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Check out Samantha’s author interview with SWFL Online News — BETWEEN THE COVERS

Author Samantha Caprio-Negret | Between The Covers…

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How I manifested being a published children’s book author and screenwriter…

When I was a child at the innocent age of six, my favorite grandmother passed away. I didn’t know how to process death. All I knew was I wanted my beloved grandmother back, and I wanted to feel her spirit. I didn’t know how, I just wanted to connect with her again. I subconsciously found a way to do that. Soon after her death, I stumbled upon her booklet of poetry. I didn’t know my grandmother was a writer. I read her material, and I felt like I was reading a famous poet’s work. I was flabbergasted. It was like this mysterious secret about my grandmother unfolded right before my eyes. I wanted to be just like her — just like that! So, I bought a black-and-white notepad and pencil and started creative writing my own short stories and poetry. Let me also mention, I was obsessed with rainbows, drawing and coloring them as a kid too. I had no idea why then, but later on in life, it came back around full circle…all of it.

Fast forward to my early twenties. After two years at Florida State University with an undecided major, a boyfriend who was in a serious car crash and badly injured, I decided to move back home to Cooper City, FL and attend Florida International University in North Miami. Part of the reason I moved back home was to be closer to him. By the way, he is now my husband, and it’s because of that car accident we’re still together, twenty-years later. Another story of manifestation for another time. I didn’t know what I wanted to major in until my father suggested I would be good in Journalism/Broadcasting. I never thought of it. I was lost and confused at the time about my passion, and he thought it would be good for me because he knew I enjoyed writing and didn’t mind being in front of a camera. I went for it; I’m so glad I did. It turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life, because it taught me how to be a better writer, the craft of telling a good story, learning how to listen and interview to make for a better storyteller, and also it helped perfect my grammar. After graduation, I had my heart set on becoming a journalist/broadcaster and interviewer. However, fate had other plans.

Months and months lead into years, and I couldn’t find my dream job. I resorted back to bartending for awhile after college to pay my bills, and I even took up traffic producing at one point. I hated it and was miserable. My living arrangements and relationship hit a low and big turning point, and I was forced to make personal decisions that affected my professional ones. I eventually decided not to move out of state, to stay behind and support my fiancé who was then in nursing school. I didn’t want to leave him. Our relationship was on the rocks, and in order for it to work, I had to actually put in the work. I chose us. So, my broadcast/journalism dreams were put on the back-burner. Boy oh boy, I’m so glad they were. All of this happening behind the scenes, I later learned, was all part of a much bigger plan. I was not meant to find a dream job in journalism. Thank heavens for that, because as I see journalism today, I do not have the backbone or am not meant for it. Through that time during rebuilding our relationship and planning a wedding, I wanted to get back to my love of telling stories and creative writing. I also began working with my mom and her charity, which benefits the special-needs’ population, including autism. She needed help at the time with opening up a residential facility, fundraising, and public relations, and media press releases on it. Fortunately for her, my work with journalism school and internship at WSVN 7 News in Miami with Entertainment TV (Deco Drive), I had exactly what she was looking for. Coincidence? I think not. The stars were aligning. Manifestations and dreams were taking place behind the scenes.

During this time, I came up with the idea of a humorous, animal-talking, chapter book called, MURPHY: THE PHAT CAT. It was based on the inspiration and my real-life pet and black cat, Murphy, who reached thirty-five pounds at one point. I’ve always had a lot of pets; my family and I are animal lovers! I wondered how my pets would sound if they could talk. What their personalities would be like if they came to life on paper? That is how MURPHY: THE PHAT CAT manifested. It’s about a cool, 35lb. (phat, not fat) cat named Murphy who must try and save his fellow, furry friends in their peaceful suburban neighborhood from a gang of bullying burrowing owls who have recently moved in causing chaos…paid in return with tuna fish. I wanted to originally write this as a screenplay. I bought a book on how to write one and quickly became discouraged when I read one’s chances in Hollywood of ever getting picked up, and it being made into a movie.  Self-doubt crept in and won. So, I decided I’d have a better shot of it ever reaching an audience if I wrote it as a children’s book — another great decision that set me up for my manifestations to unfold, even though I didn’t know it yet. I had no idea what adventure I was about to embark on, and how it would mold and teach me to become a published, children’s book author, and eventually, screenwriter. Not overnight, though. It took years and years.

After writing MURPHY: THE PHAT CAT as a book, I joined SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators), went to conferences, joined writers’ critique groups, met other children’s book writers, did many revisions on the manuscript, and realized this is what I wanted to do with my life. It wasn’t just a hobby anymore. It was my life’s dream, passion, and career path. I perfected it best I could. I submitted the book to hundreds of agents and publishers (combined) to no avail — rejection after rejection. Years of discouragement. During those years, my best friend of seventeen-years died in a tragic accident at only the ripe young age of twenty-eight. I was in a dark place, and I needed to use writing as my therapy. This story came to life inside of me, and I had to tell it. RAINBOW CRYSTAL was my second children’s book, yet first to be published. MURPHY: THE PHAT CAT was meant to be put on hold for a little while.

