JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Tasha Macklin, author of Baller Dreams
(Wahida Clark Presents)
“Baller Dreams” is about needing a dream to become reality so bad that it becomes an obsession. Being obsessed about something can be a blessing and a curse.
The blessing comes with having the heart and mind to work hard to make the dream come true and being rewarded for the fruits of your hustle. The curse comes in when the trappings of the dream is your only focus and you lose your sense of who you are and you forget about people and being careful, and you forget that karma visits everybody at least once a year.
“Baller Dreams” is about proclaiming you’re invincible when you’re only just flesh and blood.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the inspiration to write “Baller Dreams”?
Tasha Macklin: From loving so deeply, and struggling to create dreams that I want to become real, and from simply living life—the good and the bad. It all goes hand in hand. I think that there are at least two stories to every life.
JP: What sets “Baller Dreams” apart from other books in the same genre?
TM: I believe my voice sets “Baller Dreams” apart from other books in the same genre because there is only one Tasha Macklin. Every author has a certain way of writing, but only my story can be told through my ideas and experiences and in my voice.
The characters I write are real to the readers and all their drama plays out as if I was sitting right there speaking face to face and telling the reader exactly what I saw and heard certain people say and do with my own eyes.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Baller Dreams getting out to the public?
TM: First, I think who I am as a person played a big part in being able to have the opportunity to get my book published. People talk, so I’d also have to definitely say word of mouth, especially after people read those letters that I penned.
Writing a book seemed like it was my destiny—maybe that’s why there’s a character named Destiny in “Baller Dreams”—she’s a boss chick. But also, another key to my success in getting my book out to the public is that readers want to read a book from someone they can relate to, especially if she’s a down chick who keeps it real, and who knows how to play her position as well as knows how to play the game but only whenever necessary.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take you to start and finish Baller Dreams?
TM: I just get an idea and start typing on the pc, or if I’m not in front of a computer I go old school and keep a writing pad with me and write by hand.
You’ve probably heard that writing book is kind of like giving birth, so typically it takes me about nine months from start to finish.
JP: What’s next for Tasha Macklin?
TM: In between caring for my family, I would love to finish my next novel. The title is undecided at this time. Outside of that, I will continue to stay on the journey to become a better me.
http://twitter.com/Tasha_Macklin
Thank you to all the real readers who support my work. Special thanks to Joey Pinkney for being an outlet for authors to get their voice to the world. To all of the new authors like myself, best wishes and never give up! You can do it.
Shout out to Wahida Clark and all the authors at Wahida Clark Presents and to Miss NeNe Capri, I heard about you and I’m coming for that title. (Laughing.)
[include file=current-advertisers.html]