Have you ever wondered how authors navigate between genres and find divine inspiration? Join me on this episode for a heart-warming conversation with author Raykel Tolson as we take a peek into her creative process. We also dive into the intriguing and thought-provoking goals she sets for her readers.
We then shift gears to explore the often complex relationship between faith and finances. Our exceptional guest, Raykel, shares her personal journey from being broke to owning two properties and how her mindset and faith played a crucial role. As a Money Mindset Coach and author of "Why Are Church Folk Poor?" she also offers practical tips on improving financial well-being.
Lastly, we take a festive turn as we unwrap the compelling themes and messages in the holiday romance novel "A Christmas Blessing". With themes of love, loss, and second chances, the book is not only an ode to the holiday season but a profound exploration of human emotions. And to wrap up this episode, we savor a heartfelt prayer and a special performance of the song "Christmas Angel," written by Raykel herself. This episode is an insightful exploration into literature, faith, finances, and personal growth – a true celebration of storytelling.
Have you ever wondered how authors navigate between genres and find divine inspiration? Join me on this episode for a heart-warming conversation with author Raykel Tolson as we take a peek into her creative process. We also dive into the intriguing and thought-provoking goals she sets for her readers.
We then shift gears to explore the often complex relationship between faith and finances. Our exceptional guest, Raykel, shares her personal journey from being broke to owning two properties and how her mindset and faith played a crucial role. As a Money Mindset Coach and author of "Why Are Church Folk Poor?" she also offers practical tips on improving financial well-being.
Lastly, we take a festive turn as we unwrap the compelling themes and messages in the holiday romance novel "A Christmas Blessing". With themes of love, loss, and second chances, the book is not only an ode to the holiday season but a profound exploration of human emotions. And to wrap up this episode, we savor a heartfelt prayer and a special performance of the song "Christmas Angel," written by Raykel herself. This episode is an insightful exploration into literature, faith, finances, and personal growth – a true celebration of storytelling.
Worldwide Bummin' W-W-W-W on the tights Girl. Worldwide bummin' W-W-W-W you can love a little bit like your girl Can take a dance. Worldwide bummin' W-W-W-W on the tights Girl. International low-specific area Callin' where the wisdom project homes Over-steep on cover. So wrong. I could just survive the road. What you need and all the attention Believe me, I'm what you lookin' for. Who's locked in the backslash goin' see you, stay me. I'm a worldwide bummin' W-W-W-W you can love a little bit like your girl Can take a dance worldwide bummin' W-W-W-W on the tights Girl. Worldwide bummin' W-W-W-W you can love a little bit like your girl Can take a dance worldwide bummin' W-W-W-W on the tights Girl. If it's like a map, you won't maximize the full potential. Baby, if you connect with me, I'm just like your cockpit table. Even if you gotta fly To where they drive on the passenger side I'll be like the auto-car you get on. You won't know how to let go Rally for you. You got to click right here. Come find me. I'm gonna show you the place that you've never been. I'll take you. I'm a worldwide bummin' W-W-W you can love a little bit like your girl Can take a dance worldwide bummin' W-W-W-W on the tights Girl. Worldwide bummin' W-W-W. You can love a little bit like your girl Can take a dance worldwide bummin' W-W-W-W on the tights Girl. I'm just like Any world I've ever been. I know you think that can't be. Still got too much to tell what need. I'm a world that's hard to get. I ain't just a team. You should feel so damn real to me. You take the lead Enjoying the crowd.
Speaker 1:I'm a worldwide bummin' W-W-W. You can love a little bit like your girl Can take a dance worldwide bummin' W-W-W on the tights Girl. I'm a worldwide bummin' W-W-W. You can love a little bit like your girl Can take a dance worldwide bummin' W-W-W-W on the tights Girl. I'm a worldwide bummin' W-W-W. You can love a little bit like your girl Can take a dance worldwide bummin' W-W-W on the tights Girl. I'm a worldwide bummin' W-W-W. You can love a little bit like your girl Can take a dance worldwide bummin'.
Speaker 2:I'm a worldwide woman. I'm a worldwide woman and today I have a worldwide woman. Today I have the incredible Miss Rae Kale Tolson and we are going to be speaking on everything Rae Kale not just holiday love, but everything about Rae Kale, and we are also going to be speaking about two of her books and any upcoming projects that she has coming along. So how are you doing today, rae Kale?
Speaker 3:Hi, I'm good. Thank you for having me. I'm so excited.
Speaker 2:I'm excited as well, and before we start, I really want to start with prayer, if you don't mind. So, without further ado, we're going to start with prayer, and so, if you can mute your phone, we're going to start with prayer and we're going to get right into it. Dear God, we gather here today filled with gratitude and anticipation as we embark on this joyous occasion. We come together to celebrate the power of storytelling and the beauty of literature. We ask for your blessing upon this show, as we dive into the world of holiday love and explore the depths of love, relationships and self discovery. May it inspire and touch the hearts of all those who witness it, grant us the wisdom to ask insightful questions, the empathy to understand the characters, journeys and the ability to appreciate the author's craft. May our discussions be filled with respect, kindness and curiosity, creating an environment where ideas can flourish.
Speaker 2:As we embark on this journey, we also ask for your guidance and inspiration, lord. God. May the words spoken and shared today ignite a spark within us, encouraging us to explore new perspectives, challenge our assumptions and embrace the power of love and connection in our own lives. We express the gratitude for opportunity to come together, to engage in meaningful conversations and to just celebrate the beauty of literature. Lord God, may this show be a source of joy, enlightenment and inspiration for all those involved. In your divine presence, we offer our humble prayers and our open hearts to the wisdom and blessings that you bestow upon us. In Jesus' name, we pray amen. Ray Kelly, are you there?
Speaker 3:I'm here just when I am you to just take a little minute. Yes, ma'am yes, ma'am.
