Interview with Author Danielle Wong

It has been a long time, almost a year, to be exact, but the Literature Lounge returns with an award-winning author whose latest novel will be released next month. The Literature Lounge presents author, Danielle Wong.

LL: Hello Danielle, and welcome to the Literature Lounge. It's a pleasure to have you here.

DW: Thank you so much for having me! I am happy to be here.

LL: For those who may not know you, could you tell us a little more about yourself?

DW:  I am an author and a lifelong bibliophile. My debut novel, Swearing Off Stars, is a historical fiction story, and my forthcoming novel, Last Liar Standing, is a psychological thriller. I love to travel and always feel inspired when visiting a new place!

LL: What started you on your journey to becoming a writer?

DW:  I have always gravitated towards writing, but I didn't think it would actually become a career until much later on. My first published story came out while I was in high school, and I completed my first manuscript during college. As a voracious reader, I found it thrilling to create books of my own. My goal was to give people the same rush that devouring my favorite novels gave me.

LL: Who would you say are the biggest influences in your life and career?

DW: My loved ones are my biggest influences. I was lucky enough to grow up with two parents who encouraged me to work hard while pursuing my wildest dreams. They championed my creative pursuits with unwavering support and encouragement. 

LL: I understand that your first novel, Swearing Off Stars, has won you a few awards, including the Independent Press, Ben Franklin, and International Book Awards. Describe the feeling of that accomplishment.

DW: I am still very honored that Swearing Off Stars received awards before and after its publication. That kind of recognition was humbling, and I felt grateful to be in the fantastic company of several accomplished authors.

LL: Are there any projects in the works?

DW: Always! I am currently writing a psychological thriller about a reporter given an assignment that seems too good to be true.

LL: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

DW: This is one of the most incredible jobs in the entire world, but it is definitely not devoid of ongoing obstacles. Authors--whether emerging or established--can always agree on that. Imposter syndrome and self-doubt come with the territory, so it is vital to be genuinely passionate about your craft. Remember why you began writing in the first place, and try viewing rejection as a right of passage. We've all been there, and it's just part of the process.

LL: Finally, tell the readers why Last Liar Standing is a must-read.

DW: Last Liar Standing is a fast-paced thriller filled with emotionally-charged scenes, complex characters, and shocking plot twists. I hope that readers walk away feeling simultaneously stunned and satisfied! Here is a brief synopsis of the book:

Vonny Kwan wakes up in a Nevada hospital, the victim of a hit-and-run accident she doesn't remember. As she struggles to recover from her injuries, she learns that she also has no memory of the past nine years, including her marriage and what she was even doing in the West.

While she's still reeling from the shock of her amnesia, two detectives visit and inform her that her husband, John, was recently murdered. As more information comes to light, Vonny grows increasingly suspicious of everyone around her.

Vonny realizes she must piece together the last decade to uncover the truth. The missing chunk of time holds secrets about the person she became, the mysterious man she fell for, and the life she never wanted.

Epilogue

"This is one of the most incredible jobs in the entire world, but it is definitely not devoid of ongoing obstacles."

I couldn't have put it any better myself. While you will encounter outside obstacles along the way, such as pessimists and people who give nitpicky, spiteful, and disrespectful feedback, usually the biggest obstacles one will face is oneself

Indeed, rejection is something that all authors can relate to. I wasn't familiar with Imposter Syndrome until today, and this along with self-doubt are prime examples of what I'm referring to in terms of inner adversaries.

I would like to thank Danielle for her time. For more information on Danielle, go to https://daniellemwong.com/. To follow her on social media, visit the links below.

https://twitter.com/DanielleMWong

https://www.instagram.com/daniellemwong_/

https://www.facebook.com/daniellemwongauthor/

Second Interview with Patrick Johns

It has been a long time. I haven't done an author interview since 2019, but I'm back. When I interviewed Patrick Johns in 2017, he was an aspiring writer working on his book Junkland, which till this day is my second most viewed post on this blog. Now, he returns to the Lounge to talk about his life in another country, finding your purpose, and his new project from The Hoarding series, The Lost Soul.

EA: First, welcome back to the Literature Lounge.

PJ: Thanks for having me back! The Literature Lounge was my first ever author interview, and I’m honored to be speaking with you for a second time! Let’s dive into it…

EA: I've asked this before, but for the readers who are new to your work, what writers are your biggest influences?

PJ: I’m going to change my answer a bit as I need to give credit to the authors who got me into reading. Because without them, I wouldn’t be a writer. I read a lot of The Magic Treehouse series by Mary Pope Osbourne. When I was a child, I had a huge imagination just like Jack and Annie, taking me to imaginary worlds with my dinosaurs and lightsabers and all-star basketball team, so I could always relate to them. I have even began reading the series again in Spanish and it’s been nice returning to their adventures.
I also read a lot of the Redwall series by Brian Jacques. I love animals. Especially animals who live in castles and carry swords and fight and sing and eat. Brian Jacques was who got me into fantasy.
I then need to mention J.K. Rowling. Reading the Harry Potter series took me to a whole new experience of reading books. I felt like I was a part of the world as I was reading. I even made my own world like Harry Potter. 

I remember rewriting all the subject names in my assignment pad to subject names studied at Hogwarts. Math became Defense Against the Dark Arts. Science became Potions. History became History of Magic. English became Transfiguration. And Gym became Quidditch. It was also the first time reading a book with relatable characters. I felt like Harry, Ron, and Hermione were also my friends. These books became lengthy in page count, but I would still read them in a few days. That just shows how great of a series Harry Potter is. 
Next is Michael Crichton. He’s the reason for my love of dinosaurs. Jurassic Park was, and still is, my all-time favorite movie. Every time I would go to my grandparent’s house, I would watch it. I loved the movie so much that my grandma finally gave me the VHS to take home so I could enjoy it even more. Now it’s on Netflix so I can enjoy it whenever I want. But it also got me into reading a lot of his books, especially Jurassic Park, Next, Prey, and Sphere. His books always give me fear for the unknown, but wanting me to turn the page. I also like how he mixed science into his stories. He really did his research.
Then comes George R.R. Martin. I always love stories I can’t predict. George R.R. Martin does it perfectly. I love how his world starts off almost realistic, and then slowly becomes more and more fantasy as he develops Westeros. It makes the surprises more surprising and eerie.

