About a Book Mondays

Debut Authors: Introducing Maryam Diaab



GB: So tell us a little bit about yourself. In addition to the standard biography, what’s one thing about you that most people would be surprised by?

MD: Well, I was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and I am married with two children. In addition to being a new author I am also a fifth grade Reading and Language Arts teacher. I love to read and my first introduction to African-American fiction was sneaking to read Waiting to Exhale by Terri McMillan while my mother was working. I must have been about twelve at the time, and have been hooked ever since. I think that people would be surprised to know that I read the Sweet Valley High series until I was nineteen and I am completely addicted to General Hospital!

GB: Girl, don’t tell anyone, but I’m addicted to General Hospital too. I love me some Sonny and Jason and I totally think Sonny and Carly should get back together and… Opps got a little side-tracked… tell us a little bit about your road to publication. What was it like getting the call? Holding your novel in your hands for the first time?

MD: I began writing Where I Want To Be in 2005 and it took about 8 months to complete. I submitted to about 25 agents and small press publishers, and while many were interested in seeing the complete manuscript, one agent offered representation in 2006. From that point, my agent began shopping Where I Want To Be to publishing houses. In January 2007 my agent called with the news that Genesis Press wanted to extend the offer of a contract. I was literary shaking when she told me that they were interested in publishing my book! Holding the finished book in my hands was a surreal experience. It still doesn’t seem real.

GB: Tell us a little bit about your novel, Where I Want To Be. What was your inspiration for writing it?

MD: Where I Want To Be is about a woman who swears off love a little too soon. It is a book that deals with aspects of loves, lies, greed and redemption. It is filled with drama and is very hot! The inspiration to write this romance was born with the characters. One night, the characters of Alexis, Kevin, Massai and Eva just came to me and I knew I had to tell their story. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure what twists and turns their lives would take, but the more I wrote, the stronger the characters became. As a result, the story really began to take on a life of its own.

GB: I love letting the characters just take over. They always surprise me and that’s what makes writing so much fun. The discovery! I hear you already have a release date for your second novel, Things Forbidden . Can you tell us a little bit about it? Is it connected to the first novel? When can we expect it?

MD: Things Forbidden will be released in July 2008, and is a project I am extremely excited about. The novel centers on a woman who is engaged, but falls in love with a man 14 years her junior six months before her wedding. While Things Forbidden is not connected with my first novel I am working on a new project that is. This novel, tentatively titled Unraveling, delves deeper into the lives of Claire and Morgan from Where I Want To Be.

GB: Okay, do you have any advice for other writers dreaming of their own debut?

MD: The most important piece of advice I can give aspiring writers is to write everyday. Practice makes perfect, and the more you write, the better you become. Another tip is to study your craft, if you want to write romance, read romance, if you want to write urban or chick-lit, read those genres. Also, join a critique group. When I began writing I started my own group and without them and their constructive criticism there would be no Where I Want To Be or Things Forbidden .

Check out Maryam’s wonderful book trailer here:



Find out more about Maryam and her books here:

http://www.maryamdiaab.blogpsot.com

http://www.myspace.com/maryamdiaab

Book Blurb:



When Alexis Hunter finds out her boyfriend has a wife and kids, she decides she's had enough. No more men. No more heartbreak. This promise is soon put to the test when she meets pro basketball star Massai Taylor. Although the attraction is strong, Alexis is gun-shy. To further complicate matters, Massai's gold-digging girlfriend is determined to keep them apart at any cost. Can Alexis overcome her past before she loses her chance with Massai?

Purchase Maryam’s debut novel here:

Genesis Press

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

On January 13, 1913, Twenty-two collegiate women at Howard University founded Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Wishing to de-emphasize the social aspect of sorority life, our beloved Founders instead demonstrated genuine concern for social welfare and cultural enrichment while promoting high academic standards. These students wanted to use their collective strength to promote academic excellence and to provide assistance to persons in need. The first public act performed by the Delta Founders involved their participation in the Women's Suffrage March in Washington D.C., March 1913. Delta Sigma Theta was incorporated in 1930.



The Founders of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated

(First Row): Winona Cargile Alexander, Madree Penn White, Wertie Blackwell Weaver, Vashti Turley Murphy, Ethel Cuff Black, Frederica Chase Dodd;(Second Row): Osceola Macarthy Adams, Pauline Oberdorfer Minor, Edna Brown Coleman, Edith Mott Young, Marguerite Young Alexander, Naomi Sewell Richardson, Eliza P. Shippen; (Third Row): Zephyr Chisom Carter, Myra Davis Hemmings, Mamie Reddy Rose, Bertha Pitts Campbell, Florence Letcher Toms, Olive Jones, Jessie McGuire Dent, Jimmie Bugg Middleton, Ethel Carr Watson.

A Tribute to Delta:



Happy Founders' Day to all my sorors!

Book Blurb for The Law of Desire

I got the book blurb and release date for the third Hightower book The Law of Desire . The book is slated for December 2008. So that's three Hightower books in '08. Yay! The 4th book won't come out until late 2009 though. I like the blurb. What do you think?

THE LAW OF DESIRE

GUILTY PLEASURES

Decorated police detective Lawrence Hightower's instincts click into high gear when a beautiful but suspicious stranger appears in his stakeout zone. Soon he realizes Minerva Jones is in danger and needs protection. He can’t trust her. But he can’t get this tough, feisty, stubborn siren out of his head.

Desperate to keep a low profile, the last thing Minerva needs is a sexy cop getting too close for comfort. Not that she’s guilty of anything, except her own intense attraction to the too fine detective. But she’s got a few secrets, and trouble is closing in. Dare she surrender to the promise this sensual hero holds in his strong, protective embrace?

HIGHTOWER HONORS
Four brothers on a mission to protect, serve, and love…

2008 RSJ Aspiring Author Contest

2008 RSJ Aspiring Author Contest

This contest is open to all aspiring authors of Black romance/women's fiction.
Contest Registration Form

Genre: Black Romance/Women's Fiction

Prizes:
1st Prize: This winner's manuscript will be reviewed by Editor Hilary Sares from Kensington Books for possible publication.

2nd Prize: This winner's manuscript will be reviewed by Agent Michelle Grajkowski from Three Seas Literary Agency for possible representation.

3rd Prize: This winner will receive the Book Cents Critique Package, which includes a critique of a Query and Partial (the same story), notes and suggestions from Literary Agent Christine Witthohn and a 5-10 minute conversation with Christine about the 2nd place winner's story.

Submission Package:
To help prepare contestants for submitting to publishing houses and agents, the entries will resemble a submission package sent to agents and publishers. Submissions are electronic (sent via email). The file should be a Microsoft Word document.

Format:
- 1 inch margins all around
- Font Times New Roman, 12pt

Include:
- 1 page query letter single spaced addressed to Ms. C. Judge
- 3 page synopsis double spaced
- 20 sample pages double spaced
- Place the author�s Contact information on the Cover page (this page does not count toward your 20 sample pages)
- In the header, place the Novel Title, Author Name and Page Number
- If you have an extra page or two to complete a scene, that's okay.
- Contest registration form

Important Dates: Submissions are open. All submissions must be received by March 14, 2008. The winners will be announced at the Emma Awards Banquet to be held at the 2008 Romance Slam Jam Conference. Attendance is not necessary.

