Interview with Anna Black, author of Now You Wanna Come Back

Join us as we chat with Anna Black, author of Now You Wanna Come Back. Learn more about Anna's books, her future goals, and her literary journey.

***Contest Alert***

Leave a comment (with an email address) and be entered to win a copy of Now you Wanna Come Back by Anna Black. For Contest Details see side panel. This contest ends March 31, 2010.

1) Tell us about yourself? I am originally from Chicago, but I now reside in Texas with my husband and daughter.

2) How long have you been writing? I have been writing a little over ten years now.

3) What drove you to pick up that pen for the first time? Stress...really. I was going through a divorce with my ex-husband and writing was a way to relax.

4) Your novel, Now You Wanna Come Back, featured a plus size heroine. Please tell us about this novel and why you choose to feature a plus-size heroine. Well, my main character Leila is based on a plus size sister who wasn't always full-figured, but after marriage and settling into her life, she put on a few pounds. She got pregnant and that added on more pounds, and by then Devon, her husband no longer wanted to be with her. He treated her horribly and took away her self esteem. Hurt and ravaged, she didn't believe that Rayshon, the new guy was interested in her full-figured frame. Rayshon came along and treated her the way her husband Devon should have treated her, giving her back her confidence, causing Devon, to want her back. This book also offers a twist, because drama brews with Rayson and Leila's relationship too when Katrina a woman from Rayshon's past shows up out of the blue. In the end you'll wonder who Leila will go back to.

5) How did you get your first publishing deal? Well, I self-published first with a company called DeNovo Publishing and it was awful because my book released September 2008, but the company sent me an email November 2008 saying they were going out of business and my book didn't go anywhere. After a few months with that disappointment on my shoulders, I was still determined and I self-published with Infinity Publishing and my only complaint with them was having my book being a POD, that limited who could order my book and that kind of held me back too because places I wanted to have signings wouldn't order a POD book. Then after a few months I meet up with Tamika Newhouse, a driven sister who had just started her own publishing company and we just hit it off. I signed with her on Delphine Publications and I'm happy because there are no restrictions and I don't have to promote and push my novels by myself. I have a publishing company that helps me in marketing, promoting, etc.

6) Are there any more books featuring plus-size heroines in the works? Not in the works, but complete. I have my next book Luck of the Draw that will release April 2010. I have two others that are complete on called Truth Is and the other Relax Your Mind. Don't have a release date for those two yet, but they also feature plus-sized heroines.

7) Tell us a little about your next release Luck of the Draw? When can interested readers purchase a copy of your book? Luck of the Draw is about friendship, jealousy and trust. My main character Kennedy is a beautiful plus-sized sister that is envied by her size four bomb-shell best friend Cherae. This is a twist because no one would expect the slim, gorgeous friend to be jealous of the big girls life, but one man, Julian gives Cherae a rude awakening when she has to face that fact that skinny don't make you better. Friendships and relationships are destroyed in this tale, but a major lesson is learned for all at the end.

8) What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a writer? Getting people to give my book a chance I would say..lol. I am promoting my book everywhere I go, by giving out cards, brochures, etc and folks, even if they are avid readers are scared to try someone new. Its hard always trying to convince someone that your book is a good read, because they think, of course its good to you because you wrote it...lol. That is my biggest challenge I think, but I still push.

9) Where do you see yourself a year from now? Still writing and growing as an authoress. This is a tough industry and I know it will take me more than one more year to really see the fruit of my works. Now in five years, I see myself everywhere, on every shelf, having a fan base of a major author.

10) What are you reading now? Who are your favorite authors? Right now I'm reading The Bum Magnet, by K.L. Brady and I'm really enjoying it. I don't have a favorite author honestly because I enjoy so many novels, so a favorite author I don't have, but my favorite book is The Coldest Winter Ever.

11) Tell us about the on line and offline personal appearances you have planned over the next couple of months. Where can readers connect with you up close and personal? How can readers get in contact with you? Do you have a website?
I will be at Jokae's African American Books, 3223 W. Camp Wisdom Road, Dallas, Texas 75237 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. and AAMBC 1st Annual Bowl-On-A-Lane For Literacy Forum Bowl, Grand Prairie, Texas, February 27, 2010 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Readers can catch up with me by email at annablackreaders@ymail.com, on Facebook and Twitter and my website is www.annablack.net and my publishing company is www.delphinepublications.com.

