Research

I do a lot of research, both for my primary job and for my writing.  I've completed a novel, which required boatloads of research and, I admit, it was very satisfying when it came to the end.  Now I want to begin a new novel.  I already know what it's going to be about, but I need to do research.

Like my first completed novel, this one will be historical fantasy taking place in Medieval West Africa.  I like to keep the historical facts as 'factual' as possible and I prefer the fantasy to be as close to reality as manageable.

However, the very idea of researching my subject matter has me cringing.  Researching for Queen of Zazzau was a massive undertaking--2 years of searching, buying archeological/historical books, journals, articles. Given the dearth of written history in W. Africa, it was very difficult to find the information that I sought.  It was, metaphorically, back-breaking labor.

Now, I know I have to begin again.  My research will take me into a culture that is very far removed from the Hausa culture of my first novel.  And, truth be told, I really hate relying on the historical articles written by Europeans.  They often got so many things wrong.  I once read an historical article that said the people of the Niger Delta were salt deficient, because the salt was found in the North, and we did not have access to it.  We most certainly did have access to salt, and still use it to cook.  It is called 'native salt' and is found right there in the delta.

But I digress.

I need to start researching my second novel and I'm psyching myself out before I even begin.  I need some vibes of support from you, my 4 faithful readers.  Send me some mental encouragement.

Okay, I'm off.  To begin Day 1 of background research.

Wish me luck!

The State of Affairs

As my sister-in-law very deftly pointed out a few minutes ago (almost an hour ago by the time I finished writing this), I haven't been on this site since November.  Well, technically, I've been here.  I just haven't written anything.

As anyone who's been reading this blog (I thank all 4 of you from the bottom of my heart) can attest, I really just never know what to write.  In real life, I'm not all that talkative--except when I'm making raunchy, off-color statements. 

If my 4 faithful readers have been following US current affairs, I'm sure you've seen all the fall-out from the various Cop-on-Black killings.  Several times, I wanted to talk about these killings and the resultant protests, but just thinking about them got me so emotionally charged that I couldn't focus my thoughts.

To summarize my thoughts/feelings on the topic, I'll simply say that:

1) I am sick and tired of people justifying the action of the police officers responsible for the deaths of Black men, women, and children who DID NOT deserve death. 

• If a police officer cannot handle the stress of his/her job without shooting innocent people, then s/he needs to make a career change. 
• If I shot an animal for snapping at me, I wouldn't be a veterinarian for very long, would I? 

2) I am sick and tired of people calling for protests against Black-on-Black crime (perpetrated by criminals), as though criminals murdering people and police officers murdering people are comparable.

• If criminals were swayed by peaceful protests, there would be a lot less crime, wouldn't there?
• Criminals behaving like criminals, while only to be expected, is a problem. But police officers behaving like criminals is another thing entirely. 
• People are protesting the violence exhibited by those who are supposed to 'protect and serve'.  Protect and fucking serve.  Not 'harass, ticket, arrest, and/or kill'.  Just sayin'.

3) Mainstream (White) America protests corporate greed (we live in a feudal system, people; get over it!) and everyone gets on board.  But Black people protest murder and we're told stupid shit like, "If you don't want to get shot, obey the law." 

• How about, "If you want to be a police officer, make sure you aren't so afraid of Black people that you shoot the first one who moves."

Why is it okay for this to happen?  Or this?  Or this?  Or this?

And how, in the name of all things just, do they get away with it?  Again.  And again?  And again?

Every family who has been devastated by the brash actions of a police officer who, apparently, is unable to stay level-headed in a high-stress situation should file a wrongful death lawsuit.

There.  I've said it.  And now, I'm done.

P.S.  Thanks a lot 'Zimmerman Jury' for letting this fucktard walk free.

I'm Back!

I haven't blogged a word since August 18th?  Damn.  What can I say? 

Well, here I am.

I'm in the middle of coloring my hair, though, so I won't be here for long.  Why, you ask, am I coloring my hair?  Because the lack of relaxer has also stripped it of sheen.  Maybe the natural hair is drier?  I don't know.  But my hair looks like I've been rolling around in dust, so I'm giving it some color.  A nice dark brown.  It will kill my natural highlights, but until I can figure out a way to add the luster back to my tresses, semi-permanent color it is!

