Intimate Conversation with Deondriea Cantrice

Deondriea Cantrice started writing to improve her penmanship. It quickly advanced into a passion and expression of her active imagination and inner thoughts. Deondriea aspires to engage, entertain, educate, and inspire her readers with tales of true life. She aims to have a positive impact on everyone she encounters through effective communication, veracity, and affirmative interaction. Deondriea believes, “with direction and discipline, accomplishment is attainable.” 

Ella:  Deondriea, introduce us to to your new book, Rhythm Can’t Keep Time.
After experiencing betrayal after betrayal, Sterling put his heart under lock and key. Will he be willing to grant Sheridyn access to the one place no one can enter? Or, will he be afraid of another disappointment? After Sheridyn's first love left her broken hearted; she vowed to never love again. Can Sterling convince her the give love a second chance? Or, will her song remain a solo? When Sterling and Sheridyn's worlds collide, will they be able to control the passion between them? Or will their harmonic rhythm laced in humor and vicarious personas cause this seductive dance to burn up in flames? Sheridyn poised herself for a place in Sterling’s life and in his heart, but settled for a place in his bed. Will his bed become the gateway to his heart? Just when Sheridyn thought she was gaining ground with Sterling , he would disappear from her life, each time resurfacing in synch. Their on again off again song lasted 10 years. Just when you think the rhythm and time are in synch, Sheridyn realizes songs are timeless, melodies may be the same, but dances never last forever. 

Ella:  What issue, person or thing inspired you to write this story, Rhythm Can’t Keep Time? 
In addition to needing healing from an unhealthy relationship of my own, I have met so many women that have made not just poor decisions but life-altering decisions based upon great sex. I wanted to write a story that was challenging but not confrontational to inspire readers to establish healthy romantic relationships. 

Ella:  Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp and share? 
More than anything I would like for readers to grasp the meaning of true love. Love is a verb not an adjective. Love requires work. The subtitle of my book is Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough, which means love without commitment, loyalty, support, understanding, trust, and communication is not enough to sustain a healthy relationship. Before one can give or receive love, they first must love themselves. 

Ella:  What sets your book apart from other books in your genre? 
I believe what sets Rhythm Can’t Keep Time from other erotic books is that it distinguishes the difference between love and sex. My book explores how passion can divert your attention away from your needs and cause you to chase a feeling. There are only four or five sex scenes in the book, and they are HOT. But the scenes support the storyline of how a feeling can dull the other senses by causing a person to become deaf and blind to the obvious. I also took a non gender-biased approach to writing the book so it would appeal to both men and women. 

Ella:  What was the most powerful chapter or scene in the book for you? 
Chapter 11 is my favorite chapter. Sheridyn is confronted by Sterling ’s mate Victoria. Victoria admits to Sheridyn that she takes comfort in knowing that Sterling is loyal to her despite his love for Sheridyn. Victoria knows Sterling is a dog, but “he comes home every night.” Sheridyn walks away from the confrontation feeling good knowing that Sterling still loves her. Sheridyn shares the confrontation with her best friend Madison and Madison tells Sheridyn that she would not want to be Victoria and wake up next to a man for the rest her life knowing she was his second choice, that love was in fact better than loyalty. This is my favorite chapter because it invokes thought and causes the reader to examine his or her thoughts about love. All three women had their own perception of what was good, although good, none of their thoughts were healthy. 

Ella:  What does your family think of your writing? 
My family is extremely supportive of me being an author. My children offer the greatest amount of support by marketing and attending my books signings as professional staff. In fact, my 22 year old son is waiting for me to “get rich” so he can come work for me fulltime. Yes, he would make an awesome manager/publicist. However, my family was extremely shocked that I wrote erotica. Most of them didn’t even know I knew some of the words in my book. 

Ella:  What is the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author? 
Writing is easy, being an author is work! The best advice that I can give any aspiring authors is, first and foremost know and understand your craft. Simply put, read books by other authors, understand the publishing process, connect with a mentor and/or other authors, and learn industry standards and expectations. Secondly, I would advise him/her to be prepared to invest in themselves. Which means have a website, purchase promotional material, seek marketing opportunities, blog, join social networks, and most importantly SOW. Support the vision of others by sowing time, supporting other’s events, and treat others how you want to be treated. Finally, be prepared to accept feedback. Some people will love you and others will hate you, so don’t take reviews/feedback as a personal attack. Evaluate the information and use it to challenge your ability and sharpen your skills. 

