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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Patricia Neely-Dorsey, author of Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia

February 22, 2009 Joey Pinkney 4 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Patricia Neely-Dorsey, author of Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia
(GrantHouse Publishers)

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia?

Patricia Neely-Dorsey: I didn’t really intentionally try to come up with an idea for a book or intentionally try to write a book. It all sort of just fell/landed in my lap. I woke up on Valentine’s Day February 2007 with a poem dancing around in my head. I quickly got up and scribbled it down. The rest, as they say, is history. After that day, poems just started pouring out. They just keep coming and coming day after day. In about two months, I had well over 200 poems. A friend of mine was very instrumental, and I guess you would say inspirational in encouraging me to publish them in book form.

JP: What sets Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia apart from other collections of poetry?

PND: I think that all poetry is very unique and individual like a fingerprint because of where it comes from. Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia is a collection that essentially chronicles my whole life up until this present time. The book includes poems about things that happened to my parents before I was born, my early childhood growing up in Mississippi, my college years in Boston, meeting my husband on a blind date, love, marriage, my son, and thoughts about mid-life…where I am now ( the Fabulous Forties). Specifically, it is my life in poems. Generally, it is a true celebration of the south and things southern. One reader called it a “love letter to the South”

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia getting out to the public?

PND: I always rely on what I call Patricia’s P-Attitudes: Positivity – staying positive, believing in the dream, believing in myself and the book. Perseverance – never giving up. Persistence – being relentless and never taking no as a final answer. The forth one which was something I have had to really work on and learn is Patience, but it pays off in the end. The answer or outcome that you seek may take a minute! You just have to hold on. These P-Attitudes translate, of course, to every area of life.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia?

PND: That’s funny. I don’t really have a process. I just write the poems down as they come. That can be at any time and any place (very often in my car). The entire process from writing my first poem (Feb 2007) to the actual publication of the book (Feb 2008) took exactly one year. The actual publication process which included the submission of the poems, editing, proofing, cover design, and all that took less than two months. The poems was submitted the first week of January 2008 , all of the appropriate changes and additions were done and the book arrived at my door February 22, 2008

JP: What’s next for Patricia Neely-Dorsey?

PND: To infinity and beyond! (LOL) Well, I’m hoping that this book will have widespread, mass appeal and be wonderfully successful. I have enough poems for several books, so those are certainly down the line. My publisher would like for me to do an illustrated children’s book with age-appropriate selections from Reflections of a Mississippi Magnolia. That is definitely a possibility in the near future.

www.myspace.com/patricianeelydorsey

http://www.patricianeelydorsey.webs.com/

Excellent printing brochures available at PsPrint

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Thomas Overton, author of Murder with a Deadly Weapon

February 9, 2009 Joey Pinkney

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Thomas Overton, author of Murder with a Deadly Weapon
(Live to Die Publishing)

When a Glock nine-millimeter is snatched from a pawnshop by two would-be robbers, it embarks on a wild journey. From the hood to the ‘burbs and back again, this gun is a vehicle for murder. The Glock reaches the hands of several individuals and is used as the weapon for diverse malicious crimes. Detectives Peterson and James are determined to locate the whereabouts of this deadly weapon, but realize the task at hand is more difficult than they expected. Why? Villains, more often, move faster than law officials. After a person is killed and another gun goes unrecoverable, who will be the next to be murdered with an undiscovered deadly weapon? If it fell into your hands, what would you do?

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Murder with a Deadly Weapon?

Thomas Overton: I was serving a two-year sentence in prison, and thatÂ is where IÂ became inspired to write. Out of boredom, and the fact that there was nothing else to do, I came up with the concept.Â I began to wonder whatever happened to the first two guns I owned. I remembered my cousin giving me a gun to handle some business with at one point in my life. Because of theÂ mass gunÂ violence that takes place in our streets these days and personal life experiences, I thought that a gun with aÂ voice that travels from hand to hand would be an excellent concept.

JP: What sets Murder with a Deadly Weapon apart from other novels in its genre?

TO: It’s not the same old street lit: girl meets drug dealer, they go through some drama, they end up either dead, in jail, etc….. That’s the same old stuff. I like to write about different things that go on in the streets. AndÂ the a gun that travels is definitely reality.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Murder with a Deadly Weapon getting out to the public?

TO: I’ve only been out for a few weeks now. It has been difficult getting out to the masses, but Terry Woods said it best. She said, “At first no one will buy your book. After one or two readers embrace the story, masses of others will follow.”Â So…. I’m just waiting on the masses. I haven’t gotten any bad responses, so that’s a blessing. Just keepin’ it movin’ is what I’ll have to do.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Murder with a Deadly Weapon?

