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.

This holiday season add a little romance to your Christmas stocking. Books are reasonably priced and can fit into any budget; what better way to add spark to your nights than to read each other scenes from a page-turning romance novel.

Dallas Morning News & National Best-selling author Bettye Griffin kicks off this week of romance spotlights.

To read her interview, click on the following link: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-28527-Dallas-Romance-Examiner~y2009m12d14-Romance-author-spotlight-on-Bettye-Griffin

When did you begin writing, and who nurtured you as a writer? Do you write for children only? What inspired your decision to write children’s books?
Unhappy with the ending of the many of the books I read, I began creating my own endings in elementary school. My efforts were nurtured by my teachers and my family, especially my grandmother. Since I’m a middle grades school teacher and deal with children on a daily basis, I’m always on the look out for a great book for my students. What better way to know what they’re reading than by writing the books myself.

Who are some of your favorite children’s authors? How do their works differ from the children’s authors of your childhood?
I don’t read a lot of books by “new authors”, but if I do read something, it is usually a Walter Dean Myers novel or something by Sharon Draper. I’m still drawn to the classics, I guess, of my childhood. By classics, I mean books that I was introduced to in school.

What are you currently reading?
I am currently reading (and for the second time) Hill Harper’s Letters to a Young Sister. It’s such an amazing novel.

As an educator, what do you feel that we children need to see more in their books? How will you help fill this void?
As an educator, I just want children to read; it doesn’t matter to me what they read. Still, I would like to see more humor and less seriousness in books. To me, books have always served as an escape, and in this world, I think children need all the hideaways they can get. I also believe that there is a great need for more children’s books with African American characters. When I go to the bookstores, it’s always hard for me to find good stories (for my children) that revolve around the lives of African Americans.That’s why in THE HUNTS, I created a funny story around a group of African American siblings.

Briefly tell us about The Hunts and where did you get the idea for this story.
I have a colorful cast of nieces and nephews, eight of them, who keep me in stitches. They inspired the mischievous bunch of Hunts.

What is your targeted age group audience? How are readers and their parents and/or teachers responding?
My targeted age group is 9-12. So far the response to my book has been positive. Parents and teachers are telling me that they are laughing just as much as the children.

What advice would you like to share with aspiring writers?
Write down every idea you have, no matter how crazy or whacky it seems to you or other people. The best stories come from unusual ideas. Don’t be afraid to take a risk. You only fail when you talk yourself out of trying. And of course, good luck!

MORE ABOUT NATASHA USHER

Natasha Usher is a wife, a mother, and a middle grades teacher who lives outside of Atlanta Georgia. When not writing or nurturing young minds, Natasha enjoys reading, watching movies, photography, and cooking. She is a graduate of Mercer University where she majored in Business and earned her initial teaching certification.

At seven years old, after being denied a role in an elementary school play because of a lack of character roles, Natasha decided she wanted to be a writer. She wanted to write plays and stories that had enough roles to keep all children happy. Since then, she has been sharing her stories with family, friends, and anyone who will listen. The Hunts is her second novel for young adults.

The Hunts Synopsis

Victoria, Luther V, Tyler, Tyger, and DougRoss Hunt. Sure these five African American children are named after their parents’ favorite celebrities, but they still have a lot going for them. Despite their young ages, the Hunts are very resourceful. They have managed to live alone ever since their parents abandoned them. Their survival strategy is quite simple - if it is not given to them, they simply take it.

When the Hunts decide life is too boring in their small town of Acon, Georgia, they decide a trip to the big city of Atlanta is just what they need. The fact they have no money for the trip doesn’t faze them at all.

After the Hunts’ attempt to raise money fails, the townspeople, eager for a quiet weekend, take up a trip collection fund for them. When most of the people hand over their credit cards, the Hunts are on their way. Atlanta and the Hunts will never be the same again.

http://www.thehuntsstory.info – official book site
http://www.myspace.com/runningwildacon - myspace site

Q: At what age did you begin writing?
A: I started writing at the age of 17.

Q: Is the Hurting Women the first book you have written?
A: The first book I wrote was called Poems of Prayers an Inspirational poetry book . It was a book a lot of people told me they were able to relate to. Real situations such as A Struggling Mother, A Prayer For My Father, Poems for soldiers that were deployed . Just poems and prayers that touch a lot of bases with people lives.

Q: What or who Inspired you to write?
A: I always enjoyed writing and always expressed myself to others better on paper. I would have to say God has blessed me with this gift and had touched my heart to write . And from there I knew one of my purpose would be inspiring others through my writing.

Q: What made you write a book about A Hurting Women?
A: Seeing and knowing how a lot of women have had relationship problems and always thinking there’s situation is worst off than the next. I wanted to inspire and let others know they are not the only one that’s been abused, cheated on, Or left alone to be both mother and fathers and etc. We all have a story to tell some just have more than others.

Q: Are you working on anything else at this point?
A: Yes, I’m working on a play about the Hurting Women as well as writing the sequel to the Hurting Women book which is called The Spiritual Warfare.

