Black Pearl Intimate Conversations

 


Intimate Conversation with Mary Monroe
Hosted by Black Pearls Magazine and Ella Curry

Mary Monroe is the author of the award-winning, New York Times bestselling God Series, which includes God Don’t Like Ugly and God Ain’t Blind. Mary Monroe is the third child of Alabama sharecroppers and the first and only member of her family to finish high school. One of her proudest moments was when she became a winner of the PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award. She is currently celebrating the release of Mama Ruby, the prequel to The Upper Room, the book that started it all. She still writes seven days a week and gets most of her ideas from current events, and the people around her, but most of her material is autobiographical.

Mary Monroe lives in Oakland, California. She is divorced, loves to travel, loves to mingle with other authors, and she'll read anything by Ernest Gaines, Stephen King, Alice Walker, and James Patterson. Visit Mary's website for her tour schedule at: http://www.marymonroe.org 

BPM: How long have you been writing and where do you see yourself within the next several years?
I started making up stories before I even started elementary school. In junior and high school I wrote stories for some confession magazines. Since then I’ve written novels and a few non-fiction pieces. Mama Ruby will be my fourteenth published novel. Within the next few years I hope to do at least ten more novels, my autobiography, a few screenplays. 

BPM: Introduce us to your book, Mama Ruby. What genre is the book? On Kindle or Nook? Who are the major players? What are two major events taking place? 
Mama Ruby is the prequel to my first novel, The Upper Room. It's mainstream African American fiction with strong female characters. I am pretty sure it will be available on Kindle and Nook. The major players are Ruby "Mama Ruby" Upshaw and her best friend Othella Cartier. The biggest event in this story is Ruby's secret teenage pregnancy and Othella talking her into turning the baby over to an orphanage asylum. Another major event is Ruby and Othella leaving home looking for love and adventure and ending up working as prostitutes.

BPM: Share with us a little snippet from the Upper Room, a 1985 release and national bestselling novel.
Intro: The Upper Room--Mama Ruby's known for taking things that aren't rightfully hers, like her best friend's stillborn infant, who she brought back to life and christened Maureen. She's also rumored to have done away with her husband. Some fear her, others try their best to avoid her. But Mama Ruby doesn't pay them any mind. Not when she's got the one gift God gave her--her precious baby girl. 

BPM: What are your plans for continuing to write about this series of characters?
This story will continue with a sequel to The Upper Room. Mama Ruby leaves a few loose ends that can not be tied up until after the events that take place in The Upper Room.

BPM: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people or experiences?
Of course. Almost every story I write is based on something that happened to me or someone I know. And all of my characters are composites of people I know...

BPM: What inspired you to write this book, Mama Ruby? What are some of the unique issues or topics addressed in this book?
I was inspired to write this book because I grew up around some "colorful" characters. Most of them did a lot of wicked, funny, sad, and intriguing things and I thought their stories needed to be told. Mama Ruby takes place in southern locations. It is set in a time period during the thirties and forties when there was a totally different outlook than there is now on racism, sex, poverty, and other social issues that impact African American women. 

BPM: How did you come to create such strong main characters? Did you know that they would be so complex and exciting from the start?
I was raised by strong females. As a matter of fact, the main character, Mama Ruby, is a combination of my mother and two other females relatives. The more I worked on this story, the more complex and exciting the characters became. They have a lot of strong characteristics but they also have just as many weaknesses.

BPM: Can you see any of your books being optioned for movies?
Yes! I watch TV for several hours a day and I go to a lot of movies so I know what the viewing public likes to watch. 
I feel that any one of my books would make a good big screen movie or TV mini-series. I write each book with specific actors and actresses in mind to play the roles. I’ve already written movie treatments for some of my books.

BPM: Who are some of the authors you admire and why?
I love Toni Morrison, James Patterson, Stephen King, and Ernest Gaines. I was in my twenties when I discovered Toni Morrison and Ernest Gaines and that's when I knew for sure that writing books was my destiny. Their books are so insightful and thought-provoking that I re-read them at least once a year. I also love stories with a paranormal theme so when I discovered Stephen King I became a fan of his for life. James Patterson's books are more for light-weight entertainment and sometimes that is all I want in a story. 

BPM: Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases. How may our readers follow you online?
My latest news is that I recently completed the sixth book in my God Don’t Like Ugly series, God Don’t Make No Mistakes. Readers can follow me on Facebook and Twitter and they can visit my website: www.Marymonroe.org.  I also LOVE hearing from my fans by email at: Authorauthor5409@aol.com.  I answer my email personally!

Mama Ruby by Mary Monroe 
Hardcover: 336 pages 
ISBN-10: 0758238614 
ISBN-13: 978-0758238610 

Books by Mary Monroe
http://www.marymonroe.org/mynovels.html 



Intimate Conversation with Tameka Williamson

Tameka Williamson, an Independent Certified Coach, Trainer and Speaker for The John Maxwell Team, received a BSME degree from Southern University and a MBA from Webster University. She has served in several operational and managerial roles with major Fortune 100 Companies. Couple her professional leadership experience with her civic duties; she’s led many endeavors focused on Professional Development, Business/Career Coaching, Youth Programs, Non-Profit Management, etc. Tameka is focused on living out the purpose God has ordained for her life.

BPM: How did you initially break into the publishing industry? What road did you travel? How do you feel about self-publishing? 
I was fortunate to already know a publisher and other published authors who gave me suggested paths. Because the publisher and I had an established working relationship from my time working with a gospel artist’s, I decided to self-publish through her company. Her setup worked better for me than the pre-fabricated plans other companies offered. It didn’t hurt that I trusted her and knew she had my best interest in mind. As I alluded to earlier, more and more people are going the independent route so they can have better control and ownership of their product and creativity. If you couple that with technology and social media, the learning curve for marketing and getting the word out has drastically decreased. Making self-publishing easier to manage than before.

My journey to becoming a published author was truly God inspired and led. It was definitely not a path I ever thought I would pursue. My initial plan after college was get my PhD in Engineering, open my own engineering consulting firm and become a part-time college professor. Oh how that has changed. The book idea was first dropped into my spirit in 2007 based on a passion I had about educating our youth and their level of preparedness. Some college friends and I had many conversations regarding the caliber of kids we were encountering during recruiting fairs on college campuses. How they not only lacked professionalism, drive and leadership, but also the fundamentals necessary to hold a basic conversation in pursuit of a job. 

So, I had an unction to do something about it. You are either part of the problem or part of the solution. I started the process, but because of bad timing in my professional life, I had to put it on the back burner. Low and behold, 2009 came, I was blessed to be laid off of my job and God reminded me about the task I started and never finished. It was time to get back to my purpose and focus on what I was passionate about. From there, I restarted the process and totally immersed myself in researching and writing the book day and night until it was finished. God did the rest, opened doors and provided so that it could be published in excellence and paid for.


BPM: What is your definition of success? 
Many people define success in terms of material possessions – big house, expensive car, designer clothing. This is not success if you had to borrow to get it, and if your liabilities far outweigh your assets. I tell people Success is different for every person. It is contingent upon many variables such as a person’s background, vision, desires, etc. They will then use these characteristics to establish life goals. Once those goals are established and accomplished, it can be a piece of the puzzle that leads to one’s overall success. For example, a graphic designer can deem their life a success if they landed the Senior Designer position at an Advertising Agency. Where on the other end of the spectrum, you can have a thriving MBA graduate with aspirations to become a VP/SVP with Coke before owning their own franchise to a person who simply want to have zero debt (house, car and student loans paid off) and 1 year of savings as their measurement of success. The bottom line is, don’t let the world or other people define your success, but you be the one to dictate what success means to you. Better yet, be a person of value and significance in your family, church, job, community etc.

BPM: What have you realized about yourself since becoming a published author?
I don’t know if it was a new revelation more than a confirmation. Writing this book and successfully getting it published reaffirmed the mindset that I can do anything I want to do and/or set me mind to do. It also helped me realize how important it is to be flexible. Again, becoming an author was never an aspiration, a professional singer – Yes, but not an author. I didn’t like writing that much. But here I am, a published author with a desire to write plenty more. In closing, I would tell people never to limit themselves nor their capabilities because they just may surprise themselves.

BPM: Do you have any advice for people seeking to publish a book?
I would tell people to network with other published authors and understand their plight. In the age of advanced technology, self-publishing and self-help publishing continues to rise and open many doors for independent writers. A potential author must do their due diligence by understanding the publishing process, market, challenges, potential earnings and various opportunities in order to determine the best path to take. With any endeavor, prior to talking to others, have your plan mapped out with details on what you want to do, how you want to do it, goals, potential partners, etc. This will help facilitate the conversations along with validate your commitment to the project and level of seriousness.

BPM: Finish this sentence- “My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... ”
By instilling the importance and power in preparing and planning early for whatever you want in life. The Bible tells us that a good man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children. It’s time for us to change the mindset of our kids from instant gratification to one of patience, preparing, and planning. If our youth understand this and pass it down to the next generation, our world would be a better place. Delay does not mean denial, it just mean not right now. If you take a cake out of the oven before its fully cooked it will fall. Why do we want to approach life half-baked and not see it completely through the process and ensure all of the key ingredients are properly blended and working well together? One must remember that people who fail to plan, basically plan to fail.


BPM: What inspired you to write this book?  Ever experience writers block?
A Road to Success: The College Preparatory & Planning Guide was birthed as a result of consistent jaw dropping statistics. These statistics are: 7000 youth drop out of school daily – that’s 1.2 million kids a year, 50% of them are African Americans; 24% of ACT tested students are deemed “College Ready,” 60% of Incoming College Freshmen need to take at least one remedial course at colleges and universities when the number is 75% at community colleges – out of this population, 4 out of 5 students graduated from High School with a GPA greater than 3.0 (B Avg). 

Furthermore, we as a nation spend 6 times more money on prisons than we do on education. The USA makes up 5% of the world, but 25% of the world’s prisoners. That tells me that it is time for the community to take back the responsibility of educating our children and hold the schools, local and state officials accountable. The practical teachings and tools in the book are aimed at educating, empowering and enriching families so we can counter these negative vices. As education continue to decline, it is paramount for us to get away from the norm, think outside the box, unite and do something differently to ensure our children are no longer cheated out of a quality education.


BPM: Are any chapters in the book borrowed from your world?
In some shape, form or fashion, information in the book has been borrowed directly and indirectly from my life experiences. Although I graduated from a “college prep” high school, there were many gaps in the process we were never taught and didn’t know how to get it. Many in my group were first-generation college attendees, so the research we conducted to get into school was a shared effort. Because we had to find the information on our own with little guidance, it was like the blind leading the blind. But Thank God, we persevered and made it.

BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message enclosed?
I want to reach parents of middle and high school students, more specifically those with kids grades 6 thru 9. My message would be invest in your child now, so you and your child can reap the benefits when they graduate from high school fully prepared to attend college and its fully funded. The benefits will become endless – less stress, more disciplined, no money worries and more focus on studying, graduate from college with no debt, positioned better for a career, so on and so on.

BPM: What should readers DO after reading this book? 
At my church, it’s the year of action…so I would say procrastinate no longer, Take Action TODAY. Or in short, as Nike would say, Just Do It!

BPM: What insight does the book give readers on preparing for life after High School?
A Road to Success provides a road map for both parents and students and aid them on their journey to demystify the college process. Upon completing the guide, students will walk away with:

•A Life Plan 
•A plan for tackling and achieving ACT, SAT, and PSAT 
•An understanding of how to successfully navigate College Admissions
•A plan for securing Scholarship dollars
•An understanding of the Financial Aid Process 

BPM: Share with us a quote or brief excerpt from one of the most powerful chapters.
It's so hard to choose. I will give you an excerpt from the introduction:

It is paramount that we start early in planning for academic achievement, college, and real-world readiness. If there is a lack in planning and preparation, there is a high probability students entering college will find it difficult and get discouraged about their future; therefore, dropping out. Others will not view college as a viable option, and as a result, they will find difficulty securing decent employment. Individuals who do not pursue a college degree have a greater chance of encountering obstacles such as unemployment and dependence on social assistance.

"Today's preparation determines tomorrow's achievement. - Unknown Source"

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
Education is an opportunity for all students. We as adults must expose them to these opportunities, let them know they exist and inspire them to dream big and know that there is hope for their future. Success is an option for EVERYONE regardless of their level, neighborhood, inadequacies or background. Position you and your child for GREATNESS.

BPM: Will the digital age or social media usage change the face of publishing?
Most definitely. If you look at past trends in the technological world, you would see that there is a life-cycle and expiration period for everything. For example, we went from albums/records and 45’s to cassette tapes to CD’s to mp3’s and other digital formats. Because of this evolution, you are finding more artist in the music industry coming out as independent artist with more ownership rights, distribution control, higher financial returns, etc. The same thing is happening in the publishing world. 

Earlier this year, E-Book YTD sales have grew about 169.4% compared to 2010, while print sales declined by 24.8%. This tells both existing and new authors, you must be ready to shift with the move of technology in order to remain competitive. That is why I am releasing my book in an electronic format later this year.

BPM: What has been your most difficult hurdle to leap? Marketing, promotions or gaining media exposure, etc. How can EDC Creations and our readers help you?
The most challenging hurdle is getting the word out and gaining more national exposure. EDC Creations and the readers can help by purchasing the book, bringing the college prep tour to their area, spreading the word and sharing the vision and participate in the upcoming Best Selling Campaign Day on September 15th. On this day, everyone who purchase the book, will receive a series of bonus gifts that will further enrich their lives. My goal is to sell at least 500 books within the 24 Hr. time period.

BPM: How much does “word of mouth” has play into the success of your book? What grassroots strategies have you used to spread the word about your book? 
“Word of Mouth” is critical to the success of the book. Once people get the book and start applying the tools, things will shift and change in their lives. Information will be learned and new behaviors will be established. Because we are having more crisis in our school districts across the nation, my first grassroots campaign is my Best Selling Day on September 15th. What I’ve done is partnered with various people and organizations who have a large following via their Opt-In email list, Twitter and/or FB account and they are going to distribute the campaign details to their constituents encouraging them to either purchase the book on September 15th ( www.aroadtosuccessthebook.com )  or purchase the book any day before the 15th during the Pre-Sale period ( www.aroadtosuccessthebook.com/presale ).

BPM: Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases. How may our readers follow you online? 
The first thing that is next for me is the Best Selling Campaign Day on September 15, 2011 from 12:01 am to 11:59 pm. People who support the campaign and purchase on that day,  again will receive bonus gifts as a “Thank You” and those who participate in the Pre-Sale period (www.aroadtosuccessthebook.com/presale ) will get an extra set of bonus gifts.

From there, my team and I are preparing to take the training on the road and start holding educational workshops on college campuses. It’s an opportunity to bridge the gap between colleges and universities and the surrounding communities, primarily those with socioeconomic challenges. We are working to secure sponsorships for the tour. The workshops will focus on College Admissions, Test Prep and Finding the Money. I am happy to partner with 2 great individuals, Jessica Johnson of The Scholarship Academy and Dr. Kevin Harris with Appelrouth Tutoring, LLC, who are also passionate about education. We are ready to create a new era of a Prepared Generation.

Last, but not least is book number two. It will be part B to A Road to Success. The book will focus on that college student and how they can position themselves for a successful college matriculation on into Corporate America or the real world.

Readers can follow me online by visiting one or all of the following sites:
Website: www.celestialsent.com/thebook.html 
Book Twitter: twitter.com/ARoadtoSuccess 

BPM: Thank you, Tameka, for sharing a little bit about yourself, your journey and your book with our readers!

Tameka L. Williamson-Author, Consultant and Coach
Website: www.celestialsent.com/thebook.html 
Facebook: facebook.com/ARoadtoSuccess  

 A Road to Success: The College Preparatory & Planning Guide
Purchase books at: www.celestialsent.com/thebook.html  

Genre and Target Audience: 
Nonfiction & Parents and Students Grades 6 thru 9 (primary) and 6-12 th grade is secondary

Topics Discussed: 
Setting Goals, Developing a Life Plan, Researching a Career, Researching and Selecting a College, College Admissions, Understanding Financial Aid and Scholarships

 

Intimate Conversation with Patricia Haley 

PATRICIA HALEY is the award winning, Essence #1 bestselling author of eight faith-based novels, including her latest series with Broken, Destined, and Chosen . She’s a full-time senior project manager with an engineering degree from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago . She is a born again believer and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Patricia lives with her loving husband, Jeffrey, and their beautiful daughter in the Chicago area. 

BPM: What books made a difference in your life? 
Two books have especially impacted me over the years. I read “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Dr. Maya Angelou when I was in the 8th grade. I was intrigued to see a little black girl on the cover. In the early seventies, there weren’t a lot of books out there written by and about us, African-American women. 

The second book is “This Present Darkness” by Frank Peretti  (my all time favorite) which was the first faith-based novel that I read. It was a page turner and I was amazed at how the book could be so entertaining while incorporating a heavy dose of religious themes. When I finished the 400+ page book in less than a week, I was hooked. It forever changed my prayer life and what I look for in novels. I guess, in a way,  my novels mesh the two with African-American characters and faith-based themes. You could say that I write what I enjoy reading. 

BPM: What are some of the benefits of being an author that makes it all worthwhile? 
My purpose for writing is to glorify God while entertaining and reaching every single person that needs to be encouraged and/or inspired.  So, as an author, I am blessed to hear many stories about readers who have been encouraged, positively impacted, or genuinely entertained by my books. There is no greater satisfaction for me than knowing someone’s day has been improved or faith strengthened as a result of my writing. It makes the literary journey worthwhile for me. 

I’ll never forget a specific situation. I was doing a literary event in Ohio . Everyone had purchased books and I was ready to leave. A young lady came up to me and said she couldn’t afford a book but wanted me to sign her postcard. Instead I felt led to give her a book and told her to send me the money later. Honestly, once I left, I didn’t expect to hear from her again. Exactly a year later, I got a card with the money inside. She noted that I had met her at the lowest point in her life, at a time when she needed someone to believe in her. When I gave her the book on faith, it lifted her spirits.  I don’t always give away books. I sure am glad that I did that day. Encouraging others, that’s what it’s all about for me.

BPM: How would a new writer get started writing a manuscript for the first time?
I'm often asked how to get starting writing a manuscript. After years of writing and committing to diligently improve my craft, I can honestly say that the best way to get started is simply to put the first word on the paper. It's as simple as taking one step. Don't worry about the editing, grammar, how the book will get published, who's coming to your first book signing or what the sequel will entail. Don't get caught up with the many roadblocks (often times quite legitimate reasons why you can't get going.) Press forward. If you have a burning need to write, then I challenge you to pursue your calling and write that someone else might be inspired, encouraged, or blessed by your efforts. 

If your goal is to either get published or to self-publish, my advice is to do your homework. Writing is the creative side. Publishing is all about business. You can quote me on this. "The only commonality between any two successful authors is not the quality of their writing, or the genre, or the story line, or their marketing plan.  The only commonality is that they finished their manuscripts. Will you be among that list of successful authors?"   To each new writer, I say, "Take care and be blessed." 

BPM: If you were not a writer, what would you be? 
I was a businesswoman long before I started writing, and I still am. I’ve been fortunate enough to balance dual careers simultaneously by the grace of God. 

BPM: What are you passionate about, besides writing books? 
Writing is my gift, and I do it to the glory of God. Budgeting, working with numbers, and planning are my passions. Yes, I’m one of those weird people who actually uses algebra in my everyday life. I love doing budgets and would work a job for free, if they wanted me to work with numbers all day or put together plans. Fortunately for me, I do get paid. God is awesome.

BPM: Introduce us to your latest book, Broken,  and the main characters. Do you have any favorites? What genre is the book? On Kindle or Nook? 
Dave Mitchell (the father) abandons his wife, business partner, and children for a younger woman, Sherry. They have a son name Joel, who the father chooses years later to be CEO of the multi-million dollar family ministry.  Madeline, the first wife, and her oldest son (Don) are outraged because they feel like the rightful heirs.  An all out war erupts between the wives and the brothers with the father in the middle.   Of course there’s always an element of love lurking.   So it is with Abigail, the young business executive finds herself torn between the two brothers due to her love for Joel and deep friendship with Don. 

Broken is definitely in the drama category with a faith-based twist and a splash of romance. It’s available in E-book too. These characters were introduced in Chosen and maintain a strong presence in Destined.   Naledi from South Africa and Zarah from India also come onto the scene, adding a blend of corporate and romantic drama.  Oh, and we can’t forget about Tamara, the estranged daughter who left the family in Detroit seventeen years ago after a personal tragedy.  Tired of living on the run and nearly broke, she decides to come home and assume her rightful place in the multi-million dollar ministry. Saddled with bitterness from family wounds of the past, she feels allegiance to no one.  Chaos is in her DNA.

My favorite character is a toss up between Madeline, her son Don, and a ‘colorful’ Uncle Frank. Madeline is a sharp tongued, top notch businesswoman who doesn’t easily back down to opposition. Don is the lesser son who finds redemption in South Africa and the freeing power of forgiveness. Uncle Frank (a pop-in-and-out type character) is full of surprises, none of which are typically good. The one thing for sure, Uncle Frank is consistent with his shenanigans. He’s entertaining too. 


BPM: What inspired you to write this book? Why now? Ever experience writers block?
Inspiration for the Chosen series came from one of my all time favorite characters in the Bible, King David. He is an imperfect man plagued with family tragedy, personal failures, and constant battles. Yet, he is remembered as someone highly favored by God. I’m equally intrigued by his son, Solomon. Although he was the product of an adulterous relationship, God saw fit to make him the wisest and wealthiest man, saturated with favor. Over time, he managed to squander away his godly favor by succumbing to his weakness for women. Goes to show that no matter what our faults, shortcomings, or limitations, it doesn’t hinder God’s ultimate plan for our lives. 

So it is in Chosen and Destined with Joel, the son of Dave Mitchell. At the conclusion of Chosen , readers weren’t satisfied with only an epilogue ending. They wanted more. So, Destined was born. Then, I couldn’t stop with just tales of the Mitchell men. In Broken, the women have something to say as well, particularly the high-spirited daughter, Tamara who’s been estranged for fourteen years. 

BPM: What insight does the book give readers on relationships? 
The concept that all relationships take work. Usually when we talk about relationships, we’re referring to a romantic one.  However, our lives are filled with all kinds of relationships, brothers, parents, neighbors, friends, co-workers, and so on. The quality and strength of the relationship depends on how much work, love, grace, sacrifice, forgiveness we’re willing to invest. 

BPM: Share with us a quote or brief excerpt from one of the most powerful chapters. 
Chapter 47 in Broken is where Don (the eldest brother) realizes that his father, sister, and half-brother have betrayed him. He’s trying to do what seems right, but Don is tired. He doesn’t need their money or support. A part of him wants to get out town and forget about his so-called family. 

Here’s an excerpt from the book:  “Days and nights had blended since Don’s meeting with Tamara and Abigail midweek. He had to shed the distress, not allowing seeds of resentment or excessive disappointment to take hold. Forgiveness was his weapon to defeat the emotional and spiritual attacks. Reconciliation was his path to recovery. His pride made him want to stand up and retaliate against those who wronged him, but God’s word had been deposited in his spirit, saturating his conscience, and wouldn’t be silenced. The time of his greatest despair was the precise moment to forgive and let go. It was a mandatory step in the journey to healing and restoration. Depleted and struggling, Don decided to go where he’d get answers and a surge of hope.”


BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I want my readers to be entertained first. Then, before closing the book, I’d like for them to get the message that in spite of challenges and dysfunction, a person’s ability to forgive, to love, to forget the pain of the past, and to exercise a tad bit of diplomacy can get them through any situation, no matter how tragic the circumstances. 

BPM: What should readers DO after reading this book? 
Get a copy of Chosen and Destined, books #1 and #2 in the series if they haven’t already read them. 

BPM: How do you avoid the temptation of interjecting your own value system into your writing? 
I learned long ago in my writing to define the characters, get to know them, put them in a room, and let them tell the story. I’ve gotten so comfortable with the philosophy that after the book is written, I sit back and read it just like my readers. 

BPM: Will the digital age or social media usage change the face of publishing? 
Absolutely. The literary landscape has already changed with e-books. Some people still prefer the feel of turning their pages while others are quite content with having hundreds of books literally at their fingertips. Just like what happened in the music arena when people were able to download thousands of songs onto a digital device. Let’s face it, the digital world is here to stay. Even my doctor’s office has gotten rid of paper records and only uses digital devices. The changes are fast, exciting, sometimes scary, but nevertheless, reality. I choose to embrace the change.

BPM: How do feel about selling digital books vs. selling in a brick and mortar store? What impact do you think electronic book sales will have on black authors? On indie authors? 
With the huge increases in e-books and stores like Borders going out of business, there’s no doubt the industry is changing.  All authors are going to be impacted.   This is the time when authors have to know why they’re writing.  If it’s for the money, good luck with that one. If it’s purely for the notoriety, good luck with that one too.   If, however, you’re writing because you’re fueled by your gift or passion, then the changes are for the positive.   The more ways to get the books into the hands of readers, the better from my perspective.   E-books offer yet another way to reach my audience.  As long as readers can still get my books, I’m happy, whether it’s paper, hardback, or digital.   As a matter of fact, this is a wonderful time for independent authors. The door of opportunity is wide open. 

BPM: We are here to shine the spotlight on your new book, but what's next? 
I’m pleased to announce that Broken made #1 on the national Black Christian bestseller list in September 2011. The series continues with books four and five - Anointed (Fall 2012) and Betrayed (Spring 2013). These novels will take you back to the beginning of the saga, when Dave meets Sherry and lines the path of family destruction. 

BPM: How may our readers follow you online? 
Readers can visit me at www.patriciahaley.com for a full listing of events, chapter excerpts, book trailers, or to join her mailing list. They can also become a Facebook friend at Patricia Haley-Glass or join my fan page at Author Patricia Haley.

BPM: Thank you, Patricia Haley, for sharing a little bit about yourself, your journey and your book with our readers!


 Download Broken by Patricia Haley to Nook Today!

Purchase Broken by Patricia Haley 
•ISBN-10: 1416580646
•ISBN-13: 9781416580645


A Blessing and A Curse 
by Andrea Clinton

In "A Blessing and A Curse" Malika has the life every woman wants, a hard working husband who makes it happen financially; kids, both adopted as well as biological; her career as an artist with partners who own an art gallery; nice house, nice neighbors and the gift of foresight.

Malika couldn't ask for much more, until her gift of sight and infrequent ability to read minds opened her up to her husband's disgust, followed by his uncaring desire to leave her. She can't figure it out, what has gone wrong? But a well needed vacation helps her find her worth but to what detrimental end? 

Malika finds a different type of groove in her story, A Blessing and A Curse. 

Purchase copies of  A Blessing and A Curse
ISBN-10: 0981837646 
ISBN-13: 978-0981837642 
Order books: http://www.aroundthewaypublishing.com 



 Intimate Conversation with Andrea Clinton

Previously an English teacher and high school principal, Andrea Clinton is a Novelist, Poet, Essayist and aspiring Screenwriter and Filmmaker. Andrea is a Montclair State University Graduate, who's achieved a degree in English, Film and Journalism. She's the founder and CEO of the non-profit organization, People Helping People, Inc., whose mission is to help citizens become independent and self-sufficient; Andrea is Editor in Chief of AMISTAD newspaper and magazine; and is presently working on a biography and screenplay featuring her uncle, Rock and Roll Hall of famer, George Clinton of Parliament/Funkadelic and the Clinton family.

Struck with Lupus in 2002, Andrea decided that if she were blessed to live, she would bring her countless stories into fruition by publishing them for the world to read. Her first novel is one of five in the first volume of, "Life Knows No Bounds." Andrea began this chronicle to exhibit to the world and address through fiction, the many directions life leads us in, regardless of which class we belong to. Andrea also set out to express to the world that life isn't after anyone in particular, it just doesn't know boundaries.

With the goal of helping people to understand and accept life, Andrea is said to write with that same creative gene and knack that made her uncle George Clinton the musical great that he is. See her many book reviews that support Andrea Clinton as a creative and entertaining great writer on the rise.

BAN: You have overcome many obstacles in life, how do you stay focused and keep writing? Do you have days when you just want to give up writing?
Many. In fact, it’s the reason I’m just now publishing. I had heard so many horror stories about the book industry that I ran like a chicken for many years, sharing my stories in magazines and newspapers as well as with friends. Even when professors encouraged me to send my work out to authors I wouldn’t because it seemed too cut-throat and I wasn’t up for the task. After all the research I did and an agent who seemed rough around the edges, I just did away with the thought. But, when I was struck with lupus in 2002, I regretted having 10 or more year old stories that received rave reviews, but were all packed in trunks and storage boxes. It was too heavy on my mind as I lay sick that I never published, nor attempted to. All this, while laying and worrying about dying from lupus. So when I was well, a publicist I’d consulted with at that time said with having lupus and being fearful of not having the time to live to publish my finished books, I should self publish. Thus, the 1st book in the “Life Knows No Bounds series.”

BAN: Do you have any favorite authors or books? 
Sure, J. California Cooper, she’s outstanding. I started out writing stories like the ones she writes, with the same aim to enlighten others about previous goings on in the south and things they forget about. I also love Terry McMillan, Alice Walker, Michael Baisden and Eric Jerome Dickey. Other Books in African Literature.: Mother To Mother, Mema, and Devil On The Cross. 

My literary muses are, and I say it proudly, Richard Wright who made me want to tell my story; and my favorite, J. California Cooper who pushed me to complete my first short short story after I read family; Charles W. Chestnut who was the 1st African American realism writer in the 1800′s, he shed light on slavery from a different angle; and Charlotte Perkins Gilman who wrote, “The Yellow Wallpaper” after experiencing some mental health issues and felt the condition and the treatment of women needed to be exposed so male doctors at that time could stop treating women as if they were insignificant and limp. They make me not just want to write, but they make me want to blast off in the literary world! They are my Duracell batteries... my muse. 

BAN: Name three people who inspire you and the community. 
Dr. Cornell West because he’s attacking issues. He knows we sleep and he’s right there in the trenches with that gong in our ears saying, “Wake up! See what’s going on around you!?  Look, it’s right there.” He’s really giving us the 411, and often times many others when he’s on shows like Bill Maher. Monique, because she is truly one of us and showed us when she was doing comedy shows, on Apollo, telling plus size ladies to love themselves and she even took it to a TV show and a movie. Then topped herself by winning an Oscar and topped that with a TV show where she’s putting the spotlight on others and helping them promote their projects. Monique is good people and we need that. Also, whether people realize it or not, I believe Russell Simmons inspires us. In the front of our mind we may not give it too much thought but, you see a man who came from the same neighborhood we everyday folk come from, where he made it from scratch and still moving ahead, it makes you want to get back up when you fall down; he delivers hope just by doing his own thing.

BAN: How did you start your writing career? Who influenced you the most?
I think I knew I wanted to be a writer when my grandmother, a teacher who specialized in Early Childhood Education, gave me books to read to her at around six years old. After each story I read, I began to sit and tell her stories. So one day she gave me a pencil and paper and said, "Here, sit down right here and write your story." I did, and a few years later when I was reading a play for homework, she introduced me to writing plays. Experiencing those different ways to tell stories, I knew at that point I was going to be a writer. 

BAN: What do you want to accomplish as a writer? 
My plan is to do a lot with my writing. I have a few screenplays I’m holding out until I get a few books published. A few of them I wrote with Queen Latifah in mind, our families know one another. I would like to do a few screenplays for Latifah, Sean Blakemore and Treach and a few others such as: Jada Pinkett-Smith who I fully support; Will Smith in his Sci-Fi adventures; and Laurence Fishburne, Robert Dinero and Al Pacino, all of whom I admire, and many more. Also, I would like to bring some of my books to life in screenplays and stage plays.

BAN: Tell our readers about Life Knows No Bounds Series, starting with "One Who Loves You More." 
Well, Life Knows No Bounds is a Chronicle of stories, the first is, One Who Loves You More and others will follow over the next decade or so. Each of the stories are about how life takes all sorts of twist and turns, flipping and tossing people around and usually without notice. The Chronicle is written in the Realism and Naturalism tradition, which reveal not just what the characters do but why they do it (and the Naturalism genre insists these behaviors are because of the self preservation drive and sexual drives/desires we all have. 

One Who Loves You More is about Alisa a money grubbing gold digger and Omar, who as a product of his environment is a Muslim trying to find his way back to Islam and the peaceful life he once knew. When Alisa remembers her great grandmothers saying, "Always get a man who loves you more than you love him," she decides to make Omar her man, or rather, her victim. But he’s not quite the one you want to mess with. 

BAN: What's the best literary advice you would offer other writers? 
"Keep writing until you find your voice, and realize some people spend a life time never finding theirs."

BAN: Do you have any upcoming projects that we can look forward to? 
Yes, Clinton Family Ain’t No Robinsons, which is a biography I’m working on for my uncle George Clinton of Parliament/Funkadelic. Also, a few more novels from the Life Knows No Bounds chronicle: A Blessing & A Curse; Where Do We Go From Here; One Man is Smoke & The Other is Fire; Notes & Messages, and a few non-fiction books: Death of my Other Half; and, Why Men Aren’t All Alike & How to Deal With Them. I innovated on a few of these books so things aren’t so typical-usual.

BAN: Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your novel? 
I would like to say to the money grubbing gold diggers, especially those aspiring to wear this title like a tiara, to please take note of the gold diggers in this book. They used men for money or played mind games with men and look at where it got them. The examples in the book were the bare minimum of what really happens when people find they’re being played for their hard earned money or that their feelings are being toyed with. I plan to further the goal of enlightening you of the consequences and repercussions of a money grubbing gold digger in a novel titled, "Tracy," one of the characters in this novel. Due to our insufficient-dependent women out there who like to gamble with their life using and toying with men, this book is necessary.

To those who want to know the history of Islam here in America, I offer you another view in this novel. Although the characters and details are fictitious, the tragedies, issues, hardships and interruption of the Muslims of that time period are factual. What was developed to give a sense of direction and self worth was strategically ripped apart and many many Muslims went astray. 

BAN: How can readers purchase your books and get to know you better?
You can buy it from  http://www.amazon.com/shops/Cupcakestatus  or my website at: www.AroundTheWayPub.com,  Barnes & Noble, and your local bookstores. Establishments buying more than one should contact me at: AroundTheWayPub@aol.com  to receive bulk or wholesale discounts. 


Intimate Conversation Michael McGrew

Michael McGrew can be described in one word, “visionary.” Naturally born with a gift in storytelling, writing a gripping novel is a walk in the park for this Los Angeles native. When asked about his role models and inspiration growing up, he simply explained that “Life itself and what it offers every day is a lesson and every lesson, if learned is the best advice the universe can give you.” He is a very diverse individual with a mind that invites the reality in which we choose to either accept or ignore. We just choose to ignore the imperfections in our own perfect world. 

