Simply Said Reading Accessories Book Festivals and Events 2013

Book Festivals and Events 2013

• Here are some book festivals and other venues that are happening in 2013. As more come up, they will be added to the list so check back often and sign up for newsletter.

• Please also check your local and state events in your area.

• Don’t forget libraries, churches, multi-cultural fests, and community activities that have yearly events

• If you have an event you would like to add or share please contact me so I can add your contribution to the list.

• It’s almost impossible to be at every event, so if you can’t be there… Send Swag, coupons, Skype, review copies and Ebook downloads.

• Some of these events are VERY expensive, Share and team up to split the costs

• Sororities, Fraternities and other organizations check regional events and local chapters

• If you can’t afford to vend at the event, go any way and network

• Some events are not selling venues

• While visiting these events, look up book clubs in the area. Let them know you’ll be participating, encourage them to come or arrange a book club meeting or 2 while you’re there





January

• Zora Neale Hurston Fest January 26- February 3 2013 Eatonville Florida

• National Coalition of 100 Black Women January 23-36 New Orleans, Louisiana



February

• Holla February 2 North Carolina

• Bronner Brothers Mid Winter hair show February 16-18 Atlanta Georgia



March

• Jazz in the Gardens March 16-17 Miami Gardens, Florida

• The National Black Writers Conference March 30, Brooklyn New York



April

• World Natural Hair Health April 27-28 Atlanta, Georgia

• L.A. Times April 20-21 Las Angeles. California

• Detroit Hair Wars April 28, Detroit, Michigan



May

• Romantic Times May 1-5 Kansas City, Missouri

• Romance Slam Jam May 2-5 Milwaukee, Wisconsin

• Book Expo America May 29- June 1 Manhattan, New York

• The Black Party (to be announced)

• Hudson Children’s Festival May 4 New York



June

• New York Book fest June 21 New York





July

• Romance Writers of America July 17-20 Atlanta, Georgia

• Harlem Book Festival July 20 New York

• Essence Music Festival July 4-7 New Orleans, Louisiana

• Delta Sigma Theta Centennial National Convention July 11-17 Washington, DC



August

• The Chocolate Social August 1 Atlanta, Georgia

• National Book Club Conference August 2-4 Atlanta, Georgia

• Bronner Brothers Hair Show August Atlanta, Georgia

• Tom Joyner Family Reunion August 29-September 3 Orlando, Florida

• Alpha Kappa Alpha National Conference August 7-10 New Orleans, Louisiana

• African American Literary Awards New York (Date pending)



September

• The Decatur Book Festival September 7-9 Decatur, Georgia

• Baltimore Book fest September 29-29 Baltimore, Maryland

• Brooklyn Book Festival September 22 Brooklyn New York

• The Congressional Black Caucus September 18-21 Washington, DC



October

• Black Book Festival October 24-26 Houston, Texas

• OOSA Pajama Jam October 26 Tentative date

• National Coalition of 100 Black Women October 9-13 Las Vegas, Nevada

• Cavalcade of Authors October 11-13 Chicago, Illinois



November

• Miami Book Festival November17-24 outdoor fair 22-24 Miami, Florida



December

















www.simply-said.net

Conversation with Gwynne Forster

Intimate Conversation with Gwynne Forster

Gwynne Forster, bestselling and award-winning author of When the Sun Goes Down, Blues from Down Deep, If You Walked in My Shoes, and A Different Kind of Blues, conjures a riveting story of fractured ties, secrets, and forgiveness in this powerful family drama in When the Sun Goes Down, the sequel to: If You Walked In My Shoes.

Gwynne Forster is a national best selling author of forty-five works of fiction, including her latest of nine mainstream novels, WHEN THE SUN GOES DOWN. Gwynne is author of thirty-six romance novels and novellas, of which the latest novels are DESTINATION LOVE and YES, I DO. She has won numerous awards for fiction writing, including the Romantic Times 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award, the Romance In Color Author of the Year award, the Gold Pen Award and has been inducted in the Affaire de Coeur Hall of Fame.

Gwynne loves to sing, read and listen to music, especially jazz, classical music, opera and blues. She also loves to sing and dance, and enjoys entertaining at small dinner parties. She lives in New York with her husband, who is her true soul mate.


Listen to a lively interview with Gwynne Forster and BAN Radio host Ella Curry


BPM: Mrs. Gwynne, we are celebrating the holidays! What was your most memorable holiday from the past?
GF: My most memorable Christmas holiday was the first Christmas Eve that I spent with the man who is now my husband. I cooked a turkey, the first I'd ever cooked and, to my astonishment, it was a perfect bird. Many things happened that evening that we still joke about. We didn't know each other too well then, and we "tiptoed" around each other, each wanting to assure the other a happy Christmas and neither of us knowing how. We had a wonderful evening, singing, eating, listening to music, telling each other tall tales of our lives and, of course, exchanging gifts. I shall never forget it.


BPM: How do you celebrate the holidays? What are the traditions for your family?
GF: We celebrate Christmas on Christmas eve, always with a roast goose dinner and mounds of gifts around the Christmas tree. We began the Christmas Eve tradition when my step son--then a teenager--got his first girlfriend. Of course, he wanted to have Christmas dinner with her and her family. So we invited her for Christmas Eve, and he went to her family on Christmas day. We liked the custom. We open the gifts after dinner on Christmas Eve. One beauty of that is that I enjoy Christmas day with no work to do.


BPM: What are you most thankful for today? What does all your books have in common?
GF: I am most thankful for Jesus Christ in my life and for the health and well being of my family and myself.

GF: My books have different themes, but everyone of them demonstrates the importance of loyalty and common decency and the rewards of reaching for a higher goal. Website: www.gwynneforster.com


BPM: Mrs. Gwynne please tell us about your latest release, When the Sun Goes Down.
GF: When the Sun Goes Down deals with the strengths and fragileness of relations among family members. When self-made millionaire and widower Leon Farrell dies, he leaves behind a legacy of family dysfunction—and a missing will. The possible loss of a fortune only increases the existing tension between his three grown children.

While handsome slacker Edgar kicks back in anticipation of his windfall, middle child Gunther struggles to save his software business, and fiercely independent Shirley unsuccessfully tries to stay out of the fray. But things soon take an explosive turn. And as the siblings find themselves battling each other to protect their own interests, they’ll face choices that could bring them together at last—or tear them apart for good.

Caught in the middle of her brothers’ ill-will, and doing her best to keep the peace, Shirley is further unsettled when she falls for Carson Montgomery, the smart, sexy private investigator Edgar hires to tract down the will. And when Gunther suddenly falls ill, Edgar’s attempt to manipulate him causes a conflict of interest that will shock them all!

BPM: Are your characters a portrayal of real people?
GF: Not at all. Something about a person may give me an idea, but I invent my characters.


BPM: Who did you write When the Sun Goes Down for? Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp?
GF: I wrote it for my readership. I thought that the women and men who have read my novels over the years would enjoy a frank discussion of some of the problems common among people of African descent. I’m not sure you’d call it a message, because I make it a policy not to preach to the reader. My first agent told me that it is a writer’s duty not only to entertain, but to inform. I’ve taken that advice seriously, and in every book that I write, whether mainstream fiction of a romance, I include some worthwhile information as a part of the story.



