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

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Steven Jackson, author of Instant Message (IM)

June 11, 2009 Joey Pinkney 1 Comment

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Steven Jackson, author of Instant Message (IM)
(AuthorHouse Publishing)

Based On True Events, Instant Message (IM), is filled with sex, lies and hatred! It will text you through the lives of an interracial couple who meets online and falls in love. This interracial couple is faced with public prejudice and family persecution in a small southern hick-town called Cullman, Alabama.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Instant Message?

Steven Jackson: First let me introduce myself. My name is Steven Jackson, and I am a published writer with AuthorHouse Publishing Co. I was born in Harlem Hospital. I’m a Leo, and I was raised in New York City. I first started writing screenplays while practicing as a Licensed Real Estate Broker.

Prior to becoming a published author, I ventured into background acting landing work with Universal City Studio’s production of “Friday Night Lights” directed by Peter Berg. I was also fortunate to work on director Roland Emerich’s production of “Day After Tomorrow”. As a writer, I worked for a local newspaper called, “Visions Metro Weekly” hired as a columnist to write in the “Arts and Entertainment” section.

My desire to write came from a good friend who mentioned to me that he manages people who write stories for a living. Believing I had a story to tell, I decided to challenge myself and take on the task of writing about my experience with online dating.

During that time people were meeting other people in Yahoo and AOL chat-rooms. Then there was a website called Match.com. This website required you to fill out a profile of yourself and the website would match you up with a potential partner with a similar profile. But most of my text time was spent in the chat-rooms instant messaging with other texters. That’s where I came up with the title, Instant Message (IM).

JP: What sets Instant Message apart from other novels that detail the perils of online dating?

SJ: Instant Message (IM) will take a reader into an uncut and step-by-step view into the lives of my main two characters. You will see how they encounter one another in the chat-room, finally meet face-to-face and bravely endure challenges of abandonment and racism from family members and friends.

Sadly, you will see how they experience public hostility because of their racial differences and struggle to keep their love for one another alive. Remember, this story is based on true events and some of the language is pretty graphic.

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

SJ: First of all, I try my best to be a good story teller based on the facts and my creativity. I devote alot of time and energy to my writing. I’m very selective in the way that I try to effectively market my work, and I feel blessed to have come in contact with you. Authors speak very highly of you. Plus, I see your reviews and promotions out there! That’s why I reached out to you. Of course perseverance and prayer helps alot too!

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

SJ: Since this particular story is based on events of the past, I had to back-track mentally, view my saved emails and do the necessary research for certain events that had taken place. Now with the drafts, final drafts and editing from start to finish it took me six to seven months to complete this project.

JP: What’s next for Steven Jackson?

SJ: Well as I make my rounds across this country attending book fairs, book expos and book signings, I anticipate a best seller. In the same breath I’m working on a long over due writing project titled, Numbers…A Gangsta’s Child. This story is about a young girl who runs away from her parents’ home in the South to seek success in the business world of New York.

In time, she ends up in the eerie domain of organized crime and becomes one of the most influential female mob figures in New York City. Because of the nature of this project, I’ve been working on this story for ten (10) years. This story is also based on true events. I have to be careful with this one. When completed, you will enjoy it!

In closing, I want to thank you for this interview, your time and patience!

http://www.myspace.com/stevenjacksoncelebrity

newyorklegend@yahoo.com

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5 minutes 5 questions with, african american author, african american authors, african american book, african american books, amazon.com, interview, virtual blog tour

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Shewanda Riley, author of Love Hangover

June 10, 2009 Joey Pinkney 5 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Shewanda Riley, author of Love Hangover
(Suncreek Books)

“God told me to break up with you,” he told her. After 18 months of dating, he had the nerve to throw God’s name in it – whenever woman was still at the root of it all. So she confesses in her book — Love Hangover: Moving From Pain to Purpose After a Relationship Ends – that yes, she did want to heave that brick through his windshield.

In this best selling inspirational book, Riley shares her journey to wholeness through journal entries and offers practical advice for those seeking healing from emotional traumas.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Love Hangover?

Shewanda Riley: Love Hangover came from a painful breakup I had with a boyfriend. We dated for about 18 months, and he told me one day that God told him to break up with me.

One of the ways I dealt with the breakup was to write daily journals detailing my feelings. Those journals eventually became the heart of the book. They show my emotional roller coaster with the hopes that it can help others in the same position.

JP: How did you go about collaborating with Germaine Hawkins on Love Hangover?

SR: I met Dr. Hawkins when we both participated in a job fair in Dallas about 6 months after I started writing the book. Since he liked writing, he agreed to provide the more clinical perspective to the relationship breakup.

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

SR: For me, it was being persistent and thinking outside the box. I worked full time as a radio broadcaster when the book was released. I was able to use those relationships to create “buzz” in the media.

I began a column in a local community newspaper and founded an annual relationship conference for singles. I believe that it was these combined efforts that helped the book become successful.

JP: What is the most interesting response to Love Hangover that you can remember?

SR: The most interesting response was from a young man who stated that he was too embarrassed to admit that he’d also gone through a love hangover. He appreciated what the book was about and the fact that when he bought it, I didn’t call him out.

JP: What’s next for Shewanda Riley?

SR: I’m completing a book of prayers for writers called Writing to the Beat of God’s Heart and a fiction book.

http://www.shewandalriley.com/

The book was named an Essence best seller, endorsed by TD Jakes and Les Brown. It’s also been featured in JET Magazine, The Potter’s Touch TV show, USA Radio Networks and ABC Radio Networks. My contact info is info@shewandalriley.com or 972-533-3543. I’m also on Facebook.

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

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Stun Easley, author of The Shake

June 10, 2009 Joey Pinkney 1 Comment

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Stun Easley, author of The Shake
(iUniverse)

The Shake is a riveting novel that gives you an in depth look into a college world that consists of star athletes, interracial relationships, fraternities, politics and heated sexual relationships. Just when you think you will be able to predict what is going to happen next, you will be surprised on the ride that this novel takes you on.

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

Stun Easley: When I was in college, there was an incident that happened on campus. Two black baseball players got into a fight at a traditional white fraternity house. In response to the fight, some black students had a sit-in at the administration building. I remembered that when this was going on. I was thinking to myself that this would make a good story. The Shake is loosely based on this event.

JP: What did you learn from getting No Guarantees published that you were able to apply to The Shake?

SE: I knew that it was going to be hard to get a big time publishing company to publish me. When I was trying to get No Guarantees published, I had sent letters to over 50 publishing companies and 25 literary agencies. I had no luck. I did the same for The Shake. I still had no luck, so I published through iUniverse.com again.

JP: The common denominator between your two novels is the college settings. Was that by design?

SE: I actually started writing No Guarantees when I was in grad school and living on campus. At one point I was living in the fraternity house, and I would walk around with a notebook writing the book. No Guarantees is actually very loosely based on something that happen to me in college.

Once I finished No Guarantees, I already knew what my second book would be about. It was going to be about something that happened while I was still in college. I felt like I needed to tell that story, so that is why my second book was about college as well.

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

SE: I try to write a little bit a day. I am a very patient writer. By that I mean it may take me a while to finish a novel, but I will keep writing a little at a time until the story is told.

JP: What’s next for Stun Easley?

SE: I have completed two children’s chapter books. They are about 130 pages each. They are not published yet. I just finished the second one, so I am in the process of editing both books. Then will try to get the books publish by a mainstream publishing company.

As for as in the future, I have about 6 stories in my head. Half of them are children books and half are grown folk books. I am not decided yet on which direction I want to go with.

http://www.seasley.net/

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