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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Allyson B. Campbell, author of In Good Company

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Allyson B. Campbell, author of In Good Company
(Lulu Publishing)

(One of the first ten people to comment on Allyson B. Campbell’s author interview will win a FREE copy of In Good Company.)

Natasha Choonidaas didn’t expect Victor Chambers to touch her heart and surely didn’t expect him to stay. In turn, Victor didn’t expect to fall in love with the once full-figured maid of his family’s friends.

The attraction certainly wasn’t there the first time around, but a year later…it was unstoppable. In Good Company, tells a story of two people living on two different islands in the Caribbean when a deep tragedy brings them both together.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write In Good Company?

Allyson B. Campbell: I love making my characters fall in love, which is the gravy in every story that I write about. I also wanted to write a story based in my home country since I had just visited the island and fell in love with its culture and history. Writing about the Indian culture was a challenge that I welcomed. I am not Indian, but I am intrigued by their culture.

I am very open-minded to learning new things. Alzheimer is seldom spoken of, and in In Good Company, I tell the story of the caregiver’s feeling about this illness.

JP: Many people tend to lump people from “the islands” together. Even worse, the stereotype is that they are all “Jamaicans”. What does In Good Company show the readers about the differences in cultures?

ABC: Love has no borders. Every island’s background started off in a similar fashion: immigration. People came from Africa, India and certain parts of Europe. They all blended over the centuries on each island. The food is similar, but may be cooked differently and each island has their own name for certain produces.

Even though a chennette is called by that name in Trinidad, in Guyana and Jamaica it’s called guinep. It is the same small fruit consisting of a thin, crisp shell covering a round seed, coated with a fleshy substance that you eat and each country loves it as the same.

I’ve had a Jamaican tell me that he didn’t like me because I was from Trinidad. Why? I did nothing wrong to him. Jamaica is the other side of my family, and I get along with my husband’s family very well. In high school, majority of my friends were from Jamaica, and yet I am a proud Trinidadian.

In In Good Company, a Jamaican falls in love with a Trinidadian, overlooking that he’s Black and she’s half Indian. Overlooking that he eats doubles and she eats ackee. Overlooking the prejudice that still exists with each island even to this day.

JP: What did you learn from the experience of writing Chained and Bound that makes In Good Company a better novel?

ABC: I don’t consider In Good Company better than Chained and Bound because I love all my work. I love that I am able to write about love but tell a different story altogether. My works are based on real issues that people go through in every day life.

When I write, I bring my readers into that world of whatever issue the character is encountering. People need to know what it feels like for a woman to leave an abusive relationship where there are still strings attached (Chained and Bound). People need to read about how caregivers feel for taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer (In Good Company).

When a reader picks up any one of my books, they can enjoy knowing that any of the other ones will be just as marvelous as what they first read. The experience I gain from that interaction teaches me that I must continue writing.

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

ABC: I have started seven novels so far, and that was almost 10 years ago. My process now is finishing each story and building from what I wrote. I travel a lot, and I am always picking up creative ideas from everything that I do. I started In Good Company so long ago, but it took me 10 months to complete.

Usually, I pray before and after I write because it took a long time to realize the gift I have within myself. I would hate to lose it now. I still pace myself. When I think I’ve written enough, I take a break. My prayer now is to finish everything that I started. It is funny because when I first prayed about my writing, I asked God a serious question: “How am I going to be writing, and I don’t have any ideas?”.

Can you believe that he answered me with these seven stories? Now I pray, “Now that I have these stories, please help me finish them.” As of today, November 1st, I’ve brainstormed how to finish my third novel and have set a time limit for November 1st, 2010 for its completion.

JP: What’s next for Allyson B. Campbell?

ABC: Once published, my main focus is to reach to Caribbean market, who In Good Company was written for. I would LOVE to see this particular book in a movie. Where’s Tyler Perry? Oprah?

Indians and Africans, namely Nigerians, alike are coming out with movies based in their country. There is Hollywood, Bollywood and Nollywood, so the Caribbean needs to come out with movies like these.

http://www.abcdwb.com/
http://www.myspace.com/a_b_campbell
http://twitter.com/A_B_Campbell
http://www.amazon.com/ALLYSON-B.-CAMPBELL
http://www.abcdwb.com/html_links.cfm?menu_itemID=218682&load=html

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Joey Pinkney’s Book Discussion/Book Signing for The Soul of a Man Anthology at Southeast Regional Library, October 22, 2009

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Award-winning author Joey Pinkney signing The Soul of a Man Anthology at Southeast Regional Library during its African American Book Club meeting dedicated to the author (Garner, NC)

The book signing/ book discussion was special to me for a couple of reasons: 1) It was one that I organized by myself for the first time. 2) It was going to be in my hometown of Garner, NC. (I have collaborated with some of the other contributors on a book signing/discussion in Atlanta.)

Left to Right: DeJah Jones, Joey Pinkney and Don’Tay Jones (Joey’s children)

The gathering was small, about 10 or so people. The room in the Southeast Regional Library has a wonderful set up. I’m going to hold more meetings there in the future.

Author Joey Pinkney with new fan

After the brief introduction, I asked if anyone had a chance to read the book. I kid you not, I think I really did hear crickets…and they are out of season right now. That was cool with me because it gave me a chance to cover all the talking points that I had been practicing in the shower, on the way to work and while I washed dishes.

