Category Archives: 5 minutes 5 questions with

5 minutes 5 questions with, african american author, african american authors, african american book, african american books, amazon.com, interview

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Sonya Visor, author of Who I’ve Become is NOT Who I Am

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Sonya Visor, editor of Who I’ve Become is NOT Who I Am
(Covenant House Press)

Wearing a Mask is a powerful thing! We all have worn a mask at one time or another in our lives. The danger is when YOU can no longer be seen… What people see is the face that you have become! Sonya Visor knows this all too well when she found herself on her living room floor in a fetal position ready to take her own life.

God used her four-year-old son to deliver her! It was indeed time to be free. It was time to TAKE OFF THE MASK, but first she had to become naked and unashamed from the hands that touched her life.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Who I’ve Become is NOT Who I Am?

Sonya Visor: You simply just don’t put ALL of your “stuff” out there for the world to see… It had to be divine! However, this is not a testimonial book. I was driven by the fact of being alone in my taking off the mask process. I wondered how many others were smiling, while contemplating suicide. I couldn’t be the only one feeling like this, and I had to tell others how I took off my mask.

JP: What sets Who I’ve Become is NOT Who I Am apart from other books in its genre?

SV: Everybody has worn a mask! I don’t care how beautiful or handsome, together attire or a public mess, we’ve all played “a role” at one time or another. We can all relate to masking. This book is almost too real. You will see yourself in the pages of Who I’ve Become is NOT Who I Am.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Who I’ve Become is NOT Who I Am getting out to the public?

SV: I remain a person who is teachable. I have read and applied books, attended seminars investing in the vision to birth this book. I am the kind of person who will surround myself with people who have been successful in the areas I need strengthening in. God has blessed me with folks who don’t mind reaching back to help others succeed.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Who I’ve Become is NOT Who I Am?

SV: The book was done in 2006. Marilynn Griffith got a hold of the manuscript and said, “Sonya, this is good, but you’re on the surface. Go deeper, and quit hiding behind Bethany .” (You have to check out chapter six to find out who Bethany is.) I left the project because I wasn’t ready. I revisited and started over in November of 2008. It took me two weeks writing a chapter a day.

JP: What’s next for Sonya Visor?

SV: I will be going on a book tour visiting surrounding cities for Who I’ve Become is NOT Who I Am. As a contributing author to Sistahfaith, a new book compiled by Marilynn Griffith, released by Simon and Schuster, I will participate in some of the upcoming events. I am excited about my upcoming play April 2nd, Silence is NOT the Answer.

The next TruU conference is April 24th! My TruU Blog Talk Radio show will be here May 1st! My creative juices are flowing for what my hearts desire is: writing my fiction novel. Now that’s the fun stuff I love to do while keeping it real.

Take_off_the_mask@yahoo.com

http://www.sonyavisor.com/
http://www.truuministries.com/
http://sistahfaith.ning.com/profile/SonyaVisor
http://twitter.com/sonyavisor
http://www.facebook.com/people/Sonya-Visor/100000337567957
http://www.nccracine.org/

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5 minutes 5 questions with, african american author, african american authors, african american book, african american books, amazon.com, interview, leadership

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Dawn McCoy, author of Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Dawn McCoy, editor of Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success
(Flourish Publishing Company)

Written by Dawn McCoy, one of the youngest elected members to serve on the Sacramento City Unified School Board of Trustees, this pivotal book shows how ordinary people can become extraordinary leaders. Geared towards aspiring leaders or those already in leadership positions, Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success outlines seven strategies to achieve success. These include Vision, Balance, Courage, Relationship Building, Tenacity and Commitment to Legacy.

McCoy candidly shares personal triumphs and challenges she faced in the political arena and other leadership roles. She draws attention to Leadership Building Blocks’ fundamentals, skills designed to distinguish a leader. Each concept is illustrated by an example, application, and story. With easy-to-follow icons, leadership self-assessments, and goal-setting worksheets, McCoy takes readers through her experiences while simultaneously giving them tools to succeed in their leadership roles.

