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5 Minutes 5 Questions With Nazirah Mottenon author of Another Part of Me

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Nazirah Mottenon author of Another Part of Me
(Outskirts Press)


nazirah mottenon head shot another part of me book cover

(click on the above pictures to see reviews on Amazon.com)

Sexy, sassy Dana West has it all. A few cheating men, the mystery of her father, even the death of her mother is far from enough to tear this girl down. Shawn Thomas (Dana’s best friend) has had what some would call “a hard knock life”. In Shawn’s world, every time things seem as if they’re coming together, they fall apart. While Shawn struggles with the pressures of everyday living, Dana struggles with well…nothing…that is, until a twisted turn of fate turns Dana’s world upside down and Shawn’s world right side up, forcing both Dana and Shawn to discover another part of themselves.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Another Part of Me?

Nazirah Mottenon: With every life experience, I saw a story within a story. I always wondered what it would be like to put those stories on paper. I love to entertain, and I saw writing as an outlet to fulfill my passion.

JP: What genre would you put Another Part of Me in and why?

NW: Originally, I categorized Another Part of Me as Urban Fiction. However, seeing that people from all walks of life are buying and enjoying my book, I just simply label it Fiction.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Another Part of Me getting out to the public?

NW: Here are the keys to my success: I do not limit myself to who I think my audience is-I target everyone. I use every outlet that I can to promote and sell my book, such as doing book signings, interviews, sending out e-mail blasts, handing out postcards, hanging posters, etc. No matter how good your story is, no one will buy it if they don’t know that it exists.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Another Part of Me?

NW: I really don’t have a specific writing process. Whenever I feel inspired, which is usually late at night, I turn on my computer and let if flow. From start to finish, Another Part of Me took about one year to complete.

JP: What’s next for Nazirah Mottenon?

You can expect my second novel in June 2009.

www.outskirtspress.com/anotherpartofme

www.myspace.com/nazirahmottenon

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5 Minutes 5 Questions With… Diana Spechler author of Who by Fire

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Diana Spechler, author of Who by Fire
(Harper Perennial)


diana spechler headshot who by fire book cover

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

Bits and Ash were children when the kidnapping of their younger sister Alena, an incident for which Ash blames himself, caused an irreparable family rift. Thirteen years later, Ash is living as an Orthodox Jew in Israel, cutting himself off from his mother, Ellie, and his wild child sister, Bits. But soon he may have to face them again: Alena’s remains have finally been uncovered.

Now Bits is traveling across the world in a bold and desperate attempt to bring her brother home and salvage what’s left of their family. Told from the alternating points of view of the three family members, Who By Fire is a searing commentary on guilt, grief, and the inescapable bonds of family from a fresh and extremely talented new voice in American fiction.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Who by Fire?

Diana Spechler: I wanted to explore the way it makes me feel as a Jew in America to hear about a suicide bombing in Israel. It’s so horrifying, yet there’s a disconnect because of the physical distance. Originally, I wrote a story about Bits, a secular Jew in America, and her brother, Ash, an Orthodox Jew in Jerusalem. At the beginning of the story, Bits hears about a suicide bombing in Jerusalem. By the end of the story, she still hasn’t heard from her brother. It’s very unsettling, which is probably why I felt compelled to return to it a few months later and start expanding it into a novel.

JP: Kidnapping and world traveling to bring a family back together are some pretty heavy things for the average person to deal with. How have your readers reacted to what you offer in Who by Fire?

DS: Fortunately, readers don’t seem to find the book too heavy, even though the subject matter is. In fact, I’m more often told that the story is funny. The truth is, no matter how you spin it, kidnapping is heavy. But dysfunctional families have plenty of funny moments. The Kellermans go to great lengths to avoid communicating with one another. There are many secrets and deceptions, some of which the reader picks up on, even when the characters don’t. There’s plenty of comic relief.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Who by Fire getting out to the public?

DS: I have a great agent and I’m with a great imprint, Harper Perennial, at HarperCollins. Both of those things help tremendously. My publicist is always working to get my novel into the light of the mass media. Beyond that, a lot of it is up to me. I’ve forced my friends and family members to become foot soldiers for me, talking about and recommending my book to everyone they know. I’m counting on them to get the buzz started. Fortunately, I also have a fabulous book tour lined up, and Target was kind enough to choose Who By Fire as a “Breakout Book.”
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Who by Fire?

DS: The writing of the novel took me four and a half years. Then we had to sell it, wait for it to come out, etc. My process? Writing furiously, then staring at the screen for hours on end. Checking my email. Going for a run. Staring at the screen. Crying about the futility of life. Having insomnia. Writing furiously, then sending the mess to my readers (a few writer friends I made in grad school with whom I exchange work). Getting feedback. Crying. Revising tirelessly. Walking a constant line between inordinate self-love and dangerous self-loathing. Writing furiously. Revising. Staring at the screen. Repeat.