BPM: Tell us about your journey becoming a successfully published author. Do you have anyone in your life that was heavily influential in your deciding to become an author?
My journey is coincidental considering I couldn't stand to read at all as a youth, but I've always been a good story teller. As far as any influences that helped me make a decision I'd have to give credit to time. I didn't grow up with a role model or professionals to look up to and time allowed me to learn who I was, therefore giving me the ability to acknowledge my strengths.


My Kinda Girl by Michael McGrew
Bobbi Williams dreamed his way to the top without accepting failure as an option. From street hustler to a successful con man, he finds himself lost and confused when his best friend/sister is murdered in cold blood. After doing six years in prison for a string of robberies, and now friends with his late sister's boyfriend James, they plan their way to the top together. When Bobbi is released from Atlanta State Penitentiary with a lot to prove and a legal hustling game plan, his life begins to take a successful turn for the worst starting with a secret affair involving James fiancé, Jennifer.... recognizing that she is his kinda girl. Bobbi has it all; the money, fame, a fantasy and a family until his past and a little karma catches up to him. MY KINDA GIRL is a tale that travels deep in the mind of a man with secrets that manifests into problems, too hard to live with, and death is the only way out!

BPM: Did you choose your genre, or did your genre choose you? 
I chose urban life/fiction because when I took an interest in writing professional in 2008 urban fiction's demand was increasing and I figured it would be an awesome genre to establish a platform before pursuing other genres of literature.

BPM: Success leaves clues, whose clues did you follow on your journey?
I followed many talents on different levels in the industry such as Kwan, Will Smith, Troy Johnson, Baby Williams, and a close friend of mine Tim Beachum.

BPM: What are some of the benefits of being an author that makes it all worthwhile?
Some of my benefits are sharing my views, expressing my opinion through my characters and being able to touch my readers in a way to trigger questions, concerns in hopes that they can improve a situation or even learn what not to do as a learning experience. When I receive reviews or someone stops me in public and discuss my story with me just tickles my funny bone! I'm glad that I have a platform to touch and help people, now that's living.

BPM: Do you have any advice for people seeking to publish a book?
Where do I start...um...being artistic is awesome and I'm glad I chose writing as a profession, however business is just as important, in fact twice as important if you want to succeed in doing so. Some people just want to print a book to give out to the family for Christmas or even to say they've got a book printed. However, if you want to become an author; which should enable you to become a publisher someday, then you've got to have a marketing plan.

BPM: Now, let’s talk about the industry. How did you initially break into the publishing industry? What road did you travel? How do you feel about self-publishing? How do feel about selling digital books vs. selling in a brick and mortar store?
Okay your getting me excited, let me reposition my chair! After I decided to show interest in joining the literary world I had the pleasure to meet Kiki Swinson and she gave me a few pointers and I ran with them. From the information she gave me and the research I found, which happened to be worth my time in investing, I put an order in at a local printer in my town and was quoted $7500 for 2500 books which came out to $3.00 per book (Highway robbery! I know but didn't know any better.) and paid him in full in 5 months. I put a two weeks notice in at my job two weeks prior to my book being shipped and have been advancing in this industry ever since. I feel it's very important to become your own boss, but I understand that there's a lot of people who just want to write under another entrepreneurs company. 

I chose the independent route and established Legacy Publishing Group LLC in 2010 and looking at greater profit margins, recognition and flexibility as my own publisher. Ebooks is to bookstores what Wal-Mart is to mom and pop shops across the nation. Bookstores are suffering everywhere for the simple fact that it's convenient for someone to buy a E-reading deceive for $114 or download an app and purchase your work online for $12 cheaper than the store, which they have to get in their car and drive to! Personally I think ebooks prices should be regulated to at least half of what the retail value is and I understand that we can set our own price, but it's the authors who aren't seeing the bigger picture that needs to stop settling for a $2.99 sale that their only going to receive $1.04. My work is more valuable, so why not spend money in the stores and keep the tradition going?


BPM: Share with our readers the “behind-the-scenes” dish! Introduce us to your book and the main characters. Do you have any favorites? What genre is the book? On Kindle or Nook? 
Well My Kinda Girl is about two guys who are in love with a woman. She is tempting, drop dead gorgeous and belongs to James. Bobby looks up to him and is also was his deceased sisters boyfriend in the past. Bobbi can't resist Jennifer as she pursues him until he gives in and plants his first Karma seed. Lonnie Biggs is also a leading character, he's a corrupt detective who seeks revenge on his only sons killer and puts the pieces of the story together and finds out that James and Bobbi are the main suspects. 

It all unravels but Bobbi's karma piles up as he is forced to deal with deceiving his friend and dealing with Lonnie Biggs. My Kinda Girl will have you dropping the book out of shock when you finish! I don't really have any favorites, I like them all actually but the there is only one victim in my eyes and that was Bobbi's girlfriend Stacy, she endured a lot and loved him so much. The genre is urban life/fiction but my company will also be publishing romance, self help and how-to/instructional books. My Kinda Girl and Taking Losses are both available on Kindle, Nook and IPad for only $6.99.


BPM: What inspired you to write this book? Why now? Ever experience writers block?
Some say I sound cocky when I say this but I just woke up one day and decided to write a book. It was one of those "If he can do it, then I could do better" type of scenarios and I did it. It was that simple. There is no grey area and there shouldn't be in life. Whether you can or you can't...you're right! Why Now? I asked myself this question on countless occasions and I think I finally know the answer. 

Our experiences are great opportunity builders and being a single father during my late teens and twenties enabled me to focus on responsibilities and not my dreams. I began to ask myself the right questions such as what do I want to do with my life professionally and where did I want to be in the next five years? And it wasn't until my son was living with his grandmother between 2006-2008 that I came to the conclusion that I'd rather become the master of one mountain than a servant of a thousand foothills. I put all my chips on publishing and I'm still at the table. I've experienced writers block and don't like to rush it but before I begin to write, I develop the story in my head first so my process is pretty smooth.

BPM: What particular scenes will grab readers and serve to stimulate spirited discussions?
James suffers from heartache in a scene and describes his new found perception of love and explaining this scene is powerful enough to stir up emotion and questions that need to be discussed.

BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message enclosed?
I want to reach everyone who's interested in reading movies on paper, that simple. I want to escape the expectations of urban fiction and provide great content for my readers, prompting them to demand the same from other authors.

BPM: How do you avoid the temptation of interjecting your own morals or value system in your writing?
I think I keep a pretty good balance but my experiences, vision and ability to explain in detail is my identity in this field. Mixed with a marketing plan and knowledge of my target market, it helps me and my story framing.

BPM: Share with us a quote or brief excerpt from one of the most powerful chapters.
"He looked vulnerable and beat, and at that moment I learned that if you want to defeat a man, you have to work him form the inside. Never in a hundred years did I think that I would ever come to envision a depressed version of James. A man with a mysterious passion and will to pursue goals to prove to more than just himself, that anyone can grab the success stick and run with it, but with every strength lies a weakness, and his, unfortunately was reliability." - from main character Bobbi Williams

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
As an individual we all have choices that lead us in a direction or path of our own. Our life's direction is all based on the decisions we make everyday. My characters represent symbols that are translated simply as karma, trust, commitment, honesty and relationships (business and personal).

BPM: What has been your most difficult hurdle to leap? Marketing, promotions or gaining media exposure, etc. How can EDC Creations and our readers help you?
This is a great question and being an entrepreneur and known for building great relationships I could use more media exposure. For the last four months I've focused primarily on my Internet presence as well as image establishment and as I prepare for my book tour following the Harlem Book Fair, It's time for me to socialize and grow my brand. Legacy Publishing Group is here to stay and authors are the NEW Rockstars!

BPM: How has your writing style evolved over the years? What stimulated your growth the most? We are here to shine the spotlight on your new book, but what's next?
I'm that type of writer that's all about growth and it has definitely gotten better and that's what happens when you deal with professional editors, they are a writers best friend. My personality and strength in the sales department. Well look out for Legacy Publishing Group and it's affiliates, in the process of growing the My Kinda Girl brand a playwright has been discussed as well as comedy and fashion shows coming soon. It's only the beginning.

BPM: What's next for you? Share with us your latest news. How may our readers follow you online? 
Taking Losses is my sophomore novel and that will be released July 15, 2011.  My book tour begins July 21st - August 19th which will consist of a seven city tour ending in Virginia before flying back to L.A for the LABBX August 20th. You can purchase my novel "My Kinda Girl" on Amazon and it's also available at Barnes and Noble for only $13.95.


Michael McGrew
My Kinda Girl; Urban life/Fiction
ISBN-10: 0983040907 
ISBN-13: 978-0983040903 
Relationships/Crime/Karma
Trailer: http://youtu.be/Zc2mq6wZNeI 
Amazon Kindle Link: http://tinyurl.com/3rh7242  
Barnes and Noble Link: http://tinyurl.com/3ks5bed  
My Kinda Girl Link for Paperback: http://tinyurl.com/4xs7yqs  


BOOK REVIEW: In My Kinda Girl by Michael McGrew

In My Kinda Girl by Michael McGrew  readers are introduced to Bobbi Williams, a dreamer who takes a wrong turn while defending his sister's honor. Once Bobbi is released from prison his new friend, James, comes to his rescue with business opportunities and the ability to live the high life. 

James has taken on the responsibility of running the entertainment business while his partner, Bobbi, is away. James meets and falls in love with Jennifer, the woman of his dreams. It is apparent that James did not think about the demands of being a business owner. The demands take their toll on him and he is court ordered to commit himself to a drug rehab program. 

Bobbi is released and starts taking over the operation. James is not worried because he knows Bobbi will hold things down. He has taught Bobbi, everything he needs to know about their businesses. While James is away, Bobbi starts communicating more and more with Jennifer, his best friend's girlfriend, and things seem to get out of hand. Now they say keep your enemies close and Bobbi learns this the hard way. Bobbi's past discretions catch up to him and he is betrayed by the only person he has ever really trusted. Will Bobbi come out on top? 

My Kinda Girl is a story about people coming into your life for a reason. This author has orchestrated a believable story that happens to many people in the entertainment industry. The author also introduced a new twist to street literature that will keep readers intrigued. The characters are well-developed allowing readers to relate to their plights. My Kinda Girl is also a page-turning book of unsuspected surprises that had me rushing to finish. I cannot wait to read more from this author and I definitely recommend this book to others. 

-- This book was provided by the author for review purposes. Reviewed by Teresa Beasley, APOOO BookClub. APOOO Rating: 4.5



Intimate Conversation with Lorraine Elzia

Constantly the free and gentle flower growing wild, Lorraine Elzia absorbs all life has to offer. Stumbling into writing at the suggestion of loved ones, Lorraine has embraced that calling to become an Award-Winning Author, Editor, and Ghostwriter. Her debut novel, Mistress Memoirs received the AALAS Break Out Author of the year award. Ask Nicely and I Might, her sophomore novel, promises to not only entertain, but tell a message as well. 

BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
It would have to be my passion and belief that giving anything less than 100% of my effort to anything is unacceptable. I am a people pleaser at heart, but I have included myself at top of the definition of “people.” The thought behind that is that I know I am my hardest critic, no one is harder on me than I am on myself; so if I work real hard not to disappoint myself, then I definitely won’t disappoint others. I follow that thought process in life and in my writing endeavors.

BPM: Success leaves clues, whose clues did you follow on your journey? 
Sorry if this sounds cliché, but I truly follow the clues of God first and foremost. Even though I write in every genre from religious to erotica, my journey and my steps have been ordered. God gave me a unique and descriptive gift. I don’t take the gift lightly and I never feel worthy of receiving it, yet I am obedient in the ways I use it. I was told by Him several years ago that if I, but listened to what He had to say, eventually, I would be successful according to the measurement standards of man. From that day to this one, I am continually on a scavenger hunt, following one clue after another from Him, knowing that my efforts are not in vain. He directs my path and I have no problem following the clues and being patient in waiting on my promised blessings. 

BPM: What have you realized about yourself since becoming a published author? 
I’ve realized that the voices in my head that were screaming to be heard actually had a space, a place and life of their own. Writing, for me, is as necessary as the air I breathe—it is essential for my daily sustenance and a vital source of strength and nourishment for me. From the first anthology I was in, to the completion of my sophomore novel, I recognized that being a published author is a form of self-expression for me that is bigger than any other need I have. It is one of the desires of my heart that I ‘allow’ to control and own me.

BPM: What is the most rewarding aspect of your career? 
I feel the most rewarded when a reader expresses sheer enjoyment from my words, when they are totally engulfed with the people, places and things that are just figments of my imagination. Whether the message I tried to convey touched them or whether I was the vessel that allowed them to escape from day-to-day reality for a hot minute in order to exhale and have a woosah moment at the end of their day. I love being able to give readers a momentary ‘vacation.’ I’m not greedy concerning how my readers were touched, but I do receive extreme gratification from letting my fingers do the walking across a keyboard in a manner that “reaches out and touches” someone. 

BPM: If you were not a writer, what would you be?
I’ve always had a fascination with all aspects of law, the judicial system and legal debate. If I wasn’t a writer, I would have aspired to be the female equivalent of Johnny Cochran; an untouchable, highly skilled, legal orator. I love the way that the late Mr. Cochran could use word play in order to make people see things in the exact manner that he wanted them to see them, and yet he did it with a style and flavor that was uniquely his own. They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. If I weren’t a writer, I would have tried to imitate Mr. Cochran in female form. 

BPM: Hot Seat: Share with us one detail about you or a hobby readers would enjoy.
I am obsessed with Betty Boop. I collect any and everything Betty, you name it, and I have a Betty Boop version of it from ink pens to clothing. I’m obsessed with anything Betty. Her persona intrigues me and reminds me to keep the same outlook on life: sexy, sassy, classy and carefree.

BPM: Introduce us to your book and the main characters. What genre is the book? On Kindle or Nook?
My latest book is Ask Nicely and I Might. The tag line is: Welcome to the Sexy Side of Murder. Unlike any cat and mouse game that you have read before, this book has overlapping storylines which begs the question of the lines of separation between the sane and insane. It is a suspenseful thriller that revolves around two very strong African American female characters; one is Jade, a serial killer whose past has affected her thinking to the point that she feels the need to devour prey just for the fun of it. 

The other is Alex, a streetwise detective whose lover falls victim to Jade, making the capture of Jade her number one priority. As the two women collide they soon find that they have more in common than just bloodshed. The book is available at www.amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com in paperback, Kindle, and Nook.

BPM: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people or experiences? 
The situations in the book are not real, but the underlying reasons that both women act in the manner that they do are ‘baggage’ that a lot of women carry with them throughout life. I used a fictional situation to illustrate how we have to ‘let go’ of the demons of our past if we are ever to progress and grow into the people we were born to be.

BPM: What compelled you to write Ask Nicely and I Might? 
Honestly, just the need to take a topic that I think all women think about at one time or another and give that topic life. I think every woman has thought about that moment in time where they could snap.--The moment when the things she is going through in life are considered the last straw for her and she gives in to animalistic desires and demands. Reality is that most of us pull it together before acting in a manner that becomes deadly; we find a way to overcome those moments of madness. But what if we chose not to? What if we gave in to the darker side? I wanted to explore what would make a woman actually decide to take that course, and I wanted to also address how sometimes our past makes it harder and harder to bear one last straw after another. I wanted to look into what happens when straws of defeat can feel like unbearable mountains of despair, and force us to act in a manner we wouldn’t normally entertain. 

BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within? 
My first intent in writing this book was to entertain. I wanted to write about something I had not seen done before; a black female serial killer and a black female detective; both good at what they do. I knew that would be something I would like to read over a weekend, while sitting on the beach, and I wanted to give that temporary ‘getaway’ to readers. But as with everything I write, there is a message. And that message is that we cannot let the issues of our past, dictate our future. Nor should we allow them to be excuses for our current behavior. There comes a time when we all just have to ‘let it go’ and take ownership of our actions.

BPM: Share with us a quote from one of the most powerful chapters in  Ask Nicely and I Might.
We’re all intimately intertwined to one another as human beings in one form or another by a mere six degrees of separation. Like vines of ivy growing alongside a wall reaching towards the sky, if you follow the branches close enough back to the point of origin you eventually find the connection. Whether through skin color, religious beliefs, ideologies, social-economical connections or bloodline; the separation is not as large as we sometimes profess loudly with our mouths, or secretly think in our moments of personal grandeur. It’s all a matter of semantics. Scratch and sniff the surface long and hard enough and the connections can be made. We are all linked together, all related and all strung to one another by a mere six degrees.

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
A sense that we as individuals—not our circumstances, not our upbringing, not what has or has not happened to us—are in control of our destiny and ultimately what we become in life.

BPM: Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases. 
My next release is entitled, Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil. This tale is a cross between Sleepless in Seattle and Dead Man Walking. It chronicles the last 30 days of a man on death row and his late night, pillow talk confessions with a radio talk show host where he details not only his life on death row, but the events leading up to the crime for which he is scheduled to die for. As the radio host and the inmate discuss his case, a race against time ensues as she tries to save his life against a crime he says he did not commit. Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil will be a story unlike any you have read before as you find yourself watching the clock tick away to see if love and justice actually conquer all.

BPM: How can our readers reach you online and how can they purchase the book?
For more information on my books please visit: www.lorraineelzia.com,  or at www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com  or contact me directly at lorraineszone@gmail.com.  

Book Spotlight: Ask Nicely and I Might by Lorraine Elzia
A twisted game of bewildering intrigue proves positive that Six degrees of separation bridge the gap between the sane and the insane.

Alex Carlysle is a savvy homicide detective highly respected among her peers. When her lover becomes the latest victim in a series of brutal murders, the investigation of the killings becomes personal for her and catching the killer could be the break she has been waiting for concerning her career. 

Jade abides by a different set of rules. Instead of enforcing the law, she is the thorn in its side. She is a sexy enigma of a serial killer who taunts the police just for the pleasure of it while devouring her prey in the process. 

As the hunter becomes the hunted, both women are destined for a massive head-on collision with each other. The thrill of pursuit is not the only tie that binds them; they are also driven by bloodshed and a chain of circumstances that began in the subconscious mind. Ask Nicely and I Might is a racy thriller filled with sexy suspense; a wicked game of cat and mouse where time is rapidly running out for both the hunter and the hunted. 

Ask Nicely and I Might by Lorraine Elzia
ISBN: 978-0-9829672-0-1 
Suspense, Thriller, Urban Fiction 
Targeted to anyone of legal age who loves a good suspense book

Ask Nicely and I Might Primary Topics
Abuse, neglect, relationships, self-awareness and self- respect
Publisher: www.peaceinthestormpublishing.com 

Lorraine Elzia:  www.lorraineelzia.com 
"Don't blend in when you're born to stand out!"
Award-Winning Author, and Creator of Mistress Memoirs and Ask Nicely and I Might
And the upcoming suspense, available in the summer of 2011, Tell the Truth, Shame the Devil


Intimate Conversation with Monica F. Hudson

The author bestowed with the gift of clarity in her writing experience. A extraordinary journey of spiritual awakening engaging the reader to discover the Christian experience, to gain truth and praise. Monica F. Hudson is on a staircase of enlightenment. A trained eye for book covers that explode into a vividly, dramatically effective tool before the book is ever opened.

In the Heat of The Fire by Monica F. Hudson 
We find three witness giving testimony in the relationship they have with the Cross and the man, name Jesus hanging bloody and scourged. Looking deeply into our own lives
and personnel relationship as God begins to bring spiritual storms these trials and tribulations that we may be tested, within this testing the scriptures give identity and prove of what is happening in the life of the believer, within this story we discovering and observing the journey of conversion. This conversion is a turning or changing your desires and habits to please God. 

True turning to God follows repentance and belief, leading not only to an observable new way of life, but to a spiritual transformation as well. When this born anew event comes to you, it is a time to rejoice! You have been set free! You are now God's servant: "When you were servants of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But then what return did you get from the things of which you are now ashamed? The end of those things is death. But now you have been set free from sin and have become servants of God. For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom. 6:20-23. God has paid the price. You are a new person.

BPM: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people? 
As a non-fiction Christian author my point is to deliver powerful and stimulating truths given by text and scriptural direction. In doing this is too look directly into the face of were society is going and the intimate struggles that are effecting humanity on a global scale. My book is written testimony of each believer and even non-believers journey that God will identify the path and plans He has for you. My appointment is to use this situation as a consciousness to raise hope and conviction of the Christian journey. In the struggle to try to follow this faith walk people are falling away from God.

BPM: What inspired you to write this story?
As a Christian, walking this earthly journey, trying to live this Christian life I found changes starting to interrupt what I had become accustomed too life, health and prosperity. Nudges that became apparent and clear that God was removing me out of my comfort zone. That is a human quality that we a people have a hard time with the word......change. 
It is so true that God comes in a place and time to use those called and chosen, this is my believe that this book Changed: In the Heat of The Fire would help those confused from all kinds of turmoil, uprisings and difficulties in their life, my testimony of a glorious plan to be healed and used for the greater plan, the hidden plans of God. Before we can tell a story, we have to also have experience the same degree of testing that everything is clear and pronounced. This is also the message I bring into my branding, Intrusion of His Fusion...those interruptions that lead to conversion.

BPM: What issues in today's society have you addressed in the book?
Chaos and injustice spiraling out of control, people looking for peace in all the wrong places through drugs, sex, and other worldly devices. The attack of Christianity, the hidden meaning behind these attacks and the journey of the believer trying to dodge and reposition to a place of peace within. A disturbance injected into man's consciousness that their is no escape from the depressions of the world. In the mist of self the world has lost passion and the desire to listen to the biblical teachings brought forth through the Bible. The woven cloth of selfishness, greed and the conviction of the Christian faith, that the meaning of change actual has a positive meaning to those looking at the Cross. People are being absorbed with more worldly issues than ever before and the tolerance rate is rapidly declining, this leaves a empty nest for compassion and a full tank for intolerance, shattering humanities windows.

BPM: What is the most valuable lesson about the publishing industry?
Marketing. It is the core of who you are, what message your trying to convey to your readers, also, the confidence level builder within you. After that last key stroke, that last thought is placed on paper the real work begins to telling your story, identifying yourself as a writer an author. When stepping out into this journey of writing the excitement to see your work brought into the mainstream of the publishing world, the realization that you haven't prepared for the marketing aspects, though you as a writer had followed some of the rules, there is a ocean of marketing information to get the author started which first should begin with pr-publication at least 4-6 months before the book is edited. 

As a author I found myself in some of these predicaments excited about my first book, The Bride and The Bridegroom: A Spiritual Romance published through a well known company, I didn't research enough to find out about there marketing company, though I did do some marketing but not enough to make a dent into the vision I had seen. It is a must that a author should do alot of reading on the internet and books on marketing, going to writers workshops and being willing to listen to veterans in the field of publishing, marketing (PR) and authors who are full of information and contacts to help you to the next level. 

Build up your confidence by mapping out your plan before you finish your book, polish your work, not willing to take short-cuts, self-publishing takes work, stamina and alot of passion so find also the lighter side of work because it's your passion and a gift. Even in traditional publishing you have to sell yourself and your products but be willing to make some sacrifices.

BPM: What did you hope to accomplish by writing this particular story?
As I had stated earlier in my bio I'm climbing a extraordinary staircase of enlightenment, so before you can give a testimony, you have to experience the same situation to witness your message. This message is given to a global community on different paths but heading towards the same direction through everything you are facing your trials and tribulations, God has a divine plan for the believers life. In the distressed across this global community, we are connected and receiving messages from God of His plans that we are confident in what the Lord has for us in this world of stress and struggle that through Conversion, we are called and chosen to serve God. 

Many people are growing anxious, lonely, weary and angry about sudden events happening in their life that their faith walk becomes tarnished and blemished from the heaviness of the world's convictions. Changed: In the Heat of The Fire breaks those chains because it is surrounded with biblical text and scripture that the believer can understand with clarity what's going on in not just their life but the changes
in the world.


BPM: What writers inspire you and why?
Since I am a inspirational and devotional writer my collection of writing reflect just that. I want to believe that placed within me is a cheerleader for people looking for a positive word about their life, their direction, after all that is what most people need. My cheerleaders are ministries in the community some here and some who have passed on a strong direct message of the Christian journey, so my shelves are filled with authors like T.D. Jakes who I hope to met one day, he articulate his messages so clear and directly, a intense motivator to God's people, his books, "Why?" and "Water" are on my shelf.

A. J. Russel "God Calling," "The Spiritual Man" and "The Breaking of The Outer Man" by Watchman Nee, "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, Wade E. Taylor, "The Secret of the Stairs." "Parables of The Vineyard," by Pamela Reeve, and" Wait" by Russel Kelfer. If you are on a inward journey these books will help you.

In the publishing circle, "The Self Published Manuel" by Dan Poynter and "The Well-Fed Writer" by Peter Bowerman, "The Everything Get Published" by Peter Rubie.

BPM: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.
I had the opportunity to travel this year to the Writers Conference in San Diego, CA, hosted by Antonio Crawford, founder and director. I delivered to him my press kit and book, Changed: In the Heat of The Fire, he responded weeks later impressed with my press kit and letting me know they were adding it as a tool in teaching course for aspiring authors. I was very humble and excited, it was a evidence I was moving in the right direction. In that some trip to San Diego, Ca I had the opportunity to network with those in the publishing and marketing networks, this financial sacrificial trip proved beneficial gain.

On my latest book (2nd) book Changed: In the Heat of the Fire, I just recently received my first book review through RWA Bookclub you can find the review on their web site www.rwabookclub.com  and my blog page. My first book The Bride and The Bridegroom: A Spiritual Romance is now on e- book format at Author House publishing web site. My group of books that I'm writing now are part of a series called, Sleeper Awake Series! 

This is a 5 book series, I have just completed the 3rd and 4th books in the series, they will possible be out in Winter 2011 and Spring 2012. My company name is Hudson Publishers a ministry lifting, praising and encouraging those of the Christian faith. The 3rd book in the series is called Over There: Raindrops of Reflection. I have a website called 2cdivineanswers and a blog page found there and connected with the stream of social media sites like face book, Linked in, and Twitter. I have review one book by self-publishing author Clarence M. Allen called, REGULATE! 


 Purchase Your Copy Today!
Changed: In the Heat of The Fire by Monica F. Hudson
http://www.2cdivineanswers.com/Products.html 

Contact Information
Web site: 2cdivineanswers
www.2cdivinanswers.com/blog/2011/01/07/Joy-In-Knowing-1Corinth 



Intimate Conversation with Cheryl Robinson

"WHEN I GET WHERE I'M GOING is about three very 
different sisters and is a wonderfully entertaining read." 
Kimberla Lawson Roby, New York Times Bestselling Author

Cheryl Robinson is the author of five novels. Most recently, When I Get Where I'm Going, In Love with a Younger Man and Sweet Georgia Brown. She is a native Detroiter and graduate of Wayne State University. Robinson now resides in Central Florida where she is writing her next novel.  Cheryl has set many goals for her writing career, which include becoming a New York Times bestselling author. Cheryl’s novels are primarily character-driven and her themes often revolve around family, relationships, love, beating the odds, and redemption.

She loves dogs, crème brûlée, and almost anything organic. And the “real” job in corporate America her parents urged her to pursue? Well, after nearly twelve years with an automotive-related company and four corporate relocations where she’s lived in New York, Kansas, Texas, and Florida, she lost it. In the summer of 2010, the company was forced to downsize due to the ailing economy. However, she always considered her passion for writing to be a real job, even when she only had time to write her novels at night and on weekends. Now she has even more time to focus on fiction. 


BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer?
As a person I feel power in my faith. It allows me to press on through the rough times and to remain positive. I try not to let the daily stresses of life get to me. And I try not to judge others. The more I stop myself when I feel my mind going in that direction, the easier it becomes. I get tired of seeing people get built up by the media to later get knocked down. The less I judge others the better I not only feel, but also when I write and develop characters it's much easier for me to remove myself from the situation. I realize it's impossible for everyone to love my books, but I always keep that as one of my primary writing goals. And, I try to keep a healthy balance between being my own worst critic and one of my biggest fans. 

BPM: Where do you find your inspiration? 
All of the inspiration I could ever need I can find from everyday life--the joys and the pitfalls. I can open one email from someone telling me how upset they are at the way I ended my last book and then turn around and open another email from someone telling me how much they thoroughly enjoyed it. That's an example of how life is in general. One minute you can be down, but in a second it can all turn around. You have to take the good with the bad and learn from them both. But honestly, sometimes I just want it to all be good. 

BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book?
Some years ago, when I was about nineteen or twenty, I answered the phone at my parents' home and there was a woman on the other end who insisted that we were related. She was trying to tell me that she was my half sister and that we had the same father. I remember my heart sinking. In order for that to be true, based on her timeframe, that would mean my father, who I thought had been happily married to my mother for years, had cheated. But as the conversation continued we both realized that while the two men shared the same name they weren't the same person. 

Still, for those few minutes, I had to ask myself what if that was actually the case. The thought never completely escaped my mind, and in some ways it was that event that prompted me to eventually get around to exploring the scenario. And now, in the age of social networking, it's much easier to find your missing relatives. And in the case of these three sisters, it's also true, and they do share the same father. 


BPM: Who do you want to reach with When I Get Where I'm Going and the message within?
I am a Women's Fiction author. That does not mean I only write for women. Nor does the fact that I'm black mean I only write for black people. I don't write to exclude any one, but to enlighten and entertain us all. I write about women and women's issues, and of course, men are in my novels too. As an author I have an opportunity to go beyond stereotypes. I've learned over the eight years that I've been writing professionally that there is a way to entertain without offending. 

If I, as a black woman, do not feel good about how we are represented in the media. If I don't feel empowered about what is being written about us on the internet and elsewhere and if I have to continuously hear from the media that black women are "the least desirable of all the races" or not a preference by some men even within our own race, as an artist, I have an opportunity to present a different message that isn't a negative one, but can still be realistic. It's like music. Some songs only have a good beat while others also have wonderful lyrics. I want to write books that make people feel good. 

My intended message isn't given to readers, but written in such a way that the reader gets out of it what they came to the story with and how they view the story and the characters will be interpreted by how they view the world. But maybe, if I do my job as I intend to, they will have a different opinion after it's all said and done. 

BPM: Introduce us to your latest book, When I Get Where I'm Going.
What would you do if you discovered that you had a sibling you never knew existed? Would you be like Heaven, so excited to connect to that person that you quickly took to Facebook and started searching? Would you be like Hope, too caught up in the trials and tribulations of your own life to even care? Or would you be like Alicia, skeptical at first, but willing to open up to the idea?

Alicia, Hope, and Heaven are three estranged sisters embarking on one special reunion. And it will take an earth-shattering discovery, a lucky lottery ticket, and a near-fatal encounter to finally bring three sisters together and have them realize that nothing can save a person like family. 

BPM: Introduce us to your main characters in When I Get Where I'm Going. 
Heaven Jetter, Hope Teasdale, and Alicia Day are three special sisters! Heaven is twenty-one and the youngest sister. She's on probation, caught up in an abusive relationship, and trying desperately to get her life back on track. Hope is a young widow and single mother searching for the truth behind her husband's death, but once she finds out, can she handle it? Alicia is a struggling actress trying to catch a break in Hollywood after thirteen years of trying, but a devastating one-two punch forces her back to Detroit. 

BPM: What are two major events taking place? 
The novel is written in third person and begins with a prologue that occurs five months prior to the start of the story. And then the rest of the novel is divided into three parts and most of the chapters alternate between the point of view of each sister. Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that each sister has a major turning point that makes each of them reevaluate their life. 

BPM: What are a couple of the specific issues or problems addressed in this book? 
One issue in the story is domestic abuse. Heaven is involved in an unhealthy relationship, but like so many other women involved in something like that, she finds it nearly impossible to leave. Her story isn't from the viewpoint of a woman who is both a wife and mother and being abused, but from a young woman who has gotten caught-up with the wrong man and finds herself so confused that she doesn't know what to do and feels that her life in general is spiraling out of control.

Alicia Day's character was written for anyone who has been holding on to a dream for a very long time and wondering if it will ever come true. Aspiring actors, singers, and writers should be able to especially relate to her story. Black actresses, in particular, should also be able to as much has been discussed about the struggles that black women experience while trying to succeed in Hollywood. 

Discussion Topics: When I Get Where I'm Going by Cheryl Robinson
Domestic violence, sisterhood, estranged family, the entertainment industry, and specifically the lack of roles for black women in Hollywood.

BPM: Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases. 
When I Get Where I'm Going is featured in the September 2010 issue of Essence Magazine. And I recently completed my next novel, Remember Me, that will be released in September 2011.

BPM: How can our readers reach you online? 
Readers can connect with me through my website at: www.cherylrobinson.com  and also join me on my recently created Facebook page. There is a link on my web site to Facebook. 

Cheryl Robinson--When I Get Where I'm Going 
Purchase your copy today at Amazon


Intimate Conversation with Taffy W. Wagner, D.Min

Join me in welcoming author Taffy W. Wagner. Taffy remembers writing her life story when she was in Junior High School. It was more of a class project that she enjoyed. Throughout high school and her military enlistment she always kept a journal.  Every now and again she wrote poems for family members, friends and on special occasions.  

Once in her doctoral program, she began writing more in depth due to the numerous papers she wrote. As a matter of fact, her professors recommended that she turn her papers into book.  Within months of completing her degree, her first book, Debt Dilemma was on the scene. 

Please read the interview below and consider giving this book as a wedding gift to the bride or groom in your life.  Visit her website at: www.brideandgroommoneytalk.com 



BPM: Tell us about your passion for writing. What impact do you want your book to make on the readers?
My passion for writing grew after submitting my first two papers during my doctoral program. I enjoyed writing from the heart knowing that what I was sharing would even affect my professors. My degree program was Christian Counseling, therefore I wrote about issues that affect every day life including my own with a faith based perspective. It is my desire that my books educate, encourage and empower people on life’s journey.

BPM: Finish this sentence – My writing offers the following legacy to future readers…
It reveals the truth about money, a topic that people are generally afraid to talk about because of their own financial behavior and background.

BPM: Introduce us to your latest book, Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ.
Money is a part of marriage, yet as brides and grooms spend the majority of their time focusing on the wedding. While they are preparing for their wedding, they are missing out on developing those life skills necessary to sustain a marriage such as communication, art of negotiation and communicating about finances and having a financial plan.  Opposites do attract in the beginning, he’s a shopper and she’s a saver or even vice versa. Y et those same opposites can eventually lead to the separation of a couple.  Brides and grooms should very well begin talking about money during their engagement.  More couples should be aware that wedding planning is actually a glimpse into how they will handle money and marriage conversations, goals and decisions after they say  “I Do” to For Richer or For Poorer.

Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ is a non-fiction book that answers over 70 questions when it comes to money talk before marriage. Common questions all couples want answers to is who should manage marital finances, do we have a joint account, separate account or do we do a combination. Even deeper questions are how do we handle if our future spouse is paying child support, do we have joint accounts or do we keep things separate? Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ delves into questions centered around life’s relationships i.e. parents, in-laws as they pertain to money and unlocks
the answers to how these situations could be handled without damaging relationships.