EA: The last time we spoke, you were working on your first novel from The Hoarding series called Junkland, which was released in October 2017, if I’m not mistaken. What was the reaction/feedback from that book?

PJ: It was officially released in November 2017, good memory! Junkland exceeded my expectations. Within three months I surpassed my goal of books sold and also my financial goal. But what I never planned on happening was for Junkland to become a bestseller within its genre on Amazon. I remember staying up until four in the morning, refreshing the Amazon page to check the rankings of my book. I couldn’t believe it when I hit bestseller status. I celebrated with a big bowl of ice cream.
But I always have to go back to my main goal: I wanted my story to influence someone to do something they love, as the story Aladdin had influenced me to write Junkland when I went to see it on Broadway back in January 2016. I think the most rewarding success I had with Junkland was the amount of people who reached out to me saying they had made a big change in their own lives because I had influenced them. And that’s the reason why I write.
Overall, the feedback of Junkland has been positive. Fans have reached out to me saying they can’t wait for the second book to be done and that I need to work faster, making me feel like George R.R. Martin. My fans have also classified my book as fairy tale fantasy, which was exactly what I was going for. I wanted to write a Disney-like fairy tale, but more for an older audience. The thing I love the most is when fans tell me they can relate with Jahrys, the main character. Just like Aladdin had influenced me to write my own story. That is my fuel for writing: to develop more characters like Jahrys and Aladdin.

EA: I see your upcoming project is Book Two for The Hoarding series called The Lost Soul. Could you tell us a little more about it, and do you have a release date in mind?

PJ: The Lost Soul takes place just after the events of Junkland. I personally don’t know what to say about a sequel without giving away any spoilers from the first book, but I will say that The Lost Soul is different. In a good way. The Lost Soul goes deeper into the characters, the plot thickens, the world expands, and it’s darker. I will give a little teaser and say that The Lost Soul will take you across the Farrest Sea and maybe, just maybe, over the Western Mountains. ;) 
The Lost Soul will be available on Amazon on June 1st.

EA: How much has the main character Jahrys grown from his first adventure to this one?

PJ: A lot. Jahrys grew as I grew. While writing Junkland, I was going through a rough time in my life. You could even call it my quarter life crisis. I didn’t like my job or where I was living. I felt trapped. I knew deep down I had to make a change. This reflects in Jahrys as he also didn’t like working for his father and dreamed of making a change in his life. He dreamed of becoming a knight.
After I published Junkland, I moved to Spain to write The Lost Soul. However, as I wrote my second book, I felt lost. I love living in Spain. But I am going against east coast, American-living culture: I gave up making a lot money, I left the many hours stuck in a pig pen under soul melting fluorescent lights, I am one of many friends who is not buying a house in his late twenties, nor am I starting a family or anywhere near to settling. All these things were always on the back of my mind—they still are—making me feel lost. But I always have to remind myself, none of that is what I truly want now. I needed to learn to forget worrying about the future and focus more on the present. Yea, I may not be living in Spain for my entire life, but I can’t kill myself every day worrying about where I will go, what I will do, who I will meet, what age I will be when I finally settle. And all of this comes out in The Lost Soul through Jahrys. Jahrys is also lost in life, trying to find himself in a world he thought he understood, trying to figure out what he truly wants after getting what he needs wasn’t really all it turned out to be.

The Hoarding Series.

EA: I must say, quitting your engineering job and moving to Spain was a bold move. Would you take us through your thought process when making that decision, and what led you to do it?

PJ: Oh boy. I think taking you through my thought process would be like trying to explain a black hole. After I graduated from the university, I worked for a large engineering firm outside Washington D.C. This job was anyone’s dream, but mine. I didn’t feel myself growing here, and I felt I had no purpose. It was hard to wake up in the mornings. Every time I told my friends and family this, many of their responses were telling me that a job is a job and you’re not supposed to like it, only make money to do the things you like. I started questioning this. Well, why can’t I make money doing something I like? Why do I have to stay in a situation that is actually awful for my mental health? Jerry Seinfeld once said, “I never worked a day in my life.” If he can make that happen, why can’t I? So I set out on my journey to discover how I could also live like Jerry Seinfeld and enjoy my profession. But I then encountered one of the hardest questions to answer: What do I want to do?
I first began asking myself, well, what do I like? This wasn’t an easy answer as it had taken me months to uncover it. I started taking yoga classes and doing a lot of meditation to really clear my cluttered mind. During this time, I began recalling my roots. I remembered all the times I played with my dinosaurs in my basement. All the short stories I wrote in elementary school. All the times I spent in my imaginary worlds which included being a Jedi, discovering dinosaurs, and even taking my basketball team to the championship; Michael Jordan Jr. could make any 3-pointer. I recalled all the times I would ride my bike to bookstores just to be surrounded by books. I wouldn’t buy anything. The thought of so many adventures surrounding me filled me with energy unlike anything else. It still does. 

