LET ME JUST SAY THIS...AGAIN

Have you read my second novel, Let Me Just Say This, Again.

Well, if you have then you know that the main character, Matthew, smokes cigars.

Who knew that when I wrote that book almost 10 years ago; that I would actually be indulging in his favorite form of relaxation.

I see why he built the humidor in his home. I see why he chooses the longer gauge cigars and I see why Cheryl finds him so mesmerizing.

Oh, what's that? You haven't read my second novel. Well, click this link---> Buy The Book and see why I choose Matthew and why he smokes cigars.

There is something sext about a man smoking a cigar. Truth be told, there is something sexy and sophisticated about a woman smoking a cigar.

Now, don't get me wrong.

I never thought I would be that person but now I am that person.

I feel sexy smoking the cigars that I like.

It has been a long road finding the ones that I enjoy but I have found them and I have also been able to pull out some of those sexy stiletto heels that I love so much.

Granted, with the ankle injury, I can't walk in them all day but I can walk in them long enough to get into the cigar lounge and into the humidor to get my favorite cigars.

More on my favorite cigars at a later date.

What do you think about men or women smoking cigars?

Is it sexy or is it disgusting?

Let me know by commenting on my FB or Instagram pages.

@Bswanginwebster on Instagram or Facebook.

I look forward to seeing your feedback.

BLACK, WHITE, CONFUSION...WHAT IS IT?

A lot of people discuss the benefits of going tiny or living a minimalist lifestyle. I have now joined in on that conversation.

In addition to being excited about it; I have also learned a few things along the way.

One of the things I have learned is that I am much more tolerating of different lifestyles. I no longer care what the 'crowd' is doing.

I also learned that no matter what you do and who you try and please; not everyone will agree with you.

You can only please one person at a time and why shouldn't that person be you.

Living in a tiny house is not going to be for everyone and while telling people who asked about it my goals, I have found that not every one agrees.

When I have spoken to people about going tiny I get two reactions.

The first one: congratulations and you must be so excited. If you have any questions let me know.  Check out this website and you should check out the tiny house movement online (Facebook, Instagram and YouTube)

The other is: Are you sure you want to go tiny? I don't think you can go tiny, I couldn't do it. Are you crazy? Why?

The thing that bothers me the most is this one thing.

The ones that seem supportive are mostly Caucasian people and the non supporters are my African American associates.

There are communities of tiny homes popping up all over the United States and very few of them are inhabited by black people. I have met exactly one other person who has built a tiny house. She is an African American woman and she and I had a long conversation.

She said she came up against the same thing. Her African American circle weren't very supportive. Although some of them were; the majority of the people who were supportive were the people who were not in her circle. Or they were her Caucasian friends.

It's not that our black friends don't understand but it's harder to convince them that as a black woman I haven't lost control of my mind. I have done research and the common thread is that the tiny house community can be a little clique'ish. Not because they want to but people going tiny aren't that many. They form circles and stay within those circles. They form their community and they help each other. Because there are not many black people building, buying or wanting tiny homes; we have found ourselves on the outside. Hopefully that will change with more and more 'us' buying, building and living in tiny homes. The +TinyHouseTrailblazers is one such group that is trying to do this. Check out their website.

I know that it doesn't come down to black or white but it comes down to understanding vs having questions. Sometimes questions can sound like non support but most times if you explain why you want to do something; most people will begin to see your point of view.

If they don't remember. You can only please one person at a time and it might as well be you.

BEAUTIFUL LIFE

My life can be better but right now why would I want it to be. I'm living a +BeautifulLife.

I'm on the radio every week. I'm hosting a weekly radio talk show on +WLVS Radio and I am having the time of my life!

I'm also an author and the great reviews keep coming in for Let Me Just Say This.

I'm also the grandmother of seven grandbabies and got the news that I will be a Nina again..this time of TWINS!

HOLY COW..twins! I'm in love with them already!

So, this blog is nothing more than to tell you that I am living a beautiful life.

If you want to see me, tune in today at 4pm on http://listenvisionlive.com and see my beautiful life!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

That is the question I ask a lot of people and a lot of people ask me the same thing.

This week I am doing a lot. So I decided to give you a run down of what my week normally looks like.

Sunday: Today I sat down with the committee of the #MDC3Con and talked about the final preparations for the amazing conference in Hunt Valley Maryland. Then I will have a meeting with my stylist, my personal assistant and also my publishers. Yes, although Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, I'm not resting.

Monday: I will work a full 8 hours, then put in another five hours at my office of Intrigue Publishing. Then I have a networking event to attend at 6:30 and then hopefully it is off to bed by at least 11pm.

Tuesday: I have a production meeting for my show on Wednesday. That is only after I work eight hours at the middle school and five hours at the office of I.P and then hopefully I will get home before 11pm but somehow I don't think that will happen.

Wednesday: I have a radio show to do at 4pm. But before that I have to work eight hours and then prepare my guests and intern for the show. I will be on the air until 5 pm at +WLVS Radio and then at 6 pm I will need to meet some fans to drop off their signed novels and then meet a great group of readers for an impromptu book club meeting. Home by 11 pm. (again, fingers crossed)

Thursday: I recover from the show and then prepare for next week's show. I will then head to Baltimore for a meal prepared by a very special chef and then I will prepare the bags, gifts and questions for my assignment at the +MdC3Con

Friday: The #MdC3con begins and I am one of the members who need to be there at 9 am. Then I will moderate a few panels, talk about social media and then network at the bar afterwards. The day will end sometime around 11 pm or until I finish up my last drink.

Saturday: I am still at the conference and the day will start pretty early. While you sleep at 7 am I will be up and making sure the panelists and rooms are set up for the second day of the conference. I will then moderate and be on panels.

Now, that is a normal week. Except that the conference is probably replaced by the book club event, special speaking event and/or Reading Diva's event.

So now that you know what I am doing; what are YOU doing this week?

IT'S BEEN A WHILE

I have been absent for almost three weeks. Did you miss me? What? You didn't even notice that I was gone. Gasp! The horror! Look just pretend you knew I was gone because I have been very busy.

Not only did I start my radio show on +WLVSRadio but I traveled to New York City for my annual trek to Thrillerfest.

Oh the fun we had, the shoes I bought and the friends I made!

If you watched my show...what you don't watch my show! Gasp! Clutch the pearls! We will discuss that later, but last week on my show I told you about investing in yourself. See this is one of the ways that I invest in myself. I make sure surround myself with people that I can learn from, people I can network with and people that have struggled and also had successes. Who better than to tell me what to do when I run into a road block? Who better to tell me when I am being a jackass because I don't actually know it all. Yes even I don't know it all; who would have thought that, right?

But this past weekend showed me that what I am doing, I'm doing very well. What I am doing is making a difference and what I am doing is getting noticed. Noticed in a good way, not the bad way. What's the bad way?

Ask yourself these questions.
Do I always think I know everything?
Am I contrary when it comes to giving a clear answer?
Am I being a pain in the ass to others because I think I know it all?
Am I being pushy at events when others would rather walk away from me?

Yes, those are all ways that NY times authors gave as being a jackass! So luckily I didn't answer yet to any of those questions. However, I know a few people who are and to them; you better stop or you will find yourself on the wrong end of someone's list.

See, if I didn't go to this conference, I would have never known what not to do but I also learned what to do to get noticed. Like wearing the right shoes...aren't they the cutest?

  So to all of you that don't attend conferences, thank you. It just means that I get to talk to Jeffrey Deaver, John Gilstrap, R.L. Stein, Anne Rice, Chris Rice, James Rollins, Heather Graham, MJ Rose, Thomas Young and many others without you interrupting me.

ARE YOU READY FOR THIS?

Today I am so excited to announce that I will have my own talk show!

I will broadcast live on WLVS Radio you can watch. Every Wednesday I will discuss everything relating to books, shoes and writing! I will kick it off today with an in-studio party! I am so excited I can barely type this.

Tune in today at 4 p.m. to watch me and some of my friends celebrate with some cake and an 'adult' beverage or two.

There are going to be plenty of pictures taken, I will be tweeting LIVE  and I hope to see you on Facebook following me and my friends as we bring you the We B. Swangin Show every Wednesday for an hour.

