Reflections

HAPPY NEW YEAR

To welcome the beginning of 2009 I decided this month to deviate from what has become our usual format of interviews. I feel compelled to speak of things that have impacted my life personally and things that have impacted the lives of every American.

First off I’d like to give thanks to the Creator for allowing me and my family to see the dawning of a New Year. All my life my mother would begin the New Year by reflecting on the ones we lost and giving thanks for the ones who made it through. That has also been my practice for many many years. So to the RSJ family, if any of you had loved ones who didn’t make it to this point I extend my condolences. I think sometimes as you get older and the natural state of death starts claming those in your generation, you begin to feel your own sense of mortality. Many well known and loved stars have not made it to 09 and actually as I write this it’s December 26th and I’m listening to the news of Eartha Kitt’s passing. Don’t worry I’m not going to turn this into a gigantic list of names or have this piece be entirely morose. I’m just acknowledging my reason for giving thanks to see 2009(hopefully)


Despite the sadness there was one defining moment of joy that cannot be overshadowed. America has voted for its first president Barack Obama who’s considered to be African American. But in my reflections I will not list that as it would take away his mother’s part in his having been born. Personally I think the fact that our new president is of two cultures worked to unite the country to the extent that it has been united. For it was with the combined votes that he won and made all of us feel a bit of the “Yes we can” spirit. I count it a blessing that Amanda Roberts Jones, a slave's daughter who lived to be 110 and passed away on December 19th 2008 cast a vote for Barack Obama.

In 2008 in my own professional life I’ve had highs and not so highs. The year ended with one of my books, The Critic, being nominated for best AA book of the year. That’s a good and bad thing but I’m not going to elaborate on it here. Another good and bad thing: My first published book, The Color of Trouble is being re-released in mass market with a new cover that I’m sure some will blame me that the story doesn’t match the cover.

Then we have the decision I’ve reached which had a lot to do with my writing a letter of reflections. My muse appears to be moving more toward a paranormal bent and for awhile the RSJ family will not be as connected to me through my work as I have a feeling most of it will not be in the romance genre. (Smile) This is beginning to sound a bit like a letter of resignation isn’t it? Well it’s not. It’s just that my creative muse for fear of becoming stagnated has decided to lead me on a journey, one I’m eager to pursue by the way. I’ve also met challenges in the past year. I’ve used the, “Yes we can” turned it into, “Yes I Can” and found that I not only can write shorter but that I’m enjoying it. Yeah I know you can’t tell it by the length of my reflections. But seriously, I was once told lovingly by my editor, Sidney Rickman, that I didn’t have a short book in me. I laughed but for the most part agreed. I love proving people wrong even me, so I challenged myself to write short stories and did. I’m proud to say two of my short stories will be coming out this year in Love Stories Magazines.


Wrapping this up I could tell you my New Year goals are the usual: get healthy, lose weight, keep up with my blogs, but I won’t for I find I don’t like limitation, even my own. So I won’t have any resolutions this year.

There is a new title I’m adding to my resume and that is literary dentist. I think this one will prove to be the hardest. It appears my patients are extremely reticence so I will be forced to pull the creative teeth of many in order to return you next month and the following months to the interviews that will keep us connected from now until we meet again in April 2010.

So here’s wishing each of you a very prosper, healthy and joyous New Year.

Dyanne Davis
http://www.dyannedavis.com/

Getting to Know Brenda Willis

Dyanne: Thank you, Brenda, for heeding the call to serve. So, you’ve chosen the writing path. What put the bug in you to write?

Brenda: I wouldn’t say it was so much a bug, but God placing the right person in my life telling me I was a writer and to write. I truly believe that there are no accidents in this life. It was merely my being put on the path that I was meant to be on.

It was a relief to realize I was a writer and not crazy, well not completely. I wondered what I was going to do, having spent the last 25 plus year raising my three children. My daughter was entering her last year of high school. And I had no idea what I was supposed to do next. Well now I know. Thank you, Dyanne.

Dyanne: Brenda I’m old and slow. I didn’t get the last part of your comment until this moment. I agree that God uses people who allow themselves to be used. But considering that I’ve been reading your writing and am blown away by your talents all I can say is no thanks necessary. Deciding to write is the first step toward fulfilling your dreams. Can you tell us as an aspiring author what you've done so far to move your career toward the path you want it to go?

