Welcome Author Shani Greene-Dowdell
Thank you so very much for sharing with us today about yourself and your wonderful novels you have written Author Shani Greene-Dowdell will be giving away to three of her readers a free read of any of her novels of your choice. To find out how to receive this offer please continue to read and follow the instructions below.
*******************
Hello Shani, would
you please tell us about yourself…what would you like for your readers can to
know?
I
was born and raised in the small city of Tuskegee, Alabama, and I currently live
in Opelika, Alabama, which is only about thirty miles away from my hometown. I
am most thankful for the time that I spend with my adult children who are
rapidly moving on with their lives. Yeah, I believe the empty nest syndrome is
kicking in for me and I don’t like it one bit! In the near future, I would love
to visit the Gulf Coast to sit on the beach and enjoy the last few days of warm
weather.
How was life
growing up and how did it affect your writing?
Some of the
earliest days I remember is the time when I lived in the Water Street Projects
in Tuskegee. I used to have so much fun navigating those streets, even though
there were several people that I was scared of, lol. I grew up fast in order to
help take care of my siblings, because my mother worked a lot. Unlike children
today, we didn’t have a lot of games and activities, so we had to be creative.
I’m sure this helped build the creativity I have when writing.
How do you come up
with your hero/heroine that you write about in your novels?
The concept for
every story I write develops from a single idea. It could be something as simple
as a poem or song that I hear. While listening to it, I may imagine a couple
together and their life’s dilemma, or a man who has certain mannerisms. I will
take that thought and build until I have an outline for a story.
What do you think
about standalone reads as compared to series of your novels?
I used to write
standalones, where the reader could pick up any book out of a series and read it
and have enough background information to enjoy the novel. However, the series
that I write now are serials that should be read in sequence. I prefer to write
series, so that when readers fall in love with a story it doesn’t have to end in
one book.
When did you know
that you wanted to become an author? What motivated you to become a writer?
When I fell in love
with romance novels in 2003. I thought about how phenomenal it would be if I
could create a story like the ones I was reading. After being challenged by a
friend to start my first novel, I started writing and couldn’t
stop.
What is your
process when preparing to write a novel?
I chose the title
first. Then, I build on the concept by drafting an outline with chapter
summaries. Then, I start filling it in chapter by chapter.
How long does it
generally take you to write your novels?
The actual writing
can take as little as one week if the book is flowing and I have few
distractions.
Do you create your
book covers or do you have help with them? They all are simply all
beautiful!
Thank you, and I
wish I could design covers! I take that back, I did design the cover for Keepin’
It Tight, the e-book version. All of my covers are purchased from designers. I
would shout them all out but I’ll surely forget someone.
Now, could I get
you to list all of your books you are author of.... in order that you wrote them
and the year that each one was published and may I also have the genres? Are
they on Kindle format or paperbacks?
|
Name of
Novel
|
Date of
Publication
|
Genre
|
Kindle
|
Paperback
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Keepin’ It
Tight
 |
May 27,
2007
|
AA
Romance
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Mocha Chocolate:
Taste a Piece of Ecstasy
 |
March 29,
2008
|
Erotica
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Secrets of a Kept
Woman
 |
September 8,
2009
|
Women’s
Fiction
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Mocha Chocolate:
Escapades of Passion
 |
July 29,
2010
|
Erotica
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Savor: The Longest
Night
 |
March 27,
2013
|
Erotica
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Secrets of a Kept
Woman 2
 |
April 29,
2014
|
Women’s
Fiction
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
The Most Wonderful
Time of the Year
 |
November 19,
2014
|
Christmas Romance
Anthology (Short Stories)
|
Yes
|
No
|
|
Breathless
 |
January 8,
2015
|
Multicultural
Romance
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Secrets of a Kept
Woman 3
 |
February 23,
2015
|
Women’s
Fiction
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Breathless
2
 |
March 5,
2015
|
Multicultural
Romance
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
Breathless
3
 |
July 6,
2015
|
Multicultural
Romance
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
|
The Billionaire
Wives Club
 |
October 9,
2015
|
Multicultural
Romance/Women’s Fiction
|
Yes
|
Coming soon to
Paperback.
|
The Billionaire Wives Club 2: A BWWM Romance Tuesday, December 9, 2015
**************************
Do you have a co-author that you write/or work with?
