DT: How long have you been contemplating writing children's fiction? Why did you decide to write in this genre?
NJ: I wrote my first published children’s book, The Secret Olivia Told Me, 14 years ago, which was long before I ever wrote a novel. I initially began writing them as a project with my son. For his birthday, I would show up in his classroom with a cake and the typed up book and read it to his classmates. He would be so proud. From there, I wrote other books that my son would draw pictures to match up with the words.
I have about three other children’s books as well that I have written; all over ten years ago at least. The saying that everything is on God’s timing is not a cliché. Initially, I was going to self-publish the book just like I ended up doing with some of my other works. Obviously, that’s not what God had in store for this project, so He placed other things in my path that kind of moved my children’s works to the back burner. Formerly the author of adult secular works, I just couldn’t imagine me promoting the types of books I had written in the past along with my children’s books. Talk about unequally yoked! I have a saying, “Be who you want your children to be.” Well, if I was going to be any type of role model to the readers of my books, I had to be everything I was going to portray myself as when I sat up in class rooms and libraries reading my works to those children. God gave me a gift and a talent…He wasn’t about to allow me to mock Him with it, nor did I want to. So 14 years after writing The Secret Olivia Told Me, I no longer write secular works that includ street lit and erotica or obscene language. I write Christian fiction, poetry, young adult-humor and children’s books only. Now when I go to read my book to those children, I can be who I want them to be. God’s timing is awesome!
The Secret Olivia Told Me
N. Joy
DT: Will you continue to write children's books? Or will your writing be a combination of other genres in which you have written?
NJ: Like I mentioned before, I have three other children’s books that I have written that I hope to have published in the future. But in the meantime, I’ve written an adult Christian fiction book titled Me, Myself & Him that releases March 2007. I’m also working on a series called the Soul Sisters for young adults. I must say that I am really excited about my writing projects.
DT: What is the age of your target audience?
NJ: It's really age 4 to 7 years-old, but people of all ages should get a message from the book.
DT: Will, "The Secret Olivia Told Me" be available in public libraries and schools?
NJ: Prayerfully, every library in the country will hold at least one copy, and I’d love to see it in all of the pre-schools and elementary schools. I’ve asked God to dispatch a legion of angles to work with my publisher in obtaining the distribution so that this prayer may manifest. I am honored to say that this school year I will be visiting every local Head Start class room in my community to read The Secret Olivia Told Me to the children. My God is a big God, so I know this is only the beginning!
DT: Will there be a follow-up to, " The Secret Olivia Told Me"?
NJ: I don't know I like letting God be in charge and I don't want to step on His toes!
DT: We here at Blackrefer.com thank you so very much for this interview and we pray for your continued success!
Website:
http://www.enjoywrites.com/
More To Me Than Meets The I - An Interview With Sylvia Hubbard
Sylvia Hubbard Author/ Editor Essence of Motown Literary Journal and speaks on Internet Marketing and Promotions for Writers and Authors. She will be releasing her newest novel, Sweet Reunion in paperback in 2007 and has currently independently published her suspense novel, Stone's Revenge and her ebook, Stealing Innocence. As founder of Motown Writers Network, Michigan's largest literary organization, she is also the recipient of The Detroit City Council's Spirit of Detroit Award and Michigan State Governor's Tribute to Emerging Minority Business Leader awardee.
NS: When did you decide you were going to become an author?
SH: When I was a twelve. I grew up on the classics and historical romances, but since I wasn't a great researcher and knew it would be hard work to make the past a reality in a story, I decided to become a contemporary author of suspense and romance.
NS: How many books have you written?
Stone's Revenge
Sylvia Hubbard
SH: This is one of my most complicated questions so be patient with me. I've written three paperback novels: Dreams of Reality, Mistaken Identity and Stone's Revenge. I've also independently published eight e-novels: Stealing Innocence 1 & 2, Tanner's Devil, Diary Of A..., Deceptive Nights, Road to Freedom, Dark Facade and Teach Me to Love. I have 4 e-novellas and two short stories available on my site and I have an essay about unconditional love in a Katrina anthology at the end of this year and next year I'll be in an urban anthology with a short story called Sweet Justice.
