AAMBC Spring Tours w/ Niobia Bryant

1 writer with
3 Publishers
15+ books
4 Genres
Celebrates 10 years of being an author with 2 award nominations and 3 new book releases in 2010

Message from a Mistress is your 15th novel since you started your career as a published author in 2000. What was the inspiration behind this book and its storyline of a woman sending a text message to alert her friends of her affair with one of their husbands?
My first book that was published ten years ago was a romance and I enjoyed--and still enjoy--telling these really great stories about the love a black woman and black man have for each other. But I always wanted to tell more drama driven fictional stories where there was no guarantee of a happy ending. Where people dealt with real meaty and complex issues in their lives. So I had to one day cross over into the commercial or mainstream fiction genre.
Message from a Mistress is my third mainstream work and it is a look at the dynamics of both marriage and friendship and how they can be affected by secrets, lies and betrayals. My main inspiration was not just to deliver drama and scandal but to really travel the road many marriages take that leads to that ultimate betrayal and then to examine the effects of it. More than my previous mainstreams novels, I truly believe that Message from a Mistress is the one that most captures the reason why I wanted to write more than just romance fiction.
Message from a Mistress was loosely inspired by the 1940's film A Letter to Three Wives, and your Hoodwives series was inspired by the television show Desperate Housewives on ABC… it seems that you find inspiration in TV and film to influence your writing. Are you inspired to tell stories that share views of what women of color aka "sistahs" would do in particular scenarios?
Definitely. Although the vast majority of my books are completely original I have been influenced by my own desire to see “you know what would a sistah do in this same situation.”

For the Hoodwives series, my co-author and I were like “Desperate? Puh-leeze. Living in a beautiful subdivision in a great neighborhood? They want desperate? How about the wives in the projects? We’ll show you desperation.” The idea for the series was born and then we came up with four original storylines for the wives.
I loved, loved, loved the movie “A Letter to Three Wives”. I enjoyed the concept of three wives learning that their mutual friend has run off with one of their husbands and then have the entire day to ponder which one of them has been betrayed. It’s really clever and it intrigued on so many levels. So I wanted to modernize the story and give it some new perspectives-- like adding the wives having secrets of their own. I really just wanted to see where I could go with it. Again the general premise is the same but the actual stories for each character are original and I had a lot of fun bringing those characters to life in Message from a Mistress.

You write in 4 genres… and are signed to 3 different publishing houses... very impressive…how did that happen for you?
I am definitely ambitious and very focused on living my dreams. The same way that I write in different genres, I read different genres. Black, white, whatever. From non-fiction by Cornel West to street-lit by Donald Goines. Sci-fi, young adult fiction, romance, commercial fiction, literary fiction and those like Tina McElroy Ansa and Gloria Naylor who have found a nice blend of commercial and literary fiction--I read it all. I wanted to try my hand at a lot of it. People always say to write what you enjoy. Well, I enjoy a lot of different things and it transitioned over into my writing.
I started out in romance because I did my research and discovered it was easier to get published without agent in this particular genre. Those books did well and I eventual got the agent. I had these different stories in me that I wanted in print so I came up with proposals over the years and my agent got to work making the deals happen.
This year you are nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award for Best African American Romance for your 9th full length romance novel "Make You Mine" as well as the Best Steamy Romance in the 2010 Emma Award presented by Romance Slam Jam. Congratulations on those accolades. As a national bestselling author, how important are these award nominations to you?The award nominations are great. They are testament that the hard work you put into a book is appreciated and respected. It’s a great way, besides having a great sell through percentage, to know that you’re getting it done; that people enjoy what you’re doing. I’ve been up for a lot of awards in the past ten years and I’ve won some, but I’m always just as excited as if it was my very first nomination because I have great passion and love for this writing game.
For someone who is celebrating her 10-year anniversary in book publishing and has over 15 novels of your own, what is your greatest achievement to date and what would you like to accomplish in the next 10 years?
I think the fact that I once dreamed of getting published and having just one book deal and to now have four is a great achievement for me. I’m a girl from a single-parent household from Newark, NJ who use to sit on the back of the public bus and tell stories to my friends and anyone who would listen. I used to write short stories in my notebook. I used to say I will have a book published before I turn a certain age. I did it. But I have even more dreams. I am a national bestseller which means I have hit some bestseller lists across the country but I definitely want to hit the New York Times or USA Today. Also, like any other author I would like to see one of my books turned into a major movie or television show. So in a nutshell, New York Times and a movie deal. Point blank, those two things are definitely on my to-do list.
For those who have never read one of your books please suggest a book in each one of the categories that you write in for them to begin reading-- Let’s see for one of my “sexy, funny and oh so real” romances, I suggest my GIVE ME FEVER. It comes out in May of this year and its book 3 in a series centered on the Strong family.
For the teen fiction of course I recommend my debut book, FABULOUS. I am writing under the name Simone Bryant. It’s about a clique at a private school for children of celebrities.
For urban fiction, my solo book as Meesha Mink debut in January 2011 so I suggest starting with the book that kicked off the series, DESPERATE HOODWIVES.
For mainstream, I suggest MESSAGE FROM A MISTRESS. It really is a smart, well-written, emotional, drama-filled roller coaster ride in the pages of the book.
What writers inspire you and why?
I am most inspired by authors Tina McElroy Ansa and Gloria Naylor. Tina's book, The Hand I Fan With and Gloria's novel, Mama Day are two of my all time favorite works of fiction. What I love about them is the blend of literary and commercial fiction. They both write very smart, entertaining, character driven books that remained with me so many years after first reading them. As a writer I want to be able to create that kind of lasting connection between my books and readers.

