Interview with Author Amelia Rucker

EA: Creatively is back once again to bring you another Author Q & A! Today's guest is an up-and-coming author who is currently serving in the U.S. Army. I introduce and salute, author Amelia Rucker.

EA: Thanks for taking the time to join me today.

AR: Thank you so much for having me. This is an opportunity.

EA: To begin, would you say that writing has always been your first love?

AR: I wish it was, but reading has always been my first love. I have been a bibliophile my whole life.

EA: Who/what are your inspirations?

AR: I have too many inspirations. For urban, I will have to say Wahida Clark. I love reading about thugs. For LGBT fiction, I will say Dwayne Vernon. I fell in love with My Man, My Boyz. For romance, it is a tie between Nicholas Sparks and JJ Murray. JJ Murray writes BWWM romance, which is what I also write but in a clean matter.

EA: Is the process of writing novels easy?

AR: Negative. Writing is not easy. One minute you have a good idea for a prospective novel and then all of a sudden, there is another idea for that book as well. So, writing is not easy.

EA: Would you tell us about your latest novel (the first installment of) Love Don't Come Easy series?

AR: The story is about a divorcee reconnecting with her ex-boyfriend, who is still up to his no-good ways. She still wrestles with the fact she is still fighting feelings for her male childhood best friend. Her ex-husband is plotting his way back into her life. I wrote this because at one point it was titled Woman of God. I came up with Love Don't Come Easy due to book 2 was going to have that title.

EA: I understand that you're currently serving in the U.S. Army. Would you tell us of the experience? (what you're able to speak on).

AR: I love every moment of my military. I have had some good days and some bad days. God is my source of strength.Without Him, I am nothing.

EA: What is your main aspiration as an author?

AR: My main aspiration as an author is to always use the 3 Es. I write to entertain, educate, but most of all, to encourage. As a Christian author, I feel that it is important to encourage my readers as well. I never know what they are going through in life.

EA: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

AR: You must write everyday. Also, reading is essential. When you enter into the industry, stay in your own lane. Avoid cliques. Networking is a must. Be yourself. I should have stated this first, but keep God first.

EA: Finally, tell the readers why Love Don't Come Easy, Part One is a must-read.

AR: You will laugh. You will cry. You will be shocked because of the twists and turns. This book is not only entertainment, but it's a reminder there is still hope in love.

Epilogue

As a writer, reading is essential. I can tell you that one of the ways I've improved my writing is from reading the work of other authors. Every chance I get, I encourage writers to be themselves and allow the characters to fully express themselves in the story. I think the 3 Es are an interesting and useful approach to a writing style and I'm sure that I typically use at least two of these when I write.

I want to thank Amelia again for joining me today. Check out Amelia's Amazon Author Page and her YouTube channel by clicking the links below.

Amazon: Amelia Rucker

YouTube: Amelia Rucker

Interview with Author Ph'ierce

EA: Creatively Creatively is back one more time with yet another interview! Today's guest is an up-and-coming author on the Urban Fiction scene. I introduce to you, Ph'ierce.

EA: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today.

PB: Thank you for having me.

EA: To begin, tell us about your journey to becoming an author.

PB: My journey of becoming an author started in 2017 when I saw a book cover for sale. A story immediately developed in my head and I decided to write it down. In August 2018 I reached out to Empressed for Life Publishing and she was more than happy to sign me. It's only been a couple of months, but I feel like this was my calling and this is what I'm supposed to be doing. 

EA: Who/what inspired you to become a writer?

PB: The main authors I would have to say inspired me would be, Keisha Ervin, Zane, Omar Tyree, and Sister Souljah. Also, the support from my family was a great inspiration, that's what gave me the courage to pursue it.

EA: Would say that the process of writing a novel is easy?

PB: For me, not at all. I can come up with a title and plot easily, but when it's time to write I tend to get stuck. Often, I get discouraged and start to feel like maybe it's not good enough. It's a process for me just to send it to my publisher when it's complete, but I'm working on getting through that. 

EA: Would you tell us about your latest novel, South Philly Chronicles: Kara's Story?

PB: South Philly Chronicles (Kara's Story) is a book based in the projects in South Philadelphia. It's based in the 90s when the four girls were teenagers. Kara was tired of living poor and having hungry days so she came up with a plan for her and her friends to execute and become rich within a year. 

