The Beauty of Love and Creativity

A Book Review

The most important items at that moment. Intersections by Jack Herlocker is my favorite, though.

There’s nothing quite like reading a book that makes you laugh, reflect, wonder about what it’s like to find the VERY person with whom you connect on a level no one else gets, and sink into poetic goodness, too! Intersections: Stories, Chats, Truths, and Verses, by Jack Herlocker, has all of this and more! Jack and I met on Medium (maybe 9 or 10 years ago?), where we dove right into each other’s work.

He’s always been such a cool cat who doted on his wife, shared stories about his life in the military, being married and then divorced, and married again, and also about his career in IT and as a technical writer, etc.

When I found out he had published a book by familiarizing myself with his Substack bio, I jumped at the opportunity to get it, and I was not disappointed. I knew I wouldn’t be. There’s something in this book for everyone.

The review for it on Amazon is below:

A Quick Read That Has Lasting Effects

I had not been surprised when I beamed with elation and excitement upon the first few pages of Jack’s book. It’s classic Jack with a bit of humor, sadness, truth, and peace sprinkled throughout each page.

You’ll laugh out loud (I did so many times) from the section, “Chats with Deb”, be inspired by his short fiction, moved by his poetry, and locked in while reading the creative non-fiction. Jack is, as God would have it, a Jack of All Trades.

He doesn’t skimp on creativity, metaphorical blends, easy-to-digest scenarios, and entertainment. Reading this book made me remember how much I loved interacting with his work on Medium, and now, I get to do so again on Substack.

If you’re looking for a fun-filled quick read that will put you in a good mood, “Intersections” is truly the book you’ll want to get. It did not disappoint, and I knew it would not.”

For light-hearted reading with a splash of humor and reflection, this is the book for you. I know one day soon, I will pick it up again, and I’m certain I’ll find something new upon the next reading of it. It’s the kind of book one would never tire of reading, especially during these God-forsaken times in which we currently live.

We Should Probably Heed the Family Warning

A Book Review

Too Much and Never Enough. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

Recently, I finished Mary L. Trump’s book, Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man, which I believe everyone in the United States should read. I sat with this book for a few weeks, savoring it. I did not want to rush through it, so I did not. I took everything in, digested all of it as best as I could, and I am happy that I spent as much time with it as I did.

I reviewed it both on Amazon and Goodreads, and the review is as follows:

“Every Family Has a Bit of Dysfunction

But the Trump Family, as it’s told by Mary L. Trump, Donald J. Trump’s niece, is on a whole other level of shadiness, greed, carelessness, and self-fulfilling tactics.

Mary, a Clinical Psychologist, posits that her uncle’s behavior didn’t simply evolve on its own, he had help. The culprit? Her grandfather, Fred Trump.

Donald was a puppet, a means to an end for her grandfather; someone he wanted to abide by his rules and show that he could carry on the family business in the most vindictive ways possible.

If Donald couldn’t satisfy his father’s requirements, his father’s love would be harder to obtain. Imagine knowing your entire life is a circus; that your performance is monitored and calculated, and if you don’t perform well, you mean nothing. You are nothing.

Reading this book gave me a better understanding of the current sitting president’s mental health, and a deeper look into his overall background as a member of the Trump Family.

I remembered his brother Freddy (Mary’s father) and tales of his demise before reading the book, and was recounting the story to my mother a couple months ago.

To thumb through every page pertaining to his involvement in his father’s business and how it brought about his dive into alcoholism and a slow rotting depression, made my heart ache.

If you’re an empath, you’ll read this book and walk away more knowledgeable about people-pleasing and the need to feed our parents’ curiosity into who they want their children to become. You’ll be left with the pain of this world because of the carelessness of a few.

Donald will never seek help from what his past has done to his present self. “Donald today is much as he is at three years old: incapable of growing, learning, or evolving, unable to regulate his emotions, moderate his response, or take in and synthesize information.”

And with this, we have a human being in the highest seat of the land (once again), performing theatrics and skirting around important issues because he is still living to please a person who is no longer alive; his father.