As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Message of a Mistress getting out to the public?
The internet has been such a fun way of promoting the release of Message from a Mistress and I'm sure will prove itself vital in the upcoming sales success as well. I have my Twitter pages, I have my Facebooks pages, MySpace and my personal blog www.niobiabryant.com; I use them all to keep my fans updated and to invite new ones. Tweetdeck is a must for me. I simply love the way it works.
As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Message of a Mistress?Since I write in multiple genres it helps me stay organized by creating a synopsis and an outline for each of my books. I write a full synopsis of the entire story and the first chapter which I usually have to submit to the publisher. Afterward I begin writing with the use of an outline chapter breakdown. Message from a Mistress took a few months not including editing.
What's next for Niobia Bryant?
I am working on promoting my three 2010 book releases, Fabulous my first teen fiction/young adult novel on Kimani Tru, Message from a Mistress on Dafina/Kensington and in May I will release Give Me Fever on Dafina. I'm doing my first virtual book tour starting March 1st. Readers can keep up with the itinerary on my blog and by following me on Twitter and Facebook.

45-second book excerpt---After receiving the text message from Jessa Bell-- Aria, Renee and Jamie decide to head to Jessa's home to confront her and discover yet another surprise

The taxi slowed at the glass-enclosed security booth and Aria lowered the window, knowing they would need to identify themselves to get inside thier subdivision. Sure enough, Lucky, the potbelly, red-faced security guard, walked back to the rear of the taxi. He stuck his head inside. "Hello ladies, he greeted them warmly.
"Lucky, have you seen Ms. Bell yet? Aria asked. His face was instantly confused. "Ms. Bell?" Well, remember she moved today ---?
"She moved," all three women said in unision with plenty of emphasis, obviously shocked as hell. "You ladies being such good friends, I assumed you all knew she was moving today."

Renee pocked the cork on the Patron again.

Synopsis---

1-SENTENCE

A sexy, unforgettable and drama filled novel about love, infidelity, and the importance of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer... From bestselling author, Niobia Bryant


Message from a Mistress
Will 160 characters lead to the end of someone’s marriage?
By: NIOBIA BRYANT

“Very Impressive” –Cyndey Rax, author of My Sister’s Ex

(March 2010) National bestselling author Niobia Bryant releases her seventeeth novel, Message from a Mistress which is loosely based on the 1940's movie A Letter to Three Wives.
Jaime Hall, Renee Clinton, and Aria Livewell all reside with their spouses in the affluent gated community, Richmond Hills, in New Jersey. The ladies are all best friends with their Richmond Hill neighbor, Jessa Bell–a sexy and single socialite. Trouble is Jessa Bell has just sent them all a text message taunting that she has run away with one of their husbands. That message opens the door to each of the woman’s unspoken insecurities in their marriage as each recalls incidents that hint that their husband is the one. And with the husbands away—and unreachable-- on a chartered fishing boat all day and Jessa not answering her phone, they have all day to wonder…and to worry about scandalous secrets of their own.
Throughout the book–which takes place in one day–Jessa Bell also recalls her steamy relationship with her unidentified lover. Everything about their explicit romps are revealed from the day she first seduced him up until the day he agreed to leave his wife–her friend–for her.

BOOK TRAILER---

http://www.youtube.com/user/niobiabryant#p/u/2/bNv9llajroY

About the Author--

Niobia Bryant a self described chameleon of the written word has contributed to the book world since 1999 with the release of her first short story Hush, Hush. Since then she has garnered publishing deals with 3 major houses, Simon & Schuster, Dafina and Harlequin. As a full-time writer she has penned over 15 novels using three different monikers including Simone Bryant (Young Adult) and Meesha Mink (Urban Fiction) within four genres of fiction literature targeted for African American females including romance and contemporary. In 2010 she will release three new books a contemporary, a romance and a young-adult within months of each other. This Newark, NJ native splits her time between South Carolina and New Jersey.

Communicate with Niobia Bryant

TWITTER @infiniteink

FACEBOOK--Niobia Bryant| Meesha Mink

Receive updates on appearances,bookclub meetings, awards, new releases, deals and more www.niobiabryant.com

Exposed Conversations w/ Desiree Day

Spritual Seduction By Desiree Day

Widowed with two small children, Riley Tyson is devastated when her husband
Bradley is murdered. She doesn’t miss his fiery temper and heartless philandering,
though. In fact, now that he’s dead, their relationship is better than ever. Bradley’s

spirit sneaks into her bedroom at night, tempting her with gentle, seductive
caresses and showering her with the attention he never gave her in life. It seems
too crazy to be true. Until he drags her unsuspecting soul into a world so evil even
Lucifer won’t go near it. . . .

Enter Malik Davenport, Riley’s boss and longtime friend. At six foot seven, with
smooth, almond-colored skin and vibrant blue eyes, Malik rarely goes unnoticed. An
ancient warrior prince who specializes in slaying demons, he’s the only man who
can save Riley’s life—and the only one whose passionate touch unleashes the sexy
vixen inside her.

As Bradley’s ruthless spirit orchestrates a deadly power surge against the living,
Malik and his team of paladins prepare for a war of the worlds that has been
brewing for ages. If they win, Malik and Riley can be together forever, but if they lose,
the fate of humanity hangs in the balance.

