Author Tinisha Johnson

Author Tinisha Johnson

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

Outside being an author, I’m a mother and a wife. I also work as an Event Specialist, hosting mostly political teleconferences. I get to talk and listen to lots of Congressmen and Senators.

What is your earliest writing memory?

Possibly when I was about ten years old. At least that’s when I remember that English was my favorite subject. At that point I took an interest in reading various books and soon took an interest in writing poetry.

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

I feel a huge sense of relief and accomplishment. I feel like I’m in heaven or something. I smile just as wide, because every time I finish a piece of writing, I know I’m living my passion and dreams.

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

In my novel, Searchable Whereabouts, Rahkel Williams is my main character. Since I knew I wanted to make this novel a murder mystery, I concluded that I’ll make her have several problems and issues to deal with on top of solving the mystery of her beloved uncle’s death.

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

Searchable Whereabouts is the story of Rahkel Williams who’s trying to unravel the mysterious murder of her beloved uncle. However, after his death, she finds out her uncle may have been living a double life. She sets out to find the truth along with the police and private investigator Darrin Miller. But soon finds she’s in over her head when a horrific family secret is revealed, which lead to her uncles murder.

I also have an upcoming release that I collaborated on with two other authors - Linda R. Herman and Allyson M. Deese. The name of the book is Somebody Prayed For Me. It’s a collection of short stories, poems and letters. It’s an inspirational book filled with so much emotion. I really enjoyed working on this project. It is dear to my heart

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?

What would you do if your loved one was murdered, and later found out they were living a double life, which carried on a horrific family secret for several years? That’s what happened to Rahkel Williams in the mystery novel, Searchable Whereabouts by Tinisha Nicole Johnson. Someone doesn’t want her to know the truth about her beloved uncle’s murder, and will even attempt to kill her to stop her from learning the truth.

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?

Take it as it is, and yes, sometimes it may hurt, but I have to believe in myself. I realize not everyone’s going to like what I write and that’s okay. But at the same time, I learn and continue to always perfect my writing. I can’t take everything what people say or write about me so personal to the extent that I forget that as long as I’m living my passion, that's good enough for me.

What authors influence your writing dreams, goals and aspirations?

Stephen King, Zane, Eric Jerome Dickey, James Patterson. I’m big on self-help and non-fiction. Some of those authors are: Cynthia Kersey, Brian Tracy, Anthony Robbins and Bob Proctor.

What books would you recommend on writing?

My bookshelf is filled with books on writing, but two that come to my mind that I’ve recently referred to are: On Writing Well by William Zinsser and Writing for Story by Jon Franklin

If you could change one thing you did during your road to publication, what would it be and what would you have done different?

I would have hired an editor, and I also would have tried longer to find an agent.

What advice would you give an aspiring author?

Persistence; Believe in yourself; Never listen to anyone who says it can’t be done, Constantly read and write.

Where can readers learn more about you and your books?

Readers can visit my website: www.TinishaNicoleJohnson.com Readers can purchase Searchable Whereabouts at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, or they can request it at any book store.

Tinisha Nicole Johnson
Writer/Author/Poet
www.tinishanicolejohnson.com

Proud Member of ASA (Authors Supporting Authors)
www.asanetwork.webs.com

Tinisha, thank you for taking the time to share a little with us. Many blessings to you in all your future endeavors.

Author Desiree Day

Author Desiree Day

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

I live in the suburbs of one of the greatest cities in the world, Atlanta, GA. I moved here from New York. I am a single mother of a two-year old and I work full time at a local college.

What is your earliest writing memory?

I can’t remember that far back. But I remember being really transformed through journaling. I started journaling about twenty years ago and I still do it. I don’t write as faithfully as I did twenty years ago, but when I do write it’s usually pages worth. I find journaling very therapeutic.

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

A huge sense of accomplishment and relief, I’m sure fellow writers can relate.

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

My soon to be released novel is a paranormal. I’ve never written a paranormal before and I am very excited at being able to do so. I had the idea years ago, but never explored it. I submitted a synopsis of the story to my editor and she was very interested. Now that I’m writing it, I really love it. There are very little boundaries in paranormals, since you are creating your own little world, the sky is the limit.

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

My upcoming release is tentatively titled, Spiritual Seduction. It’s about a formerly abusive husband who is killed and returns as a ghost. He seduces her into believing that he’s changed, but when she finds out that he’s even more hateful towards her when he’s dead than when he was alive, she tries to escape him. Unknown to her, a colleague of hers is a warrior who destroys ghosts. She ends up falling in love with the warrior. There’s a battle, and the readers have to decide is it a conflict between good and evil, the dead and the undead or simply man versus man over a woman.

