Cheris Hodges's Blog, page 6
October 3, 2017
An interview with Zoe Harrington from Deadly Rumors
Welcome to Coffee talk with Zoe Harrington, an elite Bronx investigator. I'm your host for today's talk, Claire Neal.
Good morning Zoe, thanks for sitting down to talk with me today.
Zoe: No problem. There have been some rumors going around that I’d like to clear up. I’m willing to answer all, well most, of your questions.
Interviewer: Then let’s get to it. Are you working a case with FBI agent Carver Banks?
Zoe: Next question.
Interviewer: You two have been seen together and after he arrested you. . .
Zoe: Like I said, next question.
Interviewer: How is your twin, Zach, doing?
Zoe: Very well. He and his wife Chante are living a nice quiet life in Charlotte.
Interviewer: You’ve made quite a name for yourself as an investigator. What has been your most important case?
Zoe: Probably uncovering some of the hypocrisy in the NYPD. The year that I spent as a cop taught me some tough lessons. Shook my beliefs in law and order. But worse than the police is the court system. Women are systematically abused in divorce cases when the husband holds the purse strings.
Interviewer: Being that your family owns a successful real estate company, why didn’t you go into the family business?
Zoe: (laughs) Because my father, bless his soul, and my brother always thought I was some fragile china doll. I had to show them both they I could handle myself. Zach still hates my choice of a career.
Interviewer: So, Carver Banks . . .
Zoe: Is an arrogant asshole I don’t want to talk about! You know what, this interview is over. Zoe storms out of the room, knocking over her chair as she leaves.
Find out more about Zoe and Carver in Deadly Rumors! October 31!
Elite investigator Zoe Harrington isn't about to be fooled twice. She knows all the tempting by-any-means-necessary games FBI agent Carver Banks will use to close a case. So when he needs her help with a missing persons case, she's happy to charge him double the fee—and keep his sizzling moves at arm’s length. But when the search strikes too close to home, Zoe finds the passion between them reigniting past the danger point . . .
Carver doesn't want to deceive Zoe again. He's never stopped wanting the sexy private detective who can match him play for passionate play. But she's at the top of a hit list. And he'll do whatever it takes to keep her out of harm’s way—until Zoe uncovers his true agenda. Now, how can he prove his love for her is real? And with time running out, will their one chance to survive mean losing each other forever?
Good morning Zoe, thanks for sitting down to talk with me today.
Zoe: No problem. There have been some rumors going around that I’d like to clear up. I’m willing to answer all, well most, of your questions.
Interviewer: Then let’s get to it. Are you working a case with FBI agent Carver Banks?
Zoe: Next question.
Interviewer: You two have been seen together and after he arrested you. . .
Zoe: Like I said, next question.
Interviewer: How is your twin, Zach, doing?
Zoe: Very well. He and his wife Chante are living a nice quiet life in Charlotte.
Interviewer: You’ve made quite a name for yourself as an investigator. What has been your most important case?
Zoe: Probably uncovering some of the hypocrisy in the NYPD. The year that I spent as a cop taught me some tough lessons. Shook my beliefs in law and order. But worse than the police is the court system. Women are systematically abused in divorce cases when the husband holds the purse strings.
Interviewer: Being that your family owns a successful real estate company, why didn’t you go into the family business?
Zoe: (laughs) Because my father, bless his soul, and my brother always thought I was some fragile china doll. I had to show them both they I could handle myself. Zach still hates my choice of a career.
Interviewer: So, Carver Banks . . .
Zoe: Is an arrogant asshole I don’t want to talk about! You know what, this interview is over. Zoe storms out of the room, knocking over her chair as she leaves.
Find out more about Zoe and Carver in Deadly Rumors! October 31!
Elite investigator Zoe Harrington isn't about to be fooled twice. She knows all the tempting by-any-means-necessary games FBI agent Carver Banks will use to close a case. So when he needs her help with a missing persons case, she's happy to charge him double the fee—and keep his sizzling moves at arm’s length. But when the search strikes too close to home, Zoe finds the passion between them reigniting past the danger point . . .
Carver doesn't want to deceive Zoe again. He's never stopped wanting the sexy private detective who can match him play for passionate play. But she's at the top of a hit list. And he'll do whatever it takes to keep her out of harm’s way—until Zoe uncovers his true agenda. Now, how can he prove his love for her is real? And with time running out, will their one chance to survive mean losing each other forever?
September 30, 2017
Just how are black characters supposed to act, Robert?
Mainstream media and I'm clearly looking at the New York Times right now, doesn't respect romance novels.
If it wasn't clear when the NYT stopped counting mass market books for the coveted best sellers list, which is how most romance novels are published, then this week's Roundup of This Season's Romance Novels proved without a doubt that this paper shows no love to romance.
Now, I'm going to get to that in a second, but let me say this, I got word that I was featured in the New York Times and I was excited. This is a writer's dream. Well, that and a million dollar royalty check. Then I read the review of Deadly Rumors .
Then I felt all the emotions. Rage, sadness, a little bit of happiness, more rage. What are black people supposed to act like? And how many editors thought that line about Zoe and Carver being African Americans was OK? I started to sit here and explain my black existence, but I don't have to explain a damned thing.
