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Mocha Girls Read

We are a group of Black women who love to read, want to read more and meet like-minded women.

in Books, Giveaways, Home

Black History Month: Business of Black Books #6

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 second 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…

From the 5th to the 11th of February are the “Business of Black Books” segments of the Black History Month Hop where we be talking to the authors, publishers, bloggers and people who help black authors meet readers.  Today, I want to introduce you to an award winning author.  Please give a warm Mocha Girls Read welcome to …

Shelia Goss

Shelia M. Goss is a national best-selling author and a 2012 Emma Award Finalist. She has over thirteen books in print and writes in multiple genres: Christian fiction, romance, women’s fiction, suspense, and young adult. USA Today says, “Goss has an easy, flowing style with her prose…” Besides writing fiction, Shelia is a freelance writer. She’s also an Essence Magazine best selling author, the recipient of three Shades of Romance Magazine Readers Choice Multi-Cultural Awards and honored as a Literary Diva: The Top 100 Most Admired African American Women in Literature. To learn more, visit her website: www.sheliagoss.com or follow her on Facebook www.facebook.com/sheliagoss

MGR:  Welcome to Mocha Girls Read Shelia.  I am so glad you took a few minutes to hang out with us.  Can you tell us about your latest book  “The Bad Twin“?
SG:  The Bad Twin is a book about twin sisters who have a dysfunctional relationship. Rose and Violet are like night and day. Rose’s ultimate goal is to remain in the spotlight; preferable on the movie screen. To her fans, Rose is sincere, glamorous, and charitable; but to Violet, her twin, she’s a conniving, manipulative person that starves for constant attention. When Violet gives a shocking interview about the life of Hollywood actress Rose to a popular magazine, Rose’s squeaky clean image is tarnished. Can these sisters ever be friends, or will they always stand divided?
MGR:  That sounds like a great read.  What was the inspiration for this book?
SG:  The Bad Twin started off as a short story for a class assignment. We had to write about conflict. I thought using twins would be a good way to show conflict. I also like writing about “Hollywood” so I decided to create a fictional world with the twins Rose & Violet in The Bad Twin.
MGR:  Are there things in this book from your life? Family? Friends?
SG:  No. The only thing in the book that’s anything remote is the fact that the twins hometown is my hometown, Shreveport, LA. I purposely don’t write about anything from my life or anyone that I know.
MGR:  What are you working on now, Shelia? Can we get a sneak peak?
SG:  I have so many projects going on right now. I’m excited to be working on a book in what I call my “notorious women” of the bible series. The other two previous Christian fiction books were Delilah and Ruthless.
MGR:  What are you reading now?
SG:  Capital Wives by Rochelle Alers
MGR:  Who are some of your favorite authors?
SG:  I have too many favorite authors so I can’t name them all. I’ll list some: Reshonda Tate Billingsley, Gwyneth Bolton, Wahida Clark, Luthishia Lovely, Victor McGlothin, Michelle McGriff, Michelle Monkou, Victoria Christopher Murray, Celeste Norfleet, Kimberla Lawson Roby, Pat Tucker, Pat G’orge Walker, Tu-Shonda Whitaker and the list goes on and on.
MGR:  How did your family react to your title of published author?
SG:  My mom has always been supportive of me and my dreams so she was happy that I finally decided to pursue them.
MGR:  Shelia, do you have any advice to black indie authors?
SG:  To never give up. If you want to write, write. The journey is not easy but the rewards are great if you don’t give up.

MGR:  What are some struggles you have faced as a black writer?
SG:  My main struggle has been getting the word out on my books to a broad audience.

MGR:  As a writer you have received a lot of accolades and awards.  What changes when your book wins an award?
SG:  I’m blessed to have received the accolades and awards and appreciate each one but I haven’t seen any changes monetarily. The awards and accolades look good on paper, but since this is a career and not a hobby, it would also be good if it equated to more money.

MGR:  I understand that!  It’s February so… what does Black History Month mean to you?
SG:  It’s a month set aside where the nation can recognize Black Americans and their contributions. Fortunately for me, every day was Black history in my house. I’m glad we have at least one month but I think there should be more to include Black History in every day curriculum in the schools.
MGR:  What do you do for fun?
SG:  Read and hang out with my family and friends. I love listening to music and going to the movies and traveling to new places.
MGR:  And what’s your guilty pleasure?
SG:  Gummie Bears. Don’t give me chocolate, give me gummie bears 🙂
MGR:  What did little Shelia want to be when she grew up?
SG:  When I was a kid I wanted to be a writer, a lawyer and an FBI agent. I’m living that dream now because as a writer, I can write legal thrillers and suspense novels with lawyers and FBI agents (smile).
MGR:  Favorite Holiday?
SG:  My birthday. I tease my family that my birthday is a national holiday, but no one gets the day off but me. LOL!! 
Thank you so much Shelia for stopping by and hosting a giveaway of your book “The Bad Twin”.

The Bad TwinGIVEAWAY!

Enter to win an e-copy of “The Bad Twin” by Shelia Goss.  This giveaway is open internationally and ends on 2/18/2012 at midnight PST.  The winner will be announced on 2/29/2012.  Good Luck!

Join the link or just go to the link to see the other books people are talkin’ about.

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Mocha Girl Alysia

Founder / President at Mocha Girls Read
Founder of Mocha Girls Read book club. But basically, just another girl who loves to read and then read some more and wants to meet others like me. If you add a cup of green tea with lemon and honey I will be overjoyed.
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