Get to Know the Author

Desiree Day has worked in the banking, telecommunication,
and information technologies industries, as well as in
academia. Her fiction has appeared in Woman's Word magazine and on
the Internet. She is presently working on her next novel. She lives in Georgia


Interview with Desiree Day



1. Tell me about yourself.


Hi, I'm Desiree Day, author of Crazy Love, Cruising, and One G-String Short of Crazy. My latest novel, Spiritual Seduction, a paranormal romance, will be released April 20, 2010. Readers can read excerpts of all my novels, including Spiritual Seduction at www.desireeday.com.


2. Tell me about your new novel.


I’m very excited about it. It’s called Spiritual Seduction and it’s a paranormal romance. Riley’s husband, Bradley is murdered. She’s sad, initially, because he cheated on her and was very abusive. Then their relationship takes an interesting turn, his spirit returns and seduces her. Riley falls in love with him all over again. But Riley soon learns that the spirit she fell in love with is evil.


Then her sexy boss, Malik Davenport, a hundred year old demon slayer takes on the role of her protector and lover. He and Bradley gets into some vicious battles. It’s a hot story about good and evil, love and hate.



3. Sounds interesting, how did you come up with the title Spiritual Seduction?


Oh that’s easy, because of how Bradley’s spirit seduces Riley. Basically, he wants to kill her and have her spend eternity with him in Lavastar a place worse than hell.


4. What made you decide to write paranormal?


My editor decided it for me. I submitted three proposals to her and I threw the first three chapters of Spiritual Seduction in at the very last minute. I really didn’t expect her to pick it, but she did. I’ve never written paranormal before Spiritual Seduction and I loved it. Spiritual Seduction is a good mixture of horror and sensuality.


5. Malik Davenport sounds sexy, tell me more about him.


Malik is a hot one-hundred year-old demon slayer. He’s over six feet tall, the color of almonds and has sexy blue eyes. He’s so totally in love with Riley. It’s sweet to see such a hard man softened by love. Malik comes from a long line of demon slayers and been killing demons since he was a teenager.


6. What's your next project?


I’m so excited about my current projects. I’m currently working on a new novel, a paranormal romance. It’s still untitled. I am also re-writing a young adult paranormal.


7. What would you like to tell aspiring authors?


Enjoy the journey. It can be a life altering experience if you let it.


Visit the Author at http://www.desireeday.com/

Exposed Conversations w/ E. N. Joy

E.N. Joy (Everybody Needs Joy)



E.N. Joy is the author of Me, Myself and Him, which was her debut work into the Christian Fiction genre. Formerly an Essence Magazine Bestselling secular author writing under the names Joylynn M. Jossel and JOY, when she decided to fully dedicate her life to Christ, that meant she had to fully dedicate her work as well. She made a conscious decision that whatever she penned from that point on had to glorify God and His kingdom.


Me, Myself & Him was released in March 2008 by E. N. Joy’s publisher, Urban Christian. E.N. Joy is also the editor of the anthologies titled Even Sinners Have Souls and Even Sinners Have Souls Too (part of the 3 book “Sinners Series”).


You can find this author’s children’s book titled The Secret Olivia Told Me, written under the name N. Joy, in bookstores now. The Secret Olivia Told Me received a Coretta Scott King Honors Award from the American Library Association in 2008. The book also went on tour with the Scholastics Book Fair in schools throughout the country.


E. N. Joy currently resides in Reynoldsburg, Ohio where she is currently working on her New Day Divas series. She’s also working on the final anthology in the “Sinners Series” titled Even Sinners Still Have Souls.


The “Sinners Series” includes some of Urban Lit’s most phenomenal authors such as Nikki Turner, K’Wan, Noire, Tysha, KiKi Swinson, Chunichi, Karen Williams and more. For the first time ever, these authors picked up their pens to write something outside of their norm; something that truly flowed from their spirits.


The New Day Divas series was incited by the CEO of E.N. Joy’s publisher, Carl Weber, but birthed by the Holy Spirit. God used Mr. Weber to pitch the idea to E.N. Joy; sort of plant the seed in her spirit, of which she prayed on and eventually the seed was watered and grew into a phenomenal five book series that she is sure will touch readers across the world.


“My goal and prayer with the New Day Divas series is to put an end to the Church Fiction versus Christian Fiction dilemma,” E.N. Joy states, “and find a divine medium that pleases both God and the readers.”


With book one, She Who Finds a Husband, launching the series February 2010, readers will agree that this project is one that definitely glorifies God in every aspect, but still manages to display in a godly manner that there are “Church Folks” (church fiction) and then there are “Christian Folk” (Christian fiction) and come Sunday morning, they all end up in the same place.


You can visit the author’s website at www.enjoywrites.com or email her at enjoywrites@aol.com.


Interview with E. N. Joy

What made you go from writing secular works under the names Joylynn M. Jossel and JOY, to writing Christian fiction and children’s work under the names E. N. Joy and N. Joy? That’s an easy one word answer; God. God has always been there keeping, watching over and protecting me, but it wasn’t until I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior did I acknowledge just how much God loves me. Now I live to glorify Him in everything I do, including my writing. So I’m now not only proud to be a Christian, but proud to be a Christian fiction author.

