I've Moved - Check Out My New Home

I have a new blog.

So click on your and come on over to my new blog located at http://sheliagoss.com/blog/

Get the answers to your questions and while there, take a look around. Be sure to let me know you were there by leaving a comment.

Hope you like my new home.

My New Blog - I've Moved

I'm back to blogging but I'm at a new spot: http://sheliagoss.wordpress.com/

Stop on by and comment. I'll be updating the page with links and things so leave me a comment so I can be sure to add your page to the sidebar.
Shelia

Paige's Web - The New Book and another Announcement

Check out my new book Paige's Web. Read an excerpt and don't forget to order your copy now: Amazon.com.

If you haven't picked up a copy of my other books at the store, you can order from the comfort of your own home. Click on the titles.
My Invisible Husband Roses are thorns, Violets are true

I've enjoyed my time on the blogsphere. I love the interaction between bloggers. I've debated on whether or not to continue the blog. I've noticed over the last few months traffic has been way down and very few posters, so I'm thinking my time blogging has come to an end. I might come back, but for now you can catch me on myspace at www.myspace.com/sheliagoss or drop by my website to see what's new: http://www.sheliagoss.com/.

Hope you enjoy your summer. Stay Cool.
Peace


Shelia M. Goss
Essence Magazine & Black Expressions Bestselling Author of
My Invisible Husband (2006)
Roses are thorns, Violets are true (Feb. 2007)
Paige's Web (Nov. 2007)
www.sheliagoss.com

Interview with Romance Author Gwyneth Bolton

Gwyneth Bolton turned her passion for reading romance into being a passionate romance writer. If you're looking for a tantalizing gripping story, pick up any one of her novels.

Why did you decide to write in the romance genre?
I have been a huge fan of romance ever since I was a
preteen. I started out sneaking my mom's Harlequin
Presents in the 80s. I've always known that I wanted
to be a writer. It took me a minute to decide that I
wanted to be a romance author. It wasn't until I
finished my first nonfiction book, that I realized
that I could actually finish a book. And once the
realization hit, I knew I had to write romance. I
adore the genre. On any given day, if I have a spare
moment to read a book, you can best believe it will be
a romance novel in my hands. So, it only made sense in
my mind to write in the genre I to read so much.

To read the entire interview, click Five Questions with Gwyneth Bolton

Virtual Dating Is It For You

I'm the guestblogger over at Princess Dominique's Blog.

The internet has become the new way to meet people; whether looking for a casual or long-term relationship. Although dating is dating, virtual dating adds an extra element. There are pros and cons to virtual dating.

To read the entire entry, go to http://www.princessdominique.com/blog/2007/06/04/virtual-dating-is-it-for-you/

Be sure to leave your comments and let me know you were there.

Check out my article - What Do Men Want

What Do Men Want? Men Speak Out
By Shelia Goss

Six men from different occupations, ranging in ages from their early 30's to 40's, took time to answer a few questions about what men really want. Read more »

In Loving Memory of a Friend and Colleague Katherine D Jones

Katherine D Jones http://www.katherinedjones.com

I lost a dear friend yesterday. Please keep her family in prayer.

She leaves a legacy of books. She was a great writer. http://www.katherinedjones.com/novels.html

Articles on Men to Check Out

Cure the Lure of Bad Boys by Linda Dominique Grosvenor
You know the bad boy kinds. They tell you they'll be there at 9, and then never show, they say they love you, but what they really... More »

Prince Charming or Prince Cunning? How tell if your Significant Other is a Con Man By Peggy Love
Is he what he appears to be, or perhaps something you hope he's not? This will help you decide. Read more »

Colored Summer

Author Michelle McGriff was interviewed for my entertainment site about her new book "Colored Summer."

How long does it take you to write a novel? It take me about 36 hours in my mind and about 4 months to draft hard copy and that's about 40-60,000 words. Edits and all the rest can take up to 6 months but that's common.

To read the entire interview, CLICK HERE.

Guilty Pleasures

Made you look, didn't I?

Why wait on someone else to pamper you, when you can pamper yourself. There are several things that I absolutely can't do without (well I could but...)

The Top 5 things I use on a daily basis are:

1. Pink Motorla Razr Phone

2. Sweet Pea Bath and Body Products




3. Issey Miyake Eau de Parfum Spray or Calvin Klein Escape Body Spray




4. Sansa MP3 player


5. Shock-o-late M.A.C. Lip Glass

What are some things you absolutely can't do without?

How Do You Mend a Broken Heart?

