THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Patricia Haley discusses 'Destined'

THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY -
PATRICIA HALEY DISCUSSES 'DESTINED' -

Patricia Haley is the award-winning, #1 Essence bestselling author of Nobody’s Perfect, Blind Faith, Still Waters, Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, No Regrets, and Chosen. Originally from Rockford, IL, Patricia now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, Jeffrey and their daughter. With an engineering degree from Stanford Univ. and an M.B.A. in marketing and finance from the Univ. of Chicago, readers are often surprised to hear that Patricia is writing novels, given her technical and business background.  She welcomes readers to visit her online at http://www.patriciahaley.com/ or join her Facebook fan page.

Urban Reviews:  Can you tell us about Destined?
Patricia Haley:  Destined picks up where Chosen left off, in the lobby of the family’s business which baby boy, Joel, has pushed to the brink of bankruptcy. The oldest brother, Don, returns from his exile in South Africa at the pleading of his mother and former love interest, Abigail who happens to still be in love with Joel. Although Don has gotten past his anger towards God and his father for giving Joel the best of everything, he is torn about coming back and wholeheartedly battling his out of control half brother for the ministry. Is he truly willing to give up a thriving new company, a budding relationship, and his peace in South Africa just to jump back into the pit of drama gripping his family in Detroit? Abigail’s plea and his mother’s broken heart draw him into the Mitchell feud. Ultimately he comes to realize that certain wars are inevitable if one is to fulfill their God appointed destiny.

Urban Reviews:  What initially drew you to write a story based on the biblical kings David and Solomon?
Patricia Haley:  Inspiration for the Chosen series came from one of my all time favorite characters in the Bible, King David. He is an imperfect man plagued with family tragedy, personal failures, and constant battles. Yet, he is remembered as someone highly favored by God. I’m equally intrigued by King David’s son Solomon who managed to squander away his noteworthy position of power, wealth, and godly favor after succumbing to his weakness for women. Joel plays the role of Solomon in Chosen and Destined as the son of Dave Mitchell. At the conclusion of Chosen, readers weren’t satisfied with only an epilogue ending. They wanted more. So, Destined was born.

Urban Reviews:  What has been the initial reaction to Destined by your readership?
Patricia Haley:  Feedback from readers and literary reviewers has been AWESOME. I am honored, thrilled, and relieved. One reader said, “I thought Chosen was a good book but it got better in Destined and I can't wait to read Broken.” Now the pressure is on to deliver another good story in the series for my readers who are anxiously waiting.

Urban Reviews:  Did you draw on personal experience or someone else's real struggles for the storyline in Destined?
Patricia Haley:  The character struggles in Destined are real world such as family strife, sibling rivalry, infidelity, impact of divorce on everyone, difficulty in forgiving transgressions, etc. Although I can’t point directly to any live person and say this is their story, I believe that the experiences are universal and relatable to many. I often say that my characters are everybody I know and nobody that I know. That’s what allows readers to relate and get engaged in the story – there’s enough truth to make the fiction feel real.

Urban Reviews:  Will we be seeing these characters in the future? Can you give us a sneak peek?
Patricia Haley:  The third book in my Chosen series is Broken scheduled for 2011. The family battle takes a twist when the estranged daughter, Tamara, returns to stake her claim, disrupting any short lived peace the family has managed to find. She spends much of her time challenging the Mitchell women to assume their rightful places in the family.

Website:  http://www.patriciahaley.com/
Facebook Page:  Click Here
Trailer for Destined:  http://www.patriciahaley.com/novels/destined.php

Read our review for Destined by clicking here
 
Order your copy of Destined by clicking here 
 
 

THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY: ALAYA JOHNSON - AUTHOR OF 'MOONSHINE'

The Story Behind The Story - 

Alaya Johnson - Author of 'Moonshine' -

Alaya (rhymes with “papaya”) lives, writes, cooks and (perhaps most importantly) eats in New York City. Her literary loves are all forms of speculative fiction, historical fiction, and the occasional highbrow novel. Her culinary loves are all kinds of ethnic food, particularly South Indian, which she feels must be close to ambrosia. She graduated from Columbia University in 2004 with a BA in East Asian Languages and Cultures, and has lived and traveled extensively in Japan.

Urban Reviews:  Can you tell us what Moonshine is all about?

