You can read a million books and believe half sound the same. However, when reading about the lives of authors behind those books there’s no denying the authenticity that comes equipped with every word written. Writing is a way of life, a story told in any and every dimension. Yet in a world of fiction, one author voices her truth with class and truth. Ladies and gentleman this is the Latisha interview.
My Urban Books: Tell us about Latisha the child. What were her dreams, accomplishments, and strengths?
Latisha: Latisha the child was a misguided soul. I was born and raised in NY to drug-addicted parents. My grandparents raised me, but it didn’t take away the love I had for my parents, who are now both sober (thank God). The only dreams I had were for others. I didn’t have dreams of my own. The majority of my life was spent looking out for and caring more for others than myself. Somewhere along the line, it caused resentment within. I started hating myself. Sadly, it wasn’t until I had my last born, my son, that I actually cared about my life.
Every accomplishment I had was overlooked, from being the youngest Black female, at 19, to work for Forsyth County Assessor’s Real Estate Department, to graduating tech with honors, maintaining a 3.7 GPA. It was as if things were expected of me, so when I actually did accomplish something, it wasn’t a thought. When I got in trouble, that was more of an accomplishment; it was talked about forever. LOL! As far as my strengths go, they’re more personal than anything—the things I’ve overcome. My battle with Lupus, HS, coronary artery disease, having a tumor on my brain—I’ve overcome them all. Though I still struggle with my health, HS and blood pressure more than anything, I continue with what I need to do which is building for my children so they can live… something I feel I’ve never been able to do.
My Urban Books: As a child, what did you think about the author occupation?
Latisha: I laugh each time I’m asked this question. As a child, I wanted to be either a pediatrician or a real estate agent. The older I got, the pediatrician idea went out the window. That was over and done with upon graduating high school. However, real estate stayed with me. Prior to my journey in this industry, I’d been working in the
real estate field for close to fifteen years, off and on.
My Urban Books: How would you describe yourself as a writer?
Latisha: As a writer, I pen stories that everyone can connect with, and that is because I write from experience—things I’ve been through and those that others around me have endured. I’m not a ‘careful’ writer. What I mean by that is I don’t research, outline, or anything that works for some authors when writing their stories. I allow the characters and their situations to lead me. I write about places I’ve lived or visited numerous times. Also, I pay attention to my readers and their thoughts, which is why nine times out of ten, I create plot twists no one sees coming. If a reader figured out where I was going with a story, I will switch it up so fast. LOL!
My Urban Books: Has anyone ever doubted your writing ability? If so, how have you proved them wrong?
Latisha: Oh, yes. Definitely the very first publisher I told I wanted to become an author, she laughed. I was an editor for her company at the time, and she made me feel like because I was an editor, I couldn’t do both. Three people gave me the encouragement to actually write, and that was Porscha Sterling, K.C. Mills, and Michelle Davis. Each of them sampled my writing and pushed me to proceed. Well, when I signed with Major Key, my very first novel was well anticipated and did great numbers. It is actually still one of my best novels to date.
My Urban Books: If you could change one thing about your writing style what would it be and why?
Latisha: The one thing I would change is limiting my creativity to the side of urban that everyone is familiar with. I’ve experienced life on more simplistic and broader terms—not everything has been drug related—and it was still a beautiful, intriguing, and heart-touching story. I want to tell stories that allows the reader to think, feel, and talk it about it for years to come, not just for the moment. Limiting myself to one genre, specifically urban/street lit, has caused my passion to dwindle some. But… my change is soon to come.
My Urban Books: What or who motivates you to keep writing?
Latisha: Honestly, lately, I’ve been wanting to give up. Each time I try, a memory resurfaces, and the first thing that comes to mind is, I have to tell that story—that and the fact that the readers I have will not allow me to give up, as well as my family. The industry has become discouraging, especially for authors like me who are not as consistent in dropping books. Life happens, and readers need to understand, just as they have lives, so do authors. But, as I stated, my family, these thoughts, and the readers that have become acquainted with my work, will not allow me to give up on my passion. That in itself is motivation to keep going.
My Urban Books: What about the literary business scares you? And do you have an idea how’d you overcome that fear?
Latisha: Whew! I was talking to my friend/ex-publisher about this same thing. I recently became indie, and I think it has scared me to release a book for quite a while. Readers flock to publishers, admittingly or not, and that freaks me out. Because I’m no longer signed to a publisher, what does that mean regarding my work? I’m still the same author that I was when I was signed. It doesn’t take away my creativity because I am not under a publishing umbrella. When I was signed, my publisher gave me the opportunity to release independently. I wouldn’t. I’d seen where authors would drop independently and didn’t receive the same love and support as when their books dropped under their publisher. That is the only thing that scares me in this industry, to not receive the same support indie as I would signed to a publisher.
My Urban Books: Do you consider the urban fiction genre as being over or underrated?
Latisha: Oversaturated and very underrated. We have some bomb authors that are penning urban fiction. Too many, to be exact. That in itself causes a lot of authors to get overlooked and the genre as a whole. Think about it. Our readers support the same authors all the time. Imagine if the urban genre was to actually support their own—new authors, underrated authors, etc.—as other genres do. It would put urban on the map. But when you have twenty to twenty-five of the same authors being supported majorly and so many, many others are being overlooked, it not only hurts the authors, but it praises a handful in the genre, and that is looked at by other genres.
My Urban Books: Please give one piece of advice to new and aspiring authors.
Latisha: If you don’t listen to anything else, please listen to this. It is something I recite and actually wish I would have lived by… Write what’s in your heart, not to get on the charts.
My Urban Books: Please tell readers where they can find your work.
Latisha: All published works are available in e-book format through Amazon. Please purchase your paperbacks from my website, as you will get the best deal. Latishatheauthoress.com
