Will You Help Me Publish Brown Skin Book Five?

Lord, I'm out here on Your Word once again...

You have ordained me as a herald and through that call, I've become Your Brown-Skinned Poet. 

You've called a fellowship of your people to my aid and comfort throughout this literary journey. By Your Grace, I've established and grown this wonderful support system of avid readers, poetry lovers, faith seekers, social activists, dear family and amazing friends. And now I'm ready to publish volume five in my series of Brown Skin books. In a word, it's amazing! I really thought I was finished writing in this vein, but You are clearly not done speaking to me and through me. So I press on...

Mind you, I haven't published for love of money or fame. Truth is, neither of those things has yet been achieved in any significant measure by my poetic exploits. What has been achieved, however, is a robust and on-going conversation about the fruit of the spirit, human endeavor and enlightenment, history, race, class, culture, language, art, music, life, death and community.

Dear family, friends and supporters...for most of my life, I never, ever thought I'd write even one book. And now I'm on my fifth. I have to pinch myself sometimes when I try to believe it. Still, it's happening and I'm hoping that you'll not only come for the ride, but also help with fuel for the trip. So, while I certainly realize that this is not the conventional way of doing things, it's been my best avenue for getting my books in print, creating lasting partnerships, and extending my community of engagement. 

All the while, I've tried to keep every promise I've made and never, ever taken any of your generosity and support for granted. That said, I'd love to have you all on board for making the dream of book five a reality. That's what this campaign is all about. If I've moved you with a single stanza, a single poem, a theme, a chapter, or an entire book, please let me know with your deliberate consideration and gracious assistance. 

I've been working for a few years now on volume five and it's an exciting prospect. Along the way, I've dealt with two cancer deaths in my immediate family, a serious health scare of my own, the realities of our current political landscape, the state of our faith as Christians, the art of living, and a whole lot of other stuff that I want you to know about. If you're new to the Brown Skin program, get ready for the literary experience of a lifetime. Trust me, I'm a poet!

Book Five is called "Brown Skin and the Brave New World: A Poet's Anthem". It's comprised of a selection of my favorite pieces from the first four volumes, combined with a bunch of new work that I'm especially excited about. Humbly speaking, I think you'll be blown away by revisiting the best places we've been together and by exploring the new territory.

As always, literary rewards are in play for your support. I definitely see this as a key part of our collaboration. You guys should see the fruits of your generosity and "be first in line to break the spine" of book five. It will be a little different this time around, as the platform no longer allows us to structure reward levels within the actual campaign page. All who contribute $25 or more, however, will be contacted under separate cover and offered book-based rewards. These rewards will vary according to the amount you contribute. I also plan to acknowledge your help with shout-outs to social media! As I said earlier, I've tried to keep every promise I've made in all of our past connections. I will continued to do this, for both returning supporters and new friends of the program!

Now I fully recognize the risk of "going to the well" too often. I'm not St. Jude's Children's Hospital, Susan Komen for the Cure, the Jimmy Fund, or your collegiate Alma Mater. I don't have any right or entitlement to your benevolence; and I certainly won't hold it against anyone who says "enough already." You've been wonderful in your past support of my endeavors and I've got nothin' but love for you. 

Still, I know that I have this amazing connection of community with you, as well as this earnest and ongoing sharing of arts, letters, and the Godly spirit. You've felt my poetic vibe and been in synch' with my ideals, vision, and witness. This is what gives me confidence in making this outreach. This is why the "pros" outweigh the "cons" in speaking my truth. This is what tells me, "it's okay!"

Now I could be dead wrong. So I will speak my truth in love and live with the results. As the old Lionel Ritchie song says so simply, "Love will find a way..." I believe this in my heart, so I don't fear the ghosts of rejection, or the simple choice of refusal. Do only what feels right to you. I know that we can always agree to disagree, without being disagreeable. That's meaningful in the times we're living in.

Brown Skin and the Brave New World is going to be a beautiful thing. I'm going to be a real poet before it's over, and as that little girl used to say in that old "Shake and Bake" commercial, you'll also be able to say, "...and I helped!"  That's my story and I'm sticking to it!