JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
GStarr, author of Pulling Me Back
(UrbanL Publishing)
A sexy, suspenseful adult-entertainment novel full of secrets and consequences, Pulling Me Back introduces the savvy writing talents of UrbanL Publishing author GStarr. Reminiscent of Showtime’s Lesbian drama, The L Word, Pulling Me Back is a hot and spicy fictional story chock full of erotic sexual pleasures, family feuds, infidelity, with side dishes of fatal attraction and revenge.
Heartbroken after learning of Sean’s unfaithfulness, Bre indulges in too much alcohol at a party and makes a pass at her best friend Jordan. Jordan, a certified ‘playa’ among the ladies, resists the temptation to indulge in her best friend in order to prevent Bre from making a mistake she may regret later.
In the midst of family feuds and broken hearts, can two women find true love beyond the mayhem that life has thrown their way?
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Pulling Me Back?
GStarr: My inspiration for writing Pulling Me Back, a novel that centers around two women beginning a lesbian romance in the midst of everyday issues, was inspired by reading Eric Jerome Dickey’s Friends and Lovers and E. Lynn Harris’ Just As I Am.
I genuinely enjoyed the books for different reasons. Eric’s novel dealt with the essence of friendship and the dynamic among different personalities. E. Lynn Harris’ novel was a trailblazer for introducing avid readers to characters living within the lesbian and gay communities.
The idea of infusing subject matters from my two favorite authors seemed to be an untapped niche. I was tired of reading the urban fiction novels with so much drug crimes and gold digger related plots.
JP: What sets Pulling Me Back apart from other books in the same genre?
GStarr: Pulling Me Back is different from other urban contemporary fiction novels because it infuses a topic that is considered taboo among urban audiences. It’s not a story that takes place in the hardcore streets but in an urban city setting with modern-day characters who engage in the entertainment, fashions and practices that are classically found in metropolitan cities like New York City.
The characters are professional working women with families and relationship issues just like the majority of women who read books. Pulling Me Back is different because the main characters engage in spicy and scandalous lesbian love. Love is love, and it doesn’t matter the gender of those involved.
A person in love is a person in love, and a heartbroken soul is a heartbroken soul. Only the unknowing are concerned about the shell the soul is housed in. This story is about friends becoming lovers—and that’s classic.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Pulling Me Back getting out to the public?
GStarr: As a woman, I’m motivated to always break new ground: to be a doer and not a talker, to make things happen for myself and not wait on the sidelines to be handed anything.
I opted to self-publish Pulling Me Back after connecting with a small press and my book being shelved for 3 years. I got my rights back and knew that if my book was going to be published, I would have to complete this task with my own ingenuity. The keys to my impending success will be that I never gave up on my dream and I was smart enough to find teammates who are just as passionate as I am.
I operate in wisdom, knowing I can’t do it all myself, but I can initiate the first step.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Pulling Me Back?
GStarr: I received a laptop for a birthday gift. Once I knew I wanted to write Pulling Me Back, I would carry my laptop with me everywhere. I would type during the roundtrip bus ride to and from work and on my lunch break. Any extra downtime was used to get this book typed up.
Once I got started, I just couldn’t stop. It took a total of 5 months to complete. Writing Pulling Me Back, was a new goal in my life and I’m glad I can check it off my list. This is just the beginning for GStarr.
JP: What’s next for GStarr?
GStarr: I spent the remainder of 2009 promoting Pulling Me Back and launching UrbanL Publishing with my business partner and fellow author V. Bella. We are planning to launch her book tentatively titled “Words That Breathe Life” during 2010. This winter I will also start working on my sophomore release That’s The Way Love Goes.
http://www.urbanlpublishing.com/
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