Category Archives: interview

5 minutes 5 questions with, african american author, african american authors, african american book, african american books, amazon.com, interview, urban fiction, urban lit

5 Minutes 5 Questions With… Jacki Simmons, author of Shot Glass Diva

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Jacki Simmons, author of Shot Glass Diva
(Melodrama Publishing)


jacki simmons headshot shot glass diva book cover

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

What happens when you combine one part fast-talker, one part hustler and one part taste for danger? You get Honey Davis, a twenty one year old Harlemite who knows what she wants and knows exactly how to get it. When her parents cut her off from her trust fund after a bout of irresponsibility, the spoiled Honey knows she’s going to have to work to get back on her feet. Now smooth-talking and fast-walking, Honey will have to protect an innocent life as well as her own while she desperately seeks to turn back the hands of time.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Shot Glass Diva?

Jacki Simmons: Shot Glass Diva is actually very loosely based on some of my own exploits as a teenager and a young adult. I wanted to create a character that more young females could connect with because I believe she’s a character many of us know. Her problems, personality, temper and attitude aren’t that far off from mine. I think everyone knows a Honey.

JP: What sets Shot Glass Diva apart from other urban fiction novels?

JS: Shot Glass Diva is able to stand on its own. Although similar literary elements are often shared by different novels, Honey and the situations she endures in Shot Glass Diva are quite unique.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Shot Glass Diva getting out to the public?

JS: It helps to know people! Seriously though, that’s the whole point of exposure, to get people to know you. I am still rather new to this. Over the past few years I’ve gotten to know some amazing people who have helped advance my career further in directions I didn’t think I would be able to go.

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

JS: I try not to overanalyze my characters or their situations. While I am not knocking a carefully planned novel, I hate to read a novel that was overthought. You ever watch a movie and the actors all sounded like they were still reading right off the script? It’s a lot harder to translate emotions into the written word as opposed to seeing them outright. I don’t really have a process. I just write. Shot Glass Diva was actually the longest it’s ever taken me to complete a novel. I started it late last year and it was just finished very recently.

JP: What’s next for Jacki Simmons?

JS: There are a lot of things in the future for me. I’m planning a very big tour, my first real one since I began writing. I’m juggling two more novels and quite a few personal business ventures. My next novel is on the way, so lookout for it come the Fall of 2009.

Website link www.melodramapublishing.com
MySpace link myspace.com/msrippa

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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

5 minutes 5 questions with, african american author, african american authors, african american book, african american books, amazon.com, interview, poems, poet, poetry, romance, sex

5 Minutes 5 Questions With… Eternity Philops, author of Visions of a Cryptic Mystery: Volume One

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Eternity Philops, author of Visions of a Cryptic Mystery: Volume One
(Black Tygre Publications)


eternity philops headshot visions of a cryptic mystery book cover

(click on the pictures to see reader’s reviews of this book on amazon)

Visions of a Cryptic Mystery: Volume One is Eternity Philops’ first accomplished collection. A debut of her unique writing style and talent, Visions of a Cryptic Mystery showcases a diverse compendium of poetry and short stories born to Philops’ over an extensive period of time.

Divided into three concentrated segments, Philops’ literary assemblage encompasses works expressing love, life, and loss. Each piece is a real world reflection of the Black lesbian experience. Feel the intense sensations of a woman’s dual physical attraction. Look on as two lifelong friends reflect on the path not taken. Submerge yourself in the poetic prose of unconditional love, unfortunate loss, and all that’s in between.

Visions of a Cryptic Mystery will take readers on a journey that delves into their own emotions and passions. From the sexual to the spiritual, Philops’ creative imagery and metaphoric verse brings to life one’s own imaginative and emotional senses.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Visions of a Cryptic Mystery: Volume One?

Eternity Philops: I’ve been writing for what seems like my entire life. When I first started it was simply to try it as a creative outlet. I soon learned I had a real literary talent. Visions of a Cryptic Mystery is the resulting collection of poems over a number of years. At some point I was going through my collection, picking out the good from the bad, and decided that I had enough extraordinary work to publish my first book. The book title itself is born out of a description of my character and personality. I am in essence a cryptic mystery, and my writings are my creative visions.

JP: What sets Visions of a Cryptic Mystery: Volume One apart from other books of poetry?

EP: For one, it is a collection of not only poetry, but also of short stories. I personally have only come across such collections when they are in anthology form, not as an assemblage by a single author. The two forms can complement each other, and that is what I was going for.

What also sets my book apart is the writing style. I greatly enjoy Elizabethan/Shakespearean English and use it in a number of my poems. Also, despite my title being aimed at Black lesbians, it has a universal appeal to all kinds of women, and men too, regardless of race, culture, or sexuality. My book encompasses feelings and experiences that nearly anyone can relate, or at least empathize with.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to Visions of a Cryptic Mystery: Volume One getting out to the public?

EP: Ha ha, I’m still working on that! I am new to the publishing scene. Being the renaissance woman I am, I opted to start my own publishing company rather than yield to the rules and regulations of another. But what success I have garnered thus far is due to patience and diligence, and seeking publicity wherever and whenever I can. Contacting you is a prime example of such. Writers can’t just sit and wait to be discovered because there is just far too much competition.

Forgive me if I sound conceited, but one has to really have a talent for writing. It’s competitive. There are a lot of works out there that really aren’t as good as one would think, yet they have large appeal. When you have a totally different style of writing with a different approach to subjects, you have to make sure your stuff is truly good to really get noticed.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Visions of a Cryptic Mystery: Volume One?

EP: I started writing in my childhood and just kept collecting my work as it flowed. I had no real intentions of publishing. It was just something to do that I was pretty good at. Once I decided to actually publish the collection and start a publishing company…let’s see, I technically started in November 2007.

Now I have to begin Volume Two. That will entail starting a whole new collection of poetry and short stories. In general, my writing process is to just write down whatever flows. Often I’ll come up with a title and tailor the story or poem to match that vision. That was the case with my short story, “Other Side of the Moon”. Other times I have a concept, begin to write, and it turns into something completely different, like my poem “Historian”.

But the most important thing is to just let creativity flow. When it does, write it down immediately. I’ve lost a lot of time on works because I didn’t write down a thought or line or passage when it came to me.

JP: What’s next for Eternity Philops?

EP: In addition to writing I’m also a novice photographer, and have been working on that a little (www.fledgeling-foto.com). I also have a few online shops: Defined By Faith (www.Defined-By-Faith.com), a shop with gay Christian merchandise, and Stupid Random Stuff (www.buy-this-stuff.com), which is exactly what it sounds like!

Right now I’m focusing on marketing Visions of a Cryptic Mystery and really getting myself noticed. The next two literary projects will be Visions of a Cryptic Mystery: Volume Two, there will be three volumes in all, as well as a novel. Which will come first? Even I’m not sure on that one!

www.Eternity-Philops.com
www.MySpace.com/Defined_By_Faith

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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

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