Alaya Johnson:  Moonshine follows the story of Zephyr Hollis, a demon hunter turned social activist in the Lower East Side of 1920s New York City. She teaches night school to immigrants and Others (including vampires) and generally tries to repent for her past as the daughter of Montana's most famous demon hunter. However, things turn sticky when one of her students--a mysterious man named Amir--proposes to pay her handsomely for her help in finding a notorious vampire mob boss. Adventures ensue.

Urban Reviews:  How did the story first materialize for you when you started writing Moonshine?

Alaya Johnson:  Rather unusually for me, the core idea for Moonshine appeared to me in a flash one afternoon. I'd been idly contemplating the current trend in urban fantasy and wondered, as a thought experiment, what kind of setup would really excite me. And suddenly the world of 1920s New York popped into my head, and I was hooked. I wrote down a mini plot description, which basically included Zephyr, Amir and the setting, and I was off. The whole process was really a lot of fun.

Urban Reviews:  What made you want to write about vampires?  Were you a fan of the genre and/or vampire legends before?

Alaya Johnson:  I've definitely enjoyed many vampire stories, including modern urban fantasies. But I wouldn't call myself an aficionado. I'd never contemplated writing a vampire novel before the day I had the idea for Moonshine. I thought vampires were fine to read about, but they'd never really captured my imagination before that point. All that being said, some vampire books--especially Robin McKinley's Sunshine--have been on my comfort reading list for years.

Urban Reviews:  What do you think is the hardest thing to overcome when writing Moonshine?

Alaya Johnson:  Probably the research and really getting into the feel of the twenties. I read a lot of books and watched movies and went through many entries in etymological dictionaries to try to give some verisimilitude to the setting. I'm by no means an expert on the period even now, but hopefully some of the details I learned helped make the setting more convincing for readers.

Urban Reviews:  Is there anything else you'd like to share regarding Moonshine?

Alaya Johnson:  I'm currently working on the (as-yet-untitled) sequel. Returning to Zephyr and her friends has been a lot of fun for me, and hopefully will please my readers, as well. Speaking of readers, if you're a fan of historical fiction in addition to urban fantasy, I think you'd really love this book. Some of my favorite writers are Robin McKinley, Elizabeth Peters, Sarah Smith and Dorothy Dunnett--so if you're a fan of any of them, check out Moonshine!

Click here to read the first chapter of 'Moonshine'
Order your copy of 'Moonshine' today!

Official Website:  http://www.alayadawnjohnson.com

Moonshine by Alaya Johnson -- book trailer from Alaya Johnson on Vimeo.

THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY - Author Allison Hobbs discusses 'Stealing Candy'

THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY:

Author Allison Hobbs discusses 'Stealing Candy'

Riveting! Graphic! Edgy! Just a few words that describe the responses to Allison Hobbs´ writing style. Known for writing provocative and controversial novels, Allison burst on the literary scene with her highly successful debut novel, Pandora´s Box in 2003. In her latest release, Stealing Candy, Allison departs from erotic fiction, and has taken on the serious and disturbing topic of teenage sex trafficking in the United States.  A prolific writer, she is the national bestselling author of fourteen novels and novellas of multiple genres, including paranormal and fantasy.

Urban Reviews:  Can you tell us a little about Stealing Candy?
Allison Hobbs:  Three teen-age girls from very different backgrounds have been kidnapped by a pimp and forced into the sex trade. Saleema Sparks, a woman who runs a sanctuary for troubled teens risks her life to save the girls.

Urban Reviews:  What made you choose teen sex trafficking for this story?
Allison Hobbs:  I departed from my normal genre and wrote Stealing Candy to raise awareness and bring attention to this tragedy that is happening within the African American communities. Though the media has given some attention to a few cases and have shed some light on this disturbing practice within the African American community, the cases we hear about are still considered isolated events.

African American child slavery is on the rise. There has been little focus on the uncounted numbers of African American girls who are lost in the network of sex trafficked children. Sex trafficked black girls are invisible, and unfortunately, they are fast becoming the forgotten slaves of our time.

Unless we open our eyes to the fact that modern day slavery exists within the African American community, our black children who are enslaved have very little hope of being freed.

Urban Reviews:  Was Stealing Candy the hardest book for you to write? If so, why?
Allison Hobbs:  Stealing Candy was difficult to write, but it was also cathartic and forced me to finally acknowledge the invisible scars from my youth.

Urban Reviews:  What type of research did you do for this story?
Allison Hobbs:  I read the statistics, but mainly relied upon my imagination and my own brief but horrifying experience as an abducted teen.