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?

Pick up my novel if you are interested in something that will have you peeking in the darkest corners and reaching for your sweetheart after reading some of the sex scenes.

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?

At first it bothered me, but not so much now. I realize that reviews are very subjective and what one person might like another person might not. It’s not the end of the world, and I don’t lose any sleep over bad reviews.

What authors influence your writing dreams, goals and aspirations?

I admire Zora Neale Hurston for her writing, I can read her stories a million times and never get bored. I love Zane, she’s an awesome businesswoman. If I accomplish only a tenth of what she’s done, I’ll be happy. And I really enjoy any writer who can take me to another world or teach me something new.

What books would you recommend on writing?

I am embarrassed to say that I haven’t read any books on writing in years. I really enjoy reading articles on writing. I look specifically for articles on character development, plot and dialogue.

If you could change one thing you did during your road to publication, what would it be and what would you have done different?

There isn’t anything that I would have changed. I look back at it now and realize that it wasn’t that bad. It took me nearly a year to secure my literary agent. Looking back, it really wasn’t that long. I have been fortunate, I respect my agent and I really enjoy working with my editor at Pocket Books.

What advice would you give an aspiring author?

Keep writing, network, don’t be afraid of rejection or criticism and keep writing.

Where can readers learn more about you and your books?

They can visit my website at www.desireeday.com.

Ready To Publish Friday--Overused Words

Welcome, welcome, welcome to another Ready to Publish Friday article feature found on the web. Overusing words is something writers tend to do. We become pretty fond of certain words and sometimes they creep their way into our stories over and over and over... Then there are some words that despite how we feel about them, we use them because they're easy and readily available. Check out the article to find out which words we tend to abuse. Happy Friday.

10 Overused Words in Writing

David Bowman, Owner and Chief Editor of Precise Edit, wrote this article. (c) Copyright 2008, by Precise Edit

All words are good words. Some, however, are overused without adding value to what you write. As a result, they reduce the readers’ interest, make text seem redundant, and cause the writer to appear amateurish.

We have created a list of 10 overused words, based on the documents we have edited over the last 5 years. We don’t recommend that you remove these words from your writing. Instead, we recommend that you become aware of how often you use them and that you revise your documents to limit their use.

Click HERE for entire article.

Author Leila Jefferson

Author Leila Jefferson

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

Outside of being an author, I have a 9-5 that pays the bills, I'm a mother of 4, and I'm also a publisher. I try to stretch my 24 hour days into maybe 36, lol. Actually, the author role is probably my most comforting one. Anything outside of that is pretty hectic where I have to answer to a boss, be a boss, cook dinner, clean house, check homework and anything else that comes my way.

What is your earliest writing memory?

The first memory I can think of was when I was in the 5th grade. The whole 5th grade class had to write an essay about what school means to you. To this day, I can't even remember what I wrote, but I remember I was home sick one day. All my friends called me that evening to tell me they called my name over the intercom because I had won first place in the essay contest. I went to school the next day so excited. We had an assembly and I stood in front of the whole school and read my essay and accepted my blue ribbon. I fell in love with the written word at that point.

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

The feeling is one I can't describe. It's a mixture of accomplishment, with pride, with ecstasy along with a huge exhale. Then comes the nervous feeling, lol. I write and rewrite and rewrite, but I still stay nervous, hoping I came harder than the last time to make people want to read my next work.

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

This is kind of a hard question. At this point, I'm re releasing my older titles under my publishing company. My latest novel I just completed though is a sequel to He's A Keeper. The main characters were already in place, and everybody that read Keeper wanted to know what happened next, so I began working on the sequel to answer unanswered questions.

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

Probably the new release would be the anthology I'm releasing under my company. It will be the first official book to represent My Time Publications and it's titled That's The Way Love Goes. It's a collection of seven stories by seven diverse authors, including myself, on relationships and love. It's broken in two parts. The first part is when love goes bad, and it had the stories that don't end so happy. The second part is when love goes good, and you have the happily ever after stories. I'm really excited because every story is different because all the authors have a different voice.

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?

Pitching myself as an author, I would say I write real life. My characters are relatable to anyone that reads my books. I often put that 'hmm' factor where you're sitting up questioning what your neighbor or coworker may be doing after hours. I mix chick lit with erotica with a little bit of street and bring a story that you will remember.

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?