Contest Fee: $20 by money order, cashier's check or via PayPal
Please make a $20 money order or cashiers check payable to: Romance Slam Jam

Mail payment and Contest registration form to:
Romance Slam Jam
c/o Deatri King-Bey
P.O. Box 822
Tolleson, AZ 85353

To pay by credit card please use PayPal. The fee is increased when using PayPal to $23 because of the processing fees. http://romanceslamjamconference.eventbrite.com

Once payment and the Contest Registration Form have been received, instructions will be given on where to send the submission. Please note, registration fee is non-refundable.

Refer any questions regarding the Romance Slam Jam Aspiring Authors contest to deatri@romanceslamjam.org

http://www.romanceslamjam.org/conference/AAContest.htm

This Is How We Do The Old To The New... Thursdays

Maybe it is all about the heartbeat…

What do you know about music in the late 70s and early 80s? I’m talking about songs at least 8 minutes long, sometimes longer. LOL. I’m talking about flashlights, neon lights, oh flashlights… roll, skate, rock, bounce…. I’m talking about a time when every soul song had a little bit of--dare I say it-- disco in it. I’m talking about the birth of hip-hop and raps over classic break beats like Chic’s “Good Times” and this classic song -- “Heartbeat.”

Now this song brings back memories... Sure, I was only 11 or 12 years old when it came out. But I remember singing along with Taana Gardner, “heartbeat, you make me feel so weak… moving all around with my head to the ground. Everything you said went right straight to my head…” I loved this song so much that I had to include it in my novel Sweet Sensation . It’s the break beat Flex plays the first time Deidre raps for him. “Heartbeat” like “Breaking Bells” and “Big Beat” has become a classic hip-hop break beat. Lots of rappers have sampled it. The Treacherous Three rapped over the instrumental back in 1981 when it came out. But during the golden era of hip hop, De La Soul (featuring Tribe Called Quest the Jungle Brothers and Monie Love) made a song called “Buddy” and flipped the “Heartbeat” into something fresh and new. I love “Buddy.” This song takes me back to my undergraduate days and many a campus party. So, you know I was feeling Musiq Soulchild when he freaked “Heartbeat” in his own version of “Buddy” last year. I have to say, every time I hear “Heartbeat” I like it. It is a classic one hit wonder song that has managed to stick around and be reinvented over and over and over again. You’ve got to love it! Enjoy…

Taana Gardner “Heartbeat”



Treacherous Three “Feel the Heartbeat”



De La Soul “Buddy”



Musiq Soulchild “Buddy”

About a Book Mondays

Ann Christopher’s Sweeter Than Revenge



It’s so wonderful to be able to kick off “About a Book Mondays” with the talented Ann Christopher. I interviewed her back in March 2007. And she has quickly become one of my must-read authors. She has been nominated for two Romantic Times Awards for her novels Risk and Just About Sex . And her newest novel, Sweeter Than Revenge will no doubt garner awards and lots of praise as well.

Here’s the enticing book blurb for Sweeter Than Revenge :

COFFEE, TEA OR...THE BOSS?

Was Maria Johnson a pampered princess who relied on her good looks and daddy's money? You betcha! But when her father cut off her funds and ordered her to become an executive assistant at his firm, Maria was forced to make her new position work. Until she met her new boss -- the gorgeous man who'd broken her heart four years ago. How was she supposed to work with David Hunt?

Not with -- for, David kept reminding her. He was back in Maria's life for one reason only, R-E-V-E-N-G-E! And he knew the sweetest way to get it, too...

And here’s my conversation with Ann about her wonderful new novel:

GB: Well, first let me congratulate you on your fourth novel. You had me turning the pages until the wee hours of the morning because I didn’t want to put it down. I loved the book. And I have to say I knew from the beginning that it would be an engaging book, not just because you’re such a dynamic author, but also because you’re tackling the revenge plot. What made you want to write a novel about R-E-V-E-N-G-E?

AC: Thanks for having me, Gwen! I’m really glad you liked the book. I’m not sure where the idea originally came from (sometimes it’s hard to remember once you get deep into the writing) but this isn’t really my first revenge book. Alex sets out to get revenge against Simone in Just About Sex . Or maybe it’s more that he wants to give her a comeuppance. But I’ve noticed this theme running through three of my books now (including Risk ) of righting past wrongs.

Wonder what that says about my psyche? *VBG*

GB: Hmm… no comment, soror, no comment… But remind me to stay on your good side. LOL. *G*

AC: In Sweeter Than Revenge , I was intrigued by the idea of the one true love that got away. Of a hero who had everything except the one thing he really wanted/needed. And of course it was fun to create a hero who was so out of touch with his real feelings that he thought what he wanted was revenge when what he really wanted was to get the heroine back.

GB: You know I have to ask this question because we all want to know… There are no lawyers in this book. Why?

AC: Shocking, I know. I blame Samantha Jones from Sex in the City for making being a publicist seem so exciting. Plus I had this idea: wouldn’t it be fun to saddle a publicist with a client who was her own biggest enemy and couldn’t keep her own foot out of her mouth? (Britney Spears, anyone? Michael Jackson?) Thus was born Anastasia Buckingham, the pain-in-the-rear author diva David and Maria have to rehabilitate during the course of the book.

Anyway, it turns out I can have fun writing about people other than lawyers. Who knew?

GB: I’m sure you’d have fun writing and we’d have fun reading whatever kind of people you decided to write about. And that Anastasia Buckingham was something else! Oh my goodness what a nightmare of a woman. I alternated between dropped jaw and laughing out loud with some of her antics.

Okay, you know I love your heroes. Even when I want to sock them in the nose, I love them to death. And David Hunt was no different. He was so complex and so sweet and so mean and so irritating all at the same time that I just adored him. But something different happened to me when I was reading Sweeter Than Revenge . Usually I like your heroines well enough to gently push them out of the way to get to your yummy heroes. But this time I found myself just adoring and rooting for Maria Johnson. And I just knew that a pampered princess would get on my last nerves. But I adored Maria! I wanted her to win. So tell me, what was your inspiration for creating such a complicated and delightful woman?

AC: It’s funny you should ask this question, Gwen, because when I first turned in the manuscript, a year ago this past August (eons ago, right?), my editor sent me a 3-4 page revision letter gently outlining all the ways in which Maria was not a sympathetic heroine. This wasn’t a “tighten up the dialogue on page 62” kind of letter, but the kind of letter that has you reeling for several days and then retooling a huge—and I mean HUGE--portion of the manuscript.

So, I’m not gonna lie. It was a painful process. And it was hard to think of how to rework the manuscript, but you know what? My editor was absolutely right. Maria’s characterization did need a lot of work. I needed to make her flawed but still sympathetic, not flawed and bitchy, which she was.

So I worked on her. Made her stronger and less of a whiner. Funnier and more determined, but also more vulnerable because she just absolutely loves David and always has. She has a huge growth curve, sure, and a lot of challenges to overcome, but I think she rises to the occasion. She starts out spoiled and lazy and ends up a strong career woman who gets the man of her dreams and her fortune. And you know what? She earns them.

And don’t we all love to root for an underdog? It’s the ROCKY thing, I think.

GB: Well you did an excellent job at making her not just likable but loveable. I felt like sobbing and screaming at her father and David, “LEAVE MARIA ALONE!” Like that “Leave Brittney Alone” You Tube guy. LOL. So Ann, what do you think is sweeter than revenge? Besides Ann Christopher’s latest novel that is…

AC: LOL! Don’t they say success is the sweetest revenge? Also a nice gooey chocolate brownie. And maybe key lime cheesecake. But I digress.

