Literary Divas
by Heather Covington

INTERVIEW:

DT:  The concept of, "Literary Divas" is quite appealing. How did you come up with it?
HC: If the royal purple book with solid gold script lettering published by ACGI @   http://www.AmberBooks.com is appealing it is because some of the most outstanding Black female authors, writers and literary industry divas as known to me at the time I wrote the publication are featured such as:

Literary Divas by Heather Covington

Alice Walker, Alicia Keys, Angel Hunter, Angela Davis, Anita Doreen Diggs, Artist C. Arthur, Barbara A. Custer, Barbara Reynolds, Bea Joyner, Bebe Moore Campbell, Bernice L. McFadden, Bertha Davis, Brenda Hampton, Brenda Thomas, Camille Yarbrough, Candice Dow, Cassandra Darden Bell, Celise Downs, C. F. Hawthorne, Cheryl Willis Hudson, Cheryln Michaels, Christine Young Robinson, Corey Sue Ward, Crystal McCrary Anthony, Crystal Lacy Winslow, Crystal Rhodes, Cydney Rax, Cynthia Highsmith-Hooks, Darcel P. Williams, Darline Dorce-Coupet, Dawn Breedon, Deborah Gregory, Deborah Smith, Debra Clayton, Dee Freeman, Deirdre Savoy, Delores Thornton, Denise Campbell, Denise Turney, Donna Hill, Dorothy Ford, Dorothy Pitman Hughes, Dorrie Williams Wheeler, E. Hill, Edith Holmes, Electa Rome Parks, Elizabeth Nunez, Erica L. Perry, Evelyn Palfrey, Francis Ray, Gina Cox, Gloria Naylor, Gwynne Forster, Harriette Cole, Ida Greene, Iman, Iyanla Vanzant, Jada Pinkett Smith, Janet West Sellars, Janine A. Morris, Jel Lewis (Jones), Jessica Care Moore-Poole, Jessica Tilles, Jewelene Banks, Jewell Parker Rhodes, Jill Nelson, Joylynn Jossell, Juanita Bynum, Karen Ligon, Karen E. Quinones Miller, Karen White-Owens, Kashamba Williams, Kelly Kenyatta, Kelly Starling Lyons, Kim Robinson, Kimberla Lawson Roby, Lenaise Meyeil Williams, Leslie Esdaille Banks, Lexi Davis, Margie Gosa Shivers, Mari Evans, Marita Golden, Marti Tucker, Mary B. Morrison, Maxine Thompson, Maya Angelou, Nancey Flowers, Natalie Darden, Nea Anna Simone, Nikki Giovanni, Ntozake Shange, Pam Osbey, Pamela DeLeon-Lewis, Pat G’’orge Walker, Renee Daniel Flagler, Reshonda Tate Billingsley, Rewa Marie Fyles, Rita Dove, Rita Ewing, Rosa Guy, Sammie Ward, Sheila Goss, Shelley Parris, Sonia Sanchez, Stacy-Deanne Reed, Star Jones, Tajuana ““T. J.”” Butler, Takesha Powell, Terrie Williams, Terry McMillan, Terry a. O’’ Neal, Toni Morrison, Tonya Lewis Lee, Tracy Price- Thompson, Tyra Banks, Vickie Stringer, Victoria Christopher Murray, Wendy Williams, Yolanda Joe, Yolantha Pace and Zane.

Editorial Divas are also, featured such as Adrienne Ingrum, Alicia Marie Rivers, Angela P. Dodson, Carol Mackey, Carole F. Hall, Caroline Rogers & Brenda Piper, Cherise Davis, Cheryl Woodruff, Clara Villarosa, Dawn Davis, Denise Stinson, Emma Rodgers, Faith Childs, Faye Childs, Gwen Richardson, Heather Elitou, Janet Hill, Kim McClarin, L. Peggy Hicks, Linda Gill, Lottie Gooding, Malaika Adero, Marie Brown, Marilyn Ducksworth, Niani Colom, Oprah Winfrey, Pamela Yvette Exum, Rachel Breton, Rockelle Henderson, Shunda Leigh, Susan McHenry, Susan Taylor, Sybil Wilkes, Tee C. Royal, Vivian Stephens and Yvonne Rose keep the works of Literary Divas at the forefront of the Publishing Industry.

A few Literary Divas who have passed on are commemorated such as Alice Childress, Coretta Scott King, Gwendolyn Brooks, Lorraine Hansberry, Octavia Butler, Rosa Parks, Shirley Chisolm and Zora Neale Hurston who have become our inspiration and our guides.

Some Literary Divas I have just come to know should be featured like Lissa Woodson, Marva Allen, Sylvia Hubbard, Shaye Gray, Joy Farrington, Patricia Hope, Rosie Milligan, Arlene Mc Laren, Jackie Moore, Miasha and many others.

