DEIDRE BERRY -- Author of the contemporary novels "ALL ABOUT EVA" and "THE NEXT BEST THING"

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

2010-03-20T15:43:00.003-05:00

"So this is always the key: You have to write the book you love, the book that's alive in your heart. That's the one you have to write." --Lurleen McDaniel

This Week on Oprah

2009-09-18T17:24:00.001-05:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

2009-08-30T09:43:00.002-05:00

Find some quiet space around you, and maintain it. Don’t fill your inner or outer space with other peoples anything. Keep a space just for you, because it’s the only way you can grow into what you were meant to be. ~ Alice Walker

I WISH YOU ENOUGH...

2009-07-25T19:46:00.002-05:00

A friend of mine passed this story along to me after losing someone close to me recently, and I now pass it along to you. The author is unknown.

Recently I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, “I love you, and I wish you enough.”

The daughter replied, “Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.”

They kissed and the daughter left. The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, “Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?”

“Yes, I have,” I replied. “Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever good-bye?”

“I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,” he said.

“When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what you meant by that?”

He began to smile. “That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone..”
He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. “When we said, 'I wish you enough, we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.”

Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.

I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good- bye.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY: It takes a minute to find a special person, but then an entire life to forget them.

Live, laugh love! And to all my friends and loved ones, I not only wish you the best of everything, I wish you Enough!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

2009-07-19T10:31:00.002-05:00

Nothing says "HOPE" like the sun coming up in the morning.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

2009-07-18T06:46:00.002-05:00

"Art is the ability to tell the truth about oneself, even when it hurts. Tell the truth until it hurts." ~ Richard Pryor

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

2009-07-15T09:11:00.000-05:00

"Wherever you are, you are standing on Holy ground." ~Susan L. Taylor

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

2009-07-14T08:52:00.002-05:00

"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it." ~Henry David Thoreau

Tips for getting past procrastination

2009-07-10T10:21:00.003-05:00

Ewwwwwwww…..That ugly “P” word!

I don’t know about you, but I can tell you I’ve gotten stuck in a rutt more than once in 2009 thanks to procrastinating.
I have been blessed to have an absolutely PHENOMENAL year so far, but when I think about a few of the little things I could have done to make it an even GREATER year, I want to kick myself! Now granted, anyone who knows me personally or professionally, can tell you that I am an on-the-go work-horse and a stickler for dotting the T’s & crossing the I’s. However, no matter how much of a “go-getter” you might be, no one is exempt from “dragging their feet” when it comes to certain things.
I’m sure you’ve heard that expression…the early bird gets the worm, right? Well that’s truth and nothing but the truth. When we step up to the plate early (be it in business or in our personal lives) not only do we free up our time to pursue other goals but we also give ourselves a chance to take advantage of great opprtunities that may be right in front of us. Here are a few tips to kick procrastination to the curb:
1. Schedule it! When you know you have a task that must be completed, be sure to write it down on a wall calendar or schedule it in your Blackberry or phone calendar.
2. Write it down! Creat a “To Do” list. Research shows that when you write something down, your chances of actually following through on the goal are increased dramatically.
3. Do the hardest or longest tasks first! If you focus on getting the biggest challenges out of the way first, doing the easiest things later will be a piece of cake.
4. Learn how to delegate! If you find yourself getting stuck on the minor things you need to get accomplished, learn how to delegate that task to someone else who can help lighten your load. Whether it’s an assistant, intern, friend or relative…don’t be afraid to ask for help.
5. Like NIKE Just Do It! The hardest part of doing anything is taking the first step. Don’t worry about doing it “right”… Just do it. If you make a mistake, you can always go back and re-do it.

LESSON LEARNED: Stop putting off until tomorrow or the next week what you can clearly do today!

REST IN PEACE....

2009-06-26T12:24:00.009-05:00

Unfortunately, Michael Joesph Jackson died from a cardiac arrest yesterday, and was dead upon arrival at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles. Thursday, June 25th 2009, the world lost a music icon, and in my opinion, the greatest entertainer who ever picked up a microphone and danced across a stage.