RAINBOW CRYSTAL was manifested through my pain. It is a middle-grade, fantasy novel about a ten-year-old girl who loses her best friend in a tragic accident, and shortly learns thereafter that she is the chosen one to journey through a magical world inside a rainbow to return a powerful crystal back to its wizard owner, which was stolen by an evil witch and her trolls. It’s a book about true friendship, grief, and finding hope again after loss. It’s also a magical, adventurous book filled with mystical and mythical creatures. There’s that rainbow I was talking about earlier. I colored them as a kid, now I was venturing through one in a book. Not to mention, that our charity was also named RAINBOW GUARDIAN. WIZARD OF OZ was always a family favorite around our house. It all came back around, like I said earlier. Another finished book. Years of writing, and more years of rejection. But, I never stopped submitting and believing in my dreams.

I did the journaling. I wrote my dreams and manifestations down, including on the Postcards to the Universe postcards. I also created vision boards and did life coaching work. I got knocked down over and over, but I continued to get back up. I wouldn’t let it stop me. I kept saying it would happen, even in my darkest days when I doubted myself and was in a self-pitying party of despair. I never gave up. I just kept going. Failure was not an option. Then, one day, it just happened. I got that letter from my publisher. “We love your book. We want to publish it. Welcome to the family!” It was one of my deepest and greatest dreams come true! It didn’t happen overnight, and it definitely didn’t happen in the way that I thought it would, but it happened in the way and in time that it was meant to. It all unfolded divinely perfect. I manifested it because I didn’t stop working for, believing, and visualizing it. I also believe in more and even BIGGER dreams and blessings to come in. I’m just getting started.

RAINBOW CRYSTAL was released on May 15, 2018. The book cover art design came out more beautiful than I ever envisioned, and my book-launch event was a dream come true! That was everything I ever envisioned and more. Then, it happened again. Four months after RAINBOW CRYSTAL was released, I got a second letter from another publisher. They wanted to publish MURPHY: THE PHAT CAT. It said it again, “Welcome to the family!” No better feeling than that. My first literary baby. Bittersweet. Finally…out there into the world. And guess when I got the news? On my birthday. Yup! It was my personal gift of manifestation from the universe. It was saying, “This is your purpose. This is why you’re here. This is your present.” It will be released August 2019. Let me also mention that I received the publishing contract for RAINBOW CRYSTAL on the one-year anniversary of Murphy’s death, and I signed the contract on my sister, Melisa’s, birthday. More coincidences? I think not again. All of my dreams coming to fruition, and on the special dates that were meaningful to me, were only signs from the universe that it was all meant to be and unfolding exactly the way that it was meant to.

Let me mention that during all the years of writing these two books, I took breaks to have a family. I currently have two children, Bella (8) and Lorenzo (4). But, I also simultaneously wrote my screenplay, MANO NERA (BLACK HAND). After a fate encounter with a movie producer, another opportunity presented itself. It’s a true story about my Italian great-grandparents who beat all the odds against them. MANO NERA is a murder-revenge-love-story and time period piece. It’s still looking for the right home in Hollywood, but after all that has happened with my children’s books, I believe it will. It will fall exactly in the right hands at the right time. My point here? You remember the book I told you I bought on how to learn to write MURPHY: THE PHAT CAT as a script? I never used it for that. But, when it came time, I needed it for MANO NERA. When I bought the book, I never realized that one day it would be for a much better purpose. I manifested the screenplay the day I bought the book on how to write one. You see…God would not plant the seed of desire in your soul if you weren’t meant to do it. The dream, passion, wish is in you for a reason. Go after it! Believe in it. Never ever give up on it, and you will manifest it! I know, because I did.Murphy the Phat Cat by Samantha Caprio-NegretMANO NERA Sccreenplay by Samantha Caprio-Negret and Richard Price Sorin

 

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Author Interview Blog — 9/28/18

What an incredible author interview done on me by a young lady named, Sarka, in the UK! Thank you.

Check it out here on her blog:

https://sarkafiction.weebly.com/blog

 

INTERVIEW WITH SAMANTHA CAPRIO

9/28/2018

Q: So for the ones who have not read your book can you briefly introduce it? Obviously without giving too much away!

