JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Sonya Visor, editor of Who I’ve Become is NOT Who I Am
(Covenant House Press)

Wearing a Mask is a powerful thing! We all have worn a mask at one time or another in our lives. The danger is when YOU can no longer be seen… What people see is the face that you have become! Sonya Visor knows this all too well when she found herself on her living room floor in a fetal position ready to take her own life.

God used her four-year-old son to deliver her! It was indeed time to be free. It was time to TAKE OFF THE MASK, but first she had to become naked and unashamed from the hands that touched her life.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Who I’ve Become is NOT Who I Am?

Sonya Visor: You simply just don’t put ALL of your “stuff” out there for the world to see… It had to be divine! However, this is not a testimonial book. I was driven by the fact of being alone in my taking off the mask process. I wondered how many others were smiling, while contemplating suicide. I couldn’t be the only one feeling like this, and I had to tell others how I took off my mask.

JP: What sets Who I’ve Become is NOT Who I Am apart from other books in its genre?

SV: Everybody has worn a mask! I don’t care how beautiful or handsome, together attire or a public mess, we’ve all played “a role” at one time or another. We can all relate to masking. This book is almost too real. You will see yourself in the pages of Who I’ve Become is NOT Who I Am.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Who I’ve Become is NOT Who I Am getting out to the public?

SV: I remain a person who is teachable. I have read and applied books, attended seminars investing in the vision to birth this book. I am the kind of person who will surround myself with people who have been successful in the areas I need strengthening in. God has blessed me with folks who don’t mind reaching back to help others succeed.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Who I’ve Become is NOT Who I Am?

SV: The book was done in 2006. Marilynn Griffith got a hold of the manuscript and said, “Sonya, this is good, but you’re on the surface. Go deeper, and quit hiding behind Bethany .” (You have to check out chapter six to find out who Bethany is.) I left the project because I wasn’t ready. I revisited and started over in November of 2008. It took me two weeks writing a chapter a day.

JP: What’s next for Sonya Visor?

SV: I will be going on a book tour visiting surrounding cities for Who I’ve Become is NOT Who I Am. As a contributing author to Sistahfaith, a new book compiled by Marilynn Griffith, released by Simon and Schuster, I will participate in some of the upcoming events. I am excited about my upcoming play April 2nd, Silence is NOT the Answer.

The next TruU conference is April 24th! My TruU Blog Talk Radio show will be here May 1st! My creative juices are flowing for what my hearts desire is: writing my fiction novel. Now that’s the fun stuff I love to do while keeping it real.

Take_off_the_mask@yahoo.com

http://www.sonyavisor.com/
http://www.truuministries.com/
http://sistahfaith.ning.com/profile/SonyaVisor
http://twitter.com/sonyavisor
http://www.facebook.com/people/Sonya-Visor/100000337567957
http://www.nccracine.org/

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Dawn McCoy, editor of Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success
(Flourish Publishing Company)

Written by Dawn McCoy, one of the youngest elected members to serve on the Sacramento City Unified School Board of Trustees, this pivotal book shows how ordinary people can become extraordinary leaders. Geared towards aspiring leaders or those already in leadership positions, Leadership Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success outlines seven strategies to achieve success. These include Vision, Balance, Courage, Relationship Building, Tenacity and Commitment to Legacy.

McCoy candidly shares personal triumphs and challenges she faced in the political arena and other leadership roles. She draws attention to Leadership Building Blocks’ fundamentals, skills designed to distinguish a leader. Each concept is illustrated by an example, application, and story. With easy-to-follow icons, leadership self-assessments, and goal-setting worksheets, McCoy takes readers through her experiences while simultaneously giving them tools to succeed in their leadership roles.

Leadership Building Blocks provides step-by-step procedures about where leaders begin, how they can advocate for their cause, and how they can deftly maneuver through unpredictable circumstances.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write your book Leadership Building Blocks?

Dawn McCoy: The inspiration to write Leadership Building Blocks came to me in two ways. During my years as a nonprofit executive and elected school board trustee, I witnessed shortcomings among leaders in business, politics and community groups. For me, the ideas developed when I wanted to provide solid, easy-to-digest solutions to common leadership challenges. Eventually, these ideas became the premise for the seven leadership building blocks.

Second, my grandmother and aunties inspired me to write because of their legacy sewing quilts. For years, I’ve watched them weave together from scrap materials and clothing creative home-spun blankets, quilts and wall-hangings. They have created stories that come alive from fabric and decorative embellishments. When I received a quilted square handed down from a great-great aunt, I knew I had n obligation to tell a story using my creativity.

