Author Shonell Bacon

Author Shonell Bacon

Shonell Bacon has a Masters in Fine Art of Creative Writing, Masters of Arts in English, Masters in Mass Communications, and a Bachelors of Arts in Communication Arts. She is located in Lake Charles, Louisiana, where she is an educator. Ms. Bacon is also an editor and an every day woman.

Tell us a little bit about you outside of being an author.

There’s a lot to say, but I’ll try to keep it brief, :-)

I make a living through education; I am an English Specialist and mass communication lecturer at the local university here in Louisiana. I teach developmental writing, English composition, writing for radio/TV, intro to mass communication, and media writing.

I still have a foot in the publishing industry through my editing and my interviews. I conduct interviews all over the place, but my two main blogs – ChickLitGurrl: high on LATTES & WRITING (http://chicklitgurrl.blogspot.com) and All the Blog’s a Page (http://alltheblogsapage.blogspot.com) – are where I do most of the interviewing. At CLG, I interview women writers, and at AtBaP, writers discuss various topics and their relation to writing.

And beyond these things, I’m a friend, sister, and mother to many. I spend a great deal of time doling out advice and offering a shoulder or ear.

What is your earliest writing memory?

When I was about ten, my mom and I were at a flea market, and she bought me a green diary – had gilded edges and a lock. Cost a quarter. That day, I began cutting out pictures of my beloved Orioles from the newspaper and writing stories about the players. The diary held the very first scripts I tried to write, too. I would come home from fifth grade, watch my favorite soap “The Guiding Light”, and write my own episodes of the show. Every time I think of it, I get sad that I still don’t have the diary. It really opened me up beyond my existence.

What feelings do you experience once you are satisfied with your completed manuscript(s)?

I cry for one. I have invested a lot of time and care with the characters, and closing the book on their lives is always a heartbreaking moment for me. And then, after crying, I smile hard, laugh a bit, tell about five people, and then immediately, my brain is going into revision mode, LOL

In your upcoming release or newly released book, how did you come up with the idea of your main character(s)?

Last month, Lady Leo Publishing released three stories of mine: Connections, Got Til It’s Gone, and Under the Mistletoe. Connections is the latest, and the story is one that many of us can relate to in the 21^st century: internet dating. Most of my stories have a “relationship” at the center of the story; for Connections, the relationship takes place online, and the conflict is whether the main character Christianna is willing to spoil a good online thing by trying to make it real. I’ve met and dated and had relationships with a few guys from the internet, so it wasn’t too hard to conjure up this story idea.

You can purchase all three stories @ LLP: http://www.ladyleopublishing.org.

Tell us a little bit about your work in progress and/or your upcoming release.

Well, recently, I finished two projects: a Christian novel titled Empty Swings and a screenplay titled The Problem with Being Happy. Empty Swings is about Madison Smith, a woman who lost her family in a drunk-driving accident and must learn how to reclaim her faith and her life. The Problem with Being Happy is about Happiness Day-Bailey, a world-class mother and wife, who finds her “perfect” world dismantled when her husband decides to leave her, and she is forced to stay strong and not kill anyone during the worst day of her life. Both are ready to be pitched, so wish me luck!

I’m a big believer that word of mouth creates more sales than advertisements. Let’s say I’ve never read any of your books before, how would you pitch the idea of your latest release to me?

Here’s a pitch for one of my latest stories, Got Til It’s Gone: Have you ever felt unappreciated in your relationship? Rochelle feels your pain. In Got Til It’s Gone, Rochelle has great friends, a great family, and a seemingly great man in Will. Well, lately, Will’s been spending most of his time coddling all his female friends, leaving no time for Rochelle and their relationship. Rochelle, having heard one-too-many excuses, goes out with her girls to relax, relate, release, and while out, she hooks up on the dance floor with a man as smooth and fine as her own man. When Will shows up and spots Rochelle in the arms of another man, the pair gets ready for their ultimate showdown with both wanting to come out victor.

I consider myself a tough critic when reviewing books. What do or would you do when you receive a mediocre or less than average rating from a reviewer or reader?

First, cry. Have to be truthful. Second, leave the review for at least a day and during that time, I complain to all my friends. Third, I go back and reread review. If there are real, concrete, constructive reasons why the book didn’t receive a higher review, I’ll pay attention and consider it for future works. If the review is simply being rude and ignorant – like when a reviewer once said (keep in mind, the reviewer was anonymous, but I knew who it was), “These authors need to go to school and learn the craft of writing,” I just laugh and keep on keeping on.

What authors influence your writing dreams, goals and aspirations?

Toni Morrison – her lyrical prose, her poetic style has affected me, and on really good days – when I don’t even realize I’m doing it – I can pen a pretty nice line of poetic prose.

Bernice McFadden – Her novel SUGAR did it to me. Ever since I read that book, searched out McFadden and included her and her novel in a research paper I wrote years ago, I have been hooked. I love her for nearly the same reason I love Morrison.

ZZ Packer – I loved her collection, DRINKING COFFEE ELSEWHERE and was stoked when I got the chance to introduce her at a reading. She writes about an eclectic Black experience – something I’ve been doing for years, something I don’t want to veer from. Black isn’t just about the street – it’s multifaceted, and Packer was a young Black woman writer who was lauded for writing in a way that I want to write.

USA Network Shows – Psych, Monk, In Plain Sight, Burn Notice – these are some of my fave shows on TV, and I love the timing, the pacing, the dialogue of the works; I try to incorporate that into my works.

What books would you recommend on writing?

• On Writing by Stephen King

• On Writing Well by William Zinsser

• The Elements of Writing by William Strunk

• Plot & Structure: Techniques and Exercises for Crafting a Plot that Grips Readers from Start to Finish by James Scott Bell

• How to Write a Damn Good Novel: A Step-by-Step No Nonsense Guide to Dramatic Storytelling by James N. Frey

• Write Great Fiction Revision and Self-Editing by James Scott Bell
  
  
  

What advice would you give an aspiring author?

One, write from the place that scares you. It’s not just about what you know but also about what you don’t know, what you fear to know – and looking at it right in the face and writing about it without flinching.

Two, study the craft of writing. So many people think they have a story to tell, but it seems like many aren’t willing to actually study the craft of writing. Buy books on the craft, take a class, seek mentors – do what you can to be well-versed in writing.

Three, network – join groups, blogs, websites, social networking sites. Find writers who write in the style you’re interested in – befriend them. Find agents that push what you write – befriend them – hang out their blogs or MySpace pages – many of them have pages today ….to include publishing houses. Connect with people at your level for encouragement and camaraderie; seek those who are where you’re at for connections. Then you will be able to pull up those behind you and help them on their publishing journey.

Where can readers learn more about you and your books?

The World According to ChickLitGurrl – http://chicklitgurrl.wordpress.com – this is where I report on my writing status and other writerly-related things!

The Original ChickLitGurrl on MySpace – http://www.myspace.com/chicklitgurrl - I just like friends! LOL