Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Author Spotlight (Angela Y Hodge)

I had the privilege of meeting Angela at Crossroads Academy where we were part of an author panel along with 2 other well-known authors. Without further ado, the spotlight is now on my sister & fellow author Angela Yolanda Hodge.

Angela Y. Hodge is an Author, writer and Motivational Speaker living in Tallahassee, Florida. She is a graduate of North Florida Community College where she studied Early Childhood Education.
She is a dedicated member of the Tallahassee Authors Network and the Beautiful Bless Sister Book Club.
Angela’s short story titled, “The Amazing Journey Of Healing “, is featured in the anthology, Words from My Kings and Queens, which was compiled by Marvin “Merv” Mattair. In her story, she shares how she overcame insurmountable odds in her life and has become victorious in her daily walk.  Angela is also working on her own book release for later this summer, which will be a collection of poems and prayers.
Angela has appeared at the 2011 State of Black Florida Conference at the State Capitol. Black History Come Alive at the Sealey Elementary Math and Science Magnet School.  A guest Author at the Sealey Elementary Young Author Conference. She also sat on the Author panel at Crossroad Academy.
Angela started writing at an early age, It’s through her pain she gain strength to overcome being rejected by love ones, abused, often misunderstood, trails, and doctor visits. Angela Stated God had a purpose and a plan for her life.

Monday, August 29, 2011

No Love, No Honor, No Support

Jesus was explaining a parable in Luke 14:15-24. There was a man who made a great supper and invited people to come. One by one, there were excuses as to why they couldn't come. Eventually, the master said to the servant to go out to the streets and lanes of the city, the poor, blind etc., and invite them. When they all came, there was still more room at the supper. The master then said to the servant to go to the highways and hedges so the house will be full. What's the focus here? Well, this parable was an invitation to Israel to accept the invitation to Jesus, but they rejected him (granted, Jesus would say in other gospels that a prophet is not welcomed in his own home town). Jesus got from Israel no love and no honor.

You are called to do something great, and people who are close to you won't accept you and what you can provide. Instead, they will find every excuse in the book not to support you, or they will want you to give something to them at a discount (or better yet, for free, cause we're brothers, sisters, first cousins, whatever). What happens is that you get no love, and no support from your own.

I dedicate this section to my fellow authors (you will understand this). One of my fellow authors wrote a comment on her Facebook page and it provoked my thinking on this topic. To all the authors that have complained to me about how their friends and family don't support them and haven't bought their books, I say," So! There are way more people out here that you don't know than the ones you do know and are related to. Millions! So if your friends and family won't support, reach out to the millions of strangers that WILL!" I still have several "friends" and family members who haven't done a thing to support me.
What she said was the essence of the parable mentioned above. There is no love, and no support from your own (I'm referring to close friends and family - whether immediate or extended). But when you make it big and are a celebrity, that's when people will take notice. By that time, it will be too late.
This post is not to convict anyone, it's just a little thought about the need to support each other's visions, dreams and talents. We don't do that because we're selfish (and some are just jealous because they went for it) and we need to suppress that spirit. There's no need for us not to love, honor and support someone who's trying to make their dream happen. We all have dreams and talents and we need to support each other. But if you want to sit on your dream and talent, you have no one to blame but yourself! Let me repeat that, you have no one to blame but yourself! Trust me, if you support me, I will support you. This is what it means to have love, honor and support!