Book Covers

I believe a book cover should be a reflection of the story inside, so, yes, I do judge books by the covers. Sometimes that works for me and sometimes it doesn't. I don't decide to buy a book just because the beautifully designed cover has drawn me to it. I read the synopsis and if it interests me, then I buy the book. Well, not always right away. I still have so many books saved in my Amazon cart.

Some covers have been deceiving; a book that's nice on the outside but inside there's lots of profanity and other content I didn't expect or care to read. I do not like it when the cover misrepresents the content. There have also been times when the story wasn't what I thought it would be, even after reading the synopsis. I buy most books from Amazon, but I also buy books from Barnes and Noble and Books-A-Million. From now on no matter where I shop, I'm going to have to 'search inside the book' to be sure it's one I really want to spend my money on.

The cover image in the corner is one that immediately caught my eye, and some others are: Sellout (Hardcover) by Ebony Joy Wilkins, Stars in the Night (Softcover) by Cara C. Putman, A Girl Named Mister (Hardcover) by Nikki Grimes, Hot Girl by Dream Jordan, Black Tuesday (Hardcover) by Susan Colebank, Saving Maddie (Hardcover) by Varian Johnson, Be Careful What You Pray For (Hardcover) by Kimberla Lawson Roby, After (Hardcover) by Amy Efaw, and Night Road (Hardcover) by Kristin Hannah.

Self Diagnosis: Uncomfortable, But Necessary

I’ve always been able to communicate better with the written word. Paper, pencils, pens, typewriter keys and now computer keys have always been my friends. And music is my friend; especially songs with uplifting lyrics. And movies on DVD and Blu-ray are my friends. But when it comes to people, it’s like I want to socialize but the thought of socializing brings on anxiety. I’d like to make a new friend or two, but the thought of those unfamiliar to me coming into my space brings on discomfort. It’s like I’m thinkin’ come and stay away from me at the same time. Sounds weird, I know. But this is how I am, been that way for a long time and it’s what I do not like about myself.

This isolation mentality is not normal. A little while back I finally asked God, “What is wrong with me?” It may have been a few weeks after that I came across an article about Avoidant Personality Disorder. I read it and I said, “My goodness, that’s me. Some of the symptoms aren’t as extreme as they were when I was younger, but that’s me.” I grew up in a household where there was always confusion and chaos. I grew up being criticized quite a bit. I was bullied in grade school and in middle school, verbal abuse mostly. Some didn’t like my light skin, some made fun of the way I walked (I have my mom’s bowed legs and my dad’s slew feet), and some always had something to say about how skinny I was. Back then it was ‘stick and stones can break your bones, but words can never hurt you’. Yeah, right. That’s a lie from the pit of hell. WORDS CAN HURT and it took me a long time to get over some of the things that were said to me. No wonder I had low self-esteem. Not that I even knew it at the time, like I didn’t know that I suffered from clinical depression when I was around seventeen, eighteen. People didn’t talk about those things back then the way they do today. I heard the symptoms of clinical depression a good while back and that’s when I knew what had been happening with me all those years ago. If you have a child suffering from depression, please don’t think it’s something they can just get over. Take it seriously; find out what’s going on with them and seek help. I hear about young people taking their own lives and it breaks my heart.

I am still shy today, but not extremely shy. I am not a people person; I have trust issues. I’ve been trying to work at being comfortable around others. I participated in a couple of book events since I published Choices and it wasn’t easy for me, but I communicated with people, even waved them over to my table. When I’m out and about I always have promotional materials with me and I kindly ask people if they’d like a pen or if I could give them a bookmark. Before I published Choices, I was okay with a smile and a quick hello even if I didn’t know the person, but now I’m like ‘God’s just gonna make me talk’. I understand Him wanting to get me out of my comfort zone; not much growth comes from staying in a place where I keep to myself all of the time. We all have our gifts, though, and writing is the gift God has given me. I know I wouldn’t be very good as a public speaker, so Choices is my way of reaching out. I wrote a good story, if I say so myself. If you haven’t journeyed through the lives of Shauntice, Angel, LaKeeta, Bridgette and Hope, please consider buying a copy of Choices today. I do believe you will be entertained and enlightened and I’d truly appreciate the support.

Tyler Perry as Madea: Do I Have A Problem With It?

Years ago I was watching a preview for a movie and I kept thinking that the woman standing at her front door looked more like a man. I felt kind of bad about that, because it wasn’t like I was trying to judge or anything; I was only making an observation. Later I found out that I had nothing to feel bad about because there was a man under that gray wig and behind all that make up. Tyler Perry portrays Mabel “Madea” Simmons.

