Tell us a little bit about you outside of being an author. I consider myself to be a person of integrity, while appreciating the little things in life that make all of special in one way or another.
Tell us a little bit about your work in progress and/or your upcoming release. My upcoming release is named “My Own Terms”. It a tale of a woman who is determined to live life on her own terms by all means necessary. After living her life for everyone else, she decides it’s time for a new start and that start happens to be 3000 miles away from everything and everyone she knows. I have several works in progress at the moment. I am working on the sequel to My Own Terms, another fiction novel – which should be out in the later part of 2009, and I am also working on a non-fiction book dealing with surviving in an African American marriage.
How many years of professional writing experience (if any) do you have? What have you written? I have one year of professional wriing experience. I currently have two books of poetry published. I also contribute to a weekly publication, BTP (Big Time Publishing).
Do you have an occupation in addition to being a writer? I am a Social Worker by day. I currently work with at risk youth in the Philadelphia School system.
What credentials establish you as an expert in your field or have contributed to your success as an author? Life experiences, to me, are the best qualifiers for anyone. If you or someone you know has gone or is going through something, it makes is a lot easier to write about it while making it believable.
ABOUT THE BOOK
What was your motivation for writing this book? I feel that everyone has a story to tell and others may be able to relate to that story. When writing a fiction novel, there is great motivation coming from all directions due to the nature of these kinds of stories. My overall motivation is being able to provide others with an escape from reality for at least one moment in their day.
Tell us some of the factors that make your book unique. My book incorporates the use of texting and phone stalking as a main component of the story. The story is driven by what these texts say and what is said over these phone calls. Modern technology at its best.
What is the single most important thing that readers of your book will be able to do after reading your book that they could not do before? The will understand how technology can be great, but at the same time it can be awful. The will get the point of how stalking can occur without someone’s physical presence.
What emotions will your book evoke from readers? My book will definitely evoke an array of emotions. These emotions will include fear, entitlement, happiness, and passion.
Are there any controversial elements in your book? My book thrives on controversy. The things the Protagonist gets into can be considered controversial, depending on one’s lifestyle.
What did you learn while writing this book? The process of writing a believable fiction book is harder than people may think.
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More about the publishing game.
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More about the marketing game.
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More about what potential readers want.
How and why does your book differ from books of a similar topic? I have been told that my book isn’t like anything those who I asked have ever read. Considering the heavy use of text and phone stalking, makes it different in itself.
What would you like your readers to take away from your book? Determination – don’t let anyone tell you how to live your life.
If you could change one thing you did during your road to publication, what would it be and what would you have done different? I would have submitted my manuscript earlier to the editor, that way I could have released it earlier.
What advice would you give an aspiring author? If I can do it, with everything going on in my life, then you can. Also, know as much as you can so other’s don’t take advantage of you.
