Contest

 

PAYBACK meets COLLATERAL meets the mean streets of Atlanta, Sergeant Malcolm Hobbs and his X-Men Homicide Squad in this tale of suspense 

In the dead of night, an Atlanta neighborhood erupts in sudden violence and introduces a new case file for Sergeant Malcolm Hobbs and his elite X-Men Homicide Squad. This investigation exposes evidence that takes on an extremely personal note for the X-Men when the identity of the victims are Harold Castle and Lamont Hendricks, tough but respected members of the Atlanta Police Department’s Narcotics Enforcement Unit or NEU.

Meantime, Fabrice Mousassi is an ex-con in town with a few days to kill some crooks. With no honor among these thieves, he needs to settle the score and right the wrong done to him and his partner-in-crime, Julianna Delacroix. They don’t want the entire $25 million; they didn’t earn that. They only want the share that they did earn. No one will stop them from getting what’s theirs. Not their former colleagues, not the police and not anyone else who dares to challenge the Mousassi-Delacroix team. No one.

The head-on collision between the unstoppable forces of Team Mousassi-Delacroix and the immovable objects of the X-Men Homicide Squad is inevitable and something has to give. The intensity of these entities and the connections they reveal with the seedy sides of Atlanta’s criminal underworld spurs the pursuit for revenge and its multimillion-dollar payday on one side and justice to solve the crimes in the swiftest manner possible on the other.

However for Hobbs in particular, this maze reignites still healing wounds from his painful past that may finally explode and eventually lead to his professional and personal disintegration.

FOR A CHANCE TO WIN a copy of Cold Lick, visit www.cortezlaw.net and answer this question:

What is the meaning of Cortez's Metro Black & Blue Books' company name?

(Hint: The answer's somewhere on his website). 

E-mail your answer to dwanabrams@gmail.com.

Interview with Black Pearls Magazine

BPM:   Introduce us to your current work. What genre do you consider your book? Is this book available in digital forms like Nook and Kindle?
My latest book, For the Sake of Love, is a love triangle. Bria finds herself having to choose between the man she loves and the man trying to woo her with his money. I consider For the Sake of Love to be an inspirational romance, and yes, it is available in both Nook and Kindle.   


BPM:  What inspired you to sit down and actually start writing this book? 
I had first written For the Sake of Love as a novella. For years I wanted to turn it into a full length novel but didn't know what direction I wanted to take it. Finally, I found the motivation and inspiration to craft the story. 


BPM:  Does your life experiences inspire your writing?
Sometimes. It really depends on the character. I have the most fun with characters inspired by people I know. 


BPM:  Where do your book ideas come from? Are your books plot driven or character driven?  Why?
My book ideas come from all over the place. There's no one set thing. In the past, I have spoken to people with interesting professions and made mental notes to give my characters those professions. Something as simple as that can spark the idea for a new book.

I would definitely say that my books are character driven. My characters determine the situation and direction of the story. I don't start out with an entire premise and place the characters in the scenes. 


BPM:   Give us some insight into your main characters. What makes each one so special?  
Bria is special because she's growing as a person. She's discovering new things about herself. Bria's best friend, Nya, is a wild card. She's a ride or die chick.

Nya's husband, Chance, is somewhat of a jokester. What makes him so special is that I had a reader once tell me that she loved Chance for Bria. I had never even considered that.

Spade wants so badly to be Bria's hero that he sometimes comes off as a zero. Readers will have to figure out whether Kerryngton is glitter or gold.  


BPM:   What topics are primarily discussed?  Did you learn anything personal from writing your book? 
The different love languages are primarily discussed in For the Sake of Love. I did learn that I probably would not have made the same choice as Bria.


BPM:   Can you share some stories about people you met while researching this book?
I didn't have to conduct an extensive amount of research for this book. Everyone involved I already knew. Nonetheless, the feedback on the men and who Bria should end up with was priceless.


BPM:   What defines success for you, as a published author? What are your ambitions for your writing career?
Success for me means doing what God has purposed for me to do. As long as I walk in my calling, I'm a success. I don't measure success in monetary standards. Every time my publisher agrees to publish one of my books, I feel a sense of accomplishment. Whenever I receive an email from a reader telling me he or she enjoyed my book, I feel honored. 

As for my ambitions, I have quite a few. I believe that as long as I keep my character intact, my gifts will make room for me. I don't put myself into a box. 


BPM:   What are your expectations for this book? What would you like for readers to do after reading this book?  
I don't believe in putting expectations on my work. I simply write the stories I feel compelled to write to the best of my abilities. As long as I feel good about my work once I'm done, I'm happy. I pray about it and release it.
I would like for my readers to post their favorable reviews on Amazon or bn.com. I also like to hear from my readers. Those emails make my day. And of course, I want my readers to tell ten more readers to go out and buy the book.


