Have you ever felt the stirring of a story within you, itching to be told? Reese, an award-winning author, joins us with her tale of turning that persistent whisper into a roar of literary success. From the early days of secret notebook scribblings to the electric buzz of high school notoriety, Reese's journey encapsulates the soaring highs and testing lows of a writer's life. We unwrap her experiences across the spectrum of fiction and non-fiction, plunging into the heart of her poetry and short stories, and celebrating the evolution of her craft.
Imagine the exhilaration of an open mic night, the collective breath of an audience hanging on your every word. Reese and I share our fondest memories from the trenches of book events and literary festivals, where the magic of storytelling is both a personal catharsis and a shared delight. We talk about the importance of engaging with fellow creatives, from book club discussions that spark the transformation of a short story idea into a novel, to the solitary retreats that birth new genres and characters begging to tell their tales.
This episode is a treasure trove for anyone who's ever dared to dream of spinning yarns that resonate with readers near and far. Reese's insights on networking within the writing community are as invaluable as the stories themselves. We cap off our heartfelt conversation with a call to arms for storytellers everywhere: Embrace your craft, share your work with courage, and find your clan among the weavers of words. Join us, as we affirm the power of perseverance and the belief that with dedication, every literary aspiration is within grasp.
Have you ever felt the stirring of a story within you, itching to be told? Reese, an award-winning author, joins us with her tale of turning that persistent whisper into a roar of literary success. From the early days of secret notebook scribblings to the electric buzz of high school notoriety, Reese's journey encapsulates the soaring highs and testing lows of a writer's life. We unwrap her experiences across the spectrum of fiction and non-fiction, plunging into the heart of her poetry and short stories, and celebrating the evolution of her craft.
Imagine the exhilaration of an open mic night, the collective breath of an audience hanging on your every word. Reese and I share our fondest memories from the trenches of book events and literary festivals, where the magic of storytelling is both a personal catharsis and a shared delight. We talk about the importance of engaging with fellow creatives, from book club discussions that spark the transformation of a short story idea into a novel, to the solitary retreats that birth new genres and characters begging to tell their tales.
This episode is a treasure trove for anyone who's ever dared to dream of spinning yarns that resonate with readers near and far. Reese's insights on networking within the writing community are as invaluable as the stories themselves. We cap off our heartfelt conversation with a call to arms for storytellers everywhere: Embrace your craft, share your work with courage, and find your clan among the weavers of words. Join us, as we affirm the power of perseverance and the belief that with dedication, every literary aspiration is within grasp.
Hello everyone and welcome to Gentry's Journey. We have the incredible Reese, who writes books. Reese writes books and she is an award-winning author, so we're going to hear from her. But first of all, ok, I'm Carolyn Coleman and I'm going to go ahead and start with an inspirational scripture. The field of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, foods despised with some an instruction, and that comes from Proverbs 1 and 7. So Teresa Dorsey is our special guest, our honored guest today, and she is an award-winning author and she's going to tell us about her journey and whatever she feels like telling us about. So Reese is what she is affectionately known as, so that's what I will be referring to her as. Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your journey as a writer? What got you started?
Speaker 2:My goodness, I have been writing since I could hold a pen. No, honestly, I have literally the right to hold a pen. My very first story that I wrote I was about three or four years ago and I wrote some random story about a balloon. And it's funny I even joke about that because when I was younger, when I started school, is when it really started my mom used to tell people all the time. Teresa's always got a story to tell. So if you ever wanted to hear a good story, catch me at dinner time sitting around the table and she would let all three of us me and my two brothers tell whatever was going on about our day. But I was always the last one because I had way more to say than the boys.
Speaker 2:So, yeah, it started from just kind of playing around writing poetry. When I was in middle school, when I really started getting serious about my writing Essays from when I was younger, I hated writing essays but I liked the free form writing. And as I got older and got more experience and more practice in writing poetry, one of my friends decided hey, you've been writing all these poems and these short stories and stuff. I know you can write a book, 16 years old, looking at her like ma'am trying to write anything. That long Are you crazy?
Speaker 1:I mean 16? Well, that's great reason. She could see that in you.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, she's like no, you can do this, come on now, I dare you to do it. I'm like uh-uh, here we go. You know some of my daredevil. So of course, that was the only way she knew for a fact that I was going to go through with it. So, yeah, I finished my very first book at 16. And I haven't looked back since.
Speaker 1:Now Reese. Where is that book from 16-year-old Reese? Where is that book?
Speaker 2:I still have it, believe it or not, and I'm actually going to hopefully that over the summer I'll be able to go through and edit it, because I know there's some things I need to make some tweaks on, but I do want to publish it so that may be on my roster for the end of the year. I think you should, honestly. I think you should, definitely. It's so funny because there's a bunch of folks that you know all of my classmates and folks I went to high school with that are still asking me about that book, so it's funny that they actually still bring it up. Hey, what happened to that blue notebook? And I'm like you still remember that. Do you not do all this?
Speaker 1:It must have made a very good impression on them, Reese.
Speaker 2:It had to have. It did. It definitely did. What I thought was pretty interesting at the time was I was just giving it to that one friend and she was in class on a particular day and somebody is just having to read over on the shoulder and they're like, hey, can I check that out when you finish with it?
Speaker 2:And it just started passing from one person to the next and I come to school one day and get tapped on the shoulder hey, so what is the next two pages to the story you've been writing? And I'm like, who are you? This is random kids I've never met in my life and I'm going I didn't even know about my book. Well, you know such and such is in my class. I didn't know such and such either. So I had to kind of follow the chain. The record area started but yeah, it became a thing and it was surprising to me. But I mean, I guess I feel like I've always had something to say at some point. I've been a talkative kid. I mean it just is what it is. But it's just fun to be able to play with those different worlds outside of myself and be able to make something that people enjoy.
Speaker 1:I agree with you, especially playing around with your words and your imagination and how you want to focus, especially if you're writing fiction, how you want to focus, how do you want to turn the story. You can turn it because it's yours. It's like some of that silly putty. You're going to do with it? What?
Speaker 2:you will.
Speaker 1:So that is when you write nonfiction you're pouring your heart on pages, You're pulling yourself, You're undressing, You're unveiling yourself. So it has to. I guess it's a little bit more structural, a little bit more scripted, but you can still pull some surprises out that people aren't aware of. But it's definitely a teaching moment. The nonfiction, yeah, but fiction, you can do so much more with it. To me it's pleasing to the palate. On some levels it is so. That's the best of so many worlds and that's just only two genres.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:Reese, are you a poet? Do you play around with poetry?
Speaker 2:I do, I still do. I've kind of written anything in a while. But that's really where I started with my main focus when I got older so middle schools, into high school, it was poetry and short stories. So a lot of it was what was I feeling at that particular time, what was going on in the moment? Sometimes it was about certain people, sometimes it was just about random ideas. I've actually gotten to do a couple of Toffee House style poetry, slam type things, nothing like professional, but it's always fun. It's always fun for me to just kind of get up there and do that little sneaky little poems out there, because most people don't even know I write poetry. They're like do you do that too? Yeah, started out that way, that's great.
Speaker 1:Now I was out of town a couple of years ago and OK, let's just tell the truth, I was out, went out of town to a convention, ok, the National Black Nurses Association, and so my travel buddy, one of the nurses. She had friends and family in that city, so did I, so we just hung together when her cousins came through one night. It was planned and they took us to an open mic.