BPM: What situation led you to write Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ?
I had been trying to teach couples about money and marriage, yet I felt the message or title of the message was too harsh. So as I was praying about it last year and doing some research, GOD showed me a better way of titling this message that didn’t come off negative nor make people feel as if they had done something wrong. When I got the new title, I was off and running.

BPM: Give us a bit of the back story on Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ.
Brides and Grooms all over the world will stand at the altar in front of family, friends and colleagues saying  “I Do” to vows which include “For Richer or For Poorer” without really knowing what that means. They have questions in the back of their mind when it comes to money; some will ask the questions and often times there a lot of people that won’t for fear of what will happen once they spill the beans about their financial behavior.

In an effort to assist them with beginning this talk, I decided to take the questions that I often receive anonymously and put them in a book. Bride and Groom Money Talk FAQ is written in a conversation tone and not one of blame. It is the book that keeps on giving when it comes to money education.

BPM: Were there things from your world that you incorporated into this storyline?
Absolutely. At the end of every chapter there is a real example called Along the Journey. Most of the stories shared in Along the Journey are taken from my own money and marriage experiences.

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want your readers to gain from your book?
Money doesn’t have to be a negative topic in their lives. Nor does their marriage have to end because of money. They can be the faces of money and marriage success. I want them to say “That was a GREAT investment.” I need to give a copy of this to this person and that person.

BPM: How can our readers reach you online?
I love connecting with readers. The book is available for purchase on my website at: http://www.brideandgroommoneytalk.com;  my Facebook page is:  http://www.facebook.com/BrideGroomMoneyTalk  and my Blogtalk show is: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/BrideGroomMoneyTalk.  My email address is drtaffy@brideandgroommoneytalk.com.  Let’s talk money before and during marriage. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me at this email or 303-576-0670.


Intimate Conversation with Melissa Dorsey

Melissa Dorsey is a first time author who is currently working to complete her degree in Early Childhood Education Administration. Melissa is a wife, mother of two, and a dedicated staff member of Fulton County Schools. She is originally from Mississippi, but she currently resides in Alpharetta, GA. 

Melissa enjoys spending quality time with her family, but still finds time to write. She is currently working on her second book entitled, The Grass after the Rain; scheduled to release in December 2011. For more information and updates on Melissa Dorsey visit:  www.melissadorsey.com. 

BPM: Mrs.  Dorsey is here to discuss her new book and her road to publication, welcome her and please share her story.  The Grass After the Drought by Melissa Dorsey is an inspirational story about a young girl who has to overcome major adversity, at a very tender age. After leaving Chicago, and a drug addicted mother, Melissa is taken to live with her grandmother in Mississippi. 

Away from the drugs, crime, violence, and poverty; Melissa is faced with a much more difficult task. She has to accept the fact that she is invisible in the eyes of her family.  Starved for love and attention, she finds comfort in the form of drugs, alcohol, men, and sex.  With her life spiraling out of control, Melissa does the only thing that she knows how to; she turns to God for guidance.  With her mother up to her old tricks, Melissa is forced to step up and assume responsibility once again.  After years of heartache and pain, she finds what she has been searching for all of her life.

BPM: What have you realized about yourself since you became a published author?
I’ve realized that I have something inside of me that the world needs to know about. My words have the power to impact lives in a positive way, and that’s exactly what I am going to do for the entirety of my life.

BPM: Do you have any advice for people seeking to publish a book?
The best advice that I can give to aspiring authors is to do their homework. The world has changed, and there are so many avenues that can be taken in order to publish a book. Knowledge is the key to success.

BPM: If you were not a writer, what would you be? 
If I were not a writer I’d definitely work towards opening and directing my own youth center. I adore children, and I feel that I am obligated to try and save as many of them as possible from going through some of the same experiences that I have. 


BPM: Do you honestly believe that your book, The Grass After the Drought, can inspire young people to change their lives, thus bettering themselves?
Absolutely. People will feel hope when they read my story. It makes me feel good and full of hope to know that others have made it through their hard times in life; so I know that others will share these feelings too.

BPM: You being a motivational speaker for troubled and at risk youth, what would you say makes a great speaker?
In order to be a motivational speaker you have to be outspoken. You can’t be afraid to speak in front of any crowd. You have to have confidence in your abilities. It’s essential that a speaker have extensive experience with the issue that they are speaking on. It’s impossible for me guide you down the right road if I’ve never traveled that road. I had to change and reinvent myself to save myself. 

BPM: What is your definition of success?
I’ve always believed that before success is achieved by anyone it has to be clear what success means to that particular person. Unless you have a clear picture of success, it’s impossible to work towards it. For me success is about following through with my goals to the best of my ability, giving back to my community, and being a great wife and mother. My success is not measured by how much money I’ve made this year; it’s measured by how many people I’ve reached this year.

Author Website:  www.melissadorsey.com 
FOLLOW Melissa on Twitter:  @MelissaDorsey1
LIKE on Facebook:  www.facebook.com/melissa.dorsey3  

The Grass After the Drought by Melissa Dorsey
•ISBN: 1612860249
•ISBN-13: 9781612860244

Purchase on  Amazon |  Powells |  Barnes and Noble



Intimate Conversation with Jackie O’Neal 

Jackie O’Neal holds an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the renowned Sarah Lawrence College Graduate Writing program. O’Neal is the author of two books WOMAN PRIEST  and  BORN IN THE LAND OF THE TANGO. Over the years as a journalist her commentary has been seen and heard on The Huffington Post, USA Today, NPR- 51% The Women’s Perspective, NPR Blog among others. Her professional life includes teaching English composition at the college level. She was nominated for an Excellence in Teaching Award 2007 at Atlantic Cape Community College. She lives in NJ with her husband, Mason, a retired NYC child abuse investigator. The couple have four sons.

Jackie O’Neal, author of  WOMAN PRIEST  just released new book, a memoir about identity politics, titled BORN IN THE LAND OF THE TANGO.  A literary view of  The Basque Witch trials. Family conflict. A vicious war that wiped out the African presence. Persecuted tribal groups and secrets of indigenous spirituality. A modern day shaman who through soul energy therapy, effects healing.  Author, Jackie O’Neal is a descendant of these groups and she sought to integrate her multi-cultural past to experience re-birth as a whole person in a society held down by limitations, racism, and division. Readers will come away inspired by the insight presented in the book on the importance of honoring our ancestral groups.

BPM: What inspired you to write Born in the Land of the Tango?
One of the questions woven through the narrative is related to exploring the notion, “How will having descended from persecuted groups influence my present life? My book, Born in the Land of the Tango, is an exploration of my cultural roots and I wanted to share with the reader the importance of honoring the multi-faceted aspect of one's identity. I write about how I integrated my multi-cultural past,  particularly my African roots. 

Although, I grew up in the U.S. Argentina, was my birthplace, and in more recent times there has been an awakening of black consciousness. My parent's generation and earlier generations denied their African roots and felt a collective sense of shame because they bought into the rhetoric of the white majority that said, "There are no blacks in Argentina." I grew up not knowing how I was, as I descended from two persecuted groups- the Mapuche indigenous group and the African slaves, but my family only acknowledged our European side, the Basques. As a result, I realized I was not a whole person until I researched my true roots. Since then I've been happier and more free of anxiety. I know there are others who have gone through a similar experience, or a searching for answers.


BPM: What issues in today's society have you addressed in Born in the Land of the Tango?
I address identity politics and the awakening of black consciousness in Argentina. My book also addresses the importance of self-acceptance, and how individuals can effect healing within themselves.
I’ve read extensively about the process of healing ancestral wounds. 

Since my roots derived from two ancestral groups in Argentina, the Mapuche Tehuelche and the African slaves, who were both persecuted and segregated throughout the history of Argentina, I sensed I needed healing to transform my life. Argentina, my birthplace is a country which has used forced assimilation. There were attempts throughout history to create a society more “ethnically homogenous.” 

My parents were controlled by these ideas, and it was not till I was 41, after I married my husband, Mason who is African-American that I began to explore my African roots with his encouragement.  Since that period of time, I’ve worked to embrace my Afro-Indian identity, and at the same time, moving away from Western ideas about spirituality. This process of exploration and integration of one’s ancestral roots, rather than denial is vital in order to become a whole person. 

BPM: What did you hope to accomplish by writing this particular story?
I wanted to make readers aware of the importance of understanding who they truly are within themselves. If one denies one's ancestral roots only fear and anxiety can result because you are like a lost soul. But if you embrace your ancestral roots even your ancestors become like your guardians rather than strangers. In my book I cite authors Michael Tlanusta and Michael P. Wibur: "Acceptance is a very important part of living in harmony and balance in a worldview that emphasizes has a reason for being." 

BPM: Grace our readers with a small excerpt from the book, Born in the Land of the Tango.
My maternal grandmother, Antonia hailed from the province of Guizpicoa in the Basque country. My paternal grandmother, Rosario derived from the Basque country as well, but the specific region remains a mystery. Antonia’s husband, Fortunato traced his roots to the Mapuche Indians. 

My paternal grandfather, Ramon recognized Cadiz, Spain as his ancestral home, therefore European, indigenous roots have contributed to shaping my life and world view in a myriad of ways, I have still yet to understand. The reality is I’m a composite of several cultures which are reflected in my physical features. 

My husband says had it not been for my light complexion, I’d look completely African- American. Others perceive my visage as being that of a light-skinned black woman. And yet others have said they had never seen anyone with my physical features, and could not place my ancestry at all. Some surmised Jewish, while others, Hispanic, and yet others, Mediterranean. 

One woman I made a pastoral visit to when I was a chaplain at a local hospital had the audacity to say, “You are like the Heinz- 57 varieties.”    Read a full excerpt, go here.

BPM: What is your most valuable lesson about the publishing industry?
I recently attended Book Expo America in New York and had the opportunity to talk with many, many authors and publishers. I've learned that authors have incredible book marketing tools at their disposal like never before.

There is such an interest in reading and downloading books on digital devices such as the Kindle and the newly released Kobo- which introduces authors to a whole world of new readers they otherwise might not have access to. Authors are now taking more control of their books and writing particularly with the advent of print on demand publishing. Although not all major media outlets will review or interview authors of self-published books today, I think this attitude will eventually change. 

BPM: What writers inspire you and why?
I love the work of the French author, Marguerite Duras. Her narratives are quite innovative and have lyrical elements which I love. Julio Cortazar is another writer whose writing is magical. His novel Hopscotch is structured in such a way that you could actually start reading the book from the middle and still capture the essence of the plot. That is the way he intended the experience to be for the reader and I think he succeeded. Virginia Woolf has also been an inspiration in the sense that her creative process was so unique, and I love how she used stream of consciousness in Mrs. Dalloway. 

BPM: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.
I'm the recipient of the Blanche Colton Williams Fellowship. I've been asked to be guest on Mobile Extreme Street Team on Blog Talk Radio to offer insight for a series they are doing "Who taught African Americans to hate themselves?" The show aired June 22, 2011 at 9PM.

I have some radio appearances coming up in the Fall. I'll be a guest on 'Let's Talk-Mom! on WSTC and WNLK AM on October 27, 2011.  I'll be talking to host, Bianca Tyler about how parents can train their children to understand their ancestral roots. I'll also be on Two Talk Radio with Starla Faye.

Jackie O'Neal, O'Neal Media Group, connect online, go here. 
As seen and heard on The Huffington Post, USA Today, NPR The Women's Perspective, NPR Blog,  Seattle Post-Intelligencer.com, Ground Report, The J.P. Godsey Show- WHKT 1650 AM, and PBS. Books editor in collaboration with KZSB 1290 AM, Communicating Today,  and Channel 10.

Born in the Land of the Tango: A Memoir about Identity, Family, and Healing 
by Jackie Audrey O'Neal 
ISBN-10: 1456004956 
ISBN-13: 978-1456004958 

Woman Priest: A Collection of Spiritual Reflections and Commentary on Today's Issues 
by Jackie Audrey O'Neal 
ISBN-10: 9781448958863 
ISBN-13: 978-1448958863 


Intimate Conversation with Susan Fales-Hill

Susan Fales-Hill, a recovering television writer, was the Executive Producer of the beloved 90's sitcom, "A Different World." She also co-created the critically acclaimed "Linc's" which starred Pam Grier (Showtime, 1998-2000.) "One Flight Up," is Susan's debut novel and second book. Her first, "Always Wear Joy," a memoir about her late mother, groundbreaking performer, Josephine Premice, was a finalist for both the Image Award and the Hurston Wright Award for non-fiction. A graduate of Harvard, she lives in New York with her husband, her daughter and a thousand handbags.

"One Flight Up" is a romantic comedy which follows a multicultural cast of four women who've been friends since kindergarten through the boardrooms, ballrooms and bedrooms of Manhattan and Paris. Every woman over the age of twenty has at least fantasized about dallying with someone other than her husband or boyfriend. India, a sensuous but emotionally repressed bi-racial divorce lawyer, Abby, a gallery owner, Esme, a spoiled Colombian heiress, and Monique, a gynecologist and card carrying member of Harlem's thriving Buppie-ocracy actually dare to "cross the line" with delicious, scandalous and surprising results. To find out who lives to regret her indiscretion, and who ends up finding the love or lust of her life, enter the world of "One Flight up." 

BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer?
The fact that I survived my loving but crazy family and am able to tell the tale. As the saying goes, "Good sailors don't calm from calm seas." I have been "tossed" on the squalls and dashed against "rocks" and it's only made me more determined to find joy and share it with others. Writing grounds and centers me. My mother had to perform or she would die. I have to write, or they'll cart me off in a straight jacket. 

BPM: Who are your mentors?
My greatest mentors were my mother's friends, whom I was blessed to grow up around, the OD's "Original Divas," : Lena Horne, Eartha Kitt, Carmen De Lavallade, Diahann Carrol and of course, the lady herself, my mother, the late, great Josephine Premice. These women combined brilliance, style, beauty and wit as effortlessly as they applied their false eyelashes every morning (and most of them really did wear false eyelashes EVERY morning.) 

They never let the racist America of their eras beat them down. They'd laugh in the face of red necks, and find a way around all the doors that slammed shut in their faces. When you grow up around "First Blacks" (the first to have a film contract, the first to have her own sitcom and on and on,) you can't make excuses for yourself. You owe them every ounce of effort you can muster to take advantage of all the opportunities they created for you. As my seven year old daughter (my other muse) says "You know what a woman can't do? Absolutely nothing!!! There's nothing a woman can't do!!"

I also have to thank Mr. and Mrs. Bill Cosby. They gave me my television career. And I'm still living off the residuals of "A Different World," in the "house the sitcom built!!" 

BPM: Finish this sentence - My writing offers the following legacy to future readers...
My writing offers future readers the legacy of the diversity of the African-American experience. I was brought up in the belief that "black" was not a shade, a way of speaking or a socio-economic class but could be anything from a scientist (Charles Drew) to some of the greatest voices of the European literary tradition (Pushkin, Dumas anyone?) My writing celebrates the richness of the people of the African Diaspora. We truly are the world.

BPM: Introduce us to your main characters in One Flight Up.What genre is your book?
"One Flight Up," my second book, is a novel. My first, "Always Wear Joy" was a memoir.  For a full biography of each of my main four women, readers should visit my website, www.susanfales-hill.com and click on the books section. They can also click on the maps to see all the glamorous and gorgeous "destinations" "One flight up" will help them tour. Has anyone dreamed of going to Paris lately?

Not described on the website are the men with whom my characters dally. There's Keith Wentworth, aka "prince charming noir," he combines the physical splendor of a Wentworth Miller or Daniel Sunyata (scrumptious) with the brains and net worth of a mogul, and the sex appeal of Denzel at his steamiest. The Harvard Law School educated heir to a black corporate dynasty, he can have any woman he wants, and he wants....Read and find out!!!

There's Julien, the dishy French chef/restaurateur who doesn't see color, only beauty. He's got green eyes, a beautiful body and a heart of gold. Will it be broken by our main character, India, whom he longs to marry?

For those who like a "rough neck," there's hottie Hector, the ambulance driver. He's built like Sugar Ray and has the stamina of...who was your best lover ever?

BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write One Flight Up?
I grew up around infidelity, and was cheated upon, over, and over, and over again by my first boyfriend, a beautiful, straight male model (I know, "straight AND a male model," I really should have seen it coming, but I was only seventeen, so please forgive me my naïveté, also known as stupidity.) The issue of "straying" always fascinated me, all the more so once I got married, and the universe, with its infinite sense of humor, started sending hotties my way to tempt me. 

Where were all these pretty men when I was terminally single, home alone of a Saturday night, chowing down on the Haagen Dazs? No, they couldn't have come around then because I was actually available! No matter how much one loves one's husband, fidelity is tested in the course of a marriage. And why doesn't anyone warn us? Consider this book a warning, or perhaps an alternative to actually cheating. The reader can be an "armchair hoochie." 

BPM: What do you think makes your book different from other books on the same subject?
First of all, I'm not sure many books (other than the obvious classics) tackle the subject of female transgression as frankly and without judgment. In the classics, the cheating woman always ends up dead (kind of like the black people in horror movies.) And not just dead, she always meets a horrible, untimely, calamitous death: run over by a train (Anna Karenina,) overdosed and in debt (Emma Bovary,) stabbed in the gut outside the corrida (Carmen.) 

No one dies in "One Flight Up." The other difference is "One Flight Up," unlike a lot of contemporary literature for women, is multicultural. My four main protagonists are all from different backgrounds, and my heroine is bi-racial (the child of a white actress mother and a black father.) This is the contemporary reality of New York, and for many people who attended college after 1968. Though I deal with the nuances of each woman's particular culture or cultures, at the end of the day, they're all women and human beings: they love, they lust, they laugh, they cry, they over eat. 

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from the book?
My hope is that "One Flight Up" will offer the reader the chance to think about how they choose their partners. Are they seeking security, passion, a co-parent? Love between two people in a sexual relationship can take a thousand different forms, and it's never as simple as the movies have led us to believe. 

One of the greatest compliments I've received about the book is from a recently divorced friend who told me the book gave her courage, particularly one line in which I wrote "Ideals are for Gods and Saints. Things don't have to be perfect to be absolutely wonderful." If I can help the reader find the courage to make a few mistakes, to take a risk, or to find joy in what they already have, I will count myself successful. It's also important that they have a good laugh along the way...Oh, another reader told me this book made her "tingle in parts that hadn't tingled in years." Here's to tingling!!

BPM: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.
Latest news: I'm Susan, and I'm a recovering shopaholic and I have successfully avoided retail excesses of any kind for over two years. This is my 735th day of retail sobriety (applause please.) Okay, in seriousness, I'm pleased to say I'm delving into my third book and second novel right away. It will also be published by Atria and I couldn't be more pleased. Awards? If nominated, I will accept...

BPM: How can our readers reach you online?
Readers can visit my website, www.susanfales-hill.com  and click on "contact." My Yahoo address is right there, as well as my Face Book page and the Face Book page for "One Flight Up." Readers might also enjoy my blogs (about Lena Horne, or the one comparing Tiger Woods to Jack Johnson, the heavy weight champion, or my fashion tips.)  I welcome comments, questions, invitations to book clubs. I want to hear from readers about everything, and I'm anxious to share my virtual world with them. It's full of music, beauty, quotations from great thinkers and light. Come visit me at www.susanfales-hill.com!!   I can't wait to meet you!!!


 


Intimate Conversation with Rachel Berry

Author Rachel Berry grew up in Newark, East Orange, and Orange, NJ. She is a wife, proud mother of four adults, grandmother of two gorgeous girls, a published author and poet, motivational speaker, radio talk show host, columnist for SORMAG and community leader. As founder and president of a social group, this artist juggles a full schedule. "Black Pearls United INC" (an African American sister-circle) was founded in 2000.

Rachel is an alumni of Toastmasters International where she served as Sergeant at Arms, earned her CTM and Toastmaster of The Year award. Rachel’s book ‘Family Pictures’ made the EDC Creations 2009 best books list and she is an AFLA 2010 nominee.  Mrs. Berry's speaking engagements include ILMW (The International League Of Muslim Women), Hampton Social Services, Heritage Elementary School, Healthy Family Partnership, The Red Hat Society, Norfolk Methodist Church, Sixth House and Everest College to name a few.

Rachel puts family first and enjoys life in Virginia. When she's not writing, she also enjoys reading, dining out, traveling, and watching movies. She accredits her gain in blessings and achievements to her relationship and guidance from her creator, association with great women, positive family members, loyal friends, the upbringing of an amazing woman-her mother, and the support and love of her husband and children.

BPM: Rachel, introduce us to your book, A Slip In The Right Direction, and the main characters. 
RB: A Slip In The Right Direction – The Clifton Henderson series is a coming-of-age book written especially for tween and teen boys. The story takes place in Chicago and speaks to you through the eyes of 14 year-old Clifton Henderson aka Slip. Slip isn’t happy about his recent move, or having to start all over in a new school, and make new friends. Also, a crush on a schoolmate who in the beginning doesn’t notice him, the yearning for his father’s approval as a young man, sibling rivalry, the gift of premonition, and a certain mysterious neighbor, all add color to his daily life. 

However, things really heat up for this young man when he’s kidnapped by gang members and his home training and family values are tested. Slip’s parents are Evelyn and Morris Henderson, and they too find themselves dealing with a few familiar challenges of their own as a couple, parents, dealing with career changes, and personal struggles. 


BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book?
RB: I wrote this book because I want young men to have more available to read than just sports, comics, and SCI FI. I want young men to read and rise above the stigma that they don’t. I want our young boys to have someone to relate to that’s going through some of the things they’re experiencing and to know good guys have a life too and it’s alright to have values and principles. And, I want young ladies to understand some of the things young men go through. 

BPM: Take us inside the book. What are two major events taking place?
RB: One major event that takes place is when Slip is kidnapped by gang members and unwillingly becomes involved with a robbery. Since he has been raised with family values he knows stealing and robbery is wrong. But when he finds himself in a good place at a bad time, he does what he believes is in the best interest of the people being robbed and goes along with the robbery as if he’s a willing participant. Once he’s alone and in the company of this bad influence he experiences what so many youth find happens to them, he begins to question his home training 

Also another ongoing event or more of a growing revelation throughout the story is the relationship and challenges that Slip’s parents discover, face, and eventually resolve. The father is very strict and believes his wife babies their son, yet he spends very little time with him because he’s trying to make money for the family. The mother is unhappy having given up her career for the move and has become a housewife looking for fulfillment. However, I’m proud that both situations provide enlightenment and growth for Slip, his parents, and other people around them.

BPM: Who were your favorites? Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
RB: Slip is definitely my favorite because we get to see him grow. We watch him go through some of the natural occurrences of young manhood and also see him help others. I like the fact too that through him we get to witness how our young people sometimes see, feel, and experience their family life. I also like Zena, the object of his puppy love: she’s a feisty character like many young ladies her age. Evelyn Henderson I think surely portrays the thread of her family, I like her spirit. And yes, I think these characters portray people most of us are familiar with in one way or another.

BPM: What are some of the specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book?
RB: Well this is a coming-of-age story so I wanted to address a few things 14 year-old boys go through at that age. Things like: first kiss and puppy love, sibling rivalry, wanting to be heard, recognized and understood: in this case Slip wants all this from his dad. The story also briefly addresses and without being preachy the importance of staying a virgin until married, the perils of bad association, drinking, and smoking. 

Also, I show how family issues affect our children whether they speak on it or not. As parents we can’t be with our children all the time and there are times our kids are faced with tough people and touch choices, but if we raise them right most of the time then can prevail over them. This story shows that and also shows how we as parents have growing to do as well.

BPM: What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?
RB: My story is different because I chose to write it from a child’s point of view and simply show realistically that as parents and a family unit that we all have growing to do. I also feel my story is different because it also shows that while a two parent home is best for a child, providing is not all there is. A child needs a parent’s attention and time as well. 

Then, to add entertainment and excitement for the young curious mind I gave Slip the whimsical gift of premonition, an asset that adds a bit of mystery to his life almost as much as his quest to discover who his mysterious neighbor is. So you have a mixture of real life issues and discoveries, sprinkled with a little mystery and suspense. I’ve also included 10 workbook questions at the end of the book to query the reader about what they got from the story and to address some things going on in their own life. Also, as a poet I wanted to entertain the reader in another way and did the synopsis poetically and included another poem at the end.


Early reviews for Young Adult Novella: A Slip In the Right Direction

» "A Slip In The Right Direction speaks to an all too familiar reality of America's Black and Brown folk who are in a day-today struggle to survive." --- Bruce George, Co-Founder of Def Poetry Jam and Founder of The Bandana Republic

» "...Thought provoking and well written. Young readers will be texting their friends about the book and eagerly awaiting the sequel."--- Brian W. Smith, bestselling author of the novel BEATER


BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? Who are your mentors?
RB: I believe my power comes from the love of people and getting to know the “human condition.” I care about people, who they are, and why they do what they do, what motivates and drives them. I try to relay what I learn through my characters. My greatest mentor is my mother. Even now as a senior citizen she’s teaching me and showing me about how the twilight years of ones life can be. But seasoned writers like Alice Walker, Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, J California Cooper and Zora Neale Hurston are on my list of admired wordsmiths. But trust me, that list is extended by a lot of new artists too, too long to list here. 

BPM: A Legacy is something that is handed down from one period of time to another period of time. Finish this sentence: My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
RB: My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... write from your heart & soul, believe in yourself, and your message will touch the heart & soul of others.

BPM: Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases. 
RB: I am working on a few things which include two adult novels. How Easy We Forget which is the story of a bored housewife and mother who goes outside her family looking for gratification and brings back serious problems for herself and family, but ultimately learns the lesson of being thankful for what you have or you can lose it. Also another family saga, Between The Tears And The Laughter, which takes place in Louisiana and is about the squabbles, lives, loves, and lessons of five siblings and how they gain insight into the real relation and secrets between their parents. 

Also, I’m working on another chapbook of short stories and poetry entitled, It Just Ran Across My Mind. The Clifton Henderson series also continues next year with part 2 – A Stranger Called Me. This time Slip is about 16 in this story, now he’s got the girl, he’s a little cockier, a bit wiser, very popular, and just like his family and friends sometimes he doesn’t recognize who he has become or his own actions. His gift of premonition has increased and he’s weighed down with the knowledge of what to do about his neighbor who is no longer a mystery.

BPM: How can our readers reach you online? 
RB: I can be reached at my cyber home which is http://www.RachelBerry.webs.com  and upcoming a home for Slip and his readers at: http://www.thecliftonhendersonseries.com/blog.  I’m always happy to hear from my readers and can be reached at: rachelwrites2@yahoo.com 


Intimate Conversation with Katie McCabe

Katie McCabe is a National Magazine Award winner whose Washingtonian article on black surgical legend Vivien Thomas formed the basis for the HBO film Something the Lord Made, one of the highest rated original movies in HBO history and the winner of the 2004 Emmy and 2005 Peabody Awards. McCabe’s 2009 book Justice Older than the Law, co-authored with pioneering lawyer Dovey Roundtree, won the Association of Black Women Historians’ Letitia Woods Brown Book Prize.

BPM: Katie, what can readers expect when they open a book created by you?
KM: I believe my power as a writer derives from my lifelong love affair with words and literature, my sense of the compelling stories hidden beneath the surface of outward events, and my fascination with unsung heroes. These passions came from my late parents, John and Kathleen Burns. They exemplified for me the kind of nobility and courage I endeavor to portray over and over again in my non-fiction as I seek out heroes and heroines whose lives have profoundly altered our world but whom history has forgotten or marginalized. My goal is to portray these history-makers with the vividness of fiction, and to bring them alive for future generations.

BPM: What are you most proud of as a writer in today’s market?
KM: I have endeavored to pass on to the next generation of readers the stories of men and women who have prevailed over almost insuperable odds to achieve greatness in medicine, in the law, in athletics, and in public service. I believe that my legacy as a writer is that I have brought to life some truly extraordinary examples of the triumph of the human spirit. These examples speak to people of all races and backgrounds about what is possible when one draws strength from mentors and taps into one’s own well of courage, faith and tenacity.

In today’s market, which is dominated by books and movies that glorify violence, brutality and sexuality run rampant, I choose to tell stories that celebrate the eternal values, and I think that sets me apart from the mainstream.

BPM: Introduce us to your latest non-fiction book, Justice Older than the Law.
Justice Older than the Law: the Life of Dovey Johnson Roundtree tells the story of the fearless civil rights warrior who shattered Jim Crow in the courtrooms of the Nation’s Capital and the World War II military, and led the vanguard of women ordained to the ministry. In a richly voiced first-person account written with National Magazine Award winner Katie McCabe, Dovey Roundtree has created an intimate history of America that reads like a novel, capturing the sweep of nine tumultuous decades and a vision of justice that goes far beyond the law. Justice Older than the Law channels the soul and the voice of the woman First Lady Michelle Obama saluted as “an inspiration” on the occasion of the book’s release last July.


AUDIO SNEAK PEEK FROM THE BOOK
» Katie McCabe reading from Chapter One, "Walking Unafraid," about Dovey Roundtree's courageous Grandma Rachel, the woman Dovey calls "the greatest warrior I ever knew."  Listen here now.  


BPM: What motivated you to create this book now? 
I discovered Dovey Johnson Roundtree 15 years ago, when I picked up the Style section of the Washington Post, and was completely arrested by the photo of Dovey that appeared there, alongside an article on her collaboration with actress Cicely Tyson, who’d modeled her television character of a civil rights lawyer on Dovey. In her face, I saw wisdom, and pain, toughness and tenderness, and I wanted to know her story. And I was drawn, too, by the quote from Dovey beneath the photo: “There’s always somebody who would be the miracle-maker in your life, if you but believe.” Here was a lawyer talking of miracles, a woman who spoke in the cadences of a Southern minister, an attorney who clearly had ideas about justice that reached beyond the courtroom. The improbability of it all struck me with such force that I called her that week, and after one conversation knew that I wanted – that I needed – to write her story.

I sought her out in her tiny office in a row house in Northwest Washington, took note of her broken down chairs and the clients who filled the waiting room. I learned quickly that they brought with them not only their legal troubles, but troubled spirits. “I make my clients my children,” she’d said in that Washington Post article. “I can see stars where there’s nothing but a bunch of clay.” I followed her into the courtroom, watched her broker agreements between warring spouses and plead for “a little healing.” I saw the judges there, who had known her for decades, defer to her wisdom, and call her for advice. 

Her story was much more than that of a unique lawyer, I found. For the next ten years, I spent time with her in her home, with her extended family, conducting hundreds of interviews, and continuing those interviews by phone after she retired and moved to her childhood home in Charlotte, North Carolina. In those years I learned that Dovey’s life transcends even the remarkable particulars of her achievements. Her story is one of spiritual as well as historic dimension. In the hours when she told me of her grandmother, her upbringing, her deeply nuanced view of justice, I learned that more than anything, it is the breadth of her vision that makes her who she is. Her desire to “cure the aching heart, the bewildered soul,” as she once told me, to do what she calls “fix the brokenness” is what made me know that hers was a story I wanted to tell. It is this vision – this ability to see stars in a lump of clay – that drew me, most of all, to Dovey. 


BPM: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. 
Dovey and I are proud that the book won the 2009 Letitia Woods Brown Memorial Book Award from the Association of Black Women Historians, which praised Justice Older than the Law for the way it “aided in connecting with the person and the pathos of Dovey” by its use of the novel format. The judges stated, “Your work enhances our understanding of the importance of storytelling as biography.”

We are also deeply gratified by the fact that law firms in Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Hartford and Charlotte have embraced the book and made it a part of their diversity programming. On July 8, a truly extraordinary event is taking place: Thirty law firms in Washington, DC will be featuring the book at a “Law Night” for the rising ninth graders at Thurgood Marshall Academy, a charter school located in Anacostia, where Dovey ministered for 35 years at Allen Chapel AME Church. 

The Law Night, which will be held at Dovey’s alma mater, Howard University Law School, will bring together the Thurgood Marshall Academy students with attorneys and summer associates from the 30 law firms for a program I will present on Dovey and the book. One of the great crusades of Dovey’s later years in Washington was to find a way to quell the tide of violence among young people, to do what she called “heal the brokenness” in society and especially the black family. This book is part of her healing effort. She believes that her story will point young people to the essential truths that will sustain them amid the chaos of contemporary culture and set them on the path of goodness. At age 96, she is prevented by gravely ill health from participating in these and other book promotion events, but she continues to celebrate with me the ripple effects of the book on which we worked together for so many years.

BPM: How can our readers reach you online? 
To learn more about the book, to see the First Lady’s letter saluting Dovey, and to contact writer Katie McCabe and watch her presenting the book on YouTube, please visit www.justiceolderthanthelaw.com  

To order from Amazon: www.amazon.com/Justice-Older-than-Law-Roundtree/dp160473132X 
To order from the University Press of Mississippi: www.upress.state.ms.us/books/1189 
Please also visit the “Justice Older than the Law” fan club on Facebook.

 

 


Intimate Conversation with Pat Bertram

Pat Bertram is a native of Colorado and a lifelong resident. When the traditional publishers stopped publishing her favorite type of book — character and story driven novels that can’t easily be slotted into a genre — she decided to write her own. Daughter Am I is Bertram’s third novel to be published by Second Wind Publishing, LLC. 

About Daughter Am I: When twenty-five-year-old Mary Stuart learns she inherited a farm from her recently murdered grandparents-grandparents her father claimed had died before she was born-she becomes obsessed with finding out who they were and why someone wanted them dead. Along the way she accumulates a crew of feisty octogenarians-former gangsters and friends of her grandfather. She meets and falls in love Tim Olson, whose grandfather shared a deadly secret with her great-grandfather. Now Mary and Tim need to stay one step ahead of the killer who is desperate to dig up that secret. This is a story of quests: a quest for truth, a quest for self-discovery, a quest for meaning even at the end of one's life.

Ella: Tell us a little about your main characters in Daughter Am I.  Who was your favorites? Why?
A: Mary is a bit naive about life, a bit lost, and very straight-laced, but when she meets up with her grandfather's friends --all people who have spent their long lives on the outskirts of the law -- she learns what is important: that one must do anything to protect those she loves. And she does come to care deeply about the elders in her care. How can Mary’s journey be anything but fun with companions such as these:

Kid Rags, a dapper forger, seems to have two interests in life — drinking bourbon and eating copious amounts of food.
Crunchy, an ex-wrestler, threatens to crunch anyone who doesn’t treat Mary well.
Teach, a con man, tells Mary more than she ever wanted to know about gangsters, Wyatt Earp, and life.
Happy, an ex-wheelman for the mob, is ready with his gun though his hands shake too much to aim, let alone shoot.
Iron Sam, a dying hit man just released from prison, has his own, secret agenda.

