So yes, you read that title correctly, lol. I know you're probably thinking what exactly is living apart together? Well, the other day, I was reading a really interesting article about Gwyneth Paltrow and her husband who she's been married to less than one year. She stated that her and husband have chosen to live in separate homes but not due to any strife or marital strain, but because they personally feel it's more conducive to their lifestyle. Paltrow has been married before and has teenage children from her previous marriage and her husband also has children from his previous marriage and they did not feel the need to force them into some modern day "Brady Bunch"-style family, her words not mine. Paltrow stated they typically cohabitate 4 nights a week and the other 3 nights, they retire to their individual homes. Paltrow's married friends seem to think they have an ideal relationship and should not change a thing. Paltrow stated she has what you call an "intimacy teacher" (yep, be sure to look up that term) and she advises that their separate living arrangement actually adds polarity (balance) to their marriage.

I can't help but be intrigued when I hear and/or read about various lifestyles that may be considered atypical or unconventional. I've always enjoyed learning about people and this situation is no exception. What are your thoughts?  

I love this quote "I'm not punishing you, I'm protecting me." That came from my dear Auntie (in my head) Iyanla Vanzant. But this quote hits home for me in so many ways because I can distinctively remember when I broke out the big girl panties and finally declared, "I'm not punishing you, I'm protecting me". I was 19 years old and I was cohabitating with a man who was four years my senior. It may not sound like a lot of years but his worldly experience and outlook on life made me feel as if I was involved with a man twice my age. To say it was a tough journey is an understatement.

I was learning myself and I questioned myself internally so much during this time because I allowed him to infiltrate my space. I allowed his thoughts to become my thoughts and because we were intimate on a consistent basis, our energies were intertwined which produced much confusion in me. 

When I tried to step away and dissolve the relationship, I wasn't strong enough so I kept letting him back in. We lived together for two years and then one day I broke free and by his reaction you would've thought I had just severed his arm or something. But in his mind, he really did feel like I was hurting him, but all in all, I was just protecting me. I had no choice as I noticed my hair thinning, I was becoming a little withdrawn from friends, I became stressed out often and I experienced my very first panic attack. It can be so easy to succumb to the life that you'd become so familiar with even if it is detrimental but it's imperative that you move! I learned that lesson very early in my life and I have applied it on so many levels and it has served me well. Of course, there's so much to that story, which we all have a story but I'm extremely thankful for that experience now more than ever because I can relate to so many people who are trying to remove themselves from toxic environments in order to secure self-preservation.

Take some time, if you will, and reflect on Queen Vanzant's words and let it resonate with you. Are you not protecting yourself in fear of hurting someone else? If so, remember in order to give, you have to have something to give. It's really not that deep, it is what it is. Have you had to make that declaration before? If so, how has it affected you?

I'm such a fan of history and I bask in the opportunity every time I get a chance to go to the museum and step inside of an old train car that feels like it literally transports me back to the 1800's or seeing exhibits of how people hunted for food or even the clothing they wore. Even though, I'm what you would consider an 80's baby; also a product of Baby Boomers, I am still excited and eager to learn more about the past. It tells a story on so many levels for which I can make more sense of my existence.

But sometimes, I find it extremely saddening that history continues to repeat itself in a way that we have yet seemed to learn from. In the wake of the recent Abortion Laws of 2019, women are still being forced to make decisions about their well-being at the hands of their male counterparts. This is why I feel women's literature/fiction is so important. Even in literature, women are not always taken seriously and the value appears to decrease even in the positioning of women's literature in the bookstores. Now when I speak of value, I'm not speaking in terms of who actually purchases these books because statistics show that women are the majority novel purchasers, but with regards to pricing. So much can be said about what a person values when the pricing standards are much lower than books written by men.

The disparity between men and women has been so ingrained in our psyches that we just assume that a woman really has nothing to talk about of substance in a women's fiction book so it might as well be priced lower. But women's fiction is so much more than that. Women's fiction provides a space to share experiences, empathy, understanding, and for your voice to be heard because we all know that fiction is still based upon some truth. If women's literature was praised and valued more, maybe that would spark a deeper understanding of the woman's experience and maybe even change the political landscape of our country. I don't have all the answers but maybe if those stories were valued more, we would be less likely to repeat those cycles that have proven to be detrimental to society as a whole. 

