For Your Viewing Pleasure

Writing is about images.

Creating, sculpting, and tying words together to create images and pictures in your head to take you on a journey. The trick is to make the writing seamless so that the words disappear, and you forget that you’re reading. To meld the letters together to create a rhythm of sounds and movements that flow into prose on the pages to be immersed into our souls and take us up and away to become integrated into different lives and worlds.

Until my next book, I present the video promo for Mixed Business

Enjoy!

 

For the original version of the book trailer, check it out at https://youtu.be/BZmYrBc-9MM.

Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Mixed Business. 

#MIXEDBUSINESS #LIVVYZOE #ITSLIVVYZOE #FORYOURVIEWINGPLEASURE #BOOKTRAILER #WRITINGCOMMUNITY #VIDEOPROMO #LIVVYZOE #READING #ENTERTAINMENT #READERSFAVORITE

Writer’s Block 2.0

Worst Case of Writer’s Block!!

Okay, fam, this is it!

I’m in the midst of my worst case of writer’s block!

At the beginning of this quarantine, I was excited! I was motivated! 2 weeks of writing, writing, and more writing!

No tv watching. No social media. No phone calls. And, everything would be on pause. And, what a better time to do it?

I would be disciplined and write every day.

That’s right—I said, every day!

I, too, am ambitious! Call me ‘She-Writer: Tamer of the Unwritten.’

Well, maybe, not that … it’s a tad too long. Maybe something like ‘Writer’ or ‘Author.’ I’ll even accept ‘Story-Teller.’

But I digress …

On the first day of non-write day, I was still so naïve. It was only ONE day. I could get past one day of not writing.

And then the next day brought bored kids. I’ve never been able to pass on living room forts and secret hiding spots.

Then, it was my day to cook. I hate cooking so it becomes an all day ordeal of me sweating over what I’m going to make, which person likes what, whose turn it is to put dishes away, whose turn it is to do the dishes, and why I shouldn’t have to do dishes if I’m cooking…anyway, like I said, it is an all-day ordeal.

So, I’m not allowed to cook anymore. And, that’s an achievement … I think.

Day 4: I slipped and got on social media.

(Well, actually, that was Day 4 – 7)

Anyway, there was no way I could write when Twitter had so much information to impart and so many ideas. With new incentive, I had projects to finish, videos to record, and … but instead, I slept.

Oh, and caught up on several tv series that I had been meaning to watch. If you don’t mind, I’m going to chalk that one up to actually achieving something during this time.

By day 14, still no writing, but I can tell you that I don’t think my kids’ teachers are feeling me anymore. One of them actually asked me not to attend the Zoom classrooms any longer. I thought I was helping her out, and I figured it was my time to learn that ‘new math’ everyone was going on about.

And, then, I slept for about another week. All that learning tuckered me out.

Day 27, and I finally sat down in front of the computer. All of my characters were not happy and quite pissed that I hadn’t so much as thought of them. With all that yammering in my head, I couldn’t pick which one to write about. So, I chose none.

So, here I am at Day 60, without so much as a new scene written, no character development, and a storyline pressing to be documented on paper.

Am I riddled with guilt? Oh my goodness, YES!! I want to be writing. The ideas are with me all day, every day—in my dreams, in the shower, when I’m eating, when I’m exercising, and so on.

And, does this motivate me to get to it?

Hark, I hear the garage needs a-cleaning!

Herspiration Happy Hour – May 13: Drama in Romance podcast

Hi, all

I had the opportunity to sit down with the lovely and talented ladies of the Herspiration podcast. Please check out these inspirational women–they are doing BIG things!

During our happy hour, we sipped on drinks and discussed drama, romance, creative writing styles, inspirations for writing, and non-fiction vs fiction. I had a lot of fun, and I can’t wait until my next happy hour!

Drink up, ladies, and enjoy life! 🍹🍹🥂

Listen to Herspiration Happy Hour Season 3, Episode 2, “The Drama in Romance: Novel Talk” w/ Author, Livvy Zoe from Herspiration Happy Hour on Apple Podcasts.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/herspiration-happy-hour/id1320686054?i=1000474609015 

Enjoy!

