Get To Know Vernon Samuel

1. What lead you to create this book now?
As I looked at the world around me the more I felt the need for me to
start my message.

2. What issues in today's society have you addressed in the book?
Virgo, She Did It Her Way addresses issues such as abuse, abandonment,
break-up, business building, confusion, confidence, direction, failure,
freedom, guidance, hate, hurt, hustling, jealousy, leadership, love,
loneliness, manifestation, manipulation, mistreatment, neglect,
parenting, promiscuous, planning, pregnancy, reflection, relationship,
sacrifice, self esteem, selfishness, struggle, success, survival,
teamwork, togetherness, un-appreciation and working.

3. Is there a message in your book that you want readers to grasp and share?
The most important message in my book that I want readers to grasp and
share is the importance of Loving Yourself Unconditionally and how it can
become the gateway to stress free living.

4. Tell us about the Mirror? What is it and can anyone use it?
The mirror that I refer to is the reflection of ones self. It is looking
within yourself to find the truth and anyone can do this process.

5. Thousands of books are published each year. What sets your book apart
from other books in your genre?
I feel that my book is different from others because it depicts the trials
and tribulations I went through in my life and the methods I took to
overcome so many obstacles in order to attain opportunities and beginning
to live stress free.

6. What do you like to do when you're not writing?
When I am not writing I like to spread my message and make other
preparations for the Take Your Life Back Campaign.

7. Share with us your latest news, awards or upcoming book releases. Also
share with us your online contact information.
Virgo – She Did It Her Way has been released on August 23, 2009. I also
plan on releasing my next book “Real Male or Real Man” on Mother’s Day of
2010.




About the book:
Virgo – She Did It Her Way is a book/diary that is written to have
people understand that in life you will go through so many things. And
as long as we continue to fall into those same mindsets of trying to
please others and loneliness we will keep doing the things that don’t
get us anywhere. This book touches on how easy it is to put others
first and how hard it will be to begin to put yourself first and give
examples of how to do it.

Synopsis:
In life, Virgo had two choices, living their way or living her way. She
realized that she would lose herself doing it their way and began to
wonder if she could take her life back doing it her way. Determined, she
set out on a journey to find the answer.
Virgo put everyone and everything first and learned the hard way what
un-appreciation was. The day finally came when she took a long hard look
in the “mirror” and realized that she had to change.
Her mirror told her that “only you can make you happy and everyone else
contributes to your happiness.” Now the challenge will be who you choose
to put first.

About the Author
Vernon Samuel, a self published author and C.E.O of BYRD Administration
Inc, a talent promotion company published his first book, “Virgo, She did
it her way”. The book is based on his own life story. Mr. Samuel
encourages and motivates individuals not to allow their past to determine
their future. A survivor and witness of life’s twist and turns, Vernon
Samuel is living proof that struggles and people do not have to tear you
down. No matter what you go through are what has happen to you, only you
can hold yourself back from achieving your dreams and wanting more out of
your life. Mr. Samuel speaks out to various groups, organizations on
subjects such as abuse, taking your life back, striving when enemies are
holding you down and looking into your mirror. He conducts workshops and
seminars based on self growth topics.

Author & Motivational Speaker Vernon Samuel is available to answer your
questions at http://www.vernonsamuel.com/forum/index.php/askvernonsamuel/
To learn more about Author & Motivational Speaker Vernon Samuel please
visit his website at http://www.vernonsamuel.com/
For media inquiries contact: Lisa@wickedcrowninc.com or 1-866-694-2533 ext. 2
Read inside of Virgo, She Did It Her Way:
http://www.bookrix.com/_title-en-vernon-samuel-virgo-she-did-it-her-way

Available for purchase at: http://www.Amazon.com and
http://www.vernonsamuel.com/buybook.html

Conversations w/ K.L. Brady

K.L. Brady is a D.C. native and grew up in Prince George’s County, Maryland, the setting of her debut novel. When she hit her "tween" years, her mother packed the family and moved to Bellaire, Ohio, where she eventually graduated from Bellaire High School. She attended the University of Akron for a few semesters, where she pledged Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., before moving back to the D.C. area.

She discovered a love for reading and writing at the age of three, by her mother’s accounts. Through the years, she has maintained diaries and journals, but the journals she wrote as an adult provided the inspiration for The Bum Magnet.

