It's not as much motivation as it is a reflection of who I truly am. Like breathing, it's a natural function I do without thinking about the mechanics of it or how it comes to be. I recall once attempting to not write that way, but it was like trying to hold my breath and people saw through it anyway. I decided to just let my stories come the way they are meant to come. I love what I do and it's being true to my nature.
2. When you self-published Promises Beyond Jordan were you expecting a book deal? ?
Promises Beyond Jordan was actually the third book I self-published. A publisher did show an interest in possibly acquiring Promises Beyond Jordan, but that didn't pan out. Since I was already positioned to publish books, it freed me to write what I wanted, the way I wanted. So after that one publisher passed, I decided to not waste a lot of time with other publishers and published it myself. I believed at the time it was a good and necessary story. In less than a year, a BET BOOKS/New Spirit editor called me about acquiring it. The rest is now a part of what someday could become history.
3. Have you thought about turning Promises Beyond Jordan into a screenplay? ?
I can see it definitely as a movie. In fact, the number one response I get from people is that it "reads like a movie." People truly believe it will be made into a movie one day.
4. How do you successfully build a novel with two internal story lines-the romance and the spiritual?
Wow, what a great (and loaded) question! A storyline has to ring true to those who read it. As a writer, you have to know what your ultimate goal is for your novel. For me, it's always geared toward the reader having a wonderful and exciting experience. I generally begin with the skeleton of a story before I sit down at my keyboard. But it's the meat of the story that becomes the greatest joy for me. I love seeing those mounds of notes I've jotted down, scenes or those intriguing dialogues that played around in my head (out of order, of course) come together and in their appropriate places. My characters' world is flawed, while at times beautiful-just like real life. But the story has to feel real to me or I don't do it. I walk the story out inside my head to ensure it is plausible. I do love the surprise of something happening that I had no idea of, even with me being the author (a.k.a., the one seemingly in control). Romance, spirituality as well as other prevailing dynamics are part of life and they will most likely forever find a home in my work.
