Written by Erica Rose Jackson One year after the epilogue in Resilience Rose walked back into Brentwood Labs after another successful mission to find her husband, Jay, tinkering with a chemical compound she’d never seen before. “Hey babe,” she announced her presence, “What are you working on?” she inquired, genuinely curious. She wanted to wrap her arms around him from behind but she resisted, afraid she’d mess up his experiment, or cause him to spill it. He glanced up from his work, adjusting his glasses, “I trust your mission went off without any incidents?” She laughed, “Yes, I got the bad guys and no one got hurt. Now, what is that?” she repeated her question while pointing at the vial of purple liquid in front of Jay. “I’ve begun to think that it may be beneficial to have a team of heroes with different abilities. This is, hopefully, a serum designed to give someone the skill to control the weather. Any chance you have a friend brave enough to try it out?” he asked, knowing all of his friends were probably too old to join a super team. Rose leaned back against the table as she thought over her husband’s request. After a few minutes of silence, she answered, “I’m not sure I have enough friends to help you create an entire team of super friends but I can think of one who might be game for this. Her name’s Reid Monroe and she lives here in Nashville. Do you want me to ask her out to dinner and see if she’d like to come become a science experiment?” she teased a bit at the end, earning a smirk from Jay. “If you wouldn’t mind, I would like that very much,” he replied before he added, “Wouldn’t you like to have some backup out there?” Rose nodded, “Of course, I would. And, you know that I wish it could be you but I understand why it can’t be.” She pulled out her phone, “I’ll shoot her a text and ask her if she wants to have dinner with me tonight at The Stillery, as long as you can spare me for a night,” she teased him again, knowing he’d be too wrapped up in his work to join her for dinner. “You know I’d rather spend the evening with you, but I have a lot of work to do here at the lab,” he responded, hoping she wouldn’t be too hurt by his explanation. She moved forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, “I was just playing with you, my love, though it might make sense to put up our Christmas tree here since it’s where we spend most of our time. You know, it’s only three weeks away,” she leaned in and stole a quick kiss. “I’ll see you at home later, deal?” “That sounds wonderful,” he whispered before he stole a kiss, before he added, “Be safe out there, Resilience.” She gave him a wink, “I always am.” Reid Monroe was sitting at her desk when she got the text from Rose inviting her to dinner. She sent back an enthusiastic ‘yes’ before she returned her focus to her work. Once her day ended, she headed straight to The Stillery where she found Rose waiting for her in the parking lot. The women greeted each other with a warm embrace before they went inside and got a table. “How have you been?” Reid asked after they ordered their drinks, “I haven’t heard from you much since you met Jay.” Rose smiled, “I’ve been good. Sorry I’ve been pretty MIA for the past three years, but that’s actually part of the reason I asked you to dinner tonight. How’s everything been in your neck of the woods? Any romance news?” Rose suddenly realized how long it had been since she’d shared girl talk with anyone. Reid shook her head, “No, I’ve been so busy with work that I’ve had zero time to devote to my personal life. I’m curious about how your relationship with Jay has something to do with our dinner though, spill,” she added, almost ordering while looking Rose straight in the eyes. “Well, I was hoping we would catch up more before I revealed my ulterior motives but it’s not looking like that’s going to be possible,” Rose paused when their waitress returned to take their orders. Once the waitress walked away, Rose continued, “Here’s the thing, I’m Resilience,” she revealed her superhero identity causing Reid’s jaw to drop. Reid took a moment to gather herself before she replied, “You’re a hero with super strength? How?” “My boss asked me to steal something from Brentwood Labs and I spilled some on myself,” Rose began to explain, “That’s how I got powers. Jay is working on something new and he asked me if I knew anyone who might be interested. You’re the first person who crossed my mind. So, would you like to have the power to control the weather?” she asked, still wishing they’d spent more time on small talk before getting into her motivation behind their dinner. “What?” was all Reid could muster, “I’m sorry but this is a LOT to take in. Why do you think I’d want to become a superhero? I just explained how busy my life is with only my work calculated into the equation.” Rose could tell she’d really overwhelmed her friend. “Listen,” Rose started, “you’re right, this is a lot. Why don’t we just enjoy our night and you can sleep on my offer and get back to me tomorrow? You don’t have to do it, but I really think you’d find my work extremely fulfilling and I know you’d be good,” she said her last words on the matter and the two women moved back to general conversation until they parted ways at the end of the night. Reid crashed onto her bed once she got back from dinner, her mind racing over the prospect of becoming a superhero like her friend, which she’d just learned about.
