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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Barbara Grovner, author of We Belong Together

December 27, 2008 Joey Pinkney

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Barbara Grovner, author of We Belong Together
(Third Eye Publishing)

Step into the mind boggling world of Mavis Rollins, a woman who wants her granddaughter to marry Makai Wilson, the grandson of the wealthy woman who stole her very own husband back in the day. While raising her granddaughter Sandy, she manages to brainwash her into believing she is destined to spend her life with Makai.

Sandy actually yearns for Makai but is disappointed when her best friend Kara meets him and falls in love with him. It seems Kara never knew about Sandy’s unnatural feelings for Makai., a perpetual charmer. After deceiving Kara with two beautiful women, she throws him out of their home. Kara is found dead in the parking garage near her job, and things begin to heat up. When the police begin digging around, the truth unfolds and secrets come tumbling out. Lives begin to unravel, revealing jealousy and raw rage, crazy relationships and most disturbing, pure insanity at its most dangerously evil depth and somehow, someway, justice must be served.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write We Belong Together?

Barbara Grovner: The idea for We Belong Together simply popped into my head. I was actually trying to out-do my last novel Even Numbers. That novel is about child molestation, which is a very serious topic. I am still hoping to keep the subject of child molestation in the forefront of our minds particularly for single mothers who are dating. Please pick up a copy of Even Numbers as well.

With We Belong Together which by the way releases on December 27th 2008, my love for “who-done-it” types of stories emerged and my story became a sort of quirky, crazy murder mystery loaded with colorful characters and insane dialog.

JP: What sets We Belong Together apart from other novels in its genre?

BG: The differences from this murder mystery “who-done-it” and others is the fact that there are so many other things going on apart from the murder. Things like infidelity, plotting and scheming, a little same-sex encounter as well is coupled with the most raw rage ever. The emotion within the scenes will prompt you to check all of your own feelings and your own opinions as well.

JP: This novel has elements of mystery, romance and erotica. How were you able to mix these genres together and maintain the integrity at the same time?

BG: The mixture of romance, mystery and erotica is actually how many of our own lives are lived. LOL. You may even find a bit about yourself within the pages.

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

BG: I still write “old-school.” I use notebooks (paper ones) and hand write almost constantly. Then I transfer to the computer. This gives me a chance to add material as well as edit as I go along instead of backtracking. Sounds complicated, I’m sure, but it works for me.

JP: What’s next for Barbara Grovner?

BG: Currently I am working on the sequel to We Belong Together. The publishing company I am currently working with is not taking submissions of this type at this time. I would love to have both books published under the same company, but I am currently looking for another publisher. I have looked into a few promising possibilities, but…I’m open for invitations and points in the right direction. (WINK).

Also, I have been doing some editing, especially for young authors who are writing their first manuscripts. I offer extremely low prices and an especially lower rate if the author is enrolled in some sort of school. I’m all about promoting education. For authors I can be reached at bgrovner@hotmail.com for editing questions.

For inquired and for more info on my books, please check me out on my MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/barbaragrovner.

Thanks so much for the chance to speak with readers and again thanks so much for your support.

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5 Mintues, 5 Questions With… Angel Mechelle, author of Another Man’s Husband

December 18, 2008 Joey Pinkney

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Angel Mechelle, author of Another Woman’s Husband
(Shannon Holmes Communication Media)

Bree Michaels is young, sexy, single and raising two children alone. As if being single was not bad enough, Bree has a problem: she misses having that special someone in her life. It’s been a while, but Bree isn’t desperate or even looking for love when things jump off.

She never wanted to be someone’s slide and definitely never wanted to be the other woman . In Bree’s mind, she was a catch, wifey material. It was when she met Dre, her fine and married neighbor when all her self-control and morals flew out the window.

Bree surprises herself by her willingness to compromise her soul to be with Dre. Things get hectic when Dre’s wife Neecy begins to suspect the true nature of the friendship between Bree and Dre. Neecy goes crazy when she learns the truth. Neecy vows not to let Bree break up her family or take her man not without a fight.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Another Woman’s Husband?

Angel Mechelle: Another Woman’s Husband is inspired by actual events. I knew that many women were in similar situations, and I wanted to share this story.

JP: How is novel different from other urban fiction that deal with adulterous situations in the ‘hood?

AM: I feel that Another Woman’s Husband is written from such a real perspective. The story connects with most readers on a personal level. They can relate in some way. Readers feel like they are actually reading about someone they know. Another Woman’s Husband is not just a story…it is someone’s life.

JP: How did you hook up with Shannon Holmes publishing company?