So, Leadership Building Blocks came to me as a way to both tell my story about life in public office and the local political landscape. In the process, I shared lessons learned with the intent to help others get in, survive and manage leadership roles.

JP: What sets Leadership Building Blocks apart from other guides on leadership?

DM: There are a lot of leadership books such as reference guides, business management and personal development. To me, some leadership books and biographies fall short without delivering real strategies about how to become a better leader.

Leadership Building Blocks will inspire readers to jump in, take on or tackle any leadership role. Too often we hear about leaders making bad decisions. This book is the perfect solution to bring integrity back to leadership. It is filled with kernels of wisdom, chapter-by-chapter icons and self-assessments.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Leadership Building Blocks getting out to the public?

DM: For me, there are two keys to my success getting the word about out to the public.

First, it’s about staying balanced. This means staying centered on a personal level. It also means having a solid support system. I often quote noted African American dancer Katherine Dunham who said “Go within every day and find the inner strength so that the world will not blow your candle out.”

Second, it’s simply about connecting with people. Finally, I’ve found success already getting the word out about Leadership Building Blocks through leveraging my network. In other words, I’ve found success connecting with people given their needs or challenges.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Leadership Building Blocks?

DM: My writing process is to write when and where inspired. I always keep a notebook with me to jot down thoughts, observations and notes. Typically, I work with an outline but give myself the flexibility to move sections and chapters around.

Also, since I write non-fiction, I’m inspired by greatly current events and personal circumstance. For instance, the section and chapters about legacy was written just after my grandmother died in 2007. The epilogue was completed just as President Barack Obama was elected as the first African American U.S. president.

In total, writing Leadership Building Blocks took me about three years to complete. The challenging part near the end was editing out exercises and text that will be part of a leadership workbook.

JP: What’s next for Dawn McCoy?

Right now, I’m excited to be on a national tour for Leadership Building Blocks speaking at conferences and visiting local bookstores and colleges. Over the next few months, this will include book signings in New York, DC, Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, and Los Angeles. It’s really an exciting time!

Last fall, I rolled out a new audio CD, Effective Community Engagement: Seven Steps to Make a Real Difference. Included are excerpts from chapter 13 of Leadership Building Blocks and also concrete ways about how to become a better champion for a cause, community group or faith-based organization. These step-by-step techniques are timeless insights to help people really take action rather than just talk about it.

Later this summer, I’ll finish work on the leadership workshop and on my next book Winning Campaign Building Blocks. That book will be a guide about running successful grassroots political campaigns. It is set for release in 2011, so I’ll put the finishing touches on it by late September.

Finally, I’m delighted to share that I’m exploring some collaborative work with other noted leadership experts.

Flourish Leadership Group
http://www.flourishleadership.com/

http://twitter.com/dawnmccoy02
http://www.youtube.com/dawnmccoy01
http://www.facebook.com/therealdawnmccoy

Facebook Fan page:
http://facebook.com/DawnMcCoyBooks

Dawn McCoy, President and CEO
Flourish Leadership Group, LLC
Motivational Speaker, Leadership Consultant, and Author of Leadership
Building Blocks: An Insider’s Guide to Success
“Empower Effective Leaders for Today and Tomorrow”
Direct: (916) 201-7189
Toll-Free: (877) 210-4049
http://www.flourishleadership.com/

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P.S.S. Dawn McCoy provided a book to JoeyPinkney.com to give away to one of its readers.

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Niobia Bryant, editor from Message from a Mistress
(Dafina/Kensington)

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.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Message from a Mistress?

Niobia Bryant: I loved, loved, loved the 1940’s 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. 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.

JP: With seventeen novels under your belt, how have you changed in terms of your growth in the book industry? Was Message from a Mistress easier to produce for you?

NB: I’ve learned so much in the past 10 years as an author. My first book took me a year to write, and now I can definitely complete a well written book in less time. Writing in multiple genres allows me to continuously work towards perfecting my craft as a storyteller, too.

I’ve grown in my business acumen. I am a knowledgeable author. I research the industry, who’s doing what, and I keep abreast of what sells, where and why… This all helps me stay fresh and relevant to what avid readers want from authors.

Writing Message from a Mistress was a smooth and timely process. I concentrated on keeping it entertaining since the entire story takes place in one day. There are many character flashbacks, but overall, writing the book was not difficult at all.

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Message from a Mistress getting out to the public?

NB: 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 http://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.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Message from a Mistress?

NB: 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.

JP: 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.

http://www.niobiabryant.com/

Facebook
Niobia Bryant| Meesha Mink

Twitter
@InfiniteInk

Book Trailer for Message from a Mistress
http://www.youtube.com/user/niobiabryant#p/u/2/bNv9llajroY

Niobia Bryant has been nominated for the 2010 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.