After a break-up, it's time to be selfish. When I say this, I mean make sure you are taking care of you. Regardless of who is responsible for the break-up, going through the demise of a relationship can hurt. Allow yourself to feel, but don't wallow in self-pity. Continue to live your life and in some cases you might need to pick up where you left off before you got into that relationship.

The question for today is "How Do You Mend a Broken Heart?"

Spanish Lullaby in Stores Today

Spanish Lullaby, the landmark seventh novel by bestselling author Linda Dominique Grosvenor, hits bookshelves today! Don't miss this compelling tale of love, suspense, and intrigue sure to keep you guessing until the very end. See advance praise for the book from critics and readers alike:

"Linda Dominique Grosvenor is back with a powerfully touching story...Spanish Lullaby will have readers going through a range of emotions...I found myself empathizing with Marsia Peterson and cheering her on as she faced some difficult obstacles."
- Shelia Goss, Essence Magazine Bestselling Author Of My Invisible Husband and Roses Are Thorns, Violets Are True

"This book is a real page-turner that will keep you guessing 'til the very last page...definitely a four-star read!"
- Rowena Brew, Armchair Interviews

"Linda Dominique Grosvenor has written a salient novel about love, loss, redemption, and forgiveness...she is a talented storyteller who dives into human beings' emotions without holding back...readers can easily identify with the characters and their situations."
- Mona Lisa Safai, TCM Reviews

Guaranteed to be a bestseller, Spanish Lullaby is available anywhere books are sold.

Get your copy today!

How Romantic Are You?

Find out by clicking on this link:
How Romatic Are You?

Here's how I scored:

Your Score is 44

You appear to have a well-balanced romantic self. While you may get flutters in your stomach when you meet someone you are very attracted to, you do not let your romantic-self entirely dictate how you proceed. You will ask yourself if there is a chance this relationship will work before allowing yourself to fall in love. Even if you feel a romantic connection is viable from a practical sense, you will not just allow yourself to be swept away.

You do not have many illusions about love. While you may feel a very deep attachment to someone, you know love rarely conquers all. You know successful relationships take work and compromise and a desire by those involved to make their relationship work. Candlelight dinners and words of endless love may be nice, but they don't pay the bills or get the dishes washed.

The middle ground on the romanticism scale is neither entirely safe nor entirely lackluster. However it does not carry the weight of a romantic failure based upon being swooped off your feet. Nor is the middle ground so devoid of romanticism that you feel like you are living with a sibling. Also, there is quite a bit of evidence that with your outlook on romanticism your relationship has a very good chance of succeeding.

New Book Paige's Web

Urban Soul presents
Paige's Web
One woman...Three men...And people say men have issues committing

Read a Chapter Excerpt
After taking a long sip, I looked down on the other end of the table. If looks could kill, the look in his mother's eyes would have had me dead on the spot. Congratulations were given. It was hard to tell which ones were sincere and which ones weren't. The moment I dreaded was at hand.

Alvin and I were walking hand and hand and as we approached his mom, she hugged him and whispered in his ear. His facial expression didn't change, but the spark in his eyes left and was replaced with darkness. I wondered what she said, but I would have to wait.

She stood and said, "Dear, let's have a talk."

"Sure." It wasn't like she was giving me a choice.

"Follow me."

I shrugged my shoulders and my eyes pleaded with Alvin to rescue me. He was either oblivious to my plea or ignored it all together. It became quiet as I followed behind her. She was older and petite, but she was definitely not slow. I increased my pace to keep up with her.

We entered what looked like to be the study because it had a huge oak desk and built- in wall shelves filled with every book imaginable. As a person who liked to read, I was in book heaven.

"Let me see the ring," Mrs. Rivera snapped.

She caught me off guard with her rudeness. "Excuse me?"

"The ring. I want to see how much money my son spent on you."

I held out my hand. She admired it up close and said, "It's more serious than what I thought."

"Yes, we are serious," I stated with a forced smiled.

Without blinking an eye, Mrs. Rivera said, "Ms. Webb. You're not right for my son."

I placed one hand on my hip and the palm of my other hand faced her. "Hold up. I'm not going to stand here and let you insult me."

"I'm not trying to insult you. Why haven't we met you before now?" she asked.

"That's a question you will have to ask Alvin."

"Oh, I know what it is. You've trapped him."

By then, I was livid. I titled my head to the side. "Excuse me?"

"Are you pregnant? I know that has to be the reason why my boy wants to marry you."

My south Dallas roots were about to come out, but I held those emotions in check. "First of all, Alvin is not a boy, he's a forty-something year old man. Secondly, I'm not pregnant. And even if I was, it wouldn't be any of your business."

I turned to walk away. She grabbed my arm and said, "This wedding won't happen if I have anything to say about it."