Speaker 2:Nice.
Speaker 1:And I was like that was my first time ever going to open mic. So I was anxious girl. I went all the way back to Lil Jones. I was like, can I snap my fingers when they're done? And I was like, yeah, I'm always wanting to do that, but it was to see the performers if I am labeling them correctly come up and do their work. It was really. I was like in the moment it was really good.
Speaker 2:It's different. Mm-hmm but it is so different.
Speaker 1:The men, the women.
Speaker 2:I had a friend of mine laughing about that yeah.
Speaker 1:Go ahead, rhys, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2:I had a friend of mine laughing about that when we were in college. There was actually they used to do it at House of Blues in New Orleans long time ago, so we found out about it while we were at school and we would go every this week. They would do horseshoes and they would have open mic afterwards, but there was always this one particular group that would get up and they would do their pieces. It was so dope. I miss that. I really miss that, because they don't tend to do that where I am now in the Baton Rouge area but yeah, in New Orleans for sure there was always something going on with some type of art realm, or even during festival season which is coming up, there's always something going on and there's always an opportunity to be able to present yourself.
Speaker 1:I think I saw that on your page. Did you say it's 60 days out from festival season, did I?
Speaker 2:see that Probably less than that now, because when is Jazz Fest will be coming up at the end of April. So yeah, we're not that far out at all. We may be about two, three weeks out from the first one starts.
Speaker 1:OK, that's great. And so I know, when I first met you on the book slam, you were headed to oh, a book event. I'll just say a book event. Yes, and I want to say that was that my very first one great, great, um, and you guys were outside and it looked like a huge turnout.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, it was insane and it strangely enough, it's storm that day.
Speaker 1:Hmm.
Speaker 2:When we got there, yeah, this was October of 22,. Okay, my very first book event. So you know I'm fresh out the gate, brand new author, and I'm freaked out. I have no idea what to expect. I'm like oh my god, what am I gonna say? What am I gonna do? I got my stuff, get everything set up. So my god sister and my god mother came out with me and helped me set up everything. So we got in before the rain started and about an hour later the sky opened up.
Speaker 2:Mmm that did not stop the people from coming. They were out there with their, with their raincoats, their umbrella, the dogs with their. They Amount people that came out. But yeah, it was amazing, it was a great experience.
Speaker 1:That's good. That's good. Um, I have never attended one on the outside. I've attended a few on the inside, but, um, I Think that would be good. But what? Like you say, you can't predict the weather, but we still get decent turnouts. But a lot of people are just looking for somewhere different to go, which is great, you know, it's wonderful. And they do come through and see what you have to display On your table. And you are correct, you have to have someone with you, you know, a chair partner.
Speaker 2:You're already doing it by yourself. It really is because you can't, you just, you can't catch everybody, you cannot, can't, you know you can't, you can't watch every single thing on your table. It's like to do by yourself. You really need at least one other person to help you, at least one, if anything, to at least set up, because if you can get set up and I actually had that happen January of last year I actually did a book event in New Orleans as city park, and I was like, okay, I'm gonna need some hands, and I had to make some phone calls. Hey, do you have an hour? Yes, I just, I just need a few minutes of your time, but I'm gonna take you a little while to get here, and I was able to get one of my friends to come out and help me get everything set up, but it was, it was insane.
Speaker 2:But I love it, though, because you get a chance to meet a lot of different authors while you're out there. Yeah, and you know, you know, we exchange books, we exchange numbers. I'm still in contact with one of the guys I met there, mark Bolshevich, or I want to make sure I say his last name right. Mark's an awesome urban fiction author and he and I will actually be at two different events together Upcoming. There's one in May and then one in October out in Houston. So yeah, I mean you get a chance to connect with people and that's one of the biggest things you know. Try having that community to be able to have your back, because being a writer is a lonely process.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you better say it. I Was, fortunate enough, the Lord really drafted in my spirit the very first time. I didn't know what to expect and it was like get someone to come with you. And so I did and, like you said for, but one came two hours, the first two hours, and one came the second two hours. But you need them because people were pulling me, calling me, wanting me to see this, wanting me to do that, and I was like if I didn't have them at my table, you know, and it's not that you, you know, but you want to talk about your table. You know, it's not that you're worried about anything coming up missing, but you want no, nothing like that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you, you want to display your wares, you know, and my books were out, but you want them to be able to explain because people will have questions.
Speaker 2:So you need someone.
Speaker 1:You definitely need someone to help back you up. So yeah, so hey, anybody out there first time, take somebody with you, you know it, just to have a conversation with if it gets slow, you need someone to do that. But I'm looking at some business cards now from the last authors extravaganza that I intended that I am planning on reaching out to those people. I don't, I don't want them to think that I've forgotten them. So yeah, you know, because, like you say, being an author, you know, is a journey. It can be long, some if you don't know what to expect, and First time authors, you just don't know, you just don't know.
Speaker 2:It's all about put yourself out there. I am this funny because I am one of the most outgoing people you probably ever want to meet. I hate talking about myself me too.
Speaker 2:And that was hard. So it was. It was one of those things where it's like I have to, I have to motivate myself to put myself out there. I got to talk about me and and I'm private and it's funny Jackie said it's the other than she goes you don't talk about, like no, I don't tell anybody about business, I said, but there's reasons behind it. You know things, you learn things based on experiences that you've had in and it's, unfortunate, a good thing and it's a bad thing because you may end up closing yourself off. Now I am one of those people that anybody that comes into my life whether it's a relationship, you know, put the platonic relationship, romantic relationship try to get a clean slate. So I'm not expecting anything of you except your time. That's all I'm expecting. So there are things that you know have happened within those situations that have made me worry. So it's real particular about who I share or share information with, and I mean everybody should be.
Speaker 1:You should be guarded. I mean, I feel as though you should be guarded. It's not like you're trying to open up a tuna, can you know? But you Come on. You have to have some type of dialogue, you know, but I am, I am that way as well, and it's. I am the chatty Kathy in the bunch, and you know, in my family I'm the chatty, kathy, you know.
Speaker 1:But you asked me about me and I'm not around my folks. I dry up, it is. You know. I can talk about people, I can talk about things, but you asked me about myself. I'm like and who am I.
Speaker 2:It's a stumble and fumble. One of my friends is like we're going to practice. So really, while I was finishing up, trapped, I was in a Builder group, one about one of my good friends from high school had basically like a motivational group for women and assistant, you know, entrepreneurs with getting their self themselves out there, you know, in trying to Be present in their spaces, and one of the things that we actually had, we actually had a small seminar, I guess you can call it, with a friend of hers who does motivational speaking and she's like all right, we're gonna talk about the 11th, second elevator pitch and I'm like I really don't like it. I'm like, okay, fine, I gotta figure out what I have to say about myself. It's just like even writing a bio.
Speaker 2:When, when I was sitting down trying to figure out what I wanted to say about myself for my bio, I'm like, well, so people, all of my business, but at the same time I have to say something about how I got here. How did? How did I decide I wanted to be a writer? What's my education level? You know, there's so many pieces that are involved with it or us to figure out and it's a lot, and especially when you're an indie author, as I am, as you are. Yes, you know you have to go out and find that stuff yourself. It's, it's. It's a tedious process, but it is. It's worth it in the end.
Speaker 1:It's worth it in the end. But you know, dr V, dr Velma, she, I don't know if she did it on purpose, I don't know where I got it from your elevator pitch and you know she did a little script and I was like, oh, that's wonderful.
