Lanico Media House

Lanico Media House is now open and accepting submissions in all genres except erotica and strict science fiction.

I'm so happy to have been a part of helping Lacresha and Lensey Hayes start over again with a bigger, better plan and more stability in their foundation. Publishing is a turbulent industry right now, but there's always room for visionaries and those who stay one step ahead of the competition.

Visit their website and join their Facebook group. You'll find out they have a great team and the ability to put your book out and help you succeed as an author.

My Mentor, Lacresha Hayes, Is Ill

I just heard that my mentor, Lacresha Hayes, has been hospitalized for several illnesses. This woman has been such an inspiration to me. She is the reason why I gave my life to Christ. I'm asking everyone to please pray for her in this difficult time. Surely, she won't die when she has so much more life to give.

Stop, Look, and Listen

Today, I was fortunate enough to attend one of Lacresha Hayes' free online healing seminars. It was wonderful. There wasn't very many of us there, maybe 13 or so. I really hate that, but it was good.

She had one section she entitled "Stop, Look, and LISTEN" that dealt with processing information in a way that gives us hope rather than robs us of hope. That was my favorite section because most times, we allow life to drive us down paths we later regret. For a long time, I was in the passenger seat of my life. I let one thing lead to another and another. I rarely interrupted the path. I just followed. Today, I learned that rather than follow, I'm suppose to give my life direction and guidance. I'm supposed to drive through the power of God.

Though I still don't quite profess to be a Christian, I am a believer. I know that God is our ultimate authority. As she talked to us about guiding our lives, even our pains, I was amazed at some of the other responses from the women. Many of them were in the shoes I used to be in. Pain was to me, and is to them, an evil perpetrated upon us without our permission. It isn't something I welcomed. It isn't something they welcome. Still, I've learned over the past couple of years that there's no use in complaining about it. Rather, I should celebrate my freedom from it.

Lacresha's theory was to embrace it as a motivating force to do good to others, to live again, and to minister to the needs of other hurting people. Who wants to embrace pain? But, when I stop, look and listen, I realize that it has only been when I embraced the pain of my past that I was empowered to live beyond it.

Stop stood for us no longer allowing ourselves to think wrong thoughts and focus on bitterness.
Look was for us to take a moment to look at where God had already brought us through. It was for us to really look at what we were doing to ourselves by hanging on to the past.
Listen was for us to quiet our hearts and hear God. I'm going to try it all this week. I'll keep you posted.

The Oprah Challenge

From all that I've learned over the past week, it's difficult to get a book into Oprah's hands. However, I recently mailed a copy of my friend and co-laborers book to her. The book, The Rape of Innocence by Lacresha Hayes, is really a wonderful book. It's different from others on the topic of sexual abuse.

After I mailed off a copy, I found out that Felicia, Pam and Regina had also mailed one off, not to mention that the author herself had one mailed off months ago. So, with all these copies going to Oprah, where do you think they'll end up? Hopefully, in her hands which will be a big deal for everyone who works closely with Lacresha for victims of sexual abuse and domestic violence. Will you purchase and send a book to Oprah? Or, why don't you go to her website and email her about the book?

WOMEN OverCOME

Over the past year, I've spent a lot of time trying to find what I could do to help victims of date rape, particularly on college campuses where it is an epidemic. Unfortunately, a vast majority of date rape victims never speak out about the incidences. After meeting Felicia Gordon, head of the Angels of Hope program, I got involved.

The past 60 days, we've been working on fundraisers to help get the message out to more people about date rape and drugs that are now being used to incapacitate victims. Felicia has an anonymous email program for youth who have been sexually abused so that they can get counsel and advice via email. As of now, there are over 300 youth being serviced by this program, but many more who need it. The fundraiser was to expand the program so that we can possibly approach college campuses with our services. We're also trying to set up a website and get other things going. Our goal amount was $20,000 and we met it this past week, thanks a lot to the following women and volunteers:

• Olivia Charles, Abuse Advocate, Motivational Speaker
• Amy Russell, English Professor
• Regina Mitchell, Abuse Advocate, Former Victim
• Lacresha Hayes, Author, Advocate, Former Victim
• Patricia Vaughn, Founder of Wings of Healing and Hope

These women came together and found donations in unlikely places. We are hoping that we can grow in size and number and keep helping victims of sexual abuse. If you're interested in becoming a volunteer, please email Felicia Gordon at feliciag1973@gmail.com and ask her about the WOMEN OverCOME program.