GB: What’s next for you? What are you working on now?

AC: I just turned in a manuscript for Harlequin, but I will say no more about it until I hear back from my new editor. *G*

Thanks again for letting me stop by, Gwen! And I’ll be looking for you to visit my neck of the woods come July when your HIGHTOWER HONORS series begins!

Purchase your copy of Sweeter Than Revenge here:

Kimani Press

Be sure to come back for "About a Book" next week when we'll meet debut author Maryam Diaab.

Insightful Posts: Check them out

Bella McFarland provides a first hand account of the unrest happening in Kenya right now on her blog. She offers some important insight and observations. It's powerful writing. Check it out here:

http://bellamcfarland.blogspot.com/2008/01/im-back.html

Angelia Vernon Menchan is doing some important work with her new book Is No Not Clear Enough To You? and she breaks down the power that learning to say no can give young women on her blog. Check out her post here:

http://acvermen.blogspot.com/2008/01/girl-power.html

And finally the always brilliant Mark Anthony Neal provides some observations and contextualizes the history behind the film The Great Debaters . I recently saw the film and loved it. I highly recommend that folks go and see it. Mark makes some great points in his post and it may contain spoilers for folks who haven't seen the film. But I think the historical points are reallly important to note and keep in mind. Folks who may not know the actual history may come away from the film thinking that things happened when they actually didn't. Check out Mark's post here:

http://blogs.vibe.com/man/2008/01/debating-the-great-debaters

This Is How We Do The Old To The New...Thursdays

Maybe it is just about him begging you to stay…

Can you ever really have too much begging? I don’t think so. I know in the eighties we all had jokes about Keith Sweat and how he begged and whined too much in his songs. But I think it wasn’t the begging so much that had folks clowning Keith but the whining. Begging and R&B love songs go together like peanut butter and jelly, like hot butter and popcorn, like trash talking and bid whist, like... Well… you get the point…

Anyway one of my favorite songs from the eighties has some good begging going on. “Stay with me… Stay with me… Stay with me… Stay with Me… Ohhh you should be right here with me, babe… Won’t you come and stay with me because I love you so…” The song is “Stay With Me” by DeBarge. Can you think of the eighties without thinking of a DeBarge song? And what girl didn’t have a crush on at least on of those DeBarge brothers?



Man, I loved El DeBarge! What a voice. What a family full of voices. From Switch in the 70s to DeBarge in the 80s to the young Chico DeBarge (he was a fine one too...) in the 90s, that family has given us some great music. “Stay With Me” is one of those classic DeBarge songs. Biggie took the melody and flipped it in the remix of “One More Chance.” And he took the lyrics “Let me help you find yourself… Cause you don’t need nobody else” for the hook. I loved these words in the original DeBarge song. Something about the way El DeBarge sang them had me saying, ‘yes, El, help me, find me…’ Anyway... singer Neyo’s version “Stay” takes the DeBarge hook and flips it. I love this version because when you add the boom bap to anything I love it, and also because I love that hook. “Stay with me… stay with me…” Nostalgia... Gotta love it! I like all of the versions of this for different reasons. I like the DeBarge’s song because of the lyrics and the voice. I like Biggie’s song because that was a hot song and brings back fond memories of my graduate school party days. Like I said, nostalgia, gotta love it... And, I like Neyo’s song because he really took the old and made something new and fresh. Check them out and let me know what you think…

DeBarge “Stay With Me”



Biggie “One More Chance” (Remix)



Neyo “Stay”

January Interview with Kimberly Kaye Terry

I’m so excited to have someone who’s writing I adore and who makes me laugh on a regular as my guest this month on the blog. Kimberly Kaye Terry is taking the erotic romance world by storm with her off the chart HOT novels and novellas. Everything I’ve read by her so far has had me fanning my self and breaking my neck to turn the pages. Welcome to Gwyneth’s blog, Kimberly and thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to do an interview. My first question is the question I ask everyone. You’re a mom, a wife and a prolific author. How do you maintain balance and continue to be so productive?

KKT: Thank you so much, Gwyn, and thank you for inviting me to chat with you, girlfriend!! How do I maintain balance and continue to be productive? Hmmm, sometimes, I don’t even know the answer to that question. I do know that like everything in life, it’s a balancing act. I always prioritize, and for me that means Mommy duties always comes first. Sometimes my wifely duties…ahem…have to take a backseat to the writing to meet my deadlines, lol! Seriously, I have an incredibly supportive husband that I’ve been married to for thirteen years, and I’m blessed that we can afford for me to write full time. Before writing I was a full time Social Worker, than after grad school I was a mental health therapist, and I loved my career. Once we were blessed with our daughter seven years ago, I didn’t work outside the home, but to maintain my license, I did volunteer. I’m able to still juggle family, volunteer and writing, in large part due to my husband.

GB: Now, I have to say I’ve read just about all of your work. The only things I haven’t read yet are “Pull My Hair” and your novella in Wicked Delights . But I think I’ve read enough to safely say that you know how to bring the heat! You have written some pretty steamy scenes, girlfriend. Tell me, what is your inspiration? Joke. Okay, my real question is about your first novel, Love’s Redemption . This novel had it all. It had suspense, a touch of paranormal, erotica and interracial romance. What made you come up with the plotline for Love’s Redemption ? And can we expect more paranormal tales or romantic suspense from you in the future?



KKT: Thank you, Gwyn! Love’s Redemption was my baby, and it will always be special because it was the first book I ever wrote, two years ago! Actually I am writing an erotic thriller for Kensington, and my agent and I have been discussing me focusing on writing more thrillers! I love the genre, and I also love paranormal romance. I have a paranormal suspense, Knight Visions that is currently being considered. If it doesn’t sell at the house that requested it, I plan to sell it to Ellora’s Cave. I’ve already been offered a contract for it with them *smile.* The heroine of Knight Visions is an Amazon from the rainforest in Africa. My girl is also an FBI agent, so you know she kicks serious butt!!

GB: An Amazon from a rainforest in Africa! That sounds like my kind of heroine. I can’t wait for that to be picked up. Okay, you’re doing your thing writing for a wide variety of publishers. Kudos for working it and getting those contracts! How do you find writing for different publishers? Will readers get a different vibe from your books depending on the publishing house? Do you think you write differently for Spice than you would for Ellora’s Cave or Aphrodesia or Parker Publishing? Do you have a different tone depending on the press? We know the books are always going to be HOT. But do you switch anything up depending on the publisher?

KKT: My style pretty much remains the same for all of my publishers. Although, I must say, that with Ellora’s Cave, Aphrodisia and Spice, I didn’t have any restrictions on what I could or couldn’t have my characters do, uh, sexually. *grin* I will be writing some mainstream fiction, that although will have some romantic elements (including great, hot sex) will not be categorized as romance.

GB: After just finishing, Just Like Candy and loving it, I just wanna say, thank goodness for no restrictions. That book had some hot scenes! Lawd. Have. Mercy! And, can I just say, I loved Big Spankable Asses . I liked the way the three novellas connected with each of you writing a story about three friends. So how did this idea come about? And can we expect more spanking tales (wink, wink) in the future?



