Meet People who have been featured at the Lounge!

Mark David Gerson

In Mark's own words... I'm the author of the award-winning visionary fantasy novel, "The MoonQuest," and a book of tools, tips and inspiration for writers, "The Voice of the Muse: Answering the Call to Write," as well as creator of the 2-CD set of guided meditations for writers, "The Voice of the Muse Companion."

"The MoonQuest" takes place in a mythical time and place where storytelling has been banned and storytellers banished. As a story of empowerment and the return of vision and creativity to a silenced land, it's also a call for everyone to be free to to live and tell their stories.

"The Voice of the Muse," a book of writing inspiration and practice for novice and experienced writers alike, is a tool to reawaken and revitalize story and creativity. This book grew out of the writing classes, workshops and coaching sessions I have been offering for more than 15 years.

I love this line from the musical "Yentl": "With all there is, why settle for just a piece of sky?" All the work I do is about helping people move beyond that single piece of sky to touch the infinite of their true nature and the true nature of the infinite divinity.

Learn more about Mark by visiting his Lounge Space at: http://thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/MarkDavidGerson

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LaConnie Taylor-Jones

A native Memphian, LaConnie is a health educator consultant and holds advanced degrees in community public health and business administration. Married, she is the mother of four and resides with her family in Northern California.

For over twenty-five years, Ms. Taylor-Jones has been an avid romance reader. In the summer of 2003 a challenge from her husband made her seize the opportunity to blend her enthusiasm for teaching health, social responsibility and social justice with her love for reading the genre. Her experience as a health educator sparked a multitude of storylines and her romance, which she defines as the spirit of adventure, played a pivotal part in her road to publication. In a little over four years, she’s authored three full-length novels.

Ms. Taylor-Jones is an active member of the Contra Costa Alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the African American Community Health Advisory Committee, Black Women Organized for Political Action, and the San Francisco Area and Black Diamond chapters of Romance Writers of America.

Learn more about LaConnie Taylor-Jones by visiting her Lounge Space at: http://thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/LaConnie

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Meet LaDeana Michelle

A multi-octave vocalist, actress, producer, songwriter, scriptwriter, musician, arranger, composer, CEO, poet, author, concept designer and more, LaDeanna is a multi-talented women.

LaDeana in her own words... I love fun, comedic, outgoing, REAL folks who don't just gripe all the daggoned time. Life is too short for thaaaat! Take out the wild hair and THEN call me. Furthermore, if you are going to be long-winded, can we talk about something cool? Dang! LOL. I'm a mental, intellectual person about my business, but I am extremely FUN— wouldn't have it any other way. My employees and partners LOVE me… but don't get it twisted and let the sweet smiles fool you. I'm like the basic SISTA prototype 101--I don't take NOOOO mess! LOL.

And she goes on to say... I love kind, but spicy "take no mess" folks who are straight up with me and do what they say. I don’t like to WONDER too long… tell me what’s up, straight up. I'm adventurous… but smart enough to know not to be shark bait… to climb on TOP of the roof of that car instead of trying to outrun the huge— and rapidly approaching— angry dog… go walking alone in the forest at night… jump off a high ledge using a big rubber band with nothing but cement below (that’s Bungee jumping for the adventure impaired, LOL)… remain INSIDE the doggoned house when I hear obvious noises upstairs and ask “Who’s there?” when I already KNOW nobody’s home but me… drive on top of active train tracks with an old car… go to the beach with no sunscreen (Black folks burn, too)… leave the house with no deodorant… or bug repellent… or get eaten by somethin' in some unexplored deep underground cave. I don’t know if nobody told you, but we are NOT one with nature. You can GO ON SOMEWHERE with that. Nature will rip you a new one. LOL. I like to do things outside of the norm, though. Guess I'm a rebel like that. You can go in the front door if ya' want… I'm goin' in thru the back! They just stopped you, but I just snuck on by. LOL.

Learn MUCH more by visiting LaDeana's LoungeSpace at: http://thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/LaDeanaMichelle

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Meet Renee Williams

My Passion: Reading, reading, and did I say reading? My husband, kids and grandkids. I also love electronics and all the new technology out there.

My Dreams: My dream is to start a non-profit for women who, when recently released from prison, need a place to come where they will not be judged, ridiculed or demeaned; a place where they can take all the time they need to get themselves together before they have to tackle the cold, cruel world again. I plan to offer all kinds of services, including, but not limited to learning work related skills, finding them a job, helping them go back to school to earn their diploma, GED or a degree. Anything that will help them become a productive member of society, that is my goal.

