As an author I do alot of networking and from time to time I am invited to attend engagements where I might feature as a guest speaker. Whatever audience I may be addressing, more often than not, they are oblivious to my having sickle cell and quite possibly would know very little about it even if I was to disclose it. However on a few occasions my health issue has come up in one to one conversations with book lovers. And when it does, 9 times out of 10, the question that follows is, 'oh so your book is about sickle cell?' To which of course I respond, 'No!' What always gets me is the way the person comes over with a surprised look on their face.
So I explain to them, hey I'm a author with sickle cell not the other way around. As a person I have likes and dislikes and sickle cell doesn't rank high enough to fall into either category. Its just simply a fact of life for me. On the other hand, as an author
Each of my characters are facets of self through which I express my dreams, my ambitions, hopes, fears, contemplations and observations. I am a author of science fiction, who has sickle cell. Now if you really want to know what my book is about, find me on Youtube.com/TosinCoker and check out my video book trailers.
Saturday 28 November 2009
Sunday 22 November 2009
Black To The Future
On writing my book, 'The Mouth of Babes' I wasn't thinking about the impact it would have on some people, but British film director/screen writer, Menelik Shabazz, was so awed by my novel that he left a message in my local bookstore 'D'jed', for me to contact him asap and so I did.
During our conversation, he gave me serious food for thought. He mentioned that very few nubians write sci-fi and that it was almost as if we didn't see ourselves in the future. He labelled me a pioneer, for aparently before myself, there have been no other British black authors for this genre. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that, and have been searching hard to prove him wrong, but so far I'm coming up empty. So wait, we are in the 21st century, and only now we have a Black British presence in science fiction? Funny thing is, I wrote and published the book two years ago, but didn't make it available for sale til May 2009, because I didn't think anyone would be interested. Initially I had no intention in publishing, I was content enough to leave it sitting idly on my PC.
I'm still chewing over the part that 'black people don't see themselves in the future'. Do we really envision a world where we do not feature as a people? Or is it that we don't care to think beyond a seeing our children grow up? Could this be a factor as to why we have so much black on black crime? Because deep down we feel don't see ourselves as making enough waves to contribute to a future worth looking forward to?
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not trying to be looking at Orion's Belt from down here forever. I got gods/goddess that I need to bump shoulders with, and ships I need to catch a ride to Arcturus on. And I damn well know my co-pilot is going to be BLACK, the designer of my craft is going to be BLACK, I will be welcomed by ambassadors that are BLACK. If the advancement in technology makes access to the stars in my current physical incarnation unavailable to me, I will continue to write to set a precedence for my people to know they better do the dayum thing on my behalf! The future is bright, the future is BLACK.
Now talk to me, where do we as a people see ourselves say, 50, 100, 200 years from now?
During our conversation, he gave me serious food for thought. He mentioned that very few nubians write sci-fi and that it was almost as if we didn't see ourselves in the future. He labelled me a pioneer, for aparently before myself, there have been no other British black authors for this genre. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that, and have been searching hard to prove him wrong, but so far I'm coming up empty. So wait, we are in the 21st century, and only now we have a Black British presence in science fiction? Funny thing is, I wrote and published the book two years ago, but didn't make it available for sale til May 2009, because I didn't think anyone would be interested. Initially I had no intention in publishing, I was content enough to leave it sitting idly on my PC.
I'm still chewing over the part that 'black people don't see themselves in the future'. Do we really envision a world where we do not feature as a people? Or is it that we don't care to think beyond a seeing our children grow up? Could this be a factor as to why we have so much black on black crime? Because deep down we feel don't see ourselves as making enough waves to contribute to a future worth looking forward to?
I don't know about anyone else, but I'm not trying to be looking at Orion's Belt from down here forever. I got gods/goddess that I need to bump shoulders with, and ships I need to catch a ride to Arcturus on. And I damn well know my co-pilot is going to be BLACK, the designer of my craft is going to be BLACK, I will be welcomed by ambassadors that are BLACK. If the advancement in technology makes access to the stars in my current physical incarnation unavailable to me, I will continue to write to set a precedence for my people to know they better do the dayum thing on my behalf! The future is bright, the future is BLACK.
