Sean Russell skillfully paints a picture of island life with a supporting cast of quirky characters.  However the reader learns quickly all is not well in paradise when the enraged Phil Ferguson discovers his wife Jade’s infidelity and seeks out counsel from his livelong friend Teddy, a somewhat bohemian islander living a self sufficient lifestyle.  Teddy is a loyal friend ready to go to battle for Phil and has on more than one occasion saved Phil from making life possible catastrophic mistakes.  Tit for tat in a scheme orchestrated by Cadogan, enter the beautiful international haute couture runway model Amanda Calendar leaving Phil Ferguson to contend with his own infidelity.  Guyanese born and of modest means Amanda Callender makes the best of her beauty using it to climb to fame and fortune while exerting her feminine wiles to control men.  She also learned how to protect herself from the very same men.  Except one man, Phil Ferguson becomes her weakness leaving her in his presence defenseless and unable to resist their mutual longing and lustful urges for which there are consequences.

There are a host of other compelling characters like Phil’s doting father applying every means possible to help his son.  There is a good cop Detective Mobert Clarke whose efforts to get to the bottom of things are thwarted by bad cop Detective “Pastor” Seale.  And then there is Jackie, Amanda’s beautiful model friend who makes a late cameo appearance showing up in Barbados packing a hidden weapon that unravels all of Jimmy Cadogan’s best laid plans.  The ending is shocking, unsettling and almost incompressible.  No doubt that’s Sean Russell’s plan setting the reader up for more Phil Russell and Jimmy Cadogan capers.

In Guilty Cadogan gets his just deserts which may amount to nothing more than a mere set back.  We are left with the expectation that the defeated Jimmy Cadogan will rise again.  Guilty is a delightful read that will leave you wanting more.   Five stars.

Books In The Hood, as with numerous other independents, closed due to financial problems. The owner doesn’t blame the closing on location, as bookstores in more affluent neighborhoods have been forced to close as well. The main issue was support from the community. The various events, readings and functions the store hosted on an almost daily basis still weren’t sufficient incentive for the neighborhood to spend enough money to help the owners make the monthly rent.

Using savings intended for retirement, the balance of the rent was met, but once those funds were depleted the closing was inevitable. This situation is becoming more common in the Internet age and many are wondering if bookstores can survive.

Both booksellers and publishers have reported a drop in sales of adult fiction hardcover books in 2011. The decrease in sales is due to a reduced demand, which is apparent with the surge in digital sales. E-book sales now account for more than thirteen percent of the adult fiction market and that number is steadily increasing.

Though some, like myself, still enjoy the feel of a paperback/hardcover novel, there are many who have embraced new technology and are avid fans of the Nook and Kindle e-readers as well as the various computer and smartphone apps. This is especially true because no matter the number of pages or format of each book, with an e-reader or electronic app, the weight and size is always consistent and compact.

There are many other benefits to e-readers, from discounted pricing to convenience, but nothing beats the actual bookstore experience. Be it the social aspect of it all, or the endless shelves of books—different genres and different sizes and colors—one can become lost within its walls. Also, the ease of skimming and going back and forth for reference purposes, or highlighting and writing notes in the margin of printed books are often reasons some refuse to be caught up in the digital revolution.

Bookstores are also becoming very savvy, understanding that the key to longevity is advancing with the times. Many have adapted a cyber-café or lounge-type atmosphere. They have boosted their efforts in promoting authors with increased book signings, meet the author and book release parties. Some are also catering to poetry, hosting slams and spoken word events.

Many will argue that the digital booksellers are also community-based, as they personalize ones shopping experience. They catalog purchases made and not only suggest similar books that the reader may enjoy, but advise comparable books that other people are reading. They provide online forums to chat and discuss books read, and also review space to rate and evaluate their selections. Although all of these options are beneficial, face-to-face human interaction is something that will never go out of style.

While I don’t believe that all bookstores will survive the times, there are many that will. Those that adopt the cyber-revolution and commit in-store space for readers who still prefer an online and e-reader experience, and those that emphasize fun and bring an upbeat social atmosphere to their space will persevere and continue to thrive.

As long as there are authors cranking out novels on a daily basis, there will be a public looking to get lost in that fantasy world. Some will become introverted and choose to be a digital buff. Others will crave the in-person experience and support the printed book era, choosing to frequent their favorite bookstore.

In years to come, there is no certainty what businesses will survive the digital era. All we can hope for is that bookstores, like every other establishment, will become revolutionized and will transform into book odysseys that will survive the modernization of the book industry.

To Love You More

George falls in love and Rachel is unable to resist his persistent pursuit.  She is forced to casts aside her best laid plans.  Together they plan for a future setting their ambitions on becoming attorneys, marrying and raising a family.  Rachel travels to London for college and law school while George pursues his legal studies close to home in the Caribbean.  For a while the long distance romance works with the two reuniting during breaks.

As their long held plans to marry are about to materialize George is faced with a career changing opportunity to pursue a graduate fellowship abroad.  He then reconsiders marriage while Rachel faces her own dilemma.  The relationship ends as most do where there is lack of communication and trust.  Rachel releases George from his matrimonial promise allowing him to pursue his dream.  She in turn enters into a marriage of convenience to another.

12 years later Rachel a widow returns to Barbados where George is successfully practicing law.  An accomplished attorney in her own right she finds herself as opposing counsel in a high profile case.  Feelings that long lay fallow are reawakened and old wounds are reopened.  The two must somehow come to terms on whether to take a second chance on love.

