BOOKS FOR LIFE

| I SSUE

no 4

NOVEMBER 26, 2020

BOOK S FOR LI FE

A MAGAZI NE DEDI CAT ED EXCLUSI VELY T O AUT HORS

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A BOUT A UTHOR Con t act : IG :@qu een ppoet r y123 FB :Qu een P Em ail: qu een ppoet r y@gm ail.com

A UTHOR QUEEN P.

Qu een P w as bor n in M an h at t an NYC. Sh e is a gr adu at e of NYIT (New Yor k In st it u t e Of Tech n ology) w it h a BFA in Com m u n icat ion Ar t s. Sh e h as w or k ed in t h e en t er t ain m en t in du st r y all of h er adu lt lif e.

Qu een P h as w r it t en 2 poet r y book s " Wh en Th e M ood Is Righ t A Poet r y Jou r n ey " an d " M ood Sw in gs " . Sh e h as been f eat u r ed in a #1 In t er n at ion al Best -sellin g Book " Wom en Win Again st All Odds " .

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WHEN THE M OOD I S RI GHT: A POETRY JOURNEY

BUY YOUR COPY NOW: am azon .com / dp/ 1946746630/

Th is book is a gu idebook f or t h e sou l. M y in t en t ion is (t h r ou gh m y ow n exper ien ces) t o act as an advocat e f or each in dividu al?s spir it u al jou r n ey. I h ope t h at t h is book m ot ivat es, in spir es, an d in t en t ion ally m ak es you w an t t o t h in k abou t w h er e you ar e in lif e, an d/ or h ow m u ch you h ave gr ow n t h r ou gh t h e year s.

I am on a jou r n ey an d it h as t ak en m e t o so m an y places, ph ysically, spir it u ally an d em ot ion ally. I h ope t h at you m y f ellow t r aveler s f in d t h is book h elpf u l t o you on you r jou r n ey.

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A BOUT A UTHOR Eli Sh aw w as bor n in 1948 an d gr ew u p West War w ick , RI as Rober t Eli Ker sh aw Jr .

His par en t s an d h is Gr an df at h er , Ar t h u r Ker sh aw Sr . h ad a pr of ou n d in f lu en ce on w h o h e w as t o becom e.

His gr an df at h er t old h im on ce, " If you com e u pon an oppor t u n it y, look at it , st u dy ever yt h in g abou t it , ch ew it u p an d spit it ou t . If it st ill look s good, do it . If you do it you w ill k n ow if you w ill su cceed or n ot , an d you w ill h ave lear n ed som et h in g eit h er w ay. If you don't you w ill n ever k n ow." In h is book you w ill u n der st an d bet t er w h y it w or k ed f or h im .

A UTHOR ELI SHA W CONTA CT DETA I LS: bk ersh aw 5607@gmai l .com As a st u den t h e w as ch allen ged w it h f ailin g eyesigh t , a br ain h e of t en said w ou ld t alk t o h im , an d a t h in g w e call t oday, ADHD, ADD bu t w as k n ow n m or e as a slow ch ild. Af t er h is Gu idan ce cou n selor h elped h im t o f in d a n ew w ay t o t ak e t est s h e w en t f r om a st r aigh t D st u den t t o an A st u den t w it h m or e en er gy t h an h e cou ld h an dle at t im es.

His car egivin g exper ien ce t h r ou gh ou t h is lif e w as ver y diver se. Bu t m u ch of h is w or k w it h k ids an d people w it h disabilit ies an d illn esses su ch as AIDS w as a dir ect r esu lt of t h e pr of ession als w h o t au gh t h im h ow t o f u n ct ion in a w or ld w h er e h e w as dif f er en t .

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I F I DI E BEFORE I WA K E It all began in 1958 w h en I w as t en . A you n g f am ily h ad ju st m oved in t o t h e n eigh bor h ood. On e su n n y su m m er day w h ile I w as sit t in g on t h e st eps t o m y h ou se, a you n g boy cam e u p t o m e an d r olled h is ball t o m y f eet . Wit h t h e su n in m y f ace I said h i an d r olled it back . He r an of f . A f ew days lat er h e did it again .

I even t u ally becam e f r ien ds w it h h im . I t old m y m om t h at a Ch in ese f am ily h ad m oved in t o t h e n eigh bor h ood an d t h eir son , Ch ar lie, w as m y n ew f r ien d. Sh e said, br in g h im over f or su pper .

