Meet Parris Mitchell - The R & B Diva

R & B Diva Parris Mitchell says “Don’t call it a comeback. I haven’t gone anywhere, just needed to take some time off.”

The R & B Diva multi-award winning singer Parris Mitchell is back on the music scene after taking a little time away from the limelight to regroup. Her previous albums have hit every chart and she’s had several number one singles.

Her personal life has been filled with turmoil lately with the news of her ex-boyfriend and ex-manager Archie Walker running out with not only her money but her assistant. How does one make a comeback? I recently had a chance to interview Parris and she discusses the fiasco as well as her music.

Shelia Goss: Parris, it’s good to see you making a comeback. We’ve missed not hearing any music from you.
Parris Mitchell: Don’t call it a comeback. I haven’t gone anywhere. I just needed to take some time off.

Shelia: So what happened with Archie Walker? There was a time where I couldn’t open up a magazine or newspaper without seeing you two together. I was shocked to read the news about your breakup.
Parris: Imagine how I felt. I think we all learned about the breakup at the same time—in the newspaper.

Shelia: Now that was low down.
Parris: Well that’s Archie for you. I found out he was leaving me while reading an article in the paper. To top it off, he ran away with my assistant Sylvia.

Shelia: I know that must have been hard.
Parris: It was. He left me emotionally depleted. And as most know, he was also my manager. The business side of my career went a little haywire too. But all is well now.

Shelia: I want to thank you for granting me this exclusive interview. I know you were shying away from reporters so I’m honored.
Parris: I felt it was time to squash the rumors. Yes, Archie did take some of my money—lots of it. But he didn’t leave me broke like some of the tabloids and online gossip sites have been saying.

Shelia: Were you able to recoup any of your money?
Parris: Ha. Ha. If I ever catch up with the joker, I might be able to.

Shelia: You have a great attitude.
Parris: I can’t wallow around in self-pity for too long. Things happen. You deal with it and then you dust yourself off and get back in the game of life.

Shelia: Did your record company give you an ultimatum or was that a rumor too?
Parris: There’s a little truth in it. I love to sing and will sing for free; however this is my career and a record company is in it to make money. I’m a little disappointed that my last few albums didn’t take off like I thought they would.

Shelia: When can fans expect to hear some new music from you?
Parris: Right now, I’m trying to find the right producers. I’ve been doing a little writing. I’m getting back to the core of who Parris is. My goal is to give fans what they’ve been looking for.

Shelia: I heard it through the grapevine that you would be working with CJ the Hitmaker.

Parris: Right now, I’m not at liberty to say who I will be working with. I’ve been looking at him and Lance and a few others.

Shelia: You’ve been around for about ten years now. Do you think you can compete with the new class of R & B singers?
Parris: I hope no one takes my response the wrong way, but there’s no competition. We each do what we do. When some of the new ladies break out on the scene and try to imitate me, I look at it as a compliment. I don’t feel intimidated by it. I am Parris.

DOUBLE PLATINUM in stores March 4, 2008 or order your copy now from AMAZON.COM.

What’s on your “to be read” list for the summer?

Summer Sizzlin’ Reads from the Shelia Goss Collection

Check out another interview I recently did over at Gwyneth Bolton’s blog:

GB: If you could pick a current hot R&B singer and producer or perhaps some Hollywood superstars star as the leads in a movie about Double Platinum who would you choose and why?

To read my response to this question and others, CLICK HERE.

Double Platinum by Shelia M Goss hit stores today.

I’m celebrating the release of my fourth novel today.  I am excited and nervous at the same time. I’ve been building up to this moment for a few months and now it’s here. I hope you enjoy Parris Mitchell’s story. 

If the story interests  you, I need your help to make this book release a success. You can find the book in all the major chain stores and if by chance its not on the shelf, ask for it. If you’re in one of the states where there’s bad winter weather, its available at any one of the online retailers such as Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. 

Thank you in advance for making Double Platinum a hit.