"Journaling allowed me to keep my writing a secret from the world. I’d write things and crack myself up, but I just never conceived of actually pursuing writing as anything other than an emotional outlet—that is, until I turned forty. With the real estate slump (my second love), and a high dose of Oprah’s Best Life series, I realized that I was suppressing a major part of who I was. I wanted to share my voice, experiences, and wacky sense of humor. The convergence of all those things was the kick in the pants I needed to get off my duff and write my novel. Although most of the novel consists of figments of my imagination and stretched truths, the main character’s life does mirror my own in some respects (unfortunately)."

A single mom, Brady lives just outside of D.C. in Cheltenham, Maryland, with her son, William. She works for a government contracting firm and is an active real estate agent with Exit Realty. Brady is also an alumnus of the University of the District of Columbia and University of Maryland University College, earning a B.A. in Economics and M.B.A., respectively.

"If I have one regret, it’s that I didn’t pursue my love of writing before I took out over $30,000 in student loans to get my M.B.A. Hopefully, my degree will serve me well in the marketing and business phases of the publishing industry because, God willing, I’m here to stay."

Synopsis


Real estate agent Charisse Tyson seems to have it all-a great job, a dream car, and a McMansion in high-and-mightyville. Everything in her life is just right...except the Mister. While lamenting the break-up with her most recent "the one" during a holiday meltdown, Charisse realizes she has a type when it comes to men—players, players, and more players. A magazine article motivates her to swear off men and examine the complex roots of her romantic fiascos.


Just five simple steps to turn her life to the stuff of legends, right? Life is never that easy...

Charisse commences her do-it-yourself therapy project and barely cracks open her emotional toolbox when she encounters the monkey wrenches: an irresistible new beau, two persistent ex-flames, and an FBI agent with life-altering secrets threatening to turn her world upside-down.

A tug of war ensues and Charisse is dead center, trying her best to distinguish the Don Juans from the Romeos. As her love life is propelled into unpredictable twists not even she could imagine, will a twenty-seven-year-old secret keep Charisse from finding the right “one”?

Laugh loud and often as Charisse discovers whether her choices in men reflect more than a penchant for good looks, great sex, and bad judgment.



Interview with K L Brady

1. CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOUR BOOK IS ABOUT?
IT’S ABOUT A WOMAN WHO IS APPROACHING A MAJOR LIFE MILESTONE—HER FORTIETH BIRTHDAY. SHE HAS JUST BROKEN UP WITH BOYFRIEND NUMBER TOO MANY AND READS AN ARTICLE THAT MAKES HER REALIZE IT’S TIME TO TAKE STOCK OF HER LIFE AND ASSESS WHY SHE KEEPS PICKING THE SAME KIND OF MAN OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN. BUT NO SOONER THAN SHE DECIDES SHE’LL HAVE NOTHING MORE TO DO WITH MEN, THEY START COMING OUT OF THE WOODWORK. SO, SHE GOES AGAINST HER BETTER INSTINCT AND PUTS HERSELF IN THE POSITION WHERE SHE’S GOT TO NAVIGATE THIS MINEFIELD OF MEN WHILE TRYING TO WORK ON HERSELF AT THE SAME TIME. THE STORY FOLLOWS HER ALONG THIS JOURNEY, AND SHE’S GOT A GREAT, SELF-DEPRACTING SENSE OF HUMOR THAT MAKES IT A VERY ENJOYABLE RIDE.

2. WHAT ARE SOME WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBE THE BUM MAGNET?
FUNNY, RELATABLE, ENLIGHTENING, SPIRITUAL, FAMILY, FRIENDSHIP, RELATIONSHIPS, TOUCHING . . . AND DID I SAY FUNNY?

3. WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE YOUR BOOK?

I HAD AN OPRAH "AHA" MOMENT ONE DAY LAST SUMMER (2008). I WAS COMING UP ON MY FORTIETH BIRTHDAY, FEELING LIKE I’D REACHED SOME LEVEL OF SUCCESS IN MY LIFE, BUT WHAT I WAS DOING DIDN’T REALLY FULFILL ME. AS I GOT TO THINKING ABOUT WHAT I WANTED TO BE WHEN I GROW UP, I WAS FLIPPING THROUGH AN EDITION OF THE "O" MAGAZINE AND WATCHING HER SHOW WHEN IT JUST HIT ME THAT I WASN’T LIVING MY BEST LIFE. I’D ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A WRITER. I’D BEEN WRITING IN MY DIARIES AND JOURNALS SINCE I WAS MAYBE SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS OLD. ALTHOUGH I HAVE TWO DEGREES, I’D ALWAYS LET THE FACT THAT I DIDN’T HAVE A DEGREE IN ENGLISH OR ANY FICTION WRITING EXPERIENCE KEEP ME FROM STARTING. I PUSHED THOSE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS OUT OF MY HEAD AND DECIDED TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT A WOMAN APPROACHING HER FORTIETH BIRTHDAY WHO TOOK STOCK OF HER LIFE AND DECIDED TO MAKE A CHANGE. MY LIFE MIRRORED THE MAIN CHARACTER’S LIFE IN THAT RESPECT—AND OTHERS (UNFORTUNATELY).