BUY YOUR COPY NOW: h t t ps:/ / au t h or elish aw.com /

I did an d af t er su pper h e lef t an d m y m om t old m e a st or y abou t people w h o h ave som et h in g called " M on goloidism " , n ow Dow n Syn dr om e. I becam e h is m en t or t o pr ot ect h im f r om t h e bu llies an d I got beat u p m or e t h an h e did. He su dden ly lef t an d I vow ed t h at I w ou ld do som et h in g in m y lif e t h at w ou ld ch an ge t h at bu llyin g at t it u de.

Th is book is abou t t h e sixt y year s sin ce t h at t im e w h er e I m ade good on m y vow s. It is a gr ou p of ch apt er s t h at com pr ise t h e ah h a m om en t s in m y jou r n ey as a car egiver all over t h e w or ld.

I h ope you en joy an d ar e en ligh t en ed by m y st or y.

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A BOUTHEADER A UTHOR M y n am e is Nicalol Ch r ist oph er Needh am , an d I w as bor n in Jam aica on t h e 16t h Decem ber 1981 in t h e t ow n of M ay Pen t h at is sit u at ed in t h e par ish of Clar en don Jam aica, West In dies.

I m igr at ed t o t h e UK on Decem ber 1, 2002, w or k ed in a f act or y f or som e year s t h en pr ogr essed in t h e Social Car e Sect or , w or k in g w it h elder ly ser vice u ser s in a var iet y of h ealt h car e set t in gs su ch as n u r sin g h om es, pr ovision f or Lear n in g Disabilit ies, r esiden t ial h om es, an d su ppor t ed livin g.

A UTHOR NI CA LOL NEEDHA M I h ave m ade h ist or y & a posit ive on e. Her e it goes!

I'm on e of a f ew Jam aican bor n , Black , M ale, Social Wor k er in t h e UK w h ich is an u n u su al pr of ession am on g black Jam aican m ales. ?Pr ogr essive, edu cat ed, an d an exem plar w h o is br eak in g t h e st er eot ypes.

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M y Ph ysi cal and Spi ri tual Journey

You w ill f in d t h is book ver y in t er est in g becau se it gives you an in sigh t of m y lif e gr ow in g u p, m y st r u ggles, m y det er m in at ion , t h e im por t an ce of spir it u alit y in m y lif e, m y r elat ion sh ip w it h God an d m y su ccess st or y.

Addit ion ally, t h e book pr ovides an in sigh t in t o t h e ph ysical an d m et aph ysical aspect of m y lif e jou r n ey.

M y con clu sion on lif e jou r n ey is t h at an in dividu al can ach ieve an yt h in g t h ey w an t or set ou t t o accom plish w it h h ar d w or k , f ocu s, an d det er m in at ion . St ill, t h er e is an essen t ial in gr edien t t h at is r equ ir ed, w h ich is t h e alm igh t y t o be in t h e m idst .

Ideas w it h ou t act ion w ill n ot r esu lt in ach ievem en t , bu t on e n eeds t o u n der st an d t h at accom plish m en t doesn?t h appen qu ick ly becau se t h er e ar e obst acles an d ch allen ges, bu t t h at doesn?t m ean t h at you sh ou ld give u p becau se an yon e w h o qu it s can n ever w in an d an yon e w h o w in s didn?t st op.

Su ccess f eels in cr edible an d r ew ar din g w h en you h ave w or k ed h ar d f or it .

BUY YOUR COPY NOW: w w w.am azon .co.u k / dp/ B08DM 5DL68/ w w w.sm ash w or ds.com / book s/ view / 1046710 w w w.t im elesspu blish in g.w eebly.com / book s.h t m l

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A BOUT A UTHOR M y n am e is Dem et r ia Kossie an d I?m 47 year s old. I?ve been m ar r ied t o m y Best Fr ien d Ch ar les f or 24 year s. We h ave f ou r Beau t if u l, Aw esom e ch ildr en . Th r ee gir ls Tash im a, Cier r a an d Ch ar lesavia alon g w it h on e h an dsom e son Vodr ick . We w e?r e blessed w it h f ive beau t if u l gr an dch ildr en Nyla, Vodr ick Jr , Bailey, Jam ar i?a an d Ryle w h o ar e all m y w or ld.

