[Interview] Myne Whitman

Myne Whitman was born in Enugu, Nigeria.

She has a Master’s degree in Public Health Research and is the author of two romantic suspense novels, A Heart to Mend (Authorhouse, 2009) and A Love Rekindled (CreateSpace, 2011), which are both set in Nigeria.

In this interview, Myne Whitman talks about her concerns as a writer:

When did you start writing?

I've been writing for a very long time, well, since I was about 11 or so. Unfortunately, most of those scribbles were lost when we moved cities. I started writing seriously around my third year in university, took a break for work and further studies and, now, writing is my full time career.

The decision to send my work out into the world matured in 2009 after I had been writing again for about six months full time. I had joined a writing group, started a blog, and people seemed to like what I had to write about.

I researched available options of publishing, and gave traditional publishing a try for a few months. The rejections I received had a common thread. While most agents liked my writing, they didn't think it suited them, and there were a couple that suggested I change some fundamental parts of my story. I found that idea abhorrent, and further research yielded some resources on self-publishing.

When I had satisfied myself that I understood what self-publishing entailed and was ready to face the challenge, I decided to go with Authorhouse to design, print and distribute my books. On the editorial angle, I drafted my manuscript several times, working with feedback from my writing group, beta readers on my blog, and finally an editor, to make sure it was ready for a mass audience.

How would you describe your writing?

My writing is romantic fiction.

It has been described as a marriage of literary and pulp fiction.

I write about the romantic experiences of the hero and heroine in my story, and frame them in a background of realistic day-to-day life of their setting. My stories are set in Nigeria where I grew up and lived for most of my life. My language is simple and direct, accented by the tones of local people in the Nigerian setting but adapted for an international audience.

My target audience is international ... anyone who has ever loved or felt emotions as they interacted with other people. I decided on romantic fiction because romance is universal ... most people will experience relationships more than anything else in their lifetime.

When I started A Heart to Mend as an 18 years old, I had at the back of my mind, not only the loads of Mills & Boon romances, but also the Pacesetters and African Writers Series I had devoured as a teenager. I was motivated to write stories that featured people like me, and that people like me could identify with.

When I went back to the story, I was living in the US, and in rewriting it, I made it a story in which I could share my background and world view with those that were different from me. For everyone who reads it, if there is one thing to take away, I want it to be the universality of what makes us human ... the experiences, the emotions, and the aspirations of life and love.

In the writing you are doing, which authors influenced you most?

The authors that I take as my role models include Nora Roberts, Danielle Steele, Buchi Emecheta, Cyprian Ekwensi and Helen Ovbiagele, among others. I love these authors because of their writing (their works drew emotions out of me, they made me think, and they also educated and informed me) and because of what they've been able to achieve (they are prolific, and their stories are accessible to a wide audience, the stories are those that a large number of people can relate to).

Have your own personal experiences influenced your writing in any way?

Mostly because my stories are set in locations that I've either lived in or visited.

Also, I write on themes that are universal, and I've personally felt some of the emotions I describe in my books. That said, nothing in my books are autobiographical.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

First and foremost, I want to tell a good story, one that will hook the reader into it and take them on a journey. I want my readers to enjoy my books, and I also hope that I will make them feel (laugh, cry, and think) while they read. Also, because I am self published, I'm concerned about how to ensure that my books are of very good quality.

I believe in my stories, and I believe in the message I want to pass through them so my biggest challenge is how to get my books to as large an audience as possible. I deal with that by investing a good amount of time in promotion. I also utilize the strategy of giving away free books in order to build a following.

My first book, A Heart to Mend, stayed at #1 on the AmazonUK Kindle store for romantic suspense (free) for over two weeks, with almost 20,000 copies downloaded. It was a very good feeling to know that even half of that number will read the story and it would fit into how they make sense of the world around them.

Do you write everyday?

I do not write everyday, not that I wouldn't like to though.

I write when I feel like it, and usually I would've been thinking about the story and so it comes easily to my fingers as I type (I used to write long hand, but I now write directly to MS Word on my laptop).

When I have start thinking about what to write, or whether it makes sense, then I stop.

