BLOG TOUR: A TWISTED AFFAIR VIRTUAL TOUR WITH N'TYSE

N’Tyse is the erotic romance author of several best-selling novels. She is also executive producer and director of the upcoming documentary film Beneath My Skin which was filmed in her hometown Dallas, Texas. While N’Tyse, pronounced entice, spells out exotic seduction, the true significance behind her name takes on an entire new meaning. The acronym translates to Never Tell Your Secrets ―a message she envelops within her stimulating taboo tales. 

The author’s passion for writing dates back to a very young age where she found poetry, music, and creative writing as an outlet of escape. In 2007 N’Tyse ambitiously penned and self-published her freshmen novel My Secrets Your Lies and its sequel Stud Princess Notorious Vendettas, which both went on to grace many best-sellers lists, including The Dallas Morning Newspaper. Determined to see her works reach national and international audiences and markets, she pitched her third project to Zane. Twisted Seduction quickly landed N’Tyse a publishing deal with Strebor/Simon & Schuster.  A private banker and financial counselor for over 12 years, N’Tyse now juggles her writing career as a fulltime mom, wife, and filmmaker, while also pursuing her bachelor’s degree in creative/ screenwriting and business entertainment. Her literary contributions have been featured in magazines and several bestselling anthologies, including Zane Presents PP2 Missionary No More, Chocolate Flava 3, and Gutta Mamis.

N’Tyse currently resides in Dallas, Texas where she is hard at work on her next novel and film project.

Can you please tell us a little about yourself.

I’ve been married for eleven beautiful years and I have one beautiful daughter. I’m the author of four novels to date, not including collaborations, ghostwrites, and shorts. I own and manage my own publishing company, and have also embraced a new role that I will announce in January. I’m a documentarian but I also aspire to have my own books adapted into film. A quirky fact about me is that I love all kinds of chocolate and really sexy socks.

What inspired you to write your first book?

I was actually going through a real tough time when I decided to write My Secrets Your Lies. I don’t think I ever revealed this to anyone so you’re the first to get this out of me. I needed something to take my mind off my repeated pregnancy losses. Something that I could pour myself into physically and emotionally. I’ve always had a thing for writing but it wasn’t until I almost died from having a second trimester miscarriage, that I decided to really put my life into perspective. I found peace in writing through my pain. And believe it or not, my pain still managed to reveal itself in my writing. In my first book, Rene, had a miscarriage. So to answer your question, it was my own personal pain and desperation to escape my reality, that inspired me to write my book. My imagination freed me. 

What do you wish more people knew about the publishing side of things?

The scams and gimmicks that exist. There should be a television show dedicated to this topic alone.

How did you come up with your titles?

I generally just think about it for a couple of days. Sometimes the title comes to me before the storyline. I take that back, the title ALWAYS comes to me before I begin a story. I have yet to pen a story without already having the title. And it comes so easy. I’m not sure if me being a former MC has anything to do with it, but titles, names, anything creation wise, feels natural and easy to do.

 

What author(s) has influenced your writing style?

When I initially decided to write my first book, it was around the time I discovered that there was an urban fiction genre. I had read The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah. After that book, I decided to take a trip to Borders and buy up some more good stuff. I came across so many authors I can’t begin to name them all. After my research, I decided I wanted to take a shot at writing a book. I don’t think any of them influenced my style per se, but the pioneers of street-lit and erotica definitely helped me find my place in the literary world.

For your first book, how long did it take you to find an agent?

I actually didn’t have an agent for my first two books. I decided to self-publish My Secrets Your Lies and Stud Princess Notorious Vendettas. When I completed my junior novel, Twisted Seduction, I reached out to ZANE on Facebook and asked if I could send her my story. I had also already worked with ZANE on PP2 Missionary No More. After that conversation, I mailed her my manuscript. It wasn’t until she agreed to publish it that I decided to sign with my agent, in hopes that we could begin pitching my books and ideas to film producers.

How important was a "platform" in selling your books?

It was extremely instrumental. In fact, my agent’s exact words were, “I googled you and you’re everywhere. You have a platform.” I had and still have, an online presence, which played a central role in readers following my work and checking out other projects that I have. Establishing visibility with my first two books that I published was a lot easier in 2007 and 2010. I had a niche audience because no one was really catering to the lesbian street-lit reader. The genre really didn’t exist. I wasn’t aware of how unique my projects were until I sent them to an editor named Hilary Sares. She fell in love with them because they were so different from what she had ever read and what was currently available in the commercial market. When she presented them to the review board they were impressed at the fact that I had managed to marry three popular genres to create one. (Lesbian, Erotica, and Street-lit) She explained that they weren’t sure of how to even market me. Needless to say, Hilary left the company and the editor who my work was shifted to didn’t find either book interesting enough. That’s when I chose to go the self-publishing route again. Because of my platform and the success with MSYL, it took off. As an independent author, I found myself dealing with the major chains and mom and pop bookstores on a direct basis, all because those two books were in high demand and the genre was hot. I give all credit to my self-publishing platform, because had I not taken a chance and invested in myself, I might not be where I am today.

 

Do you have book signings coming up where readers can meet you?

