JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Dorrie Williams-Wheeler, author of My Brother is a Baller
(Sparkledoll Productions)
When Sheri Carmichael’s big brother Todd lands the #2 pick in the NBA draft, Sheri can’t do anything but watch her life change 100 miles per hour. Sheri was content living on the South Side.
After Todd finds himself playing for the NBA, Sheri and her mother move to the suburbs. Sheri finds herself having to transfer during her senior year of high school. New friends Jade and Megan befriend Sheri because her brother is an NBA player.
Courtside seats to a basketball game, a brand new car, a credit card with no limit and and a trip to the NBA All-Star game are among the perks that Todd lavishes onto his sister during her senior year of high school.
Immaturity, jealousy and money cause Sheri’s senior year of high school to spin completly out of control. Things get extra tense when Sheri’s on again off again boyfriend Rico loses control. With all of the distractions will Sheri even finish high school? Suddenly everything in life becomes a challenge for Sheri Carmichael.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write My Brother is a Baller?
Dorrie Williams-Wheeler: I used to be a big NBA fan. I was a huge fan of basketball. When I started writing the book, I was thinking that this was a good topic for young people. The book will introduce young and adult readers to the life of a professional basketball player. The main character in the book is named Sheri Carmichael. Sheri lives in the inner city of Chicago. When her brother Todd is drafted as the #2 pick in the NBA draft, Sheri’s entire life changes.
Sheri finds herself living in Todd’s shadow and soaking up the glory of the financial riches and the fun of traveling to various places such as the NBA All-Star Game. In the book, Sheri is exposed to dealing with people of another race for the first time when she transfers from her Chicago school to a school in the Chicago suburbs. The main theme of the book is going from a poor working life style to the life style of someone rich and newly famous.
JP: What sets My Brother is a Baller apart from other novels in its genre?
DWW: There are not many books about the lives of the siblings of professional basketball players. I thought it was really important to write a book about the life of the sister of a professional basketball player. The book is an exciting read at just under 200 pages, and it is age appropriate for high school students, college students and adults. It must be really exciting to have a brother who becomes an overnight celebrity, rich and popular.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to My Brother is a Baller getting out to the public?
DWW: My Brother Is A Baller is my fourth fiction title. It was important for me to get this book out while the topic was still fresh. There aren’t really many books written about the lives of basketball players. I have been sending out review copies of the book. I have been reaching out to various publications for features and interviews.
The book is reasonably priced and affordable for people of all lifestyles. I think that having an affordable book is key to moving units. I often give away free copies of the book just to spread the word about my author career. I promote the book on my celebrity interview website Thabiz.com.
JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish My Brother is a Baller?
DWW: As an author, I try to write as much as possible. I would write every day if my schedule permitted. It took me about 4 weeks of regular writing to write My Brother Is A Baller.
JP: What’s next for Dorrie Wheeler?
DWW: I’m working on two books. I’m working on a young adult book titled Young & Locked Up. I’m working on a sequel to my popular sorority book Be My Sorority Sister-Under Pressure. The sequel is going to be titled Be My Sorority Sister-Living Conditions. I think the sorority book will be well received. I try to write as much as possible.
When I am not writing I am interviewing celebrities for Thabiz.com. This year I have interviewed a new group titled Rich Girls. Popular producer Rich Harrison, who produced songs for Beyonce, is bringing this group out. I interviewed R&B singer Pleasure P who is a former member of the group Pretty Ricky. I appreciate the interview opportunities. I write reviews for my website http://thelatestreviews.com. I try to stay as busy as possible in between releases.
http://www.dorriewilliamswheeler.com
http://www.sparkledoll.com
http://www.myspace.com/sparkledoll
Dorrie Williams-Wheeler is an author, entertainment writer, and designer. She is the author of the fiction titles Sparkledoll Always Into Something, Be My Sorority Sister-Under Pressure and She’s Out There Bad. Dorrie is the author of the best-selling non-fiction title The Unplanned Pregnancy Book for Teens and College Students.
Dorrie has been featured in Seventeen Magazine, Infinite Greek Publication, The Virginian Pilot, Awareness Magazine, Disilgold Literary Review, Sister 2 Sister Magazine, Big City Intellect, Almaden Times, and The Industry Cosign among other publications.
Dorrie is the founder of the celebrity interview website http://thabiz.com and the pop culture website http://imissthe80s.com .
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