My Invisible Husband by Sheila M. Goss
Essence Best Selling Author Sheila Goss
September 2006
Where are you from? I'm from Louisiana.
Where do you reside? Shreveport, LA
When did you begin writing professionally?
1997
How did you go about getting a publishing contract for My Invisible Husband?
I saw a press release that Urban Books was launching a new women's fiction imprint-Urban Soul so I decided to submit a few of my manuscripts and the rest is Urban Books history (smile).
Since your book is a re-release, do your expectations of success for it differ this time around?
Yes, due to a wider distribution, my expectations are even higher than what they were the first go around.
How did you come up with the concept of your book?
Subconsciously, I think I was tired of hearing "So when are you getting married? The idea for My Invisible Husband came to me in a dream.
Does the premise come from real-life experiences?
The story is fiction, but the question "so when are you getting married" is something that I hear and other single women I know hear one too many times.
You are already a best selling author. What other long-term goals do you hope to accomplish with your writing career in the future?
I want to increase my readership with each book release. I want to do "books to film." I also write screenplays, so I plan on getting a few produced. My primary goal is to live comfortably from doing what I love to do most--writing.
What do you like and dislike most about the literary industry?
I like the fact that I've met authors who have embraced and been a mentor to me. I worked in corporate America for over 10 years and the literary industry is no different than any other business. I've learned how to separate business from personal. If you don't do that, then you will be disappointed.
What writers did you most enjoy reading during your childhood?
Maya Angelou, Carolyn G. Keene (author of the Nancy Drew Mysteries), whoever wrote the Trixie Belden mystery novels, Edgar Allen Poe, Charles Dickens
Did their works influence you to become a writer?
Yes
How does it feel to know that you are considered a top literary diva?
It has been an honor to be listed with some of the best in the business.
Has this brought you more success?
Ask me that after my book’s release. (Smile).
You are a celebrity interviewer and journalist as well as a novelist. Is it difficult to focus on so many duties at once?
At first it was. In fact, I took a month sabbatical from everything this past summer to regroup. Since my sabbatical, I've come up with a better system and it's working. I normally schedule interviews on Tuesdays or Thursdays. I submit articles to various places at least once a week.
For my entertainment website(SEE SHEILA'S LINKS AT BEGINNING OF INTERVIEW TO ACCESS SITES)(www.espire.blogspot.com), I do updates once a week. I'm also the entertainment editor for Hope for Women (www.hopeforwomenmag.org) and I pick at least one day a week to work on articles for it. I work on my novels in the morning at least 3 times a week and everything else kind of fits in somewhere in between.
Do you think that becoming a known interviewer has helped you reach fans for your fiction?
Yes.
Are you working on any future releases right now?
I have two manuscripts that I'm working on, but I'm not sure which one I will submit yet. I recently finished the edits for my second release--Roses are thorns, Violets are true. It'll be in stores in 2007.
Would you like to share a bit about them?
It's a story about twin sisters Rose and Violet Purdue. Rose is a movie star with insecurities that affect her relationship with her twin sister. The story is drama-packed and there are scenes that will leave your mouth wide open.
Many authors are taking it upon themselves to get movie deals for their books now a days, is this something you plan to do as well?
Yes. I haven't aggressively pursued it, but now that I have my edits out of the way for the second novel, I will be.
Think of other books on the market that are like My Invisible Husband. What makes yours different?
In My Invisible Husband, my main character, Nicolette Montana bows down to the pressure of being single and decides to shut up her family once and for all--by faking a Las Vegas wedding--the story will have readers wondering how she will pull it off.
What is the most important thing you've learned about writing?
To always strive to improve.
As a black author, do you feel that your work crosses over to other audiences as well?
Yes, I do. My primary target audience is African-American readers; however I noticed when I do book signings at places such as Borders a lot of the buyers have been women of other races. I also get emails from women of all nationalities.
What author, female or male, and of any race do you most admire today and why?
I admire quite a few writers, but I'll limit it to these four. Maya Angelou: The way she's able to take a few words and bring them together so that they sing. Terry McMilan: When I read Disappearing Acts and Mama, it gave me hope that there was an audience for the type of books I wanted to write. Danielle Steele: She tells a great story and makes you visualize every scene. Jackie Collins: Her stories have a certain pizzazz to them.
Where do you hope to be in ten years career wise?
I want Shelia Goss to be a recognizable name when someone thinks of fiction or a great movie.
Most people think that reaching best seller status is the highest peak of a writer’s success. Do you agree?
Yes and no. Signing a multiple book deal contract is also a high point in a writer's career. As a writer, you want to see that others like something you wrote and like it enough to go pay their hard-earned money for it. It makes you real appreciative when it does make a best sellers list.
Has earning this title made things easier for you in any way?
Some days I would say, no it hasn't but overall, I think it has helped. Especially making the Essence Magazine Bestsellers list. A lot of AA readers go by the list to determine what books they will read. So having made the list once before does give you a little recognition.
When and where can audiences purchase your book?
December 5th is the official release date for My Invisible Husband. During that time you can pick it up at your favorite local store such as Wal-Mart, Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc. You can pre-order online from Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.com now. I have a link up on my website (www.sheliagoss.com). It's only $6.99 so for less than $10 you can curl up with a good book (wink).
Any last thoughts?
Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to interview me. You're one busy lady yourself (Smile).
Shelia M Goss
www.sheliagoss.com
(Click on Sheila's links at the beginning of the interview to view her sites.)