Your friend in writing,

Livvy Zoe

 

Quarantined: Now What? Mind Pop Zone shout-out: Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Hi, all!

We have all been affected by COVID-19. 😷

And, we are all probably going stir crazy with all this talk about washing hands (at home), working (from home), and quarantining. It’s enough to give a person a little cabin fever. There are many interviews, articles, and sites dedicated to ways to help pass the time during your stay at home.

And this blog is no different.

What I’m not going to do is discuss the importance of washing your hands for 20 seconds because you would have to be living under a rock to not know that anyway. And, who am I to tell you how you should set up your home office because I’m not an expert at that either. I’m also no guru on quarantining although I am a bit of an introvert so I’m secretly loving having to stay home.

I know that there are lots of activities that you can do, magazines and books to read, and even some online retail therapy that you can place in your cart (but you won’t buy because will that orange-blue jumper and green shoes really look good together once this quarantine is over? 🤔)

You know who you are, and we’ll discuss later …

Since you do have some time, check out Mind Pop Zone. It’s a fun podcast that is uplifting, funny, and entertaining. The 3 hosts are engaging as they discuss anything and everything. The topics are informative, but not heavy. It’s like having a conversation with your good, good friends when you’re sitting around and having a good ‘tea.’ Check them out.

Shameless plug: They give me a shout-out on the March 25 episode, and it’s a really good one! Click on the link below and enjoy!

Your friend in writing,

 

Livvy Zoe

 

 

Listen to Quarantined: Now What? from The Mind Pop Zone on Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-mind-pop-zone/id1478061938?i=1000469438837

Loving on Literary Leaders: March ed.

Loving on Literary Leaders:  Women Mystery Writers

The month of March honors women’s impact in history. This month will focus on women writers/authors and their impact on history.

Or, at least, their impact on me because, hey, I’m a part of history, right?

This week, I focus on mystery writers.

Let’s start with that I absolutely adore women mystery writers!

Growing up, they were not the norm for me. It was difficult to find their books. But when I did find one, I could barely contain my excitement to crack the spine and engross myself in their stories of brave women who were defying traditions. What was different about these fictional characters were that they were complicated and individual in that they had normal problems, dealt with issues, and didn’t rely on their beauty or love to save the day. In fact, many of these characters were beautifully flawed, and their physical descriptions reflected women who were not gorgeous by society standards.

I read these books growing up in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. At that time, the popular writing trend for women was ROMANCE, ROMANCE, and more ROMANCE! It seemed that every woman in every story had to have a romantic interest. Even these mystery stories had romantic elements.  However, these characters didn’t just delve into the romance. The fictional leads worried about jobs, eating, paying bills, who to beat up, so I don’t remember these characters for the romance. I remember them because these women were being portrayed to be independent and not necessarily need men. In these stories, men were the props or the means to an end.

By reading this, you would think that I don’t love romance books. Please don’t get me wrong—I live and breathe for romance novels! But I like variety. Growing up as a black female, I’ve always felt that I did not meet the beauty standards of the 80s and 90s. And, it didn’t help that during that time many female lead characters were described as skinny, gorgeous women finding love because of their beauty. For me, what was so impactful about these mystery writers were that they were able to successfully mix romance with their character’s personalities. Women got the brass ring—they got to be themselves, solve the mystery, and get their man.

Come back next week for more Loving on Literary Readers and other blog posts about my ramblings!

Your friend in writing,

Livvy Zoe

Check me out on the Nikki Rich Show — Air date: February 24, 2020

Hi, World!

Yours truly had an interview with The Nikki Rich! What a fantastic host! ❤ I had a great time!

Click and listen:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nikki-rich-show/id430761866?i=1000466570913

 

Hi, World! It’s Me–Livvy Zoe

Hi, World!

Welcome to my blog! Stay tuned for more and exciting upcoming news and events!

Posts coming soon….

Coming soon.