Payback Ain't Enough by Wahida Clark

                      This is the cover for Payback Ain't Enough

A Conversation With Zane

              From the moment Zane stepped foot in the writing game she took her place as queen of erotica. Her novels such as Addicted, Nervous, Afterburn, and the Heat Seekers will grab you from  page one and wont let go until you've hit the last page and are forced to close it. Anything Zane pens turns platinum, now meet the master mind the pen.

Brandie: Now Zane, tell us what made you decide to write erotica? a lot of people are secretive once it comes to sex yet you don't have a problem writing about it why is that?

Zane: I did not choose to write erotica. That is the irony in all of this. I did not even read an erotic book until I had written Addicted and at least 60 short stories. I happen to be a very detailed writer who does not sugar coat sex scenes anymore than I sugar coat anything else. Too many people get caught up in the sexual aspects but if you really listen to what my readers say about my books, they are discussing the life lessons in them.

Brandie: What would you say are the ingredients for writing a good erotic novel?

Zane: Well I would have to say the same that are in any noel. A writer with the ability to actually write in an entertaining style, great character development, a well thought out storyline, a feasible amount of back story on the characters, and being able to tie it all together into a big knot that will touch the hearts of readers. You could write 5,000 pages of straight sex scene but most readers would be bored by page 5, no matter who the writer is.

Brandie: What will you say is the difference between the sex scenes in your novel and the sex scenes in other author's works?

Zane: I am not sure that there is a huge difference between the sex scene but I know that when I write, the sex is the least important factor. I concentrate on everything else. If my readers do not feel an attachment for my characters why would they care about them having sex?

Brandie: Some people believe your books are a little too raunchy, what do you think?

Zane: I think that if they are too raunchy for them, that they need to read something else, I do not address

criticism. As long as I understand the purpose behind my writing, that is all that matters.

Brandie: Your book The Sisters of APF got a lot of people's attention. Since you came out with the book have you heard of anyone making the sorority a reality?

Zane: I have heard of people attempting to do so but they cannot officially do it without my permission. I do know that some people have the "freak nights" like the ones in APF but APF itself belongs solely to me.

Brandie: What was your inspiration for writing Nervous?

Zane: Nervous was basked on a short story of the same name. When I first wrote the story, I initially thought it would great as an expanded novel. With Nervous, I wanted to challenge myself as a writer to see if I could portray one woman who was innocent and virginal and another who was a whore and make them share the same body. I also wanted to see if readers would show compassion toward both of them, even though the obvious first thought would be for them to hate the whore. I think that I did an effective job pulling off my intention.

Brandie: What made you decide to write lesbian erotic novels? Are people flocking to Purple Panties and Missionary No More as much as they are your other novels?

Zane: Both books have done exceptionally well and most of the readers are straight women or men. I have always written lesbian eroitca, even in some of the stories in The Sex Chronicles: Shattering the Myth, my first book. Also, there is a lesbian relationship in Addicted so it was really nothing new, just a further step in a compilation. Passion and sensuality are universal and I publish a lot of lesbian and gay authors. We also have a male compilation called Flesh to Flesh. Thinking back, the second erotic story that I ever wrote, The Airport, had two women getting it in. LOL.

Brandie: What other projects can we expect from you? Will it be anything like Addicted or Nervous?

Zane: I will be writing the follow-up books in the Addicted series at some point and I have three other novels coming out in 2012.

Brandie: You have been writing for years, before e-reading devices came out. So what do you think about this new craze? Do you believe it is hurting or helping the literary world?

Zane: We still print a lot of books and there are still a ton of folks who are not e-readers, including myself. While I believe books will become more digital, I do know that it is killing bookstores and that is a travesty.

Brandie: What authors do you recommend people read and why?

Zane: All of the ones that I publish because I have 100% faith in them and their writing or I would not have selected their books out of tens of thousands of others over the years, spent countless hours editing their books, and put my finances behind them. I tend to pick authors who think outside of the box, have great character development, and are wonderful storytellers.

Brandie: What advice would you give aspiring authors?

Zane: Make writing a daily habit. Do it because of passion, not because of anticipated fame and fortune. For most writers, that will never come and to most who do achieve, it is not even important. The most successful writers who withstand the test of time are not driven by such things. They also should find their own voices instead of trying to emulate others. It doesn't work.