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Written by Erica Rose Jackson Here is an an excerpt from part one of my superhero trilogy. I truly hope you enjoy it. Rose Carano was a Private Investigator for a large law firm in Nashville, TN. She worked directly under Benjamin Walters, one of the firm’s named partners. Rose could tell Mr. Walters had bigger dreams for himself then being a lawyer, but she wasn’t quite sure what those dreams entailed. “Rose, can you come here for a moment?” she heard Benjamin’s familiar voice calling her from inside of his office. She stood from her desk and walked through his door, taking a seat across from him, “What can I do for you, boss?” she asked. Benjamin Walters was an attractive man and he’d made his interest in her known, on more than one occasion, but she wasn’t attracted to him, no matter how many advances he made. She shook off her thoughts as she focused on what he was explaining. “I’ve finally discovered the secret identity of Onyx,” he began, “His name is Dr. Jay Bristow and he is the head researcher at Brentwood Laboratories. I need you to go there and steal some of the compound he’s created to give himself super strength,” he finished, his eyes twinkling with delight like a child on Christmas morning. She nodded, “I’m on it and I’m assuming you’d like me to do this tonight?” she questioned, though she already knew the answer. His lips curled into a large smile, “You know me so well. I’d like you to have the sample for me by tomorrow morning.” “I’ll see you tomorrow,” Rose replied as she stood from her seat and left the office to make her trip over to Brentwood Labs. Rose drove to the lab and waited until night fell before she made her way inside. She picked the lock, with ease, and slipped inside starting her search for the chemical compound her boss was after. She walked through the long halls until she stumbled on a room filled with different vials and test tubes containing God knows what. She entered the room and started looking for something labeled ‘super strength’, as if it would be that easy. Rose didn’t see anything with the obvious label she’d hoped for, but she did come across a batch with a note for Dr. Bristow only. She grabbed one vial and stuffed it into the hidden compartment inside her wallet before she started to leave and slipped on another substance, taking the tray of Dr. Bristow’s concoction down with her. She felt liquid spilling over her body as the room around her faded to black. When she came to, Rose was greeted by the sight of an older man watching over her. He had dark grey hair, well kept, and glasses covering his blueish grey eyes. She noticed his full lips but, also noted, how perfectly they fit his face. He was wearing a hunter green button down and she found him immensely attractive. She shook those thoughts away as she realized she’d been caught and took a deep breath to try and create a story that didn’t lead back to Benjamin Walters. The man noticed she was awake, “Welcome back,” he greeted her, warmly, “I’m Dr. Jay Bristow and I’d very much like to know what you were doing in my lab,” he questioned her without even asking, but demanding. He went on to add, “You suffered a nasty concussion from your fall so I hope it was worth it.” Rose tried to sit up but he gestured for her to continue laying back. She took a deep breath, “I’m an investigative reporter,” she began her lie, “And, I’ve been looking into the secret identity of Onyx. My leads brought me here. I was looking for you,” she pretended to confess as she started to feel the pain in her head throbbing. Dr. Bristow laughed to himself as he responded, “I’m an old man so I’m hardly the hero saving people around Nashville. If you’re feeling up to it, you may leave,” he shared to her surprise. “You’re not going to turn me into the police?” Rose asked as she sat up to gather her things. Dr. Bristow shook his head, “I have much more important things to deal with than a trespasser. I’m assuming you can find your way out,” he added, with a hint of snark. She nodded as she left the lab and raced back to work to drop off the hidden vial before she headed home for the night. Written by Erica Rose Jackson Hi All! I’ve decided to do something different with my books! I’m taking them to some of the locations featured within the story. First up for this new venture is The Co-Op! I was in Washington DC over the weekend and decided to take my book with me and try to find some of the places my characters visited in the city. There will be more to come