Speaker 2:I.
Speaker 1:Hey, I mimic it but I can't memorize. I can't tell you what I wrote down, but I have it in case somebody won't say I guess I have to go my computer and find it. And this has been a while this is not been over the last six months, okay, and I get tickled about that. But you are so right. I just, yeah, I've done this, I've done this, I've done this, but I didn't know it needed to be Noteworthy to put it on paper. Does that make sense?
Speaker 2:Oh, yeah, now I run into people and I tell them. If somebody asked me who I am or when I was doing the virtual book slam with With the crew from the European side, it was what's up everybody. My name is Reese, aka Reese's storyteller, and storytelling is my super power.
Speaker 1:Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:This is not to get your attention.
Speaker 1:It's definitely will get your attention. It definitely will get your attention. I can't. I'll have to find mine on the computer, so I need to. I need to pull that out, some of it. I need to make my tag, but it was a wonderful idea. It was a wonderful idea and I tried my best to keep up with you guys when y'all were doing the European book slam, because yeah, you guys were a riot. I mean, y'all had so much fun, what it was, adam, you Mail and jewels.
Speaker 1:Y'all had so much then that the guests that you guys were that had that Participate amazing yes yes, yes, and they were newbies as well somewhere, yeah, and they were so unique in their writing style. But but that's just people, we're all unique. I mean, we all have our way of doing things. So, but it was a time difference for me and I was trying to work and Pinching in and listen to some of the things that you guys had to say and how you go about building a story. I mean, you guys had like a little thing like y'all would do on a little chapter.
Speaker 2:Yeah, every every week it would be a different thing. Yes, sometimes we would talk about certain parts of the book. As far as character building, scene building, how does fantasy play against romance? I mean, there was so many different things we probably we talked about and and dug into from each of our you know, respective backgrounds, because Adam and jewels both write fantasy, jewels write high fantasy and, of course, melody does her, her poetry and she has her, her individual Books. And then there's me. I'm I'm in the contemporary romance realm. So I mean, we we have so many different perspectives and I love that because it gave us a lot to play with when it came down to information and also just different backgrounds.
Speaker 2:You know those different things and being able to bring all that together and also share it with other people, I really enjoyed it. But, just like I said, timing just got that they became an issue. That was the only reason I really stopped. Those was because it just it became an issue With me, timing wise with with the rest of my schedule, it's just got a little too hectic.
Speaker 1:And I would set my clock, but I'm you know three. O'clock is the middle of my day, basically.
Speaker 2:Uh-huh, and but I would.
Speaker 1:I would support as best I could and it was great. It was really good, it was a wonderful idea and, like you said, the guests that came on, you guys Hosting it was just wonderful. I really did enjoy it, but it was the time constraints, you know. But they say I have One of my friends tell me she says not about the money, it's about the time. Well, hey, that is what that? That was really true, it was about it's true. Now, how do you come up with ideas for your book trees?
Speaker 2:It depends. It's funny because Craft actually was a short story idea that I had Initially. It was just gonna be these four friends hanging out and you know they. They decide they're gonna play a drinking game and they start spilling secrets about whatever is going on in their lives. And as I was working through the setup, it evolved. I mean, the character started pretty much taking on about of their own and it got to a point where I'm going this is not going to be a short story. It's impossible. I have there is. There's so much that these characters have to say that I have to make it into something else. So I started it initially in 2018, and I'm on vacation at this particular time I decided I was gonna take my very first international trip. I was a solo trip. My mother was completely nerve-wracked my first time. Mind you, I'm in my 30s, so she's like I don't care. You said my baby doesn't matter.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. You never grow up.
Speaker 2:You never grow up Exactly. So I'm out in Morocco and I had this beautiful Rear that I stayed at and it was such a peaceful spot. So on the time after I went out through to drop the day, did my little runs through through town. I will come back and I will write. And. And it just hit all of a sudden one day I got up early and I'm like you know what? I don't have anything to do today and I just sat outside on the back patio and I just wrote and wrote, and wrote and wrote. I mean it was the thing was all just coming to me, different things that I wanted to put together, and so when I got back home I said, okay, I gotta make this thing, I gotta make this thing happen.
Speaker 2:It's been years since I've put anything Together this cohesively. It's a lot, because there's four separate characters. It's not like the first book where I only had that one character and you know the people that were revolving around her, or even the the books that followed. Um, I actually still have two Untitled books besides. So Lots of works and frauds at progress, but um, yeah, so it really just kind of took on the mind of its own.
Speaker 2:But uh, yeah, I know sometimes I go in with an idea or something that I want to write and then things like destiny happened, where she came out of the book you know the other kind of came up of trap as a side character and Something just kept nagging me about her. It was just like there's something else, there's something else there that she wants to say. I got it, I got to get it down. So, actually, even with my classes, I was able to start putting together her, her storyline and that one it's. It's different from what I've written before because it's a revenge novel. This is not a romance, so it's it's gonna be a little bit different. It's out of my will house, but I'm ready for the challenge because this is gonna be happy.
Speaker 1:I I remember you reading an excerpt Regarding destiny. I hope I have it correct and she's married to the main character, right?
Speaker 2:Yeah, she's married to. Yeah, because you know I fell in love with Stir.
Speaker 1:I like I was a bad boy but I was like, hey, I'm here for the talent you know so good and so many people have.
Speaker 2:Oh my god.
Speaker 1:I put you know, but that lets you know you right. Well, you caught my attention. I was like Sterling, what did you do? You know you get in. It's like a soap opera. You get involved, what do you?
Speaker 2:mean it is. It's funny. You say that because I was given the storyline to a friend of mine and she laughs. She goes you write this Like you're not. You explain your writing Like you're not the one writing it. I'm going. She goes, you literally talk like you're watching this from the outside, looking in, and it's hilarious listening to you because I know it's your writing. With the way you talk about it. It's like, oh my God, you're so surprised of what was happening. I said because sometimes they do surprise me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because you might be taking them down, because they're all mine. You know you may be taking them down the road. Then they end up on a boulevard and you're like, how did?
Speaker 2:we get here.
Speaker 1:You know. So you have to explain how you got to where you were. But you know I absolutely love trap. You know that it is. It is trapped in this tank all up. It is a good one, you know.
Speaker 2:My favorite line that I like to use at the book fair now, when I'm trying to get people's attention when I walk and pass the table, is are you ready to get trapped? And they freak.
Speaker 1:What do you mean, madam? What do you mean? Clutching their pearls?
Speaker 2:off Clutching. Yes, it has literally happened. I was standing there because I was like, try to get something to get. You're not going to get something snappy to get people's attention. So they're walking by and it's like they look like they're nervous about standing and saying but I'm like, hey, are you ready to get trapped?
Speaker 1:Oh, wait a minute, tell me more, tell me more.
Speaker 2:Right, some of them will back up and some of them will come to the table.
Speaker 2:It's hilarious. The reactions are so, they're so stark, but it's hilarious. I'm like let me tell you about it. And I mean another thing I wanted to bring up too. We were talking about the book fairs earlier. Talk to the people at the book fairs too. Talk to the other people at the tables, because they'll give you ideas of the things to actually be able to do to make it easier for you to sell.