We are all at the mercy of a person who does not care about the American people and never will. The end goal for him is complete and utter power and the ultimate hierarchy status. Dictatorship. Kingship.

“If he can in any way, profit from your death, he’ll facilitate it, and then he’ll ignore the fact that you died.”

For a deeper understanding of the person America wanted as president yet again, I recommend this book. Learn about the mistake we made. Engross yourself in the damage you may have caused if he was your choice during this past presidential election.

Take a look at the baby trapped in an elderly man’s body whose sole purpose is to obliterate anything that stands in his way of getting everything he wants.

Did you make the right choice? I am certain Mary L. Trump, the author of this book and niece of Donald J. Trump, would say, “No, you did not.”


I do not say any of the above with a silver spoon tied to my mouth. I am a hard-working, low-level middle-class, Black, bisexual woman who lives in the South. Basically, I am everything Trump hates. My bones are completely and utterly tired of the drama seeping into my marrow from the daily antics of a man who “doesn’t know any better.” Donald is still operating as a child would; a teenager who will tantrum it out if he or she doesn’t get their way. This is what we’ve been gifted with Trump 2.0.

If you can sleep well at night knowing everything that has occurred since January 20, 2025, has your name stamped all over it, then you and I would not be kissing cousins or good buddies offline. It is telling of the type of person you are with regards to what you want for the American people, what you want for our allies, and any other human being living and breathing on this planet. That shit is contagious, and I don’t want it around me.

As for the book, I plan to read it again and maybe again after that. To know a niece could tell the world all about her uncle while he’s still alive, lets me know his past is his present, and he has no way of differentiating between the two, and we are all going to suffer because of it. We probably should have heeded her warning.

The Man Is Still Selling America

A Book Review

The Man Who Sold America by Joy-Ann Reid. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

I recently finished reading a book by Joy-Ann Reid, one of my favorite journalists and all-around politically savvy Black women.

The Man Who Sold America isn’t your average informative novel. It has everything you want it to have. All the tea with a bit of spice, and the dark tales of a past that Trump doesn’t share openly.

I took my time with this book, and I am so glad I did. I wanted to savor it, understand the recounting of a number of important events, and linger with the metaphorical language and wit, too.


Below is my review, shared on Amazon and Goodreads:

It’s Exactly What I Thought It Would Be–Informative & Invigorating

Joy-Ann Reid pulls no punches in this book. She did her due diligence regarding research, and also weaved wittiness and metaphorical blends within every chapter, too.

Her journalistic history and editorial presence shines through on every page. Although incredibly informative, The Man Who Sold America isn’t boring. It is a book that will lasso you in, slap you on your leg, and bid you to pay attention.

It is a great reminder for a high percentage of Americans to remember “all that glitters isn’t gold.” Trump rode in on a golden horse, with a field of lies on his tongue, and shouted incessantly to a particular group of people who held the hem of his garments, and would not let go.

Reid does an incredible job posing different points. Bipartisan points were discussed and views and perspectives were shared from several people who were affiliated with Trump and found themselves in dire straits after their affiliation with him. Wherever he goes, trouble follows and it’s usually the monetarily destructive kind.

If you’re looking for your next favorite political read, this book is it! It has recaps of greed, lies & deceit, cover-ups, and a detailed overview of Trump’s past and claim to fame.

Make yourself at home with it. You won’t be disappointed.

I am reading Too Much and Never Enough by Mary L. Trump, Trump’s niece. And let me just say, I cannot wait to write the review for this book!

Both are going to go down as two of my favorite politically informative biographical-like novels!

