JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Sereniti Hall, author of Still Feenin’
(Wahida Clark Presents)
Still Feenin’ is the sequel to the first novel that I wrote titled Feenin’, which was also published by Wahida Clark Presents. They both are about a young woman struggling to survive.
In the first novel, the main character is fighting a crack addiction. Still Feenin’ takes it to another level. In SF, she still has her temptations for crack, but she wants more out of life than what her past provided her.
Tanisha wants to be independent and maintain her sobriety. She also wants real love and friendship. SF shows how you can look for love and friends often in the wrong places. As humans, we take that chance and have to find out the hard way that every friendship is not worth pursuing.
Tanisha learns this quickly after being so naïve. Because of her past, she’s forced to fight for what she believes in while trying to keep the monkey and the haters off her back.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write Still Feenin’?
Sereniti Hall: After I’d written my first novel, Feenin’, with the inspiration of my mom, my daughters, and reading Wahida’s Payback is a Mutha and having the mindset of not wasting my time in prison, I was on my way. Besides, felons don’t just come out of prison and get the best treatment, nor is it easy to find a job.
I have two little girls and one on the way that look to me for guidance. I needed a lifestyle change. I had to find a new hustle that would keep me positive and grounded. It’s been said that some things that we think are so bad in life can turn out to work for the good if we let it. That’s exactly what I did.
JP: What sets Still Feenin’ apart from other books in the same genre?
SH: Basically, all I can tell you is that I write about things I’ve seen growing up in the streets since I was twelve-years-old. I try my best to keep my writing as close to the street as possible while still entertaining my fans.
I’ve had people say to me, “I love your book because you keep it on a level where we can understand it.” Or they say, “Your novel helped me in ways that you will never know. I’ve been where some of your characters have been.”
When I hear people say things like this, it moves me inside in a special way. It also makes me feel that I’ve touched someone in one way or another and that I help people understand street lit who’ve never understood it before.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Still Feenin’ getting out to the public?
SH: The help of a great publishing company that has a lead woman who understands where her authors come from. Hard work, dedication, persistence, and the Internet, which we have at out fingertips these days. Word-of-mouth, and most of all some serious motivation from my daughters.
I can’t leave out the fire that I have burning inside me to show my daughters that people do make mistakes, but people can also make a positive turn around.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Still Feenin’?
SH: At one time my answer would be about a year, and this is for me personally. But after the editing, the rewrites, and the back and forth with the editor, it took me a little longer.
Since I am just starting out, there’s still so much about the craft that I can learn. I strive to get better, novel after novel as I dive deeper into my career.
JP: What’s next for Sereniti Hall?
SH: Hopefully, and if it’s God’s will, by next year this time my third novel will be released. I would tell you the name I chose, but I don’t know if my publisher would like me to reveal that. Besides, in this industry along with others, things tend to have their last minute changes. I do believe strongly that my fans will love it though.
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