In To Love You More Wayne Jordan proves to be as skilled at arousal and satisfaction as his character George.  It’s a hot and steamy romance.  Then again I should have expected no less.  Wayne Jordan is the consummate romance writer who s brings to life the hearts and minds of fictional characters romantic entanglements as few can.  In his 2011 novel Saved by Her Embrace his character Sandra Walters earned him a Romance Slam Jam’s  Heroine of Year Emma Award nomination.  To Love You More may very well be a 2012 Emma contender.  5 Stars

Sadeqa Johnson, a former public relations manager, spent several years working with well-known authors such as JK Rowling, Bebe Moore Campbell, Amy Tan and Bishop TD Jakes. She is the co-founder of 12th Street Press, a boutique publishing company specializing in unique voices. An inner peace advocate, Sadeqa Johnson is a meditation teacher, public speaker and motivational blogger.

Originally from Philadelphia, she currently resides in the New York metro area with her husband and three children. Love in a Carry-on Bag is her first book. -SedequaJohnson.com

BLM: Namaste Sadeqa and thank you for sharing yourself with us. Meditation is a big part of your life. When did you first become involved with it and what do you feel are its benefits?

I began meditating about six years ago after my second child was born. Bleary eyed and overwhelmed with the responsibility of caring for two young children while trying to write was crippling for me.  Finding meditation was like watering a parched, potted plant. Instantly I felt my life change.  The more I sat in meditation and quieted my mind, the clearer I became on my purpose in life. My heart’s mission is to inspire.  I write a weekly motivational blog, give talks and workshops on meditation and have been leading a group meditation class for over three years. Meditation has made me more intuitive, helped me with balancing my life as a mother, wife, teacher, writer, and provided a deeper focus when I’m writing. Meditation clears my head so that I am open and attuned with the world.  Before practicing meditation I use to force the characters into position, now I do my best to listen and be the conduit.

BLM: You were inspired by many musical influences while writing Love in a Carry-On Bag, including Amy Winehouse, Esperanza Spalding, Nina Simone and Terrance Blanchard, to name a few. Why did you choose the music of these particular artists to write to?

 It wasn’t really a choice it was more of a calling. These artists have created albums that resonated with me and spoke to the journey my characters were on as I was writing. The lyrics and arrangement of the music often helped me to express the joys and pains, highs and lows in Love in a Carry-On Bag.

BLM: Coming from a publishing background, why did you choose to self-publish as opposed to signing with an established house? Did you run into the same roadblocks as many other new and upcoming African-American authors?

 Absolutely. I started 12^th Street Press with my husband out of sheer necessity. I had a very prominent agent in New York City who was unable to secure a deal for me. Having a background in publishing and still being unable to be published by a major house was devastating. My husband and father are both entrepreneurs and neither could figure out why I didn’t want to go out on my own. So one day my husband asked me, “what is it that you want from a publishing house?” I told him that I wanted an editor to bring my novel up to professional standard. He looked at me and said, “So let’s hire an editor.”

 I then had to get out of my own way. I had a limited belief of myself, thinking I was just a writer. But once I recognized that the plan for me was much bigger than what I believed, it became clear that I was destined to be a publisher AND a writer. Once that clicked in my own head and I said yes, 12^th Street press started tumbling, twirling and picking up speed.

BLM: Black Love is a beautiful thing, but we don’t always have an opportunity to see it positively exhibited in print or on screen. Did you write this story with the goal of showcasing a powerful black love story?

 Showcasing strong black love was my goal. I was inspired by movies such as Love Jones, Love and Basketball and Mo Better Blues and while I was writing, I kept telling myself that Love in a Carry-On Bag would be the next big love story told on screen. My hope in telling this story was to showcase that heart wrenching all encompassing love that we all know exist but we don’t get to see on the big screen.

BLM: In your opinion, what makes for a great love story? Is it plot, character development, sex, all of the above or something entirely different?

For a good love story to work the characters have to be memorable. As a reader I need to be connected and invested with the characters from page one so that I’m willing to go on the journey with them. I also like to feel that push and pull, that miscommunication that we all feel in love, like I know I said I didn’t want a Valentine’s gift but what I was really saying is that I wanted you to surprise me. How come you can’t read my mind!

 There of course need to be secrets, and past experiences that jump out of the closet to shake things up, because those lovers need to end up in a deeper place than they did when they began the journey.  Steamy sex scenes are a must. I prefer the type of loving that leaves a bit to the imagination, because I can dream up much more hotness when it’s implied…trust me.

BLM: Why did you choose to fuse Jazz into the storyline as opposed to Rap or Rhythm & Blues?

My father exposed me to jazz music very early in life.  I dated a trumpet player while in college and like Erica, I would spend all night at jazz clubs while he lost himself in the music. I’m very attracted to musicians because of their passion for creating beauty. I think they are brilliant, and it was a joy to give Warren the burden of carrying around a gift for music, when all his family wanted him to do was have a good corporate job. Warren’s love and passion for his art was satisfying for me to create, because it expressed my own passion for writing.

BLM: Love in a Carry-On Bag also deals with long-distance relationships. Speaking from experience, what is the secret to success when involved in one?

It might sound cliché but to communicate with your mate. I’ve learned that you have to be willing to stand in front of your partner completely naked and vulnerable from the inside out and say, this is who I am. Every day I plan to get better, and I need and want you by my side along this long and beautiful life walk. Trusting that person fully is also very important

BLM: Will your follow-up novel be a love story as well, or do you plan to stray from the cliché and write a different story?

I don’t have plans to write a sequel. Erica and Warren have been in my head for over ten years and honestly I’m ready to move on. In my next novel, I really want to focus on shame and secrecy. I’ve had this idea of writing the story of a stay-at-home mom drowning in domestic bliss having lost all sense of self.  After three children, one with a genetic condition, she realizes this is not the life she has signed up for but feels stuck. She’s lugging around a secret past that her husband doesn’t know about, but it only takes one telephone call for her carefully sculpted world to crash.

BLM: As an advocate for inner peace, how can one find a balance within themselves that will transcend into their relationship? Is there a connection?