I have collaborated with Theresa Hodge on The Billionaire Wives Club series. After editing some of her work and her helping me with scenes in the Breathless series, we realized that we were pen twins, so we challenged ourselves to write a novel together. That was the beginnings of our collaboration for The Billionaire Wives Club.
Do you have a co-author that you write/or work with?
I have collaborated with Theresa Hodge on The Billionaire Wives Club series. After editing some of her work and her helping me with scenes in the Breathless series, we realized that we were pen twins, so we challenged ourselves to write a novel together. That was the beginnings of our collaboration for The Billionaire Wives Club.
Do you have a
favorite romance author [beside you] smile?
Yes, I love Darrien
Lee’s writing style and the eroticism she includes within a great storyline. I
also am a recent fan of DJ Parker’s multicultural romance series.
NOW, which novel
above would you consider your favorite and why?
I would have to say
Breathless, part 1, is my favorite. While I love the entire series, part 1
banged with the love scenes, emotional turmoil and a cliffhanger that left
everyone in suspense.
Have you ever tried
writing poetry?
Yes, I have a few
pieces J
What would you like
the readers to take from your novels?
I will just insert a quote here, “Don’t get upset because it’s over,
smile because it happened.” If my readers can smile and repeat this quote and
feel good about it after reading one of my novels then I’m one happy writer.
What message do you
have for an aspiring author?
Never underestimate
the power of the rewrite. Rewrite. Rewrite. Rewrite. You may think that you have
a polished manuscript, but if it’s your first time out the gate and you haven’t
reread and rewrote it it at least 30 times then you have more work to do.
Hey…thirty rewrites might not be the case for everyone, but I suggest you come
close to it.
What was the most
difficult aspect of writing your novels?
Life gets in the
way. Finding time to actually sit and write in peace and quiet is a challenge.
After reading
reviews of your novels, how have your reviews helped you after reading them?
Whoa, reviews! Let
me just say that some of my reviews have whipped me into shape and I appreciate
the constructive criticism so much. While other reviewers have left me wondering
if they need a hug after reading my books. I kid, but I’m thankful for all of my
readers. Every writer hates getting bad reviews, but sometimes it’s those
reviews that help you get right the next time. For instance, when I read that
some readers thought Jacob wasn’t alpha enough in book 1 of Breathless, I
strengthened his character in book 2.
How much, if any,
of what you write is based on your personal/real life
experiences?
I’d have to say
that in some way, every book I write draws from my experiences. Every character
has a part of me living within them, whether big or small. The Secrets of a Kept
Woman series actually drew out some of my childhood pain, which became the
backstory for Rhonda’s character.
Do you write while
listening to music ...if so....who may we find you listening to?
I like to write in
total and complete silence, so I can channel in to what the characters are
saying and doing.
Have you ever just
walked away and not finished a story if you cannot get a hold of the storyline
the way you like?
Yes.
What's next for
you?
Complete The
Billionaire Wives series and I’m excited about working on a one-book spinoff of
Breathless that will be Montie’s story.
Do you belong to
any 'Book Clubs?' other than Arlena's Reading with Friends Book Club [smile]. If
so would you like to share it with us?
SBS Book Club in
Columbus, Georgia.
What may the reader
find you doing when you are not writing your novels?
I became a
grandmother this year and my two grandsons fill my heart with so much joy, so
you would probably find me somewhere being goofy for smiles from my boys.
Where can we follow
you?
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shanigreenedowdell
Twitter: www.twitter.com/shaniwrites
Excerpt from Secrets of a Kept Woman 3
“Wait a minute!” Antonio said as he
angrily tossed the DNA papers to the ground. “This can’t be right. I am not that
child’s father!”
Antonio could do all of the arguing
and fussing that he wanted to do, but according to the State of Georgia,
Rhonda’s child carried his DNA. While he stood in front of me fuming, I stood
quiet and emotionless with my arms flaccid to my sides. It was as if I couldn’t
think, move or act. “Numbers don’t lie,” I told him, disappointed in both him
and the results.
“I am not that child’s father,” he
said, standing beside the mailbox in the spot where I had screamed to the top of
my lungs when I opened the letter.
Numb, I walked to the porch in a
trance. “Whatever you do Antonio, don’t try to make a fool out of me,” I
warned. “Those numbers say there is a
ninety nine point nine percent chance you are the father of Rhonda’s child,” I
added solemnly.
“That isn’t my baby! Shayla, you
have to believe me,” Antonio said, as part of his Hispanic roots permeated into
his English as he spoke.