Now talk to me, where do we as a people see ourselves say, 50, 100, 200 years from now?
Friday 20 November 2009
**FREE** Sample Chapters of The Mouth of Babes
**FREE** Download the first three chapters for nada! @ Lulu.com
Destiny Kingsley, affectionately known as Teeny, falls into a sudden inexplicable coma, leaving her divorced parents to face their worst fears. Unbeknown to them, their daughter's loss of consciousness has been induced by her late grandmother for the sake of delivering an important message; "Don't forget to BE".
During Teeny's unprecedented hiatus, she learns of things that shatter her world whilst at the same time prepare her for a new one; She is the Crystal Child daughter of two Indigo parents with an imperative mission that must be accomplished at all costs.
The first in a trilogy, The Mouth of Babes is a spiritual science fiction novel based on the new age concept of 'Crystal' and 'Indigo' children destined to bring forth world change.
Destiny Kingsley, affectionately known as Teeny, falls into a sudden inexplicable coma, leaving her divorced parents to face their worst fears. Unbeknown to them, their daughter's loss of consciousness has been induced by her late grandmother for the sake of delivering an important message; "Don't forget to BE".
During Teeny's unprecedented hiatus, she learns of things that shatter her world whilst at the same time prepare her for a new one; She is the Crystal Child daughter of two Indigo parents with an imperative mission that must be accomplished at all costs.
The first in a trilogy, The Mouth of Babes is a spiritual science fiction novel based on the new age concept of 'Crystal' and 'Indigo' children destined to bring forth world change.
Thursday 19 November 2009
Who or What are Indigo & Crystal Children?
Quotes from The Mouth of Babes - Nana explains to Teeny about Indigo and Crystals:
Indigo and Crystal children are often society's misfits due to their perception of the world. They are fighers for injustice and precursors for change. Many are endowed with gifts that due to being misunderstood, they commonly disregard as being a burden. These gifts include, but are not limited to empathy, clairvoyance, psychometry, telekenisis etc. Some down play their gifts after spending a lifetime unsuccessfully trying to fit in and be accepted by society. Their core beliefs coupled with their gifts hinders their attempts and thus can become something to resent instead of embraced. If you are reading this, you may well know one, be a friend or parent to one, or quite possibly are one yourself ;).
“Every Indigo and Crystal Soul counts. Indigos are dependent on Lightworkers; the support network, fore bearers, fore warners and guides of this important time. Likewise the Crystals are highly dependent on the Indigos whom with the benefit of their knowledge, personal experience and maturation of their abilities would raise them with a different set of moral codes and spiritual guidance. Thus stimulating the activation of the knowledge contained in their DNA, the unlocking of which has been previously neglected, ignored and even persecuted by humans of prior generations.......we have already lost millions to drugs, crime, gang warfare, suicide, misdiagnosis such as insanity or attention deficit disorder, poor diet, the list goes on..."
“Indigo and Crystal Children represent the dawning of a new Earth. Synchronous to Gaia’s evolution, her inhabitants are also evolving as a species. Indigos are pioneers paving the way for global rebirth, the first of which began incarnating approximately a century ago. Fifty years later saw the next generation of their kind, this time in greater numbers. It is this collective that are known as Lightworkers. The year 1970 was herald to the third wave that came in considerably larger figures. This group in particular bear a more aggressive warrior like nature as they actively tear down redundant structures and thought processes including, but not limited to governmental, educational and political institutions. They are passionate in their rebellious fight for change. Their belligerent disposition was necessary to successfully nullify expired methodologies. Having done so, these third, or gamma wave Indigos as they are also known, are now in their late twenties and early thirties and are not only maturing into positions of leadership, but are giving birth to a new wave of beings; the Crystals. These Crystal Souls began to incarnate from the year 2000, with a few arriving slightly earlier. What makes Indigos and Crystals so different to humans yet to evolve, are the spiritual gifts with which they are endowed. They vibrate on the frequency of the third-eye chakra, which facilitates psychic energies such as telepathy and clairvoyance and as such exhibit these and other abilities. In time all humans will transition to this stage of evolution. Post 1970 Indigos and new Crystal Souls are also unique in that they have never incarnated on Earth before,” Teeny’s grandmother concluded.