TO: I usually try to write something everyday. A sentence, a paragraph, a page, etc…until the story is complete. When I was in college, my professors use to tell me that I was a good writer. So, when I got to prison, I just expanded what the college teachers use to compliment me on. After I read True to the Game and Bloody Money 1 by Leodrei Prince, I decided to write my own tale. Originally while incarcerated, I self-taught myself how to write a screenplay. Murder With aÂ Deadly Weapon was originally a movie script,Â however Leodrei Prince andÂ my baby-mama convinced me to convert it into a novel. Plus, it was easier to shop that way. It took me about 3 months toÂ do the conversion, but I liked theÂ novel writing process. ItÂ allows me to express my full vision of what is going on in the story.

JP: What’s next for Thomas Overton?

TO: I’m working on three novels at once. (1.) Keys to the Franchise is about five drug dealers who come up in the game to purchase a professional football franchise but will they see their dream come to life. That’s actually done already. (2.) It Was All Good Just a Week Ago is about a woman who is on top, however, takes a trip to the bottom of the food chain after she looses her job, relationships, and her freedom. When she decides that enough is enough, she devises a plan to get back on top. (3.) Now Who has the Last Laugh which isÂ a tale about a young black man with ambitions to be a successful entrepreneur, but negativity surrounds his lifestyle.Â He struggles to survive the clutchesÂ of life in a way that all ambitious black menÂ can relate to. Also, look outÂ forÂ “THE URBAN BOOK OUTLET.” An online bookstore strictly for the urban reader and/or the urban author to promote andÂ sellÂ his/her work.

www.myspace.com/livetodiepub

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Adra Young, author of The Everyday Living of Children & Teens Monologues

February 5, 2009 Joey Pinkney 1 Comment

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Adra Young, author of The Everyday Living of Children & Teens Monologues
(Trafford Publishing)

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write The Everyday Living of Children & Teens Monologues?

Adra Young: The idea to write the books evolved from two situations. First, I am educator. I was looking for solutions to reduce the number of suspensions to kids that face and bring overwhelming issues to school. Acting has so many great components. Since each act in my book is based upon real life stories of what kids are faced with, I figured that troubled children could recite the acts and utilize the situations as a positive outlet. The second situation is that I have a background in acting. As an acting coach, I wanted fun and exciting situations for kids to recite, learn, and deliver on stage that would prepare them for various types of auditions.

JP: What was it about Volume 1 of this series that prompted you to write Volume II?

AY: Believe it or not, Volume II was written because of the request of my fans. They kept asking, “Adra, when is Volume II coming?” I felt like it was my duty to complete it and not let my readers down.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to The Everyday Living of Children & Teens Monologues II getting out to the public?

AY: Some of the vital keys I used as a new author were advanced promoting and communicating directly with individuals who my type and style of writing appealed to. As far as promoting, I’m not just talking about two weeks in advance. Volume II was released November 15^th. 2008. I started promoting the release of this book in September of 2008.

Another success tactic I used was getting acquainted with parents, teachers, children desiring to become actors, and troubled youth. I asked questions such as, “Could you honestly see your self purchasing my product to help you solve a problem?” and “Could you see yourself purchasing the guide to help increase your child’s performance skills?”

JP: What has been the public’s reaction to your books so far?

AY: I’ve been told everything from “it’s about time an educator started keeping it real” to “keep up the good work!” In addition, I’ve also been told that I made an awesome attempt to tackle two problems and solve them both with a unique approach. This being providing exciting materials for youngsters to improve their dramatization skills, and of-course, providing a positive outlet for today’s troubled youth.

JP: What’s next for Adra Young?

AY: Wild… It’s funny you asked Joey. I am in the process of increasing and expanding my performing arts company titled, Ardannyl through out the South East Region of Michigan. In addition, there is a monologue show that I am writing and producing based strictly upon the concerns some of women I’ve come into contact with. There is a book on hold that I am currently working on as a co-author with Parent Activist Cheryl Lynn Pope, the author of 25 Ways to Make Your Child Feel Special. I am in the process of trying to decide should I conclude the monologue series with a Volume III or should I just move on with my fiction series since both Volumes I and II are both categorized as non-fiction. As you can see, I have irons in the fire.

www.ardannyl.com

www.myspace.com/ardannyl

www.amazon.com

*In May of 2006, Adra Young was nominated Outstanding Educator for the Detroit Communities In Schools Award

*In April of 2007, Adra Young was presented with Certificate of Appreciation from the Detroit Youth Foundation

*In June of 2008, Adra Young was the featured author for Ronald Brown Academy of Detroit, MI

Adra Young can be reached at 313-729-2573.

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 http://myspace.com/joeyreviews

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