JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Michelle Larks, author of Til Debt Do Us Part
(Urban Books)
Nichole Singleton seems to have everything a woman could want. She is a God fearing woman married to her loving husband Jeff. Her career is taking off in the right direction, and her ministry is that of the lead soprano in her church choir.
Despite the content facade that Nikki portrays, all is not well in her life. She has been keeping a secret from all of those near and dear to her. That secrets threatens to unravel the fabric of her marriage and life. Nikki has succumbed to a terrible gambling addiction due to unresolved issues that she is unable to face or communicate to her husband, friends or mother.
Til Debt Do Us Part is the story of a young woman in crisis and how the Lord brought her through a raging storm.
Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Til Debt Do Us Part?
Michelle Larks: Keeping Misery Company was selected by an online book club as their book of the month. There were discussions as to how readers would like to see characters portrayed in Christian fiction stories.
One suggestion was they’d like to see people experiencing real life struggles, including addictions. I had already began writing Til Debt Do Us Part, so I felt like I was headed in the right direction. I’d hear people around me talk about gambling, going to the boat and playing the lottery or sports pools. I thought that might make for an interesting story line.
JP: Gambling and the Church are seemingly opposite each other in terms of moral standards. What insight will Til Debt Do Us Part provide about the affect of gambling on a Christian?
ML: I’m hoping people will walk away after reading Til Debt Due Us Part and know that God is still there for us, that he loves us and he will help us overcome any addiction. God helps us realize that none of us are perfect even Christians. We struggle with issues from time to time. That’s a part of life. Realizing God is there to guide us, if we just follow his will, is half the battle.
JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Til Debt Do Us Part getting out to the public?
ML: What I’ve been doing to promote Til Debt Do Us Part is a lot of online marketing. I’ve been participating in blog radio shows as they are available, and I pass out material when I participate in events. Most of all I’ve sent ARC copies of Til Debt Do Us Part to reviewers so they can read for me.
JP: As an author, what did you learn from writing your past novels that better prepared you to write Til Debt Do Us Part? How long did it take for you to start and finish Til Debt Do Us Part?
ML: As an author, I try to give a story my best shot in preparing it for the reading public. That means editing and then more editing. I think writing previous novels along with good feedback from readers and reviewers has helped me to write what I hope are consistently good books that have an uplifting message as well as entertain at points.
JP: What’s next for Michelle Larks?
ML: I just finished writing my 2010 release titled Faith. It will be out in May of 2010. It’s one of my best novels to date, at least that’s this author’s opinion. Also Keeping Misery Company is slated to be released on the big screen in June of 2010. I am really looking forward to both events.
http://www.michellelarks.com/
http://www.myspace.com/michellelarks
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