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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… K.L. Brady, author of The Bum Magnet

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
K.L. Brady, author of The Bum Magnet
(LadyLit Press)

(One of the first ten people to comment on K.L. Brady’s author interview, after the special comment, will win a free copy of The Bum Magnet.)

Congratulations, Natalyne! She won a free copy of The Bum Magnet by K.L. Brady.

Real estate agent Charisse Tyson seems to have it all: a great job, a dream car and a McMansion in “high-and-mightyville”. Everything in her life is just right…except the Mister. While lamenting the break-up with her most recent “the one” during a holiday meltdown, Charisse realizes she has a type when it comes to men: players, players…and more players.

A magazine article motivates her to swear off men and examine the complex roots of her romantic fiascoes. Laugh loud and often as Charisse discovers whether her choices in men reflect more than a penchant for good looks, great sex and bad judgment.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write The Bum Magnet?

K.L. Brady: The story came to me in an epiphany as I was reading a self-help article about dieting. I laughed to myself because I thought, “How many of these dang articles have I read?” They give you 12 steps, and the first I do in my mind is negotiate. “Well, I don’t have to walk two miles a day, maybe just two blocks” or “I can eat vegetables three times a day, but I’m going to eat them with fried chicken.” Yet, I still expect to lose 112 pounds.

So, I thought I’d write a story about a woman who attracts players. She knows it’s a pattern in her life that she needs to stop. She sees a self-help article about emotional baggage and toxic men, and one of the suggestions is a “man diet.” Just like a dieter that drives past the McDonald’s, stops for “one little Big Mac” and knows full well she should go home and eat a carrot stick, the main character Charisse stops for a big “something else.” That’s how her journey begins.

JP: Many women tend to question their decision-making capabilities after suffering a string of bad relationships. What does The Bum Magnet offer in terms of insight for women in this predicament?

KLB: I think the most important thing The Bum Magnet offers women in this predicament is accountability. It tells women to stop pointing the finger at men and start looking inside yourself to see what issues you have going on that repeatedly draw you into these types of relationships.

It also tells women that it’s okay to call yourself out on the carpet and laugh at yourself. At the end of the day, the point is to get to the root of the problem and deal with it, whatever that problem is.

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

KLB: As a debut author that most people don’t know from a can of paint. My success is really going to come from generating buzz via word of mouth. I’m doing all the signings, book fairs and events that I can squeeze into my schedule. Hopefully, the book will make it into some book club reading selections.

I have been getting such wonderful feedback from the readers so far. It is really overwhelming to think that I put something into the world that so many women relate to. Hopefully they will spread the word, and I’ll build some momentum.

I’m very passionate about writing and was equally passionate about telling this woman’s story. Sometimes I think as authors we become so passionate about “our art” and “our story” that we tend to be stubborn when it comes to taking suggestions.

As a new author, I feel like I grew pretty quickly. I have learned how to process criticism, not take it personally and incorporate the suggestions which really ended up helping me make my work the best that it could be.

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

KLB: I know many authors who write elaborate outlines and give a lot of structure to their stories. Right now, I just transcribe the voices in my head. They wake me up in the middle of the night, say what they have to say and I write it down.

I’d say it took me about 8 to 9 months to finish the book. I wrote the first draft in about four months because I was trying to beat the deadline for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Awards. That helped me get it finished.

Over the following four to five months, I put the book in critique groups and shopped it with agents who gave me feedback about what needed fixing. Then I hired a former editor from Simon & Schuster to give it a final overall editorial review. That was it.

JP: What’s next for K.L. Brady?

KLB: More writing. If there’s anything that I regret in my life, it is suppressing my love of writing for so many years. Now that I’ve accomplished my first goal, I just plan to keep writing until I can’t write anymore.

Writing gives me more enjoyment and fulfillment than I’ve gotten from anything else I’ve done in my life. I can only pray that God will give it wings and let it fly.

http://www.klbradywrites.com/

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

5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Tyra Denine, author of Damaged Goods

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Tyra Denine, author of Damaged Goods
(Double Dap Books)

(One of the first ten people to comment on Tyra Denine’s author interview will win a free copy of Damaged Goods.)

(Congratulations Angela Riley! She won a FREE copy of Tyra Denine’s Damaged Goods from JoeyPinkney.com)

Confidence and self-esteem are deeply rooted from the early stages of childhood development. Unfortunately, many parents and children fall victim to the ugly realities of child abuse. Damaged Goods, a book of memoirs and poetry, explores this reality.

From childhood abuse, promiscuity, and self-hate the author recovers from these damages. She blossoms into a loving and confident christian woman, looking back at life’s traumas, finding closure and peace.

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

Tyra Denine: My inspiration for writing Damaged Goods stemmed from my journal writings. I had become severely depressed during the latter part of my marriage and sought professional help.

Journal writing became one of the many techniques that I used as a temporary relief for my depression. I became aware that my marriage was not the root of my depression and low self-esteem.

I learned that my poor choices as an adult were a result of my upbringing.

JP: What sets Damaged Goods apart from other memoirs?

TD: Damaged Goods includes poetry and sketches bringing the chapters to life. Most memoirs are matter-of-fact. My story will capture all emotions. The reader will cry, laugh and feel as if they were there when the events took place.

Readers can get to know me, my personality and my humor, in spite of my woes. I take responsibility for the choices that I made as an adult, while simultaneously cluing readers in to the indisputable fact that we are a product of our environment.

By the time the book is finished, one can see the transformation that I have made as an individual. It clearly states that our past does not have to define our future!

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

TD: As an author, it is my responsibility to reach my audience. From sending my book to radio stations and talk-shows, to speaking at women’s shelters and being an advocate for the prevention of spousal and child abuse.