Urban Reviews:  Did any of the scenes come from real life experiences?
Allison Hobbs:  Absolutely. As I’ve already said, I experienced being abducted. I know exactly how it feels to cry for help only to have your screams ignored. I know how it feels to escape from an abductor only to be caught and dragged back to the place of confinement while seemingly normal adult citizens turn a blind eye…unwilling to get involved.

It is a miracle that I escaped before I was forced into prostitution or introduced to drugs. It is by the grace of God that I was not physically maimed or killed. Still, I did not emerge unscathed. There were no visible scars, but the pain was always present...waiting to be acknowledged, waiting for me to take an action.

Looking back, I consider myself to be one of the lucky ones. I am alive today and able to tell this cautionary tale because I escaped.

Urban Reviews:  What can we do to protect young women from sex trafficking?
Allison Hobbs:  Begin the conversation. Parents should talk to their children and let them know that the heinous practice of sex trafficking is running rampant. Young girls should be aware that the face of the “pimp” is not the stereotypical Hollywood version. Sex traffickers are often regular-looking, young men who falsely represent themselves for the purpose of luring teenage girls away from their safety zones.


Author Website: http://www.allisonhobbs.com
Author Website:  http://www.stealingcandy.net
Author's Publisher: Click Here
Author's Facebook: Click Here
Click here to read an excerpt from 'Stealing Candy'
Click here to read our review for 'Stealing Candy'
Order your copy of Stealing Candy (Zane Presents) today! 
 
 

INSIDE OUT with Jennifer Coissiere - Author of Crossing Over

INSIDE OUT

with Jennifer Coissiere -

Author of Crossing Over -


Jennifer Coissiere is creatively driven in everything she does. She began writing poetry many years ago as a pre-teen, in an attempt to get away from her unhappy home life.

Currently, she is a full-time student, mother of three, wife to one, sister to two, and daughter. The stories she write are not necessarily a reflection of her life, but you can find a piece of her in each character she develops.

Urban Reviews:  Tell our readers about Crossing Over.
Jennifer Coissiere:  Well, Crossing Over is about Rachelle Martin, who lost her mother when she was 15 years old. Over the years she never really gets over the lost and becomes very protective of her twin brother, Raheem, and her father, Dwight. Rachelle dislikes change. However, when her father asks her for the ultimate Christmas present, she finds herself transforming while overcoming grief.

Urban Reviews:  Where did the inspiration for this novel come from?
Jennifer Coissiere: The inspiration for Crossing Over came from a couple of things. My best friend lost her mother when she was nine; even though, she is in her 40s, she still grieves her mother daily. My other reason is because I have a severe fear of death. I know it will happen one day to everyone, but I am still fearful of it occurring. And one other inspiration is my fascination with twins. I love seeing them and even have a few sets in my family. The personalities and the way they interact with each other and assess/deal with the same situation intrigues me.

Urban Reviews:  Have you always wanted to become a writer?
Jennifer Coissiere:  I have always written for as far back as I can remember. I started out writing really dark poems when I was in junior high school. I wanted to share my poetry, but I never really thought that I would merge into writing stories.

Urban Reviews:  Having a reviewer background, did you test your book out with anyone before release?
Jennifer Coissiere:  I had four test readers. I provided a form that I wanted them to fill out to give me the feedback I needed to make sure my story was well-rounded and realistic. I chose people with different demographics, because I did not want to limit the number of people I could reach. Their feedback coupled with my editor's changes/corrections enabled me to produce something I was happy with.
 
Urban Reviews:  What are your ultimate goals as far as the literary industry?
Jennifer Coissiere:  I want to continue to reach every walk of life with the messages I believe God has placed in my heart. I want to reach out to other authors and show them we can support each other in this business. There is no need to be cutthroat or ugly to each other to get ahead. Each one, teach one, reach one; and we all are blessed.

Urban Reviews:  Is there anyone who encouraged or inspired you to take a chance at writing?
Jennifer Coissiere:  Back in junior high school, my 8th grade English teacher, Mr. Doyle, took the time to encourage me. He read my entire poetry notebook and gave me feedback. He also encourage me to enter my first poetry contest, where I was a semi-finalist winner. And my mother is one of, if not my biggest fan. She keeps on me about the stories I write. She will ask and ask until I finally give her what she wants so she can give me a break. I appreciate both my teacher and mother for seeing the gift that took me awhile to see for myself.

