Readcessorize with... Speculative Fiction
This is an umbrella term that encompasses the more fantastical fiction genres, specifically science fiction, fantasy, horror, paranormal, supernatural fiction, apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction. There are many, many that write in this genre. Unfortunately, we are not able to highlight them all, but we’d like to highlight just a few today -
If you’ve never read any of these authors, give them a try. If you’ve never read this genre, give it a try.
Readcessorize with... Chick Lit
Chick Lit is an often misunderstood genre. This genre can be defined as one which addresses issues of modern womanhood. Story lines often revolve around jobs, children, motherhood, romance, fame, living in the big city, friendship, and dieting. It includes women of all ages. Plots can range from being very light and fast-paced to being extraordinarily deep, thought-provoking and/or moving. There are many, many that writer in this genre as this genre encompasses so much. Unfortunately, we are not able to highlight them all, but we'd like to highlight just a few today-
If you've never read any of these authors, give them a try. If you've never read this genre, give it a try. These Chick Lit Authors are OOSA Approved.
If you've never read any of these authors, give them a try. If you've never read this genre, give it a try. These Chick Lit Authors are OOSA Approved.
Stacy-Deanne
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...
Born and raised in Houston, Texas Stacy-Deanne (Dee-Anne) is a proud Southern belle! She has much love for the culturally-diverse city as well as the economic advantages Houston has to offer. The world is your oyster in H-Town!
Like most Texans Stacy eats, drinks and thinks sports! She grew up following tennis, basketball and football. She is a huge basketball and football fan. Go Texans!
Stacy is single, has no kids and has just started school to get her Bachelor’s in English to open even more doors for her in the writing field.
She is one of the few black mystery and crime fiction writers in the industry. She is also one of few if not the only author that mixes hardcore crime novels with interracial romance elements. She is a huge believer of black authors being free to write what they want to and not what people expect them to.
A now accomplished author with awards as well as two African-American Literary nominations, Stacy does everything in her power to encourage others to follow their dreams. She has mentored writers as well as regularly writes articles giving advice to newbies of the industry. Stacy is a big believer in supporting other authors and cherishes readers. Whenever a reader picks up her work, if they enjoyed it then there is no other reward better than that.
What’s next for Stacy?
She is currently working on other installments in her Interracial Suspense Series. “Giving up the Ghost” (Book 1) and “The Season of Sin” (Book 2). The third installment in Stacy’s series as well as a standalone is slated to be released in 2013 by Peace in the Storm Publishing.
GETTING TO KNOW STACY-DEANNE…
What is the last thing you lent that never came back? My Soul.
If someone should ask you a question, or bring up a topic, that would certainly make you speak (in other words, about something you have a lot to say), what would that be? Do I feel that women really have equal rights.
What do you do to relax after a busy day? Rearrange all the dead bodies in my basement. *winking* Just kidding. I never rearrange them. LOL! Okay, okay, I love to laugh and I love comedies! So I love to watch a good comedy film or a comedy special to relax. I love films in general but comedies help me to relieve stress better than anything.
What would be your ideal one-month vacation? Going to England and being seduced by a rich Brit! Enough said.
What was your favorite game growing up? UNO, baby!
Who is your celebrity crush? Stephen Dorff. Actually he's more like an obsession but he's lucky that I'm too lazy to stalk him.
Are you happy with the person you've become? Somewhat. I mean no one is perfect and I am sure we all have things we want to change about ourselves if we had the ability. As far as how I live my life, I try to be the best person I can be. But there are things about myself I wish I didn't have to deal with.
Do you have any nicknames? I've had many but my main one from childhood is Bootsy. Don't ask me why.
What is your favorite word? Resurrection.
Do you prefer talking on the phone or texting? Texting.
PRAISE FOR MELODY
“I loved every minute and am proud to recommend this story to all!” - Huntress Reviews
“There was never a dull moment in this novel, you don't believe me!? Then see for yourself!” - One2Go Book Reviews
“This is one book that I could read time and time again. This mind-stopping, heart-pounding, ground-breaking book; is better than words can say.” - Book Hall of Fame Literary Reviews
PRAISE FOR EVERLASTING
“Though this theme, ‘star-crossed lovers,’ has intrigued many writers and has been done over and over again, Stacy-Deanne's story holds its own weight. I found it enjoyable, easy to read and entertaining. I hope she revisits these characters again in the future.” – OOSA
“True love and loyalty are challenged and the drama, fast pace, terror and fully developed characters in this inspiring street plot make Everlasting by Stacy-Deanne a very enjoyable read.” - Connie
“It is a cleverly written novel that keeps interest high from the very first page. It is well worth reading.” - The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers
PRAISE FOR GIVING UP THE GHOST
“The captivating characters, intriguing plot and smoldering romance made me feel as if I watched this in a Lifetime movie. If you like romantic suspense novels check out Stacy Deanne's GIVING UP THE GHOST!” - The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers
“This is a page-turning book of surprises that kept me intrigued until the end. I recommend this book to others.” - A&RBC Reviews
“My three word review: thrilling, riveting, fast-paced.” – Shelia Goss
PRAISE FOR THE SEASON OF SIN
“This was such an AWESOME read! Just the right amount of everything to make it sinfully delicious!” – Readers Paradise
“This book provides drama, excitement and is definitely entertaining.” - APOOO BookClub
“If you are looking for an excellent suspense mystery that is truly captivating, you have come to the right novel and yes I would recommend ‘The Season of Sin’ as a read for you.” – Arlena Dean
For more information about Stacy-Deanne, please visit:
http://www.stacy-deanne.net
Facebook: http://tiny.cc/aqx43
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/stacydeanne
No Longer a Dirty Word
Stepping to the stage is: Nah'Sun
“You like them fat chicks, cuz” – Rico to Lakim, main characters of the novel Thick When the Chances are Slim
After a year and some change in the book game, I hated writing. I was through with the publishing industry. The political bullshit I faced in a short period of time sucked the blood out the lifeline of my penmanship as if I was tied and locked down on to a bed with ticks and leeches dining on the wheat of my flesh.
