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...