On Thanksgiving weekend my reaction to reading this piece  https://www.arcamax.com/entertainment/humor/belowthebeltway/s-1897248  by Gene Weingarten led me to e-mail him at the address listed at the end of the article. The following thread is the result of our exchanges so far. Attempts to verify that G.W. actually wrote the response sent from his e-mail address received no reply. [This is my mindset whenever people complain about political correctness in the 21st century.] Political correctness in not new in the U.S. or around the world. It's had many names and iterations: Jim Crow, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and Indian Schools, the internment of American citizens of Japanese descent, the Salem witch trials, "no Italians/Irish/Greeks/Jews..." signs and policies, the Holocaust, the persecution of Alan Turing and other QUILTBAG people, the Rwandan genocide,,, Until we decide to honor the truth that every human being's intrinsic value is equal to that of every o...

The electorate has chosen the next U.S. president. Not-Hillary sentiment overcame Never-Trump sentiment and too many people love (or at least tolerate) his hate-mongering. Will the 45th president-elect speak and behave differently as president than he did as presidential candidate? My sincere hope is yes. Although it feels as if more than clocks have been set back this November 2016. Wisdom and godspeed to the next administration.

Sometimes performing one's civic duty feels like time spent in purgatory. May we all work toward an effective political truce as a result of this election. (Yes, my Pollyanna streak is showing.)

The Great Pumpkin granted this blerdy book glutton's wish for tasty reading treats with a new MJD title available for loan from the library and the latest RG title on sale for fifty cents at their book donations sale bin. Yay! (instead of Boo!) Now maybe the powerful spirits of the authorsphere will conjure new fiction titles from Frankie Y. Bailey and Crystal Hubbard (Meljean Brook, Marjorie M. Liu, Sugar Jamison, Jo Goodman...).

Receiving this box of books felt like Christmas in October. Many thanks to my publisher and my editor at 5 Prince Media Group for their unwavering support and impressive efforts to make this gorgeous print edition of Dodging Eros, Through Past, Present and Pleasure a reality. [giddy happy dancing] https://www.amazon.com/Dodging-Eros-Through-Present-Pleasure/dp/1631121855/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1476316088&sr=1-1&keywords=cardyn+brooks

So Colin Kaepernick's silent, non-violent protest generates more outrage from some people than the loud, violent attacks against marginalized people. Gun ownership is patriotic and supports Second Amendment rights, but kneeling during the national anthem in protest of injustice and to demand equal protection under the law for all U.S. citizens doesn't support First Amendment free speech? The disturbing video of Terence Crutcher's death in Tulsa, Oklahoma is so sad and frustrating and infuriating. And yet it's only the most recent in a long list of such incidents. We must have practical ways to keep law enforcement officers safe without making this pattern of preemptive executions the permanent norm.

Murphy’s Law continues to wreak havoc with the print edition of Dodging Eros, Through Past, Present and Pleasure . It’s probably going to be available for the end of the summer reading season, which is why the 2nd Grown-Ups Getaway Giveaway has been extended to Saturday, December 10, 2016 with the second winner’s name posted by Saturday, December 17.   Extending the 2nd GGG entry period until the end of the year opens up eligibility to readers who buy or review any of my titles per the updated details listed below. No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited. Every previous eligible entrant remains entered except for Paula S., who won in February.  Good luck! Adjusted details here:  2nd Grown-Ups Getaway Giveaway Extended until 12/10/2016 Hello, Reading has been a brain escape for me since my dad used silly voices at bedtime to enact each character from my collection of Dr. Seuss books. The launch of Dodging Eros, Thro...

Monday celebrated U.S. independence while so many of its citizens live bound by the fear that the laws and the people who are sworn to enforce those laws will not protect them from the dangers of negative assumptions made about them based on their skin color, gender, sexual orientation, social class, religious affiliation, age or physical stature. Thank you to the people and organizations working toward eliminating the deadly consequences of implicit bias in policing. https://trustandjustice.org/resources/intervention/implicit-bias

Jeff I. Moore, founder of www.EverydayPowerBlog.com, was kind enough to publish my essay about my experiences with rejection. http://everydaypowerblog.com/2016/06/19/how-to-not-give-up-on-your-dreams-after-years-of-rejection/

Why is the person who has been raped granted less consideration than the convicted rapist? This (most recent) Stanford rape case exposes society's refusal to define rape as a crime, especially when the rapist is a winning athlete, all-American type or popular or wealthy or powerful or famous or projects some other superficial trait that too often trumps judging their actions according to high benchmarks of ethics, honor and decency. The convicted rapist's letter made me think he was a narcissist at best or a sociopath at worst. Emily Doe's Every Woman's letter made me cheer for her grit and courage.  