I also recalled all the song lyrics and poems I’ve written since I was in high school. I even took a creative writing class in the university, and I didn’t even need it to graduate. All these memories were puzzle pieces, and it took twenty-six years of my life to fit them all together to show me my answer: I wanted to write.
But then I was hit with another tough question: What do I write about? In January 2016, I went to go see Aladdin on Broadway. Aladdin is my favorite Disney movie. I’ve seen it so many times, but this time, I felt something different. I cried. I laughed. I felt inspired as goosebumps covered my arms and legs. Because what Aladdin was going through on the stage was exactly what I was going through in my life: trying to find my purpose.
I knew this was the message and feeling I wanted my readers to obtain after reading one of my books, to feel inspired as Aladdin had inspired me. When I returned to Washington, D.C with this new inspiration running through my veins, I found myself walking through a stairwell; one I’ve walked in many times. However, this time, an emergency light caught my eye. I stopped to admire it. This emergency light reminded me of a Disney character with its little square body and big round lightbulb eyes. I instantly knew this was the character I needed to write about. So I took a picture of the emergency light and went to my desk to examine the photo further. I first thought, what kind of setting do I see this character in? A junk land popped into my mind, kind of like the world Wall-e lived in. I then dove into an outline, writing it all on my phone. This outline was barely a page long. But it had a beginning, a fuzzy middle, and an end. I then began writing and writing and writing.
Suddenly, thirty pages turned into forty. Forty pages turned into a hundred. A hundred pages turned into two hundred. Next thing I knew, one book turned into a trilogy. I never intended to write a full book and I never intended to publish anything. This was all supposed to be for fun. It just happened.
I made it my goal to finish Junkland, publish it, and then leave my job. I began to wonder what I could do next…
I’ve always wanted to study abroad in university, but it never worked out. I had recently learned about the teaching English programs which you can find in many countries around the world. My friend from the university had been living in Spain for two years at the time so I began talking to him about life in Spain as I had always been interested in learning Spanish. Once I published Junkland, I applied to the program and left my engineering job behind to move to Spain where I’ve been living now for three years, teaching English.
I have never looked back since I moved to Spain. I absolutely love living here. Yes, it’s hard at times, as you can imagine, but it has been one of the best decisions of my life. I am not the same person I was just a few years ago. Moving to Spain has made me grow as a person and as a writer. In Spain, I earn money to save and still have enough to travel and enjoy my life, more than I had before in Washington, D.C. I also have time to work on my writing brand. What does the future hold? I don’t know. But if my writing journey has taken me from a small town in New Jersey, to studying in Blacksburg, Virginia, to living just outside Washington D.C., to living in Spain; I can’t wait to see what life has in store for me.

EA: Out of curiosity, what’s it like in Spain?

PJ: Spain is a beautiful country! My first year I lived in a small town called San Roque which is nearly at the southern tip of Spain. It’s right next to Gibraltar, Algeciras, Tarifa, and just across the Mediterranean Sea from Morocco. I’ve never experienced so much wind in my life during this year. I always thought I had pink eye since I was working with kids, but it turns out I just had sand in my eyes and they were irritated. My second year I lived in the city of Cadiz. Cadiz is the oldest city in Europe still inhabited by people. It’s the sister city of Havana. If you’ve ever seen the movie Die Another Day, you will remember the scene when James Bond went to Havana, Cuba and watched the famous scene of Halley Barry coming out of the ocean. That was actually filmed in Cadiz. In Cadiz, I was able to surf every single day. And my favorite part of the city was going to the giant fish market every weekend to buy food and enjoy a drink and food with some friends. San Roque and Cadiz are both located in Andalucía which is an autonomous community covering most of southern Spain. Andalucía is gorgeous and every day is sunny. I can still remember the days when it rained. If you ever get a chance, you need to visit Granada, Seville, Malaga, Cordoba, and Cadiz. There are so many more beautiful places, but these are a must. Andalucía was conquered by the moors back in the day so there’s a lot of Moorish architecture like the Alhambra in Granada and the Alcazar in Seville.

My third year I made a big change and moved to the north of Spain. I’m now living in a city called Ferrol which is located in Galicia. Northern Spain is a different world than southern Spain. I’ve never experienced so much rain in my life. But the beautiful sunny days make up for it when everything is so green. Galicia has one of the nicest coastlines I have ever seen. There are so many mountains and cliffs running along the coast with hiking paths.
There are seventeen autonomous communities in Spain which are like states in the United States. I love how going to each community is like going to a different country, like going from Andalucía to Galicia, for example. Each community has its own culture, food, and sometimes its own language. In Galicia they speak Galician, which was actually the language that formed Portuguese. In Catalonia they speak Catalon. In Basque Country they speak Basque. 
Overall, Spain is very safe, beautiful, and relaxing. Life is slowed down here. No matter what the weather is outside, you can always find people sipping a coffee or a beer at a café in a plaza, talking for hours and hours, never worrying about being late to anything. You can experience this while walking on the sidewalks too. Even if you say, “Excuse me,” people will not move out of the way for you or speed up their walking. You just need to be prepared to be late. But everyone is always so nice and willing to start up a conversation. I remember when I lived outside Washington D.C., no one would even make eye contact with me in the streets. Here in Spain, sometimes it’s difficult to avoid random conversations started by the old grannies and grandpas at the bus stops. But I always enjoy it.

EA: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

PJ: The advice I always give is: Write from start to finish. This is SO important. I’ve seen writers who struggle to get past the first chapter, sometimes even the first paragraph. And a lot of times these writers are better than myself. But what’s different between myself and them? Well, I finished a book and they didn’t. J.K. Rowling didn’t write Harry Potter in one take. It took her five drafts to finish it. No one is ever going to see your first draft. The first draft needs to be written with a free mind with the door closed. Write as if no one is lingering over your shoulder, judging you. Then, once you’ve seen your end, you can go back and edit. It’s so important to see the end of your story in order to know the point where your story needs to converge to. My biggest advice is, if you really do need to go back and edit while writing, add a note to remind yourself what needs to be changed in the second draft. But keep pushing forward. And once you’ve finished your first draft, you can go through your notes and fix your story as needed.
This leads to the famous advice of the magic of always being able to edit what you have written, but you can’t edit blank pages. So just write!

EA: Finally, tell us why The Lost Soul will be a must-read.