There is no one way to be black. There is no one way to write black characters. And you certainly don't get to tell ME how to do it when you've never had the pleasure of being ME!
I'm black enough to write what I want!
But here's a quick look at the final book in the Rumors Series (Make sure you check out, Rumor Has It and I Heard A Rumor)
Zoe sucked her teeth. “Why all the bullshit when you all sought me out?” “I tell you what when I become the FBI director, I’ll open all of the files to the public.” She shook her head. “I don’t work like this.” “Can you humor me?” “Fine,” she said. “But if you plan on handcuffing me from doing my investigation, I will quit.” “I won’t handcuff you unless you ask me to.” She narrowed her eyes at him as heat rose to her cheeks. Why did every conversation with this man turn sexual? Exhaling, she rose to her feet. “Well, I guess we’d better head for the airport.” “Do you need to stop by your place and pick up anything?” he asked. Zoe crossed over to a closet in the corner of her office. She quickly filled a bag with the essentials: toothbrush, toothpaste, underwear, and her PI license. “Think I should pack my gun?” she asked over her shoulder. “Aww, no.” “You’re right, I don’t want to check a bag,” she said. “Let’s go.” “Are you licensed in all fifty states?” he asked. “Will my answer be held against me in the future?” He shook his head. “No,” Zoe said. “But I carry in all states. You never know when death will be coming around the corner. All of my guns were legally purchased in the state of New York, though. You can put that in your notes.” “I thought you only took safe cases,” he said. “And you said it yourself, husbands don’t like to lose money. I didn’t always spy on the unfaithful.” “Why did you become a PI?” he asked as they got into the car. “It’s not in the file you and the FBI have on me?” “There is no file on you at the Bureau,” he said with a laugh. “Why would you think that we would?” “Carver, you were very rude to me during the investigation into the Harlem Madam—after everything else that you’d done to me.” “Here we go.” “It’s the elephant in the car, and the sooner we get it out of the way, the more effective I’ll be in helping you with this case. You used me.” “We had sex and we enjoyed it. You didn’t tell me that you were looking into Alejandro Campos for his future ex-wife. National security was at stake.” “Always on the job, aren’t you? I bet you have a family tucked away in Idaho.” Carver tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “What was your end-game, Zoe? You wanted dirt on that man. What if I had been his real bodyguard? Would your legs have spread so easily?” “Let’s put this to rest for the last time,” Zoe began. “Because you seem to forget that I told you why I was at that party and that I was looking for access to Campos’s financial records. You played the he doesn’t pay me enough bodyguard and said you’d help. So, what part of the game was dancing with me and plying me with alcohol?” “You like rewriting history, because you were the one giving me drink after drink,” he said with a chuckle. “Walk away, put a little switch in your hips, then come back with two glasses of champagne.” Join my mailing list! Get Primed for Deadly Rumors with these books!
If it wasn't clear when the NYT stopped counting mass market books for the coveted best sellers list, which is how most romance novels are published, then this week's Roundup of This Season's Romance Novels proved without a doubt that this paper shows no love to romance.
The hundreds of romance novels — perhaps thousands, if you include the self-published ones that constitute their own phenomenon — just published or due to appear in the next few months essentially fall into two categories. There are the Regency romances (descended from the superb Georgette Heyer, whose first one, “Regency Buck,” appeared in 1935). And there are the contemporary young-woman-finding-her-way stories that are the successors to the working-girl novels that for decades provided comfort and (mild) titillation to millions of young women who dreamed of marrying the boss. This formula reached its apogee in 1958 with Rona Jaffe’s “The Best of Everything,” whose publishing-house heroines find either (a) business success at the price of stunted love, (b) true love and wifey bliss, (c) death. But almost 60 years have gone by since the virgins of “The Best of Everything” hit the Big Apple, and real life has had its impact not only on modern romance but — as we shall see — on modern Romance.That's not condescending at all. And if the sexism of this article wasn't enough. I got called out for not being black enough.
Now, I'm going to get to that in a second, but let me say this, I got word that I was featured in the New York Times and I was excited. This is a writer's dream. Well, that and a million dollar royalty check. Then I read the review of Deadly Rumors .
He: Carver is a top F.B.I. agent, determined to protect the woman he loves from a killer who’s stalking her.
She: Zoe is an ex-New York cop, fed up with the corruption of the police force and now a successful private eye, not at all happy at being protected. “I don’t need you to take care of me.”
They: Are caught up in a spiraling thriller, danger from a psychopathic killer looming everywhere. Will she survive? More important: Will she let Carver back into her life? Go straight to Cheris Hodges’ DEADLY RUMORS (Dafina/Kensington, paper, $7.99) to find out. But, once again, the sex is great: “He licked, sucked and nibbled at her throbbing bud until she screamed his name as she came over and over again,” and her “knees quivered and shook as if she were on the San Andreas Fault in the middle of an earthquake.” Oh, yes — Zoe and Carver are African-Americans, though except for some scattered references to racial matters, you’d never know it. (Well, you would from the cover.)
Then I felt all the emotions. Rage, sadness, a little bit of happiness, more rage. What are black people supposed to act like? And how many editors thought that line about Zoe and Carver being African Americans was OK? I started to sit here and explain my black existence, but I don't have to explain a damned thing.