I’m always doing ongoing events in Dallas and in the surrounding areas. I also plan to travel a lot more next year, and even attend the Harlem Book Fair. 

Can you tell us about your upcoming project(s)?

My newest novel is Twisted Vows of Seduction which releases nationwide December 10^th. It’s part two in the Twisted series. In this book readers walk dead into the aftermath of all the drama that transpired in Twisted Seduction. The series kicks off with Denise, who cleverly orchestrated her husband’s affair with her own best friend. In the latest book, Denise is no longer in the picture, but she has a look-alike who is imitating her. That’s when things really get twisted. Jeff and Nadine are also still floating along and trying to figure out where they fit into each other’s lives. Everyone in this book is grieving and also emotionally damaged from the past experience that has shaped them into these new unforgiving characters. The storyline is extremely provocative and twisted, but there are other elements. One will also find it to be a story of retrospection. Readers may even find themselves participating vicariously, and it’s perfectly okay. LOL! Outside of books, I have recently finished my first documentary feature film, Beneath My Skin. The film is centered around the perspectives of four African American lesbians. We touch on every subject you can think of. We also interview a mother who was finding it difficult to accept her daughter’s new choice to date women. The film is very honest and I believe many will be able to identify with it. It brings social awareness to a subject matter that is often swept under the rug, and it creates a healthy dialogue. Ultimately, that was my main reason for doing this film. I believe there are so many stereotypes and biases about the LGBT community. Much of it results from the inaccurate portrayals the media puts out, and also from what people “assume” about a woman who looks like a boy. There’s just not enough education on the culture or lifestyle itself. Hopefully, everyone will walk away a better person after they’ve seen it. I’m hoping to release the DVD in 2014. This film was actually inspired by my first book, My Secrets Your Lies. I have also managed to get my fabulous publisher and mentor, ZANE, onboard with it. She was interested right from the conception stage. She immediately saw the potential in what I presented to her and cheered me on every step of the way. She is now also one of the Executive Producers. 

 

 

What advice do you have to an aspiring author?
My advice to aspiring authors is to do exactly what I did. Create a platform and a track-record of your success. Don’t give up on your dreams. If one door closes, find a window to go through. If that window is locked, you go next door. Someone will eventually let you in. If they can’t hear you knocking next door, you just patiently sit out in front of their door and play your sweet tunes. If it’s meant for you to be there, you will get in. But until they take notice, work on honing your craft and stacking your material. Stay persistent and become your own walking billboard. You are the brand. Your books are your products. Last but not least, learn everything you possibly can about this industry. Surface and behind the scenes. And always be willing and ready to invest in yourself if no one else will.   



N'Tyse can be contacted through the following avenues:

Website: www.ntyse.com

Facebook:

www.facebook.com/author.ntyse

www.facebook.com/ntysefans

Twitter: www.twitter.com/ntyse

Email: ntyse.amillionthoughts@yahoo.com


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Check out her books by clicking here: http://goo.gl/7VPYCD

 

 

 

 

RELEASE DATE: DECEMBER 10, 2013

“Some secrets aren’t meant to be kept.”

In this scandalously provocative soap-drama series, deceit, seduction, and a tempestuous affair intertwines the lives of lascivious lovers who will go above and beyond to keep their sexual trysts a secret, but the curse of temptation will lead to revelations that may result in their own demise

Still mourning the death of his lover, Denise, Greg Adams conspires to leave his wife. He believes that Denise has come back to him in the form of a woman named Naomi Brooks, and he can’t forget her. But there’s one problem—his wife is going to honor every line in their wedding vows until death does them part.

Naomi Brooks, a recovering alcoholic, enters into an orchestrated affair to deceive Greg by creating the perfect illusion. Will the plan work or will she find herself a victim in a twisted game?

A long-term torrid affair with her best friend’s husband, Jeff, has scarred Nadine Collins for life. Nadine decides she must take a vow of celibacy to cleanse her spirit. While her journey seems impossible, she can see a light at the end of the tunnel. There’s only one problem—she’s still not over Jeff, now a divorcé living life in the fast lane.   Ménage, an aspiring actress, has her sights set on Hollywood. She will do anything to ensure her rise to the top, including robbing Jeff of all the life insurance money he collected after his wife died. But a blast from the past slows her down. When Jeff comes running to her rescue, it proves to be the perfect setup.


 

RELEASE DATE: 2014

 

 

Nymfo, Myesha, Jazzmine, and Czar, go beneath the skin to shatter myths and stereotypes that surround their sexuality and relationships. Experience their love, their pain, and their journey as African American lesbians in today's society. This is 100% UNSCRIPTED! The stories you will hear are REAL, the tears you see fall...REAL. Inspired by the critically acclaimed national best-selling novel, My Secrets Your Lies.  

“We all have a story. This is theirs." - N'TYSE 
*Executively Produced, Created and Directed by N’TYSE *Executive Producer ZANE / Author, Creator and Producer of the Cinemax series Sex Chronicles & The Jump Off

 www.beneathmyskindocu.com

www.facebook.com/beneathmyskindocu

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eSZodNEX2k0

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