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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Essense Best Seller Big Boom, author of How to Duck a Suckah

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Essence Best Selling Author Big Boom, author of How To Duck a Suckah: A Guide to Living a Drama-Free Life
(Fireside Books)

big boom headshot how to duck a suckah book cover

(click the pictures to see reviews of this book on Amazon.com)

Big Boom, a.k.a the “Bodyguard to Women’s Hearts” hit a nerve with his straightforward advice in If You Want Closure in Your Relationship, Start with Your Legs (June 2007). Big Boom returned in the same vein with raw, uncensored advice in his new book How To Duck a Suckah: A Guide to Living a Drama-Free Life.

In How To Duck a Suckah, Boom explains his controversial past and why he has decided to take a stand against suckahs by guiding women out of the “sitting duck syndrome”. Boom says, “Men are always looking for something to catch or shoot and if you aren’t careful you will be their next target”. A relationship book designed specifically to empower women and safeguard them physically, mentally and emotionally, How To Duck a Suckah helps women duck that potentially hazardous relationship.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write How to Duck a Suckah?

Big Boom: The idea to write How to Duck a Suckah came from my first book If You Want Closure In Your Relationship Start With Your Legs. I felt like I had more to say and wanted to get women out of that ‘Sitting Duck’ syndrome and influence their decisions to lead a healthy, rich, drama-free lives. I decided to express that sentiment in How to Duck a Suckah.

JP: What sets How to Duck a Suckah apart from other novels in its genre?

BB: How to Duck a Suckah is nonfiction. From what I’ve been told, women love the truth whether they can handle it or not. This is what sets my books apart from other titles on relationships. I try to be as honest as possible, but I try to do it with love and support. It’s the culmination of my life experience, common sense and its coming straight from the heart.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to How to Duck a Suckah getting out to the public?

BB: Wanting to make a change and help one woman to have a happy, loving life. Believe that your book will help, inspire, motivate and change someone. I believe I have an authentic message that needs to be told, and I try to do that publicly.

A good marketing and publicity plan (lectures, book signings and interviews), promotional material to hand out to the public and never assume that everyone already knows about your books.

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

BB: My first process, I put all my information on a hand held recorder. Second, I get my ghost writer to transcribe it into a book form. Third, it’s read to me over the telephone. I make changes via telephone even while traveling! Six months later I have a master piece. Not bad for a man with no formal education…

JP: What’s next for Big Boom?

BB: Since I’m known for telling the truth, my next book is going to tell women what men really want them to know about themselves. This a danger zone! Somebody must do it! What better person then me, a person that cares and has a proven track record of delivering with sincerity.

www.bigboombooks.com
www.bodyguardforwomenhearts.com
www.myspace.com/bigboombooks

If You Want Closure in Your Relationship, Start with Your Legs and How to Duck a Suckah are both Essence Best Sellers.

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P.S.S. If you want to be feature in a 5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… series, email me at joey.pinkney@gmail.com or http://myspace.com/joeyreviews

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… New York Times Best Selling Author Kimberla Lawson Roby, author of Sin No More

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
New York Times Best Selling Author Kimberla Lawson Roby, author of Sin No More
(William Morrow)


kimberla lawson roby headshot sin no more book cover

(click on the pictures to see this book on Amazon.com)

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Sin No More?

Kimbery Lawson Roby: Sin No More is actually the fifth title in my Reverend Curtis Black series, which centers on problems and corruption within the church. I was inspired to write about this issue because of so much that I’ve seen and heard about for a great number of years.

JP: What sets Sin No More apart from other novels in its genre?

KLR: Sin No More focuses on reality—not any specific real-life issues—but it does focus on what can and does happen on a daily basis throughout this country. I don’t try to sugarcoat anything that I write, and more important, I try my best to show what happens when we don’t follow God’s Word or treat people the way we want to be treated.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Sin No More getting out to the public?

