Meet the Author: Interview with Shawn Flossy

Shawn Flossy is a self-published author who founded PURP Publications, at the age of 25. Before venturing into her first novel, Shawn was an avid blogger on her NightLife Chronicles blog. A former internet radio host, she helped host with Hear Me Now Radio (HMN) out of Fort Worth, Texas, for over a year. With more business ventures on the horizon, Shawn is definitely climbing the ladder for success. Her sophomore book debut titled, “Ally”, releases later this year.

Get to know Shawn:

What inspired you to write The NightLife Chronicles?

What really inspired the book was the blog I was writing before the book, also called The Nightlife Chronicles, for 2 years. The blog was was so popular that I was writing enough content to actually create a novel. So to answer your question, my fans from my blog inspired my book.

Are any of the characters based on influences you’ve had in your life?

Everybody thinks the main character, Taya Roberts, is a reflection of me, she’s not. Every other character is representations of pieces of people I’ve met in my life.

Tell us the most difficult portion of writing the book?

The ending by far. With me it’s always the last chapter or last paragraph or last sentence because I never know when to stop writing.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years as an author?

My long term goal is having a screenplay published on a major platform. It doesn’t have to even be a huge success, but having my own works produced would be a major accolade.

What else do you have in the works?

“Ally” the novel, my sophomore piece. It’s going to top my first book; I really went all out on this one. I also have a poetry book in the works as well, I love writing poems.

When can we expect “Ally” to be available to the public?

We’re expecting to release it by the end of this year or the beginning of next year, and pre orders will be up soon.

Anything else you would like to add for future fans and friends?

I want to thank everybody for being interested in what I have to offer, stay tuned because we’re just getting started.

Find the author:

Face-Book: https://www.facebook.com/PURPPublictaions/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TNLChronicles

Shawnflossy.com

http://shawnflossy.blogspot.com

About the Book

Battling her natural instinct to play men and her common sense to be monogamous, Taya Roberts learns her true fate. It’s not that she isn’t ready to settle down rather she just can’t imagine what life would be like without her options. Until she meets Michael Keith who spins her world upside down. His debonair suave mystic personality catches her eye and even has her questioning if this player lifestyle was ever truly for her.

Excerpt

I woke up the next morning with my breath smelling like straight Hennessy. I went in my bathroom and found two naked chicks in my spa tub and a third chick laying on the floor. I stepped over shorty on the floor and proceeded to the sink to brush my teeth and wash the crust out my eyes. I slipped on some hoop shorts and walked out my room to see what the rest of the house was looking like. 

I stood on the balcony overlooking my living room and all I could see was beer bottles covering the floor and a few puddles of vomit. Face down in one of those puddles was my boy Sly Hood. It was several motherfuckas passed out around the crib including Dre’s ass. I went back in my room, grabbed my iPhone out my pants pocket, and called my usual cleaning crew to come a little earlier than scheduled.

After I rounded up all the hungover folks and put them out of my house; let the cleaning crew in, and got dressed, I headed to my office. I know it’s Sunday, but a real businessman never stops working. Growing up I watched my mom hustle everyday of the week just to make sure me any my brother had fresh clothes to wear to school.

Buy the Book:

http://purppublications.bigcartel.comhttps://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&text=Shawn+Flossy&search-alias=books&field-author=Shawn+Flossy&sort=relevancerank

Meet The Author: Interview with Nick Haskins

Nick Haskins is the author of On the Edge of Heat, Jamal, My Husband’s Wife and his latest novel, Betrayed. Nick was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio where he currently resides. After years of aspiring to become a film and TV writer, he began to shape his creative dreams and released his first book in 2011. Nick has been actively working on building his catalog of work, and readership, with plans to become a full-time writer.

Let’s get to know Nick Haskins

It has been a while since you stopped by Authors & Readers Book Corner, tell us about your journey since releasing My Husband’s Wife.