There is no one way to be black. There is no one way to write black characters. And you certainly don't get to tell ME how to do it when you've never had the pleasure of being ME!
I'm black enough to write what I want! But here's a quick look at the final book in the Rumors Series (Make sure you check out, Rumor Has It and I Heard A Rumor)
Zoe sucked her teeth. “Why all the bullshit when you all sought me out?” “I tell you what when I become the FBI director, I’ll open all of the files to the public.” She shook her head. “I don’t work like this.” “Can you humor me?” “Fine,” she said. “But if you plan on handcuffing me from doing my investigation, I will quit.” “I won’t handcuff you unless you ask me to.” She narrowed her eyes at him as heat rose to her cheeks. Why did every conversation with this man turn sexual? Exhaling, she rose to her feet. “Well, I guess we’d better head for the airport.” “Do you need to stop by your place and pick up anything?” he asked. Zoe crossed over to a closet in the corner of her office. She quickly filled a bag with the essentials: toothbrush, toothpaste, underwear, and her PI license. “Think I should pack my gun?” she asked over her shoulder. “Aww, no.” “You’re right, I don’t want to check a bag,” she said. “Let’s go.” “Are you licensed in all fifty states?” he asked. “Will my answer be held against me in the future?” He shook his head. “No,” Zoe said. “But I carry in all states. You never know when death will be coming around the corner. All of my guns were legally purchased in the state of New York, though. You can put that in your notes.” “I thought you only took safe cases,” he said. “And you said it yourself, husbands don’t like to lose money. I didn’t always spy on the unfaithful.” “Why did you become a PI?” he asked as they got into the car. “It’s not in the file you and the FBI have on me?” “There is no file on you at the Bureau,” he said with a laugh. “Why would you think that we would?” “Carver, you were very rude to me during the investigation into the Harlem Madam—after everything else that you’d done to me.” “Here we go.” “It’s the elephant in the car, and the sooner we get it out of the way, the more effective I’ll be in helping you with this case. You used me.” “We had sex and we enjoyed it. You didn’t tell me that you were looking into Alejandro Campos for his future ex-wife. National security was at stake.” “Always on the job, aren’t you? I bet you have a family tucked away in Idaho.” Carver tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “What was your end-game, Zoe? You wanted dirt on that man. What if I had been his real bodyguard? Would your legs have spread so easily?” “Let’s put this to rest for the last time,” Zoe began. “Because you seem to forget that I told you why I was at that party and that I was looking for access to Campos’s financial records. You played the he doesn’t pay me enough bodyguard and said you’d help. So, what part of the game was dancing with me and plying me with alcohol?” “You like rewriting history, because you were the one giving me drink after drink,” he said with a chuckle. “Walk away, put a little switch in your hips, then come back with two glasses of champagne.” Join my mailing list! Get Primed for Deadly Rumors with these books!
September 6, 2017
Mimi Collins is back at it. . . Michael's losing her mind.
Mimi Collins, blogger and star of Feel The Heat, is on fire today. She's writing about her BFF's love life.My best friend and I don’t seem to have a lot in common. Michael Jane plans every aspect of her life and I like to fly by the seat of my pants. I guess that’s why we’re so close. We balance each other out.That’s normally a good thing. But let me tell you something, I’m not used to being the voice of reason.Yes, you heard me. Mimi Collins is trying to be reasonable about MJ’s relationship. First, let me say, I’m happy she’s over that slimy piece of shit Nic!You remember, Nic, right? That dude who doesn’t want to commit but will use everything you got so that he can get ahead? Go on and pop off in the comments if you’ve had a Nic in your life. But I digress.Click the book cover below to read the full post!
August 25, 2017
Deadly Rumors is a top pick for fall romance
Guess what
Publisher's Weekly
said about Deadly Rumors? The bible of the publishing industry only named my upcoming novel one of the top ten romance novels of the fall.
Give me a second, I'm still doing my happy dance and I'm out of breath.
This is the last book in the Rumor series and it focuses on Zach Harrington's twin sister, Zoe. (Zach's story was I Heard A Rumor)
Chante and Zach's story. I Heard A Rumor
Zoe is a bad ass private investigator who join the police force to spite her twin (Zach) and their overprotective father.
Back blurb:
Elite investigator Zoe Harrington isn't about to be fooled twice. She knows all the tempting by-any-means-necessary games FBI agent Carver Banks will use to close a case. So when he needs her help with a missing persons case, she's happy to charge him double the fee—and keep his sizzling moves at arm’s length. But when the search strikes too close to home, Zoe finds the passion between them reigniting past the danger point . . .
Carver doesn't want to deceive Zoe again. He's never stopped wanting the sexy private detective who can match him play for passionate play. But she's at the top of a hit list. And he'll do whatever it takes to keep her out of harm’s way—until Zoe uncovers his true agenda. Now, how can he prove his love for her is real? And with time running out, will their one chance to survive mean losing each other forever?
Pre Order your copy today!