PJ: Well, if you enjoyed Junkland, you are going to love the second book in The Hoarding series even more. The Lost Soul goes so much deeper into the world of Astenpoole and its surroundings. It digs further into the characters’ minds. It resolves questions from Junkland but brings about new questions. But I think more importantly, this story had blossomed from my heart after I had left my engineering job to move to Spain three years ago. This book symbolizes the next step in my dream of becoming a writer. Scratch that. Of BEING a writer. And I can’t wait to share this next chapter of my life with my fans. My goal is to hopefully influence even more people to take the time to figure out what they love and want to do with the little time we have on this planet. Life will fly by. Our bad choices and failures will matter little in the long run of the universe. So why be afraid to take a chance on life and pursue the thing that makes you want to get up in the morning? 

Epilogue

I can relate to Patrick's story in a lot of ways. For starters, the part about meditation, but mainly

knowing that I hated working 9-5s and knowing I could do better than what I was doing. This led me

to discovering, uncovering, and revisiting my life's passion: writing. I had been writing since I was a child, but I somehow got away from it--aside from drafting scripts--as I grew older. 

In my early 30s, after some thorough reflecting, it led to me return to the one thing I've always enjoyed doing, and I've made a commitment to it since.

As far as finding oneself and one's purpose, that's something everyone can relate to at some point in their lives, particularly when they're young, but as he mentioned, one shouldn't be afraid to take a chance in life and pursue what makes them happy and enjoy what they're enjoy doing.

I would like to thank Patrick for stopping by the Lounge today. You can purchase The Hoarding series here. 

Check out Patrick's website as well as his social media pages in the links below.

 

Website: https://patrickjohnswrites.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/patrickjohnswrites/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrickjohnswrites

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/patjohnswrites

Stepping Stones: A Writer's Ramble, Pt. II: Nitpicky Readers

As a writer, I realize not everyone is going to like your work, or some cases if they do, they will offer some criticism on what they didn’t like, which is fine. What I can’t stand is spiteful, nitpicky readers/criticism. Recently, I got my book, Bounty Huntress: Invasion of the Keratinians listed on a website for “elite” readers. This particular pier is set up to where once your book is listed, an “elite” reader can request your book, and you send them the PDF, Mobi, etc. for them to read in exchange for a review as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy, for those who don’t know).

I waited nearly two weeks before checking back with him to see how it was going. Yesterday, I sent him an email to see where his progress was, and he tells me that he couldn’t get past 16 percent of the book, according to his Kindle reader, then proceeds to ask would I prefer a bad review or no review at all? I basically told him not to bother posting a review, since I could I clearly see that he didn’t like it.

He then asked me have I written plays/scripts in the past. This was one of those “to ask question is to answer the question” situations because I knew why he was me asking that, so I told him, “ I have, but not professionally.” As I suspected, he told me that it reflected in my writing style, then suggested that I don’t use that as a way to make my books flow. Then had the audacity to say, “I hope you don’t mind my feedback,” to which I didn’t even bother to reply.

As these emails are being exchanged, I’m processing the information, and I concluded that his issue wasn’t with the story in and of itself, but the way I wrote the story. Yes, he’s entitled to his opinion, but to me, his feedback was nitpicky and petty. So, because the book wasn’t formatted to his liking, the whole book is no good? Man, fuck you. GTFOH. I’ve had people read my books before and they didn’t have a problem with my writing style.

He should’ve just left well enough alone. He already made it clear he didn’t like the book because of the way it was written. That’s all I needed to know, I didn’t ask for details. As far as I’m concerned he could’ve kept his “feedback” to himself. I’m good.

This goes back to what I mentioned in the beginning: I can’t stand spiteful, nitpicky readers/critics. They find one thing wrong, to them at least, and they go to pieces. Perhaps the opinion wasn’t spiteful, but it was definitely nitpicky and petty. I’m almost certain, at least 8 times out of 10, that this guy is not a writer. People like this are usually your biggest critics. They don’t do what you do, but they want to dictate how you should write your story.

I’ve read books that while the story itself was good, grammatically, the writing was shitty, which that alone would make most people discard the book. However, while I pointed out these errors in the book in the review, I still rated it a 3 out of 5 stars because despite the bad grammatical structure, the book still kept me intrigued and turning the pages wondering what was going to happen next.

Some might be thinking, “He can’t take criticism.” Not true. There have been times where someone gave a critique, and I considered what they said, I saw what they were talking about, and I made the minor adjustment. Mind you, one of them was a writer. I’ve received critical feedback that I didn’t necessarily agree with, but I thought it was honest and fair, and I respected their opinion. Bullshit feedback like his, I don’t respect.

I’m always looking to improve as a writer, but for some lame ass, so-called elite reader to try to dictate my writing style and tell me how I should write my books a NO-NO. Now, if someone offers feedback or advice that you find viable and applicable, by all means, apply it if you choose to do so, but never let anyone dictate your writing style and/or tell you how to write your stories.

This is why it is imperative to trust yourself and be confident in your writing abilities because not everybody is going to like your writing style and/or your stories, that’s just the reality of it, but never let them deter or discourage you. I’m 99 percent sure Stephen King’s writing was criticized before he became a renowned writer, and I’m sure even till this day there are some people out there who don’t care for his writing style, but he doesn’t let that stop him.

A fellow writer told me that’s why he doesn’t care for those Elite Reader websites because the readers tend to have a bad sense of entitlement. While I’m sure he was speaking collectively, in this guy’s case, he’s absolutely right. The bright side or silver lining in all of this is at least there was something about the book that requests have been made to read it. As for me, I’m far from deterred or discouraged. If anything, it’s added bulletin board material and another stepping stone.

Interview with Author Michelle Al Bitar

Hello and welcome to the Literature Lounge. Today's guest is an aspiring writer from Lebanon. She released her debut novel Red Circus in May. Introducing author Michelle Al Bitar.

