JUST ANOTHER #WRITERWEDNESDAY_AN INTERVIEW WITH A SALON OWNER

Today's #writerwednesday brings a character interview with Olivia the owner of The House of BeJeweled. There have been quite a few things that have happened since book one and with the impending release of book two she's here to address some questions.

ME: Olivia welcome to my blog, Writing My Dreams. I'm so glad you had a moment to drop by today. So I'm going to dive right into the heart of the matter. Your story is touching and inspiring in the sense of how you overcome challenges tossed your way. According to the reviews, readers admired how you made a strong stand for your vow to God, even at the risk of losing the man you had loved for 20 years. What was that all about? And girlfriend were you really ready to give the man up if necessary?

OLIVIA: (she laughs out loud). Well first thanks for having me, and wow, you really did dive right into the thick of things. Okay, where to start...well, the stand that I was making was because God is my first and my everything. He is more faithful than man can ever be, and He never changes. So how can I not honor my commitment to Him when He's already honored it to me, by keeping me. Even when things got heated, He kept me. And while I have dated during the last 20 years of knowing Raymond, yes I was ready to continue in my life without him if he didn't honor my vow as well. I mean the way that I see it, at my age it's no longer time to play games. I am a grown woman who knows what I want in this life. And any man that wants to share this life with me will understand and respect every facet of my life. If he doesn't ladies...keep it moving to the next one. God will surely send your Boaz along.

ME: (I laugh at her comment) Is he your Boaz, Olivia?

OLIVIA: He surely is. He's a real good man, but I'm a good woman, too. So we have the best of both worlds.

ME: Well I'm glad that you are both blessed with each other. But you seemed to have your hands full for a while there. With your work you were doing on the business expansion, trying to build a relationship with Raymond, and the drama in the shop escalating to the point of a volcanic eruption, how did you manage to keep your head?

OLIVIA: Whew!!! That was faith in God, and my mama watching over me from Heaven above. I also learned that Raymond and his Aunt Bea was praying me through that time as well. Prayers truly wok.

ME: Do you regret the choices you had to make concerning Angel and Kianna?

OLIVIA: At first I did because I was emotionally caught up in their personal lives and I didn't want to make a decision that would have a negative impact on them. But they both chose to make a decision that would have a negative impact on my shop without a second thought about how I would feel about it, and if me and the other staff could recover from their choices. With the changes that I implemented it has definitely created a new environment for us to work in. I had to work through how I felt abut my decision because I carried a lot of guilt around for some time.

ME: Yes you did, and as readers will see in book two that guilt touched you and Raymond's relationship deeply. Why was that?

OLIVIA: Because it tested what is at the heart of every relationship...trust. And at the end of the day I had to really consider whether or not I trusted him. I had to re-evaluate my choices. And that's a difficult thing for a strong, independent woman.

ME: I hear you. Some people had difficulty reading the content in the book based on Black's language. How did you feel about that?

OLIVIA: Everyone is entitled to their opinions. I personally don't care for his language either, or the way some of my staff carry on with their antics, such as Tyrone. But I understand everyone is an individual at the end of the day and they have to make their choices. I live in a realistic world where people are not perfect. Everyone does not have a relationship with Jesus. But it's our role as Christians to take our light into their darkened world. After all Jesus went to Zacchaeus, Mary Magdalene, and the woman in John 8 caught in adultery who was about to be stoned. Not to mention His disciples and a host of others He ministered to. He didn't look down on them but rather forgave and enlightened them. In this world we are surrounded with and come into contact daily with people like Black. We don't live in a perfect world filled with humans. We live in a world that are full of flawed people like you and me. Black's just confused and needs that guidance.

ME: I like that. You know...how you refrain from judging anyone.

OLIVIA: Well it's not my place. We all sin and fall short of His glory and I'm sure there are things people could point to about me if they chose to.

ME: By the end of book one Angel seems to have grown through her ordeals and by book two we see hints of that growth as well, but there's another staff member who is going through issues of her own.

OLIVIA: Ah yes, Nikki. She like many women today, was never taught how to love herself. And as a result she makes choices that are not in her best interest. You could even say she punishes herself. But I felt quite bad because I was so involved with opening the second shop and getting that staff up and going that I missed many warning signs with Nikki. I wasn't able to be there for her like I would have liked to.

ME: Well there does come a pivotal point in the story where you are there for her. But she chooses to go back into the flames. How could you have helped her there?

OLIVIA: Chelle, I'm not so sure that I could have to be honest with you. Although her situation was very dangerous, I believe she had to go through her journey to become the woman she was designed to be. Truth be told, her story does not end in book two. Her true growth will not be seen until the third book. Her story is a delicate one, but it's necessary to be told. There are so many victims out there of domestic violence who are hiding it, or are in denial. And if Nikki's story can change one life, touch one soul, or save one woman or man who is a victim of it, then it's worth telling. The unfortunate part is that one of my staff members becomes intertwined with her saga. But sometimes you cannot tell people anything. They have to go to hell and come back before they believe that it's hot there.

ME: Wow! I like that, Ms. Olivia! And now you and Raymond have a bit of drama of your own in the second book.

OLIVIA: Yes we do. If you recall from book one he's recently divorced and has two children by his ex-wife. Their marriage ended in a scandal and he's still carrying some of that baggage and his children have been affected by the drama. There's no way for me to completely escape some of the mud being tossed around.

ME: It sounds like book two will be just as hot and drama filled as book one. Tell me this...will we see more of Tyrone and the B.A.D duo of Belinda and Darla?

OLIVIA: Of course they will be there, but not as much as they were in book one. I have a feeling they will be back in full affect in book three.

ME: Well that's great to hear! Thank you so much for stopping by today to catch us up with what's been going on since book one and getting us prepared for book two. Make sure you stop by again before the release.

OLIVIA: I will Chelle, I definitely will. And thank you so much for having me.

ME: It's been my pleasure Ms. Olivia. Readers you heard it right here book two is coming soon. If you haven't had a chance to read the first book in the series you can check it out here. And you just might want to stop by for a visit and get your hair cut or colored at BeJeweled, where the scissors are sharp, but the tongues are sharper.

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Come check out my books, and learn more about the woman behind the blog at my website www.cmichelleramsey.com . Until the next time I'm just... Writing My Dreamsby: Chelle Ramsey www.cmichelleramsey.com