Yes, it has been awhile since my last visit with Authors & Readers Book Corner. After I released my third book, My Husband’s Wife, in 2013 I took a lot of time off. I stopped all promotions, ads, campaigns etc. in early 2014. I was dealing with a lot of personal issues that prevented me from giving total focus to my career. I wanted to get me together first, and now I’m back with a brand-new book.

What genres do you write in? Will you write in other genres as you progress as a writer?

All of my books are African-American fiction, although the book that I’m currently working on leans more toward urban fiction. I have dabbled a little in erotica as well. Other than those three genres, I see myself maybe exploring suspense, or even a murder mystery.

What is your process for creating characters?

My characters always seem to appear to me. I don’t seek them out; I let them come to me along with the plot, the climax of the story, and the ending.

Do you write from an outline? If not, what is your writing process?

It really depends on the mood I’m in. When I’m feeling extremely creative, usually, the end of the story will play in my head for days, sometimes weeks. When it’s like that, I start jotting down my ending, and before long, I find myself typing out full chapter outlines. Other times, I sit at my computer, turn on some low tunes, and just start typing. I try not to have too much of a process though; I like to just let it flow.

What are four tips you have learned since becoming a published author?

The four tips I’ve learned is, one, it’s a lot harder than it looks! But, I’ve learned not to give up, or stall out each time someone says no, or I don’t get the review I was looking for etc. I’m learning to keep going. Two, as an author, one of my main goals is to entertain my readers, so I’m learning with each book how to craft and weave stories more for my readers amusement. Three, I’ve learned how to have a small group read my work a few times before it’s released. I have an amazing team who is always willing to read my manuscripts, and provide honest feedback which is so needed. The fourth tip I’ve learned is to read and understand everything! I feel as an author, I am in control of my career, and I owe it to myself, and my books, to make sure I’m making the best, and most informed decisions and choices.

What ingredients do you believe a book needs to keep readers?

I believe to keep readers an author shouldn’t leave them in too much suspense. You have to take them on a journey with you, but make sure they know where you’re going, why, and with which characters. With that, a smooth beginning, a good climax, and a rocky cliffhanger ending seems to have been my main ingredients.

Your new book, Betrayed, has a message about loyalty, how important was this topic to the storyline?

Loyalty, or the lack there of, is very important to the storyline. In Betrayed, William Majors is married to a disloyal woman, while his son, Billy, proves where his loyalty lies when he falls in love with his father’s new wife.

What city is Betrayed based in? Is it a city familiar to you?

Betrayed is based in Anchorage. I am not familiar with Alaska at all, but when the storyline started playing in my head set in Anchorage, Alaska I went with it.

Tell us about Williams Majors Sr.

William Majors Sr. is a hardworking, fifty-one-year-old single father. While his first wife Jean was dying, he promises her – and their young son – that he would always take good care of their boy. William dedicated himself to his son, living as a single man for many years. He didn’t trust another woman to come in and attempt to raise his son, so did it on his own. When Billy turns twenty-one, William becomes eager to find a wife. That’s when he meets, and falls madly in love with Jennifer Payne.

Tell us about Jennifer.

Jennifer Payne was written after Jennifer Williams from Basketball Wives. She’s tall, thin, beautiful and proves to be dangerous for the Majors men. She loves her husband, William, and wants him and their marriage, but she starts to want his son just a little more.

Where do you see Nick Haskins in five years?

In five years, I hope to see my name on the New York Times Best Sellers list. I also want to eventually migrate into TV and/or film.

What is your favorite motto or scripture?

