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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Buzzy Jackson, author of Shaking the Family Tree

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Buzzy Jackson, author of Shaking the Family Tree
(Touchstone/Fireside)

Historian Buzzy Jackson’s SHAKING THE FAMILY TREE: Blue Bloods, Black Sheep, and Other Obsessions of an Accidental Genealogist (Simon & Schuster: July 2010) offers a lively tour through the strange and fascinating subculture of genealogy buffs – a quest that begins with questions about her own family tree, then takes her from the archives of the Mormon church, to a dedicated “genealogy cruise” and even into a lab for a DNA test — all to figure out why the pursuit of our past fascinates so many Americans.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Shaking the Family Tree?

Buzzy Jackson: I spent seven years getting a PhD in History from UC Berkeley and, during that time, students I taught often asked me why there weren’t more Continue reading 5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Buzzy Jackson, author of Shaking the Family Tree →

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… Victoria Christoper Murray, author of Sins of the Mother

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Victoria Christopher Murray, author of Sins of the Mother
(Simon and Schuster, Touchstone/Fireside)

Sins of the Mother is the story of Jasmine Bush finally having to pay for the sins she’s committed in her past. When her daughter is kidnapped from a new mall during the Christmas season, Jasmine has to wonder if her past has finally caught up to her? Will her daughter be found or will Jasmine pay the ultimate price.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Sins of the Mother?

Victoria Christopher Murray: I lived in New York in the late seventies, early eighties when a young boy by the name of Etan Patz disappeared. It was the first time any of us had heard about a child abduction. (It’s much too common now.)

I remember praying for days and weeks for not only the young boy, but for his mother. I couldn’t imagine how she was able to put her head down at night, how she could have any other thoughts besides those of her son. And since he was never found, I wondered what her life would be like as the months and years passed. This was a subject I wanted to explore.

JP: What sets Sins of the Mother apart from other novels in its genre?

VCM: Wow, interesting question. I guess that I write my novels, and other authors write theirs. We all bring our own styles, experiences, strengths. Many would say that my novels are edgier than most. I’m not sure that I know what that means. Yes, there’s sex in my books, but isn’t there sex in life? Yes, I have people who do outrageous things, but don’t we all have at least one outrageous person in our life?

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

VCM: The first thing is that I stay in touch with my readers throughout the year. I stay engaged, whether or not I have a new book. I do this through newsletters and social networks, especially Facebook. The second part of my success is my publisher. Years ago, Simon and Schuster assigned a publicist to my novels, and I’m still working with Shida Carr. She is amazing and works very hard on getting the word out about my novels.

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

VCM: I usually get only about a year to work on a book. Now, that’s not all writing…I spend most of the time thinking about the novel, working the characters out in my head and working on the outline. Actual sit down and write, probably four months. But most of it has already been worked out.

JP: What’s next for Victoria Christopher Murray?

VCM: My next novel, The Cougar (working title), is about a woman who’s been offered five million to give up her husband (to another woman) for a weekend. That book comes out in June, 2011.

http://www.victoriachristophermurray.com/
http://www.facebook.com/victoriachristophermurray

I have been blessed. My first novel, Temptation, was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literature (2001). Joy is the winner of the Golden Pen Award (2002). Have also won several African American Literary Awards including: Best Christian Fiction, Best Fiction, and Author of the Year.

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Essense Best Seller Big Boom, author of How to Duck a Suckah

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Essence Best Selling Author Big Boom, author of How To Duck a Suckah: A Guide to Living a Drama-Free Life
(Fireside Books)

big boom headshot how to duck a suckah book cover

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

Big Boom, a.k.a the “Bodyguard to Women’s Hearts” hit a nerve with his straightforward advice in If You Want Closure in Your Relationship, Start with Your Legs (June 2007). Big Boom returned in the same vein with raw, uncensored advice in his new book How To Duck a Suckah: A Guide to Living a Drama-Free Life.

In How To Duck a Suckah, Boom explains his controversial past and why he has decided to take a stand against suckahs by guiding women out of the “sitting duck syndrome”. Boom says, “Men are always looking for something to catch or shoot and if you aren’t careful you will be their next target”. A relationship book designed specifically to empower women and safeguard them physically, mentally and emotionally, How To Duck a Suckah helps women duck that potentially hazardous relationship.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write How to Duck a Suckah?

Big Boom: The idea to write How to Duck a Suckah came from my first book If You Want Closure In Your Relationship Start With Your Legs. I felt like I had more to say and wanted to get women out of that ‘Sitting Duck’ syndrome and influence their decisions to lead a healthy, rich, drama-free lives. I decided to express that sentiment in How to Duck a Suckah.

JP: What sets How to Duck a Suckah apart from other novels in its genre?

BB: How to Duck a Suckah is nonfiction. From what I’ve been told, women love the truth whether they can handle it or not. This is what sets my books apart from other titles on relationships. I try to be as honest as possible, but I try to do it with love and support. It’s the culmination of my life experience, common sense and its coming straight from the heart.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to How to Duck a Suckah getting out to the public?

BB: Wanting to make a change and help one woman to have a happy, loving life. Believe that your book will help, inspire, motivate and change someone. I believe I have an authentic message that needs to be told, and I try to do that publicly.

A good marketing and publicity plan (lectures, book signings and interviews), promotional material to hand out to the public and never assume that everyone already knows about your books.

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

BB: My first process, I put all my information on a hand held recorder. Second, I get my ghost writer to transcribe it into a book form. Third, it’s read to me over the telephone. I make changes via telephone even while traveling! Six months later I have a master piece. Not bad for a man with no formal education…

JP: What’s next for Big Boom?

BB: Since I’m known for telling the truth, my next book is going to tell women what men really want them to know about themselves. This a danger zone! Somebody must do it! What better person then me, a person that cares and has a proven track record of delivering with sincerity.

www.bigboombooks.com
www.bodyguardforwomenhearts.com
www.myspace.com/bigboombooks

If You Want Closure in Your Relationship, Start with Your Legs and How to Duck a Suckah are both Essence Best Sellers.

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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