Press Release

Stilettos and Sounds Open Mic Night features
Writer and Poetess Onika Pascal

Onika Pascal- Author & Poet
onika

Talented newcomer to the creative writing and poetry industry, Onika Pascal, will hold her first book signing Monday, June 29, 2009 at Five Spot Soul Food Restaurant in Brooklyn, NY. This event will be a part of Stilettos and Sounds Weekly Open Mic Night, a weekly event where fashion and music meet.

Born in Trinidad, Pascalle Onika Lewis now resides in Brooklyn, New York, where she recently completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Medgar Evers College. Her first self-published book of poetry entitled, "Collections of a See Through Soul-Portraits," written under the pen name Onika Pascal, debuted in 2008. Since then, she has been working on many projects, including a new poetry volume, "Collections of a See Through Soul-Bardvillian Symphonies," and a memoir titled, "Becoming More Than Just An Orange."

Pascal's talent of turning words into phenomenal stories and pieces of art is one that is infectious. Pascal's publisher, Pam Osbey of Osbey Books, Inc. solidifies this:

"With words that pierce your soul and beg you to enter the temple of openness and curiosity for life, Onika Pascal's pen commands your attention at first glance," Osbey explains. "Working with this inquisitive soul whose spirit is unique through a lens all her own, I have been honored to see the progression of a writer who has only touched the surface of her literary purpose."

When she's not writing, Pascal serves as a group leader with the Misunderstood Youth Development Center, a non-profit organization that provides a place for youth to express themselves. It is here that Pascal shares the wonders of poetry with the teens in her group.

Along with the book-signing, Pascal will also perform a few pieces of her poetry. She will be accompanied by DJ C2 and a live band, which will provide music throughout the evening. Five Spot Soul Food Restaurant is located at 459 Myrtle Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11205. Doors open at 8:00pm, with show time at 9:30pm. Admission is $5 per person.

For more information about the event please contact Shani Faure, the CEO of Stilettos and Sounds at 347.235.7193 or shani@stilettoandsounds.com. For booking and interview requests, contact Jameka Whitten, JSW Media Group, at 704.965.3297 or Jameka@jswmediagroup.com.

Up and Coming and gone with the wind.

Quite a few updates...brief

The fashion show that I was excited bout recently was canceled...scheduling conflict of the event location...how crazy is that? Oh well. At least I had a chance to do the fittings for it :)

My second collection of poems were scheduled to be delivered yesterday, but I haven't gotten them as of yet. Hmmmmm... sort of deja vu-ish but I'm ok. I give it by tomorrow before my head explodes.

Monday is the Stilettos and Sounds event. In which I have a reading and signing. I'm pretty ready for that. Ready in the sense that I'm not nervous. I'm not sure how the night is going to go, but I'm not nervous in the least.

I know I have a few things to say but my head is all over with the events of the day: Deaths...two of the world's known individuals have passed

Michael Jackson is dead at the age of 50. Did I need to put a hyperlink for him? I doubt but I want to stay uniformed.:( ... what that man means to me can't be written in words. Never met him but he has contributed to my love of music so intense that I can't imagine the earth without him. For many years I believed he was the one man who can bring peace to the world. As a child I thought he was just that magical. With all the chaos going on now...lets see what happens. Would the world stop to mourn his death and come together? One can only fantasize. I can go on but really I'm at a loss for words. But I'll leave with this...the man in the mirror no longer has a reflection, but his music will forever be his spirit. I loved his existence.

Ed McMahon has died also...this man owes me money. I know he does...but I'll let it slide. He too was another impressive being in the entertaining arena. May he rest in peace.

Farrah Fawcett ...her official website link won't work...so this would do for now. But she made wanting to be a Charlies Angel a top priority in my day. I just knew I could grow blond hair and work for Charlie. I just knew it!!!

This blog entry is just a bit dreary...a mix of good and bad news. But then isn't that life?

Condolences to all of the families.

# 1 Uptown - my day yesterday

Ahhhhh...NYC transit & my existence do no cohabitate well. I had a rough day at work yesterday and in my head I cringed at the fact that I had to high tail it to Harlem for a poetry event with a pit stop along the way. Thank God it was within walking distance of the poetry event. The poetry event I was totally excited for until, the trekk began. I'm always in pumps and never prepared for a hike. And after the experience that pump wearing habit has so changed from the day's event.

And the evening began:

My best friend had invited me to a comedy show @ a Kappa House. Awesome, it was a coinky dink that the show and my poetry show were in the same area, just five blocks apart. She troops with me through thick and thin so of course, with not pulling tooth and nails, I said "heyyy", count me in. UNTIL...the #1 ordeal.

I don't ever recall taking the #1 train before so it was a mystery to me and I got lost. Go figure! Not only did I get lost, I also lost my best friend only to find her in a whole new world. When I finally made it to 137th Street, I looked around and felt like busting into song..."A whole new world", Peabo Bryso & Regina Belle style, with me spinning around, twirling and watching the buildings and residents pass me by as if in a fancily directed music video...but my nerves wouldn't let me. Harlem. Historical Harlem. Wow. Five minutes into my venture and I missed Brooklyn.

