1. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I am a single mom of a fourteen year old daughter. I have a passion for writing. I absolutely love it! Everything’s a story to me. I started writing very early in life. I used writing as an escape outlet from the many peer-pressures I was faced against in the area in which I grew up. Ever since grade school I knew I was a story-teller. What I find the most fascinating aspect about writing fiction is the unrestricted use of my imagination. My characters can be whoever I chose them to be. There are no creative limits. That’s what I love the most!
2. Describe your book ‘Cayenne Peppa: A Novel’ in 30 words or less.
Battered and abused, Cayenne smiles inside at the mere fact that her rapist did not kill her. That is where he messed up! This leaves plenty of room for revenge.
3. What was the hardest part of writing your book?
The hardest part of writing my book was the flood of emotions I went through while writing. I was fully engulfed in my characters and I became each and every one of them as I wrote line after line. When my characters were abused, I cried. When they were upset, I, too, was angry. When they were happy, things were okay. Many nights I could not sleep depending on what chapter I was working on. Those close to me found this amusing but only a writer can truly understand “fiction insomnia”. LOL!
4. What books have had the greatest influence on you?
How Stella Got Her Groove Back: Terry McMillan, My Brother’s Keeper: ReShonda Tate- Billingsley, and everything Omar Tyree are just a few books that influence me. The authors of these books are great at presenting ordinary people faced with extraordinary circumstances. My method of writing is very similar. I want the reader to relate to my books as I do with those I mentioned.
5. Briefly share with us what you do to market your book?
I have changed my name to Market. (Just kidding) I hold down a full-time “regular” job; but, marketing my book is my other job. Every day, I send out numerous emails, queries, tweets, Facebook posts, links to my author website, links to my BookBuzzer Author Profile, I even have enlarged posters of my book’s cover in the windows of my vehicle (which has been a very smart marketing tactic, by the way). Everything about me these days is marketing my book. I have even gone so far as to “accidentally” drop book marks in crowded areas. I know that’s funny but it is so true. People have been really nice to help me gather the many book marks I so clumsily dropped…and then the conversation (marketing) begins. Via internet, I accessed just about every bookstore’s contact information in the United States from Alabama to Wyoming. I have sent out so many emails and letters requesting that each bookstore stock my book on its shelves. I have lost count on how many letters and emails I’ve sent out but I am currently in the C’s…California.
6. How do you spend your time when you are not writing?
Well recently, when I am not writing, I am marketing for Cayenne Peppa: A Novel. When I am not marketing, I love to spend quality time with my daughter. She and I are very close. Because writing and marketing takes much of my time these days, I am always finding fun and interesting things for us to do together. She has a birthday coming up soon and I have planned to take us both on a five-day cruise. I think it’s good to step away from the writing from time-to-time so that upon my return, I can approach my writing completely refreshed and full of new ideas.
7. What are you working on next?
After many requests, I am currently working on Cayenne Peppa’s sequel. I have decided to make Cayenne Peppa a two-part (maybe three-part) series.
