Category Archives: amazon.com

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

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Cheryl Lynn Pope, author of The Adventures of Princess Zaria

23 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Cheryl Pope, author of The Adventures of Princess Zaria
(Second Time Media and Communications)

(One of the first ten people to comment on Cheryl Lynn Pope’s author interview will win a FREE COPY of The Adventures of Princess Zaria.)

(Congratulations to Che Lovett. She won a free copy of Cheryl Lynn Pope’s The Adventures of Princess Zaria.)

The Adventures of Princess Zaria is a children’s picture book that is unlike many princess stories. In this first series, Princess Zaria must locate three precious stones in order to be crowned.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write The Adventures of Princess Zaria?

Cheryl Pope: The inspiration came from my little girl, Zaria. I wanted to give her the foundation to increase her self-esteem at a young age so she wouldn’t feel affected by society’s perception of what beauty, weight, or intelligence can be. There are so many negative images that I wanted to show her the positive side of reality. Another underlying theme was to let girls know that you don’t receive things just because. Many times in life you have to work for or seek out opportunities.

JP: What sets The Adventures of Princess Zaria apart from other children’s books in its genre?

CP: This princess doesn’t come from royalty. She doesn’t live in a kingdom or have servants. She isn’t regal. Princess Zaria is real. She is an average little girl with loving parents and friends. Princess Zaria likes to dress in beautiful gowns, but she can be a tomboy at times. She watches cartoons and climbs trees. Princess Zaria is everybody’s little girl.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to The Adventures of Princess Zaria getting out to the public?

CP: I promote every chance I get. I’m a part of several online writers groups. I list my events in community newspapers and media calendars. Lately, I’ve been contributing articles to magazines to get my name and product in the limelight. I’m thinking about approaching a major fast food company to sponsor products. If you google my name you’ll see what I’m doing in the literary community.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish The Adventures of Princess Zaria?

CP: I normally free write then go back and make edits. Actually, writing the book was not a very long process. Now, finding an illustrator was a bit more challenging. The whole process took about two years.

JP: What’s next for Cheryl Pope?

CP: A whole lot! We’re in the process of creating The Princess Zaria Fan Club. By the end of summer, I plan to introduce The Princess Zaria Collection. Right now, I’m working with a clothing designer who has shown me some beautiful sketches. Next year, the second series of Princess Zaria will be introduced. Another goal of mine is to produce a magazine for young entrepreneurs under age 17.

http://www.cherylynnpope.com/

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

Please click on the banners to learn more about each JoeyPinkney.com sponsor:








You need to advertise with JoeyPinkney.com! (Click here for more information.)

And the winner is…

Joyce!

I’ll email you for the mailing info.

Thank you everybody for participating. Thank you Antwan Floyd for providing the prize.

To Everybody: Join my newsletter to stay up to date on the next book giveaway.

http://joeypinkney.com/joey-reviews-newsletter.html

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

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Jean Holloway, author of Black Jack

17 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Jean Holloway, author of Black Jack
(PHE Ink)

Detective Shevaughn Robinson has gone from the cop everyone doubted to the “golden child” of the Portsborough Police Department. When Helene Elliott is found dead from an apparent suicide, the police are pressured to take on the investigation.

Buckle up and follow Shevaughn as she moves closer to solving the murder of a lonely widow, unknowingly rekindling old grudges and awakening a sinister spirit. Get ready, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Black Jack?

Jean Holloway: When I wrote Ace of Hearts, I ended the novel with a hint of a possible sequel. I had no idea it would be 29 years before I would start Black Jack!

The idea was to continue Detective Shevaughn Robinson’s story, giving her a new case, telling readers what transpired in her life after her first case and answering some of the unanswered questions readers had when they finished reading Ace of Hearts.

JP: What did you learn from writing and promoting Ace of Hearts that you were able to apply to Black Jack?

JH: One of the hardest lessons for me while writing Ace of Hearts was getting the “point of view” correct. It took extensive editing classes and read many books on writing before the light bulb came on. One of the best for me was Stephen King’s On Writing.

When I wrote Black Jack, I think I finally got it right! As for promotion, I learned you can never do too much, and it’s a full time job. Thank God, I found folks like you and Dana Pittman of Nia Promotions to help me with this. I also learned the earlier you start promoting the better.

JP: Who inspired you to write murder mysteries?

JH: My inspirations began with Nancy Drew and Agatha Christie and graduated to Stephen King and Dean Koontz. I have to tell you, I don’t consider Ace of Hearts or Black Jack murder mysteries. I think they’re adult, romantic, psychological, crime thrillers.

The difference? When reading a mystery, the fun is trying to figure out who done it, when reading a thriller you get up close and personal with the killer.

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

JH: I don’t have much control over my writing process. I start with an idea, and my characters take over. It amazes me how some authors plot their story. Every time I’ve tried that, I’ve hit a brick wall and come down with writer’s block.

