Welcome to BK Walker Books Etc. I'm
so happy you could join me today.
BK: Please tell us a little about
yourself...
I’m a twenty-seven year old native
of Greenville, SC, who currently lives in Rock Hill, SC. By day, I am
a Patient Case Coordinator at a health consultant firm in Charlotte,
NC and by night, I am an author with three published works under my
belt. I enjoy writing urban fiction, but am looking to expand into
romance, young adult, and Christian fiction novels. I also enjoy
watching reality TV, cooking, eating out, and social media.
BK: Please tell us a little about
your book....
Famous
for its glitz and glamour, the city of Brookstone is also known as
being the home of one of New York’s most notorious drug lords, Jay
Santiago. The son of a famed politician and socialite, he spent the
last seventeen years of his life in federal prison only to return to
the city that took him captive. In true underdog fashion, Jay rises
from the bottom and rebuilds an empire and cartel that is as powerful
as its leader. After linking up with an old comrade, Jay believes he
has found the one material object that will allow him to leave his
criminal enterprise for good. However, his most prized possession
could lead to his biggest downfall yet.
BK: What inspired you to pen this
particular novel? I was
inspired to write this book after receiving an enormous response to
the character of Jay Santiago in two of my previous releases,
Diamonds in the Rough and
Diamonds Are Forever.
Several readers had requested to know more about Jay’s background
and I decided to write a novel that was focused more on his character
than in the previous releases. In addition, I wanted to show his
character’s transition from a notorious drug lord to a legit
businessman.
BK: When did you first consider
yourself a writer? I
considered myself a writer starting in high school when I
transitioned from poetry to fan fiction. My love for the art form led
me to start writing full-length novels and since then, I haven’t
looked back!
BK: How do you keep your story
flowing? With my third
book, I decided to write the book in real time. Readers are given the
chance to experience almost a day in the life of the characters.
Since the book is written this way, the story naturally flows and
events occur in a more natural timeframe. I have decided to continue
this with the rest of the series.
BK: Do you ever run into writer's
block, and if so, what do you do to get past it?
I have run into writer’s block several times. Whenever I am
struggling to write, I take a break or I may reread what I have
written to see if it can help me draw inspiration on where the story
should go.
BK: What is your writing process
like? Do you have any quirks, or must-haves to write?
I love to watch action movie trailers or movie clips before I start
writing. Car chases, fight scenes, and a good drama helps rev up my
creative process. In addition once I’ve started writing, I like to
have complete silence. My favorite time to write is actually early
morning or late at night.
BK: Where do you hope your
books/writing will be in the future?
In the near future, I hope to have the entire series published and
hopefully have national bestseller by my name. I look forward to
branching out into different genres and increasing my readership.
BK: What do you hope readers will
take away from your books?
I want each one of my readers to have a character that they can
relate to or a situation that they can identify with and hopefully
learn from. It could be a situation such as witnessing your parents’
divorce, domestic violence, fertility issues, or being involved in
that good old fashion love triangle.
BK: What is one piece of advice you
received that you carry with you in your writing?
Write first, edit later. Sometimes, I try to edit and write at the
same time and I hardly progress with a story. I decided now to simply
write without focusing on grammar or spelling.
BK: What is one piece of advice you
would give to new and aspiring writers?
The one quote that I use constantly is that no one can stop you, but
you. In addition, someone reminded me that writing was my outlet.
Sometimes, I get severely frustrated during the marketing and
promotion of a book when I’m not reaping certain rewards and
instead of venting verbally, I was told to vent through writing. I
would like to share this with other authors, new and aspiring.
Writing is our outlet, so let’s use it!
BK: Are you currently working on
any new projects? I am
currently working on Black
Diamonds, which will be my
fourth novel and am expounding on ideas for several short stories. I
am also outlining my first Young Adult Christian Fiction novel, which
will be written under a different alias. What
can we expect from you in the future?
I am hoping to release a short story sometime during the spring or
summer and Black Diamonds
in December of 2013 or January of 2014.
BK: Where can readers find you?
Readers can find me at simplyvogue.net, on Twitter @SimplyVogue_B, on
Facebook as Author April Blanding and on Instagram as
marilymonRHO_1922.
Thank you so much for taking time to
chat with me today. It's been a pleasure having you and I wish you
much success in the future.
