Getting to know Kai Mann @kaiology #Motownlit #mwn

Where are you from? I am from Fort Myers, Florida and currently I reside in the Detroit metro area.

When did you first consider yourself a writer? I didn’t consider myself a writer until I published a few articles on examiner.com although I had been writing for years.

Do you have a specific writing style?  No, I’m not sure that I can admit to a particular writing style. I am a non-traditional writer/author so I have my own style of writing.

How did you come up with the title?  Abandoned Property came to me shortly after I finished writing 30 Day Notice. I was coming home from the Post Office sending out copies of 30 Day Notice when the title and the concept of the book and Darius’ character came rushing into my mind in an overwhelming way. I felt like the Creator wanted me to talk about abandonment issues a subject known all too well by many of us.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp? Yes, always! There are a number of messages that I want readers to grasp. I won’t name them all, just the main message about how our issues of abandonment can not only affect our lives, but the lives of everyone around us if we don’t deal with them. There are also key issues I strategically placed in the book that I won’t give away. My prayer is that the reader will see these messages and it will bring about a change of some sort, whether it’s how they look at themselves or how they look at others.

What books have most influenced your life most?  The Bible. As crazy as it may sound it has been a major influence on my life. Other books such as The Color Purple, Yesterday, I cried, and Invisible lives were also influences on my life and my writing.

What are your current projects? Currently I am working on a book of poems called In My Mother’s House.

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members. The Motown Writer’s Network has been a major support system during my career as a writer.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book? No. Not a thing. I believe that all things happen as they should so after I haven’t completed the work, I am satisfied with the outcome.

Do you have any advice for other writers? Yes, surround yourself with other writers. Let them motivate you to get that book completed. Learn from them so that you can one day share your gift of knowledge with others.

Keep in touch with this author by going to the following:

• Author Website http://kai-mann.com
• Amazon Link http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B006LQ67M2
• Facebook Link www.facebook.com/kaiology
• Twitter Link http://www.twitter.com/kaiology
• Video URL to your book trailer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP9RGPjBkbw
• Excerpt of Book URL http://kai-mann.com/2012/11/04/abandoned-propertyexcerpt-from-jay-winters/

Abandoned Property: First Chapter Friday w/Kai Mann @kaiology #motownlit #mwn

Kai, a prolific writer that has the keen ability to provoke thought. Two words that best describe her are positive and purposeful. Clear, colorful and insightful are Kai’s writings about the nature of love, human relationships and the human condition. Her words deepen one’s understanding every time they are read. Whether her words are in the form of articles, blogs, poetry, Tweets, or FB posts, they are talked about during the week and are usually great conversation starters. Come and enjoy the world of Kai Kaiology Mann.

Kai Mann

Click the link below to read an excerpt from Abandoned Property by Kai Mann.

MWN 1st Chapter Friday

Purchase Abandoned Property

Motown Writers Network Interview

MWN Interview by Phette Ogburn w/Kai Mann. Be sure to check out Kai’s new book Abandoned Property.

Kai Mann

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June’s MBC Feature: Jesse Cole ~Walk Like A King @JesseSpeaks #MWN

Respected as “a voice for today’s generation”, Jesse has proven that he is a thought leader and a source of substance. He has published several books on personal development and executive produced the Maximize Your Greatness dvd project. Jesse uses his influence to help teenagers live the type of life that is far above what they could ever imagine. His message helps youth to transform their attitude, boost their self-esteem, overcome peer pressure and enhance their leadership ability. For over a decade, Jesse has worked as a youth counselor, basketball coach, and certified deputy instructor. His motto is K.I.N.G: Keep Investing In The Next Generation.

To find out more about Jesse, click HERE!!!

Order your copy of Walk Like A King.

June’s MBC Feature: Jesse Cole ~Walk Like A King @JesseSpeaks #MWN

Respected as “a voice for today’s generation”, Jesse has proven that he is a thought leader and a source of substance. He has published several books on personal development and executive produced the Maximize Your Greatness dvd project. Jesse uses his influence to help teenagers live the type of life that is far above what they could ever imagine. His message helps youth to transform their attitude, boost their self-esteem, overcome peer pressure and enhance their leadership ability. For over a decade, Jesse has worked as a youth counselor, basketball coach, and certified deputy instructor. His motto is K.I.N.G: Keep Investing In The Next Generation.

To find out more about Jesse, click HERE!!!

Order your copy of Walk Like A King.