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Books A Million
Between The Lines Bookstore
Kensington Books
August 20, 2017
You can't tell me how to feel about your symbols of hate
Dear White People,
You don’t get to tell me or any other black person how to feel about the confederate flag. You can’t control how I feel about white terrorism. That flag that you claim is your heritage means death and lynching to my ancestors. And to put a modern twist on things for you, that flag was used when your cousins killed James Byrd in Texas, that flag is flown when your uncles and grandfathers are donning their KKK sheets. But hey, if that’s what you want to call your heritage, go with it. That flag that you cling to so tightly was a battle flag and guess what, you all -y’all- lost. The South will not rise again, we’re one nation. And again, y’all lost.
You don’t get to fly your loser flag and tell me that I have to respect your heritage. It’s a heritage of hate. It’s not Southern. Sweet tea is southern, pecans, southern as fuck. That flag is hate, that flag is a symbol of losers. That flag is used to invoke fear and is a tool of racists. So, your heritage is hate and losing. Okay. If you want to go with that, have at it. But you can’t tell me how I’m supposed to feel about seeing it displayed on your car, on your shirt or flying in my neighborhood.
So, you and the flag you flew in on. You and the war you lost and your heritage.
You don’t get to tell me or any other black person how to feel about the confederate flag. You can’t control how I feel about white terrorism. That flag that you claim is your heritage means death and lynching to my ancestors. And to put a modern twist on things for you, that flag was used when your cousins killed James Byrd in Texas, that flag is flown when your uncles and grandfathers are donning their KKK sheets. But hey, if that’s what you want to call your heritage, go with it. That flag that you cling to so tightly was a battle flag and guess what, you all -y’all- lost. The South will not rise again, we’re one nation. And again, y’all lost.
You don’t get to fly your loser flag and tell me that I have to respect your heritage. It’s a heritage of hate. It’s not Southern. Sweet tea is southern, pecans, southern as fuck. That flag is hate, that flag is a symbol of losers. That flag is used to invoke fear and is a tool of racists. So, your heritage is hate and losing. Okay. If you want to go with that, have at it. But you can’t tell me how I’m supposed to feel about seeing it displayed on your car, on your shirt or flying in my neighborhood.
So, you and the flag you flew in on. You and the war you lost and your heritage.
August 6, 2017
Contest time: The Perfect Intro
It's contest time! The Perfect Intro:
I have the honor to be included in a great Christmas anthology with the wonderful Rochelle Alers and Pamela Yaye!
The Perfect Present, which will be released this fall, is up for preorder right now. Check out your favorite book seller or click here.Now, here's your chance to win my fall collection before you can buy it. Welcome to the Perfect Intro contest. Three things to enter and win: first, join my newsletter. Second, like my author page. Finally, match the first sentence of each story to the author.Here are the sentences:Kayla Matthews was going to let being stood up for the prom stop her from showing off the black and gold dress she and her mother spent three weeks finding. Waiting in the aisle for several passengers to store their bags in the overhead bins, Sierra Nelson shifted her carry-on in an attempt not to bump those already seated in the aircraft. “Marc, I need a favor.” Groaning inwardly, his cell phone pressed to his ear, thirty-year-old sports agent Marc Cunningham threw open the driver’s side door of his Infiniti Q50 and stepped onto the snow-covered pavement.
One entry per person! Here is where you join the mailing list: http://cherishodges.blogspot.com/p/join-my-mailing-list.htmlHere’s where you like my Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorcherishodges/EMAIL your entry to cheris87@bellsouth.net by midnight on August 16th.
I have the honor to be included in a great Christmas anthology with the wonderful Rochelle Alers and Pamela Yaye!
The Perfect Present, which will be released this fall, is up for preorder right now. Check out your favorite book seller or click here.Now, here's your chance to win my fall collection before you can buy it. Welcome to the Perfect Intro contest. Three things to enter and win: first, join my newsletter. Second, like my author page. Finally, match the first sentence of each story to the author.Here are the sentences:Kayla Matthews was going to let being stood up for the prom stop her from showing off the black and gold dress she and her mother spent three weeks finding. Waiting in the aisle for several passengers to store their bags in the overhead bins, Sierra Nelson shifted her carry-on in an attempt not to bump those already seated in the aircraft. “Marc, I need a favor.” Groaning inwardly, his cell phone pressed to his ear, thirty-year-old sports agent Marc Cunningham threw open the driver’s side door of his Infiniti Q50 and stepped onto the snow-covered pavement. One entry per person! Here is where you join the mailing list: http://cherishodges.blogspot.com/p/join-my-mailing-list.htmlHere’s where you like my Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorcherishodges/EMAIL your entry to cheris87@bellsouth.net by midnight on August 16th.
June 8, 2017
The sisterhood of Songbird
Authors Iris Bolling, Piper Huguley, and Deborah Mello are powerhouse writers by themselves, but when they put their magic together, readers are treated to the phenomenon known as
Songbird
.