I'll be honest, I don't exactly follow the #metoo movement but I started thinking about the more subtle ways women continue to be silenced, even in this era:

1. "She's too aggessive/masculine."
2. "She's not nuturing."
3. "I don't trust women who are too successful."
4. "Women who don't want to be married and/or have children are bitter and selfish."
5. "She's too premiscuous."
6. "You wanted equality, so now you have it. Don't come crying to me when you need your tire changed or you want me to take out the garbage."
7. "It's natural for men to cheat. But women shouldn't do that. Stop trying to act like a man."
8. "My job is to protect and to provide for you. Nothing more, nothing less. Stop trying to get me to talk about my feelings."
9. "I just lie to my boyfriend/husband to get what I want because men can't handle the truth."
10. "Girl, you know how men are. He's going to be who he is. Men are naturally selfish and stubborn. You just need to figure out how to deal with it."

What are your thoughts? What do you think are some subtle ways women are repeatedly given the message to just fall in line and not utter a word?" 

According to USA Today's Best Selling Books List of 2018, Michelle Obama's, "Becoming" is ranked number one in a list of 100! Now my question is, are you really surprised? Many times, this list is filled with fiction reads but this memoir of our former FLOTUS stood out amongst the crowd and is has even remained #1 on Amazon since the book debuted in November 2018. 

Now I must admit, I enjoyed some of that success as well as my first novel, Discovering Lita  literally debuted just a week earlier on Amazon. With Black Friday sales on the horizon and Christmas season fastly approaching, "Becoming" was on many people's shopping list. How I benefitted from this was while my readership shopped for Discovering Lita, many of them bought "Becoming" as well which increased the likelihood of those unfamiliar with my work seeing it under the infamous title "Customers who bought this item also bought"... The end result was the former FLOTUS' book popping up in on my book's page. That was a pretty cool victory in my eyes. 

But what's even cooler is that my dad, gifted me with "Becoming" and in my opinion, it was a very pleasant read. I didn't have specific expectations for the book, but what I found most interesting was her detailed description of her road to the White House which really started from childhood. "Becoming" was not a short read but it's length is very necessary in understanding the Michelle Obama we are familiar with today.

"Becoming" also made me think of my own story and as an African American woman who grew up on the South Side of Chicago from humble beginnings as well. I did not experience the consistency of a two parent household with a stay-home mom per se, but I can relate to the love of family that carried us through while growing up in the inner city with limited resources and opportunities in comparison to our Caucasian counterparts. But that's what makes this book so unique is because even with all of the odds stacked against Mrs. Obama, she still managed to become one of the most famous and admired women in America.

So I looked at this picture of myself the other day when I was a little girl saying my Easter speech at church and I started thinking about the "Becoming" journey I've been on my entire life. This picture speaks volumes to me as it is a reminder of where it all began. For those of you who read "Becoming" did the book make you think of your own personal journey?

November 7th is the official launch of Discovering Lita and I'm extremely excited but also humbled by the feedback I have received from all of you so far!
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To show my appreciation, if you purchase a paperback copy of Discovering Lita between November 7th and Saturday, November 10th by 11:59pm CST, you will be entered into a random drawing to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card on me! This is exclusive to my mailing list ONLY. You can join my mailing list here.

Once you make your purchase, please email the following information to angie@angiedlee.com:

1. First and last name
2. A forwarded email or screenshot of your receipt that indicates the date you purchased Discovering Lita (feel free to block out your address and/or any identifying information that you may feel uncomfortable sharing) 
3. Email address (you will receive your e-gift card via email for you to use instantly if you want)

I will announce the winner on Sunday, November 11, 2018 no later than 1pm CST via my email list and social media pages (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).

Thanks again everyone and happy reading!!!

I can't even begin to describe how much fun we had at the Ladies Night Pajama Jam at the Hyatt Midway Hotel in Chicago this past Friday! When you get amazing women, PJs, music, a buffet dinner, open bar, manicures and pedicures, massages, line dancing and sex toys together, you're bound to have a wonderful night. And to show my appreciation to all the beautiful women there, I gifted them with the first full chapter of my book, Discovering Lita! If you missed it, well I won't sugarcoat it, you really missed a great evening. But not to worry, here are a few images from the event. And be sure to follow me on my social media handles to see video footage!

​So... since I write women's fiction and the majority of my followers are women, I thought it would be befitting to share with you my top 5 reasons you might need a girls night out ASAP!

1. You need a night to just eat and drink as much as you want with no judgment.
2. You need a break from everyone and everything that's pulling at you like work, kids, significant other, siblings, parents, in-laws, bills, you name it!
3. You need to connect with other women you can be yourself around and no one is sizing you up and down comparing themselves to you.
4. You need to enjoy being a woman and embrace the things that are of interest to you.
5. You need to just act a fool and dance like no one is watching!

So, join me and some phenomenal ladies at the hottest ladies night of the year and purchase your tickets here.