JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
National Best Selling Author LaShonda DeVaughn, author of If All Men Cheat, All Women Should Too!
(LSDV Productions)
Imagine you’re a beautiful woman, body like a brick house, career-driven, can cook like a Southern chef, clean like a veteran maid and sex your man like a porn star. Now imagine being in a relationship with a man who is unapologetically mentally and verbally abusive, disrespectful, AND cheats on you! That’s just a brief description of Janae’s relationship with Tae.
Tae is absolutely cocky, he no longer cares about hiding his cheating. He figures, if Janae hasn’t left him the first time she found out he was cheating, then she probably wouldn’t leave him the next…
Most people would dismiss a girl like Janae as stupid and naïve – someone who needed to wake up and realize that there were other men in this world and move on. But when a man has a mental hold on you, for some women, it’s not that easy.
Tae robbed Janae of her self-esteem. His constant put-downs and unfiltered disrespect became the norm for her. He frowned at her tears and did as he pleased. His actions forced Janae to compare herself to the women he cheated with and wonder why she wasn’t good enough. Eventually, trying to please Tae became her only purpose.
Being a faithful girlfriend was something Janae took pride in. Somehow, she allowed Tae to define her. She felt like she wasn’t whole without him. Finally, a series of events helped Janae discover her worth.
Still withering in the wings of her broken relationship, will Janae stay with Tae and believe that he can and will change? Or will she rebel and act upon the old adage, ‘if you can’t beat em’, join em’?
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write If All Men Cheat, All Women Should Too!?
LaShonda DeVaughn: I wrote If All Men Cheat, All Women Should Too! to play on the stereotype “all men are dogs”. I have a lot of male friends who brag about cheating on their wives or girlfriends, so I put a spin on it. Since many men were free to embrace cheating, I highlighted women doing the same thing. Although the title is bold, the book is actually about why both parties shouldn’t cheat.
JP: What sets If All Men Cheat, All Women Should Too! apart from other books in the same genre?
LD: What sets If All Men Cheat, All Women Should Too! apart from other books is the dare-to-be-different factor which I demonstrated in using such a bold and controversial title. Also, the fact that my material is never watered down or fluffed. It’s always in your face and real.
I’ve touched on issues that I haven’t otherwise seen highlighted in other books such as abortions and how it makes a woman feel when her man doesn’t want to keep the child. I even touched on AIDS as well as cervical cancer. I explored so many different subjects in this book, you’ll feel like you know the characters. I can almost guarantee that you will see yourself in more than one of the situations described in this story.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to If All Men Cheat, All Women Should Too! getting out to the public?
LD: There are several keys to my success. The most important is constantly thinking outside the box. You have to create stories that are highly visual like a movie on paper and always add in relatable content. Readers connect and embrace your product much more when they can relate to it. The more your readers like your product, the more the “word-of-mouth” about your book will spread.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish If All Men Cheat, All Women Should Too!?
LD: My writing process varies. Sometimes I like to write in a busy environment. Sometimes I need complete peace and quiet. Other times I can get in a zone, pull out my laptop and write anywhere. It normally takes me 3-6 months to finish a book. I finished If All Men Cheat, All Women Should Too! in five months.
JP: What’s next for LaShonda DeVaughn?
LD: My company LSDV Productions is in expansion mode, and things are moving pretty quickly. I have three new authors coming out this year. First, Tracee Boyd with her title Married But Available, second Kaie Golson with The Naked Eye and third Darryl DeVaughn with American Thug.
Film, theater and television are also on the horizon. I’ve been a very busy woman, but I’m loving every minute of it.
http://www.lashondadevaughn.com
http://facebook.com/pages/Author-LaShonda-DeVaughn/210659679001948
http://twitter.com/HoodChickStory
http://www.blackplanet/LaShond_DeVaughn
Before ending this interview, I just wanted to send a special THANK YOU to all of the readers who have supported me through the years. I couldn’t have done it without y’all, and I can’t thank you all enough!!!
[include file=current-advertisers.html]