“Jake, I’m here! Where are you?”
“I’m in the kitchen, babe!”
Jake sent her a wide and genuine smile over his shoulder when
she entered the room. His long legs quickly covered the space between the table
and door. He scooped Pearl off the floor and spun her around, giving her a
long, deep kiss.
“Damn, I’m glad to see you. It’s been too long since we’ve
seen each other. Come sit down.” He pulled her to the table.
“Two days is too long?”
“Sweetheart, two hours is too long to be away from the one
you love.” He kissed her hand then pulled out her chair.
“You are so sweet.” She surveyed the table as he poured he
filled a second flute handing it to her. “So, what’s all this?”
He sat across from her. “This, honey, is a celebration.”
“Really? What are we celebrating?”
“Well, we’ve got an anniversary coming up, don’t we? Next
month will be a whole year since we started seeing each other, and I think it’s
time we took this thing to the next level.” He tapped his glass to hers before
taking a sip. “Don’t you?”
Pearl took a drink then rolled the glass between her hands.
“Are you sure that’s what you want, Jake?”
“Yes, it’s what I’ve been wanting.” He pushed a bowl of
strawberries toward her and leaned on the table. “I gotta tell you Pearl, I
don’t want to keep doing this. I’m starting to think you’re, you know, maybe a
little embarrassed to be seen with me.” He turned pain filled blue eyes to her.
“Are you?”
“No, Jake, of course not.” Pearl went around the table to sit
on his lap. “We have a nice quiet existence. What’s wrong with that?” she added
popping a strawberry in her mouth.
“I don’t want a nice quiet existence. I want the whole world
to know how happy I am, how happy you make me.” Jake took her hand and kissed
it again. “I want to do what other couples do. I want to take walks in the
park, go on picnics, out to the movies. I want to walk down the street and hear
the old people say, ‘Aww, look at them, they’re so in love.’”
She smiled.
“I— I want more, Pearl.” His voice softened with his plea.
Can you, for those who don't know you already, tell
something about yourself and how you became an author?
I always wanted to be an
author. I was the kid that wanted to be one when I grew up.
What is something unique/quirky about you?
I am a bonfied Trekkie that spends my time crocheting gifts
for people while I wait for my acceptance letter from Hogwarts.
What are some of your pet peeves?
I am not a micro-manager. That drives me crazy! Once you're
given a "to-do list" or you know your job then no one should have to
be on over your shoulder making sure you do it.
Where were you born/grew up at?
I was born and raised in Brooklyn New York, in Coney Island.
I loved it! Growing up in Brooklyn is survival of the fittest.
What do you do to unwind and relax?
I have a heated foot massager. I have a glass of wine and
crochet with my feet in it.
Describe yourself in 5 words or less!
Creative, silly, fun, loyal and beautiful.
When did you first consider yourself a writer?
I sold my first short story in October 2006.
Do you have a favorite movie?
I love, love, love Beauty and the Beast. The whole looking pass
the physical to see the inner beauty touches my heart.
Which of your novels can you imagine made into a movie?
I would love to see Aphrodite's Day Off on film. It's Greek
mythology based with an urban twist. That would be really cool.
As a writer, what would you choose as your
mascot/avatar/spirit animal?
My spirit animal is a cat. They can be sweet and cuddly but
when they feel threatened the claws come out.
What inspired you to write this book?
I wanted to write a romance that seemed a little more
"real". I love those love stories about boy chases girl, boy catches
girl something weird happens but they end up together in the end, but I wanted
the "weird" stuff to be realistic for people like me.
What can we expect from you in the future?
I have several books coming out in 2021, Four Queens
(contemporary 4 book series), Daughters of the Cosmos (African Goddess), Clan
Dioni (vampires) and a few holiday shorts.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in
Tri-Romance?
Opal and Pearl are twin sisters and Debbie is their best
friend. They grew up together and own a beauty shop. They decide to live the
single life to its fullest and keep men at a distance. When Pearl meets Jake
that changes for her. Rakim is a frequent customer at the beauty shop and has a
crush on Debbie. He has been trying to get with her for a while with no luck.
Doug is Rakim's friend that hopes if Rakim gets a shot at Debbie than he can
date Opal.
Where did you come up with the names in the story?
The title Tri-Romance is a play on words. There are 3 main
characters that are trying real romance for the first time.
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I love incorporating my home town by adding places and well
known things that New Yorkers would recognize is always a highlight for me.
Who designed your book covers?
I use a few designers because I don't want my covers to look
that similar, unless it's a series of course. The wonderful Dawne' Dominique at
Dust til Dawn Designs did this particular cover.
Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent
book?
Yes! During my research I learned I really enjoy folklore and
legends.
If your book was made into a film, who would you like to
play the lead?
Without a doubt I'd like Megan Good to play a duo role as
Opal and Pearl (I'm sure they have the camera magic to make that happen) and
Selena Gomez as Debbie.
What is your favorite part of this book and why?
When the girls go to New York to visit Debbie's family. The
twins get to have a family pow-wow with the women.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all
come entirely from your imagination?
Although I have used personality quirks from family and
friends to make a character more real, all my characters are from my
imagination. I also use names of family and friends that have passed on so they
will always live in my book but when i do that they have nothing in common with
the real person.
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel
like you have the reigns of the story?
Oh no, my characters absolutely drive the story. I may come
up with the beginning, the middle and the end, but they definitely direct how
we get there.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yes. I have a few that are completed that I don't think it's
the right time to release them yet.
Is there an writer which brain you would love to pick for
advice? Who would that be and why?
I would love to pick
Piers Anthony's brain. I absolutely love his Xanth series but when I found out
he had like 3 or 4 series and releasing books from each series at the same time
that blew my mind! I find that fascinating that his brain can bounce back and
forth between so many completely different worlds to write their stories and
then still function in this world. I can only do one series at a time and can
barely function in this world while writing. I need to know that skill!
How long have you been writing?
I wrote my first full length story at 12 years old. I sold my
first short story in October, 2006.
Do the characters all come to you at the same time or do
some of them come to you as you write?
For me once I have a character in mind the story usually
forms around them.
What kind of research do you do before you begin writing a
book?
I research the person, the place and the thing that is most
paramount to the story before I start writing so that there is realism.
Do you see writing as a career?
If my writing brought in enough money to pay for my
necessities, I would leave my 9-5 to write for a living in a heartbeat.
Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite
genre?
I really like regency romance. I don't get the chance to read
it that often because my own characters want their stories told.
What is your writing process? For instance do you do an
outline first?
I'm a combination pantster-plotter. I make a outline with
only the beginning, the middle and then. Once that's done I let the characters
lead me to each part. Sometimes it goes as planned but most times the stories
end up totally different than my first vision.
What is your writing Kryptonite?
Synopsis! I find it extremely hard to put my 50k word story
into 2k so one can get the jist.
Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers
what they want?
I try to be original or bring a new twist to an old story.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters
from the opposite sex?
It's hard to keep the balance between having your characters
behave the way want them to be and your perception of the way they are. You want
them realistic but not jerks.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
Absolutely and I get it. When it happens I put my brain in a
different mode. I crochet or paint to keep the creative juices flowing.
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