A: The tragic loss of her best friend, Josie Lee, leaves ten-year-old Seraphina questioning her destiny, until she learns she’s the chosen one. Seraphina is whisked away by a frantic, talking butterfly on a quest to bring order back to a world inside a rainbow called Raiven with its six different, colored- realms by finding and returning a powerful rainbow crystal back to its wizard owner, which was stolen from an evil witch and her trolls. Raiven is a bridge between heaven and earth; Seraphina is motivated by the knowledge that she will get to see her best friend’s dead spirit through magical fairies and their pixie dust. Seraphina will even meet and bond with a warrior fairy-boy and her own unicorn, which she unknowingly birthed through a wish on a shooting star. Throughout her journey, she passes a series of tests and discovers self-confidence and hope with the help of supernatural characters who guide her along the way. Most importantly, she learns that Josie Lee is more of a guardian angel to her than she realizes and has never really left her side after all. It doesn’t even require magic, just faith.

Q: Can you tell us more about the main character and where the inspiration comes from?

A: Seraphina is a nine-going-on-ten-year-old insecure, cuticle-biting, gullible girl who has recently moved from NJ to FL. She is afraid she won’t make any new friends in her new hometown. She wants to escape her reality, because of parents who just don’t understand her pessimistic attitude about it, and her special-needs’ older sister who can drive her crazy. That is until she meets and befriends Josie Lee, and they become inseparable best friends and soul sisters. Seraphina then starts to let her personality and strength come out and unfold. After the tragic loss of Josie Lee, Seraphina learns she is the chosen one with a very important mission in a magical world. Through her journey, she passes a series of tests that teach her life lessons about love, true friendship, hope, and courage. 

This book was inspired by the real-life friendship and loss of my own best friend. Through my grief, and for my own therapeutic reasons, RAINBOW CRYSTAL, was written an manifested.

Q: And how do you relate to the story?

A: In so many ways, because Seraphina is based on my character as a child, real-life parents, and special-needs’ sister. Seraphina’s best friend in the story, Josie Lee, is based on my childhood friendship and loss. Both of our realities inspired parts in my book, but obviously, it’s the fantasy elements that are fictitious. There are some conversations and things in the book, though, that really did happen in the past. For example, we did that cutting of our thumbs so we could become blood-sisters. 

Q: What message do you want your young readers to take away from the book?

A: Real friendships will stand the true test of time and space and life events (good or bad). Childhood friendships define us and change us. They are essential to our well-being and mold us as adults. Also, we all have our realities that we’d like to escape. I created a world where kids can be able to do that, if they feel the need to from time to time. Especially, if they are dealing with their own loss. I want them to know death is not the end. Our souls just transcend to another realm. Our loved-ones are there, watching and guiding over us. Also, we will come out of the other side whole again. We may feel broken and hopeless, but the rainbows are a sign for us to never lose that hope. Sometimes, we just have to hold on a bit longer — we have to weather that storm to get to the rainbow. Life will move on and so will passed souls, however, the love and memories will never go away. Those people, friendships, love, and time shared will last for eternity. “That” is what will give us faith, hope, and the strength to go on. That strength is more powerful than we even realize; it’s through that courage that we will learn more about ourselves than we ever knew was even inside of us. Magic exists — it’s in the belief that greater and much bigger things are in store for us. But, you musn’t ever give up. 

Also, I wrote this book to honor the life, memory, and influence of my best friend. I hope and believe (somewhere she’s watching), and I have made her proud.

Q: Did you always want to be a writer?

A: I didn’t know that I always wanted to be a fiction writer (like as a career), but I’ve been writing since I was a child. It started with short stories and poetry. I graduated from Florida International University with a BS in Journalism/Broadcast and really learned the craft of writing/grammar. I briefly wrote for WSVN 7Entertainment News (Deco Drive) and for Traffic Pulse Networks doing traffic producing. After graduating and taking months to find a job as a broadcaster, I began creative writing on the side. I first had an idea about a humorous, animal-talking chapter book (early reader), which was inspired by my fat, 35 lb., black cat named Murphy, and all the pets I’ve owned over the years. My husband and I are huge animal-lovers! So, I always wondered what they would sound like if they could talk, based on their personalities. Through that, my first children’s book was written and created, MURPHY: THE PHAT CAT. By the way, I just received a publishing contract on this book two days ago from Burchette & Ferguson. RAINBOW CRYSTAL was actually my second children’s book written. It was published on May 15, 2018 with Clean Reads (Astraea Press). 

Q: How long did it take you to write Rainbow Crystal and can you tell us a little bit about the writing process?

A: I started writing RAINBOW CRYSTAL in 2009. Overall, it was a very long and strenuous process, but I took breaks in between — having my two children and writing and working on a screenplay. Yes, I am also a screenwriter. I had many years of critiques, revisions, and a writing coach help me with it. It was not an overnight success. I submitted for a couple of years with many rejections, until one day I participated in #Pitmad on Twitter. I received a like on my pitch from an editor, submitted to her, and signed a week later. The rest is history. 

Q: Anything you would like to say to your readers?

