August!

Rebirth, Rejection, Rejuvenation

I’ve never really cared for the month of August. It was just another hot, boring, uneventful month to get through until school and cooler fall weather began in September.

But August is when I had the brain surgeries (yes, plural) that saved my life! So now I consider August my re-birth month.

This July and August have been wonderful. I am so appreciative of friends, family, collaborators, prayers, hugs, shoutouts.

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In July, I finally signed my deal with Sony/TriStar! That’s right, I am officially a “Hollywood” writer and producer. Excited, relieved and exhausted.

This process took four years. We went through 2 or 3 actresses. We went from TV to film. We went through 2 or 3 versions of the story.

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Then we celebrated! This will be my last season of making “Harlem Queen”. I appreciated my NYC Harlem Crew for six years of showing up! (heart emoji)

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I see a live show every month and in July I saw Beau the Musical. It was so much fun!

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It’s been three years since my brain hemorrhage/brain bleed/stroke. I am doing very well.

August has become a celebratory month for me.

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I am editing the fifth and final season of Harlem Queen.

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In a few weeks we will have a table read of the Harlem Queen stage play. I am very excited and will send you photos!

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This week, I received two rejections from grants that I applied for to pay for presenting another live show. The live show we did in February 2024 was so much fun! I really want to do another one.

Why? Because it was so wonderful seeing so many of you in person. Everyone who came was so supportive. AND it was great storytelling, it was kind of like gathering around the fire or radio to hear a great story. AND the foley artist was incredible. I was hoping to do one this year.

I know that rejections are part of the job, but they do still really hurt. Overcoming those rejections is also a part of the job. It helps me to focus on what I do have and that is why I am so happy I have YOU. You read, listen, share, donate and show up and keep me doing what I do!

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Thank you for reading, listening, sharing, carrying me through. I LOVE making these stories so I am so glad you listen and enjoy them.

Love,

Yhane