Urban Reviews:  Are there any upcoming projects that we can look forward to?
Jennifer Coissiere:  Yes. I'm working on the sequel to Crossing Over titled Beyond New Beginnings. I'm also working on a several other stories titled Ribbons Pinned, Hiding Under the Umbrella, and editing Feelings Redirected.

Urban Reviews:  What do you like to do when you aren't writing?
Jennifer Coissiere:  I loved being with my family. They are my heart. Aside from that, I make beaded jewelry. I relieve a lot of stress while making my jewelry. Let's not forget my love for reading and reviewing books.

Urban Reviews:  What things do you think every author should do to promote their book?
Jennifer Coissiere:  For me, I'm an introvert. In order for me to promote my book, I had to step outside my comfort zone. As authors, we have to go outside the box to make sure everyone knows about our books. We have to be willing to spend some money in order to make some money. Most importantly, we need to ask questions and do research when we do not know something.

Urban Reviews:  Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your novel?
Jennifer Coissiere:  I have a lot of stories in my head. I hope I can produce a better story each and every time I have a new release. I am constantly learning and will never claim to know it all.



Website: http://www.wordsmosaic.com
Excerpt: http://wordsmosaic.com/excerpts/
Blog: http://wordsmosaic.com/blog/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/bizarrejc
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/bizarrejc

Click here to read our review of Crossing Over by Jennifer Coissiere
 
Order your copy of Crossing Over today! 

INSIDE OUT with Dolen Perkins-Valdez

INSIDE OUT
with Dolen Perkins-Valdez


Dolen Perkins-Valdez was born and raised in Memphis, TN. She is a graduate of Harvard and George Washington University. She has published fiction in The Kenyon Review and elsewhere. Wench is her first novel.




Urban Reviews:  Tell our readers about Wench.
Dolen Perkins-Valdez:  WENCH tells the story of four women who are the enslaved mistresses of their masters. They meet at a summer resort in 1850s Ohio and begin to contemplate escape when the spirited Mawu arrives. She pushes them to think about running and leaving behind their plantations. Yet the decision is a difficult one, especially for my protagonist Lizzie who believes she loves her master and that he loves her. The novel examines the complicated dynamic between a female slave and her white male master.

Urban Reviews:  How did you come up with the idea for this book?
Dolen Perkins-Valdez:  I was reading a biography of W.E.B. Du Bois and, during a section about his time spent on the campus of Wilberforce University, I came across a stunning line about the existence of a summer resort in Ohio that was popular among slaveholders and their enslaved mistresses. I could not get this idea out of my head. I had so many questions. I began to delve into the archives, and found very little. These women left no record behind. Neither did the men, as far as I could tell. I wanted to write this book to answer my own questions of what life would have been like for these women.

Urban Reviews:  What are your ultimate goals as far as the literary industry?
Dolen Perkins-Valdez:  I'd love to keep publishing and writing stories. This is a very tough business, but I love to write and I hope my readers will hang in there with me.

Urban Reviews:  Who do you think will most enjoy Wench? Is there anyone who shouldn't read it for whatever reason?
Dolen Perkins-Valdez:  My hope is that everyone will read Wench! It has resonated most with women readers, particularly those who want to learn something new and different about this period in history.

Urban Reviews:  Do you have any upcoming projects that we can look forward to?
Dolen Perkins-Valdez:  All I can say is that I am still waiting for inspiration for the next literary project. I won't begin something until I feel extremely compelled because I know that it will take quite some time to finish!! Stay tuned.


Urban Reviews:  Do you have any favorite authors or books?
Dolen Perkins-Valdez:  I am influenced by so much more than fiction, but the great novels that changed my life include Toni Morrison's Beloved, Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita, Gayl Jones' The Healing, and Edward P. Jones' All Aunt Hagar's Children.

Urban Reviews:  What's the best literary advice you've gotten from another person in the literary world so far?
Dolen Perkins-Valdez:  I recently had lunch with the legendary Marita Golden who had some very wise words of wisdom for me. She reminded me that although the writing seems to be the most important thing, I should always keep "friends, faith, and family first." She is a gem of a person, and I cherish that advice.

Urban Reviews:  Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your novel?
Dolen Perkins-Valdez:  I believe in the importance of telling the story of these slave women. That is what motivated me to keep going all these years. I hope other writers who have not yet published will keep writing! There are so many stories that need to be told. If you don't tell the story that is in your heart, who will?