Speaker 2:So I know it's a delay, so I'm awake. So don't unmute yourself now, because I got questions. I got questions going on, don't go right on, and I don't need no introduction to who you are. Your name is Ray Kelly Tolson. I'm going to ask the questions and that's going to give the audience a chance and the listeners and whoever's listening on replay to get a chance and a better feel of who you are. So the first question your books cover a range of genres, from heart-womb holiday romances to thought-provoking nonfiction. Can you tell us about your writing process and how you navigate between different genres to create such diverse and compelling stories?
Speaker 3:That's a good question. I'm going to tell I write whatever God put in my spirit to write. I'm not going to ever put myself in a box although I love holiday and if I could I would do that all the time but that's not my assignment. My assignment is to make people think about what they think and why they think it, and I also want to entertain. So in all of my books it's going to have something to make you think like, hmm, how do I feel about that? What would I do in that situation? So where there be a fiction, children's picture book, nonfiction, even a journal, you know it's, that's my assignment and so, and then you know that's just my process I'm going to just be obedient and most of my nonfiction is something that I've gone through and it's like, okay, if you've gone through it, somebody else is going through it or they're going to go through it, so you can help them to get through it. Yeah, so that's it.
Speaker 2:You better come on through Ray Keltoson, tell him how you doing, because the Lord put it on your heart. Hallelujah, amen, amen, amen. Now, and why are church folk poor? You explore the relationship between faith and finances. What inspired you to tackle this specific topic and what key insights or lessons do you hope readers would take away from that book?
Speaker 3:Oh, that's, that's an easy one. It was me, because I'm church folk and you know I was broke and I and then. But then I realized it wasn't just about the money in the bank, it was about my, my thought process. You know my, my mindset, because I was living, I moved from Orlando to LA and in Orlando I had a house that was $250,000 and the house is like that, it will not even condo is okay, and this was back in 2006. And when you know it's not right now. And so I just was like, oh, I'll never be able to buy a house. The devil is a liar. That that like what? But that was my thought process for 10 years, that I couldn't afford to buy a house in LA. Like God wasn't the same God. And then God just put on my girl. You know, you want a house, go get you a house. And I was like, but God, do you see these prices though? So I was obedient, I did, I did the pre qualification and they said I qualify for $500,000. I was like, oh, my gosh, that's a lot of money. And so I started looking for house to really find nothing I really liked for $500,000 now about a house. So I was going to condo.
Speaker 3:Well, long story short, people always say that, right, my then my, then my second hand lawyer was also realtor. She was like, girl, that's a lot of money, we can get you a house, but you're not going to just give one house, you can get two houses. I was like, wait a minute. She's like, yeah, I'm not sending you anything that doesn't have two properties or more and you know, like a duplex or whatever. And she sent me this duplex that I have been looking at even before. She said that I saw it but it was too much and it's like all of those things led me to really understand that I didn't have because I didn't believe I could have. And once I changed my mindset and believed that I could have, nobody else even offered money on that home, which is unheard of. God had that waiting for me until I changed my mindset and now I own that two properties, you know, two houses on one property and I paid 600,000. Now it's worth a million being obedient.
Speaker 2:Come on Money Micec Coach. Come on Money Micec Coach Now. As a Money Micec Coach, you aim to empower families and help them develop a healthier relationship with money. Could you share some practical tips or strategies that individuals can implement to improve their financial well-being and mindset?
Speaker 3:So, like, the first thing I would say is to actually believe what you say. So when you say I can do all things through Christ, you need to believe that first. So when you have a desire to own a house or to upgrade your house or a car, a different job, you have to be like I can do all things and believe that God will give you the desires of your heart. Like you have to like know within, even when things don't look like it's going to work out, you have to know within your heart that it's going to happen. So that's the first thing. But the second thing is, like you can't say you want a house and then be going out and buy all kind of red bottoms and going to all the concerts, going out to eat all the time. You can't do that, you just can't do that. So I always say if you want to go to LA, San Diego is south of Los Angeles. If you want to go to San Diego, you can't drive north. You just shouldn't do that. So it's important that when you say what you want and when you believe that something, you got to act like that. So when I said I want a house, I started saving money toward the house. I didn't spend money all crazy. I started saving money toward the house because that's what I wanted. So people need to do that.
Speaker 3:And then the last thing I'll say and this is a very practical thing life insurance. I know people say it's a scam. I say but baby, you get a good life insurance policy where you can save some money. You save that money tax free. Well, people don't realize we pay a lot in taxes. The more money you have, the more money they take from you. So when you save money, they steal tax. And every time you earn, you earn $10, you pay in taxes on that. So it's not really $10. It's less than that. So you have to find you somewhere where you can save the money tax free.
Speaker 3:And then what are? Just a life insurance or regular life insurance policy? All of us are going. We all have a date that we're going to leave this place. Why not leave here and leave our families with tax free dollars? Masterpiece started his empire with a small life insurance policy from his grandfather. Think what somebody can do if you left them a half a million dollars, what everybody can buy a house. They'd be like Oprah you get a house, you get a house, you get a house. See, sometimes we want stuff right now, but some of us don't have it like that to give. But we can still give our family those kind of things when we leave if we get the right life insurance policy. So those are just some of the small things that I would suggest to people out there. Thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 1:Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Speaker 2:Thank you, thank you, thank you. Yes, we believe for it, by Ms C C Wyman's, raquel. Tell me what do you think about that song and how does that resonate with you in your back sort?
Speaker 3:I love that song. I listen to it all the time. I am one of those people I really believe God. We were living in Orlando. My son said he wanted to be an actor. He was 11. He said he wanted to move to LA. I was like, well, let's do it. God got us. God did. I did not work. Every time we needed more money, my son would book a gig. It would take care of us. I would have to work.
Speaker 3:I feel like God would want to smack me up. I feel like I have to keep showing you that I got you. It is an everyday thing. Just remind that God got me. I just have to believe everything that he says. I get to choose my good. That is the thing that a lot of people miss. One of his promises is he would give us a desire to buy heart. We get to choose the good that we want. I remember I hear that I said the good we want and then we just believe that he will put the spank on it. I like how to do it. I put my books out there. I am not a US best-selling author yet, but it doesn't matter. God told me to write the book. I believe it, so I'm just gonna keep writing and I keep believing that, wherever I'm, my desires on my heart to see my movies and To see my books as movies it will happen. I just gotta keep believing.