The Gold Digger's Club by Jaye Cherie and Chain Reaction by T. Styles & Kiki Swinson

1/03/2012





Coming Soon

Mistress INC by Nobia Bryant

5/29/2012

Black Friday by Ashley and Jaquavis Review

             New York Times bestselling authors Ashley & Jaquavis will have you begging and pleading for a sequel to their hit novel Black Friday. After recently reading it all I kept asking myself "is why I did I take so long to read this novel?" Black Friday is simple, yet complex, heartfelt yet a temper starter, it's a game of who can outsmart the other and be crowned the grimiest of them all. Everyone has a motive and no one is loyal to anyone but themselves. Forget taking it to the streets, their taking it to the courtroom where twelve strangers society knows as jurors holds your life in the palm of their hands.

              In Black Friday money is nothing but a toy being passed around and love and loyalty is a diamond in the ruff, you're gonna have to dig pretty deep to find these hidden treasure. Ashley & Jaquavis takes you on a ride where nothing is what it seems, forget what you think and go with your instincts if something doesn't feel right more than likely it isn't. These authors get to the root of the issues; I read this book so quickly by the time I was done I looked up at the clock and said "where did the time go? I just started" don't sleep on Black Friday. If you like The Cartel then back room on your bookshelves and ereaders because you'll fall for Black Friday as well. One night changed everything; one person's actions can affect everyone! so think twice before you make a move.

God Don't Make No Mistakes by Mary Monroe

5/29/2012

HBIC By Caroline McGill

5/25/2012

With Just One Kiss & A Seductive Kiss By Francis Ray

January 31, 2012

February 28, 2012

MURDERVILLE 2: THE EPIDEMIC

7/24/2012

Mistress INC by Nobia Bryant

 From the author of Message From a Message and Mistress No More

                               Nobia Bryant brings you

                                      Mistress, INC

                                         5/29/2012

The Stalker Chronicles by Electa Rome Parks





1/31/2012



Win 2 Books

                  The first person to write the correct answers will win the kindle books Jaded by Envy Red AND Don't Tell Your Cousin by Veronica E. Kelly.

                   1)  Name the Wifey's series in the correct order
                   2)   Who are the last 3 authors I interviewed?

            ***You must be a follower in order to participate.***
                                                    
   **CONGRATULATIONS DM U WON THE TWO BOOKS!!**

            PLEASE TELL ME UR EMAIL ADDRESS TO RETREIVE    UR KINDLE BOOKS                                   

                                                   

A Conversation with Shan

             In the urban fiction game authors come and go, but many are forgotten and few are remembered that's why Shan, a rookie in the writing game has made sure when she came out with her first novel  Rozalyn she came correct. This author is making a great deal of noise in the book clubs of facebook because of Rozalyn, so I wanted to see what all the fuss is about, wanted to pick the brain of the person wrote this novel. So I sat down, got my questions ready and waited for the results and this is what I got.

Brandie: Shan you are new in the game so tell us a little bit about yourself.

Shan: Well, I am 26 years old born in Shreveport, Louisiana but raised in Dallas, Texas. I am a single mother of 3, 1 boy and 2 girls. I love basketball and enjoy watching and playing it. Over all I'm a pretty laid back type of person. Easy to get along with

Brandie: There are a lot of genres out there, why write urban fiction? What steered you in that direction?

Shan: I write urban fiction because although its categorized as fiction, it's real. Being that I've grown up in the hood; it's what I know, it's what I'm used to so it's more of what I can relate to. Nine times out of ten most of the things you read in urban fiction you have either gone through yourself or know someone that has. For me personally, writing things that I've gone through or seen others go through is like therapy. Some people go see a doctor for their problems but I pray and write about it. I love writing and entertaining others with the things I write. I have a lot more to learn about the publishing world but I plan to around for a long time and urban fiction won't be the only genre I explore.

Brandie: Urban fiction is a popular genre; it has grown tremendously and is known everywhere you look. So tell me Shan what makes your work different from the rest? What can readers get from you that we can't get from other authors?

Shan: Readers can expect to feel what my characters are going through the minute they open my book and read the first sentence. My writing is very raw and uncut I try not to sugarcoat anything. And when I write I write in the first person's point of view so to me I am giving readers a look into the characters mind; they know what they're going through, what their thinking and therefore feel closely connected to each character.

