Cheris Hodges's Blog, page 19

Blog Tour Post: The Writing Process

My dear friend, Shameika Rhymes, queen of the Mofo Chronicles, invited me to participate in the Blog Tour post about the writing process. I love words, I love to write and make up stories. And most importantly, I love my freedom. So, when I say, 'careful or you'll end up in my novel,' that means, you've pissed me off so badly that I want to harm you, but going to jail is not in my plans. 
The purpose of this blog tour is to answer four questions about your craft and introduce your readers to three new writers.

Here. We. Go! 








WHAT AM I WORKING ON:  I'm currently working on my latest novel, a short story for an anthology and a novella that will be released this summer, possibly. (LOL) Some people say hearing voices in your head is a bad thing. Those people are not writers. When the voices of your characters stop, then there is a problem. I love having so many different stories to tell because we as African American writers should control the images that are fed into the mainstream media. We can't allow others to control what we look like on screen. And we certainly should not be painted with the same brush. OK, hoping off my soap box.

HOW DOES MY WORK DIFFER FROM OTHERS OF ITS GENRE: When people think romance, they usually think perfect characters with no flaws. I create flawed people who fall in love. I'm told by a lot of people that I'm funny. I don't see it but if that's what the readers think, then I'm all for it. Romance allows writers to be free and it is also one of the hardest genres to write because everyone knows the hero and the heroine will be together in the end. You just have to make sure you put them through a lot in the middle.

WHY DO I WRITE WHAT I WRITE? The thing that I love the most about romance is that you're able to craft characters who look like the people you'd like to hang out with. They have a rocky past, but they overcome it, are successful and fall in love. Who doesn't want that kind of life? And I love the fact that the readers of romance are so invested in the characters and want more —when you deliver a good book to them.

HOW DOES YOUR WRITING PROCESS WORK:  It starts like this, brew coffee. Turn computer on, write. Sip coffee. Write. And repeat. It's important for me to write something every day, even if I know that tomorrow those words will be deleted and replaced with something else.

Here are some writers who you should get to know.

Nila N. Brown. She is someone I love to read, fun, serious and one of the few African American fantasy writers who think outside of the box. Black folks writing about demons? Yeah, get to know her! http://msnilanbrown.blogspot.comCassandra Baker-Durham. There are some people who you meet and you know they have been touched by God. Cassandra is one of those people. An amazing writer with talent beyond measure. www.saltlightandwitnesses.com.Eve Vaughn. This USA Today best selling author crafts erotic romance and is just a hoot to be around. I met Eve at Romance Slam Jam in New Orleans and she is as amazing of a person as she is a writer. www.evevaughn.com/blog

I should be writing a book, but. . .

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter, even Pintrest, you know that I have this thing for Super Heroes. My day off on my day job is Wednesday because that's when the new comic books come out.

So, today — since I refused to leave the house and I was supposed to be writing my novel—I decided to watch some movies. First one I grabbed was Ironman. Oh how I love Robert Downey Jr. in that role.
Most people would have picked up Ironman 2 as the next movie. But I decided to watch Batman Begins. 


And then I started thinking: Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark are really the same kind of super hero. Billionaires.
No family.
Looking for vengeance.

But the differences between the two (and why Batman is BETTER) is Bruce hides in the shadows. He  wants to stop crime because he was touched by it personally. Losing a loved one to violence changes a child. Violence changes all people. Even Tony Stark, a weapons maker, who saw what his creations did to innocent people.

Both become ideals. Symbols of hope to the masses. But the differences between them make for different types of heroes. In the mythology of both men, they seem to be womanizers. But Stark is truly who believes in treating women as disposable tissues. For Bruce Wayne, it's an act.

Stark is a drunk. And proud of it. He parties like a rock star. He announces that he is Iron Man before the press. Seemingly not giving a damn what will happen to the people he cares about. Yeah,  Pepper Potts is in danger and it doesn't really put a spin on how Tony lives his life. After all, most super heroes keep their identity a secret. Even my least favorite one, Spiderman. (Don't get me started on Spiderman.)
But Stark flamboyantly shows off his identity as Iron Man. Bruce took lessons — though he learned from a mad man — and hid in the shadows. He became Gotham City's shadowy protector. Tony Stark worked with the government. Standing in the flash of the media.