Visit her LoungeSpace at: http://thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/ReneeWilliams
Visit her Website— Literary Signature Dinners at: www.literarysignaturedinners.com
Visit Her Blog— All The Buzz Literary Reviews at: www.allthebuzzreviews.com

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Slaine
WELCOME one and all! Slaine is continuing her mission to heal self and others by planting and weeding her thoughts about being female, a daughter, mother, sister, aunty and mentor.
'Our community is in pain right now.' She is trying to do her part by, broadcasting a LIVE weekly radio internet information show, every Tuesday between 6-8pm (London time) on playvybz.com.
What do we look for with live guests on the show? Any one, doing something positive for themselves or their community. REMEMBER your journey and story will heal and inspire others to effect change in their lives.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE INTERVIEWED OR PROFILED, JUST LET SLAINE KNOW!

- We can create a ring of love around the world
- By our thoughts & deeds
- LOVE, can heal our self and others
- LOVING one-self is the 1st step
- LOVE the skin you are in
- LOVING thoughts and deeds, will lead us all to a loving place
- A willing cause and then
- The effect will be the natural out come

What is Slaine's inspiration? Her Grandmother she never met, who had 13 children. Who speaks to Slaine in her dreams. All the sheros and heros that walked before her, so that we all could have a shorter journey. Finally Slaine says, 'Me Myself and I...'
View Slain's amazing LoungeSpace to learn much more about her: http://thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/slaine

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Chester Elmore

It is fact that in all societies, membership requires that each individual meet obligations that are essential to the development of the greater good. Historically the Artist has been assigned the role of witness to the contemporary events of the group. I offer you my humble attempt to bear witness to my time.

Chester has chosen the faces of ordinary people as the prism of reflection through his lens to the world. The emotions etched on those faces are intended to be a reflection of how effective society has collectively discharged our obligation to care for the least among us.

He has chosen Scratchboard as the medium for this body of work for several reasons. The first reason is that philosophically the rendering of objects from a pure black surface allows Chester to feel that he is discovering images that exist and that he is only a participant in making them visible. Another reason is practical in that the process is a nice fit to the way that Chester's mind is organized. The medium forces one to compose in a logical sequence so that you bring together disparate elements into a conglomerate of orders that blend to create a harmonious and aesthetically pleasing result. Finally, the limitations inherent in scratchboard forces the composer to seek the essential only. It is this essence that he endeavors to communicate.

View Chester's amazing Artwork: http://thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/ChesterElmore

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Meet Evelyn

A citizen of the world, Evelyn is a precious spirit seeking temporary expression in human form. Sprung from the Spirit of the Creator of the Universe, she is here to learn, to teach, to create, to express, to encourage to love, to forgive and to never, ever give up hope.

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." So, Evelyn says "speak up and speak out on those little injustices that you witness. Silence is the language of complicity."

An unknown wise person once quipped, "Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you can become." And so Evelyn is on the path of change, growth and personal development. She is learning to let go of the pain of the past so that I will have the capacity to handle all of the blessings that are on their way.

Visit Evelyn's Lounge Space: http://thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/Evelyn

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Saman Hasnain

Saman was born in Lahore, Pakistan, and lives in San Jose, California. She is a top Real Estate agent and Loan Officer with sixteen years experience.

Saman is also serving as Mrs. Pakistan World, 2008— competing in Mrs. World, Mrs. Globe and Mrs. Galaxy, this year representing her beloved birthplace.

Saman's Passion: She loves writing Poetry, listening to good music and reading good books. She loves her country, Pakistan and sharing her rich culture with others. She loves travelling all over the world and expressing her sense of style and culture with what she wears. In short, Seman loves life!!!

Saman's Hopes: To have a global voice for Pakistani women . To achieve a strong progressive Pakistan. To eradicate poverty and illiteracy from the world. To have peace and be an advocate of peace worldwide.

Saman's Dreams: To be a role model for all Pakistani women. To open schools and women rehabilitation centers throughout Pakistan. To see her children achieve all of their dreams.

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Meet Chrissy!

Chrissy Derksen, a devoted Wife, and Mother, loves her two children, Nina (12) and Nicolas (10) and works tirelessy, encouraging and supporting them both in their educations, as well as in sports, the arts— anything goes! She adores her pets— Skittles (dog), Meowers and Inky (cats). Chrissy has a love and passion for life, and is the glimmer of every get together— always displaying a positive, outgoing, cheerful and caring attitude towards others.

In addition to working day-to-day with Wil (Founder of The People's Lounge) within their family business, and raising their children, Christine is currently 1st Vice President of Education, and on the Board of Williams Elementary School PTA (after serving as a class-room and field-trip volunteer for more than six years). She coaches children softball and soccer as an assistant, and, Chairs for multiple fundraisers throughout her community, raising money for good causes.

