Latif Mercado - La' Entertainment

The Holidays were a magical time for me growing up, so I hate when I find myself trying to rush through them. But, we did it, and actually, it wasn’t too bad, in fact, it was just as magical.
The problem I have is usually because the Holidays hit me right when I’m in the middle of something new and exciting, and now I have to put it all away until the festivities are over.

And now they are… and back in action I am!

I hope you all had a wonderful Holiday, and I pray you have a happy and Healthy New Year, and so with that said… Let’s dive into our Second Year, of The Freestyle Blast Newsletter... www.freestyleblast.com/p/issue13

2 years ago | [YT] | 1

Latif Mercado - La' Entertainment

I don't only write #books. I read them too! A Lot! And though I #write Novels, #novels are not my first reading choices.



Oh don't get me wrong, I love reading a great story, #fiction or non, it's just that I am more of a How-To type of guy. I love those and own a couple of thousand myself.



In fact, my dive into Novel writing began when I purchased a book on How-To Write Novels for Angel. She's full of incredible stories, and also an avid reader, and I thought she should put them down.



She had a few books ahead of the one I bought her, and so one day I picked it up and began reading it myself.

I was captivated by the art of it and finished it that evening. The next day I began #writing Freestyle For Life.



When I look back now, I can remember how much I loved going to the library. I would spend hours, sitting with several books, and leaving with at least five.



No matter what I was into, I would study it, even if that thing I was into was just a phase. When I played Football, I read so many books on the game, how it began, and #biographies of different players.



When I boxed, I remember also geeking out on anything I could find about the sport. In fact, I finished the Life Of Jack Dempsey on the day that he died... That was weird.



I always wanted one of those motorized Go-Carts and found a couple of books that taught me how to build them from scratch. Man, I became a pro, too bad they were illegal to drive in the city where I lived, so I never actually built one.



#Bookstores were always another place I loved to spend time in, one of the many things my wife and I had in common.



We would go into a Barnes & Noble or a BAM, she'll head one way, I the other, and we'll meet at the checkout counter a couple of hours later. Yeah I know, booooring!!!



Nowadays, however, I've grown very accustomed to shopping for practically everything online. I was one of the first people I knew who started buying books on #amazon way back when they started, and now, it is the ONLY way I buy books.



I seemed to have lost the patience for Bookstores, and God knows how long it's been since I've been in a library.

And yes, I do see it going the way of the dinosaur, though I sort of hope it doesn't.



I believe libraries are going to turn into museums. People aren't going to go there to read books, they're going to go there to see where people went to read books.



So with that said, I'm curious. What are your thoughts about #libraries , and the current state of how we gain access to books?



Are you still down with the physical, or have you finally adapted to the #ebook? Let me know. ✍️🤓

2 years ago | [YT] | 2

Latif Mercado - La' Entertainment

Carlos could see straight to the end, people lined up ready to board, so he set off running, the unusual sound of his walk took on an even more oddity, as it echoed in rapid successions throughout the glossy cement block interior of the tunnel. He took a quick glance back, realizing that he was all alone.

As he became comfortable with the rhythm of his walk, he was able to pick up speed, however, his already heavy breathing became heavier, almost to the point where it was beginning to sound more like a growl.

Someone without his handicap would’ve already been seated, but Carlos could only go so fast, and there wasn’t much he can do when sweat ran into his eyes, as both hands were occupied, and to stop wasn’t an option.

As he tracked his way through the tunnel, he spotted something out the corner of his eye. Carlos turned and noticed a huge rat, sticking its head out from a small grating on the floor against the wall. He paid it no mind, and rushed past it, only to spot another, this one to his left, walking close to the wall and in perfect sync to Carlos.

Something fell from the ceiling and hit him on the head, a piece of peeling cement he thought, and when he looked up, there it was another rat, running along the piping above as others merged on from the adjoining pipes.

Rats were everywhere, pouring out of the gratings like a backed-up sewer. They scurried along the sides, a disgusting stream of gray and black fur. The gratings could no longer be seen, as hundreds of rats turned into thousands.

The squeaks were so loud that the tunnel’s acoustics amplified them to a deafening level. Carlos continued running for the bus, as the rats ran ahead, disappearing in the distance.
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#tourbus #feastyle #novel #booksbyla #halloween #musicbusiness #annerice #StreetLit #bookclubs #freestyleexplosion #latinoauthors #characters #puertoricanwriters #rats #freestylemusic #musicbusiness #ontour #latinxauthors #trickortreat

2 years ago | [YT] | 2

Latif Mercado - La' Entertainment

Did you catch this month’s issue of The Freestyle Blast Newsletter?


How about the article I wrote on how Mass Media has been showing some love to the Freestyle music genre?
This is extremely important for us, and couldn’t have come at a better time.


Covid knocked us the hell out for nearly two years, and there was no telling whether or not we would’ve bounced back… But we did, and higher than we have in years.


But why is that? and do you think it had anything to do with that little light that media suddenly shined down on us?


Whether you were featured in one of the three highlights I mention in this article or not, know, that if you are a part of this genre in any way, then these victories are also our victories, and therefore, congratulations… to us all!


Subscribe now, and let me know what you think... oh, and don't forget to share! 😁

3 years ago | [YT] | 9

Latif Mercado - La' Entertainment

For those not up on what The Freestyle Blast is, well, it's a FREE monthly Newsletter, that I deliver directly to your inbox on the 15th of every month. Oh and did I mention... it's FREE!!