12) What is the one thing you would like all of your readers to know about you? That I'm easy going and laid back. I would love to attend book club meetings in person or by phone to get more readers reading my work. When I write I try to make realistic stories for average, curvy, plus-sized, full-figured women like myself. We all want and need to be love and I want average everyday women to feel the same butterflies reading my novels thinking this could happen to me, verses the hot sexy slim chicks that always get the guy.

About Anna Black: Anna has been writing for ten years and she has completed a number of romance/drama/suspense stories. She started writing short stories and poems, and moved over to full length novels about six years ago. Her talents have been enjoyed by a select few in the past, now she is here to deliver her page turners to you. Originally from the southside of Chicago, she was raised to dream big, and now her dreams of publishing her work has come true. "Now you Wanna Come Back," is her debut release, but Anna is not taking a break. She is anxious to also release "Luck of the Draw," April 23, 2010. Anna is here to WOW her readers, and give the readers of today, something to talk about.

She currently resides in Texas with her husband Chris and daughter Tyra.

Interview with Author Rebecca Brock

Join us as we chat with Author Rebecca Brock about her literary journey and her new book The Giving Season. The Giving Season is a charming heartwarming love story you do not want to miss.

****Contest Alert - Leave a comment (attached to an email address) on Rebecca Brock's interview and be entered to win a copy Of The Giving Season. This contest will end March 31st

1)Tell us about yourself? I live a (thankfully) quiet life. I read a lot, in all kinds of genres, and I tend to be a bit “conspiracy theory” minded at times (depending on what type of non-fiction I’m into at the time). I like to cross stitch, but my attention span isn’t what it used to be, so now I mostly stitch up Christmas ornaments and smaller projects. I also crochet, even though the afghans I’ve made tend to unravel after a while. On weekends I like to catch up on my favorite TV shows (I have a weakness for wedding reality shows) and movies. Good grief, I didn’t realize I was this boring! (ha ha)

2)How long have you been writing? I started writing when I was in third grade, I believe. I liked to write sequels to horror movies and “kill off” all my friends (they loved it, and thank goodness no one took it seriously). I got impatient writing in longhand and taught myself to type with the help of my aunt’s manual typewriter, an old typing textbook, and some black tape. That sped the process up a bit. I don’t know if anyone remembers those old typewriters, but I had finger muscles like you wouldn’t believe.

3)What drove you to pick up that pen for the first time? I honestly don’t know. I started reading at a very young age (I think I was 2) and the first novel I read was Carrie by Stephen King when I was five or so. I don’t remember what impulse made me think I could write—I just started doing it without much thought to the hows and whys.

4)Along with this interview we will be giving away a copy of The Giving Season. Tell us a little about this book and why you decided to feature a plus size heroine in this novel? I wanted The Giving Season to be about the importance of family, especially to someone who is alone in the world. The main character, Jessy, is on her own and lost (literally and figuratively) when she meets Michael, and his act of kindness—inviting her to share Christmas with his family—changes her life. Not only does she find a family, she finds someone who loves her. It’s hard for her to accept his sincerity, so she struggles against her own self-esteem problems in order to allow him into her life.

I wanted to write about a plus-size heroine because I’ve struggled with weight issues all my life. I liked reading romance novels, but I’d inevitably feel disappointed (if not flat out annoyed) with the books because the heroines were always so perfect and beautiful and thin. Where was the struggle to find love? Where were the self-esteem issues and self-doubts and worries and nights of feeling lonely just because they felt they were “different” than everyone else? The heroines of those books didn’t have the emotional struggle that I wanted (needed) to read about. So I decided to write a total “wish fulfillment” novel, in which a woman like me—full-figured, shy, self-esteem-challenged—meets a wonderful guy who sees beyond all her real and imagined “flaws” and falls in love with her.

5)The Giving Season is a bit different than your other work. Your personal blog, as well as your self-published collection of short stories all fall within the horror genre. Why did you decide to step out of your norm with this novel. I guess there’s only so much horror you can take before your brain starts screaming “I need fluffy happy sunshiny stuff!” Writing horror helps me to exorcise my worries and fears, but writing romance is an exercise in optimism and hope. There’s always a happy ending. As much as I love writing horror, I love writing romance just as much.