A: I loved working on RAINBOW CRYSTAL. It brought me so much joy, and it was my therapy during a dark place in my life. Something magnificently beautiful came out of that darkness. With that being said, writing a novel takes years and years of practice, hard work, perseverance, and patience. I believe in doing what you love — living your passion — whatever it is. However, in order for anything to be successful, you must work hard at it and never ever give up, even when people tell you, “no.” Most importantly, you must never stop believing in yourself and your dreams. 

Q: And the last question: What is next for you? I am sure the readers are already anticipating a book number 2!

A: Yes, there is a book number 2. I’ve started writing the sequel. I’m four chapters in with, RAINBOW CRYSTAL: The Special Boy Who Could. Two new friends will enter in. One will be an autistic boy with special powers who will change Seraphina’s destiny and enter into the magical world of Raiven with her. There will also be an evil warlock with his two gargoyles and personal dragon. I can not say more than that… you will just have to stay tuned and read it to know how the story ends. 

Q: Thank you so much for the interview! I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions and all the best on your writing journey!

Samantha’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/samcap924
Website: https://www.samanthacaprio-negret.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samcap924/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rainbowcrystal128/

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“The kind of beauty I want most is the hard-to-get kind that comes from within — strength, courage, dignity.” Ruby Dee

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I wanted to remember this moment always, so I captured it.
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It was the evening of my launch/book-signing event. I came home so tired, yet on a high from my emotions and surreal moment in time. It was a night I dreamt about for so long! I looked at myself in the mirror, and I remembered thinking how pretty my make-up looked, and I didn’t want to take it off. I wanted to stay like “that” forever.
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But, it wasn’t the make-up that made me feel that way. It helped, of course. I’ve had make-up on plenty of nights before, but I never felt like that. No, it was my self-confidence. My huge accomplishment! My dream coming to fruition. It was my night. I owned every part of it. I was an on-top-of-the-world author for a night; I felt like Carrie Bradshaw’s character from SEX IN THE CITY. LOL! The beauty I felt, that I saw, was coming from the inside. That’s true beauty. That’s true happiness (just highlighted with some smokey eyes and red lips). It’s a feeling like no other. Self-worth; self-love. Knowing I’ve set my mind to something grand, and I achieved it ~ knowing that I was the one responsible for making one of my greatest wishes come true. I did it! I took action and went after it. I believed. There’s no one or nothing that can take that away. It’s true authentic power ~ the power from within. I felt it, and I never want to forget it.
“The kind of beauty I want most is the hard-to-get kind that comes from within — strength, courage, dignity.” Ruby Dee

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Don’t waste words on people who deserve your silence

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Stop wasting your words and energy on people who have not earned or deserve a place in your life anymore. The lesson has been met. They’ve served their purpose, now release them. Life-long relationships are a true privilege.
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Life is precious and so is your time. You can not make people see the light of day or see your worth; you can no change people or chase them down. You can not save people from their own troubles, and you definitely can not make someone love or respect you or want to be a part of your life. You can’t control someone, and you can’t control how they react to you or have treated you, but you can, however, control how you react to them.
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One of my biggest and most rewarding, life-changing methods to that response has been this, “Read my lips…?.” That’s right, nothing. People in my life were always so use to me lecturing them, telling them the truth, making them see the light of day, or what a good friend or asset I was to them, why weren’t they to me… blah, blah, blah. Pointless. Powerless. Changes nothing. But the biggest statement of all — the one that speaks louder than any of it… silence. That’s right. Because the ones who are worth fighting for, are the ones you will make time and noise for. The ones who have lost their seat at your table, are the ones who have shown you time and time again who they really are. One way to know is, you just don’t like what you see or how they make you feel. Trust me, they’ll show you again. For those people? The best response is only one response. Silence. Period. Don’t even waste your precious time. Save it for those who matter. If they haven’t earned a spot for you in those two MOST needed times in your life (BEST & WORST), they definitely haven’t earned it back from you, that’s for sure. I’ve always said, “Don’t worry when I argue with you, worry when I stop. Because, that means there nothing left to fight for.”
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This can also be applied to anyone or any situation that deflates your energy or that’s toxic. Maybe it’s someone you work with or even gossipers or haters. Those people are only projecting their own insecurities onto you, or are jealous or envious. The best response? None. Move on. They’re not worth your time. And truth be told, if they’re wasting their precious energy talking about or hating on you, they don’t have anything interesting enough going on in their own life; let it be their problem, because it is. Plus, it only means… you must be doing something right.
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The beautiful part about it all, is when you truly recognize your value — your worth — you don’t see it as your loss, but feel sorry for them for theirs. Keep smiling, keep quiet, but just keep moving forward. They have no power over you unless you allow it. Remember… “How people treat you is their karma, how you react to it is yours.”
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Shh! Listen to that. Ahh! Peaceful quiet. No drama. No energy wasted. Now you have it for more important people and things in your life.