Any suggestions are welcome and appreciated. ;)

I'm the Worst Blogger Ever

Well, maybe not the worst.  I'm sure there are other bloggers (and I use the term loosely) who are far less reliable than me.  You know, some guy or girl who hasn't made a single blog entry in well over a year.  Surely, I'm not as bad as those people?

So let's talk about books.

I have done my third (yes, third) rewrite of Queen of Zazzau.  It's not been an easy task.  At the beginning of this year, the novel was 126000 words.  I cut the first four chapters and added a shitload of physical descriptions (mostly of the background settings).  It's amazing how little Westerners know of Africa.  Since my target audience will, hopefully, include Westerners, I thought it important that they visualize what I am visualizing.  Of course, during Revision 4 (and there will be a Revision 4), I will likely cut some of those descriptions.  I pray that Revision 4 happens, after I've sold the novel.

But, I digress.

So, I cut four chapters and added details, which brings the novel to 146000 words.  It was my intention to stay below 130K, so this 16K overage is somewhat distressing.  Several people that have read the novel don't find the word count all that perturbing.  However, I am not GRR Martin or JK Rowling.  I can't write a 600 page novel with impunity.

So what does that mean?

It means that my writing had better be damned compelling.  That's what it means.  I'm going to update the tidbits page to include Chapters 1-3 as soon as I get this formatting crap cleared up.  Blogger keeps posting with a white background.  Totally uncool.

Do come back and take a look.  I promise to get it done within the next seven days.  I'm setting my telephone reminder now.  Once I've posted the new stuff, give it a read.  If you think the storytelling is boring/awful/garbage or otherwise uninteresting, do please feel free to drop me a line and crush my delusions of grandeur.

TTFN!

Another Post a Day and an Update on Natural Hair

On 2/18/2014, I said I would start trying to make a post a day.  Since then, I have made three posts. 

I am such a liar.

But on a less deceptive note, here's an update to the natural hair thing:

My middle girl is locking rather well.  The locks aren't tight, but they're firm enough that we'd probably have to cut them out if she changes her mind now.  She still treats her hair poorly, so half the time--even locked--her hair looks crazy.  But she is totally adorable, regardless.

As for my hair.  It is still natural; I have not yet succumbed to the call of the relaxer, but it be callin' me!  The only thing I can say for certain is that my hairline appears to have filled in at the back.  The section that I never used to braid, now must be braided or I look like a scruffy ragamuffin.  So, anecdotally, I can say that natural hair does support fuller hair... to an extent.  But that is all I can say. 

I've been natural for a year now, and my hair is not growing any faster.  In fact, it appears to be growing slower.  Nor is my hair any thicker.  My hairline is fuller, but only the back.  Not the front.  The front still breaks as easily as it broke when the hair was relaxed.  Perhaps more so, since I'm braiding more often. 

Don't braid, you say?  My response: that's easy for you to say. 

I've seen tutorials and photographs of various 'natural' hairstyles I can do, and they're all quite lovely.  But my hair texture does not support them. 

I've tried twists, but my hair doesn't have enough heft to lie down.  It all sticks straight up.  I'll be damned if I go to work looking like Alfalfa. 

There are also twist-outs.  Tried that, but my hair doesn't hold the shape. 

I could go with an Angela Davis afro, but that ain't happening.  1) My hair isn't long enough; 2) My hair is of inconvenient texture; 3) I'd have to comb my hair everytime I get up.  Seeing as how my hair doesn't like to be handled, combing it while dry would probably cause as much damage as braids.

So that leaves me with... what?

I would welcome any suggestions.

Update to United Airlines

I thought United Airlines would ignore my letter, but they did not.  Of course, I sent four copies to four different departments, so that may have had something to do with it.  Irrespective of the why, last week, I received several letters of apology, both of which explained that it was not dictated by policy, but rather by pilot prerogative whether or not to wait for passengers. One of the letters said (and I'm paraphrasing): We hope you allow us the opportunity to earn back your trust. 

I hate to be swayed by mere words, but must admit that those words did sway me.  Well met, United Airlines.  Well met, indeed!  It didn't hurt that they gave me some bonus mileage and a few vouchers :). 

Needless to say, I am pleased.  And I shall happily fly United again!

United Airlines

This is a letter I plan to send to United Airlines.  My advice?  Don't fly United; they don't give a shit about you.

To whom it may concern:

On Thursday, March 27^th 2014,  I flew United Airlines Flight 5245 from RDU to IAH at 6:30pm.  Because the plane was re-routed around a storm, we arrived at IAH at 8:45pm—15 minutes later than scheduled.  I had a connecting flight from IAH to LOS, which was departing at 9:15pm. 