Sparrow’s Song
Piper Huguley
In the hot summer of ‘68, recent graduate Sparrow Jones takes a job running the summer program at her family’s church hoping to save enough money to attend music school. Despite her mother’s objections, music is Sparrow’s ministry. Yet, as she throws herself into her work, she finds a different calling in little Carole and her stern father. Widower Master Sargent John Charles drops his little girl off at the church everyday, trusting them to take care his daughter while he works and maybe help her to regain her speech. When the feisty program director begins questioning his parenting skills, it takes all of his military disciplines to keep his temper and manners in check. Yet, the thought of her and the care she shows for his child makes the heart he thought he’d buried beat again. With the summer coming to an end, will Sparrow be able to fly away to her dreams of a music career or has her heart become entangled with a helpless little girl and her military father?Lark St. Clair
Deborah Mello
Devastated by the death of her mother, Lark St. Clair must mend more than a broken heart. At odds with her own child, Lark is determined to honor the matriarch’s memory by repairing the rift between herself and her daughter, Dove. Revisiting history, the two embark on an emotional journey as Lark shares the story of finding herself through her music and discovering the love of her life with choir director, Martin Warren when love seemed elusive to her.Dove’s DreamIris BollingLife should be a song worth singing. That’s what Dove Warren’s grandmother always instilled in her. With a voice to make grown men fall to their knees and the beauty to match, Dove has had her fill with singing. Until her grandmother shares a dream giving Dove the motivation to used her gift of music to spread the love.Anthony Perry, a strong, caring man who lost his brothers to violence, vowed to give his mother at least one child who turned his back on the street life. As District Attorney of the City of Richmond, it never occurred to him that an angel falling into his arms could fill the empty recesses of his life.Will Dove lose the man whose very presence fills her heart with song or will she have the chance to bring a dream of three generations to fruition?
Recently, I caught up with the dynamic trio and got the behind the scenes scoop on the birth of Songbird.
1. How did you ladies come up with this idea?
Iris: Hi Cheris. Thank you for inviting us to chat with you. The storyline came to me while listening to Regina Belle and JT Taylor singing all I Want is Forever. Regina’s voice is so rich I though it could only be inherited from previous generations. That’s when the idea of doing a generational story about a family of singers came to me. The idea of doing an historical that leads into a contemporary and a suspenseful end seemed interesting. I asked my Acquisition Manager, LaSheera Lee, to reach out to Piper Huguley to do the historical. Never thought she would do it, then freaked out when she said yes. For the second story, we wanted to make sure we had a sauciness in there and who better than Deborah Mello to bring what I call sassy-saucy to the story. She agreed. From that point we all went to our individual microphones and belted out a great story of mother-daughter love for each other and music.
Piper: This is the first time I've heard of where Songbird came from. Brilliant!! And I was thrilled to be asked--trust and believe!Deborah: Iris Bolling was the braintrust behind Songbird. She presented the idea, invited me to participate and the rest, as they say, is history!
2. Will there be more stories like this coming from you ladies?
Iris: It was wonderful working with Deborah and Piper. The outcome in the way the voices of each story blended was magical. I would like to.
Piper: Iris is the boss!
Deborah: I certainly hope so! This was a brilliant project and to be able to work with Iris and Piper was truly inspiring. I would do this again in a heartbeat!
3. This book is a hit with readers, how does that make you feel when "major" publishers are stepping away from black romance?
Iris: Romance in any color is what binds us together. Love is magical. That’s why romance is so popular. Black romance cannot be ignored, or held back. Stories of love is going to surface whether it’s through large publishing house or not. To me, it gives us, authors of color, an opportunity to tell our stores, our way. No watered down version of what REAL BLACK LOVE is and can be, but the real deal on love in colors.
Piper: "Major" publishers who are opting to step away from Black romance are short term people and are not visionaries. I do not have the time or patience to deal with those who are thinking in the short-term.
Deborah: For me, it just reaffirms what we have always known. There is a definite need for multicultural stories that reflect our experiences in a positive way. It's disheartening that "major" publishers refuse to put promotional dollars behind those stories, then claim they don't sell and are so easily able to walk away from our books alleging the numbers aren't there when indie authors continually prove them wrong.4. What is on the horizon for you ladies next?
Iris: As for books I have a new series The Dunning Family being released. The first book “Invested” will be released on June 27th, 2017. The Book of Timothy: Mirrors, which is a Lassiter book will be released in September and of course , a Christmas story in December. In January 2018 my detective series Reign On Crime will be released. As for film projects, we working on developing Beverly Jenkins’, Deadly Sexy, Brenda Jackson’s Unfinished Business and possibly Redemption by Jacqueline Thomas.
Piper: I'm working on a contemporary women's fiction novel. I will also release a historical western at Christmas time in collaboration with other western historical authors.
Deborah: Next up for me is the release of my next Stallion book, SWEET STALLION on September 1st. This is Naomi Stallion's story and I'm very excited about it.
Then next year I will introduce a new series with Harlequin's Suspense line which introduces a Chicago police family dedicated to law enforcement. The family is headed by patriarch Jerome Black, the superintendent of police and his wife, federal court judge Judith Harmon-Black. The stories will follow sons Armstrong, Ellington, Parker, Davis and Mingus and daughters Simone and Vaughan, all seasoned veterans in the Chicago judicial system.