Her passions include dancing, fine-dining, cooking (as long as she doesn't have to clean up the kitchen afterwards), traveling to new places and getting together with friends and family.

Visit Chrissy's Lounge Space and drop her a line >

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AuthorPoetAberjhani

A prolific author, editor, poet and publisher, as far as Aberjhani can tell, he's one of those people who were born to write because, paired with reading and editing, writing has been the only constant throughout his adult life.

AuthorPoetAberjhani studied journalism and creative writing at: Savannah State University; Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida; Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota.; Temple University in Philadelphia; and the New College of California in San Francisco.

He served his country and his writing apprenticeship as a U.S. Air Force Military Journalist in Alaska for two years, Great Britain for four, and South Carolina for two more. Aberjhani is multi-published, with an amazing breadth of subject matter.

AuthorPoetAberjhani is also the operator of his very own Social Network— Creative Thinkers International, a website community that is embracing the world through positive creativity.

Visit Aberjhani's Lounge Space: www.thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/AuthorPoetAberjhani

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Lynda J. Sanders

She can write the story, direct the play, run the video camera, and control audio sound, direct the choir and teach the music. You'll also see her dabbling in snapping picutres on her camera. She has led school assemblies, conducted graduations, created after-school programs and worked as a camp counselor.

Who is this multi-talented person, Lynda J. Sanders aka L.Jo.T.S.? Someone that has learned several skills without a degree. Instead God has been Lynda's teacher throughout her life.

Lynda has a deep concern for the lives of the youth especially young women. Lynda uses what is inside of her to encourage young women and young men to reach inside themselves to step up to the plate and excel.

A praying woman, Lynda is married to Mack a survivor who has been stricken with meningitis, has had four brain surgeries, has diabetes and high blood pressure. Her personal Jewels are her gifted children Taressa and Mack— check out myspace.com/mack_sir_bentley.

As a writer Lynda's accomplishments are three plays, Hosanna-He Reigns Forever, Let's Celebrate, One Touch from the Master with more to come. Her goal is to utilize her writing gift to inspire, teach, motivate and empower the world to use their gifts and talents to impact the world.

Now on the publishing road to success, Lynda's "Secrets of an Angel" (book cover pictured here) is a sensual, fictional novel about love, seduction, murder and how God forgives and continues to love and use people even when they mess up. Available at L.Jo.T.S@yahoo.com. Go to Lynda's blog for a complete synposis. Visit Linda's Lounge Space:

http://thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/LyndaJSanders

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LondaB

Living life to the fullest! Londa is a Publisher (Aminia Books and Publishing), Author, and Poet. In her spare time she loves to read and see who's doing what in the literary world. The rest of her time is spent helping others publish their dreams, community work, and writing.

Londa is really a simple and down to earth person. She loves comedies and any Tyler Perry production. She circles herself around positive minded and mentally grounded individuals. "Life is toooo short for drama, so please... take the hate, the lack of self-confidence elsewhere", says Londa. "I celebrate with winners only. The word loser does not exist in my vocabulary!"

To Londa, the word, "NO" simply means NOT TODAY! "Never take rejection the hard way, unless they tell you to go light yourself on fire and then jump into a lake of FIRE... keep trying!!!!!" "You will eventually get a YES!"

Visit Londas Lounge Space: http://thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/LondaB

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Sol Luckman

Sol Luckman is author of the internationally acclaimed nonfiction CONSCIOUS HEALING: BOOK ONE ON THE REGENETICS METHOD and editor of the popular ezine DNA MONTHLY.

His articles on consciousness and healing have appeared in numerous print and online venues. Australia’s NEXUS NEW TIMES called CONSCIOUS HEALING, which also received a five-star endorsement from the Midwest Book Review and was recently translated into its third language, a “paradigm-reworking book” that introduces a “revolutionary healing science that’s expanding the boundaries of being.”

In addition, Sol is author of the BEGINNER'S LUKE Series (pictured here) of seriocomic novels that irreverently explore the role of consciousness and imagination in creating reality. Luke’s signature obsessions with self, sex, satire and slapdash highlight a serious, and life-changing, point: consciousness creates. The point is there is a point to living in the imagination— for only through it can we reinvent our ourselves and our world. Reader Views likened the highly experimental yet eminently readable Book I of the Series to a “modern-day ALICE IN WONDERLAND, where anything can come alive when you start with a blank page … [Luckman] shows the reader that as individuals, we, too, have choices and potentials. There are no boundaries or rules to limit us.”

Visit Sol's Lounge Space: http://thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/Sol

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Marlive Harris

A former classroom teacher and school librarian in Texas, Marlive is fondly known among online and offline literary circles as TheGRITS.com, an acronym for “The Girl Reading In The South.com!”