I will host some great debut authors, debut some great music and also give you some insider tips on writing and on being an author.

So, come and join us as we will keep you entertained.

HAVING FUN BEING ME

This week has been a very good week to be me!

I was interviewed by +Kaaren Allyn of Forward Motion cable TV show

Let me just tell you the fun I had doing this. It was an incredible experience. She is the coolest Jewish woman ever!

She and I traded stories about concerts that we love, rappers that we like, (She is a fan of The Game) just like me and we also talked about seeing Luther Vandross in concert at Constitution Hall. Like, who knew this woman was hanging out at the same places I hung out.

We then got down to the interview and it was like she invited me into her living room and we chatted like dear friends.

We talked about the Book Divas on Tour and we talked about publishing, writing and most importantly, shoes!



She is a shoe diva just like me. We took selfies and had a fantastic time just chatting. It didn't seem like cameras were rolling and that we were mic'd up. The conversation flowed and the experience is one I will not forget.

The show will air on MCM Access 19 on April 29th but here is a few photos for you to enjoy before the show.

STILETTOS, STETSONS AND STORIES

This past weekend, I attended the +Bay to Ocean Writers Conference on the Eastern Shore and when I normally attend there is always a good time to be had.

This year I took publicity photos with +KRRaye +Dee Lawrence +DBCorey +Austin Camacho. You see we are the people that make up the MysterWrite and Book Divas tour groups.

Yes, they are boots and comfortable

It was the brainchild of Ramona and myself last year. Of course being called a Diva is what led to the name becoming Book Divas

Now on Feb. 22, we met up with other authors and I am so well know for my +stilettos that everyone wanted to see what pair I had on and I didn't disappoint as you can see on the right.

I never go anywhere without my 'brand'. I didn't set out for it to be this way but I'm glad that it is.

B. Swangin Webster, KRRaye and Dee

Now, since we are divas, we needed publicity photos, right. so we grabbed our camera's (OK, camera phones) and posed and got some really great shots. Of course we grabbed others into our photo session and we were actually able to get two of the MysterWrite tour group to take a photo with us as well. Now if you notice DB Corey has on a stetson. This is becoming his brand, his trademark. I first saw him at the +MDC3Conference last year and he wore a really nice Fedora and I commented. Well, I think you found your brand. He wasn't so sure and I said, "there isn't a lot of times that a guy can rock a hat, and you are ROCKING that hat". I guess he listened and now that is what people will begin to recognize.

Dee, DB Corey, B.Swangin, Austin, KRRaye

 We all have stories to tell about how much we enjoyed the Bay to Ocean conference and I am sure that the next time we all get together we will share them. But until them, I will continue to rock my Stilettos and DB Corey will continue to rock his Stetson.

What have you made it into your brand? What? You haven't done that yet, what are you waiting for?

As you can see, DB Corey and I are camera ready, him with his Stetson and me with my Stilettos, all of the time.

WHAT HAVE I DONE NOW?

I talked myself into a book tour. Yes, that's right; I am going on tour with two lovely ladies and we are #BDOT or #BookDivasOnTour.

This brain child came about as yours truly attended one of the divas book launch in September, +KR Raye is a local author who just released "The Colors Trilogy" and while talking about our respective journeys I blurted out. 'We should go on tour. Diva's on Tour could be a hit!" and she co-signed it.

Oops, did I just say that! Did I just commit myself to being on a book tour with so much stuff already going on. Yep! I damn right I did.

If I don't promote myself, who will? Besides I knew it wouldn't be hard because all I have to do is buy some killer shoes, get some books in a suitcase and pack. How hard could that be, right?

Well, when you factor in the commitment's I already have, it is going to be hard but fun! Imagine three women, oh, did I forget to mention that +Dee Lawrence would also be on tour with us. This diva is another hard working sister and with the three of us; this is going to be a great time.

So, you need to get ready. #BookDivasOnTour is hitting local cities in 2014 and we are looking to have some fun with you. Are you ready?

Contact my publicist, Sandra Bowman at: sandra.bowman@intriguepublishing.com to book us in your area.

We hope to see you soon.