Until No More

I just want to write
For the rest of my life
Pen and Pencil
Flirt with me, and,
  I'm so enticed

I want us to run away together
Question loyalty no more
We'll be together always
With many life subjects to explore

Until someone ask's
Do you take this Pen and Pencil
  to be your lawfully wedded quills?

I will respond with,
 I do, forever, always Until

Someone will ask, Until what?

I will say, Until we both die
Until we both lie
In the coffin together
No more for my quill
No more for I


Written by Until...
(c) 2014

*This poem has been published in the book called "I Just Want to Write!" written by Until in July 2014. *This poem performed in Max Blooms Art Gallery and Coffee House in Fullerton, California on Saturday, August 1st of 2015. If you would like to find out more about Max Blooms Cafe Noir please visit the link: http://www.maxbloomscafenoir.com/.

#Ijustwanttowriter #untilnomore #MaxBloomsCafeNoir #LovePoetry #JasonFairhurstWall

Poet and Newly Turned Author Until will be featured..

This is going to be such an exciting event. I can't wait to share some of my gems with you. I will be performing my infamous poem "I Just Want to Write" and many more.  I hope to see you there!!! 

Love 

Until...

"Remember Poetry is me. Therefore I am Poetry."

*If you would like to purchase Until's book entitled "I Just Want to Write!" please visit her website at

 www.untilnomore.net

"My Encounter with a Living Legend"

I had the pleasure of meeting Nikki Giovanni at Esowon Bookstore in Lemiert Park in Los Angeles, California, on February 25th of 2007 for her book signing. Promoting her latest book at the time called, Acolytes. Here is our conversation: 

Until - It's a pleasure meeting you, I really enjoy your work.

Nikki Giovanni - Well, thank you!

Until - I wanted to get your thoughts, your opinion on something.

Nikki Giovanni - Okay! (With a smile)

Until - I'm almost done with my very first poetry edition and I wanted to ask you this question since you're a professor. Do you think it's necessary for me to go to school to publish it or should I just put it out?

Nikki Giovanni - No, it's not necessary to go to school for it. I think you should do what you feel.

Until - Really?

Nikki Giovanni - Yes. Put it out there because you never know where it will take you. See where it takes you.

Thank you Nikki Giovanni!!! You're the best!!!

Love Until...

***********************************

I loved this brief yet easy conversation with Nikki. Our conversation provided me great inspiration to continue to move forward in action to accomplish my dream. That dream came true July 3rd of 2014.*

You can find "My Encounter with a Living Legend" in the poetry edition called "I Just Want to Write!" on page 70. If you would like to know purchase an autographed signed copy please visit my website at www.untilnomore.net. 

Until speaks with Authors N Focus....

Authors N Focus 

interviews 

Author, Until... 

Until No More says, I Just Want To Write!

JUN 17

Posted by authorsnfocus

With her latest book, I Just Want to Write!, Not only is Until No More becoming a name in the literary world, but she’s making her mark as a reporter and talk show host. In this interview, Until shares her views on writing, poetry and her upcoming projects.

Thanks for taking time out to speak with us. Let’s know more about Until No More. Who are you?

My name is Quanda R. Graves but I’m better known by my pseudonym “Until.” I am first and foremost a poet as well as a journalist and literary columnist for the California Crusader Newspaper that coincides with my Youtube Channel and assisted blog entitled Until TV.

How long have you been writing?

I have been writing for over twenty years (20).

What inspired you to write your book I Just Want to Write!?

What inspired me to write my book entitled “I Just Want to Write!” was this book called “Round the Corner” by the Bankstreet Reader Group, published in 1965. It was the first book I had ever purchased at my first book fair in my elementary school at 6 years old; in which I still possess, that still provides great inspiration.

What steps did you take to get your book published?

The steps I took to publish my latest works (which is my first edition) was the following: 1.) I wrote the book 2.) Found two editors 3.) Sought out a Graphic Design artist to manifest my vision for my book cover. 4.) Filed a DBA (doing business as) for the name I created for myself as I chose to be a self-publisher “Black Swan Publishing” 5.) Purchased my ISBN number under my company’s name. 6.) Purchased formatting, Distributing, ebook and paperback copy services from Create Space. Let them post it on Amazon. 7.) Created my own website attached to my Paypal and did my marketing and PR with the contacts I have. Not all in this order but that is the just.

What’s your favorite part of I Just Want to Write?

My favorite part was the whole process. Because I love to learn, there was a lot that I was enlightened by. The research I had to do was crazy, but enjoyable. I have a poetry edition and you state for me to share one or two of my favorite poems, that’s hard because I have more than a few in this book. The three favorites are “Writing Heals” and “My Pen’s Position” and “My Life as the Sheet”.

What’s the one thing you want the readers to learn from your book?

What I want people to learn from my book are a few things: 1.) It’s never too late to follow your dreams. 2.) Never place your dreams in the hands of someone else without staying connected. 3.) Put in the work with anything you do because the rewards are endless and last but not at all least 4.) Have fun.

Outside of writing this book, I understand you’re involved in other projects. Would you mind sharing what those are with us?

I am involved with many other projects. Thanks for asking, no I don’t mind sharing them. I have created my company called Quanda’ Significance LLC, which specializes in greetings and decorative gift ideas and I’m currently in the process of getting ready to launch my very first line of greeting cards with my first theme called “Sometimes I Wish” this July of 2015.

I am also gearing up to create my own poetry segment that will be featured on my Youtube Channel called Until TV – slogan: You never know what you’ll see, on Until TV.

