In the face of impending doom and failure, keep on moving, for your next steps may take you across the thresholds of success.
Zachary Harris 5/6/2003

This book has been a journey in itself, in the writing of it, the production of it, and the selling of it. Along the way, I have made mistakes that any independent writer who also self-published their work would make. I have also come into contact with a number of people promising things that never materialized (capital investment, corporate shell, book deal... ha!) But through it all, I held [and continue to hold] steadfast in the whole process. (Etta says it's like everything is ready to break [for me] and when it does, it will be miraculous and fantastic).

I tell you at this time I can think back and remember to a place and time when things were all so simple. I was in high school and it was around the 11th grade. My best friend Jamal and I used to hit the arcade at 39th & Walnut (which is now a Kinko's) and then go over to the ice cream place over on Locust Street where Bocci's and Urban Outfitters used to be. It was all simple then; go to school, hit the arcade, and grab some ice cream with rainbow jimmies while they played Sade on the stereo system.

Well now it's sixteen years later and life has taken it's twists and turns. Things you thought would have happened, didn't. Dreams were deferred if not transmorgrified altogether. However, it's always the prize at the end of the road that you look at, not always the bumps and potholes along the journey.

The journey with this book:

• March 2002 - The first "advanced release" version of the book came out around March 2003. I printed 250 copies and send much thanks to Maria Luna, who got me a number of sales over at the medical consortium she worked for.

• April 2002 - Talked to a family friend regarding investing; did receive some limited support.

• Friends in several cities (Atlanta, Chicago, D.C.) took orders of ten books each and sold them. Much love

• May 2002 - Vended at the Sister's event in Philadelphia. Though the location was not the best, and I did not do the numbers I expected, I actually had a good time. I did find though, the difficulty in being somewhat shy in regards to selling your emotions in a book. However, after awhile I got over that and developed a good sales approach. Most of all, I wound up meeting a beautiful woman who I would go on to have grace my life for about a year.
  
  Thanks to Pace, Miya, Shawncie and Barbie for helping out.
  
  Oh, we printed 500 copies of the second generation of the book. Some things were edited and the pictures were changed.

• June 2002 - Designed and printed the "Thoughts of a Black Woman" poster. Started shooting interviews of people who had read the book

• June/July 2002 - Wrote all of the scene dynamics, cast roles, and soundtracks songs for two different films, each one based off of a chapter in the book.

• July/August 2002 - Vended at Unity Day. It was hot as hell (like 100) and I had on jeans. Drank a ton of water and didn't get a chance to hit the bathroom once. Believe me though, I sweated it all out. Got into some good conversations with different passers-by and customers.

• August 2002 - Shot "When a Black Man Loves: The Men Speak" over at my uncle's house in New Jersey. We weren't able to get all the people that we wanted, and the second cameraperson didn't show because of an auto accident, but we got it done. Much love to Bert for suppling us with Leikheim beer.

• August 2002 - vended at a two day festival at Penns Landing in Philadelphia. Met the 'man' Lewis Williams. Also vended at a NAMBE event in Philadelphia, PA (Much love to Earl Harvey)

• September 2002 - Sold a few copies at the Congressional Black Caucus; wound up turning down a vending opportunity to zoom back to Pennsylvania to meet with a billionaire regarding marketing my book. I didn't meet with him, but one person who was affiliated with his office. Was promised a book deal, but didn't get excited until I saw everything in black and red, meaning a contract. Was told to call this person, Dr. Alston in two weeks. Called him back in two weeks only to get no response back only to find out later that he was a scam artist and what not.
  
  P.S. I'll never forget the gentleman (though his name escapes me right now) who worked the Gillette booth and purchased several copies from me. Thanks for the love and support
  
  Vended at the Baltimore County Cultural Festival in Towson, MD. Pace met some interesting people and there was one woman who forgot her change. I tried to track her down, but couldn't find her. (Thanks to Zakia Barber-Hall and her husband for inviting me down)
  
  Vended in Roanoke, VA at a cultural festival down there. Some sisters were definitely upset with the brothers down there. Did this one solo but was invited down by the Halls (thanks again). Made some connections as well as some friends.

• October/November 2002 - Had an open casting call for "Love By Any Means," a film inspired by short stories written by a co-worker.

• January 2003 - Book re-edited by a friend and author.

• February 2003 - redesigned website.

• March 2003 - Finally got around to editing the DVD. Also working on interactive press kit for the book. Designed and programmed the opening and closing pieces for the DVD. Oops, they were a little larger than needed so Melvin Epps resized them in Premiere (that took some time). He does good work, give him a play and tell him Zach sent you Third Eye Productions

• April 2003 - DVD and interactive press kit completed, now comes ordering cases, getting an initial amount duplicated, ordering packaging (plastic sleeves) and handling the printing of the outside insert (I am not a graphic designer, so yes, I am having Illustrator woes).
  
  The third version of the book arrives. I just did a limited printing and the book has more pictures, including the one on page 130 which I got fussed at for not having in the second run.
  
  Put out press release for the book through blackpr.com (didn't know that the contact form wasn't working on my web site, oy vay)
  
  Got a lot of leads from Melanie Sparks in Cali. Sent out the book and/or the DVD to contacts at BET and someone to possibly rep it to HBO.

• May 2003 - gearing up for selling in Richmond on the 17th.
  
  Sending out package to someone who can rep the DVD to Blockbuster. Working on proposal for the second DVD which will have both men and women who read the book discussing love through the dynamics presented there. I am open for people, hint!
  
  Just emailed the Oprah Winfrey Show on my story, hopefully someone will put me on. I need the hook-up!
  
  Launched "Thoughts of a Black Woman" essay contest. Hope this starts things to steamroll.

• June 2003 - hopefully Odunde. Possibly filming the second DVD then. Also possibly doing the spoken word album as well.
• Late 2003 - wrote When a Black Man Still Loves

• Early 2004 - rewrote When a Black Man Still Loves

• April 2004 - premiered the DVD in Philadelphia

• September 2004 - May/June 2005 - employed a PR person that couldn't do what I needed

• April 2005 - finished my third book, attended and presented it at the Book Expo America in NY
  Note to all: never stay at the Carter Hotel near Times Square

• January 2006 - got a call from someone in Ohio; I guess it's time for a reprinting and time to get this book out there big time

• January 2007 - A good idea gets stolen - TV One's "Black Men Revealed" is nothing more than a bad attempt at duplicating my documentary. Such is life.

• February 2007 - decided to give a free version of the book out online; there just doesn't seem to be enough positive images of Black men loving out there. Sometimes, it's about the principle and the message, not about the profit.