Tag Archives: 5 minutes 5 questions with

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

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Reverend Deborah D. Jenkins, author of Leading Through Adversity

April 17, 2009 Joey Pinkney 1 Comment

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Rev. Deborah D. Jenkins, author of Leading Through Adversity
(Urban Christian Publishing)

Rev. Jenkins examines the lives and ministry of major biblical prophets including Daniel and Jesus Christ.Â She journeys through some of their most difficult challenges and apply their responses to today’s challenges to provide readers with clear and succinct lessons for leading even in challenging and adverse times.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Leading Through Adversity?

Rev. Deborah D. Jenkins: I began writing the book during my last year of seminary. There were so many questions in my mind about church and how decisions are made, favoritism, perversion of the Word of God, recognizing the will of God, etc.

I was unsure if I was in God’s will or had I become such a pawn in the way the church operates that I could no longer hear the voice of God. The book became a journey in self-discovery.Â Little did I know that the Lord was seeding me for my own ministry as church planting and founding Pastor of Faith @ Work Christian Church!

JP: What sets Leading Through Adversity apart from other motivational?

DDJ: Leading Through Adversity is a Leadership Manual for Christians. I like to believe there is also benefit to non-believers as well. It is a book of Lessons drawn from the lives and ministries of leading prophets in the Bible–chiefly Jesus Christ.

What distinguishes it from other leadership books is that I found it impossible to write a book on leadership that didn’t include youth leadership. In the middle of this powerful book is an entire chapter dedicated to the leaders of the church tomorrow.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Leading Through Adversity getting out to the public?

DDJ: I am uniquely blessed to have worked in the social services field for my entire secular career and as a result have met many wonderful people. As a result, my book has been able to transcend the church and be presented and used in workshops in many different venues. I have enjoyed great success with the book. If I increase my marketing efforts by 30%, my success would be that much greater.

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

DDJ: Because I am a preacher, I write on a consistent basis. That had prepared me for working within deadlines, structuring my writing and setting realistic goals. I am a very systematic writer. It took me a year to complete the book.

Believe or not, I did most of my writing on the crowded trains of the NYC Subway system. I believe that focus is the key to completing a writing project and indeed all tasks. I plan how much I want to achieve in a two hour period (which is the minimum time I allow per day) and set out to achieve my goal.

I am a deadline driven person, so I will give myself harsh deadlines which ensures that I complete 50-75% of the stated goal within a 60 day hard deadline. It’s a calculated game that I engage in with myself to turn out a finished product.

JP: What’s next for Rev. Deborah D. Jenkins?

DDJ: Well I am finishing my second book, Preparing the Princess to be Queen and prayerfully it will be completed by mid-May. I will begin an aggressive marketing program for that book. Hopefully hit more times than I miss.

I have actually started a more ambitious project called Dvineexpressions Book Club. We are rolling it out in two phases–the first of which is the 1st Annual Christian Self-Published Author (C-SPA) Book Awards. I am extremely excited about this because first it is not a money scheme. It is a project that I believe God has called me to lead.

There are so many anointed men and women of God who have been called to write books that will bring glory to God and reach many. That’s not easy, as I have found from time to time. I have gained a lot of experience and want to share it with others.

We are launching the awards at this year’s Book Expo America African American Pavilion. It will lend credibility, and exposure to industry leaders that may have an impact on these awesome authors. I am in a great place in ministry, business and most of all with my family.

http://dvineexpressionsbookclub.com
Facebook:Â Rev. Deborah D. Jenkins

Contact:Â Rev. Deborah D. Jenkins
Dvineexpressions Book Club
revdebjenkins@dvineexpressionsbookclub.com
dvinexpressions@aol.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 myspace.com/joeyreviews

Please click on the banners to learn more about each JoeyPinkney.com sponsor:

Advertise with JoeyPinkney.com for just $20 (click here).