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Terra Little, editor of Where There’s Smoke 2
(Urban Books)

In the aftermath of Where There’s Smoke (part 1), Alec and Anne have found a rhythm they can both groove to. They’ve made a steamy love connection. Just when they think they can finally settle down and tie the knot, their past comes back to haunt them in ways they never imagined.

Alec has secrets that he wishes he had never kept; Anne discovers them and sets out to show her man that a woman scorned is no one to mess with; and Isaiah…well, Isaiah finds himself in the kind of trouble that sends smoke signals up into the air. When the smoke finally clears, truths will have to be told and Anne will have to accept the fact that she and Smoke are more alike than she cares to admit.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Where There’s Smoke 2?

Terra Little: Where There’s Smoke 2 is actually a follow-up to its predecessor, Where There’s Smoke (JAN 2009). The inspiration to write the first installment came from my desire to write about women who have recovered from drug addiction in a more positive light than typically portrayed.

I also wanted to write about positive African-American fathers. Also, working as a Probation/Parole Officer for nearly a decade was a great inspiration, too, as I’m sure you can imagine. I wrote the follow-up because I wasn’t quite ready to let the characters go, and readers of the first book weren’t either.

JP: What did you learn from the process of publishing the first book that makes Where There’s Smoke 2 a better product?

TL: I guess I would have to say, patience. Everything is a process and a lot of waiting is involved in the publishing process. I learned how to have more patience and how to “let go” of the things over which I have no control.

JP: What advice would you give an avid reader who is yearning to become a published author like yourself?

TL: Learn as much as possible about the publishing industry. From the outside looking in, it looks like its all fun, fun, fun. But it’s really work…a real job. There’s definitely more to it than just penning a manuscript. That’s actually just the beginning.

Also, you can never go wrong by editing the hell out of your work and presenting the best product that you can. Another thing…be realistic…about everything, including your actual ability to pen viable work.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Where There’s Smoke 2?

TL: My writing process sort of depends on the project. I find that there are only certain places where I can really settle down and slip into a writing zone. So when I’m in the middle of a project, I tend to turn into an antisocial hermit.

Sometimes I have to get my thoughts together before I begin a manuscript and sometimes the characters have already decided how things are going to go. All that’s left for me to do at that point is follow directions. I never know what a project will bring, so I just go with the flow of each one. My process isn’t predictable at all.

Where There’s Smoke 2 took me a couple of months to write, mainly because the characters were still walking around in my head. I spent maybe a month or so getting the initial rough draft down on paper and after that…rereads, rewrites, rereads… which can be exhausting.

JP: What’s next for Terra Little?

TL: Next up is JUMP, which is coming up in 2011. This one has a different kind of vibe, darker and more serious. I hope its well-received, because I absolutely loved writing it. It was as if the main character, Helena Hunter, walked into my personal space, sat down beside me, and took over my consciousness.

Ever read something you wrote and thought: “When did I write that?” JUMP was like that for me. An excerpt from JUMP can be found on my website…check it out!

http://www.terralittle.com
http://www.myspace.com/terra_little
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=64843090179
http://www.terralittle.blogspot.com

Where There’s Smoke (JAN 2009) made Library Journal’s Best Books of 2009 List

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Rico Dasheem, editor of Memoirs of a Love Lost
(Evolving Publications)

Memoirs of a Love Lost is a tale of a love lost, with many compelling twist and turns. Most importantly, what makes this work unique is that I was able to integrate within the book correlated poems and journal entries that  engross the reader, drawing them in on a more intimate level.

To grab the reader’s attention more, the narrative vein was employed to have the reader fully immersed within the plot. Memoirs of a Love Lost features a masterful concoction arranged to steal your attention and express in a unique way the theme of the book.

I’ll leave that for you to read and decide. An inspirational read indeed, for lovers of poetry and intrigue, you’ll be sure to enjoy.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Memoirs Of a Love Lost?

Rico Dasheem: First of all, I want to acknowledge you and congratulate you, Joey, in all your success and would like to thank you for having me be apart of your esteemed series “5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…” author interview series. It is a pleasure and an honor.

Now back to the question. You know, I would have to say in the short time that I have been here, life has been quite the teacher. Yes, I would definitely say that life experiences were my primary inspiration for Memoirs of a Love Lost. Without giving the book away, I have always since a young man kept a daily journal. With that being the case, I found that over the years it began to shape and take form into the culmination of what you see here today.

JP: What sets Memoirs Of A Love Lost apart from other novels in its genre?

