by bradyweb2 | Feb 10, 2018 | Blog Posts
No matter who you are, no matter where you come from, the longing for romantic love is universal and why this genre has such a broad appeal and committed passionate following. Nana Prah fell in love with romance because she loves a happy ending. She weaves Ghanaian and South African roots into the pages of her My Destiny Africa Series, delivering happily ever afters full African passion and soul–while touching on a disturbing, sensitive topic that impacts too many women globally. Nana spent some time sharing her journey and work with Diverse Romance and providing some enlightening perspectives on a tough subject.
Tell us about your journey to becoming a published author.
My journey started about seven years ago when I wrote my first romance. That book still sits somewhere on my computer untouched after only having been read by my beta readers. I figured it would take less energy to write a new book than it would to fix that one, so I started my second book, Love Through Time. I got it published by Black Opal Books.
I was really intrigued by your Destiny series. I’ve read books by Caribbean authors but never one set in Africa. What sparked the idea for your romance series?
I was propelled to write the first book of the Destiny Africa Series as part of an African romance writing competition. Midwife to Destiny won third place. When it got published, I couldn’t have been happier. My romance novel represented a true Africa (Ghana and touristy South Africa), a place where people work, converse, have adventures, and fall in love. Destiny Awakened is not my latest (released a month earlier than A Perfect Caress), but it’s one of my most controversial. The book deals with the heroine, Gloria, having experienced female genital mutilation when she was younger and how it has affected her life. The hero, Kamal, has his own issues to contend with so between both of their dramatic lives, the pressure of planning a wedding, and their unexpected chemistry, the reader will keep the pages turning.
My Destiny Africa Series consists of four books published by Decadent Publishing. My latest release, A Perfect Caress, was published by Harlequin Kimani and I’m excited to announce that book two in that series, Path to Passion, will be released in July 2018.
Sounds amazing! Give us five words that best describe this book. What message do you hope readers get?
Friendship and love overcome shame.
The book is not preachy by any means, which is what my publisher loved about it, but it does bring awareness to the existence of female genital mutilation and how it is still going on in the world (and needs to be stopped – okay, so that part was preachy).
All writers seem to have a line or two in their books that they feel nail the characters and their stories. Give us one or two of your favorite lines.
His touch did more to spark her nether regions than experimenting on her own body had. All ideas that it was wrong to give herself pleasure disappeared. She couldn’t wait to try again.
His gaze bore into hers. “I’m going to court you, Gloria Anokye. By the time I’m through, you’ll be comfortable enough to seduce me.”
Courting. I love that. It’s one of the reasons I love romance and can’t wait to read this series. What‘s one of your favorite reviews/comments you‘ve ever received about your writing? Who did it come from and how did it impact you?
One of my favorite reviews of all time came from Sharonda Isadora from Brazen Babes Reviews. She got so in depth when reviewing Love Undercover that I read the whole thing with a huge smile. She even called it humorous which meant a lot to me, because I can be funny in real life, but to make it come out in a story is quite the feat.
It’s those favorite reviews and comments that get us through struggles. What‘s your biggest struggle as a writer? And how do you handle it?
Marketing. If all I had to do was write, that would be the life. Unfortunately, without marketing, no one would know about all of my lovely books. One of those necessary evils, um, nope I did mean evils of being a writer.
What has been the high point of your career, so far?
When I handed over a copy of A Perfect Caress to my aunt, her eyes went wide, and she said, “You’re really a writer.”
What was the low point of your career? And how did you handle it?
Any and all rejections, from reviewers to publishers, get me down. I eat some chocolate, put on a new coat of toughness, and then try again.
Give us the name of a diverse author you‘ve read that you would highly recommend to readers.
The list is impossibly long. Dorothy Koomson, Nana Malone, Kiru Taye, Delaney Diamond, Suzette D. Harrison, Reese Ryan, Farrah Rochon, Empi Baryeh, Christina C. Jones, Brenda Jackson, Pearl Cleage, Elle Wright, Beverly Jenkins, Candace Shaw… Now, look what you’ve started. I’m nowhere close to being done.
That’s an incredible list of authors, most of whom are featured on this website (hint to readers). What‘s next on your writing journey?