June’s MBC Feature: Jesse Cole ~Walk Like A King @JesseSpeaks #MWN

Respected as “a voice for today’s generation”, Jesse has proven that he is a thought leader and a source of substance. He has published several books on personal development and executive produced the Maximize Your Greatness dvd project. Jesse uses his influence to help teenagers live the type of life that is far above what they could ever imagine. His message helps youth to transform their attitude, boost their self-esteem, overcome peer pressure and enhance their leadership ability. For over a decade, Jesse has worked as a youth counselor, basketball coach, and certified deputy instructor. His motto is K.I.N.G: Keep Investing In The Next Generation.

To find out more about Jesse, click HERE!!!

Order your copy of Walk Like A King.

Motown Book Club feature ~Andrea Daniel, Follow her around the city #MWN

Motown Writers Network Meet Up
Sat. 4/14, 10 a.m.
Barnes & Noble on Cass & Warren

Read Aloud to Me Series
Th. 4/19, 5:30 p.m.
Source Booksellers
4201 Cass Ave.

La Shaun phoenix Moore Presents The Summer Soundtrack
Sat. June 30, 8 p.m.
Tangent Gallery
715 E. Milwaukee

Happy Poetry Month. April’s MBC feature: Andrea Daniel – Like Gwendolyn #MWN

Andrea Daniel is a lifelong poet, with work in publications and as part of a visual poetry exhibit at the Detroit Institute of Arts. When she’s not writing poetry, Andrea is a freelance writer for various publications. She also has freelanced for an internationally distributed arts and entertainment magazine. Andrea is co-owner/operator of Dakota Avenue West Publishing and copywriter, editor and voice over artist with her own small business, AND Communications. She is a member of the Motown Writer’s Network, and the Michigan Literary Network and is producer of the Michigan Literary Network’s Internet radio show on blogtalkradio.com. Additionally, she is a registered songwriter with BMI. She lives in Detroit, Michigan with her son and a sweet little Terrier-Poodle-mix named Dot.

To learn more about Andrea.
Purchase Like Gwendolyn –> HERE!!!

The Motown Book Club: For Michigan Authors #MWN @phephi @sylviahubbard1

The Motown Book Club is an online club designed exclusively for Michigan Authors. To be featured, please contact Phette Ogburn at: phetteogburn@yahoo.com.

MBC Website
MBC Facebook Page

March’s MBC Feature: Yusef Shakur @FromDaBottomUp #MWN

In the 2nd edition of The Window 2 My Soul, Yusef Shakur invites readers to explore his remarkable journey of tragedy, triumph, and transformation. Yusef accounts the experiences of growing up in a single parent household that was plagued with alcohol and physical abuse. By the tender age of thirteen, Yusef would co-found one of Detroit’s most notorious street gangs Zone 8. Yusef highlights his rambunctious youth with gripping moments, such as being expelled from all Detroit Public Schools while being charged with numerous violent assaults and attempted murder. In prison before the age of 20, Shakur would meet behind bars the father he never knew.

Purchase Shakur’s much anticipated follow-up, My Soul Looks Back: Life After Incarceration HERE —> http://www.yusefshakur.org/store-2/window-2-my-soul/my-soul-looks-back/

Motown Book Club: 1st Chap Free Friday – IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU! #MWN @phephi

“Hey,” from diesel2010.

This is the message that popped up in my Yahoo chat. I did not recognize the sender so I typed “Hey. Who is this?” then hit enter.

“This is Kenzu. I met you, unofficially, thru FB a couple of weeks ago.”

I dug back in my memory bank trying to figure out who the hell this person was and how they got my information. I guess I was taking too long to respond because another message chimed in.

“We were commenting on a friend’s post and I mentioned how beautiful your name is.”

Ooooh! I thought.

“Yeah. Yeah. I remember. Urs is just as beautiful.”

“Thanks”

Not wanting to chat too freely because I was still leery about how and, more importantly, why he sought me out, I left the ball in his court.

“I snagged your IM off Facebook. I hope you don’t mind.”

We chatted for a few minutes, making small talk. We attended the same high school, but he graduated three years after I did. We had several mutual friends. He played football, both in high school then in college, before, of course, he was injured. His photo albums on FB were full of pics of him…and his wife.

He was recently married. The wedding photos were beautiful. His dark mocha skin contrasted against his crisp, white tux. She was wearing an off-white strapless gown. Her full breasts were a sneeze away from spilling up and out the dress. Her weave was long, with lots of ringlets. She was happy. Her thick lips stretched across her face in almost every pic.

A few days passed. My Facebook alert chirped on my Blackberry. “Friend Request – Kenzu Brantley.” I accepted the request, which I normally did if the person “appeared” to be decent. I was heavy into networking and always looking for more people to share and learn with.

Minutes later I received a message in my inbox.

