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

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Deaubrey Devine, author of Destiny Hope Faith Divine

March 3, 2009 Joey Pinkney 1 Comment

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Deaubrey Devine, author of Destiny Hope Faith Divine
(Vision 7 Publishing)

Enter into the lives of four characters walking through the storms of relationships to their Destiny by Hope, with Faith, and Divine intervention.

Divine is a single brother whoÂ live life as it comes. He gets in with a successful businesswoman named Faith who has some deep-rooted psychotic traits. He tries to shake the master manipulator by getting off the market and marrying Destiny, only to find out her confliction and unstableness is more than he can bear.Â After connecting again with his high school sweetheart, Hope, he finds out she is experiencing the same tribulations with her man.

The two find themselves offering encouragement, helping hands and listening ears as they hurdle their relationship obstacles. Soon, Divine finds himself caught in a love triangle that is anything but simple. This tantalizing novel filled with passionate love, electrifying drama, and climatic triumph makes this read a must-have for every reader’s bookshelf.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Destiny Hope Faith Divine?

Deaubrey Devine: I’ve always desired to have a little girl named Destiny Hope Faith with my last name Devine. I have always had a special affection for those wordsÂ because they all are very powerful. Alone, they are powerful. Combined, they are life-giving. As an author, the intrigue of the names sparked me to create a novel using characters with the names I adore.

JP: What sets Destiny Hope Faith Divine apart from other novels in its genre?

DD: Destiny Hope Faith Divine is set apart from other novels in its genre because it has it all. It is a smoothÂ read that allows readers to become one with the characters and scenes in the book. Everyone can relate toÂ the relationships plus the religious and sexual plots that entertains on this emotional roller coaster.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Destiny Hope Faith Divine getting out to the public?

DD: As an author, the real work begins when the promoting of the book starts. The keys to getting Destiny Hope Faith Divine onto the shelves and into hands of my readers is sheer drive and determination. I have been out and about in the public attending conferences and networking events and interviews. I have also visited book festivals and book club meetings. Some of my ventures also include hiring promotional marketing professionals along with text messaging alerts and blogs.

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

DD: As a newÂ author, my writing process is still being defined. I do have the attitude of staying focused until completion. My daily motto is “Faith without works is dead”. I push myself and avoid procrastination at all cost.Â Completing this novel was like completing a life long dream. From start to finish, I am going to say roughly around 7months.

JP: What’s next for Deaubrey Devine?

DD: My journey continues with my next novel My Purpose. Allow me to give you a little insight into my next book: It is the story of a young kid growing up through the mist of trials and tribulations. This book is a good read for parents, students, coaches, athletes, and young adults. All will be touched and inspired by this novel that’s due to be released in March.

www.deaubreydevine.com
www.myspace.com/deaubrey

Hello! My name is Deaubrey Devine (pronounced Dee-au-bray…De-vine). I am from Lakeland, FL, and I’m the author of Destiny Hope Faith Divine.Â I graduated from the University of Central Florida in Orlando where I received my bachelor’s degree, majoring in Health with two minors in Criminal Justice and Education.Â My multiple areas of study have allowed me to teach and reach lives in different ways.

My talent for writing was exposed and connected when I decided to pick up a pen to pursue a career as a novelist after my professional football career ended in 2007.Â I asked God to use me as an open vessel and allow my passion for writing to encourage and inspire others.

I enjoy spending quality time with my family when I’m not writing, reading, plotting or planning. I also enjoy exploring new adventures, a nice cookout, times of fellowship, meeting other writers and readers in the publishing and book industry.

Other things I like to do in my spare time include: playing chess, poker, traveling, basketball, a good ole Spades game, movies, bowling, skating, Scrabble, attending conferences and learning new things. I just enjoy living life abundantly while looking for peace, joy and happiness. That’s me, all me, all the time, I am…

Deaubrey Devine

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Dashaun “Jiwe” Morris, author of The War of the Bloods in My Veins

March 2, 2009 Joey Pinkney

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Dashaun Jiwe Morris, author of War of the Bloods in My Veins
(Scribner)

At age 9 Jiwe’s mother, battling a drug addiction, sent him far awayÂ to live with relatives. Two years later, the streets finally forced him to commit his first drive by, initiating him into a hellish life of gang bangin’. By age 25, while sitting in a jail cell fighting a charge of attempted murder, and awaiting the birth of his first child, Jiwe had enough. He began penning hisÂ memoir as a form of personal therapy, as a way to warn parents, and as a way educate society why food, shelter, and clothing are not enough to keep our kids from the clutches of the streets.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write War of the Bloods in My Veins?

Dashaun Jiwe Morris: The inspiration came from me sitting in a prison cell with the idea of having to raise my daughter from behind that wall. Sitting in isolation gave me the time I needed to really take a look at my life. It allowed me to dig deep and focus on where I had been, where I was and where I wanted to go. And one thing was for certain, I wasn’t trying to raise my daughter while in prison.

JP: What sets your story apart from other memoirs written by gang members making a change forÂ the better?

