When did you know you wanted to write?
I have been writing since I was a little thing. Perhaps not always on paper, but even as a toddler, I was known for telling tall tales to groups of people. My grandmother would take me somewhere like the grocery store, and by the time we got home, Ibd be telling people webd flown to the moon and had tea with the Pope. That is a form of creative writing, so to speak.
What does your writing corner look like? How do you get in the mood to write?
I moved into a two bedroom in order to have a separate room for writing, but after I moved I realized that I donbt like writing in small areas, so right now my writing "corner" is the center of my living room. I moved the dining room table to the middle of the floor and set up my office right in the living room. Of course, I move everything when I have company. I donbt wait for a mood to write. If it is 9am--thatbs my mood. LOL. To me, this is my passionate job. I think so many people wake at 9 to work for someone else, to do things they donbt like to fulfill someone elsebs dream. I apply that energy to my work.
Tell us about your most recent book? What inspired you to write this story? What message are you trying to convey in this story?
Take Her Man was a concept I came up with when I was thinking of how I was going to spend my first summer writing fulltime. I wanted to tackle something easy and familiar, so I decided to write about my girlfriends, about the things we do and go through everyday. Andb&wellb&man stealing and getting into trouble just seemed to be something we did as we came into our own as women. When EGO and REALITY collide it can be a tough fight. I knew I could write about that everyday from nine to five. I was inspired to write this particular story because while we are commonly involved in the drama I explore in Take Her Man, there is so much more to the journey of realizing your mistakes, and thatbs recognizing your friends. Thatbs what the novel is really about--sisterhood. The message of the novel rests in the main characterbs epiphany, which is to see things as they are, and not as you would have them to be. Trust your friends, your family, and trust yourself.
Can you identify with any of your characters?
I identify with all of them. I am these women. I have made these mistakes. Theybre a part of growing up.
Do you have any other books or contributions to the writing industry?
My first publication was an essay about sisterhood entitled Calbs Girls. I was published in Sisterfriends by Julia Chance. I am also the former editor of Rolling Out Urbanstyle Weekly and while I was working at PocketBooks as an editorial assistant, I worked with many authors including Laila Ali, Tupac Shakur, Jervey Tervalon, Patricia Elam, and RM Johnson.
Whose work do you love to read? What is your favorite book?
I am a Morrison maniac. I study her like an addict. Her work is simply magical. My favorite Morrison book, which I have read at least twenty times, is Beloved. Song of Solomon was my favorite as a teenager. I also like Sapphire.
What can we expect from you in the future?
I am a creative person, so who knows. I intend to write both literary and commercial fiction. I might even write a science fiction novel. Whatever comes to me. Next year my second Kensington novel will come out. It is about an older sister who is bgiving upb on love at 35. I also have some other things coming together.
What advie can you give aspiring authors?
Today and tomorrow. You have to practice to make it right. You will NEVER be an author if you are not a writer first. Many people get that process confused. They want a book deal, not realizing that you must produce a book.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that you wouldn't normally tell others (we call this the Sistah Secret at our site meetings)
My sister secret is that I have over twenty bras, but I only wear one that I ONLY wear for major events or if I am standing up in front of a group of people. I never wear a bra. LOL. That always seems to bother people--especially my running teacher. That made her so angry I started wearing them when I run. LOL.