BPM: If you could change one thing you from your road to publication, what would you have done differently?
GF: I wouldn't have written a romance as my first book. I write mainstream fiction, and some of my books have won awards, but they are always judged as romances, because reviewers associate me with romance. And when they complain about something, it's usually what distinguished mainstream women's fiction from a romance.


BPM: Do you write full time? Describe your writing schedule for your readers.
GF: I write full time. I get up around seven-thirty and usually write from nine to about four Mondays through Fridays. Important errands may interfere with the schedule, but that’s basically it. I write after dinner for about two hours, unless my husband and I are going out or have guests. I often write on Saturdays after I’ve finished my shopping and errands. I don’t write on Sundays. I work in my office, and I don’t listen to the radio unless there’s a program of Mozart music.

BPM: What do your do when you’re not writing?
GF: In the summer, I’m an avid gardener. I love music—opera and classical music, classical jazz, blues, some Sinatra/Nat Cole type popular songs and a couple of old fashioned country singers. I enjoy entertaining at small dinner parties and consider myself a rather good cook. And, of course, I read.

BPM: What does your family think of your writing?
GF: My family consists of my husband and stepson. Both are very proud of my success as a writer and read my books. Although my husband is an academician and not a computer expert, he makes my fliers, brochures, and bookmarks and does an elegant job of it.


BPM: What two pieces of advice would you give to aspiring writers?
GF: Don't be disappointed by rejections. When you get one, clean up the manuscript and send it to the next editor on your list. The appraisal of fiction is, in some important aspects, highly subjective.

GF: Learn English grammar, and cultivate an extensive vocabulary so as to express yourself precisely as you intend. Write each day and, if possible at the same time. Try not to get a habit of procrastinating, and don’t rewrite until, say, you’ve at least written a chapter. It’s best to rewrite after you finish a first draft. Nothing worthwhile comes easy. Join a writing group such as the local

RWA group and attend writing conferences whenever possible. Remember: if you write a page every day, at the end of a year you can have a book.


BPM: Thank you Mrs. Gwynne for joining us today! Readers you can find out more about Gwynne Forster and her books at: http://www.gwynneforster.com/



When the Sun Goes Down by Gwynne Forster
Book Review: 5-Stars by Sharel E. Gordon-Love

Dysfunction can be part of a family even when one looks from the outside in and all appears to be well. In Gwynne Forster's When the Sun Goes Down, we find this to be so with the three Farrell siblings after the death of their father, Leon.

Leon Farrell was an odd character, who seemed to lose touch with real life and the children that most fathers would hold dear to his heart, especially after the loss of his beloved wife. However, he retreated within himself and played a cruel joke on his family, that could have them at odds with one another and ruin their relationships for good.

The eldest sibling, Edgar, was determined to get what was coming to him as a means to an end and continue to be the rebel that he is and live life on his terms. In the meantime, his brother, Gunther, and his sister, Shirley, tried to live their lives in spite of Edgar and the way they were treated by their father when he was alive. No doubt, their upbringing had a lot to do with who they grew to be, albeit, all three different in their own way.

When it was all said and done, secrets were revealed and hidden things brought to the light as this family strived to keep their families together and receive the things that they believed they were entitled to outside of their father and his eccentric ways. At the end of the day, it is about family and the things that we do to remain one.

What I loved about When the Sun Goes Down is how author Forster took her time to tell the story; there was no need to rush the storyline. I recommend this book to everyone who loves stories about family love and romance. This book was provided to me courtesy of the publisher for review purposes.
--Review by Sharel E. Gordon-Love APOOO BookClub


When the Sun Goes Down
ISBN-10: 0758246994
ISBN-13: 978-0758246998

"When the sun goes down on my life, you'll all come apart like ripped balloons." -- widower Leon Farrell

When stingy self-made millionaire and widower Leon Farrell dies, he leaves behind a legacy of family dysfunction—and a missing will. It's soon clear that his three grown children, Edgar, Gunther, and Shirley, don't handle loss well—the possible loss of a fortune, that is. And when Edgar hires a private investigator to track down the will, it's just the beginning of a search that will lead the siblings to re-visit their childhoods, uncover buried secrets, and ultimately learn for themselves what it means to be a family. For as tensions escalate between the brothers—with their peace-keeping sister caught in the middle—an unexpected conflict of interest is brewing that will shock them all—and either bring them closer together or tear them apart for good...    Peek inside the book and read excerpt chapters!


Purchase your copy today. Give as a great holiday gift book!
http://www.amazon.com/When-Goes-Down-Gwynne-Forster/dp/0758246994


ALSO AVAILABLE NOW!
Once in a Lifetime by: Gwynne Forster
ISBN-13: 9780373831944

With a young daughter to support, recently divorced Alexis Stevenson jumps at the chance to become household manager for wealthy businessman Telford Harrington and his two brothers. Though she knows it won't be easy turning their bachelor-pad mansion into a home, she is determined to handle any obstacles, while maintaining a separate life for herself and her daughter. But Alexis isn't at all ready for the red-hot chemistry crackling between her and Telford—or the fact that she's suddenly caught in a maze of unexpected secrets and deep mistrust. But if she and Telford find their way through it—together—can they both embrace the love they so deeply desire?

Road to Publication with author Katie McCabe

Road to Publication with author Katie McCabe

Author Katie McCabe joins us today to share her journey to publication that led to a major movie deal. She discusses her latest book and shares advice for new authors.

Katie McCabe is a National Magazine Award winner whose Washingtonian article on black surgical legend Vivien Thomas formed the basis for the HBO film Something the Lord Made, one of the highest rated original movies in HBO history and the winner of the 2004 Emmy and 2005 Peabody Awards.

McCabe’s 2009 book Justice Older than the Law, co-authored with pioneering lawyer Dovey Roundtree, won the Association of Black Women Historians’ Letitia Woods Brown Book Prize.

For her work in science and medical journalism, McCabe has been honored with awards for investigative reporting (William Allen White Award, 1991) and public service (National Magazine Award finalist, 1986).

» Book Spotlight: Justice Older than the Law: The Life of Dovey Johnson Roundtree by Katie McCabe and Dovey Johnson Roundtree.   Chapter One, "Walking Unafraid," about Dovey Roundtree's courageous Grandma Rachel, the woman Dovey calls "the greatest warrior I ever knew."  Listen to a live reading from Katie here:    http://www.audioacrobat.com/sa/WC3S5tj4

BPM: How did you get your start in writing/publishing?

KM: As a former high school English teacher who had always wanted to write, I launched my writing career in 1985 by pitching an article to Washingtonian magazine on the subject I knew best: education. I was fortunate to sell that very first piece, whereupon I began writing regularly for the magazine, branching out from education and private school topics to lengthy narrative pieces on medicine, medical research, and medical history.

