Book Spotlight: Put It in Ink by Danyelle Scroggins

Put It In Ink, Blurb

Nikiya Barnett aka Nikki, is still secretly suffering in silence concerning losing the love of her life, Raja Abrams. She desires total healing from God, but somehow seems to be stuck in her heart and mind. She alongside her two best friends who happens to be her coworkers, are trying to make Salon Select the new ‘it’ spot but this does not happen until they invite God in, by way of Sappora Ink.

Sappora Ink is the new blog talk show host with a show entitled, RFRT~Real Folks, Real Truths. Sister Ink is a straight to the point, raw, doctrinaire Christian girl trying to help her friends in this sinful world. She is changing the world one show at a time, and taking Shreveport by storm with the help of Nikiya Barnett, the owner of Salon Select, who has opened her salon as a hosting spot. Little does Nikki know, Sappora is closer to Raja than she thinks?

Raja is stuck in a world wind of adversity that he seems to have created for himself. Through R.A.B.~ Raja Abrams Broadcasting, he is trying to secretly make Nikki aware that their time together was not a waste, but will his method be the same method used to change his life forever?

Things happen when we choose to let God in. Whether we appreciate His ways or not, we must remember, His ways are not our ways. Will life change for the better for Nikiya and Raja, or is the plan that has been laid before them all a part of God’s plan?

Put It In Ink, Excerpt

Nikiya “Nikki” Barnett

Nikiya Barnett, known to shop patrons and friends as Nikki, was eager to tune in to RFRT with Sister Sappora Ink. The blog talk show previewed for the first time the past week, rating high and considered a hit by reviewers. As far as Nikki was concerned, the world needed someone who would tell the truth, live the truth, and share the truth, even if it were a blog talk show host.

       As explained, Sister Ink answered questions about relationships, and although honest, she was raw. Against her will, Nikki listened to blog talk shows often blaming the desire to be a good best friend for this phenomenon. A couple of them were worth listening to, but some were uninformative and a useless waste of time. The hosts were inexperienced or too pretentious to explain life’s circumstances with realness and clarity. They failed to solve problems or share foundational truths from the Gospels, as Chelle declared Sister Ink did.

       For the first time, Nikki’s curiosity about a show’s review ignited interest and Nikki refused to miss it. Intent on judging for herself perhaps sparked the motivation. It may also have been the desire to understand how she lost the love or her life or the need for spiritual advice. Either way, Nikki would be in the front of the computer, with an open mind centered on Sis. Ink.

       The only dilemma was making it home on time. Nikki’s solution may not have been perfect but it was plausible. She drove 85 in and 70 mph zone, praying the angels would blind the police. The inability to afford another speeding ticket should have detoured Nikki from breaking the law, not to mention how dumb it would be to get a ticket resulting from rushing to hear a talk show, but it didn’t. With long hair weave blowing, as the wind whipped through the windows of the car, Nikki uncaring and unconcerned bobbed and sang along with the music. We are conquerors, conquerors.

       Driving fast, the “zooming” of the other passing vehicles warranted a rearview mirror check. Dang Nikki! The thought was not a result of a police approaching, but the reality of looking at a calescent mess. Nikki snickered, but noticed the children in the car to the left laughing and pointing their fingers. Nikki licked at the children and then sped past them. 

Meet Author Danyelle Scroggins

I am the Senior Pastor of New Vessels Ministries North and a full time author. I studied Theology at Louisiana Baptist University, have a Psychology Degree from the University of Phoenix, an Interdisciplinary Degree in Psychology /Biblical Studies from Liberty University, and I’m presently working on a Master’s in Religious Education from the Liberty University. I own Divinely Sown Publishing LLC and am the author of: His Mistress or God’s Daughter?, Not Too Far Gone, Destiny’s Decision, Evonta’s Revenge & The Power Series: Pain, Restoration, Love, & Forgiving. I am also the wife of Pastor Reynard Scroggins a mother of three: Raiyawna, Dobrielle, & DJ; and the extended mother of two: Reynard & Gabriel, and a soon to be grandma aka Queen, of Emiya’rai Grace.