Ella:  Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. 
Before the end of 2009, I will be releasing the Rhythm Can’t Keep Time Companion Book, which is a guided journal to help you define your expectations of your relationship. Although the companion book compliments Rhythm Can’t Keep Time, it can be used even if you have never read the book. Look for my second book entitled When Emotions Lie in February 2010. (Sorry it is not erotica, it is drama) To learn more about me, purchase a copy of my book, or view my schedule of events visit me at www.rhythmcantkeeptime.com  or www.deondriea.com  You can find me with screen name Deondriea on Facebook, Ning sites, or on other major social networks. 
Website: www.rhythmcantkeeptime.com

Rhythm Can’t Keep Time by Deondriea Cantrice

Intimate Conversation with A. Life

‘Author-preneur’, A. Life’s love for writing goes beyond just putting pen to paper. It’s a part of her life’s make-up. And having gone through life's many struggles, she chooses to display in her work, characters of triumph. She considers her works not to be ones that push Christianity but words that flow from the mouth of a Christian author’s pen. 

Secret Wounds and Hidden Pain by: A. Life... is a novel about four women; Charlene; a church-going woman who is married to an adulterous preacher, Denise; an exotic dancer who eventually finds out her ‘best customer’ holds the title of her rapist, Michelle; the wife of an abusive, jobless, porn addict, and Katrina; a successful businesswoman who secretly has abortions to maintain her status. All of them lead totally different lives while unknowingly wearing the same mask. Each woman believes no one else can see or feel what she is going through, but will individually find out that the painful wounds she is experiencing are deep enough to be seen and felt by the world. 

Ella:  Tell us a little about your main characters. Who was your favorite? 
Charlene Brown is a wife of a minister and a mother of 2, who takes care of not only her actual family but her church family as well. She is also a successful businesswoman who ironically, failed to take care of the business of keeping track of her husband’s infidelity. She hides behind the false sense of security that her life’s many jobs give.

Denise McLeod is a single mother of five who is also an exotic dancer. Her life’s downward spiral began at the age of 13 when she was raped. She hides behind the mask of false strength because after all, she has to do so for her children. My favorite character is Denise. Although I can relate, in one sense or another, to all of the women; she has gone through individually what the others have experienced collectively and has triumphed though all odds were stacked against her.

Michelle Baker is a newlywed who married an abusive man because she didn’t want to be lonely and because she thought ‘a piece of paper’ would change his ways. Her decision to marry such stems from a painful childhood and she hides behind the pain of abusive love that repeatedly says, “I’m sorry.” 

Katrina Dangerfield is a young woman who has it all together. She has taken care of herself financially without the help of a man. Yet, because her childhood too was painful, she didn’t and wouldn’t allow anyone to get close to her; to the point of having one abortion after another, just so she could continue to hide behind her fear of failure. 

Ella:  Are your characters from the portrayal of real people? 
All of my characters portray real people; not dead on; but I may use characteristics from five different people to create one character in the novel. I believe when and if you can make the character more life-like; it makes not only the character more believable to the point of relating to the reader; but it also makes the book as a whole; a better read.

Ella:  Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp and share?
Depending on the book, I try or I will always try to indirectly relay a message. In the case of Secret Wounds and Hidden Pain; the message I think I want the readers to grasp is the fact that we all at one point in time, wear and have worn masks of fear to cover our ‘open wounds’ brought on by life. But in order to be healed we must be willing to remove the mask-like band-aid, so the air of life can act as a healer and  ‘SWAHP’ (swap) the wounds for scars of remembrance, so one maybe able to give God praise for all he’s done.

Ella:  What was the most powerful chapter or scene in the book for you?
I honestly believe there is more than one powerful scene in the book but one of the most powerful scenes to me is the ‘SWAHP SUMMIT’;  when all of the lead characters colorfully describe the different ways that lead them to the putting on of the ‘masks’, why they wore them for so long, and how with the help of God; they were able to remove them. 

Ella:  Do you write full time? Describe your writing schedule for our readers.
I do not write full time but because my time is so full I write all the time, sporadically! I wear so many hats that I am grateful for spell check because without it, I probably would misspell the word ‘time.’ (LOL)

Ella:  What do you like to do when you're not writing? 
I am a salon owner/operator, a product designer, and a fitness trainer, but more importantly, I have two reasons to get up every morning! Being a mother of daughters is a task in itself but it keeps me doing what I do!