How many books have you written so far?

I have written two books so far:

A Heart to Mend was published through Authorhouse in December 2009. It tells about the coming of age of a young woman, Gladys, who falls in love with Edward, a wealthy businessman. They become romantically linked but emotional issues from Edward's past make it hard for him to fully trust Gladys. Their relationship is further complicated when she becomes embroiled in a plot to take over his business.

A Love Rekindled was published through Createspace in March 2011. Efe is an independent woman who returns to Nigeria ready to face the future, after years in the United States. However, it is the past that she first has to confront when her former fiance, Kevwe, comes back into her life claiming he's never stopped loving her. He has to unravel the mystery of their broken engagement before she is willing to rekindle their love.

How would you describe A Love Rekindled?

A Love Rekindled is my latest book, and it took about a year to write and edit. It was first published in the United States.

I moved from Authorhouse to CreateSpace for my second book because I found that the latter's services were more affordable. The next advantage was that they worked directly with Amazon.com which my first book had shown me was my biggest market.

Which were the most difficult aspects of the work you put into A Love Rekindled?

I enjoy telling stories and giving free reign to my imagination. I think this is because I'm recreating the world through my characters, and breathing life into them in such a way that readers will be emotionally invested in what happens to them.

For me, the most difficult part of writing is the editing process. The primary reason being that I do not have a formal background in Writing, English, Communication or Literature. Taking several free online courses and joining writing groups have been very helpful in increasing my strength in these areas. I have also tried to improve my knowledge of the publishing industry in terms of branding, publicity and marketing.

What sets A Love Rekindled apart from other things you've written?

A Love Rekindled differs from A Heart to Mend in that it spans a longer period of time. Readers will be transported to the years at the turn of the millenium and to the days of first love and loss.

The two books are similar in that they are set in Nigeria and are about people dealing with issues of love, family, and personal development.

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.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

I think it is too early to conclude, but I'll like to be counted among those that revived the writing of popular and commercial fiction in Africa.

Related books:

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Related articles:

• Myne Whitman, author of A Heart To Mend [Interview], Jaguda, December 29, 2009
• Have Nigerian Romance Novels Come of Age [Book Review], by Sylva Nze Ifedigbo, Critical Literature Review, January 24, 2010
• Onaedo, The Blacksmith’s Daughter by Ngozi Achebe [Book Review], by Gibril Koroma, Digital Journal, October 6, 2011

[Interview] Kathy-Diane Leveille

Author Kathy-Diane Leveille is a former broadcast journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBS) and is a member of Sisters in Crime; International Thriller Writers; Kiss of Death RWA and Crime Writers of Canada.

Her short story collection, Roads Unravelling (Sumach Press, 2003) was published to critical acclaim. A selection from its pages, "Learning to Spin", was adapted to radio drama for CBC’s Summer Drama Festival while "Showdown at the Four Corner’s Corral" was revised for the stage and performed by New City Theater in Saint John.

Her work has also been published in anthologies that include Water Studies: New Voices in Maritime Fiction (Pottersfield Press, 1998) and New Brunswick Short Stories (Neptune, 2003) as well as in a number of literary journals, among them, Grain; Room of One's Own; The Oklahoma Review; Pottersfield Portfolio and The Cormorant.

Let the Shadows Fall Behind You (Kunati, 2009), is her first novel.

In this interview, Kathy-Diane Leveille talks about her writing.

When did you start writing?

I wrote my first poem when I was in Grade 1:

Oh Father Dear, I’m glad you’re here
So we can celebrate this day, with a Doran’s beer.

Of course I didn’t understand why my teacher’s eyes rounded with horror when she read it. That was my first lesson in discovering that not everyone will welcome the truth in what you write.

My mother sewed paper together for me so I could write books when I played library, but I really didn’t have any desire to write until I was in Grade 6. I was secretly in love with our new teacher from Toronto, Miss Matthews. (Yes, she was the inspiration for the character, Miss Matthews, in Let the Shadows Fall Behind You.)

One day Miss Matthew glided to my desk, scarf fluttering, and delicate cologne filling my nostrils. She announced she loved the story I’d written, and that it would make a great radio play.