6)Do you plan to write more books featuring plus size characters? (Maybe a horror with a plus size heroine now that would definitely be interesting) Funnily enough, in my horror stories I leave the descriptions of my characters fairly open-ended, so the reader can fill in the blanks however they want. I do plan to write more books with plus-size characters; that’s the life I know. I’m familiar with the problems and issues than can come with being plus-sized. Plus, I think it just makes stories more interesting when the main character is struggling with the same drama as me. I might not have to worry about zombies in my life, but discovering that I can’t zip up my favorite jeans anymore? That I’m all too familiar with.

7)What is up next for Rebecca Brock? Do you have another book coming out anytime soon? I’m working on a few things all at once (nothing like juggling fifty balls in the air). I’m trying to finish up a final draft of a plus-size romance to submit to Pearlsong Press, as well as working on a script for my brother, David, who is a director (it’s a zombie movie, of course), and finishing up a few short stories here and there.

I do have a story in a horror anthology called “The Best of All Flesh,” which should be available now. It’s a zombie anthology, and my story is about a guy who is stuck at his job at a youth detention facility when the world goes kablooey and the zombies attack. He has to decide between his responsibility to the kids at his job and his family, even though he doesn’t want to have to choose. My brother, Matt, inspired the story—he worked at a facility like that and told me some real horror stories about the kids.

8)What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a writer? Getting published, to be honest. When I was a teenager and full of youthful arrogance, I would send out novel manuscripts to publishing houses such as Zebra and Tor, fully expecting that my writing was good enough to be in print (this was when I was 16, mind you). I started collecting rejection slips. I couldn’t let myself think about how many other people were submitting stories and novels, and how many other people were flat-out better writers than me. I just stubbornly kept submitting my stuff—and this was in the days before the Internet, when I actually had to send hard copies of my novels through snail mail. It was an expensive, slow, frustrating process. Plus, living in the boonies put me at a real disadvantage when it came to finding/reading the few magazines that were publishing short horror stories. We have no bookstores in my town, so it was really difficult to study the market. The Internet, of course, changed the game completely.

9)Where do you see yourself a year from now? Hopefully talking to you again about my second or third romance novel. Getting a horror novel or two out there to publishers. Working on more scripts with my brother. Basically, I'd like life to be the same as now, only more successful and better.

10)What are you reading now? What types of books (genres) do you read in general? I’ve just started “Under the Dome” by Stephen King, and I’ve got a few non-fiction books in various stages of completion. Right now, I’m primarily reading non-fiction works concerning conspiracy theories and other creepy things (aliens, UFOs, cryptozoology, etc.) because I’ve got a feeling my subconscious is storing up the information for a story. I tend to flip-flop around in my tastes—last week I read biographies on John Lennon and Elvis, before that I was totally into horror, before that, I was interested in books about Christmas traditions and pagan origins. I never know what I’ll want to read. My home library is eclectic, to put it mildly.

11)Who are your favorite authors? In the romance genre, I’d have to say LaVyrle Spencer is my absolute favorite, followed by Jude Devereaux. I remember spending my junior prom night at home reading a LaVyrle Spencer novel (senior prom night was spent watching “Return of the Living Dead,” but I digress). Of course, I’m a fan of Stephen King (especially the early novels, like “The Stand”) and Dean Koontz, but I also enjoy books by Jack Ketchum, Richard Layman, and Robert McCammon.

12)What is a typical day for you like when you are on a writing deadline? Panic, followed by much procrastination, wailing, and beating of the breast.

Actually, I just try to keep my head down and my attention focused and get the words on the page. My thinking is that it’s easier to edit than create, so the priority is to just get everything I’m planning to say on the page, with the plan of going back later to fix it. Right now, though, any writing deadlines I have are of my own creation, so I have a bad habit of scooting the deadlines back as needed.

The biggest deadline I ever faced was when I was working with the drive-in movie critic, Joe Bob Briggs, as the researcher for his book "Profoundly Disgusting." I had put together hundreds and hundreds of pages of research for him and knew the subject matter about as well as he did. The book was in the midst of its final edit when I got an email from his editor asking me if I could fact-check about fifty or so items by the next morning (because Briggs was in Europe and unreachable at the time, otherwise he would have done the work). I worked all night to get it done, but by golly, the finished product was emailed back to the editor first thing the next morning. Don't ask me how much I got paid for the job (she said with a bitter laugh).