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

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Dorie Williams-Wheeler, author of My Brother is a Baller

April 15, 2009 Joey Pinkney 1 Comment

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, author of My Brother is a Baller
(Sparkledoll Productions)

When Sheri Carmichael’s big brother Todd lands the #2 pick in the NBA draft, Sheri can’t do anything but watch her life change 100 miles per hour. Sheri was content living on the South Side.

After Todd finds himself playing for the NBA, Sheri and her mother move to the suburbs. Sheri finds herself having to transfer during her senior year of high school. New friends Jade and Megan befriend Sheri because her brother is an NBA player.

Courtside seats to a basketball game, a brand new car, a credit card with no limit and and a trip to the NBA All-Star game are among the perks that Todd lavishes onto his sister during her senior year of high school.

Immaturity, jealousy and money cause Sheri’s senior year of high school to spin completly out of control. Things get extra tense when Sheri’s on again off again boyfriend Rico loses control. With all of the distractions will Sheri even finish high school?Â Suddenly everything in life becomes a challenge for Sheri Carmichael.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write My Brother is a Baller?

Dorrie Williams-Wheeler: I used to be a big NBA fan. I was a huge fan of basketball. When I started writing the book, I was thinking that this was a good topic for young people. The book will introduce young and adult readers to the life of a professional basketball player. The main character in the book is named Sheri Carmichael. Sheri lives in the inner city of Chicago. When her brother Todd is drafted as the #2 pick in the NBA draft, Sheri’s entire life changes.

Sheri finds herself living in Todd’s shadow and soaking up the glory of the financial riches and the fun of traveling to various places such as the NBA All-Star Game. In the book, Sheri is exposed to dealing with people of another race for the first time when she transfers from her Chicago school to a school in the Chicago suburbs. The main theme of the book is going from a poor working life style to the life style of someone rich and newly famous.

JP: What sets My Brother is a Baller apart from other novels in its genre?

DWW: There are not many books about the lives of the siblings of professional basketball players. I thought it was really important to write a book about the life of the sister of a professional basketball player. The book is an exciting read at just under 200 pages, and it is age appropriate for high school students, college students and adults. It must be really exciting to have a brother who becomes an overnight celebrity, rich and popular.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to My Brother is a Baller getting out to the public?

DWW: My Brother Is A Baller is my fourth fiction title. It was important for me to get this book out while the topic was still fresh. There aren’t really many books written about the lives of basketball players. I have been sending out review copies of the book. I have been reaching out to various publications for features and interviews.

The book is reasonably priced and affordable for people of all lifestyles. I think that having an affordable book is key to moving units. I often give away free copies of the book just to spread the word about my author career. I promote the book on my celebrity interview website Thabiz.com.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish My Brother is a Baller?

DWW: As an author, I try to write as much as possible. I would write every day if my schedule permitted. It took me about 4 weeks of regular writing to write My Brother Is A Baller.

JP: What’s next for Dorrie Wheeler?

DWW: I’m working on two books. I’m working on a young adult book titled Young & Locked Up. I’m working on a sequel to my popular sorority book Be My Sorority Sister-Under Pressure.Â The sequel is going to be titled Be My Sorority Sister-Living Conditions. I think the sorority book will be well received. I try to write as much as possible.

When I am not writing I am interviewing celebrities for Thabiz.com. This year I have interviewed a new group titled Rich Girls. Popular producer Rich Harrison, who produced songs for Beyonce, is bringing this group out. I interviewed R&B singer Pleasure P who is a former member of the group Pretty Ricky. I appreciate the interview opportunities. I write reviews for my website http://thelatestreviews.com. I try to stay as busy as possible in between releases.

http://www.dorriewilliamswheeler.com
http://www.sparkledoll.com
http://www.myspace.com/sparkledoll

Dorrie Williams-Wheeler is an author, entertainment writer, and designer. She is the author of the fiction titlesÂ Sparkledoll Always Into Something, Be My Sorority Sister-Under Pressure andÂ She’s Out There Bad. Dorrie is the author of the best-selling non-fiction titleÂ The Unplanned Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students.