Mostly, I just write what they tell me to. My only problem is that they’re nocturnal, they usually don’t start talking until after midnight. I know it sounds crazy, but it works for me!

It took 18 months to complete Black Jack. One of the reasons it took so long was this is my first time writing a novel on the computer. I found the ability to immediately edit slowed me down and kept me from completing the story. Also I’m a lousy typist! I’m working on that.

JP: What’s next for Jean Holloway?

JH: Promotion, promotion, promotion. First, Nia Promotions and I will begin Black Jack‘s virtual launch. On October 17, 2009, I’ll be at the Georgia Literary Festival, Rome City Auditorium.

I just wrote the prologue for book 3. So far, it’s untitled since my characters haven’t given me that information yet. I just know this time the bad guy isn’t a guy!

http://www.deckofcardz.com/
http://www.myspace.com/deckofcardz1
http://www.facebook.com/JeanHolloway#/profile.php?id=735784327&ref=name
http://www.twitter.com/jeanholloway
http://www.goodreads.com/jeanholloway

No awards yet, but Ace of Hearts was 2008 Best Mystery (here we go again ;o) Finalist in the African American Literary Awards Show against Walter Mosley’s The Tempest Tales. He beat me like a bad child!

Book Giveaway:

Win a copy of Ace of Hearts by JeanHolloway. One lucky commenter will win a copy of Jean’s debut novel. Deadline for comments is 12:00 pm EST October 7, 2009. For more details and to enter to win one of the Reader Prizes visit http://bit.ly/NctRB.

Banned from Vegas with Jean Holloway, is a virtual book tour organized by Nia Promotions, that assists authors and publishers with using web-marketing strategy to market and promote books on the internet.

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

Please click on the banners to learn more about each JoeyPinkney.com sponsor:








You need to advertise with JoeyPinkney.com! (Click here for more information.)
5 minutes 5 questions with, african american author, african american authors, african american book, african american books, amazon.com, virtual book tour

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Jacquelin Thomas, author of The Ideal Wife

6 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Jacquelin Thomas, author of The Ideal Wife
(Pocket Books)

Marrying a handsome, wealthy lawyer and living in a Hollywood Hills mansion…it’s a dream come true for twenty-four-year-old Jana, from the moment Lawrence Collins swept her off her feet and into his luxurious world.

True, she put her studies at a local Bible college on hold in order to wed after a six-month whirlwind romance. Beautiful and vivacious, with a stunning body, Jana knows men like Lawrence don’t come along every day, and she vows to be a perfect companion — the ideal wife — to this sexy, powerful man. But at what price?

From her wardrobe and hairstyle to her friends and her choice of church, Lawrence seems to want to change Jana into someone she’s not…and soon, the man Jana thought she knew will test her values and her faith with a shocking revelation that goes against everything she believes.

How far will Jana be willing to go to keep the man she loves?

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write The Ideal Wife?

Jacquelin Thomas: I was reading about Esther and Queen Vashti in the Bible. I was very familiar with Esther’s story, but found myself wanting to know more about Queen Vashti. The King became furious when she refused his request to show off her beauty to the men in his court and basically divorced her.

Some theologians believe she was not being a submissive wife, while others believe she was a woman of high moral character and her refusal was because she felt her beauty should be reserved for only one man—her husband.

The Ideal Wife was birthed out of my curiosity about the queen.

JP: What sets The Ideal Wife apart from other Christian Fiction novels?

JT: I don’t know that it’s set apart from other Christian Fiction novels in that, the end result should entertain, educate and minister. However, this book is written to spark an open conversation about sex as it relates to marriage.

There are debates on whether or not swinging or wife-swapping is considered adultery. In The Ideal Wife, I attempt to guide readers into the right direction for answers.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to The Ideal Wife getting out to the public?

JT: I always strive to tell a good story, and I tend to write about what’s really going on in the world. My characters are flawed human beings who truly love God, but fall from time to time.

I think that’s what readers really enjoy about my books. They can relate to my characters.

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

JT: I am a full-time writer, so I am in my office most days from 10–4, and I usually write 20-25 pages per day. I try not to work on weekends because those are family days for me.

I write a very detailed outline before I actually begin to write a novel (research is covered within the outline). When that’s done, I then began working on my novel. I took me almost four months to write The Ideal Wife.

JP: What’s next for Jacquelin Thomas?

JT: I’ve just finished Samson, which will come out in 2010. It’s an adaptation of Samson in the Bible.

http://www.jacquelinthomas.com/
http://www.myspace.com/jacquelinthomas
http://facebook.com/jacquelinthomas
http://twitter.com/jacquelinthomas

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

Please click on the banners to learn more about each JoeyPinkney.com sponsor:








You need to advertise with JoeyPinkney.com! (Click here for more information.)