The article that moved my career to another level was an August 1989 Washingtonian article on black cardiac surgery legend Vivien Thomas, “Like Something the Lord Made,” which won the 1990 National Magazine Award for Feature Writing and was optioned for a television movie. The 2004 HBO film that was based on my article, also named “Something the Lord Made,” starred Mos Def and Alan Rickman, and it won the Emmy for Best Made for TV Movie and the 2005 Peabody.  The HBO film enabled me to secure representation by a premiere New York literary agent and led to a host of other opportunities, including speaking engagements.

KM: In the 14-year period during which the Vivien Thomas piece was in development as a movie, I continued to write for Washingtonian, and I was approached by Reader’s Digest to write for them on contract. While the Digest experience was not artistically satisfying for me as a writer who places great value on style, writing on contract for the Digest provided income while I worked on other projects and embarked on a book, and it helped me hone my narrative skills.

In the 11 years I wrote for the Digest (1989 to 2000), I did lengthy “Book Section” pieces which required not only extensive research but also a mastery of narrative structure and character development within the strict confines imposed by the Digest form. I found that those storytelling skills stood me in good stead when I embarked on my first book, Justice Older than the Law: the Life of Dovey Johnson Roundtree, in February 1995, in collaboration with the book’s subject, pioneering civil rights lawyer, veteran and minister Dovey Roundtree. Nearly 15 years in the making, the book was published in July 2009 by the University Press of Mississippi and won the 2009 Association of Black Women Historians’ Letitia Woods Brown Memorial Book Prize for the best publication on an African American woman.

BPM: Katie, what can readers expect when they open a book created by you?

KM: I believe my power as a writer derives from my lifelong love affair with words and literature, my sense of the compelling stories hidden beneath the surface of outward events, and my fascination with unsung heroes. These passions came from my late parents, John and Kathleen Burns. They exemplified for me the kind of nobility and courage I endeavor to portray over and over again in my non-fiction as I seek out heroes and heroines whose lives have profoundly altered our world but whom history has forgotten or marginalized. My goal is to portray these history-makers with the vividness of fiction, and to bring them alive for future generations.

BPM: What are you most proud of as a writer in today’s market?

KM: I have endeavored to pass on to the next generation of readers the stories of men and women who have prevailed over almost insuperable odds to achieve greatness in medicine, in the law, in athletics, and in public service. I believe that my legacy as a writer is that I have brought to life some truly extraordinary examples of the triumph of the human spirit. These examples speak to people of all races and backgrounds about what is possible when one draws strength from mentors and taps into one’s own well of courage, faith and tenacity.

In today’s market, which is dominated by books and movies that glorify violence, brutality and sexuality run rampant, I choose to tell stories that celebrate the eternal values, and I think that sets me apart from the mainstream.

BPM: What advice would you give someone just starting out as a writer?

KM: I would tell young writers two things: first, to choose stories that they consider deeply important, to bring to bear every particle of talent they have to those stories and market them with all the energy they can summon; and second, to operate on the assumption, at least at the beginning, that it will not be possible to make a living by writing. It is possible to succeed in today’s brutal publishing market, but the reality is that one needs a reliable income from a steady job in order to “support the writing habit.”

BPM: What social issues do you address in Justice Older than the Law? How is this book affecting the public?

KM: I have never been a “political writer” in that I have never set out to address any social issues. I am a storyteller, and my goal is to pass along stories that matter, that illuminate lives that exemplify nobility, courage, tenacity, faith and goodness. All truly great stories change the world, and they do so precisely because they come in “under the radar” of our critical sense and move our hearts and minds.

When I set out to write Dovey Roundtree’s story, I did so because I was enthralled with her life experience and with her personal charisma. Having said that, I do believe that Justice Older than the Law speaks importantly to some of the most critical issues of our time.

Contemporary America urgently needs this book. As we contemplate at fifty years’ distance the meaning of Brown v. Board in the light of recent Supreme Court rulings, as we struggle with issues of race at every turn, there is a sense that we’ve lost our bearings.

KM: What is justice? What sort of a society are we aiming toward? How can we capture the values we seem to have lost? How do we arrest what Dovey calls “the demon of violence” that is destroying our cities? To be able to tap into the world view of a 96-year-old living legend who brought her fight into the streets, the jailhouses, the churches, and ultimately, into the hearts of the individuals to whom she ministered, is an extraordinary opportunity, I believe, for people of all races.


Special Note: First Lady Michelle Obama saluted Dovey Johnson Roundtree on the occasion of the book's Washington, DC launch.

"She [Dovey Johnson Roundtree] has clearly demonstrated that even in the face of enormous challenges, an unblinking belief in equality and justice will spur real change. I am inspired by Ms. Roundtree, and I hope that her story continues to motivate all Americans to fight for our shared values. It is on the shoulders of people like Dovey Johnson Roundtree that we stand today, and it is with her commitment to our core ideals that we will continue moving toward a better tomorrow."   ---  First Lady Michelle Obama, July 2009

BPM: What’s new? Tell us about your latest awards and media mentions.

KM: Dovey and I are proud that the book won the 2009 Letitia Woods Brown Memorial Book Award from the Association of Black Women Historians, which praised Justice Older than the Law for the way it “aided in connecting with the person and the pathos of Dovey” by its use of the novel format. The judges stated, “Your work enhances our understanding of the importance of storytelling as biography.”

We are also deeply gratified by the fact that law firms in Washington, New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Hartford and Charlotte have embraced the book and made it a part of their diversity programming. This represents a whole new wave of Dovey’s activism, which neither she nor I anticipated when we set about to tell her story together 15 years ago.

KM: Dovey and I are also thrilled that 30 or more law firms in Washington, DC featured the book at a “Law Night” on Thursday, July 8 for the rising ninth graders at Thurgood Marshall Academy, a charter school located in Anacostia, where Dovey ministered for 35 years at Allen Chapel AME Church. The Law Night, held at Dovey’s alma mater, Howard University Law School, brought together the Thurgood Marshall Academy students with attorneys and summer associates from the law firms for a program I presented on Dovey and the book.

One of the great crusades of Dovey’s later years in Washington was to find a way to quell the tide of violence among young people, to do what she called “heal the brokenness” in society and especially the black family. This book is part of her healing effort. She believes that her story will point young people to the essential truths that will sustain them amid the chaos of contemporary culture and set them on the path of goodness. At age 96, she is prevented by gravely ill health from participating in these and other book promotion events, but she continues to celebrate with me the ripple effects of the book on which we worked together for so many years.

BPM: How may readers view the photos of Dovey, contact you for more information and to find out more about the book?

KM: Visit us at http://www.justiceolderthanthelaw.com/ ,  the web site address for the book, and there is a link there to email Katie McCabe (at mccabe.kathleen@gmail.com )

Justice Older than the Law by Katie McCabe

Purchase your copy today!
It is the story of pioneering Army veteran, attorney and minister Dovey Johnson Roundtree, co-authored by Katie McCabe. This is a love song to the black family and a celebration of the eternal values that make it possible to transcend our pain and limitations. Dovey Roundtree is an icon, and her story is an inspiration to all families.