Reading is my hobby and although I love romance, my favorite genre is Christian or Inspirational Fiction. Writing is my love and my job. I write so that others will be able to see God’s hands of mercy and His grace. While some people never make it or feel comfortable in the Christian communal place called the church, I write so that they will get that opportunity at least once a year. Put It In Ink was one of the first books I ever wrote. It is as if the more adamant I became to finish this book, God kept moving into another direction. My set time came and my prayer is that God heal hearts. I know this book is in His timing so it will do what He has set it in the atmosphere to do.

To find out more about Pastor Danyelle and her ministries, visit:

Danyelle’s Website: www.danyellescroggins.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/danyellescroggins

Twitter: www.twitter.com/pastordanyelle

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/2738130.Danyelle_Scroggins

Amazon Author’s Page: www.amazon.com/Danyelle-Scroggins/e/B004513RVY

Blogspot: www.danyellescroggins.blogspot.com

Link to Purchase: http://www.danyellescroggins.com/put-it-in-ink.html

Author Interview with Kim Golden

LaToya: Hi Kim, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

Kim:  I was born and raised in Philadelphia, but now Stockholm, Sweden is my home. I moved here back in 1995 for love and I am still here for love. I studied literature at Temple University, received an MFA in Creative Writing from Virginia Commonwealth University. When I’m not writing fiction, I work as a senior copywriter for a Swedish cosmetics company called Oriflame. I love traveling and I probably spend nearly all of my disposable income on it. I want to see the world.

LaToya: What are your ambitions for your writing career?

Kim:  I want to write stories that make people feel emotional reactions. I used to dream of hitting the bestsellers lists—and it’s still something I aspire to—but my main ambition is to keep writing and reaching more people.

LaToya: Which writers inspire you?

Kim: There are so many! I usually tell people that my holy trinity of writers consists of Ernest Hemingway, Toni Morrison and Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I love their writing styles and the stories they tell. I also get huge bursts of inspiration from reading Tia Kelly and Nia Forrester’s novels. I am a huge fan of their work. Karen Siplin and Abigail Bosanko have also inspired me, as have Dorothy Koomson, Xio Axelrod, Rebecca Hunter, Nana Malone and Delaney Diamond.

LaToya: What are you working on at the minute?

Kim: I’m preparing for the June release of Maybe Tomorrow, which is a standalone in the Maybe… series. I’m also working on two new books—another standalone in the Maybe… series called Maybe Now and a more SciFi-esque love story called Under the Milky Way. Hopefully both books will be done by the end of the year—not sure of any release dates though since it’s still early days.

LaToya: What genre are your books and why?

Kim: I write women’s fiction with romantic elements. My books end up being labeled as romances, since the love story is always in focus—but I don’t really follow the rules of romance, which can annoy readers. My characters misbehave. Sometimes they cheat, sometimes they go out of their way to make things worse in their attempts to make things better. They screw up. And sometimes it’s not clear if there will be an HEA. I like love stories that feel real. I read to have new experiences, so I like bringing authenticity and real life problems into my fiction.

LaToya: In 10 words or less can you create a quote that describes you and your writing?

Kim: Kim is like her books: messy, optimistic, quiet yet emotional.

LaToya: Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?

Kim: I think Nicole Beharie would be perfect as Eddy from Maybe Tomorrow. She’s who I pictured nearly the entire time I was writing the book. And her Danish love interest would be her former Sleepy Hollow co-star, Tom Mison. He was always Henrik for me.

LaToya: When did you decide to become a writer?

Kim: My mom would say I’ve always been a writer. Even when I was a kid, I wrote stories. I went through a brief period when I was more interested in design and architecture, but I ended up coming back to writing. I started truly seeing writing as my dream when I was in high school.

LaToya: Do you write full-time or part-time?