4. IS THE BUM MAGNET COMPLETELY FICTIONAL? OR IS IT BASED ON YOUR OWN LIFE EXPERIENCES?
FOR ANYONE WHO AUTHORS A NOVEL, I THINK THERE IS ALWAYS AN ELEMENT OF TRUTH IN IT. LIFE OFTEN DRIVES CREATIVITY, YOU KNOW. WE TAKE ONE SMALL FACT AND THEN WE EMBELLISH AND EXAGERATE IT UNTIL WE CAN’T BE SUED FOR SLANDER. ALTHOUGH—TRUE STORY—WHEN I TOLD MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT I WAS WRITING A NOVEL CALLED THE BUM MAGNET, ALMOST EVERY SINGLE ONE SAID, "IS IT AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY???" TOO FUNNY! SO, THERE ARE MANY "TRUTHS" IN THE BUM MAGNET, BUT THE VAST MAJORITY IS FIGMENTS OF MY IMAGINATION.


6. WHAT ARE THE BUM MAGNET’S CENTRAL TOPICS AND THEMES?
WHEN I WROTE THE BOOK, I WASN’T REALLY THINKING OF ANY PARTICULAR THEMES, BUT AS I’VE GONE THROUGH A GAZILLION REWRITES AND EDITS, A FEW STAND OUT. I THINK THE MOST PROMINENT THEME IS WHEN WE FIND OURSELVES REPEATING THE SAME BAD BEHAVIORS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AT SOME POINT WE REALLY HAVE TO STOP PLAYING THE BLAME GAME, SIT DOWN, AND TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR. ANOTHER THEME IS THAT SCARS FROM CHILDHOOD RUN DEEP AND LONG IF WE DON’T DEAL WITH OUR ISSUES WHEN THEY OCCUR. THEY CAN HAVE A LOT MORE IMPACT ON OUR DECISIONS AS ADULTS THAN WE THINK. A FINAL THEME WOULD JUST BE LEANING ON YOUR FAITH AND TRUSTING YOUR INSTINCTS.


7. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO WRITE THE BUM MAGNET?
WELL IT ONLY TOOK ME ABOUT FOUR MONTHS TO WRITE THE ACTUAL NOVEL. I PROBABLY WROTE IT MUCH FASTER THAN I WOULD’VE UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES BECAUSE I WAS TRYING TO BEAT THE AMAZON BREAKTHROUGH NOVEL AWARD CONTEST DEADLINE. I USED THAT AS MY "HURRY UP AND GET IT DONE" MOTIVATION. THE FIRST DRAFT WAS NOWHERE NEAR WHERE IT NEEDED TO BE TO WIN THAT CONTEST, BUT THE POINT WAS GETTING IT FINISHED. MY EDITS AND REWRITES HAVE TAKEN ABOUT FOUR MONTHS OR SO, ALL TOLLED. WRITING THE NOVEL CAME EASY TO ME, I JUST TRANSCRIBED THE LITTLE VOICES IN MY HEAD. IT’S THE REWRITES AND EDITS THAT WERE A BISCUIT (ADULTS, FEEL FREE TO TRANSLATE "BISCUIT")!



Contact Information:
K.L. Brady
Telephone Number: 877.557.7371
Email: Karla@KLBRADYWRITES.COM This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Web Addresses: WWW.KLBRADYWRITES.COM
www.thebummagnet.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/KL-Brady/135800625752

Comversations w/Candice Preau

Candice Preau Bio

Candice has been writing poetry, short stories and monologues since the age of 10. When she was younger she would recite pages of Dr. Suess stories for family and friends. She often exercised her creativity in drawing, painting, art and design throughout school, and most recently she is focusing on the arts of writing and acting. She has a B.A. in Advertising from Southern Methodist University and is working on an M.A. in English and Creative Writing. She currently does freelance writing for Examiner.com as well as public relations and business writing. In school, she was often singled out as the one to think outside the box, winning a contest for best copywriting and design in class, which resulted in having her ad featured on a store window. On her first screenwriting attempt, her screenplay short was selected to be shown at the Dallas Black Film Festival.