KKT: I’m to blame for that! I came up with the idea, and two friends, Angie Daniels and Lisa Riley asked to be a part of it! Kensington loved the naughty title, and my AWESOME editor, Hilary Sares, really liked the concept, and the rest is history as they say! As for more BSA titles…can the world really handle another big spankable ass, girl? Hmmm….one big ass JUST might be enough. Teehee…

GB: I for one believe that there can never be to many big spankable asses… LOL. I also really enjoyed your Spice Brief, “Come Back To Me.” It was a nice short read, a delightful quickie. Will we see more from Harlequin’s Spice Brief line from you?

KKT: Actually, I don’t have time in my writing schedule to write any more Spice Briefs for a while, but maybe in the future! I am focusing on my Kensington contracts, along with a special project I have been offered a contract for, with another publisher. (can’t share the project or details just yet (smile) ). My plate is truly full at this time, and I am in deadline heat writing back-to-back from now until July 1st. I’m nearing the end of my current, WIP, Nice and Wet and will do final edits after the Holidays to turn in, and from January until July 1st, I have another single title, as well as two novellas due. After that…I’m taking a LONG nap!

GB: And you will have earned that long nap! My goodness, I’m getting tired just thinking about your schedule. Congrats on all the contracts, girlfriend! So, you’ve written and published short stories, novellas, and novels. Which length is your favorite if you even have a favorite?

KKT: You know, I really don’t Gwyn. I like to write. Period. I love writing about a woman discovering who she really is as a person, taps into her power as a woman, and grows in all areas, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, and of course, sexually! There are challenges in writing each length. For a full length, that probably is the least challenging, as I can fully dig into my characters. By full length, I mean 90K which is my word count for my single titles with Kensington. For a novella, which are 25-30K I can easily get into each character and give the reader a good glimpse into what makes them tick, the why’s and how’s of their behavior and show the emotional attachment between the main characters. For the really short ones, like the Spice brief, “Come Back to Me,” as well as the upcoming short story in Zane’s Purple Panties anthology, “At Last,” the challenge came in bringing both the heat and the emotion in such a short word count. But, after writing them, I absolutely LOVED the challenge!

GB: I loved Ridin’ the Rails . Girl you did your thing writing that book. I don’t even really have a question. I just wanted to say I loved the book. But I guess I should ask a question… Hmm… Okay, what made you come up with the idea of having them hook up on a cross-country train trip? And do you see yourself writing a sequel to this novel in the near future? There was a side love story in there that I’m sure some readers might like to hear a little more about…. No pressure though… Just, saying… you know…



KKT: Thank you, Gwyn!! Actually, Angelique Justin, Publisher and Executive Editor at the time at Parker Publishing, helped me with that concept! She said…”Ooooh, Kim! Can you write a romance set on a train??!!” I said, “Huh? A train? Girl, I’ve never been on a train!” Well, she sent me link upon link, and so much research information it was amazing! I even took a small train trip to get into the “flavor” of riding a train! I loved the book, and girl YES there is a sequel! The title is Ridin’ Dirty , however, it will not be coming out with Parker. It will more than likely be published with Kensington.

GB: Angelique Justine rocks! I puffy-heart-love Angelique! Okay, love fest over… You have a story coming up in Zane’s anthology of Purple Panties . Details… details… Tell us a little bit about your contribution to this anthology. Can we expect more lesbian erotica from you in the future? Will you be contributing to anymore of Zane’s anthologies?

KKT: Purple Panties …well, lol. Let’s see. I have a girlfriend who writes for Zane, the very talented and incredibly down to earth, Allison Hobbs. Ally and I were talking one night and somehow Zane’s anthology came up. In particular Purple Panties . I’ve never written a lesbian erotica/erotic romance, but I’ve always had in the back of my mind that I wanted to write a story featuring two women one day. Well, Allison and I were chatting about it, I told her I wanted to give it a whirl and she said she’d write one too, just to motivate me! I called up my writing partner, Delilah Devlin, and over the course of a weekend, we all wrote our stories It was so much fun, brainstorming and critiquing the HELL out of each other’s books, lol. I must say that I truly loved the story, it is very short, but I feel my characters came to life.

GB: I really enjoyed Just Like Candy also. What can you tell readers about Just Like Candy ? Any details you can give would be appreciated.



KKT: Sure can! Just Like Candy is my latest release from Kensington Aphrodisia. For those who’ve read my Ellora’s Cave book, “Pull My Hair” and “Design of a Lifetime” will see the return of a few characters in Just Like Candy . Hmmm. Why don’t I just write what’s on the back blurb?

THE SWEETEST TEMPTATION…

Davis Strong has no business lusting after the new director of the Youth Center his aunt has hired. But who can resist a woman named Candy? He wants to make love to her luscious lips, caress her smooth and creamy skin, and savor her mocha-colored body. Only then will he get the dessert he's been waiting for--a taste of her sweet, hot center...

SINFULLY DELICIOUS…

It isn't fair that one man should consume her thoughts the way Davis Strong does. But no man does it for her like this one. At night, alone in her bed, Candy dreams about her lover, lying beneath his rock hard body, naked and exposed, begging him to touch her, to taste her, to fill her. It's the ultimate sexual fantasy and Candy's ready for the real thing...

But what that blurb doesn’t tell you is that Just Like Candy is my HOTTEST release to date. *blush* it has humor, because I just can’t seem to get away from that! A small bit of drama, and as usual, over the top romance. Just the way I like it! Check out the excerpt by clicking here.

GB: You do a lot of panel planning and programming with Romantic Times. How did you become so involved with the conference? Is it something you’d recommend for other authors?

KKT: I became involved with the Romantic Times conference two years ago. I only had my first book out, my baby, Love’s Redemption (smile) and it was with a very small press, but I went to the convention, because I have always been a strong believer in getting out there and doing what you need to do, to be successful. I was on the African American Panel, and it was great! We only had a handful of people come, but, to me, that was irrelevant. I gave my all, spoke about my feelings as a brand new author, as a reader, as a woman of color trying to break into publishing, and it was great. Afterward, Carol Stacey, the publisher for Romantic Times, approached me and we had a wonderful conversation. Carol is an amazing woman herself, and truly I believe, RT is one of the few avenues that truly reaches out to the African American readers and authors, and work hard to try and have the conference truly diverse. She and I spoke about me having my own panel at the next convention (this previous convention in Houston, 2007) and I agreed. I emailed authors and editors and every one said they’d love to be on the panel! I had such talented authors as Leslie, aka L.A Banks, Angie Daniels, Mandy Roth, editors such as Hilary Sares and Kate Duffy, and agents such as Caren Johnson.

The room was packed full, we had editors in the audience, a regional manager from Borders, as well as other authors. One of the editors was from Harlequin Spice and she told me she enjoyed the panel, that she learned a lot, and felt it was one of the best she’d ever been to. That meant a lot to me. Many in the audience informed RT staff that they loved the panel as well. When Carol Stacey approached me about being the Genre Captain for RT, 2008, in Pittsburg, I enthusiastically agreed! She then asked me if I’d be the Genre Captain for the multicultural panel as well, and I agreed to do that as well. And BOY do we have a terrific line up! My panels run all day Thursday, from ten until three, and their chock full of bestselling and popular authors (like you, Ms. Gwyn!), top editors and agents.

