JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Jewell R. Powell, author of Marriage 101
(Revell/Baker Publishing Group)
Jewell R. Powell, known as the “Marriage Coachâ€, is an author, entrepreneur and inspirational teacher with a heart and passion for helping couples have great marriages. She is the author of Marriage 101: Building a Life Together by Faith published by Revell/Baker.
Marriage 101 is the first marriage book with a curriculum written for the African American Christian market. In Marriage 101, you will discover God’s purpose for marriage, how to develop godly character, how to communicate effectively and much more.
With biblical examples, study questions and scripture meditations perfect for individuals or couples, you will be challenged to examine areas in your life that you may need to change so that your marriage can thrive.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Marriage 101?
Jewell R. Powell: In 2001, I really thought my marriage was over – that there was no hope. I was a born-again believer, faithfully going to church and Bible Study, active in the ministry, yet, I thought I was the only one having problems in my marriage.
I was still very much in love with my husband and wanted my marriage to work, but I was not happy. At that time, I believed no one could help me but God. Since He created marriage, I decided to go to the Bible. This led me on a spiritual journey to discover why God created the covenant of marriage and how to fulfill the vows I made to God and Lewis on May 1996.
I found the answers I was looking for. Since I was on the brink of divorce and was able to turn my marriage around, I wrote it to help others who also may feel there is no hope.
JP: What sets Marriage 101 apart from other books in its genre?
JRP: I believe most books are either written from a skill perspective [learn all the ways to you can communicate with one another, know that men are physical and women are emotional etc] or from men and women with PhDs who use their experience as a marriage counselor by using other stories to get their point across.
I am just a Christian woman who was married and unhappy and decided to seek God for answers. This book is simply my journey on how I researched the Bible and applied the principles to reconcile my marriage.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Marriage 101 getting out to the public?
JRP: 1) I believe people are looking for truth. They are looking for real, genuine people who are just like them. 2) My faith and success in my marriage lead to success with this book. God’s word is true and when you apply them, you will get success. 3) Marriage 101 is changing people’s lives and their marriages. 4) Word of mouth is the key to our success.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Marriage 101?JRP: I’ve been working on Marriage 101 since 2001. I self-published the 1st edition in 2003, then added a workbook along with a 2nd edition in 2007. Marriage 101 was picked up by a major publishing company in 2007. Revell published it in February 2009.
JP: What’s next for Jewell Powell?
JRP: I’ve just completed a Marriage 101 mini-book series which discusses the following: 1) Communication, 2) Finance, 3) Parenting and 4) Sex & Intimacy. We have other topics coming as well.
We’ve also just completed a Marriage 101 Marriage Enrichment Curriculum and Pre-marital Curriculum for church leaders. Lewis and I have been traveling nationwide teaching the Marriage 101 Principles
JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Moses Miller, author of Nan: The Trifling Times of Nathan Jones and Nan: The Game of Trife
(Mind Candy Media)
Nan: The Trifling Times of Nathan Jones Synopsis:
The story is labeled fiction, but his truth is the reality of many young Black males.
On Christmas Eve 1985, young Nathan “Nan” Jones and his parents were headed home from a day of last minute shopping when tragedy struck. A few blocks away, a crazed drug addict on a PCP fueled rush had committed a double homicide and was frantically fleeing the scene of the crime. As the police pursued, he made a desperate attempt to evade them, which sent his car careening into a sea of unsuspecting pedestrians.
As EMS workers arrived on the scene, they noticed a thirteen year old boy standing alone in the middle of the street, his facial expression emotionless. In less than a New York minute, his life had tragically changed.
Nathan would spend the rest of his teenage years in an orphanage, where he befriended another teen named, Joseph Hayes. They share an unfortunate similarity. On the same fateful night, the same man murdered both of their parents. As future prospects began to look more promising for both youths, tragedy rears its ugly head once again.
Traps are set, lives are lost and hidden agendas will be revealed.
Nan: The Game of Trife Synopsis:
In the city that never sleeps, Nathan “Nan” Jones, a young man that never slept, just survived a vicious assassination attempt on his life. On the same cold streets of Brooklyn, Jada Dupri, a Black girl lost, desperately searches for some meaning to her convoluted life.