Leadership Building Blocks provides step-by-step procedures about where leaders begin, how they can advocate for their cause, and how they can deftly maneuver through unpredictable circumstances.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write your book Leadership Building Blocks?

Dawn McCoy: The inspiration to write Leadership Building Blocks came to me in two ways. During my years as a nonprofit executive and elected school board trustee, I witnessed shortcomings among leaders in business, politics and community groups. For me, the ideas developed when I wanted to provide solid, easy-to-digest solutions to common leadership challenges. Eventually, these ideas became the premise for the seven leadership building blocks.

Second, my grandmother and aunties inspired me to write because of their legacy sewing quilts. For years, I’ve watched them weave together from scrap materials and clothing creative home-spun blankets, quilts and wall-hangings. They have created stories that come alive from fabric and decorative embellishments. When I received a quilted square handed down from a great-great aunt, I knew I had n obligation to tell a story using my creativity.

So, Leadership Building Blocks came to me as a way to both tell my story about life in public office and the local political landscape. In the process, I shared lessons learned with the intent to help others get in, survive and manage leadership roles.

JP: What sets Leadership Building Blocks apart from other guides on leadership?

DM: There are a lot of leadership books such as reference guides, business management and personal development. To me, some leadership books and biographies fall short without delivering real strategies about how to become a better leader.

Leadership Building Blocks will inspire readers to jump in, take on or tackle any leadership role. Too often we hear about leaders making bad decisions. This book is the perfect solution to bring integrity back to leadership. It is filled with kernels of wisdom, chapter-by-chapter icons and self-assessments.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Leadership Building Blocks getting out to the public?

DM: For me, there are two keys to my success getting the word about out to the public.

First, it’s about staying balanced. This means staying centered on a personal level. It also means having a solid support system. I often quote noted African American dancer Katherine Dunham who said “Go within every day and find the inner strength so that the world will not blow your candle out.”

Second, it’s simply about connecting with people. Finally, I’ve found success already getting the word out about Leadership Building Blocks through leveraging my network. In other words, I’ve found success connecting with people given their needs or challenges.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Leadership Building Blocks?

DM: My writing process is to write when and where inspired. I always keep a notebook with me to jot down thoughts, observations and notes. Typically, I work with an outline but give myself the flexibility to move sections and chapters around.

Also, since I write non-fiction, I’m inspired by greatly current events and personal circumstance. For instance, the section and chapters about legacy was written just after my grandmother died in 2007. The epilogue was completed just as President Barack Obama was elected as the first African American U.S. president.

In total, writing Leadership Building Blocks took me about three years to complete. The challenging part near the end was editing out exercises and text that will be part of a leadership workbook.

JP: What’s next for Dawn McCoy?

Right now, I’m excited to be on a national tour for Leadership Building Blocks speaking at conferences and visiting local bookstores and colleges. Over the next few months, this will include book signings in New York, DC, Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, and Los Angeles. It’s really an exciting time!

Last fall, I rolled out a new audio CD, Effective Community Engagement: Seven Steps to Make a Real Difference. Included are excerpts from chapter 13 of Leadership Building Blocks and also concrete ways about how to become a better champion for a cause, community group or faith-based organization. These step-by-step techniques are timeless insights to help people really take action rather than just talk about it.

Later this summer, I’ll finish work on the leadership workshop and on my next book Winning Campaign Building Blocks. That book will be a guide about running successful grassroots political campaigns. It is set for release in 2011, so I’ll put the finishing touches on it by late September.

Finally, I’m delighted to share that I’m exploring some collaborative work with other noted leadership experts.

Flourish Leadership Group
http://www.flourishleadership.com/

http://twitter.com/dawnmccoy02
http://www.youtube.com/dawnmccoy01
http://www.facebook.com/therealdawnmccoy

Facebook Fan page:
http://facebook.com/DawnMcCoyBooks

Dawn McCoy, President and CEO
Flourish Leadership Group, LLC
Motivational Speaker, Leadership Consultant, and Author of Leadership
Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success
“Empower Effective Leaders for Today and Tomorrow”
Direct: (916) 201-7189
Toll-Free: (877) 210-4049
http://www.flourishleadership.com/

P.S. Join the Joey Reviews Newsletter at http://joeypinkney.com/joey-reviews-newsletter.html.