Batman is a better hero. Batman seeks to guide and protect. Is he borderline crazy? Yes. He doesn't have a "super power." He doesn't use guns —because those were the instruments that took his father and mother. And he feels as if that is his fault.

Ironman is a weapon. Built by the very technology that he saw kill thousands. A little bit hypocritical in this writer's opinion.

So, who do you want protecting you? Batman or Ironman?

And I'm getting back to my writing.

Chatting with debut author Aja Graves

Some people are just meant to be writers. Aja Graves is one of those people. She attended Romance Slam Jam this year as a published author.
Her debut literary work is titled, Unexpected. 

Maya Taylor has been left stung by the arrow of love one too many times for her liking. Swearing off heartache she decides that the staid and boring life is just fine for her. But a well-meaning friend points out that she isn’t really living at all and helps Maya embark on a journey with a new attitude. This leads to a chance encounter with a handsome gentleman that is all about living in the moment.

Roman Newsome has constantly been on the search for the perfect woman. She needs to look beautiful, have something to talk about other than herself and be able to keep up with his prowess in bed. But having found out that most women pretend to have it all only to reveal their true unappealing colors, he’s decided the perfect woman must not exist. Until he meets Maya. . .
Can these two fundamentally different people make their romance work? Will he settle his spirit long enough to realize that “perfect” really just means, perfect for him? And will Maya accept that she has to take a chance at love in order to truly live her life.
What happens between them may just be . . . unexpected.

 Aja spoke to me about her journey to being published.
Tell the readers about your debut novel.

Unexpected is a romance novella about a woman, Maya, kind of stuck in her heartache. Instead of living her life, she decides to hide from it until she meets Roman Newsome, a man all about living. Both of them learn a lot about love and forgiveness and ultimately about living.
   When did you know you were going to be a writer?
I have been a writer since I was old enough to string a sentence together; about four years old. But I knew I wanted to do it as a profession at six. That dream died in pursuit of college. It didn’t come back to me until about a year and a half ago.
   What did it feel like when you got published?
Exhilarating. Well actually, the most exhilarating part was completing a body of work for others to read. Publishing it was the icing.
  What's the best advice you've received about writing?
There are a couple bits of advice that have worked for me. To write every day and also to know how the story ends.     What's next on the horizon for you?
I am currently working on a full length romance novel I Am Yours. It was actually in production when Maya in Unexpected started to bug me. I also have a collaborative project titled The Pursuitthat I am working on with my writing partner, Roy Glenn.
     How can readers follow you online?I can be friended on Facebook as Aja TheWriter and I can be followed on my blog: ajathewriter.wordpress.com