A UTHOR DEM ETRI A K OSSI E

HEADER IL am f r om a sm all t ow n by t h e n am e of Br en h am , Tx k n ow n f or t h eir f am ou s Blu eBell Ice Cr eam w h ich is ju st an h ou r aw ay f r om Hou st on ,Tx. Wr it in g is m y passion an d m ak in g ot h er s f eel loved an d h appy is ver y im por t an t t o m e. Ju st as w ell as edu cat in g ch ildr en on saf et y an d r espect is h u ge f or m e.

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DON'T YOU DA RE LA UGH!!!

I dedicat e t h is book t o m y gr an ddau gh t er Jam r i'a sh e's t h e ligh t of m y w or ld an d h as a big h ear t f or ot h er s. I dedicat e t h is book t o ch ildr en ar ou n d t h e w or ld an d w an t sh ow h ow im por t an t it is f or u s t o t r eat each ot h er w it h t h e u t m ost r espect an d love.

Par en t s t each you r ch ildr en n ot t o m ak e f u n of ot h er s w it h disabilit ies or people w h o ar e ju st dif f er en t f r om t h em . Let 's love ever ybody.

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Th is book is t o t each ch ildr en abou t Respect in g Disabled people an d n ot t o lau gh at t h em becau se t h ey ar e dif f er en t .

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A BOUT A UTHOR Ren an d Kam er yn Low e ar e an Af r ican Am er ican M om m y-Dau gh t er w r it in g du o. Ren Low e, w h o h as alw ays en joyed w r it in g poet r y an d son gs, of t en n ot iced h er you n g dau gh t er Kam er yn , w it h h er pen an d n ot ebook in h an d as w ell w h en ever sh e w as w r it in g.

Ren decided t o n ou r ish h er dau gh t er s' in t er est as a w ay f or t h em t o spen d qu alit y t im e an d bon d, w h ich w ou ld also dou ble as pr act ice f or Kam w it h h er Lan gu age Ar t s. ?I w ou ld sim ply ask Kam qu est ion s t o get h er im agin at ion goin g.

A UTHOR K A M ERYN LOWE

A UTHOR REN LOWE

I?d be r eady w it h a pen an d n ot ebook jot t in g ever yt h in g dow n . Bef or e I k n ew it , Kam ?s Kr on icles Pr esen t s: M y M agical Br ow n Un icor n w as cr eat ed.? Now t h at t h e M om m y Dau gh t er du o h ave com plet ed t h eir 1st M agical Ch ildr en's book , t h ey plan t o con t in u e cr eat in g f u n , diver se, at t en t ion gr abbin g ch ildr en?s book s f or all t o en joy!

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M Y M A GI CA L BROWN UNI CORN Th is easy t o r ead ch ildr en's book is abou t a lit t le gir l n am ed Kam . Kam is a you n g Af r ican Am er ican gir l w h o h as an en or m ou s, color f u l, vivid, m agical im agin at ion , an d sh ar es w it h u s t h e w h im sical f air yt ale adven t u r es t h at h er an d h er M agical Un icor n best f r ien d Su gar Pie h ave.

Su gar Pie is n ot on ly m agical bu t sh e?s u n iqu e becau se u n lik e m ost Un icor n s, Su gar Pie is br ow n ju st lik e Kam ! M y M agical Br ow n Un icor n en cou r ages r eader s t o u se t h eir big im agin at ion s an d it w ill also h elp t h em t o r ecogn ize t h e m agic w it h in t h em selves.

Th is book is n ot on ly f u ll of beau t if u l illu st r at ion s, bu t h igh f r equ en cy vocabu lar y w or ds as w ell t o h elp en h an ce r eadin g f lu en cy.

CONTACT DETAILS: w w w.r oyalt eepr ess.com r oyalt eepr ess@gm ail.com In st agr am : @k am s_k r on icles In st agr am : @r oyalt eepr ess_

BUY YOUR COPY NOW: w w w.am azon .com / dp/ 1735943703

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A BOUT A UTHOR Rober t Hor t on w as bor n an d r aised in Spr in gf ield Illin ois. Du r in g h is ch ildh ood, h e w as in spir ed t o w r it e poet r y by h is older br ot h er Fr ed, w h o also loved t o w r it e poet r y. His passion f or t h e ar t of poet r y con t in u ed t h r ou gh ou t h is adolescen ce an d in t o h is adu lt lif e.