Ace of Diamonds
Book III in The Diamond Collection
by Vogue
About The Author:
Vogue is the author of Diamonds in the Rough and Diamonds Are Forever. A native of Greenville, South Carolina, she is a graduate of Winthrop University, possessing a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Vogue currently resides in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Publisher
Instagram - MarilynMonRHO_1922
Vogue is the author of Diamonds in the Rough and Diamonds Are Forever. A native of Greenville, South Carolina, she is a graduate of Winthrop University, possessing a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and is a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Vogue currently resides in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Publisher
Instagram - MarilynMonRHO_1922
The
Ace of Diamonds
Book
III of The Diamond Collection
Genre:
Urban Fiction
Publisher:
Crown Jewel Publishing
Release
Date: February 11, 2013
Book
Description:
Since
his release from prison, Brookstone’s most notorious drug lord, Jay
Santiago, has been hard at work rebuilding his life and empire. With
two businesses under his belt and one in the making, Jay is readily
known as one of New York’s elite men.
While
the root of his financial status lies in the newly rebuilt Santiago
cartel, Jay is determined to expand his wealth. After reconnecting
with an old comrade, he believes that he has found the one thing that
could increase his fortune and allow him to leave behind the dangers
of his criminal enterprise for good.
However,
as Jay’s new business venture begins to come to fruition, he
quickly learns that the one material object that he loves the most
could lead to his biggest downfall yet.
Excerpt from The Ace of Diamonds
Excerpt
#1
Carmen
stared out the window as Kane’s Jeep backed out of the driveway.
She wanted to call him to come back, but she knew that he wouldn’t.
While they had cleared the air on one issue, another one had
surfaced. This one, though, she couldn’t fix. She was nine months
pregnant and Nyla was coming regardless of how Kane felt. He might
not have liked the idea, but he knew when they renewed their vows
that she was pregnant. He seemed okay with it then, but obviously the
whole thing was an act.
When
his car disappeared out of the gates, Carmen began to think that her
marriage wasn’t going to survive. If Kane was running out now then
she knew it would be worse when Nyla came. Jay would be around more
than ever and she would be forced to communicate with him. There
might even be times when he had to come to the house. The distance
between her and Kane would only grow.
Carmen
pulled the curtains closed as she made her way back to the bed. She
sat down, and tried to fight back her tears. She and Kane had been
fine until Jay’s lawsuit, which sent them spiraling back into a
place that neither one of them wanted to be. Carmen wanted to come up
with an answer to fix everything, but she couldn’t. Softly crying,
she did the only thing she knew how; she prayed to God for guidance
and strength. She told herself that this would be the last time she
would allow Kane to leave. After tonight, she would put her foot
down. If she wanted to
save
her marriage, she had to act like it, now or never.
Diamonds
Are Forever
Book
II of The Diamond Collection
Genre:
Urban Fiction
Publisher:
Passionate Writer Publishing
Release
Date: October 25, 2010
Book
Description:
Eight
months pregnant, Carmen Davenport is unsure of what is waiting for
her outside of the Metropolitan Correctional Facility. For six
grueling months, she sat in a cold cell with only the thought of her
unborn son, keeping her sane. Now, she has returned to Brookstone to
discover that Flame is now a multi-million dollar enterprise, all
thanks to her best friend, Tiara. Diamonds Are Forever is a reunion
with familiar characters and another look into the dramatic lives of
Brookstone’s finest.
Diamonds
in the Rough
Book
I of The Diamond Collection
Genre:
Urban Fiction
Publisher:
Passionate Writers Publishing
Release
Date: June 1, 2010
Book
Description:
Carmen
Davenport is living the American dream. Born with a silver spoon in
her mouth, she has anything that a twenty-one year old college
student would want: supportive parents, a set of fly friends, and an
inheritance to one of the most lucrative clothing companies in New
York: Flame, Inc. The only thing missing is love, but that doesn’t
seem to faze her until she lays eyes on Jay Santiago, a Puerto Rican
drug lord who is destined to make Carmen his at any cost. Instantly,
Carmen begins to fall for him despite his reign as the head of a
multi-million dollar drug cartel.
After
securing the rights to her inheritance, Carmen soon learns that
Flame, Inc. is headed towards a downward spiral. Too ambitious to
allow her dream to go down the drain, Carmen begins pulling at all
lifelines to save her company. Putting aside everything she’s ever
believed in, Carmen soon finds herself entangled in a web of lies,
betrayal, and crime. However, Carmen knows that in order to achieve
her goal, she must remain focused no matter how dangerous the road to
success may get.
Giveaway:
One Signed Copy of Ace of Diamonds
Open to US/Canada
International Winners will receive an E-Book