Website: http://dolenperkinsvaldez.com/ 
Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dolen-Perkins-Valdez/153145218813
Twitter: http://twitter.com/dolen

Order your copy of Wench: A Novel today!

INSIDE OUT WITH CHRISTOPHER HERZ - AUTHOR OF 'THE LAST BLOCK IN HARLEM'

INSIDE OUT WITH CHRISTOPHER HERZ -
Author of The Last Block In Harlem -
Available July 13, 2010 on Amazon Encore

INSIDE OUT WITH SHAY NOLON - AUTHOR OF 'EVERTHING YOU OWE ME'

INSIDE OUT WITH SHAY NOLON - Author of 'Everything You Owe Me' -

Shay Nolon is the author of Everything You Owe Me (December 2009), and Greedy (August 2010). She is also the author of self-published title Tell Me No Lies (October 2006).

Shay Nolon currently resides in Kansas City, Missouri. You can find out more info about this author at http://www.hollygrovepublishing.com/, Author's Den, or Facebook.


1. Tell our readers about Everything You Owe Me.
A. Well, Everything You Owe Me is about two cousins, Tosha and Dannay, whose lives and marriages couldn't be more different - at least that's how things appear on the surface. Tosha struggles to hold on to her crumbling marriage despite signs that her husband is cheating. Dannay's marriage is the picture of perfection, and she is the only person Tosha can turn to. Who will Dannay have to turn to when the perfect image of her marriage shatters?

2. How did the idea for this book come about?

A. The idea for this book came about by my observance of the lengths that people will go to in the name of love, especially when there is a marital committment involved. Some people are willing to let go, while other's are determined to hold on by any means necessary.

3. What was it that pushed you to want to become a writer?

A. As a child with a love of books and reading, it had always been my dream to become a writer.

4. What has been the biggest challenge for you in regards to the book business?

A. The harderst challenge for me in regards to the book business has been carving out a name for myself and reaching a larger reading market.

5. What are your ultimate goals as far as the book industry?

A. My goals as far as the book industry is to keep producing stories that resonate with readers, to continue to hone my skills as a writer, and hopefully one day have writing be my fulltime career.

6. What things did you do to help prepare yourself for your literary journey?
A. Some of the things I did to help prepare myself for my literary journey was to read a lot of the type of stories that I enjoy writing, to research and study the literary market, and I tried my hand in the self-publishing arena to gain valuable experience on what it takes to promote and sell my work.

7. Do you have any ideas or plans for an upcoming project?
A. I've been tossing around some ideas for my next book. I just haven't decided on a title yet, but it's in the works as we speak.

8. Do you have any favorite authors or books?
A. Some of my favorite authors are Eric Jerome Dickey, Gloria Mallette, Kimberla Lawson Roby, J.D. Mason, Miasha, Sapphire, Dwayne S. Joseph, Brian W. Smith, and a whole list of other authors that I admire.

9. What advice do you have for others thinking of getting into the book business?
A. The advice I would give to others thinking of getting into the book business is to come armed with a lot of faith, endurance, patience, and belief in yourself. You have to be ready to take the positive and the negative as an essential step to bettering yourself as a writer.

10. Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your novel?
A. Be on the look out for my second novel on the Hollygrove label titled Greedy, and if you want to order a copy of Everything You Owe Me, you can go to the Hollygrove publishing website, Amazon.com, Tower.com, Barnes and Noble, Borders, or wherever books are sold.

Order your copy of Everything You Owe Me today!

.

INSIDE OUT WITH ROLAND S. JEFFERSON - AUTHOR OF 'WHITE COAT FEVER'

ROLAND S. JEFFERSON -

Born in Washington DC, Roland Jefferson was raised in Los Angeles. In 1976 he tried his hand at writing fiction. His first novel, The School On 103rd Street was published to critical success, taking its place along side the works of acclaimed authors Sam Greenlee and John Williams. It has been published three different times in the US and simultaneously published in Germany, while garnishing numerous awards and accolades including its selection by the Los Angeles Times Book Review for inclusion in its 'Guide to Literary Los Angeles 2001.'




Urban Reviews:  Tell our readers about White Coat Fever.
Roland S. Jefferson:  Well, White Coat Fever is a romantic melodrama that takes place in the 1960's on a HBCU campus during the explosive civil rights era. It centers on distorted values during a time in African American society when college-age girls were socially mandated by their families to maintain their middle-class status by marrying doctors...by any means necessary----even if it meant they didn't love them. It follows three childhood friends as they matriculate through college & medical school, their loves & disappointments all shaped by the unfolding civil rights movement that draws them into an irrversible conflict with class, color and ideals of romantic entitlement that changes them in profound ways they never anticipated.