Guest blog post: Nila Brown and why editing should be covered by Obamacare

The Editing Process – Why ObamaCare Should Cover It
Hello my Lovelies!Thanks to the fabulous Cheris Hodges, my favorite author in the whole world for blessing me with the honor of guest blogging with her today.  I’ve been webbing with her for quite a few years before I knew she was an author and I’m totally appreciative to her for giving an up and coming Cheetah Diva out of nowhere a shot at the title of Craziest Diva!
Anyhoo, I’m in the process of editing the second book in my trilogy, “Kurai Utopia,” entitled Book Two – Ignition. I’m anxious to finish up the series because I need to move forward with other writing projects, but some annoying health issues, along with my daytime job responsibilities and outright laziness, has slowed me down significantly. This book was supposed to be released by the end of April, but don’t worry, my Lovelies! I’ve grabbeTo say that I’m not a millionairess wouldn’t be stretching the truth.  Hell, I’m not even a hundredairess, let alone a thousandairess.   I live paycheck-to-a little more than paycheck like most people in this country but I’m not complaining, though. It could be much worse and I’m grateful to have a full-time job that I love. I have nothing but love and respect for authors who have made this their full-time careers; some without a 9-5 job. I’m self-published but the royalties I get wouldn’t feed an ant, much less my college-age daughter. The most important thing is we have a roof over our heads and I wouldn’t trade that for anything.
With that being said, being a poor but proud Cheetah Diva author I can’t afford an established editor. I’ve done research on them and the cheapest I came across were advertised on a site called “fiverr,” where you can get up-and-coming artists/writers/editors/everything else people like me who you can contract to help you out. This is done so they can gain the experience and show off on a resume. I went this route at the end of last year and trust me when I tell you I’d rather eat kitty litter than go through this process again. The person I contracted to create the cover for my first book left me and several others hanging, pushing my publishing date back nearly a month. I had to do the cover myself, and if I do say so myself, I liked my results a lot better so I took it as a positive thing.
I did have others set to “beta” my story; fans who would read the document, make corrections and/or tell me what they really thought of the story; except I had a deadline set for them to return the edits before Christmas and that never happened. Two of them apologized to me and two others were never heard from again. You know, as quick as I am to pull the trigger, I didn’t get mad. Sometimes shit happens and this is my dream. I couldn’t leave it to chance for someone else to help me with it and then get mad when their lives happen.  Instead of wallowing in well-deserved anger, frustration and a bag of Funyuns, I just kept it moving.
The book was finally published on January 20, 2014. If course there were some errors in it relating to how it translated over to CreateSpace. In spite of their system telling you to use .doc documents, it scrambled some of my words and threw them into other sentences. With my daughter’s help, I was able to get the story edited better and republished using Acrobat.
Yay me.
So now here I am in the editing process for the second book and although I’ve learned a lot of lessons from editing the first book, this process is still insanity on a stick.  I have to go over the pages line-by-line, make the corrections, rest a day or two, then print it and go over it line-by-line, rinse-repeat until I’m satisfied that I have something that doesn’t read like some crap I wrote in crayon and doody when I was four.
Recently, I had a doctor’s appointment and while having my blood pressure checked, I went into full detail about a lot of anxiety and stress in my life. Somehow the editing of the book came up and before I knew it, I bent this poor woman’s ear for nearly an hour going over and over and over this horrible process. Bless her sweet heart, she just let me vent. Not only am I becoming blind by looking at a bright computer screen, I’m killing so many poor little trees with the constantly printing, redlining and reprinting this ridiculously 17 chapter book.  I actually woke up screaming one morning, “AAH! NO! HE DOESN’T COME IN UNTIL THE NEXT CHAPTER!!” Scared my daughter to death with that one.
ObamaCare, or the Affordable Healthcare Act, was enacted with the goal of increasing the quality and affordability of health insurance by lowering the uninsured rate and expelling public and private insurance coverage and reducing the cost of healthcare for individuals.  In a nutshell, the insurance companies can’t force you into bankruptcy by refusing to cover you because of preexisting conditions. The same wingnuts who were screaming “REPEAL OBAMACARE!” are now saying “THANK GOD FOR OBAMACARE!” because you don’t have to go into debt just to get healthcare, and in the greatest nation in the world, this shouldn’t even be an issue. I’m sure President Obama appreciates their enthusiasm and gratitude.Anyhoo, I see a therapist who helps me with the anger management issues that I have because I’m twisted like that and normally all I do is rant about that, but the last session I went on and on about the book. She’s actually a great therapist but even she’s sick of hearing about my book series. She told me she hears Japanese names in her everyday life now, even when she’s at home, in the tub and with her newborn; for example, she called childhood friend by my heroine’s name “Hikari.” The lady’s name is actually “Joyce.”
*Elvis singing voice* “Insanityyyyyyy! That cool refreshing drink!”
It’s bad enough that authors have to conceive the actual book; we have to conceive the plotline, scenarios, character development, see it from the first squiggly-lined storyboards to the “about the author” section. That’s tough enough, but for someone like me who is a Fantasy/Science Fiction/Paranormal author, I have to invent worlds, different species, and in some instance different languages. Do you understand what an endurance trial that is?  ADD EDITING TO IT!  It’s not like I make J.K. Rowling’s cheddah…oh hell naw – my last royalty payment won’t even buy me a Number 2 at MickeyD’s.  The amount of stress that comes from not just one, but 10 – 20 rewrites and editing takes a toll on one’s mental and physical state, and I aint a healthy Diva by anyone’s standards to begin with.
So, I did what any other irrational individual with a gun permit and Xanax would do – I called Aetna.(…after holding forever and a half and watching my toenails grow…)Aetna Customer Service, this is Elizabeth - what is your Group ID? (name changed to protect the victim)My number is blah blah bluh blah blah. Does ObamaCare cover stress-related editing?Um, I don’t understand.I’m an author and I’m under a shitload of stress trying to edit what’s shaping up to be another 500 page book all by my dammy. Does ObamaCare cover this?Your profile says you work for Shooby Boo Boop (name changed to keep my job).Yeah I know, but when I’m not having a whip cracked across my back, I’m an author who’s on the verge of a drive-by shooting because of all the editing I have to do and I need to see a therapist completely different from the one who now hates me. Does ObamaCare cover this?Hold please. (new age music – another reason for ObamaCare – actually, a reason why shotgun shells should be non-traceable)Uh, Ms. Brown?Yes?If your stress is a preexisting condition, yes the Affordable Care Act should cover it, but you have Aetna so this is a non-issue for you. Check with your primary for a referral for stress-related issues.Really?  Huh…I thought so.  Well, thanks!  Have a great day!
Here’s my take on the whole thing:  ObamaCare should not only cover editing, it should cover everything limited to but not excluding: Family members who are yelled at   Dogs that are not walked  Husbands/wives/significant others who go to bed alone at night   Snatched weaves  Depression/post-traumatic stress syndrome    Cussed out publishers   Coffee (this should be a refillable prescription)  Thrown cell phones   Paper cuts Chair cushions   Likka stow runs   Anything else that makes me feel some kind of way
I love writing. I really do. I’ve been doing it on and off since I was 11 years old and hopefully, I’ll be doing it until I can buy my home in Bali and laugh at the little people.  What I meant to say was until I can afford an editor who will do this shit for me.
Yeah…karma save!
What you have to do is make sure your lame congressman/senator/lunatic doesn’t take ObamaCare away. We need this very desperately. After all, your favorite author’s mental health depends on it, and we really work hard to entertain you. Don’t let us fall into the millions of people who don’t have affordable healthcare. Can you imagine how many more fine works F. Scott Fitzgerald could have produced if ObamaCare existed to cover his alcoholism?  That’s food for thought. 
‘Murika!