EA: What can we expect next from Ph'ierce?

PB: The next book to be released by Ph'ierce will be South Philly Chronicles Part 2 (Leslie's Story).

EA: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

PB: Never allow anyone's dislike of your words to have a negative affect on your writing. We can't please everyone, if one person enjoys your story, you have made an accomplishment. 

EA: Finally, tell the readers why South Philly Chronicles: Kara's Story is a must-read.

PB:  Along with enjoying the story, I believe there are a lot of people that can relate to the struggle each girl went through. Life is hard whether you have money or not, how you handle your struggle makes all the difference in the world.

Epilogue

South Philly Chronicles: Kara's Story kind of reminds me of my current writing project Mamacita in that it's concerning women who are tired of their current situations and they resort to desperate measures for a better life. Ph'ierce's advice makes me think of my Writer's Ramble blog, where I discussed going through that experience personally. You can't please everyone, and it's a waste of time trying to. To me, I think one is selling oneself short doing such a thing.

Her final statement makes me think of a saying I heard several years ago: (paraphrasing) 10% is life happening to you; 90% is your attitude towards it and how you deal with it. I would like to thank Ph'ierce once again for joining me. Follow Ph'ierce on her social media by clicking the links below.

Facebook Author Page: Urban Life Authoress Ph'ierce

Instagram: @phierce_the_writer

Interview with Author Shantel Williams

EA: Creatively Creative is back with yet another interview. My guest tonight is an upcoming author who is looking to change the face of the Urban Fiction game. I introduce Shantel Williams.

EA: Thank you for joining me today.

SW: Thank you for having me. 

EA: For starters, tell us about your journey to becoming an author.

SW: Well, I always wanted to be an author ever since I was a child. I was professionally published in the year 2015. My first publisher reached out to me and I never written an adult novel at the time. I always wrote YA novels. However, I wrote my first urban fiction novel, Street Soldier and sent it in and got signed. It happened really fast, but I've learned a lot so far. 

EA: Who were your biggest influences?

SW: I have so many. An author named, Ni-Ni Simone, she inspired me to write my first novel. I also enjoyed books from Alice Walker, Sister Souljah, Lois Duncan, Terry McMillan, and the list goes on. 

EA: You said that one of your goals as an author is to bring a freshness back to the Urban Fiction genre. Do you think the genre has become stagnant?

SW: Yes I do. I think it's because this genre has become so competitive. Also a lot of authors write the same because it makes them money. I always talk about how important it is for authors to find their own voices and own writing style. Also not to feel pressured to write a certain way. 

EA: Would you tell us about your latest novel, Love Songs and Bullets?

SW: This is book is one of my favorite novels I've written. It's a book about four women who come from different backgrounds and they are thrown into the crazy music industry. Since their lives are becoming public due to growing fame it forces them to face personal demons of their own. 

EA: Do you think the process of writing a story is easy?

SW: Not at all, lol. Writing a book is one of the most mentally challenging things a person can do. As an author I constantly question myself, I put a lot of pressure on myself. I want every book I write to be a great piece of literature. While it's hard, it is very rewarding and it can be fun. 

EA: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?

SW: Start writing! The most important step is to write and don't worry about making the book perfect on the first draft. I think of first drafts like building a house. Just get the foundation down first and then fix it the way you want it. Find your writing identity and stand by it. Everyone will not like your work, it comes with the territory but if you truly love to write, then keep at it.

EA: Finally, tell the readers why Love Songs and Bullets is a must-read.

SW: This book is a must-read because it holds so many messages. I speak on mental issues, colorism, rape, alcoholism, body image issues, domestic violence, drug abuse, etc. It covers a lot of important topics. Even though it's an entertaining book, it's also heavy. This book will leave you on the edge of your seat, it will take a reader on an emotional roller-coaster.

Epilogue

This sounds like a re-run from my last post. I too was professionally published starting back to 2015. As a writer/author, it's essential to find your own voice and writing style, don't write or feel pressured to write something because it's the in-thing. Writing is definitely more challenging than some-- this comes from particularly those who don't write-- may think. It's a skill like anything else, and the writer is constantly pushing to create a top-of-the-line story.

