Deconstructing One's Identity

As a Black Xtian, though I grew up as a church kid: VBS, Sunday School, the whole nine yards, our parents encouraged reading and learning as much outside the faith. 

Our beliefs were to ground us and to lean on, but, we were encouraged to think for ourselves, think critically, not take all of the Bible literally, and which books were contextually to be taken symbolically. 

I have been going through deconstruction myself and getting back to my Blackness and my Caribbean identity more and more as I've gotten older.

"Don't you draw any humans?"

I've always enjoyed drawing aliens and otherworldly mythic beings. And yet, I keep getting asked the same question over and over.

As I said on Twitter, random folks over the years keep asking, "But you draw animals all the time! Don't you [or] (can't) you draw humans?" 

*Me taking a deep sigh* 

Very well. Here's a human character with her furry alien lover. You're happy now?

From my working series 'Time Tiger: 4846 A.D.'

I call this piece "A Girl & Her Cat" (a play on the neverending 'A boy & his dog' media out there). 

This Caribbean-diaspora character and her alien partner are just some of the cast from my working-series titled Time Tiger Chronicles: 4846 A.D. 

These two have gone through multiple incarnations and their story has gone through several drafts and revisions, but now I think their new looks have forced more questions and the only way I can answer them is by rewriting their tale once again! 

My Deviantart is finally updated: 

➡️CopperSphinx on DeviantArt

and my artwork and story-related drafts are available firsthand on my Instagram: ➡️http://instagram.com/handdrawnbycarmenjr 

FINAL COVER REAL - Kyanite Press Journal of Speculative Fiction is AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

LOOK! LOOK! LOOK, DEAR READERS! 

It's the journal that has published MY FIRST SCI-FI STORY "The Human Network". I AM EXCITED, CAN YOU TELL?

When I receive my copy, I may do an unboxing video that you can view on my Instagram account! I will provide that video link when it's available!

In the meantime, here's the URL to purchase an ebook and/or print copy of this Kyanite Press issue!
Kyanite Press Volume 1 Issue 6 AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE

[URLs are also provided on The Angry Goblin on Wordpress and CopperSphinx on DeviantArt]

As always, please visit again and take care!

The Art of Plugging Away

Wow, I haven't done an 'Art of Plugging Away' post in a LONG time!

One of the side effects since updating my characters to Caribbean(or the diaspora), I realize I don't know how to spell most of the food/drink I've grown up with and have taken for granted.😄😍

Will list those words I had to do an Internet search on for an upcoming post.

Reclaim One's Heritage

Been struggling with a science fiction story. And then a friend from MFA program volunteered to beta-read it. Now I did most of the grammatical edits.

What's bothering me is one of the scenes I've decided to change from the alien's POV to the Jamaican-American's POV. I'm Jamaican-American or Jamerican and realized that though I can say a few words in Jamaican Patois/Patwah/Patwa, I'm illiterate when it comes to writing, reading, and can only spell certain words.

Was about to post on my Caribbean/Diaspora writers group page about me having to rewrite what a texting social media language but realized this is the difficult tasks and decisions a writer will come up against. So, I'm currently researching, remembering, and will read more on my culture's poet laureates. And while I'm remembering, will be reclaiming.