I jerked my arm away. "Alvin's a grown man. He's more than capable of making his own decisions."

"Not when you keep throwing the Black punani up in his face," she said with venom in her voice.

I turned around shocked. I couldn't believe she had the gall to say those words. I opened my mouth to respond, but I couldn't think of anything decent to say. In my mind I was calling her every name but a child of God. Instead I said, "I wish I could say it was a pleasure meeting you, but it would be a lie."

Paige's Web (ISBN: 1599830299) by Shelia M. Goss will be available in stores this Fall. Pre-order your copy from Amazon.com now. Pre-order your copy now.

Other Books by Shelia Goss
My Invisible Husband
How far would you go to please your family and friends...My Invisible Husband is the tale of one woman's desperate attempt to stop the age-old question posed to all women at some point in their lives: So when are you getting married? To appease her family and friends, 34-year-old Nicolette Montana fakes a Las Vegas wedding. How she handles her web of deceit makes for a dramatic and sometimes comical story. My Invisible Husband is in stores now. To order your copy online, check out this retailer

Roses are thorns, Violets are true
Sibling Rivalry, Betrayal, Resentment...Redemption ...

Roses are thorns, Violets are true (ISBN: 1599830108) is a compelling tale of sibling rivalry at its best. The award winning actress Rose Purdue woos her audience with the drama she brings between the pages. Her twin sister, Violet, shuns attention but don't take her kindness as a weakness These twins are guaranteed to keep the media talking and the readers flipping the pages. Rose puts on her best performance as she attempts to redeem her reputation with the public after Violet gives a tell-all interview to the media.Roses are thorns, Violets are true is in stores now. To order your copy online, check out this retailer

More about Shelia M Goss
Shelia M. Goss is the National bestselling author of My Invisible Husband, Roses are Thorns, Violets are True, and Paige's Web. To learn more about the author or her books, please visit her website. Website: http://www.sheliagoss.com/
e-Spire Entertainment
email: sheliagoss@aol.com
For stories with a twist, pick up a book by Shelia M. Goss.

Is It Love?

Have you ever met a man who literally swept you off your feet...from the things that he did...to the poetic words coming out of his mouth...but you're so used to getting hurt that you don't know if your eyes are seeing what is right in front of you or if the man is putting on a show and hiding his true intentions.

When do you know it's love?

Poetry in Motion - Theme "Men"

Since April is poetry month, I will be posting a few poems I've written. Also, if you want to share some of your poems. Feel free to. This week's theme is men--the good and the bad.

This is my tribute to all the good men out there:

The Essence of the Man
© 2007 by Shelia M. Goss. All rights reserved.

Is it his smile that keeps me coming back,
Or is it the smooth sound of his voice?
Is it the smell of his cologne as he walks on by,
Or is it the teardrop I saw fall from his eye?

Is it the way he caresses my body,
Or the way he holds my hand?
Is it how he lifts my spirits when I'm down,
Or seems to know when to be just a friend?

It's the essence of the man.

His walk
Smoother than a panther on the prowl
His hands
Sliding against my soft skin
His fingers
Roaming, making me melt with each touch.
His tongue,
Slithering, lingering, touching my g-spot.

What keeps me coming back?

The lists goes on and on.
To sum it all up, it's the essence of the man.

Guest Blooger at Alison Kent's Blog

I'm today's guest blogger over at Alison Kent's blog. Check it out:

What's In a Title? by guest blogger Shelia M. Goss:

http://www.alisonkent.com/blog/?p=1844

Five Personality Traits to Avoid

This is an article I wrote last year.

FIVE PERSONALITY TRAITS TO AVOID
By Shelia M Goss

A realization hit me recently. My natural instinct has been to play the role of rescuer and it must stop--immediately. It made me think of other things that either I or my friends have done that could have saved us a lot of time and energy and most importantly heartbreak.

Here's a list of 5 types of personality traits that you should avoid: If you see yourself as one of these, it's time to reevaluate.

The Rescuer - Do you find yourself trying to rescue a man from this or that and most of the time himself? Enough already.

The Nurturer - Are you his mama? No, so why play the dual role of lover/mama...sounds perverted doesn't it...so stop.

The Warden - Okay, now don't get mad, but having your man on a strict schedule sounds like there are trust issues. If you have to monitor his every move, then maybe he's not the man for you.

The Dog Catcher - Bow wow...need I say more...you know he's a dog, he was dating three other women when you met him, but you still allow him into your heart.

The Landlord - Time is precious. Have fun, but be wise. Why let someone rent space in your heart when you know they are not the one.