Kim: I write part-time. I wish I could write full-time, but that will have to wait another year or two. I need a few more books under my belt before I finally take the plunge.

LaToya: Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?

Kim:  Since I still work full-time, I have to fit my writing around my day job. I get up every morning at around 6AM and try to write for at least 30 minutes. If it’s a good writing day, I get an hour in by writing while I eat breakfast. I also try to get another 30 minutes to an hour of writing done when I come home from work. It all depends on how tired I am when I come home from work.

But I think I get most of my writing done during the weekend. Then I usually write all afternoon—usually in my favorite local café—and then I take a break for a few hours to hang out with my husband. And then I start again in the evening unless we’ve decided to watch a movie together or something like that.

LaToya: Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day?

Kim: I aim for at least 1600 words per day, but some days I don’t get more than 300 words written. It all depends how easily I can extract the words from my brain. Some days are better than others.

LaToya: Where do your ideas come from?

Kim:  Real life inspires me. I people watch, I eavesdrop, I observe. Sometimes an article in the newspaper can inspire me, or a snatch of conversation can give birth to an idea. Sometimes it’s simply something about someone who passes by that can spark an idea.

LaToya: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

Kim:  I outline, but I don’t follow my outline religiously. I like to allow the story to take me where it wants to go. I just rein it in when I think we’ve veered too far off course.

LaToya: How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

Kim: When I first began writing, I wrote to please only the readers. I didn’t really think about whether I liked my story. Then one day I realized that I needed to feel more connected with my stories and characters if I wanted readers to feel the same. And when I began writing what I wanted to read and telling stories that spoke to me, I felt like I became a better writer.

LaToya: What is the hardest thing about writing?

Kim: Staying focused. It’s so easy to get distracted. I find I write best when I am on vacation or at least away from my usual daily routine. That change of environment is liberating.

LaToya: What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?

Kim: Actually finishing it and letting it go. It was the first time in ages that I was writing without an outline. And when I first began writing it, it was more just a way to clear my head so I could work on something else, but I fell in love with my characters and their story. It started off as a short story, then grew to novella length. And then I realised I’d written most of a novel without ever intending to do so. It was just hard to let go of it.

LaToya: What is the easiest thing about writing?

Kim:  Falling in love with the characters you create. I love my characters, even when they’re being complete pains in the neck, I love them.

LaToya: How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Kim:  When I write my first draft during NaNoWriMo, it takes a month to have a quick and dirty first draft and then another three or four months to tweak it until I feel happy with it. My upcoming novel took over a year to get it right.

LaToya: Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

Kim:  Hopefelly, living somewhere warmer than Sweden with my gorgeous guy, working on a future bestseller.

LaToya: What advice would you give to your younger self?

Kim:  Don’t listen to your parents when they tell you that writing is a hobby, not a job. Don’t be afraid to follow your dreams. And, yes, you should travel and go beyond the boundaries of your normal life.

LaToya: Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?

Kim:  Shonda Rhimes. I love her shows, love the dialogue and the conflicts she creates. I would love to just sit and talk writing with her. And convince her to produce the Maybe… series into a TV series or a movie.

LaToya: If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?

Kim: Whenever I re-read Such a Girl by Karen Siplin or A Nice Girl Like Me by Abigail Bosanko, I wish I could have written those stories. Both novels ring true and their characters are interesting and compelling. I get book hangovers from them. :-)

LaToya: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Kim: Write the stories you want to read. Don’t change your writing to suit other people’s whims. Stay true to your story.

