6 Secrets About the Blue Marlin Restuarant featured in “Moment of Truth”

My debut novel, Moment of Truth, is set in my hometown of Columbia, SC. Here are some secrets about a location visited in the book.

  • The Blue Marlin Restaurant is located in the downtown area of Columbia, SC is known as the Congaree Vista, or simply The Vista.

  • The restaurant is housed in the former train station. Today a venue for fine dining, this distinctive circa-1912 building was known for decades as a hub for transportation into and out of the capital city. Its adjacent loading platform and the Seaboard Air Line Railroad baggage room, a smaller, circa-1905 building to the north, reveal the property’s original function. Both buildings benefited from adaptive efforts that transformed the Vista into a vibrant commercial and residential district.

  • Well into the early 1980s, the Vista’s light industrial and mercantile character remained largely unchanged. However, twenty years earlier much of its residential life had been erased through Fight Blight programs instigated by national trends in urban renewal. Totally lost was the almost exclusively African-American neighborhood known as Ward One, whose modest houses, stores, schools and churches fell for the construction of such buildings as the Carolina Coliseum in 1968. The new view by city planners was this district that lay within the shadow of the State House was ripe for redevelopment – a vision that would change its landscape within the next generation.

  • The shrimp and grits are a signature dish.
  • My favorite is the Firecracker Flounder with fries and greens along with a cup of She Crab Soup.
  • Adrienne and Christopher dine here after their visits to schools for his daughter.

#books #book #read #reading #reader #page #pages #paper #instagood #kindle #nook #library #author #bestoftheday #bookworm #readinglist #love #photooftheday #imagine #plot #climax #story #literature #literate #stories #words #text #goodreads #ebook #getcaughtreading #michelledrayford #mdrayfordwrites

http://bit.ly/MomentofTruthMDR

SORMAG’S Online Book Festival

I’m a participating author for SORMAG’s Online Book Festival.  Join me for three days of book fun.

Register at the link below and tell them Michelle sent you.

http://bit.ly/SOBF20  

#SOBF20 #mdrayford #mdrayfordwrites

Wednesday Writing Tip – Research the Craft

In order to craft a story, you need to learn the structure of storytelling. Here are some resources that I recommend:

These books are the ones I turn to when I need a refresher on any matter when crafting my stories.

Most of us know the basic of telling a story. You need an opening hook, a middle and then the climax. The trick is how to mold the story to engage the reader. It pays to read craft books to get a greater understanding.

Another very important thing to do is read books in the genre you want to write in. Read, read, read. And then write your story.

Photo by Andrew Neel on Unsplash

Wednesday Writing Tip

The great Toni Morrison once said, “If there is a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, you must be the one to write it.”

Write your story. Worry about selling/marketing it later.

#writinglife #stories #writer #mdrayfordwrites

Free Writing Seminars

The National Bestselling authors of Naleighna Kai’s Tribe Called Success have come together to give authors a free one-hour platform to learn from their experiences and process in writing as well as answer questions for beginners and seasoned authors alike. Each session starts at 7:30 p.m. CST, Thirty-minute instruction, thirty-minute Q&A.
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London St. Charles, Friday, May 29
J. D. Mason, Saturday, May 30
Marze Scott, Monday June 1
Naleighna Kai and J. L. Woodson, Wednesday Jun 3
Shakir Rashaan, Saturday, June 6
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The FB Room in Naleighna Kai’s Literary Cafe only holds a limited amount of people. A link will be sent to all attendees. Please arrive on time. A course packet will be sent to all attendees.
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Register online at: https://bit.ly/thewritestuff2 or
www.thecavalcadeofauthors.com
LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE

If You’re Looking For Me

CAVALCADE OF AUTHORS at the BLACK WOMEN’S EXPO CHICAGO April 3-5, 2020

Meet and greet the following authors in the LITERARY CAFE, and Booths 120, 124, 126, 128

Naleighna Kai, J. L. Woodson, Brian W. Smith,
J. L. Campbell, Karen D. Bradley, Janice M. Allen, Lisa Watson, Sierra Kay, Terri Ann Johnson, Michelle D. Rayford, MarZe Scott, London St. Charles, Betty Clawson, Ehryck F. Gilmore, Ann Clay, Janine Ingram, Sesvalah, S. F. Hardy, Michele Sims, Dr. Tanesha House, and others.