Brenda : Well I started a blog, I attended RSJ/08. Had a blast by the way, I was disappointed to hear that it was canceled for 2009. I was looking forward to seeing and reconnecting with all the talented writers I met in Chicago . I joined this really wonderful supportive group of ladies called R.I.C.H writers group.

I write ever day. I’ve even submitted some of my short stories for publication. Got my first rejection, went home, had a little pity party, got over it, and got back to writing.

Dyanne: Congratulations Brenda , you’re a writer. Rejections are only temporary stumbling blocks. I’m so proud to hear you say you had your little pity party and continued writing. That’s the absolute right thing to do. Now, can you tell us briefly what things you read and what kinds of stories you're writing?

Brenda : An avid reader since childhood, I’ve always had a love of books and reading. When I was a teenager I was fascinated with history. I loved reading biographies of famous and not so famous people. Which really wasn’t cool growing up in the 70’s for a black girl to know who Ivan the Terrible was or why spaghetti westerns are called a spaghetti westerns. But I digress. I’ve amassed quiet a collection of books over the years. They range from contemporary romance/literature, Christian, mystery/suspense, erotic fiction/romance, to paranormal.

I don’t read for pleasure anymore, simply because now I write. At this moment I have about ten WIP. Three of which I’m currently working on. My charters are just ordinary people who find love in the most uncommon or where you would least expect two people to come together places.

Dyanne: Brenda , you mentioned that you have a blog where you’ve posted some of your work.Can you give readers the info on that?

Brenda : Sure, come on over to my blog at www.amwells.blogspot.com. All comments are welcome. Oh, did I mention I write under the pen name of A.M. Wells .


Dyanne: Thanks Brenda , also I’m glad that you mentioned you’re using a penname. By RSJ 2010 all will know you. I wish you the best of luck in your career and have a very Merry Christmas.

A Little Chat with the Paperback Diva, Andrea Jackson

Dyanne: First I want to thank Andrea Jackson for the goodies that your group provided for each and every bag that was given out at the 2008 RSJ. Thanks also for doing the interview. Christmas is coming soon and you're Santa. (Seriously) Where will you go first and where might you skip altogether?

Andrea: First I'll go someplace warm! I hate cold weather. The Southern US, California, Hawaii, Caribbean, Tropical Africa. And I'd be awfully tempted to skip places like Iceland and Scandinavia. LOL. Good thing the real Santa doesn't feel that way!

Dyanne: LOL. I didn’t think about just going to warm climates. I love it. Now, your life has taken a turn. You're now Andrea and Santa didn't stop at your house. Can you tell us why?

Andrea: Oh, my gosh! Did Santa find out what a witch I've been this year? I could have been nicer to my husband, and tried to understand my kids better. And spent more time with my mother. Santa may also have found out how little writing I did this year! I couldn't seem to finish anything.

Dyanne: You’re the paperback Diva so we all have great faith in you that you’ll finish all of those projects. Besides, I know you’ve been busy. This takes me to the next question. Even though you haven’t finished anything, you’re a writer and that means you’ve been writing. Tell us what you're working on now and your future projects.

Andrea: All those projects I've begun need to be completed. There's a contemporary novel about a woman who's struggling to get custody of her deceased sister's two young daughters and no way is she going to be distracted by the sexy guardium ad litem who's been assigned to the case. I'm working on my first shapeshifter, a novella for Samhain. A paranormal about a world where warriors are delectable, protective alpha males.

Dyanne: See MS. Paperback Diva, I knew you had a lot going on. Now tell us where can RSJ readers look for you?

My website is http://www.pbdiva.com/
My blog is Proud to be a Paperback Diva, http://www.pbdiva.wordpress.com/
I'm also on Twitter daily. www.twitter.com/pbdiva

Thanks Andrea. I can’t wait to read all three of the novels you’re working on.

Interview with A.C. Arthur

Dyanne: A.C. , since I’m now using initials I love it more than ever when authors use their initials. Would you mind telling us what they are stand for.

A.C.: My first and middle name: Artist Contina Arthur. When I was growing up people would look at my first name and always thought I was a boy, so when the first book was being published I said I’d rather have the initials then my first name on the book then have to go through the same questions about my first name. My parents weren’t too pleased with the idea but it’s growing on them.