Hey. I enjoyed chatting with you the other day. Let’s do that again soon.
Kenzu

I carried on with my day – work, school, kids’ homework, cooking dinner, watching television. Yep! Had the regimen down to a science. Since I purchased a Blackberry I no longer needed to spend countless hours on the computer. I mean, I did get on it occasionally, but most all my needs were at my fingertips via Crackberry.

“Cricket – Cricket” is the sound of my Yahoo messenger alert. My best friend Lana knew this was the best way to reach me. I’d long since given up on talking on the phone. Text, chat and email were the most effective ways to get my attention.

“Hey S. How r u?” she typed.

“I’m good girl. How r u and the baby doing?”

“We good. I’m rubbing my belly right now. LOL.”

“Tell her auntie luvs her & I’ll b 2 c y’all soon as she get here ”

“I will. Ttyl. Luv u.”

“Luv u 2.”

As soon as I ended our conversation, I got another message. This time from him.

“Good evening Queen”

“Look at this brother trying to have game,” I said aloud to myself.

“Hello there”

“How was ur day”

“Busy. Urs?”

“Same here”

I sat the phone down as I prepared the next day clothes for me and the kids. When I heard the cricket chime more than two times, I made sure to quickly plug in a response so it could look like I was fully attentive. We chatted about things from movies, sports, love and marriage, food and Facebook.

“Well, it’s that time. Gotta get the girls to bed.”

“Oh ok. Enjoy the rest of the night.”

To read more, Buy/Download HERE!!

MBC feature Phette Ogburn Author Central Page #MWN @phephi

Amazon Author Central Page

February’s MBC Feature: IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU by Phette Ogburn @phephi #MWN

It Can Happen To You: Volume 1 contains three short stories:
S&M (Sexts & Messaging) – a cautionary tale of what happens when an online friendship turns into obsession.

THE ID – After meeting Chazz, Nya thinks she has found the love of her life until he vanishes with no trace. When she uncovers the truth of his disappearance, she realizes her life will never be the same.

ORGANIZED KARMA – Destinee and Tracy have been friends for years, but as they get older their lives take them on two different paths.

About Phette:
While taking college courses at Henry Ford Community College, she was urged by two instructors to go into writing in some capacity. Not believing enough in herself, she shelved the idea and sat on it for many years.

She started actively pursuing her passion in 2004 and vividly remembers seeing Tyler Perry on the Oprah Winfrey show when she had an “AHA” moment and said to herself that she, too, can write stories for the world to read and see. Learn more about Phette at www.phetteogburn.com.
PURCHASE IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!

January’s MBC feature: 30 Day Notice by Kai Mann @kaiology

About Kai:
Kai Mann, Author of “30 Day Notice“. She is also an independent contract writer for Examiner.com where she holds the title of Detroit’s Friendship Examiner. As a contributor to the poetry community, Kai has an online Blog called “Kai’ology, Wet Your Intellectual Taste Buds” where she inspires thought for profound change.

About 30 Day Notice:

Can Kori find who she is without losing herself along the way?

READ EXCERPT

MY FEEDBACK:
What a good and thought-provoking story. I found that I was questioning myself throughout the book: Am I living a lie? Am I living the life that I think I should? I love books that spark something in me causing me to dig deep. Like you, I too believe that EVERYTHING happens for a reason. A lesson is a lesson is a lesson. It’s all about what one does w/that lesson that matters. Kori just needed to sit herself still and be by her dang on self for a minute. & stop falling for them damn red bones…(I’m not bitter, really. I love being brown…LOL). After reading that, the nuggets I’m walking away with are: be grateful, be thankful, my situation may not be as bad as someone else’s, but it’s mine, confront your issues head-on – no matter how painful, trust yourself and have faith because GOD has a plan for you and it will manifest itself when you allow him to do so.
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Please, show your support for author —Kai Mann!! Order 30 Day Notice HERE!!

View: Author’s Website | Publisher | Twitter | Facebook |Amazon Store

January http://MotownBookclub.com Feature: 30 Day Notice by @Kaiology http://fb.me/1osVdlMVJ

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• Interview w/Kai Mann – author of 30 Day Notice. @kaiology @phephi (motownwriters.wordpress.com)
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Interview w/Kai Mann – author of 30 Day Notice. @kaiology @phephi

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of interviewing my #1Mentor and friend: Kai Mann.

BACKSTORY:

It was November 2010 when I went to my very first Essence of Motown Literary Jam and Conference, which is comprised of workshops, creative and talented writers and authors, and enormous networking opportunities. Kai and I happened to be in the same class when the instructor instructed us to “break out” and mingle/network with everyone in the room…AND we were not to return to our seats until we obtained at least five business cards. The rest is history!!

Check out the interview, then click on the link to find out more about Kai.

PURCHASE 30 DAY NOTICE.