The concept of  "white privilege" usually generates vigorous debate and push-back about whether such a thing even exists. For me as an adult, the phrase makes me think about the unconscious expectations of automatic inclusion and representation in everyday life because during my childhood picture books (#WeNeedDiverseBooks & #1000blackgirlbooks says it's still true today.), posters, and the people shown in picture frames didn't look like I looked. It took years for me to understand the trickle-down effects of exclusion as a form of rejection of the equal intrinsic value of some people's existence while still feeling entitled to those rejected people's consumer dollars and brand loyalty. Inclusion and representation have always been important to human beings. Consider primitive cave drawings, burial masks, and ancient statuary. Having one's existence positively acknowledged is a sign of invitation, welcome, respect and admiration. It's posi...

This giveaway is now closed.  Many thanks to all of the readers and reviewers! After many delays of the Murphy’s Law variety, the print edition of Dodging Eros, Through Past, Present and Pleasure is scheduled to be available for the summer reading season, which is why the Grown-Ups Getaway Giveaway has been extended to Saturday, August 6, 2016 with the second winner’s name posted by Saturday, August 13. No purchase necessary, Void where prohibited. Every previous eligible entrant remains entered except for Paula S., who won in February.  Please see the original Grown-Ups Getaway Giveaway Facebook page February 21 posting for eligibility terms and details. Good luck!

There’s a publishing company that uses algorithms to calculate the number of elements and probability of success for book manuscripts. Now as a capitalist my support is strong for ethical endeavors that up the odds and accelerate the speed of generating profit. And winning recipes and formulae have been applied in literature composition for millennia. The Iliad and The Odyssey rely on the repetition of visual cues and cycles of conflicts, journeys, and returns to keep listeners (originally) and readers engaged. Other storytelling templates and tropes endure: the three-act structure; the poor, innocent ingénue and the wealthy, jaded older man; star-crossed lovers; the love triangle; the mistaken identity and many other popular storylines. But how can a mathematical formula calculate the unquantifiable x-factor that makes Room by Emma Donoghue an international bestseller adapted into a critically acclaimed and commercially successful movie when other novels about traumatized, yet...

How does the frequent use of rape in fiction and other entertainment content impact society’s ambivalence toward sexual assault as a serious crime that’s worthy of prosecution and incarceration of the assailant? 

Where are the non-stereotypical Asian and Hispanic/Latino and indigenous North American characters in mainstream romance fiction? 

The greater frequency of inter-species couples over interracial couples in bestselling mainstream romance fiction says what about publishing trends and their reflection of present-day society? 

What are the reasons why black characters who are featured in a mainstream romance series usually get their happily-ever-after toward the end or in the last book of the series? 

In what ways does women’s fiction reinforce expectations shaped by traditional gender roles through character development, language, and story arc evolution? 

In how many different ways is women’s fiction subversive? 

Since Easter weekend starts spring break for some adults and ends it for others, the 2nd round of the Grown-Ups Getaway Giveaway has been extended until Saturday, June 4, 2016 to allow for the beginning of the warm weather reading season. Everyone who has already reviewed and/or purchased Dodging Eros is still entered (except for Paula S., who won the first round;-). Best wishes & good luck! Grown-Ups Getaway Giveaway Extended until 3/26/ 6/4/ 2016 Hello, Reading has been a brain escape for me since my dad used silly voices at bedtime to enact each character from my collection of Dr. Seuss books. The launch of Dodging Eros, Through Past, Present and Pleasure by Private Moments Publishing (an imprint of 5 Prince Publishing) seems like the perfect opportunity to offer reviewers and readers a chance to win a mini-retreat from the demands of being a grown-up and to focus on the pleasures of being a consenting adult. Giveaway Details: A mid-week, 3-day/2...

What assumptions are implied when a character is described as “every wo/man’s dream” in fiction? 

In fiction and in real life, romantic love and marriage are packaged and marketed to girls and women as essential components to having a fulfilling life, while romantic love and marriage are treated as optional for boys and men. [ex. media coverage of Jennifer Aniston and Taylor Swift as bachelorettes versus George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio as bachelors] How do these opposing ideas impact hetero and QUILTBAG monogamous relationships? 