I was stunned.

I had no idea that the words I scribbled like mad would actually elicit such a strong and positive response in someone else. It was my first inkling that words were powerful.

I wrote and produced a few radio dramas that year, and also wrote and directed the class Christmas play.

When did you decide you wanted to be a published writer?

I’m a former broadcast journalist with CBC radio.

Seventeen years ago, when I was home on maternity leave with my youngest son, I dug out an old file of story ideas and started scribbling. By the time the date arrived when I was supposed to return to work, I had already decided that I didn’t want to keep putting my dream of writing fiction on the back burner.

Since then I’ve done different jobs, including being a janitor and typing medical transcription, to give me the time and energy to pursue my passion.

My first book Roads Unravelling, a collection of short stories set on the Kennebecasis River where I live, was published a few years ago. Let the Shadows Fall Behind You, released this spring, is my first novel.

Who is your target audience? And, what motivated you to write for this audience?

Anyone who loves a good psychological suspense story.

I tend to discover a new author in the genre and compulsively read every single thing they’ve written. Lately, I’ve been devouring the works of Nicci French, a husband and wife British team. Maybe I’m just intrigued that this collaboration continues without self-combusting. I can’t imagine my husband and me surviving a writing project long enough to type THE END.

I really like sophisticated screen thrillers, too, like Fatal Attraction and Wall Street, and have watched both quite a few times. I just love the mechanics of the plot paired with superb characterizations. I think every movie I watch and book I read informs my writing to some degree, because when the story transports me, I am always curious as to why and try hard to nail it down. Hopefully, I’ve done it with Let the Shadows Fall Behind You.

How have your personal experiences influenced your writing?

Working in the field of journalism offered valuable training in discipline. You’re working to a deadline to produce stories whether you like it or not. There were many times I sat down at the computer with absolutely no idea of where to go. You learn in journalism to have faith in the process, that you can start with nothing and eventually something will take shape and grow. It was a tremendous mentorship in the art of research, fact checking and honing the 5 W’s.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

The most difficult thing about writing is returning to the page when the initial excitement over a story idea has worn off and I’m riddled with doubts about my ability to translate the vision to the reader. However, I’ve learned through the years that I must keep going back, that eventually the doubts fade and something sparks and I fall in love with my characters all over again. It is that moment, ironically, that is the most exciting about writing because I always learn something from my character’s journey.

I believe writer’s block comes with the territory. At first, I despair, convinced whatever I’m working on should be tossed. But usually after reflection, a long walk or a trip to the library, I realize I need a break from the writing. For me writer’s block comes because the well is dry. I need to get out and enjoy life. It usually takes one or two days before suddenly a window opens in the block (when I’m doing something totally mundane like having my tooth drilled), and suddenly I’m antsy to be set free to grab a pen and paper.

What are the biggest challenges that you face?

Rejection of the work you’ve spent so much time on is always a blow. The only cure for my disappointment has always been writing. Before you know it, I’m caught up in the characters and the mystery of their journey. Sometimes it helps to work on a completely different project. If anything, I figure I must have learned something by now to make this one come closer to the mark.

Do you write everyday?

I have a large chair that could fit three people in its lap. It allows me to keep lots of books, pads of paper and pens by my side. Directly across from the chair is a large picture window three-quarters sky and one-quarter river that is constantly shifting in light and color.

I usually start with a pen and pad for the inspiration stage, then move to the computer for the perspiration stage. When I get to a place where I’m uncertain as to how to proceed, I always go back to pen and paper. I think there’s some mechanism in that tactile exercise that frees the right brain to soar.

I usually begin by simultaneously visualizing a situation that causes an upheaval in life, and hearing a character’s voice emote their reaction to it. It’s a very strange process and definitely has my husband worried some days; especially when he dusts the books on my research shelf: Handbook of Poisons and Crime Scene Investigation.

How many books have you written so far?

My first book, Roads Unravelling, is a collection of short stories set on the river where I live on the east coast of Canada. It was published by Sumach Press in 2002 to critical acclaim when "Learning to Spin" was adapted to radio drama and aired on the CBC Summer Drama Festival.