Even though he had been writing, directing and performing in stage plays for years, I didn’t know anything about Tyler Perry until the preview of the movie Diary of a Mad Black Woman, inspired by the play of the same name. Ever since then, different people have criticized this man because he puts on a dress to play a woman. This is how I feel about it: The man is acting. I had no problem with Dustin Hoffman as Tootsie or Martin Lawrence as Big Mama (I loved Big Mama’s House 2, by the way) or Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire or Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari disguising themselves as women in Bosom Buddies, and I have no problem with Tyler Perry as Madea.

Why are some people always trying to find the worst in everything? Yes, Tyler Perry has flaws; we all have flaws. But as far as his work, he brings something good to people’s lives with Madea; he makes them laugh. And he’s not doing it like some comedians do, which is by making fun of another person’s weaknesses or imperfections or personal problems or using so much profanity that if there is a good joke in there, it’s difficult to find. Let me tell you, I always appreciate it when someone can make me laugh because laughter brightens my days. And, oh yeah, if you know anything about me at all, you know I’m gonna quote the Bible: A merry heart does good like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones. That’s Proverbs15:13 the New King James Version. The New Living Translation: A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit.

I’ve gotten the impression after hearing Tyler Perry speak on occasion, that he’d rather not play Madea anymore. He said something like it takes four hours to get into the make-up and the entire costume, and it can get hot in all of that padding. I don’t think he feels good at all luggin' those big saggin' breasts around. I believe he said they are stuffed with bird seeds. If you have never seen the wild woman Tyler Perry created, check out the picture of Madea up in the corner. That’s a whole lot of birdseeds! But this talented man has said that as long as people want to see Madea, he’ll play the role. I do not condemn him for that choice. I applaud him for giving people want they want; a character they enjoy watching because she makes them laugh.

I admit that I’m not into everything Tyler Perry has created. I’ll watch Meet the Browns every now and then, because I like that the show addresses teen issues, but, I’m sorry, Mr. Brown is too zany for my taste. And I guess Madea can go too far every now and then, but it’s not like ‘ridiculous over the top humor’, but more like ‘this woman just does not care and in real life she’d probably be in jail a lot longer than she was in Madea Goes to Jail’. Anyway, like I said before, I have no problem with Tyler Perry as Madea. I like Madea’s humor and boldness, but what I like most is that she always has words of wisdom to share. Nobody should take her seriously when she tells Bible stories or quotes the Bible, though, because, even though she makes it funny, she does not know what she's talking about.

I haven't seen all of Tyler Perry's movies in the theater; sometimes I waited for the DVD. However, I do plan to show my support this weekend and go see Madea's Big Happy Family. I’m not going just to see Madea, though. I really like Loretta Devine and Cassi Davis.

It's January 1, 2011 and Jesus Still Hasn't Come Back. Will He Ever?

Since I was young I’ve heard people talking about how Jesus is coming back one day. It’s taught from the pulpit, it’s in songs, Christians speak of it often, and it’s in the Bible (Matthew 24). But it’s been a very long time since Jesus died on the cross; almost two thousand years, I believe. Is His return ever going to happen?

On this New Year’s Day I’d like to share 2 Peter 3:8,9 (New Living Translation): But you must not forget, dear friends, that a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about His promise to return as some people think. No, He is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so He is giving more time for everyone to repent.

Romans 10:9-10: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

I feel like Jesus does, I do not want anyone to perish. If you haven’t received Jesus as Lord and personal Savior and you’d like to, just pray these words: Father, I confess that I have sinned. I repent of my sins and ask your forgiveness. I believe that Jesus is Your Son and that He died on the cross for my sins, and that He was resurrected, and by faith I receive Him as my personal Savior and friend.

Congratulations you are born again! Welcome to God’s eternal family! There is no better way to begin the New Year than to have your name written in The Lamb’s Book of Life! Praise God and Hallelujah!!!

YouTube - Spensha Baker - Hallelujah
- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

May the Lord bless you and protect you.
May the Lord smile on you, and be gracious to you.
May the Lord show you His favor and give you peace.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY. HAVE A BLESSED NEW YEAR!!!