Brandie: Let's talk about your book Rozalyn. Rozalyn and Tamar are pretty interesting characters. Who are they? What makes them tick?

Shan: Rozalyn is a young, naive girl that's really lost. She is so hungry for love that she doesn't even realize when it's not true love or what loves supposed to feel like. The only thing that makes her tick is someone not loving her. You can tell while reading that she was very upset with the way her mother did her and with her dad not being in her life. Rozalyn is a very pretty girl with low self-esteem and for that reason alone it causes her to make some not so smart mistakes.

 On the other hand Tamar is a hot head. He's cocky, smart, and very handsome. He really believes in family, and that they should be there for one another. Tamar doesn't open his heart up to anybody, so for someone to take advantage of what little love he gives pisses him off and causes him to do dumb, insane things. To understand his character one has to understand where he comes from, his upbringing.

Brandie: I read Rozalyn and I noticed that Rozalyn and Tamar's relationship seems to mirror the relationship of Keylan and Latoya. For example, Tamar wants kids but Rozalyn doesn't believe the time is right, yet Latoya wants kids and Keylan doesn't believe the time is right. Did you do this purposely; maybe the perfect relationships could exist if the couples swap partners?

Shan: Yes this was done purposely. Rozalyn is very goal oriented; she has dreams and believes that she will accomplish them. She believes in marriage, has morals and wants to wait before having kids. In the beginning Tamar didn't want kids, but after certain events he changed his mind. As far as Latoya and Keylan's relationship is concerned (which you will read more about in part 2) Latoya will give anything to have a baby. She wants it more than anything but Keylan is smart; he knows he is not living his life right, so why bring a child into the world? Keylan and Rozalyn do have the same views but Keylan would never date someone like Rozalyn, she's not headstrong enough for him. Latoya is a strong, independent individual. Rozalyn hasn't gotten to that point in her life yet. 

Brandie: Will the Rozalyn series stop after part 2 or can we expect a part 3?

Shan: That all depends on the readers. If they read part 2 and the feedback I get are readers wanting more of Rozalyn and Tamar then definitely. I've fallen in love with these characters and could write about them forever, but it all depends on what the readers feel in the end.

Brandie: What is there about your novel we don't already know?

Shan: Yes and that is that Rozalyn was pretty much inspired from the things that I've gone through. Although it is a fiction read it wad developed from my childhood, growing up I felt a sense of abandonment from my mama and daddy. My mother is a recovering drug addict; she has been clean for 4 - 5 years. She is truly an inspiration to me, seeing her overcome such a battle has make me realize that anything is possible. Throughout my childhood she was struggling with drugs and my dad had another family so I went out seeking love from others. I ended up getting pregnant at 14 with my son and had him when I was 15, so I can definitely relate to teenage pregnancy and how often it happens in society today.

After I had my son I didn't write as much as I used to. Months eventually turned into years before I picked up a pen again, it wasn't until after my son's father was murdered when I started writing heavenly again. I felt like I didn't have anyone to talk to about the way I was feeling and if I did talk to someone they didn't understand what I was going through. So once again writing was what I used for therapy. It's pretty much when I developed Rozalyn's story. I didn't plan on publishing at the time; it was more like a journal writing for me. Just last year after hearing my pastor speak about following through with dreams and not ignoring your talents is when I decided that I was going to give Rozalyn to the public. Rozalyn has been in the making for a few years now just lying dormant around the house, I finally brought it to life and am very happy about that.

Me: Have you thought of a topic for a novel outside of Rozalyn? If so what is it?

Shan: Yes, I have plenty of novels that I have lined up to write, so many ideas and story lines running through my head that it's crazy. All I'm going to say is that my third book will be based on a character from Rozalyn and it will be out around the summer of next year.

Brandie: Besides writing, what other projects can we look forward to you venturing out into?

Shan: Well I plan to pen three other novels after my debut novel Rozalyn and drop them next year. After that I am going to take a small break from writing novels and focus on writing screen plays. Screen plays are what I used to write when I was younger and I would love to start it up again and hopefully take it on the road. I would also like to write a few movie scripts in the future as well.

Brandie: Every author has their own advice for aspiring authors, what's yours?

Shan: The best advise I can give is to do your homework, research as much as you can and don't be afraid to ask questions. Also never let anybody tell you that your story isn't worth telling. Follow through with your dreams and don't give up.