Michael's sudden and untimely passing has me literally lost for words, so I will just say: Thanks Mike for all the beautiful music which is woven tightly into the fabric of my life. I have so many great memories because of you, and your endless catalog of hits. Your talents were immeasurable, and there will never be another. While the world mourns, I rest assured that you and the angels are dancing and singing all over heaven... You will be greatly missed.

SONY OFFERS FREE EBOOKS

2009-04-17T14:08:00.004-05:00

Sony has teamed up with Google to provide over 500,00 free ebooks in epub format, and you

don't even have to own a Sony to read these books. Simply download the software, register and start reading. Or transfer them over to your Sony Reading device.

http://ebookstore.sony.com/google-ebooks

BOOK ADVANCES AND THE CURRENT STATE OF PUBLISHING

2009-04-17T06:04:00.002-05:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/books/review/Meyer-t.html?_r=2&emc=eta1

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

2009-04-17T05:54:00.001-05:00

"Just don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think we can go wrong." -- Ella Fitzgerald

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

2009-04-16T07:25:00.000-05:00

"With your mind, you control your world. Anything you believe about yourself is true." Susan L. Taylor

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

2009-04-14T09:20:00.002-05:00

"I will prepare and someday my chance will come."--Abraham Lincoln

Change "The Game" Campaign

2009-04-13T10:53:00.001-05:00

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

2009-04-13T10:46:00.005-05:00

Always wear JOY! it is your best accessory, so never leave home without it.

HAVE YOU WRITTEN AN UPLIFTING PLAY OR SCREENPLAY?

2009-04-10T18:26:00.002-05:00

Agape Media International

Is searching for uplifting plays and screenplays that speak to the human condition, and promotes the message of unconditional love. This is an open call for submissions, and currently, there is no deadline. If you enter, please be sure to register your material with the Writer's Guild of America beforehand. Good luck!

http://www.agapemedia-film.com/submissions.html

GOT DREAMS? HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY...

2009-03-20T09:22:00.003-05:00

PEOPLE WITH BIG DREAMS WANTED FOR NEW TELEVISION SERIES--WE'LL HELP YOU GET THERE!New Television Series is searching NATIONWIDE for underprivileged persons with a dream seemingly impossible to achieve due to dire circumstances or hardships in their lives stemming from problems with health, finances, relationships, background, etc.Do you have a dream that seems unattainable to you? Are you gifted and graced with talent, but have no hope of reaching your dream because of life's challenges and adversity you are facing?Whether you want to be an artist, performer, athlete, entrepreneur, doctor, or ANYTHING - we want to know what your dream is, and what obstacle you are facing or what ailment you may have that is keeping you from achieving it.If selected, this television show will help you achieve your dream!All applications will be kept confidential.Underprivileged persons who have a moving back-story and are experiencing heart felt, hardship circumstances and who have a noble, unattainable dream will be given top consideration.TO SUBMIT:Be sure to mention you heard about this from Jeff Gund at INFOLIST.com for priority consideration, and email ALL the information requested below to:mailto:info@candyboxprod.com
Be sure to include: 1. Your name (first and last) 2. Contact phone number and email address
3. The zip code/city you live in, 4. A short paragraph (bullet point facts preferred) outlining what your DREAM is and what difficult CHALLENGES (physical, emotional, or other) you are experiencing that you think are making it impossible (good back story is a big plus!) 5. Recent photograph (jpg or pdf format please).6. Be sure to mention you heard about this from Jeff Gund at INFOLIST.com for priority consideration!To be eligible:1. You must be a U.S. Citizen2. If selected you must be able to provide proof and testimony of your hardship circumstances.3. You must be able to show a valid ID.

