EDC Creations Virtual Book Tours--We Love African American Literature and Book Clubs!

EDC Creations, The Sankofa Literary Society and The Black Authors Network announced the launch of their 2009-2010 "Give the Gift of Knowledge Campaign," bringing readers and authors together to help improve literacy. In 2004, during the Christmas holidays, Ella Curry, the founder of EDC Creations, reached out to women's groups and literary organizations to help promote early literacy by giving new books to children from low income homes.

Today, the "Give the Gift of Knowledge Campaign," seeks to expand even further! “Based on the “each one teach one,” model, our goal is to help people introduce reading and new books to their family and friends,” says CEO and founder of EDC creations, Ella Curry. “Instead of giving expensive gifts that don't shape lives----let's “Give the Gift of Knowledge” and help to strengthen our future generations!” We now invite you, the readers, to join us by supporting the authors below and buying books as gifts!

Each year thousands of people — educators, concerned parents, community leaders, authors, poets and publishers — devote their time and resources to presenting the reader with great books! However, too many outstanding books do not get the attention and reader support that they deserve. It is our mission to connect readers with these hidden gems and bring them books that will change their lives.

Each week EDC Creations will sponsor bookclub chats, live readings from authors, podcast presentations, seminars, community relations discussions, and radio shows that deliver the best our writers have to offer. All we ask is that the readers of the world spread the word. Check out the information below and invite this author to chat with you and 5-10 friends via Skype, tele-conference or a speaker phone meeting. If you would like to spotlight this author on your blog, website, magazine or radio show, email Ella Curry at: elladcurry@edc-creations.com If you have already read the book, share your reviews with us by clicking here.

Keya, originally from Dallas, Texas is the breakout author of "When Lightning Strikes." She has been writing since the tender age of ten years old. Keya is the mother of two beautiful children, Treyvion who is seven years old, and Desirae who is five years old. She has attended Stephen F. Austin State University and is currently working on completing her Bachelor’s degree in General Studies.

Keya aspires to make writing her full time job and would love to venture into non-fiction and erotica as well. She is currently working on surprising her audience yet again with the page turning sequel to When Lightning Strikes. Website: www.keyalit.com Email: wlstrikes@yahoo.com

How can you have it all – education, personality, and beauty - yet your life is flooded with a sea of troubles?

Imminent, new author Keya answers this question and more in When Lightning Strikes, a novel about Ms. Taylor Devereaux, her three best friends, and her spiraling-out-of-control life.

Taylor is on the road to happiness and success. She is a gorgeous and classy woman with a thriving career and a wonderful fiancée. One day, Taylor’s near perfect world is turned upside down when she discovers her future husband is cheating. To make matters worse, while trying to put the pieces of her life back together, she finds out someone at her job has filed a sexual harassment complaint against her. She realizes someone is out to ruin her life. With Taylor’s personal life, profession, and overall reputation at stake, can she overcome it all? Or, will the stress of it all bring out another side of Taylor? See how Taylor reacts “When Lightning Strikes.”
Read a preview by clicking here.

Interview Topics and Angles
Ten topics that relate to current affair or the world in general.

· Domestic Violence
· Corruption in the workplace
· Infidelity
· Workplace politics
· Interracial Dating
· Death
· Adoption
· Bipolar Disorder
· Depression
· Betrayal

“When Lightning Strikes had my attention from page one; it was a true page-turner. Ground-breaking author, Keya has a voice that hasn't been heard in black literature: street, sophisticated, and sexy. She's my combination of a tamer Zane, a female Carl Weber, and a short-winded Terry McMillan. When Lightning Strikes had scenes which made me laugh, get angry, and sigh aloud in disbelief. It was an easy read with an unpredictable ending; a definite must read.” -Sharp Sisters Studying Literature

Buy the book at: Barnes and Noble, Alibris or Amazon, Authorhouse, or directly from Keya, the author