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Finding Strength and Hope After Weathering Hurricane Irma

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Strength & Hope

Two weeks ago, I posted a picture of a rainbow over our house. It was four days before Hurricane Irma hit our beautiful state of Florida. All of us were feared & frantic, as we sat and waited for this ravaging beast, slowly approaching. We had no idea what the outcome would be (the ugly side of nature). Through the anticipation, I saw this vision, and this symbol (the beautiful side of nature) ~ a rainbow, right over the backyard of our house. This was “my” sign that all would be okay.

It was okay. It is. If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it. After the storm, the sun will come out again. You must get through the rain, to get to the rainbow. It was there to show me ~ and to all who also saw it as well and now ~ a glimpse of “hope.”

It doesn’t mean that there wasn’t an extreme amount of stress, anxiety, sleepless nights, no power, heat exhaustion, clean-up, keeping kids busy and safe, etc… but we are still okay. We’re safe. We made it through ~ to the rainbow. Our homes are okay. It could’ve been much worse. I am so grateful. I say this while expressing my deepest thoughts and prayers to the people who lost theirs in the Caribbean and the Keys (they got hit the worst)! Also, to the people of Puerto Rico and Mexico who are currently dealing with their own natural disasters.  But, they will rebuild. They are strong. Life finds an amazing grace to somehow move on. Florida has always been resilient and strong, which brings me to the next word I want to empathize, “strength.”

There is good that always comes from bad, and it’s necessary for our growth. Because through Irma’s furry, she showed us where we have our own, where we are weak, what needs cleansing and fixing, and what no longer is working. She made us get out with the old and in with the new. She made us face our fears, in order to see where our faith and courage lie.

This storm and aftermath of it brought on many challenges to me, my family, and I know, many others. I won’t elaborate too much because I’d be here forever. But let’s just say we faced, we came together, and we conquered. However, she didn’t just do that for me. I’m sure, Irma did that for many, many others as well and is continuing on doing that.

She may have showed us where our weaknesses are and where we can improve, but mainly it showed us how strong we are as a unit, how we can truly come together, and how we can endure (putting everything else aside). That’s the gift that Irma gave us. She showed us that we’re stronger than we realize. Through our strengths come our greatest gifts to ourselves and the world.

Through support and unity, we are unbreakable. The spirit is a pretty incredible entity, isn’t it? It truly is unbreakable. And when we have no other choice but to be strong, we are. Stronger than we know.

I believe that these natural disasters that are currently going on is not God punishing us, because God is an all-loving, non-judgemental God who doesn’t punish us.  No. No. We find a way of doing that all on our own.  This is a collective energy field that we have created. Our thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and decisions all produce energy.  This energy goes out there into the universe.  Just think about how fierce that energy has been in the world lately!  It has to go somewhere and form into an even greater energy force.  These storms are a really large mirror image of what we have going on inside ourselves – rage, furry, disaster, strength, fighting, destroying, and cleansing, etc… it is us. Once we figure out our own storm inside, and cleanse ourselves, that’s when it stops.  It always comes back down to making us see what is inside ourselves, fix it, rid of what’s no longer right, cleanse, rebuild and move on.  Not to punish, but to make better. Because ultimately, that is the cycle of life.  Part of life is our Mother Nature who provides us with home and shelter.  Our home and shelter must be shaken to its core (how we survive) that leads us to strength and hope.  Strength and hope is how we get through it, and not how we get knocked down, but how we rebuild.  It’s these two traits that provide courage among the ones who become the fittest who survive, and through it all, we will!  We will get to that beautiful, immaculate rainbow again and again.

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Validate yourself, and the whole world will follow