Dyanne: I like that. I tried to change my name when I was a teen but my mother refused to acknowledge it and threatened me if I didn’t keep answering to the name she’d given me. (smile) You know that I’m giving authors a chance to express their true creativity by asking them crazy questions right? Okay, here goes: You are the last mortal on Planet Earth. In order to survive you will have to find a way to procreate. How will you accomplish this?

A.C: This is funny, Dyanne and only you could come up with this. LOL Sometimes, on those days when the kids are driving me crazy, I wonder why I even tried procreation at all! But here goes: Since I’m the last mortal I’m thinking there has to be some shape shifters left or even some immortal gods which are my absolute favorite! Half the fun in procreation is the process (the sexual one, I mean) so if there was say a Zeus look-a-like or a feral jaguar shifter with great eyes, you could definitely send him my way for a long seductive evening. If not, then I suppose there’s always prayer! LOL

Dyanne: You have just been given a million dollar advance (yeah I know) to write your own personal true to life love story. Give me the short “G” version.

A.C.: First off, I’m not even going to get a million dollar advance for this boring story! LOL
Heroine has simple dreams to become a secretary with a husband and kids to return home to in the evenings, when her destiny is altered by one great book. In the blink of an eye this normal, mild mannered woman is morphed into a scintillating storyteller with new dreams to color the world with fantastic stories and enlightening characters.

Dyanne: Thanks for playing along. For the record your dream has already come true. YOU’RE DEFINITELY A SCINTILLATING STORYTELLER. Now for the serious question. What do you have on the burner for the next year? What new projects, books, submission, dreams. Anything you can talk about.

A.C.: Let’s see, I have two additions to my Donovan Family series from Kimani Romance: the long awaited Trent Donovan ’s story, Defying Desire 4/09 and Full House Seduction, Noelle ’s story, 8/09. In the mainstream arena, I have the scorching sequel to Indecent Proposal, aptly titled Indecent Exposure coming from Urban Books in 7/09.

As for submissions I’ve just completed the first book in a series of dark, erotic paranormals under my pen name, Sapphire Blue. Hopefully it will find a publishing home soon!

Dyanne: Hmm. I had thought it was a secret that you’re Sapphire Blue. I think maybe I’ll have to interview her also. Last thing A. C. where can readers reach you?

A.C.: Email me at http://us.mc521.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=acarthur22@yahoo.com or visit my website.

Interview with Miriam Pace

Miriam, like I told your writing partner, I don’t want you reading each other’s answers. The first questions are just for fun.

Dyanne: Have you ever introduced a character into any of your books to be killed off, and unbeknownst to your writing partner it was her?

Miriam : I didn’t ask Jackie about her answers. I have a lot of people in the world I would like to bump off, but Jackie isn’t one of them. As for characters masquerading as Jackie, I don’t think so. Though I do have an issue with my ex-stepmother-in-law. I bump her off all the time over and over again. Let me repeat: over and over again.

Dyanne: LOL. Let’s hope she’s not reading this newsletter. Let me ask you a safer question, something that does not involve killing. If for any reason without warning you had to leave your home and save one group of possessions, would it be your amber, your pictures or your books?

Miriam: My amber without question. How could you even ask this question? I love my amber and I actually keep it all in a make-up box so that all I have to do is grab the box. My husband gave me my very first piece which is the one I wear most and everyone at conferences sees. Living in a fire zone in California , I’ve learned lots of survival techniques over the years to make sure all the important papers are within reach. My photos are all digital (and on my laptop) and can be replaced. My books are always in transition so I don’t worry about them. I’d probably grab my laptop second (and maybe my Kindle) and external hard drive since that’s where I keep all my backups. Jackie is intelligent and has two legs and knows how to open doors so I’d probably grab the animals next. My Maine Coon cat is named Gryphon and even though he has four legs, I don't think he could manage to survive in a fire, but he’s sweet and not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree. In fact from ear to ear he’s a flat line, but I do love him because he is so incredibly beautiful and he knows it.

Dyanne: I know that Jackie writes as Simone Harlowe . How about you? Any writing credits alone?