Photos From This Past Weekend

Basement hallway vibes – on the way to the fitness room. Saturday, March 08, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Saturday morning workout: feeling good, feeling great. Saturday, March 08, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
The Little Monster in her most relaxed state. There have been no more seizures since last Sunday. *Knocks wood* Saturday, March 08, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
I started reading this book this past Friday evening and finished it on Saturday. I simply cannot believe how talented this writer was. If I am not mistaken, I read she is no longer with us in the WordPress community. The book mentioned she had struggled with breast cancer for 17 years and was taking the hospice & palliative care path. I reviewed this book via Amazon and Goodreads. It’s an amazing collection of gut-punching poetry. Saturday, March 08, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Sunday morning workout. I’m down 15 lbs since November of 2024. And I would like to lose 15 more in the next 4-5 months. Sunday, March 09, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
I am making my own sauces, pickles, toppings, compotes, etc. I diced cucumbers for pickles this time around. The ingredients were one cucumber, fresh chopped garlic, 1/2 serrano pepper, honey, ginger, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, water, and various seasonings. In the Manuka Honey squeezable bottle is the juice from my last canned pickles batch and some olive oil to act as an oil & vinegar sauce for my sandwiches/subs. Sunday, March 09, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Lentils! If you’ve been following me for a hot minute, you know I love lentils. I actually rinsed this batch that was remaining in a bag and pre-seasoned them as well. I put a little apple cider vinegar and water in with them and placed the jar back in the cabinet. I can’t wait to have lentil soup in the next two weeks or so! Sunday, March 09, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Sunday night dinner: pan-seared rib tips, seasoned white rice, and lima beans. Sunday, March 09, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

Life is such a precious thing. Every time I think about every day I am given, I am thankful. I mentioned to the crush today that when Jernee finally does pass away, I will be completely and utterly alone. Her response to me was, “Let’s not dwell on that today, please.” I was simply stating a fact – albeit, random as it was, a fact, nonetheless. She didn’t want me to break down or shut down, and I get that. I do. Jernee’s vet visit is this coming Thursday, and we will see what’s what.

The weather has been a bit topsy-turvy since the time change, and I am dealing with some rather mischievous allergies. My left eye is red and swollen, so I guess I’ll be wearing my glasses for the next few days and not my scleral eye contacts. Spring is just around the corner, so I see it’s doling out its gifts early. *Sighs*

Here’s hoping the week ahead will be a fantastic one for all of you. Stay safe. Stay sane. Stay present!


Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

Séduire Fans Photo Collage #4

The Lovely Ones who purchased their copy of Séduire, Part IV. Photo Collage Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt. Individual photos are provided by the beautiful ones holding up their copy.

I cannot tell you how overjoyed I am to still receive outpouring love for Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction. It’s overwhelmingly enjoyable, and I am thankful for everyone who has reached out to me via text message, email, or this blog to let me know just how pleased they are with this collection. I am open and honest about this book; I think it is my best one to date. Honestly, I do not know if I can outdo it. But I aim to try. And perhaps another collection of fictional tales will be unleashed into the ether sometime next year?

We shall see. Until then, please continue to follow me for updates about Séduire: Serial Tales & Flash Fiction and its success. Here are a few more reviews for your research and reading pleasure.

Goodreads:

A review was shared by the lovely and talented K.E. Garland, who took it upon herself to create a page on Goodreads for Séduire so that she could review it there, too. She is NOT waiting for Amazon to do its job. LOL!
Sun is a powerhouse writer herself, so to read this review by her really made my heart melt.

Lulu:

Candice Louisa DaQuin is a lovely human being I’ve known for a bit over a decade now, and I adore her heart, mind, and way with words.
Pooja is such a prolific contributor to the WordPress community. I am honored to have her words beside my work.

Thank you to everyone taking the time to invest in my heartwork. It means the sun, moon, stars, and galaxy to me.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

Something To Think About #3

The privileged do not know their privilege.

A snippet from “Until It Happens”, a poem written by Kym Gordon Moore and included in her book, We Are Poetry: Lessons I Didn’t Learn in a Textbook.

I will share “Something To Think About” for the next thirteen weeks on Sunday afternoons. It may be a quote, a picture, an interesting phrase I heard, artwork, etc. Whatever I share will surely be intriguing or involving enough to spark a casual discussion or in-depth conversation. Stay tuned every Sunday for this feature!

Peace and blessings.

Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?