Indigo and Crystal children are often society's misfits due to their perception of the world. They are fighers for injustice and precursors for change. Many are endowed with gifts that due to being misunderstood, they commonly disregard as being a burden. These gifts include, but are not limited to empathy, clairvoyance, psychometry, telekenisis etc. Some down play their gifts after spending a lifetime unsuccessfully trying to fit in and be accepted by society. Their core beliefs coupled with their gifts hinders their attempts and thus can become something to resent instead of embraced. If you are reading this, you may well know one, be a friend or parent to one, or quite possibly are one yourself ;).
Wednesday 18 November 2009
Imagination Vs Intuition
Imagination: Imagination is like a talkative child who embellishes or some might say; exaggerates. Exaggeration is not an accurate word to use to define it's processes, because that would be like saying the imagination has a right and a wrong. The imagination has no such limitations and does not conform to such imposed boundaries. In your imagination the laws of physics do not apply and dimensions are no longer segregated by differences in vibrational speed and therefore EVERYTHING is possible.
The imagination sometimes tends to run away with itself and loves creating. So much so that where someone without imagination discards an empty cardboard box, one with an active imagination sees a spaceship, a car, or a jewelry box with such clarity that they can interact with what they 'see'. Not only will the imagination see potential, it will improve on the potential. e.g., The box is empty, but the imagination sees not only the hull of a spaceship, but the bridge, with all the buttons, switches, communication terminals, the captains seat and those of his/her crew. It feels the hum of the spacecraft, and can even smell the leather that the captains seat is made of. Imagination is playful, excitable and loves to build and improve upon what already exists.
I feel that another important assessment to make is the characteristics of the ego, because this can also be confusing when trying to determine whether ones thought is presented by one of their abilities.
Ego: The greatest power of the ego when trying to gain perspective with ones natural spiritual ability is to manifest as doubt. The ego is has control freak tendencies. Believe it or not it, actually serves to protect our best interests, though usually only in regards to our physical well being. When dealing with matters of the spirit it becomes redundant, and wont easily surrender it's job of being the over protective nanny that always wants to see you do and look your best. The ego will often resort to using fear tactics to keep you inline. Let's look closer at the key words in that sentence: fear tactics. Fear has been aptly interpreted by a wise soul as being False Evidence Appearing Real. Tactics, is of course pertaining to having an advantage using subtle forms of persuasion, or exploitation of a small weakness. The best way of exploiting or introducing a fear is to cast doubt. Hence the hesitant pause you have when being introduced to or learning something new. You have a sudden rush of "What ifs..." and "Yeah buts..." or "I couldn't possibly's" within that moment of hesitancy. And here is where you are faced with a choice. Face your fear and realize that it was indeed False Evidence Appearing Real, or stay safe;- stay looking good. Most of the time you might find that in choosing the latter option you feel a small, or maybe even a great sense of defeat or relief. If you felt defeat, know there is nothing wrong with that, but consider that the next time when faced with a similar decisive pause, the better option might be to face the fear. If you felt relief, there is nothing wrong with that either, you simply weren't ready yet or it just wasn't for you. In choosing to face a fear, it does not guarantee success, but it does bring empowerment to the soul even if it comes at a cost of causing a dent to the ego. If the result was failure, the worst thing you can do is torture yourself. What you do is say, "Hey, it's all good, my personal success was; I dared to try!" If your attempt was a success, ring the bells and blow the whistles! You did good, congratulations. :)
So with all that out of the way, what is intuition? Well I would start by saying it may be different for others, but here is how I have come to recognize it. To put it simply, none of the above applies. It is clear, concise, calm, unruffled. It doesn't become enrolled into internal debates you might try to initiate by questioning it. It KNOWS! And because it knows, there is little point in arguing, simply because no matter what rebuttal you may retaliate with, it doesn't change the basic fact that IT KNOWS. It will give you a simple choice: - "Take it or leave it; this is what I know".