Ella:   What is the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
Just write but be authentic! Be truthful to who you are as an author and don’t try to mimic others because when it’s all said and done, the truth will come out in the wash!

Contact: A. Life...  contact: www.eborya.com  ; aisha@eborya.com  ; gantaisha@yahoo.com  

Q.B. Wells is the author of Blackface and Doughboy. Currently he is the editor of Urbania Magazine and the C.E.O of Art Official Media LLC. He resides in Baltimore where he enjoys meeting readers, discussing life and spending time with family.

Ella: Tell us a little about your main characters. Who was your favorite? 
Blackface is a coming of age story that involves four young males. Two of the central four characters are “Black” and “Face”. Face was my favorite character because while all the characters are frustrated and angry because of their plight in life, Face is the only one of the characters that has a plan and puts forth an effort to see it through. The problem is his plan is anger driven, vengeful and murderous. He  is my version of Bigger Thomas.


Ella: Urban lit. should present a "cautionary tale." What issues do you bring to the reader's attention?
Issues explored in Blackface are self-hatred, gang culture, racism and police brutality. Blackface is a different type of “cautionary tale” because at its core it is about being a young black male in America and the anger that exist due to a multitude of reasons.

Anger is natural. Everybody gets angry. However, it is not natural to shoot someone, punch them in the mouth or use violence because you disagree. Blackface involves a sect of young people who have not learned or had the positive resources to redirect their anger or dreams. They believe you can settle disputes with fist and guns. They learn from each other. And they have enumerable opportunities to do negative acts for quick profit. They don’t think about paying consequences for their acts. The caution is to the world. If the world doesn’t embrace the young culture, there will be a problem. For black culture and the world.

Ella:  What inspired you to write this story?
I had very few stories that I had read in middle/ high school that had African American teenage boys as main characters. As a result I was uninterested in the majority of school readings.

I gravitated to movies until I learned that most movies I liked were based on books. Then, I learned to write a book. I thought it would give at-risk youth, specifically black males the confidence to complete the read and enjoy experiencing a black male protagonists that were stereotypical but unique. Then they would read more books.


Ella:  Do you write full time? Describe your writing schedule for our readers.
Write full-time? I wish! I’m involved with literature all day. I teach writing classes and publish / market other authors in the genre. I write about an hour or two a day. Whenever and whatever I can squeeze in.

Ella:  What do you like to do when you're not writing?
When I’m not writing I like to watch films, especially indy films. My goal is to shoot films so I watch a lot.

Ella:  What does your family think of your writing?
They love it. My family remembers my life before books and thank God I’m still here. To better the situation, I’ve found something positive that I enjoy and won’t land me in jail.

Ella:  What is the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
Build a readership and platform BEFORE you decide the method to publish your book. Keep writing for yourself and your audience.

Ella:  Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.
I have a new release Doughboy that will be published in October 2010 and One Hundred Miles and Running, the sequel to Blackface will be released in late December 2010 as a Digital Download for mobile reading devices.

More information can be found on online.
www.ArtOfficialMedia.com    
www.UrbaniaMag.com  
www.Urbanbooksandmedia.blogspot.com 
www.twitter.com/qbwells
www.facebook.com/qbwells

Intimate Conversation with Andrelena Harris

Born in Long Beach, California and reared on Governor's Island, New York and New Orleans, Louisiana.  Andrelena's  focus is on the "empowerment" of women. Her passion to equip women to overcome challenges in life stems from her own life experiences. A single parent, a past victim of domestic violence, and living a life of destruction, Andrelena rose out of her circumstances to proclaim that she is  "Somebody".   At an early age, writing became her sanctuary. Writing the truth became her praise. After receiving a vision that launched her into her purpose, Andrelena sets out to inspire, motivate, and encourage women to live life to the fullest. Her love for broken women transpires in her poetry and her letters.

Andrelena Harris is a proud mother of three, a publisher, and published writer. She is a motivational speaker, and a visual artist. She speaks to inner city youth about self esteem, value, finding purpose, reaching goals and spends her leisure time making the world a better place one day at a time. 


Ella:  Allow me to introduce the readers to  Letters to the Sisterhood.
Letters to the Sisterhood  is a book of healing letters for the wounded woman's soul. With the many challenges women face today i.e, single parenting, abuse, low self-esteem, inner conflict, depression, and self discovery; there are few solutions that understands the woman's crying soul. This book tackles those deep rooted issues; written by a woman that has been through it all.  