KLR: The two most important things are writing and building a marketing/publicity plan and making sure to interact personally with your readers on a regular basis, both by email and at speaking and book signing events all year long.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Sin No More?

KLR: Once I decide which topic I’m going to center my story on, I create all of my characters and then outline the entire novel. After that, I write a minimum of one or two chapters per day until the first draft is finished. Then, I revise and edit. The entire process from start to finish normally takes me about three months.

JP: What’s next for Kimberla Lawson Roby?

KLR: I released a novella entitled One in a Million this past June and my twelfth book, The Best of Everything, will be released on January 13, 2009. Currently, I’m working on a second novella for the fall of 2009.

www.kimroby.com
www.myspace.com/kimberlalawsonroby

Kimberla would love to hear from you at: kim@kimroby.com.

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

P.S.S. If you want to be feature in a 5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… series, email me at joey.pinkney@gmail.com or myspace.com/joeyreviews

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5 Minutes 5 Questions With… Essence Best Selling Author Nikkea Smithers, author of Sweet Dreams

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Nikkea Smithers, author of Sweet Dreams
(Auset Ausar Productions)


mikkea smithers headshot sweet dreams book cover

(click on the pictures to see reviews of this book on Amazon.com)

Dream is a highschool student from Bridgeport, Connecticut, who is traumatized when she is informed of the tragic suicide of her best friend. Feeling like she is alone in the world with an abusive mother and absent father, Dream almost comes to the resolution that her life is also not worth living…

Antonio is also in high school but from Richmond, Virginia, working two jobs to help his mother support his many brothers and sisters. Growing up in the projects, he is faced with a number of obstacles that will test his manhood.

When Dream and Antonio’s worlds collide both of their lives change forever…but is it for the better or for the worse?

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Sweet Dreams?

Nikkea Smithers: The inspiration came from a conversation I had with my mother in the early part of the year. She was telling me about a how a friend of the family, who is a medic, was called to a home where a young girl had committed suicide.

I immediately started to think, “What could have been so bad to make this young girl want to take her life?” With that thought I wrote a poem called ‘A Girl Named Suicide’ which was later featured in the book. After the further contemplation I felt that there was so much more to say. I began to think what about the friends, the family, what about everyone who had to keep going after her passing. Essentially this story was begging to be told not only to honor the young girls memory but to spark intrigue in our community about this subject.

JP: What sets Sweet Dreams apart from other novels in its genre?

NS: Sweet Dreams has no set genre to be honest. It deals with a vast majority of subjects: self love, self respect, teenage suicide, peer pressure and forgiveness. Sweet Dreams stands out because, true to my writing style, it speaks a message of realness and hope.

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

NS: I embrace my public. I make myself available for anyone who wants to talk about any of my titles. As I choose to write about some very eye opening topics, conversation is a must. Therefore, I don’t shy away. I enjoy getting to know my readers as well as my readers getting to know me.

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

NS: Each of my books take me through a different process. For my poetry books and Keith’s Story it was a gradual process sometimes taking a year or more. However, for Gold Diggin’ and Sweet Dreams the process was much different and the stories poured out of me within two weeks. Sweet Dreams in particular was finished in a week in a half.

JP: What’s next for Nikkea Smithers?

NS: My next book is already done, waiting for the printer as we speak. I don’t want to give away too much but my readers can keep an eye on my website to find out when my next release will be. Until then, readers can certainly pick up not only Sweet Dreams but also Gold Diggin’, Keith’s Story and for poetry lovers Attitudes of a Woman.

www.nikkeasmithers.com
www.myspace.com/keithsstory

Nikkea Smithers is a self published author of five titles. Her most recent release Sweet Dreams made #4 on Essence Magazine Best Sellers list. She has been featured in Protege Magazine and has been featured at venues from NY to LA. Nikkea is also a talented spoken word artist who performs frequently and had headlined at many venues.

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

P.S.S. If you want to be feature in a 5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… series, email me at joey.pinkney@gmail.com or myspace.com/joeyreviews