JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Rahiem Brooks, author of Die Later
(Prodigy Publishing Group)

Assistant United States Attorney Barnswell thinks that he has everything he needs to convict the Bezel Brothers. Dre and Kareem are on trial for allegedly violating a laundry list of statutes in the United States Code. Problem is, Kareem Bezel sees things quite differently and sets out to prove their innocence in the Philadelphia trial of the year: United States of America vs. Andre and Kareem Bezel, et al. Appropriately, someone must die in order for Kareem to get his way.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Die Later?

Rahiem Brooks: My readers are my inspiration. Die Later is a follow-up to my debut novel, Laugh Now. I wrote Laugh Now as a stand alone novel. However, many readers asked me for more from the Bezel Brothers and I have given them that.

JP: What sets Die Later apart from other books in the same genre?

RB: Die Later is refreshing to readers that are looking to read a crime-thriller laced with a trial starring primarily African-American characters. I had a chat with a prominent author and expressed my fear that my work would not be appreciated because of the race of the characters. I was told not to compromise what I thought made a good story. Die Later has strong professional characters that are as attractive as those in a Walter Mosley novel.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Die Later getting out to the public?

RB: Die Later and my other titles continue to be successful because Prodigy Publishing Group (PPG) works mightily to forward press releases and advanced reader copies to book stores across the world.

I target Europe and Australia. Weekly, PPG seeks to be carried on book shelves across the world to reach a larger base and to expand. We set up many book signings and attend book fairs, not only to sell books, but to meet other authors to expand our network and reach.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Die Later?

RB: Die Later took me a month to write. I am a full-time author with a 2,000-word daily minimum. I can, and do, usually write more. But I have a secret. I do an extensive story map and outline, which guides me from beginning to end. I create extensive character outlines, and keep track of any quirky things that I add along the way.

JP: What’s next for Rahiem Brooks?

RB: Great question. I am adapting a screenplay by Kevin Woodard, titled Truth, Lies, and Confessions into a novel due out winter 2011. Also, PPG is publishing One Nation: The Takeover Begins, by E. DePazia Graham. 2012 is a horse of another color. I am working on a free E-book series and the third novel in the Laugh Now series.

http://www.rahiembrooks.com

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http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4141708.Rahiem_Brooks

http://www.shelfari.com/rahiembrooks

http://bfhsnetwork.com/profile/RahiemBrooks

rahiemthewriter@aol.com

Look out for me at a book store near you. And please invite me to your book stores and book clubs for live and Skype meetings.

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