since I have plenty of books to travel with! With only a short time to find places featured in my book, I had to choose wisely. I had hoped to go to three but I was able to visit two. View of DC First up was View of DC where Walter proposes to Harper (spoiler alert). I chose this location from a list online of things to do in DC, but the experience was outstanding. If you are in the area, you have to visit View of DC! The view is phenomenal and it’s free to visit. Writing about visiting this site was one thing, but actually going there was an entirely different experience. One that I will not forget anytime soon. Compass Coffee Next, I took The Co-Op to Compass Coffee where my characters had their first meeting with the infamous drug dealer Eightball, their target for the mission. In the book, my characters enjoyed a cappuccino but I chose to have an Iced Caramel Latte (which was crazy because it was freezing outside). The coffee at Compass is delicious! I wish there was one closer to where I live because I could drink it every day. I’m not sure if all of my book locations will turn out as well as the ones I picked for this one, but here’s to hoping! Other places featured in The Co-Op that I hope to get to next time: The St. Regis Washington, D.C. 3 Star Brewing Company Fiola HEIST Written by Erica Rose Jackson Are you ready for an adventure set in Lake George, NY? If you said yes, then you can grab the paperback or hardcover from Amazon. The eBook will be available on 11.26.2021. Please enjoy an excerpt from this novella. Chapter 1 The First Fire Harper was woken by her cell phone ringing at three in the morning. She rolled over and grabbed it, sliding her thumb across the screen to answer, “Hoffman,” she said.
She was greeted by the voice of her fiance, Sheriff William Kirk, “Sorry to wake you, darling but we’ve got a fire at the Yankee Candle over at the outlets,” he shared. She could hear the genuine sympathy in his voice at waking her. Harper cleared her throat, “Has the fire been contained?” she asked, trying to get into work mode, hoping it would help her wake up more quickly. “Yes, it has,” William replied, “The store survived with a small amount of damage but the crew from the volunteer fire department want us to take a look while it’s fresh. See you in twenty?” he asked, his voice subtly line with urgency. She sighed, “Yep, I’ll see you there,” before she ended the call and got out of bed. Harper put on her uniform in record time and walked out of her bedroom to find her roomate and best friend/maid of honor Mel O’Donnell eating breakfast. “Where are you headed at this ungodly hour?” Mel asked as she took a bite of her oatmeal. Harper replied while she started a cup of coffee in their keurig, “We’ve got a case. Someone tried to burn down the Yankee Candle in the outlet mall,” she responded. Mel was taken aback, “What kind of monster would do something like that?” “Hopefully William and I can figure that out,” Harper answered, “Are you already getting ready for you shift at the hospital?” Mel nodded, “No rest for a nurse.” “Do me a favor,” Harper began as she fixed her coffee how she liked it, “Let me know if anyone comes in with any injuries related to a fire.” “You’ve got it,” Mel agreed just as Harper waved on her way out the door to meet Kirk at the crime scene. Harper drove to the outlet mall and parked behind the crowd that had gathered to watch the firemen at work. She got out of her car and walked up to the scene until she was by Kirk’s side. “Any news since we got off the phone?” she asked to announce her presence. William turned to face her, shaking his head, “No, sweetheart. I’ve completed the first sweep. However, there isn’t any forensic evidence because of the fire,” he explained. “Any idea on how the fire was started, yet?” she followed up as she started walking the scene while continuing their conversation. He followed her as he answered, “Chris took some samples once the fire was under control. He said he’ll get back to us as soon as he has something. I’m afraid we're at a bit of a dead end at this point,” he added, suppressing a yawn. Harper moved through the crime scene looking for anything that might give them a starting point for their investigation. William knew better than to interrupt her when she was surveying the scene. He’d gotten used to her methods since they first started working together six years earlier and she did her best work when she was in the zone. After a thorough evaluation, Harper moved back to William’s side, “I’ve got nothing. We’re