“Save it, Antonio!” I said to the
man I loved, the man I married and thought I would cherish for the rest of my
life.
“The test must be a false positive
or something, honey. I never slept with Rhonda.”
“Oh, how I want to believe you. I
want to be able to trust you, Antonio.”
“Just do it. Trust me, with all your
heart. Trust the man you married and know that I would never do a thing like
this.” He placed a hand on both of my shoulders and turned me to face him. “This
woman has been nothing but a thorn in your side. Don’t let her win. We have to
stick together until we get this figured out.”
I went into the house, completely
annoyed by the entire ordeal. Standing in the kitchen looking at the DNA letter,
I glared at Antonio. “I don’t see how you can deny this.”
“It looks like I am guilty of
cheating on you, I know this. The evidence is stacked against me, but I need you
to believe in me for a minute. When I say…” Antonio walked over to me and turned
my face toward him. “…when I say I did not have sex with Rhonda, it is the
truth. I mean think about it. I didn’t even know what city she or Titus were
living in, much less how to contact her. Think back nine months ago. Think back
night by night. I was here. With you. As long as we have been married, I have
never been out of pocket.”
Logically, what he said made sense.
“But, the DNA test…”
“Is a lie,” Antonio finished my
sentence.
I wanted to believe him, but the
last man I trusted was indeed having an affair with Rhonda. My buzzing cell
phone gave me a much needed out. “I have to answer that,” I said, picking my
cell phone up and walking away. “Hello.”
“Hi, Shayla. This is Mrs.
Jackson.”
“Oh, hi Mrs. Jackson.” I was
surprised to get a call, at this moment, from Rhonda’s mother. “What
up?”
“I know my daughter has put you
through a lot this past week. That is why I’m calling. There is more to the
story.”
“The DNA papers came in the mail
today,” I told Mrs. Jackson.
“About that, I was at Rhonda’s
apartment this morning helping her take care of the baby when I overheard her
talking to a lady named Chandra from the Forge Sperm Bank.”
“Why would Rhonda be talking to
someone from a sperm bank?” Shayla asked.
“She asked Chandra if anyone found
out about some missing sperm. They were also talking about how to get child
support. I pieced together the conversation and figured out that she got
Antonio’s sperm from Forge.”
“Thanks for that, Mrs. Jackson,” I
said ending the call in shock. “Shut the front and back door!”
“What did she say? What are Rhonda
and her mother up to now?”
“Have you ever given sperm to a
sperm bank named Forge?”
“No…well yeah, but that was back in
my younger days when I needed cash for school. What does that have to do with…?”
Antonio paused as the reality of what I asked hit him.
“Mrs. Jackson thinks it’s possible
Rhonda got your sperm from Forge.”
We stared at each other for the
longest time in shock. “How could that happen?” Antonio asked.
“She knew someone who worked there.
They must have given it to her,” I said looking at him
regretfully.
“This is un-freaking-believable
baby. How did she know I had sperm there? Why would she do something so crazy?”
Antonio asked, as his mind took in all the possibilities.
“I do not know,” I said as I looked
at Antonio with regret. “I’m so sorry for doubting you when I should have been
on your side.”
“I would be upset with you, but I am
not sure I would have reacted any differently if DNA showed Tyler to be another
man’s son. The worst part of this is that I have to live knowing she has a part
of me in her child and that she plans to use that against you.”
I felt so betrayed. “I wanted things
to be different with Rhonda this time. I prayed she had
changed."
********************************************
Prize Giveaway from Author Shani Greene-Dowdell
********************************************
Prize Giveaway from Author Shani Greene-Dowdell
I
will give away a free book to 3 of my readers, your choice paperback or Kindle
version. You can choose either of Shani’s published books. How can you win a
book? Glad you asked! You, the reader, must leave the answer to this question:
“How many book series has
Author Shani Greene-Dowdell completed?"
Please
leave your name, your email, the answer, along with the name of the novel you
would like to read below in the comment area and Shani author will choose from
the list and let you know if you were picked.
All
answers should be complete with all information above by Wednesday, December 30, 2015. This is when the author will pick three winners and email you letting you
know you won one of her novels. [This date has been extended from December 14th.... two more weeks] by the author.
*******************************************
*******************************************
To see all my reviews please check out my blog page under this author's name [Shani Greene-Dowdell]. Here is my blog page: Arlena's Book Reviews http://arlenasbookreviews-arlenadean.blogspot.com.
and Happy Reading!
