Category Archives: romance

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Michelle Larks, Author of The Legacies

January 30, 2009 Joey Pinkney

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Michelle Larks, author of The Legacies
(Urban Books/Kensington)

The Legacies is a tale of two young people from very diverse backgrounds who meet and fall in love while attending college. Noah Stephens is a minister’s son, and Morgan is the daughter of a drug distributor. The two encounter many bumps in the road as deathbed promises, secrets, and betrayalÂ tear at the very foundation of their relationship. God has love for all ofÂ his children regardless of our stations in life. He sends angelsÂ to Noah and Morgan that help direct them to the path to righteousness.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write The Legacies?

Michelle Larks: Actually, the idea to write The Legacies just popped into my head. I wanted to write a novel that would appeal to a younger audience. My novel Keeping Misery Company was aimed at an older market, thusÂ The Legacies was born.

JP: What sets The Legacies apart from other novels in Christian Fiction?

ML: The Legacies is different from other Christian fiction novels because it delves intoÂ controversial subject matter: a relationship between a minister’s and drug dealer’s children. Can they co-exist and fall in love? Can the relationshipÂ remain strong despite a lot of adversity?

JP: The Legacies is similar to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. What has been your reader’s response to you mixing a family steeped in drugs with a family steeped in religion?

ML: My reader’s response has been good for the most part. One of the points I was trying to make in the book is that we are all God’s children regardless to how we began life.Â I also wanted to exemplify how life doesn’t also goes as our parents plan.

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

ML: My writing process is just let the thoughtsÂ flow, literally. I am an early bird, so I tend to write early in the morning on my trusty laptop computer.Â I will start with an idea, andÂ ways to enhance the storyline just pop into my head. It took me three months to write The Legacies.

JP: What’s next for Michelle Larks?

ML: As you can tell from The Legacies, I don’t shy from controversial topics. My next book, Til Debt Do Us Part, is the story of the lead soprano of a church who battles a gambling addiction and how that hobbyÂ nearly ruins her life.

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… M.L. Jacobs, author of The RestStop: Jeff and Jeanine

January 19, 2009 Joey Pinkney 2 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
M.L. Jacobs, author of The RestStop: Jeff and Jeanine
(Chaklet Coffee Books)

Jeanine, a sexy yet lonely young woman meets the man of her dreams on the Internet. When she meets Jeff, she believes that her prayers have been answered…finally. They date by email, text, and cell phone for three months before deciding to meet face-to-face at a popular motel called The RestStop. Jeff promises to fulfill her darkest fantasies.

But, does anyone truly know if the person behind the monitor is who he says he is? What happens when Jeff and Jeanine meet at The RestStop for a night of unadulterated passion?

Follow the clues in this fast-paced psychological thriller that has a surprise around every corner.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write The RestStop: Jeff and Jeanine?

M.L. Jacobs: Originally, a friend dared me to extend my writing from inspirational to adult, specifically erotica. What began as a simple sexual situation between two characters became a short story. The short story developed into each character having an intriguing past with memory flashbacks and present-day inner conflicts based on past experiences. The short story easily became a thrilling novel which I am extremely proud of.

JP: What sets The RestStop: Jeff and Jeanine apart from other erotica novels?

MLJ: The RestStop: Jeff and Jeanine is so much more than an erotic novel. It has suspense, mystery, thrills, twists, and great passionate scenes. The main characters are multidimensional, very believable, and either makes the reader love or hate them.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to The RestStop: Jeff and Jeanine getting out to the public?

MLJ: Through social networking sites like Myspace, Yahoo, Twitter and others The RestStop: Jeff and Jeanine was introduced to a wide audience. The characters seem to appeal to people on the Internet because they can easily be related to. We all know at least one person who has dated and met people from the Internet.

JP: If you could be one of your characters from past or present novels, who would you be? And why?

MLJ: If I could be one of my characters I would be Blondie from The RestStop because although she has a few hang-ups, she is the most grounded of all of the main characters, making her very believable.

JP: What’s next for M.L. Jacobs?

MLJ: We are finishing up editing on the premier edition of EROS369: An Anthology for Adults which will be released in January 2009 – it contains a sultry 69 erotic short stories and poems in 3 chapters from many of today’s hottest writers. Published by Chaklet Coffee Books.

www.candalysepublishing.com/chakletcoffeebooks/index.html
www.thereststop.htmlplanet.com
www.whatspastisnotforgotten.itgo.com
www.eroticaunveiled.htmlplanet.com
www.candalysepublishing.com/chakletcoffeebooks/chaklet_coffee_books.html
http://www.myspace.com/the_reststop

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Essence Best Seller Keisha Ervin, author of Finding Forever

December 30, 2008 Joey Pinkney

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Keisha Ervin, author of Finding Forever
(Priority Books)

Once teenage sweethearts, Whitney and Koran are vastly different people now. Whitney’s working on her master’s degree and has a new lease on life, while Koran is a drug dealer riding around in expensive cars and living in a big house. Is it possible for Koran to change his lifestyle and for true love to return?

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Finding Forever?

Keisha Ervin: I’ve always wanted to write a tragic love story. I’m a huge soap opera fan, so I think that is where my flair for the dramatic comes from, lol. Also I love the movie A Walk to Remember. That movie also inspired this story.

JP: How is Finding Forever different from the other love stories you have composed over the years?

KE: This one doesn’t end with my typical happily ever after ending. Although my characters come full circle they are forced to kind of do it own their own and without the love and support of their significant other. Also, this story focuses on an illness that is plaguing us as women.

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

KE: My process for writing a story is first coming up with an idea. I then figure out my outline in my head. I rarely ever write anything down. All of my stories scenes and ideas from start to finish are stored in my mind. Due to the fact I was under a deadline it took me almost three months to write Finding Forever. I’m not a quick writer. I like to take my time with my stories. With this one I still felt rushed. Some of my readers felt the same way.

JP: This is your sixth novel, but your first book on Priority Books. Why did your switch from Triple Crown Publications?

KE: I did this book with Priority Books because it is a home based publishing company. I have to help and support my city St. Louis. Also Rose, the owner, is such a sweet and genuine woman. I would work with her anytime. To make things clear, I am not signed to Priority Books or TCP.

JP: What’s next for Keisha Ervin?

KE: I am currently working on my seventh novel and a short story for an anthology. To all of my fans and supporters you can contact me at www.myspace.com/keishaervin or http://www.webjam.com/grayrosez

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

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