Connect with Kim:

Website: kim-golden.com

Blog: kimtalksbooks.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SeeKimWrite

Twitter: @kimigm

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kimigm/

Amazon Author Page: www.amazon.com/Kim-Golden/e/B007SNV3K8/

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/5821481.Kim_Golden

Purchase Links

Maybe Baby

Amazon: http://bit.ly/AmazonUSMaybeBaby

Nook: http://bit.ly/NookUSMaybeBaby

iBooks: http://bit.ly/iBooksMaybeBaby

Kobo: http://bit.ly/KoboKGMaybeBaby

Maybe Tonight

Amazon: http://bit.ly/AmazonMaybeTonight

Nook: http://bit.ly/NookMaybeTonight

iBooks: http://bit.ly/iBooksKGMaybeTonight

Kobo: http://bit.ly/KoboKGMaybeTonight

Maybe Forever

Amazon: http://bit.ly/KindleMaybeForever

Nook: http://bit.ly/NookMaybeForever

iBooks: http://bit.ly/iBooksMaybeForever

Kobo: http://bit.ly/KoboMaybeForever

Snowbound

Amazon: http://bit.ly/KindleSnowbound

Nook: http://bit.ly/NookSnowbound

iBooks: http://bit.ly/iBooksSnowbound

Kobo: http://bit.ly/KoboSnowbound

Choose Me

Amazon: http://bit.ly/KindleChooseMe

Linger

Amazon: http://bit.ly/KindleLinger

Author Interview with LaDonna Marie

LaToya: Hi LaDonna Marie, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself and your background? 

LaDonna: Thank you so much for the interview. My writing career started when I was 12 years of age. I started writing to express my thoughts and at then it developed into poetry at the age of 14.

LaToya: What are your ambitions for your writing career?

LaDonna: I would like to be a world renowned author, poet, playwright and movie director. 

LaToya: Which writers inspire you?

LaDonna: The Late Dr. Maya Angelou and Nikki Giovanni

LaToya: What are you working on at the minute? 

LaDonna: I am working on Lessons II: Mirror Conversations.  A poetic tale of the life of Abby, as she discusses her love, life and her journey in front of the mirror.

LaToya: What genre are your books and why?

LaDonna: My genres Self- help, poetry, narrative, and romance

LaToya: In 10 words or less can you create a quote that describes you and your writing?

LaDonna: Sharing inspiration to encourage others how to overcome life’s obstacles

LaToya: Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book? 

LaDonna: I would love to see Nia Long to play the main character.

LaToya: When did you decide to become a writer?

LaDonna: I decided when I was in high school, when God reveal that my one of my gifts was writing.

LaToya: Do you write full-time or part-time?

LaDonna: I write full time.

LaToya: Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?

LaDonna: I don’t  have a special time to write. Although, I like to write when I am inspired and when it is quiet.

LaToya: Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day?

LaDonna: Write now I am doing poetry books, and I usually work on more than one book at a time.  When inspired I can write from 5 to 10 poems in one per day.

LaToya: Where do your ideas come from?

LaDonna: My ideas come from God, I yield all my books to his guidance. Early on in my writing career, I explored love, spirituality, overcoming adversity, and encouragement often thorough all my books.

LaToya: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

LaDonna: I write with inspiration and when the ideas take me.

LaToya: How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

LaDonna: I think that I have become a strong prolific writer helping other to overcoming life’s challenges with the use of my work.

LaToya: What is the hardest thing about writing?

LaDonna: There are no hard things about writing to me.

LaToya: What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?

LaDonna: The hardest thing about writing my latest book, was tapping into the vulnerability it took to creatively express love from the soul. I have always included love in my other poetry book, however this time the entire book was based on love.

LaToya: What is the easiest thing about writing?

LaDonna: The easiest thing about writing is to release my thoughts and give them a voice through writing.

LaToya: How long on average does it take you to write a book?

LaDonna:  It takes me 3 to 6 month to write a book.

LaToya: Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

LaDonna:  I see myself on the New York Best Seller List and a Pulitzer Prize Winner.  I see myself with my books as movies to future encourage others.

LaToya: What advice would you give to your younger self?

LaDonna:  I would say fully believe in yourself and never doubt your purpose in life.

LaToya: Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?

LaDonna:  I would love to have meet Countee Cullen, I read his poem he wrote Hey Black Child in fifth grade. I felt he was a very empowering renaissance writer helping to encourage children in this poem. 

LaToya: If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?