I’m excited to announce that my book, Path to Passion, is being released in July 2018 (now on preorder at Amazon). In a few months Destiny Awakened will be available in audio, just like the first three books in the Destiny Africa Series.
I’m also researching the possibility of stepping way out of my comfort zone and self-publishing (I’m trembling just thinking about it). And, of course, writing and reading as much as I can would make me a very happy woman.
You can find Nana Prah online at:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nana-Prah/e/B00E9ILIPA/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1517833825&sr=8-1
Blog : www.nanaprah.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NanaPrah
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NanaPrah.Author
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7202262.Nana_Prah
Please check out and pick up a copy of Nana Prah’s latest and upcoming releases right here on Diverse Romance in both the African and African American sections!
by bradyweb2 | Feb 10, 2018 | Blog Posts
Black love, for better or worse, is just love, and love isn’t limited to color, ethnicity, or race. Bringing relationships between black heroes and heroines to life in the pages of romance novels to life has been Cheris Hodges’ passion. Like many authors, she got bit by the writing bug and found her calling to write early in life. As is true for many diverse authors, the road to becoming a published author wasn’t easy, but she persisted through a career in independent publishing and full time nine to five gigs to find homes with some of the biggest publishers of diverse romance, like Genesis, Kensington’s Dafina, and Harlequin’s Kimani. Now, she’s built a passionate, committed following that loves her innate capability to weave fun characters, page-turning drama, sizzling sexy romantic scenes and–in her widely acclaimed latest release, Strategic Seduction–even some suspense. Cheris took time out of her busy writing schedule to tell Diverse Romance a little bit about her journey, her challenges, her inspiration–and her new release.
Tell us about your journey to becoming a published author.
I started writing when I was in middle school and I knew that I wanted to write a book one day. So, when I was 16 and had just finished reading Waiting To Exhale, I decided that I was going to send my manuscript to Terry McMillan’s publisher. Wrong move. I got a lovely rejection letter that I still have. Then I started looking at what I needed to do to get published. And in the early 2000s, iUniverse.com came along. Then in 2002, I wrote my first romance novel. My sister, who always reads my stuff before any one, told me that I wrote romance. At the time when she said it, I didn’t believe her. But she introduced me to Brenda Jackson and Rochelle Alers, and I saw black love in books. And I was hooked on reading and writing romance.
Waiting to Exhale sparked the writing journey of so many black women, including mine. Tell us about your latest romance release.
My latest release, Strategic Seduction, which is the last book in the Goings Family and Friends series, is about Alicia Michaels, who’s looking for a new start in Atlanta. What she doesn’t expect to find love in the arms of her client, Richmond Crawford. See, Richmond is newly divorced and her best friend’s brother in law. Alicia doesn’t normally mix business with pleasure, but the sizzling reaction between the two of them is off the charts. However, when and ex comes back into the picture, could this be the final deal breaker?
Sounds wonderfully complicated. What’s love without complication? I don’t know about you, but in every book I’ve written I can usually pick out a couple of lines that speak to the chemistry between my characters. Give us one or two of your favorite lines from Strategic Seduction.
Richmond closed the space between him and Alicia.
“You know, you’re a beautiful woman, and I can’t believe I never noticed that before.”
“Well, at least you’re paying attention now.” She flashed him a smile and walked a step ahead of him. “Make sure you get a good look.”
It sounds like you’re giving readers more of what they love about your characters. Speaking of your readers, you’ve amassed a very devoted following over your career. What’s one of your favorite reviews/comments you’ve ever received about your writing? Who did it come from and how did it impact you?
Nothing is more impactful than when you get an email from a reader telling you how they enjoy your writing. Those emails always seem to come when you’re doubting yourself or your work.
Yes, indeed. A writer’s life is filled with doubts and struggles. What would you say has been one of your biggest struggles as a writer?
My biggest struggle is trying to get some people to see that love comes in all shapes and colors. Hey, if you can fall in love with a vampire, you can fall in love with a black person.
You’ve said a mouthful. I don’t know a diverse romance author who doesn’t struggle with this challenge. What would you say has been the high point of your career, so far?
Being a featured author at the Bluffton Book Festival in sunny South Carolina had to be a high point. It was a great event, and people were excited to see me. That always gets me because I still feel like the kid in English class passing around a notebook filled with stories.