Hardcover: 288 pages;  ISBN-10: 160473132X

Intimate Conversation with author Renee Wiggins

Intimate Conversation with author Renee Wiggins

Renee Wiggins is the owner of Results By Renee, a wellness company based in Maryland. Her mission is to help people achieve optimum health through nutrition, fitness and supplemented with stress reduction techniques.

Ms. Wiggins designs lifestyle programs for individuals and groups. She is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Massage Therapist.

Listen to various health related coaching sessions by Renee, by clicking here today. 

BPM: Renee, please introduce us to your latest non-fiction, self-help book, Transformations: Give UP The Struggle.

RW: Transformations: Give UP The Struggle is a unique collection of affirmations written to encourage readers to break the chains of negative thoughts and actions, to embrace the positive aspects of change and to take the necessary steps to live a happy, fulfilling life. We all have had our ups and down in our lives, some more than others. But, how we end up in the end, determines how we actually see the storms. The storms help us to change to a better and stronger person.

BPM: How did the title of your book, Transformations: Give UP The Struggle, come about?

RW: I was searching for a word that would express the idea of change, so I came up with four different titles that embodied that concept and I sent them to friends, family members and colleagues I trusted. With their help, I came up with the word" Transformations", as I thought, that really got to the core to the message I wanted to share. I added the "Give UP The Struggle because I wanted the reader to know in order to transform, one must give up. Thus the title, " Transformations: Give UP The Struggle' was born.

BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write Transformations?

RW: As a diabetes educator, nutritionist, and personal trainer, I hear a lot about the struggles my client's experiences. And as I've listen to them over the years, I soon began to realize that many of these men and women were in unpleasant, unhealthy situations because they were unable to break bad habits and unable to realize that making simple changes in their lives could make the difference they desired. So I wrote the affirmations in this book as a way of teaching people that their chain can be broken and that they I wrote Transformations" Give UP The Struggle as a way to let people know that just as a caterpillar grows wings and transforms into a butterfly, they too, must also be open to similar evolutionary process in their lives.

BPM: Are the affirmations a representation of your life?

RW: Yes, some of these affirmations come deep within my soul, while others were birthed from the experiences men and women have shared with me regarding their own personal struggles.  I want to reach men and women from the ages of 18 years to 92 years of age, who are entering a storm or going through a storm. The affirmations presented in this book can be a turning point in the reader's life.

BPM: What are some of their specific issues, needs or problems
addressed in this book?

RW: The central themes of my book revolve around encouraging and empowering my readers to embrace their struggle as life lessons that they can move from their current situation toward greatness. I 'm happy to have these themes in the form of affirmations because research has shown that people who recite and /or live by affirmations have a more positive attitude.

BPM: What is your best advice to anyone who wants to be a writer?

RW: I encourage writers to take classes, workshops, travel to seminars, connect with other writers, join groups and most of all, and help other writers without hesitation.

BPM: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.

RW: I am currently writing part two of my current book, Transformations: Give UP The Struggle. This book will be a collection of stories of people who successfully danced through some of life's most turbulent storms. It s my hope that these stories will provide the strength and guidance others may need to change their lives for the better.

BPM: How can readers reach you online?

Readers can find more info on me and purchase the book at:  http://www.resultsbyrenee.com/.  Follow me on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/giveupthestrugg for diet tips, health tips and more.

Brought to you by EDC Creations and Black Pearls Magazine. Visit the magazine here: http://www.blackpearlsmagazine.com/  

Intimate Conversation with Cheryl Robinson

Intimate Conversation with author Cheryl Robinson

Cheryl Robinson

BPM: Where do you find your inspiration? All of the inspiration I could ever need I can find from everyday life--the joys and the pitfalls. I can open one email from someone telling me how upset they are at the way I ended my last book and then turn around and open another email from someone telling me how much they thoroughly enjoyed it. That's an example of how life is in general. One minute you can be down, but in a second it can all turn around. You have to take the good with the bad and learn from them both. But honestly, sometimes I just want it to all be good.

BPM: What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book?

Some years ago, when I was about nineteen or twenty, I answered the phone at my parents' home and there was a woman on the other end who insisted that we were related. She was trying to tell me that she was my half sister and that we had the same father. I remember my heart sinking. In order for that to be true, based on her timeframe, that would mean my father, who I thought had been happily married to my mother for years, had cheated. But as the conversation continued we both realized that while the two men shared the same name they weren't the same person.

Still, for those few minutes, I had to ask myself what if that was actually the case. The thought never completely escaped my mind, and in some ways it was that event that prompted me to eventually get around to exploring the scenario. And now, in the age of social networking, it's much easier to find your missing relatives. And in the case of these three sisters, it's also true, and they do share the same father.

BPM: Who do you want to reach with When I Get Where I'm Going and the message within?

I am a Women's Fiction author. That does not mean I only write for women. Nor does the fact that I'm black mean I only write for black people. I don't write to exclude any one, but to enlighten and entertain us all. I write about women and women's issues, and of course, men are in my novels too. As an author I have an opportunity to go beyond stereotypes. I've learned over the eight years that I've been writing professionally that there is a way to entertain without offending.

If I, as a black woman, do not feel good about how we are represented in the media. If I don't feel empowered about what is being written about us on the internet and elsewhere and if I have to continuously hear from the media that black women are "the least desirable of all the races" or not a preference by some men even within our own race, as an artist, I have an opportunity to present a different message that isn't a negative one, but can still be realistic. It's like music. Some songs only have a good beat while others also have wonderful lyrics. I want to write books that make people feel good.

My intended message isn't given to readers, but written in such a way that the reader gets out of it what they came to the story with and how they view the story and the characters will be interpreted by how they view the world. But maybe, if I do my job as I intend to, they will have a different opinion after it's all said and done.

BPM: Introduce us to your latest book, When I Get Where I'm Going.

What would you do if you discovered that you had a sibling you never knew existed? Would you be like Heaven, so excited to connect to that person that you quickly took to Facebook and started searching? Would you be like Hope, too caught up in the trials and tribulations of your own life to even care? Or would you be like Alicia, skeptical at first, but willing to open up to the idea?

Alicia, Hope, and Heaven are three estranged sisters embarking on one special reunion. And it will take an earth-shattering discovery, a lucky lottery ticket, and a near-fatal encounter to finally bring three sisters together and have them realize that nothing can save a person like family.

BPM: What are two major events taking place? The novel is written in third person and begins with a prologue that occurs five months prior to the start of the story. And then the rest of the novel is divided into three parts and most of the chapters alternate between the point of view of each sister. Without giving away any spoilers, I will say that each sister has a major turning point that makes each of them reevaluate their life.

BPM: What are a couple of the specific issues addressed in this book? One issue in the story is domestic abuse. Heaven is involved in an unhealthy relationship, but like so many other women involved in something like that, she finds it nearly impossible to leave. Her story isn't from the viewpoint of a woman who is both a wife and mother and being abused, but from a young woman who has gotten caught-up with the wrong man and finds herself so confused that she doesn't know what to do and feels that her life in general is spiraling out of control.