National Best Selling Author Victoria Thompson
August 2006
NOTE:(I have been a fan of Victoria's Gaslight Mystery Series since I began reading the books in 2000. Since then the books have never ceased to amaze me, taking audiences into fantastic journey after fantastic journey. Saying that, I am especially happy to have had the chance to interview Victoria. I have just finished one of her more recent books from the series,
Murder on Lenox Hill. If you have not checked out her work and are a fan of quick mysteries, I suggest you give her series a try. Thank You)
1. Where were you born? Where do you reside?
Washington, DC; Central Pennsylvania
2. What was your first book and what year was it published?
Texas Treasure, 1985
3. What work or works put you on the national best seller list?
Murder on St. Mark's Place
4. What is your favorite book in the Gaslight Mystery series and why?
The first one, because it's the one where I first got to know Frank and Sarah.
5. How did you come up with the idea for your series?
Berkley was looking for a writer to do a series set in turn of the century NYC with a midwife heroine and asked me if I'd like to give it a try. Using those guidelines, I developed the Gaslight series.
6. You incorporate historical events and real-life figures into some of your books for the series, why did you take this route?
People like reading about real historical events and real people. I use them if I can do so with historical accuracy. Since Teddy Roosevelt was really the police commissioner at that time, it was natural to use him.
7. Tell us about the newest book in the series.
Murder in Little Italy features an Italian family that is torn apart by the murder of one of its members. I grew up in a large Italian family, so the subject is close to my heart.
8. What writers do you idolize?
Mary Higgins Clark, Anne Perry
9. Would you be interested in having Gaslight adapted as a miniseries for television one day? Have you been approached for this?
Yes and no, unfortunately.
10. How has it been dealing with fans over the years? Any weird experiences?
I got a few letters from prison inmates when I used to write romance. Nothing very strange since I've been writing mysteries, although occasionally I hear from history buffs who want to give me way more historical detail about something than I could ever use.
11. Do you regularly tour and do book signings for your recent books?
I'm not important enough to tour, but I do signings locally when asked.
12. Are you single? Do you have children?
I'm married for 37 years and have two grown daughters.
13. What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Write your novel and read voraciously.
14. What’s one of the hardest things you’ve dealt with in this industry? How did you handle this?
Rejection. I just try to learn from it and move on.
15. Do you write for pleasure as well as a career?
Writing for my career is a distinct pleasure.
16. Do you feel that the writing industry is harder to break into these days compared to when you started?
Definitely.
End of Interview
POETIQUE
May 2006
1. Where are you from? Where do you reside?
Well, I am originally from Los Angeles, California. I currently reside in Nevada. I should have moved out a little further from Cali. It’s hot out here. (Chuckling)
2. When did you begin writing professionally?
I started writing at a young age. I always thought it was a way to get things off my chest because I had no one to talk to so I wrote it down. Thus, I guess I didn’t become professional until I became published in 2005.
3. How did you go about getting a publishing contract?
It was rather difficult for me to get published because I was considered a “ no name “ author. Basically that meant that I was not Dean Koontz or Zane. I basically went for broke and got published through a vanity publisher just to get out there. I would never suggest this to anyone just starting out.
4. What genres do you write?
Stacy, I am not sure if I have a particular genre that I write. “ Coming Out of The Dark “ is my life story. I am ‘D’Asia’ in the book. “ Behind Bars “ and “ Second Chances “ are also continuations of “ Coming Out of The Dark “. My books are based on same sex relations, drug sales, pimping and basically a coming of life more or less for a young black child that had to grow up fast on the streets.
5. Who are some of your inspirations?
My inspirations wow, I have so many. First and foremost the lord, my daughter, mom, ex-wife and my future wife. Zane is also one of my inspirations whom I hope to someday meet in person and perhaps work alongside. Fiona is also my idol as well. Also Dean Koontz and Stephen Spielberg to name a few.
6. What is the most important tip you have for aspiring writers?
If you don’t have to, do not go with a vanity or a subsidy company. They rip you off point blank! They receive more money for your book than you do. That’s not the way that it’s supposed to be.
7. Are you a member of any writing organizations? If so, has this helped you in the advancement of your career?
The Writers Guild has not helped me as of yet.
8. What do you like and dislike most about the industry?
I like that people have something to say and that a lot of people want to read. What I don’t like is the struggle you go through. A lot of companies won’t read your material because it’s “ unsolicited “. That can be a catch twenty-two also because some companies want to be the first and only to read it. That just bothers me especially for newcomers.
9. What is the most important thing you’ve learned about writing?
If writing is your passion it will shine through in your words when people read them. Sometimes it can be an unfinished project that someone can just take a look at and know rather or not the passion is present.
10. Where do you hope to be in ten years career wise?
Hell in ten years I hope to have five books under my belt. “ Coming Out of The Dark “, “ Behind Bars “,
“ Second Chances “ and “ Poetique Seductions “, my sexual poetry book along with its anthology featuring other poets. I will also have four feature films of the same themes as the books minus the poetry books. I hope that happens before ten years. Pray for me, Stacy. (Smiling)
11. Any last thoughts?
I am holding a poetry contest and your readers are welcomed to submit an entry. The entry fee is $15.00. Here is how they can enter:
HOW TO ENTER YOUR POEM:
1. You may e-mail us up to 3 poems, using the e-mail link on any of our website pages or directly at laslogan.com You may cut and paste your poem or just begin typing. Be sure to include your name and home mailing address or your entry will not be considered valid.
2. You may write on any subject or style, but LIMITED profanity will be allowed.
3. Poem style may be subject to editing if the width or length does not conform to our layout.
4. All non-accepted poetry will be destroyed.
5. We do not accept any artwork, photos or any material that requires file downloading of any type.
6. You may also be outside the United States to participate. 7.The poems must not exceed 35 lines
