Basie Skanks from OWN’s ‘Greenleaf’ aka Jason Dirden & Disney’s Princess Tiana aka Anika Noni Rose Just Got MARRIED!

Hello World,

Y’all already know I love love! Who knew that Jason Dirden (one of our faves Basie Skanks from OWN’s Greenleaf) and Anika Noni Rose (Disney’s Princess Tiana) were even dating  and now they have a whole wedding spread in BRIDES magazine! Apparently, they got married back in October AND Deborah Joy Winans (Charity Greenleaf from OWN’s Greenleaf) was one of the bridesmaids! Additionally, Anika Noni Rose is 50 years old so her story is yet another story that proves you’re never too old to fall in love and get married! Check out all of the glorious wedding pics and read about their love story below…

If there’s one thing actress and vocalist Anika Noni Rose knows well, it’s the importance of timing. Whether it’s hitting her marks on stage, holding tempo in a song, perfectly delivering a line in her latest show Let the Right One In, or falling in love, timing matters. Anika first met fellow actor Jason Dirden in 2014 when both were cast in the Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun. “We were friends for a couple of years, actually,” Anika says, but the timing just wasn’t right. “We both went off and did our own things and were disconnected for a while and then swung back.” A few years later, they had the timing down pat. “It was the right moment for both of us to be open and available for the possibility of what we have now,” Jason explains. Read the rest HERE…

 

May their union be blessed…

Any thoughts?

OWN Debuts Provocative New Unscripted Series ‘All the Single Ladies’

Hello World & Happy New Year!!!

I’m BAACCCKKKK! Have you missed me? I hope so…I’m hoping you will still rock me as I attempt to get started in the new year after another long break. Why have you been away, you ask? I was working on a ginormous freelance project that took all of my extra attention outside of my job, family life and other regular responsibilities. And as I said in my blog description, “I typically blog on Sundays and Wednesdays (to coincide with Sunday Morning Church Service and Wednesday Night Bible Study), but sometimes I may post more or less depending on what is going on in my life… If God can be patient with me, I hope you can too!”

So here we go…

OWN (Oprah Winfrey, baby) never fails to captivate me with its programming and the network is starting off 2023 with a show that will keep my attention every week! Since I wrote a whole novel about single black women, it is a no brainer that I love that OWN’s new show “All The Single Ladies,” which endeavors to provide a provocative view of intimacy and dating in the modern world from the perspective of black women across the nation. The unscripted series debuted on Friday, January 6 at 9pm ET/PT, and new episodes will debut every Friday night concurrently on both OWN and Discovery+.

Each episode will feature four black women of various ages and relationship statuses sitting down to explore a different topic. The conversations will sometimes be comedic and at other times will be heartbreaking, but they will always be real, authentic and heartfelt with the common goal of finding and wanting love. Below is the trailer:

I watched the first episode entitled Side Chicks which featured Crystal, a 42-year-old healthcare industry professional; Jameela, a 42-year-old marketing executive; Nicole, a 43-year-old public health professional; and Stephanie, a 42-year-old marketing director. I loved that the women are in their 40s so they spoke with maturity in the interview format of the show. Additionally, I loved that while the women are attractive, they are not the usual “baddies” that you see on television. They are normal looking women without a lot of accoutrements, if that makes sense. And they had different body types as well. Also, I appreciated that while each of the women served drama i.e. how side chicks derailed their relationships, it was not over-the-top drama that drives much of fake reality television.

Crystal married a guy who was 10 years younger than she was and the guy kept dating like he was still still single. Scandalous! Jameela ended up dating a dude who got her and another woman pregnant at the same time and she referred to the babies as “ghetto twins!” Ha! Nicole received anonymous letters detailing her man’s cheating and till this day she doesn’t know who sent the letters to her. Scary! Stephanie was with her man for three years before he ended a marriage proposal to her with the word “Pysch!” and she kept seeing him afterward. Confusing! Another aspect of the show that I appreciated was how the women spoke about how their upbringings may have affected their dating lives AND they took responsibility for their part in the situations although these men were mostly at fault in my estimation…

Below is an official episode description followed by a few clips from the show and descriptions of the remaining episodes:

Side Chicks – Imagine being pregnant and newly married, only to find out the father of your child has been cheating? Or realizing your long-term boyfriend lives a separate life with someone else? Or seeing on social media that your boyfriend has gotten his ex-wife pregnant? After learning their partners have been unfaithful, four women must make painful choices about their relationships. Below are a few clips from the first episode…

The Swirl Life – When a study abroad trip quickly turns into an interracial, international love affair, a TV reporter discovers that being color blind is no longer the goal. After blind dating online for five years with a man from a different race, a dietician finally meets her boyfriend. A black woman from Compton dates a white man from Malibu. A writer in the coast guard lands her first kiss at 26, leading to a relationship that forces her to make hard decisions about her future.

Why Women Cheat – We often hear about men cheating, but what about women? Four women share their personal journeys from commitment to infidelity and finally, to peace of mind.

Raised By Religion – A teacher confronts her sexual identity, a stand-up comic tolerates an unfaithful husband and two preachers’ daughters rebel against their upbringings. This episode follows four women’s journeys as they break the rules, challenge their religious beliefs and search for true love.

Bad Boys – Four women — a massage therapist, a treatment counselor, a baker and a musician – talk about their past relationships with fast-talking charmers who turned out to be toxic. The women share their tough decisions in an episode that explores relationship illusions, the fear of being alone and personal self-worth.