I have to walk the walk, as well as talk the talk. It is my job to be a testimony of succeeding, in spite of or because of, my history of child abuse and living in a home riddled with domestic violence.

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

TD: It was very difficult to write Damaged Goods. As I opened myself up on the pages of my book, I had to remove myself from the computer, sometimes months at a time because it became too painful to re-live.

It was like pouring salt into old wounds and reliving my experiences all over again, most of which, I had not shared with a single soul. After about a year of journal writing, I realized that I had a story to share with the world. A story that could make a difference.

JP: What’s next for Tyra Denine?

TD: I have begun my sequel to Damaged Goods. My next book is titled, Resurrected, and it depicts the life that I am living today. I want my readers to see that hard work and determination pays off.

I want my readers to know that my past is just that… my past! It will not define my future. I want my readers to know that, they too, can over come any situation. I want my readers to turn their lemons into lemonade.

Place orders and subscribe to quarterly newsletter at www.doubledapbooks.com

Author, Tyra Denine was born in Sandusky, Ohio. She moved to Decatur, Illinois at age six. She joined the United states Navy in 1987 and served over ten years. She currently resides in the Atlanta area with her two sons, Dante and Darius. This is her first book.

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Corey Barnes, author of What Is This Love Thing All About

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Corey Barnes, author of What Is This Love Thing All About?
(CJ Publishing)

(One of the first ten people to comment on Corey Barnes’ author interview will win a free copy of What Is This Love Thing About.)

(Congratulations Lena! She won a free copy of Corey Barnes’ What Is This Love Thing About.)

Meet Rick Jenkins, who has everything that most would love to have in life. Great job, great looks, well educated, money, he has it all, except for one thing – a woman to share it with. A single and eligible bachelor, Rick can’t seem to even find a good woman to go on a date with, much less to think about take it to the next level. Rick is content to take life as it is until one night at a sorority fund raising function, he runs into Aphrodite Morrison and his fate changes forever.

Aphrodite is a mysterious, yet angelic, woman who Rick is lost for from the first minute he talks to her. A partner in one of the top advertising companies in the Greater Atlanta area, she does not have a want for anything. There is another side to Aphrodite that looms under the surface. When she thinks she has met the perfect man, her past threatens everything that she thinks may be meant for her and happening with Rick.

Joey Pinkney: When did you get the idea/inspiration to write What Is This Love Thing All About?

Corey Barnes: I love to read. I try to read at least two novels per month, which is hard with my schedule. I have read some very good books, and I have also read some very bad ones.

A little while ago, when I was reading a bad one, I made the comment to a friend of mine that I could write something better than this mess if I put my mind to it and put in the time. My friend, being the woman that she is, tells me to go ahead and do it.

Basically, don’t talk about it, be about it. After that, I just began to play around with it and before long, I was on my way.

JP: What elements of Black Love will we find in this novel that will set it apart from other novels in its genre?

CB: What is different in What Is This Love Thing All About? from other novels in its genre is the return of the pursuit, of the thrill of the chase. Nowadays, most books in this genre are dripping with sex, one night stands and basically “wham, bam, thank you ma’am”.

In my book, I almost go back to my granddad’s day when a man did not mind letting a woman know how he felt about her. He showed her. If he was interested, if he thought she was worth the fuss, he would do anything in his power to show her and to get her.

Men back then showed their feelings and were great communicators, things that society say a man can’t do or be nowadays. In What Is This Love Thing All About? all these things are readily apparent and that is what sets it apart from other books in its genre.

JP: What have you learned from writing and developing What Is This Love Thing All About? that you will be able to apply to your next release?

CB: For my next book, I will be sure to get someone to read over it early besides myself. Being in the school system, I consider myself to be a pretty good editor since I do it all the time.

As I read through my first draft, I thought everything flowed well. When I sent it out to a couple of friends, they noticed I had some gaps as I only had told my story from one point of view. Once I looked at it, I saw that they right.

I went back and basically wrote in the female character and made it tight. I will be sure to get feedback early and make sure I tell the story I want to from all angles to give the reader the full effect the next time.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you, start to finish for What Is This Love Thing All About?

CB: I always keep a stenograph pad with me no matter where I go. When I go to work out at the gym or run the lake or at basketball practice, whatever, I take note cards. I always have a pen, as I never know when a thought may hit me.

I try to write situations and scenes. I like for there to be a flow and leave the reader ready for the next chapter, the next piece to the puzzle. There are some nights where I sit and write for hours and some nights I just don’t have it.

The key is when I don’t have it; I put it down and get away from it. If I force it, the result will be some garbage because I am not all the way tuned in.

As far as What Is This Love Thing All About? start to finish, it probably took me about 8 months. I actually went and basically added a character after I thought I was done, which at first only took 4 months.

The female character was much harder to write, and I wanted to make sure I captured the woman correctly, which is why it took longer.

JP: What’s next for Corey J. Barnes?

CB: Next up for Corey J. Barnes, I am currently working on the sequel to What Is This Love Thing All About? I have written almost a stenograph pad full of notes on different ideas, situations, and scenes. Now it is just a matter of tying them all together.

I also want to write a book for middle school and high school aged males that are growing up in a single parent home, without their dad. I want it to be hopefully be able to help other young men get through these trying times by giving them insight and telling them how I made it through, some things I did that maybe they can as well to get where they want to be.

http://www.myspace.com/coreyjaye
http://www.facebook.com/coreyjaye
http://www.coreyjaye.com/
http://www.cjpublishingonline.com/
coachbarnes3@yahoo.com

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