Please contact Keya personally to arrange speaking engagements, interviews, blog visits or live readings. Keya is available to discuss the following topics that pertain to her book, When Lightning Strikes.
Website: www.keyalit.com

When Lightning Strikes Characters Come to Life
Author: Keya; Location: Dallas, Texas
Email: wlstrikes@yahoo.com | Author Website: www.keyalit.com

Synopsis: How can you have it all – education, personality, and beauty - yet your life is flooded with a sea of troubles? Imminent, new author Keya answers this question and more in When Lightning Strikes, a novel about Ms. Taylor Devereaux, her three best friends, and her spiraling-out-of-control life. Taylor is on the road to happiness and success. She is a gorgeous and classy woman with a thriving career and a wonderful fiancée.

One day, Taylor’s near perfect world is turned upside down when she discovers her future husband is cheating. To make matters worse, while trying to put the pieces of her life back together, she finds out someone at her job has filed a sexual harassment complaint against her. She realizes someone is out to ruin her life. With Taylor’s personal life, profession, and overall reputation at stake, can she overcome it all? Or, will the stress of it all bring out another side of Taylor? See how Taylor reacts When Lightning Strikes. Buy the book at: Barnes and Noble, Alibris or Amazon, Authorhouse, or directly from Keya, the author

Biography for each main character

Taylor’s Bio: Taylor is young, beautiful, successful, confident and full of life. Taylor is on the road to having everything she has ever dreamed of. She is engaged and currently an advertising executive in her career. Taylor is also naïve and nowhere near ready for the things that are about to happen to her.

My thoughts on Taylor: Although Taylor is my main character, she is not at all my favorite. Her goals and dreams are very admirable, but her actions throughout the story help me to see all of her flaws. In the book, we see that Taylor is not perfect, she gets upset, angry, and the entire time she is trying to make people believe she is stronger than what she actually is. Also, at times she can be very hypocritical of her friends.

Michelle’s Bio: Michelle is a smart, but mentally unstable young woman. She has experienced a lot of pain due to losing loved ones and an unsettling childhood. Since Michelle doesn’t know how to re-direct her energy or how to keep her pain and anger under control she tends to focus her attention on other people and making their lives as miserable as hers.

My thoughts on Michelle: Michelle was my favorite character in the book to create. Even though she had a wicked nature, I felt that she was the most vulnerable in the book. It was quite obvious that she was longing to be loved. Michelle also had a quality of honesty to her to a certain degree that I don’t think any of the other characters had. Everyone knew she was miserable and needed help and she didn’t apologize or try to hide that side of herself.

Book: When Lightning Strikes
ISBN#: 9781434393913
Author: Keya; Location: Texas
Email: wlstrikes@yahoo.com
Author Website: www.keyalit.com

Taylor is on the road to happiness and success. She is a gorgeous and classy woman with a thriving career and a wonderful fiancée. One day, Taylor’s near perfect world is turned upside down when she discovers her future husband is cheating. To make matters worse, while trying to put the pieces of her life back together, she finds out someone at her job has filed a sexual harassment complaint against her. She realizes someone is out to ruin her life. With Taylor’s personal life, profession, and overall reputation at stake, can she overcome it all? Or, will the stress of it all bring out another side of Taylor? See how Taylor reacts When Lightning Strikes.

Discussion Questions and the Author's Responses
Here are a few questions for your book club or reader's group. Keya, the author, has shared her opinions, now you and your group can share your thoughts. Keya is available for live events, phone interviews and blog visits. Reach out to her at: wlstrikes@yahoo.com

Q: Who was your favorite character and why?
A: Michelle was my favorite character because I see so many dimensions to her. In the novel most people see her bad side, but I can also see her vulnerability, ambitiousness, and the need to be loved and accepted.

Q: Who was your least favorite character and why?
A: Surprisingly, my least favorite character was Taylor. I see her as a bit of a snob, and as a person who is quick to turn on her friends in order to gain the success or things that she wants in life. She is a user.