Now girl…do you really need to ask me if I’d recommend it to other authors? Lol. Yeah, I know there are some that will say various romance conferences aren’t for us. Hmmm…just who is us, is always my question! As long as you bitch and moan, and complain that a certain sect of romance authors…aw hell girl, let me speak plain! As long as black authors feel they don’t want us at their conventions, and allow that to keep us in a box, we have no one to blame but ourselves. You get your butt out there, you network, you greet your readers, gain new readers, and do your thang!! Nuff said (smile)

GB: Sounds like some real and important advice. I’m looking forward to my first RT. Thanks for asking me to be on a panel. So, what’s next for Kimberly Kaye Terry?

KKT: Oh lord, girl what’s not up for Kimberly Kaye Terry, lol. I recently signed with a terrific agent, Ethan Ellenberg, and I feel blessed that I have recently signed a second two-book contract with Kensington, and was offered another contract, a few weeks later, to participate in the third installment of Satisfy Me , an anthology with Aphrodisia. My agent is currently working out the details of the novella contract. Also, I have really really COOL contracting news, that I can’t quite share yet, as it hasn’t been made public. I will say that it is an amazing project, and that I’m jumping in my chair doing the whop (yeah, I dated myself with that dance, huh Gwyn? LOL) over it! I will say that it is erotic fiction, and the project is a tad different than my normal erotic romance signature, but I think my readers, and hopefully new readers, will really enjoy the project, it’s simply awesome! *big grin*

GB: Yeah you kinda dated yourself with the whop comment, and I’m not gonna date my self by saying I know what that is… And I can’t wait to see your novella in the third Satisfy Me . I read the first two and really enjoyed them. Congrats on that! Can’t wait to here the new contract news. I might have to break out the Eric B and Rakim and do the whop with you when you break the news. That is if I was… err… old enough to know what the whop was… So, do you have any advice for aspiring authors?

KKT: I think an aspiring author should first write the story in their heart and don’t write what they think is selling, or try and write like someone else. If you do, your “voice” your style and vibe won’t come through and you’ll remain an aspiring author versus a published author! I think an aspiring author should always write something, anything , every day. I think all writers should. There are times when I just want to rest my poor brain and if I have to write one more throbbing sex scene I’ll end up bald headed, because I will snatch out every single one of my locs! But, no matter what, I write something. One sentence turns to a paragraph turns to a page, turns to a chapter, turns into a finished manuscript. One word at a time. And uh, all of this is just my own beliefs, but I will say, the internet can be a serious deterrent from writing. I have friends who blog ho every day, from blog to blog, and damn, they look up and hours have passed by. Now, don’t get me wrong, going to an occasional blog can be fun but please don’t allow it to eat up too much of your time, or the BIGGEST problem I see, is folks getting all nuts on line, cussing each other out, calling each other names…Lord have MERCY! Whew! I say, save all that drama for a book, lol!!

GB: As a recovering blog ho, I can totally agree with you on your advice. I’m struggling, but I’m resolved to do a little less blog hoing this year… But the blogs keep calling me and calling me… Okay, enough of that… How can readers best contact you?

KKT: Readers can contact me at kimberly@kimberlykayeterry.com. My website is http://www.kimberlykayeterry.com and you can catch me on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/kimberlykayeterry

GB: Thanks so much for taking the time to do this interview, Kimberly! I appreciate it and I appreciate you, girlfriend! Keep on making it hot and I’ll keep on reading!

KKT: Thank you for inviting me, Gwyn, and I’ll see in Pittsburg at the Romantic Times Convention! Readers can check out and excerpt for Just Like Candy here:

Just Like Candy Excerpt

Happy Holidays to All...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!


HAPPY KWANZAA!


HAPPY NEW YEAR!


Wishing you all the very best during this holiday season... May you have lots of love, peace and joy as this year closes and the next one begins... I'll see you all in the new year! ~ Gwyneth

This Is How We Do The Old To The New...Thursdays

Maybe it's really all about a soul holiday...



Every Christmas, I take out my many Soul Christmas CD compilations and put them in heavy rotation. I have so many and there is really nothing like hearing the Temptations sing a Christmas carol, or Boys to Men or the Supremes... I love them all. Hearing little Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5 sing about mommy kissing Santa Claus just warms my heart. It doesn't matter how many soul versions of the "Little Drummer Boy" I hear as CD after CD plays. There are a lot of Christmas songs, but not that many after all. And each soul artist puts his or her own spin on the song. I have to say; I don't mind a Christmas soul remake. But I do have an all time favorite Christmas song and that is Donny Hathaway's version of "This Christmas." That song just seems like the epitome of a soulful Christmas to me. It makes me think of the kind of Christmas the people in the picture above might be having. The kind of Christmas, I'm hoping for as I play my CDs and sing along with Donny... And I have to say I was happy with the movie This Christmas . The film showed a wonderful Black family Christmas. It was a nice feel good movie, perfect for the holidays. And I think Chris Brown did an excellent job putting his mark on a Christmas classic. So, enjoy both versions of this wonderful, soulful song...

Donny Hathaway “This Christmas”



Chris Brown “This Christmas”

The Winner Is...

The title for the third Hightower book has been decided and.... none of the titles on the list made it. The title of

Lawrence Hightower's


and Minerva "Minnie" Jones's


romance is.....

The Law of Desire

Romance of Christmas

Patricia Woodside helps us remember the romance of the season over on Romancing the Blog. Check out her wonderful post here:

The Romance of Christmas by Patricia Woodside

much love and peace,

Gwyneth

The Brotha Please Awards, 2007

Where has the time gone? It hardly seems like a year has gone by since we had our last Brotha Please Awards--also know as the “boo, negro, boo” awards--here on Gwyneth’s Blog. But it has been a year. And what a year it has been! With so-oo many folks acting like they have lost their damn minds, it is truly a chore trying to decide who to give the awards to. Last year, we gave out three and we could have easily given out more. In fact folks had some wonderful suggestions for people who were just as worthy of getting called out for their bad behavior. And I’m sure we’ll have more suggestions this year. So without further ado, let’s meet this year’s award winners…

Our first winner gets the year’s top award for buffoonery to the tenth degree. While everyone with one lick of sense was speaking out against Don Imus’s racist, sexist and homophobic attack on the Rutgers University female basketball team, this negro decides he’ll just take his monkey behind on Jay Leno and attack the young women further.



Forget being politically incorrect, this brotha is just dead wrong calling anybody ugly with a face like that. He probably thought he was being funny instead of just being funny looking, but we here at Gwyneth’s Blog think his brand of comedy takes us back further than step and fetch It. This year’s winner of the "Brotha Buffoon Can’t Get Out of Our Face Too Soon" Award goes to D. L. Hughley for showing us that ignorance is alive and well and coming out of his mouth.

The next recipient needs no introduction. We all know him, and many of us have debated his guilt or innocence for several years since he may or may not have gotten away with murder back in the nineties. He had gone from being the poster boy for blacks being able to cross the racial divides to a poster boy for the power of the color green when accused of a crime. One would have thought that getting away with murder would have been enough to satisfy anyone’s penchant for crime. I mean come on, what’s left after that? I know! Petty theft! Let me gather a bunch of my boys and try and rob a hotel room! OJ Simpson step right up and get your “I really want to go to jail and I won’t stop until you put me in there” Award. Since you were unable to steal your, err... property... back and get your other awards we hope our trophy makes you feel special...