When I Get Discouraged

I published Choices back in 2007. On the day it was released I was in a hospital bed with a staph infection in my bloodstream, but even though I was deathly ill I still remember wondering about my Amazon sales, hoping somebody bought a book. That first year months went by without a book sale and, even though sales have picked up, today there are still boxes of books stored in a closet in my husband's office (well, I guess I should call it our office now, since I kinda took over most of the space and placed books by other authors of YA fiction on the desk shelves). I have to say that I am disappointed. I imagined every book sold way before this time; not so I could feel like I was somebody important but to know the story was in many hands would help me to feel like I was doing something worthwhile with my life. My sons are older now, so they don't need me the way they used to. When I actually take the time to sit down at the computer and write - having scenes just seem to come from nowhere, writing dialogue, laughing at things a character says or does, getting frustrated with certain characters and situations, resolving issues - there's fullfillment. Choices is an emotional read, though, so writing certain parts drained me. And the whole domestic abuse thing, oh my goodness, I remember being so angry that I had to step away from the story for a while. I'm glad all of that drama is over with. But then again, as long as fiesty Angel is around there will always be drama. And in the next book LaKeeta will give birth. Now, if you've read Choices you know that I can write in a way that can make a reader feel a character's pain, so if you plan to read the next book be prepared.

Okay, so I admit that I didn't promote Choices at all before publication. This was all new to me and I didn't realize the importance of marketing. There were certain reviewers I knew about - reviewers readers seem to listen to - but they don't accept self-published works. So, anyway, after I got out of the hospital and began to feel more like myself again, I did what I could afford - and some things I couldn't really afford - to do to market my debut novel. I also attended a couple of events, which meant paying for a table and buying promotional items and needing money for travel and a hotel stay and gas to and from, etc... but, obviously, it wasn't enough. I didn't have the money mainstream publishers have for my efforts to ever be enough. My plan was to put profit back into the business and use it to publish the next novel in the planned trilogy, but with Amazon getting 55% of book sales (only a few have ordered direct from Kapri Books) I guess I'm just gonna have to be patient. I do thank everyone who has been supportive, but it would be nice if more readers would give Choices a chance. It would also be nice if there weren't people who trash self-published works without even reading a word. I supported self-published novels before Choices. Some stories I liked and some I didn't, which is no different from books I've read that weren't self-published.

I realize other publishers are in this same position; having books that could be selling better. But the difference between them and Kapri Books is that they have more than one book out there so if one doesn't do too well, maybe another will. I only have one book to focus on, so I am still doing what I can do to get it into the hands of readers, reaching out to one person at a time these days.

I entered the Writer's Digest 16th Annual International Self-Published Book Awards. I didn't win but when I get discouraged about this whole book thing, I remember the positive feedback from Judge #5: Author Katrina L. Burchett writes with a warm, confident voice. Her dialogue is realistic and her scenes jump off the page. She knows how to write vivid scenes and chapter endings that make you want to read on. This book is not only entertaining to read but tackles a very important issue and will serve as an educational tool for young people around the world. This was one of the best books in a highly competitive category. This judge looks forward to Author Burchett's future novels... This judge is concerned that the young people who do not yet have a strong connection with God may not be able to relate to some of the characters devotion and belief. However, what makes the story work is that the characters are so openly struggling with all life's questions, including belief in God. The struggles make her story accessible. Great work!

The Problem With Some Christian Novels

Christian fiction is my genre of choice, next to young adult novels, which I’ll read if the story is Christian fiction or not. I do have to start being more careful about my reading choices, though, because, in my eagerness to support authors of young adult fiction, I have bought quite a few books lately where characters are taking the Lord’s name in vain all left and right. To see or hear the sweet name of Jesus Christ - a name higher than any other name - being used as an expression or a curse word irks me straight to my spirit. Now, I don’t claim to know the Bible from cover to cover and I am certainly no theologian, but I do listen to teachings by men and women of God such as Dr. Charles Stanley and Joyce Meyer and Pastor Fred Price, Jr. and Dr. David Jeremiah who know how to interpret the Word of God and know how to break it down so anyone listening will be able to understand. I don’t take the time to open my Bible every single day (I’m working on that) but I never went an entire week without reading God’s Word and I use a study Bible so it’s not like I don’t know anything. There is quite a bit I do understand. So okay, to the point... There is quite a bit of Christian fiction that is not what it should be. Why? There are parts of the story that don’t line up with the Word of God. Christian fiction should always agree with what God says in His Word. Yes, the stories are made up but Christianity is real, God is real, Jesus is real and the Holy Spirit is real. So any part of a Christian novel that refers to any Person of the Trinity or anything that has to do with the Bible must be accurate or readers are being misled. This is a tragic mistake I have found quite often in Christian fiction and I am so disappointed each and every time it happens. When I read content in a Christian novel that doesn’t line up with the Word of God to me it’s like a man or woman of God standing at the podium and feeding the congregation wrong information. (This is something that does happen at times, which is why God tells His children to test the Spirits – Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the Spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world – 1 John 4:1)