Nan’s execution was sanctioned by the criminal underworld, in an elaborate plot to be carried out by a corrupt group of bloodthirsty NYPD killer cops. Even though he barely lived through the attack by the skin of his teeth, everything that meant something to him was stolen away in less than a New York minute. He had survived-but, his mere existence may only be short lived. A massive manhunt has ensued, and the word has been put out on the streets to bring him in dead or alive. The clock is ticking, and he’s living on borrowed time.
Since Jada’s birth, the beauty of her skin has been her sin…over time it became both a gift and a curse. She yearns to find the father she has never known, to develop a relationship with her mother that she has never had and to feel the unconditional love that she so desperately needs.
Even though these two individuals will never meet, and their paths will only cross on one fateful night, the critical decisions they both make will greatly impact the lives of one another.
After all, just like you and me, they are both merely pieces in The Game of Trife.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Nan: The Trifling Times of Nathan Jones and Nan: The Game of Trife?
Moses Miller: Death actually spawned the life of that story. A teenager named Timothy Stansbury was murdered in cold blood by police the night I started writing The Trifling Times of Nathan Jones. Even though the story has nothing to do with him or his life, it did inspire my creative juices. Actually, I guess they both do have one similarity when I think of the influence that the police played in both of their lives. There’s definitely the element of victimization there. The Game of Trife was just a natural continuation of the first story. Readers of part one knew that there had to be a sequel. They demanded it.
JP: What sets the Nan series apart from other novels in its genre?
MM: I don’t really compare my books to any other in any genre. From the gate I purposely established my own lane. I said, “I write Intelligent Urban Fiction,” which is the tag line for my company Mind Candy. I will say that what separates me from many authors is that I don’t allow my books to be constrained by events that I personally experienced or just hood stories that were passed on to me.
Every book signing I do somebody comes up to me and says, “I got some stories from my hood. I just need to write it.” It never fails. But the thing about it is that everyone knows a hood story. As a matter of fact, a lot of us know some of the same stories, or stories that are similar with the only differentiator being the name of the characters. That’s why there’s some that feel that originality is lacking in the genre.
I challenge myself and my readers, and I draw heavily on my imagination and the exposure I’ve received from traveling the United States and abroad when I write. I refuse to put myself in a box. My characters are multi-dimensional and my story lines are also multi-layered.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that led to the Nan series getting out to the public?
MM: Persistence. It starts with a good product. You have to know how to structure a story, develop characters, strong plots and memorable scenes. I always knew I had a good story, so all it would take would be for someone to read it. Word of mouth does the rest. I push my books by any means into the hands of readers. I have full confidence that once they read one of my books they’ll be supporters of everything I publish thereafter. I give them more than their money’s worth.
I also have put out some of the most original book trailers up to this point for an author of any genre. As a small press and a new author I was fortunate enough to have my trailers spread virally and be viewed by over twenty thousand people on the web alone. I understand that this is a business and I manage it as such. I’m an author, but my business requires me to wear many hats, and I make certain all of them fit.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? What did you learn in doing The Trifling Times of Nathan Jones and lead you to do something different for The Game of Trife?
MM: I write what I want to read, and I write everyday. With me, it’s all about quality and consistency. I can write no matter what’s going on around me. As a matter of fact, the other day I was writing on the highway while I was stuck in traffic on the way to a book signing. However, I don’t rush the creative process. I’ll write a book and let it sit for a year just so I can read it from the perspective of a new reader.
A story needs to excite me and leave me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. If it doesn’t, my readers will never see it. They’ll never get the chance to critique it, because I’m my worst critic. I write intuitively. Most of the time I know how the story begins and ends, however the path I’ll take to guide you there develops as I write. I may even write two or three different “middle” sections to my stories and then decide later what is the most consistent with the story and the characters I created. I did that with The Game of Trife.
Now as far as learning new things from Trifling Times to The Game of Trife, that’s an interview in itself. I learned many things, from marketing to continuing to develop my craft in order to get better.
JP: What’s next for Moses Miller?
MM: As always, I’ll continue to promote literacy in our communities, working with teenagers and young adults. It’s always important to me to give back and pull others forward. As far as writing, I’m developing screenplays. I have a few books that I’ll be publishing as well, but I’m really excited about the inquiries I’ve been getting to have Nathan Jones’ story portrayed on the big screen.
I would also like to put out novels by other authors, but I haven’t read anything that has really excited me lately. I’ve come across a lot of manuscripts that are similar to stories I’ve read before. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure they would sell if they’re published. However, I’m looking for something special. With me, it’s all about building a brand with novels that consistently raise the bar. When I find the right author, I’ll know it.
