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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… Donna Deloney, author of Journey to Jordan

May 21, 2009 Joey Pinkney 3 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Donna Deloney, author of Journey to Jordan
(Hollygrove Publishing)

Journey to Jordan was the 2nd place winner in the 2007 Black Expressions Book Club Fiction Writing contest.

Jordan Crawford is a successful attorney who has little room for people and no use for God in her life. When a phone call alerts her to the death of the one person she cared the most for in the world, Jordan is sent on an emotional journey that forces her to face her feelings about the people in her past and about God. She quickly learns that the road to forgiveness takes a lot of turns.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Journey to Jordan?

Donna Deloney: The original idea for Journey to Jordan stemmed from the song “One Sweet Day” by Mariah Carey & Boyz II Men. The song was playing in my head over and over again. Slowly, the characters began forming in my head. The character and story that I started out with eventually evolved into Journey to Jordan.

JP: What sets Journey to Jordan apart from other novels in its genre?
DD: I think that some Christian fiction now tends to shy away from the gospel, preferring the message to be more subtle. Part of what sets Journey to Jordan apart is that there is a real call to accept Christ within the novel. In addition to knowing that God can forgive, heal and deliver, we must be willing to accept Him as Savior and Lord.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Journey to Jordan getting out to the public?

DD: First, I’d say perseverance. It’s easy to get discouraged in this process. I had the book marketed for two years and for whatever reason, the major publishing houses didn’t pick it up. Also, I think having a good editor is key. You never have a second chance to make a first impression. My editor worked with me throughout the process to make sure that the manuscript was on point with content and mechanics. Another key is having the support of writers in your corner. I’ve reached out to authors in and out of my genre for advice and they have been most gracious and encouraging.

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

DD: My story ideas usually spark in the weirdest ways. A song lyric or a piece of dialogue may pop in my head, or I’ll see something that sticks with me. I’ll mull that over for awhile and the characters and initial story idea will take shape. At that point I’ll jot down the idea, chapter or initial character sketch. If I continue with a story, at around chapter 3, I’ll put down plot points just so I have an idea of where I’m going. Sometimes I stick with the points, sometimes I don’t.

From start to finish, Journey to Jordan took six years. I stopped working on it for about three years before picking it back up. Then it was sporadic at best. I’d have gaps of six months between working on it. After being laid off from my job in 2005, I spent about four weeks completing the first draft. It took another year of revisions and adding to it before I presented to an agent.

JP: What’s next for Donna Deloney?

DD: I’m currently working on my next manuscript, tentatively titled A Decent Proposal. I’ve also contributed to the Christian fiction anthology Bended Knees, which is coming out in November from Hollygrove Publishing. I have several other story ideas in the hopper including a children’s book that I hope will become a series.

In June, I’ll be a workshop presenter at the Black Writers & Reunion Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. In July, I’ll be an author panelist at the Faith & Fiction Retreat in Orlando, Florida.

Contacts:
Blog: http://www.dcdeloney.wordpress.com/
Facebook: Donna Dickson Deloney
Twitter: http://twitter.com/DonnaD69
Website: coming soon

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Brian Smith, author of Nina’s Got a Secret

May 20, 2009 Joey Pinkney 3 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Brian Smith, author of Nina’s Got a Secret
(Hollygrove Publishing)

Nina’s Got A Secret has already made the Dallas Morning News Best Seller list. It has also made the Oprah Book Club list on Oprah.com.

Nina Arceneaux (a former stripper) marries a wealthy sports agent named Larry Denison. Nina doesn’t love him, but she married him for the financial security he could provide. Larry and Nina both have eight year old daughters. His daughter has autism.

Nina reluctantly accepts Larry’s daughter but makes it clear she doesn’t want to raise a handicap child. She has a car crash and decides to save her child and let her handicap step-daughter drown. She decides to lie to her husband about what happened…but someone saw the entire incident.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Nina’s Got A Secret?

Brian Smith: I was talking to one of my employees one day and asked her if she had to save one of her two kids, which one would she choose. She couldn’t answer me. That’s where the idea started. I decided to make that simple question even more complex by making a situation where a step-parent (Nina) had to decide whether to save her biological child or her handicap step-daughter. Nina decided to save her own child – the way most people would. But, she couldn’t tell her husband the truth about his daughter. She’s intends to take the secret to the grave, but someone saw what she did.

JP: What sets Nina’s Got A Secret apart from other novels in its genre?

BS: I try real hard to write novels about topics other writers haven’t addressed. This can be hard because it seems like all of life’s interesting topics have already been written about. However, this book is unique because it addresses a very real scenario and the issue of telling lies. The book forces the reader to wonder – if you knew that the truth would devastate your partner and ruin your lifestyle, would you keep it a secret if you thought no one would ever find out. The topic is real – I think people can relate to it.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Nina’s Got A Secret getting out to the public?