What was your first Christian fiction title? It’s titled Me, Myself and Him. It came out March 2008. It’s about a woman who is trying to live in the word while holding onto the hand of her live in boyfriend, who is in the world. When the story begins, neither the main character or her boyfriend are practicing Christians. The story shows the struggle between an unsaved couple, when one partner begins to fall in love with Jesus.

What was your first children’s story? My children’s’ story is titled The Secret Olivia Told Me. It was published September 2007. In February 2008, the American Library Association gave the book a Coretta Scott King Honor for illustration. Scholastics Books purchased the book club rights, and the book is on tour across the country at various schools for book fairs.



What is the difference, if any, between writing secular fiction and Christian fiction? There is a big difference. Now, instead of outlining and figuring out in which direction I want the story to go, I simply get in God’s word, get in God’s face, ask Him what He wants me to do, what He wants me to say, what He wants the message to be, then I take dictation from the Holy Spirit.

Do you ever stray from what you think God is calling you to write? I try very hard to keep my mind clear; to make sure I’m in tune with the Holy Spirit when I’m writing. But I’m going to tell the truth and shame the devil; I’m human, so just like in every day life, when it comes to my writing, I do sometimes allow my flesh to rise up and do it’s own thing. I have written things that I thought the reader might want to read without consulting the true author. Do I get convicted for it? Yes, via readers’ emails and reviews…and some of them, unlike God, have no mercy. So I try my best to stick to ghostwriting…Holy Ghost writing that is.

What current projects are you working on? I have a series titled “The New Day Divas Series.” The first book of the five book series is titled She Who Finds A Husband (February 2010). The second book is titled Been There, Prayed That (June 2010). The third book is titled Love, Honor or Stray (December 2010). The other two will be released in 2011.

Is writing a full-time job for you? Yes, well, actually, I have two full-time jobs (three if you count taking care of my family). I write full-time and I edit full-time. I’m the acquisition editor for Urban Christian (www.urbanchristianonline.net). I’m also the editor for the “Sinner Series”, which includes the titles Even Sinners Have Souls (Nikki Turner, Noire, Chunichi), Even Sinners Have Souls Too (K’Wan, Michel Moore, Victor L. Martin) and Even Sinners STILL Have Souls (Kiki Swinson, Karen Williams, Brandi Johnson).

What was the pastor of New Day Temple of Faith thinking when approving the creation of the New Day Singles Ministry? Better yet, what were its members thinking when they joined?

Doreen, lovingly known as the Church Mother of New Day, thought that when she presented the idea of the ministry to the pastor, it could serve as a foundation to empower, encourage, and enlighten the church’s single members. But when only women join and Doreen learns that all these women want only one thing out of the ministry—help in finding a man—her mission goes astray.

She Who Finds a Husband is what you get when you combine some Divine, some Independent, some Virtuous, some Animated, and some Stoic personalities all in one setting—DIVAS! Dig into this soap opera in print as the women of New Day Temple of Faith Singles Ministry set flight to include men in their future, not realizing that the past is what’s keeping them bound.



She Who Finds A Husband

By E. N. Joy

An Excerpt


Deborah sat up rocking in her bed with her knees to her chest and her arms wrapped tightly around her legs. She couldn’t get rid of the pounding in her head, a pounding that was a result from crying all morning long.

“The Lord is my Shepard; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters…” Deborah had been reciting Palm 23 ever since early this morning when she decided not to go to church.

Fully dressed in her Sunday’s best, Deborah had every intention of going to New Day Temple of Faith to get her praise on when she awoke this morning. But that nagging voice in her head had chased her around the house while she got ready for church, and it kept hurling insults at her about being a phony and fake Christian hiding her sins. That voice had finally broken her down and convinced her that the last place a wretch like her needed to be was in church. The stench of her past sin would stink up the place.

Now here she sat, rocking back and forth like she belonged in a loony bin somewhere, reciting the same Bible verse over and over while staring off into a daze. She’d hoped that her voice would drown out the one that had been taunting her, but it had yet to work.

“That stupid Helen!” she ranted right in the middle of walking through the valley of the shadow of death. “I wish she were…I wish she would just…why did she ever have to step foot in New Day in the first place? That was my church! My church! And now here she comes tainting the life I’ve built there. Here she comes digging up the bones I’ve buried. How dare her. Who does she think she is?” Deborah despised the day that the Lord had made just a few months ago when Helen showed up at New Day.

By now Deborah was out of the bed pacing back and forth in anger. Somewhere between walking in the valley of the shadow of death and not fearing any evil, she’d decided to shift blame from herself to Helen. Never mind the actual act that she had committed four years ago, the act that Helen obviously had found pleasure in dangling over her head. Helen had no right to all but threaten to reveal her dirty little secret. It was Deborah’s secret. Who was Helen to try to take ownership?

Once again there was pounding. Deborah jumped back in bed in the same position, only this time she covered her ears with her hands in order to drown the pounding out.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want,” Deborah started again. Her lips were fixed on the scripture, but her mind was fixed back to the very day she had been reminded of the heap of dirt she’d swept under the rug.

Get to Know D V Hent

.V. Hent is the pen name for the erotic author of If You Don't Tell and the upcoming book, Valentine.

Originally from the Midwest, it wasn't until he moved to Houston, TX in 2005, that he began actively writing short stories. After submitting his stories to several online websites and receiving praise, he decided to venture towards traditional publishing. That all came to a halt when the queries he sent we often never returned or simply rejected. Attending several writing classes, he decided to focus on making a name for himself and going the self-publishing route. Now the CEO of Naughty Ink Press, he loves both the responsibility and freedom of owning his own imprint.