nnb

I write because Maya Angelou said I could

Today I woke to the news that Dr. Maya Angelou had passed away. I cried as if I'd just lost a family member. In a way, I have.
When I was a little girl, the first book I read by a black woman was I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.  My mother brought that book home and I devoured it.
And I wondered if I could write about my life — granted, I didn't experience anything that Maya Angelou had. But she taught me that our stories are important.

She opened the door for me to love poetry.  She taught me to use my words to express my pain, my happiness, my joy, my sadness. Maya Angelou saved a lot of lives by sharing hers.

Then came the day when I actually met her. I wonder if she heard how my knees were rattling as I approached her table at Special Occasions in Winston-Salem that day. Did she know that I was having trouble breathing as I stood in the presence of greatness? In front of a woman who had given me permission to follow my dreams?
I'm sure she didn't because once we started talking, I discovered that she was a joy. I'm sure she never looked at herself as MAYA ANGELOU. And that's why I've always had a place in my heart for this woman.



From the New York Times:

Maya Angelou, the memoirist and poet whose landmark book of 1969, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” — which describes in lyrical, unsparing prose her childhood in the Jim Crow South — was among the first autobiographies by a 20th-century black woman to reach a wide general readership, died on Wednesday in her home. She was 86 and lived in Winston-Salem, N.C. Her death was confirmed by her longtime literary agent, Helen Brann. No immediate cause of death had been determined, but Ms. Brann said Ms. Angelou had been in frail health for some time and had had heart problems. As well known as she was for her memoirs, which eventually filled six volumes, Ms. Angelou very likely received her widest exposure on a chilly January day in 1993, when she delivered the inaugural poem, “On the Pulse of Morning,” at the swearing-in of Bill Clinton, the nation’s 42nd president, who, like Ms. Angelou, had grown up poor in rural Arkansas.