Speaker 2:Well, I know I read your books and the ones that I read it are definitely Hallmark Lifetime blockbuster movies. From what I read, I had, I enjoyed myself with these books, you guys. So, alongside your writing, alongside your writing, rae kill. Alongside your writing, you also host the podcast blessed, where you enlighten, encouraging and entertain your audience. Can you share a memorable moment from your podcast and journey and how it has influenced your work as an author and a coach?
Speaker 3:Okay, so the I'm on hiatus right now from blessed, but I can tell you that Part of what I wanted to do with blesses, you know, because on social media you don't see hashtag blessed and most of the times when you see that people are showing the things and they're doing the things and it's like you know, is which there are. You know, yeah, you you're blessed when you've got the stuff you want. But I was like, you know, blessed is really a mindset. I wake up every day like, okay, I'm blessed, I don't care how much money is in the bank, I don't care if who in my life, I don't care what kind of job, if I got a job, I wake up and decide that I'm blessed. You know, and it was like a decision and I start meeting people and and people was chair stories how they took something that was negative that happened to them and they made it a positive and I was like, because that's that bless mentality, it's like it, whatever you get me, cuz God said, it all works out, for I do it. You know, saying it's like, so we can believe that we're blessed regardless. So I started meeting these people and they had these stories and it's just been amazing and I hope to get back to it in some form.
Speaker 3:But I, you know, took a break. So I get work on my books and things, but you know, if anybody's out there doesn't want to be a writer, you gotta meet people, you gotta talk to people. People tell you their stories and Then I tell us like, so your characters can latch on to something that's in your subconscious. But you got to have something in your subconscious for the characters to latch on to. That's why you got to meet a lot of people and Listen to a lot of stories and so me doing that, I've got enough ideas for books to last me to. I'm not here, no more.
Speaker 2:Now for a lifetime and another lifetime after that girl that's what I'm talking about. She'd read enough story, she'd heard enough stories, She'd have met enough people. She got so many characters y'all. She gonna take y'all through a journey. Baby, I'm not bad at it. Now your background and new thought. Christianity has shaped your perspective on limiting religious beliefs right?
Speaker 3:Yes, yes, yes, well, and they started before that.
Speaker 2:It's just as fall just keep cutting off. You know you had a background light on the phone, anyway, it just turns it right off. And I had to go and turn it right back on to get some questions. But it says okay, your background and new thought. Christianity has shaped your perspective on limiting religious beliefs and the importance of feeling loved and worthy. How do you incorporate these principles into your writing, coaching and overall message to inspire and uplift others?
Speaker 3:So this is such a good question because I Just did a. I just did a little video about worthy, because Shayla Pink and Smith, you know, wrote the book worthy and it's like that's the real thing, because I was the other woman's child. Yeah, church folk, that's what I said. It was the other woman's child and you know that that relationship don't sit well right within the church, right, and so the church people never came out and was like pointing to me or made me feel like some of the sermons and some of the Bible studies, some of the scriptures that was read, made me feel unworthy, like I was sin. You know that I was unworthy of God's love, that if I, if I needed something, I better do it myself, because I can both. I can, you know, think that God was gonna bless somebody like me. That is a horrible way to grow up. That's a hard way to grow up and there's a lot of people out there that's growing up like that because of how people read the Bible, how people interpret the Bible as being that's exactly what God thinks. But God in the Bible they even say that our thoughts are not his thoughts, which means that everything that's in the Bible is not all of God's thoughts, I'm just saying so it, but that feeling worthy. And so then the new thought, Christianity we think differently and it gave me a sense of I am worthy of God Love, god's love, that I'm so worthy that God lives in me, he resides in me, he moves through me, he uses me because I'm his willing vessel, and None of this stuff that they talk about it does not separate me from his love, and that's the thing it's like. And and in the Bible it says that nothing has Separate me from his love. So, quote-unquote, even if I was sin, that couldn't separate me from his love, right? But I had to get that new thought that I was worthy of God's love, and and him using me, and, and so I use that.
Speaker 3:I put some of that stuff in my book. I throw sprinkle a little bit because I don't want to over, you know, overdo it, even though it's a. It's gonna be a new book coming, but and I teach that to people because even in money, mindset is, it's the wordiness we feel like we gonna go to hell if we rich, because it says that it is easier for Camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man and get into heaven. So some of these we have heard these things and we like what. I'm rich, I'm not gonna get to happen, and that's the goal. So they give their money away. They don't make money, they don't try to, and and that's not good. I don't think that's what God wanted for us. So I so my new thought. It just gives me New perspective. I'm still a Christian, I'm still a follower of the teachings of Jesus, but I'm more selective. As far as you know, I'm not going down somebody heals from the Old Testament. I'm not going down some of those heels. That's all I'm saying.
Speaker 1:State Above and see, you're the of it all. You're the of it all, for from you are all things and to you are all things. You deserve the glory. All of the saints and angels proud of me for your throne, all the elders fast their crowds before the land Above and see, you're worthy of it all. You're worthy of it all, for from you are all things and to you are all things. You deserve the glory. You're worthy. You're worthy of it all. You're worthy of it all, for from you are all things and to you are all things. You deserve the glory.
Speaker 1:You're worthy of the rising of the sun, of going down to the sun Day and night, night and day. Let it sense and rise Day and night, night and day. Let it sense and rise Day and nights, night and day. Let it sense and rise Day and nights, night and day. Let it sense and rise. Come on. Day and night, night and day. Let it sense and rise Day and night, night and day. They insist to rise. Day and night, night and day. They insist to rise Day and night, night and day. You're worthy of your own.