I thank Shantel once again for joining me. Check out more of Shantel's works and follow her on social media by visiting the links below.

Facebook Author Page: Shantel Williams

Goodreads: Shantel N. Williams

Instagram: Urban Authoress Shantel

Interview with Author & Publisher Empress Simone

Wow, I haven't posted an interview in nearly two months! To my readers, I do apologize for that, but as promised in the conclusion of my last post, EA: Creatively Creative is back with another interview! Before I introduce my guest, I want to announce that this may be, may be my last post under the name EA: Creatively Creative, as I'm considering changing the name of the blog.

Now, this evening's guest is not only a writer, but has her own publishing company, a magazine, and was listed as one of UBAWA.org's Top 100 African-American authors. I introduce author and publisher, Empress Simone.

EA: Welcome to EA Creatively Creative. Thanks you so much for taking the time to join me today.

ES: Thank you for having me.

EA: For starters, when did you embark on this journey to your career?

ES: I started to write professionally in the year 2015. Before then I would write, but never took the steps to become a published writer.

EA: Who or what inspired you to become a writer?

ES: Mostly my parents and children inspired me to write. As far as authors I admired and wanted to hone my writing style after is K’wan, Nikki Turner, and Teri McMillan.

EA: As a self-publisher, do you think that the process of writing and distributing books is easy?

ES: As a self-published author, I believe that writing is pretty easy, but the distributing and marketing side of the business is fairly hard.

EA: Would you tell us more about your latest release, All The Things My Wife Won't Do?

ES: My latest release is an Urban/Interracial fiction novel which would be similar to the movie Fatal Attraction.

EA: I see that you're also a publisher. Tell us, how did you launch Empressed For Life Presents, as well as the magazine Strictly For My People?

ES: To launch Empressed for Life Presents I registered my company with the State of Georgia in 2016. I then trademarked my logo and asked a friend who was just released from her publishing company if she would sign as my author with my company. She thought about it and agreed to a contract. My second signed author who reached out to me and inquired about my company. She submitted a few chapters of one of her works and I signed her based off of that submission. The magazine was created partly to shine a light on authors in the Urban Fiction Genre.

EA: What are the requirements to write for Empressed For Life?

ES: The requirements to write for Empressed for Life Presents is to have original ideas and unique ways of spinning a story. To be considered for a writing contract the author must submit three chapters of their completed manuscript, a short bio and a picture of themselves via email at empresssimone@empressedforlife.com.

EA: Back to the magazine, would you tell us what it is about and what inspired you to start it?

ES: The magazine was created because I wanted to help other authors as far as promotion. I also wanted the magazine to touch on issues that plague the Black community and to brainstorm how we as authors can do our part to help our neighbors and fellow authors. The name is a spin-off of a J-Lo speech that I saw and in the speech she addresses the Latino community and says “Para mi gente” which means ‘For my people.’ I thought that it was cool to care about one's community and how hard work and determination goes a long way in achieving one’s goals and dreams, so I wanted to do that for the Black Community; specifically aspiring authors.

EA: Describe the feeling of being one of UBAWA.org's Top 100 African-American authors for 2017.

ES: The feeling I had when I read my name listed as one of UBAWA.org’s Top 100 African-American authors for 2017 is indescribable. I felt a range of emotions. I was truly elated. Another strong emotion I felt was that I was accomplished as a writer. Most importantly it inspires me to this day to keep writing.

EA: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

ES: The advice I give to aspiring writers is to not let rejection or negative reviews stop them from pursuing their dream to write. They must remember that when man says no God says yes. So while they may become frustrated with the pitfalls of this industry, never give up. God’s timing may be right around the corner but one will never know if they quit writing.

EA: Finally, tell the readers why All The Things My Wife Won't Do is a must-read.

ES: All The Things My Wife Won’t Do is a great book. I strayed away from my usual drug dealing, gun toting plots and based the book off of a black entrepreneur and the challenges he faces when he doesn’t honor the vows he made to his wife. I definitely would recommend this story if you are tired of reading about plugs and drug deals gone bad.