DJM: I just think I was able to capture more of the emotional toll gang life has on us. I didn’t focus much on the war stories as much as the psychological tear it had on me. I wanted to put a human face to the guy behind the gun and bandana. I wanted to talk directly to the YG’s still out there lost and hopeless, and I wanted to speak directly to the women that are raising them.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to War of the Bloods in My VeinsÂ getting out to the public?

DJM: The key to my success was taking a chance. I stepped out and spoke on my pain. I invited specific people into my life in return for healing. I did what I think most who come from where I come from fear doing: change.

JP: Gangs are very close knit and secretive. How are you able to explore and explain your life withoutÂ backlash from the Bloods?

DJM: First off, I got permission from my elders to speak. But secondly, that’s a silly stereotype homie. That is so 70’s and 80’s back when Bloods and Crips were relatively new. Its nothing going in in gang life now that the world or the powers to be don’t know about. I didn’t talk about things like how operations were ran or the list of OG’s top to bottom. I spoke on my life, myself and what I’ve been through. No different than how rappers and singers express and speak on their pain and life stories in their lyrics.Â I just did it in the form of a book. Plus, I’m well respected around this country. So many of my peers, elders and youngsters are proud of what I was able to do. Just know many of us want a better life.

JP: What’s next for Dashaun Jiwe Morris?

DJM: I’ve already begun to work on my second book. It’s part two to War of the Bloods in my veins. I have a documentary I’m featured in coming out on the Sundance Channel in September of 2009 produced by Forest Whitaker, Marc Levin, and Mark Benjamin. Its a six-part 30 minutes series exploring the challenges of my city, Newark, NJ. Lastly, I have a movie option in place as we speak. Marc Levin will direct the movie to my book, so that will be set to hit theaters in 2010. I’ve been pretty busy with traveling and speaking. I’m thankful and blessed to have the opportunity to give back and make some positive change in my life.

http://JiweEra.com
warofthebloods@jiweera.com

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Charazz, author of Redrum

February 28, 2009 Joey Pinkney 1 Comment

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Charazz, author of Redrum

Mike and Daquan are cousins by blood, but become brothers by circumstance. In a New York minute, Mike is exposed to the death of his uncle Will at an early age. That same death equally affects Daquan, whose father (Mike’s uncle) was snatched away without warning. Daquan and Mike take to naturally take to hustling in the streets of Jamaica Queens in their late teens.

Their crew is rounded out by Sean and Kevin. The four teenagers find a dead spot on 118th and begin to turn it into an empire. The only problem is that they are cutting into the profits of the nearby drug gang known as the Young Gunz. Fronted by drug lord BK, Mike and his crew are hungry to make it happen. With BK as their supplier, they have the materials and the clout to take over the block. Things are moving, and money is being made hand over fist.

In a game of kill or be killed, eat or be eaten…can they survive the game long enough to get out of it? Or will they live up to the saying, “Live by the gun, die by the gun?”

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

Charazz: Being incarcerated for many years, I began to see myself as a liability to my family. I wanted to do something I felt would benefit them financially as well as make them proud in spite of my incarceration. I remember one day while in the “box” another inmate had written a book, and I told him I wish I could do that. He said “you can”. From there, I felt my story of my life should be told.

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

C: Redrum is a fiction novel based on real facts and events from my life! I’m telling a story from personal knowledge, not research or second hand. It’s raw and gritty. It’s the realest you’ll get to being indicted. (Ha ha.)

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

C: The key to my success lies in strong family support and my belief in a higher being other than myself. It was the commitment, the trust and the dedication of a woman named Michelle Lee York who believed that Redrum was a story that should not be kept a secret. She worked by my side to see how Redrum could be published while being incarcerated,and connected with C & B Book distribution which has provided the exposure I need in becoming a successful author.

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

C: Well let me say I have no formal writing training or education in becoming an author. Everything I taught myself through countless hours in the library doing research on perfecting my skills. There are two ways I begin the process. One is being with a basic outline of my thoughts, then plugging in ideas as they come to mind. Second is just simple free-flow. I like to think it’s like a movie in my mind and scenes is created as the day goes by. Remember, I have a lot time to think about all kinds of stuff behind these concrete walls.

JP: What’sÂ next for Charazz?

C: Man, I’m just going to keep writing and the hope to be able to interact with my readers soon. Coming out in late January is the release of my second novel Caught In The Game. I am working on a third, but I would like to finish that upon release.

Joey “Thank You” for this opportunity and I’m glad you enjoyed reading Redrum. As my skills improve, I promise to keep my readers coming back for more! Get your copy of Caught In The Game now!

Charazz York, born and raised in South Jamaica, Queens. He found his hidden talent to write a story while he serves timeÂ in a New York Correctional facility. Redrum isÂ his first self-published fiction novel, soon to be released is his second “CaughtÂ Up In The Game.”

Charazz is a certified Braille transcriber from the Library of Congress. He is a facilitator of Vassar College program called ” Bridging The Gap” at Otisville Correctional and a board member of the Glam4Life organization which is a community outreach program for minorities suffering from mental illness and suicide prevention San Diego, CA. Charazz also holds a associate degree in business.

Charazz welcomes letters from his readers. Â Letters can be sent to:

Charazz York 94A5091
Box 8
Otisville, NY 10963

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