13)Tell us about the online and offline personal appearances you have planned over the next couple of months. Where can readers connect with you up close and personal? How can readers get in contact with you? Do you have a website? I hope to be at the Ohio River Festival of Books in Huntington, WV on April 17th to sign copies of The Giving Season and Abominations (see http://ohioriverbooks.org for more details). Readers can get in touch with me by email (Rebecca_brock@hotmail.com). My website, http://www.rebeccabrockonline.com, is currently under semi-construction, but it’s up and running. I’m still trying to figure out the whole “webpage” thing.

14)What is the one thing you would like all of your readers to know about you? That I honestly hope that my writing—whether it’s a romance or a horror story—genuinely entertains them and gives them a laugh or a scare or a swoony sigh. They say that you should write for yourself—and that’s true—but it’s the reader who is the most important element. I try to write for them.

Plus, I’m really not that weird. Honest.

=======================================

About Rebecca Brock: (Borrowed from Pearlsong Press website) Rebecca is the director of a small library in southern West Virginia. She is also the author of a collection of short horror stories (Abominations) and a variety of other horror stories published in anthologies and online since 2000.

When not cleaning up after her cats, Rebecca enjoys books and movies in a variety of genres (romance, horror, true crime, sci-fi) and attempts to be crafty by crocheting, sewing, and cross stitching. The Giving Season is her first published novel (all the others are hidden away in drawers somewhere).

Winners Announcement - Rida Allen Contest

The Rida Allen Contest has come to an end and the winner is Venus. Thanks for commenting on our blog Venus. You will be receiving a copy of Rida's latest release The Player, the second book in the Bandmates series. Venus Rida will contact you with more information on your prize.

The book contest might be over but all other comments on this interview and all other interviews will be entered to win a copy of one of the books we have available. There is also time to win a copy of Family Picture by Rachel Berry (an epci novel and family and the ties or lies that bind them).

Interview with Author Debra Phillips (d.y. Phillips) - Author of the The High Price Of A Good Man (A Curvy Comedic Novel) and Love Trumps Game

Join us as we chat with Debra Phillips (d.y.phillips), Author of The High Price Of A Good Man and Love Trumps Game.

***** Contest Alert *****
Leave a comment on this interview and be entered to win any of the books we have available. For contest details please read the side panel. don't forget to leave an email address with your comment. We can't send you a book if we can't contact the winner.

1. Tell us about yourself. I'm the author of four books. A writer that refuse to be lumped into a "genre". I just love to write.

2. How long have you been writing? On and off for over forty years. I didn't get serious about being published until my children were in their teens

3. What drove you to pick up that pen for the first time? It had to be the love for the written word. Sometimes after reading a short story or a book I would get the feeling that I could have written it better, so I picked up the pen to see what I could do.

4. Your book: The High Price Of A Good Man features a plus size heroine. Please tell us what this book is about. Why did you choose to feature a plus size heroine in this novel? The story is about the big, bold and beautiful Queenie who pays for her
perception of a "dream man" at a charity auction, and she is determined to get her money's worth.

While she is searching for love in all the wrong places, true love is right under her nose. If you like romantic comedy, this would be the book.


5. Do you have any other plus size heroines planned for future books? Absolutely. As a plus size woman myself, I can see the inner beauty of women of all sizes. Plus size females have stories that need to be told.

6. Your latest release: Love Trumps Game (by d.y. phillips) has received excellent reviews from both The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers and Urban Reviews. Please tell us a little about your latest release and how readers can purchase a copy of your book.
Because I claim no particular genre to write in, I decided to try my hand at an "urban" type story. I'm always amazed at the strong and spicy grand-mothers that step up to the plate to raise their grandkids when their parents can't. Once I came up with Hattie Mae, the main character of Love Trumps Game, the story pretty much wrote itself.

Hattie Mae is the young and spicy grandmother that has to go on the run with her two streetwise grandchildren to keep them from their drug-dealing, Homicidal father.

I penned Love Trumps Game under my initials (D.Y. Phillips), which is my alter ego. The book can be purchased at all online bookstores, and most major bookstores. It's also available at Black Expressions Book Club. An excerpt of the book can be found on Amazon.com.

7. What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a writer? Finding affordable ways to promote my books. Book signings are okay, but they are only a fraction of what it takes to make a book successful. After you write the book and get it published, the real work is promoting that book.

8. What is the next literary challenge in store for Debra Phillips? To get to the Essence Bestseller list, this is my goal and challenge for now. Next, I want to write a literally book that will find its way to the New York Bestseller list. It's the ultimate goal for most writers.

