Omegia: I have been a writer probably as long as I have been a reader. I can remember writing scripts for my paper dolls growing up. Writing was a way for me to still have my older brothers and sisters around me after they grew up and moved away. I am eight years younger then my next sibling.
A&RBC: What are you hoping readers take from you book?
Omegia: I hope my readers understand that they have to live their life for them. If you live your life for others you can never truly be happy. You must love yourself first in order to love others; otherwise you may end up lost when the person you have lived for goes away.
A&RBC: Who is the hero in your life? How does your hero inspire you?
Omegia: My mother Jo Ann Johnson. My mom became one of the first black doctor's assistant at a small Arkansas clinic despite all the odds making the cover of the Jet Magazine and American Press in the late 60's. She was active in the civil rights movement, marching with Fannie Lou Hamer. This was something that had been passed down to my mother from her grandmother Ida Bee Dunbar. After a rocky divorce my mother picked up my six siblings and moved to Indiana without knowing a soul. Because of her when people tell me I can't, I smile and say you can't stop me because it's in my blood.
A&RBC: How do you relax after a long day of writing?
Omegia: I spend some time with my kids and then go to my room and watch cartoons. Cartoons seem to turn my mind off and quiet the characters begging to have their turn to speak. Even though I am in my 30's I am still a big kid at heart.
A&RBC: What are your favorite marketing/promotional tools?
Omegia: I love using postcards. They seem less formal than business cards. When I hand them to people they open up more.
A&RBC: What is one thing you have learned about the publishing industry?
Omegia: Even as a published author it is still up to us to market ourselves. A publisher can give you the tools but you have to use them. Also, find the publisher that fits you. Bigger is not always better. I am with an independent trade publisher, Passionate Writer Publishing, and love it.
A&RBC: What advice would you give ti an aspiring author?
Omegia: Get your story out and worry about all the mechanics later. You cannot go to a publisher with just the thoughts in your head.
A&RBC: Who was the first author you read? What was the title of the book?
Omegia: I am quite sure I read a lot of Dr. Suess books in the beginning, but I still remember Judy Blume's The Tale of the Fourth Grade Nothing, as if I read it yesterfay. My sister and I had a huge blue steel bookshelf in our room and I can remember reading all of the books on it when I was in elementary school.
A&RBC: Tell us what new projects you are working on?
Omegia: I just finished up a young adult novel, The Baby Girl, under my pen name of Key Rollins. Working on Fantasy Girls, which would be my fourth erotic novel. And, another novel focusing on women dealing with the welfare system. The novel is focusing on breaking the cycle and the reason some women are on it.
I also just finished up a very important anthology with several other authors. Unloved by The Author Project, is a compilation of short stories focusing on bullying and suicide. All the proceeds will go to charities focusing on Bully and Suicide prevention. The title should be out in late December.
A&RBC: Where can your readers find you?
Omegia: Readers can find me at http://www.omegiakeeys.com/ and on Facebook under Author Omegia Keeys.
No comments:
Post a Comment