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 10th. 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:
Facebook:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ntyse
Email: ntyse.amillionthoughts@yahoo.com
QR CODE to the right
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