9. What are you reading now? Who are your favorite authors? I'm reading 1-900-Anytime by Tracy Price-Thompson. As for favorite authors, there are too many to list, but to name a few they would be: Mary Monroe, Zane, Reon Laudat, Tracy Price-Thompson, and Noire.

10. Tell us about the online and offline personal appearances you have planned over the next couple of months. Where can readers connect with you up close and personal. I'm still in the process of setting up book signings . . . I'm working on a virtual tour and some chat room appearances. Once plans are finalized, I'll be posting the dates and times on Facebook, Myspace, and Twitter.

11. How can readers get in contact with you? Do you have a website? Readers can always email me at: dyphil2@aol.com. Please keep it positive because I'm a sensitive soul. My official website is down for a spell, but they can always check me out on Twitter, Facebook and Myspace at: Myspace.com/authordebraphillips

12. What is the one thing you would like your readers to know about you? That I appreciate each and everyone that took the time to check my books out and purchase a copy. Without devoted fans, authors would be nothing except writers without an audience. Thank you and I love you.

Interview With Louise King, Author of Elusion, A Story In The Leading Ladies Anthology

Join BBW Reviews as we chat with Louise King, contributing author to Leading Ladies anthology published by Draumr Publishing. Her fabulous story, Elusion, is a major part of this anthology which can be purchased through Draumr Publishing as well as most major online book stores. Take a minute a find out more about Louise, why she wrote this story and what is up next for this up and coming author

***** Contest Alert*****

Don't forget to leave a comment (with an email address) to be entered into our drawing for a free book. Read side panel for detail on our book giveaway.

1. Tell us about yourself? Primarily I’m a mom. I have 4 little miracles aged from 10 months to 13 years. I love writing because it’s something I can do at home with my family around. I am also a makeup artist, though most of my practice is on myself these days; and the Executive Producer for a film company my husband and I run. I wear a lot of hats and am super busy! Still, I always find time for the important things and I play as hard as I work. We’re a very active family and love the mountains, ocean, kayaking, hiking, snowboarding and sailing. Life is a miracle and I never take it for granted.

2. How long have you been writing? 15 years. I was shocked when I did the math on that, it feels like a lifetime ago!

3. What genre(s) do you typically write in? Romance! I delve into different genres of it, from mystery/suspense to historical. I also write for my kids and they star in several adventures. They love that. My latest offering in that field is a story about my daughter and I, hot on the trail of a mystery. She’s my only girl so we have a special bond. She goes crazy when I write about it.

4. What drove you to pick up that pen for the first time? I was in a weird place in life. I was pretty depressed and my sister suggested getting my thoughts on paper as a way to heal. I’ve never been much of a journal writer so I started writing a novel for young adults. It was pretty bad! Eventually I realized my interest was in romance, threw out the dreaded partially finished manuscript and started writing my first romance…and I was hooked!

5. Your story Elusion is part of Leading Ladies, an anthology published by Draumr Publishing. Tell us about your story and the plus size heroine featured in this story. Genevieve is a fantastic character, full of zest for life. She’s one of those girls who doesn’t sit around waiting for life to happen, she goes out and makes it happen. That’s my kind of woman, whether she breathes in 2010 or 500 years ago, as she does. As all the stories in this anthology, it’s based on a fairy tale—specifically Grimm’s “Princess In Disguise”. It’s about a queen-to-be who runs away to avoid an unwanted marriage and finds what every girl longs for. I put her through some great twists for a princess that left me in stitches as I wrote it. I love it when I write things that make me laugh and cry.

6. Why have you chosen to feature plus size heroines in your work? Largely for very personal reasons. I struggled with an eating disorder for much of my life and while I was thin and beautiful, I was hurting my body. I couldn’t get over the image media projects as acceptable. Every heroine I read about was thin and gorgeous with enormous breasts, a slim waist, svelte thighs and the perfect derriere. I felt like I wasn’t beautiful if I wasn’t all those things.

My daughter is 11 now and I really don’t want her growing up with the same body image ideas I suffered through. It was largely for her and her generation. I hope that girls today will grow up realizing their best potential and not feel like they have to fit into a mold that society has dictated for us. As for me, I have gotten over my eating issues and actually enjoy food. And guess what? I discovered I am still beautiful and was taught the best lesson of all: My husband loves me no matter what the scale says because he sees the beauty inside me.