P.S.S. Dawn McCoy provided a book to JoeyPinkney.com to give away to one of its readers.

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5 minutes 5 questions with, african american author, african american authors, african american book, african american books, amazon.com, interview

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Niobia Bryant, author from Message from a Mistress

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Niobia Bryant, editor from Message from a Mistress
(Dafina/Kensington)

Jaime Hall, Renee Clinton, and Aria Livewell all reside with their spouses in the affluent gated community, Richmond Hills, in New Jersey. The ladies are all best friends with their Richmond Hill neighbor, Jessa Bell–a sexy and single socialite.

Trouble is Jessa Bell has just sent them all a text message taunting that she has run away with one of their husbands. That message opens the door to each of the woman’s unspoken insecurities in their marriage as each recalls incidents that hint that their husband is the one.

And with the husbands away—and unreachable– on a chartered fishing boat all day and Jessa not answering her phone, they have all day to wonder…and to worry about scandalous secrets of their own.

Throughout the book–which takes place in one day–Jessa Bell also recalls her steamy relationship with her unidentified lover. Everything about their explicit romps are revealed from the day she first seduced him up until the day he agreed to leave his wife–her friend–for her.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Message from a Mistress?

Niobia Bryant: I loved, loved, loved the 1940’s movie “A Letter to Three Wives”. I enjoyed the concept of three wives learning that their mutual friend has run off with one of their husbands and then have the entire day to ponder which one of them has been betrayed.

It’s really clever and it intrigued on so many levels. I wanted to modernize the story and give it some new perspectives– like adding the wives having secrets of their own. I really just wanted to see where I could go with it. Again the general premise is the same but the actual stories for each character are original, and I had a lot of fun bringing those characters to life in Message from a Mistress.

JP: With seventeen novels under your belt, how have you changed in terms of your growth in the book industry? Was Message from a Mistress easier to produce for you?

NB: I’ve learned so much in the past 10 years as an author. My first book took me a year to write, and now I can definitely complete a well written book in less time. Writing in multiple genres allows me to continuously work towards perfecting my craft as a storyteller, too.

I’ve grown in my business acumen. I am a knowledgeable author. I research the industry, who’s doing what, and I keep abreast of what sells, where and why… This all helps me stay fresh and relevant to what avid readers want from authors.

Writing Message from a Mistress was a smooth and timely process. I concentrated on keeping it entertaining since the entire story takes place in one day. There are many character flashbacks, but overall, writing the book was not difficult at all.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Message from a Mistress getting out to the public?

NB: The internet has been such a fun way of promoting the release of Message from a Mistress, and I’m sure will prove itself vital in the upcoming sales success as well. I have my Twitter pages, I have my Facebooks pages, MySpace and my personal blog http://www.niobiabryant.com/; I use them all to keep my fans updated and to invite new ones. Tweetdeck is a must for me. I simply love the way it works.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Message from a Mistress?

NB: Since I write in multiple genres it helps me stay organized by creating a synopsis and an outline for each of my books. I write a full synopsis of the entire story and the first chapter which I usually have to submit to the publisher. Afterward I begin writing with the use of an outline chapter breakdown. Message from a Mistress took a few months not including editing.

JP: What’s next for Niobia Bryant?

I am working on promoting my three 2010 book releases, Fabulous my first teen fiction/young adult novel on Kimani Tru, Message from a Mistress on Dafina/Kensington and in May I will release Give Me Fever on Dafina. I’m doing my first virtual book tour starting March 1st. Readers can keep up with the itinerary on my blog and by following me on Twitter and Facebook.

http://www.niobiabryant.com/

Facebook
Niobia Bryant| Meesha Mink

Twitter
@InfiniteInk

Book Trailer for Message from a Mistress
http://www.youtube.com/user/niobiabryant#p/u/2/bNv9llajroY

Niobia Bryant has been nominated for the 2010 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award for Best African American Romance for your 9th full length romance novel Make You Mine as well as the Best Steamy Romance in the 2010 Emma Award presented by Romance Slam Jam.

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