Speaker 2:Jesus, from you are all things and to you are all things. You're worthy, you're worthy. You're worthy of your own. You're worthy, you're worthy, you're worthy of your own. Jesus, from you are all things. Yes, that is my mother in my head. Miss Cece Wine is worthy of it all. Ray Kale, tell me what you think about that and how does that generate like with everything that you have been through and the message that you want the listeners to know when it comes to newfound faith and also just a new perspective of the Bible and its teachings?
Speaker 3:Yes. So when I hear that song, of course she's talking about how God is worthy. But one of the things and we put this in our children's picture book it's called Rand's Affirmation God is Good and so am I. It's like everything, because God lives within us, everything God is, we are. God is worthy of it all. I am worthy of it all. It's that's like right there and it's something that a lot of people really need to understand. It's like God is worthy of praise. I'm worthy of praise. God is worthy of love. I'm worthy of love. You know, it's because God lives with me. So what's good for my daddy is good for me too, you know. And so that like that song was, that was a good song. I hadn't heard that song. That was a good song. Thank you for that one.
Speaker 3:As far as like what I'm really trying to teach people, that is like really what I want to teach people, because some people get stuck and that is not for everybody in the church and it's not for, because not all people that left the church left the church for this reason, because some people have left the church because they were feeling unworthy of love, because they're so condemned with the thou shall not in the thou shall, as opposed to just you know what. We're going to love God and we're going to love others as ourselves. Like that right there, like can we just get with that? Everybody has God in them, so everybody is worthy of our love and our respect. Everybody and if you think they do wrong everybody has God in them and are worthy of our love and respect.
Speaker 2:I love that answer so much and if you and for the listeners who are listening, if you guys go back to, I want to say, around July or August and listen to my podcast called Church Hurt. I actually had some women to come on it were first ladies in the church and we spoke on church hurt and why people flee the church and the things that happen within the church that are not right, and some of them spoke on how they have also endured church hurt, how they have endured church hurt on the, you know, by the hands of their husbands, by the hands of the members. So we also had a woman on there who spoke on how she calls church hurt and she recognized that and she took accountability for that. So church hurt is a real thing. That's why me myself, I'm non-denominational, the church that I go to is non-denominational and, like you said, we love each other like we love, like we love the Lord and like we love ourselves. And I think that's a great concept and I wish more people thought like that and I just I salute you and I commend you for wanting to be, you know, the spokesperson for that, because I think a lot of people need that, especially the generation that's coming up after us Like they really need that and they really need to understand that church is not a judgment zone.
Speaker 2:It's supposed to be a non-judgment zone, and that's where the spiritual warfare really collides, because people who have everybody goes to church to get saved and to get healed, because they know that they are not right. So when we go inside the church and we're looking for God to you know, minister us through and use people as vessels to minister through us, we need to understand that those people are not perfect as well, and so they should be the last person that we need to be taking any type of advice from, unless it's like of the higher ranks. And then we listen to their advice and we pick and choose what we want to dissect from that, and then we get into our word and we study it for our own understanding, even though it says lean not on your own understanding, but we need to read the word to understand and just really meditate in God's word and let Him speak to us, because God is not going to tell nobody to deliver a message to you. If you are a true believer and you have your faith, nobody could come tell me. God told me to tell you because I would tell you in a minute. You are a prophet line. God told you to tell me nothing because I got my own relationship with Him and he talks to me, so he's not going to ever send you to tell me nothing. So, but what I do is I listen to my pastor, I listen to my mentors, I listen to my pastor, I listen to my spiritual advisors and I listen to their advice and I dissect what I can take from it.
Speaker 2:Some of us, somebody be like no, I don't think that way. He's telling me but thank you, and I keep it moving and I just pray to God and say you know what? I'm going to pray and meditate on this advice, but I want you to really give me the sense of discernment and really just take my mind and put it into a place where I know that it's you that's speaking to me and I'm going to move in a way that you tell me to move. Amen, amen, amen, girl, okay, so we're going to get into the books now. We're going to get into the books. We love you, lord. We're going to get into the books Now. You have a book, the first one that I read before we get into holiday. Love is I Need a Christmas Angel, and the concept of a Christmas Angel is central to your book, bringing Hope and Magic during the holiday season. What inspired you to incorporate this theme and how do you believe it enhances the overall message and emotional journey of your characters, kelly and Gade?
Speaker 3:Well, it's so funny. So I get ideas from just anywhere. And so I wrote a Christmas song called I Need a Christmas Angel, because the person that I just I just feel like, oh my gosh, that really is my soulmate. But you know, he was engaged somebody else and so he wasn't meant for me, but we connected on a level and so when he got married finally he did get married to the person and I was just sad and heartbroken. I wrote this song and it was just so filled with sadness, right, but it's just like everybody is not happy at Christmas time. There is some sadness, there's some stuff. And then I heard another song. Kelly Clarkson had a song or a raps in red, and so just those two songs.
Speaker 3:I put that together and came up with this, this book. You know the character, the characters talk to me and it was just I don't know. It was really weird because I knew I had to write a Christmas book, because me and my mom, who passed away back in 2009. That's what we did. We watched Christmas movies. That was our thing, and I just was like I want to write a movie that my mother would have wanted to watch with me and a movie that other a story. You know that other mothers and daughters could bond with. And so this, these both of these stories kind of came about because I feel like it is like a mother daughter bonding too in both of the books and, like I said, my love for my mother. Knowing that I just I was going through some stuff one Christmas, I just kind of put it all together. Yeah, that's, I just kind of put it all together.
Speaker 2:Amazing and I'm telling you I really did. You know you can tell I read it, but I'm going to get on deep into it because I read these books, girl, I'm an avid reader, I read these books. So both Kelly and Gabe, let me get to it, because this is a good one. Right here, both Kelly and Gabe are dealing with their own personal struggles and disappointments during the Christmas season. How do their individual journeys intersect and what do you hope readers will take away from their experiences in terms of finding hope, healing and second chances?