Special cafe pricing on Autographed books!!! Some will be 2 for $20.
Genres: Contemporary fiction, romance, Christian Fiction, suspense, mystery, erotica, thrillers, self-help, memoirs, and Children’s books

Free book with purchase. Stop by and say hi and pick up the free downloads from Tribe, LaVerne Thompson, and Naleighna Kai.

Special Performance by SUSPICIOUS PACKAGE (as seen at Chicago’s Second City), sponsored by Sierra Kay.

Three authors will read from their books at the top of every hour.

Giveaways and raffles every hour, sponsored by the authors, Dudley Beauty College, Book Lover’s Con, Genesis Print and Copy Services

WE ARE HOSTING A READER APPRECIATION EVENT on Saturday, April 4, 2020 at 8:00 pm at the Hilton McCormick – 123 E. Cermak in the Auburn & Cord Ballrooms. Sponsored by Dudley Beauty College and Plano Eye Center (free eye screenings on site)

Cafe Members, Ambassadors, and fans are able to attend as our honored guests. Please email an RSVP with the name and email of your guests (4 max per person) to Naleighnakai@gmail.com.

FREE writing and publishing workshop at the Black Women’s Expo on Saturday, April 4 from 11:00 to 12:30 pm and marketing and promotion workshop on Sunday, April 5, from 12 to 1:30 pm

cavalcadeofauthors #shematters #naleighnakai #NKTribecalledsuccess #COA2020 #getcaughtreading #blackwomensexpo #literarycafe

2019 EMMA Awards

CONGRATULATIONS TO TRIBE MEMBER TERRI ANN JOHNSON AND NKPP MEMBER VANESSA RILEY FOR THEIR NOMINATIONS.

2019 Emma Award Finalists Announced

Romance Slam Jam (aka the RSJ Book Lovers Convention), the networking event for diversity in literature, announces the finalists for the 2019 Emma Awards. The Emma — the premier award for diversity in romantic literature — recognizes excellence in published romance novels, novellas, and women’s fiction featuring diverse and multicultural protagonists (such as black, African-American, Latino American, Hispanic Americans, biracial, etc.). Winners will be announced on Sunday, August 11, 2019.

BEST INSPIRATIONAL/SPIRITUAL ROMANCE
*******”Faith Alone” by Terri Ann Johnson*********
“Butterfly Arising” by Landis Lain�“Love At First Sight” by Cheryl Barton

BEST INTERRACIAL ROMANCE
“Pleasure Awakening” by Stephanie Morris
*******”Bittersweet Bride” by Vanessa Riley********
“Crazy Old Money” by Kilby Blades
“Within The Skin” by Zara West

DEBUT AUTHOR
Arron Braxton
******Terri Ann Johnson****
Michele Sims

Have You Tried These Stories?

BE SURE TO GET YOUR COPY TODAY!!!
.99 OR FREE IN KINDLE UNLIMITED

Not that Nice by Michelle D. Rayford

A tragic accident took the life of Kelsee’s mother whose dying words were, “Always save yourself first”. She kept that in mind until she met a real-life hero, Officer Alex Williams. Their marriage wasn’t a fairytale but Kelsee holds out hope that a child can save their union. But can the ultimate betrayal cause her to lose everything?

https://amzn.to/2RADsJM

Sweet Whispers of the Devil by Sierra Kay
Victoria Hall’s son is missing—her worst nightmare realized. A nightmare made even more terrifying because, he’s in the hands of her father, a bounty hunter intent on connecting with his relations regardless of their attempts to escape his grasp.

#NKTCS #KindleReads #ShortStories #mdrayfordwrites