JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Jennifer Coissiere, author of Crossing Over
(Words Mosiac Publications)
Fifteen years ago, Rachelle Martin stood on the stage at her family church singing, from her heart, her mother’s favorite song. In that same church, on that very same day, Rachelle’s mother died, and so did Rachelle’s will to sing.
Rachelle and her twin brother, Raheem, are now 30-years-old. While he’s gone on with his life, Rachelle is still grieving their lost, refusing to accept any change. When their father, Dwight, asks Rachelle for the ultimate, priceless Christmas present, she begins her journey to crossover into the living.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Crossing Over?
Jennifer Coissiere: My inspiration for writing anything comes from people or things around me. For Crossing Over my inspiration came from a couple things. My best friend lost her mother when she was 9 years old, and she still talks about her from time to time. You can tell she is still grieving the lost.
The other thing is my fear of death. I know that death is inevitable, but it’s my biggest fear. I wonder how am I going to handle it if any of my family members or a close friend dies. Grief can take over a person’s entire life if she let it.
JP: What sets Crossing Over apart from other novels in the Christian Fiction genre?
JC: In Crossing Over, I believe that everyone who reads it will connect to one of the characters in some kind of way. The characters are flawed and know they’re not perfect; which makes them more relatable.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Crossing Over getting out to the public?
JC: I have confidence in the story that I was writing and in myself. Couple that with my friends and family who stood in my corner, helped me to work really hard to publish Crossing Over.
I also set realistic goals for myself. All authors want lots of people to read and enjoy their books, but my goal was to touch one person’s life with the message from my book. Once I reached that one person everything else after that was a bonus.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Crossing Over?
JC: I don’t really have a concrete writing process. I had a book that I write titles in. I cannot write a story if I don’t have a title. Once I get the idea for the story behind the title I try to find the right characters to embody the story.
I began writing Crossing Over in July of 2008 but didn’t have a completed manuscript until September 2009. I self-published it March 2010. My publishing company is Words Mosaic Publications.
JP: What’s next for Jennifer Coissiere?
JC: Currently, I am working on several different stories in different genres. But my main focus is on the sequel to Crossing Over titled Beyond New Beginnings. In Beyond New Beginnings, I’m addressing the broken mother-daughter relationship of two of the secondary characters from Crossing Over. That should be out early 2011.
http://www.wordsmosaic.com/
http://www.myspace.com/jcoissiere
http://www.facebook.com/bizarrejc
Twitter @bizarrejc
Thank you Joey for this wonderful opportunity. What you’ve done for the writing community is very commendable. We (readers and authors) appreciate it.
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ONE of the first FIVE people to comment on this author interview will win a free copy of the book.
Here is the list of people who are in the running for a FREE copy of Crossing Over by Jennifer Coissiere.
1) ???
2) ???
3) ???
4) ???
5) ???
Leave a comment about your thoughts on the interview.
Wow, Jennifer! Congratulations on your new release. The story sounds great. Death is indeed something hard to deal with and I DO NOT deal with it well at all. Sounds very relatable. You reviewed The Bum Magnet so I’d love to return the favor! Best of luck to you!
ONE of the first FIVE people to comment on this author interview will win a free copy of the book.
Here is the list of people who are in the running for a FREE copy of Crossing Over by Jennifer Coissiere.
1) KL Brady
2) ???
3) ???
4) ???
5) ???
Leave a comment about your thoughts on the interview.
Hey K.L., I remember The Bum Magnet. That was a fun book to read. I haven’t had anyone really close to me die and I know already I’m not going to handle it well at all. I cry watching movies or reading books where the character dies. And worst of all I fear my own demise.
I see Karla is trying to win that book! I’m here Joey. Nice storyline. Would love to read it. I have the same morbid fear of death of a close family member. I have lost 3 grandparents but I was young. I lost a friend 7 mo and 3 days ago and I literally wanted to die from mourning! I fear the passing of a parent and my remaining grandparent so bad; almost on a daily basis. I also beg God to never let me witness the loss of a child. He would have to take me first. This story obviously will spark a lot of deep feelings in people and will be relatable.
ONE of the first FIVE people to comment on this author interview will win a free copy of the book.
Here is the list of people who are in the running for a FREE copy of Crossing Over by Jennifer Coissiere.
1) KL Brady
2) Folake Taylor
3) ???
4) ???
5) ???
Leave a comment about your thoughts on the interview.
yayyyyyyyyyyy Jennifer I can’t wait to read your book I know it will be great:) see you Sat
ONE of the first FIVE people to comment on this author interview will win a free copy of the book.
Here is the list of people who are in the running for a FREE copy of Crossing Over by Jennifer Coissiere.
1) KL Brady
2) Folake Taylor
3) LaShandra
4) ???
5) ???
Leave a comment about your thoughts on the interview.
Great interview Jennifer! I’m proud of you. Keep doing it chica!
@Folake- the death of one of my children is also a big fear for me. I came very close 10 years ago to experiencing that. I was pregnant with my second child and was praying that God took me instead of my then 3yo.
@LaShanra- thanks for the cheers.
@Darnetta- Thank you! I appreciate your support.
ONE of the first FIVE people to comment on this author interview will win a free copy of the book.
Here is the list of people who are in the running for a FREE copy of Crossing Over by Jennifer Coissiere.
1) KL Brady
2) Folake Taylor
3) LaShandra
4) Darnetta
5) ???
Leave a comment about your thoughts on the interview.
Jennifer I have already started treading your book and its great so far…congrats so proud of you
Just mail me the book Joey! Lol.
ONE of the first FIVE people to comment on this author interview will win a free copy of the book.
Here is the list of people who are in the running for a FREE copy of Crossing Over by Jennifer Coissiere.
1) KL Brady
2) Folake Taylor
3) LaShandra
4) Darnetta
5) Folake Taylor
Leave a comment about your thoughts on the interview.
And the winner is…
Darnetta!!!
I’ll email you for the mailing info.
Thank you everybody for participating. Thank you Jennifer Coissiere for providing the prize.
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I enjoyed this interview and look forward to other author interviews.
Joey thank you for bringing the spot light to African American Authors