MJ Magazine: January 2019

By Fran Lewis

The first issue of MJ Magazine for 2019 is a special edition featuring writers and artists of all ages. Works from young authors are featured, as well as artwork from One River School of Art and Design, book reviews and Fran’s picks.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fran Lewis
• Release date: Jan 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463037188

Fran Lewis

Fran Lewis: Fran worked in the NYC Public Schools as the Reading and Writing Staff Developer for over 36 years. She has three masters degrees and a PD in Supervision and Administration. Currently, she is a member of Who's Who of America's Teachers and Who's Who of America's Executives from Cambridge. In addition, she is the author of three children's books and a fourth that has just been published on Alzheimer's disease in order to honor her mom and help create more awareness for a cure. The title of my new Alzheimer’s book is Memories are Precious: Alzheimer’s Journey; Ruth’s storyShe was the musical director for shows in her school and ran the school's newspaper. Fran writes reviews for authors upon request and for several other sites. You can read some of my reviews on Ezine.com and on ijustfinished.com under the name Gabina. I am a member of Whos Who of Americas Teachers and Whos Who of America’s Executives and Professionals on Cambridge. I review books for authors upon request. My goal is to get my books published by a traditional publisher and on the shelves of every school library, hospital and bookstore. I host two radio shows on Blog Talk Radio. Book Discussion with Fran Lewis is on Blog Talk every third Wednesday of the month from three to five eastern. My children’s author’s show is four times a year. I host online book blogs and book tours for authors and I review books for authors throughout the world. I have published six books the last Because We Care in memory of my sister Marcia. The proceeds going to find the cause and cure for Alzheimer’s.

Book preview

Memories of Marcia

Marcia loved to sing and entertain everyone. She could dance as well as anyone on the Broadway Stage. She belonged to many dance troupes and loved the thrill of large audiences when she did her solos. Singing was her other passion and she sang in Carousel, Oklahoma and the King and I having starring roles in all three shows. She was in the glee club in Junior High school and even went to Barbizon for modeling before working for ABC television in the newsroom.

She loved people and always had a positive attitude. The one thing I loved and will always remember are her 7 a.m. phone calls that would start my day and hopefully make me smile. She was always positive and never negative. Like the shine when it shined so did she. When the clouds come out and the rain is torrential I often look up to the sky and say: Marcia Joyce would you turn off the water faucet since you always said you control the weather. Sometimes it works and the sun comes out.

Writers and Artists of All Ages: This edition of MJ Magazine will include pieces of writing from people of all ages hoping to spotlight younger writers and encouraging children of all ages to write and read more. It will also include artwork created by the students of a special art school in Hartsdale whose work is now on display at the Westchester Mall.

Arlessa R. Douglass is the eldest daughter of Michelle Carter-Douglass. She is a graduate of both Struthers High School and the Mahoning County Career and Technical Center in 2016.

Ms. Douglass credits the LORD and her mother in her ability to cope with depression. As a survivor of child abuse by her biological father, bullying, and stalking, she forgives them.

Ms. Douglass is a singer, author, and motivational speaker. She says, Only God can heal and the only way we can heal, is to talk with God in prayer.

Brialan Douglass, a high school student perusing his career in law enforcement and firefighting.

Mr. Douglass, is a survivor of child abuse by his biological father and stalking. He is diagnosed with autism and refuses to live as a victim or unabled individual.

Brialan and his family struggled with weight loss and wellness. Brialan took it upon himself to change his eating habits and exercise and help with his siblings and mother on their journey to overall wellness.

He says, Prayer is our relationship with God, our Heavenly Father.

Patrick Michyde Douglass, is a Struthers High School and Alternative education graduate of 2013. Diagnosed with Asperger’s at the age of 19, he strives to accomplish the skills that will enable him to lead a productive and spiritual life.

It doesn’t matter about what has happened or what has been said. Through prayer I grow spiritually and mentally every day. We have to trust in God.

Michelle Carter-Douglass, is an African American, author, poet, motivational speaker, and graduate from Youngstown State University. Ms. Carter-Douglass a single mother of four now adult children, (Patrick M. Douglass, Arlessa Douglass, Kailah Douglass, and Brialan Douglass).

Her third child passed away due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, (SIDS) at only five and a half weeks of age.

Michelle, has overcome many trials and tribulations in her life. She has survived bullying domestic violence, abuse, stalking, and discrimination, all by the grace of GOD.

The Provisional Storm

Patrick M. Douglass

Michelle Carter-Douglass

Everything we go through in life is for the good. 

I learned long time ago,

storms are provisional and when we endure them;

there is always a lessoned earned.

The hardest storms I had to go through in life ~

were the storms caused by the presence and absence of my dad. 

He never tried to be better in his life.

But, those are his own person trials and storms.

His negligence at times is hard for me to understand.

I have to remain on my bended knees, and pray for him and for me.

Mom, I just think, I had an epiphany in poetry.

God, thank you for being a father to my siblings and to me.

MOM! I think I just gave God appreciation in poetry!

To all the kids that haver been called dumb ~

you are really smart.

To all the people that have been made fun of and pushed around ~

those bullies are trying to bring into the dark.

Just a kid and I was homeless, abused, and sometimes I went hungry.

Just a kid, when my dad scared my heart.

As a man, I have endured these provisional storms.

For these trials are only temporary.

When people hit me in school ~ I would hit them back.

I couldn’t speak for myself and some of them lied on me.

I could be bitter.

I could be angry.

But my trials were only provisional storms.

Through my trials I have learned.

To everyone that have been abused ~

love yourself.

To everyone that has been called names ~

let those words be a boomerang.

Son, in those chapters called life ~ they will be filled with the good and the bad.

In those chapters called life ~ I wish I could have given my children more.

The fact my child, that you have gained from your provisional storms ~

as a mother, I inform you, that you have gained an unmeasurable worth.

When you look into the sky and see the painted horizon ~

remember, it is our Heavenly Father that designed the sunset, you, and I.

My son, you have gained a multitude of epiphanies.

Readers ~ from a mother and her son, we give you an accolade through our poetry.

Love,

Patrick M. and Michelle Denise

Jolie is a Smart Cookie

Jolie Floriano, age 9

I am a smart cookie because over the summer I asked my reading tutor to help me improve my vocabulary and comprehension skills in reading. This makes me a smart cookie because I realized that I needed help in order to succeed at a higher level in grade 4. Being a smart cookie is great because I learned that in order to improve I had to read everyday, record what I read and talk it over with someone like my Mom or tutor asking me questions about the stories. I learned more about the kinds of books that I wanted to read and decided to choose books by Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary and even Barbara Parks who wrote Junie B books.

When someone is a smart cookie they know when to ask for help and accept it. But, what really turned me on to reading and helped me to understand the parts of a story like the characters, plot and storylines was the project that my fourth grade teacher gave us to complete over the summer. I read Freckle Juice and learned how to create an event for my family and the family in the book based