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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… The New York Times Best Seller and Essence Best Seller J.L. King, author of Love on a Two Way Street

December 10, 2008 Joey Pinkney

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
New York Times Best Selling Author JL King, author of Love on a Two-Way Street
(1^st Karen Hunter/Pocket Books)

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

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to organize the Love Overboard Tour?

JL King: “Love Overboard” is the Love on a Two-Way Street book tour. The idea and inspiration to organize this tour comes from my fans and supporters. I want to continue the crusade to shed light on the importance of healthy relationships, and open, honest and frank conversations on issues that affect our communities.

Doing book signings at bookstores are okay. When you can touch your fans and allow them to ask you questions that are personal and embrace information that they need to know in a more comfortable environment, that experience is priceless. The Love Overboard Tour allows that to happen.

JP: What sets your debut novel, “Love on a Two Way Street” apart from other novels in its genre?

JL: From the first page, it grasps your attention. I deal with real issues in all of my books. For instance, in Love on a Two-Way Street, I deal with situations ranging from sexual orientation and spirituality to gender identity and sexual abuse [of a young boy] – issues that are not commonly talked about in the black community. From the opening of the book, the reader is taken on a ride that allows them to release all their inhibitions. You’ll want a glass of wine <smile>.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success which leads to your books getting out to the public?

JL: I’m always in an “entrepreneurial” mood. As a published author you have to always think: book and product sells. One key to my success is being more than an author. I’ve always stood on the foundation of my message and believe that offering information and reliable resources to the community is invaluable. I tell my author friends that you have to offer more than your [one] book – expand your portfolio: teach a writing class, create a new product that supports your brand or message, link with other authors and create a seminar series. The more you give back, the more successful you will become.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? What did you learn in writing the New York Times bestseller, “On the Down Low: A Journey into the Lives of ‘Straight’ Black Men?” And how this book did better prepared you for “Love on a Two Way Street?”?

JL: I was told by my editor when I was writing On the Down Low that if you are going to write a book as powerful as On the Down Low, you can’t hold anything back. You have to free yourself of all the untruths – everything, the: good, bad and ugly. My mission of truth and education crosses over onto the pages of Love on a Two-Way Street.

When you are granted the opportunity to capture to the attention of a reader, as an author, you want to savor that moment and empower, motivate and influence the positive. When I write, I think about friends and family. I want them to be proud of my work. I want them to get to know more about me through the pages of my books. I want to leave a legacy that will speak to who I am, was and is to come.

Question: What’s next for J.L. King?

JL: I always write, so next for me is more writing and more writing. In my perfect world, I would love to have a national radio talk show. I am also working on a new DVD titled The Top Ten DL Signs and More…. This DVD will keep the message about the importance of being honest and having healthy relationships in front of women who need the information.

The DL issue is something that will always be a part of our society. As long as men lie and are in denial, it will impact our women, community and youth. God chose me to bring that message and as a “sexuality expert” I will continue to bring it…until all DL men are “Coming Up [from the Down Low].”

And, I have several education books, personal development DVDs and projects I am working on. I also want to teach other writers on how to become a successful author. The sky is the limit for me. I accept what God allows! For more information visit frequently: www.JLKing.net.

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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

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Portia Cosby, author of Too Little, Too Late

December 7, 2008 Joey Pinkney

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Portia Cosby, author of Too Little, Too Late
(Distinct Publishing)

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

Tameka James has always been a confident, outspoken, strong-willed woman with her one weakness being her ex-boyfriend, TJ. That weakness soon becomes the catalyst to a new life of fear, disease, and pain when one of TJ’s enemies rapes her and threatens to kill her if she goes to the police. Now with a police report on file, an HIV diagnosis in her medical records and the rapist running free, Tameka fights to maintain normalcy and save her new relationship. As tensions mount and stakes are raised, some lives are threatened while others are taken. The phrase “too little, too late” becomes a reality instead of a clichÃ© when last minute efforts are made in vain.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Too Little, Too Late?

Portia A. Cosby: In ninth grade, I heard a story on the news about a woman that had been raped. I don’t remember the details, but it made me wonder how she got into that predicament. From there, my imagination ran wild. Tameka was born, and from day one, I knew her character like we were best friends.

JP: Rape and HIV drives the tension in Too Little, Too Late. Did you have any reservations about writing this novel that way?

PC: I had no reservations at all. All of my storylines are hard-hitting and deal with serious or controversial issues. I want my fiction to feel real. I specifically wrote the novel that way because there are so many young ladies that could easily be Tameka.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Too Little, Too Late getting out to the public?

PC: I just believed. Since 1994 when I wrote the original piece, I believed. I didn’t envision what it could be until 2001 when I rewrote it. After all the rejection letters and near hits, I decided not to wait on someone else to validate me as an author and I started Distinct Publishing. Success is a learning process and a time-consuming process. Since writing is my passion, though, I don’t think twice about it.

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

PC: My writing process usually involves music. I am a lover of words. I may be writing a chapter and think of a song that relates to it. Next thing I know, I’m pulling the CD out and playing it. Or, I’ll hear a song that relates to a character of mine and immediately find the nearest piece of paper so I can jot down a few sentences.

As for the order I write in, Too Little, Too Late was written straight through. I’ve been all over the place with It Is What It Is. At one point, I had the first three chapters done and then chapters eight, nine, and ten! I just write the material that wants to come out. I don’t care where it falls in the final product.

The rough draft for Too Little, Too Late was completed in seven months. I think it flowed so well because I had been familiar with my characters and their stories seven years prior!

JP: What’s next for Portia A. Cosby?

PC: It Is What It Is, the second installment in the Situations & Circumstances Series will be released soon – within the next couple months. I’m also looking to revise my screenplay for Too Little, Too Late so I can shop it around.

www.portiacosby.com
www.myspace.com/portiacosby

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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

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

December 4, 2008 Joey Pinkney 1 Comment

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

(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

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