When female characters beg and plead for sexual satisfaction from their men in mainstream hetero contemporary romance, what, if any, social commentary is being made? 

What does the current “Girl” trend in mainstream adult contemporary fiction reflect about society’s attitudes toward grown women? The Adventures of Anglo Ingenue and Stone-Cold Billionaire (intro) an Absurd Theater vignette setting: party as corporate networking event tabloid moniker: Stoglo He trapped my and gaze and refused to release me from his stare as I watched him work his way across the ballroom filled with the industry's power brokers. This man was dangerous. His bespoke tuxedo couldn't hide the rough edges of his bad boy, bad ass, dominant, alpha shark intensity cutting through the chum of posers and hangers-on who tried to catch his attention. He ignored them. This sexy man's reputation as a rebellious genius with a bad attitude in business and an insatiable appetite as a connoisseur of sin made him irresistible. I knew I was in way over my head...

Congratulations to Paula S. in the southern U.S. for winning the Grown-Ups Getaway Giveaway along with a Travel Journeys & Destinations swag bag. Remember, there's still time to enter the extended giveaway until 3/26/2016 by reviewing and/or buying Dodging Eros, Through Past, Present and Pleasure . See the details here: https://www.facebook.com/Dodging-Eros-Grown-Ups-Getaway-Giveaway-457817364426217/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

The phrase, “I’m protected,” is still spoken by some female characters in contemporary romance to indicate that it’s safe to have sex without a condom because she’s taking contraceptives. What, if any, impact does this non-scientifically based attitude have on public health campaigns that support safe sex initiatives to prevent the transmission of STIDs? 

Thank you to everyone who entered the Grown-Ups Getaway Giveaway to celebrate the launch of Dodging Eros, Through Past, Present and Pleasure by Cardyn Brooks! The winner will be announced by Saturday, February 27, 2016. Didn't win? Cheer up. There's a second chance for those who have already bought and/or reviewed Dodging Eros or do so by March 26, 2016. Good luck! Here are the updated details: Grown-Ups Getaway Giveaway Extended until 3/26/2016 Hello, Reading has been a brain escape for me since my dad used silly voices at bedtime to enact each character from my collection of Dr. Seuss books. The launch of Dodging Eros, Through Past, Present and Pleasure by Private Moments Publishing (an imprint of 5 Prince Publishing) seems like the perfect opportunity to offer reviewers and readers a chance to win a mini-retreat from the demands of being a grown-up and to focus on the pleasures of being a consenting adult. Giveaway Details: A mid-week, 3...

Hi. Welcome to the Politics of Pleasure Debate connected to the launch of Dodging Eros, Through Past, Present and Pleasure by Cardyn Brooks from PrivateMomentsPublishing.com. Questions 1--5 start with earlier posts beginning Wednesday, January 20, 2016. The intention is to examine the ways in which mainstream contemporary fiction reflects and contradicts the evolution of society's demographics and mores. What are some examples of the persistence of slut-shaming in mainstream contemporary romance novels?

Why do many mainstream contemporary romance novels still explicitly state the exact number of sexual partners the main female character has had?  

Are non-Anglo/Caucasian/white female main characters described differently from their Anglo/Caucasian/white counterparts in mainstream contemporary fiction? In what ways?

How do The Story of O , Panic Snap, Carrie’s Story, 50 Shades of Grey , and similar erotic fiction push back against societal expectations of sexual virtue for privileged Anglo/Caucasian/white women? 

Why is the sex in serious, critically acclaimed fiction so often sad, mad or bad; adulterous, incestuous or otherwise felonious, and disproportionately disappointing for characters who are female, non-Anglo and/or QUILTBAG with consequences that are bittersweet, tragic or catastrophic? 

In the pop culture age of Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Admiral Michelle Howard, U.S. Army Rangers Capt. Kristen Griest & 1 st Lt. Shaye Haver, Ashley Nell Tipton, robust engagement and growth of the members in the Society of Women Engineers, and more female college undergrads than male in the U.S. and many other countries, why are women still judged according to their relationship status, physical appearance and body weight more than for their intelligence and accomplishments? 

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When the switch from singular to plural gets lost in translation Observation: Spell check doesn't work in a vacuum, and there are reasons why some cute reusable totes end up getting sold at the dollar store.