JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Imani Wisdom, author of Zion’s Road: A Love Story about Faith and Redemption
(Pink Noire Publications, LLC)

Temptation lurks like a waiting virus, grabbing you when you least expect it, ravishing your heart, mind, and soul—convincing you to take the easy way, instead of staying on the right path.

Zion’s Road: A Love Story is about faith and redemption. Harold Smith—a former Klansman in a small town of Tulla Springs, Mississippi—discovers second chances are possible when he learns that walking on the right path leads to an adventure of discovering his truths. During Harold’s journey, he meets a stranger who is opposite to what he believes.

The two travelers share an experience, as they delve into one of the mysteries from Harold’s past to find a shattering reality. Left to wonder that everything he knew in his life contradicts these revelations, how will this new discovery affect Harold’s pursuit to redemption? Will the heartfelt pain be too unbearable to complete his journey?

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Zion’s Road: A Love Story about Faith and Redemption?

Imani Wisdom: The inspiration for Zion’s Road came from an aunt’s passing in 2003. She fought a long and hard battle against the progressive disease called Multiple Sclerosis, an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. After she passed away at the young age of forty-four, I began to wonder like many relatives who suffered a loss of a loved one by one simple question—is she okay?

Weeks after her burial and coupled with my fascination of the paranormal and hopeless romantic themes, I sat in front of my computer and began to type. I didn’t map out a plan for my characters nor did I create an outline—I just wrote whatever came to mind. Now even though I’ve written Zion’s Road six years ago from a three-day writing project, I’ve finally put aside my fear and had it published.

JP: What sets Zion’s Road: A Love Story about Faith and Redemption apart from other books in the same genre?

IW: Although Zion’s Road is listed in the “Inspirational” genre, I feel the word is too broad. As you read through it, Zion’s Road goes beyond just to inspire but to question how we’re living our own lives. And yes, the storyline parallels with today’s political discourse but it’s also a heart-warming love story. You tie those three ingredients together, and you have a powerful narrative.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Zion’s Road: A Love Story about Faith and Redemption getting out to the public?

IW: Four words: Do not give up! I suffered a debacle with a short story collection last December that fell through miserably. Several things went wrong—and as a new author and self-publisher—I had to learn a hard lesson. I even took time away from writing to reevaluate my goals. I wondered if starting a writing career at the age of 40 was right for me; was I doing it for the right reasons, or once I’ll start doing it, then what?

Then I realized my heart wouldn’t allow me to quit. So I halted the short story collection indefinitely and focused only on a couple of projects. Some people have a knack of multi-tasking several projects, but I’m not one of them. My focus needs to stay with one story at a time.

Essentially to the aspiring authors who are struggling to get their work published, let me say never, ever quit. Go through the essential channels, such as, finding the right editor, a great graphic designer for your book cover, and more importantly, understand that it takes more than writing a book—you will also wear a hat of an entrepreneur. Understand the business; improve on your craft and most of all never give up.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Zion’s Road: A Love Story about Faith and Redemption?

IW: As mentioned earlier, I didn’t use an outline nor develop a character biography for Zion’s Road—I just sat down and wrote it. That’s the same for all of my projects. I get a story idea in my head, jot in my pocket-size notebook, and bring it to life in a short story. If I feel the story has potential to develop into a novel, I’ll keep writing, if not, I’ll leave it the way it is.

For Zion’s Road, it took me three days to write the story. Though it’s a near 20,000 word narrative, it’s a powerful read.

JP: What’s next for Imani Wisdom?

IW: This story Zion’s Road is only a taste of what’s to come. In 2013, the spin-off will be available with a new storyline, a few returning characters, and darker plot. Thus, Zion’s Road: The Journey will make its way to your e-reader, bookstores, and to your favorite online retailers. Also the short story collection I put on hold indefinitely might be dead but not the stories individually. One story has been converted a play, two stories are on www.pinknoire.com to read for free, and another story may go as a screenplay. And not to mention, I’ll be in an erotic short story collection with phenomenal authors as well as creating one of my own.

So I’ll be a busy bee in 2013.

http://www.imaniwisdom.com/
(Imani Wisdom’s Official Website)

http://www.pinknoire.com/
(Official Blog)

http://facebook.com/imaniwisdom

http://twitter.com/Imani_Wisdom

Goodreads – http://www.goodreads.com/imani_wisdom

Pinterest – http://pinterest.com/imaniwisdom/

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