LL: Hello Michelle, and welcome to the Literature Lounge. It's a pleasure to have you here.

MAB: Hello! It’s a pleasure to be here as well.

LL: For those who aren't aware, tell us more about Michelle Al Bitar.

MAB: Well, it’s a little difficult to talk about myself so I’ll stick to the essentials. I mostly grew up in a very supportive environment, and my interest in art started blooming since I was a child, whether it was related to drawing, poetry, or acting. However, the older I got the more I was directed towards a scientific career path (doctor or architect). I mean don’t get me wrong, I love science, but it’s just not something I want to live for. I always subconsciously knew I lived for poetry, art, imagination, expression through brushstrokes or words… And so my journey with literature started after I transferred from architecture to English Literature during my second year as an undergraduate.

LL: What started you on your journey to becoming a writer?

MAB: Following what I said in the previous question, my passion for literature and writing was not only expressed while I was at home reading or scribbling down random ideas. It affected me the most when I was sitting in most of my architecture classes and writing a long poetic prose about existential thoughts and imaginary worlds. After I transferred to English Language and Literature, I fell in love even more with classic literature, books that made a change, that broke into the cannon, and I wanted to be like that. I wanted to be a writer who wrote about something that mattered, not something that would sell. I believe I still have a long journey to reach my goal (that after I’d publish probably at least some of the books I have in mind), but what matters to me is that I’m never giving up.

LL: Who would you say are the biggest influences in your life and career?

MAB: My biggest influence in my life are my parents who fought through the war and survived, who taught me and my sister to follow our dreams and never settle for less than what we crave for. They were there for me through thick and thin, especially when I decided to major in literature and our social circle criticized me for not choosing the cliché career path set for every Lebanese student.

What influences my career are all the great writers that preceded me. After reading or listening to their biographies, I realized that nothing comes easy, and we all need to go through the most difficult trials before reaching our destination. They inspire me not to give up on my dreams, even if life sometimes tries to hold us back.

LL: Would you tell us a little about your first novel, Red Circus?

MAB: Red Circus was originally meant to be a horror story about a circus that performed rituals to trick the audience into seeing things that don’t exist; and eventually, one of the rituals backfires and they have to face the consequences. As I started writing the first draft, I realized I wanted to do something political and yet not directly loaded with political theories. This led me to transform Red Circus into a Dystopian novel where tricksters exist, the world is ruled by a bunch of kingdoms, and World War IV has finished (yes, World War IV).

The main idea behind it is that the protagonist Riley Red is circus performer and a trickster (human with an advanced mind that helps her create illusions) whose parents died because of King Christopher Freedian. She uses her power in the circus and mind tricks to enter the king’s palace and tries to get her long wanted revenge. Eventually, the life she leads inside the castle is different than the one she thought she would.

LL: Are there any projects in the works?

MAB: Yes. I am currently working on a series of short stories, each is totally different, but they all have an embedded moral lesson and a plot twist in the end.

LL: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

MAB: We all start as aspiring writers, and I still am one. You may start as a self-published author like me or get a deal with a publishing house. Either ways, both take time. Do not give up. You have the most beautiful hobby/job/passion in the world. You could be or create anything you want. Imagine scenarios before you sleep, when you wake up, and during your breaks throughout the day.

Write. Write. Write.

LL: Finally, tell the readers why Red Circus is a must-read.

MAB: Red Circus has some prophetic sense to it and acts as a caricature of the “democratic” regimes around the world. It suits people who are interested in politics, romance, fantasy, feminism, and war stories all at once. And for all literature geeks out there, there are countless references to classic literature inside.

Give it a try. I’m sure you’re going to enjoy it and start wishing you were a trickster as well.

Epilogue

 "I wanted to be a writer who wrote about something that mattered, not something that would sell." Those are very interesting words because while there are writers/authors who do the former, there are lot of them who do the latter, and there are a few combine the two. It indeed takes time to find success as a writer-- or in anything for that matter-- regardless of what route you take on your writing journey, however, if it's something you truly desire to do, stick with it despite everything, and most definitely don't give up.

I agree that the arts is the most beautiful passion and career in the world. I can relate to imaging scenarios before and after sleep or at random times during the course of the day. I want to thank Michelle for hanging out at the Lounge with us. To purchase Red Circus, click the link below. Once again, this is the Literature Lounge, I am your host Edward Anthony, and I'll see you next time.

Amazon: Red Circus

Second Interview with Author Lauren Chow

Today's guest made an appearance here back in 2017 (when it was EA: Creatively Creative) to talk about her debut novel, Chosen. Till this day, that interview has received the most views (so far) out of all of my blog pages. Today, she returns, but for the first time in the Literature Lounge. I welcome back, author Lauren Chow.

LL: Welcome to the Literature Lounge, Lauren.

LC: Hello! Thanks for inviting me.

LL: The last time we spoke, you were releasing your first ever novel, Chosen. How's the book coming along since its release?

LC: It’s been phenomenal. I’m genuinely surprised at how well it’s still going. I thought that after a few of months people wouldn’t really care about it. It’s now been almost two years and I’m still receiving messages about how people enjoyed the book and asking for the release for the sequel. It’s a strange but amazing feeling knowing that your piece of work impacted someone else in the world.

LL: What have you learned from your experience so far in your young career?

LC: I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned from writing is that you can’t please everyone. You should always be proud of the work you poured your heart and mind into. However, there will always be haters and people looking for flaws in your work.

In one of my works called “Rosaline” on Wattpad, there were some users that commented or messaged me, accusing me of supporting abusive relationships and that I was anti-feminist. The comment that stood out to me the most said that I should “check my morals” if I am writing stories like this and gave me a set of instructions on how I should change my story. I remember being shocked and rattled by these messages, thinking “where in the world is this coming from?”. I never thought I would experience this and now it slapped me right in the face.