At various times during the writing, each character became my favorite. I especially liked Happy, because he offered so many opportunities for humor, and Iron Sam, because he offered so many opportunities for spookiness.


Ella: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
A: I borrowed the name "Kid Rags" from a turn of the 20th century gangster, and I borrowed some of the characteristics of Iron Sam from a real killer of the same era, but for the most part, I created the characters from scratch. Or from various parts of my own psyche, perhaps.

Ella:  What inspired you to write this story, Daughter Am I?
A:  A friend used to regale me with tales of early gangsters, debunking the myths that surrounded them, and I wanted to write a book using the truth as a backdrop to a modern-day gangster tale. Also, I wanted to write a story of a quest using the hero's journey format. The two desires come together in Daughter Am I.

Ella:  What issues in today's society have you addressed in the book?
A. Though it was never a goal when writing the book, I did touch on the issue of the elderly. We forget that they once were young, once were vibrant, once perhaps were great lovers or great heroes. Even when one is old and forgotten, one still needs love and more importantly, a reason for living.

Ella:  What is the best piece of advice you would give to an aspiring author?
A:  A book begins with a single word. Many novice writers get intimidated by the thought of writing an entire novel, but all you ever need to write is one word. I know that’s not much of a goal, but in the end, it is the only goal. That’s how every book all through the ages got written -- one word at a time. By stringing single words together, you get sentences, then paragraphs, pages, chapters, an entire book. After that, who knows, you might even reach the pinnacle and become a published author. All because you set your goal to write one word.

Ella:  Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases. 
A: My fourth novel, Light Bringer, will be published later this year by Second Wind Publishing. The hero of Light Bringer, Becka Johnson had been abandoned on the doorstep of a remote cabin in Chalcedony, Colorado when she was a baby. Now, thirty-seven years later, she has returned to Chalcedony to discover her identity, but she only finds more questions. Who has been looking for her all those years? Why are those same people interested in fellow newcomer Philip Hansen? Who is Philip, and why does her body sing in harmony with his? And what do either of them have to do with a shadow corporation that once operated a secret underground installation in the area?

Ella:  Where can people learn more about your books and events?
I have a website -- http://patbertram.com  -- where I post important information, including the first chapters of each of my books, but the best way to keep up with me, my books, and my events on a daily basis is by way of Bertram’s Blog. http://ptbertram.wordpress.com  

All of my books (A Spark of Heavenly Fire, More Deaths Than One, and Daughter Am I) are available both in print and in ebook format. You can get them online at Second Wind Publishing -- http://secondwindpublishing.com/Amazon  and Smashwords -- http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/patbertram.  And from Amazon, of course.


Intimate Conversations with Renee Wiggins


Renee Wiggins is the owner of Results By Renee, a wellness company based in Maryland. Her mission is to help people achieve optimum health through nutrition, fitness and supplemented with stress reduction techniques. Ms. Wiggins designs lifestyle programs for individuals and groups. She is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Massage Therapist. 

Listen to various health related coaching sessions by Renee, 
clicking here today.


BPM: Renee, please introduce us to your book, Transformations: Give UP The Struggle.
RW: Transformations: Give UP The Struggle is a unique collection of affirmations written to encourage readers to break the chains of negative thoughts and actions, to embrace the positive aspects of change and to take the necessary steps to live a happy, fulfilling life. We all have had our ups and down in our lives, some more than others. But, how we end up in the end, determines how we actually see the storms. The storms help us to change to a better and stronger person. 

BPM: How did the title of your book come about?
RW: I was searching for a word that would express the idea of change, so I came up with four different titles that embodied that concept and I sent them to friends, family members and colleagues I trusted. With their help, I came up with the word" Transformations", as I thought, that really got to the core to the message I wanted to share. I added the "Give UP The Struggle because I wanted the reader to know in order to transform, one must give up. Thus the title, " Transformations: Give UP The Struggle' was born. 

BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write Transformations?
RW: As a diabetes educator, nutritionist, and personal trainer, I hear a lot about the struggles my client's experiences. And as I've listen to them over the years, I soon began to realize that many of these men and women were in unpleasant, unhealthy situations because they were unable to break bad habits and unable to realize that making simple changes in their lives could make the difference they desired. So I wrote the affirmations in this book as a way of teaching people that their chain can be broken and that they I wrote Transformations" Give UP The Struggle as a way to let people know that just as a caterpillar grows wings and transforms into a butterfly, they too, must also be open to similar evolutionary process in their lives.

BPM: What are your favorite quotes from Transformations: Give UP The Struggle? 
RW: "Sometimes we have to go through hardships to learn how to be humble."

RW: "I am ready to tear down the walls that are holding me back, brick by brick."

RW: "Fear or faith? As I continue to change, I can step out in faith or step back in fear."

BPM: Are the affirmations a representation of your life? 
RW: Yes, some of these affirmations come deep within my soul, while others were birthed from the experiences men and women have shared with me regarding their own personal struggles.


BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
RW: I want to reach men and women from the ages of 18 years to 92 years of age, who are entering a storm or going through a storm. The affirmations presented in this book can be a turning point in the reader's life.

BPM: How will reading your book shape the readers live?
RW: One of the major themes revolves around the fact that negative events or situation can be turned around for the better, it just depends upon how you react to them. A second theme revolves around the fact that obstacles can become opportunities and hindrances can become helpers to those of us who really want to move forward and upward.

A. Paige Lovitt, a reviewer of Reader Views wrote, " Using very few but meaningful words, she manages to initiate some very deep contemplative thoughts within myself. She really touch the core of who I am.'..

B. Nadia of the bookworm07.blogspot wrote, "They are quotes about healing and living your life from fear."

C. Wendy Thomas of "The US Review of Books" wrote, "A compact and sensitive approach to the use of positive affirmations, this little gem if filled with thoughts and prayers to get you through difficult times."..

BPM: What are some of the specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book? 
RW: The central themes of my book revolve around encouraging and empowering my readers to embrace their struggle as life lessons that they can move from their current situation toward greatness. I 'm happy to have these themes in the form of affirmations because research has shown that people who recite and /or live by affirmations have a more positive attitude.

BPM: What is your best advice to anyone who wants to be a writer?
RW: I encourage writers to take classes, workshops, travel to seminars, connect with other writers, join groups and most of all, and help other writers without hesitation.

BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
RW: What makes me a powerful person is my ability to relate and talk to people at all stages and stations of life and help them all to see how their lives can be changed for the better on their level and help them to see where they can change for the better. 

BPM: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.
RW: I am currently writing part two of my current book, Transformations: Give UP The Struggle. This book will be a collection of stories of people who successfully danced through some of life's most turbulent storms. It s my hope that these stories will provide the strength and guidance others may need to change their lives for the better.

BPM: How can readers reach you online? 
http://www.resultsbyrenee.com    
http://twitter.com/giveupthestrugg 
http://transformations;giveupthestruggle.blogspot.com 

BPM: Readers, for more affirmations, purchase Transformations: Give Up the Struggle at: http://www.resultsbyrenee.com  

Transformations: Give Up The Struggle 
by Renee Wiggins
ISBN-10: 098256130X 
ISBN-13: 978-0982561300 
Purchase your copy today, here.

 

 


Intimate Conversations with Ernessa T. Carter

Ernessa T. Carter has worked as an ESL teacher in Japan, a music journalist in Pittsburgh, a payroll administrator in Burbank, and a radio writer for American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest in Hollywood. She’s also a retired L.A. Derby Doll. A graduate of Smith College and Carnegie Mellon University’s MFA program, 32 CANDLES is her first novel.

BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
I like to go big with writing. I'm always like, "Hey, if you're going to put on a show, why not give folks a full-on opera." Also, I'm very interested in characters who don't often get a lot of page space in women's fiction.

BPM: Who are your mentors?  Where do you find your inspiration?
This book owes a TON to Alice Walker's THE COLOR PURPLE. Obviously, I'm also a big John Hughes fan. But I would say that my mother was my biggest mentor, because she encouraged me to rock being different and to do things my way. I get my inspiration from a variety of sources: I want to write until I die, I'm not mentally equipped to do anything else, and perhaps most importantly, I'm writing the books I want to read.

BPM: Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
You know, I've always been concerned about what late 21st century folks will think about us, since they'll only know us through various forms of entertainment. I want future generations to know that not all black women are the same, that we're quirky and not always angry and/or glamorous. I'm a bit weird and I want my writing to represent for nerdy black girls everywhere.

BPM: Introduce us to your book, 32 CANDLES, and the main characters. 
32 CANDLES is about a girl named Davie, growing up poor and unpopular in small-town Mississippi. She sees the movie Sixteen Candles and decides that she wants a Molly Ringwald ending. This leads her to fall in love with the most popular guy in school, a crush that ends so disastrously that she runs away from home to Los Angeles -- only to have him show up on her doorstep fifteen years later. If you like Sixteen Candles, you just might adore 32 CANDLES. 

BPM: Who were your favorites? Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
I feel like my main character, Davie, is a very close friend, but I had the most fun writing the edgy characters: her straight-talking boss, Nicky, and her bully, Veronica.


BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book?
The idea to write a novel had been floating around in my mind for a while, but I was pursuing a screenwriting career and writing these dark, comical plays on the side. Then I met my husband, and I didn't feel like writing completely cynical things anymore, so I sat down and started writing this novel... basically, as a way to channel being happy and in love.

BPM: Take us inside 32 CANDLES. What are two major events taking place? 
At the end of the day, this book is about growing up. Some people come-of-age when they're teenagers, some take longer -- in Davie's case, a lot longer.

BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
To a certain extent, a lot of literature is dominated by the popular kids. Main characters are most often beautiful-in-a-rather-standard-way and strong. This is a book about an unpopular kid. So if you were unpopular in high school, I want you to read this book.

BPM: How will reading your book shape the readers lives? 
I've been told by quite a few people that the book has made them re-examine their high school years. I love that. Funnily enough, I've been seeing a lot of people I went to high school with on my book tour, and it's been amazing to me to see how far they've come.

BPM: Share with us a quote from one of the most powerful chapters.
I think this advice from Davie's boss, Nicky, resonates with anyone who is a non-actor living in LA -- heck, it might actually resonate with the actors, too. I know a few who refuse to date anyone else in their chosen profession:

“Don’t date no actor. Don’t EVER date no actor. If there’s a nuclear war and everybody in America is destroyed except for you and one actor, figure out how to get your ass to Canada. Because even then, you don’t want to be dating no actor.” 

BPM: What makes 32 CANDLES different from others on the same subject?
There are no other books about the same subject. If there were, I wouldn't have written this one. :)

BPM: How can our readers reach you online? 
I love hearing from readers, feel free to drop me an email at etc at 32candles.com. Or visit 32Candles.com to read my blog, watch the 32 CANDLES trailer, and see where I'll be going next on my book tour.

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I really just want them to be entertained for a few hours. There is nothing I like more than getting into a good book thrall, and I hope to provide readers with that.

Contact  Ernessa T. Carter, 32 Candles
Author, Blogger, Totally Fierce Nerd
http://32candles.com  
http://fierceandnerdy.com  
etc@32candles.com 

Looking for a great gift? Pick up my book 32 CANDLES at your local bookstore or on Amazon.com!



       Intimate Conversation with authors Moneek Reid 
and Zubari Duniani

BPM: Introduce us to the primary message in your book, Nigus: Concepts of Black Male Spirituality. 
The primary message of Nigus is the recognition and identification with spirituality from a black male perspective. The collective spiritual nature of black men is often overshadowed by the isms of society, making this book even more necessary. This project has given a platform for black men to speak from their hearts. Their candid honesty is refreshing, they take off masks and allow the world to share their vulnerability.

BPM: What motivated you to create this book now? 
The book stems from a lack of spiritual support and unity amongst black men. About twelve years ago my husband, Zubari raised the question, "..why is it women support one another through sister circles, support groups, and gatherings, while men discuss surface issues when gathered?"  The project began as a documentary film project. Zubari held round tables, discussions, and interviews, on a quest to answer this question. Due to the costly nature of film, the project was put on the shelf. Unsettled about the decision, we decided to change the format from visual to literary. 

Over the next 2 years I was blessed to have the opportunity to interview over 100 black men on their concepts of spirituality. Each participant was asked 13 questions regarding his personal experiences. Zubari, a professional photographer, photographed the men to reflect the content of their interview. The culmination of interviews and portraits is “Nigus.”

BPM: Share with us two enhancing sections from the book, Nigus: Concepts of Black Male Spirituality. 
I believe the title is enriching and enhancing. “Nigus” means king in Amharic, the native tongue of Ethiopia, the birthplace of civilization. The men in this book are kings unto themselves, kings of their existence, and rulers of their destiny. The controversial word play was a perfect match. The word “Nigus” forces us to think outside the controversy, stereotypes and negativity of the word “nigger.”

The second life enhancing part of this project is the topic of spirituality. When we are forced to face our internal self, change is imminent. Spirituality is the foundation of our existence and when we take time to investigate what this means personally, sparks of change ignite.

BPM: What issues in today's society do you address in the book? 
We deal with issues of the black man from a non-stereotypical perspective. We cover topics of family, faith, freedom, responsibility, action, community, economics, intimacy, careers, and everything in between. Spirituality is the foundation and each issue was a building block for healing. 

BPM: What impact will this book have on the community of readers? 
The impact “Nigus” has already had on those who have read the manuscript has been therapeutic. One hundred percent of our readers have said they where either inspired, learned something about or was forced to reflect on their own spiritual evolution. We want to bring that inspiration to you as well!

BPM: How can our readers reach you online? 
We can be reached at  imagesofourselves@gmail.com  or at http://www.fankhphotography.com 

Zubari Duniani Owner, Fänkh Photography 
Aug. — Dec. 2009 • Chief Lighting Technician at Tyler Perry Studios/ Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. 

 

Intimate Conversation with Vanessa Miller

Vanessa Miller is a best-selling author, playwright, and motivational speaker. She started writing as a child, spending countless hours either reading or writing poetry, short stories, stage plays and novels. Vanessa’s creative endeavors took on new meaning in1994 when she became a Christian. Since then, her writing has been centered on themes of redemption, often focusing on characters facing multi-dimensional struggles.

Vanessa’s novels have received rave reviews, with several appearing on Essence Magazine’s Bestseller’s List. Miller’s work has receiving numerous awards, including “Best Christian Fiction Mahogany Award” and the “Red Rose Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction.”  Miller graduated from Capital University with a degree in Organizational Communication. She is an ordained “exhorter” in her church, explaining, “God has called me to exhort readers and to help them rediscover their place with the Lord.”  Read an Excerpt from Christian Romance A Love for Tomorrow.

BPM: Vanessa, what makes you powerful as a person and a writer? Who are your mentors?
The thing that makes me powerful as a person and a writer is my faith in God. I feel as if I have found this pot of gold that everyone is searching for, and I just want to share it with the world. I really don’t have any mentors at the moment. But I study authors, attended conferences and read and study this industry.

BPM: Tell us about your passion for writing. Why do you write? What drives you? What impact do you want your book to make on the readers?
I have been writing since I was a kid. I have always known that I would one day be a writer. However, as a child and even while in my twenties, I didn’t know how to make my dream of writing come true. It was after I dedicated my life to the Lord that I began to research this business. Because I then knew that I really had something to say. So, the reason I write is to tell the story about midnight sorrows and morning glory… and the glory comes from knowing Jesus. My characters don’t always start off with this knowledge of Jesus, because I write redemption stories. The impact I’d like my books to have on my readers would simple be that my books help them to rediscover their place with God.

BPM: Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
My writing offers the legacy of hope, healing and faith to my readers. I write stories about people with issues… issues that can be healed through trust in Jesus.

BPM: Introduce us to your latest Christian Romance novel, A Love for Tomorrow.
Christian talk show host Serenity Williams may be at the top of her game professionally, but when her fiancé calls off their wedding, she learns the true price of fame. He can’t deal with her popularity, and when he walks out, she knows it will be a long time before she lets another pride-filled pastor into her heart. Then she gets assigned an interview with the charismatic Pastor Phillip McKnight. Delighted that she now has the opportunity to expose the arrogance of ego-driven pastors to the world, she isn’t prepared for the real man behind the pulpit. Recently divorced, Phillip is broken from his experiences, and soon his surprising humility causes Serenity not to want to ruin him, but instead to un-break his heart....

A Love for Tomorrow deals with trust issues. It is also a book that explores the benefits of forgiving and rediscovering faith in God. Along the way I add in a love story that is sure to touch the reader’s heart.

BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book?
I wanted to write a series on women in ministry to highlight their accomplishments and show that they are very much human and have feeling and love interests. The reason I am so interested in this topic is because the bishop of my church is a woman and I have met other women in ministry that struggle with the fact that many people still don’t believe that women should preach. 

BPM: Who are your favorite characters? Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
Serenity was my favorite character in this book and the entire series thus far, because I really identified with her. Serenity Williams has been hurt by church people and one particular ego-driven pastor. She vows that she will never let another ego-driven pastor into her heart. But when she meets Pastor Phillip McKnight… she comes in contact with the very man who will help her rediscover her trust in humanity and faith in God.

Some times in life you can be hurt so much that you just refuse to be hurt again… and you build walls. This book shows the reader how to tear down those walls… with the help of God and one really good man.

BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
Anyone who has ever experienced heartbreak and then put up a wall to defend against it ever happening again. I want those people to know that with God in their heart, it is okay to trust and to love again.


BPM: How will reading your book shape the readers lives? 
My hope is that reading A Love for Tomorrow will provide readers with answers as to how they can forgive and learn to trust again. A CBA Retailers Reviewer recently said that… Trust, Forgiveness and faith were at the core of my message in A Love for Tomorrow. I would have to agree with her.

BPM: What are some of the other specific issues or problems addressed in this book?
I also deal with the issue of "church hurt" in this book. Serenity has grown up in church… and she has seen Christian act not so Christianly at times, and therefore, although she wants to serve God, she wants nothing to do with His people.

BPM: What was the most powerful chapter in the book?
Some of my readers have told me that Chapter 23, when Serenity comes to terms with her trust issues and Chapter 24, the chase scene, when Phillip gets his woman are the most powerful scenes in the book. 

BPM: What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?
This particular series is Christian Romance. So, I think what makes my romances different from others is simply what a CBA Reviewer had to say about A Love for Tomorrow… it’s good romance that ministers.

BPM: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. 
A Love for Tomorrow - #1 on the BCNN/BCBC Bestseller List for September
Long Time Coming – Winner of the ACFW Book of the Month for December 2010

Other book releases:
Long Time Coming -- November 2010
A Promise of Forever Love (sequel to A Love for Tomorrow) - April 2011

BPM: How can our readers reach you online? 
Website: www.vanessamiller.com 
Twitter: www.twitter.com/vanessamiller01 
Facebook: www.facebook.com/vanessamiller01 


Love for Tomorrow (Second Chance at Love #2) (Paperback) 
ISBN-10: 1603742085 
ISBN-13: 978-1603742085
Categories/genre: Christian Romance 



Intimate Conversations with Kea Taylor

Kea Taylor is the founder of Imagine Photography, a professional photography studio in Washington, DC specializing in special event, portrait and architectural photography. Her work has been featured in the British News and Observer, Black Enterprise, Ebony/Jet, The Source Magazine and various newspapers, book covers and publications.

BPM: How do you feel about marriages today?
I think that the institution of marriage in the U.S. is truly being threatened. Not just in the Black community, but in every community. I think we are turning into a more misogynistic and narcissistic society than we’ve ever been—and that doesn’t suit marriages well. But I believe in the power of love and I am committed to promoting love and encouraging love in spite of what anyone else is doing. And I’m encouraged in my line of work because I’m reminded constantly that I’m not alone. There are lots of people that feel the way I do.

BPM: What makes you powerful as a person, mate and a writer? 
What makes me powerful as a person is that I have God in me and I believe that I can do anything God puts on my heart to do if I put my mind to it. I’ve always been that way. 

As a mate, I think my power comes from my faith and my open-ness to change and genuine desire to want to be a better person and pleasing to God and my husband. 

As I writer, I think I’m most powerful when I’m being honest. I think that’s when I have the most power to inspire and truly touch other people.

BPM: Who are your mentors?
I’m sad to say that I don’t really have many mentors, in the traditional sense of having an ongoing relationship with someone for the sole purpose of helping me develop my skills. 

My mentors, as photographers, are my photographer friends—local photographers in the Washington area. As a self-published writer, Trice Hickman (who is one of my clients) has helped and inspired me tremendously.  There are many photographers that I have admired from afar for different reasons…James VanDerZee, Addison Scurlock, Gordon Parks, Kwaku Alston, Sharon Farmer, Carrie Mae Weems, Annie Leibowitz, Henri Cartier Bresson. 

I’ve also learned from other photographers and people that I’ve worked for. My former boss from my “past life” working in the world of finance, Michael Hodge was a great mentor for me in terms of teaching me how to carry myself professionally. There are countless older women that I admire and attempt to emulate with respect to their class, femininity, strength and humility. But I would have to say that my only long-term mentors have been the women in my family. My mother, Cynthia Prather…my grandmothers, aunts and cousins who always possessed those traits I mentioned above.

BPM: Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
My writing offers the following legacy to future readers...proof of a legacy of commitment to family, community, mutual respect and love.

BPM: Introduce us to your book and the message created with photos.
It’s truly a pleasure to introduce my book, “I Still Do – A Celebration of African-American Weddings”. This book gives the reader a rare opportunity to see Black love in the new millennium through my eyes as a professional wedding photographer. It’s a keepsake, coffee-table book of the most inspiring moments, images and couples from my nearly ten years capturing African-American weddings that truly speaks to that place in all of us that needs to be reminded that Black love still exists.

The photos in the book are so powerful that I couldn’t begin to put into words the message they convey. The images truly transcend, inspire and demonstrate the beauty of Black love and that despite seemingly insurmountable odds, we are still falling in love and getting married.


BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book?
Well really, I would have to say it was a series of prompts. I believe when God wants you to do something, you start getting these hints…they start out small and just get bigger and harder to ignore. So there were a series of prompts, but perhaps the largest was during now-President Obama’s campaign when images of he and First Lady Obama started popping up all over the media and they looked so genuinely in love. 

People were forwarding these images to me almost daily, sharing how nice it was to see a Black couple in love. I was amazed that their images seemed to have such a transformative power. It was painfully clear to me after the ninth or tenth email that we, as Black people, have been bombarded with depressing images and messages about the state of our relationships for so long, we were just starving to see that there was at least one happy Black couple in the world somewhere. And don’t get me wrong, I did enjoy the images. (I mean, the Obama’s are an undeniably a handsome couple and they clearly share mutual respect and tenderness for each other—and we knew their story). But these images were nothing particularly new to me because as a photographer that shoots weddings, I see Black people in love all the time. But I had an “aha moment” and realized, that my experience seeing Black people in love is actually quite rare. And it really got me thinking how blessed I am to be exposed to such beauty on a regular basis and how it positively shapes my view of the world and my own marriage. 

So ultimately, I wrote the book because I really wanted to share the beauty that I see in our people and inspire Black people to continue to believe in love.


BPM: Take us inside the book. What are two major events taking place? 
There are two wonderful things going on simultaneously in the book. You have these stunningly beautiful, romantic, truly heartwarming images of Black couples in love and getting married all over the world. And Ms. Curry, images are powerful. They effect you viscerally in ways you can’t imagine or control. So without reading one word, anyone that picks up the book will feel the excitement, happiness, pride, anticipation and sheer joy that each of these couples and their families felt on their wedding day. 

But opposite these powerful images, are candid interviews with some of my most inspiring couples. And they are so honest and real, they’re really refreshing and funny and they truly ground the book, making the images even more real. You start to actually put stories behind the images. You hear couples talking about how they couldn’t afford their wedding ceremony but wanted to get married so bad, they secretly eloped until they could save up for an actual ceremony…women being honest about how they didn’t want to date their husband initially because he was too young or didn’t have a college degree. They talk about the fights they had in the first years of their marriage over not answering the cell phone, growing up in a female-dominated household, feeling guilty about not being able to cook. 

But what’s most inspiring, I think, is that each of them shares how they’re overcoming and learning to love in spite of the challenges. And that makes the pictures even more meaningful. 

BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
The very first page of the book is the dedication page and it reads, “For little brown girls everywhere who have never seen themselves in love”.

I meant that dedication literally and figuratively. This book is for women of color of all ages. For the young women of color who have been raised on a misogynistic diet of music videos, reality shows, and don’t have examples of a successful marriage in their circle of life – I just wanted to present an alternative. For new brides and married women, I wanted to show how beautiful we can be when we just smile, humble ourselves and commit the act of loving and being loved. I can’t think of anything more powerful in our community than a Black woman with a genuine smile that radiates love. For the older women who may married or want to pass on the values of commitment and family to their children - I wanted to provide a piece that they could pass on to their children and grandchildren/nieces and nephews without preaching. 

Most importantly though, I want this book to speak to the little girl in every woman and remind them that in spite of the negative statistics and seemingly insurmountable odds, that Black people still are falling in love and getting married. 

At the risk of complicating this answer too much, I think it's important to point out that I was very careful not to imply that marriage is for everyone (a theme mentioned multiple times in the book), because I think it’s cruel to indoctrinate little Black girls with the vision of their Black prince coming to rescue them because statistics do show that that may not happen. But I also think it’s equally as cruel to deny our little girls the right to have that dream. A minute percentage of our little boys will become professional basketball players, but we don’t stop them from dreaming. For many little girls, their dream of being married will still come true.

BPM: What are some of their specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book?
For a coffee table book, we really touch on some profound and, I think, common and universally challenging issues for Black women. The importance of communication, personal responsibility, professional and income disparity between couples, defining relationships, sexual promiscuity before marriage…are all discussed in the couples’ interviews.

BPM: What was the most powerful chapter in the book?
I think each chapter will resonate more powerfully to different readers because every Black woman will see herself in at least one of the interviews. But if I had to choose, I would say the last chapter is the most powerful and it’s called, “Completing the Circle”. It’s an interview with a couple that just encompasses so much. The groom had seen six divorces between his parents, the bride grew up in a single family home, but this couple talks about how, in each other, they found someone with a shared purpose. 

And that purpose was ending the dysfunctional cycles in their family…of failed relationships, uncompleted education, lack of financial planning…So years later, they’ve committed to staying married no matter what, they’ve both completed graduate degrees, they started an asset acquisition company together called NexGen, LLC (for Next Generation) and they have a beautiful son with possibly another on the way. Their story alone demonstrates how powerful we are when we commit to seeking and following our purpose and richly successful and fulfilling it can be when we decide to do it with a partner.

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I just want people to be inspired to love. I want to remind people that Black love is still alive.

BPM: What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?
Well I think whenever we hear about Black marriages these days, we usually are discussing how few people are getting married or trying to identify who to blame for why that is so. This book is markedly different. There are over 300 images of undeniably happy, married Black couples. As one of my readers wrote me, “The whole concept of Black love is nothing new to us, but you’ve so eloquently captured it in a way I have never seen.”

It’s also different from other wedding idea books, guides or magazines because when we’re normally featured in those publications, we are marginal. We’re thrown in to add a little color. It’ll be us and an Indian couple. And they write as though jumping the broom is the only tradition African-Americans celebrate. My book will tell you the history of the Electric Slide and the Soul Train line to the Yoruba tasting ceremony and the symbolism of cowry shells in your bouquet.

BPM: How can our readers reach you online? 
Please drop me an email and let me know what you think about the book at: kea@istilldoweddings.com  or check out the website for the book at: www.istilldoweddings.com.  Send me a tweet. I’m @ ImaginePhotog

Kea Taylor, Imagine Photography 
Web: www.imaginephotographyonline.com 

Know anyone getting married? We love weddings! Check out our new site just for weddings...


Intimate Conversation with Doris Washington

Doris Washington, author of A Blessing, Caring & Sharing and Faith, Hope & Love. Doris Washington is a spiritual writer, author, poet, and disability advocate who resides in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with her husband and son John. Doris takes the inspiration from her poetry from an unfortunate incident that involved her 18-year-old son with autism, and two police officers in December 1993. This incident impacted Doris' life greatly. She was empowered to advocate for a statewide program for police officers to be aware of and recognize persons with special needs. And it was through this period of Doris' life her writing began. 

Her son is her inspiration to write. She has written over 450 poems about her closeness with God, spirituality, autism awareness, inspirations, positive thinking, social issues in our world, and greetings. She is an entrepreneur of DORIS' POEMS. She does poetry readings at nursing homes, and residential home facilities, churches, and the community. Her poems continue to inspire many. Her desire hopes that her poetry will be an inspiration for the world.

In Due Season, one of the poems from the book Faith, Hope & Love Poems of Inspiration has been posted on BLACK PEARLS MAGAZINE BLOG of Washington DC area. The poem is on TWITTER and FACEBOOK. Please click on this link to read it.

BPM: Introduce us to your latest published work. What style is it? 
My latest published work is titled Faith, Hope & Love Poems of Inspiration by Doris Washington. Faith, Hope & Love is a collection of poems that expresses how to go through life's daily challenges with encouragement, faith, hope, and inspiration. The breathtaking book cover and photographs that was taken by Joni Meyers, a local Harrisburg photographer helps to enhance the book. This collection of poems gives a wonderful reminder how to life fully always with hope through every situation, and finding God's peace and love. This collection also gives you a closer and positive look at autism through understanding and awareness. Each poem is inspiring beyond words. In our vast changing 
world today, there's a need for inspiration. Faith, Hope & Love gives you all that and more. 

BPM: What motivated you to began writing?
My personal experiences living with autism was the motivation behind my writing. I take the inspiration from my writing from an unfortunate incident involving my son with autism and two police officers in December 1993. This incident impacted my life greatly and I was empowered to advocate for a state wide training program for police officers to be aware of and recognize persons with special needs.  And through this period of my life, my writing began.

BPM: Does your work offer a glimpse in your philosophy of life?
Yes. I have found through my writing how to best overcome the challenges I so experience through my daily life with positive thinking and inner peace. 

BPM: Does your writing offer refuge or healing in its form of expression?
Yes. Many people who have read my poems have shared with me how it has touched their lives. Inspiration is so much needed in our world today. My poems are a spiritual uplift for many people who have read my work. I express in my poetry how to best deal with the challenges in life with finding that "inner peace" we all long for which my poems so express. 

BPM: What has been the main literary or cultural influences on my poetry?
Religion has been the cultural influence on my poetry. It has been shown through the history of the African American struggle the church has been a great influence. For myself at the times when I have experienced great trials, and struggles, I always sought God for strength and guidance and spiritual uplift. Which my poetry so much relays. 

BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer?
I find self- determination empowers you to take the challenges as a triumph more so than as a failure. And I always find a positive approach to any situation encourages you to believe there's nothing you can't achieve. 

BPM: What literary legacy do you leave our future readers and leaders? 
A literary legacy of Poets that inspire others to express and share their experiences through the spoken word. To understand their own gift of writing. And to believe with self- determination and positive energy in every situation, along with the belief that as you trust in God, you will achieve success more greater than you can ever have dreamed. 

BPM: Share with us your latest news, awards, or upcoming book releases? 
 I wrote a poem in honor of President Barack Obama that I had mailed to him on the day of his Inauguration. In early April of 2009, President Barack Obama sent me a note of acknowledgement for the poem. On April 17, 2009 former Mayor of Harrisburg Pennsylvania sent out a press through the Harrisburg website about the poem This Day, A Dream, A Promise Fulfilled that I wrote in honor of President Barack Obama ( read it here) 

President Barack Obama Acknowledges Local Poet And Author's Poem April 17, 2010

I had the wonderful opportunity to be interviewed by Nate Gadsden founder of the Writers Wordshop of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for many years who has promoted many poets such as Jason Moffitt, Iya Isokee, Shaashawnd Dial and many others. This interview I had with Nate Gadsden was on April 1, 2010. The show was aired on the TV 20 HBG. 
I had the wonderful opportunity to share my poetry and discuss my books, and discuss the inspiration behind my writing. 
Since that interview so many people from the community has expressed and given me enormous support about the interview.

In August 2005 I was awarded a Resolution Award by The City Council of Harrisburg for the publication of my book A Blessing, Caring & Sharing and my poetry achievements in the community. And in November 2008 my publishing  company Xlibris Corporation recognized me as a successful self- published author that was posted on the Xlibris Web Site. 

BPM: How can our readers reach you online? 
Readers can reach me online through my web site, my books are available through my web site at www.poetdoriswashington.com  Readers can also reach me online by email: Djeanw831@aol.com  My books are also available through my website, and other online book stores of Amazon, Xlibris Corporation, Borders, and Barnes & Noble.

Author Poet Doris Washington Website 
www.poetdoriswashington.com

Doris Washington
Author / Poet/ Spiritual Writer/ Autism Disability Advocate 
Author of A Blessing, Caring & Sharing and Faith, Hope & Love 
Email: Djeanw831@aol.com 
Website: www.poetdoriswashington.com

 

Intimate Conversation with Kasey Summerville

Kasey L. Summerville is the first African American to be elected to a county-wide office in Clark County, Arkansas. Currently in her fourth term as Assessor for Arkansas’ Clark County, she was born in Flint, Michigan. Kasey relocated to Arkadelphia, Arkansas, to live with her grandmother at the age of eleven (11).

Kasey has been involved in her community all of her adult life. An active member of the Saint Paul A.M.E. Church, she has faithfully served in many capacities. Mrs. Summerville also serves on a few local boards and works with many organizations. She was distinguished as the State of Arkansas’ Assessor of the Year in 2005, and noted as one of 20 to watch in 2007 by the Arkansas Democrat Gazette Tri-Lakes Edition. She further received the Kenneth Eddy Award in 2008, an annual award designated for an outstanding assessor who made a positive difference for the Assessors Association. Governor Mike Beebe recently appointed Kasey to the State Land Information Board. 

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family and friends, listening to music, exercising, and reading inspirational books and magazines. Kasey and her husband, William, have two children.

"Bridges & Footstools compiles in one place, an inspirational group of quotes by multiple notable authors which will be a valuable tool to speakers, writers, teachers, leaders or any individuals who need a word of encouragement for themselves or to offer to someone else."  --  Dr. Jocelyn Elders

Ella: Who or what inspired you to write your book, Bridges & Footstools?
The book is a collection of quotes that I have collected for the past several years. It started out as me just regularly sharing them with selected friends and family. One suggested I should consider preserving all of them in a collection. At that moment I thought to myself, “One day I will create a book that will contain some of my favorite quotes.” Hence, the book was conceived.


Ella: How did you come up with the title, Bridges & Footstools? 
As I got closer to completing the book, it occurred to me I still had no title. I reflected on how these quotes were encouraging to my own journey. Daily, they have helped me negotiate some difficult bridges and enabled me to continue to forge ahead (and higher). My late grandmother, Mrs. Delia Mae Stephens, use to always quote a Bible verse that says the Lord will "...make your enemies your footstools.” The word “footstool” stood out to me and seemed to resonate in my spirit. The idea of “bridges” and “footstools” continued to loom in my mind, and eventually that title was chosen. My hope is that these quotes will, too, inspire others to overcome their bridges and to confidently mount their footstools so they can reach higher.

