Hello Tina welcome to Books2Mention Magazine. It's a pleasure to have you interview with us. Our readers are eager to have this opportunity to learn more about you.
Your first novel All That Drama debuted in 2004 and received great reviews. Now readers are anxiously awaiting your second release Lawd Mo' Drama due to be released soon.
B2M: Can you share with us how you create your comfort zone; which allows you to get your creative energy flowing, thereby enhancing your ability to illustrate stories that are interesting?
TBM: Comfort zone, now that's a thought. I am far from comfort when I write. I just do it to quiet the voices in my head. Writing allows the opportunity to address all the things that pass through my head on a day-to-day basis.
B2M: Where does your inspiration to write dwell from?
TBM: So far all of my stories stem from real life events and friends. The only book that I am writing that is completely made up is Dog Daddy and my story in Chocolate Seduction available now at www.amazon.com.
B2M: Once you completed your first book was it difficult for you to release it with the uncertainty of readers being able to identify with your style of writing?
TBM: Letting go scared the crap out of me. I was afraid people would not get my underlying message of the book. As a child I suffered real bad from low self-esteem. So I created a character with similar issues named Marie and Marie was trying to teach her friend Sammie that she too could change and start to love herself enough to rise out of a bad relationship. I also wanted to address how our relationship with our parents could negatively effect the rest of our lives.
B2M: Have you ever encountered writer's block? If so, how did you overcome it?
TBM: I won't say I've ever had writer's block cause I always have sometime to say LOL, but I get lazy. I should have been finished with this novel I am working on and for months I would not even open it. Now, I am back on track.
B2M: Your second novel Lawd Mo' Drama will be released soon. Can you tell us a little about the storyline?
TBM: Once again this is story of my friend's life. Her husband left her with three small children and one of them has autism. She was completely penniless and their house was about to be foreclosed on. In this sequel to All That Drama - Sammie gets to make a comeback and she it equally as crazy as the first novel. She finds out that she has a half sister and it gets real crazy after that. This novel is due to be released April 1, 2007.
B2M: What other projects do you have in the works?
TBM: Fool Stop Tripping is my next novel and Dog Daddy. Fool Stop Tripping is the finale book in the All That Drama series. I also have a short story in a book called Chocolate Seduction. It's about the different things you can do with Chocolate (use your imagination.)
Dog Daddy is solely a product of my imagination. It's about a man that wants his dog rearing business more than he wants a wife. Leave it to the wife to find out what he is using the dogs for LOL.
B2M: If you were presented with the opportunity to collaborate with other authors, who would they be and why would you choose them?
TBM: I have my hero's in this business, Allison Hobbs, Darrien Lee and Shelley Halima and Lissa Woodson writing under a pen name that I cannot spell LOL. I really think Shelley and I could come up with an erotic piece that would knock your socks off cause Shelley is a fool. (In a I love this woman way.) Mary Monroe is another favorite and of course my shero Zane.
B2M: Did you always know that you were a writer? If so, when did you decide to pursue it?
TBM: Yes I knew, but I just didn't follow through with it. I use to tell my husband if he bought me a laptop I'd write a book but when I got the laptop, all I would do is play games until a friend challenged me to a writers contest. I thought I was competing against her and she didn't even do it. That is where All That Drama began.
B2M: What kind of mark do you hope you books will impart in literature?
TBM: I hope that people see the real pain I am trying to impart. I hope that they relate to my characters and feel their pain. When I finished All That Drama I got death threats because of the ending LOL. I had one author cuss me out for two hours about the ending. If you care enough to want to do bodily harm to an author, you have created a compelling character.
B2M: How has the art of writing enriched your life?
TBM: To be honest the biggest thing is that it brought me out of my shell. I am very very shy and it is forcing me to open up. If you saw me in motion at book signings you would never believe how scared I am to be in the limelight.
B2M: How will you utilize your special gift to enhance the lives of others?
TBM: The biggest thing that I can pass back is cross promoting with other authors. As an avid reader, I believe in telling folks about a good book when I find one. To that end, I have recently agreed to be co-host with Paula Edwards on Artistfirst.com. We will interview authors to get the word out about their books. I am particularly interested in promoting self-published authors because they don't get the exposure that I do.
Congratulations Tina on all of the success that you have received since entering the literary world. Continue to write stories that are emotionally charging and entertaining in your no holds barred style.
Thanks for interviewing with Books2Mention Magazine. Pease be sure to come back again and keep readers informed about all of your future endeavors.
Much Success To You!
The Staff @ Books2Mention Magazine
You are welcome to visit the website of Tina Brooks McKinney at www.tinamckinney.com.
Books by Tina Brooks McKinney include:
All That Drama
Lawd Mo' Drama
Chocolate Seduction