Alicia Day's character was written for anyone who has been holding on to a dream for a very long time and wondering if it will ever come true. Aspiring actors, singers, and writers should be able to especially relate to her story. Black actresses, in particular, should also be able to as much has been discussed about the struggles that black women experience while trying to succeed in Hollywood.

BPM: Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases.When I Get Where I'm Going is featured in the September issue of Essence Magazine. And I recently completed my next novel, Remember Me, that will be released in September 2011.

Cheryl Robinson--When I Get Where I'm Going

Purchase your copy today at Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/When-Get-Where-Im-Going/dp/0451229479

is the author of five novels. Most recently, When I Get Where I'm Going, In Love with a Younger Man and Sweet Georgia Brown. She is a native Detroiter and graduate of Wayne State University. Robinson now resides in Central Florida where she is writing her next novel.

 

Romance Novel Remembers Katrina: STORM by Pamela Leigh Starr

Intimate Conversation with author Pamela Leigh Starr

This week we celebrate the survivors Hurricane Katrina, on its five-year anniversary, and remember those who were lost. On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, LA.  At least 1,836 people lost their lives in the actual hurricane and in the subsequent floods, making it one of the deadliest U.S. hurricanes.  Author Pamela Leigh Starr wants to honor those who survived and continue to thrive by sharing her romance novel, STORM, with readers around the globe.

CATCH the Spirit of Survival
and Renewal!

Discussion: STORM by Pamela Leigh Starr and 5th Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Chat Date: Tuesday Night, September 14, 2010 at 8-10 pm EST
BAN Radio: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/black-author-network

Invite all of your friends and fellow readers to join the conversation at 646.200.0402

Purchase your copy of STORM by Pamela Leigh Starr and let's discuss the book on BAN Radio Show, Tuesday Night, September 14, 2010 at 8pm EST.  Pick up your copy today, by clicking here. 


Call into the radio show at: 646-200-0402. Three callers will win other books by author Pamela Leigh Starr. 

STORM is a story of hope and the renewal of the spirit that can only come from surviving the devastation of one's history and the loss of everything we hold dear."
--- 4 Stars, Romance in Color Magazine

CATCH A STARR!

Author Pamela Leigh Starr traces her love for writing back to her first creation, The Terrifying Night, a comedic thriller illustrated by a classmate. Long after, Mrs. Starr developed romantic stories, falling in love with the never-ending cycle of two people meeting, opening their hearts and finding their way to love.

Ella: Where are you from? How did you start your writing journey?
PLS: I was born and raised in New Orleans where I still live, surrounded by its unique culture of jazz, the best food in the country and people who know how to let the good times roll! Les bon temps roulez!

Ella: Pamela, please introduce us the book STORM and the characters within?
PLS: POST-KATRINA NEW ORLEANS: In STORM experience the aftermath of the worst natural disaster to hit the Gulf Coast through the eyes of the Lewis's as Sabrina Adams and Josh Lewis find and preserve love in the midst of devastation.

John has always been a fixture in her life and Sabrina knew she could count on him to do any and everything... Except admit that he loved her. Despite the fact that she threw herself at him, Despite the closer, deeper relationship that had grown because of the hurricane and its aftermath, John was determined to stay within the eye of the storm brewing between them.

Sabrina was going to make sure that they quickly passed through that false calmness; for it they could survive the horrible winds and rain of the hurricane and deal with the horrific aftermath and destruction of their city after it had passed, she would make him understand that they deserved each other.

Ella: What would you like your readers to take away from your book, Storm?
PLS: I would like readers to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Though television allowed the world to witness the aftermath of the storm, the slow rescue and complete devastation of the city I love, I wanted to share a more personal insight of the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

Through STORM, I was able to show the Post-Katrina effects on a family my readers have come to know and love. In my 4-book LOVE FOUND series, the Lewis clan gives a Pre-Katrina view of a black, southern family in New Orleans. STORM shows how this strong family came together to overcome the challenges Hurricane Katrina created in their lives as well as the discovery of a love despite them.

Ella: What is the most surprising thing you have learned in creating books?
PLS: The most surprising thing I've learned in the creation of my stories is that I should always listen to my characters. They "speak" to me as I write, guiding the story in directions I had not intended to go. When I begin a story I have an outline and set format. As my character develop they sometime tell me, "Whoa, Pam, that's not what I would do!" or "Are you crazy? I need to...". What can I do but give in to their demands?

Ella: What makes your book stand out and would entice a reader pick it up?
PLS: A pre-Katrina and post-Katrina view of family, love, resiliency and determination makes this series of books stand out. Readers have the opportunity to get to know and love a New Orleans family before Hurricane Katrina and then experience the changes in their livers after the hurricane. I began my LOVE FOUND series long before Hurricane Katrina blew into my life and the lives of the Lewis'.

In my 4-book LOVE FOUND series, the Lewis clan shows a Pre-Katrina view of a strong, New Orleans family . Through STORM, I was able to relay the Post-Katina effect on a family readers have come to know and love. STORM shows how this strong family came together to overcome the challenges Hurricane Katrina created in their lives as well as the discovery of a love despite them.

Ella: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
PLS: I would like readers to gain a deeper understanding of the effects of Hurricane Katrina. Though television allowed the world to witness the aftermath of the storm, the slow rescue and complete devastation of the city I love, I wanted to share a more personal insight of the effects of Hurricane Katrina.

Intimate Conversation with Pamela Samuels Young

Intimate Conversation with Pamela Samuels Young

Pamela Samuels Young is the Essence bestselling author of the legal thrillers: Murder on the Down Low, In Firm Pursuit, Every Reasonable Doubt and the newly released Buying Time. The former journalist and Compton native is the fiction writing expert for BizyMoms.com and is on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. Pamela served as legal consultant to the Showtime television series Soul Food. She is a frequent speaker on the topics of writing and self-empowerment.

Website: http://www.pamelasamuels-young.com/  
Email address: author@pamelasamuelsyoung.com


• Where are you from? What is your favorite book?
I grew up in Compton, California, which gave me a very grounded perspective on life. When I mention my hometown, people automatically assume that I dodged bullets on the way to school every day. But it was nothing like that. I had two strong, hard-working parents, who still live in Compton today. The foundation they laid – faith in God, hard work and education – is responsible for who I am and what I have achieved.

I'm an avid reader who enjoys reading both commercial and literary fiction. I enjoy a broad spectrum of writers, so it's impossible for me to pick a favorite book. But if there's one book that impacted me more than any other, it would have to be Claude Brown's Manchild in the Promised Land. I can still remember stumbling across a copy of the book at my aunt's house when I was about twelve. It was the first book I remember reading that had African-American characters and I was thrilled to be reading about people who looked like me. It was also a very gritty and graphic coming of age story. I promptly "borrowed" the book without asking for permission for fear that my aunt would think I was too young to be reading such a sexually graphic book. After that, I developed an insatiable appetite for African-American fiction. That led me to James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Richard Wright, Toni Morrison and many, many other great writers.