Speaker 2:Because I was next to a veteran and his wife. He had a book that he wrote and I just so happened to talk to his wife in one of the little lulls that we had while it was raining, and she goes do you have one of these? And she hands me a little card and it's a picture of his book, the cover of his book on the front of it. She goes yes, she said we use these all the time when we go to events, so just in case somebody is passing by and they don't want to stop right away, you can hand this information out to them. It was literally a little card, a little 3 and 1 half by 5 card, and it had his book cover. On the front it had the book synopsis, on the inside and on the back it had a QR code so you could find him.
Speaker 1:Absolutely.
Speaker 2:I thought that was the neatest idea, so I started making them myself. I actually have them for, I have them for Trap right now and I also have some that I ordered for book two, and I'm like this was the best thing I could have ever gotten if I had not been had not sold one book that day. That was very helpful information that helped me with my next time around. So when I was by myself I was able to pass those cards out while I was talking to somebody else. So it never stopped. There was always some type of connection with the people that would come into the table.
Speaker 1:That's great. I mean that is great. And when I'm out I try to peruse everyone's table Because, being an author, you want someone to talk with, you want someone to pay attention to what you have, and some of the things are so unique. Some of the books that the people have are just so unique. They're ideals, they're ideology, you know whether it's nonfiction and it's their path to one guy was how you organize your day, how you organize your life and just different things and the ideas people have was one young lady.
Speaker 1:I did not get her card, but I think I can find her. That was, I think, her first children's book and you know the illustrations are it for children's book, and on the cover she said this is her first day going to school. And I looked and I said you can see it in her eyes. You can see it in her eyes. She said everybody says that I think you can tell that she's scared in her eyes. You know, and I love that, I absolutely love that. So everyone has their own take on what they would like to do, what they would like to display and how they would like to display it. So you do get good ideas. You know when people come out and display their wear, so to speak. So so that's great. And then you get to meet different people.
Speaker 2:That was always a fun part networking and I'll be honest with you, there are so many aspiring writers that are at these events. It's not even funny. I've talked to at least six to seven different people and it was different things that they were they were working on and they would ask questions like so how did you get started? Where do I go? Is there a specific website that you went to? I know and I always joke around and I tell them YouTube. And that's the honest truth. I went on YouTube and started researching. I'm like you know, somebody's got to have a video, somebody has to have some kind of do-it-yourself video of something and it just kind of. I just kind of ripped down the rabbit hole for a while, but I was able to find so much information and because of my research I was actually able to put together a list of different things for my summer class that I did last year.
Speaker 2:A friend of mine and I did a writing class for some kids in New Orleans over the summer. Good friend of mine, ranaer Bender. He has, him and his wife, actually have a youth center in New Orleans called the Hangout and it's open for teens and young kids, I want to say, at age eight to 17. And it's a safe space for them to go hang out, play video games, just be somewhere that we know that they're going to be well taken care of. And I had been talking to him about doing a summer program for a long time and it just so happened last summer was the best time for us to be able to get together. So myself, my friend, my sister, friend, slash writer herself, Terri Sherrell she came out. We have some classmates that came out and they did all kinds of events. Then there was an art program. There was a program where they talked to kids how to DJ. There was a mentor program to help kids transition from high school to college. It was so many different parts that were involved and everybody did this all for free, so I thought that was a really dope idea.
Speaker 2:But what was being able to put those things together, that a presentation for the kids and actually gave them all of the tools that they need to be able to write their own books that they really wanted to publish? They had the information out there and they had a lot of free resources. I also gave them some of the things that were a little bit more expensive, just so they know. You know there's other things out here as well, but it's a free resources. First, get that information and that way you can get you know, you can get familiar with what's out there and also you'll know if you really want to do this or not. You know if it's your true passion. You have everything at your fingertips.
Speaker 1:That makes sense and that is true, that is very true and it was a that sounds great. But what stuck with me when you were speaking was the transition from high school to college. I think that is so important because I always tell people oh, you're a bright student, you know you're bright, but college is going to be a whole new dynamic for you, and not just for everyone, because it's a whole new world. It is cliche-ish, but it truly is a whole new world. So I like that idea of helping them or giving them the tools that they'll need to transition from high school to college. And all the other information you said was on point as well, because you never know what a person's interests, what someone int what interests one child. They may not want to speak on it because they may not want to A pure weird or nerdy. You know because, yeah, and you know, so you can make them comfortable where they are by saying, hey, this is a whole new world Open for you. It's available, absolutely, it's available.
Speaker 2:Well, it's so, so crazy, because one of the kids that was in our class it was a young man and I found out during our second class that his mom is a children's author. Oh really, what? Yeah, he's like, yeah, my mom's an author and he was an amazing poet. We were doing a lot of poetry exercises that I got from Caroline because Caroline and I met a while back. She was doing poetry classes at the library that's not too far from my house. So she's like, yeah, come on, we'll hang out and we'll get some stuff done. Well, while she and I were talking, I got this bait bucket idea from her, which she got from somebody else when she first started doing her poetry. So we started using that as an open exercise for the kids during our sessions and we would have them read the pieces that they wrote with the words that they used, and it was an amazing experience. I really, really loved that and they enjoyed themselves.
Speaker 2:They were sad because we only did a four week program. Unfortunately for me, it was a struggle because I was trying. I had to drive from from Baton Rouge to New Orleans every day. You're talking about two and a half three hours in traffic every day that I had to go down. So it was a lot. I told them. I said next time we do this, we probably have to do this on a Saturday.
Speaker 2:Yeah it's just so hectic trying to get all of that done transition and from work and then getting your mind wrapped around that and then I got to drive back and I got to do this all over again.
Speaker 1:Like I say, it's not about the money, it's about the time. Exactly so you have you know, but you want to put in, you want to contribute, but yeah, I can see that being very taxing on you. You know, and basically You're donating your time. It's a fun thing, but it is getting there.
Speaker 2:Right. The passion is there, yeah, but the passion is there, mm.
Speaker 1:Hmm, yeah, yeah, I get that Honestly, I do, and so, caroline, the creative is that yes, yes, yeah.
Speaker 2:I was there this year and I had dinner one night during her first poetry class that she did at the library. We had a ball. There was a family that came in that was there and the wife and the husband were battling over who was going to have the best poetry. It was so funny, it was. It was so nice. The kids were all into it. So all three of the kids did their poetry. It was really cool.
Speaker 1:I like it. That's great, you know. We, you know we all met in the book slam and it's just wonderful the connections and the friendships that have developed from that. So it just was a win-win for me. It just was a win-win, you know. So I just I really enjoyed and appreciated the time that we had, and it was were you there for the inception, I think? Did it go on for years? I know I was.
Speaker 2:And I was maybe in the middle. The crazy thing is, my friend Terri was the one that introduced me to the book slam. We were after I met her, so this was 20 years, it's like early 2022. She's like oh, risi, you got to get on one, you got to get to start. You know, getting yourself out there sharing your work and blah, blah, blah. And I'm like girl, I don't read this stuff to people, are you serious? That's the whole reason for the way they said I wrote it. I wrote it.
Speaker 1:They just read it.
Speaker 2:Exactly and they're like, no, no, you got to read it yourself. I'm like, oh, all right, well, I'll do it, let me go ahead. And you know, stand up, let's go and get it done. What the funny thing for me was I was trying to read all of the safe stuff.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, because you don't know who's in the audience. So you want, yeah, you want to be careful. You want to, that's true.