Along with my husband and four children, we hurried to the gate for UA Flight 142, and reached there at 9:00pm, exactly.  Upon arriving at the gate, the UA representative told us the captain had already received the final head count and no additional passengers would be allowed onto the plane.

NOTE: we arrived at the gate 15 minutes before departure!

Without even a word of apology or any show of empathy, the gate representative abruptly directed us to Customer Service. 

Frustrated, and very nearly in tears, we spoke with the Customer Service representative, who informed us that we could not board Flight 142, because the final head count was already done and they did not have time to make new calculations.  Again, there was no apology or show of empathy.  In fact, when the Supervisor showed up in response to an irate customer, he shouted and them and threatened, with unmitigated gall, to “shut it down”.  

Behind me, in line to speak with a Customer Service representative, were about fifteen other passengers bound to LOS—a fact that I pointed out to the representative.  Along with my family of 6, those of us who had been denied boarding on Flight 142 numbered at least twenty.

The Customer Service representative casually informed us that UA cannot hold a plane for 20 people when the 100+ people on the plane needed to arrive at their destination on time.  I responded that UA would not have been holding the plane, because we had arrived at the gate with fifteen minutes to spare.  Regardless, we were not allowed to board and the next flight to LOS was scheduled for the following night at 9:15pm.  Also, because the weather was not the fault of the airline, UA would not pay for our overnight accommodations.

I would argue that United Airlines was, in fact, to blame for denying us entry onto our scheduled flight on March 27^th, 2014.  Therefore, United Airlines and its company policy of denying people boarding when they arrive at the gate with time to spare was, in fact, the reason that we had to stay the night in Humble, TX.

Feeling rather disenfranchised, we gathered up our children and luggage and called the 800-number the Customer Service representative had given us to book a hotel room.  The only available hotel was the Baymont Inn, and the room cost $80.  We had to pre-pay over the phone.

A shuttle service picked us up from airport and took us to the Baymont Inn, where we learned that, because of the size of my family, we had to pay an additional $20 to upgrade the room.  We paid it and were shown to a room that reeked of cigarette smoke and mildew.

While the staff at the Baymont Inn was wonderful—kind, friendly, far more empathetic than the staff at United Airlines—the room did not meet our expectations.  With nowhere else to go and having pre-paid for the room, however, we settled in for the night.

On the following day, we arrived at the airport at 2:00pm and began the long wait—with 4 children—until boarding time.

Boarding began at 8:29pm, and we were on the plane within fifteen minutes of that time.  At or around 9:15pm, the PA system came on, and we thought we were finally going to leave.  However, the captain did not tell us to prepare for takeoff.  Instead, he told us that another UA connecting flight had just landed—just landed—and we were going to wait for them to arrive at the gate and board the plane.

It took a massive bolus of willpower to keep from bursting into tears at that moment.

On the day before, we were denied boarding at 15 minutes prior to takeoff, then told in no uncertain terms that the flight could not be delayed for twenty passengers (even though we would all likely have been in our seats before 9:15pm).  On the following day, not only did United Airlines delay the flight, they delayed it for an entire hour!

After making us lose a day in Nigeria, making us pay $100 to stay in a filthy hotel, and making us sit in the airport from 2:00pm until boarding at 8:29pm, United Airlines then delayed us another hour.  On a plane from which I had no cellphone signal, thus could not notify my family in Nigeria.

I would like to point out that I am glad United Airline did the right thing and waited for those other passengers on March 28^th.  However, after having been adamantly told that the flight could not be delayed (which, I reiterate, it probably would not have been) for us 20 people, it was like a blow to the gut when this airline did exactly what they had told us they could not do.

After paying nearly $6300 dollars to fly the United Airlines brand, I was treated like nothing more than a number that was stricken off a flight roster.  

Thank you, United Airlines, for making me spend another $100 to pay for a sub-standard hotel room.  Thank you, United Airlines, for taking away a full day of the vacation for which I had saved and paid.  Thank you, United Airlines, for making me spend yet another $388 to rebook our flights within Nigeria (because we arrived a day late).  And most of all, thank you, United Airlines for showing me precisely what you think of me and my money.  

I will take my business elsewhere.

Sincerely,

A Very Disgruntled Passenger


UPDATE!!! Here: http://www.jsmcbride.com/2014/05/update-to-united-airlines.html