Awards and Accomplishments of Moses Miller:
Most Outstanding Rising Urban Novelist, YOUnity Guild 2007
Best New Author, Infini Awards 2008
Most Underrated Author’s List, Urban Book Source 2008
Awards and Accomplishments of Nan: The Trifling Times of Nathan Jones
5 out of 5 Top Shelf Rating, UrbanReviews.com
Best Characters, Infini Awards 2008
Best Street/Urban Fiction Novel, Afr’Am Fest’s Literary Awards 2008
JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Elva “Precious Love” Thompson, author of A Mother’s Cry
(GSH Publishing)
(One of the first ten people to comment on Precious Love’s author interview will win a FREE copy of A Mother’s Cry from JoeyPinkney.com)
This book is an inspiring autobiography about a young woman who stayed in a fifteen-year abusive marriage for the sake of her children. Without notice, she finds herself filing for divorce on the grounds of abandonment because her husband walked out on her and their daughters.
She then had to put her business on hold, moved her family to another state to start over where she tries to adjust to becoming a divorced single parent. With being in a new state, she strives to get her business back together, the ups and downs of raising her children alone, and at the same time, going through the struggle of getting to know herself again.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write A Mother’s Cry?
Elva “Precious Love” Thompson: Past life experiences. I was a victim of domestic abuse for a duration of 15 years since 1985 at the hands of my ex-husband. I felt like I had no outlet besides staying in prayer, so I decided to write a journal. What started out as small writings here and there turned into chapters and chapters of words because there was something new happening everyday.
JP: A Mother’s Cry is a story that many women can relate to from the abandonment to raising kids alone to having to find oneself amidst the things life throws your way. What has been readers’ responses to this novel?
ET: Here are some of my readers responses:
I read this book about a month ago and found it to be an excellent book. As I read this book, I felt lots of emotions such as anger disbelief, hurt and joy.The author of this book, who tells her story, is an amazing woman. She and her children are very courageous individuals. I would recommend this book for any woman who is seeking strength to make it through a troubled relationship. I love to write, but I have always hated to read. This book turned me into a reader. Once I read this book, I was anxious to read her next book, and I did. ~Shelly U., Austin, Texas
This book is such an inspiration to my life as a divorced single mother of two children. I think that the author is an ideal role model for me and women all over. I recommend this book to both men and women. ~Mirta H., Orlando, FL
I’ve read a lot of books, but when I came across this one I was stunned. The author out did herself when she wrote this book and backed it up with a second to continue. This book is great, and I recommend it to anyone and everyone. ~TCollins217
I had been going through the same type of things as the character in this book. Since I picked this book up, it strengthened me to leave my situation and move on forward. Thanks to the author because this book has truly made a difference in my life. ~Lisa B., Riverdale, GA
I really enjoyed reading this book. Its one book that I have introduced to my reading group. I passed it on to some of my coworkers as well, and they all loved it. You don’t get to read many books that are about really talking about something these days. ~Melissa W., Jacksonville, FL
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to A Mother’s Cry getting out to the public?
ET: Turning negatives into positives. I turned my negative situation into a positive by forgiveness first and then shared my testimony with the world in hopes that my story can be of some help and an inspiration to others.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish A Mother’s Cry?
ET: My writing process is constant. It’s imperative that I keep a notebook and pen underneath my bed. Different thoughts and inspiration may hit me at odd hours of the night, and I like being prepared. As far as the amount of time it took me to write this novel, I would say approximately one year. Life happened in between.
JP: What’s next for Elva “Precious Love” Thompson?
ET: I would like to continue to be a voice and share my testimony with others that are or have been in my situation. I speak at conventions, forums, gatherings and different events regarding domestic violence/abuse. I am an active volunteer and member of DAHMW.org (Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men and Women). My latest work in progress is Battered Secrets: MEN of Domestic Violence where men are starting to come forward with their stories.
In the meantime, I continue to run my business as an editor since 1997, as well as continuing the fight for victims of domestic violence. I also have a guest television appearance in Atlanta, GA on November 20th called “Atlanta Live”, which is a christian program discussing my novel as well as sharing my testimony.
I have several upcoming booksignings throughout the East Coast as well as appearances for well known radio stations and magazines. I will keep you posted and you can also keep up with my upcoming events and media kit from my website.