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Start celebrating your accomplishments NOW… don’t wait, because there is much to celebrate!
It’s about embracing the journey, the process… it’s not about the destination.
One thing I’ve been working on this year is saying more positive thoughts about myself, acknowledging myself more, and my accomplishments, and where I *am* showing up in my life! Because truth be told, we can be our own worse critics ~ harder on ourselves than even others are.
What our world looks like around us, our relationships, and how people test you, are a reflection on how you view and treat yourself. I’ve learned that it always comes back down to you; it’s really not about anyone else.
So one BIG thing I’ve been working on is validation, especially as a writer. Not being published or picked up ‘yet’… notice I say that word, “yet.” That’s critical, because I know it will happen. What’s frustrating is that a lot of times you’re not validated by people around you, sometimes friends or family, and society. They say things like, “It’s not a real paying job!” One I get that drives me bonkers is, “You don’t work; What you do is just a hobby.” Oh you bet your a** I do! No, it’s actually my career path. It’s just all still behind the scenes. The audience/my future fans just haven’t seen my final results, ‘yet.’ There’s that word again. So, it’s time for me to start validating myself more. I don’t need to wait to celebrate or for anyone else to see it, because my accomplishments are NOW, and I’ve realized they’re worth recognizing!
I’ve worked extremely hard ~ years, hours, minutes of my life of writing, critiquing, revising, querying, submitting, rejections, conferences, workshops, doors opening, doors closing, and starting the process all over again. I just do it for myself, I work for me, no one else. There’s no one else telling me I have to do this or I’m fired! It’s all my own self-dedication, perseverance, and determination. To me, that’s even more challenging, because I am my own coach. Why do I do it? Besides the fact that I must be crazy? LOL! Because I’m passionate at what I do, and I love love to write, express myself, and story-tell. My family is one part of my heart, my passion for writing, is my other. Plus, I know the payoff will be bigger and better when it all comes to fruition.
So, why am I even saying this (writing this)? Because one life lesson I learned recently is… you don’t need anyone else to ever validate you. Validate yourself and the whole world will follow. So, that’s what I’m doing. Maybe someone else is going through something similar and by me writing this I can tell them, “I see your hard work. I validate you. It will pay off! Don’t. Give. Up!” It’s nice to hear that from time to time from other people. But, it’s even better when we say to ourselves, “What we have is good. I am good enough. I’ve worked hard for this! What I do matters, because I matter, and I’m worth it! Plus, everyone else I know is always talking about their work, why can’t I talk about mine? I’m owning it now! I write. I share stories. That’s what I do. I’m saying this here (to you) as I say all these things to myself as well. I am human. I am flawed ~ just like everyone else. We are all in the same boat. It’s important to remind ourselves of that from time to time. No! Scratch that. Everyday! It’s important, if not, more important, to say that to ourselves rather than wait on someone else to say it to us. Truth be told, if you wait for someone else to validate you, you may be holding your breath for a very long time.
So, some people don’t even know, I wrote two children’s books (a humorous chapter book; fantasy MG) and a screenplay. All of which took me many years, each individually, separately, of course, but while still crossing paths.
“Black Hand” (my screenplay) is based on the true story about my great-grandparents in the early 1900’s. It’s an incredible true story! Better than fiction. It’s a time period, love-story with the Black Hand society (mafia) as the back-drop. Our log-line: Black Hand is a gangster romance drama based on a true story about a young Italian couple living in New Jersey in 1917 trying to keep their marriage together after murder and deception rip their families apart as seen through the eyes of their modern day descendants.
It took my writing partner and I every Sunday for about 4 years (on and off to finish this), and we still continue to work on it. We have had it in the hands of many big-time producers and studios. We almost had our “big break” a couple times. However, it fell through the cracks on more than one occasion. Wasn’t meant to be yet (there’s that word again); it wasn’t in the right hands. Doors opened, and as fast, they slammed (break out the ROCKY score)! But they keep on opening, and I believe in my heart of hearts our time is coming. We’re so close. So close that just recently I saw on IMDB that my all time favorite actor, Leonardo DiCaprio (same last name), signed up for a movie in 2018 called, what other than, “The Black Hand” — different story line, but same title and many similarities. Coincidence? Oh! I don’t believe in those. That’s a better word for, signs that you are exactly where you’re meant to be. It only goes to show me one thing… We had the title and script done first (2011), and we have something special, we are on to something BIG! The bigger it is, the bigger your challenges will be. Anything that’s meant to be successful will challenge you. It’s those challenging moments that give you the stamina you need to keep pushing forward. “Pressure is what makes diamonds, and sh*t fertilizes blossoming flowers”… remember that. I heard that recently in a Chris Rock stand-up. Loved it! Had to quote it.
It’s always right before that moment you’re ready to give up, that the miracle happens! It takes hard work, diligence, perseverance, never giving up, but most of all, believing in yourself.
Everything happens for a reason… Divine timing!✨
My writing partner, father, and I are onto something, and you better believe we are getting this movie made. Same title or not. Because today and from here on out, I’m validating it (myself). It is worth recognizing. It’s one of my great accomplishments and I’m proud of it, and proud to shout it out!!!
I will come out ahead. I am already a success. Movie made or not, books published or not, I will never have regrets because I can always say I gave it my all!!! Lastly, I hope that by living my own dream and journey and never giving up, I can inspire someone else to live out theirs and do the same.
Validate yourself, and the whole world will follow.
#ibelieve #nevergiveup #amwriting #validate

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Be Kind, Have Courage

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I recently took my five-year-old daughter to see the new rendition of the movie, Cinderella, staring Lily James and Cate Blanchett. Dressed in her light blue-sparkly Cinderella skirt, hair in a tight bun, black choker on, with a magic wand in hand, her big brown eyes were pierced to the screen with curiosity. Every now and then, they would make their way to the left of me to ask a bunch of the “why’s” — “Why did her mom have to die? Why is her stepmother so mean? Why won’t they let Cinderella go to the ball?” Etc… etc… You get the big picture — no pun intended. And if you have little ones, you really understand.