The third and final award was a hard one to decide on. In fact, it’s a three-way tie that you all will have to decide on. There were so many deserving people. People like Puffy who told us that he won’t stop and damned if he wasn’t telling the truth. That brotha couldn’t stop showing his behind if you paid him. Between the baby mama drama and the You Tube hype craziness he deserves an award this year. But alas, he got an award last year and we should spread the wealth around shouldn’t we. And then there are folks like Michael Vick… people who make you want to channel Dave Chappell channeling Rick James and scream, “Shoulda neva gave y’all negros money!” He deserves to win a brotha please award for sure, don’t you agree? And then there is the third candidate in the tie... I’m giving him a pass because he recently lost his mother and because he did what I wanted him to do and beat one of last year’s recipients in a battle for record sales. But if anyone deserves a Brotha Please award this year for bad behavior it would have to be Kanye West for his meltdown back stage at the MTV video awards show.



I mean come on… if he were a two year old he would have warranted a spanking for that crap. But since there is a three-way tie for third place and he just lost his mother, I’m going to let this slide. But if he pulls this crap at the Grammy’s this coming year, then he will be number one next year no matter what.

As usual we here at Gwyneth’s Blog realize that you might take issue with our decisions for awardees. You might think we are being too harsh or not harsh enough. Or maybe you have your own award nominees. Feel free to drop a comment and let us know what you think. Until next time…

Much love and peace,

Gwyneth

This Is How We Do The Old To The New...Thursdays

When remakes go horribly, horribly wrong…

Everyone who has read this blog knows I have a thing for Curtis Mayfield’s music. I think “The Makings of You” is one of the sweetest most romantic songs ever made. I love it when I hear the Curtis Mayfield version. I love it when I hear the Gladys Knight version from the film soundtrack of my favorite movie ever … Claudine . I just love the song. I love it so much that anyone even attempting to remake it, take the melody, or otherwise tamper with it had better come correct. Do you have any songs like that? Songs you wouldn’t want anyone messing with?

Anyway, before I go on, I should say that I love the singer Monica. I think the girl can sing any song she wanted to sing and sing the hell out of it. But Monica did a very bad thing when she started messing with my favorite song and created some kind of hybrid cross between Curtis Mayfield’s “The Makings of You” and R. Kelly’s “You Remind Me of Something.” How in the hell can you take the most romantic lyrics I’ve ever known and mix them with a song that’s comparing a woman to a damn car? She needs to be ashamed of herself. And in her lyrics she’s comparing her man to her tire rimes because he shines… Ummm… no words... Except, this is an example of when remakes go horribly, horribly wrong… I have included the Curtis Mayfield version. And since I can’t put Chester-the-Accused-Child-Molester on my blog again (he was in Aaliyah’s video and got on by default a couple of weeks ago) I've included a spoof of the “You Remind Me of Something” video that is a hoot. And then I give you the train wreck that is Monica’s song… “A Dozen Roses…” Enjoy….

"The Makings of You," Curtis Mayfield


"You Remind Me of Something" (R. Kelly) Spoof Video



"A Dozen Roses (The Makings of You)," Monica



Have a great weekend!

much love and peace,

Gwyneth

Black Butterfly Review 1st Annual Holiday Explosion

You are cordially invited to our 1st Holiday Explosion. On Sunday, December 16, 2007 @ 7pm EST, join us for a lively discussion with the prolific erotica author, Kimberly Kaye Terry as we discuss her latest release, Ridin' the Rails.


Kimberly Kaye Terry

http://www.kimberlykayeterry.com

Immediately following the book discussion we will kick off the Author Explosion with a chat session featuring some of your favorite authors as they introduce their new releases and share some of their holiday traditions.

There will be door prizes, lots of book giveaways and a festive atmosphere. We look forward to seeing you there!

Join the chat here:

http://www.blackbutterflyreview.com

Holiday Author Explosion

Authors Attending

Maureen Smith

Gwyneth Bolton

Cheris Hodges

Marlene

Samara King

Taige Crenshaw

Terren Grimble

Shelia Goss

AC Arthur

Lyric James

TJ Michaels

Andrea Blackstone

Sapphire Blue

Lorraine Morris Cole

We hope you can join us for the exciting event!

Sincerely,

Eleanor S. Shields
Black Butterfly Review

Have a laugh... have six...

I thought I'd share some things that have cracked me up from my blog buddies blogs the past couple of weeks. I feel like laughing today and since it's the season of giving, I thought I'd share. :-)

The above cartoon is from Chicki's blog. She has what she calls "Fun Fridays" and she always finds the most hilarious cartoons and pictures. Here are her two latest "Fun Fridays." I dare you not to laugh.

Chicki's Fun Friday One

Chicki's Fun Friday Two

Bettye shared the most hilarious fable of the bear and the atheist on her blog. This was too-too funny. Check it out!

Bettye's Atheist and the Bear Post

Seressia shared this video clip on the Wild Women Writers blog and it made me laugh and say amen at the same time. Why is it folks are always trying to get writers to do things for free? Check out this classic response to the requests for writers to volunteer their time and energy.

Harlen Ellison Clip from Seressia on Wild Women Writers

Ann has some really interesting "Author Classifications" that will crack you up, especially if you recognize a bit of yourself in them. LOL.

Ann's Author Classifications

I had to come back and edit this post to include another thing that made me crack up. This poem was posted on Don's blog Minus the Bars. Don always makes me think and often makes me laugh. The brother brings it on a regular on his blog. Check him out here:

Don's Blog Minus the Bars

And laugh at this poem I got from his blog last week. This is so-oo funny!



Have a laugh, have many...

much love and peace,

Gwyneth

The Top Ten Reasons Why I Love To Read And Write Romance

10. I’m such a girlie-girl.

Seriously, I’m not even going to tell you how old I was when I finally had to give up my Barbie dolls. (Buying new outfits and accessories for that chick was so much fun!) I will say that I soon found a grown-up way to still… err… play with dolls. (Yes, we call it collecting now.) And as long as some of them are porcelain and have an official certificate of authenticity or something, you’re cool. No one will know it’s because you’re a big ole girlie girl who still likes pretty dolls… wink wink…

9. I’m a sucker for love.

Give me any chance to sigh and say awwww and I will do it every time. It’s like a reflex, an impulse. I couldn’t stop it if I wanted to. Classic lines in romantic movies had me at hello. Sappy sweet romantic lyrics in love songs make my heart beat a little faster and my breath catch every time. And if the hero in a novel says the right thing at the right time to the heroine in the right way… Let’s just say I live for those moments and that’s one of the reasons why I’ve been devouring romance novels since the age of twelve.

8. I puffy-heart-love secret babies.

Some people can’t stand this tried and true romance storyline. I can honestly say that ever since I found out there was such a thing it has remained on of my all-time favorite romance storylines. I have no idea why. I don’t think it’s because I’m mean and like to say in the tone of nah-nah-nah-nah-nah-nah ‘She had your baby. She didn’t tell you.’ I don’t think I’m that mean… being a sucker for love and all... But I do know that when browsing through the books store and reading back cover blurbs, if I see a secret baby book, nine times out of ten it is coming home with me.