NS: Does writing come easy to you?
SH: The ability to creatively write comes easy for me because that's all I do. It would be just like if I was a swimmer. If I did it three to four hours a day, then I would be a gold medalist. I can write well because I do it all the time and I believe anyone else would have that ability. Now the ability to tell a good story is the hard part.
NS: Out of all your books which has gotten the most response and why?
SH: Stealing Innocence would be the most talked about novel. When people first get the initial concept that it's a contemporary book about a man getting raped a lot of them can't believe it because when has that been a big deal. The more they get into the story and see the circumstances and the subplots that revolve around the main story line, the reader often emails me and tells me that was an amazing book.
NS: What is the name of your publishing company and when did you first start it up?
SH: My publishing company's name is HubBooks. More after my nickname and also because I want to write a story everyone would love to gather around. I started it in 2003 to give the world a taste of Motown's literary creative essence.
NS: What did it mean to you when you received The Detroit City Council's Spirit of Detroit Award for your efforts in Detroit's literary community?
SH: It was ... I go speechless just trying to explain how I was feeling. It was a complete surprise and such an honor to know my name would be on the city books forever as an outstanding citizen. And then when I received the award from the governor of Michigan's office, I felt even more flabbergasted. It's really wonderful to be recognized for your selfless hard work for something that you love.
NS: In one word describe yourself?
SH: Enthusiastic.
NS: What advice can you offer to next writer?
SH: Write with passion. Not just about what you know or about what you think you know. When you put pen to paper, don't move it until you know that passion fuels your reason for doing what you are doing. Love, joy and a very good story will pour out naturally if you do this.
NS: As the Founder of Motown Writers Network what are some of the responsibilities?
SH: Giving my members as much information about Michigan's literary community, providing events for genre lacking books and finding ways to strengthen Metro Detroit's reading community.
NS: Can you tell us about this network?
SH: The network works as a hub to the literary community of Michigan. From individual readers, booksclubs, writing groups, authors, writers, poets, literary event planners, publicists and journalist, feed me information to communicate to the members and the general literary public. This way we network and learn from each other. The network also provides educational events, reader symposium's, and conferences that work toward the network's mission statement.
NS: Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with us! God Bless.
Hubbard - Author of Stone's Revenge, erotic intrigue, Mistaken Identity
http://SylviaHubbard.com - Free Novels Available on the site!
My BLOG: How to love a Black woman
http://geocities.com/sylviahubbard1
http://myspace.com/sylviahubbard | Coming soon: Tanner's Devil
Interviewed by Nicole Stevenson
Editor/Founder of 30 talent's First Cut! Online newsletter
http://www.myspace.com/firstcut1online
The Interview With God
I dreamed I had an interview with God.
"So you would like to interview me?" God asked.
"If you have the time" I said.
God smiled. "My time is eternity. What questions do you have in mind for me?"
"What surprises you most about humankind?"
God answered..."That they get bored with childhood
they rush to grow up, and then long to be children again.
That they lose their health to make money...and then lose their money to restore their health.
"That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live in neither
the present nor the future.:
That they live as if they will never die
and die as though they had never lived.
God's hand took mine and we were silent for awhile
And then I asked...
"As a parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children to learn?"
"To learn they cannot make anyone love them. All they can do is let
themselves be loved."
"To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others."
"To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness."
"To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in those they love,
and it can take many years to heal them."
"To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but is the one who needs the least."
"To learn that there are people who love them dearly, but simply have not yet learned how to express or show their feelings."
"To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it differently.
"To learn that it is not enough that they forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves."
"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.
"Is there anything else you would like your children to know?"
God smiled and said,
"Just know that I am here...always."
Author Unknown