However, even with all the “why”s” and the little wiggle worm that wouldn’t stop squirming in her chair, who barely even fit in her seat, I have to say, I highly enjoyed it myself! She made her way onto my lap, and we cuddled throughout most of the movie together.

Yes, the acting was great! And the costume design, phenomenal, but Cinderella has always been my favorite princess story. Not just because she lives happily ever after with handsome Prince Charming in a beautiful castle, ruling over all the land together… okay, maybe that is why, LOL! No, but really, it’s more because of the message the story delivers.

Cinderella is beautiful on the outside, but most importantly, throughout all of her hardships (and she had a ton), she remained kind, humble, and courageous.

(SPOILER ALERT)

The beginning of the movie gives a little backdrop to Cinderella’s personal family life growing up, and the relationship she had with her mom and her dad, and how much that shaped her into the kind, wonderful young woman that she grew into. Her mom falls ill, and right before she passes, she tells “Ella” in the movie, “You have more kindness on your fingertip than most people have in their whole bodies.” She makes Ella promise to always “be kind, and always have courage.” Ella who later becomes Cinderella in the movie, never breaks her promise to her mother, even throughout all the horrific mistreatment from her evil stepmother and stepsisters. And from the beginning, Cinderella, always was kind and gentle with nature and animals, even believing in a little magic.

So, the moral of the story, in my opinion is this… if you remain to be a beautiful person on the inside, even with all the evil that still exists — whether it be jealousy, injustice, unfairness, abuse, etc… — if you remain true to yourself, treat people and your planet kindly, believe in something bigger than yourself exists out there and is watching (whether you want to call it magic, the universe, God, or even the law of attraction), it comes back to you double-fold. Eventually, your karma will catch up with you — good or bad. It did with the evil stepmother, and it absolutely did with Cinderella who got everything she could have wished for and more!

Never stop believing… because “the dreams that you wish will come true!” But, most importantly, always be kind and have courage. And you may ask, “Why?” Like my innocent five-year-old. Because, you’ll get it back; you get what you give.

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_social_media_follow _builder_version=”3.11″ text_orientation=”center” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” saved_tabs=”all”][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”facebook” url=”https://www.facebook.com/rainbowcrystal128/” _builder_version=”3.11″ background_color=”rgba(189,173,160,0.6)” custom_margin=”4px|4px|4px|4px” custom_margin_tablet=”4px|4px|4px|4px” custom_margin_phone=”4px|4px|4px|4px” custom_padding=”8px|8px|8px|8px” custom_padding_tablet=”8px|8px|8px|8px” custom_padding_phone=”8px|8px|8px|8px” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on” use_background_color_gradient=”off” background_color_gradient_direction=”180deg” parallax=”off” background_size=”cover” background_position=”center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_blend=”normal” allow_player_pause=”off” background_video_pause_outside_viewport=”on” box_shadow_style=”none” filter_hue_rotate=”0deg” filter_saturate=”100%” filter_brightness=”100%” filter_contrast=”100%” filter_invert=”0%” filter_sepia=”0%” filter_opacity=”100%” filter_blur=”0px” mix_blend_mode=”normal”] facebook [/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”twitter” url=”https://twitter.com/samcap924″ _builder_version=”3.11″ background_color=”rgba(189,173,160,0.6)” custom_margin=”4px|4px|4px|4px” custom_margin_tablet=”4px|4px|4px|4px” custom_margin_phone=”4px|4px|4px|4px” custom_padding=”8px|8px|8px|8px” custom_padding_tablet=”8px|8px|8px|8px” custom_padding_phone=”8px|8px|8px|8px” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on” use_background_color_gradient=”off” background_color_gradient_direction=”180deg” parallax=”off” background_size=”cover” background_position=”center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_blend=”normal” allow_player_pause=”off” background_video_pause_outside_viewport=”on” box_shadow_style=”none” filter_hue_rotate=”0deg” filter_saturate=”100%” filter_brightness=”100%” filter_contrast=”100%” filter_invert=”0%” filter_sepia=”0%” filter_opacity=”100%” filter_blur=”0px” mix_blend_mode=”normal”] twitter [/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”instagram” url=”https://www.instagram.com/samcap924/” _builder_version=”3.11″ background_color=”rgba(189,173,160,0.6)” custom_margin=”4px|4px|4px|4px” custom_margin_tablet=”4px|4px|4px|4px” custom_margin_phone=”4px|4px|4px|4px” custom_padding=”8px|8px|8px|8px” custom_padding_tablet=”8px|8px|8px|8px” custom_padding_phone=”8px|8px|8px|8px” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on” use_background_color_gradient=”off” background_color_gradient_direction=”180deg” parallax=”off” background_size=”cover” background_position=”center” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_blend=”normal” allow_player_pause=”off” background_video_pause_outside_viewport=”on” box_shadow_style=”none” filter_hue_rotate=”0deg” filter_saturate=”100%” filter_brightness=”100%” filter_contrast=”100%” filter_invert=”0%” filter_sepia=”0%” filter_opacity=”100%” filter_blur=”0px” mix_blend_mode=”normal”] Instagram [/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][/et_pb_social_media_follow][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

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Never, never, never give up!