either dealing with someone who set this fire by accident or the most brilliant arsonist I’ve ever come across,” she summarized her findings. “I’m putting my money on the first option,” William replied, his lips curling into her favorite smile. “I don’t know if I have the energy to find a brilliant criminal and finish preparing for our wedding,” he revealed in a teasing tone while wrapping his arm around her waist. She held back her laugh (they were at a crime scene, after all), “You think I’m hoping for a criminal mastermind?” He cocked his head to the side, “No, I don’t think you’re hoping for that option. But, I do think you’d enjoy the mystery if things go that way. Am I wrong?” he questioned, keeping his voice low. “No, you’re not,” she admitted, looking down, “What else do we need to do here before I race home and try to shut my eyes for a few minutes before we’re officially on duty for the day?” William gave her waist a squeeze before he released his hold of her, “I don’t think there’s anything else we can do until Chris gets back to us. Go on home,” he instructed before adding, “Don’t forget, we have our first dance lesson this evening.” “I’ll see you there if I don’t run into you on the job first,” she replied, resisting the urge to steal a kiss as she retreated back to her car which led back to her personal paradise, her bed. Harper had an uneventful day after the fire during the early hours of the morning. She went home once her shift ended to change for dance class. She was careful to be quiet so she wouldn’t wake Mel, knowing she had only a few hours before she’d have to get up for her next shift. She drove to the studio after deciding on a flowy, short dress paired with leggings. Once she arrived, she got out of her car and walked in to find William was already waiting on her. “You look lovely,” he complimented as he offered his hand to her. She took it with a smile as they walked onto the dancefloor and waited on their instructor to begin the class. “Welcome to your first class, happy couples,” a woman announced as she entered the room from the opposite side. “My name is Alyssa Styles and I’ll be your guide on this journey. Today, we’re going to begin by simply seeing where each of you are.” Alyssa moved to the stereo and pressed play causing ‘Baby Boy’ by Beyonce to pulse through the room. The couples, including Kirk and Hoffman, stood still unsure what they were supposed to be doing. “My darlings!” Alyssa exclaimed, “just start dancing and see where your bodies take you. Once you do that, I can determine what everyone needs.” Harper shrugged as she wrapped her arms around William’s neck and started swaying to the rhythm of the song, “This takes me right back to middle school,” she commented as he pulled her closer where their bodies were practically touching. “I’m sure you weren’t dancing this close to anyone in middle school,” Kirk replied with a small chuckle, realizing he’d never even heard this song. Harper turned herself in his arms moving her back against him. She almost couldn’t stop herself when her hips started grinding against him causing him to grasp her hips and pull her into him, even more tightly. Their moment was interrupted by Alyssa, “Very good, you two. You both are very aware of each other and that will make these lessons extremely easy for you.” She moved away from them and addressed the entire class as she made her way back to the music, “Very good, let’s change the pace and see how you all do.” The song was replaced by Norah Jones’ ‘Come Away with Me’ took its place. Harper turned in William’s arms, taking his hand with one hand and placing the other on his shoulder as the moved slowly across the floor to the track, completely lost in one another’s embrace. Written by Erica Rose Jackson You can already get my latest release in paperback or hardcover, but I'm saving the eBook for Halloween. Please, enjoy the first chapter from Danger Lies in the Dark. Chapter 1 The Assignment A news report flashed across the screen and the anchor shared: “The world came to a sudden halt today in the small town of Amsterdam, New York where a giant hole appeared from Main St to Front St spanning across Voorhees to John St. Onlookers reported that a team of five went down into the hole to investigate, but hours have passed and no one has returned to the surface. We’ll give you more information on this once it becomes available to us. Remember, we only share the facts.” Adira ‘Addy’ turned off the broadcast just as her phone rang, “Krajewski?” she answered.