Speaker 3:Well, like, the main concept I really want people to get from this is to not assume Like that's. Like that's the main theme of this not to assume anything. And we, we often assume, when we assume that most of our assumptions are negative and they're mostly wrong, Like, just like I said, when you assume that most time is wrong and it's usually negative, most of us don't assume that we're going to win the lottery. I'm just saying we don't assume that we're going to win, we assume negative things. So, and that's kind of kind of where Kelly was assuming and then Gabe had assumptions himself that was keeping blocking him from getting what he wanted, Like all it was just a lot of assumptions.
Speaker 3:And I even talk about the book, the four agreements. That's such a good book, you know. I know we've talked about my books, but that is such a good book and it's really little. But it's like you know, don't assume like how many of us have missed our blessings because we have assumed something that wasn't right and then we just missed out on our blessing and that's what I got. I want people to really take from this journey of them when they like really stopped making assumptions. And she makes assumptions all the way to the very end of the book. She's still making assumptions and she almost missed out on her blessing, you know, because of another assumption. And it's like how many of us have done that? I know I have, but you know, I just want people to be honest, like, listen, I have assumed I'm making assumptions and let me stop because I may be blocking my blessings.
Speaker 2:Amen to that, amen to that. And I noticed that she's like man. She always gets something to say oh girl, I'm screaming through the phone like God, okay. So loneliness and sorrow are prominent themes in the story, especially for Kelly and Gage. How did you approach portraying these emotions authentically while maintaining the uplifted and heartwarming tone that is characteristic of holiday romance? It's like? What challenges did you face in striking this balance and what techniques do you employ to overcome them?
Speaker 3:Well, I mean, the main thing is because I've been there. You know what I'm saying. Like I don't I can't speak for all writers, but many of our characters have a lot of us in them, and I've been there where I was sad at Christmas, but it was Christmas. You know, I love Christmas, I love the family, I love the fun, the food, all of that. And you can do both. You can be sad and be happy about Christmas all at the same time. People think it's only one thing, but it's not. You can do both.
Speaker 3:And you know, just because I'm feeling a certain way about one thing, one aspect of my life, I cannot let that overshadow everything. How horrible is that? Because I think God wants us to feel sad. When we feel sad, he don't want us to always be like girl, just put on a happy face. I don't think that's God, I think that's society he's like. You can feel sad, it's okay, it's a time to feel sad, it's a time to grieve, it's all of that. But don't make this one thing be everything. And that's what I think a lot of people need to learn. And so that's how we're really able to strike that balance where it's still heartwarming holiday in the midst of the sadness and the loneliness and all of that, because I understand that and I think most people, if they're honest, they can understand it. But some people, like I said, I just hope that people get that we don't have to, you know, deny our feelings to be happy, if that makes sense.
Speaker 1:I can't believe. After all this time I'm in love with a man who could never be happy. I'm just a thing. I believe one day you'd really need. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing. I'm just a thing.
Speaker 3:Oh I was. I had to like put the little heart thing cause I said, oh, I never heard that song. That's a good song, cause that's real, you know, we women me and two, it's probably some me and two but we get in relationships with people who say you know one thing and they, you know, they make us feel good, but then on them holidays, then that's not, we don't get to be with them. You know, and that's real. Like I'm not going to tell my business for real, for real, but just know that I understand that song.
Speaker 2:You know what I'm saying, yeah, so I'm not going to spare your business girl. So uh-uh, Lili, you almost got me, you almost got me. You ain't going to get it out of me, you ain't going to do it. Just know that I understand the lyrics to that song. I can't believe you ain't heard that. That was an old marriage, Say. I'm like early 2000s, like 2001, 2002, married Like I was a little girl when that came out. I still remember that song. I was a big Mary J Blatch fan when I was a little girl, so that was a good one and it fit perfect with your book, with the first one where I needed Christmas Angel. When I read that book, the first song that came to my mind was no Happy Holidays.
Speaker 2:I was like wow, this is it. That song resonates with this story very, very well. Yeah, Now with Holiday. Love, age difference and societal expectations play a significant role in that book, particularly the relationship between BB and Richard. What inspired you to explore this dynamic and how do you believe it adds depth and complexity to the characters and their love story?
Speaker 3:That's so funny. Um, so I look very young. I'm 54, but I look. A woman just told me that I would give you about 34, 35.
Speaker 3:I was like, really yeah, so I look very young, which means that, you know, I have attracted younger men in the past and one of the things is like when you attract a younger man for I know somebody in the 50s or when you no longer could have nobody's baby, when you're not like Janet Jackson or you know with a building or something, but you ain't for the animal babies, and so you start thinking like, well, how young is too young. And and you know, I can't really, because you think about Demi Moore and Ashley Kutcher they used to look so happy, but then they broke up and he got with a young woman and had kids and it's like, ooh, she looked like she was going through. It's like, ooh, she like got left if you wanted kids. And it's like, oh, this is a story, this is a story.
Speaker 3:But then when I was writing the Anita Christmas Angel Beebe's character, just she came, she was like a huge voice and I had to tell her story. I don't know what it was. I had to tell her story and I was like, because that's a good story, because you know we can't, we don't need to call turn, turn away love. That's what I'm going to say. We don't need to turn away love and whether it's a different age or a different race, we don't need to turn away love.
Speaker 2:Did you face any challenges while navigating this theme and, if you did, how did you address them?
Speaker 3:Well, one of the things that I had, the theme because you know, richard's mom plays a huge role in this movie. I mean, you hear me movie thing, I'm thinking ahead but in this story and I had to stop writing it because I couldn't get into her head Like I couldn't understand her. Now my son is getting married next week. My son is getting married next week and just thinking about that gave me some insight in Richard's mom and I was able to go back to the book and write it because, like I said, sometimes we'll be right if we don't know Like I knew people that did. But this particular character I really didn't know her enough and I didn't know that story.
Speaker 3:But then it's funny how God worked. He let me experience being, you know, the mother of the girl and baby. It's. You know, if you are not a writer, you don't understand. But if you're a writer, yes, you have characters and they have their own stories and they have all that stuff. But a lot of times it really is based on some things that you know intimately, that God will make you expose without exposing yourself. Because that's how we really, that's how lessons are learned, with exposure and, like I said, not the exposure that you know you're going to expose yourself and people are going to criticize you and all that stuff. But it's an exposure of the issue that you're dealing with because God needs it to be exposed, because there's so many people dealing with these issues that he has to expose some of our issues, some of our secrets. He has to expose them in a way, and I think fiction is just a great way for God to expose things.
