Legends Never Leave Us - Poet Laureate Maya Angelou Passes at Age 86

Marguerite Ann Johnson (Maya Angelou)
April 4, 1928; died May 28, 2014

Oh, My God!  Those were my first words this morning when I learned of the passing of the great Maya Angelou.

For my generation, in particular, she was one of our national treasures.   When my daughter was 12, I bought her a copy of "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings," a literary right of passage.

We are blessed in knowing that our great legends never leave us, for their imprint lasts forever.

Rest in Paradise, Ms. Angelou.  You have fought the good fight.

"A Wanted Woman" by Eric Jerome Dickey (A Book Review)

Rick James said it best, "Cold.  Blooded."

It took me much longer to read this book than most of EJD's novels because it was so intense, I could only read it in little chunks.  And I couldn't read it before bed.  Never knew when someone was going to be, how shall I say, "eliminated."

I loved how EJD managed to weave in family dynamics, race, class, color, discrimination, fashion, politics and pop culture into a novel about a female assassin.

I kept saying to myself, "Are there really women and people like this out there?"  Unfortunately, I think there probably are people like that walking the earth.  And it scares the heck out of me.

Eric Jerome Dickey's writing has changed greatly over the years.  And that's a good thing.  His novels are so able to "carry their own weight," that they cross gender and race lines which translates, hopefully, to a broader reading audience than his earlier work (which I still love).  I can't explain it.  It's complicated.  But it's all good.

We need to meet new people.  Even if her name is "Reaper."  When I say "meet new people," I mean on the page or screen.  I have no desire to meet "Reaper" in real-life.  She frightens me more than "The Riddler."

Highly recommended for those who love mysteries, thrillers, action and women who can do anything a man can do - only better.

In bookstores and online now.  I think it would translate nicely onto the big screen.

"A Wanted Woman" by New York Times Bestselling Author, Eric Jerome Dickey