When did you know you wanted to write ?
When I was 11 years old. I was really into poetry in my teens. I even wrote my own poetry book at about 12. But, I have no idea where it is now.
Do you have a special writing corner or space? How do you get in the mood to write?
I write wherever - car, my bedroom, at a sports game, in the bathroom, I truly mean wherever. Usually I focus and organize my thoughts and then I let the pen hit the paper. However, lately since I've been working on a novel, I will actually read a chapter or two from a random book and let the words or thoughts saturate my mind, then I'll let the pen hit the paper.
Tell us about Searchable Whereabouts? What or who was your inspiration behind this story?
Searchable Whereabouts is the story of Rahkel Williams trying to solve the mysterious death of her uncle. Her father-figured Uncle was suddenly murdered and she has taken it upon herself to find out why. She meets Darrin Miller, who's a private investigator and someone she soon begins to have romantic interest in. He helps her on her search to find out the truth. However, she begins finding clues into her Uncle's life that leads her to believe he wasn't the man she thought he was. And then Rahkel finds that the deeper she searches for the truth, the stranger things became. Soon people are being murdered and she's afraid she'll be next. The story goes on from there with lies, deceit and the unknown with the race of time for Rahkel to find the truth.
I've been asked [about my inspiration] before, and honestly the only thing I can tell you is that I knew I wanted to write a mystery, because I love watching mystery and suspense movies and shows, so I knew it was going to involve a black woman and somebody getting murdered, and I just let the thoughts flow from scratch.
In reading your biography, you noted that you were a poet. Tell us about one or a few of your favorites?
Well, I do still consider myself a poet. I recently collaborated with some of the best, including Georgia Me and J. Ivy from HBO Def Poets and many others in an anthology entitled, Step Up To The Mic: A Poetic Explosion edited by Michael J. Burt. It's available now. However, a few of my favorite poets are Maya Angelou, and Nikki Giovanni.
Do you have any other books or contributions to the writing industry?
I do have a short story entitled, "Mother and Son Moment" published in the Chicken Soup for the African American Soul, which was published in 2004. Searchable Whereabouts is actually my third book, but the first to be published. And I also have several poetry pieces and articles on various websites. I also contribute articles to a local urban magazine called " Denver 's Finest Underground."
Whose work do you enjoy reading? Do you have a favorite book or poem?
It's funny, cause I'm actually an avid non-fiction reader. I own and read a lot of motivational and self-help books. However, as far as fiction, I do enjoy, Zane, James Patterson and a few of Stephen King's books.
One of my favorite books among many is Unstoppable Woman by Cynthia Kersey. It's about achieving any goals you want to. It's a book you can read over and over and always learn something new.
What can we expect from you in the future? ?
Well, I'm working on my next novel. I'm not done yet, so I don't want to talk too much about it. But I will give the title, which is: Lost from Paradise Hell .
But besides that, I'm currently working with a fellow author Peron F. Long and will be collaborating with various authors in an anthology entitled, Success For Life: Personal and Uncensored with a release date of 2009. It will include various short stories, poetry, articles about success and the struggle to attain it.
What advice can you give aspiring authors?
First and foremost, writing is not as easy as most people would think. You have to be passionate and dedicated about being a writer/author. You also have to work at it and you have to be a reader. The advise that I'd like to offer aspiring authors is to be passionate and go all the way with it and believe in yourself, cause if you don't, who will, and have some fun as well.
Tell us something interesting about yourself that you wouldn't normally expose when first meeting someone (we call this the sistah-confession :)
Wow, this is a hard one, but whenever I'm angry or upset, I like to take a drive or sit alone and listen to motivational tapes or CD's and I have this little ceramic ornament, that I take with me, which a friend had given me on her trip to Russia years ago. I call him my 'Little Buddha Man', cause it looks like a little ancient Buddha. He has a cap on and a long gown, he's old and he's smiling and so happy. He's holding some type of present in his hands and it looks like he's presenting it to you. So anyhow, that's my little strange secret.