Example:
Your son is should be at school, but you just had a quick flash of information: you see an image of him walking home or you hear an inner voice tell you "He's on his way home". Logic kicks in; Of course he's not coming home, he should be at school. You hear again; "He's on his way home".
Imagination says yeah and he sure looks funny wearing that clown hat and a red nose and oh my those shoes look more like pink bunny slippers oh that is so funny, I wonder what he'd look like with curly green hair and.....
Ok, Logic says: "Now that's just outrageous, my son is wearing his uniform and he's at school."
Intuition says again: "He's on his way home".
Ego jumps in: "Be quiet! Stop telling her his coming home, how can he be?"
Intuition says; "He's on his way home".
Ego says: "Yeah but, he can't be."
Logic chides in: "Right, I took him to school myself and school is not over til 3 o'clock. It's only 12:30."
Intuition says: "He's on his way home"
Imagination butt's in: "Your right, not a clown suit, that's not cool at all, but don't you think that uniform is dull, why not electric blue instead of navy? Yeah, yeah, that would be so cool because you could see him easily at night too and...."
Ego says: "Now who's going to take the blame if you're wrong? What if she looks bad, what if her hopes are raised for nothing, I mean come on theres no way you can be right because there is no such thing as being psychic! What if she ends up in the funny farm, however can she look good then?"
Intuition says: "Ok, it's up to you to think what you will, but he's still on his way home."
After such internal dialog, the voice of intuition tends to step back and leave you to your own devices. A common residue of the recent presence of intuitive guidance manifests in the form of a nagging feeling that just wont go away.
Now here's where you make your decision and it really can feel like a hard one, because ego and logic tend to make great allies. Three against one can seem like daunting odds. Genuine psychic premonition, overactive imagination, or ego backed up by logic? Which will you choose?
The imagination sometimes tends to run away with itself and loves creating. So much so that where someone without imagination discards an empty cardboard box, one with an active imagination sees a spaceship, a car, or a jewelry box with such clarity that they can interact with what they 'see'. Not only will the imagination see potential, it will improve on the potential. e.g., The box is empty, but the imagination sees not only the hull of a spaceship, but the bridge, with all the buttons, switches, communication terminals, the captains seat and those of his/her crew. It feels the hum of the spacecraft, and can even smell the leather that the captains seat is made of. Imagination is playful, excitable and loves to build and improve upon what already exists.
I feel that another important assessment to make is the characteristics of the ego, because this can also be confusing when trying to determine whether ones thought is presented by one of their abilities.
