Fictional stories have a way of grabbing your attention, imagination and heart within each word.
I love that there are still writers out there who would like to tell a story through their own words. Crossroads, raw, insightful and will have you rolling your eyes. As usual a review will follow over on my YouTube space, so please stay tuned.
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| Courtesy of Mikey Espinosa |
I got in contact with BEFFTA Award nominee, Ella December, the author of 'Crossroads'. To hear what the female author had to say about her work so far, please read below.
Your book ‘Crossroads’ centres around 4 different female characters that many may be able to relate to. What was the purpose behind ‘Crossroads’? What message did you want to send to your potential readers?
Crossroads is a story about female friends who are at seemingly successful points in their lives but all have individual demons they need to deal with. I wanted it to be a story about successful women, sisterhood and also about loving yourself and overcoming your insecurities.
I wanted the message to be that we are all queens, no matter what we have been through. Also I wanted to advocate self-love and how amazing female friendship is.
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| Courtesy of Mikey Espinosa |
Give the readers 5 reasons why they should purchase Crossroads?
1. There are not enough books about Black British women.
2. It is a departure from the typical criminalized narrative of black British people.
3. It talks about taboo topics.
4. It has gotten good reviews from those that had read my work before.
5. Support a young woman’s dream so I can only get better.
What was the first book you ever wrote, when did you write it and what was it about?
The first story I ever posted online was Nostalgia. Nostalgia was influenced by Frank Ocean’s music. The story is about Remy who is due to marry his fiancée Marie in a few days time. Although he likes Marie, he is not in love with her. He still thinks about his first love one summer. When his first love turns up into his life again, his world is turned upside down.
When did you realise you loved writing and could turn your passion into a passive income?
I have been writing ever since I was a child on the family computer. I have always been writing stories and creating characters in my head. I realised that I could turn this into a job when I received good feedback on stories I posted online.
Was it difficult to enter the industry? What has been the biggest challenge thus far?
It is difficult because I don’t feel like conventional literary agents understand me. I've decided to go down the self-published route, as I believe its more freedom for me.
Also getting funding for bigger projects. I have management now and can create projects I've always wanted to.
Also getting funding for bigger projects. I have management now and can create projects I've always wanted to.
What has been your biggest highlight so far in the industry?
I've been nominated for two BEFFTA (Black Entertainment Film Fashion Television and Arts) awards for Best Author.
In all honesty what has touched me the most was being messaged on Wattpad from a reader that my stories show “multidimensional black British women”. Stuff like that keeps me going and reminds me why it’s important that I keep on writing.
Describe yourself in 5 words?
Creative, opinionated, observant, passionate and determined.
What can we expect from Ella December for 2015? Any more books in the pipelines?
I don’t want to give away too much but there will be more visuals. Shonda Rhimes the creator of Scandal is one of my biggest inspirations right now. I'm releasing my second novel Dirty Diamonds in summer and my third novel Mimi Memoirs next year.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years, in terms of entrepreneurship?
I want to be a globally known writer. I also study journalism, so I would like to be known for my journalism work as well. In five years, hopefully I would have made a film and a TV series.
If you could give one piece of advice that would motivate or inspire someone what would it be?
Work super hard for a few years, so you can have an easy life for the rest of your life.
Where can readers find more information about you?
Much love to Ella for sharing her book. If you're looking for a fictional novel, exploring the high and lows of what many of us women go through or have been through then look no further and have a read of 'Crossroads'.
(Make sure you leave feedback about the book, it helps )
(Make sure you leave feedback about the book, it helps )
Be you and Be true to who you are.
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