I'm sure there are other personality types I could touch on, but these five are the ones that come to mind as I reflect on my love life and those around me.

10 New Things You Didn't Know about Author Sydney Molare'

1. I'm moving away from writing the "boy meets girl and they screw" type of erotica. I'm marrying off my couples and then working the sex. I don't think we see enough married peoples good sex in novels these days. Too much of making the grass look greener by cheating and not committing. We need to recognize the "good things" we already have.

2. I love "old" stuff, esp furniture and jewelry. I am the thrift store queen. They know me by name!

3. I am also NOT a name brand junkie. If it looks good and has an even better price...SOLD! I don't care whose name is on the pocket/hip/leg/shoe, etc.

4. My last contest, The Pssst...Wanna be my Publicist contest got soundly booed by publicist all over the internet. The nice nasty comments...I could feel the love. LOL. BUT the end result was that I made more than 4200 new contacts. Not bad, huh?

5. My first tour partners were Tina McKinney (All That Drama) and Masseyree (It Just Gets Better With Time).

6. I dislike reptiles with a passion- no, veterinarians don't like all animals.

7. I won the Mississippi Best Author Award for 2006.

8. I am a morning person. I AM the perky person talking up a storm at 8am that you hate!

9. I am an insomniac. I haven't figured out the cycle, but it comes and goes on its own, more coming than going.

10. I am psychic. Really. Here's my latest prediction: My next book will be a blockbuster, chart roaring success! Believe it and receive it!

Visit Sydney Molare' at http://www.sydneymolare.com/ or
http://www.sydneymolare.blogspot.com/

The Email

Thought for today: If you are having an affair, do not and I repeat DO NOT leave a paper trail via letters and most importantly via the internet. Your spouse just might find out.

Okay, now that I have that out in the air, let me first say, this is not about me (smile). Imagine coming home after a fulfilling day at church, turning on your computer and opening up your email from somebody's spouse blasting their spouse and lover to everyone on their spouse's mailing list. You're probably like, what in the world is she talking about.

To make a long story short. Supposedly, allegedly, a man found out that his wife was cheating and decided to put the man who his wife is supposedly cheating with ON BLAST. He sent out an email to EVERYONE on the mailing list and pretty much put ALL of their business not just in the streets but on the world wide web. Now, I know the guy he is accusing, but I haven't emailed him to say "Is this true" or not because I'm sure if it is, he's going through public humiliation at this point and needs to figure out a way to do some damage control (I should be a publicist...smile).

We never know what we would do when going through something traumatic, but I would hope that I wouldn't stoop to the level of putting it out on the net.

My question is do you think it was wrong for the husband to send out a broadcast message or justified because his wife and this guy shouldn't have been cheating in the first place?

Move Haters out the Way

"There's one thing worse than a liar and a thief, and that's a hater. You see - a liar will lie to you, and a thief will steal from you, but a hater will do all of the above and then some..."- Libra! (1973 - )

So many times people who are close to us are the ones who don't want to see us succeed. As long as you're down in the gutter, they are cheering you on. When you start living your dreams, they want to become supercritical and sprinkle doubt in your mind and hate on your dreams.

For example, I am going to use being a writer as an example. You may have been writing for years and you FINALLY get your first book published. The first time out, you self publish. What does the hater say? "It's not like you're with a real publisher." Your books are at all major book stores. What does the hater say? "Is your book in Wal-mart?" As if Wal-mart is the only place that sells books and if it's not there, well you get the point. Okay, so you get the book deal with what folks may say is a "real publisher." What does the hater say? "I thought you were with a real publisher now, so why are you still working?" News flash, some writers still have to work to make ends meet even with a book deal. There's more. Now your book is in Wal-mart. Let me remind you, books at Wal-mart are discounted. What does the hater say? "It's about time I saw your book at Wal-mart. Can I get a free autographed copy?" Free, not no, but "h-e-double hockey sticks" no.

I could go on and on with examples on various situations in life, but I won't. Life is too short for dealing with haters. If there's some in your way, move them out of the way. Stop answering your phone when they call. If you see them walking down the street, back up, turn around, do what you have to do and go the other way. What if the haters are people you know online? Have you heard of the delete button? You don't have to go back and forth with the hater in email or a message board, just delete the message. "What if the person lives with you?" Tough one, but do like most kids do, have selective hearing? Learn how to tune them out.

Continue to work towards your dreams and don't allow anybody to rain hate on your parade. This is your world and they can either get with the program or move out of the way.

Can a Tiger Change it's spots (oops I meant stripes)

How many times will you put yourself through the same types of pain? When is enough really ENOUGH?