Speaker 2:But yeah, but after that they started acting for it. I was like all right, you're the first, and that's what you want. Give me a second.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was like I'm ready because after you did your introductory read, I was like, oh Risi, I'm loving that, don't take Sterling away.
Speaker 1:I mean I need to hear more about Sterling, you know. But I think Andy heard me read For a UK interview. I did, and I'm really thinking that's how, because I get this invite over Instagram. And will you read for the book slam? We do five to seven minutes on Tuesdays, at whatever time it was, and I was like sure, why not? And that's something the audience really needs to know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, say yes to some of these events, some of these opportunities. Say yes because that's how I met this wonderful group of writers, be it poetry, you know, fiction, nonfiction, christian fiction. I met this wonderful group of people and we just milled together and it was good, you know, we encouraged each other, we gave each other, we encouraged each other, we gave each other ideas. There was always what's the feedback? Yeah, the feedback was, was excellent, because the first time I read, I read I was nervous, as I don't know what and I'll never forget, and it was like you went straight into character and I was like I had to do something.
Speaker 1:I mean, I was rushing to get home so that I could do it and I was like, ok, it's going to happen, and so it worked out. But if you don't read, if you don't get out here if you don't say yes to some of these opportunities, and these were opportunities where people wanted to hear from you, yeah, and so you have to get out there. Yes, you have a book. Yes, your story sounds really really good, but if you don't tell your story, it will never be told. And yes, you have read it.
Speaker 1:You have. You know, it has edited, it has been published, but you still have to tell your story. You know so, and that is a struggle for authors. You know where I go. Yes, who do I mean. So how do you pursue either marketing and or getting your story out? Now, we know you go to the book fairs.
Speaker 2:Yes, that's no little fair, mm, hmm, but but it's a lot. It's, strangely enough, a good majority of the events that I've been Invited to have been word of mouth. That's great. Talk yourself up. Quit yourself out there, just like you said. Put yourself out there Because, again, I learned about BookSlam because I was in a group and it just happened to be another author and she's like I've gone on BookSlam once a week and just that another one, and after that it became, hey, you wanna come hang out on a BookSlam? And then after that it was hey, did you wanna come check out the BookSlam, european BookSlam? And then that turned into BookSlam extra, same, same here.
Speaker 1:Absolutely yeah.
Speaker 2:And then it was hey, do you wanna come be a co-host? Hey, do you like what I mean? Just these things just started blossoming out of that one piece and also advertising things online and just trying to get myself out there with TikTok's not my best, what's that? That's just not my realm. I don't even know what else to say about that. It's just not my realm. Well, I'm with you, man.
Speaker 1:I can't get the feel of it just yet and I know I'm a little slow, but I do have a TikTok account but it's just not. I'm not feeling it and it may not be feeling me Now. Other people I'm laughing at their stuff, I'm listening to their stuff, but I'm not feeling it and it's not feeling me.
Speaker 2:Yes, because I was also told and this was probably about two weeks ago I went to an event where we did a vision board, but these vision boards were actually designed like paintings, so the author that did the paintings for us was there with us and we got a chance to engage and it was maybe like 15, 20 women and we were able to kind of engage with one another and just fellowship and things like that. It was really nice and that particular event triggered that too, and I was like you know something? Now I'm meeting more people outside of my realm, but one of my friends, who was the one, one of the people that was hosting it, she goes I need you to get back online. I need you to get your face out there. I need you to start doing more videos. I need you. Where are we? Where are we in the writing process? Talk about that and I'm like, again, don't like the talk. So, yeah, so I'm like I'm planning it out.
Speaker 2:I'll remember some planning it out, but it's just trying to get out of my own head about it too, which that actually leads into another point of how long it took me to really put myself out and to publish my first book. My this friend of mine asked me that question. She goes why now? So did you want to? The truth Wasn't ready. I get it as much as I thought in my head I was ready. Well, I wasn't ready. I wasn't ready to be able to deal with opinions, the ideas, side-eye. I mean I wasn't ready to deal with it Because if I had been ready to deal with that earlier on, I probably would have started sooner. But it doesn't mean that I stopped writing. It was just I kept it to myself and I kept it for certain people that were around me. But I told her I got to a place. I mean, at this point I'm wrong.
Speaker 1:I'm good and wrong.
Speaker 2:Like, so care about your opinion.
Speaker 2:I mean, I care about your opinion but at the same time, it's not gonna make or break me when it comes down to my writing. My writing's gonna be my writing. It's gonna some people are gonna like it, some people aren't gonna like it Just like my personality. Some people are gonna like it, some people aren't gonna like it, but I'm still me. So it's not gonna deter me from expressing myself. It's not gonna deter me from putting it out at this next book. It's not gonna deter me from putting out the third book for the trilogy. It's not gonna deter me from writing this spin-off, because the spin-off is insane. And that trailer that I built for that spin-off, the song just chose it all. And it's the craziest thing, because that was what gave me the idea for the trailer what's the James Brown song to pay back?
Speaker 1:That's great. But that's great, I mean because, as we started this conversation, you start down one line. Then you go ahead and turn and go down 459. Then you're like, okay, well, let me take this rugged road down here and see what's down. This way it twists in turn. It is not meant to be one-dimensional. It's not meant to be one-dimensional. So, however the characters take, you is the way you go, because when you brought Destiny on the scene, I was like where's she coming from?
Speaker 2:Exactly what? Completely out of the blue and it's like, well what, mm-hmm, but Destiny's bringing it, yeah.
Speaker 1:It's building on the story and when she first came on the scene I was like I'm not gonna like her. But hey, the more she talked, the more you gave her voice. I was like, okay, okay, now we've got to feel sorry for Destiny because, okay, destiny has a story to tell what's happening Exactly, and that was the thing that was driving me crazy.
Speaker 2:I'm going. You know what I'm thinking. I'm about doing one for Sterling as well, because I'm going, I think you should. Why are you this way? You know what you get to this point in life, why you, you know as far as how you are. But in the spin-off he's gonna actually talk about a little bit of how, of why he became the way he is, you know later on in trap. So you get some flashbacks from Destiny's end of the world, you know from her perspective of it, but also you get to walk through her shoes in the presence of what's happening as well. So there are some same twists and turns that are coming with that storyline. They are not ready.
Speaker 1:I'm just gonna say you ain't ready. Hey, you ain't ready for me.
Speaker 2:You're not ready for me, oh they are not ready for this one. I had a friend of mine laughing with when I started with Trek my two best friends. I always send them things that I write and there's one particular scene I was working on and I think it's actually the first scene with Stephanie and Sterling and I sent them the scene. It's like seven, eight o'clock in the morning and I get a message why are you sending this? It is too early to wait for this three foot. I'm going what?
Speaker 1:Feedback help. It does help, it does help, it does help. And I have to do things when it's on my mind and people are like, what do you mean? I was like, oh no, that was for you to do later today, I just had to do it while it was on my mind and they'd be like, okay, okay, it's nothing to interrupt your day. If you're too busy, it's fine, but if I don't send it now, I don't know where it's gonna go. You know so yes.
Speaker 1:I understand that completely and it's just a play with your characters. You know, and I agree with you, I'm not everybody's cup of tea. My work is not everyone's cup of tea, but for people who like it, they like it and that's just it.
Speaker 2:You know when they like it there's an audience for everybody. There's an audience for every genre.
