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

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… B. Lisa, author of You Know Better

July 21, 2009 Joey Pinkney 1 Comment

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
B. Lisa, author of You Know Better
(Xilbris)

B. Lisa takes you into the lives of four people dealing with the ups and downs in their relationships and friendships caused by love, lies and lust. You Know Better is not a typical story but a story anyone could relate too. It is written similar to Waiting to Exhale, where friendships and relationships are put to the testÂ and mixed with elements reminiscent of Afterburn where true love is found.

You Know Better is an erotica mixed with urban street lit that tells the story of four friends who are either being mistreated for loving, scared to love, vows never to love and who wants to share their love. Because of the betrayal, deception and unfaithfulness that are going on in their relationships and friendships, will they have a chance at love?

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write You Know Better?

B. Lisa: The inspiration came from a challenge from my little sister to write a better story than the book we both were reading. The idea that sparked You Know Better came from a conversation between a friend and I. My friend was going through some craziness with her boyfriend, and the things she was allowing him to do to her made me think she should have known better.

JP: Why did you decide to mix erotica, urban lit and romance to tell the story in You Know Better?

BL: After reading many erotica books and many urban lit books, I wanted my first book to have all the key ingredients to makes me want to read it in a day. With the combination of erotica, hot and steamy sexy sex scenes mixed with urban lit, very explicit and strong language, to me, itâ€™s the perfect recipe of an interesting page-turner.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to You Know Better getting out to the public?

BL: Besides word of mouth, book signings, family and friends, facebook, myspace and twitter, people like you, Mr. Pinkney, that offers interviews on the author and their books.

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

BL: This started out as a joint venture between my little sister and me. I was to start it, and she was to finish it. I end up writing the entire story. Because I was working two jobs, I wrote You Know Better in about nine months.

My writing process consists of watching people, listening to everyday conversations and writing down phrases of what people are saying if I think it is something I may want to put in my book. I also listen to music and just using my imagination.

JP: Whats next for B. Lisa?

BL: Iâ€™m in the process of finishing up my third novel, One Love One Addiction: The Alicia Coles Story. Iâ€™m having my second novel, La Femme Nikki, professionally edited. Iâ€™m still promoting my debut novel, You Know Better.

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Rich McLaughlin, author of Southside Hustler

July 19, 2009 Joey Pinkney 3 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Rich McLaughlin, author of Southside Hustler
(5ive Star Publications Publications)

Southbridge, located in Wilmington , Delaware, has had it share of hustlers come and go. The daily grind of having to fight every day just to survive can break the strongest of men. Now there is a new breed of hustlers, who are on top of the game. From the projects of South Side come Raymir, Scrap, Pie, Swagger and Boogie Down. The streets adopted them, became their father and showed them nothing but love. These five in turn show love back to the streets.

They have women, cars, money and more importantly the respect. They have many hustles, but the main one, nobody has a clue about. They rob banks, and their heists go according to plan until info leaks that could put the whole operation on front street. Then there is Knowledge. He is Raymir’s life-long friend who went to jail protecting him under the influence of the street code. When he is released from prison after 7 years, he is a humble man who steps back into the game.

The rules of the game and the death of a close friend causes Knowledge to start a war in the streets of Wilmington that set the city on fire. Will the bond that these six share be enough to keep the clique pressure tight? Or will the rules of the game shatter that bond. Take a ride through Southside.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Southside Hustler?

Richard McLaughlin: Like so many young brothers from my era, the streets were our fathers. For me, it was best to write about things that I could identify with. This was especially important for my first novel.

I didnâ€™t want to try to talk about things I had no knowledge of. Not to say this is a true story, but where I grew up at these events were a part of life. For some itâ€™s like running alongside of their past.

JP: What sets Southside Hustler apart from other novels that detail street life?

RM: For one, readers who lived, traveled through or heard about Wilmington, Delaware, can identify with the story. The places that I mention in the book are real.

Also, the main character Raymir has a special bond with three kids from his Projects. Although they too are in the streets, he keeps them on track. He sponsors basketball tournaments in which these kids can get exposure, and he stresses that they maintain a certain grade point average. He makes sure they stay out of trouble. Heâ€™s like a modern day Bumpy Johnson.

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

RM: First and foremost I have an excellent publishing company, and my publicist is on point. Even when Iâ€™m lax sheâ€™s on top of things. The area in which I live isnâ€™t the issue, Iâ€™ve done good here. Sharmina T. Ellis, who is my publicist, has booked numerous book signings in various areas outside of where I live.

Iâ€™m also accessible on the internet. I just have to keep pushing with advertisements. I do signings at plays, so there is access to the public who come from other places to attend the event.

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

RM: Sometimes, I can just sit down and type. The key is as Iâ€™m out and about, things come to me. Ideas that I can use in the book. The important thing is to micromanage. Remembering these good ideas and forming them into a story line that doesnâ€™t stray from story.