Speaker 2:I could not agree more. I am a true believer in writing what you know. My son, he, also is a writer. My husband is a writer. Both of my boys are writers. Of course, I'm a writer and this house writes, and we write what we go through, like Dr Velma, one of my spiritual guidance counselors and a really, really good friend to me. She told me the other day you can't write what you have not experienced until you experience it Like you can. Maybe you can speak on other people's perspectives and maybe write it, but it won't be as fulfilling to you until you really know what you write. If that makes sense, you have to know what you write, and so I appreciate your honesty and your transparency. And that BB is. She's a relatable and strong protagonist navigating life as a widow, mother and grandmother. How do you approach developing her character and how they love to showcase her growth, vulnerabilities and resilience?
Speaker 3:That's you know well. First of all, let me just say when you have a character like a BB, you, like you really do have to really understand them, because they're you know they're strong. So to you know you have to show the vulnerability. You have to show that they're not always right, you know. You have to show that they're not always, because a lot of us, and maybe you're that person like you know, where everybody thinks you have it together and they're like oh, she got it all together, she know everything. That's the person that's my go to for advice.
Speaker 3:But even those people struggle and using a struggle and they have nowhere to go to when they struggle. And so when I was doing BB story, you know I had some people in mind. My sister is one of those people. My sister got it all Like she is that. She, like she can do everything. She, you know that Christian, as she, you know she can go through things.
Speaker 3:She then lost her husband, she lost her daughter and she's just the strongest person that I know and I'm like, but every now and then I see the vulnerability, you know, and I just think about her and it's like when you, when you're that strong, how much do you even let people see of your you know when you're not thinking right? And then how do people respond when they like, wait a minute. This person you know go through struggles just like everybody else and having a view her. When they see that you know, I used to call it Clark Kent and Clark Kent and Superman when they see your Clark Kent, because they so used to always see a Superman. But when they see your Clark Kent, can they, can they respect you, can they love you, can they provide what you know, what you usually provide for them. And I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character.
Speaker 1:I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character, and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character, and I think that's kind of where I was going with Bibi's character.
Speaker 1:Hold on to my head, never let it go. Oh yeah, hold on to my head, never let it go. Hold on to my head, never let it go. Hold on to my head, never let it go. Hold on to my head, never let it go. I am your own, I am your own.
Speaker 2:Now that song was dedicated to you and your son and all the boy moms out there. I am a boy mom. So, yes, I saw Bibi. I saw me inside of Bibi. Okay, I did, I did.
Speaker 2:I got two boys and you know my oldest he be having, he 12, you know, be having these little girls and just, you know, it's just, it's a lot. It's a lot maybe fighting over my child, like it's a lot. It's a lot dealing with these girls. And then the group is diverse now, so it's even more pressure. You know, being a boy mom to a black, academically intelligent, you know child, who's he's.
Speaker 2:He won the Martin Luther King Award for service above cell. He has his own clothing line. He got a number one bestselling book that he wrote himself in the fifth grade Like this is the kid future doctors of America. He's in the STEM club, chess club, captain of the soccer team. This is what I'm dealing with. So when these girls be coming, I'm just like, oh, and I just know it's not going to get better. So I guess I am. I am Bibi, bibi is me. You wrote Bibi for me. So I definitely understand Bibi. But you tell me what you think about that song, mama's hand and how it resonates with not just Bibi but you, because you say that you had to go through what Bibi went through. Can you explain that a little bit more and kind of intertwine this song with that?
Speaker 3:So is not. Bb is Richard's mom, Hazel that you know, nothing else it was.
Speaker 2:Hazel, it was Hazel. I'm sorry. I'm sorry because I'm reading BB, but I'm thinking Hazel, my apologies, my apologies y'all. It was Hazel, it was Hazel.
Speaker 3:Yes, and I was. You know, I told my sisters when I was just with them, I said what I had to learn and I think writing Hazel's character helped me learn that I had to love my son more than I love what I want for him, because I want the best for myself. My son was like one of those. He was a two-year-old. I mean I don't know if I'm saying he was a genius, but that boy could do whatever he put his mind to, he said, and he was just charismatic and wherever we would go he would be chosen. Like you know, if you had told people chosen that was him.
Speaker 3:We were at an event, an MBA event. He was chosen amongst all the people we went to All kinds of. He's always chosen right and someone a kid and he has so much talent. He's just talented, he's gorgeous and when you see at a young age you're like, oh man, the stuff that he can do when he gets older. That's why I quit my job and moved out to LA, because I knew he had it right and he just has all the people around him that poured into his life. I mean just all kind of like stars, people that you know, celebrities that you know of, they poured into this boy's life and so.
Speaker 3:But I had to realize that I have to love him more than I love the future that I envisioned for him. And I think that's what Hazel had to do and that's what all of us boy moms have, and girl moms too. We all have to do that because, you know, we had our kids show us things and when our kids show us how special they are, we want them to live up to that. And then some of them, it may take them a little bit. They might not do it at 28. They may do it at 40, you know, they may do it at 50. They may not do it what we had envisioned for them at all. But do I love my child or do I love what I feel like my child is supposed to do? And that's, man, what's. It's hard when you have an exceptional child.
Speaker 2:Yes, and I got two. Well, I have five total. I got three bonus kids and they're exceptional as well. Everybody's exceptional. They all right and I love that. I'm loving all like that's in the house with me right now. Oh, my goodness, like other ones, they grown gone and on they own. But the ones that are here, oh man, I'm going through it. Girl, let's start back talking about BB before we get into Hazel, because Hazel, I felt Hazel. I felt every bit of Hazel. I was like, yeah, that's me. She made Hazel for me. I felt I connected with Hazel on the deeper level. But what aspects are pertaining to BB's journey Do you hope readers will connect with and find empowering?