BOOK REVIEWS

2009-03-19T14:08:00.001-05:00

http://www.romantictimes.com/books_review.php?book=38048
http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/finditem.cfm?itemid=13999
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Next-Best-Thing/Deidre-Berry/e/9780758238320/?itm=1
http://www.amazon.com/Next-Best-Thing-Deidre-Berry/dp/0758238320/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237490135&sr=1-1

WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE LIFE YOU PLANNED, IS NO LONGER PART OF THE PLAN?

2009-03-18T10:41:00.006-05:00

Tori Carter is a sassy, multi-tasking diva who prefers for her life to run as smooth and hitch-free as the events she coordinates. No drama, no problems—that's Tori's idea of the good life. Her tendency to plan everything to the max has made her the most successful event coordinator in the business—and the number one problem solver for her family and friends. But when her perfect fiancee, Roland, runs off on their wedding day with the woman he previously claimed was just a good, "platonic friend", Tori is left without a Plan B-through-Z...or any idea what to do next.

During a period of post-traumatic breakup blues, Tori suddenly has the epiphany that the best way to mend a broken heart is to simply: “Get back out there.”
Against the advice of a personal Life coach, Tori dives headfirst back into the dating pool where she suffers through one dating disaster after another, while also dutifully tending to the never-ending needs of her zany, high-spirited group of family and friends; as well as a hectic career where her senior position is in jeopardy due to backstabbing and blatant sabotage.

Then there is Nelson. Tori's handsome, widowed neighbor who could possibly turn up the heat in ways she never imagined, if only he could somehow manage to get past the emotional baggage he still carries years after the tragic death of his much beloved wife.
Told candidly through the pages of her journal, The Next Best Thing chronicles Tori's daily struggle to pick up the pieces of her once perfectly ordered life, while also learning to accept that no amount of planning can prevent the curve balls that Life sometimes throws your way.

THE NEXT BEST THING --BOOK TRAILER

LOVE DOES NOT HURT!

2009-03-16T19:48:00.006-05:00

He then drove away in the vehicle and continued to punch her in the face with his right hand. While steering the vehicle with his left hand. The assault caused Robyn's mouth to fill with blood and blood to splatter all over her clothing and the interior of the vehicle.

There is not much that I can add to the swirling debate/controversy surrounding Rihanna and Chris Brown, but I do want to put it out there that I am disappointed that she took him back.
Unfortunately, women are abused everyday. But, unlike Rihanna, no one knows their names. She had a great opportunity to stand for all those women, those sisters who don't have a voice. She could have encouraged them, and shown them what steps to take to get out of an abusive relationship. So many girls need to hear from Rihanna that no matter how handsome, rich, famous, or talented a guy may be, they deserve more than to be somebody's punching bag.
Judging by what was said in the police report, as well as that infamous photograph of Rihanna's battered face, Chris unleashed pure uncontrolled rage on her that night, and after the fact, there should have been no words he could have said, or expensive gifts he could have given, that would have made it alright to take his rage out on a female that he claims to love. This is not to blame the victim. I know that Rihanna is still very young, and at that age, you don't yet know what you don't know. Right now she is probably thinking that no one understands, and that she is the only one who really knows what is best for her. "It's all a misunderstanding. He just lost his temper, he really didn't mean it. He loves me, and I love him!"

But like Tina asked Ike, "What's love got to do with it?"

Nicole Brown Simpson was in love too. And according to statistics, at least four women in the United States will die today at the hands of the men that they loved.

LOVE DOES NOT HURT!

Believe it or not, all of the cliches people have been throwing around in regards to this situation and domestic violence in general, are true.

No man should ever put his hands on a woman. I don't care if she hit him first, pushed all of his buttons, and talked bad about his mama. A real man in that situation knows that the best, and only thing to do, is walk away.

If a man hits you once, he WILL hit you again. It is only a matter of time. That first slap, shove, kick, etc, is him basically telling you "This is what I'm about, and if you stick around, there is more of this to come."

Again, it bears repeating: LOVE DOES NOT HURT!

National Domestic Violence Hotline1-800-799-SAFE (7233)1-800-787-3224 (TDD)