My Intimate Journey with Caesar by M.F. Kreps

Can you tell us who is Margaret Kreps.

I am a regular girl from Newark, New Jersey. I have worked in the medical field most of my adult life. Recently I returned to school, and instead of radiation, I am studying nursing.

 

What inspired you to write your first book?

This book came about to simply answer the question, why did I cut my hair. It seemed to be a popular question when I would meet someone new. However, the more I wrote, the more I revealed that was surprising to even me.

 

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

I found out the hard way how hard publishing can be. I do not have anyone in my immediate circle that is involved in this world of writing, and publishing. I am finding my way through trial and error. I self-published, and the formatting was the biggest obstacle for me. If I could tell anyone anything about publishing, it would be to seek assistance with the formatting before your begin to write. Once you begin with the wrong program some problems cannot be corrected without starting over.

 

How did you come up with your titles?

I actually went through several titles before I finalized with My Intimate Journey with Caesar. The name of my hair cut is a Caesar cut. As I wrote I started to correlate the intimate parts of my journey to my hair, hence came the title My Intimate Journey with Caesar.

 

What author(s) has influenced your writing style?

I have been told by a few that they love my writing style. I didn’t have a particular author in mind as I was writing. In my mind, I am sitting down with my girls, and telling them an open story. I just happen to be writing it down at the same time. I write the way that I speak.

 

What type of legacy would you like to leave for your readers?

I would love for each person that reads my book to walk away with something that positively influences their life. Everyone is going through a different moment at different times. There is no one lesson. I hope that there are enough lessons for every reader to feel a different emotion. For me it was freedom from emotional restraints and what society told me I should look like.

 

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

I was very naïve when I started writing. I was not thinking about selling. When I was writing, I was not thinking about, platforms, lessons, publishing or marketing. I tackled each objective as it presented itself. I definitely do not recommend this, nor will I do this for book number 2.

 

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

I do not have anything planned. This is one of the problems that come with self-publishing, and not thinking about step 2, and 3 before publishing a book. I currently live in Puerto Rico. I can only sell on a small scale here, because I do not speak the language. Currently, my book is for sale in one store here. I may set up a signing with them this summer and hire a translator for the day.

 

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

Everyone is looking for part 2 while I want enjoy this one a little while longer. When I was originally writing I did not think about part 2. Now everyone seems to be interested so I have to please my readers. I plan to start on it early this summer.

 

What advice do you have to an aspiring author?

I would say to try to learn the business side of things, and surround yourself with like minds before you invest your time, money, and soul. There is no turning back for me at this point, because my soul is on these pages. Also, to remember that everyone’s opinion is just that, an opinion. Finally, marketing starts before the book is completed.

 

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

My name is Margaret Felicia Kreps.  I am a 42 year old single mom from Newark, New Jersey.  I love to represent 07112, even though I have lived many other places.  My children are 23 year old Jemall and 7 year old Kendra.  I was educated at Weequahic High School in Newark, and then went on to acquire my Associates in Applied Science in Radiography at Essex County College.  After working several years as an Xray Technologist, I returned to The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey’s Nuclear Medicine Technology Program. Ultimately I finished my B.S in Allied Health Technologies.

With many changes in health care billing, coupled with the oversaturation of Nuclear Medicine Technologists, as well as the overall recession, I decided to reinvent myself.  After a hard decision to leave New Jersey, I enrolled as a full-time Nursing student at Inter Americana University of Puerto Rico this past August.

Even though My Intimate Journey with Caesar was conceived while I was still in New Jersey, I was not able to fully give birth, until after I relocated to Puerto Rico.  I do not know what the good Lord has in store for my future, but I am confident, and ready to take the Journey.

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EXCERPT:

They say that nothing helps you get over your old man like a new man. King was fine, he was tall, he was dark, he was educated, and he was the owner of the barbershop. We eventually fell in lust and then in love. We had a genuine, reliable friendship. He satisfied my intellect as well as my body to the fullest. He was a true man’s man. King had a smile that made heads turn and take a second look. He was a real go-getter, pursuing money, fun, women, and life itself. He loved his family and was a devoted father. Nothing in this world came before his family, especially his children. This was all a part of my attraction to him. Yes, there was a strong physical attraction, but I honestly was initially attracted to his conversation and his intellect.

You would think that because I was dating a barber, I would have had him cutting my hair all the time. Unfortunately, King and I disagreed on the best look for my hair. He wanted me in peaks, and I wanted a rounded front. I can count the times that I let him cut my hair during our four-year love affair.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: these two men must have overlapped. Yes. So what? Don’t judge me. I have had a full life. I loved Kamal but what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, right?

I had never been able to talk to any man so freely about so many different topics. My new love came from modest beginnings and had made a successful life as an educated businessman with a profound story to tell. He was upfront and honest about his love of being in love. Sometimes this would involve more than one woman at a time. His wife understood it. Eventually, I did, too. I was taking a Christian theology course at college, so while I was at his barbershop we would have the most interesting conversations about different religions. As handsome as he was, when we first met I was not looking for anything. A part of me thought that he was flirting with me, but I ignored it and chalked it up to him just being a man in the company of a woman. Like other extremely sexy men, King exuded confidence as well as ambition without chasing. And without confidence and ambition, you are just another pretty face, which is an insult to true manhood.

One Saturday morning, he got my phone number off a community service flyer. He called me to ask if he could donate to my program. I thought that it was an innocent phone call. Kamal, however, yelled out, “Tell your butt buddy, don’t call this house no more!” When I got the first phone call, I thought Kamal was overreacting. I was secretly pleased to see him jealous, especially after all he had put me through.

King and I started hanging out as platonic friends, talking about things that make the world go round. Our friendship grew out of honest dialogue and ultimately grew into uninhibited sex. Early on, he told me that he was married and his wife accepted the fact that he would never be with only one woman. I listened to him, but in the back of my mind I thought, Yeah, right. Kamal was still living with me, so it did not really matter. I played along because I needed his comfort, not because I truly believed him.