I like to say a better you, is a better you for all of the people you take care of. In my marriage, meditation has helped us tremendously. I’ve been practicing meditation for over six years and my husband has probably meditated two times in his life but he has benefited from my practice. What happens when you meditate is that you become different, the things that use to set you off don’t anymore. You become the eye of the hurricane with everything buzzing around you but never landing. Because you are different you make those around you different. My husband was never the type to stop in his tracks and realize that he was wrong, but now he will. My energy has caused him to make the adjustment and it has made for a happier closer marriage. He’s open in a way that he wasn’t when I wasn’t bringing the meditative energy into our home. The women make the household go round, if I’m centered, balance and happy, then everyone who comes in my path will be a reflection of this energy.

BLM: When a reader puts down Love in a Carry-On Bag, what do you hope they walk away with?

A sense that reading my book was worth their time and that they are better off because I’ve touched and deepened their life with my gift.

BLM: What do you want your readers, followers and fans to know about the kind of person Sadeqa Johnson is? What is your personal message and/or testament?

I wake up every morning with gratitude in my heart. My goal is to inspire and enrich the lives of others. When my dreams seem beyond my scoop of vision I ask myself, why not me? And push on. My husband calls me the most dedicated woman he knows because I never quit. Never.

BLM: Lastly, what is your advice to the author who has also had a book in them for many years and still hasn’t made a move to bring it to fruition?

Don’t quit!  Writing takes time and dedication and it is very important to be true to the craft. Take writing classes, form a writing group and read as much as you can. Give yourself time and permission to grow, and be patient with yourself. Believe in your creativity above all.  Allow the magic to flow.

Find out more and connect with Sadeqa on her website www.SedeqaJones.com or join her fan page on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SadeqaJohnson.

Read our 5-Star review of Love In A Carry On Bag!

]]> http://blackliteraturemagazine.net/blackliteraturemagazine/2012/04/05/interview-with-author-sedeqa-johnson/feed/ 0 http://blackliteraturemagazine.net/blackliteraturemagazine/2012/04/02/the-law-clerk-by-stan-r-gregory/ http://blackliteraturemagazine.net/blackliteraturemagazine/2012/04/02/the-law-clerk-by-stan-r-gregory/#comments Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:12:00 +0000 norwoodholland http://blackliteraturemagazine.net/blackliteraturemagazine/?p=2103 From Caterpillar to Butterfly…

Stan Gregory’s first novel The Law Clerk The Law Clerk is the story of Ben, a hard working judicial clerk not long out of law school enjoying his job but struggling to make ends meet. Ben is like a grounded caterpillar trudging along until the transformation to fly.  Just when it seems fate has provided the right romance comes along an opportunity to get out of all his burdensome debt.    That opportunity presents itself in the form of a moral choice between right and wrong. Ben must decide whether to take a bribe and steal privileged documents from the Evidence Room for a rogue felon with a history of stock manipulation.

The temptation is too great. The caterpillar wants to speed up the process and fly with financial freedom.  He succumbs to the dilemma gambling his future and license for immediate financial security.  Ben sells his soul hoping it’s done but knowing it’s not over. As usual in cases of bribery blackmail follows and Ben is pressured to steal more documents. So how does Ben make it all right and reclaim his integrity? He begins by using the money to hire a private eye to track down and disclose the source of his new misery.

The Law Clerk is chocked with suspenseful action. It’s well written with organic metaphors and subtle classical allusions and an adequate sprinkling of romance. It’s a real legal thriller. Too often a new novel is touted as a legal thriller only to discover the thrill is gone. As promised Gregory delivers gripping suspense. Writers are often advised to make the protagonist suffer with the challenge of overcoming that suffering. The theme of temptation and its consequences makes the reader uncomfortable siding with Ben’s conscience warning him not to do it, but he does and thus becomes a lawyer without principle. And that just won’t do for a hero. Butterflies are free, but not in your stomach. So how does he make it right and what is the lesson learned?

I won’t spoil the ending with too much detail, but I recommend The Law Clerk with five stars.

It happened in 2002, when I was promoting my first novel, “Baggage Check.” I met with book clubs in Atlanta, Houston, New York, D.C. and other places. I left each meeting feeling spirited and uplifted, like I do when I leave church. I was grateful for each experience. I felt like getting the feedback from the readers was wonderful reinforcement. At the same time, they got a lot out of being able to ask the author questions about how he conceived of the book. So, it was mutually beneficial. And it hit me one afternoon: Someone ought to create an event where readers and authors come together and have a succession book club meetings, panel discussion, receptions — occasions that promote learning and fun and fellowship. And literally, the NBCC was created in my car on a 25-minute drive from Lenox Square Mall in Atlanta to my house.

BLM: You’ve been a major player in the literary game for a while now. You’ve seen authors come and go. What qualities do you see in the authors that has been successful for years versus those that are one hit wonders?

I’m not really sure there is a real scientific approach to creating longevity beyond producing quality work. I understand Street Lit has burst upon the scene in a huge way, but, overall, I believe readers of African American literature are more sophisticated than ever. They want stories with substance and depth and characters and story lines that are relatable. Give readers your best effort at realistic work that challenges the mind while also entertaining and you stand a better chance of being relevant for a sustained period.

BLM: Whats a few major differences from the very first book club conference that you put on to your most recent?

The obvious one is that there are more readers. We had 211 that first year and I was so proud to have them all. We grew to more than 600 in 2009 and 2010 and I felt like that was too many. I want to always maintain the intimacy that made the NBCC special, and going over 600 put that in jeopardy. Other than that, it is about the same. I have never been around readers so happy to be among other readers. It still amazes me, 10 years into this. And I love to see the authors after they have had their book club meeting. They all have such a sense of satisfaction and pride covering their entire demeanor. It’s pretty special — and unique in that way

BLM: After being behind the scene for years as a reader you just released a book of your own. Tell us a little about your book A Cold Piece of Work?