What Just Happened? – A nurse is blindsided by her husband’s homosexuality, a court liaison reevaluates her long-term relationship with a cheating boyfriend, a writer’s world is turned upside down when the man of her dreams becomes abusive, and an entrepreneur is ghosted by the man she loves. In this emotional episode, four women tell their stories of infatuation, heartbreak and rebirth.

Sexual Awakenings – A comedian attempts to find love with a man before finally embracing her sexuality as a lesbian; a flight attendant finds her own sexual sweet spots after a sexless relationship with a preacher; a chef finds love after a Hot Girl Summer turns into an Auntie Spring; and a seasoned writer finds fulfillment through long-distance sexting.

Red Flags –  Through laughter and a few tears, an educator, a comedian, a business executive and a medical professional talk about their hard-earned lessons after ignoring the red flags in their previous relationships.

Now, what is confusing to me is that while all of the press materials have stated that the show debuted on Friday, the episode Red Flags, which is supposed to be the final episode, already aired. At any rate, if you would like to watch Side Chicks and Red Flags, you can go to oprah.com

And forgive me for going here, but it is my blog…LOL…If you ALSO like to read about single black women and drama, please check out my aforementioned novel Destination Wedding. In fact, the Griffin Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated (my beloved sorority) is currently reading it in a four-meeting, online Book Chat Series. The second meeting was Friday, but there are two additional meetings that will be held in February and March. In other words, there is still time to read the novel and get caught up!

To register for this open Book Chat Series, which is on Zoom, click HERE!

Finally, because I do love relationship drama (if it is not my own LOL), I will be watching Prince Harry tonight at 7:30 on “60 Minutes” on CBS! He did not just leave the monarchy. He is torching the joint! Below is a clip from the interview!

Any thoughts?

 

To Win a Prince – NEW BOOK ALERT!!!

Hello World,

I’m always excited about sharing a new book with y’all, my dear blog readers, and today is no exception…If you’re looking for a new book, please consider To Win a Prince by Toni Shiloh! Below is a brief bio about Toni, followed by praise for Toni’s novels and concluding with my interview with her.

Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace of the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes soulfully romantic novels to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

Before pursuing her dream as a writer, Toni served in the United States Air Force. It was there she met her husband. After countless moves, they ended up in Virginia, where they are raising their two boys.

When she’s not typing in imagination land, Toni enjoys reading, playing video games, ​making jewelry, and spending time with ​her family.

“Captivating, romantic, and faith-filled, To Win a Prince captured my attention from the first page. . . . Shiloh’s latest royal romance is a pure page-turner.”

Melissa Tagg, USA Today bestselling, Christy Award-winning author

To Win a Prince transports readers to a lush tropical island for a tale of second chances and redeeming love. . . . Be prepared to be swept away by this story that is another jewel in author Toni Shiloh’s own crown as a master storyteller.”

—Sarah Monzon, award-winning author

Shiloh delivers a fun, contemporary romance delightfully full of favorite romantic tropes that also conveys serious messages of faith and destiny. It is refreshing to see dynamic Black characters in the genre, and readers will be eager for this modern-day fairy tale.”

Library Journal, starred review of In Search of a Prince 

1. Please provide a brief summary of your new novel, To Win a Prince.

To Win a Prince is all about Iris Blakely and Ekon Diallo’s journeys to each other and through the ups and downs life throws at them. The story explores what happens to Ekon after the royal council delivers their judgment on his actions (read In Search of a Prince or the prologue in To Win a Prince for a recap). Thus, part of the story is told in his point of view. The story also takes us through the ins and outs of Iris’s new business and her life as she settles into a new country and, hopefully, a new love.

2. To Win a Prince is set in the fictional African country of Oloro Ilé and follows Iris Blakely, who first appeared in In Search of a Prince. Can you share what readers have to look forward to in this novel?

I’d be happy to. Expect Iris shenanigans, the world of fashion, swoony romance, and a redemption that brought me to tears.

3. Can you tell us a little more about the inspiration behind this book?

I knew when I wrote In Search of a Prince that I would be telling Iris’s story. Honestly, all I knew was that she started a fashion business and Ekon would be her love interest. I let the characters dictate the rest of the story from there.

 4. How do you think To Win a Prince serves both fiction readers at large and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) readers?

For romance fans, they’ll get that in spades with To Win a Prince. Iris can’t help but wear her heart on her sleeve, and the fodder that ensues speaks to that. The romance goes through ups and downs but ends with a happily ever after, just as romance readers have come to expect. As for BIPOC readers, they get the added benefit of being represented in fiction. I have had readers tell me how much they appreciate being able to identify with the diverse characters shown in my novels. To Win a Prince touches on the fairy-tale aspect of romance but grounds all readers in faith and realism.

5. You’ve said in the past that seeing diversity in Christian fiction is a goal of yours as an author. Do you think the genre is moving in that direction?

I do. Every time I celebrate a BIPOC Christian author’s new release, I feel the industry moving in the right direction. I’m also praying and cheering on unpublished authors who hope to join the Christian fiction market.

6. What challenges did you experience while writing this story?

I actually wrote this story during a really difficult time. My husband had been laid off and our lease was up, and we needed somewhere else to live. It was completely overwhelming, and even though I was able to get an extension on my deadline, I didn’t give myself a lot of wiggle room to complete the manuscript. But God is truly faithful, pouring the words out in six weeks’ time. Enough time to give it another read through before turning it in. I’ll never forget the journey God brought me through while writing Iris’s tale and learning what patience in the Lord means.

7. How can readers connect with you?

Readers can find me at tonishiloh.com. There you can subscribe to my newsletter, find my social media links, and even fill out the contact form if you want to send an email directly to me.

Any thoughts?