• How did you feel when you saw your first book on the shelf?
I still have a very vivid memory of seeing Every Reasonable Doubt on the shelf at the Barnes and Noble near my home in February 2006. I went to the store on the book's scheduled release date, not really expecting to find it. My stepson and I searched the shelves but couldn't find it. I was about to leave, but decided to, ask for it at the reception desk. To my delight, the clerk found it and led us to the book. I just stood there staring at it. So much blood, sweat and tears led me to this point. My stepson took out his cell phone and snapped a picture of me holding the book. And just as I started to started to tear up, he promptly warned me not to embarrass him by crying in the store.


• What is your process for creating a novel? Do the characters speak to you?
I will spend any where from a few weeks to as long as three months outlining a book before I sit down to write. I also mull over my story a lot. I'm thinking about it in the shower, while I'm standing in line at the grocery story, during my 45-minute commute to work. I can almost see each chapter as if it were a scene in a movie. Only after I have a completed outline do I start writing. And when I write, I go from page one to the last page without doing much editing. For me, it's psychologically motivating to complete that first draft, even if it's so bad I'd never dare show it to anyone. Once I have a finished first draft, then the real writing starts. I revise, and revise and revise some more. That process can last six months or more.


• How do you spend your free time?
Free time? What's that? Writing is how I spend my free time and I love every minute of it. I still work part-time as a lawyer and when I'm not at work, I'm usually someplace writing – be it at home, the library or the nearest Starbucks. Sometimes I write early in the morning before work, other times I'm up until one or two in the morning typing away on my laptop. My most productive writing time is when I can get away from home and lock myself in my timeshare in Palm Desert for a weekend. When I'm in that environment, the writing is non-stop. When I'm writing, I'm happy.

• Share with us your latest news and book releases.
I’m extremely excited about the upcoming release of my fourth legal thriller and first stand-alone novel, Buying Time, which goes on sale November 1st. In Buying Time, Waverly Sloan is a down-on-his-luck lawyer who comes to the aid of terminally ill people in desperate need of cash. Waverly finds investors eager to advance his dying clients thousands of dollars—including a hefty broker's fee for himself—in exchange for rights to their life insurance policies. Once the clients take their last breath, the investors reap a hefty return on their investment. When Waverly's clients start dying sooner than they should, both Waverly, and a high-powered lawyer who’s bucking to become the next U.S. Attorney General, are unwittingly drawn into a perilous web of greed, blackmail and murder.

You can read excerpts from all my books at my website: http://www.pamelasamuels-young.com/



To schedule a visit with Pamela, email her at author@pamelasamuelsyoung.com

Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young

ISBN-10: 098156271X | ISBN-13: 978-0981562711

Pick up a Copy Today at Amazon
http://tinyurl.com/buyingtimeamazon

Pick up a Copy Today at Barnes and Noble
http://tinyurl.com/buyingtimebnonline


Bookclubs, select one of Pamela’s novels for your book club meeting and she will join you in person, via webcam or via speaker phone. Read more book excerpts here: http://www.pamelasamuels-young.com/books/index.html

Who Is He To You by Monique Mensah

Who Is He To You by Monique Mensah

Monique D. Mensah is a native Detroiter. She declared her dream of becoming an author at eight years old. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan, she completed her first manuscript. Shortly after, she launched Kisa Publishing, and published her first novel, Who Is He To You. Monique now resides in Southfield, MI where she is raising her daughter and working on her second novel.

Readers will be intrigued by the intelligent exploration of sensitive issues such as cutting, emotional abuse, depression, and drug-addiction.The first page which is filled with intense emotion and a descriptive setting that pulls the reader right into the scene.

Who Is He To You by Monique D. Mensah

When love involves incest, self-mutilation, drug-addiction, and murder, will Simone, Jessica and Ryan fight to hold on or will they escape before it's too late?

Simone, a shockingly beautiful teen, is on the downward spiral of destruction as she battles incest and self-hatred. She finds cutting to be the only way to relieve her pain. She must do something to regain control of her life and restore her family back to normalcy. But Simone may be too late as unexpected events threaten to throw her dream of contentment far out of reach.

Jessica lives the upscale lifestyle of a refined society matron. She strives to be the perfect wife, but without her husband, Ross, she would be nothing more than the abused stripper he rescued 16 years ago. When their marriage is threatened and it forces her to face her past, Jessica vows to do whatever it takes to protect what she has rightfully earned, even if it means murder.

Ryan, a fiery thirty-something, is quickly slipping into depression and prescription drug addiction. As her boyfriend, Anthony, artfully dangles the empty promise of marriage, she watches helplessly as their relationship dissolves. In an attempt to regain her sanity and self-esteem, she finds herself on a mission of self-restoration while trying to save the life of someone she doesn't even know.

As the shattered lives of three very different women collide, they find that they have one thing in common: They're all in a desperate fight to hold on to love. Experience their emotional journey through to the shocking end where these women will experience injury, imprisonment, and even death while crafting new lives from the ashes of their ruination.

Book Video Preview

Book info: ISBN-10: 0578023482; ISBN-13: 978-0578023489.
Visit Monique's site: www.MoniqueDMensah.com

Who Is He To You Book Reviews

“Monique D. Mensah’s debut novel reads more as if written by the hands of a seasoned veteran. Who Is He To You, a riveting story touching on topics such as incest, self-mutilation, and drug-addiction, pulls you in from the first page and doesn’t let go until the final period. Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!”
– Brian C. Conley, author of Stay and We Were Broken Here.


“Monique D. Mensah has captured the literary world by storm, “Who is he to you” is captivating, intriguing, suspense, and drama all wrapped up into one. A must read for all you book lovers. I read the book in two days, I couldn’t work for reading. I was so caught up in each chapter, I was hungry for more. My sincere congrats to you Monique!”
– Gwen Cannon, author of Scandalous


"This was Excellent and a great piece of writing. Your character development of capturing the essence of each unique character was flawless. You got 'it'".
– Vincent Alexandria, author of Black Rain


“Who Is He To You vividly exhibits Monique D. Mensah’s ability to create a and project animated images from cover to cover. The allure of her hypnotic writing style pulsates immensely within the psyche of each reader…thus addicting them eternally.”
– Marc Lacy, spoken word artist and auhtor of Rock & Fire: Love Poetry from the Core and The Looking Heart: Poetic Expression from Within

"Poignant and stirring, WHO IS HE TO YOU draws you in with the story of Simone. Gorgeous, but greatly misunderstood, we truly understand how beauty on the outside hides ugly underneath. Monique Mensah's writing grabs readers instantly from the first line. WHO IS HE TO YOU was a pleasure to read."
–Sylvia Hubbard,author of Secret, Lies, and Family Ties

Joyce Schwarz and Lisa Nichols

I am so full. I am so sated I could dance for joy.
I had the extreme pleasure of listening to Joyce Schwartz of The Vision Board and Lisa Nichols of The Secret, on Blog Talk Radio, with host Ella Curry . I cannot tell you how wonderful these women are. I feel as if this was a late Christmas Gift.

These phenomenal women have inspired me to push and keep it moving. There are so many things in life that drain you, your heart, your mind and you very soul. So when I can hear a gift, such as this, I must share it.
You may be feeling the same.