I try to give people the benefit of the doubt but sometimes you can't. For example, a man I dearly loved. I thought the second time around things would be different. In fact, he assured me things would be and because I was starry-eyed in love I believed him. Of course the first month or two, he was on his best behavior. I was wined and dined and all that jazz. My guards went down and then one day I woke up and he was back to his old tricks. When I brought it up to him (because communication has never been one of my weak points), he thought I was nagging for no reason. Red flag.

When did voicing your concerns become nagging? If you're with someone in what is supposed to be a committed relationship, shouldn't you be able to tell that person any and everything and you work it out?

Anyway, to make a long story short, I thought this man had changed for the better, but he didn't change his stripes, but only changed his spot(s)--he moved from one part of the Dallas metroplex to another (new spot); he no longer had the same job, had a better one (new spot); told me all the things he thought I wanted to hear (new spot) but that's the thing...when he got tired of pretending, the REAL man resurfaced and all I saw before me was the same man I thought I had left behind.

Lesson for me, an ex is an ex for a reason and shall remain an ex.

Have you ever gone back to an ex? Has one of your siblings done something and you swore you wouldn't give in to them the next time? What about the friend that drains you with his or her drama but is never there to listen to you? When do you finally say "enough is enough?"

Monday Writer's Rant

Thank you all for joining me over at my new blog. I hope you like the new look. I decieded to move the "My Invisible Husband" blog over here. It'll still have the same flair, I hope. I hope you participate in the discussions. All opinions are welcome.

Now on to today's rant. Over the weekend I received a request asking me if I would like to submit my poetry to "their" site. Cool, no big deal. I'm a writer and although it's not a paying gig, I don't mind sharing my poems every now and then. The only condition I gave the person was, "use my byline" (which doesn't cost a thing). I was shocked that the person felt like I was demanding because I requested that my byline be used along with my poem. I had to read their email twice but to make a long story short, I told them I didn't have time to go back and forth on the issue and that I would pass.

I'm ranting about it because why do people always expect writers to do things for free? If I was a singer, you wouldn't ask me to do a concert for free (although for charity I would). So if I say I will let you use my poem for free, why complain because I asked you to add a short 2 sentence bio to go with it. Don't make sense to me.

I was trying to decide on what my topic would be this month over at www.blogginginblack.com, but thanks to the person, I now have a topic. This post will be expanded on the 9th over at Blogging in Black.

In the meantime, do you have some "Oh no they didn't" moments?

7 Things

7 things I plan to do before I die:

1. Travel to every state in the US at least once.
2. Learn how to swim.
3. Learn how to speak Spanish fluently.
4. Learn how to speak French fluently.
5. Visit the Pyramids in Egypt.
6. Leave a legacy for my kids or nieces/nephews.
7. Develop a way to keep spammers out of my email box.

7 things I can do:

1. Create stories with a twist.
2. Choose songs that will be hits prior to them ever being
played on the radio.
3. Dance like Janet Jackson.
4. Make the best homemade banana pudding this side of
the Mississippi River.
5. Talk on the phone, check email, chat online and hold a conversation
with someone in the room at the same time.
6. A good listener.
7. Travel by myself and have a great time.

7 things I cannot do:
1. Read while a car or plane is in motion.
2. Put up with fake people.
3. Mow a yard (that's a man's job)
4. Drink a coke when I want a sprite.
5. Eat a hamburger with onions.
6. Put up with bad kids.
7. Think of something to put on this list.

7 things that attract me to the opposite sex:

1. Sexy Eyes
2. Ability to hold a decent conversation
3. Pretty Smile
4. Body language
5. The size of his shoe (get your mind out the gutter)
6. A man playing basketball or football
7. His ability to make me feel like the only woman in the room.

7 things that I say most often:

1. Whatever.
2. Anyway.
3. Please.
4. Don't Get it Twisted.
5. I know they didn't.
6. Life is too short for BS.
7. Don't even worry about it.

7 Celebrity crushes:

1. Denzel Washington
2. Shemar Moore
3. Morris Chestnut
4. Brad Pitt
5. Blair Underwood
6. Boris Kodjoe
7. LL Cool J

Introducing Me

Shelia M. Goss is the Essence Magazine Best Selling Author of My Invisible Husband, Roses are thorns, Violets are true and Paige's Web. She's also honored in the book Literary Divas: The Top 100+ Most Admired African American Women in Literature. Her short stories and articles have appeared in various publications such as Black Romance Magazine, Jolie Magazine, etc. Besides writing fiction, Shelia is an entertainment writer. To learn more, please visit her website at

Welcome to my new blog

I hope your year is off to a great start.