Andrelena, by her experiences, is determined to reach women through her letters, to instill confidence, self esteem, self respect, love, wisdom and value into the hearts of wounded women. Written woman to woman and sister to sister, these letters will empower you. 

Letters to the Sisterhood  is a book that enlightens, inspires, motivates, teaches, and guides with real woman to woman talk, laughter, tears, and love.


Ella:   Andrelena, what led you to create this book now?
A. My compassion for broken women lead me to my purpose for creating this book and writing these letters. More and more women are becoming depressed and losing sight of God and themselves; even turning to drugs, alcohol, and all kinds of destructive behavior. Now, is the time for a message of hope and renewal for these women.


Ella:  Who should read this book and why?
A. Women that are faced with the many trials of life i.e. single parenting, abuse, low self esteem, depression, and self discovery because Letters to the Sisterhood speaks about those issues and offer hope and an answer. Even men can read this book. In fact, many men have read this book and saw the trials of a woman through a woman's perspective and their eyes were opened.


Ella:   What impact will this book have on the community?
A. It would have a major impact because Letters to the Sisterhood is about community and love. Loving God, loving self, and loving others. It's about functioning and prospering as one being to effect many others. It is about coming out of gutter living and striving for excellence.


Ella:  What inspired you to write these letters?
A.  God.  I had a vision that moved me into action and I will not stop until African American women know that they are important and they are loved beyond measure! Through my own life experiences, making bad choices, having low self esteem, being abused, being a single parent, and struggling to find my self; I want to let my sisters know that there is hope.


Ella:  What issues in today's society have you addressed in the book?
A.  Letters to the Sisterhood addresses the issues of accepting abuse. Many African American women are dying at the hands of men that claim to love them. Many of our children are watching this demoralization process and are repeating the cycle. Many African American women are contracting HIV/AIDS and many other STD's because of their promiscuous lifestyles. 

Many of our children are launched into society that has given up on them. Many of us are living selfish lifestyles that will reflect in our children. Many African American women are living mediocre lives with past hurts that are crippling our societies. Many of us have no where to go or do not know how to get there. Many of us do no know where to go when the only way to go is with God. Letters to the Sisterhood addresses women on many issues because each of us have to make a change in order to change our society.


Ella:  Who did you write this book for? Why?
A.  I wrote this book for urban women, broken women, hurt women, because I call us the women that love forgot and I want every woman that feels as if no one cares; as if no one loves them; as if everyone has given up--God has not forgot! He just requires more from us and more is what I am hoping that these women can get out of life because there is so much more to get. 


Ella:  Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp and share?
A.  I want the readers of Letters to the Sisterhood to grasp the concept that they are valuable. I want them to share the fact that there is purpose in life and it has little to do with self. I want them to share love until it overflows to someone else.


Ella:   What sets your book apart from other books in your genre?
A. What sets my book apart is that I am speaking on a spiritual level, but I'm 'keepin' it real',  so to speak. My book is a book of personal letters written woman to woman and sister to sister. I am crying out from my soul and my letters are written as if I was writing them to someone very close to me. In which, I am writing them to my many sisters that will receive them and find themselves between the lines.


Ella:  What was the most important letter in the book for you?
A.  One letter I liked most or a verse in it was really neat and it was the one about women staying in abusive relationships with the hope that one day he, the abuser, would change and I stated that...

"Some storms were created to tear up everything in its path and that is what it does. We try to weather the kind of storms that we are supposed to be running away from! You know what a tornado does, you do not sit there and hope that it doesn't do what it is created to do!"    I liked that! I wish I was that wise, to know that, years ago when I was hoping for my abuser to change.


Ella:  Do you write full time? Describe your writing schedule for our readers.
A.  I am working on children's books (none published yet) and I'm writing a novel and I'm currently working on my next book 'Driving My Girls Home' and I'm writing poetry and plays. There's really no schedule. Whichever ones I feel like working on is what I work on. I multi task alot which keeps me pretty busy, but not full time. I enjoy staying up late at night when the house is quiet to write. I could be in the line at the grocery store and something comes to me and I write. While writing Letters to the Sisterhood, I would awake in the middle of the night to write because the words felt like fire in my bones and they had to come out.