7. I know Elusion is currently your only published work but are there more plus size heroines planned for the future can we expect to see a novel by Louise King in the near future? Definitely! My current project isn’t a romance at all; I am writing a novel based on events as told to me by someone else. It’s been a bit of a challenge, as romance really is my thing so I have to think much more seriously and less, well—frilly. After that, I will be writing a screenplay with my husband whom is also a writer (director, producer and filmmaker) and start casting for it. When I am done writing that, I will be going back to the novel I was writing when I started Elusion, which is actually in the editing stages and almost done. I have several other works in various stages of completion, so once I get on a roll you may see 4 or 5 books pumped out in a short period of time. I just need a little more time each day!

8. What has been the biggest challenge you have faced as a writer? Balance. When I have a story in my head, I can’t stop writing. If I take a break, I lose fabulous prose, never to have it return and that’s really frustrating. So I really have to work at maintaining focus and making sure dinner is still on the table and everyone’s looked after. I’m getting better at this as I get older. When I first started writing, I didn’t have kids so it was easy. No one made a mess and all I had to worry about was me. Now that there’s four kids and a fabulous husband, I find it a bit easier to divide my time and be less obsessive.

9. Where do you see yourself a year from now? Making a film. Or sitting on my sailboat in the Pacific finishing up my next romance. Either way, I’ll be happy.

10. What are you reading now? What types of books (genres) do you read in general? In general, I read romance or suspense, but right now I am reading books by Napoleon Hill. He’s like the grandfather of The Secret. It’s pretty interesting stuff and while I did not like it in the beginning when reading the writings of other Secret teachers, I am really enjoying his work. He lead a fascinating life and was enlightened beyond his time. It’s really funny because at first I disliked the teachings of The Secret because I had morning sickness. I was told that I was ill only because I believed I was, like if I just thought I was well I would be. That really ticked me off!

11. Who are your favorite authors? Judith McNaught and Julie Garwood. They are masters who write rich tapestries. Their stories stay in your heart long after you’ve put the book down. I strive to write stories that will touch hearts as deeply as they do.

12. How can readers that loved Elusion get in contact with you? Louise.outstanding@gmail.com It’s my work email but it means I check it regularly!

13. What is the one thing you would like all of your readers to know about you? It’s all about family for me. They are my miracle and gift in life and I never take them for granted. Everything comes after them, including my work.

14. If you could tell one thing to every aspiring writer what would it be? Persevere! Persistence is key. Reading several different genres can also send you in the right direction if you know you want to write but aren’t sure what your style is.

Interview with Author Jay'L Harris, Hot New Author of Curvy Books

Join us as we chat with Jay'L Harris. A new author on the scene with a Curvy Book you do not want to miss. Don't forget to leave a comment and let Jay'L Harris know what you think about her interview. (Leave a comment on any BBW Reviews Author Interviews post and be entered to win any of the books we have available. Comments must be left between January 1, 2009 and March 31, 2009.)


1.Tell us about yourself? I am a true GA peach and I love it. I love hanging out with friends and family. I live by my personal mission statement which is to Inspire, Empower, and Serve everyone I encounter. Currently I am working on my MBA-Human Resources and I plan on getting my doctorate as well.

2.How long have you been writing? For leisure or for school? Seriously, I have wrote poems and in my journal off and on my whole life. Unlikely Love is my first serious attempt at writing a story

3.What drove you to pick up that pen for the first time? Time and opportunity. I lost my dream job, flunk out of a m aster’s program and had to move back home. After all of this, I knew it had to more to life than what I was living, so one day while talking to a friend I decided to write a book. I created the character Anthony on the phone with friend

4.Tell us a little about your first novel Unlikely Love? As my friends describe. It is a hot dramatic mess! It is a book that you can’t put down. It is juicy from beginning to end. If you are not in love, you will be by the end of the book. The best thing about the book is that I have a soundtrack that goes along with it. It helps move the book from chapter to chapter.

5.Why did you chose to feature a plus size heroine in this novel? I am a plus size sister. I wanted people to know that plus size women are desirable.

6.What made you decide to self-publish? I wanted more creative control over my book and books to come

7.Do you plan to write more books featuring plus size characters? Yes, I want every book I write to be about plus size characters.

8.Do you have another novel in the works? If so tell us about your next novel. Will it feature a plus size character? Yes I do. It will focus on the first year of marriage of two career driven people. It will have a plus size sister and brother.

9.What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a writer? Finding time to write. I have a busy schedule with work and school.

