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

Blog Tour: Reunited A Gift from God Tour with M.E. Marshall

REUNITED A GIFT FROM GOD

Madlyn E. Marshall

Madlyn Marshall is the Founder of G.R.A.C.E. Financial Ministry Inc. G.R.A C.E is an acronym for “God’s Resources Advancing Christian Evangelism” a biblically based financial management and budgeting ministry. Madlyn is also conducts workshops writing all the material used in the workshops as well as during one on one consulting sessions.

Madlyn has also written several short stories and poems. It is in this genre where Madlyn has the opportunity to share the creative side of her writing. Madlyn has a vivid imagination and a unique way of bringing the stories and characters she writes about to life with descriptive images.

The Window of the Heart series is a collection of small fictional stories that explore the depth of God’s love and His capacity to restore that which was lost, albeit relationships, a renewed sense of oneself, or joy that had been buried under the weight of life’s challenges. In these stories, you will laugh, cry, and paused to think about your own challenges and I hope come away with a renewed spirit and a stronger faith.

In the first of the three book series, ReUnited – A Gift from God; the characters struggle with their faith in God, and the pain from their past. Can they truly forgive? Can they trust God and allow Him to heal their brokenness? Tony and Elaine have the opportunity to answer these questions and more because they are thrown together in an unlikely place, on top of a mountain in Alberta, Canada. There is no place for either of them to go, so they are force to face their fears and their past lives together.

Author Interview with Ey Wade

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

Ey:  Knowing me as a writer and author is like cracking an egg’s shell in the air and wondering how far the splatter will spread. Wait, that’s kind of like knowing me as a person. I’m like all over the board and always working on three to five projects at a time. I have no favorite spots to work and my view tends to be pointed at the keyboard. When an idea comes into my head I just flow with it. I haven’t been able to conform my writing to any specific pattern. I am more than often working on one story and the characters from another will just be dying to get my attention and I have to go into their world.

I tend to write in various genres from nonfiction, thrillers, romance, coming of age, women's fiction, to picture books. Using pen (same one for the past sixteen years) and paper, laptop and as a newly favorite the word program on my cell phone. I have found I can write anywhere with that little contraption and my focus is intent. Has to be with those tiny keys, right? And then I just email to myself and copy past into my manuscript.

Before becoming a self-published author, I followed the rules. Wrote outlines, character back stories, did the word counting, queries and everything. I even had an agent once. Unfortunately, he was a horrible choice. Directed me away from Ballantine books (wish I would have known who they were then) who wanted The Perfect Solution and straight into the corrupt hands of Publish America. What a crock. After that fiasco I was so humiliated I couldn’t write. Fought and had my rights returned and now, I am back. I tried the querying again, but became frustrated when it seems the agents’ rules are so varied, too confusing for me. Not to mention the rejection letters can be soul crushing. I received a lot of positive reviews for The Perfect Solution when it was first published and yet when I began querying one agent informed me no one would like the book and yet it deals with negligence in the child care system.  So, off I ran on my own. I have put three novels, three picture books and a creative non-fiction book into the systems. I think eBook publishing is one of the greatest inventions God has given to the world. I would advise any author to go that route when they have something they feel strongly about. 

Most recently, I’ve left the small publishing company I joined and returned to being an independent publisher. I am extremely happy with this choice. I was lost not having full control and being totally in the mix.

Oh, and to let you know I do have a stable life…I am the (always single) mother of three daughters who are all grown now, and I home schooled them on a string and a prayer. Though it may seem as if I am a bit scattered brained I was able to school them into college by the age of seventeen and sixteen. TheI am the drooling proud ‘Lovey’ of a little boy named Jett Parker Ellington. Before being destroyed by Hurricane Ike, I lived in a nice home and owned a home-based childcare center and that’s me and my writing life in a nutshell.

LaToya: What are your ambitions for your writing career?

Ey:  My ambitions are to have the American multi-racial history book, Beads on a String-America's Racially Intertwined Biographical History I've written to make some sort of impact in society. Plus, I would love to be able to write full time and make an income from it.

LaToya: Which writers inspire you?

Ey: The ones who are making it and are going out of their way to share what they have learned with newbies and those of us who just need to constantly learn.

LaToya: What are you working on at the minute?

Ey: I'm working on quit a few books in various genres, but the ones I'm wanting to have out by Mother's Day are two romance novels that deal with pregnancy, father's rights, abortion/ late term abortion, infertility and IVF. The first is titled Ribbon's & Belle with a companion novel Ismet's Honor.

LaToya: What genre are your books and why?

Ey: I write in several genres. From preschool picture books to nonfiction history. I tend to write what I feel and there is no limit to the topic or the people I want to reach.

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

Ey:  Ey Wade- Entertaining Your World and Designing Eternity

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

Ey: Hmmm, I really don't know. Haven't thought about it too hard. Well, not at all.

