Category Archives: romance novels

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Lesley Hal, author of Blind Temptations

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Lesley Hal, author of Blind Temptations
(Pleasure Principle Publishing)

lesley hal blind temptations book cover

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

Blind Temptations: The Seduction of Sex, Lies and Betrayal is a juicy saga about three friends: Chante Micheals, Michelle Ramsey and Karissa Waters. The characters in this book are hell bent on vengeance, treachery, power trips, seduction and sexual deception!

Chante Michaels lives in a fantasy world. She has the perfect job and the perfect family. That is until her husband, Alex Michaels, step out on her with a Tyra Banks look alike, Paris Chere’ Du’Moore who has a little secret of her own that will unleash all kinds of hell.

Karissa Waters would love nothing more than to be accepted by her mother that disowned her when she was only eleven. She meets the heir to a multi-billion dollar oil estate Andre Williamson who wants to give her a lifetime of happiness. Karissa won’t marry him without her mother’s blessings; a woman who makes Mommy Dearest look angelic.

Michelle Ramsey is in love with the devil himself Brandon Thomas. She’s a master at hiding what she doesn’t want people to see like the abuse she endures at Brandon’s unloving hands. Greg Wallace is the man she needs but won’t give a chance because her heart belongs to only one man…Brandon.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Blind Temptations?

Lesley Hal: A series of life altering events led me to write Blind Temptations.

JP: What sets Blind Temptations apart from other novels in its genre?

LH: Its shocking twists, dealing with real life issues like sexual deception, adultery, abuse, and neglect among other things. Unlike many of the other novels, the characters are not super beings defying all odds without feelings being attached. I make it my mission to make every emotion be seen, heard, and felt no matter the situation. Readers want to that in a character. It makes the book more enjoyable. Most importantly, according to readers, it’s a page turner. Everyone that’s read the book is after me week after week about the sequel, which is in the works and a blessing.

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

LH: Patience, determination, knowledge about publishing, honing my craft, learning from my mistakes not letting them become a setback but a step up and having a true love for writing.

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

LH: I started Blind Temptations while in college. It took me 10 years to write it since I didn’t get serious about it until 2006.

JP: What’s next for Lesley Hal?

LH: Currently, I’m a NY Times bestseller six times over thanks to Zane! My short story Riding the “Friendly Skies” was featured in Succulent: Chocolate Flava II where it was dubbed on of the creme de la creme. My second novel Pleasure-n-Spice and Nothing Nice is due out early 2009. I’m pushing for a Valentine’s release. Since it’s what started my journey into the world of erotica, it will be released under my pen name Ms. Lediva.

Blind Temptations II is also slated for release late 2009. Then there’s “Double the Pleasure” which will be featured in Bedtime Stories, an anthology with Brian Smith author of S.W.A.P. Game and Final Fling, coming this summer 2009!

www.lesleyhal.com
www.myspace.com/mslediva

JP: Add any other links, awards and contact information directly involved with the author and/or the book. I would like to highlight your achievements and let people connect with you.

LH: I’ve done a lot of promotional work such as a campaign with Starbucks, the Come Out & Play sampler for 2007 with other noted authors and the Come Out & Play event that took place in the Bahamas in October 2008 which was a huge success.

I was featured in Noire’s online magazine with short story “Stormy Weather” which is the prologue to Pleasure-n-Spice and garnered me a lot of attention from the erotica genre. Blind Temptations & Pleasure-n-Spice are both currently being considered by Kensington Publishing.

Last but certainly not least, I’m one of the founding members of the Authoress Suite with authors N’Tyse: My Secrets Your Lies and Stacey L. Ford: Selling the Fantasy.

Thank you Joey for such a wonderful interview, and I look forward to reviewing Pleasure-n-Spice with you soon!

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

P.S.S. If you want to be featured in the 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… Jennifer Knox, author of Mama Never Said

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Jennifer Knox, author of Mama Never Said
(All Boys Publishing)


jenifer knox headshot mama naver said book cover

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

Dinah Daniels, CEO of Daniels Animal Treatment Center, wife of nineteen years to Kevin Daniels, Attorney at Law, and loving mother. They were an eminent African American family, living the American dream. Life couldn’t be better for Dinah. Until she discovers that everything she’s ever known is a lie.

A life full of scandal and deceit would surface and destroy her perfect family. She didn’t understand how you go from being on top of the world to being stretched out under it. She was used to a world blinded by financial and social status. She had to face the fact that she could not buy her way out of this one.

Driven by Big Mama’s sayings, and her best friend Gloria at her side, Dinah would prove that she is truly a fighter.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Mama Never Said?