With his first book now published, D.V. spends most of his free time promoting his book, connecting with readers and writing the follow up to If You Don't Tell as well as his second book, Valentine.

AAMBC Author Interview

Inside Look: D.V. Hent






What made you get into writing?

I've been writing ever since I was in the second grade. My teacher, Mrs. Marshall read us stories about Greek tragedies and from that point on, I read everything that I could get my hands on…including my mother's romance novels. I actually stopped writing when I was in high school. I went to a primarily white school and my teacher would regularly put up inside of her class what she thought was well done-- somehow I always found myself in that elite company. Since I was one of three black kids taking college prep, I figured that hey, I was safe. Well, one period, we were tasked with writing a poem and to make a long story short, she took my poem, along with a few others, and put it on a board in the main hallway. Needless to say, I had to do a lot of fighting for the rest of the semester with all of the black kids who'd said I'd sold out for being smart.

Embarrassed, I just stopped writing. For about 7 years, I didn't write a thing. It wasn't until I read the back of an Eric Jerome Dickey book that said, "If you have the gift, use it" and after I ventured into some things "alternative" that my zeal for writing returned. Now, all I do is write.

What made you want to write a novel called, If You Don't Tell?

The title for If You Don't Tell was thought of long before the book even existed. It was a Melvin Riley song that I liked and basically it was about sneaking around with some guy's woman…go figure right? Anyway, I kind of didn't like where our erotica was going because I felt like it was lacking the romance aspect. That's not a shot against anyone, but I felt like gratuitous sex could still be had as long as there was a plot, so I wrote If You Don't Tell.

In addition to that, I felt like communication is the one thing missing from a great deal of relationships, so I scripted a 'what if' story. What if people had these fantasies, indulged in them and didn't tell their partners? What if someone found out and decided to get what they wanted? Age old questions brought together with a new age twist.

Do you have any other novels coming out soon?

Yes. I have a book called Valentine. It's about an escort that moonlights as a contracted killer. You may be saying, "Hmmm, sounds like a lot of gratuitous sex!" And perhaps you're right! But first and foremost, I write books where the story supports the heated, passionate, mind-blowing sex and not the other way around. The plot should never be sacrificed for the sex.

Getting back to Valentine. She is a loner by nature because of the jobs she has, but ends up befriending her neighbor-- who brings more trouble than she's worth. I am currently finishing up the book and I plan and pray to have it ready by the National Black Book festival.

What projects are you currently working on?

Well, since everyone else has a sequel, I figured 'Why not me!" Because If You Don't Tell was almost 600 pages when I originally finished it, I decided to chop it down and turn it into two stories rather than one. I mean, who wants to read a 600 page erotic romance by a guy who no one has ever heard of? How much sex can he possibly write?? The answer-- not nearly enough to keep a 600 page book interesting. Other than Valentine and the next part of If You Don't Tell, I'm just trying to get my name out there.

When you’re not writing, what are you up to?

Research. Because I deal with what black people call "alternative lifestyles", sometimes I'm forced to get my hands dirty. Not that I mind, of course, but I'm all about realism. Men, like myself, tend to have fantasies about how two women get down and what we see happening in our heads isn't always the way it is. So I have to be real with not only myself, but with the people who read erotica. I mean I would hate for someone to write about the things I do and instead of research, they just make up the first thing that comes to their mind. I'm a voyeur for the truth!

When I'm not forcing myself to do more research, I like to read, spend time with the family, cook and play video games.

What has been the most rewarding part of being a published author?

The politically correct answer would be that having my own business and the struggle uphill has made me humble, but that's not me. In all honesty, the most rewarding thing to me? That's easy… the fans! When I'm not D.V., I work, I hustle and I deal with the things that God has divined that I deal with. As D.V., knowing that there are people in your corner because you write something they enjoy is probably the single greatest feeling of accomplishment I've had yet. I like to be as humble as I can, but when someone tells me that they enjoyed my book, I feel like I just walked into a stadium filled with 100, 000 people and they are all screaming for me-- and that's just one fan! The greatest rewards are usually the most simple.

What advice would you give up and coming authors?

Life will always find a way to get in your path. Work, kids, significant others will all eat away at your time, but like my mother always said, "The best things come to those who make them." Take control over your life and take responsibility over your existence. God didn't make us to fail, he allowed us to choose our paths. The funny thing about choice is what we choose to make ourselves? Do you choose to let circumstance dictate your life or do you make your life what you want it to be. I learned that not everyone can be a winner, but no one is ever a loser. So in essence, set a goal, make a plan to achieve that goal and never look back.

Exclusive Readings

CHAPTER 9


Laela


January 15th (Sunday)


There were two things that I hated more than anything in the world: a slow shift and a long night. I was having a long night and unfortunately, it was impossible to have one without the other. With hardly any laboring patients, the floor was so quiet that I could hear the punch-in clock ticking.

Ordinarily I hated day/night shift rotation scheduling, but knowing that Niya and a few of the other nurses were suffering with me made my burden seem a little less heavy to carry.

When we all arrived at around 7:00 p.m., the floor was chaotic as usual. Even though the board was moderately heavy, reading only 12 patients on the floor, with four more coming during the night, most of the nurses were ready to give report and leave. I received report from Sandra, a nurse I knew from days, and began writing down all the things I needed for my two patients and began my shift.

