Intellectual Ink Editor in Chief
Julia Press Simmons
Creative Director
Charlotte Young-Foye
Advice Columnist
Coach Coco
Arts & Entertainment Opinion Columnist
Haikeem Stokes Erick S. Gray
Book Reviews
Diane P. Rembert
Graphic Design
Lamont Press
Flash Fiction ~ Contemporary
Braheim Gibbs
Health & Wellness
Phoenix C. Brown, Shonda Mayes
Events
Author Untamed
Cultural
Karen E. Quinones Miller
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Julia Press Simmons ~ Julia@IntellectualInk.com Charlotte's Closet ~ Charlotte@IntellectualInk.com Haikeem Stokes ~ Haikeem@IntellectualInk.com Diamond Literary Reviews ~ DLR@IntellectualInk.com Erick S. Gray ~ Erick@IntellectualInk.com Karen E. Quinones Miller ~ Karen@IntellectualInk.com Submissions ~ Submit@IntellectualInk.com PHILADELPHIA, PA. INTELLECTUALINK.COM
Editors' note
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Issue 22 is here. The year has come to a close, and Intellectual Ink Magazine eagerly looks toward 2023 with stories of inspiring individuals doing incredible things in their professional and personal lives. Issue 22 features Erick S. Gray, our very own resident opinion columnist. We discuss his latest movie One Lyfe to Live, and his incredible journey from Books to Film. As always, we've got our regular features: Charlotte's Young-Foye's Five Feel Good Finds. Shonda Mays helps us reflect on our past year and focus on our future goals in Minding Your Spirit. Diamond's Literary World reviews Mary Monroe's "Right Beside You," and Haikeem Stokes takes us on a trip down memory lane with "Gone are the Titans" (Tower Records). In Write News, we have the wildly talented author Carolyn Holland and esteemed Poet Zaneta Varnado Johns. We wish you the happiest of holidays and a prosperous new year!
Julia Press Simmons EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Charlotte Young Foye CREATIVE DIRECTOR
Contents
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2. EDITOR'S NOTE 5. MINDING YOUR SPIRIT ~ SHONDA MAYES 7. OPINION ~ WTF IS GOING ON? OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW 18. BOOK REVIEW ~ MARY MONROE "RIGHT BESIDE YOU" 20. WRITE NEWS ~ AUTHOR CAROLYN HOLLAND 26. WRITE NEWS ~ POET ZANETA VARNANDO JOHNS 32. CHARLOTTE'S CLOSET ~ FIVE FEEL GOOD FINDS 36. FLASH FICTION ~ OLD FLAMES 40. A & E ~ GONE ARE THE TITANS ABD CHAINS 39. CHARLOTTE'S CLOSET ~ FROM PHILLY TO FENTY A STORY OF INCLUSIVITY
11. AUTHOR ERICK S. GRAY, ONE LYFE TO LIVE ~FROM BOOKS TO FILM
43. SMALL BUSINESS MINI GUIDE~ SHOP BLACK
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Minding Your Spirit BY SHONDA MAYES
It’s my favorite time of year! The holidays are upon us, and we’ve almost made it to the end of 2022. It’s the time of year that we get to chill with our family, argue over who makes the best mac and cheese, and wonder which one of cousin Pookie’s women will show up for dinner at Big Mama’s on Christmas day. It’s also a time for reflection as we head into the new year. I can’t help but look back on this past year and be thankful for all I’ve survived. I gained some friends but also lost some. I got my health back on track after a few challenges and I dropped a book. While I didn’t meet all my goals, I give myself grace for that.
Sometimes, life throws us a few curveballs, and we must adjust. I caught a few of them and had to pivot as much as I could. I’m sure many of you can relate to this as well. So, as I reflect on my wins and lessons (no losses over here), I also like to clarify my goals for the year ahead. However, before I can get to that, I must make sure I go through some spiritual maintenance. It’s so important that we take the time to prepare our minds and spirit for the year to come. Part of that includes releasing things that need to stay or die in 2022. It could be relationships, partnerships, jobs, or anything that doesn’t serve me and where I’m trying to go.