Poet r y h as alw ays been a w ay f or Rober t t o expr ess h is in n er m ost t h ou gh t s an d f eelin gs. Rober t en deavor s t o w r it e poet r y in w ays t h at w ill in spir e, m ot ivat e, en cou r age, an d u plif t people.

M an y h ave been blessed by t h e gif t t h at God h as given h im .

A UTHOR ROBERT HORTON Wit h an u n qu en ch ed t h ir st f or k n ow ledge, an d f ollow in g a seven year r espit e f r om college, h e en r olled at t h e Un iver sit y of Illin ois (UIS), ear n in g a Bach elor ?s Degr ee in Social Wor k . Fin din g h is callin g in ser vin g h is com m u n it y, Rober t con t in u es t o self -act u alize t h r ou gh h is devot ion t o f am ily, an d ser vice t o ot h er s.

Rober t is cu r r en t ly w or k in g on h is f ou r t h book of poet r y t it led, Black Rage an d Th e Un iver sal Revolu t ion .

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FA M E M y goal is t o be a bet t er m e, An d u se m y t alen t s f or t h e good To be a ligh t f or t h e w or ld t o see, Even w h en I?m m isu n der st ood.

Blessin g ot h er s is a n at u r al h igh , I live t o see t h at beau t if u l sm ile Seein g n eeds u n m et m ak es m e cr y, Th ose w h o car e go t h at ext r a m ile.

Ear t h is t h e on ly h om e w e got , Let ?s t ak e bet t er car e of w h er e w e live Let ?s close t h e gap bet w een t h e h aves an d h aves n ot , M or e is w h at w e n eed t o give.

Let ?s com e t oget h er t o h eal ou r n at ion , Can you im agin e h eaven on ear t h Let ?s leave a legacy of love f or t h e n ext gen er at ion , Th is is livin g f or all it ?s w or t h .

BUY YOUR COPY NOW: w w w.am azon .com / dp/ 1937089606 dam oodypoet .com

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A UTHOR I NTERV I EW Jov an Jones Uni ted States HEADER

Romelia: DO YOU PLAY MUSIC WHILE YOU WRITE ? AND, IF SO, WHAT?S YOUR FAVORITE? Jovan Jones: No. I pr ef er qu iet . M y con cen t r at ion is easily t h r ow n of f .

Romelia: HAVE PETS EVER GOTTEN IN THE WAY OF YOUR WRITING? Jovan Jones: No. Romelia: IF YOUR BOOK WERE MADE INTO A MOVIE, WHICH ACTORS WOULD PLAY YOUR CHARACTERS? Jovan Jones: M ich ael Ealy an d Sam an t h a Est eban f or Wh en Cr an es Feast .

Romelia: HAVE YOU EVER KILLED OFF A CHARACTER YOUR READERS LOVED? Jovan Jones: Yes. I m u r der ed C.J. in m y book Tear s of a Rose. He w as t h e m ain ch ar act er ?s f ir st love an d on e of t h e f ew ch ar act er s w it h a h ear t . I of f ed h im w h en h e t r ied t o cr oss a cou ple of gan gst er s t ow ar d t h e en d.

Romelia: WHAT IS THE BEST MONEY YOU?VE EVER SPENT WITH REGARD TO YOUR WRITING? Jovan Jones: Bu yin g m y lapt op. It ?s w h er e I pr odu ce m y w or k .

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A UTHOR I NTERV I EW M ah ogany Cl ark Uni ted states HEADER

Romelia: WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF YOUR ARTISTIC PROCESS? Mahogany Clark: Th e m ost dif f icu lt par t w ou ld be t h e self -m ar k et in g, bein g a self -pu blish ed au t h or , I h ave t o m ar k et m yself , bu t I love t h e gr ow t h in t h e pr ocess.

Romelia: DOES YOUR FAMILY SUPPORT YOUR CAREER AS A WRITER? Mahogany Clark: I w an t t o say yes, h ow ever , I h ave got t en u sed t o doin g a lot of t h in gs by m yself an d celebr at in g a lot of m y su ccess m om en t s by m yself . M y f am ily h as alw ays lived at a dist an ce f r om each ot h er so w h en w e cou ld m ak e t o even t s, w e did if n ot t h at is h ow t h in gs w er e.

Romelia: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING OR WHEN DID YOU START? Mahogany Clark: I h ave been w r it in g sin ce I w as12 year s old, an d I self -pu blish ed w h en I w as 19 year s old.