7. I blame Disney…

Just like every other little girl in American I was indoctrinated with fairy princesses and handsome princes from an early age. All I’m saying is very few women make it through this type of outright propaganda without having a thing for romance. Sure they don’t all grow up to read and write romance. But I’m just saying…

6. Nikki Giovanni said “black love is black wealth” and I believe her.

I honestly believe that the more stories we can tell and share about black folks falling in love and making it work can’t help but be a good thing. The more people we have believing in love in these times of war, poverty and disease the better.



5. I like a well-written love scene.

Sue me! I’m not going to lie about it. I know there are some women who could care less about the love scenes in romance novels. I’m not one of them. This isn’t to say that I can’t read and enjoy sweet romances or inspirational romances. I do because at the end of the day it’s the love story and the romance that I’m really after. But what made me sneak my mother’s romance novels at the age of twelve had more to do with those love scenes than not. I wanted to read them. I still want to read really good ones. And I like writing them. When you write a really good one, it’s almost like writing a really good poem. And when I have to stop and fan myself in the middle of reading one or writing one that’s better than… cake… wink, wink… I know you didn’t think I was going to say better than sex? They’re good but they aren’t that good. But when they’re really good they can serve as inspiration and that’s all I’m saying about that…

4. Happily ever after…

Yes, I still have a need to believe it exists and need constant confirmation and affirmation. Thus my steady diet of romance novels since around 1982. Maybe it has something to do with being a child of divorce living in the hood where there weren’t a large number of folks sticking together and making it work… I’m not going to psychoanalyze myself… But I will say that romance novels offer models of positive relationships, healthy loving relationships and people making it work. I like that.

3. My name is Gwyn and I’m a bookaholic.

When you’re a book junkie such as myself who enjoys pretty covers and has to constantly purchase new books all the time, romance novels provide a somewhat inexpensive fix. You can buy a lot of them and the mass-market size and prices take a while to really make your problem become noticeable. By the time anyone really realizes that you have a book-buying problem you could have thousands stashed here and there. And now that there are e-books, you could really satisfy your book jones without anyone being the wiser. Add when you add writing your own novels and holding your own book in your hands into the equation, we’re talking about a book high that surpasses all others. Yes, I have a problem. I know my addiction is bad. But they keep calling me… and calling me…

2. I like a good cry.

I really do. In addition to being a girlie-girl, I am so-oo corny. We’re talking crying at Hallmark commercials corny. If a romance novel makes me shed a tear, then that book has earned a place on my keeper shelf. I think that might be half the excitement of picking up a new book, I might get a tear or two out of it and a sigh. I know I love it when readers tell me something I wrote made them cry. I get all smiley-faced and gleeful. And I say, “No-oo... Really? What part?”

1. I love a good story.

And no matter what anyone says, I find them more times than not in the pages of romance novels. And I get to tell them when I write romance novels. And that is the number one reason why I love to read and write romance. What about you?

This Is How We Do The Old To The New...Thursdays

The Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” was the first rap song I ever heard. I was nine-years-old at the time and that song blew my mind. I became a hip-hop head right then and there. I don’t know what clicked or why but some part of me knew I would probably love rap music and hip-hop culture for the rest of my life…

Now anyone who knows anything about hip-hop will tell you that biting someone else’s rap is a no-no. When you think about it, it’s sort of funny since a lot of early raps were done over stolen beats... Like “Rapper’s Delight” over Chic’s “Good Times”… And just imagine how much James Brown’s estate would have really been worth if he’d gotten what he was owed from all those samples. Not to mention the fact that over half of the rhymes in “Rapper’s Delight” were stolen from other rappers... Big Bank Hank stole all of his lyrics from Casanova Cas… Still, for most hip-hop heads biting is frowned on. So for me the very idea that someone would remake a rap song just seems sacrilegious. It’s just not done. And yet Snoop Dogg remade Doug E Fresh and Slick Rick’s “Ladi Dadi” and the Def Squad (Eric Sermon, Redman and Keith Murray) remade “Rapper’s Delight.” The original will still always have a special place in might heart, theft or not. It’s the longest song in the history of songs. But, I still know all the words and can do a mean karaoke performance all by myself. So, enjoy Chic's "Good Times" for the melody and beat. Check out The Sugar Hill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" for some nostalgia. And then take a listen to the Def Squad remake… Enjoy…

Chic "Good Times"



Sugar Hill Gang "Rapper's Delight"



Def Squad Eric Sermon, Redman and Keith Murray "Rapper's Delight"

December Interview with Adrianne Byrd

This month I have the great pleasure of welcoming one of my favorite authors to my blog, national bestselling and multi-award winning author Adrianne Byrd. Anyone who has read my blog or my interviews knows that I have a tendency to gush over my sister authors. I can’t help it. I’m a fan of the written word and writers are like rock stars to me. Experienced authors, new authors, it doesn’t matter. And since I’m a huge fan of African American romance, sisters who write the African American romance novels I love are the ultimate rock stars. So if my gushing irritates you dear blog reader, I apologize ahead of time, because with Adrianne Byrd as my guest, I’m about to be a gushing fool.

GB: So, Adrianne, welcome and let me start off with the question I ask everyone, the question about time management. You have been able to be so prolific. You’ve steadily published several books a year from your first release Defenseless in 1997. What does your writing schedule look like? How do you manage your time in order to be so incredibly productive?

AB: I don’t. Family, friends, and now some times editors shake their heads at me. I absolutely can’t write a thing while the sun is out. So I tend to surf the net or read. My work day actually starts after I’ve read everything on the net and there’s nothing worth watching on TV. I usually go to bed around six a.m. and up by noon. Summertime is different. I usually sleep just two to three hours because I’m a heavy insomniac. My dogs keep the same hours. Bless their hearts. So don’t model your work habits after me.

GB: I’m a night owl too. I do most of my writing late night/early morning… hard with a day job though… So, are you a reader of romance novels? If so, have you read them for a long time? Did you read them before writing them? Do you think reading them helps you as a writer? If not, do you think that not reading the genre helps you craft better novels?

AB: Oh, yeah. I grew up on romance novels. I started with young adult novels then worked my way up. Sweet Valley High , anyone? But my first real romance novel was actually given to me by older brother. It was a historical western. The hero’s name was Lucas. I’m probably still a little bit in love with him. Reading other romance authors does help but not only in studying the craft i.e. what works, what doesn’t, but in terms of studying the market, but nowadays I read anything and everything—well, except for an instructional manual.

GB: I love your novels, in fact since I read your novel My Destiny , went back and found all of your backlist, and read every release since then, I can honestly say I haven’t read an Adrianne Byrd book I didn’t love. I have favorites among them, for sure, but that list is pretty long. So, my next question stems from the wonderful theme of enduring love I see in a lot of your work. In many of your novels you take readers through a couples’ journey to love and sometimes that journey can span several years. I love that because it shows that sometimes it takes people a minute to realize that love is right in front of them. Since I’ve seen this theme in many of my personal favorite Adrianne Byrd books, I thought I’d ask you what is it about this theme that is so appealing to you? What makes you pen those love stories that are slow building but oh so satisfying?



AB: Oh, that’s an easy one. I, uh, well, see… Hmm, maybe it’s not. Well, I think for me to convince not only the reader but myself that a couple truly has what it takes to make their love last, time has to be a factor. We’ve all heard that the first few months when you meet someone new, you’re not really meeting the real person. The person you first meet is generally putting his best foot forward, doing all the right things, but as time goes on, both parties tend to relax, let their guard down a bit. Let a few months to roll by, let that new love smell wear off a bit, and then tell me how you feel. Plus, personally, I’m so hard to impress. So brothers are going to have to work at it for a while. And when they do, that impresses me.