AM: I hooked up with Shannon’s company through MySpace. He was calling for submissions to the Anthology Hood2Hood. I submitted a short story and, to my amazement, it was chosen. He also read a little about the book on my page and was interested in reading the entire manuscript. Thankfully, he enjoyed it and offered to publish it. That was a complete blessing that hanged my life.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Another Woman’s Husband?

AM: I really try to write the most at night. That is when I feel most relaxed. Sometimes I write a little during downtime at work, and I absolutely have to have music! I usually pop in a CD according to my mood, slide on the headphones and let the story come. Lyrics inspire me tremendously. Another Woman’s Husband took a little over a year to complete. I re-read and re-wrote that story over five hundred times…easy.

JP: What’s next for Angel Mechelle?

AM: Ohmygoodness! So much. I’m excited about the future. I have a short story featured in the upcoming Anthology Flirt. I’m also working on a couple of projects right now related to Another Woman’s Husband. Women wanted a sequel, and that is definitely coming. Before I do that, I’m working on sort of a prequel. You wanted to know all about Bree and her life and what made her make the choices she did, and I’m going to tell you. Readers want to know Neecy’s side of the story too. The possibilities are endless, for Another Woman’s Husband.

http://www.myspace.com/writeordiechic

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Seth Ferranti, author of Street Legends Volume 1

November 24, 2008 Joey Pinkney 2 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Seth Ferranti, author of Street Legends: Vol 1
(Gorrilla Convict Publications)

(click the pictures to see this book on Amazon.com)

Joey Pinkney: Why were you inspired to write Street Legends: Vol 1 about these famous drug dealers even though they are household names in the hood right now?

Seth Ferranti: I’ve been doing stories for Don Diva since the jump, like 2000 or so. I was doing little pieces about dudes in prison for the Behind the Wall section. In 2004 I was transferred to FCI Gilmer in West Virginia, and Kenneth “Supreme” McGriff was there. He was corresponding with Don Diva regularly about possibly doing an interview or story with them.

Through our mutual acquaintance with Don Diva, we hooked up and started hanging out. By the time he was indicted on the Murder Inc. case he had decided to let me write the piece about him for Don Diva, so I did. That was my first cover story. From there I just ran with it doing several more cover and feature stories for Don Diva and other magazines.

I was always intrigued by all that gangster stuff and the mystique surrounding these guys. As I looked around I found that a lot of these dudes’ co-defendants, homies and relatives were all around me. So it was almost like a natural progression for me. I want to do for these dudes what the writers back in the old west did for Billy the Kid and their ilk because for real these guys are heroes in a way, outlaw heroes. America has always been fascinated with its outlaw-heroes, just look at Pablo Escobar and John Gotti.

JP: How are you able to get up close and personal and secure what seems to be incriminating information about people who are well connected?

SF: I’m in prison and have been for the past 16 years. I know a lot of dudes, dudes who were down with these legends and come from the same hoods they do, the same eras. I get most of my facts, if you want to call them that, from court records and newspaper articles. But I don’t just write the mainstream media side, I go to their homies, co-defendants and partners to get the real story.

I want to portray these street legends in a human light, to look past what the government says about them and what was proved in court. I want to give an overall picture of the person and their circumstances. I cover the story from all angles and tell it from the criminal side, and I always seek to get permission or get as close to the source as possible. Like I said, I know Supreme he is a personal friend of mine and some of these other dudes I know their co-defendants or dudes that ran with them on the streets.

JP: It’s been said that Life is stranger than fiction. Will Street Legends: Vol 1 hold true to this statement?

SF: Definitely, some of the stuff in this book you will not believe. I give it to you raw and uncensored, live from behind the wall. These dudes are all real life movie stars. They are modern day Billy the Kids. F*ck Frank Lucas and American Gangster, these guys are the real O.G.’s.

JP: How long did it take you to gather and compile the information that became Street Legends: Vol 1?

SF: Not long, maybe about a year. I just reached out to dudes I know and got it all together. They either wanted to be a part of the project or not. I’m in here, so dudes know I’m not out to exploit them or twist their words I’m here to cement their legends. This is history. This is no different then all the Italian mafia stuff and Colombian cocaine cartels stuff. These dudes were real legit ballers who played for keeps. They are legends, and I am the gangster chronicler. I do it like Don Diva, Street Elements and Feds, but I go deeper and provide the whole story for readers.

JP: What’s next for Seth Ferranti?

SF: I am working on Street Legends Volume 2 and a Supreme Team book. I have a street lit book, Murder Capital that I am putting the finishing touches on also. I’m trying to build my name and my brand from the penitentiary. Order my books and check out my blog at www.gorillaconvict.com.

Thank you.

www.gorillaconvict.com
www.myspace.com/gorillaconvict
www.myspace.com/soulmanseth
www.prisoner083.com

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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

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