Electa Rome Parks is today’s guest. Her new book Diary of a Stalker is a must have for any book lovers collection. The book is a prime example of what happens when romance gets a little twisted.

What have you been doing since your last book release?
It has been almost 2.4 years since my last book release, Ladies’ Night Out. Wow, I can’t believe time has flown by so quickly.

What have I been doing? Well, I have been going through some serious professional changes. The kind where you want to pull out your hair, shed some tears, scream a few choice words, have a temper tantrum, start to second guess yourself and eventually realize all you can do is get down on your knees, pray about it and hand it over to God. Wow! I guess you were not expecting all that.

And, I’ve been doing what I always do—writing. Working on various manuscripts. Luckily, I’ve rediscovered blogging and found it to be a great therapeutic release. I pulled away from the literary industry somewhat because of disappointments, politics and frustrations that took their toll on me once I pulled off the rose-colored glasses. However, as much as I wanted to distance myself and take a break from writing, as usual, it consumed my soul and pulled me right back into the fold. It wouldn’t release its strong grip on my being and so here we are.

What was the last book you read that made an impact on your life?
I recently reread Push by Sapphire. I read it initially back in 1997/1998 when it was first released. It is such a raw, powerful story that almost dares the reader to walk away without feeling something within the depth of your soul. It speaks to the very core of of your heart and humanity. I’m so pleased and truly happy for the author; that this fabulous read was brought to the big screen with the support of Tyler Perry and Oprah Winfrey. It gives me renewed hope that you can’t keep literature that is true and real and powerful—that speaks to you, touches you and changes you somehow—down. It eventually rises to the top.

Sometimes books by Black authors are called Urban fiction regardless of the content. How would you categorize your new book Diary of a Stalker?

I would classify my book, Diary of a Stalker, as a contemporary erotic work of fiction. I’ve never been good with titles and pigeonholes that attempt to constrain creativity, box us in, and sap originality. The characters in Diary of a Stalker could easily be changed to non African Americans and the storyline would still remain strong and realistic with universal appeal.

Have you or someone you know ever been stalked?
I can honestly say that I’ve never, ever been stalked nor have I personally known anyone that has been stalked. Now, if you had posed the question a little differently and asked me if I had ever stalked anyone, you may have received a different and interesting answer. Just kidding, Shelia!

What’s one thing(s) you learned about yourself while writing this book?
Shelia, this is a great, timely question because I have discovered or should I say confirmed many facts about myself during the course of writing and completing Diary of a Stalker. First of all, let me say, I think this was one of the quickest books I have ever written. It was like there was a passion and fire lit underneath me that consumed me, that burned from within and I couldn’t tell the story fast enough.

Lessons learned: I’ve learned that writing is a critical part of my very being, much like breathing. No matter what changes the industry may bring, I’m still going to write. That’s an absolute, undeniable fact. I’ve learned that I truly do love writing and it loves me back ten-fold. I’m faithful to it and it rewards me by bringing unbridled joy and happiness to my life.

I’ve learned that I can try to run and hide, but it’s always going to seek me out, find me, much like a stalker, and remind me who and what I really am. That can’t be denied or taken away or diminished. Just like I’ll die an African American woman, I’ll also die with the spirit and soul of a writer.

I’ve learned that writing speaks to me like no other. . . regardless of whatever goes down, even if I have to write for free and for my eyes only, I’ll still rise because if you know who you are—all the rest doesn’t even matter. What’s meant for me is meant for me and no one or any entity can take that away. With a strong voice meant to be heard, I’ll strive and survive.

About Diary of a Stalker:

Xavier Preston is tall, dark and handsome and the problem is that he knows it. He’s a best-selling author who is accustomed to adoring female fans, both young and old, flirting with him, throwing themselves shamelessly at him and trying to get between more than the covers of his novels. And he has always been more than willing to accommodate their needs and desires. However, his womanizing days have finally ended. . . he’s engaged to a beautiful woman, Kendall, and he’s decided to walk the straight and narrow. Or has he?

From outside appearances, the very stunning Pilar has it all—a great career, a beautiful home and a trust fund that keeps her financially secure. However, looks can be deceiving. All that glitters isn’t gold. Pilar is searching for her one, perfect soulmate. And she thinks she has found him in Xavier. She believes in going after what she wants with a vengeance. . . and she wants Xavier. And that is not negotiable.

When Xavier meets his fanatical fan, Pilar, who declares herself his #1 fan, he gets much more than he bargained for. What starts out as a one-night stand quickly spirals out of control and into a dangerous game of obsession and pain with both parties playing to win.

Think you know what goes on behind the literary scene? Think again.

More about the author:

Electa Rome Parks currently resides outside Atlanta, Georgia. After successfully self-publishing her debut novel, The Ties That Bind, New American Library, a division of Penguin Group, bought the rights. Electa signed a three-book deal with New American Library. All three books were immediately chosen as Black Expressions Book Club main selections and embraced as Books of the Month by book clubs across the country. Dubbed a “book club favorite,” avid readers have embraced Electa’s true to life characters that tackle prevalent and heavy hitting issues.

Since then Electa has become a bestselling author of several other mainstream (Loose Ends and Almost Doesn’t Count) and erotic (These Are My Confessions and Ladies’ Night Out) novels with Penguin Group and HarperCollins. The self-proclaimed, Queen of Real, Electa has been a frequent guest on radio shows, has been nominated for many industry awards and has been interviewed by newspapers, AOL’s Black Voices, Vibe Vixen, Upscale Magazine, Today’s Black Woman, Rolling Out and Booking Matters, to name just a few. With a BA degree in marketing and a minor in sociology, she is following her true passion and working on her next novel.

To find out when and where Electa will be in your area, check out her website at www.electaromeparks.com or www.myspace.com/author_chick. To share your thoughts with Electa regarding her work or to schedule an event, please e-mail her at: novelideal@aol.com.

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