I consider this novel a virtual tour inside the mind and heart of a contemporary man. It’s a sort of case study on how a man reacts to a) being hurt by women and b) how he responds when he realizes he left the wrong woman. Solomon Singletary’s journey with Michele Williams touches all the emotions that come with love and disappointment. And there are several plot twists that move the emotion meter. I am proud of the response from readers and book club that have not only enjoyed the book, but gotten something meaningful out of the dilemmas and the resolutions.

BLM: What was the inspiration for your novel?

I just wanted to write about a guy who had been hurt by women of his past and how it impacted him in the future. That’s really a complicated dynamic because men are not comfortable at all feeling vulnerable. And as a romantic, I wanted to incorporate a love story in there that was warm and real, but also complicated by other dynamics that I won’t reveal here. So, it was a fun, rewarding book to write.

BLM: You’ve rubbed elbows with the elite in literature. Who’s the one person that you met that had you star struck?

It’s been a whirlwind of authors I have come to know and host that includes Dr. Cornel West, Iyanla Vanzant, Terry McMillan, Walter Mosley, Pearl Cleage, E. Lynn Harris, Bebe Moore Campbell, Tavis Smiley and on and on. But I immediately drew a connection with was one of my favorite authors: J. California Cooper. She is just a delightful woman — smart, clever, funny, endearing, genuine. Every time I have communicated with her — over the phone, in the car, at the hotel — she left me with something lasting.

BLM: With the domination of e-books getting stronger and stronger, have you seen a decline in book clubs?

Not at all. In fact, I learn of new book clubs every week. If anything, it is the opposite. Readers are engaged in books now more than ever, even as the e-book phenomenon rushes in. I have heard it from both sides: Some love the devices where they can carry thousands of books. Some love holding an actual book in their hands. I am partial to books. I like seeing them in my house. I like turning the pages and bookmarking the pages. That’s just me. I’m a traditionalist in that way. The good thing is that whether readers prefer e-books or not, they are still reading and still establishing book clubs all over the country.

BLM: You’re taking the NBCC to South Africa this year. Is this the only country outside of the U.S. that you plan on visiting or do you have other countries in mind to introduce to African American authors and the NBCC?

For the five-year anniversary, I took the NBCC to Ghana, West Africa. It was an amazing experience. We met with Ghanian authors Akousia and Abena Busia, along with the outstanding Bernice McFadden. There were calls for us to do a cruise or visit an island. But I wanted to return to the continent for the 10th anniversary, and South Africa fit the bill. I went there in 1994, and it is a beautiful country with warm, gracious people. It will be another incredible, culturally rich experience for those who embark on it with us.

BLM: If you could write a book with any author living or deceased who would it be?

Since the President is a best-selling author, I have to go with President Barack Obama. But the book I want to write he probably would not want to write. That book would be all about his and his family’s emotions when they listened to all the vile and unprecedented disrespect from the racist right-wing they have had to endure. I admire their poise, patience and focus. I would love to co-write the behind-the-scenes stories of his Presidency.

BLM: What is the criteria for authors that want to be featured authors at the NBCC?

There is no written criteria. I field e-mail inquires and pass them along to my Board of Directors and me make the decisions. But here’s the thing and this is important: I have a dogged, 100 per cent commitment to featuring new authors and underexposed authors. We need Terry McMillan, Walter Mosley, Kimberla Lawson Roby, etc., to come to attract the attention of readers. But our roster is ALWAYS laced with less popular and even brand new authors. It is important to me to help authors get the exposure they desire. A big part of my mission for the NBCC is to introduce readers to authors they might not know. That’s very important to me.

Her first novel, Leaving Atlanta, is a coming of age story set during the city’s infamous child murders of 1979-81. Jones herself was in the fifth grade when thirty African American children were murdered from the neighborhoods near her home and school. When asked why she chose this subject matter for her first novel, she says, “This novel is my way of documenting a particular moment in history. It is a love letter to my generation and also an effort to remember my own childhood. To remind myself and my readers what it was like to been eleven and at the mercy of the world. And despite the obvious darkness of the time period, I also wanted to remember all that is sweet about girlhood, to recall all the moments that make a person smile and feel optimistic.”

Leaving Atlanta received many awards and accolades including the Hurston/Wright Award for Debut Fiction. It was named “Novel of the Year” by Atlanta Magazine and “Best Southern Novel of the Year,” by Creative Loafing Atlanta. The Atlanta Journal Constitution and The Washington Post both listed it as one of the best of 2002.

Her second novel, The Untelling, published in 2005, is the story of a family struggling to overcome the aftermath of a fatal car accident. When asked why she chose to focus on a particular family in this work after the sprawling historical subject matter of Leaving Atlanta, Tayari Jones explains, “The Untelling is a novel about personal history and individual and familial myth-making. These personal stories are what come together to determine the story of a community, the unofficial history of a neighborhood, of a city, of a nation.” Upon the publication of The Untelling, Essence magazine called Jones, “a writer to watch.” The Atlanta Journal Constitution proclaims Jones to be “one of the best writers of her generation.” In 2005, The Southern Regional council and the University of Georgia Libraries awarded The Untelling with the Lillian C. Smith Award for New Voices.

Silver Sparrow, her third novel has just been published by Algonquin Books. The Village Voice wrote that “Tayari Jones is fast defining black middle class Atlanta the way that Cheever did for Westchester.” The American Booksellers chose Silver Sparrow as the #1 Indie Next pick for June 2011. Library Journal , O Magazine, Slate and Salon all selected the novel among the best of the year. To promote the title, Jones has embarked upon a national tour with over forty appearances. National media coverage includes O Magazine, Vogue, Poets and Writers, NPR’s All Things Considered, among other venues. The paperback edition of Silver Sparrow will be released in May.

