An Ode to a Frenemy of Mine

Tom Deriggi and I came from completely different backgrounds, but, as the universe would have it, our paths intertwined. He was a heavyset guy with bright red flushed cheeks that seemed to accentuate his greyish blue eyes. Politically, we were on two opposite spectrums: Tom on the far right, arms folded, chest out; me onContinueContinue reading “An Ode to a Frenemy of Mine”

Your Manuscript Has Been Rejected. Now What?

You’ve spent 100 million hours writing, rewriting and editing and proofreading your novel and then BOOM! every agent and publisher you sent it to rejects it. Now what? That question could be a hard one. Some writers would just move on to the next project. Before doing that, I ask, what did the rejection lettersContinueContinue reading “Your Manuscript Has Been Rejected. Now What?”

The Mortality of the Writer

Last night, I saw two people die in a car accident. Their car hit a pole, splitting the hood in two. I opened the driver’s side door to see if I could help, but the interior was so mangled, I knew he was gone. I went around to the passenger side and saw a guyContinueContinue reading “The Mortality of the Writer”

Download My New Sci Fi Novel “Operation Soul Cast”

Operation Soul Cast is my hottest new Science Fiction novel published by Solstice Publishing. Find out what happens when #NorthKorea drops a bomb on America and a scientist who is brought back from the dead becomes a bloodthirsty beast. https://www.amazon.com/Operation-Soul-Cast-Jermaine-Reed-ebook/dp/B07GYWZKW9?keywords=Operation+soul+cast&qid=1536959307&sr=8-1-fkmrnull&ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmrnull_1

Our Own Sort of Fun

Drugs. Violence. Police brutality. Hate. Love. Love. Love.  In 1995, if you would have read about the Robert Taylor projects, the news report would probably have headlined something like this:  “17 Men Arrested in Drug Sting at Robert Taylor Homes.”  But inside those forsaken buildings where no one but those who lived there would haveContinueContinue reading “Our Own Sort of Fun”

Manuscript Anxiety

I once read somewhere the hardest part of writing comes after the manuscript is complete. Later, I read that all first drafts were trash. I thought the people who wrote those things were idiots. How wrong I was. Some people have problems putting words on the page. This is why most manuscripts are never finished.ContinueContinue reading “Manuscript Anxiety”

Inspiration Comes from Everywhere

As you’ll find if you read my blog thoroughly enough, I grew up in the Robert Taylor Projects on the Southside of Chicago. If you do any research, you’ll find it was not the ideal place to grow up, being overwhelmed with drugs and gang activity. But it is where I am from, and IContinueContinue reading “Inspiration Comes from Everywhere”

A Personal Reflection on the Business of Self-Publishing

As a self-published writer, I find myself seeking tools that can not only help me sell more books but that can also help me in my writing process. To help other writers braving this unforgivable landscape we call self-publishing, I am writing this blog “The Business of Self-Publishing.” The greatest advice I can give toContinueContinue reading “A Personal Reflection on the Business of Self-Publishing”

Increasing Book Sales With KDP Rocket

*Updated 01/25/2025 This article is about how to increase book sales with Publisher Rocket. As a note, “Publisher Rocket” is formerly “KDP Rocket”. It was designed by Dave Chesson, This is a Publisher Rocket review that’s straightforward and describes the benefits of the program. To continue, Publisher Rocket is a program that is not aContinueContinue reading “Increasing Book Sales With KDP Rocket”

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck is not your normal self-help book, and it is not for the faint of heart. This book doesn’t coddle you into feeling better or amp you up into believing you can do anything. Instead, it tells you how life is and suggests that you just deal withContinueContinue reading “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck”