As a person who regularly does author interviews, the experience of being sought out for an interview is a weird one. It’s like asking the scientist to be the subject.
Tinisha Nicole Johnson asked me for an interview based my author interviews and recent foray into becoming an author. The answers that stemmed from her questions were posted on the Black Men Taking Charge Blog.
During the interview I talk about:
why I love Black women
the Black woman who made a difference in my life
my definition of success
my advice for the Black young men and women
Please take the time to read and leave a comment by clicking on the picture above.
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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview 5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Michelle Larks, author of Til Debt Do Us Part
(Urban Books)
Nichole Singleton seems to have everything a woman could want. She is a God fearing woman married to her loving husband Jeff. Her career is taking off in the right direction, and her ministry is that of the lead soprano in her church choir.
Despite the content facade that Nikki portrays, all is not well in her life. She has been keeping a secret from all of those near and dear to her. That secrets threatens to unravel the fabric of her marriage and life. Nikki has succumbed to a terrible gambling addiction due to unresolved issues that she is unable to face or communicate to her husband, friends or mother.
Til Debt Do Us Part is the story of a young woman in crisis and how the Lord brought her through a raging storm.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Til Debt Do Us Part?
Michelle Larks:Keeping Misery Company was selected by an online book club as their book of the month. There were discussions as to how readers would like to see characters portrayed in Christian fiction stories.
One suggestion was they’d like to see people experiencing real life struggles, including addictions. I had already began writing Til Debt Do Us Part, so I felt like I was headed in the right direction. I’d hear people around me talk about gambling, going to the boat and playing the lottery or sports pools. I thought that might make for an interesting story line.
JP: Gambling and the Church are seemingly opposite each other in terms of moral standards. What insight will Til Debt Do Us Part provide about the affect of gambling on a Christian?
ML: I’m hoping people will walk away after reading Til Debt Due Us Part and know that God is still there for us, that he loves us and he will help us overcome any addiction. God helps us realize that none of us are perfect even Christians. We struggle with issues from time to time. That’s a part of life. Realizing God is there to guide us, if we just follow his will, is half the battle.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Til Debt Do Us Part getting out to the public?
ML: What I’ve been doing to promote Til Debt Do Us Part is a lot of online marketing. I’ve been participating in blog radio shows as they are available, and I pass out material when I participate in events. Most of all I’ve sent ARC copies of Til Debt Do Us Part to reviewers so they can read for me.
JP: As an author, what did you learn from writing your past novels that better prepared you to write Til Debt Do Us Part? How long did it take for you to start and finish Til Debt Do Us Part?
ML: As an author, I try to give a story my best shot in preparing it for the reading public. That means editing and then more editing. I think writing previous novels along with good feedback from readers and reviewers has helped me to write what I hope are consistently good books that have an uplifting message as well as entertain at points.
JP: What’s next for Michelle Larks?
ML: I just finished writing my 2010 release titled Faith. It will be out in May of 2010. It’s one of my best novels to date, at least that’s this author’s opinion. Also Keeping Misery Company is slated to be released on the big screen in June of 2010. I am really looking forward to both events.
JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
April Alisa Marquette, author of Absolution
(April Rain Publications)
Absolution is the provocative, sexy, fun, first novel in a trilogy. Available from April Rain Books, Absolution is a true page-turner about four friends, three women, and Beau, a homosexual male. The four live together and call themselves Cohorts. They believe their friendship is near perfect…until things start happening. Ronni betrays Beau by sleeping with his man. Beau and Ronni fight.
Their home is shattered, and the Cohorts are forced to choose sides. As another female Cohort plans a wedding, Ronni, the betrayer, becomes terminally ill. Ronni tries to keep it secret, but someone is nosy. Will Ronni’s business get out? If it does, was the Cohort’s friendship strong enough that one or all of them can exercise absolution…can they forgive?
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Absolution?
April Marquette: Actually, I had no plans to write Absolution. I was working on a different novel, but I kept ‘hearing’ conversations. The characters from Absolution kept ‘speaking.’ One character in particular said a few raunchy things.
I knew she and the others could never fit in the novel that I was working on. Therefore, I switched gears and began jotting down the new things I heard. Due to this inspiration, Absolution was born.
JP: What sets Absolution apart from other novels in its genre?
AM:Absolution is fast-paced and witty. A reader is drawn in from the first page. It is the type of book that makes a reader stay up late. (I’ve been told this any number of times).
It’s the type of novel that makes a reader want to know what the devil will happen! The characters take on a life all their own. They have issues and secrets that are interesting and kinky, as well as educational.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Absolution getting out to the public?
AM: The readers—no doubt. I happen to be a reader, first and foremost, so I am aware that readers are voyeurs. I had to become published to give readers the in-depth looks into characters’ lives that they desire. Readers crave drama, sex and entertainment.
I also never forget that readers want to be informed. They want to be part of something too, even if it’s only for the short while that they are engrossed in a good story.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Absolution?
AM: My particular writing process begins with me jotting down ‘conversations’ that I ‘hear.’ Those who ‘speak’ aren’t necessarily bodied beings. So, if I happen to be in a restaurant when the speaking begins, I’ll scribble on a napkin, if necessary. Then from these ‘conversations’ I derive where the characters are—that’s how the settings come about…
For me, the skeleton for Absolution took two months. Then I went back, gave the story color and dressed it up. This took a while because I put Absolution down to work on the novel I’d been working on before Absolution.
JP: What’s next for April Alisa Marquette?
AM: Next is the Summer 2009 release of Exodus, a titillating thriller, another first in a trilogy. Next is also the first book in a non-fiction series. Featured will be the recollections of an African-American healer woman. A character in Exodus happens to be based on this real live 70-year-old who has experienced many supernatural things.
Next is…oh there’s too much to tell—readers will just have follow me on this spectacular journey! Check me out and order signed copies at www.aprilalisamarquette.com. Or visit me at www.myspace.com/aprilbookmama – watch the Absolution video. My works are also available at various online bookstores including: Barnes & Noble – B&N.com, and Amazon.com.