Speaker 1:Yes, just because it's not your thing and everything is not my thing, you know the last Office Extravaganza we had, I met this lady. They do murder mysteries. They have a book club of just murder mysteries. I was like that's intriguing. She said, yeah, we were at the airport with these big signs, with a hatchet and some blood coming off, so people would know where we were and I was like whoo but their audience was blind.
Speaker 2:I bet security was watching very often.
Speaker 1:Well, it wasn't a real hatchet, but it was still. It was it was like yes. And they got their people to. So she said, because we had to drive to get them, you know, so that we could have this weekend thing, and I was like wow, you know, some people go out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was like that's amazing. And she said, yeah, we've been doing it for X number of years Now. It wasn't one or two, it wasn't five or six. I was like that is amazing. So you just never know what's out here. If you don't speak to some of the authors, you may not get to all of them. Now ours, I think we had about 15 authors.
Speaker 1:You know, in Extravaganza, so sure you can meet everybody, you can shake hands, you can, you know, chop it up with them. But you know, when you have an auditorium full of people it's hard to get to everyone, but you still can at least peruse to see what's going on and get a business card. You can still do that, you know.
Speaker 2:So yeah, now you're giving me an idea, maybe I'll do a trap weekend Now. That may be something to look into either late summer or even in the fall, if I have it in the city, because it doesn't like coming to New Orleans, I mean.
Speaker 1:Well, you know I love. I was just in New Orleans in November, but I'm just saying, I'm just saying I love New Orleans. I absolutely you know. You know you talk about Party City, ben Nour, it's more times than I can count, but I get what you're saying. Travel is it can be a bit much for individuals. So most people do want to stay within a certain geographical location, and I get that. Because they were asking me you come to Chicago to the Sophie Chicago Book Fair, and I was like I just love Chicago, coming up there for a weekend in Alabama. I wish you guys well, and I really did. And several of them kept calling Are you coming? I was like I have no, no, no thoughts of coming. And guess what they got rained out yeah.
Speaker 1:They got rained out, you know, and I hated it for them. I hated it for them, you know, but those are things you can't control when you have outdoor events.
Speaker 2:Very true.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but you know it has to be, it has to make sense, it has to be kind of sound judgment when you're making these plans. Because, I usually have something on my calendar. Yes, in 9 times that 10, it is local, but I usually have something on my calendar. So you know, when you want to do a several hour away event, sure, it's not that it's not doable, you just need to plan it. You just need to plan it well and that's it.
Speaker 2:And always have a plan B, Because I can tell you that it is so funny Mark was joking when we were at the Black Ink Books Festival. He was cracking up. He goes. You can't prepare it. I have a battery pack that I travel with. This thing's probably about 15 pounds, I will not kid you. That sucker's heavy, but it's a big enough battery that I can plug things into. I have about five or six USB slots. I can charge my phone, my card reader, my fan, all of that All at the same time and still have plenty of power left for the entire event. He's like are you serious? I said what they told us. We might not have plugs.
Speaker 1:Well, that's the thing, though, and see, what you don't know, you're going to learn. What you don't know what to bring, you're going to learn. You'll be like I won't be caught like this again, because one of my friends was here from California. She went to the last one that I attended and she said you need a lamp on your table. I went a lamp, oh yeah, you know, when my daughter does pop ups, I just put a lamp on her table, just for decor. I'm trying my best to get my books on this table, but she bought me, she went antiquing and she called me at your door. So I'm like OK, I can't stay. I said no problem, and then she was like be careful with it. It was a lamp, a crystal lamp.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so I'm like it's got to go on the table For my next event. It will go on the table Because she thought about it, thought enough of me to get it for me, so I'm going to put it there. But, like you say, you need the plugs, you need all of that stuff. Yeah, but what you don't know, you will learn as you go. You will learn as you go.
Speaker 2:On the job training.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, but guess what? You'll be more prepared for the next one.
Speaker 2:The next one, exactly.
Speaker 1:Yeah, not that those things want. They want that you don't have won't stop you, because the object is to talk about your book. It is to say, it is get people to know you.
Speaker 2:And that's the main thing Talk to the people. Please, please, please, talk to the people, because being shy is Wait. What's the old saying? Close mouth don't get fed they don't get fed.
Speaker 1:They do not get fed yeah.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. The shy author is still get yourself out there, but you have to talk to people, you have to be able to engage with your readers, because that is what's going to drive your readers, it's going to drive your money, it's going to get people to come to you. Absolutely, I mean, you have to be open to that. You have to be open to that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, because when I'm talking about the Gentry series, they're like what is Gentry about? I said she is every woman. She's gone from heartache, she's a teenager. She gives you her backstory in this book and her friends in this book and she gives you her change of career in this book and they were like, oh, so now they're like, hmm, how do I do this? I'm intrigued, I'm very intrigued, but once I'm getting her repurposed. So once she gets repurposed and together I'm going to have her as a bundle. That way everybody will have it.
Speaker 2:That's what.
Speaker 1:I'm saying so just. You know, you're always thinking of what you really want, and that idea came from someone else and I was like that's perfect. You know, that's perfect. So, reese, you're back in school.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:What degree are you working on?
Speaker 2:Working on my master's in English and creative writing, and it has been enlightening.
Speaker 1:But it has been, has it been fun?
Speaker 2:Has been. It has been so much fun and and and. The one thing about it, and the main reason I decided to go back, is because I felt like been working my adult life at this particular point. So I was literally been working since I was about 14, so we're talking about almost 30 years. I've been working consistently and Just doing work just for the money, and I'm like I'm getting tired of doing things for other people. I want to do something for me. I want to do something that makes me happy, and I know that I have a lot to offer when it comes to.
Speaker 2:You know the basics. I'm a researcher by nature, so For me it's not just about, oh, I can get these books done. It's about, okay, I can get these books done. Well, how can I help somebody else get your book? That's, how can I get you to where you need to be? So, just like we were talking about word of mouth, I was talking to my good friend, chris again and she goes I want to bring you on. So our series is a. There's a women's group that that she is working with and she wants me to get tips on how to get started.
Speaker 2:Where do I go? What do I do? How does ADP work? How does how does Barnes of Overwork with the difference? Do you want me to help with that? And I was tickled because I went. Well, I already got the seat that I built for the kids last over. Everything's just one thing building on top of the other.
Speaker 2:So at some point, if I don't decide to go into teaching which I'm still on the fence with I want to do it, but it's probably going to be more on the collegiate level versus going into. You know, the actual Public school systems are or should I say just the school systems in general for Primary and high school level. But yeah, I want to do that. I want to be able to have that time where I can spend with my Students and be able to help them get where they want to go when it comes down to their writing, because there's there's so much Involved with it is, you know, it's, it's an idea, but there's so many levels of how you get to that idea. My last semester I use I'm actually going to use on destiny's revenge as my dissertation. So I started that process last semester and I'm where I'm setting everything up and I'm like this is a lot, because I don't write Remind when it comes down to Setting it up scene for scene and making you know this is how this particular chapter is going to go.
Speaker 2:I write down titles and I go okay, I'm a little blurb about this is what I want to say in this particular chapter. When I go to the next thing. Okay, I want to say this over here when it came down to the girls, I literally sat down and went okay, what is their storyline? Well, how, how this? How do they work together? How do they work together? How do they work together? How do they work separately? I did a brainstorm. You know how long has been since I've done a brainstorm.
