Audio Track Complete-Editing Process Concerns About Using the N-Word in the Book

Hello everyone!

I just finished working in a recording studio at Raw Recording Studio in Patterson, New York.  I enjoyed working with the engineer JC during the process.  I am now waiting for JC to find the time and edit the book so it can get loaded into Audiobooks.com in the near future.  I am excited to see the reviews on that latest work of art! :)  It should become available on Amazon and iTunes when it is finished and uploaded.  I will provide an update when that happens as well!

I was concerned about 2 spots in the book where the N-word is used.  I am not using the word myself.  It was a part of a story to illustrate a funny black co-worker who dropped the word.  The second time it was used was when I was in an almost fist fight with a guy who did not like me dating an Arab man at the time.  He referred to him when we were arguing as a "Sand N-Word".  I am going to provide an exerpt of the context as to how it was used.  I am torn since I believe in freedom of expression.  However, I do not want to offend anyone.  Nor would I want anyone to have a false impression of what I represent.  I have decided for the time being to have it bleeped out of the audio track.  I had to go over the sentence a few times since I was extremely uncomfortable using the word.  I am fully aware of the history and negative associations made with the word.  I have always been a firm believer that NO ONE should use the word. I can only control my actions and guide the actions of my boys. 

Therefore, I will edit it for the audio version.  Anyone who hears it will clearly see that I am merely recounting a story that happened during the time frame years ago.

Chapter 16 Adventures With Big Papa Bear

"The name of the road is Nanny Hagen Road.  Roven was driving and all of a sudden he half way slammed on the brakes while wildly moving his head from side to side in a panic.  It was as if we were in another one of his skits in his head where he was the slave and I was his sidekick this time.  He started saying over and over, "Look at those trees!!"  "Those trees were for hanging niggers!!"  I never again traveled down that road without the dialogue from Roven playing softly in the back of my mind."

Here is the second exerpt where I am fighting with these two guys who do not like me due to my choices to date an Arab man during that time.  He also does not like that I am defending people from Pakistan who are running a deli.  I believed that those people had nothing to do with 9/11 nor should you assume they have anything to do with this tragic moment in history!!

Chapter 18 Working For a Bully

"Stanley and I reported to another school job within the district to work for a foreman named Haans.  We both could tell that we were not well received.  I was especially not well received due to my gender.  I found out that the foreman did not like women working in the business.  The first day I found this to be true when I was sent out for coffee.  Despite the fact that there was a third year helper on the job, I was the one sent out to get coffee.  I opted to not make a fuss since it was very clear to me that this is what he was looking for me to do.  In this business, the person who has been in the business the least number of years goes out for coffee.  I happened to know Haan's brother, since he was dating a friend of mine.  That friend lived on the same street as my ex-boyfriend.  Haans knew about my ex-boyfriend, whose parents had come from the Middle East.  I knew that found out about this information since he made several references to avoid dating "sand niggers" from the Middle East who fund terrorists from the Taliban.  In addition to his inappropriate references, another co-worker on the job, named Terry, would also make similar comments from time to time."

I had a tough time on that job. It was very necessary to let the reader know how these guys behaved towards me.  I defended my self and my position the whole way!  I would love to hear thoughts or comments on this!

Cheers!
Leslie M. Jasper

Construction Tales- Submitted to Wildseed Studios in the United Kingdom

Hello everyone!

I submitted the information on my book, Construction Tales, to a film studio in the United Kingdom.  People can register with the Wildseed Studios website and submit media ideas.  It takes about 4-6 weeks to get a response on my submission.  Of course I will keep you posted on the feedback.  I plan to submit to other studios as well.  I would rather try places outside the United States since it may be better received abroad.  Okay, back to working on making Construction Tales a play or a television series! Thanks for reading!  Cheers!

Sincerely, Leslie M Jasper

Audio Version of My Book- Coming to Audiobooks Soon! :)

Hello everyone!

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!!??!!  I just set up a date to go into a recording studio and read Construction Tales: Volume I: A Woman's Journey to Become an Electrician.  I want to get it recorded and loaded up for Audiobooks.com  There is a market of people who would rather hear a book than read it on the go.  I am planning to make it worldwide so anyone can hear about my journey.  I am excited to get this project complete! 

As of now, it is only offered in English.  I did put my book in an international trade fair so that if someone would like, it can get translated in different languages.  I am finding getting an international agent is a difficult task.  It is a work in progress since I am sure people outside the US would find my story interesting.  Okay, I will let you know, of course, when my audio version becomes available on Audiobooks.com or any other means of getting it on the market.  Thanks for reading (love my readers from Europe and Asia..fyi! :) )!!

Cheers!!
Leslie M. Jasper

In Case You Missed It- First Book Video for Let's Talk Writing Episode 69 Leslie M Jasper

I am just going to attach the link for my first book interview I have ever sat down for to discuss my book.  I would love comments or feedback! :) Cheers! Leslie M. Jasper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNiI08b0evs

East Fishkill Community Library Book Talk- February 3rd @7pm

Hello everyone!

I must remind people that my next book talk will be held at the Fishkill Community Library next Monday February 3rd @7pm.  Stop by and say hello and chat with me about the book.  I would love to hear feedback and questions!