Ella: How does it relate to you, your family, and friends?
This book represents a rich tradition in our family of self-definition, entrepreneurship, networking, teamwork, and community. The entire project was accomplished networking with family, friends, and associates. As it begins with an inspirational foreword by Dr. Jocelyn Elders, the book is a collection of thought-provoking and insightful words for people of all ages. It also offers readers an opportunity to journal their thoughts and ideas.

Ella: Is this the beginning of many more to come?
I really hadn’t given the idea of a sequel or other publications any thought. This project sort of emerged out of my passion to share with others a positive message. Remarkably, I have found this to be a great way to do just that.

Ella: Since the launch of Bridges & Footstools, has your life changed? If so, in what ways? 
Since the conception of Bridges & Footstools my life has not really changed that much. I am simply more aware of my purpose to encourage others, and this endeavor serves to confirm my commitment to continue. It does give me a delightful sense of accomplishment and I am very grateful for the opportunities God presents to allow me to lift the spirits of others.

Ella: How long did it take you to write Bridges & Footstools? 
My habit to save quotations began ten years ago, and never with the thought to ever compile them into a book. Once the idea was presented and I obtained peace about publishing them, the assignment took several months.

Ella: Who did you tell first about your book?
Of course, my immediate family was first. Beyond them, a few individuals became my sounding boards for loving and critical advice. Most assuredly, my pastor, Rev. James H. Giles (St. Paul A.M.E. Church), offered wise counsel as I traversed these unchartered waters.

Ella: What do you hope this book does for the readers?
Prayerfully, the book will do for readers the exact same thing it has done for me; and that is to motivate and inspire the reader to "march on" irrespective of their given challenges.

Ella: Is it a book geared for the family, or an individual?
The book is designed for everyone to read, however it could easily stimulate a family or office conversation about overcoming difficulty and staying determined.

Ella: There are hands and butterflies on the cover. Do these have any significance to the book?
This cover was designed by Denise Billups with Borel Graphics in Chicago, IL. After several conversations with Denise, the cover was created. She gave much thought and consideration to my heart and personality, as well as the overall content of the book. I think the cover will speak to an array of browsers in an appealing way. The open hands aim to portray inclusivity and letting go, and the butterflies convey the ideas of growth and freedom.

For more information or to order the book, visit my website www.KaseySummerville.com  

Kasey L. Summerville
P O Box 834, Arkadelphia, AR 71923
Website: www.KaseySummerville.com 

 



Intimate Conversation with Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond


Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond has written for AOL, The Village Voice, Metro and Trace. Her short story "Bush Girl" was published in the May 2008 issue of African Writing and her poem, "The Whinings of a Seven Sister Cum Laude Graduate Working Bored as an Assistant," was published in 2006's Growing up Girl Anthology. 

A graduate of Vassar College, she attended secondary school in Ghana. Her first novel Powder Necklace is loosely inspired by the experience. 

BPM:  Nana, who were your mentors growing up? How did they shape your life? 
My mentors were my family who not only taught me but showed me the importance of working and sacrificing as hard as it takes to achieve my goals. Because of them, I know there is no barrier I can't overcome or figure my way around. 

Specifically, my father explicitly challenged me to defy the notion that girls aren't as smart as boys. He had me reading by the age of three, playing educational games instead of Barbie dolls, and he sacrificed so much to pay my exorbitant college tuition. 

Growing up, my mother was the hardest worker alive. She literally worked around the clock to earn overtime, yet managed to find time to go back to college, and hit up her favorite flea markets on the weekend. 

My maternal grandmother whom I lived with in Ghana has been a huge influence as well. I watched this woman run an advertising company that she founded, open her home to strangers who needed shelter, haggle with businessmen, admit when she was wrong, seek peace when it was more convenient to just let things be, wake up at dawn to pray and squint over the text of her Bible, and encourage her children and grandchildren to dream and pursue the seemingly impossible. 

BPM:  What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
I think the fact that I did not give up was what enabled me to become a writer. I went from getting no response to my queries to "no" responses for many years, but I kept writing. I also remained flexible and took opportunities that allowed me to write even if they weren't necessarily part of the "path" I had envisioned. 

BPM:  What 3 personal qualities are most important to you? 
A. Humility, Ambition, and Sharpness 

BPM:  Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
I hope my writing offers present and future readers a legacy of encouragement to investigate and take pride in who they are, where they come from, and what their purpose in this life is. 

BPM:  Take us inside the book. What are two major events that take place?
Powder Necklace is a coming of age story inspired by my childhood experience attending boarding school in Ghana, West Africa. Set in London, the cities of Kumasi and Cape Coast in Ghana, and Long Island, the book is a sort of reverse Diaspora story of a 1st generation Londoner's return to her parents' native land, and her discovery of her own connection to this land. 

The main characters in Powder Necklace are Lila Adjei and her mother. The first major event that takes place is when Lila's mother sends her to Ghana when she misconstrues an innocent scene between Lila and a male friend that walks her home from school. That decision by Lila's mother sets the girl on a journey of self-discovery. Another seminal moment in the book takes place when Lila returns from Ghana to London. Not only has her family situation changed - her mother has started dating a man with a daughter her age - but she has changed. She realizes that, after her short stint in Ghana, she will never be the same again.


BPM: Powder Necklace is loosely based on your own personal experience attending school in Ghana. How much of your story is part of Lila’s?
Lila’s experience in Ghana is very similar to my own. When I was twelve my parents sent my siblings and I to Ghana. Because of the way the school system works over there, we couldn’t all go to the same school, and I had to cut my hair – my long, thick hair that I LOVED flipping like a white girl. As if that weren’t enough for my twelve-year-old mind to process, when I got to the school, I learned I was required to wake up at five a.m., bathe in an open bathhouse, make my bed with perfect hospital corners, perform daily chores like scrubbing a sidewalk-length patch of concrete or sweeping a large plot, hand wash my own clothes, etc. Oh, and to make things interesting there was a wicked water crisis going on. 

But unlike Lila, my grandmother and aunt visited me pretty much every weekend, loaded down with home-cooked food and water, and my parents sent me goodies and dollars when they could. I also clung to my newfound faith. I became a born-again Christian at the beginning of my visit in Ghana, before I started school there—in that respect I was a lot like Brempomaa and Ivy—and it helped A LOT just to cry out to God in the many moments of loneliness, desperation, misery, and fear I experienced. I released Lila from her school experience after six short months as a fantasy gift to my twelve-year-old self; I had to stay in Ghana for three long years!

Outside of the Ghana portion of the novel, the similarities between Lila’s story and mine are more subtle. I made her British because Ghana was colonized by the British, and so a lot more of the bronis in Ghana were from London; I also have tons of family in London and spent a lot of time with them on summer breaks en route to New York. Lila’s parents’ divorce was my way of dealing with the feeling of separation from my parents. Even though I saw them each summer, I felt so disconnected from them at that time. On one summer vacation in the States we went to Disney World. Looking back on it, it was such an American moment in my life/American place to be when I was starting to feel more Ghanaian than anything else. 

Finally, the feeling of being at the mercy of the adults in her life was something I felt during that time and definitely wanted to explore through Lila. Ghanaian culture is heavily into seniority. As noted in the book, any adult in your life is reverentially referred to as “Auntie” or “Uncle” whether they’re a blood relation or not; seniors at school are respectfully called “Sister”; and, as a rule, “children are to be seen and not heard” (that was the constant refrain I heard growing up in the States). It was important to me to stress that though the events in your life may feel random and out of your control, if you believe that God is in control of all the factors in your life—even the adults—you’ll see that a lot of those random moments actually had more meaning than you first realized. That very turbulent moment in my life gave me a story that helped me realize my dream of writing a published novel. 

BPM:  How will reading your book shape the readers' lives?
I think Powder Necklace presents a slice of life in Ghana, London, and Long Island as experienced by a young girl trying to find the meaning in and of it all. So, on the surface, reading the book will educate readers about the specific sights and sounds of the characters' experiences in these disparate locales, but on a deeper level, I hope it spurs readers to learn more about these locations, these experiences, and their own place in the world. 

BPM:  What are some of the specific needs, issues, problems addressed in this book?
Everyone's got issues in Powder Necklace.  :-)  Lila, the main character, is frustrated by her powerlessness to make decisions for herself. Her mother decides she should go to Ghana indefinitely, then her mother and father decide she should go to New York indefinitely. Lila's mother is lonely and sick of doing it all by herself. She has sacrificed so much for her daughter's own good, but she needs a break; she wants to do something for herself. 

BPM:  What's the most powerful chapter in the book for you?
One of my favorite chapters in the book is when Lila is exposed as knowing how to speak Twi and as a result has to drop the "I'm special because I was not born in Ghana" routine. It's the beginning of her confronting why she has this 1st World Superiority complex which I think is important to her growth as a character. 

BPM:  In Powder Necklace Lila fell into writing her book through a series of happy coincidences (or perhaps fate). What has been your own literary path? Have you always wanted to have a career in writing?
I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but being immigrants, my parents wanted me to pursue a more stable (and clichéd) path to success: doctor, lawyer, or investment banker. Even though I graduated college with a poli-sci degree, I sought writing internships (and interned at the Village Voice newspaper), and after college skipped I law school and decided to try my hand at writing. I took office jobs, but during my lunch breaks, after work, and on weekends, I wrote up query letters to different magazines, which I would hand deliver. 

I got a few paid writing gigs and eventually landed a dream job as an assistant editor at an international fashion magazine, where I got to write and edit professionally—and meet celebs! When funds ran too low, I started over as an intern in the acquisitions department at Sony Pictures Classics, where I got to read and review screenplays. During that time I wrote a script that was a Sundance Screenwriter’s Finalist. My editorial experience and fashion background helped me land a gig as a copywriter at an interactive agency where I got to write for the NikeWomen, L’Oreal Paris, and Avaya accounts. I continued to freelance for newspapers and magazines on the side. In the midst of all of this, I was working on Powder Necklace.

BPM:  Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I want Powder Necklace readers to develop an appetite for the world beyond their borders; understand that what's on the news, in the news, in books, etc are just one slice of a gargantuan pie. I also want readers of this book to see that even the most random events in our lives are not random at all - everything does happen for a reason. 

BPM:  What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?
As far as the marketplace goes, I think Powder Necklace is unique because it tells a reverse immigration story, if you will. We mostly read about people leaving "the old country" for opportunity and a new life in the Western world, but Lila, the protagonist of this book and the daughter of an immigrant goes back - and it's in returning to her parents' native land that she starts to understand herself more deeply. 

BPM:  How can our readers reach you online? Share with us your online contact info. 
Readers can visit the official Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond's website at: www.nanaekua.com  
I'm on Twitter too - www.twitter.com/nanaekua  Email: writer : nanaekua@aol.com  

Purchase the Powder Necklace today!
ISBN-10: 1439126100 
ISBN-13: 978-1439126103 

Note: photo by Manjari Sharma - www.manjarisharma.com 


Intimate Conversation with author Al King

Welcome to the mindset of a full-spirited entrepreneur that is driven to bring something fresh and innovative to mainstream with a diversified vision. Garnering his start as an entertainment manager, Al King is adding author and publisher to his growing business acumen by creating Go Gettaz Publications, releasing the company's first novel "Let It Be Known" The Al King Point of View. 

BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
I’m very sincere and honest which is something that exudes my demeanor, people instantly connect to me. I’ve also always been a leader and someone that has been looked at as a person to go to for guidance, support and direction. 

As a writer, I’ve been told that the way I put words together has always been with such expression and sincerity. Just having the ability to touch the soul of others with your words is truly a gift, especially when it is done so effortlessly. 

BPM: Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?
God has always been my Mentor. For one, my Inspiration comes from each day of life granted. Secondly, I am a fanatic for good energy, those that are able to bring a good aura to a conversation is something that provokes so much inspiration for me. 

BPM: What have you realized about yourself since becoming a published author?
That the more I write, the more I have become more connected to my inner gift. The greatest feeling is having your creation meet the reader, someone that has been touched by what you have been able to express through words. 

BPM: Do you have any advice for people seeking to publish a book?
I would suggest that they look to be innovative with their book and do it for the love and passion, not for the sake of just doing it because it may be monetarily beneficial. 

BPM: Finish this sentence- "My writing offers the following legacy to future readers..." 
My writing offers the following legacy to future readers… that there is faith and hope connected to every word you read.


BPM: Introduce us to your book. What genre is the book? On Kindle or Nook? 
The title is “Let it Be Known” The Al King Point of View, it’s a non-fiction book that is my perspective on a vast multitude of matters that we face in our day to day lives. It is a motivational, inspirational, instructional and empowering body of work all in one book. It’s a sincere conversation with the reader and myself addressing some of the things that I’ve experienced directly or taken heed to. I think we need to bring authenticity back with highlighting some of our vices while providing a solution to them. 

BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book?
I was at a very reflective stage in my life, a space I would categorize as the crossroads in being challenged in so many ways. Just dealing with some situations that led me to writing down my thoughts until they had taken form into pages. It was after seeing these pages grow that I decided to write a book, something I never fathomed doing in my life. 

BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
I intend to reach the hearts of many that are living and facing this thing called LIFE each day we’re granted. As we all know, there will be trials and tribulations but most of us are searching for answers that are not always available. If someone can use my book as an instructional guide to assist in them gaining some clarity for a potential dilemma, I’m gracious for being able to do just that. 

BPM: What are some of the specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book?
Well, being an African-American Man from the inner-city in one of my chapters, I address the sabotage that is inflicted on one black person to another, something that has plagued the culture and people as a whole. I also discuss the boundaries and standards that should be sustained in our lives, and the lack of them only place us at a disadvantage. The areas that I have chosen to address are very much ranging from being a responsible person to a contributor of society and everything in between. 

BPM: How can our readers reach you online? 
On Twitter its @MrAlKing 
letitbeknownalking@gmail.com  
www.facebook.com/MrAlKing 




Intimate Conversation with Sharon C. Jenkins

Sharon C. Jenkins is a motivational speaker and workshop facilitator and serves as the Inspirational Principal for The Master Communicator & Associates and is the mastermind behind the successful 2010 Authors Networking Summit. 

She is proficient in communicating the plight of the abused child in her revelatory book, Beyond the Closet Door. Sharon has also co-authored two other books, Songs of Three Sisters and Ready, Set, Succeed, Making Your Dream Come True. 

BPM: How did you start your writing journey? What impact do you want your book to make on the readers? 
I write because it has always been a form of expression that was available to me even at a young age. I was amazed as a young adolescent that others enjoyed my scribbles. 

As a seasoned adult I want readers to remember the power of the written word and its ability to allow you a snapshot of a world you may not have ordinarily been able to access. I want my grandchildren to remember me long after I’ve gone to heaven and the written word allows me to live a literary legacy for them and those who love the words I pen.  As a child seeking a form of self expression at the age of 8.


BPM: Introduce us to your book, Beyond the Closet Door. 
Beyond the Closet Door introduces its readers to Christ the Rescuer. It is a guide to total restoration for those who have been abused. Those who have experienced abuse are often held captive to the event that interrupted their childlike innocence. They often grow up to become adults who carry a lot of baggage from their past. This book introduces them to a loving rescue, once Christ is allowed to join in the restoration process. 

BPM: What is the most surprising thing you have learned from publishing your book? 
What I write has the power to revolutionize some ones life.

BPM: What can we expect from you in the future? 
I am the mastermind behind the 2011 Authors Networking Summit. I have a desire to help authors perfect their craft. 


Connect with Sharon Online:
sharoncjenkins@gmail.com,  www.sharoncjenkins.com  and www.authorsnetworkingsummit.com  



Intimate Conversation with Yayoi Lena Winfrey

Born in Tokyo to an African American father and Japanese mother, Yayoi Lena Winfrey grew up on three continents. A resident of California most of her adult life, she’s also lived in Alaska, Hawai’i, Washington State, and St. Thomas U.S.V.I.

After attending art school, Yayoi freelanced as an illustrator and graphic designer before turning to journalism for the past 13 years. In 1998, she began working in the film industry and made a feature film, Watermelon Sushi, based on her life as an Afro-Asian woman. She was a finalist for FIND (Film Independent) Project Involve, Fall 2005-Spring 2006. Besides contributing to numerous publications, Yayoi was twice nominated for journalism awards, and is referenced on Wikipedia. In 2000, she published an anthology of 28 black women writers and a chapbook based on her film.

Today, Yayoi plans a reshoot of the film while writing a weekly blog, Watermelon Sushi World, featuring cross-cultural stories. She’s also created a Facebook group, Hip Hapa Homeez, which addresses multiethnic experiences, as well as a Facebook fan page for Watermelon Sushi. And, she's working on a collection of erotic short stories and a novella featuring multiracial characters and interracial relationships, as well as a novel about an Afro-Asian family living in the Caribbean. Read an article on Yayoi on the Mixed Child site.


Featured Book:  Brothers and Others Anthology
compiled by Yayoi Lena Winfrey

Brothers and Others is an anthology of 28 black women authors writing about black men. Because I was tired of seeing the same old stereotypical images of black men as drug dealers, gangsters, prisoners and rappers, I sent out a call worldwide requesting stories about black women's relationships with black men. Over 500 submissions were received including essays, poetry and short stories about black men in their roles as grandfathers, fathers, uncles, nephews, husbands, sons, friends, neighbors, celebrities, lovers, brothers and others.

A magazine-style book, Brothers and Others contains pieces ranging from poetic tributes like a woman's poignant poem about her HIV-positive gay brother to a cute and classy short story about a man (from his POV) incredulous over his former big-breasted girlfriend having her bosom surgically reduced.


Book Review: Brothers and Others 

5 Stars! Reviewed by Heather Covington
"Brothers and Others is a collection of essays, poetry and short stories written by Black women from around the globe about Black men in their roles as grandfathers, fathers, uncles, nephews, husbands, sons, friends, neighbors, celebrities, lovers, brothers and others." Shocking and down to earth poetry from woman poets who hold nothing back!

BPM: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
A: The characters in Brothers and Others are both fictional and non. They range from a real-life HIV-positive gay man to a fictional character who is incredulous at learning his former big-breasted girlfriend had her bosom surgically reduced.

BPM: What inspired you to write these stories down and publish them?
A: The inspiration for me taking on this anthology as an editor and publisher was because I was tired of seeing the same old stereotypical images of black men as drug dealers, gangsters, prisoners and rappers. I sent out a call worldwide requesting stories about black women's relationships with black men. Over 500 submissions were received including essays, poetry and short stories about black men in their roles as grandfathers, fathers, uncles, nephews, husbands, sons, friends, neighbors, celebrities, lovers, brothers and others. The real challenge was selecting only 28 women's stories to publish. Another reason I wanted to publish this book was to get my father's story of growing up in Jim Crow Texas into print.

BPM: What did you hope to accomplish by writing this particular story?
A: I hope to bring a greater awareness of just what it means to be a black man in this world as interpreted by their biggest fans--black women.

BPM: What writers inspire you and why?
A: Besides being an independent journalist, I also write fiction. Because I'm a huge fan of prose and interesting, complex characters, I'm heavily influenced by Caribbean women writers like Edwidge Danticat and Jamaica Kincaid. Of course, I also love Toni Morrison and Zora Neale Hurston. And, I've been moved by black American novelists like Earl Shorris (Ofay) and John A. Williams (The Man Who Cried I Am). I also enjoy African authors like Nigeria's Chinua Achebe (Things Fall Apart). Because of my strong Japanese cultural roots, I'm also attracted to works by author Mishima Yukio as well as many Asian women writers. It's believed that the world's first psychological novel ever published was Tale of Genji which was written by Japanese noblewoman Murasaki Shikibu in the 11th Century. I've seen an anime version of the story, and it rocks!

BPM: What is your most valuable lesson about the publishing industry?
A: I learned that the publishing industry, like the film industry and so many others, is simply not interested in stories about people of color unless they fit into some preconceived notion of what it means to be that based on the thoughts and ideas of people who are not of color. Unable to interest any publisher in this anthology about black men written by black women, I forged ahead and published it myself.

BPM: How may our readers connect with you online?
A: Brothers and Others is currently available by contacting the publisher, Yayoi Lena Winfrey, at lenastarwheels@me.com  or esianthology@juno.com. 

For more information, check out the Brothers and Others Fan page on Facebook where we support all independently published works by people of color. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brothers-And-Others/145195676524  As for me, I'm busy working on a collection of erotic short stories about multiracial people as well as a novel about an Afro-Asian family in the Caribbean.


Intimate Conversation with Jacquitta A. McManus 

BPM:  Jacquitta, tell us a little about your and your love of writing.
One of my greatest achievements was finding my love for storytelling.  I was one of those kids that grew up believing I didn't have a talent, and although my English teachers always told me that I told good stories, it really didn't sink in until a few years ago. Can I just say, better late than never. Creating fantasy/adventure stories has brought me a real joy. I love immersing myself into the characters and their stories. I'm always finding myself surprised of where the characters take me and the things that they do. One of my favorite quotes: To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan but also believe. ~ Anatole France

BPM:  Introduce us to your new book, Labyrinth’s Door 
Labyrinth’s Door - No. 1 (Anyia “Dream of a Warrior”) - The first edition of Labyrinth’s Door is a story of a young girl, Anyia, whose dream of becoming a Nagoran Warrior is infused with adventure and danger. Running from her duties as a Yora, she dares to break tradition to follow her own dream, during a time when Empress Zarina threatens the magic treaty that protects her village.For a preview please visit, HERE. 

BPM:  Are the characters in Anyia “Dream of a Warrior” from the portrayal of real people?
No. The characters in Anyia “Dream of a Warrior” are completely fictional. I started writing children stories years ago, it came out of a desire to create characters I felt my daughter could relate to. It also came from a desire to create stories that would excite her imagination while she laid in bed at night.

Anyia, a strong willed warrior, came to me as I started writing my first novel, which I’m still working on. She was a character that I really liked but didn’t understand. In order to understand her better I started writing her back-story. The first story I wrote on her was very short … not longer than 1500 words. From that grew the story for Anyia “Dream of a Warrior”, the first installment of her journey.

BPM:  Why write in the fantasy/adventure genre? 
All of my life I gravitated to fantasy/adventure stories. Stories that I felt I could be a part of and completely immerse myself in … in my imagination. I remember being completely immersed in the animated movie, “Little Mermaid” when I was younger. I loved how I was able to allow myself to immerse into the story. And although I didn’t know it then … I fell in love with the fantasy/adventure genre. It excites me in away that no other genre does. It has the ability to take you into new worlds and introduce you to new species and I like that. I like the escapism of it. The adventure it provides. 

BPM:  What role do fantasy/adventure stories play in the lives of children? 
Fantasy/adventure stories are a door to the imagination. It allows the impossible to happen and dreams to be realized. That is why fantasy/adventure stories enchant me. And I believe, kids who can believe in the impossible can one day be adults that believe the impossible is possible.

BPM:  Why is Labyrinth’s Door a MagBook and not a book?
At first Labyrinth’s Door was going to be a fantasy/adventure magazine for kids. An idea that I still like and will one day revisit again. When I realized that it was not the right time to embark on a magazine I started to think about what I could do and for me I wanted to merge the idea of a magazine with it’s puzzles and etc. with the idea of a book. With that the MagBook was born. It gave me everything I wanted like combining a story with vivid illustrated scenes, a how to draw lessons and puzzles. To me, it also allows the readers to immerse themselves into the world a little more than a regular book. And just so you know, I also absolutely love working on the scenes. I’m a vivid person and loved art directing the illustrations. It brought the world to life for me.


Labyrinth's Door: Anyia - Dream of a Warrior  
by Jacquitta A. McManus 
ISBN: 0982802706
ISBN-13: 978-0982802700

Real life is for everybody else -- this, according to Labyrinth's Door, a fanciful new, digest size, MagBook that encourages young people to step out of their daily routines and into their imaginations. Where otherworldly settings collide with good-natured souls in stories that turn a lazy afternoon into an adventure that won't soon be forgotten. 

Labyrinth's Door is a place where enchantment reigns and boredom knows no friend. Conceptualized as an unforgettable adventure from start to finish, each issue of the fantasy/adventure MagBook will contain:
- a fantasy/adventure story 
- puzzles 
- how to draw fantasy art
- and more

BPM:  Why create a publishing company verses seeking an agent to get published by a major publisher?
I created Worlds To Discover because I wanted to control my stories. I knew when I started writing that I didn’t just want to publish books but I wanted to publish audio books, coloring books as well as other things. And by having my own company I wouldn’t be limited by someone else’s decisions about what I should write and how it should be written. Simply … I wanted the control over my stories … my brand.

BPM:  What are you working on?
I’m currently working on the next edition of Labyrinth’s Door, the next installment of Anyia’s journey as well as my first chapter book series about a character named Ava Brooks. The first draft of Ava Brooks is completed so it’s now time to edit. I’m also working on my first coloring book as well as working on my first epic novel, which is fun to work on but a very long process.

BPM:  What closing comments would you'd like to make regarding your writing?
Let the adventures begin! Check out the book at: www.WorldsToDiscover.com  

 

Intimate Conversation with R. J. Green

R. J. Green migrated from Jamaica at age 17 to live with his grandmother in the Bronx, New York. In 1996, he graduated with top honors from Evander Child's High School. He consequently attended SUNY Old Westbury College, earning a BS in Chemistry in 2000. Before relocating to South Florida, he continued on to Stony Brook University in pursuit of an MS in Theater. R.J. Green is a member of the multitalented music group "SJ."

BPM:  What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
Answer: The first time I discovered I can make a difference in life had me urging to be a better person. For all those friends I sat and shared my dreams with, and who got killed in the ghetto of Kingston where I spent my earlier childhood, forced me to fulfill their dreams and mine. In high school in the Bronx, NY I helped to reduced gang war, since all my peers listened to me. I encouraged drug-dealers and pimps to give up their lifestyle and introduced them to music, most of them did that. As a writer I sparked the interest of most people who hadn’t read a book in years. Now I received hundreds of call asking when the next book is going to be release — to be so well received gives the courage to try harder as a self publisher, I thank my fans and most of all the Lord for showering me with blessing. 

BPM:  How much of what you write reflects on your outlook on life?
Answer: My recent novel ‘TANNY ANDERSON - Barefoot, Prickle & Thorns’ reflected some of my earlier childhood days as well as other people around me. Although written by a man through the eyes of a girl, Tanny Anderson’s life is what most people experience: moments of laughter, fear, sadness, and the will to live. 

BPM:  Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?
Answer: First I must say my mother Audria Nixon who had struggled to take care of her five children as a single mother, my screenplay teacher at SUNY Old Westbury College who thought I would be the greatest screenwriter one day, Dr. Lloyd who mentored me and was there for me during Chemistry BS, a professor at Stony Brook University grad school in the department of theater who told me my writing reminds him of a friend – a great American playwright. 
I found my inspiration from my early childhood days growing up in Jamaica where I promised myself to be the most prosperous flowers that bloomed from the concrete jungle. I got the opportunity to further my education in the United State and I took advantage knowing I was already deemed a failure because of where I grew up. 

BPM:  Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
Answer: My writing offers the following legacy to future readers who are looking for stories that everyone can relates to, as well as inspirational and new ideas: “A man with a dream worth more than his counterpart with none, while they’re asleep dreaming, he’s working towards his dream.”

BPM:  Introduce us to your book and the main characters.
Tanny Anderson - Barefoot, Prickles & Thorns is a heart touching story about a Jamaican girl, Tanny Anderson, growing up in the countryside of Jamaica and the difficult journey she undertakes, even after migrating to the United States. Dreams that are shadowed by nightmares, but her will to live could not be denied. Revelations about Tanny’s life: moments of laughter, fear and sadness...  A series of books featuring the heroine, Tanny Anderson, are underway.

BPM:  What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book? 
I first began to write screenplays incorporating reality, dreams, and fantasy to produced psychological thrillers that had my teachers in undergrad and grad school thought were some of the best movie script they ever saw. As a Blackman it seemed more difficult to land a deal when you try to match, and or outdo Steven Spielberg. After turning down several mediocre offers in early 2000 I began to write books instead. A book is the easiest way to get my story across without the high budget hindering the process.

BPM:  Take us inside Tanny Anderson - Barefoot, Prickles & Thorns. What's taking place? 
Two major events taking place in chapter 9 “Rescued by an Angel:” Like an angel Carol found her way into Tanny’s life and rescued her from neglect and abuse inflicted by Tanny’s paternal family (the Wilsons). Mr. Anderson began to physically abuse his girlfriend Carol after the Wilsons plotted against her.

BPM:  Who are your favorites? Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
Tanny Anderson is one of my favorite characters – she is the portrayal of many real individuals I came in contact with over the past years. Mr. Anderson, Kevin McKenzie, Grandma Carm, Carol, and Cur are notable characters as well. Vincent Johnson is a real character I remembered from third grade (many many years back); he will be remembered for his drastic action and how it impacted Mrs. Walker’s life. 

BPM:  What role do you give the “meanspirited" characters? Do you have such characters?
The “meanspirited” characters would be Mrs. Walker for terrorizing her first grade class with a deadly spanking, and Mr. Anderson for being very abusive. 

BPM:  Who do you want to reach with your book, Tanny Anderson - Barefoot, Prickles & Thorns?
I want to reach readers who love to read good stories. Tanny Anderson – Barefoot, Prickle & Thorns gears toward those readers who enjoyed Harry Potter, but also needed a touch of reality. The message is to be strong for others maybe going through worst than you. 

BPM:  How will reading your book shape the readers lives? 
Reading Tanny Anderson will help to heal readers who had being abuse physically and mentally, to open the eyes of parents who leave their children in the care of other relatives, and to motivate readers not to give up due to the many obstacles they faced. 

BPM:  What was the most powerful chapter in Tanny Anderson - Barefoot, Prickles & Thorns?
I love all the chapters since they are all unique, but I will recommend chapter 3 “Justice we want” that reflected the recent uproar in Jamaica. Even thought the book was published Jan 2010 its content is still relevant to current issue plaguing most societies. 

BPM:  What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?
My book is different from others on the same subject because it is written by a man through the eyes of a young girl, Tanny Anderson. It blended fiction and reality, and is driven by powerful characters from start to finish. People, who read the first line, always ended up reading the whole book. 

BPM:  Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases.
I recently did a book signing at Hue-man Book store in Harlem and I was invited to do another one. My group SJ (http://www.sjamz.com) performed for the King of Ghana, and other world leaders honoring two females government representative from Miami. I am currently working to release a psychological thriller novel “Searching for the Enemies” by the end of 2010. 

BPM:  How can our readers reach you online? 
Readers can reach me online: http://www.zyfex.com  or  https://www.createspace.com/3409304 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mastarecka  and  Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Masta-Recka/643932629 

Tanny Anderson - Barefoot, Prickles & Thorns
by R.J. Green
ISBN: 1449589480 
https://www.createspace.com/3409304 

 



Intimate Conversation with Lawrence Wayne

Lawrence Wayne is a writer, producer, director and editor (VIP MEMPHIS Magazine). He is author of the book, “How to Encourage Young African American Children to Read…A Black Reader’s Guide.” He founded the Memphis Black Writers Conference in 1995 to support writers, poets, artists and others who portray positive aspects and cultural achievements of African American people across the globe. 

BPM: Tell us about you latest release, How to Encourage Young African American Children to Read.
How to Encourage Young African American Children to Read…A Black Reader’s Guide by Lawrence Wayne. The book is a non-fictional book about the importance of instilling the love of reading and research and an early age. It is for all African American children, especially young African American males.

BPM: What inspired you to write this non-fiction title? 
One day while watching my son playing in the living room a thought came to me. “What if you were no longer here to take care of your son and family? What legacy would you want to leave behind? What gifts would you like your son to have?”  After giving this some serious consideration I came up with two concepts:  First, I would want him to know and accept the Lord Jesus Christ. Secondly, I would want him to have a love for reading and learning. I knew that if he had these two basic things in his life I could leave this world knowing that he was in good hands. 

BPM: What issues in today's society have you addressed in the book? 
Education, Dropout problem, and Violence among our youth. 

BPM: What is your most valuable lesson about the publishing industry? 
You have to adapt to the changing industry and trends. 

BPM: What writers inspire you and why? 
Frederick Douglas and Guy Johnson. They both have given me a deep sense of pride and knowledge about our history. 

BPM: What did you hope to accomplish by writing this particular story? 
I hope to encourage more young Black children to read. 

BPM: How may our readers get in contact with you?
Lawrence Wayne
MemphisBlackWriters@yahoo.com  
Website: Southern Black Writers & Artist Film Festival



Intimate Conversation with Cedric Dukes

Author Cedric Dukes and his family have successfully learned how to takeover finances by following the principles outlined in this book. He wrote the book out of concern that many people where not getting the truth about finances from a biblical point of view. Cedric has a burning desire to share God’s principles not his own – in regards to taking over your finances. Christians are given a charge by God to be fruitful, to multiply and to have dominion. Following these principles will allow the reader to take over their finances the way God intended and indeed become blessed, to be a blessing. 

Along with being a devoted husband and father, Cedric serves actively at his church as an ordained deacon and an electrical engineer. Cedric Dukes lives in Michigan with his wife and two children. Cedric Dukes is available to share God’s principles on finances at your events. He can be contacted at CedricDukes@gmail.com. 

BPM:  Cedric what makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
My passion is to help people with their finances that will sustain them from experiencing another day of lack in their life.

BPM:  Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration? 
My mentors are John Maxwell, Dr. Myles Munroe, and David Cottrell

BPM:  Introduce us to your book non-fiction book, Hostile Takeover. 
My book addresses the spiritual and natural aspect of finances found in scripture. I was frustrated with most financial books that did not talk about the biblical principles for finances. I wrote Hostile Takeover not to contradict the wordly principles but help readers understand that the natural principles originated from Scripture. I alert readers that the handling of finances is not a natural battle but a spiritual one and since we are spirit beings we have to understand and work the spiritual principles that will bring us into the ultimate plan of God for our finances. The only way to handle our finances and make it grow is to master the spiritual principles and to execute a hostile takeover.

BPM:  What revelation prompted you to write Hostile Takeover?
On the Eve of 2006, God prompted me to write a book on the takeover of finances from a spiritual point of view. Most financial books are written from a natural viewpoint which does not accurately explain how finances are to be utilized. The Spirit of God brought to my remembrance Matthew 11:12, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” God began to show me that finances are to be taken over with aggression. Christians are to be the rulers of finance, not finances ruling over them. The Spirit of God revealed that finances must be taken over in a hostile nature, which means one must study, research, and know every movement of finance. 

BPM:  What are some of the specific issues or problems addressed in this book? 
Specific issues discussed are the proper way to budget, save, and give. I teach one how to get a budget and live within their means. I also show one how to increase their finances by looking at their own net worth. The net worth quickly identifies their assets and liabilities. This gives the reader a plan to attack their debt. I also address investing biblically and show the reader how it suppose to benefit them in these trouble times.

