A reading
addict, self-professed connoisseur of home improvement shows, and a collector
of teapots, Nita Brooks resides in South
Carolina with her family. Redesigning Happiness is her debut women’s fiction
novel.
Website:
www.nitabrooks.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/authornitab
Twitter:
@AuthorNitaB
Instagram:
@AuthorNitaB
What would you like readers to take away from
your book?
I hope readers think about what happiness
means to them, and after reading about my main character’s journey to redefine
what happiness looks like for her that they feel empowered to seek out their
own joy.
Which character did you have the most fun
writing about?
I had the most fun writing the main character,
Yvonne Cable. She’s an interior designer to the stars, engaged to a popular
home improvement show host, and thinks everything in her life is going great. I
enjoyed watching her have to redefine what would truly make her happy. When
she’s first hit with the realization that her child’s father is back in her
life she thought she could manage things without changing much, but in the end
she had to change a lot. I didn’t know what direction Yvonne was going to take
at the start of the novel, so letting her take me to her ultimate decision was
surprising and fun.
What do you think the future of AA romances
will be?
I hope they have a bright future. Not just for
romances, but for stories about strong Black women who are able to find
happiness in all aspects of their life. I don’t want to just read about women
struggling. Let me see the joy after the struggle. We need more stories of
women achieving great heights, finding balance in their life, and being happy
with themselves.
What advice would you offer to someone whose
book is about to be released?
Be prepared for anything! I’m still processing
the multitude of emotions that come up as I get closer to the release date. Accept
that a negative review might make you sad the same way a positive review will
brighten you day. Realize the negative and the positive are both subjective and
one person’s opinion. Be proud of the work you’ve done.
What three literary events would you recommend
a writer in your genre attend?
I’ll be attending Romance Writers of America
in July and the Decatur Book Festival in August. Both of those events would be
good to attend to meet other writers. I’d also recommend any local events near
you to cut out on travel costs. If there aren’t any, consider reaching out to
your local library to ask about hosting a reading, signing, or workshop.
What literary event can we find you this year?
I’ll be one of the authors reading at the Lady
Jane Salon in New York on July 24th. I’m signing books at the
Midtown Reader Bookstore in Tallahassee Florida on August 23rd. I’ll
be on a panel at the Decatur Book Festival in Atlanta August 30th.
I’d love to meet readers and other authors there.
Who was the first author you ever met?
Cheris Hodges was the first author I ever met.
I found out she was doing a book signing in my town and I scrambled down to buy
the book and meet her. She was very nice. I’m a big fan.
What’s the most interesting change in your
life as a result of being a published author?
How much I’m expected to be on social media.
Posting to Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter is another aspect of the job I hadn’t
considered. I love to visit all social media sites and lurk, but having to
think of engaging content for my own pages is overwhelming. I’m still getting
used to that.
What has surprised you most about being a
published author?
The requests to do a book signing or an
interview. I’m honored whenever someone takes the time to reach out to me. This
is my first women’s fiction novel, so it’s still a surprise that people care to
learn more about my debut. It’s a humbling experience I don’t think I’ll ever
get over.
What about writing do you wish non writers
would understand?
That the characters really do tell you what
they’re going to do. When I started Redesigning Happiness I knew exactly what I
wanted Yvonne to do, but as the story unfolded and the situations changed I was
surprised not only by her decision, but by the decisions of some of the
supporting characters. We aren’t making it up when we say the characters speak
to us.
Can you give us one do and one don't for those
aspiring to be an author?
Do learn all you can about the business of
publishing and choose the right path for you.
Don’t expect things to move quickly. Even if
you self-publish. It takes time to polish a novel and get it ready for people
to read.
What advice would you offer for someone who is
having a hard time finishing the book?
Step away from the work for a day or two.
That’s what helps me. I’ll “cleanse my palate” by watching television, going to
a movie, or spending time in a home decorating or craft store. I think better
after I’ve cleared my mind.
When you're not writing, what do you like to
do in your spare time?
I love going to craft and home improvement
stores. I can spend all day in Michaels, Homegoods or Lowes. I also collect tea
pots. It started when I was in college and saw a tea pot I loved at a yard
sale. I’ve been spontaneously purchasing tea pots every since.
Oprah always asks, what do you know for sure?
That no matter what happens I will be proud of
the work I’ve done.
Any last words for our readers?
Thank you for taking the time to read this interview,
and hopefully, give Redesigning Happiness a try!
It wasn’t easy for Yvonne Cable to get over a
heartbreaking relationship and revamp her life. But now the once-broke single
mom is Atlanta’s most sought-after interior designer—and one-half of the
media’s hottest power couple. She and her celebrity fiancé, Nathan, are a
perfect, practical match, on—and off—camera. And with their new home improvement
reality show the object of a fierce network bidding war, there’s no limit to
how far they can go . . .
But Yvonne is stunned when mogul Richard Barrington
III unexpectedly makes an offer for their program. He’s the man she thought
left her for a more successful woman. And he’s the father of her son—though he
didn’t know it until now. Richard wants to get to know their boy, and Yvonne
agrees, though she’s wary. Yet little by little, she’s finding it hard to
resist the responsible, caring man Richard has become. But when a scandalous
leak puts everything Yvonne’s worked for at risk, she’ll have to look beyond
surfaces to come to terms with who she is—and discover what she truly wants.
Join Our Community Today - Learn About The Current Books
Do you need help with your promoting? - https://conta.cc/2HrlqBQ
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thanks for your comment.