I take what they say and see how I can improve my writing. I know everything isn't for everybody, and some of my writing can be a little out there, and sometimes that's why a reviewer/reader didn't like it. There's nothing I can really do about that. But if they felt my characters were weak, storyline didn't make sense of something along that line, then I'd really study what I wrote and work on improving my skills.

What authors influence your writing dreams, goals and aspirations?

I've always been a big fan of Eric Jerome and Terry McMillan. I read many other authors, but those two, I will buy whatever they put out. I admire when you can bring a different story and change someone's life. I admire being able to write in different genres and still bring a great story. I love books being made into movies! I hope to achieve that one day.

What books would you recommend on writing?

This is probably horrible for me to say, but I haven't read any books on writing. I read a lot, and that's the best teacher for me

If you could change one thing you did during your road to publication, what would it be and what would you have done different?

I would have taken my writing seriously a LONG time ago. At first it was just for fun, and I wasn't really pursuing getting published. Today if I could go back, I would have been in the literary world hard when I started writing my first book.

What advice would you give an aspiring author?

Study your craft and study the business! I can't stress that enough. A lot of authors get so excited on the promise of that first publishing deal, they usually get the short end of the stick. Also, a lot of authors only care about writing, and that's all they know about. You have to know this business if you plan to have longevity and succeed.

Where can readers learn more about you and your books?

There are a couple different places. www.myspace.com/leilawilliams or www.mytimepublications.com Again, I'm in the process of republishing a few things, so things are still in the beginning stages right now but it's coming together.

Ready To Publish Friday--Who's Got Style?

Welcome to another Ready to Publish Friday. In previous weeks we've read articles about inspiration and courage. This weeks article about style comes from everywoman Shon Bacon a.k.a. ChickLitGurrl.

Developing Your Writing Style

Becoming a Lifelong Learner of the Craft of Writing

By author, editor, educator Shon Bacon aka ChickLitGurrl™

If I told you to develop your writing style, would you know what I meant?

If your answer is “No,” then this new column of The Write Life for You is…FOR you!

Here’s a quick definition of style: the way you put together a sentence or group of sentences.

The problem with figuring out style is there is no one sure way. It’s subjective. Depending on different forms of writing (essays, articles, stories, etc.) and different disciplines (science, art, humanities, etc.), style may differ.

Click HERE for the rest of the article.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Quotes for New Years

originally posted by rewyman

Below you will find quite a few quotes to think about as you bring in the New Year. These quotes were found at The Quote Garden. If you want to read more of these lovely quotes, head over to the site.

Youth is when you're allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you're forced to. ~Bill Vaughn


An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. ~Bill Vaughan


Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits. ~Author Unknown


A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other. ~Author Unknown


Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin


No one ever regarded the First of January with indifference. It is that from which all date their time, and count upon what is left. It is the nativity of our common Adam. ~Charles Lamb


New Year's Day is every man's birthday. ~Charles Lamb


Never tell your resolution beforehand, or it's twice as onerous a duty. ~John Selden


Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. ~Hal Borland


The merry year is born
Like the bright berry from the naked thorn.
~Hartley Coleridge


New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights. ~Hamilton Wright Mabie


The Old Year has gone. Let the dead past bury its own dead. The New Year has taken possession of the clock of time. All hail the duties and possibilities of the coming twelve months! ~Edward Payson Powell


Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right. ~Oprah Winfrey


Ring out the old, ring in the new,
Ring, happy bells, across the snow:
The year is going, let him go;
Ring out the false, ring in the true.
~Alfred, Lord Tennyson, 1850


The proper behavior all through the holiday season is to be drunk. This drunkenness culminates on New Year's Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you're married to. ~P.J. O'Rourke


Every man should be born again on the first day of January. Start with a fresh page. Take up one hole more in the buckle if necessary, or let down one, according to circumstances; but on the first of January let every man gird himself once more, with his face to the front, and take no interest in the things that were and are past. ~Henry Ward Beecher


New Year's Day: Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual. ~Mark Twain


The new year begins in a snow-storm of white vows. ~George William Curtis


For last year's words belong to last year's language
And next year's words await another voice.
And to make an end is to make a beginning.
~T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding"


We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day. ~Edith Lovejoy Pierce


Yesterday, everybody smoked his last cigar, took his last drink and swore his last oath. Today, we are a pious and exemplary community. Thirty days from now, we shall have cast our reformation to the winds and gone to cutting our ancient shortcomings considerably shorter than ever. ~Mark Twain

Christmas Story

A Visit from St. Nicholas

originally posted by grandmayoall

Attributed to Clement Clarke Moore

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap,
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle,
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."

originally posted on: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_visit_from_st_nicholas.htm