It took me about a year to write the book. I did it while working full time and going to college full time. I just graduated in December 08 with my B.S. in Human Services.

JP: What’s next for Rich McLaughlin?

RM: Iâ€™m currently working on Part II. Southside Hustler Pt. II Raymirs Revenge I have a few ideas with some other areas I want to try as far as genre. I put my education on hold to get my â€œGrussel” on, â€œGrinding and Hussling”. I wanted to hitâ€™em hard with my book, and itâ€™s been a good experience. I will eventually go back and pursue my Masters in Social Work.

Richard McLaughlin first moved to Southbridge in 1980. All of his child hood experiences are associated with the South Side of Wilmington, Delaware. He is the proud father of two beautiful daughters. He is a Springfield graduate with a BS in Human Services, a motivational speaker, author, and aspiring poet. He began writing his debut novel Southside Hustler in the winter of 2006, while working and going to college fulltime.

http://www.5ivestarpublications.com/
http://www.stellisandco.com/

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5 minutes 5 questions with, interview

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Jill Mattson, author of Transformative Power in Sound

July 18, 2009 Joey Pinkney 3 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Jill Mattson, author of Transformative Power in Sound
(Wings of Light )

Transformative Power in Sound is a unique book that takes you on an extraordinary journey filled with secrets from age-old cultures along with the latest findings from todayâ€™s scientific community. Together, they reveal the immense power and healing capabilities of sound. Three-time author Jill Mattson, guides us along this life-altering adventure using the vast knowledge that sheâ€™s accumulated during her intense 17 year study of Antiquities and Secret Societies. These Secret Societies utilized sound as a profound tool to transform peopleâ€™s consciousness and to create physiological changes in the brain, which in turn helped them heal their mind, body and spirit.

Ms. Mattson now shares the precise ways that we can do the same thing for ourselves. She mesmerizes and empowers the reader by artfully combining her wealth of knowledge with interviews from our most cutting-edge scientists, researchers and practitioners in the field of “Sound Healing and Sound Techniques”. The information gathered from these modern experts clearly demonstrates how impacting and versatile the usage of sound can be. Transformative Power in Sound illustrates the various ways sound can: Alter a personâ€™s brain waves, increase relaxation, eliminate stress, aid the healing process and help us to become happier, healthier and more productive.

Ms. Mattson also introduces the reader to a whole new category of sound that is derived from the vibrations and frequencies of the very stars and planets above. She further shares how the sounds from these “heavenly bodies” actually contain their own exceptional health-promoting properties. After experiencing this fascinating voyage, the reader will hold sound in an entirely new way. One in which we can all use “sound and music” as accessible tools to improve our over-all health, emotional healing, intelligence, energy and well beingâ€¦

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Transformative Power in Music: Health, Intelligence and Energy through the Power of Music?

Jill Mattson: Music was an inspiration in my life ever since I was a child. I embarked on a seventeen-year journey into the study of antiquity with an emphasis on secret societies, such as the Tibetan monks, the ancient Chinese, the ancient Egyptians, the Druids and others. My breath seemed to stop every time I learned a technique that used music or sound to increase intelligence, health energy and spirituality. The ancient people summed these qualities into the idea of “consciousness” and created sounds to increase consciousness. I wrote about these technical tidbits.

At the end of these years of studies I accumulated five notebooks of incredible information. For thousands of years people successfully used frequencies to heal, increase intelligence and provide emotional benefits. I wanted to give these same gifts to our communities today, so I decided to write this book.

JP: Transformative Power in Sound covers a unique topic. How were you able to gain information from such a diverse group of people?

JM: Magical coincidences enabled me to meet diverse scientists that were studying subjects that corresponded to the findings that I found in antiquity. I also “bumped” into a sound healer from India, who gave healing sounds concerts to thousands of people with remarkable success.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your successes that lead to Transformative Power in Sound getting out to the public?

JM: The public has loved my talks about these findings. I also offered a free newsletter on sound healingâ€¦available at wwww.jillshealingmusic.com.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Transformative Power in Sound?

JM: The research was over 17 years, but the interviews and editing took a bit over a year.

JP: What is next for Jill Mattson?

JM: I had the tremendous fortune to work with Sharry Edwards who has a developed an system of sound healing that precisely analyzes tones in your voice and uncovers frequency codes with in the body for physical, mental and emotional issues. The book is about her discoveries and using the concepts of secret voice codes for healing in a variety of formats.

My website is www.jillswingsoflight.com. Free mp3s and healing sounds newsletters are available at www.jillshealingmusic.com and www.paintyoursoul.com. I am a fine artist with sonorous and fluid paintings and prints at www.jillswingsoflight.com and redbubble.com/jillMattson and artistrising.com/JillMattson.

You can contact me at www.jillimattson@yahoo.com or at MySpace.com/Jillswingsoflight. Iâ€™d love to hear from you.

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