5. How can readers follow you online?
Iris: My website is: www.irisbolling.net Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iris.bolling Twitter: https://twitter.com/Siriaustin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siriaustin/?hl=en
Piper: Website: http:/piperhuguley.comFacebook: Piper G HuguleyTwitter: @piperhuguleyInstagram:Huguleypiper
Deborah: Visit me here!Blog: http://bit.ly/MelloblogYoutube: http://bit.ly/MelloYoutubeTwitter:http://bit.ly/MelloTwitterFacebook: http://bit.ly/MelloFBInstagram: http://bit.ly/MelloIG
Sparrow’s Song
Piper Huguley
In the hot summer of ‘68, recent graduate Sparrow Jones takes a job running the summer program at her family’s church hoping to save enough money to attend music school. Despite her mother’s objections, music is Sparrow’s ministry. Yet, as she throws herself into her work, she finds a different calling in little Carole and her stern father. Widower Master Sargent John Charles drops his little girl off at the church everyday, trusting them to take care his daughter while he works and maybe help her to regain her speech. When the feisty program director begins questioning his parenting skills, it takes all of his military disciplines to keep his temper and manners in check. Yet, the thought of her and the care she shows for his child makes the heart he thought he’d buried beat again. With the summer coming to an end, will Sparrow be able to fly away to her dreams of a music career or has her heart become entangled with a helpless little girl and her military father?Lark St. Clair
Deborah Mello
Devastated by the death of her mother, Lark St. Clair must mend more than a broken heart. At odds with her own child, Lark is determined to honor the matriarch’s memory by repairing the rift between herself and her daughter, Dove. Revisiting history, the two embark on an emotional journey as Lark shares the story of finding herself through her music and discovering the love of her life with choir director, Martin Warren when love seemed elusive to her.Dove’s DreamIris BollingLife should be a song worth singing. That’s what Dove Warren’s grandmother always instilled in her. With a voice to make grown men fall to their knees and the beauty to match, Dove has had her fill with singing. Until her grandmother shares a dream giving Dove the motivation to used her gift of music to spread the love.Anthony Perry, a strong, caring man who lost his brothers to violence, vowed to give his mother at least one child who turned his back on the street life. As District Attorney of the City of Richmond, it never occurred to him that an angel falling into his arms could fill the empty recesses of his life.Will Dove lose the man whose very presence fills her heart with song or will she have the chance to bring a dream of three generations to fruition?
Recently, I caught up with the dynamic trio and got the behind the scenes scoop on the birth of Songbird.
1. How did you ladies come up with this idea?
Iris: Hi Cheris. Thank you for inviting us to chat with you. The storyline came to me while listening to Regina Belle and JT Taylor singing all I Want is Forever. Regina’s voice is so rich I though it could only be inherited from previous generations. That’s when the idea of doing a generational story about a family of singers came to me. The idea of doing an historical that leads into a contemporary and a suspenseful end seemed interesting. I asked my Acquisition Manager, LaSheera Lee, to reach out to Piper Huguley to do the historical. Never thought she would do it, then freaked out when she said yes. For the second story, we wanted to make sure we had a sauciness in there and who better than Deborah Mello to bring what I call sassy-saucy to the story. She agreed. From that point we all went to our individual microphones and belted out a great story of mother-daughter love for each other and music.
Piper: This is the first time I've heard of where Songbird came from. Brilliant!! And I was thrilled to be asked--trust and believe!Deborah: Iris Bolling was the braintrust behind Songbird. She presented the idea, invited me to participate and the rest, as they say, is history!
2. Will there be more stories like this coming from you ladies?
Iris: It was wonderful working with Deborah and Piper. The outcome in the way the voices of each story blended was magical. I would like to.
Piper: Iris is the boss!
Deborah: I certainly hope so! This was a brilliant project and to be able to work with Iris and Piper was truly inspiring. I would do this again in a heartbeat!
3. This book is a hit with readers, how does that make you feel when "major" publishers are stepping away from black romance?
Iris: Romance in any color is what binds us together. Love is magical. That’s why romance is so popular. Black romance cannot be ignored, or held back. Stories of love is going to surface whether it’s through large publishing house or not. To me, it gives us, authors of color, an opportunity to tell our stores, our way. No watered down version of what REAL BLACK LOVE is and can be, but the real deal on love in colors.
Piper: "Major" publishers who are opting to step away from Black romance are short term people and are not visionaries. I do not have the time or patience to deal with those who are thinking in the short-term.
Deborah: For me, it just reaffirms what we have always known. There is a definite need for multicultural stories that reflect our experiences in a positive way. It's disheartening that "major" publishers refuse to put promotional dollars behind those stories, then claim they don't sell and are so easily able to walk away from our books alleging the numbers aren't there when indie authors continually prove them wrong.4. What is on the horizon for you ladies next?
Iris: As for books I have a new series The Dunning Family being released. The first book “Invested” will be released on June 27th, 2017. The Book of Timothy: Mirrors, which is a Lassiter book will be released in September and of course , a Christmas story in December. In January 2018 my detective series Reign On Crime will be released. As for film projects, we working on developing Beverly Jenkins’, Deadly Sexy, Brenda Jackson’s Unfinished Business and possibly Redemption by Jacqueline Thomas.
Piper: I'm working on a contemporary women's fiction novel. I will also release a historical western at Christmas time in collaboration with other western historical authors.
Deborah: Next up for me is the release of my next Stallion book, SWEET STALLION on September 1st. This is Naomi Stallion's story and I'm very excited about it.