Tayari Jones is a graduate of Spelman College, The University of Iowa, and Arizona State University. She has taught at Prairie View A&M University, East Tennessee State University, The University of Illinois and George Washington University. Currently, she is an Associate Professor in the MFA program at Rutgers-Newark University. Her work has been supported by The National Endowment for the Arts and The United States Artists Foundation. She is spending the 2011-12 academic year at Harvard University as a Radcliffe Institute Fellow, researching her fourth novel.

BLM: To start, I’d like to think of this as more of a conversation than an “interview” and I also want to congratulate you on  on your recent NAACP Image Award nomination as well as all other award nominations and wins! This must have been very exciting for you!

TJ: It’s very exciting! I am very  humbled and pleased.

BLM:  What do award nominations mean to you and how do you think they affect your readership if at all?

TJ: I’m not sure honestly. I’m not sure how much readers even follow this sort of thing. I think that readers are more interested in the recommendations of someone they know and trust who has read a book. I don’t know that readers care a lot about awards. It is very gratifying as an artist to be recognized by your peers and be congratulated for your hard work. I don’t know what it means to readers though.

BLM:  I read a quote from you which was,  “Although I live in the northeast, my imagination lives in Atlanta” What do you mean by that?

TJ: I think what it really means is that although I live in the North, When I think about stories and the people that I want to write about, I always imagine the setting being Atlanta because it’s where my heart is. When I write a novel I may spend two or three  years thinking about these people and their lives and Atlanta is the place where I feel that my commitment is the greatest.

BLM:  Do you think you’ll ever write a book without a southern setting such as Atlanta? Has any other place left that type of impression on you?

TJ:  Well it’s almost like asking a person who they are going to fall in love with. You don’t know until you try it and I never say never. All of my books so far have had Atlanta as the setting and that city is where I feel most comfortable and you know maybe one day I’ll leave that comfort zone but I don’t know. It’s unlikely to me right now but I’m also humble enough to know that you can’t control this.

BLM:   Now Leaving Atlanta is about the Atlanta Child murders of 79-82. You were in the fifth grade I believe around that time. How do you decide the subject matter for your books?

TJ:  Yes, that’s right.  I have a lot of ideas for books and you know, some of them feel out and some of them don’t. I just enjoy writing. I just come up with a story and write and see where it leads me.  For me, I write a story the same way I want readers to feel while reading it. When you’re reading you turn the page to see what’s happening next and I feel the same way when I am writing it. I write the story to learn and discover. I often start writing with a question that I am asking myself  and I write to try to find the answer.

BLM: When I was  reading Silver Sparrow I immediately thought of it as mainstream literary fiction, and when I think of your writing in general I think of people like Toni Morrison or Richard Wright. These days there seems to be the trend for young, up and coming black writers to write more genre fiction,  How do you feel about this trend?

TJ:  I’m not sure if that’s unusual for African American writers because most of what people write is genre fiction in general. I think that it’s just new that African Americans are getting into the genre market so people find it jarring. If you go into any bookstore most of what is written is genre fiction. If you go to the  mystery section it’s huge. I think that African Americans are just branching out more. Traditionally, All of the African American writers that were published were writers of serious literary fiction and so when you see African American writers writing romance or crime thrillers it feels like  they are focusing on a specific genre, but we are living in an age where African American writers are writing all sorts of things. There are lots of African American readers that enjoy mystery for example, and they deserve to have  African American mysteries. You know black folks go on vacation too and they need something to read while they are enjoying themselves. I’m not going to become the “Black police” and try to tell black writers what they should write about and they can write whatever they enjoy writing about. Every genre has an audience.

BLM:  I think that genre fiction can be literary as well don’t you think?

TJ: Yes I do. Sometimes it is and sometimes it is not but it’s all okay. I know that there are some people who are just appalled that there are black writers who are not writing  literature that is serious. I think if there is anything that people may want to complain about it may be the marketing. If you go into a store and look in the African American  section and there’s nothing serious there, a person may think “Oh, black people don’t read serious literature” but you see that is a marketing problem not a problem with the writers themselves. Some people want to blame the writers but it’s the marketing. There are lots of black people writing serious literature, now will the bookstores  want to feature those writers, that’s a different question. Marketing will make someone think “Oh, that is what must be selling” and there are some books that may be selling more copies than those featured books, but the marketing may make some think otherwise. It leaves us to extrapolate that this thing or that thing is what’s selling and we don’t know that for sure. I think that most books that sell are more commercial, and that’s just the way books are.

BLM: If you were not writing, what would you be doing?

TJ: I don’t know because this is what I enjoy and the only thing that I’ve ever done. I love writing and cannot imagine doing anything else.

BLM: What is your advice to writers who are writing a book or have written a book and trying to get it published? What are a few things that they should do? What is your best advice?

TJ: The key and my advice is just to write. Some people spend a lot of time talking to other people about marketing and other things when they have not even finished their book. Write the best thing you can write and know that it’s going to be hard and can take a long time. There is no shortcut. I think that is what I would tell people. You just have to do the work and stick with it and have faith. I think the main thing is to follow your heart and your passions and write the book that only you can write. If someone else could have written the book  in my opinion its not the book that you were meant to write. It should be your own unique work and just embrace that. Write the book that only you can write. You want to write a book that fills a unique space.

BLM:  Is there anything that you can think of that you see writers doing that they should not be doing?

TJ:  I don’t really like to think of it that way. I like to focus on sharing the things that they should do. I like to see writers figuring out how to use their work to improve literacy and  people figuring out what they do best and what they love and how it will benefit other people.

BLM:  Who is your favorite writer?

