Category Archives: african american books

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… Teresa D. Patterson, author of Spin Cycle

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Teresa D. Patterson, author of Spin Cycle
(Edit Again Publications)

For middle school teacher Greta Stevenson and principal Austin Johnson, an evening of doing laundry turns into pleasure and chaos. When Greta bends over to take her clothes out of the washing machine, unknown to her, Austin is checking out her assets.

When he makes a comment about her red thong, she blushes in embarrassment, but secretly, she’s turned on. The more she thinks about Austin, the hotter she gets. When her hormones betray her, she finds herself in an uncompromising position on top of a washing machine. While in the throes of passion, they have no idea they’re being caught on tape.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Spin Cycle?

Teresa Patterson: Maybe a certain suave principal at my son’s middle school was my source of inspiration for writing Spin Cycle. I got the idea when I was doing laundry one Sunday. I was bored because I forgot to bring a book to read. While the clothes did their thing in the washing machine, my mind began to spin out of control as I wrote the first chapter of this wild, crazy story.

JP: What sets Spin Cycle apart from other novels in its genre?

TP: It’s different because it’s a mixture or urban fiction, erotica and drama all mixed together. It’s unique.JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Spin Cycle getting out to the public?

TP: The key to my writing success is to never give up. When I formed Edit Again Publications in 2009, my goal was to publish two titles per year. So far, I’ve been able to accomplish that goal. Even though it was released a month later than I planned, I made sure that I got Spin Cycle out to my readers.JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Spin Cycle?

TP: I really don’t know if I would call it a writing process. Ever since I began writing, I’ve always started with a title and go from there. I started writing Spin Cycle in 2009, and it took me a little over a year to finish it. I had a lot of encouragement and prompting from members of RIM (Reader’s in Motion Book Club).
JP: What’s next for Teresa Patterson?

TP: Wow! My brain never stops coming up with ideas, so who can say? Readers are asking for Project Queen II. Since I did promise a part two, I’m working on the re-write of that. I am also excited about finally publishing my first juvenile fiction novel, A Song for Desiree. Juvenile fiction readers should be on the lookout for that.

My next novel titled What About Your Friends is on the horizon. I’m also writing an e-book on self-publishing to share with aspiring future authors.

http://www.teresadpatterson.com/
http://www.myspace.com/itsyourworldblackgirl
http://www.facebook.com/teresadiannepatterson
http://www.twitter.com/teresapatterson
http://www.editagainpublications.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… H. Ronald Roseboro, author of Is There A Samson In You?

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
H. Ronald Roseboro, author of Is There A Samson In You?
(iUniverse)

Money, fame, women, and material possessions enslave the hearts of many strong men. Is There A Samson In You? invites you to take a candid look into the mirror of male bondage through the eyes of true freedom and masculinity.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Is There A Samson In You?

H. Ronald Roseboro: Regardless of your religious views or biblical knowledge, almost all have heard of the story of Samson and his infamous encounter with Delilah. I took a common and historical name and drew a modern parallel between Samson’s struggles and the struggles of many men today, yet offering a solution that we can overcome inner issues to accomplish our destiny.

JP: Samson is known for his impeccable strength, in terms of a near flawless strength. Yet impeccable also means free of sin, which Samson’s weakness was tied to the sin of his lust for women. What other weaknesses are highlighted in Is There A Samson In You? that will benefit its readers, both male and female?

HRR: Although Samson’s strength was second to none during his earthly reign, his strength was impeccable but his character was not. In this book, both men and women will discover Samson’s issues of lust, anger, lack of accountability, lack of prayer life and flirting with addictions.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Is There A Samson In You? getting out to the public?

HRR: My compassion and passion to see men evolve to become men and for our women to become healed and properly enlighten through this book. This is not just a book; this is a tool of empowerment!

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Is There A Samson In You?

HRR: I am a very detailed and vivid writer. I take tremendous pride in my work. If it is not excellent, I will not release it. Time-wise it took almost 10 months to finish Is There A Samson In You?

JP: What’s next for H. Ronald Roseboro?