Jennifer Knox: I actually had a dream with a certain part of the book in it. It all happened from there. I had no intentions of writing a book. When I woke up I had this overwhelming urge to write about it, so I did.

JP: What sets Mama Never Said apart from other novels in its genre?

JK: Truth. I write about what’s real. I mean, It’s fiction, but it’s real life issues that many face everyday. On the outside looking in it may seem that some “have it going on”, but you just never know what people are facing. My writing offers that inside glimpse.

JP: As an author and self-publisher, what are the keys to your success that lead to Mama Never Said getting out to the public?

JK: Doing my research, knowing everything first hand for myself. The learning process never stops. I know things now that I didn’t know when Mama Never Said was released. Never giving up, and knowing that I am the key to making whatever I want to happen, happen.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Mama Never Said?

JK: Me personally, my thoughts just flow. I hardly ever have writers block. It took me about 2 1/2 years to write Mama Never Said only because I had no idea what I was doing! (laugh) It was a kind of a touch and go type process.

JP: What’s next for Mama Never Said?

JK: The sequel to Mama Never Said will be released in April 2009. I am looking to do a stage play based on a combination of the two in mid to late 2010.

Website link www.allboyspublishing.com
Myspace link www.myspace.com/allboyspublishing

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 myspace.com/joeyreviews

5 minutes 5 questions with, african american author, african american authors, african american book, african american books, amazon.com, interview, romance, romance novel, romance novels

5 Minutes 5 Questions With… Jahzara, author of Love Don’t Live Here Anymore

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Jahzara, author of Love Don’t Live Here Anymore
(Tranquil Moments Publishing)


jahzara headshot love dont live here anymore book cover

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

Nyree Shaw-Chandler had painted Malachi Chandler as a prince on the canvas of her mind. In reality he was nothing more than a broke-down, wanna-be, thug.

Nyree’s life had been a page out of a fairytale. She married “Mr. Charming”, and they were on their way to happily ever after. As with most roads, a warning sign always precedes the dangerous intersection. Nyree finds herself questioning Malachi more and more as his stories just don’t seem to add up. Malachi is always able to smooth things over. His desire to smooth things over fades. The late nights away from home can not be accounted for, and money constantly turns up missing. Nyree’s world finally comes crashing down around her.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Love Don’t Live Here Anymore?

Jahzara: The character Nyree in Love Don’t Live Here Anymore is based on my real life drama. I wrote Love Don’t Live Here Anymore to inspire and empower women and to promote healing for me as well. I took a creative writing class at the graduate level and submitted the first chapter of Love Don’t Live Here Anymore. My professor suggested that I continue with the story and turn it into a novel.

JP: What sets Love Don’t Live Here Anymore apart from other novels in its genre?

Jah: Love Don’t Live Here Anymore is a novel of energy and raw emotion. It’s based loosely based on a true story. Love Don’t Live Here Anymore is crafted in a manner that readers will pick their brains trying to figure out where reality ends and fiction begins.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Love Don’t Live Here Anymore getting out to the public?

Jah: I believe that this story had to be told to help me heal and to help others know that no matter how difficult the situation, they too can make it. That is my motivation for getting it out to the public. Everyday, I think about who would benefit from reading Love Don’t Live Here Anymore, and then I approach those people. In addition, my publicist Fran Briggs creates exceptional press releases and media releases. She encourages me to not only think big but to do big things.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Luv Don’t Live Here Anymore?

Jah: The writing process for me varies. Sometimes I like to write in a blank book and then transfer it to the computer. Other times, I like to do what I call freestyle writing. This is where I just write from off the top of my head.

It took me between 3-4 years to complete Love Don’t Live Here Anymore. I took a couple of lengthy breaks during the process to make time for children.

JP: What’s next for Jahzara?

Jah: I am working to promote other authors and give them an opportunity to have their works published with my publishing company Tranquil Moments LLC. I want to work with authors who are hungry and want to turn their stories into books.

I’m working on the sequel to Love Don’t Live Here Anymore which is called Luv U 4 Life. I am working to turn Love Don’t Live Here Anymore into a screenplay. Also, I have dating manual that will be released soon entitled Da Test: Is He Date-able?

Readers can pick up my first novel Contradictions written under the name Nicole Bradley as well as check out my story “Friends With Benefits” in Shannon Holmes’ Anthology Hood2Hood.

Website link www.jahzarawrites.com
Myspace link www.myspace.com/iluvjahzara

Peace and Blessings,
Nicole “Jahzara” Bradley

www.jahzarawrites.com
www.myspace.com/iluvjahzara
www.nicolebradley.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 myspace.com/joeyreviews