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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Jacquelin Thomas, author of The Ideal Wife

October 7, 2009 Joey Pinkney 6 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Jacquelin Thomas, author of The Ideal Wife
(Pocket Books)

Marrying a handsome, wealthy lawyer and living in a Hollywood Hills mansion…it’s a dream come true for twenty-four-year-old Jana, from the moment Lawrence Collins swept her off her feet and into his luxurious world.

True, she put her studies at a local Bible college on hold in order to wed after a six-month whirlwind romance. Beautiful and vivacious, with a stunning body, Jana knows men like Lawrence don’t come along every day, and she vows to be a perfect companion — the ideal wife — to this sexy, powerful man. But at what price?

From her wardrobe and hairstyle to her friends and her choice of church, Lawrence seems to want to change Jana into someone she’s not…and soon, the man Jana thought she knew will test her values and her faith with a shocking revelation that goes against everything she believes.

How far will Jana be willing to go to keep the man she loves?

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write The Ideal Wife?

Jacquelin Thomas: I was reading about Esther and Queen Vashti in the Bible. I was very familiar with Estherâ€™s story, but found myself wanting to know more about Queen Vashti. The King became furious when she refused his request to show off her beauty to the men in his court and basically divorced her.

Some theologians believe she was not being a submissive wife, while others believe she was a woman of high moral character and her refusal was because she felt her beauty should be reserved for only one manâ€”her husband.

The Ideal Wife was birthed out of my curiosity about the queen.

JP: What sets The Ideal Wife apart from other Christian Fiction novels?

JT: I donâ€™t know that itâ€™s set apart from other Christian Fiction novels in that, the end result should entertain, educate and minister. However, this book is written to spark an open conversation about sex as it relates to marriage.

There are debates on whether or not swinging or wife-swapping is considered adultery. In The Ideal Wife, I attempt to guide readers into the right direction for answers.

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

JT: I always strive to tell a good story, and I tend to write about whatâ€™s really going on in the world. My characters are flawed human beings who truly love God, but fall from time to time.

I think thatâ€™s what readers really enjoy about my books. They can relate to my characters.

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

JT: I am a full-time writer, so I am in my office most days from 10â€“4, and I usually write 20-25 pages per day. I try not to work on weekends because those are family days for me.

I write a very detailed outline before I actually begin to write a novel (research is covered within the outline). When thatâ€™s done, I then began working on my novel. I took me almost four months to write The Ideal Wife.

JP: What’s next for Jacquelin Thomas?

JT: Iâ€™ve just finished Samson, which will come out in 2010. Itâ€™s an adaptation of Samson in the Bible.

http://www.jacquelinthomas.com/
http://www.myspace.com/jacquelinthomas
http://facebook.com/jacquelinthomas
http://twitter.com/jacquelinthomas

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… ReShonda Tate Billingsley, author of The Devil Is A Lie

July 2, 2009 Joey Pinkney 5 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
ReShonda Tate Billingsley, author of The Devil Is A Lie
(Simon and Schuster/Pocket Books)

When Nina Lawson wins $16 million in the Texas Lotto, she and her fiancÃ© ecstatically begin planning their future. While counting her millions, Nina didn’t count on one other astounding twist of fate: her ex-husband, Todd Lawson, isn’t her ex anything — since the paperwork for their divorce was never officially filed. Now he’s shown up with his money-hungry girlfriend, Pam, to claim half of Nina’s winnings. Add to this the relatives coming out of the woodwork to seek a payday for themselves.

Nina must ask herself if scoring a fortune in cash comes with too high a price tag. With a little bit of luck, Nina will discern the real wealth in her heart, not just her bank account — or risk losing everything — to find out what matters the most.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write The Devil Is A Lie?

ReShonda Tate-Billingsley: I actually was visiting with a book club when one of the ladies told me she’d just gotten back with her husband after three years, during which she thought they were divorced. Since I’m always in ‘what if’ mode, my mind started churning.

JP: What sets The Devil Is A Lie apart from other novels in its genre?

RTB: I write reality, infused with faith and inspiration. Meaning, everything doesn’t wrap up nice and neat. My characters struggle in their walk with God. Like most of us, they often fall.