Chatting with EMMA award winning author AC Arthur

 AC Arthur won four Emma awards, including author of the year at the recent Romance Slam Jam Conference in New Orleans. The Maryland native has always had an active imagination and we're lucky enough to savor the fruits of her mind.
Working in the legal field for more than twenty years now she’s seen lots of horrific things and longs for the safe haven reading a romance novel brings. Her debut novel Object of His Desire was written when a picture of an Italian villa sparked the idea of an African-American/Italian hero. To date, Artist has written in several genres including, young adult paranormal (written as Artist Arthur, www.artistarthurbooks.com), erotic romance as Sapphire Blue, a sensual contemporary romance following the loves and life of The Donovan Family, and most recently a sexy paranormal series titled The Shadow Shifters, both written as A.C. Arthur. Coming in October.AC spoke to me about her award winning night and the upcoming Season of the Shifters event in Disney World.

1. How did you come up with the Shifter Series? 
I've always loved the paranormal genre so when my editor asked me to come up with a concept that we could build a series around, I jumped at the chance. I had this picture of a panther and he was gorgeous. (Bear in mind I am deathly afraid of cats!) But I loved this picture. There was another picture that I think I saw on a book cover, it was of a male's torso and I just knew he was the other half of my panther. My daughter was also working on a research paper revolving around the demise of the Amazon Rainforest at the time. So as I helped her with that project I figured this would be a great home for the shifters and the world just grew from there.
2. There are not a lot of African Americans writing urban fantasy, was this something you always wanted to venture into? 
Yes. I wrote another paranormal when I was at Genesis Press, titled Heart of the Phoenix, and really enjoyed building a world that was different than our everyday life.
3. Tell the readers about you new adult Trilogy, The Shadow Shifters: Damaged Hearts. I write what I like to read and for the past two years I've read a number of new adult books because my oldest daughter made the transition from high school to college and changed her reading habits. I loved the emotion and angst in these books. So when it came to my attention that the next book in the Shadow Shifters series would be pushed back I asked my editor if I could do a few novellas to fill in the gap. I really expected her to say sure, write more adult Shadow Shifters, but she asked, "Would you like to write a new adult spin-off?" The answer was a resounding yes! So Damaged Hearts is about three shifter brothers who are just coming into their shifter abilities and grappling with how to live in this human world with these differences. Two of the stories are set on a college campus where there are several other issues facing the teen transitioning into adulthood. The final story has a more urban setting, a bar in D.C., but still tackles those growing pains of new adulthood.
4. Is it really wise to break a shifter’s heart? LOL. 
No. That's as simple as I can tell you. They don't take rejection well at all.
5. You really cleaned up at the EMMA awards and congratulations on being named Author of the Year. Tell me what your emotions were like that night. 
Sometimes I do not like to be nominated for awards because I'm so anxious about the final announcement. With the EMMA awards its part of a year of waiting for the answer and then three long days of conference still wondering. So by the time I walked into the banquet and took my seat my heart was about ready to jump right out of my chest. LOL My parents were there and my husband and two of my cousins, which only made me more nervous. The first time they called my name I was like, "wow". I thought, okay, I can get up there one time. But then they kept calling it and by the time Author of the Year rolled around I was ready to faint. I am still amazed that so many people enjoyed my work enough to vote for me.
6. The Season of The Shifters event is coming in August, is there still time to register? 
Yes, registration is open until July 15th and authors and readers are invited.
7. What can attendees expect? 

Fun, fun, fun! When I get together with my street team to discuss these events the one thing we always try to focus on is taking the attendees in a different direction than other literary conferences. We want them to have fun with the stories they've read and the authors they enjoy. So we have a couple of great parties planned, one that will require animal outfits. We also have a good lineup of authors that will not only talk about their books but will answer any and all questions the readers wish to throw at them.
8. What’s next on the horizon for you?
Well, I just signed a contract with Alloy Entertainment for a book that I re-released in 2013 titled Within The Shadows and I will be wrapping up my Donovan series with the final five books.
9. How can readers follow you online? They can LIKE my Facebook page, ACArthur's Book Lounge and I'm on Twitter @AcArthur
Registration runs through July, 15th!  The Season of ShiftersReader Appreciation EventEleven talented authors shifting the scene of  paranormal, erotic and romantic suspense!
Featuring National Bestselling Authors: Kianna Alexander, Koko Brown, Vivi Dumas, Tigris Eden, Sara Humphreys, Farrah Rochon, Melissa Shcroeder, Yahrah St. John, Paige Tyler and Eve Vaughn.
August 29 – September 1, 2014, Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort©There are still spots left for authors and readers to join us, visit www.acarthur.netfor details.
Coming this summer, July 29th! 