Ego: The greatest power of the ego when trying to gain perspective with ones natural spiritual ability is to manifest as doubt. The ego is has control freak tendencies. Believe it or not it, actually serves to protect our best interests, though usually only in regards to our physical well being. When dealing with matters of the spirit it becomes redundant, and wont easily surrender it's job of being the over protective nanny that always wants to see you do and look your best. The ego will often resort to using fear tactics to keep you inline. Let's look closer at the key words in that sentence: fear tactics. Fear has been aptly interpreted by a wise soul as being False Evidence Appearing Real. Tactics, is of course pertaining to having an advantage using subtle forms of persuasion, or exploitation of a small weakness. The best way of exploiting or introducing a fear is to cast doubt. Hence the hesitant pause you have when being introduced to or learning something new. You have a sudden rush of "What ifs..." and "Yeah buts..." or "I couldn't possibly's" within that moment of hesitancy. And here is where you are faced with a choice. Face your fear and realize that it was indeed False Evidence Appearing Real, or stay safe;- stay looking good. Most of the time you might find that in choosing the latter option you feel a small, or maybe even a great sense of defeat or relief. If you felt defeat, know there is nothing wrong with that, but consider that the next time when faced with a similar decisive pause, the better option might be to face the fear. If you felt relief, there is nothing wrong with that either, you simply weren't ready yet or it just wasn't for you. In choosing to face a fear, it does not guarantee success, but it does bring empowerment to the soul even if it comes at a cost of causing a dent to the ego. If the result was failure, the worst thing you can do is torture yourself. What you do is say, "Hey, it's all good, my personal success was; I dared to try!" If your attempt was a success, ring the bells and blow the whistles! You did good, congratulations. :)
So with all that out of the way, what is intuition? Well I would start by saying it may be different for others, but here is how I have come to recognize it. To put it simply, none of the above applies. It is clear, concise, calm, unruffled. It doesn't become enrolled into internal debates you might try to initiate by questioning it. It KNOWS! And because it knows, there is little point in arguing, simply because no matter what rebuttal you may retaliate with, it doesn't change the basic fact that IT KNOWS. It will give you a simple choice: - "Take it or leave it; this is what I know".
Example:
Your son is should be at school, but you just had a quick flash of information: you see an image of him walking home or you hear an inner voice tell you "He's on his way home". Logic kicks in; Of course he's not coming home, he should be at school. You hear again; "He's on his way home".
Imagination says yeah and he sure looks funny wearing that clown hat and a red nose and oh my those shoes look more like pink bunny slippers oh that is so funny, I wonder what he'd look like with curly green hair and.....
Ok, Logic says: "Now that's just outrageous, my son is wearing his uniform and he's at school."
Intuition says again: "He's on his way home".
Ego jumps in: "Be quiet! Stop telling her his coming home, how can he be?"
Intuition says; "He's on his way home".
Ego says: "Yeah but, he can't be."
Logic chides in: "Right, I took him to school myself and school is not over til 3 o'clock. It's only 12:30."
Intuition says: "He's on his way home"
Imagination butt's in: "Your right, not a clown suit, that's not cool at all, but don't you think that uniform is dull, why not electric blue instead of navy? Yeah, yeah, that would be so cool because you could see him easily at night too and...."
Ego says: "Now who's going to take the blame if you're wrong? What if she looks bad, what if her hopes are raised for nothing, I mean come on theres no way you can be right because there is no such thing as being psychic! What if she ends up in the funny farm, however can she look good then?"
Intuition says: "Ok, it's up to you to think what you will, but he's still on his way home."
After such internal dialog, the voice of intuition tends to step back and leave you to your own devices. A common residue of the recent presence of intuitive guidance manifests in the form of a nagging feeling that just wont go away.
Now here's where you make your decision and it really can feel like a hard one, because ego and logic tend to make great allies. Three against one can seem like daunting odds. Genuine psychic premonition, overactive imagination, or ego backed up by logic? Which will you choose?
Sunday 15 November 2009
Inquiring Minds Talk Themselves Into Buying Your Books
As an author one of the first things we learn (or should) is to always carry a couple of your books with you wherever you go. You never know where the next sale might come. No problem, but most people are not psychic and wont have a clue what you have hidden in your backpack or car boot until you strike up a conversation about it.
Lately however people come to me and ask who I am and what I do. How do I get them to do this? I wear my name like it's a fashion brand. I laminated about 20 business cards put a hole through the corner and attach it to every bag I own and in some cases, my jackets too. My business card is simply my book cover on one side, and contact details on the other. Now when I go out to perform even the most mundane of chores, people stop and ask me, what I'm about. I've had a bank teller and other service reps eager to buy my book simply for being awed by having met a published author, forgetting that 5 mins before, they'd never heard of me.