3 years ago | [YT] | 3

Latif Mercado - La' Entertainment

When the fellas from the group Freestyle (Don't Stop The Rock) approached me about sponsoring the August issue of The Freestyle Blast Newsletter, I was ecstatic!
Not only because they've been friends of mine and Angel's for at least 20 years, but because we've always been huge fans of them and their music.
You'll know them for their hits, Don't Stop The Rock, It's Automatic and The Party Has Just begun, not to mention the pioneers of utilizing the Vocoder in their songs.
If you're a fan of Freestyle Music, then you need to follow this group, and watch for the incredible things they have coming our way!
Oh, and don't forget to subscribe to The Freestyle Blast, new issue dropping August 15th, 'cause believe me... You Don't Wanna Miss It!

3 years ago (edited) | [YT] | 1

Latif Mercado - La' Entertainment

Issue #8 of The Freestyle Blast Newsletter has just dropped, so if you're already Subscribed, go to your inbox right now and check it out!


In this issue, I talk about The White Spaces of our genre, and how important it is to color them in.


Plus, is mass media finally giving Freestyle their flowers? It's starting to look that way.


Also in this issue, a whole bunch of Birthday babies get a Birthday Blast from The Blast, hopefully we didn't miss yours.


And of course, if you wanna see what Freestyle events might be heading your way... Well, it's all inside this Issue of The Freestyle Blast Newsletter, now get in there!


#freestyleblast #freestylemusic #newsletter

3 years ago | [YT] | 4

Latif Mercado - La' Entertainment

I love the Fall, not just because of the #holidays, and all the pretty colors, especially here in #northcaroline, but more so, the weather! Fall over Spring anytime for me!


Either way, winter is a comin’ and for all you #readers, you know what that means, reading time!


Yes, cold weather and snow tend to keep many of us indoors, and nowadays, it’s easier to stay entertained thanks to Netflix, Hulu, and all the others, but what happens when the weather gets so bad that even those go down?


You got it… #books! And like I’ve said many times before, if you’re not much of a reader… well, become one!


With that said, make sure to catch up on your Books By La’ collection because my newest one will be dropping real soon!


Thank you everyone, who grabbed a copy of #feastyle during the month of October, and until next time.


Happy reading.

3 years ago | [YT] | 1

Latif Mercado - La' Entertainment

We watch TV together, #movies together, we play games together, and listen to #music together, but how many of us can say we actually do this 👇

I know many #couples that are really just one partner readers, and I’m not saying that the other doesn’t read or can’t read, I mean that #reading isn’t a major part of their life, and serious readers know exactly what I mean!

My wife and I are indeed a rare breed in regards to this topic as we are both avid readers, or as I like to call it… “Chain Readers,” meaning, before we even finish a #book, the next one’s ready to go!

But do we do this 👇 Do we sit together and read the same book?

Well, we could, because we have very similar taste in reading, though she’s a much bigger reader of #fiction than I am, not to mention much faster.

Angel can have five books on her nightstand, and be done with them by the end of the week, while still running this crazy-ass house.

Me, though I love #writing fiction, it takes one hell of a #novel to hold my attention, but when it does… I’m obsessed!

I’m more of a self-help / How To and Biography kind of guy, and when Angel’s in the mood for one of those, you’ll find her up on the step stool, scouring my #library of at least 2000 plus books.

But could we do what this #photo depicts? Can the two of us sit comfortably on the couch and dive into the same ol’ book?

Hmmm… We might have to give that a try, and I think know the perfect book to start with! 😉
_
#latinauthors #booksbyla #bookclubs #freestylemusic #horrornovel

3 years ago | [YT] | 0

Latif Mercado - La' Entertainment

So were you one of the 226 people who downloaded the FREE Ebook version of Feastyle during my Five Day Free Giveaway?

Or what about the other 56 who were a day late but still bought it at its regular $4.95?

If you were either… Thank You so much!!! And if you weren’t, but still engaged with my post, liked it, loved it or shared it… That contribution is just as valuable and I thank you as well, so keep doing it!

Unless God has other plans for me, I do intend to stick around for a bit, and hopefully so will my #books, in fact, my goal of writing a book a year has pretty much been on track, so if your collection isn’t up to date… Hurry!

Part of my reason for #writing these books isn’t just for you to read and enjoy them now, but more importantly, for future generations to also.

You see, this is part of my legacy. It’s one of the things that I want to leave behind, I guess you can say, it's my attempt at immortality.

None of my five #novels, nor the new one I have Coming Soon, are directly autobiographical, however, each one does have within it, some real-life sh#t, taken from the pages of my own life and relived through my fictional #characters.

Many of you have messaged or called me, in regards to my books, about their relatability to your own lives, and I believe it, we share more than we realize, and though some rather hide it… I much rather write it!

So why don't you do this... Shoot over to #amazon right now, and grab your copy of #feastyle… and for all you Old Schoolers like me, the books are also available in Paperback, so you can touch'em and hug'em… a perfect addition to your #freestylemusic #collection!

Thanks, everyone, and Happy Reading!

#latinauthors #horrornovel #vampire #halloweenreading #booksbyla #bookstagram #bookclubs #podcast

3 years ago | [YT] | 1