The Debra, Ella and Lisa speak of, is my story, so Lisa really hearing me was huge. I told her that I repeatedly said I know Like I know Like I know all the way to the hospital, It really carried and held me.

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did, Happy New Year
THIS IS A GIFT Listen to the interview
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Black-Author-Network
sorry the player would not load




>

www.simply-said.net
odebdeb@aol.com
Inspired by Secret Catalogue
http://photobucket.com/Thesecret

Marcia King-Gamble Interview

Hello Marcia King-Gamble , how are you!

Tell us, what led you to write Tempting the Mogul?
I had recently moved to Seattle. My editor at the time thought the setting would be perfect for a romance book. Most books featuring African Americans are set in urban cities. She felt that my readers would enjoy and maybe learn something from a book set in the Pacific Northwest. I also wanted to introduce characters with careers that were different from the norm.

Are any of the characters you or someone you know?

No not really. I'd been reading a lot about life coaches lately and thought that would make a different career. I also find men who color outside of the lines very appealing and so I created Salim Washington. He doesn't fit the mold. Salim is a trust fund baby who prefers to use his money to help those less fortunate. He's sexy and daring and my kind of man.


What genre is Tempting the Mogul considered?

Tempting the Mogul is considered a contemporary Romance.

What is Tempting the Mogul about?

Kennedy Fitzpatrick, my heroine has returned from her job in Japan coaching executives to find her car repossessed, and her house close to foreclosure. Desperate she is forced to take a job whipping Salim Washington into shape. He needs to assume his ailing father's position as television studio head. One problem, Salim does not want to be whipped into shape. He is much happier traveling the world and helping AIDS victims.


What were the easiest and the hardest parts to write?
This wasn't a difficult story to write at all. I had much of it laid out in my head. I just had to keep remembering that I wasn't writing a mainstream story with many layers. It can be challenging for me to remember that.


Does Tempting the Mogul have a sequel coming?

Yes, actually the next book is completed. This time Kennedy Fitzgerald takes a back seat. My heroine this time is a free spirit (shopaholic) and my hero is a financial planner and a total tightwad. It makes for an interesting pairing.


Has writing Tempting the Mogul, given you any AHHH HAAA moments?

It made me pause and think about the type of men I go for; Bohemian but with ethics, humanity and a generosity of spirit. These qualities can be a challege to find in one package. The 'all about me' approach is a total turn off for me.

You had another book in November, First Crush, let’s chat about that.

First Crush was set in Washington State wine Country. It starts off with a couple breaking up and then finding their way back to each other. Sound familiar? We've all been there.

How has your writing journey been?

It's had its bumps and bruises but here I am ten years later. I am very grateful for readers who allow me to keep doing what I love. Without you there would be no books on the shelves.

How many books have you written?

Twenty six in print.

Not calling any of your babies ugly, but which was your favorite?
My favorite book is Jade which is considered mainstream. I loved the setting both Vietnam and New York and I got to explore a romance that happened during a senseless war.


As a writer, what has been your epiphany?

Realizing early on that this is a business and as such it's all about the bottom line. You can be the flavor of the month one month and then the next gone.

What was the killer line in any of your books for you?

I can't think of a line right off but I can think of a title: Hook, Line & Single- my January release.

Let’s talk about Marcia! What do you have brewing?
I am currently working on a mainstream book and that's all I can say right now. Marcia is a pretty happy individual and has always been. I'm blessed with one of those personalities that when handed a lime I make lemonade.



When should we expect it?

There is no publishing date as yet.

Who do you like to read?
There are too many talented authors out there to mention. I do enjoy a good classic romance with characters that are full developed.


What did you do while writing? Music etc?

I'm a big multitasker. I can talk and write at the same time. The setting doesn't have to be perfect.

When you finished writing First Crush your November release and Tempting the Mogul ? How did you celebrate?

I slept a lot. I have had five releases this year which meant little or no social life and keeping some really odd hours. It felt good to sleep in,and to write when I want too now as opposed to having too.

What is you one guilty pleasure?

There is nothing I do that I am guilty about. I believe in pleasure for pleasure's sake. If it feels or tastes good, and doesn't hurt anyone, bring it on.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I'm not good at thinking that far ahead. Hopefully I will still be writing.


What do you want people to know about you?
That I'm down to earth and keep things real.

What is your Book and Contact information?

You can reach me at

mkinggambl@aol.com or
P.O. Box 25143, Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 33320,
visit my website at
www.lovemarcia.com


Marcia is my first custom order bookmark client.

Lord' Williams Author Interview

Hello Lord, how are you!


Tell us, what led you to write Shadows of The Heart?

I released Shadows of the Heart for so many reasons. The book has a paranormal feel to it because I wish to reach those who has physic abilities, to let them know they’re not crazy, most important to embrace their gift and not reject who they are. –The spirituality overtures and scriptures are aim directly at Christians, where I confront the core of our/their faith. –In Shadows, I try to display life as it effects you, I and those we live with. The classic battle between Good and Evil.


Are any of the characters you or someone you know?

This question is asked all the time, and it is so unfair, and that’s for reasons I cannot go into. –But the book is fictionally based on actual living people (and this is the first time I admitted so). –Some events are true, most are not. Who is who, I will never tell. These people are trying to find, or maintain peace within their lives, and I must respect that.


What genre is it?

Fiction – Suspense, Romance,


What is Shadows Of The Heart about?

A husband and wife trying to reconcile their marriage before all hell breaks loose. The main character William, knows he’s about to die, but he don’t know when, or how, and he doesn’t know that woman he put out the house a month earlier is returning to him where she must decide to kill him or not.


What were the easiest and the hardest parts to write?

I easiest parts to write were the sex! LOL. But the rest of it was a job. –This book The Unicorns has been a work in progress for over 15 years. Dealing with real life, and real issues these people faced.


How do the Unicorns fit into the story?

Straight from out the King James Holy Bible. Many people believe unicorns are fairytales, but they are mention 10 time in the bible, along with the many references to the Horn. Unicorns are one of those cannot explain topics so it’s much easier to say “there is no such thing”, or “they got it wrong” –Instead of understanding that everything in God’s world is not privilege us in our degenerate state of existence.


I know your just starting this writing journey, but how has it been?

The publishing world is really a journey. I am learning, which makes it easier to accept, because I like learning. –There is a lot to this business, and that’s something new writers and authors don’t realize, this is a business, and it’s not an easy one to conquer.


Does Shadows have a sequel coming?

Oh yes,
A Stem full of Thorns. So get a box of tissues because there will be cheers and tears at the end.




As a writer, what has been your epiphany?

That I am not an writer. I am a story teller. I have always wanted to be an author, because I have the ability to teach, and help many through the art of telling a story.


What was the killer line in the book for you?

There are a lot of parts in the book I just love, but what kicks at me more than anything is when William explain the tattoo on his back. It jaw dropping.


When should we expect it?

Shadows is available where ever books are sold. If you local bookstore don’t have it, tell them to get it.


What do you like to read?

I have a wide range of genres, drama, suspense, mystery, crime drama, fantasy, horror.