My favorite motto is: If it didn’t kill you, brush yourself off and keep going!
I have several favorite scriptures: Psalms 23, Psalms 103, Isaiah 41:28-31, and the one that’s taught me the most about having faith in God which is James 1:1-9

Readers can visit Nick’s website at www.nickhaskinsbooks.com, or email him at nickhaskinsbooks@gmail.com.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/IamNickHaskins 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamnickhaskins
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamnickhaskins/

Purchase a copy of Betrayed at Amazon.com

About the Book

Sixteen years ago, William Majors Sr. made his young son, Billy, a promise that he would always take care of him after his mother died. He vowed to raise his son into a man he would someday be proud of. William also vowed not to take another wife until Billy was all grown up, so he opted to live as a single man. That all changed the day Jennifer Payne walked into his life. Her seductive body and stunning beauty instantaneously captures William . . . and Billy. When Billy secretly deceives William – seemingly overnight – Jennifer finds herself trapped in a dangerous love trio with both Father and son. When she chooses one over the other, a deadly line of betrayal will be crossed that will shake The Majors’ forever . . .

Excerpt from Betrayed

Over the years, a variety of women have tried and failed with William no matter what their efforts. He just wasn’t ready . . . until now. Only problem is, he doesn’t know where to start. He surely doesn’t fancy any of the desperate, flabby tired selection of women that was constantly trying to feed him and his son. He’s a fifty-one-year-old father, so clubbing is completely out of the question. He’s never attended a church service, so meeting a good ole’ church girl wasn’t going to happen either. He doesn’t trust anyone off the Internet, so his future wife, in his words, would have to come and find him, which is exactly what happened the day Jennifer Payne walked into his lumber company.

Jennifer was doing a small remolding job to her condo, and needed to pick out just the right materials for the project. Her contractor gave her a card for Anchorage Lumber, and told her she should go check out some of the marble samples the lumberyard offered. When she decided to take the contractors advice, Jennifer’s tall, thin frame swayed into Anchorage Lumber and the rest, as they say, is history – history William Majors Sr. would someday wish he could rewrite . . .

Book Review: Breakfast in Bed by Rochelle Alers

Title: Breakfast in Bed

Author: Rochelle Alers

Genre: Contemporary romance

Rating: 4 Stars=Great Page Turner

Purchase at Amazon.com

Breakfast in Bed is a contemporary romance about a chef and new beginnings. When Hannah offers Tonya Martin a chance to open a restaurant on her New Orleans estate, Tonya agrees believing this will be the new beginning she needs. After arriving she gets a chance to learn Creole Cuisine from none other than Chef Eustace. She is turned over to Gage Toussaint who agrees to teach her instead of Eustace. Both are guarded but notice the chemistry between them and this is when the story takes off.

This is book two in the wonderful romance series, The Innkeepers. I could learn more about Tonya in this book as well as enjoying her letting the brick wall surrounding her heart down. The characters were intriguing and held my interest. It was great learning more about the Creole dishes. The author does a wonderful job describing scenes that helped me visualize News Orleans. I look forward to the next book in this series and recommend it to others.

This was provided by the publisher for review purposes.

Book Review: Lowcountry Bonfire by Susan M. Boyer

Title: Lowcountry Bonfire

Author: Susan M. Boyer

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating:  4 Stars=Great Page Turner

Purchase at Amazon.com

In this sixth installment of Liz Talbot mystery series, Lowcountry Bonfire by Susan M. Boyer, Liz and partner, Nate Andrews are hired to investigate a local woman’s husband. Tammy believes her husband, Zeke is being unfaithful, and she wants Liz to get to the bottom of it. Liz takes the job and soon finds answers Tammy Sue can’t handle. She has a tantrum taking it out on her husband’s beloved vehicle, which holds a secret. This secret turns Liz and Nate’s investigation into trying to find out what happened to Zeke.

Lowcountry Bonfire is a typical Susan M. Boyer’s cozy mystery with developed characters and plot. It has unsuspected twists that keeps you entertained until the end This author always creates fun plots, twists and turns with a hint of the paranormal. I loved the fact that there is always some humor attached to the characters in this author’s books. I also enjoy that it is a husband and wife team solving the mysteries. I look forward to more from this author.

This book was provided by the author for review purposes.