BS: I’ve been blessed in that my books have become more popular, and I’ve made a few best seller lists. People have come to expect me to write about a thought provoking topic and to throw in some suspense, sex and drama. Nina’s Got A Secret paid for itself just in pre-orders via my company’s website. God is good!

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Nina’s Got A Secret?

BS: My writing process is very unorthodox. I’m usually writing two or three books at the same time. Because I’m also the owner of Hollygrove Publishing, I don’t have the luxury of just writing when the mood hits me. I have too many other people’s careers in my hands, and I have to devote time to preparing and publishing their projects. So, I am the king of multi-tasking. I wrote Nina’s Got A Secret over the course of three months. I was writing it during the same time I was writing my book, Final Fling with Torrian Ferguson.

JP: What’s next for Brian W. Smith?

BS: I have two books being released on June 1, 2009, My Husband’s Love Child and Donna’s Comeback. I will also be in three anthologies between now and the end of the year: a Christian Fiction Anthology called Bended Knees and two Erotica Anthologies called Bedtime Stories 1 & 2.

I know people are going to be questioning whether or not it’s a conflict to be in an Erotica Anthology and a Christian Fiction Anthology, but I don’t care. I’m a Christian who ain’t afraid to talk about sex…the haters will get over it. Besides, that’s the beauty of owning the publishing company. I don’t have to abide by all of the outdated industry rules that say an author should only write in one genre. I can do me and not apologize. It’s a beautiful thing.

http://www.hollygrovepublishing.com/

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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… Joy Turner, author of Content…Right Where I Am

May 18, 2009 Joey Pinkney 2 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Joy Turner, author of Content…Right Where I Am
(JNF Enterprises)

Content…Right Where I Am is not just another book but a life changing tool that will be utilized for cultivating contentment based around the scripture 1 Timothy 6:6 “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” Content…Right Where I Am is a Christian non-fiction work that promises to encourage, uplift and inspire through the author’s very own testimony.

There are also interactive exercises for the reader to complete and biblical references to study and meditate. The author challenges each reader to become a RAWC star (Realizing Ambition Within Contentment) and is on a quest to have everyone proclaim “I am content… right where I am!”

JP: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Content…Right Where I Am?

Joy Turner: My own personal struggle with searching for contentment. I share a lot of these struggles in my book and talk about what it takes to get to the root cause of discontentment.

JP: What sets Content…Right Where I Am apart from other novels in Christian Non-fiction?

JT: Well I can’t really categorize my book as a novel, but what will separate this from all the rest that follow the same inspirational format is that it is very interactive and a quick read. Most people finish my book within a day or so, but a good majority tell me that they desire to go back and reread and complete all of the exercises in the book.

I also believe that the message conveyed is very timely as we face economic uncertainty. It’s time for Christians to restructure priorities and recognize the blessings from God each and every day.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Content…Right Where I Am getting out to the public?

JT: Effective marketing and networking. I’m on Facebook, Twitter, working on a MySpace page and a member of several Ning groups. I am utilizing them to my advantage to promote my book as well as my business. I’ve had two television appearances and multiple radio and blog talk radio interviews since the book’s launch in November 2008.

I will continue to aggressively pursue media opportunities as well as networking with people like you, Joey, who are also an integral part of getting authors like myself out there for the world to see!

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Content…Right Where I Am?

JT: I didn’t have a writing process per se because I didn’t start out to write a “book”. I was writing to get some things off of my chest. It was more of a healing process, and God revealed to me that He was going to do a great and mighty thing through my writing and obedience.

Now that I am a published author, I am learning the “business” of writing. I strive to always develop myself through workshops, classes, teleseminars, etc. My “process” at this point is pretty basic. I spend a lot of time lately with marketing and networking the book, but I have to organize my schedule so that I’m shutting off the Facebook, Twitter, etc and concentrating on writing.

It took me 7 days to write the majority of my book, but it took me a whopping 5 years to get it out there to you all! Procrastination is everyone’s enemy!

JP: What’s next for Joy Turner?

JT: I’m in the process of writing two books, one for young girls, teens, tweens called The Butterfly Club and another one that is somewhat of a spin-off to Content…Right Where I Am. It is on the topic of transformation. My book cover is an image of a butterfly, and I am going to stick with that theme.

I am currently on a book tour with several other Christian authors. For tour schedule, you can visit www.christianauthorsontour.com. In addition, I am also sole proprieter/CEO of JETSET Business Solutions, a marketing and business consultation firm that specializes in marketing and strategic planning for start-ups and small business.

http://www.joyturner.net/
Tour Info http://www.christianauthorsontour.com/

People can always connect with me on Facebook or Twitter. To reach me directly they can e-mail me at info@joyturner.net. To book me for speaking engagements or other events one can also contact me via e-mail and visit my site for more details about the book and the author. www.joyturner.net To purchase Content…Right Where I Am, you can go directly to the author site, publisher site (www.try3jesus.com) or buy from Amazon.com.

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