Category Archives: independent

5 minutes 5 questions with, african american author, african american authors, african american book, african american books, amazon.com, independent, interview, love, money power respect, sex, street lit, urban lit

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Kisha Green, anthologist of On Da Corner

1 Comment

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Kisha Green, anthologist of On Da Corner
(Diva Books)


kisha green headshot on da corner book cover

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

On Da Corner highlights new urban talent in this short story anthology. Dare to say…it has been done with a keen eye. This is just the beginning for these young and talented authors. The authors put you in the room with their characters by breathing life into them with both details and truth. Readers will feel as though they are living through some of their character’s experiences.

Some tell a story of coming of age in a battle zone with codes and rules that shatter dreams into a life based purely on survival. There are chilling tales of friendship, drugs and violence. Others are more about love and the loss of love. The bitter reality of how that can alter life and the lessons of such, are laced between the pages waiting to be unfolded.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to become an anthologist and produce On Da Corner?

Kisha Green: As a newbie author I saw it was hard to get exposure, so I wanted to provide authors like myself opportunities to showcase their talent. I simply felt that the authors on the On Da Corner had a voice in street lit. Even though they were unpublished, I believed in their stories and their quest for becoming an author. That was my initiative for my other anthologies If It Aint One Thing…It’s Another (Urban contemporary fiction) and Mental Seduction (Erotica). I saw these writers had a great gift for story telling. I wanted to give them some exposure.

JP: What sets On Da Corner apart from other Urban Lit Anthologies?

KG: These stories are raw. Some may say its horrible or that it is too real-too graphic or sexually charged. If this is what an author is writing about and they are painting a story so vivid, who am I to ask them to change, even if I am the publisher. I am not there to change a story. I give all authors on my anthologies creative freedom.

JP: As an author/publisher, what are the keys to your success that lead to On Da Corner getting out to the public?

KG: Research…network…research…network…you can see where I am going with this can’t you (lol)? On a serious note I am a lover of literature, so I am constantly talking about something pertaining to literary as well as my own literary works. You may not know the face, but you know the name because I have had many dealings with authors – wanting to help and promote them as I would want someone to do the same for me, hence my creation of the literary website Writer’s Vibe and my blog talk show called Writer’s Life Chats. I have a voice. I like to talk, so it is going to be heard one way or another…lol…When I believe in something, trust me I will do everything in my power to make it a success- FAILURE IS NOT AN OPTION!

JP: What did you learn from publishing On Da Corner that you will use to your benefit with future releases?

KG: I learned to do my research and to educate myself not just on the genre I am going to publish in but also the business side.

JP: What’s next for Kisha Green?

KG: Well, I am working on the re- release of my debut novel And Even If I Did. This will be released in February of 2009.

Author Workshops – Spring 2009
Literary Luncheons by Kisha- Spring 2009

More great interviews for my blog talk show The Writer’s Life Chats (www.blogtalkradio.com/writerslifechats) as well as great book reviews, commentaries, author interviews and etc on Writer’s Vibe (www.writersvibe.com).

Authors looking for exposure email me your jpeg of your book cover and synopsis to writersvibe@gmail.com.

My publishing company DivaBooksInc.- www.divabooksinconline.com.

P.S. Join the Joey Reviews Newsletter at http://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 http://myspace.com/joeyreviews

This Post is Sponsored by:

Peace in the Storm Small

5 minutes 5 questions with, african american author, african american authors, african american book, african american books, best seller, essence best sellers list, independent, interview, love, romance, sex

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.

P.S. Join the Joey Reviews Newsletter at http://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 http://myspace.com/joeyreviews

This Post is Sponsored by:

Peace in the Storm Small

5 minutes 5 questions with, african american author, african american authors, african american book, african american books, amazon.com, independent, interview, romance, sex, sexier

5 Minutes 5 Questions With… Cassandra Washington, author of From A to Z: A Guide to Give to Men Who Honestly Don’t Know or Who Insist on Playing Dumb

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Cassandra Washington, author of From A to Z: A Guide to Give to Men Who Honestly Don’t Know or Who Insist on Playing Dumb
(Xtream Heights)

cassandra washington - from a to z from a to z book cover

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

Cassandra Washington has penned an all time relationship fixer book that will help build women’s confidence in not only themselves, but confidence in staking claim to what they want! This book will help all the men who “claim” they cannot figure women out long enough to know what they want. Topics in the book range from “Act-Right (the whole say what you mean, mean what you say, and do what you said you were going to do” all the way to Great Sex! It’s a must read and the new Women’s Bible!

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write From A to Z: A Guide to Give to Men Who Honestly Don’t Know or Who Insist on Playing Dumb?

Cassandra Washington: I noticed that a lot of my friends were near depression over failed relationships and wondering why the men in their lives couldn’t understand them. They were wondering why men couldn’t act right. These were educated, financially stable women! Good women! So I said, okay, enough is enough. Ladies, it’s not always you. Let’s get to the root of what’s going on. And from there, the book was created.

JP: Why did you choose to gear From A to Z towards men, instead of women?

CW: It’s funny you ask that . (*smile*) From A to Z is actually not geared towards men specifically. It’s to help the men understand what we as women want and to explain why we do or say the things we say. It’s really for the women to gain an understanding of themselves and the situations they are in and how to overcome them. It’s like Secret, baby. Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman! Lol.

JP: What sets From A to Z apart from other self-help relationship guides?

CW: From A to Z is a must read. I’m not saying that just because I wrote it. It’s a must read because it deals with actual real life situations. I’ve interviewed men and women, getting the scoop on what really drives a wedge in relationships and what each of the opposite sex wants from each other. It’s not a bunch of fluff; it’s a bunch of fact!

This book also has “Reflection Time” after each subject to create a dialogue between men and women. Anyone reading the book can write down their thoughts in the book and look back and say, “Okay, this is what I’ve done. That’s what it’s gotten me. Now this is what I’m going to do to change that!” It’s meant to empower.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to From A to Z getting out to the public?

CW: The keys to success are drive, perseverance, persistence and faith. It’s like a recipe: without one, the outcome isn’t going to be just right. It’s very tough to promote, especially on a budget and during a recession. As long as you have love for what you do and as long as your work touches and inspires at least one person, you’ve done your job.

JP: What’s next for Cassandra Washington?

CW: I’m currently working on a documentary regarding relationships It’s like a spin off of the book but in a different way. In this film, I aim to not only entertain but to educate and inspire as well. I want to inspire women to not be ashamed of who they are or where they’ve been. I want to inspire women to press forward as a better and more complete person.

I say this to the women I’m trying to help: “Stop trying to be someone else. Baby, no one can do you like you can!”

www.cassandrawashington.net
www.myspace.com/cassi24

P.S. Join the Joey Reviews Newsletter at http://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 joeyDOTpinkneyATgmailDOTcom or myspace.com/joeyreviews