Before midnight had arrived, half of the patients had gone to postpartum, and with two out of the four incoming being redirected to others hospitals, we were left with six working nurses to take care of the six remaining patients. As fate would have it, neither of my patients were delivered, but Shanti Patel, the night charge nurse, gave one of them to Michelle Harris, one of the three black nurses working tonight who was lucky enough to have delivered both her patients.

By 2:30 a.m., the last of the triage patients were discharged, and with the rest of them sleeping, the only sounds that could be heard were those of the sanitation crew mopping the floor. With the night being so slow, Shanti allowed us to chat around the nurses’ desk, which was typically frowned upon; especially with the things we talked about.

As always when she was around, Michelle started it off. Just a few years older than me, she’d done more explicit things than I could ever dream of doing and usually had pictures to prove it. She didn’t have the ideal shape, looking more like a pear each time I saw her, but she was full of life and lust, which I believed offset any physical beauty she lacked. Whenever we listened to her stories, she always tried to whisper, but she was as boisterous as they came, which usually made her stories all that more interesting. Like children at a campfire, we’d hang onto every word she spoke. With the luxury of being single and the only one of the floor who openly admitted bisexuality, her escapades were usually raunchy and recent.

“-- so he went down on me, right, and I was lovin’ it, right. This man ate pussy like it was the last scrap of food on the planet. I mean I’m a big girl, but that boy put me in the fetal position several times. So now I’m hot and bothered, I want some dick. I tell him to take off his pants and when he does, out plops the smallest thing I’ve ever seen!” Michelle admitted in her typical energetic fashion. We all erupted in laughter, but Shanti looked over to let us know that she wouldn’t tolerate anymore outbursts. However, Michelle continued like she either hadn’t seen or didn’t care. “So I’m like what you gone do with that? That little thing ain’t even large enough to freshen up my breath!”

“You did not tell him that! That is so hurtful!” Dawn exclaimed. She was one of the two white nurses in the group and was also very single. From her long blond hair and green eyes, to her country accent and her inability to talk about sex like we did, she carried her own personal halo. To me, she was the embodiment of the wholesome southern belle, but when it came to sex, she listened more fervidly than the rest of us.

“I sure as hell did. Told him he could eat this, but he couldn’t beat this. Not tonight.” She snapped her fingers and started us up all over again. We all snickered, trying to hold back the laughter. I wasn’t sure I could hold back, so I bit on my finger.

“He knows what it is. There ain’t nothin’ less than the lucky number seven that can satisfy all this.”

“I know what you mean, girl.” Teniyah interjected. “I had the same thing happen to me in college. He was cute as hell and I really liked the guy, but when I saw how small it was I was pissed. All that fine mixed with all that disappointment. I mean he put so much effort into it that I tried to cum, but all he really did was tickle the outside.”

“So you married him,” I blurted out and fell over, quietly laughing on my way to the floor. The other girls covered their mouths, but most laughed just as hard as I did.

“Aw, see. Why you gotta go there? Now I’m gonna have to go get my box cutter. I didn’t want to cutcha, but now I have to. And my hubby is not small! You know what? I’ll be telling Franklin what you said when I get home. We‘re gonna cut yo’ ass up together, do it family style.”

“That’s funny. I always heard black guys had humongous thingies. Is that true or just a stereotype?” Terra said. Like Dawn, she was snowflake white, but she was far from single and within a few months of working here, found herself a doctor. They were engaged six months after they met, and with the size of the rock she had on her finger, I was surprised she didn’t always come to work wearing a sling.

Michelle chuckled. “Let me tell you something, sweetie. I’ve slept with men all over the spectrum. Usually, black men have most of them beaten, but that don’t mean nothin’. I could say that based on my experiences that Hawaiian guys have them all beat. The only Hawaiian guy that I’d ever been with had a dick so big and thick that I think he broke both of my fallopian tubes and maybe cracked an ovary, okay? But I won’t say that because then I’d be stereotyping. I love my black men, but GOD didn’t bless everyone just because of their skin color.”

Kim Huang, our only Asian nurse, finally spoke up in her perfectly annunciated English, “I have only been with one person in my life and that is my husband. In my country, being with anyone outside your race is usually considered disrespectful, but being in this country has made me a little curious to what is out there.”

“Wow,” I said. “The only man you’ve ever been with is your husband? I don’t think I like those odds.” We all looked around and agreed, even Dawn, who I swore was a virgin.

“Aw, Poo-Poo,” Michelle said. Poo-poo was Michelle’s nickname for Kim, though I don’t know where on earth she got it from. “Do you want to know what it’s like to be with a black man? Miss Michelle is gonna hook you up.” She got up from the desk and grabbed her oversized bag and pulled out a portable DVD player. After placing it on the desk, she smiled and pushed play. As soon as the movie began, all of us watched in awe as a man whose erect penis stood halfway up his abdomen began punishing the poor black girl underneath him. She cried in ecstasy or pain, I’m not sure which, at his constant barrage of dick missiles.

I looked over at Dawn, who looked longingly at the screen, then at Kim who seemed completely mortified, but Michelle was enjoying every moment of it, practically clapping to the soundtrack of the movie.