Speaker 2:Price that kind of data used to have you write out the little bubble, which a general idea, and, yeah, branch out, I have that. I still have the original one that I did for traps and I wrote, you know, the title of the book in the middle and then I wrote out each one of my four characters and then, from their characters, what is their personality? And I got the little bubbles for their personality. How do they connect to the other girls? It's nuts, but it works, it makes sense. So I was able to, you know, take, take all of that information and put it together. Well, I learned a different format of doing the exact same thing, but it was a little. It was more cohesive if it's so in depth, because you literally go through All of your characteristics for each one of your characters what's their motivation, what do they look like, how do they feel about chocolate I mean, it's just random things like that, but it's all to build a believable character, and one that's flawed, because a perfect character is not a perfect character.
Speaker 1:No, you can't do much with a perfect character. There has to be a twist. It has to be a twist or a turn, or it has to be someone who's going to be the antagonist. You can't have a perfect care and and build the story.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 1:Exactly no.
Speaker 2:Just like with Jasmine. People love to hate Jasmine. I mean, that's, that's usually the person I always get. Oh my god, I can't stand her. And I laugh because I'm like, if you, they've heard that much, I've done my job, absolutely, I have done my job.
Speaker 1:Like I said, a soap opera. You know it's always gonna be one of those people that you love to hate, or you know that you're pulling for because they're always losing, they're never, they're never on the winning team, you know. So, yeah, you need that, because to me, that keeps people intrigued. Right, and it makes it more believable, even though it's fiction. It makes it more interesting.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 2:And that's what you wanted to be realistic. You do my. I think my goal, my biggest goal for this book was I want my characters to not just be believable, want this to be one of your home girls, absolutely somebody you know. And it's funny, I actually I literally had somebody walk up to my table and she was reading the back of the book and she's like oh, that's such and such, oh, this is such and such. She was literally naming her friends that she knew that was just like the people and I was so tickled she goes I, I don't have to get one because my girls are gonna love this, but I'm gonna tell you right now they can't have my books.
Speaker 1:So I'm gonna take all your cards, uh-huh.
Speaker 2:So I'm like listen, do what you gotta do it to do. You know those type of book, those type of nights where people are doing book reviews and they want to have you don't have book clubs. Why come in to sit into a book club? I think that would be great because if they want to know more, more information about you know how did I come up with these characters? Because I would be honest with you. You know one of these characters is, is a, an exact copy of anybody that I know.
Speaker 1:Absolutely no. I'm not one with you, I'm with you on that, um, because I don't want people saying, oh, that's so, and so I'm like, really you, that's all, uh, uh, no, baby, this has nobody, that you know, written on it, you know we all we're we are all more alike than we are different. Okay, but that's just life, that's just people universally. But no, this is no, but I wouldn't.
Speaker 2:I'm not doing that to anybody and I'm not pulling a best man on anybody, because I know I don't want to go to jail and I don't want to be high for the last For real, I'm not putting anybody's story out that they don't tell me that they want me to use that is. If it's not permissible, I'm not doing it.
Speaker 1:How great you know. And people ask me and I'm going to ask you Um, where do you get your characters from? I said, girl, I'm a people watcher. I might be at a game and see this couple and I just start thinking of stuff that they should be doing. If they're not doing, are you kidding me? I said, look, that's, that's genuine information. Right there, that's genuine information. So where do you? Where do you get yours from Reese? Where do you get to how you're going to have your characters to evolved?
Speaker 2:Oh, now I want to say with craft again. You know, I had my little idea with the four girls hanging out and For some weird reason I kept thinking about my friend group Overall. And I'm going. You know something? There's the motherly character, there's always one sure. There's the real layback chill one, uh-huh, there's the neurotic one, uh-huh.
Speaker 2:And then you have the wild card that you don't know what to expect and there's always one in the group. So I basically took those you know those formats and went, okay, I need to build my characters around these people. And then, uh, I sent out a message A lot, I sent out a bad signal on the facebook and went, okay, I need, I need Women's names. So, and people just started dropping names and some and and said that, uh, it's that that feed. And it's so funny because my friend Anya that is her real name yes, uh, she. She decided she wanted to put her name up and I said, okay, if that's what you want to do. And I actually put her name into the book. So I intentionally put on the back of the book how to pronounce her name and she cracked up laughing. She's like thank you so much for that.
Speaker 2:I said because I didn't want anybody running around calling you you are in you. I said, but I know it's, it's, it's easy to do. But I said, but it's just hilarious to me that you know, I took that from her. And Another thing that that I was really adamant about was I didn't want any of my characters to be victims. Sure, I wanted them to be real people. I wanted Jews to be able to see them go through things, but I wanted you to understand that they're human, but they can. They can get through their trials and they get through them together. Um, you know, they lean on each other for things, and and that's how sisterhood should be.
Speaker 1:I agree. I agree, you know, because if it's not working that way, then that's really not your true friend group at. That let's just put it out there.
Speaker 2:We think that that ain't, that ain't your friend, girl.
Speaker 1:We think that group. We think that group.
Speaker 2:Please and thank you, because these some, some of these friendships quote unquote friendships these days, will have you Hospitalized. You go watch folks. Yeah, you can't, you cannot trust everybody with your, your space. You can. Your family members, no, uh, your your life, no, I mean, you know you got to be careful, but but yeah, that was one of the things that I was real particular about. I'm like I want them to be as real as they can possibly be. I want them to be able to step off the page and you can have a drink, a cup of coffee with one of them, go hang out and have lunch. You know, I want you to be able to interact them like that. And I mean their personalities are Almost stark, different from each each other, and that was intentional just to show you that, even though all of these opposite personalities are Are coming together for a reason that they don't even want to do school project. Who wants to do a school project? Nobody. So you know they're coming together for a reason that they hate what they end up, you know, being the best of friends because they they had that experience and they were able to find those similarities you know within each other. So I thought that was pretty dope.
Speaker 2:I, I it. It took me on a ride that I wasn't expecting to go on. Sure, honestly, I really thought this was gonna be something like real surface level, but it got serious on me real quick. And book two, jasmine, is taking me for a ride. Jasmine has been taking me on an a role in emotional roller coaster from the beginning of her very first chapter To the end. I'm like girl Hold on, mm-hmm, I need, I need, I need a second. But it just goes to show you just how much they grow and change and and they come to party an Evolution thing.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah it comes a party. You, um, you know the characters are riveting and you have them to twist and turn. On us out of the blue, I'd be like whoa, where did that come from? You know. But that adds to it. It adds to it, you know. So I mean, I mean you don't want a boring book. I tell people my stuff is a chick flick. I'm just going to tell you that right now, and you know and.
Speaker 1:I said, and I said I understand when guys don't get it. I'm not, I'm not expecting that, you know, but it's just like going to the movie with your female friend, your lady, your girlfriend. You got to endure it.
Speaker 2:You get enjoyment out of it. You just made I understand all of the nuances and that's OK. Mm, hmm, I'll be honest with you and even taking it back to the first book when I was in high school, you would be surprised the amount of guys that read my book. Oh, I believe you would be surprised, and it was funny because one of my really good friends, he reached out to me probably last summer some time. He and I were talking and he's like look, if you need some ideas for your next book, you know, just let me know. I'm going. Ok, cool, he's like. He's like, but, man, he said, I was so ready, I was so ready for you to drop this first book, he said, because I still remember that notebook and I was, I was just waiting. I've been waiting on you.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's great you like motivation. Yeah, absolutely it is. Hey, hey, I'm your number one fan, boo, hey. So back in the day with that blue notebook, you know I'm your number one fan. But that's wonderful, you know. So that knows, let you know. It's captivating and has always been. And you know. So what I can say about Reese Wright's books is Reese is definitely the storyteller. So, Reese, any closing remarks you have?
