It is FOR and ABOUT authors. Here we shine the light on authors who we've read, reviewed, and recommend to others. In this edition we are shining our light on another gifted author.
Pamela Samuels Young is a practicing attorney and bestselling author of six legal thrillers:Every Reasonable Doubt, In Firm Pursuit, Murder on the Down Low, Attorney-Client Privilege, Buying Time and Anybody’s Daughter. A natural hair enthusiast, Pamela is also the author of Kinky Coily: A Natural Hair Resource Guide (April 2014). In addition to moonlighting as a mystery writer, Pamela works full time as Managing Counsel for Labor and Employment Law for Toyota in Southern California. She formerly served on the board of directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of Mystery Writers of America and is a diehard member of Sisters in Crime-L.A. The former journalist is a graduate of USC, Northwestern University and UC Berkeley’s School of Law.
GETTING TO KNOW PAMELA…
The best love advice I ever received was: The best love advice I ever received came from Tyler Perry and it pertained to loving and pursuing your passion. I’ve never met Tyler Perry, but when he accepted the Chairman’s Award at the NAACP Image Award ceremony in 2010 and said the following words, I felt like he was speaking directly to me: “We don’t have to wait for somebody to green light our projects. We can create our own intersections.” I was watching the program from my bedroom and I swear the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. His statement encouraged me to embrace being an independent author. I began to think of being self-published as a plus, rather than a minus. I love the control I have over my writing career and wouldn’t have it any other way. The fact that I’m now an NAACP Image Award nominee alongside four long-time writers at major publishing houses truly validates all the hard work I’ve put into my writing career.
Which is your favorite season? Winter. I love wearing sweaters and boots. But you’ll have to take into account that I live in Los Angeles. Fifty degrees is considered cold here. LOL! Winter probably would not be my favorite season if I lived in the Midwest or on the East Coast, especially with the crazy cold they’ve been experiencing lately.
My shopping addiction is: Natural hair products! I love being natural. If I walk into a beauty supply store looking for one product, there’s a good chance I’m walking out with five. I’m definitely a product junkie.
Do you doodle? Yep. I always doodle hearts. I wonder what that’s all about. LOL!
What is the most listened to CD in your collection? Stand by Donnie McClurkin. It gets me through everything! Writing rejection, heartache, stressful days at the office. I love that song! Especially these lyrics:
Tell me, what do you give when you've given your all
And it seems like you can't make it through?
Well you just stand when there's nothing left to do
You just stand, watch the Lord see you through
Amen!
If someone was to give you one gift, money is no object, what would you want to receive? The opportunity to spend a month in a fabulous house with an ocean view, eating great food, reading great books, watching great movies, working out and relaxing!
Is your favorite time the past, present or the future? The future! So many great things are happening regarding my writing career. I will be leaving my job to write full time in a few months. Hallelujah!
If you could spend the rest of your life doing just one thing, what would it be and why? Writing legal thrillers!
What is the one thing that makes you laugh the hardest? The Real Husbands of Hollywood. OMG! That show, especially Kevin Hart, is hilarious! I want him to be Apache if--no when--Anybody's Daughter hits the big screen.
What is your favorite home cooked meal? Gumbo!
What’s Next? My first non-fiction book, Kinky Coily: A Natural Hair Resource Guide. There’s been an explosion of interest in natural hair among African-American women. After my own hair disaster, I decided to take charge of my hair care instead of relying solely on a hair stylist. I was amazed at all the things I learned about my hair, primarily from YouTube bloggers who are half my age. I wanted to share the knowledge I learned about natural hair care with other women and that’s exactly what Kinky Coily does.
I’m also working on another non-fiction book, Self-Publish the Right Way: Turning Your Passion into a Paycheck. That’s scheduled for release in December 2015.
My next mystery is titled Married into Murder. It’s the story of a young African-American woman whose marriage into an East Indian family results in tragedy. Part sociological study, part courtroom drama, the novel examines the deep-seated cultural and racial prejudices that led to her murder. It goes on sale in June 2015.
PRAISE FOR EVERY REASONABLE DOUBT
“EVERY REASONABLE DOUBT is an insightful and engrossing legal mystery with great dialogue, authentic characters, unexpected twists, and laugh-out-loud humor. It was great to finally see a legal thriller/mystery with an African-American female lead -- a story with characters who have real problems and work toward resolving them realistically. . . I loved it!” - The RAWSISTAZ™Reviewers
“Ms. Samuels-Young is an extremely talented author and I look forward to being captivated by her next book and those that will certainly follow.” - Black Butterfly Review
PRAISE FOR IN FIRM PURSUIT
“The adventure began on the first few pages and never let you go until the end. This was a well written novel, character development was excellent Mrs. Samuels Young did an outstanding job, I can't wait to read the other mystery books in the Vernetta Henderson series.” - Julie Byrd
"This book has just the right amount of twists and turns! I really connected with the main characters, Vernetta and Special. I would definitely recommend it!” - KBH
PRAISE FOR MURDER ON THE DOWN LOW
“This is one book that will have you guessing until the very end. Pamela Samuels Young has done it again.” - LADIES OF COLOR TURNING PAGES Book Club
“This book was absolutely amazing it was a definite page turner from beginning to end!! Reading this book has definitely made me think about my own decisions and actions within my own sex life. Although this book is a work of fiction somewhere there is someone who is being betrayed by their lover or who is doing the betraying.” - LaToya Jones
PRAISE FOR ATTORNEY-CLIENT PRIVILEGE
“I have read all of the Vernetta Henderson books and I can't wait until the next one. Please write one real soon. All of Ms. Young's characters are real and jump off the page. You can feel everything they're feeling. Ms. Young writes so smoothly that her words just flow with ease. I couldn't put this book down. I love you Pamela Samuels Young. You're fantastic!!” - Cathi J. Lance
“Ms. Samuels-Young is an attorney and it shows in her legal knowledge, but the knowledge is oh so entertaining. I recommend this book to those who love legal thrillers and to all readers who enjoy wonderful. well crafted stories!” - Angelia Vernon Menchan
PRAISE FOR BUYING TIME
“With one deft move, and a fantastic book, Pamela Samuels Young has snuck onto my favorite authors list. Impossible, you say? Pick up a copy of Buying Time and then I defy you to not be thrilled by this roller coaster ride of law, greed and murder.” - Lori Johnston
“Pamela has done it again with another great legal thriller. Pamela's books tend to be lengthy (about 400 pages), but the length does not detract from the fast-moving action in her novels. I've read every one of her books and would highly recommend all four.” - Gwenevere Richardson
PRAISE FOR ANYBODY’S DAUGHTER
“Wow, this story was so real! Everyone is engaging in social networking during the Internet age and we hear more and more about people getting duped. Anybody’s Daughter is a well written story about this very subject. As parents we try to protect our children from the unknown, but they find crafty ways to deceive us.” - EbonyReader4Life
“Powerful, compelling and real!!!! This is a must read for parents, grandparents raising children, foster parents, educators and I could go on. Human trafficking is in LIVE and LIVING in color. Unfortunately, the invisible children are sought out by predators and are held capture.” - Cynthia J Hebron
For more information about Pamela, please visit:
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