RD: I would have to say that Memoirs Of A Love Lost is not your traditional book. It does not follow the traditional look and feel of your average book. This was done by design.

I am a poet at heart, and you will notice that immediately. The tale is woven beautifully in a narrative vein, highlighted with poems and passionate journal entries to further enrapture the reader’s imagination.

JP As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Memoirs Of a Love Lost getting out the public?

RD: Well that’s a good question Joe, with this being my first self-published work. I would have to say that determination, persistence and being goal-oriented are good characteristics to develop. I also found myself doing a lot of research to see what exactly it entailed to produce, market and successfully sale a completed book.

Having an inquisitive nature would be a plus as well, Joe, because you will have plenty of questions that will need answering. The more question you ask the clearer your perceived goal will come into view, I find this to be true in all aspects of life.

JP As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Memoirs of A Love Lost?

RD: I found that I started with formulating a general idea of whatever it is that I want to write about. I try not to be to restrictive in thought at this point. I simply write down what comes to mind. You can use these after thoughts to invigorate your thought processes when you are short of material or at a standstill in ideas or direction

Once my core idea has began to take shape, I just continue to add draft layers. I review then revise and repeat the process until I have complete work. Now with Memoirs of A Love Lost, it took me a year to two years to complete the book. That was only because I babied it and paid attention to details. If you set a goal with milestones as markers to gauge you progress, then for the most part you are in control of how long it should take

JP: What’s next for Rico Dasheem?

RD: I am currently getting the material together for my sophomore work, Love2Live2Learn so be on the lookout for it on the near horizon. As well I am recruiting new authors for Evolving Publications, an upcoming Publishing House doing big things. As always, I will continue to live to learn to love, learn to love to live and love to live to learn so that I may live the life that I yearn.

evolvingpublications@gmail.com
moalovelost@gmail.com

http://twitter.com/Memoirsofalove
http://memoirslovelost.blogspot.com
http://www.love2live2learn.com/
http://www.myspace.com/moalovelost

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How did he win? He was one of the first twelve people to comment on “5 Minutes, 5 Questions With… Dutch, author of Dynasty”. His name was one of the five randomly drawn winners for the book giveaway hosted by JoeyPinkney.com’s Joey Pinkney and DCBookDiva.com’s Tiah Short.

Do you want to know be the first to know about the next book giveaway on JoeyPinkney.com? Join my newsletter:

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How did she win? Ms. Little was one of the first two people to text me on following a Text Me Tuesday message I sent out to the social media networks I’m a part of.

If you want to be connected to me to possibly win the next Text Me Tuesday, email me at joey[dot]pinkney[at]gmail[.]com.

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Kendra Norman-Bellamy, editor of Fifteen Years
(Moody Publishing)

Fifteen years after being taken from Thomas and Joanne Smith (his foster parents), and Sammy and Patrice (his foster siblings), 30-year-old Josiah Tucker, a successful corporate executive on the outside, but a broken man on the inside, seeks to reconnect to his “life-line” in hopes of also finding himself and a renewed faith in God.

But he finds more than he bargained for, and the reality of it all has the capability to make him a more tortured soul than he ever was before his mission began. A lot about the people you love (and the way your heart loves them) can change in fifteen years…

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write Fifteen Years?

Kendra Norma-Bellamy: Over the years, inside and outside of the literary industry, I have seen people rise to a certain level of fame and basically push aside those who pointed them in the right direction; those who played a vital role in equipping them and preparing them for their pending success.

I wanted to address the importance of remaining humble and not forgetting the bridges that brought us over. When good seeds are sown in our lives, it is because God favored us enough to place a capable sower in our path who took time to nurture us.

Regardless of how much success we gain over time, we never know when life will bring us full circle and we may need to go back to our humble beginnings and find refuge or other assistance. If we burn the bridges, we don’t have a pathway to get us back to where we need to go.

JP: What sets Fifteen Years apart from other novels in its genre?

KNB: Fifteen Years is a story about un-biological family and how important a role that they can play in one’s life. It touches on thought-provoking topics such as foster care, drug abuse, child neglect, broken homes, forbidden love, family secrets, and it even addresses the subject of autism and speech impediments and how those challenges can affect the mental and social growth of a person.

It’s a drama-packed, fast-paced Christian based story that I hope will keep readers turning the pages to see what happens next. It’s one of those stories that make you go, “Hmmmm…”

JP: As an author, what are the keys to your success that lead to Fifteen Years getting out to the public?

KNB: There is only one master key to my success, and that’s Christ. He orchestrated it all. I never could have planned it the way that it happened, so it was certainly a divine set-up. I’ve had wonderful people who were placed in my life along the way. Some were placed for a reason, others for a season, and then there are those who are lifetime connections.

