EA: Creatively Creative has recently reached two milestones. First, my interview with author Lauren Chow became my first post to reach over 1,000 views! A feat that was accomplished in three days! In the midst of that, the blog also amassed over 12,000 views! For the 12K views edition, as well as the last interview for the month of October, I spoke with author, Shante J.
EA: What sparked your love for writing? Was it something you've always wanted to do?
SJ: Reading urban fiction books by various authors is what inspired me to write. Although, I've written a number of poems and songs, writing books never crossed my mind up until a few years ago.
EA: What authors, if any, are your biggest inspirations?
SJ: Myself, of course. Noire, Sa'Ja Jay, Silk White, Mz. Lady P, Shan, Sasha Ravae, & lot's of others. There's so many dope authors and I hate that I can't name them all.
EA: Do you believe writing a novel is easy?
SJ: In my opinion, no. It isn't easy as it seems. One may think it's as easy as sitting on your butt all day and jotting words down and submitting a novel, but it's so many elements to just writing.
EA: What is the concept of Upgraded by the Connect?
SJ: A 15 year old female who had a rough upbringing. In fear that she may be taken away by child protective services, she runs away from home. As a result of that, she was forced into prostitution and stripping by the hands of her boyfriend. However, she meets the love of her life who upgrades her lifestyle in a major way.
EA: Tell us a little about the titular character, A'Kia Myers.
SJ: A'Kia Myers is a beautiful, loving, caring, courageous and strong-willed woman whose had a hard life. However, despite her circumstances she didn't allow that to define nor defeat her.
EA: What is your main aspiration as an author?
SJ: My main aspiration as an author is to continue to write stories that people can relate to and hopefully make the NY Times best sellers list.
EA: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
SJ: First and foremost, hone your craft. Secondly, if you're going to sign to a company, be sure to do your research on said company. Don't sign anything unless you're 100% satisfied with the terms and agreements of the contract. Steer from negativity and drama, and Lastly, always remember professionalism is key.
EA: Finally, tell the readers why Upgraded by the Connect is a must buy.
SJ: Upgraded by the Connect is a must buy because the story is relatable. Although it's a fictional story there are many women who deal with similar issues as A'Kia.
Epilogue
My thoughts exactly. People, particularly those on the outside of the literary world, tend to ignorantly think it's just simply writing words on paper, or typing them on the computer. There's so much more that goes into the process of producing books. Like anything else you aspire to do, honing your craft on the subject is a key element. The more you know and learn about the profession-- skills and the business aspect-- the better you will become.
I would like to thank Shante J. for speaking with me today. To sign off, here's a final word from the author:
Author Like Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorShanteJ
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Shante
Author Amazon Page: Shante J
Instagram: authoress_shante_j
Twitter: @author_ShanteJ
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