[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”%22Never, never, never give up.%22 – Winston Churchill” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”]

That whimsical word we all love… success. How do you define success? Based on how wealthy you are? Or the fact that you’re courageous enough to take a chance in life to make it, no matter what, no matter the odds — professionally and personally — to set an example for the rest of the world to see, even when it’s that same “world’ at times that has you down? I know my answer.

Are you one of those people working towards your passion, dream, or goals around the clock, feeling like a hamster on a wheel — exerting all your energy fast, but not really getting anywhere? Well, you’re not alone. You feel like millions of other Americans trying to live “the American dream” — working your butt off to strive for whatever it is that you want, but not receiving the validation, or paycheck that you deserve.

But, have you considered that you’re already ahead of the game if you are one of those people? First of all, you have the courage to pursue your dream, even if it isn’t playing it safe or paying the bills (as of yet). You’re already a very small percentage of the population. Think about all those people sitting in rush hour traffic, every morning and afternoon, in a cubicle, taking orders from bosses they can’t stand, who feel stuck! They won’t get out of their situation because it is safe, and they’ve got to put food on the table to support themselves or their families.

Well, I hate to say it, but those people are the ones going nowhere fast! Most importantly, they’ll never reach their dream, and will always feel that void — that something significant is missing from their lives. And truth be told, there is something missing… Their passion. Their purpose. Their dream. Also, most of these individuals are afraid of failure and/or rejection. But one cannot know the real meaning of success, until they know failure. And to meet with success, it requires taking a risk. You don’t necessarily know where that next paycheck will come from after you quit your boring job that sucks or you hate, but you do it anyways, because you’ll never get a step closer to your dream, if you don’t. I know it’s easier said than done, but that’s the true meaning of taking a leap of faith, My Friends.

As a culture of instant gratification, and one that focuses on celebrity status, or material possessions, we see how much money people have or what they possess, but we rarely hear about the journey it took for them to get there. It doesn’t just happen overnight. There is no such thing as overnight success without the hard work, challenges, setbacks, dedication, etc… it took to get there. Obviously, there are the rare exceptions… for example, people born into money, fame, or royalty. Yes, they have the platform already set up for them, but even sometimes those individuals self-sabotage it for themselves. We’ve seen it time and time again! That’s because in order for anything to be successful — your career, family-life, love-life, and even friendships — it does require putting in the work, or I like to call it, “paying your dues.” But, it’s those people who don’t stop working towards their goals — the ones putting in the long, extra hours at the office when no one is looking — who attain it. It’s the people who’ve been knocked down and rejected time and time again who keep getting back up, dusting themselves off, and still give it another try. It’s the ones who won’t take “no” for an answer, or ever let anyone else tell them that what they want is unachievable, or that their idea is no good.

So, if you’re one of these individuals — the hamster on the wheel that keeps running circles, the one putting in the extra hours, and the one with your eye on the target — keep reaching; keep striving! Because from what I’ve learned… yeah, talent and brains play a large role, but it’s the perseverance that pays off every time. And that, it is just a matter of time — divine time. You keep throwing the darts, eventually you’ll hit the bulls-eye. You will reap the benefits. You’ll start to see your dreams become a reality, and the paychecks will start rolling in. The long, hard unimaginable amount of hours will eventually pay-off. And somebody out there will start to take notice. And all of it, is not for nothing, you are getting somewhere. It’s called experience. The universe is only preparing you for the success that’s yet to come. It’s seeing if you’re ready for it, or can even handle it when it does enter in.

And this is coming from someone who knows this business of rejection all too well, as a writer. You wouldn’t believe the amount of years I’ve had of criticism, critiques, and rejection. But, I keep plugging away, and I won’t stop until I achieve my dream! Because I know, eventually, I will, and that I’m already a success story. I’ve stuck to my dream, and already accomplished the goals I’ve set out to achieve. So, if it doesn’t work out, at least I gave it my all, and I’ll never have any regrets.

My personal opinion on success is that it takes just three golden rules. First step is believing it for yourself. Second step, having the dream and pursuing it head-on. And third, but most important step is, in the words of Winston Churchill, “Never, never, never give up!”

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