Romelia: WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO A WRITER WORKING ON THEIR FIRST BOOK? Mahogany Clark: I w ou ld say, don?t r u sh it an d w r it e som et h in g you w an t t o w r it e m ost im por t an t ly, bu t also w h at ot h er s w an t t o r ead.

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HEADER

A UTHOR I NTERV I EW Ji l l Sh aw ntaye K apri

Romelia: WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR INFORMATION OR IDEAS FOR YOUR BOOKS? Jill Kapri: I w r it e w h at I lik e t o call f r eest yle w r it in g. I sim ply sit at m y com pu t er an d ju st br ain st or m m y ideas. I don't w r it e an yt h in g dow n . I let ever yt h in g com e of f t h e t op of m y h ead.

Romelia: WHAT IS THE MOST UNETHICAL PRACTICE IN THE PUBLISHING INDUSTRY? Jill Kapri: Based on m y exper ien ce I w ou ld say t h ose w h o h ave alr eady m ade it su ccessf u lly, t u r n t h eir n ose u p at ot h er au t h or s t h at ar e com in g af t er t h em . It 's lik e t h ey f or get t h at t h ey w er e on ce at t h e bot t om . Th at is som et h in g I h ave a pr oblem w it h , bu t I also k n ow m y w or t h an d I k n ow t h at I don't h ave t o set t le f or bein g ar ou n d t h ose t ypes of in dividu als or n eed t h eir appr oval t o k n ow t h at I?m a gr eat w r it er .

Romelia: DOES A BIG EGO HELP OR HURT WRITERS? Jill Kapri: I per son ally t h in k it h u r t s t h em . On ce you r ego becom es t oo m u ch f or people in t h e in du st r y t o deal w it h , you st ar t t o lose bu sin ess an d people begin t o pain t a bad im age of you , bu t t h at f alls back on t h at per son w it h t h e big ego.

Wh at you pu t ou t is w h at you w ill r eceive in r et u r n .

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A UTHOR I NTERV I EW JA SM I NE BUTLER Wash i ngton, DC

Romelia: DOES YOUR FAMILY SUPPORT YOUR CAREER AS A WRITER? Jasmine Butler: Absolu t ely! Th ey ?r e t h er e w h en I n eed t est r eader s, f or m e t o bou n ce ideas of f of t h em , an d do t h eir best t o sh ar e m y w or k w it h ot h er s.

Romelia: WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF YOUR WRITING PROCESS? Jasmine Butler: Th e syn opsis! Lol, I can w r it e an en t ir e book an d t h en com e back an d st r u ggle on t h e syn opsis. Alon g w it h t h e cover , it ?s t h e f ir st im pr ession of you r book t h at you r r eader s get an d it h as t o pu ll t h em in .

Romelia: HOW DO YOU DEVELOP YOUR PLOT AND CHARACTERS? Jasmine Butler: M y plot com es in w aves of ideas t h at ju st h it m e. Th en I f or m m y ch ar act er s based on t h e plot an d t h ey h on est ly develop t oget h er . On ce t h e ch ar act er s can st an d on t h eir ow n w it h in t h e plot , I t h en t h in k abou t w h at t h at ch ar act er w ou ld do.

Romelia: WHAT?S YOUR FAVORITE AND LEAST FAVORITE PART OF PUBLISHING? Jasmine Butler: M y Favor it e par t is act u ally seein g m y w or k ou t t h er e. M y least f avor it e in get t in g discou r aged w h en I t h in k t h at I?m n ot get t in g t h e exposu r e or as m an y r eader s as I w ou ld lik e.

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A UTHOR I NTERV I EW JA RRED STA NTON UNI TDE STA TES

Romelia: IF YOU HAD TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY AS A CHILD OR TEENAGER TO BECOME A BETTER WRITER AS AN ADULT, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Jarred Stanton: I w ou ld h ave r ead m or e, t ak en it m or e ser iou sly, lear n ed m or e abou t m ar k et in g an d f or m at t in g.

Romelia: WHAT DIFFERENCE DO YOU SEE BETWEEN A WRITER AND AN AUTHOR? Jarred Stanton: I t h in k t h ey ar e r elat ively t h e sam e. I ju st t h in k an au t h or is som eon e w h o's w r it in g con t en t m ean t f or dist r ibu t ion an d pu blish in g. A w r it er t o m e is som eon e w h o w r it es f or t h e love an d expr ession bu t doesn't plan on doin g an yt h in g m or e.