BPM:  Who do you want to reach with your book and the messages within Hostile Takeover? 
I want to reach people who interesting to do well with their money. I want to reach people who want to improve their financial situation by discovering the correct techniques for handling finances and applying those techniques to their everyday life.

BPM:  Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from Hostile Takeover? 
I want the readers to gain a spiritual aspect about money and make it grow, invest, save, give, and spend it the proper way. I want the reader to make proper decisions on finances on a daily basis.

BPM:  What is the disparity between your book and worldly teachings re: finances?
The world says spend, save spend, save and my book puts everything in order of giving, saving, and spending.

BPM:  What is stewardship and what are the three characteristics of a steward? 
Stewardship is the managing of someone else’s resources to accomplish an objective. It is your job to use or resource the provision that God’s supplies. The three characteristics of a good steward are the following: faithful, educated, and take risks.

BPM:  What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject? 
The handling of finances is not a natural battle but a spiritual one and since we are spirit beings we have to understand and work the spiritual principles that will bring us into the ultimate plan for our finances. The only way to handle our finances and make it grow is to master the spiritual principles and begin to execute a hostile takeover. I use the book to talk about the spiritual aspect of finances to make it grow.

BPM:   What kind of legacy you want to leave future generations? 
My writing offers the following legacy to future readers...to ensure my readers are always prepared for the expected and unexpected and to pass down the financial techniques for generations to come.

BPM:  How can our readers reach you online?
You can check out www.cedricdukes.com  to get more solutions on how one can win the financial battle in this economy.

Contact information 
Cedric Dukes
Website -www.cedricdukes.com  
Book Publisher - http://www.zoelifepub.com 



Intimate Conversation with TDM Comics International

This TDM COMICS Company’s top Executives, decided to form a T.E.A.M. of MATES, after obtaining the knowledge that each of them were working separately to establish themselves as players in the entertainment, publishing, writing, books, media industries. Some were planning to publish, some were writing, some were publishing, some were into comics’ creations, and some were seeking to establish Film, Animation productions and Cartoons.

The original top executives Terry Reece, Darrick Tucker, and Michele MA’KO’, brainstormed together to formulate a workable T.E.A.M. Mates type of philosophy, which would prove to make each of them individually stronger, by their collectively working together towards a more T.E.A.M. oriented set of missions and goals. Other mates are strategically recruited and added. Although we all may have our own separate companies, visions, goals, and thoughts of how WE can get to where we want to go, most important thing to always reflect upon is that we have to learn to work together, better, as a people, better as a T.E.A.M., to help cause the necessary paradigm shift of breaking the chains and the glass ceilings. 

BPM: What is the mission of TDM Comics International? 
The Family Media Company/TDM Comics International's main mission is to spread the love of positive media for people of color all over the world, by utilizing comics, animations, videos, video games, toys, action figures, and super heroes’ likeness profiles to portray people of all colors in positive heroic roles.

BPM: What legacy do you think your company will leave for those watching you in the community?
I want to leave this world, with people of color knowing that we filled the void for super heroes of color, which Marvel and DC Comics did not. I want to see children and families enjoying our products and "brands" for generations to come. 

BPM: What impact has reading or being in an organized group had on your life?
Currently, this is the most excited, I have ever been about working in an Industry, which I truly enjoy and get excited about each and every day. 

BPM: What is your favorite genre of books?
I really Love Books that can go to Great Movies, thus, I truly enjoy most Sci-fi, fantasy-mystery, and comic super hero action books, because I know they make for outstanding movies and video games. 

BPM: Do you feel as if African Americans are represented in a good light in today's media and books?
NO, not on the massive equal scale, and that is why we are joining forces with who ever will join us in spreading the love of positive media world wide.

BPM: Is there anything you would love to see more of in literature and TV? 
we aspire to have and see more people of colors in TV, big screen action movies, animations, video games with super heroes of color and comics characters of color. 

BPM: How do you feel about electronic books such as downloads for Kindle, Nook or iPad, etc? 
We have to keep up with current trends. The youth of today are growing up with these type products, and I feel that making our books, and comics accessible through these mediums, keeps our people "in the loop" of modernization.

BPM: Do you think our authors are leaving the same legacy as authors from other generations? 
Yes, and it is about time, that we make our own legacies, so that we help define who we were, are, and will be in history. 

BPM: How may we find out more about your company? 
Keep in touch, and check our web sites often, as we add NEW "Brands" and products into the Future. Visit our all new website: http://tdmcomics.com  

 


Intimate Conversation with Gerald Rice

BPM:  Gerald, tell us a little about yourself and how you began to write.
As a lifelong Detroiter I've always been a little outside. I lived half the time inside my own head. Rather than pay attention in class, I had a horror novel in my hands. I'm a rabid for 80s horror and it was natural for me to write my own version of what I loved seeing on-screen. I got my BA in English in 2006 and I have been published in several e-zines and print mags.


BPM:  What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
As a person? Being a father. I'm in awe at being responsible for a whole human being. As a writer? Creating a whole world where everyone in it literally needs me to survive.

BPM:  How much of what you write reflects on your outlook on life?
Very little. I'm a daydreamer. I daydream things I'd never want to happen most cases, but I think they're interesting.

BPM:  Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?
My mentors are writers like F. Paul Wilson, Stephen King, Al Sarrantonio, Ethan Blacke. I find my inspiration from everything.

BPM:  What three elements complete a formula for Happiness, Success or Freedom?
Achieving a dream, being grounded in reality. earning a check that didn't come from an employer.

BPM:  Introduce us to your book, The Ghost Toucher and the main characters. 
The Ghost Toucher by Gerald Rice--In a world where ghosts are an accepted reality, Stout Roost, reality star and host of the Network's The Ghost Toucher reality series has vanished. But Israel, the spiritual detective they hire, doesn't exactly have a plan to find him. Kelly Greene, a customer service rep, is tapped to assist the detective, but he quickly realizes that as far as unconventional methods go, Israel's are insane. He informs Kelly there is an afterworld and it was already populated by pesky ghosts.

They also hate humans because they eventually become ghosts and are seeking a 'clean' way to exterminate us all. The two learn finding Stout is the least of their worries as they are pursued through metro-Detroit by obsessive compulsive wannabe warriors, mutants who worship an insane deity, weapons from the other side and a mysterious, perpetually pregnant, augmentative woman with a gender complex. 


Kelly Greene- a customer service rep for a fictional network based in Southfield, MI. He's lost his family to a tragic accident a few years earlier and is still wandering aimlessly through life.

Israel- a spiritual detective hired to find the Network's star who has gone missing. His motivations are questionable and he knows a lot more than what he's letting on.

LaGina Densmore- works in the controller's office at the Network. Trying to get info on Stout Roost, the star who's gone missing for a paternity suit she is mounting.

Taze- a rabid drug addict who has figured out how to torture ghosts. Also, thinks he's black.

BPM:  Who are your favorites? Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
Taze and Israel are my favorites only because I really got to let loose with them. They get to say and do things no one else can. Nobody is based on a real person.

BPM:  What role do you give the " mean-spirited" characters? Do you have such characters?
I do have mean characters. One of mine is a main driver of the story. And once his back story is revealed the reader should have at least some sympathy for him. Until they find out what he is ultimately up to.

BPM:  What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book?
I'd found an anthology that was looking for stories about a pig. I don't remember the pig's name but it was a psychopomp. After looking up the meaning of the word an idea began to germinate. But the more and more I wrote the less and less my story had to do with this pig. Then I just decided to write it as a stand-alone story.

BPM:  Take us inside the book. What are two major events taking place? 
One major event is Kelly and Israel trying to locate Stout Roost. But along the way they discover a connection between them that is much deeper than either of them knew. The other major event are creatures from the 'other side' that have crossed over and are seeking something as a means of saving their kind.

BPM:  Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
Anyone who likes 80s horror movies. Anyone who likes a fun read. Anyone who wants to read a book like they've never read before.

BPM:  Share with us your latest news. How can our readers reach you online?
"The Ghost Toucher" should be out in Fall 2010. My website, www.feelmyghost.webs.com  or like The Ghost Toucher Facebook page.

The Ghost Toucher by Gerald Rice
In a world where ghosts are an accepted reality, Stout Roost, reality star and host of the Network's The Ghost Toucher reality series has vanished. But Israel, the spiritual detective they hire, doesn't exactly have a plan to find him. Kelly Greene, a customer service rep, is tapped to assist the detective, but he quickly realizes that as far as unconventional methods go, Israel's are insane. He informs Kelly there is an afterworld and it was already populated by pesty ghosts. They also hate humans because they eventually become ghosts and are seeking a 'clean' way to exterminate us all. The two learn finding Stout is the least of their worries as they are pursued through metro-Detroit by obsessive compulsive wannabe warriors, mutants who worship an insane deity, weapons from the other side and a mysterious, perpetually pregnant, augmentative woman with a gender complex. 

ISBN-10: 0980799627 
ISBN-13: 978-0980799620 
Purchase today at Amazon


Intimate Conversation with M. H. Wesley

Margaret H. Wesley is a native of North Carolina and she has built a home there with her three sons: Jamaal Jr. - eight years old and three year old twins Jamison and Javon. She graduated from North Carolina State University with a B.S. in Business Management. M.H. Wesley has spent most of her career in the banking industry but is now dedicated full time to her craft of writing. Aside from writing she is also passionate about singing and she is an active part of the music ministry at her local church. Her first book, "The Job Experience- My personal testimony of how to face battles and win" is a true story of a trying period in her life and it chronicles how that struggle ultimately propelled her into realizing her purpose. Her biggest hope is that she will show the love of Christ in her everyday life.

BPM: Tell us about your passion for writing? Has this journey been easy? 
Wow!! What a journey I've been on over the past couple of years. I started out as a financial services officer at a credit union and ended up becoming a published author!! I am still amazed at what God is doing in my life and how he is using me to be a blessing to so many people. Besides writing, some of my other hobbies are singing and of course spending time with my sons....Jamaal Jr, and twins Jamison and Javon. I am growing and maturing everyday as a Christian and I am so excited about what the future will hold. I hope you will purchase my book because I believe there is a blessing in it just for you. 

Passion for writing: My first book actually evolved out of writing down all of the experiences I was going through during a particularly difficult time in my life. Every time I wrote I felt liberated and it helped me deal with what I was going through. I realize now that writing is my purpose and I am so passionate about it. Being able to encourage other people is what drives me to continue in my craft. I want "The Job Experience" to give readers the extra push they need to continue on in life's journey. We all face difficulties in life but it is our attitude that makes the difference. That's the message I hope to convey in this book.

BPM: What legacy do you hope to leave with your books?
Legacy: My writing offers the following legacy to future readers....it will allow them to look beyond any difficulties they may face in their own lives, knowing that faith is the compass that will lead them to victory over any obstacle.

BPM: Introduce us to your latest book, The Job Experience.
The Job Experience by M.H. Wesley -- December 23, 2009 was the beginning. I began on a journey that would change my life forever. I was faced with a debilitating illness that no doctor could find the cause for. 

In the early stages of my illness God led me to read the book of Job and he told me that I was going through my own Job experience. He then led me to write down all of my experiences which evolved into this book. I didn't know it then but my illness would catapult me into realizing God's purpose for my life. It is my hope that my experience can inspire someone else to continue trusting God no matter what obstacles they may face. My illness is just one part of this book. I have experienced so many ups and downs and my relationship with God has increased dramatically since this all began. I have learned to lean and depend on God even more and I know that he is always with me no matter how long it takes to come out of my storm. This Job experience is my test to make sure that I am ready and prepared to carry out the call of God on my life.

BPM: Who did you write The Job Experience for and why now?
I wrote this book for any person who has ever had a difficult time in their life. In this book is encouragement, hope and faith in God. If someone is in the midst of a trial this book is essential because it will help them look at their situation in a whole new way. It is packed full of scripture and true stories of how I used those scriptures to give me strength to make it through my own struggle. I believe this book was divinely inspired by God and with so many hurting people out there, I believe God wants us all to know that he has a purpose and plan for all of our lives if we will take the opportunity to listen to his voice. 

BPM: Why was this book, The Job Experience, so important to create? 
This book is a true testament of faith in God and the power it has to change any situation. We can't escape the world we live in. The economy is on a downward spiral. People are still losing their homes and so many people are still unemployed. This book speaks to all those situations. Whatever category you put yourself in, there is a message in this book just for you. When I first starting writing, I didn't realize it would actually turn into a book. Now I realize that my struggle was designed to help so many other people. This story chronicles my journey through an illness but there are so many underlying messages that will encourage anyone to keep their head up and look to God no matter what they face. Even if you are enjoying a season of prosperity in your life you will still be encouraged to appreciate what you have and strive to be the best that you can be.

BPM: How will your book motivate others to live life to the fullest. 
During their journey through this book, the reader will begin to realize that life is too short to take the small things for granted. In a moments notice, tragedy can hit and change your entire life. Just being alive and being able to take care of our families or walk outside and see the sunset are precious moments. My book goes through pain and loss but at the same time, it shows that we should all be grateful for what we do have and take every opportunity to seize the moment.

BPM: What would you say has been your most significant achievement with this book.
I would have to say hearing a person's comments after they have read my book and seeing how much it impacted their lives. I've had so many people tell me how they were struggling with their own situations and after reading my book they were encouraged to move forward. That means more to me than any award or other accolade I will ever receive.

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I want readers to finish my book with a new zeal and thirst for life. I want them to discover purpose and vision for their life and more importantly I want them to develop a more intimate relationship with God.

BPM: Name three things that it takes to make a successful person, in your opinion?
True success to me is first of all measured by a relationship with God. If you don't have God in your life all the accolades and accomplishments really mean nothing. Secondly success to me is doing something that you are passionate about; if you do what you love, you will put everything you have into making it work. Lastly true success is measured by what you give to others. When we give to other people we allow them to see the God that lives on the inside of us and it will propel them to want to know more about Christ, which should be our number one goal as Christians.

BPM: How did you incorporate your love of music into this book?
Gospel music gives me such a connection to God and I used it to help me get through alot of tough times in the book. I would pull up songs on my computer and listen to them over and over and the messages gave me the extra push I needed to keep going and not give up. I am a singer as well and I would sing all of the time and I even began to write my own songs to help keep me encouraged. 

BPM: What can we expect from you in the future?
I am working on my second book which I hope to be finished next year. In the future I want to expand my writing into poetry and children's books. I want to continue to write books that inspire and motivate people. Above all else I want God to be in the forefront of all that I do. Life can be hard sometimes and we all need encouragement and that is what I want all of my literary works to illustrate to my readers

The Job Experience- My personal testimony of how to face battles and win
by M. H. Wesley
Purchase the book, here.
Author website: http://www.mhwesley.com 

Book Review of  The Job Experience by M.H. Wesley
The story of Job in the Bible is one of the greatest examples of the power of faith and what it means to “truly” be a Christian. In this book The Job Experience, M.H. Wesley recounts her battle with illness, inadequate, (and sometimes insensitive), treatment from doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers at all levels, loss of employment, and personal struggle. Unlike many books about such subjects, the tone isn’t one of sadness or defeat, but of joy and victory. 

While this is not a long work in page length, it is a book where every page has power. One of the most powerful passages occurs near the end, and it sums up what the book as a whole is about. It reads: “God wanted to see if he made the right choice. He wanted to make sure that a 31 year old woman born in Cove City, North Carolina was the one who could handle conveying this powerful message. He put me through this Job experience to make sure that I could really trust in him even if I lost everything” (144). When you read this book, you will walk away knowing there is nothing that can’t be endured and overcome. This is a message that will reverberate in your mind and heart for weeks after you’ve read the last page. 

If you have ever experienced moments where you felt like giving up, like everything was working against you, this is a must read. The Job Experience is more than a book about one woman's experience with a debilitating illness; it is a testimony to the power of Family, Faith, and Perseverance. While the author is writing from a Christian point of view, you don't have to be religious to be affected by this work. After reading this, you will feel empowered. This is truly an experience that you will never forget. 

Reviewer Bio: Eunice Hargett is an English Professor at Broward College in Fort Lauderdale Florida. She is the author of two novels: Like Molasses in the Wintertime & Jigsaw. 


Intimate Conversation with Monroe S. Tarver

Monroe S. Tarver is the author and illustrator of Imagia and the Magic Pearls, an exciting adventure portraying the power of imagination. He was born and raised in Georgia, attended Savannah College of Art and Design, and currently resides in Charlotte, NC. Monroe is proud to share African American role models, and to stimulate children to expand and use their imaginative gifts.

BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? Who are your mentors?
My Imagination makes me powerful as a person and a writer. Walt Disney was my biggest mentor. I loved the world he created with his characters and always wanted to create my own world and characters -- ones that came from my imagination.

BPM: Finish this sentence - My writing offers the following legacy to future readers...
My writing helps open the door for fantasy chapter books where dark skinned characters are strong role models.

BPM: Introduce us to your book, Tales from the Mapmaker, Book 1: Imagia and the Magic Pearls.
"Imagia and the Magic Pearls" takes place in Trillow, the land of three suns. The story tells of the Elf Princess, Imagia, who lives in Upper Zembah. She spends all her time studying and has little time for friends. One day she finds a hole in the palace walls and enters the forest, even though she knows this is forbidden. She does find friends there, but has scary adventures as well. During her adventures, Imagia learns the power of imagination as well as some important life lessons.

BPM: Who were your favorites? Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
Of course they are all my favorites, but I really like the Braidworms, Water Ostrich and the Creepod flowers. These creatures help define my world of Trillow and each has his own interesting history. I grew up with braids in my hair, so a creature like the braidworm seems natural in my world.

BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book?
My first trip to Disney world actually changed me forever. I felt so many things were possible.

BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
I believe every child has a pearl (talent). If they allow the wizards (parents, teachers) around them to help them learn as much as they can, then their pearl will become just as powerful as I've made my pearl -- my writing and drawing over the years.

BPM: What are some of their specific issues or problems addressed in Tales from the Mapmaker?
Prior to "Imagia", there's been a dearth of dark-skinned role models in children's literature.

BPM: What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?
There are very few, if any, Classical Fantasy Chapter books for children aged 5 to 9 to read themselves, or for parents to read to younger children. Unlike the one-sitting children's books, chapter books provide small children with a sense of anticipation, as well as a chance to fantasize about what comes next. 

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I want kids to feel free and empowered to develop and use their imagination.

BPM: Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases. 
I'm working on the next book of the Tales From the Mapmaker series ...

BPM: How can our readers reach you online? 
I can be reached at www.worldoftarver.com  or www.talesfromthemapmaker.com 

Tales from the Mapmaker, Book 1: Imagia and the Magic Pearls 
written by Monroe Tarver 




 Intimate Conversation with Evelyn Coleman

Evelyn Coleman, the Edgar nominated, award winning author writes across genres from pictures books, young adult novels to adult thrillers. Her latest books, Freedom Train and the American Girl doll Addy’s new mystery, Shadows on Society Hill have garnered rave reviews. Visit “storylineonline.net” to watch James Earl Jones and Amber Rose Tamblyn reading her books, To Be a Drum & White Socks Only. Coleman is a former Georgia Author of the Year, Atlanta Mayor’s Fellow, Parent’s Choice Award and Carter G. Woodson Honoree and past President of Mystery Writers of America, SE and a member of International Thriller Writers. 

BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
Hmmm the word “power” doesn’t always appeal to me because it implies other ideas I don’t much like but I prefer to think of myself as meaningful. As a writer I hope to bring energy to readers to accomplish things they dream of doing in their own lives. To understand that change is going to happen whether you do what you want or not, so you have nothing to lose when you take chances. 

BPM: Who are your mentors? 
My mother, my deceased father, my daughters….my granddaughter and grandson, many, many “play” sisters and brothers have all mentored who I am. 

BPM: Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... to look behind closed doors, to think deeply about your environment, to take nothing at face value and to know your own path. 

BPM: Introduce us to your book, What a Woman’s Gotta Do. 

What a Woman’s Gotta Do 
Trying to find out why her man did her wrong and who did him in, this woman isn't waiting to exhale--she's ready to fight back. Patricia Conley considers herself to be a brother's worst nightmare. A lifetime of hurt has made her fierce. A lifetime of victories has made her proud. And a whole lot of hope keeps her going. Now Patricia's most daring stab at happiness has come up bad: The man she was supposed to marry has stood her up. Last seen holding hands with another woman, Kenneth Lawson has vanished.

Still reeling from Kenneth's disappearance, Patricia is stunned by a series of macabre discoveries. Her car is found bathed in blood. A woman is found dead. And another too-good-to-be-true brother is offering his services. Suddenly the tough-talking Atlanta journalist doesn't know who to trust. Because in a collision of murder, religion, love, and race, Patricia has learned some extraordinary secrets--some about Kenneth Lawson, a few about herself, and one that the whole world needs to know.

BPM: Who were your favorites in What a Woman’s Gotta Do? 
All the characters appealed to me in one way or the other. Are your characters from the portrayal of real people? No, not really, they are all made up, of course, they are similar composites of people that I have known in my life on some level reflected in this story.

BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book? 
I have always loved “espionage thrillers” and that has been the books I read the most but when it came time to write my own book it seemed everyone was in love with Terry McMillan’s style….(not to infer that this was her only style) so I sat out to mimic that style. When I gave it to one of my best friends and readers Pat Carr, she scoffed. “You are so far from Terry McMillan – sorry but you have penned another thriller type story.” At first I was sad that I couldn’t do the more popular type book, but then I shrugged and begin to just write what I know…. Espionage type thriller books. 

BPM: Take us inside the book. What are two major events taking place? 
Patricia Conley, a journalist doesn’t believe in love or marriage so when she falls for her live-in lover and accepts a proposal of marriage, she is as surprised as her friends… But on her wedding day, her lover stands her up and is spotted shortly after in a restaurant holding hands with a woman…. This begins the spiral of betrayal, mystery and adventure for Patricia as she tries to unravel all the obstacles to find her man. The second major event is her going to the monastery.

BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within? 
I want to reach all people who love a good thriller. One of the best compliments I received was from a dissatisfied reader on Amazon. I paraphrase here but essentially she complained that the book moved too fast, too many twist and turns and you don’t find out what is the problem until the end of the book. Duh. 

BPM: How will reading What a Woman’s Gotta Do shape the readers lives? 
Hopefully it will open minds to all the scientific experiments and discoveries that are taking place under the radar, ones that will ultimately affect their lives.

BPM: What are some of their specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book? 
How science affects our daily existence. How much the Dogon in Africa contributed to our understanding of the world. And how important it is to pay attention to not only what you do but what others you don’t know do as well. 

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book? 
Insight, inquisitiveness, thoughtful reading habits and a better understanding of martial arts and the Dogon of West Africa. 

BPM: What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject? 
There are no other thrillers on this subject. In fact when I contacted Marcel Griaule’s daughter Genevieve (both French anthropologists who studied the Dogon extensively) she cried, stating she had been waiting all her life for an African American to take more interest in the Dogon. Of course, she meant popular interest I’m sure as there were already a few African American scholars who studied the Dogon. And one of the happiest moments of my career was to hear from a Dogon scholar who said I truly “nailed” the Dogon in this book and their cosmogony.

BPM: Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases. 
I am pondering what to write next. I have to have a subject matter that is not widely known, intriguing and has the potential to affect the world at large. It has been over ten years since I wrote What a Woman’s Gotta Do and I still hear from readers asking me when I am writing another book. All I can say is when the time is ready the story will come….I sure hope it’s soon though.

BPM: How can our readers reach you online?
Website: www.evelyncoleman.com.  There are still great reviews about What a Woman’s Gotta Do online at: http://www..writerswrite.com/journal/apr98/coleman.htm  and at http://aalbc.com/books/whata.htm 

My latest book, The Freedom Train is available in bookstores. Get your copy today! Also pick up, Shadows on Society Hill, American Girl, Addy's new mystery....nominated for an Edgar Award. What a Woman's Gotta Do, my adult thriller, is still available at http://www.randomhouse.com.  White Socks Only, To Be a Drum and the Riches of Oseola McCarty all are also available. 

Also check out my friends Angela Benson, Angela Medearis, Nancy Tolson, Linda Trice, Eleanora Tate, Irene Smalls & Margaret Johnson Hodge's books. Looking for a storyteller try LaDoris Bias Davis at www.ladorisstoryexpress.com . 


Intimate Conversation with Andrea Clinton

Andrea Clinton is a novelist, poet and essayist, and aspiring screenwriter/filmmaker. As a Montclair State University graduate, she posses’ a degree in English, Film and Journalism. She’s the founder and CEO of the non-profit organization, People Helping People; worked as Editor in Chief of AMISTAD newspaper, New Jersey; and is presently working on a biography and screenplay featuring the life of her uncle George Clinton of Parliament/Funkadelic and the Clinton family. 

BPM: Tell us about your passion for writing. Why do you write? What drives you? What impact do you want your book to make on the readers?
What drives me is my passion for story telling and entertaining the readers or listeners (I've been summoned to randomly make up and tell stories). I write to enlighten or to pull the readers coattail to an issue or subject matter. I pray the impact that my books have on readers is that: The upper class begin to learn and are introduced to the other classes and what they live and experience, why they make the decisions they make, etc.; I give the middle class a chance to learn not to look down their noses at the poor or lower class, but have a respect for their struggle and to recognize that they are being played in the game as well. 

I also give the less fortunate a chance to not revere the upper class so much, as their problems are as great as their money. My writing offers the lower class a way to reach for the stars by obtaining KNOW-HOW. I teach them how to work hard to maintain that sense of "down-to-earthness" we posses, that the other classes wish they had and seek, but can't find because of the airs they put on and their ongoing evil to maintain what they have. I want to show the poor or lowered class that we really aren't missing as much as we believe, and we're much happier than we think.

BPM: Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
Realness with an understanding that: Our upbringing/what and how we're taught, our environment, innate qualities that we get thru genetics or are God given, instincts and drives such as Self preservation and Desires all play a role in how we turn out, how we think and the decisions we make. We have to look at all of these things and decide who we will be, hopefully enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong.

BPM: Introduce us to your new book, Life Knows No Bounds: One Who Loves You More.
The book is about Alisa, a money grubbing gold digger who's following in the foot steps of the older girls who came before her. She's got several men thinking she's their woman, and when one drops her off at home, another picks her up.

She has gold, diamonds, money and more, but when her family gets on her case about the trouble it's causing, Alisa decides to get her one man with riches to take care of her, thus Omar. Omar has his own issues trying to stop hustling drugs and going back to being the Muslim he grew up as without the street troubles, but when he and Alisa come together, it's like clash of the titans and he loses his focus. Then, Hell erupts in, "Life Knows No Bounds: One Who Loves You More."

BPM: Introduce us to your main characters in One Who Loves You More. 
Alisa is the main character and she is a hand full. She's not too long out of high school and acting a fool. She thinks she's grown but has much the behavior of a young minded girl in a woman's body. She shares her mind set with you but this doesn't make her inviting. She is who she is, young and dumb. But, you couldn't tell her that because she is head strong in what she feels, but is always contradicting herself with her behavior and her tongue lashes that cut like a knife. She doesn't want to face that she loves Omar because in her mind, she's still a gold digger; no strings attached and still tries to wear this title like a tiara.

BPM: Who were your favorites? Are your characters from the portrayal of real people? 
Omar was probably my favorite, he and Man-Man; I loved their friendship and dedication to having a true and real friend. I made them alike so that they would appreciate that about themselves. Omar is like most of us, succumbing to his environment but knowing he can do better and wants to do better, but stuck in the game because it's all he knew for over 10 years or so. Man-Man seems so “street” you think he just doesn't care, but, he wants peace, just doesn't know how to get it, feels trapped and never shows what he's really thinking or feeling. But they both accept where they are and have each others back while there. 

Man-Man is much like my brother Salaam, he's dead - was murdered. You could never know when he was up to something or not because like Billy the Kid, he always had this little laugh or smirk. When Omar is mad, he bites down on his jaw bone and you see the veins in his head pop out, but when Man-Man is mad, he does this little giggle, like, "hmmp - hmm hmm!" 

Omar, I created from a character I felt I could see my friend Sean Blakemore play. Sean is an actor who played in "Motives I & II" with Vivica Fox and "Restraining Order" with Robins Givens. I always wanted to make this book into a play and maybe even an HBO or SHOWTIME (or some other cable channel) series. So, I tried to envision Sean as Omar, especially since he inspired me to add more male characters and said he was down to play the role.

BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? Who are your mentors?
I would say as a person, Islam humbles me and any power I feel should probably be interpreted as blessed. As a writer, my professors back at college who helped me to think of the type of writer I wanted to be and if I wanted to be put in a little box or write creatively in many genres, they are my mentors. A good professor shows you paths and gives you one to grow on; they should mentor. My mentors are my professors I listed in my book and people I barely met like Whoopi Goldberg who graduated from Montclair State University with her masters when I graduation with my BFA. The words she spoke reminded me of the obstacles to come and helped me to set my mind straight to continue full steam ahead and not listen to naysayers, and as she emphasized, "Know that they are coming."

BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book?
There were too many young girls out there using men for money. Like the main character, they use men so much it's almost a form of prostitution, but they don't see it that way as they may never have sex with these men, just use them for what they can get from them.


BPM: Take us inside the book. What are two major events taking place? 
I would like to say, when Alisa and Omar decide there is definitely something there, and speak to each other with their eyes just after he gave her his leather trench; and a cross between when he addresses her about another guy and/or when they have it out at her house. I say that part because it reminds me of so many relationships where we allow our emotions to make us stubborn and hide how we really feel, and we end up not giving in to our mate and are left sad and alone.

BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
All the girls out there using men for money like it's a profession. They need to know the dangers of such Ways of life. I could tell you some despicable situations women have gotten themselves into messing with men in such fashions.

BPM: How will reading your book shape the readers lives? 
It will give young girls something to think about. The book challenges girls to consider getting an education; get your own money instead of using men for their money and suffering what there is to suffer, because, there is a price to pay.

BPM: What are some of their specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book?
I guess using men for money is a quick resolve to being poor or getting the things they want. With sex so free - for - all these days, some of them look at it like a quick harmless gain if they do partake in sex for money. But majority in this new game they play are not having sex with these men they make their mark. They instead make the man think they're his woman, and then get that money, jewelry, credit cards, etc. And it's dangerous because these men REALLY think these girls are their woman, their mate. 

To top it all off, the girls have rules also. Three, four or six months tops. Then, they find some ill excuse to drop them and get a new sucker. Because there was no sex involved, meaning he waited on her, a lot of the men take it personal and feel played and some have been known to be dangerous.

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
Enlightenment; enlightenment on the dangers of playing around with people's emotions, etc. When you put the book down, walk away feeling like, "What? Wow! That's an aspect I haven't heard of, thought about, seen in a while, etc." 
I want them to feel like they gained something that can help them or help them, help someone else. Really, I want them to sit as many young girls/women down and like they used to say in the '70's, "Tell 'em like it is!" Let them know feelings are precious and not to be taken lightly. Get your own! Get a degree; get a trade.

BPM: What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?
I don't know; I think I might, might help the reader experience the characters instead of just reading about them and saying, "Oh, that Omar is something else" or "Alisa is a trip." Because Alisa has a lot of crap with her; she's no walk in the park. But the readers will experience her and what she's going through even when they don't agree with her or understand fully what the heck she's doing or her motives. Omar, you can't help but love him, and I did that on purpose. He's much like my brother, he and Man-Man in the sense that they are lovable people, but out there doing wrong, and you hope they get it together before it's too late. For my brother, it was too late; let's see how it goes with Omar or Man-Man. 

But you don't just read this; you feel this in your chest at times. I've had some tell me as they read the chapters, they went through so many emotions from chapter to chapter and sometimes from page to page. That's the Realism genre. Real stuff making you feel mad, glad, happy or sad for the characters. Naturalism stems from Realism and Naturalism, which is the basis of the book, shows the character's self-preservation/greed drive, hustling and their desires via their attraction to one another throughout. 

And, the reader feels it, gets goose bumps or chills, and is excited to move on in the book hoping Alisa get's hers, hoping Omar get's a grip. But it's all thru the emotional aspects of the novel, not just the words on the page. I believe it's heart felt and how I arrived there, or so I've been told, was, I wrote it with the flow of a soap opera in my head. I took myself through all of that drama just to appease my readers.


BPM: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. 
We're about to launch our newspaper again, this will help us to contribute to supporting the hard working authors, artist, actors, and so on, as well as keep our community up on the news around the world. I think the reward right now is to be exposed to so many opportunities. I think I'll be even more rewarded when I began speaking engagements, speaking to the youth and young girls and women about this new trend. 

Upcoming releases: There's the second book in the "Life Knows No Bounds" chronicle titled, "A Blessing and A Curse," then there is a non-fiction book on Writing. So many students in high school and college are having a hard time writing properly; scoring low on SAT's and essays and research papers in school. So, I want to shed light on that. I have a writing component I used with my students and they still email me today saying Thank You because it helped them with their college writing. Those books will be forthcoming in the Spring season 2011. By fall I pray to have a book done on Critical and Analytical Thinking for tests, decision making and life. I don’t know, maybe I'll make it three different books since a book on life would take on a life of its own.

To request a complimentary review copy and press kit, or to purchase copies for resale, call: (973) 280-2729. Tear sheets may be sent by email: AroundTheWayPub@aol.com.  

 


Intimate Conversation with Nancy Sellers O’Bryan

Nancy M. Sellers O’Bryan, author extraordinaire in the making, is mastering her authentic author skills through the books she writes. She uses her real life experiences to speak change in her books. Through the Eyes of a Woman Scorned is her third book that tackles the promiscuity rampage the world is on. Who told us sex was love-Jesus is love!

BPM: Introduce us to your book, Through the Eyes of a Woman Scorned.
When I write I use topics based on my life, changing any tragedy into a success because of who I serve, who is Jesus Christ. I always have been a compassionate person and I love people! In spite of the contrary it appears God has a purpose for me so when I encounter women, men or who ever that has a need, I tend use my life as an example to encourage them to make it! Through The Eyes of a Woman Scorned was named just that because I once was a woman scorned by men, my own personal mistakes, errors in life etc. I take the readers into a place in my mind where I had agendas of my own, had no morals, standards and could care less about others because of my pain. 

I want my readers to embrace my pain, my change, and most of all my triumph where I allowed Jesus Christ to become my 1st love. He healed my heart, saved my soul and there the journey began to help others and be attentive to their needs through my books. So many people, when they experience the struggle think it's only them going through it. I am here to let them know, they aren't alone. I lived a promiscuous lifestyle for so many years looking for love that I didn't get from my father, using that for an excuse not to live, although in the home he refused to fill that emptiness I was feeling. So throughout my life, I searched for that filling through other men. Having never found it or been taught to know what it was when I did get it from my current husband. It was through Christ and the healing and deliverance that had to take place and still is taking place when I write another book is when I am understanding my greatest gift of change through my life. When I see a book come in the mail with name on it, that's change.