Along with the highs that we get from readers and recognition, being author comes with a lot of lows, too. What was a low point in your career?
The lowest point in my career happened last year when I had a PR person from my publishing company tell me that they weren’t promoting my book. I was floored and considered quitting. This is why you need writer friends to talk to. And if it wasn’t for my readers telling my how much they enjoyed my work, I may have pulled the plug. It’s sad when the people who are supposed to help you be successful in the industry actually don’t really give a damn about your work or it selling because you’re not the white—I mean right— color.
Well, you’re still standing and writing and your readers are happy for that. Switching gears, give us the name of a diverse author you’ve read that you would highly recommend to readers.
Beverly Jenkins! I’ve never enjoyed history until I picked up my first Ms. Bev novel and it opened my eyes to the fact that I didn’t learn anything in high school!
Couldn’t agree more. Diverse Romance will be featuring an interview with Ms. Beverly next month! What’s next on your writing journey?
I have three independent projects on the horizon. One is a project close to my heart, based on my nephews. They have been after me for years to write about them, all I can say is be careful what you ask for. LOL!
As a seasoned author, you’ve probably got loads of advice for aspiring authors. What’s your favorite book on the writing craft or your favorite piece of advice to writers?
My favorite book on the craft of writing has to be Bullies, Bastards, and Bitches by Jessica Page Morrell. It’s a book on writing characters that is amazing.
Sounds amazing! That’s all we’ve got for today. Thank you so much for joining Diverse Romance for our launch. Come back anytime!
To find Cheris online, visit:
Website: www.thecherishodges.com
Twitter: @cherishodges
Facebook: facebook.com/authorcherishodges/,
Blog: cherishodges.blogspot.com
Please check out and pick up a copy of Cheris’s latest and upcoming releases right here on Diverse Romance in the African American Contemporary Romance sections!
by bradyweb2 | Jan 4, 2018 | Blog Posts
Welcome to Diverse Romance!
Imagine being able to find romance stories across a wide range of genres, written by authors from the Caribbean to Asia to America, all in one place. DiverseRomance.com is the place I hope will become that destination.
It’s the result of three parts frustration over my inability to keep up with my favorite writers and one part procrastination as I attempt to dig into my next novel. Mostly, it is a passion project resulting from my love of the art of romance writing and the readers who indulge in our meet-cutes, strife, and happily ever afters.
For those who don’t know me, I’m K.L. Brady, an author of 14 books (most in the romance genre) both traditionally and indie published, an avid reader, and super busy single mom. I’m friends with many authors on Facebook. I don’t know about you, but every time one of my author-friends announces a new book on a social network, it gets lost in the black hole that is my feed or in my timeline, rarely to be heard from again. When my schedule slows down, and I finally have a chance to read, I can never find the book again or remember the title.
So frustrating! I wanted to build a website to capture and showcase these books, not just for my author-friends, but for all diverse romance writers.
There are other sites out there, fantastic sites that have been going much longer than mine. This site will not replace those, but hopefully, it will complement them and provide another much-needed place where readers can visit and discover new books–and a place where I can host blog tour stops, giveaways, release announcements, interviews, and more.
How did I select the initial group of authors? Hours of research and frankly finding the books that I like to read. I narrowed my focus to three key parameters:
- Books written by diverse authors with similarly diverse main characters involved in romantic relationships.
- The main characters pursuing the relationship are unmarried, at least at the outset.
- The story ends in a happily ever after (or something like it).
- The book has at least a 3-star ratings at the time of posting on this site.
I want readers to know what to expect in the books. That they can close their eyes and click on any random book and it’s going to be something they’ll probably like if they love this genre as much as I do. There’s not a book on this site that I don’t want to read if I haven’t read it. I’m sure the selection will expand over time. I envision this as a living site, an eternal work in progress, which will continuously evolve as I discover new authors and as readers and authors recommend new writers, content, and genres.
My greatest hope is that this site will help at least one reader step out of a comfort zone to explore different cultures, ideas, romance genres, and authors–and read love in all of its shades and colors.
Enjoy your visit and contact me if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions at Karla (at) diverse-books (dot) com.
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