My second book Let the Shadows Fall Behind You is a suspense novel published in the spring of 2009 by Kunati Books.

How long did it take you to write Let the Shadows Fall Behind You?

It took about five years to write Let the Shadows Fall Behind You from the initial idea stage to publication. Partly, it was because I had so much to learn about novel writing; but I’m a slow writer. I need to do a draft and then set it side before digging it out again.

Ultimately, Let the Shadows Fall Behind You is a story about coming to terms with the past and letting it go.

The truth is people disappear from our lives all the time; the fiction is the belief in our control to bring them back.

Let the Shadows Fall Behind You celebrates the strength of women’s friendship.

What did you find most difficult when you were working on the book?

I think when you write mystery novels, constructing the murder scenes is always difficult. The theme of suspense is positive not negative. When you get to the last page, the story is about the triumph of good over evil. Those short times I, as a writer, have to step inside a psychopath’s mind are always a bit grizzly.

What did you enjoy most?

Turn to the opposite side of the coin, which is the protagonist who is flawed and human, but still contains the kind of heroism, hope and strength I admire.

What sets this book apart from other things you've written?

I absolutely love the freedom a novel provides in comparison to a short story. The canvas is so much larger, and there is so much opportunity to stretch your creative muscles.

Tackling a novel was a steep learning curve for me. I had to write three or four in order to learn the many elements involved, and I’m still learning. I can remember that feeling of breaking through, however, when I knew that I was finally juggling all the balls of character, setting, plot, theme, pacing and not dropping any. It was, and is, tremendously satisfying.

What will your next book be about?

My next suspense novel, In Cold Storage, is about finding the courage to believe in yourself.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

Having my own books displayed on the shelves at the library. When I was growing up, the library was my sanctuary and source of inspiration and grace.

There is no feeling comparable to having my books published and joining the authors who opened new worlds and ideas to me. Picture the arrival of Christmas morning, the thrill of hearing a newborn baby’s cry and the rush of your first kiss all rolled into one. My husband and I do the happy-happy joy dance. He’s my number one cheerleader and gets more excited than I do!

However, he does get nervous when I start digging plots in the garden, and discussing ideas for a new character who murders her spouse.

Possibly related books:

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[Interview] Tarik Moore

Tarik H. Moore has a Bachelor of Science degree from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland and works as an Information Technology consultant and a real estate investor.

The End Justifies the Means (In Third Person Publishing, 2006) is his first novel.

In this interview, Tarik Moore talks about his writing.

How many books have you written so far?

The End Justifies the Means is my first novel, and I’m a self-publish author under my own publishing company, “In Third Person Publishing”.

The End Justifies the Means released October 18, 2006. It’s a suspense novel based out of Camden, New Jersey. A city cited by many as one of the most poorer and dangerous cities in America for the past decade or so.

It took six weeks to write the original manuscript, but the next twenty-three months were dedicated to editing, graphical design work (i.e. website, book covers, promotional material, etc). You know all the intangible things that go into producing a book.

Which aspect of the work you put into the book did you find most difficult?

My biggest challenge was producing the book. There are a lot of predators claiming to be professional editors, proofreaders, graphical artist, etc who care nothing about your story and your message but only wish to take your money. But now I have a reliable team of editors and graphic artists who I trust and will continue to be staples in my writing career as long as I have stories to tell.

Which did you enjoy most?

The day I enjoyed most was the day my proof came to my door and I finally had my first official finished product in my hand. All the hard work and money I put into it finally had paid off.

What sets the book apart from other things you have written?

Before this novel I had only written a few poems, high school newspaper articles, but nothing as personal as this story. I had this story in me for years before it ultimately came out.

What will your next book be about?

I was going to write a novel/erotica called Cyber Sex but I’ve been forced to put that on the backburner because the story wasn’t ready to shoot out of me like The End Justifies the Means did. I started writing it but I didn’t feel the same passion I felt for my first novel.

