Urban-Reviews.com - Inside Out with Alretha Thomas

Alretha Thomas

An author, playwright, producer and director, Alretha Thomas is making her name through her pen. Award winning plays and wanting to help her community, Alretha's background is as diverse as her personality. She started at the age of ten, when her 5th grade teacher picked and read her short story assignment in front of the class â€“ that simple, loving act empowered a new writer. Continuing in high school, her numerous original oratorical conquests on the Speech Team led her to a journalism concentration at the University of Southern California where she was a team player on the Daily Trojan & the KUSC Radio station. Like most aspiring young women journalists, Alretha dreamed of being the next Barbara Walters

Upon graduating, Alretha soon realized that her interest in journalism was not heartfelt. While at the taping of a live sitcom, the producer noticed her and encouraged her hand at modeling. Modeling didn't mean much to her, but it did lead her to acting and a NAACP Theatre Award Nomination (1993) for BEST ACTRESS. She feels that this acting stint gave her more fuel to write.

Alretha left acting and began to write full time. Her church gave her an outlet to fulfill her writing desires through their Liturgical Fine Arts Department wherein Alretha penned twelve theatre pieces - the community response was overwhelming. This led to full length plays outside of the church, NAACP Theatre Award winning play, Civil Rites (2004) and The Stella Adler Theater presented A Shrine to Junior (2002) nominated for an NAACP Theatre Award as well. Alretha's play Grandpa's Truth (2006) ran at the Inglewood Playhouse in Inglewood, Ca, and was extended more than once by popular demand. Not only did radio station KJLH support by recommending this production to its listeners, but notables like the Mayor of Inglewood, Roosevelt Dorn and music legends like Freda Payne and Stevie Wonder had critical acclaim for Grandpa's Truth. This wonderful piece was featured on Channel 5 (KTLA News) by Entertainment Reporter, Sam Rubin. Most recently, Alretha's play, Sacrificing Simone (2007) had a successful run at Stage 52 in Los Angeles and was called "an inspirational crowd pleaser" by the Los Angeles Times.

DAUGHTER DENIED set in the 1960's is Alretha's first novel. She has also completed her first feature length screenplay, Reddie Maid Wife, a romantic dramady taking off on the fairy tale, Cinderella with a modern urban twist.

Read A Full Excerpt of Daughter Denied: Click Here

Author's Official Website: http://www.daughterdenied.com
Author's Myspace Page: http://www.myspace.com/daughterdenied
Contact The Author: Alretha Thomas
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Urban Reviews: Tell us about your debut novel Daughter Denied.
Alretha Thomas: Daughter Denied takes place in the late 60's and 70's and is told through the eyes of a precocious 7-year-old named Tina and her Mother Earnestine who is caught in a cycle of drug abuse and a codependent relationship. It's not until Earnestine almost has a nervous breakdown that she decides to take Tina and her siblings down South. The question then becomes, will the South be the much awaited promiseland or just another broken promise?

Urban Reviews: How did you come up with the idea for this storyline?
Alretha Thomas: I have always wanted to write a story about a young girl who grows up in a dysfunctional family but is victorious in the end. Basically, the story is a reflection of my childhood. It's not autobiographical or a memoir but I can definitely relate to Tina. I wanted to write a story as close to my experience as possible without directly writing about my life out of respect for family members.

Urban Reviews: What challenges have you faced being a new author in the literary game? Is there anything that you would have done differently?
Alretha Thomas: The biggest challenge I have faced is balancing my desire for Daughter Denied to be a major hit and my family life. The market is inundated with books and new authors and in order to stay on top of your game you have to constantly keep your book out there and to look for new ways to market your book. This sometimes takes nonstop action that may take away from you time with the people who are important in your life. However, I know that the success that I gain from Daughter Denied will be shared with family, friends and strangers in need. I am happy with the decisions I have made thus far regarding Daughter Denied.

Urban Reviews: There are many heavy topics in Daughter Denied. With the African-American fiction market steering more towards other sub-genres, what have you done to market to an attract readers to take a chance on your novel?
Alretha Thomas: I believe my marketing started while writing Daughter Denied. I poured my heart and soul into Daughter Denied and I believe that comes through and pulls readers into the book from page one. In terms of marketing I am really reaching out to book clubs across America. I am making myself available to book clubs and offering them significant discounts.

Urban Reviews: What are your goals when it comes to your career as a writer?
Alretha Thomas: I would like to have Daughter Denied become a household word and I would like to sell the film rights to Daughter Denied. I would like to write and get a publishing deal for the sequel to Daughter Denied. Those are my immediate goals as a writer. My long term goals are to continue to write and to inspire young people with my "Let's Write A Novel" workshop.

Urban Reviews: You've also finished a full feature-length screenplay. Can you tell us more about that and what your next step is in regard to that?
Alretha Thomas: There is a producer currently interested in my screenplay. I have just finished a major rewrite of Reddie Maid Wife and am in the process of getting coverage on Reddie Maid Wife Once that process is complete I will resubmit my screenplay. It is my hope to negotiate a deal that would allow me to be apart of the production of Reddie Maid Wife a gospel urban twist on the Cinderella Story.

Urban Reviews: What advice do you have for aspiring authors? Do you think self-publishing is for everyone?
Alretha Thomas: I would encourage aspiring writers to never give up. If you have the time, money, determination and love for your work, self-publishing is for you.

Urban Reviews: Do you have any favorite authors or books?
Alretha Thomas: Alice Walker's Color Purple, Terry McMillan's Disappearing Acts, The late Bebe Moore Campbell's What You Owe Me, Wally Lamb's She's Come Undone, Alice Sebold's Lovely Bones, Kimberla Lawson Roby's The Best Kept Secret, Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes and Alretha Thomas' Daughter Denied, not necessarily in that order.

Urban Reviews: If you had your way, what things would you change about the book industry?
Alretha Thomas: I would have the industry be more open to taking chances on unknown authors.

Urban Reviews: Was there anything else you would like to leave with us about yourself or your book?
Alretha Thomas: It was mentioned that Daughter Denied deals with a lot of heavy subjects. This is true but I would like people to know that Daughter Denied will make you LAUGH as well as cry.