JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Dionne Oakley, author of Through My Eyes
(Xlibris Publishing)
Through My Eyes is a compilation of my ups and downs, joys and pains, innermost feelings and deepest thoughts. I take you on a roller coaster of poems, touching on various subjects such as love, gossip, money, sex, and self worth–just to name a few. Reflecting on my life experiences, I open up my heart and take you on an emotional journey with me that you are sure to enjoy!
(click on the above pictures to see reviews of this book on Amazon.com)
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Through My Eyes?
Dionne Oakley: As a child growing up I loved to write poems. By the time I became an adult I had basically stopped writing poems until a co-worker began sharing her poetry with me. That ignited my interest in writing poems again, so I decided one day to write a poem just to see if I still had the gift of writing. I showed it to my co-workers and friends. They really liked it! Then I wrote another poem, and another one, and another. Each time I would get great responses and great feedback from the readers. That’s when the idea came that I should write a collection of poetry and get it published.
JP: What sets Through My Eyes apart from other novels in its genre?
DO: There are a number of things that set’s Through My Eyes apart from other collections of poetry The first thing that comes to mind is the variety. A lot of poetry books have chapters in them to give you a heads up on what that section of poems will be about. I purposely left the chapters out of my book because I wanted it to be like a box of chocolates. The reader goes from one poem to the other not knowing the flavor until they take a bite!
Here’s another thing I’ve noticed about some collections of poetry that differs from mine: Some are so deep, I can’t understand them. If I can’t comprehend what I’m reading, I can’t enjoy what I’m reading. I get deep with some of my poems, but my poems don’t go over the readers head. It goes right to the reader’s heart. I truly believe that what comes from the heart will reach the heart.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Through My Eyes getting out to the public?
DO: The keys to my success will be determination and faith. But faith without works is dead! You have to work hard to promote your book. I’ve gone to local bookstores and asked if they will sell some of my books as well as allow me to have book signings there. I’ve sold books out of the trunk of my car. What really surprised me is how the book sold itself! All I had to do is hand it to a person, let them look at a couple of pages, and they bought it. That’s when I knew this book was special, and I thanked God.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Through My Eyes?
DO: My writing process varies with poetry because there are some poems that pour out of me so fast and so easy. I can hardly keep up with writing down everything that’s flowing out of me! It’s like Wow! Amazing! Then there are poems that may not flow so free at first. I may end up doing a rough draft, then revising and editing the poem.
It took me about two years to complete Through My Eyes because I wrote the poems when I was inspired or when the poem came to me. Also this being my first book, I had no idea about the steps I needed to take to publish it. I was kind of feeling my way through the process.
JP: What’s next for Dionne Oakley?
DO: I am writing another collection of poetry and plan to publish it in 2009. I have also started on a novel. Both are yet to be titled, but guaranteed to be good! I also plan on venturing into greeting cards somewhere down the line. Other than that I plan on continuing to promote my book “Through My Eyes.”
Everyone can order this great collection of poetry online. Go to Xlibris.com, Amazon.com, Borders.com or BN.com. It is best to type in my name, Dionne Oakley. That will bring up the book and eliminate any confusion since there are several other books with a similar title. You can also check me out on myspace at myspace.com/deedaweeda.
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P.S.S. If you want to be feature in a 5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… series, email me at joey.pinkney@gmail.com or myspace.com/joeyreviews