Ella:   What do you like to do when you're not writing?
A.  I like to be around loved ones; laughing and having a good time. I have a funny family and they are like medicine to me. I also love painting. The power of creating does something spectacular to the soul and so I love creating things.


Ella:   What is the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
A.  Don't give up! If your mind can visualize it, then that is your book in publication already!


Ella:  Share with us your online contact information with our readers.
www.LoveAndrelena.com 
www.myspace.com/andrelena01 
www.twitter.com/loveandrelena  

You can purchase Letters to the Sisterhood at:  www.LoveAndrelena.com , Amazon.com, and Lulu.com.   Please visit www.LoveAndrelena.com  for more information.

Dee Sanderson was born in Queens, NY. She studied communications at the University of Virginia. After graduating in 1996, she began a successful career in the field of Computer Programming. For nearly a decade, she has worked in management for several fortune 500 companies. She lives in Southern California and is an occasional contributor to blogs and online publications. 

Ella: Why do you write? What drives you? 
I write because I love stories. I love storytelling and to share stories. My passion also comes from loving to read stories. I have a very rich imagination and I don't feel complete unless I've written down my thoughts and shared them. I really hope that this particular book ( How to Marry A Loser... ) will cause the reader to take a long look at themselves and then to try and do better. It's about making better choices in life. And I hope the reader gets a few good laughs too!


Ella: Introduce us to your book How to Marry a Loser Without Even Trying...
This book is about the choices that we sometimes make with our heart without thinking them through. It's about what happens when you settle for less than you deserve. I like to think of this book as journey into a relationship built on all the wrong ideals. The reader may be surprised to discover just how relative his or her journey is to someone else's. So it is my hope that the reader will experience a connection to my story. 

Ella: Why was this book so important to create?
Because I learned a very valuable life lesson that I think many people can benefit from...to value myself and to never settle for less than I deserve. It may sound cliché, but I can't tell you how true that statement is once you've been through the fire (laugh)! And it's okay to make mistakes as long as you learn from them.

Ella: How has this book changed or shaped your life?
It has opened me up...to invite more people into my life. Although, I finished writing this book pretty quickly, there were several times when I had to stop and take a breath because I was "reliving" it. So many people tell me that they can relate to my story and that has definitely opened me up more. 

Ella: Name 3 things that it takes to make a successful leader, in your opinion?
Perseverance, self-confidence, and the ability to listen.

Ella: What can we expect from you in the future?
Books, books, and more books! I have many stories to share. I also enjoy writing screenplays and I have written a couple, so I'm looking forward to the possibilities there. 

Ella: Given the subject matter of your book, would you consider yourself a relationship expert?
If not an expert, I am most definitely well-informed! I think it would be impossible, and to a certain extent irresponsible, to experience much of what I have and not be able to provide some sound advice. And I found that using humor to tell my story was very effective. People tell me that not only can they relate to my story, but they also enjoyed being able to laugh about some of those similarities.

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Anieshea Dansby is the author of Nookie. She enjoys reading, writing, crocheting, doing puzzles and collecting movies and books. Her goal is to be a successful author, go back to school to earn a degree in business and open up a bookstore. Currently, Anieshea lives enjoys time with her family and is working on the sequel to Nookie.




Ella: Tell us a little about your main characters. Who was your favorite? Why?
One main character Joy is eighteen and in high school. She feels neglected and unloved by her parents. She’s in an abusive relationship with a high school boyfriend. Another main character is Kevin, who isa little older and owns his own business. My favorite character is Kevin because he has a good heart and he was
successful.

Ella: What issues in today's society have you addressed in the book, Nookie?
Issues discussed are abusive teen relationships, sexual abuse and mental Illness.

Ella: Who did you write this book for? Why?
I wrote the book for adults and young adults. I thought that the subject matter would appeal to both.

Ella:  Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp and share?
The message is you should love yourself before you worry about someone else loving you because when they do you wont recognize it.

Ella: What sets your book apart from other books in your genre?
What sets my book apart form others in the genre is that it doesn’t have the same story about growing up on the streets with drug addicted parents that a lot of other books with the same premise. It’s not really a street or romance. It has a little bit of everything.


Ella:  What was the most powerful chapter or scene in the book for you?
The most powerful scene in the book was when Joy accidentally shot Josh because it shows the readers the change beginning in Joy.

Ella:  What is the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
The best advice I can give is to never get discouraged or give up your dream.