Speaker 2:Um man, I am literally just trying to tie up the end with what to release. I will be probably putting a release back out for free sale before the end of the month, so that's that's going to be coming on on my radar. Ok, next book events going to be the Black Ink Book Festival in New Orleans in May. That's actually going to be Mother's Day weekend, so that'll be May the 11th, that Saturday. So come on down. If you're in the city, come hang out with us at City Park. My next big book event is going to be in October. I'm not sure if I'm doing anything in between because I got a hectic summer, but next big book festival is going to be the National Black Book Festival in Houston in October. I want to say that October the 17th through the 19th in Houston. So I will be in Texas in a few months. They come check them out and it's a two day event. So definitely, if you all got your books, come on out, get your book signed, come hang out with us and just say hi, oh.
Speaker 2:But yeah, I'm trying to get some things done. I want to make sure everything's coming. I got a Christmas book in the works, so that'll probably be dropping, either before I leave for the trip or possibly right after I come back, early November. What else, oh my God, that's in this revenge, that's, that's on the wings. That'll probably be summer of next year. So lots of works in progress, oh, sister, still trying to get this, this degree, done. But the great thing is, again it's it's working for me, not against me, and that's that's how it's out to get in these, these ideas done. But yeah, thank you so much for having me. I have had a ball.
Speaker 1:No, thank you for coming and give us your website so people can follow you, because, honestly, god, yeah, yeah. Just just taste and see what you think about Reese and trapped in her books, just taste and see Interesting, very good storyteller. But she's going to drop us that, that website so you can check her out.
Speaker 2:Oh, definitely you can check me out. My website is wwwreesewritesbookscom so you can order your book there. I do hard covers paperbacks as well as the ebook, and so you can get those through me directly, and I do send out signed copies. So if you like to sign copy there's actually a little little block in there for you to put your name in so I can sign your copy and send that out to you. Also, you can find me on Amazoncom, as well as Barnes and Noblecom, to grab your copy of traps. Be a trap if you would like to get a taste of trapped. But go on down, go on over to Amazoncom and click on that link in your, in your Kindle and you can download a sample so you can get. You can get a feel of how the crew gets down before you even purchase. So definitely looking forward to meeting up with some new readers and being able to get everybody to experience a taste.
Speaker 1:Oh, that sounds wonderful. That sounds wonderful. Now, not to put you on the spot, but do you have a snippet that you would like to read about trap, before you close us out in Brown? So I'll give you two hints now.
Speaker 2:If you stay ready. You ain't got to get ready, but I know we got to go.
Speaker 1:Oh, but it will be intriguing, it will be.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's All right, let's, let's, let's get us some something, something lightweight. Ok, I think this will work. And this is actually coming from the very beginning, at first chapter, where the girls meet in college.
Speaker 1:OK.
Speaker 2:I just studied the class list, searching through the alphabetized role for her name. She find it and passed the role with a heavy sigh. It was her first day of class, a day she'd been excited about all summer, and the first assignment the professor reviewed was a group project that was due at the end of the semester. I tapped her pen against her syllabus with annoyance. Why do professors insist on making me suffer through group projects? She thought they know just as well as we do that there will be only two people who are actually due to work, which irritates a lot of me. Could do this entire project by myself and we sit, but no, have to participate and interact with my peers. She shook her head glancing around the room.
Speaker 2:Dr Martin broke into IA's thoughts as he addressed the class. Ok, ladies and gentlemen, I made this rather simple. Your group assignment will be to build your ideal plans college success. Every two weeks a portion of the assignment will be submitted and at the end of the semester you'll present your plan to the class. On the board is a set of numbers. When I call, the number corresponding with the number on the top of your syllabus. Please step forward to meet your group mates. Remember, you will be in the same groups for the entire semester. So I suggest you get to know each other and work out your plan. You'll be able to get to know each other and work out any differences amongst yourselves. What if we don't like our groups? Someone asked from the back of the hall. Soft laughter erupted in the room. Dr Martin smiled. Then you will learn a valuable lesson in cooperation. This is not high school folks. Working with people that you are on the find of is a skill that you will utilize throughout your future careers. You will learn to deal with different personalities and find ways to work together.
Speaker 2:For the next few minutes, anya waited impatiently as Dr Martin called one group after another, a total of 25 groups of four. By the time he got to her group number, anya was ready to run screaming from the auditorium Seventeen. Finally. Anya mumbled to herself as she collected her belongings and headed for the front of the hall. Just as Anya reached the end of the row, a flash of bright pink powered past her down the walkway, stopping just shy of the podium. The girl in the pink was a bundle of nerves in a petite package with a head full of sandy curls, nervous, nearly fidgeted with the hem of her shirt while she rocked back and forth on her heels the heels of her sneakers. So this is the neurotic one, anya smirked. Another girl caught Anya's eye as she moved toward the podium. This one seemed a bit more laid back, her aura given off a calmer vibe. Miss Easy-Rezy eased her way down to the stand next to nervous Nelly.
Speaker 2:Anya reached the end of the final row of seats. As she crossed the space to the other girls, a clicking of heels met her ears. The final group member was on her way. She clipped clacks her way to the front of the hall as a murmur began in the back of the room. Girls were shifting uncomfortably in their seats and some of the guys sat in the tension as they all watched her sashay down the aisle. Settle down. People were almost done, dr Martin stated, and the remaining students settled into an annoyed silence.
Speaker 2:Anya turned to the object of everyone's distraction to see the one group member. She was hoping to avoid the wild card, the unpredictable one. Miss Flash and Sash flipped her hair over her shoulder and smiled at the group. She adjusted the strap on her bag while balancing on the cutest blue baby, baby blue stilettos. She was attractive and she knew it. And if anyone in the room doubted that fact, she obviously wasn't shy about drawing attention to her assets and the baby tea and short denim skirt she was wearing. Dr Martin turned to address the group. Ladies, you can head out and collect each other's information. You may want to set up a schedule for your project duties to stay abreast of the deadlines. Good luck. He then turned his attention to the remaining students 18.
Speaker 1:And I stopped right there, okay, and now you have a snippet of trap that should pick your interest. I want to encourage you to pick up a copy. Go to Reese's website, get an autograph copy and she'll send you a trap and you can see her other works out there as well. Reese, it has been great having you. Thank you so much for gracing us with your presence on Gentry's journey and you're more than welcome If you will close us out in prayer and we'll let you get your homework.
Speaker 2:Let them, because you already know it, wait a moment. Father, thank you so much for allowing us to be able to fellowship today and allowing us to enjoy this nice spring weather while it lasts, and thank you so much for allowing Karen to be here today. And thank you so much for allowing Karen to be able to spend this time with me today and for us to be able to spend time sharing thoughts and also giving ideas to those fellow writers out there and aspiring writers that are in the midst of their struggle. Let them know, lord, that if it's for them, you are going to be on. You're going to give them the ability to be able to take care of it and handle anything that comes their way, but in just keep them focused, lord. At the end, at the end of the day, it's all about having them be able to maintain and understand that if it's your will, it's your way, in Jesus' name, amen.
Speaker 1:Amen.