Then next year I will introduce a new series with Harlequin's Suspense line which introduces a Chicago police family dedicated to law enforcement. The family is headed by patriarch Jerome Black, the superintendent of police and his wife, federal court judge Judith Harmon-Black. The stories will follow sons Armstrong, Ellington, Parker, Davis and Mingus and daughters Simone and Vaughan, all seasoned veterans in the Chicago judicial system.
5. How can readers follow you online?
Iris: My website is: www.irisbolling.net Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iris.bolling Twitter: https://twitter.com/Siriaustin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siriaustin/?hl=en
Piper: Website: http:/piperhuguley.comFacebook: Piper G HuguleyTwitter: @piperhuguleyInstagram:Huguleypiper
Deborah: Visit me here!Blog: http://bit.ly/MelloblogYoutube: http://bit.ly/MelloYoutubeTwitter:http://bit.ly/MelloTwitterFacebook: http://bit.ly/MelloFBInstagram: http://bit.ly/MelloIG
June 1, 2017
Like my exes, live action DC movies just keep letting me down
Nobody wanted to love Wonder Woman more than me. As I'm writing this, I'm sipping iced tea from a Wonder Woman cup.But DC's live action Wonder Woman just has me wondering why do I keep doing this to myself?!
Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman, Supergirl and the Flash are my top super heroes. So, after watching that amazing 2009 Wonder Woman animated movie, I had high expectations for this new movie.
Gal Gadot's Wonder Woman saved Batman v. Superman. When she came to fight, she brought it.
I forgave DC pretty quickly for not casting Lynda Carter in this movie. I mean, you look at Ms. Carter and you see Wonder Woman.
But I digress. This movie was more woman than wonder. And it pissed me off. Wonder Woman is actually one of the most powerful women in any superhero universe. She would beat the hell out of Black Widow. Fight me. This Wonder Woman seemed immature and naive. She also seemed a little more impressed by a penis than an Amazon should've been. This Wonder Woman needed help to fight. If the world could handle their business, then Wonder Woman could've stayed right there on Paradise Island with her mama. Give me a break. Name a male hero who had to have a squad of mortals to kick ass. Go ahead, name one.
I was not impressed. I wanted to be. I hoped to be. I'd read all the good reviews and I was ready. My heartaches. The origin story sucked to me. When did the Amazons start praising Zeus? Diana as a kid needed her ass whooped, princess or not. The female villain in this movie was wasted. But on a positive note, at least Wonder Woman fought in sensible shoes!
May 16, 2017
The end of an era: Kimani Romance going away
It came in an email.
Dear Author.
Blah, blah, blah, these books just aren't selling.
Do, do, do, we're ending the Kimani romance line in 2018.
Wow. No more African American romance stories. Of course they say they will open other lines up to the Kimani authors. Authors who are majority black and brown.
And should believe this, right?
I mean, Harlequin Desire has given us such culturally diverse books like:
And no, Sarah Anderson is not an author of color.
For a long time, all black characters could only be in Kimani books. Then this happened.
And who can forget this gem?
In this story, the black woman heroine doesn't think she's good enough for the white hero and then there is the black baby they find in the trash can. Ok. That is cultural diversity at it's best. . .uh-huh.
I've only written three books with Kimani and after seeing how this line was promoted and treated in the world of romance, I'm more angry than sad to see it go away.
Why are you mad?
I'm glad you asked. Let me explain:
1. Mainstream reviewers acted as if two black people falling in love, have money and sex was something that they could not relate to. But damnit, a fucking vampire falling in love with a blond virgin who could read minds was the most romantic thing in the universe. Newsflash: Vampires are not real. Black people exist! How do you think these little black people got here? Their mothers and fathers fell in love and had sex. That shit happens every day.
2. Bookstores put black romance in a separate section like that was cool. Romance is romance. You know why I didn't read romance for years? Because I got tired of stretching my imagination to turn white folks into black folks. If I had to do all of that to enjoy a story, then I might as well write my own. So, I did.
But when I was published and walked into the romance section to find my books: crickets.
In 2003 when I went looking for my first romance novel, I had to swim through books that had nothing to do with romance. So, bookstores didn't want to invite white people into the world of black love? Obviously not. If I walk into your bookstore and I don't see Beverly Jenkins or Brenda Jackson in your ROMANCE section, I'm out.
3. Many publishers don't try to market ethnic romance at all. I posted this on Facebook and I stand by every word:
Point blank period.
5. And back to you reviewers. Seriously, Trashy bitches killed Kimani.
First of all, and yes, I'm clapping my hands, a book does not get a RITA nomination if it is an average book. Is it so hard for you to believe black people fall in love? But a demon with three dicks is awesome? Miss me with that bullshit. For whatever reason, other people think that you're reviews are the manna from heaven when it come to romance. Okay. That's stupid. But then again, millions of people voted for Donald Trump in this country.
Why don't you do what black readers had to do for years and imagine that the characters are white. Then maybe you'll like the story better.
Dear Author.
Blah, blah, blah, these books just aren't selling.
Do, do, do, we're ending the Kimani romance line in 2018.