Immediately after that, I posted a warning and defended my beliefs. When it still didn’t stop, I didn’t write for a solid month and deleted the app. During that time away, I began to realize there will always be people who want to knock you down. I don’t need to satisfy these strangers and let them demand how I write my book. I know my beliefs and what I write doesn’t have to reflect who I am as a person.

When I finally downloaded Wattpad again, I was overwhelmed by the support and love I got from fans when I posted another chapter. “Rosaline” is one of my most popular works and I don’t regret how I wrote it. It’s my book and I’m proud of it.

LL: Knowing what you know now as a writer, is there anything that you would do differently?

LC: I personally wouldn’t change anything. Each book taught me a lesson and helped me find my writing style. If I changed anything, who’s to say I wouldn’t have created Chosen in the first place? I may not be the writer I am today if I didn’t make mistakes or changed my way of thinking.

LL: I understand that you're working on a sequel to Chosen. Would you tell us the name of it?

Yes! I’m happy to declare that the sequel to Chosen is called Risen! I have been working on this book for years! Initially, I finished this book around 2017, but I’ve constantly been editing and changing the plot. It’s safe to say that I am finally satisfied with it.

LL: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

LC: Be patient and take your time writing your stories. Remember that you’re not going to write an entire novel in a day. It’s okay to get writer’s block, so don’t just write if you feel pressured to keep going. Pressuring and rushing yourself to finish your book can cause your plot to get wonky (I speak from experience). Writing is a way for you to express yourself and your imagination. If you rush to the end, you’re missing the adventure. As cheesy as it sounds, just have fun!


LL: Finally, can you give us an idea of what readers can look forward to in the sequel?

LC: I don’t want to spoil it too much. But in the sequel, we are flash forwarding eight months after the end of Chosen. The readers are about to enter a world filled with fear and hopelessness. While the readers are going to find out what happened to Clara and her family, it doesn’t mean they are safe and sound. Be prepared to go on a rollercoaster of emotions as you’ll finally get the conclusion to Chosen.

Epilogue

"You can't please everyone" is one of the golden rules of this business/industry, and you must embed it in your mind quickly. I have a story of my own to illustrate that example, but I've talked about it enough, so I'll pass on this one. 

Going back to Lauren's WattPad experience, this is why I have the "screw them"-- and I'm being very politically correct-- mindset that I have. Obviously, there are some things one should consider when writing. For example, I wouldn't write romance material for a children's book. Some things should be common logic.

To change your work or style due to someone's opinion/criticism will cause you to overthink: "Is it too political?" "Is it too this or too that?" Not only that, if you're not careful, they will take over your story-- or at least attempt to, as shown by the individual who had the unmitigated gall to give instructions on how to change her story. Man, screw that! Again, that's not the word I want to use, but I try to keep it PC here. I'm not referring to those who give honest and fair criticism, but I think you should vet those as well.

Express yourself completely as you see fit for your story. Yes, you want to write something compelling for the audience, but it has to be compelling to you first and foremost, regardless of what they think. By the way, I'm anti-feminist myself. At the end of the day, you can't please everyone, and neither should you try.

Anyway, that's enough of my rant, I'd rather save that for my social commentary blog. Being patient during the writing/creation process is key. It can be very tempting to work on a story for a while, and get the urge to rush to get it out of the way. To be fair, most readers can detect when one rushes a story. I've witnessed it from their comments on other authors.

"Writing is a way for you to express yourself and your imagination. If you rush to the end, you’re missing the adventure." I couldn't have said it any better myself, and most definitely have fun doing it. Enjoy the process. I want to thank Lauren again for stopping by the Literature Lounge. For more on Lauren, and her written works, visit her website at https://www.lchowbooks.com.

Interview with Author Yara Gharios

Welcome to the Literature Lounge. Today, I have a guest who released her first novel at age 17. She earned her MA in Writing for Performance and Publication in 2016. I introduce from Lebanon, author Yara Gharios.

LL: When did your journey as a writer begin?

​YG: As a child, I had a very active imagination. I loved imagining myself going on grand adventures and would share the stories with others. I was 8 when I wrote my first short story, and I still have the handmade "book" I stapled together of it. I wrote solely in French at the time as I didn't know much English yet, and I especially liked poetry. I also had a habit of writing multiple stories simultaneously, but most of them went unfinished. My first completed long piece of prose was a trilogy which took me 2 years to write from the age of 12-14. I was very proud of it at the time, but I doubt it will ever see the light of day.

LL: Have you always aspired to be a writer?

YG: As far as I can remember, I wanted to tell stories even before I could write. When I was 6, I liked to gather all the younger kids in my neighborhood and would tell them about enchanted forests and talking animals. Acting out the events was as fun for me as making up the story itself. At the time, I thought my love for children meant that I was destined to be a teacher, but as I started writing down the stories as I thought of them, I found my true passion. However, this profession is already hard enough to break into, and my chances were even slimmer because I never wrote anything in my native language and I didn't think I could have an audience because of that. So I romanticized the idea of being discovered as a writer even as I planned to be a teacher.

LL: I understand that you published your first novel at age 17. How did that feel? What were your thoughts?

YG: ​It was the twist of fate that I dreamt of without actually expecting it to happen. I don't remember exactly how the book fell into the hands of someone who liked to read and wanted to help me get published; maybe a friend of a friend told her or something along those lines. I was 15, so it felt pretty surreal to me that the scenario I was romanticizing for so long was actually happening. A year later, she found a small publishing that was impressed with my writing style, and we had a lot of back-and forth editing for several months.
I was so nervous the entire time; I wanted people to like my book, but I was still unsure if I would really get an audience in my country. I was just about to graduate high school when we were finally done, so I actually had my book launch a week after my graduation. It was an eventful month, to say the least, because I was also hospitalized during that time.

LL: Who are some of your biggest influences?