LaDonna: I know why the cage bird sings; the reason is I feel that I challenge myself as an author to explore issues that will help others to relate to their hurt pain and be able to release the pain and move forward.

LaToya: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

LaDonna: To not leave this earth full a book inside of them, to starting writing a release the story!

Connect with LaDonna:

Website: www.ladonnamarie.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaDonnaMC?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lmb_poetry

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ladonna-marie-73904153

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/LaDonna-M.-Cook-B.A.-M.S./e/B00F25HLH8/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/LaDonnaMarie

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4562981.LaDonna_M_Cook

Purchase Links

http://www.amazon.com/Eloquent-Love-Notes-LaDonna-Marie/dp/1519688997

Author Interview with Suzette Harrison

LaToya: Hi Suzette, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

Suzette: Hi LaToya, and thank you for having me. I’m an author who’s a wife, mother, elementary school librarian, and the owner of a small, home based cupcake business. I started writing poetry in 1^st grade, and had my first publishing experience when my poetry was published in my junior high school’s creative arts journal. I went from poetry to short stories to full-fledged manuscripts. And now I’m here. 

LaToya: What are your ambitions for your writing career?

Suzette: I initially (perhaps like many writers) dreamt of being a full-time author whose works hold court on a multitude of bestseller’s lists. I haven’t given up on that, but right now, becoming “self-employed” as a full-time writer is a major aspiration for me. I want to be prolific and consistent. I aspire to provide quality stories that entertain and inspire. With the release of my latest novel, Taffy, I’ve experienced an increased desire to connect with readers face-to-face and/or virtually. I’m not just interested in “I write, you buy.” I’m interested in community.   

LaToya: Which writers inspire you?

Suzette: I love Dianne McKinney-Whetstone! Whatever she writes, I’m reading! I also love Bernice McFadden, J.D. Mason, Claudia Mair Burney, Solomon Jones, Alexander McCall Smith, Kwei Quartey, and Andrea Smith (The Sisterhood of Blackberry Corner). But the writer most responsible for changing my life in a pivotal moment in time, is Dr. Maya Angelou. I was going through a tremendously difficult time in my early adult life when I picked up Dr. Angelou’s I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings to read it a second time. That book lifted the darkness off of me in such a powerful way that, when I finished it, I immediately knew what I wanted to do with myself: write!

LaToya: What are you working on at the minute?

Suzette: I’m currently working on the next installment in my Camellia Series, the book that comes after Taffy. It’s not a sequel, but Taffy and Roam make a cameo appearance. It’s also set in the deep south at the turn of the 20^th century, and is a coming-of-age story of a young girl in love with the wrong grown man…and the chaos that love creates.

LaToya: What genre are your books and why?

Suzette: My first two novels were contemporary fiction. However, Taffy and my Camellia Series are African American Historical Romances. While I’ll continue writing contemporary fiction, my heart has found its rhythm with Historical Romances. I felt a serious, bone-deep urge and unction to write Taffy. It was a huge switch, but after being off the literary scene since 2003, it wasn’t a risk. I could reenter and reinvent.

LaToya: In 10 words or less can you create a quote that describes you and your writing?

Suzette: I’ll borrow from the branding on my website and say, “Stories for the heart and mind.” I hope my writing engages the cerebral and the soul.

LaToya: Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?

Suzette: Love this question, LaToya, ‘cause you know I fantasize about it! There has to be an open casting call because Taffy and Roam are so physically specific—i.e. their height, body composition, etc. However, there’s a plus-size model who I absolutely love: Liris Crosse. If Ms. Liris can act, she has to audition for the role of Taffy! I also like Daniella Chioma Okeke. As for Roam (Taffy’s love interest): dilemma dilemma! Again open casting call. Supporting characters, I’ve pretty much resolved J  Chloe: Journee Smollett. Drew: Lamann Rucker or Lance Gross. Thaddeus: Dennis Haysberth. Rachel: Vanessa Williams. Aunt Vesta: Jenifer Lewis! Cousin Dena: Tasha Smith…. Told you I’ve spent time dreaming on this!

