I Spy With My Side Eye

My new book blog, ZoraToniMaya.com, launched yesterday on what...

Tue, 08 Jan 2013 08:54:54 -0800

My new book blog, ZoraToniMaya.com, launched yesterday on what would have been Zora Neale Hurston’s 122nd birthday. Check it out when you can. Very excited about what is to come :)

Where it all began…was driving thru E. Oakland and...

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 12:54:22 -0800

Where it all began…was driving thru E. Oakland and stumbled upon the library in the neighborhood I grew up in. Brought back so many summertime memories in the 80s, riding my bike from 64th Ave to get books like George and the Giant Peach and Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, and and my cousin and I winning Oakland A’s tix and free pizza when we completed the summer reading challenges #Oakland #library #libraries #books #reading (at Martin Luther King Jr. Branch Library)

Awww look what I found! Too bad I dont have a cassette deck....

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 17:00:31 -0800

Awww look what I found! Too bad I dont have a cassette deck. “Now Behold the Lamb” and “Jesus Is the Reason for the Season” used to be my jam! #KirkFranklin #Christmas #The90s #1995 #gospel

My garage was flooded last week, which destroyed most of my 2012...

Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:28:18 -0800

My garage was flooded last week, which destroyed most of my 2012 vision board (dont ask me why it was in the garage). This is the only part of it that went unscathed, which also happened to be the only 3 goals that I didnt meet this year: pray consistently, get that 25 yr old body back, and procure a stable of men (one with gold teeth, one built like Paul Bunyan).

Sign from God?

I guess it’s time to start playing Christmas music. First...

Sun, 09 Dec 2012 12:31:03 -0800

I guess it’s time to start playing Christmas music. First up…

Beautiful.

Sat, 01 Dec 2012 23:53:55 -0800

Beautiful.

I love this song. Side eyeing Keke’s dress and flower but...

Tue, 27 Nov 2012 12:48:14 -0800

I love this song. Side eyeing Keke’s dress and flower but her voice is beautiful. And Avant looking thicker than a snicker. Hey boo :)

#37 Finished this short story collection last week. Ernest J....

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 12:14:36 -0800

#37 Finished this short story collection last week. Ernest J. Gaines is one of my favorite authors of all time (A Lesson Before Dying and A Gathering of Old Men are on my top 15 fav books list). At five short stories in all, this collection as a whole did not move me like his novels have, but the last two stories in the collection, “Bloodline” and “Just Like A Tree” were really, really good.

He has this way of injecting humor that doesn’t distract from the heavy and serious themes that are at the center of his stories. That’s why I admire him.

Just win, baby! #RAIDERNATION #Oakland #Barack #Obama...

Sun, 04 Nov 2012 09:02:44 -0800

Just win, baby! #RAIDERNATION #Oakland #Barack #Obama #OaklandRaiders #SilverandBlack

Gabby better get it! So in love with this! #Essence #BlackWomen...

Fri, 02 Nov 2012 09:37:34 -0700

Gabby better get it! So in love with this! #Essence #BlackWomen #women #olympics #beauitful #EssenceMagazine #2012WomenOfTheYear #December

#36 Great collection of short stories mostly set in the U.S....

Thu, 01 Nov 2012 20:56:49 -0700

#36 Great collection of short stories mostly set in the U.S. Virgin Islands. I love Caribbean authors, so it was right up my alley. Finished in two days. My fav story was “Street Man” about a small time drug dealer and his love for his straight and narrow college student girlfriend. Cant wait to read more from Tiphanie Yanique.

This will only excite me if said romance will be paired with BBQ...

Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:16:26 -0700

This will only excite me if said romance will be paired with BBQ ribs every 3rd Sunday

#35 -Few weeks ago, @oaklanista asked me for a good reading...

Tue, 30 Oct 2012 11:05:39 -0700

#35 -Few weeks ago, @oaklanista asked me for a good reading suggestion: something funny with well rounded characters with a little love sprinkled in. So I sent this to her as a surprise as soon as I finished it. Forgot to take a pic of it to post my 35th read tho, but she did and posted it. Loved this book. Hilarious and heartwrenching. Gonna watch the movie sometime this week, though Im sure it cant compare.

The most beautiful commercial ever

Fri, 26 Oct 2012 15:42:28 -0700

The most beautiful commercial ever

Phonte is out here singin “Titties and Jesus dont go...

Sun, 21 Oct 2012 00:29:38 -0700

Phonte is out here singin “Titties and Jesus dont go together.” Lmaooooo so foolish (at Mezzanine)

Hi SugaHoney. Would you like to help promote Middle of Nowhere in the Bay Area?

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 22:26:01 -0700

Sure would.

Beats Rhymes & Life Inc. presents A LOVELY DAY film...

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 17:21:39 -0700

Beats Rhymes & Life Inc. presents A LOVELY DAY film screening + Q & A session at the historic Grand Lake Theater in Oakland, CA

Get your tix HERE

"I have no mercy or compassion in me for a society that will crush people, and then penalize them for..."

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:37:22 -0700

“I have no mercy or compassion in me for a society that will crush people, and then penalize them for not being able to stand up under the weight.”

- Malcolm X (via headandstomachache)

Ha! Remember Maria from Sesame Street? She has a new novel out...

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 21:26:41 -0700

Ha! Remember Maria from Sesame Street? She has a new novel out and I randomly won it on Goodreads.com. just came in the mail. Hope it’s good. (Taken with Instagram)

#33 Finished this past weekend. A bit long, but still...

Tue, 09 Oct 2012 09:39:40 -0700

#33 Finished this past weekend. A bit long, but still entertaining. Now, time to watch the movie! 7 more to reach my goal for the year. (Taken with Instagram)