​YG: My biggest writing influence is probably JK Rowling. I was reading the Harry Potter series when I decided to try writing something that was longer than a few pages. I was fascinated by how one person could create an entire world that was built around magic and fantasy, yet still make readers able to connect with it and see reflections of their own lives. I also really love Harper Lee, and my favorite book is To Kill A Mockingbird. Outside of writers, my dad is probably the biggest influence in my life. He's taught me so much without really directly teaching me anything.

LL: Tell us more about your book, EXposed.

​YG: EXposed is the conclusion of my trilogy, Masked SheWolf. My main protagonist, Dylan, is finally achieving her dream of studying music, even though she still has to pretend to be a boy. She has to balance that with her long-distance relationship with her boyfriend. It was a challenge to finish the book because it took me almost 4 years to publish, but I'm really happy with the final result, and I hope readers will be, too.

LL: Are there any upcoming projects?

YG: ​I'm currently developing my next project, which is based on a TV pilot I wrote for one of my classes when I was an MA student. Without giving too much away, it has elements of dystopia and mystery, a bit of spy stories in a way, and a strong female lead. In terms of format, I'm having fun experimenting. I love prose, but I really want to try something I haven't done before, so I might actually stick with the script format.

LL: What advice would give aspiring authors?

YG: ​The advice I get the most is to always be writing, no matter how bad it might seem like to you. This is how you progress and evolve as a writer. I would add my personal advice to that, which is to make sure you engage with people who are interested in books, writing, or stories, and would be happy to take an interest in yours. During the four years it took me to finish EXposed, I almost gave up, but I was fortunate enough to have friends who were really invested in the story. They kept me going, and I honestly don't think I would have got here without them.

LL: Finally, tell the readers why EXposed is a must-read.

YG: Even though there's still the fantasy element of werewolves that anyone who has read my series will be familiar with, the book tells a very real story that I feel a lot of people can relate to. Dylan has to balance between pursuing her dream and her relationships with her friends, family, and boyfriend. There's also lots of really interesting new characters introduced that each come with their individual backstories, which was a real treat for me. My favorite was Lucy, and I often found her chapters the most fun to write.

Epilogue

Wow, I can relate to the active imagination and creating on-the-fly stories to tell. These were things I did as a child as well. Although writing is a difficult business to get into, I think if you have the aspiration, talent and discipline-- discipline is vital; you won't always be motivated to do it-- it can turn into a very promising career.

I would like to thank Yara for stopping by the Literature Lounge. For more on Yara, check out her blog by visiting the link below. Till then, thank you all for stopping by the Literature Lounge, a spot where you can get some R & R: Read and Relaxation.

Blog: Yara Gharios

Second Interview with Poet/Author Tanya Deloatch

Welcome back to the Literature Lounge! It has been another hiatus, and I apologize for that. I have been busy, as I will explain briefly later on in the epilogue. Joining me tonight is an Indie author who is well-known in the poetry community. I welcome back to the Literature Lounge, Tanya Deloatch.

LL: Welcome to the Literature Lounge.

TD: Thanks so much, very happy to be back in the Literature Lounge with you all today.

LL: Since the last time we spoke, you have a written a sequel to In Her Feelings, wrote your first novel, Love Takes Time, as well as another collaboration. Tell us more about those projects.

TD: Yes, I have been very busy with various projects! I'm excited to share some of those with you today. The sequel to In Her Feelings was basically writing itself, there were so many situation-ships happening in television, movies and in the lives of people around me. I had to share some of those emotions with my readers!

Prior to In Her Feelings 2, I wanted to try my hand at writing a story. I expanded my pen beyond poetry and wrote my first standalone story Love Takes Time. In this story, my lead character Lexi struggles to find love - is it with her first love or the man who appears to be Mr. Right?
A reviewer of this story said: "In getting acquainted with Lexi's Heart, I Learned how Something Old becomes New (again), when what was thought to be New was actually Borrowed, with preconceived notions of hiding an UnTrue Heart of Blue."
 
I believe that to be an accurate depiction of my story, but read it for yourself and decide! Team Brian or Team Chase? Since these solo projects, I have also written short stories included in Anthologies for Lu$h (a small group of authors) and Wild Dreams Publishing House. Those short stories take readers on a ride of Love and Politics people entangled in relationships Thirsting for More and more recently a fan favorite A House Divided in the pages of Hushed Affairs.

LL: How did you connect with fellow writer, M.E. Giguere for the collaboration?

TD: Funny thing about that connection is, it was immediate and easy! Fellow writer and PenSistar Mary E. Giguere reached out to me on social media, we became instant fans of each other's work and she asked me to consider being a part of an upcoming anthology. That was nearly three anthologies ago with Wild Dreams Publishing House! I love being an Indie Author and having the flexibility to participate in projects outside of my solo endeavors and other collaborations.

LL: In Love Takes Time, in what ways does Lexi's situation relate to other women?

TD: In Love Takes Time, lead character Lexi just wants true love. She thought she had found it once - with her first love, but ended up heartbroken.She meets Mr. Right and he is just simply everything!  Just about too good to be true, so she struggles to figure out if her heart is still in the past with Brian or lovingly in the present with Chase.

LL: What is the reception you've received so far from In Her Feelings 2 and Love Takes Time, respectively?

TD: In Her Feelings 2 received a generous response, unfortunately I will say never as good as the first time...but I feel the sequel was certainly necessary and relevant. Readers, old and new have been receptive to Love Takes Time and sees themselves in the story lines of Lexi, Brian or Chase. 

LL: What's next for Tanya Deloatch?

TD: I have several projects in the works, the writing lab stays busy! I'm planning to release another solo project this summer, as well as two new collaborative efforts with Lush and Wild Dreams Publishing House. I love writing, but I am also looking forward to some down time to enjoy a few new releases from some of my favorite fellow authors as well.

LL: Finally, what have you learned now as an author and poet you didn't know then that you could share with the readers?