Yvonne Rose, my editor and Tony Rose (AmberBooks.com) my publisher, did a beautiful job with the final touches. I am a fan of the authors myself now that I have read many of the author’s books. I plan to continue showcasing the Literary Divas on my various web sites connected to www.LiteraryDiva.com. Readers have a reference tool to also shop for their favorite books. Librarians, teachers and parents are finding the book to be a resourceful and historical tool as well. If I never get a chance to write a book of this magnitude within my lifetime, I am satisfied that I contributed a work that has SIGNIFICANTLY influenced African-American history.

DT: How long have you been writing? When did you first realize you wanted to write?
HC:  I have been writing professionally since age ten, and I only say this because some of the poems and songs I wrote as a youth are now a part of my other published books like Li’l PerSOULnalities:™ A Children’s Book For Parents & Teachers, PerSOULnalities: Poems For Every Kind of Woman and PerSOULnalities: Poems For Every Kind of Man. This was supposed to be a secret, but I revealed this to you first, Delores.

The book has essays and poems which are all being developed into small children’s books to teach children values and self-respect. Parents get to see the entire series in Li’l PerSOULnalities as well as learn helpful tips on teaching youth how to read by developing children’s values.

DT:  Do you write in other genres? If so, which ones.
HC:  Delores, I am not going to tell a lie. I am harboring a gold mine. Will the world be able to see all that I have created in my lifetime? Probably not. My life has a lot of distractions right now. But- you can count on me to write full feature film scripts, stage plays, soundtracks, more poetry books, self-help guides, urban novels, steamy romance novels, children’s books and mysteries.. I will tackle it all! I was born to WRITE! PRODUCE! CONQUER! INSPIRE! and SUCCEED! I make no apologies for my ambitions.

DT: How much research was needed for Literary Divas?
HC:  DON’T THINK, I JUST DO IT! My life is very organized and I am a grounded, humble and a very grateful individual for all blessings that come my way. Research in my opinion is a process that shows how much respect you have for your craft, so it is a necessity without question. Research is not research, it is necessary if you respect your craft. This is an area I have mastered if anything else. My book coming, The Disilgold Way: Countdown 101 from Writer to Self Publisher helps writers to knock down their fears.

DT: What were some of the obstacles you encountered while completing your book? How did you overcome them?
HC: Right now, I look at obstacles as blessings. My house almost burned down 2 times since writing Literary Divas, I survived several potentially fatal car accidents. One of my computer’s crashed and before dumping it, I plugged it all back together, got down on my knees and prayed and it was working like nothing happened. I listen to God’s signals. If something breaks, it was meant to be broken at the time. If it is restored, it’s because it is time for whatever is broken to be restored. God wants you to pay attention to other things so you must listen to his signs. This is how I view life and do not fret over the have nots. I do fret over people I allow in my life who are not sincere. It hurts me to turn away for good, and it is usually abrupt to the point of no return. I am a Scorpio. I have those Scorpion ways at heart. I forgive, but this does not mean I forget.

DT: : Literary Divas has done remarkably well in the short time it has been available, to what do you attribute this success?
HC: Media wise, it has caught the attention of the nation. The buzz has been phenomenal. Some entities have been irresponsible in acknowledging the importance of this work. This is fine, where one important entity fails to catapult the book to a level where it can succeed, I will create this level so it can succeed. I have up down periods. I will be back. The book has had a tremendous debut for a reference book.

DT:  What's next for Heather Covington? Another book? Upcoming signings? Conferences/Seminars?
HC:  I give hints all over my web sites. One day, a radio host said she actually combed through my site, clicked on all of the links and truly figured out all that I do. It is never apparent because I am not a surface person. My soul is intricate. I believe in change, adapting to changing times, feeling out my audience and giving people what they want. I stay still sometimes and then move ahead without warning and all is well, accomplished and bigger than I ever dreamed. These small successes are mathematically and scientifically relative because as a Black woman, I am mapping the course of my destiny in front of everyone and taking folks with me to the top on this journey, and without expecting anything in return. My rewards are intrinsic, keep me going and as long as I am encouraging others to be better than they imagined, my purpose in life has been accomplished. This is something I do daily as a teacher of kindergarten youth.

DT:  Any pearls of wisdom to leave with our readers?
HC:  Always treat people with respect and sincerity because their internal gifts when they know you are true return with motivation and inspiration when you least expect it. Life is worthwhile with motivation. You’re going to need it and it takes people to do that. Spend less time trying to control your world and more time listening to your world. Then make it a better world!

DT: Heather, we thank you for sharing, God Bless You!

Website:
http://www.literarydiva.com/