But whatever capacity that they played, or still play in the success of my career, God is still at the root of it. For Fifteen Years in particular, I have a great backing in Moody Publishers. They have set very capable people in place to market this book worldwide through many avenues including blog tours such as the one that landed me a spot with you, Joey.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish Fifteen Years?

KNB: I begin each day with prayer. Before I type the first word on my work in progress, I talk to God. It’s crucial to me that my stories not only entertain, but that they encourage and spiritually inspire readers. It’s only after prayer that I sit to begin my work.

I don’t do preliminary preparation like chapter outlines and such. There is nothing wrong with that; it’s a process that works great for other writers, but it’s not the way my creativity flows.

I simply sit at my computer and type out the story as God directs. Including the editing that I did once I finished writing the story, Fifteen Years took about four months to complete from start to finish.

JP: What’s next for Kendra Norma-Bellamy?

KNB: Well, I have two more books that will release before the end of 2010, and I’m excited about them both for different reasons. My next book, Song of Solomon, will come out in July, and I will be touring Mississippi and Louisiana to meet with book clubs who will be hosting release celebrations for it.

And then my first nonfiction/ministerial book entitled, I Shall Not Die, will release in October. Because this book is based on my true-to-life tragedies and triumps, it is very dear to my heart, and I know that it will minister to people on a different level than any of my fictional novels have.

Additionally, I’m gearing up for the 4th launching of Cruisin’ For Christ (a cruise that celebrates Christian artists and artistries) which will take place in June of 2011. It’s definitely going to be a busy year, but in this business, busy is a good thing. I’m very grateful, and I feel abundantly blessed.

http://www.kendranormanbellamy.com/
http://www.knb-publications.com/
http://www.ishallnotdie.org/
http://www.cruisinforchrist.org/
http://www.myspace.com/KendraNormanBellamy
http://www.facebook.com/KendraNormanBellamy

Recent author awards Kendra Norman-Bellamy include: 2010 Induction into Who’s Who in Black Atlanta (for the fifth consecutive year) and winning 2008 Best Christian Fiction Award from the African American Literary Awards Show.

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JoeyPinkney.com Exclusive Interview
5 Minutes, 5 Questions With…
Dwayne P. Carter, editor of My Ideas & My Opinions, Your Decisions
(Lulu)

I’m Dwayne P. Carter, an inspiring poet who resides in Greenwood, South Carolina. I enjoy writing, reading, traveling, movies and spending time with family and friends. My life has been filled with joy and pain from childhood until now that is being expressed through poetry.

I simply have a love for seeing people enjoy all the parts that life it has to offer. In order to do my part to make people feel good and smile, I write beautiful heartfelt poetry to show others that I experience many of the same things they do and how much more alike we are than different.

Joey Pinkney: Where did you get the idea and inspiration to write My Ideas & My Opinions, Your Decisions?

Dwayne P. Carter: The idea and inspiration for My Ideas & My Opinions, Your Decisions originated over a period of time from childhood until the present moment. Life has taught many lessons that I could not keep inside my mind just for me to live with.

With these thoughts, I decided to write a book to let the world know how I feel about the many different situations that we face daily. I used poetical form to express my ideas and opinions.

JP: What sets My Ideas & My Opinions, Your Decisions apart from other collections of poetry?

DC: What sets my poetry apart from other collections of poetry is the fact I write about every topic imaginable. For example, I write about the thoughts I have pertaining to world peace and how to get there, world corruption, life, death, love, fantasy, family, events, art, the universe and more. I think this gives me an identity among millions who have expressed there experiences through poetry.

JP: Who were the poets that inspired you and shaped your style?

DC: Poets who inspire me and shape my style are Joshua McCarter Simpson, Gwendolyn Brooks, Maya Angelou, Tupac Amaru Shakur, James Baldwin and many more. There are too many to name at the momen,t but all have been great influences to my gift of poetry.

JP: As an author, what is your writing process? How long did it take for you to start and finish My Ideas & My Opinions, Your Decisions?

DC: My writing process is very spontaneous, but my poems have a rhythm to them. First, I think of exactly how I want to place my thoughts on paper so that the reader will get a feel for what I am trying to express. I am inspired by so many things of simplicity that my writing process actually never ends.

As long as I’m able to think, at any moment I may decide to write about something in poetical form. It took about two months to start and complete My Ideas & My Opinions, Your Decisions which is a collection of poems over a three year period.

JP: What’s next for Dwayne P. Carter?

DC: Next, I plan to continue thinking of ways to create poetry that will last for centuries to help humanity, and I enjoy the life I live along the way. Thank you.

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