Queens is as foreign as I get within NY. But I was there and I made the best of it. Its an interesting area. Why so foreign? I have no idea. We eventually made it to the Kappa House and her face was aglow and I simmer. She's happy. I'll be alright. I let the hours pass until my poetry show. While she mixed and mingled I dug into my black berry to key this blog.

While I waited I pondered on what I was going to recite at La Preguntas. I contemplated an angry piece, seeing that I was angry most of the day. OK I was so angry I didn't even touch facebook *gasp*. I mean I won't get too personal on what made me angry, so I close the curtain at this point....but not touching face book is enough to tell you that I was indeed in a pissy mood lol...oh the joy's of my life

Now, about Work as Renaissance...all I can say and have been crooning all day is WOWWWW!!!!! Jamica, my cool dudette, put on one of THE BEST showcase of poetic talent I've EVER been too. Now, now! I LOVE open mics, of late LOVE THE SOULE FAMILY and look forward to next tuesday, but last night with ItsREALight, Baron, Charan P and some of the most bad ass open mic'ers I've ever heard. I forgot that I was 2 hours away from home via NYC Transit and indulged in the show up until 11:30 pm, when my glass slipper fell as I realized the clock was about to strike midnight. I HAD TO GET HOME.

I didn't until 2am...again NYC Transit and my being do not get along. I had a hell of a time trying to get home...swear I was circling manhattan just to get to Brooklyn.

So by the time I tallied up all the numbered trains that I took to get back to Brooklyn, I must say it all added up to a wonderful evening. All's well that ends well.

So the moral of this blog is that the only way from being down is up...and I took the #1 train up town to a being inspired that my writing serves a purpose.

BFF, Jamica...thanks for a darlin end of day.

Here comes the bride...well not really!!!

I don't think I've ever stressed in my blogs, just how much pink is my favorite color. As grown as I am, it still is. No my room isn't decked out in pink...yet, but my bed sheets, clothing, some small items would always come in that preference of color. Its my happy color.

And now that you're caught up on my pink fetish, I'd get to the purpose of this blog...

Last week I woke up to 3 missed calls from 6:45 am and a voice mail at 7:30 am stating: "P, I love your body, need it, call me". I was a bit confused. Who in hell will ring down my phone that early in the morning and leave a message like that? Do they not know that leaving such a message to a single woman of two years, is not the best move? LOL... After yawning a few times, forgetting that dream I had, looking over to my right and seeing no one laying next to me, I replayed the message a few times to get the voice of the person who had left it. With relief, it was my friend's mother. She designs wedding dresses (as she did for her two daughter's who got married) and would like for me to model them at her upcoming display.

Now, back to the feel of disbelief. My instant thought was that it was a joke being played on my singlehood. Shoot, I may never get to walk down the aisle in my pink wedding dress to the man who adores me and wants to seal the deal, so why is she asking me to play pretend? Ahhhhhh it struck a nerve, but she's like family, I couldn't decline. I immediately dredged up a past fantasy about me at my wedding with the "him"...lol. How silly can we be at times. Oh! Yes, I did say pink wedding dress. And who knows, if I do get to that moment, she may be the one designing it.

As I let the daydream of my "I do's" with the "him" fade into another yawn, I returned her call accepting her request.

As I type this, I'm getting prepared to go meet with her for my fitting. This shall be a rather interesting experience. Interesting indeed.

Stay tuned for an update, as the show is next Saturday.

Never a dull moment in this see through soul of mine lol

9:45 pm update:

And at the fitting, I was asked to do the show in Barbados as well. HMMMM. Can we say crazy!!! I'm definitely doing it. I Look forward to this "out side of the box" mission. Do join me!!

And just like that...It's over!!!

The morning greeted me with less than a happy mood to dress for my graduation ceremony. If you'd see by my previous blogs, I was uberly excited for this moment, however the past weeks happenings left me with such a sour taste in my mouth that I didn't quite have the energy nor zest as I did for the day's agenda. Being at graduation just wasn't in my spirit. But with probing classmates and family members, I got dressed and went to the school.

As my usual self, I got to my trusty blackberry and made note of just about every thought that flowed into my head. Noticing my surroundings, storing the emotion behind it and just basically being the introvert that I tend to be at times. I just wasn't in the mood. I was at the place that helped complete my mission to obtaining a degree, yet surrounded by some people that I once believed to be friends, but turned out to be otherwise. So any cordial greetings were left unheard. It didn't bother me any, as I believe when things unfold, people and their true selves do too. Life is a journey you never know the plot nor ending...its just a living.

As they fade into the background of my thoughts and my blackberry keypad, I thumbed them into place. Four years of sleepless nights, missing my some of my son's school plays, missing part him in the evenings while I was in class, not having quite the support from his father, to priding myself of being a 'supermom'... 4 years and it was all over in a matter of hours. Just like that!