Her fascination with technology, particularly the Internet, and love of literature is what led to the development of The G.R.I.T.S. Online Reading Club with good friend, Portia Dowell-Simmons in 2000, the award winning G.R.I.T.S. Kidz Book Club in 2001, and The GRITS COM Literary Service, which specializes in serving the unique web publicity needs of authors, publishers, and most literary professionals, in 2004.

Connect with Marlive at her Lounge Space: http://thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/MarliveHarris
Visit Marlive at TheGrits.com : http://www.thegrits.com

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Angee The Poet

Angela Edgar, also know as Angee… an Inspiring New Poet, has had a love of writing since her days as a young teenager. With a diverse working history spanning Retail, Video Production, finally forging a Contact Centre career in Market Research, a writing hiatus of 6 years ensued which ended in 2006.

Taking up writing all over again, Angee put pen to paper, discovering she had a talent as if it were the dawn of a new day. Poetry came thick and fast, and with this new found confidence, followed a tentative leap into the arena of Spoken Word performances.

Job cuts in 2007, gave her the freedom, time and inspiration to tackle a previously unfulfilled dream – that of writing a book. Motivated by wanting to share her previously unheard words on paper and in person, Angee realised that her poetry was inspiring to others and resonating deeply with people.

Visit Angee The Poet's Lounge Space: http://thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/1q5ndzo01skrj

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Bryan H

Rev. Joseph B. Howard, Sr., Th.D., is a third generation steel worker born amidst the red haze and dust of the steel mills in Gary, Indiana. He attended college and later joined the US Navy.

Rev. Howard has been in ministry for twenty-eight years, working as an evangelist, associate pastor, senior pastor, inspirational books author, and bible institute curriculum developer, instructor/director, and finally as an institutional chaplain.

Rev. Howard has a bachelors of arts in Adult Education, masters in Biblical Studies, and an earned doctorate in Christian Education. Dr. Howard’s new novel entitled, “Beyond the Prison Walls; by Grace Came Restoration” will be released July 2008.

Visit Bryan's Lounge Space: http://thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/BryanH

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Mary J. Dressel

Mary J. Dressel is the author of Historical, Paranormal, and Contemporary Romance. Writing is important in her life– her “warm fuzzy.” It gives her solace, and she writes because it calls her. Writing and English were always her favorite classes. Her first writing compliment came from her seventh grade Literature teacher. This spring, she’ll be teaching a Creative Writing class at a local college.

Her debut novel, Visions of Enchantment, was published December 2006. Enchantment's Embrace, Book Two in The Enchantment Series, will be released February 18, 2008. Mary also writes short stories, poetry, and essays. She’s currently finishing a vampire romance, and a contemporary romance with a lighthouse keeper hero. In between, she will be working on book three in her series which consists of four books. Mary says she has already started book four in her head!

She lived in Detroit until she was eight years old then moved to a suburb, and lived there most of her life. Three years ago she moved to West Michigan. She is mother to two of her own sons, and three stepdaughters. Her career outside of writing is in education, spent working in a middle school.

Visit Mary's Lounge Space: http://thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/MaryJDressel
Visit Mary at her Official Website: http://www.maryjdresselbooks.com

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Cheryl Robinson

After graduating from the famed Cass Technical High School, native Detroiter Cheryl Robinson headed for D.C. where she attended Howard University for two years before returning to Detroit to complete her business degree from Wayne State University. It was at Wayne State where she discovered her passion for writing when a last minute decision to enroll in a fiction writing class opened Cheryl's imagination for creating memorable characters.

In 2001, shortly after the death of her only brother Benjamin Jr., Cheryl completed her first novel, Memories of Yesterday, which was dedicated to his memory. The following year Cheryl self-published Memories of Yesterday. And in 2003, her second novel When I Get Free. In 2004, after acquiring a literary agent, she landed her first book deal with New American Library (NAL) a division of The Penguin Group, a major publishing company based in New York that re-released Memories of Yesterday in 2005 under the title If It Ain't One Thing with the sequel It's Like That also published by NAL the following year.

Two more book deals followed; one with HarperCollins Publishing company for the anthology These Are My Confessions in which Cheryl penned the novella Strapped, which will be released in July 2007 and another novel with Penguin (NAL) entitled Sweet Georgia Brown, which will be released in December 2007.

Aside from Detroit, Cheryl has also had the opportunity to live in Syracuse, Kansas City, Dallas, and Orlando, but so far her novels have all been set in the city that she knows the best--Detroit.

Visit Cheryl's Lounge Space: http://thepeopleslounge.ning.com/profile/CherylRobinson
Visit Cheryl at her Official Website: http://www.cherylrobinson.com