Acknowledgments
All great things must cum to a climax. That is why I'm ending my
If I Can't Have You
trilogy with an orgasmic, “Oh my God!” and not leaving you with a cliffhanger this time. As I conclude, I must thank God for blessing me with the gift to write for Kensington Publishing Corporation for fourteen consecutive years. I don't take for granted the continued success I've had in the literary industry. For my longevity, I thank you, my friends, family, and fans, for buying my books!
I'm excited about my next two projects. My new series is
Single Moms
. Get ready to meet Sandara, Alexis, Mercedes, and Devereaux. Then there is my upcoming book,
D.A.D.: A woman's guide to choosing the right one
. D.A.D. stands for “Dicks are Dumb.” Don't believe me just read it.
If you want to get and keep a man, ladies, you shouldn't act like a lady (hopefully you're already that) and think like a man (realistically you'll never be one). Real women know the rela will last longer when you “act like a bitch and think like a dick.”
The phenomenal people in my life lift me to higher heights. Marissa “Pynk” Monteilh is my bestest author friend and confidant. Kimberla Lawson Roby is the most consistent and caring author I know. Your support never wavers and I thank both of you for your authenticity.
My son, Jesse Bernard Byrd Jr., is absolutely outstanding. Susan Mary Malone describes my son's debut novel,
Oiseau
, as “brilliant!” I wholeheartedly agree. Jesse writes for adolescents and up. I continue to say, “God gave me the right child.” Jesse's apparel, OiseauClothes.com, was promoted at an
At Risk Youth
charitable event with Tyler Perry and worn by Marlon Wayans, Chris Bosh, Jason Derulo, Kali Hawk, and a host of other celebrities. My son's fiancée, Emaan Abbass, is a beautiful woman inside and out. I couldn't have a better future daughter-in-law.
Timothy Kees, I'm extremely proud of you. I've known you since you were four years old. Now you're a branch manager at Wells Fargo, a grad student, and a homeowner. I pray for your continued blessings and success.
While doing research for this novel, I stayed at Magic Johnson's son's Hotel ICON and Hotel ZaZa, both in Houston. I had the privilege of a private tour of the Texas State Capitol in Austin and the office of State Representative Harold V. Dutton Jr. by Rep. Dutton. Thanks for the love, my love.
Dining at Corner Table, happy hour at Eddie V's, a quick stop at 51Fifteen, a burger at Avalon Diner, jazz at the Red Cat Café, and drinks at Swagger, just to name a few of the places I enjoyed while in Houston, Texas. I love a man in a suit wearing cowboy boots. Thanks to all the wonderful people I met!
Thanks to all my Facebook fans who came to support my venues across the country. To name a few, at the Decatur Book Festival: Bookworm Divas Book Club, LaLinda Hernandez, Charles Bailey, and Lawrence C. Newson (and wife).
Much love and appreciation to my unmarried husband Richard C. Montgomery. I cannot thank you enough for your undying hospitality and unconditional friendship, man. There's nothing I wouldn't do for you.
Jack Manning, you're the best photographer! Love, love, love all your pics. The photos are beautiful, thanks to Jennifer Ferriola, and Shiedah Williams, my personal make-up artist. Shay, my hair stylist. Ashley Gray, Marissa Monteilh's make-up artist. Lindsay Rochelle Brown, make-up artist to my fans.
I am eternally grateful to Phillip Rafshoon, Jullian Kuhns, Googie Daniels, Lisa Baron, Ella D. Curry, Stephanie Perry Moore and E. Missy Daniels (Delta Sigma Theta), Pearl Woolridge, Vera Warren-Williams, Yolanda Gore, Tira McDonald (UCAAB), and Brian Smith, for your support.
To the Honorable Vanessa Gilmore, your assistance is forever greatly appreciated. Jason Griffin and Souleymane Bakayoto, thanks for your Southern hospitality. My special friend Dominique McClellan, I hope you outrun that bear in the woods. I wish you the best in your acting, modeling, and singing career. See you at the top! Chad Bailey, bartender at Ted's Montana Grill in Decatur, Georgia, you should consider modeling.
I enjoyed hanging out in Atlanta with my sisters Margie Rickerson and Regina Morrison. My nephew Roland Morrison, thanks for being my personal assistant. My nephew Devin Barrett, I'm proud of you. Welcome to the family. My niece, Eboni Perry, it was a real blast seeing you in the ATL.
My friend since third grade, Vanessa Ibanitoru, thanks for hanging. My earthly mother, Barbara Cooper, I love you. I'm eternally grateful to have lifetime friends: Felicia Polk, Vyllorya A. Evens, Marilyn Edge, Michela Burnett, Shannette Slaughter, Eve Lynne Robinson, and Carmen Polk.
My mother, Elester Noel, wish I would've known you before God called you home. My father, Joseph Henry Morrison, thanks for the everlasting wisdom. It's because of you that I keep it real. Thanks for getting it in before leaving out.
My great-aunt, Ella Beatrice Turner, and my great-uncle, Willie Frinkle, reared me and for that I am truly blessed. Didn't understand why my great-aunt was hard on me back then but I get it now. Thanks for the tough love!
Wayne, Andrea, Derrick, and Regina Morrison, Margie Rickerson, Debra Noel, and Bryan Turner are my siblings. Thanks guys, I love you! Derrick, Dannette, Angela Lewis-Morrison, and Wanda Hutchinson, I'm sure I speak for the fam when I say, “Thanks for organizing our first Morrison Family Reunion. Looking forward to 2015.”
I genuinely appreciate each and every one of my Facebook family, friends, and fans, my Twitter and Instagram followers, and my Mc-Donogh 35 Senior High alumni.
Thanks to my editor and friend, Selena James at Kensington Publishing Corporation. To Steven Zacharius, Adam Zacharius, Laurie Parkin, Karen Auerbach, Adeola Saul, Lesleigh Irish-Underwood, and everyone at Kensington, thanks for growing my literary career.
Well, what's an author without brilliant agents? I'm fortunate to have two of the best agents in the literary business, Andrew Stuart and Claudia Menza. You are appreciated. Thanks to my attorneys, Kendall Minter, Esq., and Kenneth P. Norwick, Esq.
On to the next. It's Hollywood, baby! We are still preparing for the theatrical release of
Soulmates Dissipate
, the movie. I wish I could give you a behind-the-scenes breakdown of making a movie. I'll have to blog about it at a later time. I thank everyone for working diligently on the project: Leslie Small, director/producer; Jeff Clanagan, CEO of Codeblack Entertainment; producer Dawn C Mallory; and Jesse Byrd Jr.
Wishing each of my readers peace and prosperity in abundance. Visit me online at MaryMorrison.com, sign up for my HoneyBuzz newsletter. Join my fan page on Facebook at Mary-Honey-B-Morrison, follow me on Twitter @marybmorrison and Instagram at maryhoneybmorrison.