Welcome to the first annual Black History Month Hop hosted by Reflections of a Bookaholic and Mocha Girls Read a month long blogging event which focuses on giving black authors, books, and those who support them a month in the spotlight.
For the third week of the hop we have a few things planned for you. What’s a hop you ask? At the bottom of each post you will find a list of other sites participating in the hop. This way you can easily hop from one blog to another.
Weekly Topics for the Black History Month Hop
1st – 7th Black History Month Giveaway Hop
2nd – 4th Around Town
5th – 11th The Business of Black Books
12th – 18th Black Love
19th – 25th Black Books
26th – 29th The Best of…
We have a lot of giveaways going on right now from great Black authors. All winners will be announced on 2/29/2012.
Alice Walker’s “The Chicken Chronicles” (Ends 2/16)
John Garrett’s “How to Deal Wit Stupid Clowns” comic e-book (Ends 2/17)
Shelia Goss’s e-book “The Bad Twin” (Ends 2/18)
Anna Black’s “Who Do I Run To?” (Ends 2/19)
Terri D’s “Yesterday Lies” (Ends 2/20)
Beverly Jenkins’s Book (2 winners) (Ends 2/21)
Delaney Diamond’s “The Temptation of a Good Man” (Ends 2/20)
This is the week of LOVE♥♥! Black Love! (and all the craziness that encircles it) This week we will be featuring black romance novels and the authors that write them.
Welcome Myne Whitman
Myne Whitman is my pen name. I write and blog full-time, and also volunteer as an ESL tutor for a local charity. I critique with the Seattle Eastside Writers Meet-up and I’m also a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. I was born and raised in Enugu, Nigeria, where I spent most of my time, studying, reading and daydreaming or climbing trees and playing with the boys. I have a Master’s degree in Public Health Research but have chosen my childhood dream of spinning stories. After a few years in Edinburgh, Scotland, I now live with my husband in Seattle, USA. The Pacific Northwest of America is a great place to live in the summer but during the drizzling winter rains, I find myself dreaming of long, hot, Nigerian days and the red palm oil of Banga Soup. (read more)MGR: What was the inspiration for this book?
MW: I wanted to explore multicultural relationships and how parents can influence the choice of partners for their children. Also, there is a part of me that has always been in love with the idea of college sweethearts and first loves.
MGR: What were some of the obstacles you encountered with this book?
MW: One was in the arrangement of the book. My first beta readers had a lot of issues with the chronology of the story and some felt it would be too flat and bland if I kept the straight forward recounting. I had to find a way of telling the story in a way that did not affect my characters, and also engage my readers so they keep flipping through the pages.
MGR: Are there things in this book from your life? Family? Friends?
MW: Not at all. Not the things that happened, obviously, but I think a little bit of me goes into each book I write, especially in who my characters are, their motivations, beliefs and goals.
MGR: Myne, what are you working on now? Can we get a sneak peak?
MW: The book I’m working on now is about a woman who has just clocked the big 30 and has to determine whether marriage is the next step in her life as everyone one around her expects. Being seduced by a local lothario during a vacation to Nigeria does not make this decision any easier. The tentative title is “A Fiery Love”
MGR: What are you reading now?
MW: Valentine Challenge by Kiru Taye
MGR: How did your family react to your title of published author?
MW: They were all very happy for me. My sisters used to read my scribbles on old notebooks and they were excited to now read my stories on a printed page. I was so blown away when my mum called and said how much she enjoyed my first book, it was awesome!
MGR: Myne do you have any advice to black indie authors?
MW: Going indie is not an easy decision and I wouldn’t advise anyone to rush into it. The few things I’ve learnt, and I am still learning, are as follows;
1. Take your time and do some research on what others have done, what has worked and what hasn’t.
2. Make sure you have a good story, and one of the best ways to do this is to have a writing group critique it for you, not friends and family, but people who generally do not know you.
3. When you’re ready to publish, have your manuscript professionally edited.
4. Use a good production company to produce your book, it has to look as good as a traditionally published book to be able to compete.
5. Either hire a proper publicist or be ready to work really hard to promote your book. Social media has been very helpful for me.
6. Don’t forget to keep writing, it is very easy to get mired in publicity for the first one and lose sight of writing.
7. Self-publishing, or even simply being a published author, is not a get-rich quick scheme. You may never even get rich.
MGR: WOW! That is some great advice. It’s February and in the US that means Black History Month. What does Black History Month mean to you?
MW: It is a way for more to learn more about black history in the United States and how as an African, I fit into my current community.
MGR: What do you do for fun?
MW: I love traveling for fun, just discovering and exploring new places and meeting new people. I also read a lot and after being a staunch fan of board games, I recently discovered the kinect and now I have to get some gaming in at least once a week.
MGR: I love traveling, and exploring new places too. Myne tell us, what’s your guilty pleasure?
MW: I love ice cream and chocolate more than is good for me.
MGR: Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
MW: 5 years from now I… want to have at least three more books out and hopefully publish others too.
MGR: Name two things on your bucket list.
MW: Sky diving and visiting Asia
MGR: Thank you Myne for stopping by. Would you like to give a Shout Out?
MW: I would like to Shout Out all my reader on www.mynewhitmanwrites.com
Check Out Myne Whitman’s books
Blog – www.mynewhitmanwrites.com Amazon Bestselling Author – US, UK, Canada
Join me on Twitter @Myne_Whitman
Also Follow my Facebook Fanpage
Check out the other blogs and the books on “Black Love” they are talking about. Bloggers add your link to the linky as well. One lucky blogger will win a great prize for joining this week.
Mocha Girl Alysia
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