Shanna Stroud has unleashed a story of a young lady name Precious Bryant. Precious has finally got the chance to escape from her family. Her hardships in life will guide her in different directions in life.
Precious meets Jared along the way. His body full of steam and draws Precious his way. Precious’ love for Jared is interrupted by Mikal. Precious becomes confused. Which man is the love of her life? The chemistry of love will burst out into flames from the one she wants and needs.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Patients?
Shanna Stroud: I have always loved to put my feeling and thoughts on paper. My life inspired me to write Patients. As Iook back on different events of my life and others around me, I just had to put it in a book format.
JP: What sets Patients apart from other novels in its genre?
SS: Patients is an orginal book. The writting content is set in its own style.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Patients getting out to the public?
SS: It comes from me getting in “The Known Zone” as I call it. Staying focused on the prize: the buzz with my book in the air waves. There is a drive inside of me to have everyone wanting a copy of my books. I want to see faces of others enjoying my work.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Patients?
SS: Back in 2003, I started writing on my first book. I did alot of revisons to Patients. I got side-tracked trying to decide if I was going to approach a traditional publisher or not. I wrote on and off for about 2 1/2 years. I didn’t know exactly what direction to go with publishing. I came up with the solution of a publisher in 2009.
JP: What’s next for Shanna Stroud?
SS: I am coming out with the sequel to Patients. Be on the look out for Interlude Duration.
JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Glenn Maynard, editor of Strapped into an American Dream
(Strategic Book Publishing)
Strapped into an American Dream captures America, whirling readers along a 35,000-mile trek through the 48 contiguous states in a rebuilt RV. Glenn Maynard brings this journey to all armchair travelers who will love the adrenaline rush.
One week after their wedding, Glenn and his wife quit their jobs, sold their cars and set out to find America. This book details how they were able to realize this dream and introduces the reader to the unique people they met and the places they visited along the path.
Travel with them through 23 National Parks, Las Vegas, Mardi Gras and dusty ghost towns. Feel the rushing wind of tornadoes and the rocking of an earthquake. Sleep on roadsides and in truck stops, shifting from state to state, risking danger in favor of a limited bank account.
It is the dream of many Americans, in all walks of life, to travel the country, but few realize this dream. Now they may do so vicariously in the reading of these adventures. Laugh along the way, but also share the terror, sorrow and humor.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to take your adventurous trip and write Strapped Into An American Dream?
Glenn Maynard: My wife and I took a trip to Florida and were enjoying a February day in an outside whirlpool when we decided that there had to be another way. We then began to dream and thought how wonderful it would be to take a trip that most would only undertake when they retire.
We decided on all of the 48 continental states during a one year journey. I could write about it and eventually publish a book. I took detailed notes daily and became a travel correspondent for 3 newspapers along the way.
JP: What did you and your wife learn about each other in taking a trip like this?
GM: We learned that we were a great travel team, and together we moved through America really wanting to learn about its history. We both wanted the same things. We both had roles in order to make a trip of this magnitude work.
I was the one who persevered through hundreds of miles at a clip. She was the one with the map, guiding the ship to stay the course. Together we chose the attractions and the free campgrounds. Many times the plans fizzled, but we were able to create Plan B on the fly.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Strapped Into An American Dream getting out to the public?
GM: The keys to my success are believing in my story, believing that it’s a story Americans want to read and having the perseverance to bring Strapped Into An American Dream to all of the people who would love to chuck it all and hit the road.
My book is not going to sell itself, although at first I thought that it might. I am onto Plan B of Marketing now, and I’m eyeing the top of the mountain. Nothing is going to stop me from rolling it over the top. I made it this far, and I do not give up on anything without a fight.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Strapped Into An American Dream?
GM: My writing process is simple. When I am inspired to write, then I write. If I have nothing, then the sitting wasn’t meant to be. For this book, I spent the year writing notes on 10 legal pads, then wrote the book from the highlights of the trip.
I spent time moving from Connecticut to Colorado, and then four years later moved back to Connecticut after my divorce. We left one week following our wedding and returned on our first anniversary. I then had to rewrite the entire manuscript to focus more on the journey and less on the honeymoon.
Querie letter after querie letter and rejection after rejection followed. The years flew by, and the hope of bringing this trip to Americans fizzled. My perseverance never did. Beginning the process with note taking in 1992 until publication in 2009 may be a long time, but not when your holding a book in your hands with your name on it.
JP: What’s next for Glenn Maynard?
GM: While living out in Colorado, I also wrote a fiction book which deals with the possibilities of reincarnation. The book needs to be fine tuned, but there is a nearly completed piece of work there.
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.