Q: Where do you see yourself 5 years from now as an Author?
A: I want to have at least one book come out a year. So in the next 5 years I would like to use my writing as the opportunity to start a youth organization for our future father and mothers. Ensuring that they stay on the right track. Rewarding them by giving out scholarships .

Q: What would you like to say to your readers?
A: Although we may experience difficulties in life, take it as a lesson learned. If we didn’t go through hard times how would we be able to help and relate to others. Reading my work is Inspirational and will always have a purpose behind it. Thank you to all that has and will support my work.

The Hurting Women-Synopsis 

Trice’s family always had high expectations for her. Growing up in the church she was always taught to live life righteous and be an example for others. When Trice found herself falling for her boyfriend Chris, she tries to mold him into being the man, she wants him to be. A man that Chris himself finds hard living up to. With friends and family constantly trying to warn her of the man Chris really is she has a hard time seeing it and tries everything in her power to prove them wrong. Not paying attention to the warning signs Trice could possibly lose her health and insanity.

Sharon, Trice friend is a strong women , but life has the tendency to making even the strongest become weak. Sharon, secrete child hood has a lot to do with how she perceives men to be. Always wanting a man with good looks and money has always clouded her judgment with her relationships. Because of it, she meets men that constantly lie and manipulate her. Fed up Sharon realizes she has no choice but to turn to the God. However, before she does nothing would make Sharon feel better than to pay those men back for wasting her time. Revenge is sweet she agrees but how far will Sharon go to get revenge on the men that made her life miserable.

Tracy the youngest friend has always tried to live her life perfect. Her parents are always putting her on a pedestal and bragging about how well she is doing in life. However, Tracy knows better than anyone her life is far from perfect. Afraid for her life, Tracy struggles and hesitates to tell family and what’s going on knowing that they too have problems of their own. However, time is running out for Tracy, and if she doesn’t say anything she could lose her life.

www.ladyvbooks.com

Francis Ray latest book
One Night With You Book Cover

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Francis Ray is a native Texan. A graduate of Texas Woman’s University, she was twice nominated for the Distinguished Alumni Award.

INCOGNITO, her sixth title, was the first made-for-TV movie for BET. She has written forty-one titles to date. Awards include Romantic Times Career Achievement, EMMA, The Golden Pen, The Atlantic Choice, and Borders 2008 Romance Award for Bestselling Multicultural Romance. Her current title is ONE NIGHT WITH YOU, book # 3 of the Grayson Friends series.

Francis Ray shares with readers ways to keep the romantic sparks burning.

How can a busy person incorporate romance into their relationship? I firmly believe you keep the romance alive in a relationship by finding time to be with that special person, just the two of you to relax and forget everything except how much you love each other.

To read the rest of the interview, click on the following link: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-28527-Dallas-Romance-Examiner~y2009m12d1-Romance-author-spotlight-on-Francis-Ray

A Change Had to Come book cover

Gwynne Forster is a national best selling author of forty-two works of fiction, including her latest of eight mainstream novels, A CHANGE HAD TO COME. Gwynne is author of thirty-four romance novels and novellas, of which the latest novels are FINDING MR. RIGHT and HOLIDAY KISSES. She has won numerous awards for fiction writing, including the Romantic Times 2007 Lifetime Achievement Award, the Romance In Color Author of the Year award, the Gold Pen Award and has been inducted in the Affaire de Coeur Hall of Fame. Ms. Forster knows a lot about romance. Read more as she shares her thoughts on romance.

How do I keep romance alive in my present relationship?

To read her response to this question and more, click on the following link: http://www.examiner.com/x-28527-Dallas-Romance-Examiner~y2009m11d11-Romance-author-spotlight-on-Gwynne-Forster#

Romance author spotlight on Michelle McGriff

Click on the link to read the interview: http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-28527-Dallas-Romance-Examiner~y2009m11d4-Interview-with-romance-author-Michelle-McGriff

Authors in Search of Extra Income

Many writers I know are always on the search for ways to make extra money. Time constraints and not knowing where there’s available freelance opportunities have been the two biggest complaints I’ve heard from my writing buddies. Many places have cut back on hiring new writers; however opportunities to make money is still out there.  Beware of some online sites who prey on writers. Always ask around and do your research before signing up. Through networking, I’ve found out about these legitimate sites so if you’re looking for supplemental income, writing for. To read the rest, go to: http://www.blogginginblack.com/2009/11/authors-in-search-of-extra-income.html

6 Tips for Parents:Encouraging Your Teen to Read by Shelia M. Goss

As parents or guardians, finding ways to encourage your teenager to read may be difficult but it’s not an impossible task.  To read the tips, http://www.rawsistaz.com/articles-workshops/6-tips-for-parentsencouraging-your-teen-to-read-by-shelia-m-goss/

Pamela Samuels Young is the Essence bestselling author of the legal thrillers: Murder on the Down Low, In Firm Pursuit, Every Reasonable Doubt and the newly released Buying Time. The former journalist and Compton native is the fiction writing expert for BizyMoms.com and is on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. Pamela served as legal consultant to the Showtime television series Soul Food. She is a frequent speaker on the topics of writing and self-empowerment.