Join Brenda Jackson this Saturday in Columbia at Books A Million

Passion. Desire. Heroes with hearts of gold. Those are just a few descriptions of the amazing works by the prolific Brenda Jackson.
Brenda Jackson at the RT Conference in New Orleans.
Courtesy of Facebook

This Saturday -- May 24 -- Jackson will be signing copies of her new novel, A Man's Promise, at Books A Million located at 164 Forum Drive in Columbia. A thrilling way to spend Memorial Day weekend, if I do say so myself.
Jackson spoke with me about the Granger series, her favorite families, the Romantic Times Pioneer Romance award she received in New Orleans and the love she has for her readers.

"There were so many before me," she said of winning the award. "And I'm glad they acknowledged them. People like Rochelle Alers, Beverly Jenkins and Francis Ray were published before me." Jackson, Sandra Kitt and Beverly Jenkins were honored at the Romantic Times convention a week ago.
Jackson humbly thanks God for putting her in the position to blaze trails and open doors for so many black romance authors. She also credits her faith for helping her deal with the loss of her soul mate, Gerald Jackson Sr. who recently passed away. The Jacksons met when Brenda was 14 years old.
"I was with Gerald for 37 years," she remembered. "And when you truly love someone, you love them beyond death." Jackson said that even when they knew Gerald was going to pass away, they never said goodbye to each other. "I know in my heart that I will see him again."
She said that the heartfelt condolences that readers left her on social media really helped her get through tough days. "My husband always said that I would be all right because I have my family and my reader family."
Jackson said there will never be another like Gerald Jackson.
"He will be my only husband," Jackson said. And he's been an inspiration through out her writing career as well. In fact, Jackson said she wrote The Midnight Hour for her husband.
"My husband said I wrote kissy kissy, bed bed books. And said he would read one of my books when I put some action in it."
There is plenty of action in the Granger series, part romance and part murder mystery. Things got started last year A Brother's Honor. 

"The Granger brothers left behind their family's Virginia estate--and the bad memories it holds--years ago. But their dying grandfather's request brings them home: to a failing business, a legacy of secrets and a deathbed promise to make things right." As the eldest brother, attorney Jace Granger is determined to take responsibility for Granger Aeronautics, his family's failing business. But the years of mismanagement seem impossible to untangle. As CEO, he hires a consultant to turn the company around. Smart, sexy Shana Bradford is the right person for the job--and the right woman to turn Jace's world upside down. But the passion between them is jeopardized when old secrets begin to emerge. A woman from Jace's past suddenly reappears. And an explosive discovery changes everything Jace thinks he knows about his mother--and his father, who was convicted of her murder. Jace Granger tried to leave his family history behind once before. But this time he needs to face the past...or risk losing his future. "Three brothers. One legacy. A lifetime of secrets."

This summer, Jackson tells Caden Granger's story in A Man's Promise. The second book in the Granger trilogy.

A man's word is his bond. His family is his strength. His heart is his own.
Superstar musician Caden Granger has spent years running from love, commitment and family. Yet despite his fame and fortune, he knows the kind of respect and adoration he needs can only come from one person--the very woman who wants nothing to do with him.
Charity volunteer and owner of a wine boutique, Shiloh Timmons finally got her life on track once her relationship with Caden ended, and she's in no hurry to revisit a romance with the man who believes she left him standing at the altar.
If Caden can't have Shiloh by his side, all the success in the world will mean nothing. Now he has a chance to renew his promises...but is it too late?