What did you do while writing? Music etc?

I usually play music. I would create playlist, CD’s, tapes, whatever with inspirational themes.


When you finished writing Shadows, how did you celebrate?

You really don’t wanna know, but I’ll tell because you asked. I broke out a cheap bottle of Champagne for the wife and I. Finished our glass and got busy.


Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see myself having a wider audience and larger following, if that be God’s will.


What do you want people to know about you?

I want people to know I am just like them. –More than what the eyes can tell.


What is your Book and Contact information?

The title of the book is “Shadows of the Heart” 2nd edition. The book is available everywhere books are sold, or purchase it from my website where I will autograph it for you, and send you free gifts.
www.myspace.com/irlwilliams
The book is OUT!!!!!
Order your copy today!!!
$10.00 plus S&H
Click the Buy Now button to Order your copy!

www.Lord'Williams.Net



www.simply-said.net
www.simplysaid.ning.com
www.myspace.com/odebsimplysaid
www.simplysaidreadingaccessoies.blogspot.com
odebdeb@aol.com
Debra Owsley

Custom Orders Portfolio --showcase of customized items
http://photobucket.com/customworkportfolio

Full Bookmark Catalog --full bookmarks displayed
http://photobucket.com/fullbookmarks

Halfmark Catalog --half bookmarks
http://photobucket.com/halfmarks

Book Thong Catalog --book thongs in various colors
http://photobucket.com/bookthongs

Notecards-Bookplate Catalog--reading accessories
http://photobucket.com/notecardsbookplate

Donna Hill Author Interview

Donna Hill is my DEAR FRIEND as well as one of my favorite authors. She is so real and down to earth it’s like we have known each other forever, To show you how small the world is, Donna worked at the library that I used to hang out in when I was a teen. We probably passed each other a million times, but met face to face 3 years ago. Donna has a wicked sense of humor and loves music as much as I do. I am very proud to say I own almost all of her 50 plus books and anthologies. Donna is my friend and I adore her, OH and I am the President of her FAN CLUB

Hello Donna Hill , how are you!
As always I am stressed and crazed but it's all good!

Tell us, what led you to write Seduction and lies?
Well, S&L is the sequel to Sex and Lies. It brings to the spotlight one of the new cartel members Danielle Holloway, who is immersed in an identity theft assignment. I thought of the storyline because of all the incidents in the news about folks having their lives totally ruined by identity thieves.

Are any of the characters you or someone you know?
Aw, hell naw! LOL. My life is no where near as interesting.

What genre is it?
Romantic Suspense

What is Seduction and lies about?
Well, as I mentioned it centers around an identity theft ring that is wrecking havoc on New York. Danielle who is a fashion photographer gets pulled into the assignment when her best friend and fellow cartel member, Savannah can't handle it as she is in her first trimester of pregnancy and and Mia has to go out of town on business. Danielle has to get a crash course in Cartel operations in order to pull it off, and she must keep it all a secret from her live-in lover Nick Mateo. Nick and Danielle have their own personal identity issues as well, which are revealed through their hot and steamy relationship.

This is book 2 of a series right?
Yes it is. The first one was Sex and Lies

BUY IT HERE….
PRE ORDER SEDUCTION AND LIES NOW
http://www.amazon.com/Seduction-Lies-Kimani-Romance-Donna/dp/0373860927/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1227199675&sr=1-11


What were the easiest and the hardest parts to write?
Hmmm, now that its finished it all seems easy! LOL. It's not so much that it was hard or easy, but just having the time to dedicate to pulling it all together and making sure that above all I brought the characters to life.

Does Seduction and lies have a sequel coming?
It sure does! And guess what? The first three chapters of the sequel Temptation and Lies is in the back of Seduction and Lies!

Has writing Seduction and lies, given you any AHHH HAAA moments?
I think it would be the discovery that Danielle makes about herself. Working that out in my head and then on paper gave me one of those moments.

How has your writing journey been?
My journal has been long, pretty successful, full of surprises and constant challenges.

How many books have you written?
Wow, well over fifty.

Not calling any of your babies ugly, but which was your favorite?
Hmmm, I would have to say Rhythms

As a writer, what has been your epiphany?
That it never gets easier!

What was the killer line in any of your books for you?
"I may as well tell you now. You'll find out soon enough. I slept with my best friends husband . . ." from An Ordinary Woman.

Let’s talk about Donna!

What do you have brewing?
I am currently working the "What Mother Never Told Me," the followup to Rhythms. As well as Book 4 of The Ladies Cartel.

When should we expect it?
Fall 09

Who do you like to read?
Hmmm, James Patterson, Bernice McFadden, Toni Morrison, Carleen Brice, Pearl Cleage

What are you reading right now?
A Mercy by Toni Morrison

What did you do while writing? Music etc?
Try to concentrate on my work and not surf the internet!!

When you finished writing Seduction and lies? How did you celebrate?
Vegged out on TV!!

What is your one guilty please?
Buying electronic gadgets!! sigh..

Debra….. Yes I want that new Kindle you just got !!!!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Hopefully a successful publisher.

What do you want people to know about you?
That when it's all said and done, I'm real regular. With a crazy family, bills, aggravations, faults and shortcomings just like everyone else.

What is your Book and Contact information?
Donna Hill Website
www.donnahill.com
Blog
www.donnahill.blogspot.com
The Donna Hill Fan Club
www.dhfanclub.ning.com
Blogtalk Radio call in and chat with Donna
www.blogtalkradio.com/author-donna-hill
Sunday nights from 6-7:30 pm EST.

Charade! is back same steamy story with a brand new sizzling cover
On The Line...Available Wherever Books Are Sold
Sex and Lies Available Wherever Books Are Sold... Book 1 of The Ladies Cartel series
Thanks Donna!!!

The feisty women who sell Tender Loving Care body products are hiding a secret: they're undercover operatives in The Ladies Cartel—the flip-side organization of TLC Cosmetics. They're sworn to an oath to never reveal their clandestine activities, and not even their families know about their alternate lives.Danielle Holloway is the newest member of the group. Her first assignment: infiltrate a ring of identity-theft criminals. With cool wit and seductive charm, Danielle uses her skills to piece together the clues, and she's shocked to discover a cloud of guilt hovers over her beau, the very sexy and charismatic Nick Mateo.

SEDUCTION AND LIES by Donna Hill ON SALE NATIONWIDE DECEMBER 1, 2008. Be sure to get your copy from Dec. 1 to Dec. 10th, 2008

Holiday Contest!!
Those who purchase the book between Dec. 1 through Dec. 10 and send me a copy of the receipt by Dec. 15 will automatically be entered into my holiday contest. Details of where to send your receipt is located on at my fanclub website. http://dhfanclub.ning.com

1st prize A Victoria's Secret Gift Certificate
2nd prize A Gift Basket of Body Products
3rd prize Autographed copies of 3 of my hardcover novels


Readers which are your favorite Donna Hill Books???




www.simply-said.net
www.simplysaid.ning.com
www.myspace.com/odebsimplysaid
odebdeb@aol.com
Debra Owsley