Christian novels aren’t written just to entertain - or they shouldn’t be, in my opinion. Yes, it is great for Christians to read enjoyable stories that should reinforce life in Christ but I believe these books are also witnessing tools for people of other faiths or especially those who don’t seem to believe anything at all when it comes to spiritual matters. God is using the writing talents of His children to reach those who need to be reached, to send life-changing messages that need to be sent and to teach valuable lessons that need to be learned. That’s not to say secular novels can’t send positive, encouraging, uplifting messages but with Christianity Jesus is the key. People can make hundreds of positive changes in their lives that probably help them to feel better each day about themselves and circumstances and life but if they don’t have the Holy Spirit (God’s Spirit) dwelling on the inside - something that can only happen when Jesus Christ is received as Lord and Savior – all the happiness in the world really doesn’t mean a whole lot in the end. And that’s the same with Christian fiction. The book can have a beautiful cover or an established author’s name attached to it or an endorsement by a well-known author to draw readers , but what’s going on inside?

I realize Christians are all at different places in their spiritual walk: some are still babes in Christ, some are way more spiritually mature than others and some may even be stagnant in their spiritual growth. So my thinking is: authors of Christian fiction should always pass their manuscripts on to brothers or sisters in Christ who are further along in their Christian walk than they are. Actually, let more than one other true Christian read the story. Get as much feedback as possible. Also, Christian publishing companies should make sure there is an editor and proofreader on their staff who really knows the Word of God or won’t mind researching what they don’t know to make sure quality Christian fiction gets into the readers’ hands. Typos happen but perfection is crucial when it comes to the gospel truth portions of the story.

Okay, so I'm reading a Christian novel and a sentence or a paragraph or maybe even the whole page jumps out at me because I know God's Word says something totally different. When that happens I really feel like readers are being cheated. Christian publishing companies should care about what they put out there but I know from what I've read that there are some that don't. Christianity is not a game; it is serious business. Spiritual warfare is a reality and authors of Christian fiction should always keep in mind the unseen forces of Satan. If he can make his way into the stories and confuse readers, he will. One way God speaks to people is through His Word (the Bible) and for those who have no idea what His Word says, but they are reading Christian fiction, how can they know when the wrong message is being sent? There is no way they can know, so I mention these contradictions when I write reviews so readers will know. I am not against any author but I am most definitely against Satan. And, more importantly, I am for God and I am for the reader.

I won’t mention every contradiction I’ve found in Christian fiction, but I’ll end by listing two:

1. I have read more than one story where a Christian character seemed to be okay with karma and all I could do was shake my head with disappointment. Karma isn’t just about getting back what you put out or reaping what you sow, as God puts it; it also has to do with reincarnation. I do not believe in reincarnation and no true Christian should. When Christians leave this world our bodies will die and our spirits will go to heaven (For then the dust will return to the earth, and the spirit will return to God who gave it-Ecclesiastes 12:7 -New Living Translation) If you’re not a Christian and you’re thinking right now, well, I don’t believe that, then what you are doing is rejecting the truth of God’s Word and that’s your choice. But it would be really great if you would choose life. Please, please think about accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

2.This is something I have heard so many people say, and I have read a Christian novel or two where a Christian character spoke these words to someone who wasn’t saved: We are all God’s children. This is not the truth. (But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan; this rebirth comes from God – John 1:12-13 – New Living Translation) Every human being was created by God but every person in this world is not a child of God. To become a child of God you must be born into God’s eternal family or born again, which means your spirit is reborn. How do you do this? You confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins and you accept Him as your personal Lord and Savior. If you haven’t already made that choice, I pray that you consider it. Heaven is a real place and so is Hell. Please believe that.

It's More About the Lyrics Than The Music

I am a Christian who really needs to open her Bible more often. I'll read from God's Word every week, but not every single day. What I will do most days, especially first thing in the morning, is listen to Christian music. Well, it's not really about the music, but the lyrics. Meditating on the lyrics helps me to keep my mind stayed on Jesus or lifts me up when I'm down or brings me peace when I'm angry or reminds me that God has not forgotten about me or helps me to love others when I just don't feel like it, or helps me to feel even better when I've already tapped into the joy of the Lord within... Okay, I could go on and on but I'll stop there.

God speaks to us through His Word, and He also speaks to us in many other ways like through gifted artists like Mandisa. I was blessed to get her "Freedom" album for only $5.00 at Family Christian Stores on Monday (God knows me well; I love a good bargain). I love all of the songs Mandisa sings, however, He Is With You is my favorite. I found a video on YouTube. Bowmangirl22 is so creative!! Listen closely to the lyrics and be blessed :)