TD: As I am growing in this industry as a writer and self-publisher, I have learned so much! Always build a strong network that includes an Editor, Cover Designer, and support system of ARC reviewers who will tell you the truth while supporting your dream as an author. Another thing that I value is the idea that there is room for everyone in the business, my only competition is my past works. I hope to improve with every new project I release.

Epilogue

I can definitely relate to having a busy writing lab. I too have several projects in the works, including a fifth novel in progress, which will be my first Sci-Fi, well, more of a Sci-Fi/Drama, but it will be the fifth novel, nonetheless. It's helpful to have a support group who will give honest and fair opinions of your work. To me, it's one of the elements of growth as an author.

With that, I would like to thank Tanya for joining the Lounge once again. For more on Tanya and her poetry and novels, visit www.tanyadeloatch.com.

Interview with Author Miranda Oh

First, let me start with an apology to my readers and viewers. It has been nearly four months since my last post/interview on this blog, and I seriously have been wanting to update it. Nevertheless, I'm back in the Literature Lounge once again to welcome the author of the Chin Up Tits Out series, Miranda Oh.

LL: For starters, welcome to the Literature Lounge.

MO: Thanks, Edward for having me on here, very excited!

LL: What started you on your journey as a writer?

MO: My journey started in my mid-twenties when I had finished a roller-coaster ride of life I sat back and thought to myself, damn girl, you HAVE to share that story. So I did, as cliche as that sounds. I started to write out my story because it was wild, and no one would believe that it was ever real (you know, sometimes fiction is stranger than reality), and through writing, I began to heal, and once I launched, I had readers reach out and share how I impacted their lives with my books. In the end, it ended up being a healing tool, and a source of entertainment all wrapped up in one.

LL: Who are your biggest influences?

MO: Oh gosh, my parents hands down. They have been married for 30+ years, and are still in love and respect each other madly. They are each other's best friend and partner in crime, and not to mention they have a successful business they've run for 30+ years. My mom taught me how to love, nurture and always be kind, my father taught me how to be loved, how to respect and demand respect in return. My parents gave me an amazing childhood, and as I get older we keep getting closer, I can't think of anyone else being a bigger influence outside of my folks.

LL: What would you say are the biggest inspirations for writing your books?

MO: LIFE! Because life is beautiful in itself. I mean, it isn't PRETTY, it's messy, dirty, unconventional, confusing and sometimes uneasy, but the fact that we wake up each morning is a blessing in itself. Each day is an adventure, whether you choose to look at it that way or not.

LL: I could be wrong, but it sounds to me like the concept of Chin Up Tits Out is a way of saying "Keep your head up and chest out through the good and bad times of life." Would you agree? 

MO: 100% agree - no matter what happens, through good times and bad times, head held high, shoulder back, and keep moving forward. Remember - Everything is temporary, so you might as well enjoy it as much as you can, right?!

LL: Tell us a little more about the Chin Up Tits Out series.

MO: It follows a young woman in her 20s running through life, love, and all its battles. Imagine you sitting with one of your good friends over a bottle of wine (of bevvy of your choice) and her catching you up on the last few years of her crazy life. Now the stories through the series cover numerous serious topics like long-distance relationships, immigration, racism, mental illness, and addiction. BUT don't worry as heavy as those topics are they are dipped in sarcasm and wit with the main characters inner voice battling against her throughout the story. It is for sure a page-turner. (So they say)

LL: What's next for Miranda Oh?

MO: The 3rd book for the Chin Up Tits Out series is coming out soon. I am putting the final touches on it, and then getting ready to get it published. I can't wait for the world to see the third installment of the series. It's the ending you didn't expect!

LL: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

MO: Bad words written are better than no words written. Someone else said that - those aren't my words, but when I don't feel like writing, sometimes I force myself to, and I tell myself that. When I reread the drafts, I can't tell what was 'good writing days' and what parts were 'bad writing days'. So always write it out, anything can happen when you write it out!

LL: Finally, tell the readers why the Chin Up Tits Out series is a must-read.

MO: Chin Up Tits Out series is the series that connects you to the main character, connects you to your own inner-self, and connects you to all the things you try and run away from in your own life. It forces you to look at your own drama and try and spin it positively. But it doesn't do it in a self-help book kind of way, you're reading a story and having a laugh, and sipping a cocktail and somehow learning about life.

Epilogue

Whew! "Each day is an adventure," might be an understatement, but I think that's an interesting way to look way at it. As far as Miranda's words of advice, as much as I enjoy writing, I too have days when I don't feel like doing it, but that's where discipline comes in. It also reminds me of something I've read in a book years ago that stated to write it down, get it right later.

I thank Miranda again for being a guest on the Literature Lounge. To learn more about Miranda, and her Chin Up Tits Out series, visit her website at www.mirandaoh.com.

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

Live Writer Podcast: Inaugural Episode

Feels kind of weird to post something on this blog that's not an author interview. However, last night, I launched my first ever live podcast I call, Live Writer! Before I start, again, as I have stated in the podcast, I want acknowledge fellow writer Marshay Herder for introducing me to the Anchor web app.

In the first episode of this podcast, as you will hear when you click the link at the end of this post, I discussed the meaning behind the name Live Writer, as well as the meaning behind the first episode entitled, "Pilot Cast," an introduction of myself and my background as a writer/novelist, and my  credentials I have currently produced or I'm producing.

I ended with options of how you can support my work; whether it be donating to the Listener Support available through Anchor, becoming a Patreon, donating to my PayPal-- the PayPal button is available on this blog for sending donations-- or purchasing my books on various websites such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, SmashWords, etc. I will also leave those links at the end of the blog.

I look for this to be the first of many episodes of the Live Writer podcast. To my upcoming listeners and supporters, thank you in advance. To listen to the podcast, click the link below:

Pilot Cast: https://anchor.fm/live-writer/episodes/Pilot-Cast-e21guv/a-a4tk5

Amazon: Edward Anthony Author Page