BPM:   Did you ever ask yourself, "Why am I doing this? Should I change course and maybe try to get some of the things on that list?" 
No, I have never wondered if writing was the right thing for me. When I was in corporate America, that was a different story. I often thought that. I actually wrote my first two books while working in corporate America. My dream was to leave my job and write full-time. Eight years ago I was blessed to do just that. I've been doing what I love ever since. Currently, I teach business classes at a college twice a week. I enjoy doing that because it doesn't require a lot of my time and doesn't interfere with my writing.


BPM:   Do you feel as if you are a role model for other authors?
I don't look at myself that way. I strive to be the best person that I can be, and if that inspires other people, then I'm thankful.  

BPM:   What projects are you working on at the present?
I'm always working on projects. LOL! I'll reveal them as they start coming to pass.

BPM:   How can readers discover more about you and your work?
Readers can visit my web site www.dwanabrams.com. They can also connect with me on social networking sites.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/dwanabrams 

FB:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dwan-Abrams/102602141758

  

Purchase For the Sake of Love by Dwan Abrams  

http://www.amazon.com/Sake-Love-Urban-Books/dp/1601627440  

New Book Release

My new book, For the Sake of Love, is now available wherever books are sold! Please be sure to pick up your copy.

Random Thought

Don't let your feelings stop you from achieving your goals. Feelings change. Being emotional can steer you wrong.

Sisterhood Showcase 2012

Memphis, Tennessee ~ June 2-3, 2012 (For a full list of authors/performers/vendors, visit www.sisterhoodshowcase.com)

Editor's Rant

As a freelance editor, there's nothing more frustrating than reading a story that lacks focus, has underdeveloped characters, or reads like a draft. Too often authors finish the last sentence of their first draft and immediately think they are ready to work with an editor. That's not the case. The editor's role isn't to rewrite the story, or give the author a crash course in the art of writing. No, no, no. Novel writing is a lot like baking a cake. The story idea makes up the ingredients. Writing the first draft is mixing the ingredients together. Rewriting and tweaking the storyline is the baking process. Turning the manuscript over to the editor is the icing on the cake. The icing completes the cake by giving it a better presentation and a sweeter taste, but even without it, the cake is still edible.

New authors often make the mistake of thinking that writing is a solo effort. That's not true. Creating a great story requires input from other writers and readers. Writers should belong to a writers or critique group. The honest and raw feedback provided from the group will help one grow as a writer.

Writers definitely need to hone their skills by taking writing related courses, attending writing workshops, and reading craft books. I get embarrassed for authors who don't take the time to learn their craft. They are doing themselves and their readers a disservice. An author should be familiar with terms like: allegory, alliteration, antagonist, character, dialogue, flashback, genre, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, motif, narrator, point of view, protagonist, setting, simile, and theme. When an editor tells an author that they are "head-hopping" throughout the manuscript, or add tone/expression, or vary up the sentence structure, the author should know what the editor means.

Another big thing with new authors is telling instead of showing. Too much telling makes a manuscript feel rushed. Manuscripts should flow and have a rhythm. Also, characters should not be robotic, they should be placed in scenes emotionally.

I could go on and on, but it would take way more detail than I'd be able to provide on a blog. Therefore, if you're serious about being a writer, take the time to study the craft and hone your skills. Don't rush to finish your manuscript. Take your time and write a quality piece. It'll save you time, money, and heartache on the back end. You may be wondering how can that be. I'll tell you. If you want to be traditionally published, a quality manuscript could save you time from being rejected over and over again. If you hire an editor to clean up a poorly written manuscript, the price goes way up. The heartache comes in from having your work rejected repeatedly.

Should you decide to self-publish without putting in the work on your manuscript, you may be forced to pull your poorly written book and rewrite it. That would take time, cost you money, and break your heart.

Some of the best writers are students. They are always learning. Whether in a classroom or independent study, they are open to learning, and you should be too.

Writing Workshop

What's New

Last week I went to New Orleans to participate in the First Annual Bayou Soul Writers Conference. I'm usually skeptical about first year conferences, BUT I must admit that Clarence Nero did a wonderful job with that conference. I had a great time catching up with some writer friends, as well as forming some new relationships. And of course, any reason to go to New Orleans is a good one. So thumbs up to the Bayou. I'd definitely attend again.

Random

This past week, I had the pleasure of attending the 2nd Annual Book Clubs Unite in Jackson, MS. I enjoyed spending time with book clubs that I already had relationships with, as well as getting introduced to new book clubs.

The support of book clubs should never be underestimated or taken for granted. As a writer, I get so much joy out of attending book club meetings and events. I find myself forging literary friendships and spending a whole lot of time laughing and eating.

Just to give you a glimpse of the fun I had at this particular event, I'll give you some of the highlights. My literary husband and I revealed our writing collaboration, and the book club members loved it! They're already asking when is it coming out. On a funny note, one of the book club members got her shoe hooked in the cuff of her pants and tumbled in a very cutesy way to the ground. After I found out that she was all right, I laughed so hard my side hurt. Where's a video camera when you need one? That was simply priceless.

Seriously, though, I'm thankful to God to be at this point in my literary career. I've come so far, yet I have so much to look forward to. God is so good! And that's not a cliche'. That's for real, real.