HRR: Of course another book! In the midst of expanding my wings to write more, I will also be releasing my spoken word poetry on CD in 2011. The best is yet to come…

http://www.zionspeakz.com/
Facebook: H Ronald Roseboro
Facebook: Ron Roseboro
http://www.shoutlife.com/Roseboro

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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… Vogue, author of Diamonds in the Rough

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Vogue, author of Diamonds in the Rough
(Passionate Writer Publishing)

Carmen Davenport is living the American dream. Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she has anything that a twenty-one year old college student would want. This includes one of the most lucrative clothing companies in New York. The only thing missing is love until she lays eyes on Jay Santiago, a Puerto Rican drug lord.

Almost instantly, Carmen begins to fall for him. After securing the rights to her inheritance, Carmen soon learns that Flame, Inc. is headed towards a downward spiral. Too ambitious to allow her dream to go down the drain, Carmen begins pulling at all lifelines to save her company. Putting aside everything she’s ever believed in, Carmen soon finds herself entangled in a web of lies, betrayal, and crime.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Diamonds in the Rough?

Vogue: As an avid reader and lover of street fiction, the idea for Diamonds in the Rough came from wanting to see a different female character than what I had been reading. Most of the female characters in street lit are born in the projects or in harsh environments.

Although I loved these characters, I could not fully relate to them because I grew up in a middle class household. Although I knew that drug cartels, gangs, crime, etc. existed, it was not something that I personally experienced in my everyday life. However, I was born with a very vivid imagination, which inspired me to write Diamonds in the Rough.

It was then that I decided that I wanted to write a new kind of street fiction novel. A novel that featured a female character that came from an upper-class, entrepreneurial household. Not only that, she would be pure, exhibit a strong relationship with God, and possess an overly ambitious spirit.

My next goal was to slowly transform this innocent young lady into a femme fatale. I wanted people to slowly see her transition. A lot of books are focused on the whole “good girl gone bad” angle, and this book shows the reader almost step by step how it happens.

JP: Drug trafficking and high fashion seems to be two different realms that you have managed to weave together seamlessly in Diamonds in the Rough. Do these two worlds intermingle more than the average person knows?

Vogue: I believe that at some point in time the two would somehow collide. More than likely, if you are a major drug kingpin or associated with a cartel then you are also a flashy dresser. Some of the most well-known drug kingpins are known for their style of dress, had some of the tightest whips and wore millions of dollars in jewelry. However, it was those things that garnered them too much attention.

JP: Diamonds in the Rough is the first book in a ten book series entitled The Diamond Collection. How do you plan to keep the storyline fresh and exciting for ten books?

Vogue: As I wrote the collection, I told myself to stretch my imagination as far as it could go. However, as a writer, I had to pace myself. I give the reader just enough so that they are left wondering what is going to happen next. Each book has to be better than the last.

Also, the best books are the ones who have twists in the plot. Each book stays fresh and exciting because the reader will view it as a soap opera, but only in words. The reader will begin to feel as if they are following the lives of the characters just as if they are watching them on TV.

Each book also has a theme or message in it. For Diamonds in the Rough, the underlying message mentioned in the book is, “Whatever happens in the dark, will eventually come to light.” For the second book, Diamonds Are Forever, the underlying message is, “Never say never.”

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Diamonds in the Rough?

Vogue: I begin writing each book by first jotting down short descriptions of each scene that must be in the book to aid in the plot. Once that is complete, I then outline each chapter scene by scene. Before I even fully write the book, I know exactly how many chapters the book will have.

With a ten book series, I have to outline everything because I have to remember what happened in Diamonds in the Rough even when I am writing Diamond Princess. (This is the working title of the ninth book in the series). I also have to keep the time frame in mind. Here’s a freebie, the whole collection spans a total of fifty-seven years.

I begin working on Diamonds in the Rough in 2003 as a freshman in college. It went through eight different versions until 2006 when I settled with the current draft. I finished it in the summer of 2007. So, it took about four years.

JP: What’s next for Vogue?

Vogue: Currently, I am rewriting and editing the fourth book in the series, Black Diamonds. I also am outlining a new novel, which is not a part of the series.

www.passionatewriterpublishing.com
www.simplyvogue.net
www.myspace.com/Ms_Vogue_B
www.thefacebook.com/SimplyVogue

blaq_pearls@yahoo.com

Vogue is a 2007 graduate of Winthrop University, possessing a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work. Diamonds in the Rough is her first published novel, which was released on June 1, 2010. She was named by Angelique The Novelist as June Author of the Month.

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