“Hey, girls, I was just wondering what you were--” Shanti never finished the sentence as she came to the desk and saw what we’d all been watching. She stood staring at the DVD screen a few moments before speaking. “Oh my goodness! Oh, dear. Um, Terra, I, uh, just wanted you to know your patient needs help ambulating to the bathroom. Um, can you help her-- her to the, uh, bathroom?” But at no time did Shanti take her eyes away from the screen. After Terra left, the room was once again filled with the sounds of two bodies slapping forcefully together, porn influenced music, and the occasional grunts and moans that movies like this provided.

Twenty-one minutes later, the movie ended. We stopped it short of “our hero” expelling his unborn children all over her, but everyone already understood what was about to happen.

Shanti was the first to walk away, looking a little flustered as she breezed by me. She was so red that I’d swear it was sunburn if it weren’t almost four in the morning.

Teniyah was the first to speak up. “Are you always that horny that you need to keep a flick nearby?”

“No, but I did a fun party earlier today and you’ve gotta have visuals,” Michelle responded.

Next, it was Kim’s turn to speak. “So, are all black guys that--large?”

“Only the blessed ones,” Michelle chirped.

“It ain’t lucky to have a dick that big. I tell you what, if my man was that big, he wouldn’t be hittin’ this.” Terra said.

“It was very interesting,” said Dawn. “I think it’s time for me to go on break.” And she rushed off.

Kim turned to Michelle. “Thank you for showing me. I now realize how much safer I am with my husband.”

Michelle laughed. “Sex Ed 101 has now concluded. Ladies, it’s been a pleasure.” Then, like Dawn, she decided to go on break.

“Why are looking at me like that?” I whispered to Teniyah. I felt like she could see through my scrubs as she smiled at me.

“I’m horny,” she whispered back into my ear. “I want you to meet me somewhere. We’re going to take our break together.”

The butterflies were back.



Forty-five minutes later, we were taking our break in an available room.

We’d entered the room, kept the lights off, locked the door and the kissing began immediately after that. We kissed all the way to the electric bed, which was raised to its highest level, per hospital rules.

With the exception of New Year’s, I’d only had sex with Teniyah twice and since one of them was spur of the moment, it didn’t really count. We’d go shopping and somehow we’d end up at another hotel. I wanted to plan these escapades out, but Niya was too spontaneous and I was enjoying the sex more than I’d led her to believe.

“If we--get caught--, we’ll--lose our--jobs.” I managed to get out the whole sentence between our lips smashing against each other’s face. “I like--this--job.”

She pulled back. “We won’t get caught if you learn to be quiet.”

“I’ll let the bed down.” I was breathing heavily with anticipation and pulled my lips away from her invading tongue to let her know what I wanted to do.

“Don’t waste your time.” She hoisted me up onto the bed and yanked my scrub pants down to my ankles. “No panties?” She looked at me and I smiled shyly.

“Needed to wash my thongs,” I admitted, but that didn’t stop her from pulling my bound legs up over the bed and dining on my nectar.

Between the first time we’d been together and this one, she’s gotten supremely better. She made no mistakes, rhythmically fingering me, and continuing her sampling of Lae. I wanted to scream, to shout to the world how much I loved what she was doing to me, but I was forced into complete silence until I began grabbing the covers off the bed and whispered, “Niya, I love it. I love it-- Here I cum, dammit. Here--I--Cum!”

I tried to keep silent, but the pressure was too unbearable. As my temple throbbed to release my torment, she quickly moved her tongue from my clitoris to pushing it inside of me. What was once torment soon became an eruption of curses.

My head curled up to my knees and a lion‘s roar was released from the depths of my body. “Fuck!” I screamed. “Fuck me!” I couldn’t hold back. The stunt she pulled increased my orgasm what seemed like tenfold and I couldn’t control what came out of my mouth. I pulled in as much air as I could after having expelled so much so quickly.

“You like?” she asked.

“Where did you learn that?” I was still trying to catch my breath. “Where the hell did you learn that from?”

She smiled. “I’m not telling. Okay, pull your pants up. After a scream like that, security might be coming.”

I pulled my pants up and as we snuck out the room, we saw and heard no one. “I don’t see anything, do you?”

“Nope,” she responded.

We snuck out of the room and walked into our break room. I collapsed on Cookie while Niya began to pace around the room.

I lifted up my head from the couch. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s something that I didn’t want to happen and it happened anyway?”

“Okay, so what’s up?”

She paused. “I don’t know. I’ve really enjoyed the time we’ve spent together lately. I mean other than the sex. I just wanted to thank you for, you know, going this far with me. I never figured that it’d turn into this, and Lae, all of it has been such a rush.” She gave me a hug, which brought back the butterflies all over again.

“It’s been intense, but if the guys found out, I don’t think they’d approve.” I tried to laugh, but the only thing that came out was a half baked chortle. “But it’s a trial. If it hadn’t been for you, I might’ve never found out some of the things about myself that I know now.”

“Yeah, I feel the same way, too.”

“So this is our learning experience, our self-education class.”

Then, she kissed me on my forehead. “Thanks for going down on your girl last week!” We both laughed, but I knew that she wasn’t just joking. After everything I’d learned from her, she came a great deal quicker than I had. “But seriously, Lae, I’m glad you did this with me.”

“Niya, don’t get all mushy on me now. You’re helping me practice for you know, the thing with Quinton. We have fun and we get back to our lives.”

She frowned as she looked at me. “You make this sound kind of dirty. Is that what you think? Do you really think I’m your secret affair?”

“It’s not that and you know it. I just don’t want us to get too far ahead of ourselves,” I lied.