Back of the cover: Through the Eyes of a Woman Scorned
The Damaged…Sometimes single women have needs and not desires. She wants her physical need to be met and that's it. LOVE?... What is love you may ask? No one talks about that anymore because the sex drive has taken over. It's become an obsession and people have turned love into a curse so to speak. No one wants to be in love. Why? It's become all about personal gain. Some women have adopted the term "Super Woman" and don't need a man, but we all know that's not true. The heartache from failed relationships makes a woman feel superior and we close our hearts to love. Long ago, love got us through anything. Your life will never be the same after you read this. Christ is the lover of our soul. Trust God for your mate. This is what happens through the eyes of a woman scorned.

Stacia Williams is a woman scorned who has encountered heartache, one after another. She has had her bought with the “L” word -love, but what has that gotten her, a broken-heart, bitterness, and she's become selfish. Who has time for love and marriage? These types of morals don't exist in her world. She has one son, and she's a successful lawyer who has the partners eating out of her hand, literally. I know you are kind of wondering, how this came about. Well, men have done it for years, so why can't women? And so for Stacia, she has become a bitter woman in desperation; wanting control and sexual desire. These are the only things on her mind, but God see's the heart of every man, woman, boy and girl. So do you think love is in her future? Sure, after God knocks on her heart and comes in to sooth the very burden that lays inside of her. Yet, unable to trust anyone except her best friend Kenya, the journey begins because love don’t live here anymore.

BPM: Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
Yes the main character is a young lady who moved to another state to become a leader in professional career but along with wanting a change in surroundings, trying to run, she just adapted to her old behavior in a new surrounding. 

BPM: What inspired you to write this story, Through the Eyes of a Woman Scorned?
My life and the many young girls under the age of 18 with 2 or more babies. Because someone said (If you love me, have sex with me) But never said I want you to be my wife, I will love if you don't, or I can wait or better yet do you know Jesus? That's my goal to help everyone not just women cause men think laying it down is love or have no concept of what Love is. So I take my life and become transparent to help others and allow Christ to become a tool somewhere in the book.

BPM: What issues in today's society have you addressed in the book?
Promiscuity in today's society. We know what Christ said about pre-marital sex but society seems to think it's okay to sleep with other people's husband's or wives with no consequences. Not so because for everyone person you sleep with spiritual you have introduced another soul tie and society has lost its moral of respect for marriage and abstaining in general because people feel if you aren't having sex with as many people as possible you are a dud. I believe that if I had kept my legs closed, hadn't been raped or molested I probably wouldn't have endured so much but because I did my books and my story are my victory.

BPM: Why did you decide to pick the self-help genre for your book?
I write Self Help, Empowerment, and Urban Christian Novels based on real life events with fictional characters, well I love God, there's no way around that. I have experienced enough to know that through it, God was there to bring me out. And because of that my life is the help people need.

BPM: What is your most valuable lesson about the publishing industry?
That I needed to stop being fearful and learn yet another thing for it to happen for me. I self published and then found a publisher with no success in promoting but I learned to search for people who have the same vision and will be there. I also strongly stand by a mans word. Not meaning a man but a person who gives me their word and if they can't keep it I keep it moving with no hard feelings. No one can stop my success because my destiny was written before I was born through God. And lastly, keep searching for the right publisher. Don't stop when they say no or fall through.

BPM: What writers inspire you and why?
Right now I am reading more as well as writing still, Juanita Bynum in spite of her public issues, she still seeks God when she comes back from a drama filled situation. We fall down but we get up is the perfect song to describe her. No matter she's gone through she got back up.

BPM: What did you hope to accomplish by writing this particular story?
I desire women and men, young and old, to re-evaluate their body, their particular lifestyles, who they are, and what makes them them. I desire to see lives changed, see people GROW through the hurt, the devastation and persevere and be BETTER than they were. 

BPM: Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases.
Through The Eyes of a Woman Scorned is my latest release, I am interviewing with Dr. Alvin WCBQ-AM 1340 WHNC-AM 890. I am interviewing on BTR with MingleZone Network and Nesheba of Espirit as well. I am working on my own magazine featuring a number of people with stories of survival and works of accomplishment. I want to see you in it as well launching April 2011 running quarterly (lol). 

I am just doing as many functions regarding the book as possible in the last few months, and next year. The stage play for this book is being written and produced by a wonderful producer (Mr. Darryl Banks) independent filmmaker. Look for this play by the end of 2010-2011. View my website for more details and events: www.bondagetofreedom.com  

Through The Eyes Of A Woman Scorned
by Nancy M. Sellers O'Bryan
ISBN-10: 0982649088 
ISBN-13: 978-0982649084 
Author website: www.bondagetofreedom.com   

 


Intimate Conversation with Adolphus Herndon

Born and raised in northeast Texas, Adolphus Herndon spent many years of his adult life doing nothing but surviving day to day. Working mediocre jobs and reared in an environment where people thought a couple of dollars above minimum wage was “making it”, he wasted time doubting his abilities of becoming an author. When his frustration factor finally eclipsed his fear factor, he said a little prayer and started scribbling and scrabbling to fulfill his life-long passion. Five Thin Slices of Truth is his first published book. 

BPM: Introduce us to your book, Five Thin Slices of Truth. 
Five Thin Slices of Truth is not your typical novel because it is not a novel. It comprises three short stories plus two novellas. Each story is independent and exclusive but the entire project is spawned from controversial real-life issues dealing with sexuality, religious dogma and faith, psychotic behavior, self-denial, racism and patriotism. 

BPM: Who were your favorites? Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
Of course since this is not a typical novel it would be unfair to say which of “my children” are my favorites. My sister and mother have read my book—and they are not avid readers period—anyway, throughout their readings they’d call me and ask if this situation of that character is real, or if it was me. I laugh it off because I believe all fictional stories derive from [to pun] “slices of truth” from all authors, whether that truth is direct, tangible experience, or indirect. I must say that I have an extremely vivid imagination and have been blessed with the ability to grossly exaggerate a situation, an event, a news story, or even a phrase. For the sake of my book, Five Thin Slices of Truth, all my characters, situations and settings are by and large fiction. 

BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? Who are your mentors?
a.1. I love this question! What makes me powerful is my stubborn, persistent attitude. If any of my family and friends hear this, they would laugh and nod their heads in agreement. Also, my faith. True-to-life example: I am a new self–published author. Before I realize all the work that it takes to get published, I truly believe that my book will do very well. Now one may call that over confident, but I understand that in order for me to back those words up, I will have to be on my grind. To be totally honest, I have discovered that the real work was not the creation of my stories, (the editing, re-editing, rewriting, photo and cover designs, structure and organizing). 

No, no, no, the real work is the business side of getting it out to the masses. This means I will have to uncomfortably meet with media, attend events, and speak out to do all the PR and marketing that is totally essential for success. The bottom line, I believe all artists prefer to do their art more so than all the administrative, managing, accounting and all the pieces of business. Business is not the art, it is the necessity to continue the success of the art. Self-publishing is very fatiguing and cumbersome, however, I sometimes don’t realize it because I am so on fire, doing that which I actually like. 

a.2. This leads me to the second part of the question as to what makes me a powerful writer. Simply, I love to write good fiction and I like to image where in the world, time of day and type of persons actually reading my works of fiction. As of now and as an independent writer, I have more of a lee-way to write without much big-publication interference. Now I cannot say that will always be the case in the future. What makes me a powerful writer is my desire to write and the fact that I am motivated by readers who are tantalized for more of my talent. 

b. My mentors: My unofficial mentors are, Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich, Rhonda Byrne’s The Secret, and the legendary author, Walter Mosley. 

BPM: Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... insatiable and “edu-taining” fiction.

BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book?
To write has always been a desire. I feel it has been a calling that I have been ignoring for years. I believe it was when I turned thirty that I practically woke up everyday asking myself, “Is today the day you will began to write?” Some years later after thirty, I went to the church at the time I was a member and I received my revelation. 

I was sitting in the pews amongst approximately 200 congregates, and I could almost swear the preacher was speaking directly to me. His sermon or teaching was about staying focused, conquering fears and fulfilling life destiny. He stated that too many Christians are satisfied with less and denying their God gifted talents, yet they are eewing and ahhing over people whom they believe are lucky and more fortunate. He broke it down and basically said, while most people would watch the idiot box for hours, run the streets, or gossiping, those who did not indulge in those unproductive behaviors became successful because they worked what God had placed inside of them, their gifts. Therefore, we are in awe of their results when it should be us. 

BPM: Take us inside the book, Five Thin Slices of Truth. What are two major events taking place?
When you crack open the book, I intentionally created stories that would make it difficult to put the book down. Instead of just two major events, the reader will journey into five different worlds dealing with sexuality, self-identity issues, spirituality and faith, racism and stereotypes and patriotism. All five stories are exclusive and independent. They have their own alphas and omegas. 

BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
I created the stories based on situation that I desire to influence an outcome:
Story 1, Me and My House: Upon the conclusion, one would have to question their own spirituality and religious commitment.

Story 2, Before the Morning After: The bottom line is be yourself or else face the consequences.

Story 3, The Rant of Roymon Bivens: The reader will interpret many different messages from this is story. However, the bottom line is don’t be quick to judge because the enemy can use those stereotypes to deceive the masses.

Story 4, Purple Hurt: This novella has two messages. First, it is about patriotism and heroism from an unlikely person. Second, the don’t ask, don’t tell policy doesn’t matter. How ironic that I’d write a story and publish at a time where our President of these United States is working on a plan to repeal the policy. This story is chic and hot, and I really believe it is unique to the current political climate.

Story 5, Angel on a Fire: This story is basically about doing for others results in the ultimate pleasure and satisfaction. To deny that fact means picking up bad habits, addictions and bad philosophies about life and people. 

BPM: How will reading your book shape the readers lives?
People will either see themselves, someone they know, or both. Either way, they will enjoy it because it is in-your-face entertainment. 

BPM: What are some of their specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book? 
Religious dogma and faith, self-denial and trying to play cards that have not been dealt to you, the desire to serve this great nation should not be limited based on sexual orientation, and there’s no reward in being self-centered behavior; and be careful when judging people.

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book? 
To be entertained and to understand that although the issues are based on slices of truth, please enjoy good fiction.

BPM: What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?
For a debut publication, I have a compilation of various genres and subject matters: thrill and suspense, dark comedy, melo-drama all into various subject matters (sexuality, religious, identity, etc.).

BPM: Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases. 
This is just published, approx. 3 months ago and I pray for its success and I pray for it to be nominated for awards. We have also released an eBook version of this book that can be read on a Kindle, PC, iPhone, and iPod touch. The eBook is titled Five Thin Slices of Truth: Kindle eBook Edition and is available at Amazon.com for only $9.95 compared to $14.95 for the print edition.

BPM: How can our readers reach you online? 
You can reach us through www.adolphusherndon.com,  buy the book and post comments on Amazon.com and follow me at www.twitter.com/AdolphusHerndon  and www.myspace.com/adolphusherndon  

Contact Information:
Adolphus Herndon
c/o Czar Struck LLC
P.O. Box 2254, Center, TX 75935
Website: www.adolphusherndon.com



Intimate Conversation with Gertrude J. Chapman


Gertrude J. Chapman is an Expert Motivational Speaker, Radio Host and Author whose focus is centered on encouraging people to live the life they were created to live. The motivational messages inspire individuals to elevate their minds, by offering messages of hope. Stop settling and start living!  The topics challenge the audience to reprogram their minds, take charge of their lives, believe in themselves and experience breakthroughs.

BPM: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
I am confident in my gifts, talents and abilities, because it is my purpose in life to motivate others to greatness. It is what lights me up. I find joy in encouraging others to find their purpose. The joy of seeing someone connecting with their dream from reading my book or after attending one of my conferences is my inner strength. 

As a creative person once I realized that I can create my own world I wanted to share with everyone that they can do the same. My power lies in my experiences how I was able to turn unfavorable situations around, by choosing to change some things in my life.  From those experiences that are tried and proven I am able to show others what they can do to bring changes to their lives. Experience gives me power to boldly show someone that there is hope and not to settle for less. 

BPM: Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?
My mentors are Oprah Winfrey and Tyler Perry. In some ways I can identify with them, because I have gone through some extremely hard places in my life. 

In spite of their early misfortunes they endeavored to make something happen in their lives. Oprah grew up in abject poverty to become one of the most successful women in the world. Tyler fought his way from being homeless to write and produce many top grossing films.  These two people I most admire, because they found within themselves power to rise up from their situations and walk in their high callings. They use the low places in their lives to bring joy to others through their inspiration and unselfish love to bring hope to people around the globe.

I too find inspiration in helping others. If I can show someone who is struggling how to succeed in life that is what inspires me. Inspiring others gives me life and fuels me to continue to reach beyond and deep within myself to pull out golden nuggets to advance another person toward their goal in life. It bothers me to see people living below their potential. Everyone has a purpose and many people have yet to realize their dreams. Helping someone to realize their dream and stop living paycheck to paycheck is what lights me up. 


BPM: Introduce us to Motivation From Within: Leveraging Your Power.
“Motivation From Within…Leveraging Your Power,” will show you how anyone can rise up from severe circumstances and be the person they were destined to be.

As you read this book you will be motivated to unpeel yourself from the inside out and step outside of the walls of your comfort zone. Remember when you were a child you would imagine yourself being what was in your heart. You saw yourself laughing, talking and planning all though the images you created in your mind, but what happened?

What caused those precious ideas to drift back behind the curtains of your soul? Have you ever thought what it would be like to accomplish your desires and follow those dreams? Tap into that slight gleam of hope buried on the inside of you and push your way through the clutter. Whatever dysfunctional atmosphere that shadows you under its cloud will have to release you. Remember, when things seem the darkest in your life, know this, these are the keys which stirs you to greatness.

BPM: What specific situation prompted you to write Motivation From Within: Leveraging Your Power?
I wrote this book to show people that there is nothing impossible to them. Especially now when so many people have lost their jobs and homes. I felt that this was a time to encourage them not to throw in the towel and give up. Each person has a purpose and can use their gifts, talents and abilities to live the life of their dreams without the stress. 

It is not about depending on someone else, or what is outside of them; everything that they need is within them. I wanted to show a person that there is greatness on the inside of each individual to live their life to the fullest. I believe that when someone is aligned with their purpose and/or dream in life there is no struggling. 

BPM: Take us inside the book. What are two major events taking place? 
The two major events taking place is showing a person how to elevate their mind to align with their dream and bring stability to their thinking pattern.

To show an individual that they can change their life whenever they make a decision that allows for no turning back. The power lies within and is there to move a person into their destiny.

BPM: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
I want to reach everyone who is frustrated with their current living conditions and looking to elevate themselves to live according to their desires. 

If someone is asking: 
•How to affirm myself?
•How to reprogram my mind from thinking negative?
•How to recapture my dreams?
•How to be the master of my own destiny?
•How to take charge of my life?
•How to become more powerful, more determined and more focused than ever before?
•How to believe in me when no one else does?
•How to finally trust my own intuitions?

BPM: How will reading your book shape the readers lives?
After reading “Motivation From Within: Leveraging Your Power,” the readers will experience more confidence, because they will be realigned on the path to their purpose. They will begin to physically see doors of opportunity open for them, by implementing a few simple things. 

BPM: What are some of the specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book?
•How to get rid of fear, by using it as a stepping stone
•Recognizing distractions and how to turn your situation around
•How not to allow limitations to hinder your progress, by elevating your mind to believe the impossible and pull your destiny into your future

BPM: What was the most powerful chapter in the book?
The most powerful chapter in the book is Chapter 7: Live Out Loud in Power and Authority. That phrase speaks volumes, because it will show a person that no matter what the situation they can have the final say so. A person will recognize who they are and the power and authority that resides on the inside of them and watch their life change for the good.

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I want readers to come away empowered to live the life that they so desire. To stop settling for less than their worth and recognize that they are somebody no matter where they have come from or where they currently find themselves in life. 

No one is an afterthought, but each person is a unique individual with unique qualities to be a world-changer. Readers will be challenged to allow their gifts, talents and abilities to make a difference in another person’s life to enable that individual to rise to the occasion.

BPM: What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?
This is my purpose and passion to take from my experiences and struggles in life to bring fulfillment to another. Through my writing there is power. Writing and speaking are my gifts and have the ability to propel the reader or listener to another level, only if that individual believes and has a desire to change.

So, I do not compare myself to others I am just doing what I was created to do and that is to be able to motivate people through my writing and speaking. I am just trying to reach people who I am destined to reach and share my unique abilities.

BPM: Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases.
I used “Motivation From Within: Leveraging Your Power,” Book Launching Celebrations a motivator to ignite the dreams in others. Especially in our studio, our guests came away with much needed information to help them in their endeavors. We are still receiving emails from this event.

There are several major projects in the works. If you would like to find out more information about our events you can join our Monthly Newsletter http://bit.ly/9iQQAf 

BPM: How can our readers reach you online? Share with us your online contact info. 

Gertrude J Chapman
Expert Motivational Speaker, Radio Host, Author
http://yourturningpoint.info 
http://blogtalkradio.com/your-turning-point 

Purchase from Amazon, Motivation From Within: Leveraging Your Power 

Please contact me for additional questions or to schedule a date or time to speak with Mrs. Chapman 
Visit http://www.yourturningpoint.info/PressKit.html  


Author Sharon R. Wells Draws on Her Past 
to Create a Resource Guide for Sexual Abuse Victims

Last year was a landmark year for Sharon R. Wells. One year ago she created a business called Angel Wings Publications, LLC, and a website designed to empower and educate victims who suffer a wide range of repercussions resulting from sexual abuse. 

Today she celebrates the one-year anniversary of her organization at the same time that she anticipates the publication of her first book, "Without Permission." "Without Permission" is a candidly-written story of the many problems Wells has suffered, all of them the result of the sexual abuse she experienced as a child. 

Book and Website Helps Victims, Friends and Families Struggling
 with the Effects of Sexual Abuse 

The mission of her website and her book is both simple and critically important - to build the awareness that can help prevent sexual abuse in the future. 

"I decided to open up and tell my story in the hopes that it may help spare others the pain of sexual abuse," Wells stated. "I have had the opportunity to speak at a few panel discussions. I look forward to other such speaking engagements in the future. My most important goal is to encourage victims to break their silence and begin to heal. I also hope to educate and inform people so that they may recognize the various signs of potential abuse and hopefully prevent other children from becoming victims too." 

She has published her introduction along with the first chapter of "Without Permission" on her website as a free resource to people needing help. For people who wish to know her entire story, the book will soon be available at www.angelwingspublications.com  for $15. 

"It is my fondest hope that 'Without Permission' will inform people about the effects of sexual abuse and encourages sexual abuse survivors to heal," said Wells. "I also believe my website can be a wonderful resource for victims and the people who love them. If my book and website can make a difference in just one person's life, then it will all be worth it." 

Further information about Sharon R. Wells, her website and "Without Permission" is available online at http://www.angelwingspublications.com  


Sharon R. Wells, is a writer, entrepreneur, survivor and advocate of sexual abuse prevention and awareness. It has been her determination, unwavering faith and perseverance that has helped her to overcome many challenging obstacles in her life. She has written heartfelt, spiritual and inspirational essays during her healing journey. This has inspired her to create Angel Wings Publications, LLC, to help victims find strength, hope and courage to begin their healing process. 

Sharon presently works as an executive liaison for a prestigious fortune five hundred company located in New York City. Over the past few years, she has achieved a certification in Human Resource Management and is also a certified rape crisis advocate. 

Book Excerpt: Without Permission A Spiritual Journey of Healing
http://www.angelwingspublications.com/?page=news&id=977 

"Without Permission" is my personal story of how I have survived child sexual abuse and my journey towards healing, forgiveness and finding inner-peace. 

As I look back at the turbulence in my life which stemmed from sexual abuse, it lead me down a path of self-destructive behavior. It included drug abuse, relationship and trust issues with family and friends. Not to mention, the long list of typical effects that this particular type of abuse tends to spawn. 

In addition, are stories of courageous survivors who share their stories on how they have overcome their trauma and began to heal. The stories of victims may differ in various ways, but the root of the problem is still the same. I share these thoughts with those who seek comfort and closure. This problem can torment the victim from childhood throughout their adult lives. This is a sensitive issue, and for those who have been affected, this may open a door where you find courage to seek help and support. This is an issue that must be addressed, and up until now, has had a lack of exposure. It is time to unveil the secrets without shame or fear, and trust that God will help you find inner peace.

Angel Wings Publications, LLC
Sharon R. Wells, Author & Founder
P.O. Box 96 
Vauxhall, NJ 07088
sharon@angelwingspublications.com  

 


Intimate Conversation with Nanette M. Buchanan

Nanette M. Buchanan was born, raised and educated in Newark , New Jersey. After graduating from Arts High School in Newark she attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick , New Jersey . It was then that she first set her pen to pad, written expressions of her love for poetry.  She is a proud mother, wife and grandmother, now residing in Somerset , New Jersey . Nanette is employed with the State of New Jersey within the Department of Corrections. This dynamic author is looking forward to making writing a full time career after retiring from her current position with the State of New Jersey .

Nanette’s first published work and debut novel was “Family Secrets…Lies & Alibis.”  Since then the publication of the sequel, “A Different Kind of Love” and the release of her first volume of poetry, “Thoughts” an e-book hit the market.  In October of 2009, Nanette’s murder mystery, “Bruised Love” was released.  It is her goal to become a successful author without limits.  Writing and producing plays that feature her poems as well as adaptations of her novels on the “big screen.”   

Nanette is a member of Shared Thoughts Book Club and Authors Supporting Authors.  She is the hostess of ASA’s Blog Talk Internet Radio Show which broadcasts each month interviewing authors, discussing literary events, publications and book promotions.  The author is available for personal appearances, chats and signings.

Ella: Nanette, introduce us to your new book, Bruised Love.
Cassandra Smith, Mary Smith, Trevor Black, Lamont Dearling and the others, take the reader through pages of a riveting story of love, betrayal and murder. 

Bruised Love Introduction:  “When love leaves a bruise, does it ever heal?”  The answer is show in the lives of the characters introduced in this dramatic novel.  

Cassandra Smith, who left home for love, finds herself accepting abuse.  She has returned home to find her internal strength.  Mary Smith realizes her love for her daughter, Cassandra, has been smothered by her hatred for Trevor Black, the lover her daughter chose.  She must rekindle their severed relationship before it’s too late.  Lamont Dearling has been warned, “A woman who has been abused, can never understand real love.”, but nothing including Trevor Black will keep him from pursuing his childhood sweetheart, Cassandra Smith.  Trevor Back, the abusive love and part time father of Cassandra’s four children, has found he is no longer on top of his “game”.  His abusive dealings on the street, other women and now Cassandra has caused problems that bring deadly consequences.  

Ella: What inspired you to write this story, Bruised Love?
A.  I believe I wrote this story to rid a part of my feelings that I experienced off and on throughout my life.  Love is a confusing emotion.  We love openly seeking love in return and sometimes those who should love us don’t and those who we cling to as we fall tend to knock us down further.  I can relate to Cassandra, her pain and her emotional turmoil.  The character is not me at all but I can relate.

Ella: What impact will Bruised Love have on the community?
A.  Our society has become one that holds embedded hurt a life time.  We have angered homes, schools, jobs, and communities.  Our relationships and how we treat others has an effect on everyone we meet.  We need to recognize, without healing we can’t just walk away from severed relationships.  Our solution has become one of avoidance.  We will avoid our families, friends and lovers only to be confronted with building the same type of relationships with another.  “Bruised Love” defines these relationships, the novel shows how fragile they become, the hurt and pain; it gives the reader insight on what can happen.  There will be those who see themselves in these relationships. It asks the question, “When love leaves a bruise, can it ever heal?”  

Ella: Tell us a little about your main characters. Who was your favorite?  
A.  “Bruised Love” is Cassandra Smith’s story.  As a young girl seeking love, after the death of her father, she falls for the high school bad boy Trevor Black.  Despite her mother’s warnings she dates the ‘playa’ and is told by her mother to leave home.  The tension builds between her and her mother, Brenda Smith, who is battling cancer.  The strained relationship and the need for unconditional love, has a guilty effect on the widow.  Brenda realizes she should have loved her child regardless to her choices. 

Seeking to gain what she lost, she wants to heal the relationship before it’s too late.  After talking with the family, she is convinced that Cassandra will come home if she believes her mother is close to death.  Cassandra returns home, leaving the abusive cheating father of her children to care for her mother.  Now faced with four children, a sick mother and no choice but to focus on her life, reality sets in. She finds the real definition for friendship, responsibility and commitment.  All of which she’ll need to heal the bruised relationships she has been living with.

 As Cassandra’s life demands immediate decisions, her emotions are torn and her relationships are forever changed. Lamont Dearling, an old friend, is her constant support as she goes through a pivotal transformation. Lamont is that real friend who has always been in the shadows.  

Cassandra is my favorite character.  She literally transforms in the novel.  She carries an emotional load, baggage that is not hers to bear.  Through it all she grows, she learns, and she loves.  Healing is ridding oneself of the discomfort we take on as we pick at the layers of others mistreatment toward us.  Cassandra’s lost of her father leaves an emotional void.  Filling it with the façade created by Trevor Black stripped her of the beauty of love. Cassandra returns home depressed and emotionally drained until Lamont gives her a reason to look beyond her troubles.  I believe there are women who can connect with her and recognize her path to self love.   

Ella: Is there a message in your book that you want readers to share?
A.  Yes, love thyself.  Love thyself more than any other being that God has created or blessed you to know.  Without self love you have nothing.  Know what makes love important to you.  It’s not about settling no matter who the love comes from.  There are parents and other family members who know nothing about loving their offspring or each other.  We have to build and keep building ourselves to be successful and it begins with self love.  I won’t let you hurt me because I love me should be the outcry.  It would diminish domestic violence, neglect, and child abuse.  If the victims spoke out because they loved themselves more than they loved the abusers.  They loved themselves more than accepting this painful love and returning to “Bruised Love.” 

A bruise becomes tender, although the outer skin looks well the skin, the tissue below takes a longer time to heal…..sometimes it remains tender, easy to bruise again.  We must learn to care for ourselves enough to heal.  Love is beautiful and shouldn’t be feared.  We shouldn’t have relationships after relationships scar us, or our children, who watch this dysfunctional love. The message is we must learn to love ourselves.

Ella: What sets your book, Bruised Love,  apart from other books in your genre?
A.  I think we’ve have so many genres that touch the surface of what reality is. What sells as entertainment sometimes limits or sets the standard for most of the published works.  “Bruised Love” has it all.  The drama, love, sex, drugs, deceit, betrayal and murder, there is no exploitation, just reality.  The way it happens, what could happen, and why.  The story brings reality to the forefront, the bling for the reader is at the end.  They will not be disappointed. 

Ella: Why did you decide to pick the mystery/suspense genre for your book?
A.  The book has a little of it all.  I love a good suspenseful murder mystery.  This novel deals with the emotions that when pushed will cause you to take it over the edge.  The psyche of those who kill has also held my attention and in “Bruised Love” I wanted the reader to be stirred by both the psyche and the emotional connection of the characters.  It’s a who-done-it murder mystery.

Ella: Share with us your latest news  or upcoming book releases.
A.  I’m really excited about the upcoming year.  Last year held many rewarding experiences, plenty of researching, and learning.  My plans are to incorporate it all into this year’s projects.  I am looking to publish children stories as well as putting my poems in book format.  My next novel is entitled “Skeletons…Beyond Closed Doors” to be released in June or July 2010.

Website: www.ipendesigns.net        
Myspace: www.myspace.com/ipendesigns
Bruised Love Video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3N1uL43qBSc  


 Intimate Conversation with R. Jenkins-Oliver 

R. Jenkins-Oliver was born and raised in McIntosh County Georgia . She is the oldest of four children, and is a graduate of Todd-Grant High School , Margaret M. Washington, and Brunswick College . She has worked for the FBI, as a health care professional, and was an entrepreneur. She has appeared in several industrial and feature films. 

Ella: What make you powerful as a person and as a writer?
I think what makes me powerful as a person is that I’m proactive, an empathic listener, respectful, I’m willing to support and network with others. I plan ahead and I always have more than one plan. I welcome criticism because there is always room for improvement. And most of all I commune with the Holy Spirit every day of my life.

I consider myself a powerful writer because my writing was inspired by a higher power. I would have never thought in my wildest dreams that I would have ever written a book and become a published author because I have never challenged myself to be a creative person.


Ella: Who are your mentors? Where do you find you inspiration?
I find my inspiration in my faith. My mentors are people who encouraged and inspired me to trust in my faith and to stay focused on my goals in life. 

Ella: Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers...
My writing offers the following legacy to future readers: My writing offers the reader a glimpse of what life was like for so many African Americans before us, and what they had to endure in their lives to survive the injustice they received. 

Ella: Introduce us to your book, 1878 the Life and Times of Henry Forest. 
1878 is based on the life of Henry Forest , who lived during the late 1800’ until the mid 1900’s. The fourth son of a farmer, Henry was born in 1878 on a farm in Georgia. He and his brothers were raised to be hard-working and responsible men, to marry and raise their own families. Henry married a young woman named Mollie, with no farm of his own; he decided to work for another farmer in Dexter. The book is written in a mixture of Geechee and Gullah dialect which is still spoken in the area today and almost entirely in dialogue.  

Shortly after Jack Johnson won the heavy weight championship of the world in July, 1910, racial tension ignited around the country. Henry gets involved in a fight with a number of white men who made racist comments about blacks with the rise of the Klu Klux Klan. Wanted by the FBI and afraid of getting killed, he moves to Eulonia and assumes the name Robert. He spent the rest of his life living in fear for his life and the life of the family he left behind. 

Ella: Who were your favorite characters in 1878 the Life and Times of Henry Forest?
The main characters in the book are Henry, John, Joe, Viola and Hettie. My favorite characters in 1878 are Henry, Ben, and Joe. Henry was a hard working man who lived for his family; he was determined to survive.
He made a decision that haunted him for years, but through it all he never lost his faith in God.

Ben grew up before reconstruction, and he knew that a colored man only chance for survival was to keep his opinions to himself and to stay out of trouble. He loved his grand children and he told them stories about what could happen if they didn’t stay in their place.  Joe was a man who opened his home to Henry while he worked as a sharecropper to earn a living for his family. Over the years Joe became fond of Henry and treated him like a son. 

Ella: What specific situation prompted you to write 1878 the Life and Times of Henry Forest?
The Holy Spirit placed it in my heart to write the story. I think the reason the Holy Spirit gave the vision to me to write the story was because there were whispers about Henry’s life as a young man, but in later years at a family reunion, the secrets came out that he had a different life and identity before he came to Eulonia. 

Once I received the missing parts to the story, I had no idea where to start the story. That’s when I started having the dreams about people that I never knew. In the dreams I heard their voices and saw their faces. That’s why the story is written almost entirely in dialogue and in dialect.

Ella: What is the most powerful chapter in the book?
The most powerful chapter in the book is when Viola and Hettie met while working at a motel in Eulonia, and the two of them discovered that they grew up hearing the same story about one of their family members. 

Ella: What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject? 
I think that Henry’s story is unique because there were so many who found themselves in a similar situation and didn’t survive because they were murdered before they could get their day in a court of law to tell their sides of the story before a jury of their peers. 

Ella: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
I think the story sends a message to Americans that we as a people have made many achievements together in racial relations and we have freedom of speech in the 21st century especially when compared to the era when this event happen in the early 20th century. However, we can be encouraged that improvements are being made in spite of what’s going on behind closed doors. 

Ella: How will reading your book shape the readers life?
I think the story invites the reader to experience a vivid and engaging bird’s eye view of what life was like for African America during the dark period in American history. The experience can stir up personal feelings of joy, pain, suffering and despair as the reader enters in to the world of the characters. 

Ella: How can readers reach you online?
Readers can reach me via email  l_rolivercorpllc1@yahoo.com 

Book seller link: http://www.Blackbookplus.com  or web page http://www.authorsden.com.   
Also, readers should be able go into bookstores and order the book.


Intimate Conversation with Renee A.

Ella: Where are you from? How did you start your writing journey?
My name is Renee A. and I am from Fort Worth, Texas. I fell in love with the power of pen and paper as a teenager. I loved the way paper smelled, felt and understood that I could write amazing stories taking my mind on a journey of endless possibilities. I find it intriguing to grace the blank lines on paper with various genres of poetry and love laced fiction. That is how my journey into writing evolved. Because I’m an avid reader my days were spent admiring the amazing creativity of authors skillfully bringing characters to life. 

Their works were so inspiring that as a result of it I realized that this was something I could do as well.  To date I have written my debut book called: DYSFUNCTIONAL BEGINNINGS and two poetry chap booklets called: Write To Your Heart and Just A Little Bit Naughty. 

Additionally I do motivational pieces. I’m an active reviewer for Rambles.net and I’ve done contributing writing for Awareness Magazine. To date I’m putting the finishing touches on a fictional book of short stories called: COME INSIDE ME. I am on a journey that consumes an enormous portion of my life, and I’m thoroughly enjoying the ride. 

Ella: Introduce us to your new book, Dysfunctional Beginnings by Author Renee A. 
Taylor is a victim of a family ripped apart over an unforgivable indiscretion. Searching for an outlet from the pain she falls deeply in love with Bobby a love that ends before it could begin. In an effort to pick up the pieces of her life she leaves Dallas to start over. In the process she makes mistakes that cost her big time. She ends up paralyzed, used, and severely depressed. Desperate to escape from years of gut wrenching pain she contemplates rather a DYSFUNCTIONAL BEGINNING should dictate her ending ! 

It is my hope that the readers of Dysfunctional Beginnings will find it interesting and unpredictable. I wanted it to be a book that if they let someone borrow it, they would make sure it gets right back to them. Holding on to an authors book is a monumental compliment to their hard work.

Ella: Who are your two main characters and what do you like most about them?
Two of my main characters are Taylor and Mitch. What I like most about Taylor is that she’s a fighter. She goes through enough drama to make the weak seek refuge, but she doesn’t surrender to what intends to devastate her. Her heart gets battered, dampening her spirit, but life is for the living so she licks her wounds by day, then cry in the wee wee hours of the night. Love visits her door regularly, but it won’t take a seat when she invites it in. A sure sign that turbulence is inevitable. Intimacy is plentiful, but its difficult for her to appreciate it because her heads not in the game. Her body has a reserved sign on it, but the drivers in her bed seem to have difficulty reading.

Mitch is the other main character that made me like him. He considers himself a ladies man, but his women gives him a run for his money. Sure some of them would ask how high if he told them to jump, but only before he gratifies them. His claim to fame is his manhood. He makes women beg for what he thinks is incredible. His character amazes me because he thinks that everything that goes wrong in his life is someone else’s fault. He doesn’t accept responsibility for any of his shortcomings. To appreciate how big of a trip he is one would have to read the book to laugh in his face. But you won’t laugh for long, find out why. 

