Sippin on Ink...

Join me Wednesday, October 15, 2014 @ 8pm EST as I talk with author LaToya Hankins about living the words that we write…LaToya Hankins is the author of SBF Seeking, and K-Rho: The Sweet Taste of Sisterhood. She is a native of North Carolina and currently resides in Raleigh, NC. She is an East Carolina University graduate who earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism with a minor in political science. During her college career, she became a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.  Lambda Mu chapter. She currently serves as the publicity chair of the Chapel Hill, N.C. graduate chapter. Hankins currently works for the State of North Carolina in a division of the state’s Health and Human Services department.  Prior to her current employment, she worked seven and half years in the field of journalism.She is a co-founder and currently serves as the chair of Shades of Pride, a LGBT organization that hosts a yearly event in the Triangle area. SOP’s mission is to create opportunities to acknowledge and celebrate the diversity of North Carolina’s LGBTQ communities. Hankins considers writer and fellow Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. member Zora Neale Hurston as her role model for her ability to capture the essence of the African American Southern experience and living the motto, “I don’t weep at the world, I’m am too busy sharpening my oyster knife.”Email- latoya.hankins@yahoo.com  Website- www.latoyahankins.comFacebook- www.facebook.com/latoyahankins  Twitter- @hankinslatoya 

Monique ‘Being True’ Thomas is a mother, partner and “life author” who has been embracing her love of words since adolescence. She is a native New Yorker to the bone and will remain in the city that never sleeps until her time on the earth is finished. She is a former teen journalist who wrote several articles about her time in the foster care system for Represent,formally known as Foster Care Youth United, a nationally published youth magazine for teens in the system. Monique has lent her voice to the spoken word circuit as well as Blog Talk radio when she joined the ladies of Lesbian Memoirs and other internet radio shows.  Her sensual, highly erotic and thought provoking poetry has been well received by many. She has also been featured in anthologies that were published by Lesbian memoirs.     In 2012 Monique decided to finally fulfill l her dream of sharing her work with the world by self-publishing her first short story and poetry collection in her ‘Forever Tangled’ series. The following year she released not only a follow up to her short story collection but also three novellas, ‘Love Relived’, ‘In its Rawest Form’, and ‘Feeling for the wall’.  Each book touched on Monique’s feelings of romance and the realness of the presence of drama and the fight it takes to maintain a true love. Her latest book  'Surrender' is the first book of Two Hearts and a romance series. She is currently working on the second book of  the series that will have the upcoming Christmas season as its backdrop.amazon.com/author/moniquethomas

Join me August 13, 2014 @8pm EST as I talk with Immani Love about life, erotica and poetry. Are they one and the same?Immani Love was born in Philadelphia, Pa and is currently making her home in Florida performing regularly at several venues throughout the US, UK, and Europe upon booking. Recently named 2013 Erotic Poet of the Year by the National Poetry Awards and invited to perform at UK Black Pride in London, England as well as EuroPride in Marseille, France. Currently on tour throughout Europe summer 2014.Immani Love has also completed her first book of short stories in a series called “Adventures in Eroticism,” the first book is Adventures in Eroticism: Four Seasons available now on her website. Lesbian Erotica short stories where the main character is YOU! Take a trip into your fantasies with each story you read. With vivid imagery and tantalizing scenarios, these stories allow you to experience things not typically dared to be imagined! Lesbian Erotica has never had an avenue like this to explore sexuality with a sexy, yet witty outlook on intimacy. Creative locations from your own home to the Amazon Jungle, with escapades for every season...Adventures in Eroticism is sure to please on every level. Bedtime stories have never been so good! Look out for the rest of the series... Adventures in Eroticism: Workplace Adventures in Eroticism: Holiday Adventures in Eroticism: World Vacations www.ImmaniLove.com 

Join me July 30, 2014 @ 8pm EST as we have Transgender Coversations an open conversation about the ongoing issues, life and love in the community and how all this revolves around our panelists and maybe, just maybe you. Joining me will be Louis Mitchell, Reverend  Eunice “Yunus” Coldman and Jack Ori. Louis serves as the Engagement Coordinator for the TransFaith and as the Minister of Family and Congregational Life for South Congregational Church in Springfield.  He is founding member of the Trans People of Color Coalition, a member of the National Black Justice Coalition’s Leadership Advisory Council, a member of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries’ Trans-Saints. Reverend  Eunice “Yunus” Coldman is an ordained Interfaith Minister and licensed NYC Wedding Officiant. He is the CEO of Soulful Touch Ceremonies which provides ceremonial services throughout the New York tri-state area and Long Island. Having come from an Evangelical background, in 2010 he began seeking a path that included multiple spiritual walks of life and finally became an Interfaith Minister for the sole purpose of bringing life and divine love to those who seek his counsel and services.Jack Ori  likes to say that he took the “long way around” to the life he was meant to live. Born and raised as the girl he was not, he struggled with anger, depression and social difficulties that interfered with his ability to use his intelligence for anything productive. It wasn’t until he began gender transition in his early 30s that he began living up to his potential. Today, Jack is pursuing his Masters in mental health counseling at the New School in New York City while earning a living as a freelance writer and life coach for young adults.

Join us as we speak with prolific author Christiana Harrell about writing, her nomination and being her authentic self. Her first release, “GIRL: A Story for Every Les Being” became a #1 best seller in the Amazon Gay and Lesbian category on April 22, 2013. Girl Her latest accomplishment in literature came with her most recent release “Cream”, putting her up for her very first nomination—Lambda Literary Award in General Lesbian Fiction. Christiana is currently working on building her review company Sapphic Pages, which focuses on LBGTQIA Literature. Her next book is set to release this fall.christiana-harrell.comsapphicpages.com