Romelia: HOW DO YOU PROCESS AND DEAL WITH NEGATIVE BOOK REVIEWS? Jarred Stanton: I deal w it h n egat ive r eview s as bu ildin g block s. If it 's som et h in g r et ain in g t o h ow I cr af t m y st or y I t en d n ot t o car e. If it 's som et h in g con t ain in g m or e t o gr am m ar or t h e st r u ct u r e I u se t h at t o get bet t er .

Romelia: HOW DO YOU DEVELOP YOUR PLOT AND CHARACTERS? Jarred Stanton: By f in din g som et h in g ver y im por t an t or r eal t h at of t en get s over look ed. Th in gs t h at ar e t ak en f or gr an t ed ar e ver y im por t an t t o m e in ever yday lif e so t h ey 'r e vit al in m y w r it in g.

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A UTHOR I NTERV I EW SHERI K A WI LLI A M S UNI TED STA TES

Romelia: HAVE PETS EVER GOTTEN IN THE WAY OF YOUR WRITING? Sherika Williams: I do n ot h ave an y pet s.

Romelia: IF YOUR BOOK WERE MADE INTO A MOVIE, WHICH ACTORS WOULD PLAY YOUR CHARACTERS? Sherika Williams: I w ou ld play t h e t each er .

Romelia: HAVE YOU EVER KILLED OFF A CHARACTER YOUR READERS LOVED? Sherika Williams: No. Romelia: TELL US SOMETHING FUNNY FROM YOUR ADULT LIFE. Sherika Williams: I t h ou gh t I cou ld play t en n is abou t 3 m in u t es on t h e cou r t , I r ealized t en n is is n ot f or m e.

Romelia: DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN A FEW SENTENCES. TELL US SOMETHING WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU AND SOMETHING YOU HATE ABOUT THE WORLD. Sherika Williams: I am you n g at h ear t . Book s I ch er ish . I love t o t r avel t h e w or ld an d do adven t u r ou s t h in gs. I love m y f am ily.

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A UTHOR I NTERV I EW JI LLA NI BI RECH A LGERI A

Romelia: WHEN DID YOU FIRST REALIZE YOU WANTED TO BE A WRITER? Jillani Birech: Well, I r eally st ar t ed t o t h in k of bein g a w r it er w h en I h ad a lon g ch at w it h an En glish f r ien d of m in e, called Jam es Cair n s. Ju st as h e saw m y poem s on Facebook , h e advised m e t o w r it e a poet r y book . Th at ?s h ow t h e st or y st ar t ed.

Romelia: WHAT LITERARY PILGRIMAGES HAVE YOU GONE ON? Jillani Birech: M y lit er ar y exper ien ce st ar t ed w it h r eadin g Jam es Joyce?s Du blin er s, t h en Oliver Tw ist by Ch ar les Dick en s. Th en I st ar ed t o com pose som e sh or t poem s based on w h at I h ad seen on Facebook -post ed poem s.

Th at ?s h ow t h e st or y of w r it in g began .

Romelia: DO YOU WANT EACH BOOK TO STAND ON ITS OWN, OR ARE YOU TRYING TO BUILD A BODY OF WORK WITH CONNECTIONS BETWEEN EACH BOOK? Jillani Birech: In f act I am t r yin g h ar d t o separ at e t h e t h em e of each book f r om t h e ot h er so t h at I cover dif f er en t t opics f r om dif f er en t view poin t s.

Romelia: IF YOU COULD TELL YOUR YOUNGER WRITING SELF ANYTHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Jillani Birech: It w ou ld be a poet r y book .

21 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 11/ 2020

A UTHOR I NTERV I EW DEM ETERI A A DA M S K OSSI E

Romelia: HOW IMPORTANT WAS PROFESSIONAL EDITING TO YOUR BOOK?S DEVELOPMENT? Demeteria Kossie: It w as ver y im por t an t t o m e becau se t h is book w as f r om t h e h ear t an d it h ad t o be per f ect .

Romelia: WHAT WAS YOUR HARDEST SCENE TO WRITE, AND WHY? Demeteria Kossie: I w ou ld say if you see som eon e m issin g a lim b w as cau se I f eel so sor r y f or people w h o ar e m issin g t h eir lim bs becau se t h ey play a ver y im por t an t r ole in ou r lif est yles.