Do you plan on attending any events soon? If so, please tell us where you will be?

I am, however I’m still working on the particulars for each event I’ll be attending. But to read excerpts of my book, to find out my next move, events or interviews you can always visit my book blog called “I Just Want to Write!” at http://www.ijwtw.blogspot.com

How can the readers contact you if they would like to receive a personal copy? Do you have a website?

I have a website and readers can purchase my book and/or contact me on website atwww.untilnomore.net .

What advice do you have for someone just starting out as an author?

The advice I have for someone starting out as an author is, keep a notebook to write down all of your ideas, be organized. Hone down all that you want to do, make a plan. Once you do that, make a list of all you need, find out the cost and begin pursuing your checklist.

Where do you see yourself five years from now if you continue writing books?

Five years from now, I see myself as a well-established writer in not just books but in many genre’s I’m constantly indulging in, like greeting card writing, speech writing, essay writing and so on. I do many things, but to be honest, it all reverts back to writing. My joy is writing, so writing whether it be five year from now, ten years from now or more, writing in every way that I desire, I’ll just be—a WELL –respected and established yet loved writer.

Is there anything else you would like to say in closing?

Yes. I wish you and many others great success, happiness and joy in your writing and other endeavors you pursue. Many blessings Love Until…

HBO Access Writing Fellowship Submission

 I tried to do the HBO Access Writing Program Submission: But something happened with the site and then all kinds of other complications. So, I was not sad, just looked at it as, it was not meant to be. However it was a great experience because it was a writing exercise to answering their question "How has your background influenced your story telling?" I enjoyed writing about it. Please see below:

How Has Your Background Influenced Your Story Telling?

The question was raised; how has your background influenced your storytelling? The answer is simple, my family and friends, television, elementary school and my imagination. As a child, my family always shared stories of plenty, experiences were many and that was quite exciting to me. Because, if you knew my family, you’d know that no story is boring, for animation and demonstrations play a big part in delivery. It was then I learned that there were different types of fun and intensity when it came to furnishing a narrative.  

So, when I began elementary school, turns out, writing was apart of me, actually it’s who I am. I won a few essay contests and it was there I honed my aptitude of combining my animated yet fun inherited personality with the ability to create pictures with words. An illustrational art form I’d manifest on paper. My own experiences with friends in and out of school while growing up were memorable and as those moments passed I would relive them in my head time and time again to hold onto what it was for me. I would write about them to immortalize my monumental moments and feelings to keep, and you can say that was the beginning of me knowing just how powerful writing could be.

I began to love and cherish everything. Life became my biggest inspiration because I knew I could form my world the way I wanted it to be seen, through my eyes but from my perspective, and how liberating. From the most painful heartbreak, to seeing a beautiful butterfly flutter by, or someone passing away, I’m engulfed by it all. My indulgence is great. I find it astonishing how you could imagine something and make it apparent, or remember a food you tasted years ago and can instantly taste it again and make people feel this with words. Wow! That is strong; what a pinnacle point to arrive at, and when you add reading and writing to the equation, that is truly what made my imagination even more vivid, with a mixture of mild and dramatic, sometimes enhanced with a sweet edge. This is why I always say writers rule the world, because they can make you feel any way they want to, persuade you to think and see differently, they have control and there is nothing anyone can do about it. I’m proud to be apart of that club. As you can see my background is colorful without in depth detail, I still believe I should have resonated with you, at least my writing should have.

(Smile)

Though true enough my background doesn’t reek of many accolades (in society) to solidify being an official writer, however, my passion, imagination, animation, brightness, cleverness and just my love of/for writing; allows me to be open, provides me fast catching ability with the right guidance and direction, makes me a great candidate.

This is how my background influenced my storytelling.

Again - My Way

I love poetry because it's a way to release all of my pain
A way to express all that I've lost and gained

A way of speaking without the need of my lips
To move or my mouth to open

A vocal ink
An emotional sheet

Fast paced hand and fingers
With an adventurous grip
To ride the waves of my fundamental mind
Memories of an era of time

Experienced thoughts,
Imagination mixed with the words and pictures
That create descriptions, elegies, non-fiction,
Fiction, children stories, writing period and last
  but not at all least, poetry

I could never stop writing poetry
For I would surely die
Poetry is my;

Way of livng

Freedom of speech
My way to speak
My way of giving gifts of wisdom
Words of encouragement

My way of discerning
My way of teaching
My way of learning

My way of changing
My way of not blaming
Anyone for what I do

And rationalize; take responsibility
For my actions so I guess you could say

The pen is my knee and the paper is the altar,
The pew,

My poems are the biblical contents of my soul
To express, better yet confess

Ask for forgiveness

With hopes that He'll hear me
And I'll be renewed
Until another sin

That starts me to shed tears
Return to my notebook and pen
To express--better yet confess . . .

All over again my way

**This is a poem published in the book I Just Want to Write, written by Until on page 28. If you would like to purchase the book please visit the website at www.untilnomore.net.

Dr. Maxine Thompson interviews Until...

Did you catch my interview with Dr. Thompson? If not please visit the website to hear me discuss my inspirations,  what writing means to me and the feedback I've been getting back on my very first book. Thank you for your support and may you enjoy this interview as I did.

 http://66.49.193.35/ArtistFirst_Maxine_Thompson_2015-02-09.mp3

To purchase I Just Want to Write please visit www.untilnomore.net. See you soon.

#IJustwanttowrite #BlackSwanPublishing #AuthorSpeak #AuthorUntil #DrMaxineThompson #UntilNoMore