LaToya: When did you decide to become a writer?

Suzette: I remember a day in 1999. I was at work. Bored. Hungry for change. I’d started writing what would become Living on the Edge of Respectability. But I still didn’t quite have the vision of writing for life. I sat there at work (I know, shame on me) and designed a “book cover.” I needed a visual aid to help me understand where I was going. I posted that cover in my cubicle and at home and looked at it daily, spoke life over it, dared to believe and to dream!

LaToya: Do you write full-time or part-time?

Suzette: Currently, part-time. But by God’s grace and blessings, I look forward to that changing!

LaToya: Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?

Suzette: Yes, ma’am! Of necessity, I’ve become a morning person. I’m up Monday-Friday at 5:15 a.m. writing. I write in the morning because if I waited until getting home from work it would never get done.

LaToya: Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day?

Suzette: Not so much words/pages, but completing whatever section I’m currently in.

LaToya: Where do your ideas come from?

Suzette: Sometimes from dreams. Sometimes from life. Always from God. He’s the true “author and finisher.”

LaToya: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer just see where an idea takes you?

Suzette: LaToya, I’m anal! I have to have a plot/outline. Even if the story twists/turns out from under me, I like knowing where I’m going initially. That said: my current story isn’t as fleshed out in my mind as I’m accustomed to, yet it’s demanding that I write it. I’m arguing and fussing with my protagonists, asking them to reveal themselves completely, already, and they’re wrecking my nerves taking their own sweet time.

LaToya: How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

Suzette: This past decade has been all about evolution as a woman and a writer. I dared to step away from what I’d written (Contemporary Fiction) to step into new waters (Historical Romance) because my heart led me there. I guess this transition in genres is somewhat of a metamorphosis in that I had to develop my own voice and not merely mimic what was trending and popular. I had to learn who I was, what I wanted to say, and what I had to offer as a writer. Taffy allowed me to do that, to jump down in the marrow of my being and write from the blood and the bones.

LaToya: What is the hardest thing about writing?

Suzette: 1) Time: not having enough, 2) Writing without self-editing

LaToya: What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?

Suzette: 1) taking a risk in trying a new genre, 2) self-publishing. Proposals for Taffy were rejected by both agents and publishers. So, I decided to self-publish. I’m truly glad I did! But that comes with wearing “every hat in the company.” It’s called self-publishing for a reason!

LaToya: What is the easiest thing about writing?

Suzette: It’s so easy to get lost in the characters’ lives that I have to remember to live my own!

LaToya: How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Suzette: Too long! I consider myself a slow writer. My first two novels were probably 6-9 months in the making. But Taffy, Lord Jesus! That girl gestated for years!

LaToya: Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

Suzette: Five years from now I will be writing full-time and enjoying this prosperous career!!!

LaToya: What advice would you give to your younger self?

Suzette: I’d tell my younger self to make health and fitness a priority, and to dare to do what feels as if it can’t be done.

LaToya: Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?

Suzette: 1) Dr. Maya Angelou, to thank her because “…Caged Bird…” saved me from a deep, dark pit; 2) my paternal grandmother who I never met just to hug and kiss her and tell her I love her.

LaToya: If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?

Suzette: Ernessa T. Carter’s 32 Candles because I love the zaniness of it!

LaToya: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Suzette: a) Know your genre; b) Stay focused and be ready to persevere; c) Make connections (virtual & live-time) with other authors as well as readers; d) be authentic and love what you do!

Connect with Suzette…

Website: www.sdhbooks.com

Blog: http://www.sdhbooks.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sdhbooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ariasu62

LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/1SByYLr

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/23gvCPL

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/24cWVQK

Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1YYhQA7

Purchase Links

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1QHFOJG

Amazon Kindle: http://amzn.to/1QHFOJG

Barnes & Noble Nook: http://bit.ly/23gvAYd

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Nbl9mT

LaToya: Thank you very much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to take part in this interview.

