a passion for Medieval History, especially the Arthurian period. Her latest novel, “Excalibur Reclaims Her King,” (Writers of the Round Table Press, April 2009) with award-winning Actor, Producer and Director Corey Blake, takes a mother on a journey deep into the sixth century where she must battle an evil Queen, open the times gates to Camelot, and raise Arthur from the dead in order to travel back to Rome in search of the titulus of Christ. All in a day’s work for this 21st century New York City mom.

“Fantasy Fiction is probably one of the most beloved genres of our time,” said Harris, producer and director of the Hall of Imagination at Frankie’s Playce in Atlas Park. “It is my sanity. I step out of myself and into my characters. That’s what readers do as well. Fantasy Fiction allows readers to escape the dramatic times in their lives, whether it is the loss of a loved one, an illness, or a job loss due to the economy, and be inspired by heroes from today and centuries past. Writing ‘Excalibur’ helped me to come full circle with my life. I believe it will do the same for others as well.”

The adventure center’s around Read the rest of this entry »

The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was my intro to Malcolm Gladwell. Loved it. I’m actually in the business of leading people to the tipping point - that’s what we do at Writers of the Round Table. The book helped me see our business as a massive chess board with thousands of strategic business moves that eventually lead to the checkmate - the tipping point where everything explodes.


View all my reviews.

Some writers have an exceptional ability to use language to convey an idea.  Others are brilliant with metaphor.  Still others excel at dialogue or description.  My strength is truth.  Coming from an acting background where I strived to always live truthfully in front of the camera or on stage, I have an innate ability to sense what is true vs. what is “put on” when it comes to writing.  I was watching James Lipton being interviewed by Dave Chapelle for the 200th episode of the show Inside the Actors Studio.  Throughout the episode, they played back various moments where guests of the show described what they believed acting was.  Harrison Ford’s comments struck an epiphany in me.  He talked about how hard he worked to “live” in front of that camera.  To expose the ugly, weak, frail pieces of a character as well as the strength, optimism and courage that a person exhibits in their life.  It struck me that that desire to live in front of others is the strongest asset that I brought into the world of writing from my previous career.  If you’ve ever read my fiction works (Excalibur Reclaims Her King, Edge! A Leadership Story), or the fiction of those I have coached (Duckey and the Ocean Protectors, China Girl), what you’ll find above all else are moments of very vulnerable truth.  I do not have a huge vocabulary. I do not have a colorful way with language, or description. But I do have a way of bringing the truth of a moment to life.  What are your assets as a writer? I hope you’ll take a moment to share them with me.

I am so blessed to say that I just got off a conference call convened by Ada Doris Gonzalez, RN Community Relations, Swedish Covenant Hospital.  She organized a call with the principal of Roosevelt High School, Dr. Alejandro Alvarez; the Community Relations Director for the Chicago Public Schools, Carl Hurdik; and our amazing supporter Leticia Chavez (also with Chicago Public Schools) who is working on getting us into Wells High School. We’ll be working together to bring copies of Robert Renteria’s “From the Barrio to the Board Room” into Roosevelt High School, and also in setting up a curriculum around the book, and bringing Robert out to engage the kids one on one and in group discussions. We are honored to have such high level support and are humbled by the opportunity to inspire their students to stay in school, off drugs and out of gangs while chasing the American Dream that is their birthright. We look forward to progressing with this new relationship and making a difference in the city of Chicago.

“It scares you because you know damn well you can’t write it with your brain.  You have to write it with your heart.  It’s like falling in love; you don’t fall in love using just your brain.  It takes heart and instinct.  And it takes heart and instinct to create a life that you fall in love with, too, and that life includes your work.  And when you do that, it shows.  People respond to you before you even say a word.”

—From EDGE! A Leadership Story by Bea Fields and Corey Blake with Eva Silva Travers

Last night, at the invitation of the Depaul University Alumni Association, Robert and I journeyed to the Depaul campus and the Barnes and Noble that is designated as the University bookstore.

Our thanks to Michael Kamon with the City of Aurora, and Meena D. Beyers with the Village of Brookfield, the co-chairs with the Alumni Association, for their hospitality and kindness.  We’d also like to thank Dr. J. Patrick Murphy Director and Associate Professor with the School of Public Service, and John Park with Barnes and Noble Bookstore who took great care of us while we were there!

If you’re near DePaul, stop by and pick up a book. Robert signed nearly 50 copies left with the bookstore!