Currently, Candice is writing monologues, songs and poetry, and even keeps her box of colored pencils and drawing portfolio for when the visual artist side arises from time to time. She is building her writing portfolio to include published articles and reviews on various subjects, business writing, songs, monologues and 2 published books of poetry, Windows to the Soul , which was published and is available for purchase this year, and Emotional Metamorphoses and States of Being, which will be published in the year 2010/11. She loves to write her heart out and hopes that someday she can inspire the world with her artistic talents in various forms.

Synopsis of Windows to the Soul

Windows to the Soul is a compilation of poetry, prose and short stories from the heart and soul of its author, Candice G. Preau. Windows is the author's first published book, but not her last! She will continue to awe her readers with future artistic works in the form of poems, song lyrics, short stories, monologues and even screenplays! This book explores and describes many emotions as experienced by the writer. This book touches on subjects of politics, social justice, love, spirituality, inspiration, encouragement and even disappointment. The reader is sure to not only read but feel the words on the page. This work of art got a positive response from well-known poet Nikki Giovanni, and several nods of approval from those who have read it. Be sure to keep abreast of new artistic inspirations at www.poeticbutterfly.com!



Weblinks for Candice Preau

www.poeticbutterfly.com

http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=4047104




Questions/Answers



What attracted you to the art of writing?
I remember falling in love with Dr. Suess books as a child, and memorizing lines of his work for fun and reciting it for family and friends. I’ve always been in love and have had a knack for reading and writing. English was always my strongest subject. In the 5th grade my teacher gave the class an assignment to write a short story on any subject. Being a romantic from a young age, I chose to write a love story about two ants. I remember the title of the book was Antoine and Lillybug’s Love Adventure. To my surprise the story was a hit with classmates, the teacher, and the room full of parents she had me read the story to one night. From that time on, I fell in love with writing. Several other short stories followed that one.



When did you start writing poetry?
I started writing poetry at the age of 11, when I was introduced to the works of Langston Hughes. His work was so powerful yet simple at the same time. I was awe-struck and also read the works of Maya Angelou and other poets. My very first poem was inspired by a poem I read by Langston Hughes called “The Cup of Life”. I read that poem at every chance I got. My church would take the youth out to volunteer at the nursing homes and children’s shelters and every time I had a chance I would read poetry. That was the love of my life since I wasn’t allowed to date at the time.



How did you and do you cultivate your craft of writing?
In high school I wrote monologues and performed and won several oratory contests, and in college I wrote articles for my college newspaper and a magazine called the Cayenne Pepper, and took other classes in the arts to cultivate my writing such as acting, media, communications, journalism, copywriting, literature, drama and even music. All of these classes and the writing experience helped broaden my scope and creativity for writing in various forms. Currently I write for an online newspaper as well as do business writing and editing, and help friends with editing their papers and documents, and I am also of course, working on my next book of poetry and lyrics called Emotional Metamorphoses and States of Being. This work will be shorter, but each poem will be more in depth and will explore about 77 various emotions and states of beings that we face as people in different stages of life.



Who inspires you?
Definitely my parents, because they have sacrificed a lot for me to go to school, and be the person I am today. They taught me the value of serving others and being strong in the Lord. My faith in God, because without that I would truly be lost and have no sense of purpose. The world in which I live, because just about every day I am faced with or see something that triggers a thought/poem/something to write about. My life experience, because in 28 years I have gained so much wisdom, knowledge and appreciation of myself as a person. Last but not least, my vision, because I continually see past today, tomorrow, next week, next year, and I’m continually thinking about the contribution to the arts that I would like to make on this earth while here.



What is a fun fact about you?
One of my most recent accomplishments was being cast in a Church’s Chicken commercial. We did so many takes of eating cold fried chicken, for about 12 hours, that I haven’t had fried chicken in about 10 months and don’t know if I’ll ever eat it again! (Though I love Church’s chicken) (:



What do you do to relax and have fun?
I like going to the movies with a girlfriend or a date when they come around, I also like to travel. My favorite places so far have been San Francisco, New York City, San Diego, Miami, Vegas and Colorado. I plan on visiting Europe and the Caribbean next year. My family is from the Caribbean and a visit is long overdue! I love to write lyrics, poetry and short stories of course, and love to watch Lifetime movies

A Conversation with MIMI RENEE

A Conversation with MIMI RENEE

Author of Deadly Decisions
What is Deadly Decisions about?