Epilogue

I guess it really is a small world, as the saying goes. As I've stated on a few platforms, I've been writing most of my life, but I started writing professionally in 2015 as well. Going back Simone's advice, it's funny because it reminds me of my last post concerning detractors and criticism. I encourage those who encounter this-- because it comes within territory-- to use them, whether it be situations or people as stepping stones, as opposed stumbling blocks.

Once again, I thank Empress Simone for speaking with me this evening. A final word from the Empress:

My website address is www.empressedforlife.com
My Instagram is @empressedforlife
My Facebook page is Author Empress Simone

Stepping Stones: A Writer's Ramble

Usually, this is the page where I conduct my interviews with fellow writers/authors, but I wanted to take this time to address something. This post would be typically reserved for my social commentary page, Speaking My Mind, but since this is pertaining to my profession, it's fitting to post it here. Every writer goes through or has been through it; as a matter of fact, everyone who has ventured to do anything has been through or is dealing with this.

In August, I considered doing a blog and a podcast on this subject, but was content with just a podcast. However, past and particularly recent events have sparked me to write a blog on this topic as well. This video was also part of my inspiration me to write this.

Picking up from my August 26th podcast entitled "Stepping Stones," where I discussed that when you aspire to achieve something, know that everyone is not going to be in your corner, everyone is not going to support you. I talked about how when I wrote my first book Taylor Made and had a library branch manager in Lake Charles-- where I was living at the time-- read it, she pretty much downed it, saying that the language in the book "was plain," going on to say that the authors she normally read from the language is "more exquisite," whatever the hell that means.

Now, she's entitled to her opinion, but there's a difference between giving an honest and fair critique, and being a prick. However, despite her nay saying, judging from the reviews I received from others, they didn't seem to think so. This individual was someone I didn't know, and honestly, that's to be expected from them, but I've noticed throughout this process that your biggest detractors tends to be the ones closest to you.

For example, a couple of months of ago, I had a conversation with someone who would be considered to be a close friend. She basically implied that I should try something else, and proceeded to suggest that I look into something "with a skill." Seriously? I had to remind her that what I do is a skill. Try telling Terry McMillan or J.K. Rowling that writing isn't a skill. Last time I checked, before How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Waiting to Exhale, and Rowling's Harry Potter series were major motion pictures, they were BOOKS FIRST! A couple of weeks ago, someone who would barely say two words to me, suddenly had a similar suggestion which was just as subliminal, but not as insulting.

It seems to me that when you aspire to accomplish something, if it's something that may not be particularly steady (i.e. "safe") something that may take a longer time to be successful in, and there's no results in 30 minutes, then there's this suggestion-- directly or subliminally-- that maybe you should try something else. Maybe you should get the hell out of my face, how about that?

Then, I had someone imply that I'm lying when conduct my interviews. I was in a gray area with that one because I wasn't sure if that was meant to be a joke, a subtle jab, or what, but for whatever intent or purpose, it was a slap to the face. What do I have to lie about on these interviews? For what reason? Stating that I'm a best-selling or award winning author when I'm not at this time-- although I'm pushing for that type of success or better-- would be a lie, but everything I state in my interview is accurate.

I'm tired of people who either don't understand or don't respect what I do, attempt to undermine or piss on what I'm doing. I realize that criticism and detractors come within territory, but I'm tired of taking the high road all the time.

As for the other half of the title of this blog-- now that my rant is over-- it can be very difficult not to take such things personally, but if you do, use them as stepping stones, don't let it manifest into personal hatred. Use it to remain focused and increase your drive to accomplish your goal(s) even more. Remember, success is the best revenge.

Speaking of using people as a stepping stone, I have a special place for the library manager heifer in an upcoming book. As a matter of fact, it takes place mostly in a library, that's part of the reason why she came back to mind. Of course, I won't say what role exactly, but I have a character specially made for her. *Smirk*

Finally, I ask that my readers and viewers be patient with me. Long story short, I've been sidetracked, writing book #5, still advertising and promoting my other books, among other things. I'm looking to get back on track with the interviews ASAP. I'll close with this: focus on the ones who do support you; unless it's for motivational purposes as stated a couple of paragraphs above, don't dwell on the detractors and nay sayers. Ultimately, be self-motivated; believe in yourself regardless if others believe in you or not.