Romelia: HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH THE TITLE FOR YOUR BOOK? Demeteria Kossie: I w as t h in k in g abou t lau gh in g t h en I w as t h in k in g abou t disabilit ies an d I k n ow you sh ou ldn't be lau gh in g at a Disabled per son so t h at gave m e t h e idea an d t it le.

Romelia: IF YOU COULD MEET YOUR CHARACTERS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THEM? Demeteria Kossie: I Love You n o m at t er w h at you look lik e.

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A UTHOR I NTERV I EW NI CA LOL CHRI STOPHER NEEDHA M UNI TED K I NGDOM

Romelia: WHAT IS A SIGNIFICANT WAY YOUR BOOK HAS CHANGED SINCE THE FIRST DRAFT? Nicalol Needham: I h ave f ar gon e past t h at st age n ow becau se I h ave pu blish ed m y f ir st book , m y secon d book m an u scr ipt w h ich is t h e sequ el is com plet ed t o be f or m at t ed t h en pu blish ed in a sh or t ly.

Romelia: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR BOOK?S IDEAL READER? Nicalol Needham: M y ideal r eader w ou ld be som eon e w h o is in t er est ed in r eadin g abou t lif e st r u ggles t h at w it h f ocu s does t u r n ou t in t o su ccess st or ies an d also t h ose w h o ack n ow ledge an d em br ace t h e divin e pow er of t h e alm igh t y. It w ill also be ideal or be on in t er est t o t h ose w h o w an t st or ies or a n ar r at ive of in spir at ion , m ot ivat ion , en cou r agem en t , ach ievem en t s m ade possible becau se of a su per n at u r al an d divin e in t er ven t ion f r om t h e alm igh t y god.

Romelia: HOW IMPORTANT WAS PROFESSIONAL EDITING TO YOUR BOOK?S DEVELOPMENT? Nicalol Needham: It w as ver y im por t an t becau se w r it in g a book an d pu blish in g w as n ew t o m e, t h e pr of ession al in pu t t o en able t h e f in al pr odu ct w h ich is t h e book w as aw esom e an d t h e per son s w h o su ppor t ed m e w it h t h e t ask of edit in g, f or m at t in g an d book cover + design s did an aw esom e job.

23 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 11/ 2020

A UTHOR I NTERV I EW ELI SHA W V ERM ONT UNI TED STA TES

Romelia: WHAT IS THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF YOUR ARTISTIC PROCESS? Eli Shaw: I h ad ADHD w h en it did n ot exist w h en I gr ew u p an d n ow it is m or e lik e add an d m or e of a n u isan ce. Bein g a w r it er of n on f ict ion I f in d it t im e con su m in g t o w r it e abou t m y exper ien ces an d ph ilosoph y in a w ay t h at k eeps it s t r u t h an d yet is en t er t ain in g or in spir in g en ou gh t o k eep t h e r eader in t er est ed. Now w it h t h e covid pan dem ic I f in d it dif f icu lt t o cr eat e t im e slot s t o dedicat e t o w r it in g w it h ou t get t in g dist r act ed by losin g m y r elat ives an d 17 f r ien ds f r om t h e vir u s. It is a ch allen ge an d yet a t h r ill t o be able t o im m er se m yself in t o it so deep I f in d it h ar d t o com e back f r om it .

Romelia: IF YOU HAD TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY AS A CHILD OR TEENAGER TO BECOME A BETTER WRITER AS AN ADULT, WHAT WOULD YOU DO? Eli Shaw: I don?t t h in k I w ou ld ch an ge an yt h in g as it all m ade m e w h o I am t oday. I do w ish I h ad m et t h e m en t or s w h o h elped m e gain t h e cou r age t o w r it e, a bit ear lier . I am t h e su m of ever yt h in g I h ave been t h r ou gh in m y lif e. ?Th is is m e?.

Romelia: WHAT DIFFERENCE DO YOU SEE BETWEEN A WRITER AND AN AUTHOR? Eli Shaw: Wr it er s com e in m an y f or m s bu t t o au t h or som et h in g m ean s t o m e t h at it can be given t o som eon e ph ysically or digit ally or sold.

24 | BOOKS FOR LIFE 26/ 11/ 2020

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