Miriam: I started writing under my own name and have five books as Miriam Pace , probably a few hundred articles and some short fiction, but I never developed a second name like Jackie did. Jackie ’s Simone Harlow is for her erotica stories and I don’t write erotica. If I did I think I’d choose something like Desdemona (no second name sort of like Cher , of course Cher isn’t a bad name either). My husband took me to a Cher concert for our 35th anniversary and I was impressed. I knew the words to all her songs, and at the time I wondered what that said about me?

Dyanne: Are there any projects that you have coming up that Jackie may not know about?

Miriam: Several. I don’t know what Jackie told you, but I tend to dream stories while I’m sleeping. I write them down first thing in the morning, or even during the night if I should wake up, and when we’re in need of an idea, I trot one of them out. My dreams are really detailed. They have a beginning, a middle, and an end. Southern Comfort came from a dream and the experiences of growing in a small town. I used to go to school and walk by the dairy and the cows would follow me. I don’t know why they followed me because I only carried a carrot for the old sway-backed horse in the corral at the corner where I crossed the street to get to my school.

Dyanne: Miriam , I gave Jackie a chance to tell the readers of RSJ of any reports. Would you like to say anything at this time to the readers?

Miriam: I attended my first Slam Jam with Jackie in 2001. We had a great time and I made a lot of friends. Also, I would like to add that I love writing. Like most people I didn't know what direction my life would go. I started out as an art major, but dropped out of art school and started playing around with story ideas and words. Of course, getting married and having two kids did get in the way and delayed my first publication, but my husband always encouraged me and because of him I’ve been a writer for nearly thirty years. In fact, my son was born on the same day my first book was released and he just turned twenty-seven. Sometimes I wish I could be more prolific, but I’m not a fast writer. I’m not slow either; I have a tendency to get bogged down in details. Jackie is all about the big picture; I’m the person who makes it all consistent. I’m more linear and Jackie is like a remote control changing channels like mad. Once I started writing, there was nothing else in this universe I wanted to do. Even now as I answer your questions, I’m working out a problem in my head. I wish writing were easier for me, but it isn’t.

Dyanne: I’m aware that this year brings you many firsts. I know you recently had to go through your anniversary, the first since your husband’s passing. There are lots of similarities in our lives, our love of amber, our ages, the absolute love for our families and the longevity of our marriages. I wish you all the best in making it through each hurdle. Thanks for doing this interview. Where can readers reach the dynamic duo?

Miriam: Dyanne, thank you so much for asking me to do this interview. The last two years have been exceedingly challenging for me, as you know I lost my husband of 37 years last Thanksgiving Day to esophageal cancer and I’ve been dealing with a number of life changes since then which have really made me look at myself and reevaluate my life. I do try to look at the bright side of life, though I don’t always. My son married a few weeks ago and I adore his new wife. My second grandchild was born a few days after my husband’s passing and she’s a delight. Her name is Kathryn Miriam so I feel honored at my daughter and her husband’s thoughtfulness. I am so grateful for so many things I can’t even begin to list them.
I do want to say, Jackie is my best friend. I don’t think I could have survived the last two years without her. She has been my strength and my confidante and she hasn’t wavered in her support. Without her I wouldn’t have gotten so far in my writing because she brings her own unique perspective to our partnership.

Jackie and I have an email address cupidclub@yahoo.com. Unfortunately, our website is not working at this time. Though I have someone who is trying to get it back up, this hasn’t happened yet.

Interview With Evelyn Palfrey

This blog was such a fun idea. Thanks, Deatri, for coming up with it. Since it is a blog you all know you can leave comments, right? (Grin)

Dyanne: Evelyn, somehow I’ve decided to ask at least one crazy question of the interviewees. I have the perfect one for you. Living in Texas you really do strike me as a for real cow-girl, something I always wanted to be. So were you? And if so did two six shooters complete your outfit?

Ev: Hahaha, Dyanne. I’m a Texan, born and bred. I travel as often as I can and I’ve been all over the country, but I’ve never lived anywhere except Texas. I grew up in a small town in the beautiful piney woods of East Texas, so I’m a country girl at heart, but not a cowgirl. I do, however, have two six-shooters, and about to buy a five-shooter. I don’t have any cattle, but I did drive a pick-up truck for 10 years, then settled into a sedate SUV when I turned 50.