Urban Reviews:  How did the idea for this book come about?
Roland S. Jefferson:  I'd always had the idea for this story largely because I lived it. For the past 40 or so years my family has constantly been on my back to write it, so I finally did. I guess they saw a social and relevance that I didn't, probably because I was too close to it. But once I started writing it, I could finally see they maybe had a point, that this story was rooted in traditional African American middle-class history (be that good or bad).

Urban Reviews: You have a few other released titles as well. Briefly tell us about your other published works.
Roland S. Jefferson:  I've written a total of six novels, five of which are in print. The first, SCHOOL ON 103RD STREET continues be the most successful, in that it is being taught in black literature courses on the college level. It's revolutionary theme still resonates some 35 years later. But it too was rooted in the civil rights movement. A CARD FOR THE PLAYERS is about a unique Las Vegas casino heist carried out by a group wealthy gambling addicts. My third book 559 TO DAMASCUS is centered on a group of Islamic terrorists who get their hands on a nuclear bomb. DAMAGED GOODS is a crime noir novel about a group of African American criminals who pull of a daring heist at the behest of a corrupt prison warden promising a reduced sentence. ONE NIGHT STAND is a story about a brilliant young female attorney who works for the PD's office (public defender). But she has personal demons that place her in harms way when she's assigned to defend a black gangbanger/drug dealer falsely accused of murder by a group of corrupt LAPD cops.

Urban Reviews: What things about the book industry have taken you by surprise?
Roland S. Jefferson:  The explosion of urban literature (street lit)

Urban Reviews: What has been your best experience so far as a published author?
Roland S. Jefferson:  Getting positive feedback from black female readers.

Urban Reviews: Who or what inspired you to want to become a writer?
Roland S. Jefferson:  No one in particular. As a youngster I always had a penchant for adventure stories and wanted to write. But the family discouraged that career choice, thinking it would not be a profession that could sustain itself. At that time, in the 1950's there weren't but a few black writers who'd broken through to celebrity stastus. So to some degree I suppose they were right, because they only wanted the best for me. So in later years I had to discover my writing talent on my own.

Urban Reviews: Do you have any ideas or plans for any upcoming projects?
Roland S. Jefferson:  Yes, I'm working on a serial killer book now. Many readers have suggsted a sequel to WHITE COAT FEVER. So maybe, if I feel it.

Urban Reviews: What do you like to do besides write?
Roland S. Jefferson:  I like to drive fast cars. I love vacationing and writing in the caribbean, especially the Bahamas and Jamaica. I'm a fan of classic film noir and good jazz. And I'm also a long time collector of Dorothy Dandridge memorabilia.

Urban Reviews: What things can you suggest to other writers that are thinking about self-publishing their novel?
Roland S. Jefferson:  Writing the novel is easy. Enjoy that part of it. Because once it's finished and edited, the work really begins. The biggest obstacle you will face is the expense and time required in getting the book publicized, distributed and into bookstores as well as getting it reviewed. As a general rule most of the nation's major newspapers and magazines flatly refuse to review self-published books. You can get some TV exposure on public access programs, but you really want to be on CNN and CNBC. And chain bookstores have to be hauled kicking and screaming to the table in order to get them to give up shelf space for a self published book. Of couse the internet is changing all of that, but there is still a great deal of marketing and promotional expense necessary to push a book into the public eye. Keep in mind you are up against 200,000 other books that come out every year, so you have your work cut out for you in an effort to stand out from the crowd. E. Lynn Harris, Relentless Arron and Nikki Turner are examples of self published authors who used creative and unrelenting drive that paid off and resulted in major book deals and/or theit own book imprints.

Urban Reviews:  Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your novel?
Roland S. Jefferson:  Just that it's a book with lots of romance, some explosive historical facts that will make some readers squeamish, and a theme guaranteed to make some black women uncomfortable. It wasn't written with that in mind of course. But then I was there...

http://www.rolandsjefferson.com/
www.twitter.com/rolandthewriter
www.myspace.com/rolandthewriter
www.facebook.com/rolandthewriter
http://www.authorhouse.com/bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=59824

Read our recent review for White Coat Fever: A novel today!
Order your copy of White Coat Fever: A novel today!
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