Even for those who don't say anything, your name has been exposed to them. It's almost subliminal advertising as whoever sees your 'designer label', has been become subconsciously aware of you.
On one occasion I walked into a bookstore sporting my 'label', and before I knew it three copies of my book sold within five minutes of my arrival. I didn't introduce myself, my label did.
This tip isn't only for authors, everyone is their own walking commercial. Difference is, most of us pay other companies like Nike and Adidas for the privilege.
Believe in yourself, buy into your own brand name.
Lately however people come to me and ask who I am and what I do. How do I get them to do this? I wear my name like it's a fashion brand. I laminated about 20 business cards put a hole through the corner and attach it to every bag I own and in some cases, my jackets too. My business card is simply my book cover on one side, and contact details on the other. Now when I go out to perform even the most mundane of chores, people stop and ask me, what I'm about. I've had a bank teller and other service reps eager to buy my book simply for being awed by having met a published author, forgetting that 5 mins before, they'd never heard of me.
Even for those who don't say anything, your name has been exposed to them. It's almost subliminal advertising as whoever sees your 'designer label', has been become subconsciously aware of you.
On one occasion I walked into a bookstore sporting my 'label', and before I knew it three copies of my book sold within five minutes of my arrival. I didn't introduce myself, my label did.
This tip isn't only for authors, everyone is their own walking commercial. Difference is, most of us pay other companies like Nike and Adidas for the privilege.
Believe in yourself, buy into your own brand name.
Wednesday 11 November 2009
Be True To The Authentic YOU
I had been having concerns about my author name, true Tosin Coker is my name, but only after publishing my book did I come to find just how many people both, male and female I share it with. Not a problem, that is until I realised that one of them has a reputation as an online scam artist. Uh oh! This upset me because I'm pretty much new to all of this, but the one thing I do know is that publicity is everything, and not for a second do I want to be confused with this man. When googling my name he always comes up as one of the top results. Not cool! I decided that maybe I should make a distinction by changing my author name to include my middle initial: Tosin M. Coker. Doesn't it make me sound all grown up and established? LOL I say as I sit here with two afro puff bunches in my hair...
Before making such a drastic decision I thought it best to find out how this would affect me overall. Would it confuse readers into thinking I'm a separate author? Would it cost me financially to have to go and edit all references to my name via Nielsons Book Data etc, not to mention having to change the cover of my book to cater for the adjustment. So of course I sought professional advise by contacting Menelik Shabazz. He is the film director that loved my book so much he left a message with my local bookstore for me to contact him. Yes I'm still glowing over that one. Anyway he gave me the most beautiful piece of advice that I really feel I must share:
"Ask yourself what do you fear will happen if your name remains as it? It seems that your fear is of being overshadowed by another’s negative- tarnishing your name. Can negative really overshadow the positive? In a years to come the memory of the other Tosin Coker will be forgotten and yours will glow."
Wow! True indeed, I was being guided by fear and I was reminded so beautifully that my authentic self is good as is.
Greetings everyone, my name is Tosin Coker and it is staying that way.
Before making such a drastic decision I thought it best to find out how this would affect me overall. Would it confuse readers into thinking I'm a separate author? Would it cost me financially to have to go and edit all references to my name via Nielsons Book Data etc, not to mention having to change the cover of my book to cater for the adjustment. So of course I sought professional advise by contacting Menelik Shabazz. He is the film director that loved my book so much he left a message with my local bookstore for me to contact him. Yes I'm still glowing over that one. Anyway he gave me the most beautiful piece of advice that I really feel I must share:
"Ask yourself what do you fear will happen if your name remains as it? It seems that your fear is of being overshadowed by another’s negative- tarnishing your name. Can negative really overshadow the positive? In a years to come the memory of the other Tosin Coker will be forgotten and yours will glow."
Wow! True indeed, I was being guided by fear and I was reminded so beautifully that my authentic self is good as is.
Greetings everyone, my name is Tosin Coker and it is staying that way.
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