LaToya: When did you decide to become a writer?

Ey: I've always wanted to be a writer. Pushing to become published was when I was homeschooling my daughters and doing research for Black History month. We wished for a book that included all races/ethnicity and so I wrote one.

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

Ey: Full time.

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

Ey:  Nothing special. I try to get at least an hour or so in before I check email or other social networks.

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

Ey:  No. I just take it as it goes.

LaToya: Where do your ideas come from?

Ey:  My ideas tend to come from life and those around me. Everything is fodder

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

Ey:  I tend to go with the flow which is why I keep a tablet in my purse or type in the Word program on my cellphone.

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

Ey: I believe I have. I no longer have any fear on what's taboo.

LaToya: What is the hardest thing about writing?

Ey: Hmmm, that would be the inability to type as fast as my characters tell there story. When it gets too bad, I go old school, pen and paper.

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

Ey:   My last book, When Clouds Touch is about a Japanese-American girl with Albinism, a few physical ailments like heart problems and a sucky immune system, but the biggest deterrent in her life are her over protective parents. I had to research the language and all about her challenges. It's gotten some pretty nice reviews.

LaToya: What is the easiest thing about writing?

Ey:  That would have to be coming up with topics.

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

Ey:  Depends on what my goal is. I finished When Clouds Touch within a month and have taken up to a year to finish others. And doesn't count the ones I've put on the sidelines.

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

Ey:  I haven't tried envisioning that far. Right now, I want to see myself into two months, finished republishing my books after recently leaving my publisher and having three brand new novels on the market.

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

Ey:  Believe in you.

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

Ey:  I would love to meet Obama. One because he was lucky enough to have been born on my birthday and Two, because I would love his opinion on my history book.

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

Ey: That would be The Giver. I love that book. The idea of how a society that controls its eole so much that they cant even see color… I'm impressed.

LaToya: What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

Ey: Believe in yourself, learn your craft, and never believe you are so good, so talented, that there is nothing or anyone that can teach you something.

Connect with Ey:

Website: http://wade-inpublishing.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/eywade2 http://bit.ly/love-Ey (fan group)

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jumpouttheboat

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/eywade

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/itsmeeywade

Amazon Author Page: http://amazon.com/author/eywade

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/writerswrite

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

Purchase Links

 Kindle, Smashwords , Sony or Kobo, Scribed

Barnes & Nobles and iTunes 

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

Ey: Thank you for having me

Book Spotlight: Disloyal by TN Jones

***SNEAK PEEK~~LATRICE***

As my mind went back to our first night encounter, there was a knock at my door. I tied my housecoat and informed the individual at my door that I would be there in a moment. When I opened my front door, I didn’t see anyone, but I saw an envelope with my name on it. I picked it up and tore it open. An ultrasound picture was inside the envelope; the name was blacked out. My mouth dropped open and tears fell down my face. Either someone was being an asshole by bringing up the baby I miscarried for JP, or it was someone that JP gotten pregnant. Either way, the picture was too much for me. I hurried to my cell phone to call his ass. As I was getting ready to press the send button, a call came through, and I answered it.

“Hello,” I spoke aggressively.

“Is this Latrice?” a female voice asked.

“Yes, it is. Who is asking?” I replied in a white girl voice, with my hands on my hips.

“That’s not important. What’s important is the message you received today on your doorstep,” the female voice laughed. 

“Don’t be coming by my house, dropping off a damn thing. That shit wasn’t cute. If you want to address me, do it in a womanly manner!” I screamed, before hanging up the phone. The phone rang again, and I sent the caller to voicemail. Soon after, the female sent me a text message from the same number she called from.

954-555-0990: You ain’t the only one he’s gotten pregnant. This is my fourth time being pregnant for him. I like how cute y’all be at your nana’s house. I’m forever gonna be in his life. Tell my baby daddy I said hello, and I can’t wait to see him. The jokes on you, lil silly trick!

***SNEAK PEEK~~JANICE***

“You need to leave Domic alone, before you end up like me or worse,” he said coarsely, as he walked off. I walked behind him and pulled his arm, so that he would be facing me.

“What does that mean, John?” I asked quietly.

“Let’s just say, your man isn’t who he says he is. You’d better get out of that relationship while you still can. Are you and Nicolette still best friends? If so, tell her I said hey and I miss her. Are you still working as a DEA agent with Domic? Is Agent Larson still y’all boss? Tell everyone I said hello. Make sure you keep in touch, okay? It was nice chatting with you, Janice,” he chuckled as he walked away. 

His actions and statements blew my mind. I wonder why in the hell he was asking me all those questions. As I walked to the deli side of the grocery store, I was dumbfounded as I rehashed the entire conversation that took place between John and me. I was even more eager to learn why he was sent to prison. I wanted to know what he knew.

