JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Sparkle, author of Sade’s Secret
(Wahida Clark Presents)

Fifteen-year-old Sade Washington has been harboring a secret from her two best friends, Crystal and Dena. Her secret is threatened to be revealed when she discovers she’s pregnant. Once Sade’s secret is out, it causes a wedge between her and her mother Joyce. Distraught at her mother’s reactions, Sade toils with a love/hate relationship with her.

Joyce struggles with keeping peace in her household. The relationship between her daughter and live-in boyfriend, Calvin, has her in an emotional turmoil. Joyce is determined to make their home a happy one by any means necessary.

Sade attempts to have a normal teen life, but as she turns sixteen, reality hits her head on. She must make choices that will not only affect her future, but that of her unborn child. Sade’s Secret takes the reader on an emotional ride as it deals with a strong subject matter and the dynamics of mother-daughter relationships.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Sade’s Secret?

Sparkle: It saddened me to hear of so many stories of women (young and old) who experienced sexual abuse in their earlier years. One of the things that was common in the stories I heard was that when it was going on, they were either afraid to tell. Or if they did tell, they weren’t believed. I wrote Sade’s Secret to bring awareness to the issue and because I don’t want any young woman to feel like she has no voice.

JP: What sets Sade’s Secret apart from other books in the same genre?

S: Sade’s Secret tackles not just abuse but the dynamics of a mother and daughter relationship. As Angelia Menchan says, “Sade’s Secret is a story that could have been dark and heavy but was relatable and interesting at the same time.”

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Sade’s Secret getting out to the public?

S: God opened up closed doors. When I decided to take my love for writing to a professional level, I learned the craft. I took the time to learn the publishing business. I had great mentors and people who believed in my vision. I didn’t allow rejection to deter me; it only fueled the fire and my desire to succeed greater. Sometimes that meant revamping a manuscript or going a different route on trying to get works published.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Sade’s Secret?

S: I first come up with a title, which is my theme for my books. I then create characters. Once I know the characters like the back of my hand, I can then write their story. I usually write a synopsis. The synopsis is used as my guide but I add meat to the story as I start writing it. I can write a first draft in a short period of time, but the whole process, which includes edits, can take months.

JP: What’s next for Sparkle?

S: This summer I’m taking a screenwriting class, so I plan on completing a screenplay based on one of my books, so I’m excited about that. I will also be busy working on Sparkle’s next book, tentatively titled, Crystal’s Crush. Crystal is the friend of Sade from Sade’s Secret.

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Sparkle is the pseudonym for Essence Magazine bestselling author Shelia M. Goss. Shelia is a 2012 Emma Award Finalist and has over fourteen books in print. She writes in multiple genres. Sade’s Secret is the first book by Sparkle.

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