• Where are you from? What is your favorite book?
I grew up in Compton, California, which gave me a very grounded perspective on life. When I mention my hometown, people automatically assume that I dodged bullets on the way to school every day. But it was nothing like that. I had two strong, hard-working parents, who still live in Compton today. The foundation they laid – faith in God, hard work and education – is responsible for who I am and what I have achieved.

I’m an avid reader who enjoys reading both commercial and literary fiction. I enjoy a broad spectrum of writers, so it’s impossible for me to pick a favorite book. But if there’s one book that impacted me more than any other, it would have to be Claude Brown’s Manchild in the Promised Land. I can still remember stumbling across a copy of the book at my aunt’s house when I was about twelve. It was the first book I remember reading that had African-American characters and I was thrilled to be reading about people who looked like me. It was also a very gritty and graphic coming of age story. I promptly “borrowed” the book without asking for permission for fear that my aunt would think I was too young to be reading such a sexually graphic book. After that, I developed an insatiable appetite for African-American fiction. That led me to James Baldwin, Maya Angelou, Richard Wright, Toni Morrison and many, many other great writers.

• How did you feel when you saw your first book on the shelf?
I still have a very vivid memory of seeing Every Reasonable Doubt on the shelf at the Barnes and Noble near my home in February 2006. I went to the store on the book’s scheduled release date, not really expecting to find it. My stepson and I searched the shelves but couldn’t find it. I was about to leave, but decided to, ask for it at the reception desk. To my delight, the clerk found it and led us to the book. I just stood there staring at it. So much blood, sweat and tears led me to this point. My stepson took out his cell phone and snapped a picture of me holding the book. And just as I started to started to tear up, he promptly warned me not to embarrass him by crying in the store.

• What is your process for creating a novel? Do the characters speak to you?
I will spend any where from a few weeks to as long as three months outlining a book before I sit down to write. I also mull over my story a lot. I’m thinking about it in the shower, while I’m standing in line at the grocery story, during my 45-minute commute to work. I can almost see each chapter as if it were a scene in a movie. Only after I have a completed outline do I start writing. And when I write, I go from page one to the last page without doing much editing. For me, it’s psychologically motivating to complete that first draft, even if it’s so bad I’d never dare show it to anyone. Once I have a finished first draft, then the real writing starts. I revise, and revise and revise some more. That process can last six months or more.

• How do you spend your free time?
Free time? What’s that? Writing is how I spend my free time and I love every minute of it. I still work part-time as a lawyer and when I’m not at work, I’m usually someplace writing – be it at home, the library or the nearest Starbucks. Sometimes I write early in the morning before work, other times I’m up until one or two in the morning typing away on my laptop. My most productive writing time is when I can get away from home and lock myself in my timeshare in Palm Desert for a weekend. When I’m in that environment, the writing is non-stop. When I’m writing, I’m happy.

• Share with us your latest news and book releases.
I’m extremely excited about the upcoming release of my fourth legal thriller and first stand-alone novel, Buying Time, which goes on sale November 1st. In Buying Time, Waverly Sloan is a down-on-his-luck lawyer who comes to the aid of terminally ill people in desperate need of cash. Waverly finds investors eager to advance his dying clients thousands of dollars—including a hefty broker’s fee for himself—in exchange for rights to their life insurance policies. Once the clients take their last breath, the investors reap a hefty return on their investment. When Waverly’s clients start dying sooner than they should, both Waverly, and a high-powered lawyer who’s bucking to become the next U.S. Attorney General, are unwittingly drawn into a perilous web of greed, blackmail and murder.

You can read excerpts from all my books at my website:  http://www.pamelasamuels-young.com/ 

About Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young 

Waverly Sloan is a down-on-his-luck lawyer. But just when he’s about to hit rock bottom, he stumbles upon a business with the potential to solve all of his problems.

In Waverly’s new line of work, he comes to the aid of people in desperate need of cash. But there’s a catch. His clients must be terminally ill and willing to sign over rights to their life insurance policies before they can collect a dime. Waverly then finds investors eager to advance them thousands of dollars—including a hefty broker’s fee for himself—in exchange for a significant return on their investment once the clients take their last breath.

The stakes get higher when Waverly brokers the policy of the cancer-stricken wife of Lawrence Erickson, a high-powered lawyer who’s bucking to become the next U.S. Attorney General. When Waverly’s clients start dying sooner than they should, both Waverly and Erickson—who has some skeletons of his own to hide—are unwittingly drawn into a perilous web of greed, blackmail and murder. 

Purchase the books at Barnes and Noble.com Buy Murder on the Down Low at Amazon.com

Shelia M. Goss author of the Lip Gloss Chronicles is visiting Want My YA. To read the interview, go to: http://wantmyya.blogspot.com/2009/10/author-interview-sheila-m-goss.html