Tell us a little bit about you outside of being an author.
I am Tracie E. Christian and outside of being an author, I am proud wife and mother. I love to cook (when I feel like it) and bake. I’m a huge fan of jazz (contemporary), very old school R& B, Hip-hop and Neo-Soul Music. On occasion I like to sing (with tea and lemon) and when rubbed up good with Vics, you may catch me cutting a rug or two.
Tell us a little bit about your work in progress and/or your upcoming release.
My upcoming release is the third and final installment to my urban fiction trilogy book series, The Black College Sabbatical – SPRING QUARTER. It will finish up all the cliff-hangers, out-standing drama and issues surrounding our four young women stumbling around through their 1st year attending a historically black college. It’s set for release in September, 2010.
How many years of professional writing experience (if any) do you have? What have you written?
I started this professional writing venture on New Year’s Eve 2007 when my 1st book was released, so almost two years. I have both installments of The Black College Sabbatical – FALL QUARTER & WINTER QUARTER & Urban Verses: Poetry to Make You Say Hmmm…..
Do you have an occupation in addition to being a writer? If so, what is it?
I am an Independent Program Coordinator and Seminar Facilitator. I am also a Substitute Teacher
What credentials establish you as an expert in your field or have contributed to your success as an author?
Well as a student/writer, I studied Speech Communications in college, proving I am a person with plenty to say. I’ve always loved telling stories. Pertaining to the subject matter of my trilogy series, I attended a historically black college for 5 years.
About the Book
What was your motivation for writing this book?
When I was teaching middle school students in 2000 and more than half had no idea what schools were considered historically black colleges, I decided to write a story about it.
I wanted to try telling a fictional story that shed a different type of light on the black college experience. One that exposed different components of HBCU life and how the relationships established there impact the students, as well as faculty and staff.
Tell us some of the factors that make your book unique.
One, it’s setting; the campus of Heritage State University and the city and state is never revealed. Two, my book has mystery, suspense, sex, betrayal, forgiveness & redemption. It somewhat crosses mass genres because it has a little bit of everything it takes to make good fiction, and I think that makes it a meaty story.
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?
Understand a little more of how hbcus operate. In FALL QUARTER, I speak a lot about the itinerary of events for orientation and concepts behind the set up of a two week orientation for freshmen students. How the first campus impression is an atmosphere of home away from home, a nurturing, situation of welcoming togetherness and hope for the future.
Is there local or regional relevance for your book?
I think so. There are no historically black colleges in Michigan. Then in 2005, a resolution on affirmative action was passed in Michigan revoking the point system for ethnicities/race relation to college admissions policies. Therefore, I think it’s important for junior/senior high school students in urban areas throughout MI and beyond should know that these institutions exist.
What emotions does your book evoke from readers?
One reader spoke of the feeling of nostalgia for those familiar with the black college experience. Another reader expressed that my book made him feel proud that an African American young women could write a story a grown man can enjoy. Yet another reader said after reading my book, it made her want more. She wanted to know more about what happened to the characters. She said she felt as if she knew them personally.
Are there any controversial elements in your book?
An interracial relationship is explored. Some may find that controversial. I have a very cold-blooded sister in the book that does some treacherous deeds. I also have a May/December romance that takes place.
In researching your book, did you come across any surprising facts, figures or statistics?
I’m finding that although my book is about college life, it seems to appeal to a broad age-range of readers; young and old and that’s fascinating. Also, it’s getting good reviews from people that did and did not attend college or one of the 109 historically black college/universities.
If your book were for sale in a major bookstore, in what section would it be found?
African American Fiction
What did you learn while writing this book?
Writing this series I learned that this is truly MY story and I am free to do whatever I want with it. I learned that Patience is your best ally and lack of it can stifle your growth as an artist.
What one thing about writing do you wish other non-writers would understand?
I want others to know that writing well, takes sharing. You have to be willing to open yourself up and to allow your creativity to boldly take you where you’ve never been before. Also know that writing is not a GET RICH QUICK situation. If writing isn’t something you love enough to do for free, then you’re not going to last long in this game. Your artistry should fuel your ambition to continue on even when things look bleak.
What are three things you wish you’d known before you reached where you are now?
I wished I would have researched independent printers more first instead of print on demand companies.
I wish I had partnered up with my literary Partner, Adra Young when I first started writing this series rather than after book two had come out.
How and why does your book differ from books of a similar topic? What would you like your readers to take away from your book?
My book tells the experiences of four different people all at the same place in location but from different prospective in growth, character and activities. If my book generates a conversation, initiates on-line research, a college tour visit or makes someone apply to an h.b.c.u. then my mission is accomplished.
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 enlisted a separate credible editor for a more polished finished product. I also would have worked on a more alluring cover image for the first installment of the series. I would have built up more hype about the book before it came out.
What advice would you give an aspiring author?
My advice to other authors is to research everything twice and maybe even a third time to be sure you have considered all options for each element of your book; from cover to cover and beyond. If there is a FAILURE to Plan, you can PLAN to FAIL. So mark your course strategically and ask for help when you’re weak. You cannot do everything so be honest about what you do well and what you don’t.
Where can readers learn more about you and your books?
Look me up on FACEBOOK, WORDPRESS.com, BOOKTOUR.com and of course my website, www.tracieechristian.com or www.blackcollegesabbatical.ning.com
Please identify five recent books (with title and ISBN) that compete most directly with yours.
Up At the College – By: The Urban Griot (Omar Tyree) ISBN: 0-7374-8273-5
College Boy – By: Michele Andrea Bowen ISBN: 978-0-446-57775-5
I’ll Find a Way or Make One – By: Dwayne Ashley, Juan Williams & Adrienne Ingrum ISBN: 0-06-009456-7
Acting Black; College, Identity & the Performance of Race By: Susan Susannah Wille ISBN: 0-415-94410-4
College Girls: A Century In Fiction – By: Patricia Weitz
I wish I would have stepped out on faith earlier to start writing. It’s always been in me, but I failed to have faith in the gift God had given me. I wish I had done that sooner.
