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1. Can you please tell us a little about yourself.I still consider myself a new writer/author although I have 5 books out presently because I didn't start writing until 2011. I published my first book in the summer of 2012 and started my own publishing company in March of 2013. I have three authors under my publishing company and am currently repositioning to add at least another 7 people. My background is in corporate accounting and collections. I've also worked for several doctors after I completed my certification in Medical office specialty back in 2006. Currently I am also self employed as a credit consultant and I love working for myself
2. What inspired you to write your first book?
I have always loved writing poetry, especially erotic poetry. My cousin read some of it and told me I should write a book. I pulled out my blackberry phone and began to write Dicmatized. Daily I would transfer the info from my phone to my computer at work and also forward what I'd written to friends and family. After a few months, I had a whole book and then became scared to publish it.
3. What do you wish more people knew about the publishing side of things?
What I wish more people knew about the publishing side of things is that programs like Amazon KDP, createspace, etc. makes it extremely easy to self publish and they should really do their research before signing with another company who may charge them more than needed.
4. How did you come up with your titles?
My titles derive from personal experience in most cases. I also search Amazon and Google to make sure that my book titles stands out and hasn't been overused.
5. What author(s) has influenced your writing style?
Honestly there aren't any authors who have inspired my writing style. I write like I see movie scenes or scenes from television shows. I hope to one day be able to write for a television series.
6. For your first book, how long did it take you to find an agent?
I don't have an agent. I have looked for one in the past, but have never submitted any of my work or queries. I want someone who is genuinely interested in me and my work for what it is or who I am. I want an agent to find me.
7. How important was a "platform" in selling your books?
A platform is very important because everything is not for everybody. I have had people say they like erotica, but some think of it as just porn. You have to find the right platform to be able to get your words across effectively and reach the fan base you desire.
8. Do you have book signings coming up where readers can meet you?
Yes. I will be attending a book fair at Mulberry Inn in Newport News, VA this Saturday. I will also be attending a book club meeting at the Chesapeake library on Feb. 16th of this year. So far that is all I have planned. I will be attending the Harlem book fair this year along with the National Black Author expo in Houston, TX.
9. Can you tell us about your upcoming project(s)?
Currently I'm working on building a publishing company that strictly caters to people of abuse. I have designed a platform called, "Breaking the Silence of Abuse ~ All Forms" and want our survivors to be able to tell their stories. I am also working on Dicmatized 3 which is the final book of the Dicmatized trilogy. I'm working on 50 Shades of Dicmatized ~ Diaries of a Sex Therapist, Your Husband, My Man (which is my first romance novel), Sucka 4 Luv series (which is my first urban romance story), and I have an erotic Flash Fiction series out now called, "Suck Me Dry" which has 2 more installments left before it will be completed. I'm also trying my hand at Christian Fiction with a novel called, "In God We Trust" as well as my life story which is titled, "Death of My Innocence ~ A Woman Shattered!"
10. What advice do you have to an aspiring author?
I always tell people to write what you know. It comes off as more realistic and minimum research is needed. Not to mention, most people have a story within so if you just write what you know, you can't go wrong.
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED, the first book....haven't gotten around to reading Part 2....but it is on my Next 20 read list.....
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