Q: Was Taylor a hypocrite?
A: Absolutely! She was the person who hated her boss because he claimed credit for the work that she did, but when she becomes management she does the same thing to her friend, of all people.

Q: What was your inspiration?
A: When I began writing I was not focusing on just one thing at all. This was purely for therapeutic reasons. I did not know that it would turn into such a wonderful experience.

Q: Is your next book going to pick up where this one has left off?
A: The next one will definitely have some of the same players in it. I have not decided if it will pick up exactly where this one has left off or if it will be more of a prequel. I am working on developing both ideas now so the decision will come very soon.

Q: Who would you say is more mentally stable, Taylor or Michelle?
A: I would say that Taylor is more stable mentally than Michelle. Michelle has so many issues that she has problems functioning in a normal atmosphere, Taylor has the potential to become mentally unstable but she is able to function much better in a normal society.

Q: Why did you choose to make the men in the novel seem so “weak?”
A: I would like to think of them as “good” men rather than “weak” men. There are so many books out there were the African American men are always out to treat women wrong and I wanted to take my book in another direction when it came to the African American men in my story, after all there are some good men in this world.

Q: Why do you think Taylor’s world began to crash around her?
A: I believe that Taylor’s world starts to spin out of control when she forgets who she is and the people that helped her get there. I believe that karma has played a major part in the chain of events that she is experiencing.

Q: Why did Michelle target Taylor in your opinion?
A: I believe Michelle targeted Taylor because she (Taylor) was the epitome of what Michelle wanted in life. Michelle was truly envious of Taylor and all of her successes. I believe that the secret that Taylor kept from Michelle just sent her over the edge and gave her more reason to despise Taylor.

Q: Have you experienced any of the events in your book personally?
A: I have experienced the jealously within the friendship, however it has never been to the extent of Taylor. Other than that everything else in the book is purely fictional.

Author's Bio:
Keya, originally from Dallas, Texas is the breakout author of When Lightning Strikes. She attended Stephen F. Austin State University, and is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree. Keya enjoys reading, music, writing, and spending time with her children, Treyvion and Desirae. She presently resides in Plano, Texas with her family. Keya is very anxious to begin working on the second installment of When Lightning Strikes.

Contact Keya online at:
www.keyalit.com
www.myspace.com/keyax

When Lightning Strikes Events
ISBN: 1434393917 | ISBN-13: 9781434393913
Author: Keya; Location: Dallas, Texas
Email: wlstrikes@yahoo.com | Author Website: www.keyalit.com

Please contact Keya personally to arrange speaking engagements, interviews, blog visits or live readings at: wlstrikes@yahoo.com

Synopsis: How can you have it all – education, personality, and beauty - yet your life is flooded with a sea of troubles? Imminent, new author Keya answers this question and more in When Lightning Strikes, a novel about Ms. Taylor Devereaux, her three best friends, and her spiraling-out-of-control life. Taylor is on the road to happiness and success. She is a gorgeous and classy woman with a thriving career and a wonderful fiancée.

One day, Taylor’s near perfect world is turned upside down when she discovers her future husband is cheating. To make matters worse, while trying to put the pieces of her life back together, she finds out someone at her job has filed a sexual harassment complaint against her. She realizes someone is out to ruin her life. With Taylor’s personal life, profession, and overall reputation at stake, can she overcome it all? Or, will the stress of it all bring out another side of Taylor? See how Taylor reacts When Lightning Strikes. Buy the book at: Barnes and Noble, Alibris or Amazon, Authorhouse, or directly from Keya, the author

Bio: Keya, originally from Dallas, Texas is the breakout author of When Lightning Strikes. She attended Stephen F. Austin State University, and is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree. Keya enjoys reading, music, writing, and spending time with her children, Treyvion and Desirae. She presently resides in Plano, Texas with her family. Keya is very anxious to begin working on the second installment of When Lightning Strikes.