You’re not going to have one of my characters catch her husband cheating and she says, “Let us pray.” She may say, “You better pray that I don’t cut you and this tramp.” I also interject a lot of humor into my writing.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to The Devil Is A Lie getting out to the public?

RTB: Promotion, promotion, promotion. Word-of-mouth is the best way to sell a book, so it’s crucial that I pound the pavement in promoting the book.

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

RTB: I have three small children, so I don’t go sit next to a waterfall in Maine and wait for my muse to arrive. I write whenever I can, wherever I can. There is no particular structure when it comes to my writing. I do get my best work done late at night. Like now, it’s 3:30 am and I’m wired and just getting my mojo flowing.

It took me about three months to write The Devil Is A Lie, which is my standard. I’m trying to write faster because I’m a full-time writer now. I don’t get paid unless I write, so that’s inspiration to keep it moving.

JP: What’s next for ReShonda Tate Billingsley?

RTB: I am so excited about working with Regina King on Let the Church Say Amen, the movie, which is based on my sophomore novel. She’s directing and I’m executive producer, so I’m really looking forward to that.

I’m also working on my 2011 book, Say Amen Again, which is the third (and final) book in the Amen series. My 2010 book, Holy Rollers is in the editing stage right now. So I hope to just keep creating stories that touch and inspire people.

http://www.reshondatatebillingsley.com/
http://www.myspace.com/reshonda_tate_billingsley
http://www.facebook.com/reshondatatebillingsley
http://www.fromcovertocovershow.com/

I’ve appeared on the Essence Bestseller’s list more than 20 times. I am also a Washington Post bestseller. The Devil is a Lie is currently in Ebony Magazine as one of its steamy, sexy, sassy summer reads.

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5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Michelle Stimpson, author of Trouble In My Way

June 8, 2009 Joey Pinkney 5 Comments

JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Michelle Stimpson, author of Trouble In My Way
(Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster)

It’s all Karis’ mom’s fault. If she hadn’t snooped into Karis’s diary, she never would have known about Karis’s unauthorized activies. Now, Karis is grounded indefinitely with no modem, no iPod…and no cell phone.

There’s just no way Karis can survive being cut off from the world. Add a “shiesty” potential stepmother, a dangerous relationship with a self-proclaimed bad boy and the constant pressure to cover her sneaky tracks – the combination makes a perfect recipe for high drama.

Will faith in God help Karis get through, or has she pushed grace, and her mother, too far?

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration for Trouble In My Way?

Michelle Stimpson: I was sitting in a Florida restaurant with ReShonda Tate-Billingsley discussing the release of her new young adult book, talking about what a ministry God has opened up through young adult fiction. She encouraged me to write a book for young adults, so I did.

When I write Christian fiction for adults, I know that I’m often trying to “undo” some of the damage that we’ve endured in our lives. When I write for young adults, it’s more proactive. I like that aspect. I wanted to write a book about a young lady who learns some things the hard way so that my readers hopefully won’t have to.

JP: What sets Trouble In My Way apart from your other releases?

MS: This is a short, fun read with a serious message. Since it’s for a different genre, it’s being promoted, shelved and received differently. I hope to be able to capture a whole new audience with this one.

JP: What have you learned from getting your previous book published that will help Trouble In My Way be better than the rest?

MS: Hmmm…this is a tough one because I don’t know that Trouble In My Way is necessarily “better.” All of my books are like my children, so I can’t say which one is better. I can, however, say that Trouble In My Way took me way back as a writer and made me think/reason in teenage terms. In that sense, it has a voice all its own.

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

MS: I wrote this book mostly over the Christmas Break of 2006. It took me about 6 weeks to write, and I enjoyed every single minute of it. I had a pretty detailed outline and went from there. Since I was pretty much able to write from sun up to sundown (no school, no work), it went fairly quickly.

JP: What’s next for Michelle Stimpson?

MS: I just signed another 3-book deal (adult Christian fiction), and I’m working on a follow-up to my first novel, Boaz Brown. Aside from that, I’m releasing short stories, and I’ll probably do a little teaching at the college level this fall. I’m also working to earn my ministry license.

http://www.michellestimpson.com/
http://www.womengrowinginchrist.com/
http://www.wegottaread.com/

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