Ever since the first time, all I could think about was the next time we’d be together. I wasn’t exactly sure if it was the thrill of something different or simply the sex, but I didn’t like the way sex with Niya dominated my thoughts.

“Truth is Lae, that I think I might be bi.”

For a brief second, I involuntarily held my breath, waiting to hear the punchline, but it never came.

“You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

She’d said the “bi” word, but that was Niya. I wasn’t sure what I’d been feeling, but I knew it wasn’t that I was bi. I couldn’t be, could I?

“So are you going to say something to Franklin?”

“Why would I do that?” She asked, looking at me strangely.

She walked over and sat down on Cookie, right next to my head. She put my head on her lap and began to run her fingers through my hair.

For a brief second, I wanted to tell her everything. I could’ve told her how awful I felt about leaving Quinton out, but how exhilarating the rush of sex was. I could’ve told her how our intimacy brought out all of these feelings that didn’t yet have names. I could’ve told her that I didn’t know what the hell I was feeling and that I was more confused about myself with her revelation. I could’ve told her that maybe it was time for us to stop, but instead I smiled… and said nothing.



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Get to Know Markeise Q. Washington

Born November 21, 1984 in South Philadelphia, PA, Markeise Q. Washington has been writing since he was ten years old. In late 2006 his literary journey began when he starting penning his debut novel "Entrepreneur". With his mind set on ownership, 5ive Star Publications was born in May 2007. His goal was to cover all genres of fiction as well as children's literature.

Destined and encouraged to do great things Markeise is constantly reminded of the early and unfortunate passing of his biological mother whom is indeed the catalyst to his success. Proactive, determined, thought provoking and intelligent Markeise Q. Washington will always and forever remind us that Dreams are today's answers to tomorrow's questions.

Entrepreneur 2- It's been three years since Swift took the reins and Block was sent to prison. With their net worth rising and businesses expanding, Swift sees their opportunity to get out the game completely. When Block is released from prison, he co-sign's Swift plan to leave the streets alone. After Block's readjustment period, he and Swift are back together like old times. At every move they make to walk away from the game, someone watches.

There are the cops who want nothing more than to see them rot in a jail cell. There is also someone who is hell bent on killing anybody associated with Block. On top of that Block and Swift are transitioning to new heights in their personal lives. They are both dealing with personal things that they've kept from each other. These things ultimately change their lives forever. Will Block and Swift be able to make the transition or will the once comfortable streets be their downfall?

Chapter 1
Swift



Nearly a month had passed since graduation, and my mother was already sweatin’ me. Normally, she was a sweet-looking woman, with her 5-feet-6, one hundred and seventy five pound frame and fudge complexion. She had jet black, shoulder length hair with bright eyes and long eyelashes. However, at that particular time, she looked like the devil, horns and all. Of course, she was on my case about employment. I was submitting applications left and right.
“Swift, get in this kitchen and wash these damn dishes,” my mom shouted loud enough for the entire city of Philly to hear.
“Get him to do it,” I mumbled under my breath. I gave Malik the ice grill as I passed the couch en route to the kitchen. I got in the kitchen and was able to count how many dishes were in the sink. There were two bowls, a plate, and three pieces of silverware. I think she yelled at Malik through me.
Everyday when I came home from community college, Malik was on the couch, hand in his boxers, watching MTV. It amazed me how lazy my brother was. My parents practically spoon fed him and that only made things worse. I could only shake my head in disappointment.
It was like every time I did something that wasn’t up to her grand standards, it was a problem. I could clean the house and if I happened not to mop that particular day, she bought it up. She tried to make it seem like I didn’t complete anything. I couldn’t remember the last time that Malik cleaned something. I would venture to say maybe when we were in 8th grade.
When I first came home, I could admit that I didn’t want to do anything remotely close to constructive. When I realized that I wasn’t making any money playing NBA Live, I started looking for employment anywhere I could. She was never on Malik’s case about getting a job. Go figure, right?
I would be looking for a job and come home and see Malik smoking with the knuckleheads from around the way. They were a group of the smartest young brothers I knew. They just went down the wrong path and got caught up in what they thought was cool. When I went off to school, I desperately wanted Malik to come with me. Maybe if he came to school and saw what they had to offer he would have a different perspective on life. I couldn’t understand for the life of me why he wouldn’t use his GOD given abilities.


I went to my room to finish a term paper. I was the greatest procrastinator on planet earth. I had to type ten more pages, and I had to be in class at 10 a.m. sharp. I started to type the fastest I could with one finger. After awhile, I incorporated a finger on my left hand.
I looked down at the bottom right corner of my laptop and the time read 11:57 p.m. The next thing I remember was waking up to a string of mismatched letters as a result of falling asleep on the keyboard. I spent fifteen minutes deleting the letters. I wasn’t even done typing my paper, and I wasn’t surprised.
I ripped a black sweat suit off the hanger, laid it on my bed, and hopped in the shower. I took the quickest shower time would permit, and jumped into my clothes and boots. I sprayed on some Fahrenheit cologne and tied on my black do-rag. I put my laptop in my bag and ran up the basement steps clear across the living room out the door.
I didn’t stop running until I was at the corner of 46th and Baltimore Ave. I could see the 34 trolley coming, and I was glad because I could barely breathe. I caught my breath soon as the trolley pulled up. I found a seat in the back by the window. I took out my laptop and took a deep breath before I attempted for a second time to finish this paper.

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