Dyanne: See I knew it. I just knew you had guns. (LOL) I remember the speech you gave in 2004 at RSJ. You advised the writers to become involved in the YA market. You were right it’s exploding. Did you take your own advice?

Ev: Not yet. I am having such a good time writing the stories of ‘marvelously mature,’ and I have more of those stories to tell. However, I am excited to see the increase in titles where our children can see themselves in the heroines and heroes.

At Romance Slam Jam I urged romance writers to tap into the YA market for two reasons. For writers, it is a way to develop their careers by growing their readership. The teens who read their YA romance novels now will be the adults who read their adult romances in the future. Secondly, writers have the opportunity to counteract the negative cultural teachings in popular music and videos by showing Black people in loving and respectful relationships. For some teens, that reinforces what they see at home. For others, it shows the possible. (Thank you, Barack and Michelle)

Dyanne: What is your secret to getting the ladies in your yahoo group so involved in current issues? I love your group.

Ev: I love the group too, Dyanne, and can’t take any credit. I feel truly blessed to be associated with these women, and a couple of men, from all over the country who came together because of a love of reading. But reading is only one aspect of our lives. I don’t get the members involved in current issues. They already are. What I do, is allow expression of those other aspects of our lives. We can discuss anything a member wants to talk about, including other writers’ books, and touchy subjects like politics, religion, and family. The only rules are that we remain respectful of each other in our discourse, understand that another intelligent person can come to a different conclusion, not take or send anything personally, and ignore any subject you aren’t interested in. Violators will be deleted. It works well. I’ve had occasion to question my own long-held beliefs and I’ve learned a lot. I’m glad you joined and we enjoy your participation. (evelynpalfrey@yahoogroups.com)


Dyanne: Will you tell us about your future writing plans and the title of the book you have coming out?

Ev: I’m working on a story, Against Her Better Judgment, for an anthology with two fabulous writers. Doing the research for it has been a gas. All I’ll say about that is gun ranges, dog kennels and young hard-bodied police officers. The working title of my next full novel is How Could You Leave Me. It’s the story of a woman who shocks her friends and family by taking in a homeless man.

Dyanne: Thanks Evelyn. How can the readers reach you?

Thank you, Dyanne.
Evelyn@EvelynPalfrey.com

Interview With Seressia Glass

Dyanne: Seressia, I know first hand that you’re a truly talented writer and an award-winning author at that. Would you please tell my readers a little about yourself and your life before becoming a writer?

Seressia: Thanks, Dyanne. I’ve been writing since I learned how. I started with short stories for extra credit in elementary school, writing skits for PTA, and several essays, one for MLK Day which won a city-wide contest here in Atlanta (I’m one of those rare birds: a native Atlantan living in Atlanta.) I’ve had various retail jobs over the years before I moved into the corporate training arena. For a while, I worked part time in a bookstore and that’s how I met ladies with the Georgia Romance Writers. Stephanie Bond told me about the group, I went for a visit, joined, and got the motivation necessary to finish my book.

Dyanne: Why did you choose the romance genre?

Seressia: I love love stories. I love the emotional rollercoaster. I love the heroine’s journey. I love that you can write about a wide variety of settings. And I especially love that no matter what the couple goes through, you know they will have a happily-ever after.

Dyanne: Seressia, if you could not be a writer what other dream job would you have chosen? LOL.

Seressia: That’s a good question. I’ve wanted to write for so long that I didn’t have a backup plan. I went to college intending to get a journalism or communications degree. If I wasn’t writing fiction, I’d be writing something—which is actually what I do in my day job. Write training materials. Oh wait, for a brief time in high school, I was in an all-girl band. I played guitar. We were called Scarlet Mane—a blend of the Bangles meets Klymaxx meets the Ramones. We had a few songs but never had a public performance—life got in the way. I still have a guitar that I occasionally pick up.

Dyanne: Seressia, thank you so much for taking the time to do this interview. If there’s anything you’d like to say to the readers please do so. Also would you give a link for reader to view your work?

Thanks, Dyanne for interviewing me! Readers, thank you for investing your time and your money in my work. It is those two things that enable me to continue doing what I truly love to do. Keep buying new and we can keep writing for you!

All of my current and upcoming releases can be viewed at www.seressia.com/books