Dorrie has been featured in Seventeen Magazine, Infinite Greek Publication, The Virginian Pilot, Awareness Magazine, Disilgold Literary Review, Sister 2 Sister Magazine, Big City Intellect, Almaden Times, and The Industry Cosign among other publications.

Dorrie is the founder of the celebrity interview website http://thabiz.com and the pop culture website http://imissthe80s.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 myspace.com/joeyreviews

Please click on the banners to learn more about each JoeyPinkney.com sponsor:

Advertise with JoeyPinkney.com for just $20 (click here).

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

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Kiexizia Rodriguez-Green, author of BEautiful

April 14, 2009 Joey Pinkney 3 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Kiexizia Rodriguez-Green, author of BEautiful
(Lulu)

Tierra Rodriquez is a talented and successful business woman. She has to make her professional dreams come true, in spite of running from a painful past. In walks the handsome, smooth-talking client Malcolm Turner set on sweeping her off her feet, no matter the cost. When her best friend Aquarian shows up at her door after the death of a loved one and says it was that loved one’s dying wish that he reconnect with Tierra, life gets a little out of hand.

As she tries her hand at love with Malcolm, Aquarian is hit by a dunk driver. Malcolm isn’t happy about all time she’s spending at his bed side. When past secrets are revealed, her estranged mother shows up to help her get her life back together. Unexplained emotions begin to stir within her, leaving her confused and out of control for the first time in her life. Will the hours she’s been racking up on the therapist sofa rid her of her memories, or will her past continue to be the blinders that keeps her in the dark at the cost of all she has before her?

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

Kiexizia Rodriguez-Green: BEautiful is the result of my attempt to write my story. In the end, my life was too emotional, and this is the result of what my heart lead me to write…

JP: What sets BEautiful apart from other novels in its genre?

KRG: I think this book is set apart from the others because it’s not set in one genre. It has a little of several genres. There’s no sex nor violence. People think, “Oh my God, there’s no sex scenes! I don’t know if I’ll like it.” Once they read it, they find they love it! It leaves them on edge wanting to know what happens next.

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

KRG: When I wrote this book, I really had no idea of what I was doing, what to do once it was complete, anything! I basically took the advice of a friend who had just published a book herself and went from there. I told people, my church, my job, my school and online. I told everyone I knew and met. It actually kind of made me come out of my shell a bit.

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

KRG: As a single mother, before anything else, my writing process is limited to when I have free time: after work, after dinner and after putting kids to sleep. That leaves little time to create, so I bring my notebook with me everywhere I go just in case a plot comes to me. I jot a lot of stuff down on the fly. BEautiful took about two years to complete. It started off as a totally different book, then evolved into the novel it is today.

Question 5: What’s next for Kiexizia Rodriguez-Green?

KRG: Currently, I am overdue for my own time table for the sequel to BEautiful, entitled Loves Seduction. There are three more sequels planned, all ending with a final book combining all the characters again. Each sequel will take on the life of and introduce you more intimatly with characters introduced in BEutiful.

I am also currently cast in several plays locally. I continue to do book and music reviews for AAMBC.com and Fuze Magazine. I also promote for local venues that expose new and inide artist to the New England market through a montly venue called Organix Soul.

http://www.lulu.com/mistiger
http://www.myspace.com/mistiger
www.youtube.com/kiexiza
mistiger02@yahoo.com
kiexizarodriquez@yahoo.com
413-886-7803

BEautiful was nominated for best new book in 2008, and Kiexizia Rodriguez-Green is nominated for Best New Author for 2008 with AAMBC (African Americans on the Move Book Club).

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 myspace.com/joeyreviews

Please click on the banners to learn more about each JoeyPinkney.com sponsor:

Advertise with JoeyPinkney.com for just $20 (click here).

your favorite book reviewer's favorite book reviewer… period!