TJ:  That would definitely be Toni Morrison. I absolutely love her work!

BLM: I love Toni Morrison also and I think her books as well as yours are those important works that will stand the test of time and that teach writers how to write in a sense, and how to use literary techniques. In my opinion, you have joined the ranks of those great writers. You are a gifted storyteller and I am so happy that I discovered you and when I began reading your work I couldn’t help but to think Wow! why didn’t I know about her even sooner? This is fantastic! and I think everyone should read your books. I highly recommend them.

TJ: Thank you! I have a new publisher now and people can’t read a book that they don’t know about so this goes back to marketing as well. If a book doesn’t do well sometimes people will say “Oh people didn’t like it” and that’s not it, people just didn’t know about it so marketing is key. Also, I think it is unreasonable to expect a writer to be able to do all of these different jobs. We should not be required to wear fifty thousand hats. There are people whom you can hire to do marketing and editing…etc A writers primary job is to write. I think that getting books to the readers is something that the industry needs to look at, but I don’t think it is the writers job. Writers should resist doing all of these jobs themselves and having to know how to do everything. When is the time to write your book if you have to be your own publicist for example or be your own marketer? There are people who disagree with me and would say that you have to learn how to be a hustler. I just think it’s unreasonable to expect a writer to also have to do the jobs of others and write. Also, think about this, do you want to be famous for your hustle or your books? I have read articles  about African American authors and the whole article will be about their hustle and not the work itself.  I think that’s a way of demeaning black writers. It can cheapen the craft of some  and black writers deserve to be respected as artists, that’s all I’m saying.

BLM:  What is your favorite book that you have written so far?

TJ: I think that every book is better than the one that came before it because I’m writing and with each book, I’m learning to be a better writer. I really think that Silver Sparrow is my strongest book but it’s my most recent book. I wrote Leaving Atlanta when I was in my twenties but it’s a very important book. I think that different books have different things about them that are valuable.

BLM: So Silver Sparrow is the best to date because it represents the culmination of all of your writing skills to date.

TJ: Yes and it’s really hard to say what’s your favorite. Your favorite for what, you know? I think that they all are unique and different so it’s a difficult question in a way.

BLM: Well, I have one final request but before I ask, I want to thank you so much on behalf of Black Literature Magazine for taking the time out of your busy schedule to share with us and this has been a wonderful and insightful conversation! I have thoroughly enjoyed it and so will the readers.  I look forward to future works from you! I wanted you to let our readers know how they can learn more about you and your books.

TJ:  You’re welcome and thank you so much for thinking of me. I have enjoyed our conversation as well and  I greatly appreciate it! I have a blog on my website which is www.tayarijones.com, and all of my information is there. I am also on Facebook as well as Twitter and I love to hear from my readers.

Born in Jacksonville, Florida, Brenda is a proud graduate of William M. Raines High School, and also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Jacksonville University.

She married thirty-nine years ago to her high school sweetheart, Gerald, and have two sons, Gerald Jr. and Brandon, ages thirty-three and thirty-one, respectively. She still proudly wears the “going-steady” ring Gerald gave her at fifteen. She retired after working 37 years in management for a major insurance company, and is now writing full-time and enjoying every minute of it.

Brenda began her writing career in the eighth grade at Northwestern Junior High School, where she would hand- write her stories for fellow classmates to read. Some of those same classmates are still Brenda Jackson readers today!

She has written more than 90 novels and novellas and has over 3 million books in print. Her professional writing career began in 1994 when she signed on with Kensington Arabesque. Her first book, Tonight and Forever, became a huge success, introducing the Madaris Family. Since then she has introduced the Bennetts, the Westmorelands, the Montgomerys, the Masters, the Savoys, and the Steeles.

Over the years she has received numerous awards and made many trail-blazing accomplishments by being the first African-American author to have a book published under the Harlequin/Silhouette Desire line of books and the first African-American romance author to make USA Today’s Bestseller’s List and the New York Times Bestseller’s List for the series romance genre.

She is currently a 2012 NAACP Image Award Nominee for my 81st book, A Silken Thread. She is also a strong supporter of giving back to your community and has received Community Service Awards from the Delta Sigma Thetas, the AKAs and the Zeta Phi Beta Sororities. In honor of her grandmother, ten years ago she established the Josiephine Threatt Scholarship Foundation at Florida Memorial University in Miami Gardens, Florida. Over $100,000 have been donated to this Foundation to provide scholarships to students wanting a college education.

Michelle: Brenda, I’m so honored to be speaking with you today! You have surpassed the norm when it comes to African American (AA) Literature and have had a lot of “firsts” as an AA Romance Writer, becoming the breakthrough author under the Harlequin/Silhouette Desire line, leading the way for other AA authors as you occupied the USA Today Bestseller’s List and the New York Times Bestseller’s List, and now you’ve become the first to fully finance and produce a full-length feature film based on one of your novels. What do you attribute to these achievements? What are you doing or what have you done differently from everyone else?

Brenda: I attribute the mottoes – “If you can believe it then you can achieve it,” as well as, “The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a man’s determination.” I think all authors who are in it for the long haul have the same drive and determination I have. I attribute my working in Corporate American for 37 years and knowing how to think out of the box as well as handling my writing as a business. But I’m certain I’m not the only author doing so. I also maintain a great relationship with my readers.

Michelle: Besides self-publishing, you have also written for many publishers including St. Martin’s Press, BET, Kensington, NAL, Harlequin/Silhouette and Harlequin Kimani Romance. Now that you are writing exclusively for Harlequin, do you think you will continue to self-publish novels that may not fit into their criteria, or will you just stick to their guidelines and crank out novels only for their imprint?