Wow. No more African American romance stories. Of course they say they will open other lines up to the Kimani authors. Authors who are majority black and brown.
And should believe this, right?
I mean, Harlequin Desire has given us such culturally diverse books like:
And no, Sarah Anderson is not an author of color.For a long time, all black characters could only be in Kimani books. Then this happened.
And who can forget this gem?
In this story, the black woman heroine doesn't think she's good enough for the white hero and then there is the black baby they find in the trash can. Ok. That is cultural diversity at it's best. . .uh-huh.I've only written three books with Kimani and after seeing how this line was promoted and treated in the world of romance, I'm more angry than sad to see it go away.
Why are you mad?
I'm glad you asked. Let me explain:
1. Mainstream reviewers acted as if two black people falling in love, have money and sex was something that they could not relate to. But damnit, a fucking vampire falling in love with a blond virgin who could read minds was the most romantic thing in the universe. Newsflash: Vampires are not real. Black people exist! How do you think these little black people got here? Their mothers and fathers fell in love and had sex. That shit happens every day.
2. Bookstores put black romance in a separate section like that was cool. Romance is romance. You know why I didn't read romance for years? Because I got tired of stretching my imagination to turn white folks into black folks. If I had to do all of that to enjoy a story, then I might as well write my own. So, I did.
But when I was published and walked into the romance section to find my books: crickets.
In 2003 when I went looking for my first romance novel, I had to swim through books that had nothing to do with romance. So, bookstores didn't want to invite white people into the world of black love? Obviously not. If I walk into your bookstore and I don't see Beverly Jenkins or Brenda Jackson in your ROMANCE section, I'm out.
3. Many publishers don't try to market ethnic romance at all. I posted this on Facebook and I stand by every word:
Why can't publishers sell black romance? Short answer, they don't try. See, the problem is, too many publishers think that African American characters are like vampires, a niche. A plot twist. But what they haven't figured out for many decades is that love is love. Instead of focusing on the amazing stories written by authors who aren't white. They focused on the black part. Knowing that they have been complicit in scaring the majority of their readers into believing that black things are scary, but a shape shifter with four dicks and a demon's soul can really love you. That, white lady reader, you can relate to. But for some reason, we, the big publisher don't think you will understand people of color falling in love or having money. So, don't pretend you're sad you are dropping a line that you didn't promote. Don't act like everyone is going to have a chance to write for your money makers and we know what you were doing when all of a sudden you had non black writers writing about black characters. PS: Those stories really fell flat and bordered on offensive. But they made money, so that's all that counts, right?4. Black publishers sell out or screw the authors.
Point blank period.
5. And back to you reviewers. Seriously, Trashy bitches killed Kimani.
First of all, and yes, I'm clapping my hands, a book does not get a RITA nomination if it is an average book. Is it so hard for you to believe black people fall in love? But a demon with three dicks is awesome? Miss me with that bullshit. For whatever reason, other people think that you're reviews are the manna from heaven when it come to romance. Okay. That's stupid. But then again, millions of people voted for Donald Trump in this country.
Why don't you do what black readers had to do for years and imagine that the characters are white. Then maybe you'll like the story better.
April 3, 2017
And then she decided that she was enough
If you've been following along on my blog lately, you may have noticed I've gotten a little more personal that normal. The past two years have been a mess in portions of my life. Hell, my love life. My love life has been a B movie with an ending that pisses off everyone in the movie theatre.
Did this crap really happen? Are we supposed to believe this shit?
You'd think the romance writer would have it together in the love department. After all, I've seen real love. My parents and my siblings have been married for DECADES. But there's something that just doesn't work out for me when I meet Mr. Right Now. Even when you follow conventional wisdom and take it slow or if you jump in head over feet and move at the speed of light, the results are the same. Done-dada! Nothing. Ziltch.
I have decided that my life is not one of the stories that I tell. (I used to love second chance stories, but in real life most mother@#ckers don't deserve a first chance.)
Even if you meet a dude at the book store, he probably can't read and is there because someone told him women in bookstores are easy.
Next thing is, I've decided I'm enough. If you can't handle me, the good, the bad and the crazy then at like Ludacris and move.
And finally, I'm taking the rest of the year to spend time doing what Cheris wants to do. Coffee drinking, traveling and writing!
And maybe buying some new electronics and no, not those! LOL!
Did this crap really happen? Are we supposed to believe this shit?You'd think the romance writer would have it together in the love department. After all, I've seen real love. My parents and my siblings have been married for DECADES. But there's something that just doesn't work out for me when I meet Mr. Right Now. Even when you follow conventional wisdom and take it slow or if you jump in head over feet and move at the speed of light, the results are the same. Done-dada! Nothing. Ziltch.
I have decided that my life is not one of the stories that I tell. (I used to love second chance stories, but in real life most mother@#ckers don't deserve a first chance.)
Even if you meet a dude at the book store, he probably can't read and is there because someone told him women in bookstores are easy.
Next thing is, I've decided I'm enough. If you can't handle me, the good, the bad and the crazy then at like Ludacris and move.
And finally, I'm taking the rest of the year to spend time doing what Cheris wants to do. Coffee drinking, traveling and writing!
And maybe buying some new electronics and no, not those! LOL!
