Art by Suzi Nassif
I’m going to be honest—this has been a rough month for me, but I feel like it’s one of those times that has strengthened my resolve, deepened my relationships with others, and ultimately trust in my own resources more. My concept of manifestation has become more expansive and grounded.
I feel like I manifested my apartment and I’m manifesting romance after purposely being off the grid for some time. None of these manifestations showed up at a proper time or fit snugly, but I do believe if you do the work (visualizations, healing, letting go of old belief systems) and ask the universe for what you want, it will plop into your life like a divine gift. All you have to do is be open to receiving it and go with the flow.
Anyway, I attended Sarah Rose Etter’s book release for her new surreal novel Ripe as part of her LA stop in her book tour. Longtime readers of Literary Loud know I’m a big fan and already met her once this summer. It was a huge turnout and probably the biggest one I’ve seen in my life so far. Every seat was full and people were lined up around the bookcases.
Sarah read a snippet from her book and killed it. No surprises there. Tommy Pico read part of a new book, which was highly entertaining and Morgan Parker read some Beyonce-related poems. All fire.
After the readings, there was a conversation between the three authors on Ripe and its immaculate conception. Great questions and great chemistry between the three authors. The event had me feeling inspired and I had some deja vu moments walking around the bookstore.
I bought a copy of Ripe, got it signed by Sarah, and got some free merch. Sarah was super sweet as always. I need to take notes and develop more merch for future book releases of my own. And she brought a cake with Alexander Skarsgard on it, reading Ripe. Memorable marketing.
You know I grabbed a slice and had a little wine. What a time to be alive.
I’ve been working on the same projects—Project Bunny Bloodbath and Project Holy Water. I’ve been hitting some walls when it comes to the holy water project mainly because I don’t have all of the characters in place so it can move forward. But I feel like the universe or my muse heard me since I ran into a homeless guy with dark skin and blue eyes in a parking garage. I’m not going to go into depth, but it felt like a mystical experience hearing him speak about an angel merged with him. Of course, I wrote down notes after meeting him and realized he’s the missing piece I needed. Funny how things fall together when you need them to.
Currently Watching: Love, Death & Robots Season 3 & Lost Season 1
Currently Reading: Blame! by Tsutomu Nihei & Full Throttle by Joe Hill & Cosmic Horror Monthly #2 & An Altar of Stories to Liminal Saints by Rios de la Luz & Alive Undead by Brian Bowyer
Currently Smoking: Packwoods
Listening: Black Tapes Podcast, The Danny Brown Podcast, The Higherside Chats
I’m not the biggest pop fan, but “Super Shy” simply goes…It reminds me of early 2000s pop, but K-pop seems to be dripping into the zeitgeist because this is fire. Simple yet endearing lyric. If I still listened to the radio, I would crank this shit up.
Real hiphop, real hiphop (in my KRS-One voice). Joey Bada$$ reflects on the toxic trends flowing through the youth-pills and shooting each other for clout. This feels like a somber yet reflective “Eulogy” on all of the people Joey’s lost to the streets and jail. Love it.
The passport bros phenomenon has been taking the world by storm, a slew of men travel overseas in search of traditional wives for better worst. It’s smart of Bas to jump on this trend and create a tropical anthem for the bros. Such a feel good fun song. We need more of this.
Alchemist’s production on this is too beautiful and serene. Just listen to those smooth piano keys, which are the perfect backdrop for MIKE’s fire verse. This is my first introduction to Sideshow who does an amazing job and complements MIKE’s vocal tones.
Until next time…
Cop my books here or cop signed copies here.
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Lit shit. Dat Morgan joint still snaps. Joey Bada$$ is reel good in RAISING KANAN....Guaranteed dat WOManifesting shit werks. Erry time. Keep at it-mayne.