Ella:  Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases.
The sequel to Nookie titled Nookie’s Secret will be released July or August 2010. I will be doing a book signing tour for Nookie early 2010.  I can be contacted at Ndan924@aol.com  or www.myspace.com/AniesheaDansby 

Cynthia Banks is the owner and director of The Little Teapot Daycare Center, founded in Fort Worth, Texas in 1993; and is president of Banks Entertainment, LLC a Concert, Tour Booking and Management Company. She is also an Accreditation Validator for the National Association of Family Childcare and a board member of Agape, Kids, an organization that supports the needs and concerns of children of battered women.

One of the most rewarding organizations that Cynthia has the privilege of being a part of is the Stop Six Aids Leadership Project. S.S.A.L.P. was conceived out of the concern for the growing number of AIDS/HIV infected African Americans in the community. Cynthia hosts and participates in events and HIV/AIDS testing sites throughout Texas to encourage the public to “Know Your Status”.

Public speaking is no stranger to Cynthia Banks. She has spoken at the United Negro College Fund conference, has been interview by several radio stations, including The Bob Gorley Show in Los Angeles. She has had several book signings in Public Libraries, schools and colleges, churches and expos, including Book Expo America in New York. Banks has also appeared on CCTV Channel 31 in Fort Worth, Texas and WCTV in Tallahassee, Florida.

Ella:  Welcome Cynthia. Tell us about your passion for writing. 
I write to tell a story, a true story. What drives me about writing is having the truth unfold in such an unbelievable way that it’s completely fascinating. I love true stories and events. I want my readers to know that there is hope for anyone. If you trust and believe in God, He will send you the people and the 
resources you need to make it through any situation. 


Ella:  Introduce us to your book Drunk for 27 Years.
The road of Priscilla’s life was paved by the people that made choices for her. Through heartache, pain, trauma and tragedy, Priscilla’s experiences became stepping stones that forced her to make a choice that ultimately changed the outcome of her life. 

Drunk for 27 years, the compelling true story of Priscilla Gibson, mother of singer, actor and model Tyrese Gibson, suffered 27 years with alcoholism. The book reveals the unconditional love that her children had for their mother, who despite all they had experienced remained just the strength she needed to make it through. Suffering abuse at the hands of an alcoholic mother, Priscilla began drinking at a very young age, and continued into her adult years. Many factors manipulated the course of Priscilla’s life, causing her to make one bad choice after another until she finally made the choice to live and not die. 

Ella:  How did you start your writing journey? 
My first book, PRAYERS OF THE INNOCENT was about a scam that happened to my daughter during her freshman year in college. It was a scam that had been going on for over five years, in four states, on four different historically black college campuses, by a man that had over fifteen aliases. It was a story that had to be told and who better to tell the story than one of the victim’s mother. 

Ella:  Why was this book important to create? 
This is a powerful story of victory. A story of a women who lived 27 years with alcoholism, went through heartache, pain, trauma and tragedy, came out HIV negative and lived to tell about it. Her story had to be told. 

Ella:  How will your book impact community relationships? 
A celebrity’s mother is totally exposing her life and her addiction. People reading her story will know that there is someone out there worse off than they are. When they even think of complaining about how bad it is, they’ll remember Priscilla Gibson and how bad it could get. 

Ella:  What is the most surprising thing you have learned from the community? 
That no matter how much bickering goes on, when the rubber meets the road the community will come together to help each other. 

Ella:  How has this book changed or shaped your life? 
This book is so inspiring that I looked closer at my children and my family and loved on them even more. Life is simply too short. 

Ella:  Name 3 things that it takes to make a successful leader. 
Knowing how to follow. Understanding that if you are in charge of a department, a group of people, etc. you are responsible. Being able to see God in everything and having a sense of humor. 

Ella:  Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. 
My new book, M.A.C. Daddy to be release next summer and “Drunk” made the front page of Fort Worth Weekly newspaper. 

Contact Information for Author Cynthia Banks 
Banks Entertainment, Publisher 
P.O. Box 331291 
Fort Worth, Texas 76163 
www.thebanksentertainment.com 
www.thebanksentertainment@yahoo.com  

Drunk, for 27 Years: A Story of Victory - Her Choice to Live and Not Die
ISBN# 9781438993140 (hardback) 
ISBN# 9781438993133 (paperback) 
ISBN# 9781438993157 (ebook)