N'tyse

Celebrate with us as we recognize and highlight just a few women making a mark in the literary industry as we bring you…

The Real Housewives of Literature They are mothers, wives, daughters, aunts and sisters, yet they have found time to make a name for themselves and pursue their dreams. O.O.S.A.’s goal is to not only acknowledge African American women in literature, but to educate and encourage others. We hope that you will join us as we recognize, respect and applaud their efforts as these phenomenal women make history or in this case, HERstory! 

Status: Married

Children: 1, almost 2 years old

Books: 4

N’Tyse is an erotic romance author and executive producer/director of the documentary film, Beneath My Skin. She met her soul mate when she was sixteen years old. While the couple endured tumultuous times during several pregnancy losses, their faith never wavered. It was during this time that N’Tyse’s love for writing grew. In an attempt to escape her own reality, she penned her first novel. It was her debut novel that would open up many doors for her literary and film career.

In 2011, N’Tyse delivered her first “earth” baby, Zanaiah, who she and her husband call their little miracle.

A former private/personal banker for nearly twelve years, N’Tyse decided not to return to corporate America, and instead opted to become a full-time mother and wife. With having penned more than seven novels and contributed to multiple anthologies, N’Tyse is just getting her feet wet. The author is no stranger to hard work and wears several hats. Author, literary agent, publisher, and documentary filmmaker, just to name a few. She believes balance is the key to keeping things intact on the work and home front. 

Behind The Books

Knowing the path you took to where you are now, what is one thing from your experiences that you wish to save other authors from experiencing (OR hope all authors experience)? I can’t say that I had any terrible experiences that I don’t regret. I learned from everything that I went through in this industry. I believe authors nowadays have it somewhat easier than I did when I entered the industry because there are so many resources available. I had to learn everything from scratch. Trial and error. I also had to negotiate with printers, distributors, bookstores, etc. I had to store my paperbacks, (there was no POD), and then sell the paperbacks as if my life depended on it because I had money tied up in them. Every penny I had invested in myself derived from hard-earned clock-punching money. E-books were barely getting started and I didn't participate early on because I was skeptical. So if anything, I wish every author experienced or was exposed to the traditional aspect of the business. I believe it helped tremendously. It also shaped me into the business savvy woman that I am today. I was able to be hands-on with everything.

How do you juggle a career, writing and home? With me working from home it makes it a lot easier. I’m able to enjoy my daughter all day and tend to my domestic duties as a wife, without worrying about if one or the other is suffering. I write when my time allows, and that’s mostly at night when hubby and baby are asleep. Throughout the day, I handle all the administrative tasks, including reviewing manuscripts, pitching proposals, and working on pressing project matters. Sometimes I feel like there aren’t enough hours in a day, but I just do what I can and save the rest for another day. I also make it a point to incorporate a family day and date night every week. That means NO work. Well, I may answer an email or two. LOL!

How supportive is your family when it comes to a deadline? My entire family is extremely supportive. I am so blessed to have them. My mom and sister babysit my daughter whenever I ask. Whether it be to get caught up on writing or some much needed “ME” time.

From your perspective, do you think female authors have it better or worse than their male counterparts? I would have to say I think we have it better when it comes to persuading a reader to read our works. I really don’t want to make a generalization, but from what my male author friends have told me, this leads me to believe that. I would think it’s because women tend to read books that they can relate to. I can imagine it being quite difficult for a man to get inside a woman’s head and emotions so accurately, but I respect and commend the great male authors who have proven that they know what women like and how they think. I'm sure the genre also plays a factor.

What female authors have influenced you? Zane. She has been a true inspiration to me. I couldn’t be happier to be writing under her publishing imprint Strebor/Simon & Schuster, and working with her on my first documentary feature film. She is one of the executive producers of Beneath My Skin. Zane and I are both risk-takers and that’s why I gravitate to her work, but it’s her humbleness and superwoman mentality that inspires me. She’s the hardest working woman I know. When my daughter was only a few months old I asked her what advice could she give me so that I didn’t fall behind on writing. She told me to do what she did, and put my daughter on my hip in one hand, and type with the other. That was the realest advice I’ve ever gotten, especially from a woman of her caliber. I apply that to everything. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

Stay tuned next week as we highlight another phenomenal woman!