Speaker 3:Well, the one thing, like I said, is well, second chances.
Speaker 3:You know, when you, when you had because maybe is a, is a widow, so when you have had love and you feel like, oh, I, you know, I've had it, I don't need it no more, and then you kind of be like, ah, you know, I'm just going to be happy being, you know, everybody to my family, I'm going to be, you know, great grandma and mother and you forget about your sensual nature, you forget about, you know God made us more than just somebody's mama or a grandma for real, you know, and as you get older you forget that.
Speaker 3:I think you know, and it's never too late to find love, it's never too late to be that you know you're stepping in your femininity and your sensuality. It's never too late and I hope that women who read this that you know, or of a, you know, a more mature age, they see that in this story and they and they allow themselves to, you know, to hope again, to, to, to look to, you know, to put on a little makeup and a cute dress and and, and you know, smile at somebody down, you know, at Starbucks, cause most of them ain't going to work you bet.
Speaker 2:Girl, you better go to Walmart and wink your eye. Oh God, oh God.
Speaker 3:I know cause I used to buy. I started like let me go and smile and flirt some more. I don't care, I'm going to flirt.
Speaker 2:I'm going to be wrong with it. Yeah, ain't nothing wrong with it. You better tell them one more time. Girl, y'all better look, I'm going to put a. Mac on Okay.
Speaker 2:And don't laugh so yeah, yes, do it, and do it Not just, not just for that, but just do it for yourself. Love on yourself those are what we call self love. Advice is what she's giving right now. Love on yourself, because if somebody sees that you are loving on you as strong as you can and as hard as you can, they're going to anybody. Any person that is attracted to you is going to look at you and say you know what she loves herself so much. I know that I got to love her five times as much because she really loves herself, and that is the person that you want for you Now. Chemistry and attraction are central to be be a Richard's relationship. I'm kept capturing both their excitement and doubts. How did you approach writing their connection to make it feel authentic and nuanced?
Speaker 3:That's so funny. So whenever I write a book, a lot of times I, like I said, I think of it as in terms of a movie and who the characters will be in the movie. And so the character that played Richard in my head is the guy who played in Greenleaf, you know, and the one why can't I think of his name right now. It just went blank LeMond Runker, right. And so I did not get married. And why did I get married? Yes, and that's what. I fell in love with him. And why did I get married? Yes, so I pictured him right, and so it was just so easy to like picture him, like what would I say? How would I move? And you know, because I just I've seen him in so many different movies and I can just see his dimple smile and all that.
Speaker 2:Oh, it was so easy. He was always the good guy in every movie. I have never seen him where he's the bad guy. He's always the good guy. Now let me ask you a question because you named him for Richard, who did you give BB character to?
Speaker 3:Kim Whitley, because I love her too. That's my sorrow. And so I could. Kim Whitley, yes, she's so funny to me. Oh, that would be dope girl. That would be such a good movie, right, and so I could see them.
Speaker 2:I could see them doing this movie. Girl, you hit that on the head. Yes, yes, yes, come through. Christopher Denson, you got to make this one happen.
Speaker 3:Yes, this, this movie, right here, I'm telling you it would be. I think I think it would be one that people would watch every Christmas because I think I think they would have the chemistry. But I mean, women love that guy, you know, and so it was so easy to picture them and seeing her fall for him because most of us failed for him. And why did I get married? He said. People still come up to him today talking about why did I get married. They'd be like, thank you for loving her. That's awesome, but yeah, so that's how I, that's my process, really that's my process.
Speaker 2:Now, what things or messages do you intend to convey through their evolving relationships in terms of love, self-acceptance and embracing new beginnings?
Speaker 3:Well, I think I really want people to just kind of put themselves in the people's shoes. You know and and and think about how they would have acted and you know how they would behave. You know some people be like, yeah, I really did it or you know. But I want people to understand that falling in love with somebody, a lot of times it's going to make you have to search your heart and your soul, because there's some issues that we got but they don't come up until love comes, because love has a way of shining spotlights on stuff. Love ain't easy. I don't come up with nobody say love is not easy. Love is going to shine some spotlights on you and it's going to make you, make you have to be a better person. Or you know some people. They don't choose to do that. But that's not real love. Real love is going to make you do some self-examination and I think that's what happened here and I want people to like to get that.
Speaker 3:It's like what kind of thoughts am I having? You know about certain things and even Richard's story. You know how he he should have. You know he should have had love again and what was he waiting for? You know, was he. Was he afraid I didn't get a whole lot into it, but was he afraid to fall in love with somebody like his ex-wife and so he was waiting, you know, like, okay, I don't have to deal with this, no more, but then he had to still deal with it, even though you know he still had to deal with it. But yeah, I just want people to really understand how God uses love, especially romantic love, to create the best version of ourselves.
Speaker 1:And so I just want people to really understand how God uses love, especially romantic love especially romantic love.
Speaker 2:Yes, that was Love's Holiday by Earth, wind and Fire, a classic, a timeless song. Getting back into the questions, beebe's daughter. She played a role in convincing her son. I mean convincing her to go on a New Year's Eve date, I believe with Richard, despite the age difference. Can you discuss the complexities of family dynamics and the impact of their support, or lack thereof, on Beebe's decision to pursue a relationship?
Speaker 3:with Richard that's you know, I wholeheartedly believe and my nephew, because we had a conversation. My nephew said it's not a kid's job to hook their parents up. I was like, no, it's not, but you should want your mom or your dad to find love again and you should be supportive of that journey. And I said, even if you don't want to be like Kelly, it's like, well, you know, try to push that, but you have to be supportive of that. And you know, sometimes, you know I don't know what happened if people sent people up, like it used to be where you're free, but oh, I know someone, so they would be really good together, let me introduce them. And I think people they stopped doing that.