10.Tell us a little about Christina's Closet and the great work you are doing there. Where can anyone interested find more information on Christina's Closet? Our mission at Christina’s Closet is to assist those who wish to enter the labor market or change careers, with the right information and business attire that they may not otherwise have. To out more information check out http://www.jaylharris.com/

11.What are you reading now? What types of books (genres) do you read in general? I have been giving several books to read but I haven’t started on anything.

12.Who are your favorite authors? Carl Webber, Mary Monroe, Phillipa Gregory

13.How can readers get in contact with you? They can email me at Jacqueline@jaylharris.com, www.facebook.com/jaylharris, or www.twitter.com/jaylharris Do you have a website? Yes I do have a website http://www.jaylharris.com/

14.What is the one thing you would like all of your readers to know about you? I like to tell people I am just Jay’L Harris. I live an ordinary life.


15.If you could tell one thing to every aspiring writer what would it be?
Find a good editor…

About Jay'L Harris: Jay’L Harris loves God with all her heart, mind, and body. Everyday she presses forward towards the mark of the highest calling in Jesus Christ. She has learned in her journey with Jesus Christ that it is a true process to be change in the likeness of Christ. Having grown up in church, she saw the double lives Christian lived.

She never wanted to have two-faces, one for church and one for home. She set out to be different. She realized that just because she had accepted Christ not everyone in “her circle” had accepted him. Living by the motto preach by her Pastor Anthony Murray, Oasis Family Life Church, that she is Not an Ordinary Christian. She decided to write books her way. She wanted to write about real life and real situation.

She doesn’t carry a title or anything to that nature. It really doesn’t matter to her anyway. She always says “I don’t need a title to do things God has called me to do. It is better that I don’t have a title because I am not bound by the “image” the titles holds. It is easier for me to relate to people by simply being me.”

God is using her gifts for encouraging and loving people and talents through writing and singing to minister outside the four walls of the church. No matter how high God takes her, she will continue to keep it real with God and his people.

Interview with Author and Motivational Speaker Rachel Berry

Joins us as we chat with Rachel Berry about her dynamic epic novel Family Pictures. Let Rachel tell you about Family Pictures and her life journey as a whole.

****** CONTEST ALERT******

Comment on this interview between and be entered to win a copy of Family Pictured by Rachel Berry. To enter contest you must leave a comment (connected to an email address) on or before March 31, 2010 11:59PM EST.

1. Tell us about yourself? I consider myself an out-going and goal oriented person. I have a respectful and prayerful relationship with my creator as he continues to show and grow me. My family means everything to me, and after trying to please my creator I do everything I do for them. I do my best to give-back to the universe in any way I am guided and gifted because I am thankful for all that I am gifted with. I’m blessed to be a daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, sister, auntie, best friend and so much more. Life can be challenging but it’s good.

2. How long have you been writing? I’ve been writing since the beginning of my teen years. Imagining about things to write long before that.

3. What drove you to pick up that pen for the first time? Probably my mother. She is a great storyteller and poet. She put the love of words in my heart and mind through songs, stories and poems she’d recite during dinner time when I was growing up – well, still to this day even. Now, writing is the ink that colors me. I don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t write. I write in my head while I sleep and then jot it down when I wake up. Gosh, the movies that play in my dreams.

4. Tell us about your book Family Pictures and the plus size heroines featured in this book. Family Pictures is simply the saga about a family and the challenges and celebrations they all go through. It’s main characters are both full-figured women who in many ways are very different and very similar. The youngest, journeys through the book discovering who she really is because of a secret the eldest protagonist divulges to her early on in the story. Through her family stresses Regal (the youngest) also battles with wondering if she is pleased with her weight, single-parenting, a love triangle and many other personal issues. Emma Jean; Regal’s aunt is also faced with her changing life and the effects of coming from a dysfunctional family and a sister-n-law that has made her life hell. But through unconditional love, forgiveness, therapy, and letting go of past skeletons the two woman learn that they too can put a better face on their promising futures.

5. Why did you chose to feature plus size heroines in your novels? Because plus sized woman have the same hopes and dreams, challenges and celebrations as smaller woman do. Too many books only feature slim women. I wanted to show the beauty, fear and boldness that live in all of us women.

6. Do you plan to write more books featuring plus size characters? I’m sure I will, because when I meet my characters they tell me who they are, what they do etc. I lay them out fully from skin color, education, martial status, sexual preference on down to pet-peeves before I begin writing so I can know them and present them to the fullest. When and if they tell me they are full-figured I will present them as such.

