Awesome Review of Bitter over Sweet, Bereket Writers Workshop, and Our Literary Community

So if you’ve seen my socials, I recently celebrated an amazing review for Bitter over Sweet from Library Journal! I am so happy and honored.

In an unflinching voice, Brownlee reveals hard truths via Native Hawaiian folklore, superstitions, and cultural references. She uses language to add authenticity, alternating between Hawaiian Pidgin Creole and standard English. The result is a journey through the real Hawai‘i, away from the flash and glitz of the tourist resorts and into the imperfect heart of the land.

Margie Ticknor for Library Journal

I hope you consider preordering Bitter over Sweet!

If you are looking for a community to join or would like to have a more consistent workshop group, I hope you consider applying to Bereket Writers Workshop - they are accepting application until August 12. I have had the pleasure of participating with a group of lovely writers for about 2 years. Although I don’t have the time to commit to something like this now, it was a huge help to me when I did it.

Finally, I would like to say that I know that we are all struggling as writers. I am a strong believer in celebrating and uplifting others, so it saddens me when I see writers who i have respected and celebrated for years decide to bring down or denigrate the work of others. It’s hard enough to be a writer. We don’t need that kind of negativity in our literary spaces.

I’m considering how to go forward. I am not a cancel culture kind of person and I believe everyone should have the freedom to express themselves but I don’t agree with how some people decide to express their opinions. Up until this point, I have just ignored or passed by other posts about things that I didn’t agree with… but now I wonder if I must take stronger measures.

As always, sending you all light, love and creativity!