I didn’t want anything to do with writing anymore. My first book did well, but most of my readers didn’t “get it.” They didn’t understand my voice. I knew I was great, but the readers didn’t know that. At one time I foolishly blamed them for not figuring out what I was striving to say in my work. It was intellectual masturbation with only a few experiencing mental orgasms from reading my first book.
My first joint in the book game was my baby. Of course I was going to feel a certain way when folks didn’t understand my vision.
So I stopped touring and writing for a few months. I needed to re-energize. The politics of the book game, whether it was industry heads playing favorites or book stores failing to promote my signings, wore me the hell out. I disappeared into the mountains on some Buddha Monk type shit to meditate and re-work my focus.
I officially lost my passion for writing. Not a lot of people knew that, but I did for a hot second.
The passion was lost and damn near forgotten until I was told to write what I like. The “Ah ha!” moment struck me fast and hard when I noticed there weren’t a lot of novels written about plus size women. My homeboys used to playfully roast me about liking big girls growing up. I didn’t give a damn what they thought. I liked what I liked. After a while they accepted it. Shit, they had no choice. I’m flexible with my preference, but I have a sweet tooth for thickness. I figured, “hey, why not write a book series about plus size women.”
As a man writing about full-figured women, I didn’t have to do the homework. I knew the homework. Dating big girls since elementary school gave me a front row seat to their feelings and how they viewed the world. Everybody has similar emotions like fear, love, hate, insecurities, etc., but every specific circle in society has their own tailor-made experiences. Shedding light about big girls in a small world through my work would open doors to reveal their soul without making it seem like I was kissing up to the plus size community.
I did my research and checked out novels written about full-figured women. I wasn’t impressed. Not taking anything away from those authors, but the one-dimensional stories felt as if I was playing Atari. The stories lacked depth. It was almost as if I was reading a reality show on dead trees. I constantly ran across your stereotypical “big girl with low self-esteem” type of story with countless materialistic paragraphs that didn’t have anything to do with the content.
I wanted to pen stories that were like the X-Box 360 with 3-dimensional characters where you felt their soul. I scratched my blue or black colored pen on the loose leaf paper to dig deeper than miners reaping for diamonds so you can feel and see the depth of each character as if you either knew them personally or you saw yourself walking in their shoes.
So I went to work.
Snapping out of a writing funk in late-2010 had pushed me to write Thick When the Chances are Slim. That’s the first novel from the Thick series. I ran through countless names for the book title. I’m not gonna lie. Most of them were terrible. I mean terrible with a capital T in bold letters. As a lyricist, I played around with a few words and cooked up the title you now see. It’s funny looking back because it took me only a matter of seconds to come up with Thick When the Chances are Slim without twisting my brain like a pretzel.
I finished the novel in the fall of 2011. The book release was a blast. I sold half of the first pressing through pre-orders before its December release. I switched up my writing style to a simpler form. I cut out a lot of the metaphor and symbolism style I used in my first novel by writing with a straight forwardness for the novel infamously known as Thick.
A lot of women appreciate the book. It wasn’t a diss toward slender women. The book is about accepting yourself regardless of size. Thick When the Chances are Slim is the mirror to reflect the beauty of a population of women that’s largely ignored. The artwork of the books in the series is also a testament to that beauty. The Thick series is not the be-all-end-all work representing plus size women.
In fact, I’m not necessarily speaking for women. I’m more of an ambassador carrying the flag for big girls worldwide full staffed.
Facing obstacles in the book industry head on gave me the drive in the fast lane to swerve around speed bumps. Only crash dummies quit at the first sign of trouble. I fell, brushed off the dirt of nonsense, and stood stronger than ever before. I took my war wounds like a champ. I now know what to expect in the book industry that not only has a bad side but also a good side when you know how to flip a negative into an energy to keep going without looking back.
And it’s only fitting I kick off those positive vibes with a book series bigging up the thick and sexy by showing the world that “big” is no longer a dirty word.
Nah’Sun is an award winning author of the Thick series and currently spends his time between the Midwest and East Coast. The Bachelor of Arts graduate uses his spare time blogging, songwriting and anything else that doesn’t bore him. He’s currently working on part 3 of the Thick series tentatively entitled In the Thick of Things slated for a 2014 release. Feel the blaze, a Nah’Sun blaze. You can preorder Thick in the Nick of Time (part 2 of the Thick series) @ www.nahsunblaze.com on December 12th, 2012
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