Synopsis: Taylor is on the road to happiness and success. She is a gorgeous and classy woman with a thriving career and a wonderful fiancée. One day, Taylor’s near perfect world is turned upside down when she discovers her future husband is cheating. To make matters worse, while trying to put the pieces of her life back together, she finds out someone at her job has filed a sexual harassment complaint against her. She realizes someone is out to ruin her life. With Taylor’s personal life, profession, and overall reputation at stake, can she overcome it all? Or, will the stress of it all bring out another side of Taylor? See how Taylor reacts When Lightning Strikes.

Ella: Tell us about your passion for writing. Why do you write? What drives you?

My passion for writing originally stemmed from the need to relieve stress and then it manifested itself into a need to be creative. I am driven by desire to make sure that my children see me as a successful and positive role model and my own aspirations to accomplish and achieve different things in my lifetime.

Ella: 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...

Not only entertainment and a good read, but hopefully it will inspire those who create wonderful works to be brave and share it with the world.

Ella: Keya, please introduce us to your book, When Lightning Strikes.
Taylor is on the road to happiness and success. She is a gorgeous and classy woman with a thriving career and a wonderful fiancée. One day, Taylor’s near perfect world is turned upside down when she discovers her future husband is cheating. To make matters worse, while trying to put the pieces of her life back together, she finds out someone at her job has filed a sexual harassment complaint against her. She realizes someone is out to ruin her life. With Taylor’s personal life, profession, and overall reputation at stake, can she overcome it all? Or, will the stress of it all bring out another side of Taylor? See how Taylor reacts When Lightning Strikes.

Ella: What is the most surprising thing you have learned in creating books?
Surprisingly, I did not initially realize how difficult it is to get your book and name out there. If you are not a Mary B. Morrison or Terry McMillan, you have to find creative ways to advertise, to be seen, and to be heard.

Ella: What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?
My most significant achievement as a writer was completing this work. Honestly, I did not want to pursue writing as a career. This was a hobby, more like a stress reliever, that manifested into more. It was a lot of hard work and it was time-consuming.

Ella: What advice would you give a new writer?
To persevere through it all. When publishers tell you no, find one to tell you yes. When you can’t book a radio spot, hunt for another station. Be persistent so that you can be successful.

Ella: Name 3 things that it takes to make a successful author, in your opinion?
God; Belief in yourself, determination, and motivation; Ambitious, supportive people around you

Ella: What can we expect from you in the future?
Currently, I am brainstorming over several projects. Even the sequel to When Lightning Strikes or another work of fiction that I have been trying to arrange will be next. Look for something early next year.

Keya, originally from Dallas, Texas is the breakout author of When Lightning Strikes. She attended Stephen F. Austin State University, and is currently pursuing her bachelor’s degree. Keya enjoys reading, music, writing, and spending time with her children, Treyvion and Desirae. In addition to those hobbies she enjoys being the co-creator of the popular entertainment and blog site www.real-talk-live.com. She presently resides in Plano, Texas with her family. Keya is very anxious to begin working on the second installment of When Lightning Strikes.

Ella: Explain how you developed your book, When Lightning Strikes. How do you approach writing novels? Do you start with an idea, a title, do an outline, etc? I would love to know what techniques you used to develop your reading audience, also.

When Lightning Strikes originally started as a short story, after a friend read it by mistake they wanted to know more about the characters and what happened next. It was at that point that I decided to make it a novel. As far as my approach goes, I like to start out with a title and then go from there. It somehow helps me develop my initial storyline and then the details of the actual story begin to emerge at that point.

My new book When Lightning Strikes, is an urban fiction novel that focuses on the trials and tribulations of Taylor Devereaux. Taylor is experiencing a wonderful life and is under the illusion that nothing can go wrong, when all of a sudden everything does! I like to think of this book as a book that has something for everyone. I wrote When Lightning Strikes originally as a short story to relieve some stress. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that it would become something for the world to read.