“Addy, this is Sophie,” her boss began, “I’m sure you’ve already heard about the incident in Amsterdam,” she paused for a reaction from Addy. “Yes ma’am,” Addy replied, “I just watched the news report.” Sophie went on, “I’ve gotten you assigned to this one since its your hometown. You are to report to the old Amerstdam Mall tomorrow morning to meet with the research team. Any questions?” “Who’s the lead scientist on the case?” Addy responded, hoping her boss would say any name but the one flashing through her mind. Sophie inhaled before she gave Addy her answer, “It’s Dr. Paul Owens.” “Understood,” Addy said as she ended the call and sat back, her thoughts racing back to one of the million memories she shared with Dr. Paul Owens. “Are you enjoying the game, Addy?” Owens asked as the Yankees entered the seventh inning stretch with a significant lead on the Red Sox. She turned to face him, wearing a large smile across her lips, “Of course I am. We’re kicking their butts!” she exclaimed as she leaned over and placed a soft kiss on his lips, running one hand into the grey curls on the back of his neck. “I’m glad,” he replied, his subtle NY accent slipping through, one of the things Addy loved most about him. She caught something in his blue/grey eyes she hadn’t ever seen before, an emotion she couldn’t place, “What’s going on in that brilliant mind of yours?” she asked. She and Paul had been seeing each other for the past two years and she never imagined she could love someone as much as she loved him. He gestured for her to look at the jumbotron where it read, “Adira Krajewski, will you be my wife?” The words were replaced by the image of her and Paul. When she turned back to face him, he was down on one knee offering a ring. “What do you say, beautiful?” he inquired, wearing the largest grin she’d ever seen on his face. Addy was overwhelmed, she wasn’t sure they were ready for this step but they were surrounded by so many people. Her heart was racing as she looked down at her older boyfriend who was waiting, very patiently, for an answer. “Yes,” she finally gasped causing him to get back up and slide the ring onto her finger while the stadium erupted into cheers. Owens leaned forward and placed his lips to hers, wrapping his arms around her as the camera left the couple and focused back on the game. That was the moment where things between them started to go wrong, but neither knew it at that moment. Written by Erica Rose Jackson The original Halloween is my all-time favorite scary movie and I’ve watched every installment this franchise has to offer. Halloween H2O and Halloween: Resurrection are two of my favorites since the original...until Halloween 2018 and Halloween Kills surfaced anyway. Before you discredit my review because of my love for Resurrection, it’s important that you know, the only reason I enjoyed that film was for the scene where Busta Rhymes tells of Michael and Michael just leaves. It gets me, every time. Enough about the other Halloween films, though, we’re here to discuss Kills. The 2018 film really brought the series back to what made it so special in the original and I had very high hopes for its sequel. As the release date grew closer and reviews from people I respect started to come in, my hype level went through the roof. Needless to say, I watched Halloween Kills the day it premiered and I loved every minute.
Last we saw of the famed slasher Michael Myers, he was burning beneath Laurie Strode’s home. Well, Laurie’s plan didn’t work out and the first responders freed Myers from his smoky grave before he proceeded to murder all of them. Michael has some fighting skills in this installment like we’ve never seen from him before, and I am very much here for it. Michael is killing with a vengeance in Kills, hence the name and his kills offer more gore than we’re used to. Not as much as Rob Zombie's offerings, but more than your run-of-the-mill Halloween film. Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis), Karen (Judy Greer), and Allyson (Andi Matichak) head to the hospital for Laurie’s stab wound thinking they’ve taken out Myers. This film introduces us to many characters from the 1978 original and they’re all ready to take Myers out, for once and for all. Unfortunately, whether Michael is pure evil or something supernatural, there’s no stopping him. I don’t want to give away too much so I’ll just touch on a few of my favorite pieces of Halloween Kills. The introduction is phenomenal! We even get some Loomis (Donald Pleasence), who was always my favorite in the original films. Frank Hawkins (Will Patton) survived and there is a lot more to his story. Michael Myers is a literal killing machine and I loved everything (well, almost) he did in this film. Halloween Kills is an excellent follow-up to the original and the 2018 film. I streamed it on Peacock but I fully plan to see it again on the big screen because it feels like a must see in the movies type of feature. Go watch it, y’all You will not regret it. Written by Erica Rose Jackson Apple TV+ has officially dropped every episode of season two of Ted Lasso, and, if you’re like me, you’ve already watched all of them. The second season has been a whirlwind of emotions from beginning to end as the show has dealt with many difficult subjects from one episode to the next. The writers behind Ted Lasso are absolutely brilliant because they’ve handled each topic with grace and humor, always