Shelia M Goss

 ”The Heat Level for DOUBLE PLATINUM is mildly Sensual and very well done.” ~ Kimber An, Enduring Romance

 Parris is a pop star teetering on the edge of destruction, career-wise, and her personal life’s not far behind. Her long-time boyfriend, Archie, ran off with her assistant and took most of her money with them. She needs a come-back hit big time. But, the poor thing is too used to being a diva. She has a hundred pair of jeans and no patience with a malfunctioning treadmill.
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Thank God she’s got some real friends too. Still, she ditched the guy who helped launch her career for the boyfriend/manager who ditched her. Oh, there’s some guilt there.
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Carmen helps run things, hopefully back up the music charts, and she comes off as a real powerhouse. Then, Parris meets Casper and I’m thinking, “Oh, no! Don’t fall for him, Parris! He’s another smooth operator.” At that point, I was also thinking the guy who helped launch her career was destined to be her true love.
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 But record producers are hot targets for gold-digging supermodels and Parris is more than a little insecure. Fame has a way of magnifying such shortcomings too. Meanwhile, the hope-to-be-a-hit album production charges forward. Will Parris have the confidence to score in her personal life and her professional life?

To read the rest of the review visit the Enduring Romance site: http://enduringromance.blogspot.com/2008/02/double-platinum-by-shelia-goss.html

I hope you had fun with me last week as I interviewed all of the characters from my fourth novel–Double Platinum.

Click on the links to read the character interviews from Double Platinum:

R & B Star - Parris Mitchell

http://sheliagoss.com/2008/02/26/meet-parris-mitchell-the-r-b-diva/

Carmen - Parris Mitchell’s agent http://sheliagoss.com/2008/02/29/agent-carmen-no-last-name-needed/

Sandy - The Tabloid Reporter

http://sheliagoss.com/2008/03/01/sandy-the-paparazzi/

Sandy Blair is a tabloid reporter. She lives for the day she can get a big scoop on some celebrity. Whether she’s writing her daily column or guest appearing on a show, Sandy’s determined to make a name for herself by any means necessary.

Shelia Goss: Sandy, how are you doing?
Sandy Blair: Just lovely. I’m not used to being on the other end of an interview.

Shelia: I read your credentials and they are very impressive. Why did you decide to be a tabloid reporter?
Sandy: Actually, I’m an entertainment reporter. Other people have labeled my role as something else. I’ve always been fascinated with celebrities. I would sneak and read my mom’s Globe and National Enquirer magazines every week.

Shelia: Don’t you feel like you’re invading their privacy by camping outside of their houses or following them when they go out shopping?
Sandy: No. I can’t understand what the big deal is. If you become a celebrity, you know its part of the job. They need to get over it. It would make our jobs so much easier. People want to know what’s going on with their favorite celebrities and its my job to make sure I give it to them.

Shelia: Can you explain why the award winning actress Rose Purdue put a restraining order out against you?
Sandy: It was a misunderstanding.  She turned down a previous request for an interview. All I wanted was an interview and a picture of her and the baby.  Anyway, I happened to show up at some of the same spots she visited. She assumed I was stalking her, but I wasn’t.

Shelia: So it was just a coincident?
Sandy: Exactly. I always have a camera and recorder with me. When I saw her in the restaurant, I wouldn’t be me, if I didn’t try to get the shot. The whole mess was just blown out of proportion.

Shelia: So who is one celebrity that your readers can’t seem to get enough of?
Sandy: I’ve been getting tons of mail about the R & B singer Parris Mitchell; however she won’t grant me an interview. I heard she gave you one, so now I’m jealous.

Find out what tactics Sandy tries in Double Platinum by Shelia M. Goss – in stores or order online at Amazon.com..

Carmen Grisby is a mover and shaker in Los Angeles, CA in both the music and film industry. You only have to say the name Carmen, no last name needed, and folks pause. You can’t turn on the radio or watch a movie, without coming across one of her clients. She has the midas touch and can spot a star a mile away.

Shelia Goss: Carmen, you have a very impressive client’s list. How have you been able to build up a successful agency?
Carmen Grisby: I treat my clients as real people. The companies I work with expect quality and I offer both my clients and customers 100 percent of myself.

Shelia: How do you handle the stars ego?
Carmen: It’s easy. I give them one of my own (laughs).

Shelia: One of your clients is the award winning actress Rose Purdue.  How is she as a client?
Carmen: She’s a diva, but she knows she can’t pull that with me for too long.

Shelia: Has she mellowed some since having a baby with the music producer Lance?
Carmen: Yes, she has to some degree; but Rose is still Rose. (laughs).

Shelia: I was informed you were now Parris Mitchell’s new manager.
Carmen: Yes, I am. She’s also a good friend of mine.

Shelia: Does it affect your friendship?
Carmen: We’re able to separate the two. We were friends before she became a client. When the situation with Archie happened, she turned to me because she knew she could trust me.