A: Deadly Decisions is a tale of the life of a young red rag totting, rebellious teen turned hustler chick named Keisha Cones. Trying to run from her painful past from her broken home, Keisha covers up all her pain with the grit and the grind of a hustle. Living the fast life has definitely come with sweet success; luxuries and great satisfaction that Keisha can’t deny or let go. Including her two gangstas/ lovers’ that are from rival gangs; Cameron the Crip and Lil Boo the Piru whom her heart aches equally for. Not wanting to let one or the other go, Keisha is faced with the reality called life that she’s no longer able to run or hide from.

What inspired “Deadly Decisions”?

A: The Love that I have for both reading and writing and wanting to put the West Coast on the map once and for all. After reading many novels’ of different genres mainly books by Nikki Turner, I decided to take it to the street’s of Compton, through Deadly Decisions and write a gangsta love story.

So, is “Deadly Decisions” based on a true story?

A: Absolutely not, though you may have dime breeds of Keisha’s nature out there in the streets; this was strictly of a tale of imagination, creativity, fantasy and entertainment taking place where the gang war is still at large.

What is your biggest fear?

A: I fear nothing but God, everything else is nothing to me! Oh, I’m afraid of flying…lol!

What motivates Mimi the author?

A: My writing is motivated by everyday life situations. It’s not very hard to get my creative juices flowing; I’m a dreamer, and on top of that. I think a lot-; so it’s nothing for me to start up and finish a good story. It’s something that I am very passionate and sincere about, and what I love to do!

What do you want people to gain from reading “Deadly Decisions”?

A: I want people to gain the knowledge that gang- banging is still alive and that it claims the lives of people every day, which affects all of us. Though popular by demand, I want to send a message out that life is too short to live and/or die for a color, but is also too long to live by non-sense and hatred. It’s time we build a better community, structure and corporations for our generations to come. Gang banging leads to nothing but destruction, no matter what the reason is for getting involved.

After Deadly Decisions, What's next for you?

A: Getting the sequel to Deadly Decisions out is definitely” next in line for me... My motto is to work harder and play later- I have nine other manuscripts that I would love to see in print; contemporary as well as street literature. I’m trying to be a household name and have my own shelve in the bookstores; novels by Mimi Renee is the ideal. I believe that I have what it takes so that’s what I’m shooting for!



Melissa Burkes (Mimi Renee) California native born in Compton and raised in Long Beach California, Mimi Renee recalls that reading and writing has always been her passion from as far back as she could remember. As a young girl she read aloud to herself and others for fun and enjoyed volunteering to stand up to and read out loud in front of class as much as she could. During her sophomore year in high school at David Starr Jordan High in north Long Beach, Mimi learned that she was pregnant and was soon transformed to a continuation school to finish her high school term out at Will Reid continuation, in a special program for pregnant minors.


Getting her life on track as a mother and not able to hang out with friends like she had in the past, Mimi reclaimed her passion for reading. She read countless books of various genres in her spare time. A few of her favorite authors are; Sister Souljah, Terry McMillan, Teri Woods, Nikki Turner, Shannon Holmes, Mary B. Morrison and Mary Monroe. Going back to her grass roots of scribed art suddenly Mimi had become inspired to put her passion for writing into action. After writing her first line on the page of her notebook, she was hooked. She has continued to write manuscript after manuscript and enjoying every minute of it.


Synopsis:

Keisha Cones a sexy, independent hustler with a haunting past has dreams of making on top. Keisha endured a dysfunctional home life and tumultuous relationship with her mother. Her screwed up life style and unforeseen family tragedy ushered her into the belly of the beast. Keisha falls headfirst into a game of love and deception. There are three hearts at stake including her very own. In attempts to deal with her deteriorating emotional state and the need to survive, she gets involved with two of California's notorious gangstas. Keisha test the limits as she attempts to be the number one boss chic and stay alive without her dirty secret being discovered. Keisha is in too deep, the red and blue has become a big blur. The decisions she's making may prove to be deadly! Will she get her love Piru style or will she end up on a missing poster? Either way she is determined to be on top or die trying.

Johnsonpublications@yahoo.com



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