Speaker 3:And you know, and I was like your child, especially your grown child, know you better than a lot of people know you, so they would know the kind of person that would be good in their family. They do for their parent. So why not have your grown child say, hey, ma, you should. You should meet someone. So, all right, ask the guy like are you? You know, I would love to introduce you to my mother. I don't see a problem with that at all. Or if not the child, but just people, family, just introducing people and and and morning was best for each other. I'm like, if most parents we want to set our kids up with, you know the right person or whatever, but I just think it is. It's really important that, especially when you're close to your family, you know if you're not a close to your family, of course this does not apply If you're close to your family. Why not be supportive of a second chance at love?
Speaker 2:And I'm going to tell you the daughter remind me of me too, because that is me all the way. She called me Cupid girl because I used to try to hook everybody up. So when I was reading about the daughter, I'm trying to, and I wanted to touch on that too, because that was a very, very intricate part, because right there you saw that her daughter really wanted the best for her and she was spot on with Richard. She was spot on. Now, a holiday love. Richard is determined girl, determined to make BD his woman, despite the age gap. How does the book explore the things of ageism and societal judgment and relationships Like how does Richard, his pursuit of BB, challenge, challenge the societal norms and contribute to the overall message of the story?
Speaker 3:Well, you know they, they call women cougars when they date you know younger men, which I think they really need to stop that. But I like the fact that he goes after her, that he shows himself, he shows his interest and I love how like it's so crazy I'm talking about like I didn't write it right I like how the character in my head decided to pursue her and to let her know that I am definitely interested in you and I hope that people, like I said, I really want people to stop putting limits on on love and daily. Younger man is not something that's crazy to do anymore. It's not. It's not something that's crazy. I think that Richard's particular situation makes it like, makes you want to think twice about it, but for the most part, dating younger people is not. I don't think it says as crazy as it used to be, you know, as like out of the norm.
Speaker 3:But people will still say why are you with that old lady? You know what I'm saying? Because it's like she can't get you no baby. People don't say that that's just, that's just what society is going to say. But the thing is he may not know no baby. He may not know no baby. He may not know. No, baby, Right, Right, that's hard, but the thing is, I even touched on, like his first wife, who was young we take fertility for granted. Everybody can't have babies, Period, you know, no matter what age they are. We take it for granted, and so it's a conversation that people need to have. You know what, if you do marry this young woman and you find out that she can't have it or you can't have kids, what does that mean for you? So I think that people need to look into that, because that is the only thing I can see that people have an issue with an older woman when they're a younger man, Because when you think about the sexuality part of it, it's probably the better match.
Speaker 2:I cannot agree more and before we end, I want you to just take this time to let the readers know what you want them to take from this book, how can they purchase the book or all your books combined, and where they can reach you.
Speaker 3:Okay, well, let's just start with. You can get the books on Amazon. I Need a Christmas Angel is now on Audible. Holiday Love will be on Audible next month. All of my other books are on Amazon and other places where you get books, my children books. You can only get them on my website, tosonbookscom.
Speaker 3:What I really want for people to do when they read any of my books, it's something that makes you think, because there's some little nuggets in there and if it's something that you like, if it hits you the wrong way, think about that. Why did it hit you the wrong way? What do you think that made what I wrote about make you feel that way? Reach out to me on my tosonbookscom. Reach out to me and let me know what you think. I want Instagram and Facebook Ray Tells and reach out to me and talk to me about it, because the thing that I really want people, I want them to be entertained, but I really want them to.
Speaker 3:You know, if it's a little lesson, a little nugget, and I want them to really hold, take it to heart and share that message. Even if they don't share, I would love for them to share the books. We can tell anybody to go read the books but at least share that little nugget that they got, because that's the reason why I was supposed to do it. One day, I'm going to be a USA Bestseller. One day, these are going to be in the movies. One day I'm going to make some money from doing all of this. But today, right now, and every day, it's always about somebody getting something that's going to help them live a better life.
Speaker 2:Hey, man, and before we close out with the last song, anybody who knows listen, let them know that I always, always, always, always close out with prayer. So before we go, I'm going to end in prayer and then we're going to play Christmas Angel by Willa Fert, and it was written by Ray Tells, and so I want to make sure that we close out with that song. Divine, heavenly Father, as we come to the end of this enlightening and inspiring show, we bow our heads in gratitude for the time we have shared together. We thank you for guiding our discussions and opening our minds to new perspectives of your word. We express our appreciation for the author of Holiday Love, Ms Ray Kale-Tolson, whose words have touched our heart and sparked meaningful conversations. May her creativity continue to flourish and may her stories continue to inspire readers around the world.
Speaker 2:As we conclude this show, we ask for your blessings upon all those who have contributed to its success. Bless the host, that's me, the guest that's Ray Kale, and all the listeners who have engaged with us. May they carry the lessons learned and the connections made in their hearts, allowing them to be agents of love, compassion and understanding in their own lives. Grant us the wisdom to reflect upon the insights that were gained tonight, the strength to apply them in our daily interactions, but also the courage to embrace the power of love and connection. We express our gratitude for the opportunity to gather to celebrate literature and engage in meaningful conversations. May the impact of this show ripple outward, fostering positive change in our communities and reminding us the importance of love, empathy but, most importantly, human connection In your divine presence.
Speaker 2:We offer our heartfelt thanks and ask for your continued blessings. In your name, jesus, we pray amen. I want to thank Ms Ray Kale-Tosin so much for coming on. Thank you to all 138 listeners that I have tonight, as well as everyone around the globe that this show has been distributed to on all 40 platforms in 10 different countries. I want to thank you all, so, so very much for your continued support of the Listen Linda Show. Right now we're going to have Christmas Angel by Willaford, composed and written by Ms Ray Kale-Tosin herself. You all have a blessed night, I'm so glad Christmas time has come.
Speaker 1:I'm so glad Christmas time is near. I feel like happiness could be mine. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around. I need a Christmas Angel to push loneliness away. I need a Christmas Angel to bring the love my way. I need a Christmas Angel to point me in the right way. I need a Christmas Angel to please. This year for Christmas Day. I'm so glad my special blessing has come. I'm so glad Christmas time is near. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around. I believe this grace is all around.