Suzette: LaToya, I thank you!

Book Spotlight: The Life Your Spirit Craves for Mommies by Natasha Frazier

The Life Your Spirit Craves for Mommies Blurb:

Children are a gift from God, and so often I am reminded of God's grace, mercy, love, patience, and kindness through my children. Because of this, I've taken elements from daily interaction with my children to show the spiritual application in this book. God is forever present in our lives, and we can see Him at work each and every day! How precious it is to see glimpses of our relationship with the Heavenly Father through our relationship with our children!

This 52-Week Devotional and Journal encourages self-reflection, prayer, and application of God's Word each week of the year. Being a mommy requires a lot of energy, and you need time to recharge and nurture your relationship with God. So set aside time each day to study, pray, and actively develop your relationship with your Heavenly Father.

Week 15 - Listeners and Doers

“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (James 1:22)

When my kids mess up, I take a moment and explain to them that what they did was wrong and why it was wrong. I always end my speeches with “Do you understand me?” In response, I always receive a “Yes, ma’am.” Whether or not they understand, it doesn’t always show. Often they repeat their actions or do something along the same lines; that says to me that they’re simply going to do what they want to do and suffer the consequences later. This is a terrible line of thinking that seems to follow us into adulthood and interferes with us doing what God’s Word says, even when we know what He requires of us.

In order to develop a character and lifestyle that brings honor to God, we must allow His Word to direct us. We have to decide to live according to His Word, but we cannot do this if we don’t know what it says. So many of us attend weekly services but fail to live a life that is pleasing to God because we only listen to God’s Word. We don’t retain it, and so we don’t put it into practice.

We must get to a place in our relationship with God where we long for His presence, desire to please Him, and choose His ways. Obedience and love are two of God’s most important requirements for His children. We honor God when we obey His holy Word. It is then that we will begin to experience the abundant life that He has promised His children.

Like children, we often want the blessings of God but we don’t want to abide by His Word. This isn’t the way things work, and our disobedience is cause for many delayed blessings. As God’s children, we must wholeheartedly devote ourselves to Him and choose to follow His Word without exception. Choose to move from only listening to the Word of God to learning and living it.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I give praise to Your holy name. Help me to receive, accept, learn, and apply Your Word to my life in all circumstances. Help me to show my love for You by being obedient. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Further study: James 1:19–27

Meet Author Natasha Frazier

Natasha has penned an award-winning devotional, The Life Your Spirit Craves and a Henri award nominated devotional, Not Without You: 365 Days in the Lord's Presence. Natasha desires to encourage readers to live the life they have been created to live in God. She does this through her written work, motivational speaking, and through the “How Long Are You Going to Wait” Conference. Natasha has also penned an award-nominated Christian fiction series, Love, Lies & Consequences. Books 1 and 2 are currently available. Book 3: Shattered Vows, will be available late 2016. Natasha’s most recent title, The Life Your Spirit Craves for Mommies: A 52-week Devotional and Journal, encourages mothers to grow closer to God and see how our relationships with our children often mirrors our relationship with God.

Natasha enjoys reading inspirational books and Christian fiction (Romance). She considers herself a romantic at heart. She also enjoys writing the same. Her desire is for each of her books to inspire her readers to grow closer to God and to apply Godly principles in life’s toughest situations, even when it seems impossible.

Natasha can be found online:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/craves.2012

Twitter and Instagram: @cpakauthor

Amazon: www.amazon.com/-/e/B00LNP234M

Website: www.natashafrazier.com

e-mail: Natasha@natashafrazier.com

Author Interview with Sarah Weathersby

LaToya: Hi Sarah, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself and your background?

Sarah:  Sarah Gordon Weathersby is a graduate of Drew University in Madison, NJ. She holds an MBA from Meredith College in Raleigh, NC. She is a retired Information Technology professional. Sarah lives in Raleigh with her husband, when they are not traveling from Agadir to Maui, riding camels or bicycles.

LaToya: What are your ambitions for your writing career?