My next novel, The Sweetest Joy, is bursting out of me as we speak. I’ve had to literally force myself not to begin writing that novel until I’m finished promoting The End Justifies the Means.

The Sweetest Joy will be much darker than my first novel. It’s going to be a story about one man’s revenge and that’s all I’m going to tell you about it. It’s going to be bigger than The End Justifies the Means and people are loving The End Justifies the Means. I’m telling you now, the industry better be prepared to hand out some awards to T. H. Moore when The Sweetest Joy releases.

When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?

Being an only child I had and continue to have a vivid imagination and I began writing the stories that flooded my imagination when I was in high school.

I wrote for my high school newspaper and after that I began to write the first story that I thought would turn into my first novel. Unfortunetly, I lost it to a computer crash. It’s kind of ironic considering that my career is based on computers now but since then I never wrote another story with the intent of publishing it for others to read.

Ultimately, I was working on a project in England a few years ago and one weekend I went to see a movie and the story line was so bad that I came out of the movie saying, “I could have written a better story than that.” And then it clicked in my head. I’m going to write a novel and put my money where my mouth is. Six weeks later I finished my first manuscript, The End Justifies the Means.

How would you describe your writing?

The industry would categorize me in the African-American suspense novel genre or Hood Literature based on the story back drop of The End Justifies the Means but this is the only story I have to tell that has an urban setting.

To be fair, my stories will appeal to African-American audiences but they are equally intelligently written with a message communicated through them that doesn’t glorify promiscuity, drug dealing, and violence. I tell all my readers from my book signings, “This is not your stereotypical Hood Lit” -- and after they read it they understand what I mean.

My target audience are minorities (i.e. African-Americans and Latinos) mainly because the main characters in The End Justifies the Means are those ethnicities but my stories can be appreciated by any nationality.

The majority, not all, of the books I read are by African-American authors and I don’t think we have equal presence represented in the industry so that’s why I’ve chosen my audience. Maybe one day I’ll write a story specifically for “mainstream” contemporary literature but I’m not drawn to it. I’m drawn to what my people can appreciate first.

How have your personal experiences influenced your writing?

All of my stories come from me and my personal experiences. They aren’t autobiographical but I write about what I know and have experienced.

What are your main concerns as a writer?

I don’t want to be lumped into the, “Oh, he’s an African-American writer” category. I’m just a writer who happens to be African-American. I want people to appreciate my art and talent first before my ethnicity. That’s why I decided to go with the book cover I have. I didn’t want readers to be instantly turned away from my book solely because of my book cover.

Normally, authors in my genre have cover art with African-Americans on it but if someone has the mindset, “I don’t read black authors or Hood Books” -- they won’t even pick it up to see what its about. In order for a reader not to like my story they have to actually pick it up and read the back cover or the first few pages of the book and once they do that, it’s too late. I already got you hooked.

How did you deal with the challenges you faced in producing the book?

Mostly trial and error and I had a few people willing to mentor me along the way. It’s because of those people that I have the book we have before us today. But I can truly estimate that I’ve wasted approximately $4,000.00 on would be editors and the kind. But the good thing about it is that it helped me learn the industry more thoroughly. I’m not saying everyone needs to get took to publish a book successfully but I learned very valuable lessons during those two years of producing my novel.

What would you say has been your most significant achievement as a writer?

Well, there are two most significant achievements. One tangible, and another intangible.

I received a “New Writers Award” from a community organization based out of Camden, N. J.

The second was when the people who knew I was writing my novel finally read it and before they read it they initially thought I was just writing a book so I could say, “I wrote a novel” -- but when they completed it they realized that it was exceptional and they would have read it and enjoyed it even if they didn’t personally know the author.

How did you get there?

Hmmm, I guess I have to thank that terrible movie (which will remain nameless) that forced me to put my money where my mouth was. It gave me the much needed extra motivation to write again and publish my novel. But honestly, I’m not sure how to answer this question because it honestly wasn’t a conscious effort. I just did what I liked to do.

Do you write everyday?

I don’t write everyday, unless you count emails I write to my co-workers, family, friends, and fraternity brothers, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. (I know, I know…a shameless plug but it’s all good).

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