Ella: What makes your book standout and would entice a reader to pick it up?
My book stands out because I took a unique approach when I wrote it. I deliberately left out what I call fillers. I got right to the point in all of my chapters. Living in a time when we are pressed daily for time I didn’t want to bog my readers down with multiple, avoidable words, that once dissected could have been summed up in less time. How many times have you started a book and just couldn’t stick with it because it rambled on and on without getting to the point. A book should have a smooth flow and I hope I accomplished that goal, it certainly was my intent.
What I did to entice a reader to pick up my book was give my cover an interesting appeal. An attention grabbing summary and I made myself approachable as an author. I realized when I was trying to make my book marketable if it didn’t look good to me, it wasn’t going to look good to anyone else. 

Ella: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your work?
What I want readers to gain from my work is that this wasn’t a fly by night book. I took all the time needed to peak my readers interest. I filled the book with crucial amounts of drama, surprises, funny situations, intense sexual encounters and careful thought when it came to maneuvering my characters. I want my readers to be excited about this book as well as my next projects. They will see that my writing isn’t far fetched, its fictional of course, but could be as real as a next door neighbor. 

Ella: What is the most surprising thing you have learned in creating books?
Wow! I took a whipping when I went through the process of creating my book. Nothing was as it seemed. I ran for cover on many occasions. But my dream was at stake so I rebounded. By far the most surprising thing I learned is that the big retail industry tend to turn their backs on you, treating your work like its some past time hobby if you chose the self publishing route. Pushing aside the fact that authors self published or not looking for a future in this business work hard on their craft. Equally surprising for me was the query game. Sending my work over and over to different editors that don’t know me, nor I them, to hold their opinion of my work up for long periods of time then possibly turning me away. I chose instead to put my trust in my readers, who’s opinion mattered to me, giving them an interesting book written to please their literary appetite. 

Ella: What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?
By far my most significant achievement as a writer is the completion of my debut book Dysfunctional Beginnings. I poured all my energy into this book delivering what I would expect if I was reading a book. I tried to make the material in the book as realistic as possible. I wanted this book to be a great conversational piece and definitely a serious consideration for book clubs around the world. To me it’s a euphoric feeling to receive compliments from someone appreciating your work. It’s indescribable. When I put my book in a few hands and was given a high five response and was asked what was coming next I knew the literary world left me a place and space to live my dream. 

Let me see. How did I do it. Well the first thing I did was hold a meeting of the minds with my characters. The process went as follows : I told them they were welcome to star in my book but they were going to have to carry their own weight. If for any reason they lost their zest they would be set aside for a future project. We understood our roles so I let them show me their stuff. As a result of it we feel like we came up with a book that could go toe to toe with the best of the books out there. Seriously it was a long, tough process. I had tons of writers blocks, and start and stops, but I kept staring at the big picture. As a result of it Dysfunctional Beginnings is a reality.

Ella: What advice would you give a new writer ? Would you change anything about your journey?
My advice to a new writer first of all would be if at all possible, find a place other than your home to write. Some days I would be hard at work writing and couldn’t get my mind off doing the laundry, cooking, etc. I also found out quickly that this is a very serious, competitive business. Don’t lose site of that. If you don’t believe me step out there like a lamb and I guarantee you’ll be running for cover. Take your time and get it right. No one’s perfect, but be as close to it as possible. Do your homework, find resources, mentors, network, talk until you’re blue in the face about your vision. Finally don’t wear your feelings on your sleeves, rejection is a bitch, but behind every no, there is a yes. Find that yes.

Would I change anything about my journey. Of course I would. I was often gullible and I ran across people that took advantage of that trait. I always thought people had my best interest at stake but that was a pipe dream. However, I did run across a true friend and author that let me laugh and cry on her shoulder. Cynthia Highsmith Hooks was my rock, she introduced me to avenues I would have never traveled. She is the wind beneath my wings. Find you a Cynthia, its imperative, otherwise writing can be quite overwhelming.

Ella: Name 3 things that it takes to make a successful author , in your opinion.
1. Motivation — Without motivation there will be no book. You will have a million distractions making you consider quitting, Surround yourself with positive people that are out there making things happen. 

2. Determination — Go wholeheartedly after your dream. Don’t treat it like a hobby. 
There will be naysayers all over the place, but don’t try to prove a point to them. You are the captain of your ship. The minute you surrender that stern you are a passenger, being driven goodness knows where. Say no and mean it when it comes to dream stealers. How many times have you heard people reveal that they had dreams and aspirations, but let the opportunity to live them slip through their fingers.

3. Remain humble — Don’t get big headed. There’s nothing wrong with lending a hand to help another up the hill. I found that when I reached out to some of the supposedly "one’s that made it" many never gave me the time of the day, unless I said I’d help push their product. People need people, just listen to President Obama, it’s one of the most strongest messages in his speech.

Ella: What can we expect from you in the future?
In the future I plan to of course keep writing books and hope to enjoy having a solid fan base.
But even more important I want to do lots of motivational speeches. I firmly believe in people and their potential for greatness.

Ella: Share with us your latest news, events or upcoming book releases.
I would love to tell you that I have a schedule that’s on overload, but truthfully because I am a self published author I am just hitting the streets and networking to sell my books. Big bookstores won’t carry it so its up to me to put DYSFUNCTIONAL BEGINNINGS on the lips of everyone I run across. My website gives the link to Amazon.com Barnesandnobles.com and other ways to check out my book. My website address is: http://S2.webstarts.com/WriteToYourHeart/index.html   



Intimate Conversation with Vernadine Merrick

Vernadine Merrick lives in Atlanta. She grew up in Cincinnati. Ms. Merrick is a writer and a marketing consultant. Writing has been her passion since college days, where she wrote a book of poetry while at Miami University (in Ohio) and Carnegie Mellon University. Ms. Merrick’s motto is “a story is only as gripping and rich as its characters.”

Meet Vernadine Merrick author of  “And the Walls Came Tumbling Down: The Secret of Senator Jack”

Ella: What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
I believe what makes me powerful as a person and a writer is my ability to read human nature and to see all sides of just about anything. I am also compassionate, like Suzanne, because of many not-so-apparent life struggles. I get in the ‘head’ of my characters. You see their dilemma; you understand how they got there; you know them well enough that you sympathize and cheer for them in spite of their shortcomings.

My writing also has impact because it is visual. I love creating scenes and painting vivid pictures through everyday analogies (i.e. “It was as hot as a Louisiana summer”). I make sure I meticulously depict the body language of the person to reflect what they are experiencing at the moment. The reader’s mental and visual senses are working together to bring the character to life and make him or her memorable. Lastly, I like to keep things unpredictable. That is a lot of fun.

Ella: Who are your mentors?
My writing mentors are the former Bebe Moore Campbell, Connie Briscoe, former Sidney Sheldon, John Grisham and Benilde Little (author of Good Hair). Each of these authors write stories that are vivid, fast pace, unpredictable, and have substantive storylines with rich and complex characters. They leave you wanting more!

Ella: Introduce us to your book and the main characters. 
“And the Walls Came Tumbling Down: The Secret Life of Senator Jack” is a political, suspense romantic thriller. The book is about twin boys climb out of poverty into power and the choices they make to get there. One turns to a life of crime. The other obtains an academic scholarship to a prestigious prep school and enters the mainstream. Their worlds suddenly and dramatically collide and change both of their paths forever. 

It is a ‘Cain and Abel’ story of one man’s willingness to do just about anything to reach the most powerful office in the United States (the presidency) and the detective that’s equally determined to stop him. Love, the power of family and redemption are also strongly interwoven in the book. The novel has lots of twist and turns that will keep the reader spellbound! It is a definite page-turner.

There are seven major characters in the book. Each has his or her story to tell that when brought together, is a very powerful and robust tale.

Joe Baker is a tortured spirit, torn between truth and deception, self-awareness and self-deprivation…and many wrong choices. Joe's natural rebelliousness, charm and good looks successfully carry him from youthful mischief to adolescent street savvy to an adulthood filled with blind ambition, manipulation and dominance. 

Jack Baker is the mirror image of Joe and can only be described as his brother’s 'better half.' He is a person of deep conviction and lucid compassion. He is devoted to his father, fiercely protective of his brother and the voice of the unheard. 

Suzanne Montgomery, glamorous, gorgeous and rich. Her larger-than-life, Hollywood looks, mask the vulnerable woman still desperate for love. She is the daughter of one of the most powerful attorneys in the United States. Living in the southern city of Atlanta, her father has deep political ties to Washington. 

Nicola Patricks while enormously seductive, her intelligence, decency and achievements are her pride. She is now thrust into a web of lust, love and deceit. Caught in the fierce grip of the captivating Senator, Nicola asks herself, just how did I get here?

John Baker is the father of identical twin boys that he deeply loves, but begrudgingly admits to liking only one. Joe reminds him of the days of his youthful indiscretions, while Jack encapsulates the man he always wanted to be. John is a man of limited means, but is determined to carry out his deceased wife's dream of giving his sons a better life. 

Dirk Patterson is amongst the upper class African-American elite. Yet he is intricately connected to two brothers from the ‘other side of the tracks.’ They are each compassionate in their own right, brilliant, savvy, determined and, above all else, loyal to each other - no matter what.

Detective Ridder Jones smells blood and goes for the jugular. The case of the high-powered Senator is no exception. After years of accumulated resentment from a career gone awry, a failed marriage and only an adoring dog named Lily to keep him company, Ridder sees a final chance to recapture it all with one last professional conquest.

Ella: Who were your favorites? Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?
All of the characters are rich and multi-dimensional. I believe this is like many of us. We have both redeeming qualities and human frailty. My favorite characters in the book are Suzanne and Joe. I love Suzanne for her vulnerability and capacity to love and forgive. Suzanne is a victim of her own beauty and social status. People are unable to relate to her. Yet, like most of us, appearances are only half the story. She has experienced enormous tragedy and loneliness in her life that is the source of much of her compassion for others. 

Joe, on the other hand, is probably the character that grows the most in the story. He makes terrible choices in life. Yet he is able to come through them with strength and depth of character that is admirable to most. His character makes one acutely aware of the consequences of decisions. His struggle to conquer his inner ‘demons’ becomes your struggle.  The character of Joe was based on a person I knew from school many years ago. The other characters are from the mixing of persons that I know and the different sides of me. The direction of the novel stems from my love of politics, suspense and romance.

Ella: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
I want to reach everyone with my book. The struggles and lessons drawn from my book are universal. The characters are African-American, which adds an extra perspective and dimension to them, but they are human most of all. That is why I believe I’ve had an African-American male law professor, Caucasian sales and marketing person, a 70-year Southern, retired woman and my 18 year old nephew, all rave about the book! Again, the story is one of love, the consequences of choices, the power of family, standing strong through adversity, learning from one’s mistakes, forgiveness and ultimately, redemption. It is about the human struggles and rewards of life.

Ella: What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?
Many books are about love (romance), or politics, identical twins, or involve crime and detective storylines. This book has equal doses of all of them! They are blended together to tell a very full and captivating story. The reader will remember the characters. The reader will increase his or her understanding of human nature. The reader will most likely be further empowered to meet his or her own life challenges.

Ella: How can our readers reach you online? Share with us your online contact info. 
Readers can reach me online and learn more about “And the Walls Came Tumbling Down: The Secret Life of Senator Jack” by visiting my book’s website at http://vernadinemerrick.com  On the site, there are book reviews and a way to enter book reviews, an audio intro of the Prologue, and the capability to order the novel. Readers can email me directly at vm@vernadinemerrick.com  for additional questions or insights. I love to hear from readers! I’m also on Facebook. The novel can also be ordered on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com (ISBN: 978-1-60860-231-1).  Order the book today from the author.


 Intimate Conversation with J.M. Wilson


J.M. Wilson is both a scholar and actor. He holds an advance degree from the University of Saint Thomas and is an adjunct professor at Cardinal Stritch University. The Power of Speech is his fourth book. As an actor he has performed in You Can't Take It with You, Romeo and Juliet, and Doctor Faustus. 

Ella: Who where your mentors growing up? How did they shape your life?
My mother and Father. Growing up they instilled in me the value of communications and how it effects everything in our lives.

Ella: What make you a powerful speaker and writer? 
In my writing and speaking I try to take complicated issues and make them simple so that they can be understood by everyone.

Ella: My writing offers the following legacy to future readers?
Because public speaking effects every part of human society if people understand the fundamentals of persuasion it will improve society and the lives of individuals and that is what this book seeks to do.

Ella: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book?
As a child I noticed that some people always seemed to be successful and I wondered why. As I grew older I noticed that their success came for the most part from the ability to persuade.

Ella: Take us inside the book. What are two major events taking place? 
The Power of Speech is a concise and easy to read book on public speaking. Similar in scope to The One-Minute Manager it breaks down the art of public speaking to its fundamental elements so that even a child could understand. Further, this book shows that public speaking is the foundation of every nation and is the glue that holds it together. It plays a role in nearly every aspect of our lives from our romantic relationships to our businesses. .In this book we see the fundamental elements that all persuasive speeches should have in them. And we see how Obama’s work as a community organizer improved his ability to persuade.

Ella: Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
Because communication affects every part of our society from professional to personal this book is written for those who wish to have greater influence in society.

Ella: How will reading your book shape the readers lives? 
Because communication affects every part of our society from professional to personal this book is written for those who wish to have greater influence in society.

Ella: What are some of their specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book?
That communication is perhaps the most important thing in society and that it separates the successful from the unsuccessful. 

Ella: What was the most powerful chapter in the book?
For me that chapter that I thank is the most powerful in the book is the chapter that deals with practice. In it the reader will see step by step what things need be done in order to become a better speaker.

Ella: What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?
It takes complex issues and breaks them down so that they are easy to understand.

Ella: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
To see how communications can improve their professional and personal lives.

Ella: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. 
The Power of Speech is nominated for the Benjamin Franklin IBPA Award for books dealing with self-help. 

Ella: How can our readers reach you online? 
I can be contacted at  info@veronapublishing.com  

The Power of Speech: Obama and the Art of Communicating 
by J. M. Wilson (Author) 
ISBN-10: 0976903148 
ISBN-13: 978-0976903147 

Book can be purchased at the following websites: www.veronapublishing.com  


Intimate Conversation with Katrina L. Burchett

Katrina L. Burchett was born and raised in the city of York, Pennsylvania. She is the third born of her parents’ six children; the shy, quiet one who always expressed herself better with the written word. As far back as she can remember it felt natural to have a piece of paper and a pen or pencil in hand.

In grade school she wrote a play or two that her classmates acted out for teachers and their students. However, during her middle and high school years creating poems was what she loved most, and a couple of them were printed in the local newspaper. Burchett didn’t take college prep courses in high school, but, following the footsteps of her two older sisters, she opted for the business curriculum. 

Although she excelled in Accounting and loved working with the packets that included cute little business checks, her favorite class was typing. After graduation she held various office positions until the day she departed York with her military husband and two sons. No longer wanting to leave her children in the hands of daycare providers, she made the choice to be a stay-at-home mom while her family resided in Washington state and then Texas.

The next stop was Florida, where she returned to the workplace for a few years. She held a position at a bank, went on to be a teacher’s assistant at an elementary school, and then she began a small book publishing company and named it after her niece, Kapri. Burchett is the publisher and author of  Choices; the first of a trilogy. She plans to publish the two remaining novels that will not only dig deeper into the lives of Shauntice, Angel, LaKeeta, Bridgette, and Hope, but will focus more on the guys in Choices. And then, Lord willing, Kapri Books will publish the works of other aspiring authors.

Ella: How did you start your writing journey? Tell us about your young adult book Choices.
I began writing in grade school. I still reflect on how classmates and I would take toy dishes and other props to different classrooms and act out plays I wrote.

Choices is a story about five girls making decisions about boyfriends and premarital sex...

Shauntice Johnston has faith in God but the world of domestic abuse she lives in has left her with very little faith in the male gender. Angel Nichols doesn’t know her earthly father, doesn’t care about the heavenly Father and feels neglected by her workaholic mother. She has had numerous sex partners since she was thirteen, trying to fill the void inside of her. LaKeeta Wilson is a Christian, but instead of doing it God’s way and waiting for marriage she purposefully becomes pregnant out of wedlock. Bridgette Anderson practices abstinence in obedience to God and no matter what she will not compromise her beliefs. Hope Patterson is a plain dressing, soft-spoken, timid Christian girl who’s living a very sheltered life because of mother’s strict rules. The word sex isn’t in her vocabulary until she suffers a loss.

I could write the domestic abuse scenes so well because I grew up in that same situation. I still remember that I had to get away from the story for a little while once I finished, because I was angry at Grant, tearing up for Elaine, and feeling so bad for Shauntice and Shannon. So with Shauntice’s situation and the issues Angel, LaKeeta, Bridgette and Hope are dealing with, Choices is a story that will evoke just about every emotion. And with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the mix there is a message of hope and new beginnings for the reader.

Ella: Please finish the sentence: I am Powerful because…
I am powerful because I am a walking miracle with life-changing stories to tell. On August 3, 2007, a few days before Choices was released, I was admitted to the ICU suffering from severe dehydration, a staph infection in my bloodstream and failing kidneys. I was dying. Actually, I was feeling sick during the entire self-publishing process. By the grace of God I’m still here today and I will use my writing talent so that He can bless others through me.


Ella: Who are your two main characters and what do you like most about them? 
There are five protagonists in Choices; however, I consider Shauntice and Angel to be the two main characters. I like Shauntice’s name. I came up with her twin brother, Shannon’s, name first and when I was trying to figure out what hers would be there was a Shanice (remember the song I Love Your Smile?) cassette sitting on the stereo, so I added to her name. I also like Shauntice’s Christ-likeness in dealing with the domestic abuse situation she’s stuck in; the way she never ceases praying, the way she stands by her mom when she’d rather run away. And Angel – plain & simple, I love her spunk! She’s not afraid to speak her mind, she means what she says, and if anybody gets in her face she will not back down. She might not make the best choices when it comes to guys, but who am I to judge? Angel is my girl!

Ella: What makes your book stand out and would entice a reader to pick it up? 
I was searching for an image to use on the cover and I came across this guy and girl sitting on the couch talking. He looked like he was pleading his case, whatever it may have been, and it reminded me of the scene in Choices where Terry stops by Shauntice’s house and tries to get her to give him a chance. The book designer got creative and changed the image. She took away the background and made the girl the main focus. I’ve received quite a few compliments on the cover. I believe the unique image along with the earth tones catches a reader’s eye.

Ella: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book? 
I wrote the first draft of Choices many years ago. At that time, I was regretting choices I had made... Okay, I’m gonna tell a little bit of my personal business. I allowed myself to be used more than once because I didn’t know how to say no. It was good to know that God loved me, but still, I didn’t start making better choices until I learned to love myself. My story shows that consensual premarital sex isn’t always about the sex; life’s circumstances, low self-esteem, peer pressure – there are many reasons why teens make this choice. I hope that what I wrote will help young women to make better choices than I did. There are quite a few messages in Choices for parents as well as teens, but the main message is that when we girls mess up it’s never too late to begin again.

Ella: What is the most surprising thing you have learned in creating books? 
Well, I thought about self-publishing for a long time before I actually stepped out and did it. There was fear because I really didn’t know if I could do it. The surprising thing was that it wasn’t as difficult as I thought it was going to be. Dan Poynter’s The Self-Publishing Manual, Rob and Terry Adams’ Start Your Own Self-Publishing Business and The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing by Tom & Marilyn Ross were all very helpful. And there are plenty of talented book designers and professional editing services out there. All it took was a little research to find the ones I felt at peace about.

Ella: What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer? 
There was a reader -a teen reviewer, actually - who said something like ‘I appreciate life more after reading Choices’. I knew immediately what she had read to make her feel that way. I don’t think I should elaborate, because my answer would contain a spoiler, so I’ll just say that through me God sent an important message to this teen. Glory to God! How did you do it? I wrote the story and then found the courage to make it available for this girl and others to read. 

Ella: What advice would you give a new writer? 
I’d like to advise new writers to be open to “constructive” criticism. We can be so close to our work that we don’t want to change anything, but flaws that we can’t see seem to jump out at others. A writer needs a few pairs of fresh eyes to read their work. Once the manuscript has been written and then rewritten as many times as need be, let others read it, get feedback and then there may be more rewriting. After that, it’s best to pass the manuscript on to a professional editor. Would you change anything about your journey? I sure would. I was trying so hard to make Choices perfect that I was making changes during the interior design process. A manuscript should be ready when it gets to that point, but I always found something I just wasn’t satisfied with. I ended up paying a bit more for the service because of the changes.

Ella: Name 3 things that it takes to make a successful author, in your opinion? 
If an author writes a story with a message that can change a person’s life for the better in some way, whether big or small, that’s a success story. God wants us to use our gifts to serve others (1Peter 4:10). Entertaining the reader is great and necessary to gain a readership, but, in my opinion, there should be more. A lesson to be learned, some kind of knowledge to be gained, something meaningful. Sorry, that’s the only thing that comes to mind.

Ella: What can we expect from you in the future? 
Choices is the first of a trilogy, because this premarital sex thing isn’t the only issue I have in my heart to write about. The next book will focus on teen parenting and the third will focus on teens and drinking. 

I have started the second novel. I’m hoping for a release date at the end of this year, but I can’t say for sure right now. When I have a date, I’ll be sure to have it posted on my website.

Ella: How may our readers connect with you online?
Katrina L. Burchett, YA Fiction Author
Choices: Five teenage girls make decisions about boyfriends and premarital sex.

Website: http://www.kapribooks.com 
Email:     klbchoices@aol.com  

Blog:  http://www.emotionalreads.blogspot.com 
Shelfari Bookshelf:  http://www.shelfari.com/kapribooks 
Shoutlife Profile:  http://www.shoutlife.com/kapribooks 

Intimate Conversation with Jean Alicia Elster

Formerly an attorney, Jean Alicia Elster is a multi-award winning writer with a focus on writing for children, middle graders, and young adults. She is also an editor, essayist, writing instructor, and grant writer. Says Elster, “While wearing each of these hats is fulfilling in its own way, I find my greatest joy in writing for youth and young adults.” 

Jean Alicia Elster, B.A., J.D., is the author of the novel Who’s Jim Hines?—for ages 8 and older—published by Wayne State University Press. Released in August 2008, it is now in its second printing. Who’s Jim Hines? was selected as one of the Library of Michigan’s 2009 Michigan Notable Books. In addition, the Michigan Reading Association has placed Who’s Jim Hines? on the Great Lakes Great Books Award 2009-2010 ballot for grades 4-5. Who’s Jim Hines? was also a ForeWord Magazine 2008 Book of the Year Award Finalist in the category of Juvenile Fiction.


Who’s Jim Hines? Introduction
Who’s Jim Hines? is a coming of age story about a twelve year old African American boy—Douglas Ford, Jr.—as he comes to terms with the racial realities of Detroit, Michigan in 1935. 

Doug’s father is the owner of the Douglas Ford Wood Company, and Doug usually helps his dad around the wood yard located in the side lot next to their house. But when Doug loses his textbooks on the way home from school one day, he’s got to earn the money to pay for more books. And he does it by joining his father in the backbreaking work of delivering wood to customers throughout Detroit and its suburbs. Doug, who knows all of his father’s other drivers, sees this as his chance to unravel the mystery that he’s never before been in a position to do anything about—discovering the identity of the only one of his father’s drivers whom he’s heard of but never seen: Mr. Jim Hines.

Based on a true story, the focus of the plot is on Douglas Ford, Jr. and the successful family-owned business, the Douglas Ford Wood Company—a scrap wood enterprise owned and operated by his father. Unique in the segregated Depression-era city of Detroit, the Ford family lives in a racially mixed community of blacks from the South and Eastern European immigrants. 

The book is rich in its descriptions of life at that time—the auto factories, the unions, Northern-style segregation, and the effect of color distinctions within the black community. But it also brings to light the unique way in which Doug’s father must conduct his business in order to support his family and contribute to the prosperity of his neighborhood. In an emotional climax, Doug must confront the how and why of the heartbreaking reality about the Douglas Ford Wood Company.

Elster is also the author of the children’s book series “Joe Joe in the City,” published by Judson Press. The first volume in that series, Just Call Me Joe Joe, was released in October 2001 and is now in its second printing. The remaining volumes are: I Have A Dream, Too! (May, 2002), I’ll Fly My Own Plane (September, 2002), and I’ll Do the Right Thing (January, 2003). She was awarded the 2002 Governors’ Emerging Artist Award by ArtServe Michigan in recognition of the series. I’ll Do the Right Thing was awarded the 2004 Atlanta Daily World Atlanta Choice Award in the category of children’s books.

About the Joe Joe in the City Series for young readers—
Just Call Me Joe Joe
I Have a Dream, Too!
I’ll Fly My Own Plane
I’ll Do the Right Thing

Ella:  What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write the Joe Joe in the City Series?
The impetus for this four volume series emerged while considering the very real concerns my husband and I shared as parents raising two children in an urban environment. In particular, I felt it was incumbent upon us to prepare our children to respond appropriately to negative peer pressure, racial stereotypes, and the pervasive drug and gang cultures. I was well aware that other parents of every ethnic background shared these same concerns — I wanted to address those concerns in a set of books for young readers that would be entertaining and edifying for the youngsters and a source of support and reinforcement for parents and other caregivers.

Ella:  Introduce us to your books and the main characters in the Joe Joe in the City Series.
The series is populated by the main character, ten-year-old Joseph Rawlings, Jr., also known as Joe Joe. Recurring characters include his mother, father, baby brother, and grandmother, all who live in the same household. Other recurring characters are his friends Kalia and Tyrone. Tyrone is the series antagonist—he is the primary character who instigates confrontations and causes Joe Joe to question his values. Kalia sways between following Tyrone and Joe Joe. At the beginning of each of the four volumes, another recurring character is Mrs. Morgan, a librarian in the local library. She serves as an “omniscient” character, suggesting that Joe Joe check out a book about a hero of African American history – the very one he needs to read to solve the focus issue of that particular book in the series.

Ella:  Why did you create this particular cast of characters for the series?
I took several things into consideration when creating the characters in the series. First, I wanted to promote literacy and encourage young readers to use the library. So I created an intriguing – yet inviting – character in the librarian, Mrs. Morgan. Also, I felt it was important that Joe Joe be part of an intact family with mom, dad, and sibling all in one household. Yet, I am very well aware that many readers are being raised by single parents or other caregivers. So Joe Joe’s grandmother is a central figure in raising him and in his interactions at home. With two male characters as the protagonist and the antagonist, I wanted young female readers to have a character they could particularly connect with, so I created Kalia. She is affected by Tyrone’s negative influence even though she usually ends up siding with Joe Joe.

Ella:  What makes your books different from others on the same subject?
In each volume of this series, Joe Joe learns life lessons when he reads about heroes from African American history. In Just Call Me Joe Joe, he reads the history of the Negro Baseball Leagues; in I Have a Dream, Too! Joe Joe reads about Mary McLeod Bethune; in I’ll Fly My Own Plane he learns about the Tuskegee Airmen; and in I’ll Do the Right Thing, he discovers the legacy of Ralph Bunche. I, in fact, researched and wrote the book passages that Joe Joe reads throughout the series.

Ella:  Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your books?
By following the stories of these heroes of African American history, the series offers crucial lessons for youth, particularly urban youth, of all backgrounds: Joe Joe summons up the courage to return and face a local shopkeeper who accuses him of being a part of a gang that has just trashed his store in Just Call Me Joe Joe. In I Have a Dream, Too!, Joe Joe realizes that with hard work, dreams can come true. I’ll Fly My Own Plane finds Joe Joe turning away from an opportunity to make “quick, easy money.” And, Joe Joe learns the value of being a peacemaker in I’ll Do the Right Thing.

Ella:  How can our readers reach you online?
Readers can contact me as well as see updates about my books and appearances via my website www.jeanaliciaelster.com  They can also find information at my publishers’ websites www.judsonpress.com  and wsupress.wayne.edu    

 

 

Intimate Conversation with author Cachet Wells 

Author Cachet Wells was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida. She is a freelance writer and published author, her writings focus on inspiration and empowerment while Wells uses her experiences in illness, heartache and adultery to impart encouragement through an intimate relationship with Christ. 

She is the founder of Women Of Righteous Distinction whose central purpose is to encourage, empower and educate women to live a life that is spiritually rooted in Christ and represents the virtuous woman of God they are created to be. 


Ella:  What makes you powerful as a person and a writer? 
The things that make me powerful as a person and a writer would be strength and faith. The ability to know that God has empowered me beyond my ability with his strength impact lives. Using the lessons that I’ve learned and the things I’ve encountered through illness, pain, heartache and adultery to help others remain committed to faith in God, stand firm in God and trust in His promises that they may become a better person through wiser choices. Choosing to be lead in all things by my faith in God and choosing to live the life I speak of by the steps that I make. The faith that keeps me fulfilled, sustained and committed to do that which He alone has purposed me to do for His glory. Powered by the inner strength that I’ve gained by choosing to be the victim no more. 

Ella:  How much of what you write reflects on your outlook on life?
The issues, concerns and reflections that are expressed in my writings are a compilation of my outlook on life, the perceptions viewed through my heart and a direct insight of how they are revealed to me through my faith in Christ. Totally sold on the fact that nothing happens by accident or coincidence, but the strategic move of the Master who has ultimately created us for a specific purpose to be accomplish in a time of His own choosing. Everything that we go through and encounter, or thrust  into is because there is something for us to accomplish in it, so everything I write is a true reflection of how I view it in my life.

Ella:  Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?
I find guidance through my parents and my spiritual mentors that assist and encourage me to be true to the directed leading of God in my writings. Being inspired by my family, friends and ministry to unveil the issues that affect us as Christians are the most important motivators for me.

Ella:  What three elements complete a formula for Happiness, Success or Freedom?
Love, Peace and Faith are three elements that are essential to living a life complete with happiness, success and freedom. Love allows us to unconditionally look for the good in all. Loving others regardless to what they do or don’t do because Christ did the same tor me when I didn’t feel the need to do so. Peace gives me the assurance to know that in spite of what things look like, feel like or are perceived to be I still have that inner strength of assurance that all is well. Faith that keeps me sustained in all situations and obstacles that may arise in my life. Fulfilled by the promises of God to be what I need, when I need Him to be and that He’s the one that will empower me to overcome and succeed. 

Ella:  Finish this sentence: My writing offers the following legacy to future readers...
My writings offer a legacy of truly being empowered to live solely for Christ. It takes you beyond the myth of religion to relationship. It guides you through everyday situations and teaches you how to live faithful to your beliefs. Not compromising them to fit into the box of religion, but stay connected to the Father because of a real relationship with Him by the choices we choose to make. 

Ella:  Introduce readers to book “Eyes of the Heart.” Take us inside. 
New Book for all Women Of Righteous Distinction Features Meditations, Inspirational Thoughts and Reflections that Will Guide Readers on a Journey of Transformation, Self-Discovery and Healing.  

Author Cachet Wells invites readers to imagine taking a journey and with every mile they travel, the anticipation of what’s to come gets greater and greater. That’s how it is on this journey called life. With every departure there is a final destination awaiting. 

As people view through Wells’ new book Eyes Of The Heart, they will discover that every step they take, they are drawn closer to God and His purpose for each one. Eyes of The Heart takes readers through the process of transformation as they journey to true wholeness in Christ. Understanding how to rid the bonds of every yoke of defeat and replacing it with the love of the Father through the heart’s view. The meditations, inspirations and reflections shared in this book were compiled together on Wells’ personal voyage that enabled her to stand firm in God.

Ella:  What are two major events taking place?
Two of the major events taking place in this book from my own personal experience, which is what I want readers to go away with are Forgiveness and Healing. When someone has wronged us forgiving them is not for them, but for us. It is that which ignites the beginning of the healing process. It aids in releasing the pain and hurt of what has happened to us. Healing which is a continual process to restore us back to a place of peace, joy and love so that God get all the glory. 

Ella:  What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book?
What prompted me to write this book was my personal experience through illness, pain, heartache and adultery. Learning how to now live my life as a wife, mother and stay committed to my faith as a disabled woman taught me how to be strong against the odds of what people thought I could was one motivator. Finding out that after 15 years of marriage my husband had been secretly been unfaithful to me which lead to months of abuse because of it was my greatest motivator. Deciding that I could no longer sit and be the victim, but see myself overcoming it for not just me but for my kids became that which pushed me into purpose by fighting for me.

Ella:  Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?
This is book is for all those who have been affected my love, pain, hurt, heartache, illness, infidelity or abused. Those who have been silent about their burdens and things that have oppressed them so much to feel like they have no voice. Those who have been quiet so long that they can’t imagine seeing themselves overcoming that which has had them silent and bound.

Ella:  What are some of the specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book?
Many of the writings in this book cover issues with family, Christian living, Illness, Marriage, Adultery, Children and Faithfulness to your relationship with Christ. Recognizing that when we put God first in our lives all the other things that are important to us will line up. 

Ella:  How will reading your book shape the readers lives? 
The author entices readers to journey with her as the chains of the oppressor are removed, burdens lifted and the healing begins. She encourages them to look past their current situations to overcome those circumstances with the help of the Father. With each moment of living each one should be seeking to maintain an intimate relationship with Him. His peace, joy and love covers a multitude of problems that people may face which allows them to conquer.

Ella:  What was the most powerful message in the book?
One of the most powerful messages is “Like Mary” because it is a true testament of how we should be totally surrendered to the Lord. Regardless to where we are, whose around or what the reason for being in a particular place, God is first and we should respect, honor and worship Him for that. When we give ourselves totally to Him, He will forever give himself unto us in whatever capacity we need Him. 

Ella:  What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?
Openly allowing myself to be truthful of personal experiences that I endured so that others could see that they were not alone in the things they too are dealing with. This book takes you through a journey so with every page I wanted to make an impact on the lives of those who would read it. The messages and design of the book makes it different than any other. 

Ella:  Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
The ultimate goal that I want readers to gain from “Eyes of the Heart” is to self awareness of themselves. Realizing that they are worthy of living a life full of happiness not just through the eyes of Christ, but their very own. 

Ella:  Share with us your latest news. How can our readers reach you online?
God has favored me to have many doors opened since the release of the book. I will be a featured guest on Destiny Empowerment blog radio. I will also be in the upcoming Stage Play “Side Effects….Hurting people, Hurt people”
in Coral Springs, Florida October 23, 2010.

I can be contacted by email at:  Wordwomen3@aol.com.  You can also follow me on Facebook, MySpace and on my blog: www.womenofrighteousdistinction.blogspot.com.  Please check out the book’s website at www.aheartsview.com  or www.xlibris.com/bookstore  to purchase book and view excerpt pages. 




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Founder & Editor In Chief Black Pearls Magazine

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