While Taylor Devereaux is the main character the cover doesn’t really mention Michelle who could also be considered a main character. Michelle is a one woman version of TLC, she is very crazy, sexy and cool. This book is really a personal coaching session that is designed to empower anyone who reads it.

I think that this novel is different from others in its genre because it has something for everyone in it. Men can read it and say “I know a woman just like that” and women can do exactly the same thing.

Ella: Who is your audience for When Lightning Strikes? Who do you think will understand and gain insight through reading your book?

It is hard for me to focus on one audience. I hope that men and women of all ages came be my audience. I really hope that anyone who reads When Lightning Strikes will gain insight when reading it.

Ella: Is any of this story autobiographical? Were any scenes from the book inspired from what you know, or it is through your imagination?
None of the story is autobiographical. Lots of the scenes however, were inspired by situations that I have heard of from other people or even friends of friends.

No. I don’t feel comfortable at the moment sharing everything that I write with the world. I am not necessarily that brave at the moment.

Ella: Do you have unpublished works that you feel is for your eyes only? Please comment.
I do have a few works that would be more for the erotica genre that I have for my eyes only. The main reason why these works are unpublished is because I am not ready for my mom to read that type of work from me just yet. J

Ella: Do you write the kinds of stories that you like to read? Who are some of your favorite authors?

I definitely try to write things that keep my interest. I feel that if they don’t keep my attention then they definitely can’t keep anyone else’s attention. Some of my favorite author’s include: Mary B Morrision, Kimberla Lawson Roby, Sista Soulja, Carl Weber, and of course Zane. There are tons more, but those are the few that I can think of right away.

I felt as though this would be the opportunity of a lifetime. You don’t meet people everyday who have mastered such a wonderful accomplishment. It was also the thought of knowing that I wasn’t afraid to experience something so new and wonderful.

Ella: In your opinion, what is the absolute best thing about being a writer?

The best thing I would have to say is the whole new world that opens up. When my book became available to purchase I had no idea of the network available. The wonderful new people that you meet and not to mention the whole new set of opportunities it can create if you are successful at it.

The best thing about being an author is the opportunity to share the lessons I have learned in life to help people improve their lives.

Ella: As a new author, what would you say was your most difficult challenge in completing your book?

While the writing process was not exactly easy, the publishing and marketing part of this has to be my biggest challenge. It is hard to get your name out there when you don’t have a ton of money to spend on promotions, and sometimes even if you do this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be successful at it. This is a career where you have to realize the success/failure rate.

Ella: What’s the biggest compliment you’ve been getting on When Lightning Strikes?

I would have to say the biggest compliment is that my completing this huge task is making other people want to do the same thing. I have talked to so many people who have told me that they have been working on a book and that I am helping to motivate them to complete their work. That is such a rewarding feeling.

Ella: As a writer, what are some of the most important things you try to get across through your books?
I want people to take away the deeper message from my book. In When Lightning Strikes the message is to never forget where you come from, and don’t get to comfortable with material things because you never know when you will/if you will lose it. Another message would be the message of real friendship. You can’t expect people to be real friends to you, when you aren’t being a real friend to them.

Midnight by Sista Soulja was the last book that I read and it was wonderful. The Coldest Winter Ever is one of my favorite books and it seems as though I had waited an eternity for Sista Soulja’s next novel. I was just elated that she had another work out.

My book will be featured in the book shows listed below. There will be more appearances via online blog stops and a few more book signings as well. Please contact me at wlstrikes@yahoo.com for more information.

Ella: Please give us a preview of your next project including when it will be released.

I will be releasing my next work in the spring of 2010. Right now I have not decided if it will be the sequel of When Lightning Strikes which explores more of Terrence’s lifestyle before he met Taylor, or a completely new work entitled “Barely Legal.” Barely Legal explores the life of 18 year old Ashley who is a young and out of control teen, who experiences all aspects of life and one particular event makes her wish she had listened to her mother and everyone else who tried to warn her of the danger she was exposing herself to.