JP: What’s next for Diana Spechler?

DS: People have asked me if they can expect a sequel to Who by Fire, and the answer is no. I feel like the characters in the book need to go on with their lives without me. I only cause them grief. Currently, I’m working on a new novel. This one is a story of transformation through loss set at a weight-loss camp in North Carolina.

www.dianaspechler.com
www.harpercollins.com/DianaSpechler
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5 Minutes 5 Questions With… Lurea C McFadden author of FeMALE TRAITS Part 1 and 2

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Lurea McFadden, author of FeMALE TRAITS Parts 1 and 2
(Bruce Publishing)


lurea mcfadden head shot femail traits 1 book cover female traits 2 book cover

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

The story of sexy, smart and very married Grace Trufant and her playa lifestyle. She is married to Edwin Trufant, a successful, loving husband. Somehow she requires more attention than this foine upstanding man can offer.

Constantly on the prowl, Grace plays hard. In fact, she is a playa in her own right. Her relationship with present lover Brian Lawson is the one that could put her out of her game and in the office of a divorce lawyer. Add to that the protective nature of Edwin’s best friend Sonya James, and the battle is on. Grace forgets that “game recognizes game” when she runs into Sonia. The two have never seen eye to eye, and Sonia can smell a rat when it’s in front of her.

Grace struggles to stay in her marriage and play outside of it simultaneously. Things get sticky when Brian changes direction and wants more from their relationship. When her infidelities are brought to light Edwin is the one who suffers most. Having never felt Grace deserved the affections of Edwin, Sonia ends up in his arms as the rebound woman. This is the tale of Grace’s extra-marital affair, love and support of good friends, and lessons learned along the way.

And then there is PT II…

Grace Trufant is back again. Estranged from her husband because of her infidelities, she is losing her husband Edwin to his best friend Sonia. Grace Trufant learns she is pregnant and not sure of the paternity of the child. The threat of single motherhood is not a situation she will entertain. Grace plots and schemes to keep ties with her former lover Brian and her estranged husband intact until the arrival of her baby.

Once again she is back to her old tricks, but fate plays a greater part in the plan. Her husband now plans on marrying his childhood friend who has always been at odds with Grace. Tragedy, death and unexpected meetings also throw salt in the game as Grace maneuvers to take advantage of all situations.

Grace is not the only woman with FeMALE TRAITS in this one. Felicia Hubert, wife of successful accountant Stacey Hubert, has plans of her own. Along with the promises of sexual pleasures she offers her current lover, she sweetens the pot with the promise of part of her husband’s holdings. Thinking the grass is greener on the other side as she goes through a mid-life crisis proves to be too much for her to bear as she also learn what is important in her life.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write FeMALE TRAITS Pt. I and II?

Lurea McFadden: Talking with friends always seems to leave inspiration and room for creation when it comes to my writing. The ‘what ifs’ in the world coupled with good conversations cause my mind to wonder and my fingers to begin to write out the scenarios from those conversations. What I say after a good laugh and chat with friends takes over the mind, and a book begins.

JP: What sets FeMALE TRAITS Pt. I and II apart from other novels where the main character is a female with infidelity issues?

LM: I think Grace Trufant is real to so many people. I don’t really take her too far over the edge and remove her character from being believable. She is someone people relate to. Yes, I tend to tell some of the secrets to creeping and cheating but, point of fact, we already know the signs and secrets and most of the time don’t want to face them. FeMALE TRAITS makes you feel what the characters are feeling, and this makes you relate to the story and the book as well.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to FeMALE TRAITS Pt. I and II getting out to the public?

LM: Plain and simple, I go anywhere and do anything to keep my titles out there in the public eye. My friends joke that I have been sighted everywhere from Miami to Texas.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? What did you learn in doing the first book and lead you to do something different for the second book?

LM: My writing process is simple. I have fun. Yes, if it entertains me then it is worthy of remaining on the page. Once a story begins I enjoy allowing it to grow seemingly on its own. I learned how to develop and to lead the reader a bit more from the first novel. At least, I think I did but only the readers can say if I am getting it right. So far, so good!!!!!

JP: What’s next for Lurea C. McFadden?

LM: Perhaps, you will see Part III of FeMALE TRAITS for the holidays! I have already complete two different novels and plan to release them next year if things go as planned.

Website link www.lureamcfadden.com
Myspace link www.myspace.com/femaletraits

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