East Fishkill Community Library
348 Route 376
Hopewell Junction, NY 12533

845-221-9943 x225

I look forward to speaking to people next week!  I am working on other libraries to host my book talks.  Speak to you soon!

Cheers!
Leslie M. Jasper

Sharing Poems by New York Author, Joni Mercado

Hello everyone,
I wanted to share Joni's work with my readers.  She has written many poems over the years.  I wanted to share them with readers.  Her work can be picked up on Amazon, I believe. 

Enjoy!
Leslie M. Jasper

WHAT SPRING HATH SPRUNG

What dreams may come of change? A soft, warm breeze blows softly by. Strokes of paint over the walls of our abode bring forth a fresh, clean scent into the air, as flowers blooming everywhere. Cobwebs are brushed aside, dust swept up. Old wallpaper scraped and peeled away. An unappealing mess displayed. Appealing once replaced. Things in boxes, things out of boxes and back where they may have been. Who can remember where? Some things are rearranged just for the sake of change. The studio and deck display a colorful coat of paint. Their new coat refreshed. Carpenter bees, unaccustomed to the taste, have abandoned their boring. Today's sunny weather has started humidly, only to slip cooly, shadily, breezily into a wonderfully comfortable day. The dogs are lazily lying here and there. The cats are on the prowl for mice and moles. Fledglings toppled from their bows fall prey to fate. Fresh flowers are budding about, their beauty unfolding. Look around you. Smell the newness in the air. See what Spring has sprung until the summer comes.

Prose poem by Joan Mercado © July 5, 2011


DAWN OF THE DAY
Blue hue through droplets of dew
Ribbon rays of sunshine filtering through fragrant flowers unfolding
Breezes blowing lilting leaves on bowing boughs
Where willows weep and swallows swiftly fly feeding in flight
Over streams of sunlight shimmering on babbling brook
Below chirping birds perched on birches
A new day is dawning

A poem by Joan Mercado © January 13, 2006


A SUNNY DAY HAS GONE AWAY

Oh sun, pray tell, where can you be?
You were just here momentarily.
So high up in the sky so blue,
Without your warmth what will we do?
White clouds above have turned to gray
I wish that they would go away
Those lovely clouds of fluffy white
Their changing shapes are out of sight.

by Joan Mercado © 2/23/09


TAKING A TRIP IN THE FALL
There once was a lady named Kay
Who tripped over her doggie one day
Well, this fall broke her hip
(She'd planned taking a trip),
Though not taking a trip in this way

by Joan Mercado © October 13, 2011

SKYSCRAPERS RISING

Too many skyscrapers scraping the sky,
Blocking the view of the clouds floating by,
How can we stop them? What will we see?
Skyscraper buildings rise more rapidly?
Almost touching the sky, they all block out the light,
If we keep building them, day may turn into night!

Poem by Joan Mercado © April 2007

THE PASSING OF A POEM

Tears are falling on the page
of words so sweetly written
Now smudged with water
leaving every word obscure;
They all seemed so befitting

Words that came and left
out of, into, invisible thin air
Only abstract pastel patterns
are remaining, that is all,
The words no longer there
A poem before passing on
will give birth unto another
"Silent spirit floating off,
surely you have left behind
a poem like no other?"

by Joan Mercado © November 17, 2011


THE WONDER OF THE WAVES
Waves awashed in foamy white
Sound softly soothing
Rising up, descending down
Flowing for a moment onto the shore
Only to be washed away, replaced by more
And so they come, and so they go
We, the people, watch and wait awhile
Passing by, passing on, replaced by more

by Joan Mercado - 2/23/09

Back Cover for Construction Tales: Volume II: My Illuminated Path to Learn the Trade Continues..

I just met up with my writer's group last night to read my back cover for Volume 2.  I decided to share it with my blog readers so that you get an idea of what Volume 2 will be about! :)

In my last volume, I took you on a sheetrock-dusted journey to see what it was like to become a female electrician’s apprentice.  You got to experience, through my eyes, my challenges and triumphs during my  5½-year trade school program.  You also got a sample of what it is like to work with my crazy co-workers.  The beauty of my trade is that you get to keep meeting new and interesting electricians as well as other tradesmen and tradeswomen.  The different people within each trade adds to the vibe and energy found on the job.  I have many more stories to tell you, from the past twelve years, since gaining journeywoman status.  This is exactly why I am able to write this second volume.

In this latest jobsite memoir, I will take you through what it was like to work outside on the railroad tracks while pregnant in the winter.  I even worked in the local county jail.  My partner and I were nearly attacked and managed to get pepper sprayed in jail while corrections officers were trying to take down an inmate.  I will walk you through a near fist fight while on a big deck job where a monocot sprayer underestimated me.  You will even know what it is like to encounter a long stint of unemployment during a recession.  The best stories are the behaviors of co-workers when there is a long unemployment period on the line.  I am quite certain the behaviors of worried employees are not contained within the construction industry.  Be prepared to laugh and strain your neck from shaking your head so much…

 

Stay tuned!

 

Cheers!

Leslie M. Jasper