GB: As I read your novels, I get the sense that this woman must be a chick-flick/romantic comedy fan like me. My Destiny reminds me of a funny, sexy, black When Harry Met Sally . When Valentine’s Collide reminds me of a funny, sexy, way better, and more satisfying War of the Roses . And as I read your latest novel Feel the Fire I couldn’t help but think that you might be giving us a hip, updated, and cool interpretation of the film Sabrina in the future. So, am I right, are you also a fan of romantic comedy films? If so what are some of your favorites?

AB: Guilty. The cheesier the better. Soon as I figure out how to do a modern Grease 2 , I’m all over it. I loved some you’ve mentioned. Comfort of a Man had elements of An Affair to Remember . Unforgettable-had elements of the classic Cinderella . When You Were Mine elements of French Kiss and Measure of a Man - Three to Tango . Even my latest To Love a Stranger was inspired by the film Sommersby and the R&B song “Stranger in my house” by Tamia.

GB: And, a little bird told me that you have written screenplays and you recently took a trip to Hollywood for some talks about a television show. One of my great pet peeves about Hollywood is that I don’t get to see a lot of the romantic comedies I love with black leads. Can I hope that one day, you’ll be bringing some of the funny, sexy African American stories I’m dreaming of seeing onto the big screen or maybe the little screen? Enquiring minds want to know…

AB: That’s the dream. My first screenplay A Nation’s Defense (this title should be familiar to my fans.) had once piqued the attention of HBO, but nothing ever became of it. There was a little interest around Comfort of a Man some years ago. Angela Bassett and Queen Latifah read my book, but they passed on the project. *Sigh* But by then I seriously had the bug. The idea surrounding the television series was inspired by sister’s job in the hotel industry, so we developed it and are currently shopping it around. I’ve also formed a production company with another screenwriter and we recently completed production on our first short film. It’s now in post production. So yes, one day, I’ll branch out into films.

GB: Queen Latifah passed?! Surely Dana Owen’s production company could have backed one of your wonderful novels instead of The Cookout . A damn shame… Anyway, you had a recent blog post titled “The Good Girl vs. The Promiscuous Girl (Ho).” Funny post by the way, I loved it. I recently did a post about bad girls in romance novels and if they could really work. I’m really interested in reading more novels where the heroines aren’t perfect goody-two-shoes. That’s why I really enjoyed your two latest releases Feel the Fire and To Love A Stranger . The heroines in those novels aren’t necessarily bad girls. But they do have a past. And they may have made some less than proper decisions in the past. But their past is what makes them who they are. And to me, who they are allows for these full and vibrant women to just jump off the page. So, what made you decide to break the good girl mold in romance? And can we expect more of these far more interesting to read ladies in the future?



AB: High drama is great entertainment-and women certainly know how to bring the drama. Books or even films with strong, flawed women are always remembered. Vivian Leigh’s Scarlet O’Hara, anything with Bette Davis, Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction and Dangerous Liaisons . Even Waiting to Exhale , though just a moderately okay film, who doesn’t remember Angela Bassett setting her husband’s clothes on fire? “It is trash.” Classic. I want characters that will stay with you a little while after you turned the last page. So, yes. You will definitely be reading more about such ladies for years to come.



GB: You also have a wonderful knack for writing funny, sexy and emotional stories. I’ll tell you, any writer that can make me laugh and say ahh, laugh and say ohhhh myyyy, laugh and maybe shed a tear or two, all in the space of one novel has a fan for life. My question is how do you do it? How do you manage to take readers through such a wonderful range of emotions? And how do you manage to write such funny novels? Comedy is hard to pull off, but you do it well.

AB: First, thank you. But I think it helps to be emotionally unstable. I don’t know. One book that was really hard was When You Were Mine only because I was writing it in Memphis and taking care of my grandmother who was dying of multiple myeloma and her blind and nearly deaf husband. Those months were pure hell, I was severely late with the book, fighting family members who were in denial of her condition and when I would finally sit down at night and try to write, I would cry because I didn’t feel like being funny. But I think it’s true what some comedians say, comedy comes from tragedy. You gotta laugh to keep from crying. Real love has the same effect. Love between family, friends and soul mates. There are days when you’re laughing together and days when you’re riding each other’s last nerve. I try to be honest with that.

GB: I heard that you are teaming up with another one of my favorite authors, Niobia Bryant to write urban fiction. The first release is due in February 2008, Desperate Hoodwives . How did this come about and what else can we expect from this writing duo?



AB: Desperate Hoodwives will actually hit the shelves in January. Niobia and I met because I loved her book Heavenly Match . I usually contact writers of books I’ve enjoyed. We bonded and would periodically gab on the phone about the biz. I’ve never met her in person. When we go on book tour next year, it will be the first time we’ll see each other face to face. Anyway, I’d gone to visit my sister in California and her husband was a big fan of Desperate Housewives (Probably because of Eva Longoria) so I sat down and watched the show with him. I just couldn’t relate to it. So when I came back to Georgia, I was talking to Niobia about the experience as well as talking to her about different things going on in the biz, I told her someone should do a story about real desperation-like what goes on the projects. We both had a little taste of what that life was like growing up. And she said yeah, they could call it Desperate Hoodwives . Almost immediately, a light bulb went off and we brainstormed the whole story right then and there. It was like a five hour phone call. Recently, we sold the third book in the series-so we’re excited.

GB: I loved Niobia’s Heavenly Match too. That was my first Niobia read and I’ve read everything since. I can’t wait to read Desperate Hoodwives and see how you two write together. Okay, so, what’s next in the works for Adrianne Byrd? Can you give us a hint about your upcoming projects?

AB: A lot. I have five new titles coming out with Harlequin in 2008 and two re-issues: Defenseless and Forget Me Not . One of those new titles will be with the young adult line-TRU. It’s called Chasing Romeo . Plus, of course the two Urban Street Lit books Desperate Hoodwives and Shameless Hoodwives . And believe it or not, I have other projects being shopped. God is good.

GB: Excellent! I’ll be looking for those titles. So, who are some of your favorite authors? What are you reading right now?

AB: Automatic buys are: Tananarive Due (which I discovered from your recommendation on your blog), Victoria Christopher Murray and Dennis Lehane. I’m not going to give a shout-out to the book I’m reading now because it’s not all that good and it’s hurting my head. But next up is Casanegra -I expect that one to be good.

GB: Do you have any advice for new authors like myself who aspire to have productive careers such as yours and aspiring writers dreaming of their first novel?

AB: Only stop talking and start writing. The hardest thing to do whether you’re just starting or have been doing this for a while is planting your butt in the chair, tuning out distractions and doing the work. Plus, learn the craft and the business while you’re at it. I’m amazed at what some people will sign their names to just so they can see their names on a book-or those who have great ideas for stories but can’t name one publisher who publishes a similar book. Know the difference between Mainstream/Women Fiction and Urban Fiction and Urban Street Lit. If you’re not good with grammar stick with simple sentences.

GB: What are the best ways for readers to contact you?

AB: Through my website: http://www.adriannebyrd.com

GB: Thanks so much for agreeing to this interview, Adrianne. I truly am a huge fan of your work. And I hope my gushing wasn’t too annoying. I look forward to your new releases!