JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Hugh O. Smith, author of Green Eyes and Good Hair
(Trois Coccinelles Publishing)
Tony is young good-looking and successful, the ultimate ladies’ man. Everything about him, from his clothes to his apartment, is designed to be a trap for the women who catch his eye. Tony has no immediate plans except to advance his career and continue with his playboy ways. Then one day he meets Olivia, a beautiful plus-size executive, and he sees a way he can do both.
Olivia is new in town, but not certainly not new to the ways of the player. She knows that no man can treat her the way she deserves so she doesn’t even try to find one. As far as she’s concerned, life is just fine without an encumbrance like a boyfriend or husband.
When she meets Tony, she sees him for exactly what he is, a playboy looking for a good time. She’s wise to his playboy ways but still, she wouldn’t mind spending a little time with him.
Tony and Olivia get together, each with their own agenda. Then, against all odds, something happens that changes them both…
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write “Green Eyes and Good Hair”?
Hugh O. Smith: I have friends that remind me of both the male and female main characters, and I wondered what would happen if they got together. Also, I wanted to write about what happens when we get to that stage where we stop fooling ourselves about needing someone in our lives. It’s tough to open ourselves up to love and all the potential hurt and heartbreak that can bring.
JP: What sets “Green Eyes and Good Hair” apart from other books in the same genre?
HS: My heroine is a plus-sized woman, something you don’t see much of in books, movies or television. She is strong, successful, confident, and very, very determined. I’ve also written a male main character who, when he finds the woman who he knows is right for him, is not afraid to do what he has to do.
He began as a player but realizes pretty soon that the player life can’t compare to being with the right woman. “Green Eyes and Good Hair” is about two people who have the choice to keep on living as they were or drop their guard and take a chance.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to “Green Eyes and Good Hair” getting out to the public?
HS: Wow. That’s the $64,000 question. You just have to be willing to plug away night and day. You can’t ever stop. Sites like yours, Joey, go a long way to helping us get noticed.
There are so many outlets for authors now, many more than there were years ago, but still you have to put in the work. Writing is great. We need to produce, but the marketing and connecting with your audience is also essential. Nowadays, one can’t survive without the other.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish “Green Eyes and Good Hair”?
HS: I write mostly in the early mornings. I know I’m done once my 6-year-old daughter wakes up, then all bets are off. I work during the day and usually edit after I tuck my daughter in at night.
I’m not the fastest of writers and I agonize over every word so the writing process can be painful for me. “Green Eyes and Good Hair” was originally written as a very different kind of story. The rewrite to what it is today took about 5 months.
JP: What’s next for Hugh O. Smith?
HS: So many things. The sequel to “Green Eyes and Good Hair” is in the works as is a book of short stories. I’m also working on my first noir novel and recently launched http://www.hughosmith.com.
Also, my writing partner and I are working on a book set in a fictional and drama filled town in New Jersey. So look out for a lot more from me in the coming weeks and months.
http://facebook.com/fullfiguredblog
https://plus.google.com/116791953875657100632/posts
http://www.goodreads.com/hughosmith
“I’d like to thank everyone who’s supported the book. I’m very very grateful. And, thank you, Joey, for giving me this opportunity.” ~ Hugh O. Smith
[include file=current-advertisers.html]
I must buy this book real interesting….on my list…
Thanks Ms. Dickerson, I really hope you enjoy it. I’d love to hear from you once you read it. All the best,
Hugh
Great Interview *waving*
Thank you, Gaele! *waving back*
Waving right back at you Gaele. : )