Author Joey Pinkney with new fans

I talked about my story, the step-parent aspect and the novel I plan to write as a followup. Then I asked it there were any questions. Maybe the crickets were asking me something, I don’t know. Then I started talking about how I got involved with the anthology, my author interview series and how we work together to spread the word about this book. That’s when the crowd started to open up. One lady was asking a bunch of good questions to humor me. She was trying to get her friend to help me out to. Then a gentleman started getting insightful with his questions, eventually asking me to read my favorite part.

Author Joey Pinkney with new fan and winner of Body Works prize for the evening

I read that. For me, the first couple of paragraphs set the poetic tone of the main character’s, Terrence Greene, perspective. Then thought about it: this is a group effort. I told about the “Soul Brothers” aspect to our family and ran it down the line. I didn’t know that I knew so much about each and every one of the other contributors of The Soul of a Man Anthology. I guess all those sleepless nights browsing through thesoulofaman.net were for a purpose.

Author Joey Pinkney with JoeAnne Stephens, Reference Librarian and Facilitator of the African American Book Club at the Southeast Regional Library (Garner, NC)

After that, an hour had passed. I wrapped it up, and let them know two things: you don’t have to look towards L.A. or New York for an award-winning author, there is one right here in Garner, NC, and that I was going to donate a book for every two books sold.

JoeAnne Stephens presenting Author Joey Pinkney with a gift from the Southeast Regional Library (Garner, NC)

The librarian that facilitated the event told me she was retiring soon and wanted to add this to her scrapbook. A couple of the attendees said that they had other speaking events that they wanted me to be a part of. I’ll see that when I see that. Sold six books, so three will be donated.

Author Joey Pinkney with attendees of The Soul of a Man Book Signing/Discussion at the Southeast Regional Library (Garner, NC)

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Deondriea Cantrice, author of Rhythm Can’t Keep Time

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Deondriea Cantrice, author of Rhythm Can’t Keep Time, Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough
(GSH Publishing)

(One of the first ten people to comment on Deondriea Cantrice’s author interview will win a FREE copy of Rhythm Can’t Keep Time.)

Can people really be two halves of the same whole? If so, Sterling and Sheridyn are a perfect fit. After experiencing one betrayal after another, Sterling puts his heart under lock and key. When beautiful Sheridyn enters his life, will he grants her access to the one place no one can enter? Or, will he be afraid of another disappointment?

When Sterling and Sheridyn’s worlds collide, will they be able to control the passion between them? Or will their harmonic rhythm, laced in humor and vicarious personas cause this seductive dance to burn up in flames?

Rhythm Can’t Keep Time, Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough is not a sappy love story or an unrealistic male-bashing narrative but explores love through an erotic lens.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Rhythm Can’t Keep Time, Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough?

Deondriea Cantrice: I’ve met people that have made life-altering decisions because of great sex. This book tells the story of a woman searching for love and a soul mate. It tells of the extreme measures she went through to find it, the pitfalls of not finding it and settling for less.

My intent was to write a book that would inspire, entertain and encourage people. I was surprised that men, women, old, young, white and black was able to relate to at least one aspect of the book.

JP: The cover for Rhythm Can’t Keep Time is one of the most enchanting I’ve seen in a long time. What is the significance of the book cover in relation to the relationship that builds between Sterling and Sheridyn?

DC: I chose the cover because it evokes emotion and raises curiosity. Why is he clutching the Bass? Is he passionate about music? Sorrowful? Grateful? Is he missing the cello-shaped hips of the one he loves? More importantly, the cover is symbolic of Sterling’s and Sheridyn’s perfect rhythm and the music they made.

JP: As an author, what did Rhythm Can’t Keep Time teach you about love that you didn’t see before embarking on its journey?

DC: I’ve learned as an author and from readers that most people enter relationships without knowing or clearly defining their expectations. Nor do they make their intentions known. Sterling’s and Sheridyn’s relationship lasted over 10 years without them ever discussing or defining their relationship.

I also discovered most people believe love is an adjective rather than a verb. Without trust, commitment, loyalty and truth, love is just a feeling rather than action. Hince the subtitle: Sometimes Love Just Ain’t Enough.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Rhythm Can’t Keep Time?

DC: My writing process would make my high school English teacher cringe. My writing style is to pour my thoughts onto paper without paying attention to grammar or punctuation.

At some point, I review what I penned and divide it into sections by subject or situation and write according to what I am feeling that day. For example, if I am happy I write a happy scene.

I have found that this abstract outline style of writing cures writer’s block. It took about 3 months to write Rhythm Can’t Keep Time, but the editing/publishing process took about 9 months.

JP: What’s next for Deondriea Cantrice?

DC: I am simultaneously writing two works of fiction entitled When Emotions Lie and Hellava. In my spare time, if there is such a thing, I am working on the screenplay for Rhythm Can’t Keep Time. I guess that’s why I’m accused of being an overachiever.

http://www.deondriea.com/
http://www.myspace.com/deondriea
http://www.facebook.com/deondriea

About Deondriea Cantrice:

I can also be found on most writing and social networks ie Book Tour, Authorden, Linkedin, iseecolor, etc., with the screen name Deondriea. I am the Colorado State Director of Protocol for Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowships.

I am recognized as an influential leader/learner by Regis University 2009, and I hold the pageant title of Ms. American Ambassador 2009. This proves “with discipline and direction accomplishment in attainable.”

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