Sarah:  I want to write stories that touch people’s heart and soul. I don’t mind having a negative cash flow. I’m retired and living in the gravy.

LaToya: Which writers inspire you?

Sarah: My favorite authors are Tananarive Due, Walter Mosley, Alice Walker, Toni Morrison, Beverly Jenkins, Bernice McFadden, Octavia Butler, Leonard Pitts and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. I am inspired by many different genres.

LaToya: What are you working on at the minute?

Sarah: I’m working on an outline for a family story. The working title is Being of Sound Mind.

I’m also working on a sequel to Tell Them I Died. The working title is The Bodyguard’s Secret.

LaToya: What genre are your books and why?

Sarah:  I have written two memoirs, one is the total truth (Motherless Child – stories from a life), the other is semi-fictional (Adventures in Blackface). I have written one romance that falls in the Boomer-Lit genre, as all the main characters are over fifty years old. The title is Tell Them I Died.

LaToya: In 10 words or less can you create a quote that describes you and your writing?

Sarah: Sarah writes about things that keep her awake at night.

LaToya: Which actor/actress would you like to see playing the lead character from your most recent book?

Sarah: Angela Bassett and James Pickens.

LaToya: When did you decide to become a writer?

Sarah: I started writing poems when I was eight years old. I wrote them in a notebook that my mother hijacked and sent to Simon & Schuster to publish. Simon & Schuster returned the poems a few months later, with a nice note, which I don’t remember.

LaToya: Do you write full-time or part-time?

Sarah: part-time.

LaToya: Do you have a special time to write or how is your day structured?

Sarah:  I used to write late at night, but I’m getting to be too old to stay up like that. Instead I write early in the morning. It’s better now that we’re into springtime.

LaToya: Do you aim for a set amount of words/pages per day?

Sarah:  No. I go with the flow, and sometimes the flow is short, sometimes very long.

LaToya: Where do your ideas come from?

Sarah:  I get ideas from real life situations.

LaToya: Do you work to an outline or plot or do you prefer to just see where an idea takes you

Sarah:  I start with an outline and characters and a general idea of who my characters are. Then I let the characters take the reins.

LaToya: How do you think you’ve evolved creatively?

Sarah:  I have become fearless. I don’t mind writing some risky pieces that some people might not understand. A story doesn’t have to have a happy ending.

LaToya: What is the hardest thing about writing?

Sarah: Getting started.

LaToya: What was the hardest thing about writing your latest book?

Sarah:   I took a risk and ended with an unresolved ending. I received some 5-star reviews, but OOSA said they were bamboozled, and gave me three stars.

LaToya: What is the easiest thing about writing?

Sarah:  It becomes easy once I know my characters and allow them to do what they do.

LaToya: How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Sarah:  My first book took 40 years. The next one took four years. The last one about a year.

LaToya: Where can you see yourself in 5 years’ time?

Sarah:  Hopefully above ground.

LaToya: What advice would you give to your younger self?

Sarah:  Stop being afraid of what people think.

LaToya: Which famous person, living or dead would you like to meet and why?

Sarah:  Rachel Maddow. She is smart and fearless.

LaToya: If you could have been the original author of any book, what would it have been and why?

Sarah:  The Black Rose by Tananarive Due, tells the life story of Madame C.J. Walker. Alex Haley did the research for this book, but died before he could write it. Haley’s estate (and his family) selected Ms. Due to take that research and craft it into a book. It’s an amazing story.

LaToya: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Sarah: READ, READ, and READ some more. Find an author whose work you love and while you’re captured by their stories, understand what it is that makes a captivating story. You can’t write unless you read.

Connect with Sarah:

Website: http://www.sarahweathersby.com/

Email:  sarah@sarahweathersby.com

Blog: http://sarahweathersby.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/saraphen

Twitter: @saraphen

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sarahweathersby/

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1Oa5nSA

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/weathersbypub

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/saraphen/

Purchase Links http://amzn.to/1Oa5nSA