finding a silver lining. Join me as I review the latest season...I’ll try to keep it as spoiler free as possible. We’ll adventure through the episodes by touching on some of the character’s journeys. Ted Lasso (Jason Sudeikis) Ted had an emotional first season which gave us a glimpse into the bigger issues going on inside our beloved coach, but things were turned up a notch this year. Coach Lasso is a lovable man welling with endless positivity making us all strive to try and be more like him in our day to day lives. He confronts some real demons this season and is making strides to overcome them with the help of Dr. Sharon Fieldstone (played brilliantly by Sarah Niles). Ted Lasso does a phenomenal job dealing with mental health and the human condition. Rebecca Welton (Hannah Waddingham) Rebecca grew so much during the show’s freshman season. Her relationship with Ted is one of my favorite aspects of the series. She was able to move past her anger at her ex-husband and start to live her life once again. We get to see her thriving this time around, minus a few speed bumps, as she continues to learn more about herself. I always shipped Rebecca and Ted but I’m definitely on team Rebecca and Sam now, thanks writers. Rebecca is an outstanding character and, like Keeley, an amazing role model for girls and women. Sam Obisanya (Toheeb Jimoh) Sam was more of a background character during the first round (still one of my favorites), but this year, he is a major player. We got to learn a lot about his character and his family life while he navigated through being a famous football player and holding true to his morals. He faced some real challenges this season and he overcame them with grace and poise. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Sam! Roy Kent (Brett Goldstein) & Keeley Jones (Juno Temple) This couple caused me so many FEELS this over the past few weeks! Roy and Keeley were the pairing I knew was going to happen back in season one even when she was with Jamie. I loved watching these two grow individually and as a couple with each new episode. They are literal relationship goals! Roy and Keeley both navigated their new career roles and balanced those with their relationship and their friendships. I am and will always be rooting for these two! All of the characters went through big changes during this season and I’d be writing a book if I went into all of them. Plus, I’m trying to keep you away from spoilers. We had characters we loved become those we hate and vice versa. This was a true rollercoaster but I wouldn’t want it any other way. I can’t wait for season three! Honorable mention goes to Trent Crimm (James Lance) who I love but couldn’t mention because there are far too many spoilers where he’s concerned. Written by Erica Rose Jackson
‘World of Sunshine *intro*’ - JoJo gets this EP rolling with a haunting hummed melody completely setting the mood for the rest of the songs. This intro builds into almost an acapella group style performance where her vocals shine, as always. The lyrics are so hopeful while the melody is a mix between heartbreak and hope. We get started with sheer brilliance. ‘Anxiety (Burlinda’s Theme)’ - Things move into a sound you’d expect on a JoJo album. However, the lyrics are a relatable description of anxiety that any of us have experienced and, i’m sure, we all share the same sentiment of wishing we could live without it. ‘Dissolve’ - JoJo’s vocals shine on the third track of ‘trying not to think about it’. She has an amazing voice whether she’s singing a simple melody or belting out those high notes and, on this song, she shows off all of it. The lyrics are haunting but that appears to be the theme on this one and I’m here for it. ‘Good Enough *interlude*’ - This interlude feels like a complete song and not just an interlude. To be honest, none of the interludes or even the intro feel like a brief moment. Each track on this EP is a full serving of JoJo greatness. You’d be foolish to skip around. ‘B.I.D.’ - Bringing it Down is the focus of this song and it succeeds. Things calm down but they do not stall out. JoJo sings her heart out as she explains herself in this new relationship throughout the lyrics. ‘Feel Alright’ - This is my favorite track, without a doubt. I feel these lyrics deep in my soul and the vocals are out of this world. If you haven’t felt this song on a personal level, I’m honestly surprised. “Do I love you this much or is this just something to do?” ‘Fresh New Sheets’ - ‘Fresh New Sheets’ is a close second for me behind ‘Feel Alright’. They are both filled with so much pain and potential desperation that they speak to so many of us. “Please don’t come over, my heart’s just too weak,” is the lyric that gets to me most when I listen to this one. ‘Sugar and Carbs *interlude*’ - As someone who has eaten more than her fair share of cookies, this interlude speaks to my soul. It’s only two lines, maybe. And yet, it’s packed full of relatable content. JoJo gets us, y’all! ‘Spiral SZN’ - JoJo brings the most upbeat sound with this one. Once again, the lyrics are so, so, so relatable. Why is it that we can be so positive about everyone around us but bullies to ourselves? Spiral season is such a truth and I know I’m not the only one who gets it. Can y’all chill? ‘Nikki’s Sound Bath *interlude*’ - This is the only true interlude on the album since the others feel so much like full tracks. However, it’s still powerful