7. When will your next book be released? Tell us a little about your next book? Will it feature a plus size character? I’m planning on winter 2010. ‘Between The Tears And The Laughter’ is a story about another family living in Louisiana. They’ll be dealing with a different set of challenges and show us how they triumph, live and learn. That’s what writing is about for me: telling a good story people can relate to but also learning lessons along the way. But don’t be surprised if something else pops up before the winter.

8. What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a writer? Well, writing is the pleasure and easy part of my career. But if you write something and no one knows about it, it’s all a waste. Promoting and marketing and putting myself out there is a challenge. I don’t have an assistant yet. So advertising, answering and sending out e-mails, social-networking, and putting together events and book signings take up a lot of my time. Recently this leaves little time for me to work on other works-n-progress.

9. Tell us a little about your organization Black Pearls United. BPU is an African American sister-circle I founded almost nine years ago. We come together to improve ourselves, communities and families. Women need a place to vent and grow. We learn from each other, grow together and sometimes professionally network. I’ve witnessed some powerful sister-bonding over these years. I’ve always been blessed with having sincere and positive women in my life of all ages, and this avenue affords me the blessing of sharing that gift with others. My sisters are busy women, but are also warm, intelligent women with giving hearts, and we give back to our communities on a yearly basis. We’re a small but mighty group. I am so proud of the Pearls; they’re real jewels.

10. You also have a show on Blog Talk Radio called From The Heart & Soul with Lady Serenity. Please tell us about the show and in general what you discuss during your show. How and when can those interested tune in to hear Lady Serenity speak? My show is an extended mission of Black Pearls United – for women and about women, but open to everyone for discussion. I try to be a horn that blows about the things, situations, triumphs and trials of women. I do a segment called “Ordinary Women Doing Extraordinary Things.” It’s one of my brands. I showcase unsung shero’s. Not taking anything away from our men, but since I am a woman I am interested in “the all” of women. Women do so much, carry so much. So much goes unseen and unsaid about our caregivers and community helpers; though their effects are sometimes bountiful. I seek to bring to light those women making a difference in the lives of others. Telling stories we might never get to hear. Also, as an author I do my best to help promote other authors, so I do an author’s showcase. We need all the help we can get and it brings me pleasure whenever I can help someone else. I play ole school music to ‘put a mellow view to all that we do.’

My show airs on Mondays 4Pm EST unless I’m doing a special show and then that time and show is advertised. You can catch a live show or listen to the archives at: http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/Lady-Serenity

11. What are you reading now? What types of books (genres) do you read in general? I’m reading Maxine Thompson’s latest novel ‘Hostage of Lies.’ I love mystery, suspense and romance. I love a book that engages all my senses and keeps me wondering and turning the pages.

12. Who are your favorite authors? OMG. Just to name a few, Eric Jerome Dickey, Mary Higgins Clark, Zane, Alice Walker, John Grisham, Pat G’Orge Walker, and the list could go on and on because now there are some new dynamic writers out. Too many to name.

13. Tell us about the online and offline personal appearances you have planned over the next couple of months. Where can readers connect with you up close and personal. Well, I doing the Author’s Holiday bash on December 19th in Washington D.C. hosted by Ella Curry of EDC Creations. In April I’m doing the Author’s Pavilion hosted by RWA book club in Richmond Virginia and in June I’ll be at the AAMBC National Author’s Convention held in Chicago.

14. How can readers get in contact with you? Do you have a website?
Yes, my cyber home address is: http://www.rachelberry.webs.com/
My e-mail address is: rachelwrites2@yahoo.com
Drop me a line anytime. Please check out my book trailers at: http://www.youTube.com/wordfairy4u Plus I’m on Facebook, My Space, and Twitter as Wordfairy.

15. What is the one thing you would like all of your readers to know about you? That I appreciate them, their time and honest feedback. Please continue to jump aboard my literary rides, because without readers, words say absolutely nothing.

About Rachel Berry: Rachel Berry was born Sarah Rachel Gaines in Newark New Jersey. She grew up in Newark, East Orange, and Orange school systems. Rachel later moved to Virginia and is now a mother of 4 adults, wife, grandmother of 2 gorgeous girls, a published author & poet, motivational speaker, radio talk show host and a community leader.

To Read her complete bio go to http://rachelberry.webs.com/bio.htm