The hoopla and adrenalin and "perfect pump" shopping ended with me having to leave the ceremony just as I crossed the stage...aside from not wanting to be there, I wasn't feeling well. Maybe it was a sign! Nonetheless, I left the school with my GPA and zeal for my next mission in tact.

Friends were there to cheer me on and I felt wonderful. And I wished he was there.

I thanked God beneath my eyes, within my heart and with full conviction, that through Him, I'd always make it out on top. Despite the setbacks that may occur. I'm a fighter and a go-getter...and have no shame in seeming conceited when I say, I settle for nothing less.

So after 2pm today on June 6th 2009, I am officially a graduate of the school of psychology...with many more roads to travel.

Single moms out there....it can happen. Let your heart be your guide and your rock and you could never fail.

Everything comes crashing down..Full speed ahead

Ok! Breathe! Relax, relate, release. Its the mantra I've been humming to myself since last Friday, when the D+ grade came in on my blackberry. My webgrade notice indicated that I earned a D+ in one of my classes. ME???? A D+???? This isn't math...a D+??? Madness. Imagine the panic in my chest? This was the incident that heightened my frustration as to the verbal conflict I had with the dealer, that cost me driving off the lot with my new car. The weekend passed and I received a notice from the professor that it was in error. *whew*...I simmered and renewed after my correct grade.

A few hours after that clarification, another email pops up and I'm advised that I'm facing the grade of an , for a missing assignment, despite my top scores on every other assignment, research paper and presentation in the class. AN . Again, that panic arose. It was that hold my breath, turn blue in my face and wait for my heart to explode type panic. AN ...crazyyyyy, no matter how I fought it or how the professor put it, it was still a big fat golden . There's no way around it.



I imagined my GPA plummeting like the Dow, S&P, the Auto Industry...frig, like my love life. I clenched my jaw as I always do when I'm up against a heavy battle. Law school popped into my head...can we say for fucked. Can we say that again?

Ahhhhh!!! I swallowed my inner warrior pride. Decided not to battle this with wit and dissecting of her syllabus for a loop hole or flaw. I gave in to her suggestion for submitting a summary to "possibly" up my grade. UP IT TO WHAT? Still I unclenched my jaw, gave in the summary and wait for the benediction. But I feel like I lost a battle.

Today I went walking in the rain...YES ME...SOMETHING I'D NEVER EVER DO and I gave it a lot of thought. Not everything deserves a battle. Sometimes you just have to give in and play the game. This way in the end, we all get what we want. Somebody's gotta be on top some times. Right! Reminds me of my acceptance of ... hmmmm well that's another blog for another day.

So there it is. The thorn in my side for the past few days. And I await.

Keeping fingers, toes, eyes, legs and arms crossed. This has GOT to end well.

Lets get this party started RIGHT....

Last night I blogged between sleep and my weekend excitement that were awake and alert as naughty kids avoiding sleep...the events of the weekend were JUST THAT good...I didn't want to surrender them to sleep or dreams.

So to hold on a bit longer I blogged about my up coming "starring" event - I'm a clown at best...I'm not starring...but it sounds nice to say lol

Today I get word from Jameka about my scheduled performance and book signing...like wow. Would someone tell me when my wedding's gonna be???? LOL. All of these exciting things and news, I'm putting in my wish for at least one.

On June 25th, I'm set for my book signing. See the info below. I'm actually having a calendar of events. How cool is that? I sit in amazement at how this project of "boredom" is going...I say boredom because putting my book together didn't come with a thought of these avenues...so forgive me if I may seem floored by the events. But I guess God takes us where he wants us to be, even if we're not prepared. It's to hold on, wear the best pumps ( or stilettos in this case) and just look fly for the ride and have your game intact.

Stilettos and Sounds - Open Mic
Stilettos and Sounds Open Mic Hosted by Anisa
A weekly event where fashion and music meet.

Thursday, June 25th, 2009 at Five Spot Soul Food Restaurant

459 Myrtle Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11205
(718) 852-0202

Eargasms by DJ C2 & a Live Band
Doors open at 8:00 PM
$5.00 Admission

Show time at 9:30 PM

Celebrate H.I.M. and the Art of Poetry

This month of June come by 5 Spot and Celebrate H.I.M.

H.I.M. is History in the Making a celebration of young male entrepreneurs and brothers that are defeating the odds and have made tremendous strides in the entertainment industry.

Book Signing & Performance by Author & Poet Onika Pascal

Collections of a See Through Soul - Portraits
NOW AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE at Authors Book Shop
GET YOUR COPY NOW FOR $10.00
Onika's My Space
Onika's Blog

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To RSVP, participate, or sponsorship opportunities please contact:
Miss Shani/ CEO of Stilettos and Sounds
Stylishly Loud Events & PR
Phone 347-235-7193
E-Mail: shani@stilettosandsounds.com
Stilettos and Sounds