with the only lyrics included, “It’ll be alright.” ‘Worst (I Assume)’ - JoJo is channeling Britney Spears’ ‘Unusual You’ on ‘Worse (I Assume)’. It’s hard to believe in something real and good when everything that’s come before has broken our hearts. Once the walls go up, it’s extremely hard to break them down again. ‘Lift’ - In another relatable track, JoJo sings ‘Lift’. We’ve all had those moments where we just want to go somewhere else because anywhere else has to be better. This track closes the EP in a beautiful way, continuing the haunting melody but ending with positivity. “I got myself help. So, if you’re feeling low, don’t be hard on yourself,” are the closing lyrics. Buy this album and listen to it on repeat, you will not regret it. JoJo never disappoints and ‘trying not to think about it’ is no different. It’s a masterpiece from beginning to end. Go along on this vocal journey with JoJo and the rest of who are already enjoying it. Written by Erica Rose Jackson I thought it would be fun to share some of the pieces that go into my creative process so I recorded a video (which I've included here) and some steps. The first step is the initial idea and those don't all make from beginning to book, if you know what I mean. All my first thoughts go in to a notebook, a Google Sheet, or the notes feature on my phone. If the idea gets serious enough, I'll start getting into the setting and saving those images for referene later. Visualization is very important to me, as a writer. I need to be able to see what I'm writing and I can describe it better if I have it in front of me. Once the writing process starts and I get two to four chapters in, the idea and all things included move into the binder above. The first sections are for the artwork like the cover and visuals I mentioned above. Next is any research I've done for the story. For example, my recent work Stranded dealt with a Great White Sharke Cage Diving expedition so I read up on what to expect on a trip like that. After those aspects comes the brainstorming, which starts with whatever item I started my thoughts in and then expands into the blank pages included in my binder. Most of the time, I like to layout a full chapter outline of the story so I can enjoy the achievement of checking things off as I go. This also helps to make sure I don't skip any details I wanted to include. Next comes the manuscript. Like I said earlier, once I've written out two to four chapters, I print that and put it in the appropriate section of my binder. I print more and more as I write and I use those printouts for editing. This is where I fix grammar and spelling errors, but it's also where I decide on changes to the story. These can be small changes to big changes. That all depends on what I feel as I read back through the work. After the entire book is published, all the work included in the process gets moved back to the completed section. If you'd like a littte bit more detail into my work flow, please check out this video I recorded. I hope you guys enjoyed this glimpse into my mind and, maybe, you even found it a little bit helpful. The Final Season of ‘Goliath’ is Phenomenal: A Perfect Ending to a Series Which is a True Treasure9/30/2021 Written by Erica Rose Jackson Billy Bob Thornton returned to Amazon Prime’s Goliath as lawyer Billy McBride for the fourth and final season on September 24th. This exceptional series finished its story with eight episodes where Billy takes on Big Pharma, well the opioid makers, anyway. Season four brings in some new characters who are, somehow, nastier than those Billy’s faced in the previous seasons along with some familiar faces. Don’t worry, this review will be spoiler free. Season three ended with a literal bang with Billy getting shot leaving all of us wondering what his fate would be. Luckily, he survived but it’s evident from the start that he isn’t himself. Enter Patty Solis-Papagian (Nina Arianda) to get Billy back in the game with a case against three companies who have basically created and perpetuated the opioid crisis in America. Brittany Gold (Tania Raymonde) came back which made me so happy. I was so sad to see her leave last season, especially thinking we’d never see her again. There’s no universe where I could choose between Brittany and Patty and be able to pick a favorite. J.K. Simmons (Spider-Man) joins the final season as the super evil, big bad George Zax. I’m not sure I can rate the bad guys from the series as bad to baddest because each one is their own different and new level of slimy. We also got Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense) as Dylan Zax, George’s son. Fun fact, I didn’t know it was Osment until I saw a tweet from him. The final season brings in a noir style that will take you back to old Hollywood in the best way possible. Billy isn’t just on a case this time. He’s also on his own journey of self discovery. With David E. Kelley (Boston Legal) at the helm, it’s impossible for this show to disappoint. Each season brought us one step closer to the ending and it embraced its quirkiness more and more as the show progressed. I don’t think we’ll have anything like Goliath again, for a long time, and I am so grateful for this exceptional series. I’m going to miss it but it couldn’t have ended better. Goliath delivers consistently from beginning to end. Don’t miss out on this series.
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