"When I was invited to write for MIRA, the premiere Harlequin line, I wanted to write a romantic suspense and I wanted it to be connected."
Jackson said she also wanted to make the three brothers extremely different. That's why you have the lawyer, the player and the musician. Trying to find out who killed their mother, Sylvia Granger, is what holds three men together. That and trying to clear their father's name.
"I wanted Sheppard Granger to use his time wisely in jail. There are innocent people in jail and I wanted to tell that story. What if he had been executed?"
Jackson said this series is fun to write because she is in everyone's head. "Nora Roberts once told me there are no rules on point of view. As long as the reader isn't confused, you can write from any point of view."
Jackson said she allows the readers to see the thoughts of the dad, the hero, the heroine and the killer — and no, she didn't give me any clues as to who that person is.
So, who's Jackson's favorite family?
"The Madarises. They were my first book," she said. "I'm always surprised when I meet (readers) who only know The Westmorelands. Maybe it's because a Madaris book only came out once a year and there are maybe three Westmoreland books a year."
Though the Westmoreland series is 30 books strong, Jackson said after Reggie Westmoreland's story, Tall, Dark . . .Westmoreland!,  she'd planned for the series to end, but Harlequin (and the readers) wanted more. So, the Denver Westmorelands were born. The last official Westmoreland book will be about Aiden. But have no fear, there will be more Westmoreland intrigue. Then we'll be treated to the Outlaw family, who are related to the Westmorelands, she said. Remember the search for the missing Westmoreland family member?



Join Brenda Jackson in ColumbiaSaturday, May 24 at 1pmBooks-A-Million – Columbia, SC164 Forum DriveColumbia, SC 29229Phone: 803-586-8722

Chatting with Candace Shaw

One of the best things about Romance Slam Jam is meeting authors. You get to put a face with the words of passion and love. And the authors rarely disappoint.

Take Candace Shaw, for instance. She is the picture of grace and style. Meeting her was surely one of the highlights of Romance Slam Jam 2014.

Candace graciously allowed me to interview her for my blog and I am grateful.


You've built quite a following with your independently published books, how do you think having your novel published with Kimani will change your career?
Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog, Cheris!
Not sure how much of a following I have. However, I’m hoping with Kimani I’ll be able to reach romance readers who I haven’t met on social media or simply don’t know who I am.  Hopefully they will love my books with Kimani and will read my backlist as well.
When did you know you wanted to be a romance writer?
I knew in fourth grade I wanted to be a writer when I read Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It wasn’t until sixth grade when I read Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell, that I wanted to write romance novels. I began to write short stories in middle and high school, mostly damsel in distress or sweet romances since I was sneaking my mom’s romance novels or checking out a lot of historical regency and Harlequin Romances from the local library. In college, I typed out my first short romance novel on my Brother Word Processor and I’ve been writing romance ever since.

Tell the readers about your latest release.
My latest release, Her Perfect Candidate, is my debut novel with Kimani Romance and is the first book in the Chasing Love Series. 

It follows the life of Megan Chase, an interior decorator in Atlanta, Georgia who owns a boutique decorating firm. Megan is very goal-oriented and career-focused at the moment. She’s single but isn’t looking to be in a relationship and is very happy with being by herself. However, her family and friends think she’s lonely considering she had a relationship to end with a cheating boyfriend. Megan has engrossed herself in her work for almost two years but not because of the break-up. However, her loved ones think so and have set her up on numerous, horrible blind dates. She meets Georgia State Senator, Steven Monroe, whose campaign team wants him to settle down with one woman because the media has labeled him a playboy. His father is retiring from his seat as a United States Senator and of course wants his son to proceed him. In order to clean up Steven’s image and for Megan’s family to leave her alone about being in a relationship, the two decide to date in name only.
While Steven is a politician, the book’s focus really isn’t on politics but the progression of their friendship and relationship. I write romance novels that are fun, flirty and sexy, so I tried not to harp on the political world too much except when necessary.

4. Tell the readers what they can expect from you this summer.
This summer I’ll be attending the Romance Writers of America Conference in San Antonio, Texas. I’m participating in the Literacy Autographing event which will take place Wednesday, July 23, 2014, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter Hotel in the 3rd floor ballroom. The event is for charity, and I’ll have print copies of Her Perfect Candidate to sell and sign. I’m also working on the second book in the Chasing Love series (Februrary 2015) as well as the last book in the Arrington Family Series, My Kinda Girl which will be released later on this year.
5. What advice would you give a new romance writer? 
Learn everything you need to know about your genre. Join a romance writers group in your city that offers workshops and conferences in order to hone your craft. Also having a circle of author friends who you can depend on to keep you motivated, read your work and listen to you rant is essential as well.