Brenda: Yes, I will continue to self-publish novels under my own publishing company – The Madaris Publishing Company – for the reason you stated. My loyalty is with my readers who might want a certain book that don’t fit within the guidelines established because of the hero and heroine ages, the heroine size or a certain plot. That way I can write the story I want without the restrictions.

Michelle: The number of awards you’ve received is staggering, and range from Reader’s Choice to Favorite Hero to Author of the Year to Best Multi-Cultural Romance Author. Of all the awards you’ve ever received, what have been your three most significant accolades, and why these three over everything else?

Brenda: Being the first AA Romance Author to make the NY Times Bestseller’s and the USA Today Bestsellers’ Lists. Also the Vivian Stephens Career Achievement Award. Vivian Stephens, the first AA editor at Harlequin who is the founder of Romance Writers of America. Now the organization has over 8,000 members.

Michelle: You have written over eighty-five books, and the number is steadily increasing. Of that total a great amount of those novels are intertwining storylines. Where did your penchant for writing connecting stories come from?

Brenda: I love reading connecting stories, because you aren’t just reading about a hero and heroine, but about their family and many friends. Nora Roberts had her McGregor series which I loved; and Linda Howard had her McKenzie series, so I figured since the letter “M” was gold to them, I would come up with my own family and name them the Madarises. I don’t consider writing as work because it relaxes me so much and I love writing about family. I come from a big family so I love family stories.

Michelle: Tonight and Forever was the first book you ever released. Tell us a little about the book and why you think it has been such a huge success.

Brenda: I think it is a success because it was my first book to introduce the Madaris Family. Justin, the hero, is such a sweetheart and a Beta man versus an Alpha man. After reading that book, women wanted a Madaris Man. And it’s a beautiful love story about lost love and second chances.

Michelle: I’ve read that your novel Ties That Bind took you the longest to research and write. What made this story so much more complex than all the others?

Brenda: It took such a long time because of the research and the frame of mind I needed to get to write the book. The story starts out in 1968 when I was 13 and I only knew what I’d heard about the Vietnam War and the Black Panthers. I wanted to know the real deal so I did interviews. I had to also familiarize myself with the music of the day, what people were eating, and what was happening in the news during that time. I’ve never done that much research for a book before. It was very rewarding.

Michelle: With so many accomplishments as an author and a steady influx of income from writing, why did you only consider it to be a “hobby” and what took you so long to retire from the corporate world?

Brenda: Because I loved Corporate America and my goal was to move up in that world. Writing was something I enjoyed and I never considered it as work. Where most people look forward to retirement, I really didn’t. State Farm was an awesome place to work. I started working there at 17 and right out of high school. I got my four-year degree at State Farm using their employee tuition program. I credited them with teaching me good management, customer service and people skills.

Michelle: I know your fans were disappointed with the made-for-TV movie adaptation of your book, One Special Moment, stating that it strayed too far away from the storyline. How did you feel about that entire experience?

Brenda: The entire experience taught me if you want something done the way you want it done then do it yourself. That’s how Truly Everlasting – The Movie came into existence. The entire experience also gave me a greater appreciation for not only actors and actresses but the entire production team – who are behind the scenes during the movie making process. It made me realize how important they are. Now I don’t leave the movie until after the last credit has been rolled.

Michelle: Your eldest son, Gerald Jackson, Jr. is the owner of his own production company, Five Alive Films, which produced your book trailers in the past. They are now the force behind your independent movie venture for Truly Everlasting. How has “keeping it in the family” been beneficial to you during the complete process?

Brenda: It’s been a wonderful experience to work with my son who holds a film degree from Columbia University Film School and a grad degree in Film from Florida State Film School. We are learning from each other. I am learning the art side of film-making and he is learning the business end. I hope to do more movie trailers and full-length feature films using his company.

Michelle: Of all your novels, what stood out about Truly Everlasting to make that the selection for the movie and what has been the reaction since the film’s premiere on November 5, 2011 in Jacksonville, FL?

Brenda: I looked over all my 80-plus novels and novellas and selected one I thought would fit in my budget. After my son wrote the script I did an estimated cost analysis and figured I could make it comfortably in my price range if I set up an action plan that also incorporated interns from various film schools across the country.

Michelle: We all know that you are a helpless romantic and still don the “going-steady” ring your husband gave you when you were 14. What many don’t know is that you like color. Not paint, but color! WOW! So with your growing coloring book assortment and overwhelming crayon collection, my question is… Does Brenda Jackson color “in the lines,” or do you add your own blend of “shading” to your coloring book pages?

Brenda: LOL, I add my own blend of shading. Not only do I like thinking out of the box but I don’t have a problem coloring outside the box as well as long as it’s neat and in order.

Michelle: Brenda, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to give us a peek into the mind of a woman considered to be a literary genius. With that being said, If you were to teach a writing workshop tomorrow, and you had to give a list of crucial “Do’s” and “Don’ts” when it comes to being a successful author, what would they be?

Brenda:

• Do write from your heart
• Do follow your dream
• Do respect your readers. Without them your book is just another book on the shelf
• Do pay your dues. I’m finding a lot of the new authors want a quick fix. Respect those who paved the way to make things easier for you, but it still takes hard work on your part to succeed.
• Don’t assume having a successful writing career is easy.
• Don’t assume you can ride on someone else’s coattails to be a great author.

Last year, Brenda wore the hat of “filmmaker” when she collaborated with her son’s production company, Five Alive Films, to turn one of her books, Truly Everlasting, into a feature film. For more information about the movie, please visit www.trulyeverlasting.com.

Follow Author Brenda Jackson on Facebook. Twitter: @AuthorBJackson. Website: www.BrendaJackson.net.

I have heard many people say, “Just hold the Bible and pray.  God will take you right to where you need to read.”  I don’t know about you, but that has not worked too well for me in the past.  There is not 1right way to get started, but I hope the following tips will at least get you on your way.

