Simply Cheris. . .

I consider myself to be pretty smart, except when it comes to matters of the heart. I might lie about my age, sometimes my dress size but I don't play with people's emotions. Either I like you or I don't. And you will know either way. The fakest thing about me is my hair color. So, I cram to understand why I keep taking a dude at face value. It's obvious that this generation of men are skilled at one thing. Not good sex. Not great communications. Not good food. These men are angry liars! They lie so well that they make fiction look autobiographical. Did their mother's not love them as children? Are they trying to make the women in their lives pay for their mother issues? I'm going to go with yes. It's been my experience that when you reach a certain age and you're still single, it seems as if you're subjected to broken men with a point to prove and lies to tell. Then these motherfuckers wonder why a broad gets an episode of Snapped. Listen, ...

I will admit it, I can be petty where my heart is involved. Just like tonight while I was spring cleaning and found a picture that was taken this winter. Me and Doo-Doo head. I had purple hair and a big smile. He had on a Dallas Cowboys hat and those damn dimples were popping. I cut the picture in half and burned his face. This is a pattern with me. A) I make horrible decision when it comes to the opposite sex. B) I have a photo album full of half pictures. I would say, I'm going to do better,but at this point, I don't care. March 1, I turned 40. Yes, I'm legit telling my age. The big 40 is a milestone for some people. When my sister turned 40, she had a huge party. Many of my friends who have or are turning 40 this year had huge celebrations or are planning them. What did my dramatic ass do? Looked at a list that I must have written in my 20s about what my life would look like at 40. It was kind of depressing. . . That my goals were so small and tra...

When I write love stories, people always ask if it's based on things that I've gone through. Let me stop laughing. We all know that romance novels have a feel good happily ever after. Cheris Hodges relationships Do. Not. I thought this was something that had just happened, but I found an old mix-tape/CD I made in the late 90s after a break up with some dude. The songs include, A Dream by DeBarge, Kiss the Pain Away by Patti LaBelle, There's Never Be a Better Love by Switch, I Don't Ever Want To See You Again by Uncle Sam (remember him?). And I wasn't even drinking back then. What's funny is when my love life is in a drought, like right now, I get so inspired to write about "Prince Charming." I remember when I thought I met Prince Charming in 2006. But he ended up cheating on me with a chick who looks like Ursula the Sea Witch from the Little Mermaid. I made a CD that reminded me of him. I thought I'd lost it (or smashed it to bits like I d...

There are two scenes in Creed, that get me every time. The first one is when fine old Adonis Creed, played by my boyfriend in my head, Michael B. Jordan, twists his girlfriend's hair. For a natural girl like myself, that is straight swoon worthy. It's not that it's an overtly sexual scene or even erotic, but it's so damned endearing. That soft and sweet lovely stuff that happens just when you're falling in love. Not only is he twisting her hair, but they're talking about their dreams and hopes. Swooning! And it's Michael "Bae" Jordan. He became Bae in that scene alone. But then he loses his cool at Bianca's show because he found out that he's in danger of losing another father figure. He goes slam off on some dude and practically ruin's old girl's showcase. After he gets out of jail for being stupid, he rushes to her house and bangs on the door. She's ready to give him hell. Tells him off and is ready to write him off. But...

Ladies and the gentlemen who read this blog, I have an idea for us this year. In 2017 we need to applaud ourselves. We need pat ourselves on the damn back when we achieve any and everything. This year, we've stepped into a pile of shit led by the election of an orange tyrant but we aren't going to stop living life and doing amazing shit. But what we need to do is stop waiting for permission to celebrate greatness. And remember that no is a complete sentence. Stop doing things that you don't want to do because you want to make someone else feel better. Make yourself feel good. Be. Selfish. And don't feel bad about it. Save the world but make sure you're going to be around to enjoy it. Make your dreams reality. If my little country tail can write books and have them on shelves around the country, then why can't YOU snatch your dreams out of your head and make them happen. And when you do — give yourself a standing ovation. Don't pause for appl...

I'm going to let you in on a secret: I'm better at writing love stories than I am at living them. It's not as if I haven't been surrounded by love my entire life. I've watched my parents and my siblings have successful marriages, raise amazing kids and I have countless aunts, uncles and cousins who have done the same thing. Then there's me. I think I'm just in love with being in love. Because I keep picking the wrong damn man. When I date dingbats, which is obviously what I do, I come up with a story of our relationship in my head that never translates into reality. And just like Britany Spears, Oops I did it again. Here's the story: Me and Dingleberry met in high school. Reconnected on Facebook. Exchanged phone numbers. Spent time together. He met the parents. Then poof, like a unicorn, he disappeared. When a fire burns bright, it usually burns out the quickest. And ladies and gentlemen, here's the story line of my love life — or lack the...

Is it hot in here or is it just my new book? Feel The Heat is available in paperback right now! I love this story because Mimi Collins is a character who has been with me for years. She's headstrong, she's hot-headed and she has a mouth on her. I knew Mimi needed a special man in her life. Enter Brent Daniels. He's a man who is the total opposite of Mimi. And just like Paula said, opposites attract. So, what's this book about? I'm so glad you asked. Behind closed doors?  Relationship blogger and bestselling author Mimi Collins built her brand by talking openly about sex and love. But after a blog she posts negatively depicting a speed-dating site goes viral, she needs legal advice, and fast. Lucky for her, she has an irresistible advocate in Brent Daniels, her gorgeous new neighbor. The celebrated attorney and TV personality just took on her case. And he plays to win—in and out of court.  Putting the moves on his client is taboo, but how can Brent turn d...