***SNEAK PEEK~~NICOLETTE***

I was shaking badly when I hung up the phone. I had to calm my nerves; therefore, I walked to the liquor cabinet by my desk and pulled out the bottle of Jack Daniels; taking a shot of Henn wasn’t going to do anything for me at this point. I popped the top and took a long swig. I hope like hell Janice didn’t start conversing with John on a regular basis, because he was not the type of person to deal with. As I took another swig of Jack D, my business phone started ringing. I put on my professional voice and answered the phone.

“House of Beauty, Nicolette speaking,” I said happily into the phone. 

“Ohhh, Ms. Nicolette. How are you, darling? How’s the baby? Oh yeah, you didn’t have it!” a cold, creepy voice pronounced slowly, while laughing.

“Who is this?” I asked.

“No need to worry about that. Do you have something that you need to give me or tell your closest friend about?” the cold voice stated sternly.

“No, I do not. John, don’t you dare open your fucking mouth about shit!” I exclaimed.

“John? Damn, how many people did you fuck over, Nicolette? I think you have a lot to tell, but you are frightened to do so. Don’t worry. I am going to take pride in destroying you, your best friend, your little boyfriend, Dennis, and anyone else that gets in the way. All your secrets are going to come out, and you can’t do anything about it. In due time…Nicolette…in due time. The funny thing is that you are racking your brain, trying to figure out who I am. You will never get the answer right, because you have fucked over so many people, especially your best friend, Janice. Oh, how is she, by the way?” the cold voice retorted. 

I didn’t waste any time hanging up the phone. I stared at the wall, while I thought about who would be out for me. I had no idea who in the fuck it could be, but I knew one thing, they were going to have a hellava time trying to destroy me. I had to get my ducks in a row, because shit got real after the caller said, all your secrets are going to come out.

***SNEAK PEEK~~DOMIC***

That lil mutherfucker was itching for me to fuck her up. I can’t deal with her shit at times. All I wanted was some head, but the best dick sucker in town was playing games with me, and I didn’t like that one bit. As I turned on my Xbox 360, my personal cell phone started ringing. I hopped on it because I knew that was my lil head giver, calling me back to tell me to come over. When I picked up my phone, I didn’t recognize the number, but I answered anyways.

“Yeah,” I said boldly.

“I’m coming for you with open arms…Joe,” the cold voice said.

“You got the wrong number,” I said nonchalantly.

“I got the right number, my friend. I bet your beautiful girlfriend doesn’t know who you really are,” the cold voice chuckled.

“Who the fuck are you?” I spat in the phone, but low enough that Janice couldn’t hear me.
“I’m your worst fucking nightmare!” the cold voice yelled in the phone, before hanging up.
I called the number back repeatedly, only to listen to a recording saying that the voicemail to the phone wasn’t setup. I instantly became pissed, because I wanted to know who in the fuck was calling my phone with some shit. I grabbed my work phone and checked it to make sure that no one texted or called it. To my surprise, no activity had taken place on my phone. Within moments of me placing both phones on the entertainment center, my laptop dinged, indicating I had a message. I walked over to my laptop, clicked on my Gmail account, and opened the message. As I looked at the thirty-six photos, I became weak at the knees. I read the messages and became instantly upset. You’re a pussy pie punk. You think you are living in an untouchable world? I am going to have fun destroying YOU, NICOLETTE, AND JANICE. I BET JANICE DOESN’T KNOW ANY OF THIS, NOW DOES SHE?

Meet Author TN Jones

I’m thirty years old; I fell in love with writing at an early age. I am a mother to a beautiful girl, Ja’Calin. I read when I’m not working on my own projects. Ole Alabama is where I reside. Traveling, swimming, cooking/baking, spending time with family/friends and enjoying motherhood are a blessing for me. I’m a college graduate from University of Phoenix. I’m easy to get along with, but I hate people that try to get over on me. In the near future, I want to start a movement where authors start donating money to rare diseases.

I don’t have a favorite genre; I read all types except Christian fiction. I’ve read books from James Patterson, Wahida Clark, Kiki Swanson, De’Nesha Diamond, Brenda Jackson, and etc. I was tired of losing jobs due to my illnesses of Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Familial Adenomatous Polyposis; I have been suffering with HS since I was fifteen years old; I was born with Familial Adenomatous Polyposis, but the signs and symptoms didn’t show until I was seventeen. After the loss of several jobs, I decided that maybe writing novels would be a better fit for me and my daughter. Plus, the idea of having people reading my work across the world was a great thing for us. I would bring awareness to different diseases throughout my fictional world. I read to ease my mind, body, and soul. Reading aids me in escaping my own life for a brief second; I’m able to find peace while reading.  

Connect with Author TN Jones

Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.com/tnjones6dmp/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TNHarris6

Amazon Author’s Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/tnjones666

Email: tnjones666@gmail.com

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14918893.TN_Jones