6.How can readers follow you online? 
Readers can contact me on my website at www.CandaceShaw.net, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCandaceShaw or tweet me at https://twitter.com/Candace_ShawWho is Candace Shaw?
Born and raised under the sunny skies and on the whitest beaches in northwest Florida, Candace Shaw knew she wanted to become a writer after she read Little Women in fourth grade. After graduating from the University of West Florida with a degree in Elementary Education, Candace began teaching and put her dream of becoming a writer on hold until one summer vacation she started writing again and hasn't stopped.

When Candace is not writing or researching information for a book, she's reading, shopping, learning how to cook a new dish or spending time with her loving husband and their loyal, over-protective weimaraner, Ali. She is currently working on her next fun, flirty, and sexy romance novel.
Blurb for Her Perfect CandidateCampaign of seduction Co-owner of an up-and-coming interior-decorating firm, Megan Chase loves being a single woman on the fast track to success. But everything changes when a flat tire brings Georgia senator Steven Monroe into her life. The sinfully sexy politician needs the right woman to clean up his image. And with Megan's fine eye for detail, she just may be the woman for the job.  Steven's reputation as a player could cost him his chance at a U.S. senate seat. But when the cameras catch him and Megan in a kiss that's all too real, it's not only his future candidacy in jeopardy. As the lines between politics and desire begin to blur, how much will he risk to transform their passionate pretense into a landslide for love?

Romancing the Big Easy: Romance Slam Jam 2014

Two things I learned about New Orleans this past week. I love that city. And I will never drive there again. Even with the help of Erica Singleton and Mr. Harris the Travel Monkey, Cheris is not as young as she used to be.

But it was worth it. Oh, it was work it. The last Slam Jam I attended was in 2004. I know, I should be ashamed of myself. This year's event was just spectacular. Farrah Rochon, Sheila Goss and Kim Knight but together a flawless event. And the second line after the Emma Awards! Just amazing.
But don't just take my word for it, listen to what a reader, LaSonde Jones, has to say.

Jameis Winston allegedly steals crab legs, gets suspended. Alleged sexual assault -- nothing

So, all it took for Florida State University to "punish" him was for Publix to accuse the Heisman winning quarterback of stealing crab legs. Of course, he's suspended from the baseball team and not the national championship football team.

Hell, he's not even suspended from school. But who's surprised? Not me. FSU didn't take any action when Winston was accused of raping a fellow student in December, 2012. And if the New York Times report is to be believed, the allegations against Winston were swept under the rug as the team went on to win the national championship. The victim in the case was told by a police officer that if she pressed charges her life would be made hard because Tallahassee is a football town. The woman filed a Title IX complaint in March, according to USA Today. 
It's time for FSU to stop the bull shit and do a real investigation into Winston, who obviously thinks he's above the law and is getting treated as if he is. I can only imagine how irate he was when he was issued the citation for stealing. I mean, if you have whole police department and university on your side when it comes to sexually assaulting women, I bet this whole taking crab legs from Publix was nothing. It was probably like a two-year-old having a temper tantrum when he was stopped and given the ticket.

So, he's suspended from the FSU baseball team. So. WHAT! Florida State is particularly known as a baseball school. Hell, most of the men in major league baseball didn't spend years in college. What's sad is it took stealing from a supermarket for FSU to do something -- as small as it is -- about Menace Winston.

A month before the rape accusation became public, the university’s victim advocate learned that a second woman had sought counseling after a sexual encounter with Mr. Winston, according to the prosecutor’s office. The woman did not call it rape — she did not say “no.” But the encounter, not previously reported, “was of such a nature that she felt violated or felt that she needed to seek some type of counseling for her emotions about the experience,” according to Georgia Cappleman, the chief assistant state attorney, who said she had spoken with the advocate but not with the woman.The victim advocate was concerned enough about the episode to have alerted Mr. Winston’s first accuser.