Shelia: Did you read the interview with Archie?
Carmen: Yes. I wish he would call me. I have some things I want to say to him.

Shelia: He doesn’t feel like he did anything wrong?
Carmen: Of course he doesn’t…that’s why he’s in hiding. But every dog has its day and he’s going to get his.

Shelia: On to something more positive, when should we expect new music from Parris?
Carmen: The release date is March 4th.  Look for DOUBLE PLATINUM in the stores. Your readers won’t be disappointed.

Don’t forget to pick up your copy of DOUBLE PLATINUM by Shelia M. Goss or pre-order from Amazon.com.

Archie Walker’s claim to fame is being R & B singer Parris Mitchell’s manager. He became even more well known when he gave an interview to a well respected newspaper about his affair with Parris Mitchell’s assistant.

Shelia Goss: Archie, thank you for granting me this interview. You were a hard man to track down.
Archie Walker: When I got your email, I decided to contact you.

Shelia: Lucky for me you did. So why did you come out of hiding to talk to me?
Archie: I’m tired of the media making me out to be a crook.

Shelia: From my understanding, you ran away with some of Parris Mitchell’s money and until now you’ve been incognito.
Archie: Okay, let me get something straight. The money I got, I earned. Being with Parris was no field day. She can be a real diva at times. As her manager, I worked night and day to make sure she got gigs. I took care of all her needs. Only thing she had to do was look beautiful and sing.

Shelia: I’ve talked to her accountants and you were well compensated; the money you took was unauthorized by Parris and was said to be in the millions.
Archie: Parris should have had better control over her money.

Shelia: So it’s her fault you were able to get away with her money?
Archie: Don’t put words in my mouth. The money I got I earned. If their records don’t match mine, then oh well.

Shelia: Parris wants her money back. There’s a warrant out for your arrest. Why don’t you come back to Los Angeles and let the courts settle it?
Archie: I don’t owe Parris a @*&* thing. I would still be in LA if she hadn’t stuck the law on me. No, I’m not coming back to LA. Do you think they’ll give a black man a chance? H@** no; especially after OJ got away. In fact, this interview is over. For all I know, they’re on the line now trying to track me down.

The interview ended abruptly because of Archie’s paranoia. He later called apologizing for his behavior and tried to assure me he was innocent of any charges filed against him. He ended the call before I could ask about the woman he left Parris Mitchell for.

To find out more about Archie and his scandalous ways, pick up your copy of Double Platinum by Shelia M. Goss or order it from Amazon.com.

 Casper “CJ-The Hitmaker” Johnson is a man on the go. With his playboy good looks, he’s been on People’s Most Eligible Bachelor list for five years straight. I recently caught up with him to talk about his new projects and he gives us a sneak peak into his love life.

Shelia: How did you get the nick name C.J. – The Hitmaker?
C.J.: It’s self-explanatory. I came into the music business about ten years ago. I worked with a few producers as an intern, learned a few things and started moonlighting. Some of the artists I worked with ended up getting record deals and the songs I produced hit the charts and went double platinum and the rest is history.

Shelia: How do you feel when people compare you to P Diddy?
C.J.: I take it as a compliment. He’s a smart business man.

Shelia: What’s on your roster for the next year?
C.J.: Besides, my regular clients, I’m in the studio working on a few up and coming rappers albums.

Shelia: It’s rumored that you’ll be working with Parris Mitchell.
C.J.: That is a dream of mine.  She has a beautiful voice and if we do work together, I know we can make beautiful music together.

Shelia: I’m surprised you two haven’t collaborated before.
C.J.: Her ex-manager nipped that. When I approached him after a party about it, he told me flat no, she wouldn’t be interested.

Shelia: He’s no longer in the picture, so why not approach her again?
C.J.: We’ll see.

Shelia: Inquiring minds want to know. Are you still on the market?
C.J.: It depends. Are you?

Shelia: (blushing) You’re such a flirt, but seriously, are you seeing anyone special?
C.J.: No. I’m single and looking.

Shelia: I’m sure you won’t have any problems finding someone.
C.J.: It’s harder than what you think. Some of the women I meet are only trying to get with me because of the money; some think I can make them the next big star. It’s hard being me sometimes.

To find out more about Casper “CJ-The Hitmaker” Johnson, pick up your copy of DOUBLE PLATINUM or pre-order from Amazon.com.