The first thing we must realize, is the Bible is not like a novel, where the end of each chapter will be a prelude to what’s to come in the next.  It is actually a collection of 66 books written by 40 different authors in different languages over a period of several thousand of years. The books are put together by type and topic, like how a public library is set up. The Bible is categorized by history, the law, the Prophets, poems and wisdom literature, eye witness accounts of Jesus (the Gospels), collections of letters, and apocalyptic descriptions of the past, present and future.

Next, make sure you obtain a Bible in a version you are comfortable reading.  Yes, the King James Version sounds powerful and mighty, but truth be told, that is not our day-to-day vernacular, and it can be a little frustrating to understand at times.  My personal favorite version is The Message.  The Message is written in a way that engages you as you read and it makes the Bible relevant to your life.  It recaptures The Word in the words we use today.  A study Bible is also a great resource to have.  Also make sure you have pen and paper handy to take notes.

Before you start reading you should always ask God to reveal spiritual understanding and truth through the Holy Spirit. Don’t rush in your reading, stop and meditate on the word to get the true understanding of what God is speaking to you.

A good place to start is in The New Testament with the Gospel or Mark and John.  It is important to get a good understanding of who Jesus is. Once you start reading the Old Testament, you will see that all biblical history and prophecy points to Jesus.  The book of Mark is fast paced and tells about what Jesus did, while the book of John tells about what Jesus said. After John, read the book of Acts.  Acts was written by Luke, and it picks up at the point of Jesus’ ascension.  Acts is action packed, it tells how the early church got started and how the gospel spread throughout the Roman Empire. Because of this, once you read Acts, it will help you get a better understanding of the letters of Paul, Peter and others in the Bible.  After Acts, move on to Romans.  This book is a letter that introduces us to Apostle Paul and the Christian faith.  This book will give you a true understanding of God’s Grace.

Now will be a good time to go back and start reading the stories in The Old Testament. Genesis and Exodus are good places to begin.  You will begin to see how Jesus fits into story of God’s activity in the world. The most important thing to remember is God is not grading you on your ability to recall detail and memorization of scripture; he wants you to meet him in his Word.

I pray that each of you obtain the wisdom and understanding of God’s Word that you seek.  Set your expectations high on what you need from him, and he will meet and exceed every time. I am going to leave you with one of my favorite scriptures from the story of Abraham and Sarah.

Is anything too hard for the Lord? Genesis 18:14

Written by guest writer Chalonda C. Ferguson.

]]> http://blackliteraturemagazine.net/blackliteraturemagazine/2012/03/02/reading-the-bible-how-to-do-it-and-where-to-start/feed/ 1 http://blackliteraturemagazine.net/blackliteraturemagazine/2012/02/23/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-99-cent-book/ http://blackliteraturemagazine.net/blackliteraturemagazine/2012/02/23/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-99-cent-book/#comments Thu, 23 Feb 2012 14:33:24 +0000 Torrian http://blackliteraturemagazine.net/blackliteraturemagazine/?p=1940 I remember a few years back when there were no e-books and the only way to purchase a book was to physically walk into a book store and browse the endless aisles of books. People saved their money to visit the street vendors or the local store to purchase a paperback book for $15.00. It was nothing for serious readers to go out every other weekend and purchase 40 to 60 dollars worth of books and one time. I’ll never forget the lady in St. Louis when I was there for a book signing that purchased $125.00 worth of books! Back then, if an author’s books were offered to readers for .99 not a soul touched it because the book obviously didn’t sell and couldn’t possibly worth reading. If the author found out that their book was being sold for that price not only was it embarrassing but the author was furious that their book some how found its way on the “just get it out of my store” shelf.

Fast forward to today.

It’s become “the thing to do” for authors to sell their books for .99 on Amazon (Kindle) and Barnes and Noble (Nook).

As a reader, I love it! I can purchase a book from the privacy of my home and only pay .99 cents for it! I used to pay $15.00 for one book now I can purchase 15 books for the exact same price. Life is good!

As a publisher, I have mixed feelings about this. Let’s take a look at it using fictional numbers. An author sells their book on Nook for .99 cents. Barnes and Noble is going to take their cut from the top, which means the publisher is only going to make .40 cents for that book. Lets say in the author’s contract they are getting 10% of the retail price for each book sold. That means the author gets .09 cents per book sold. Say the author sells 100 books…100 x .09 = a fat, huge check for $9.00. Back 6-7 years ago when books were $15.00, 100 books at say 10% of the retail price at least equaled $150.00.

As an author, I love it and hate it at the same time. I love it because more people are going to e-books than ever before. Some book clubs are totally digital. With social media being what it is I can sell hundreds of books from the comfort of my recliner. I can fill your inbox with my tweets and Facebook messages all day long pushing you to buy my books. Again life is good…..until I get my royalty check from my publisher.

BUT, BUT, BUT….

Yes, I’ve sold 1500 e-books at .99 cents. To most that looks like $1,500 (rounding up to the penny). But, in actuality using the fiction numbers from above I made $135.00..but, the upside to that is my book is now in the hands of 1,500 new readers… but, the money is not really there… but, I wouldn’t have this many fans if my book was not .99 cents…but, my work is worth more than .99 cents…but, if I raise the price will my fans still support me?

These are all questions that authors need to ask themselves before they put that book on sale. There is no right or wrong answer to this. You have to make that decision for yourself. Some authors careers have taken off because of this strategy in pricing. Some authors put their books on sale at this low price and can never overcome it. The best thing you can do is always put your best work out there for the public to read. I suggest doing the .99 thing then after you have fans go up on the price of your second book. This way your fans are familiar with your work and are willing to spend a few more dollars to read your work. As a new author .99 might be the way to go to build your fan base.

Again, you have to make that decision, but at least now you can make a well informed decision.