Urban Reviews: Tell us about A Twisted Tale of Karma.
Amaleka McCall: A Twisted Tale of Karma is a story that is near and dear to me. I will let readers take what they want from that statement. I will say that the story deals with many issues that happen in our communities everyday. For example, child molestation, the down low lifestyle, addiction and violence against women, as well as gun violence. All of the things the characters in the book experience are things that REAL people experience everyday. Myra the main character had a promising future ahead of her, despite the issues she dealt with growing up. Yet she let her NEED for love change her life. Milton was a victim who became the perpetrator. He also had a bright future ahead of him that he quickly lost sight of. The main theme of the book is KARMA which basically means, what you do will come back to you. Everyone in the book got something back for anything they did... even if they were doing it for a good reason, such was the case with Myra's best friend Quanda.

Urban Reviews: Where did you come up with the idea for this novel?
Amaleka McCall: Honestly, the novel started off loosely based on me. After writing for a while, I decided that my story was not that interesting to readers so I threw fiction into it. The story took on a life of its own and creativity, imagination and real life things I've heard about all came together and thus the birth of A Twisted Tale of Karma.

Urban Reviews: How did you get into the business and how hard was it to pen your first novel?
Amaleka McCall: My jump into the industry was quick and pretty smooth. I began writing the story on Mother's Day 2004, and by September 2004 I was two chapters away from done. Well, I was home on maternity leave and suffering from insomnia...so I did nothing but write. (smile) I became very attached to the characters, because like I said, the story was near and dear to me. The story flowed from there and each day the characters did their own thing and I wrote about it. (smile) After I felt comfortable with the manuscript, I queried a few publishers and yes, I got a few rejections from the main stream, but each small publisher I queried wanted the book. The rest I guess is history.

Urban Reviews: In the novel, there are unique symbols used to separate the different scenes. Can you elaborate on this and why you chose to include them?
Amaleka McCall: Well I didn't decide to use those symbols the publisher did. I believe they used the Asian symbols because most research reveals that KARMA is mainly an Asian belief or principle. I believe that Karma transcends all cultures. I do like the symbols though.

Urban Reviews: As a debut author, what have you learned so far about the book industry? Is it all that you expected it to be?
Amaleka McCall: HMMMMM, being a new author has definitely been a learning experience. I've learned that just like any industry there will be good and bad times. A Twisted Tale of Karma is like a third child to me so when I hear that it isn't doing well or that someone "hated" it, I feel like someone is calling one of my birth children ugly. I have had doors closed in my face by other authors but for each one of those I have also had established, as well as up and coming authors embrace me with open arms. No matter what, the book industry is dog eat dog...but I refuse to play that game. I will always support other authors. I will also be around for a while because I LOVE WRITING. When you write because you LOVE to do it, nothing else matters.

Urban Reviews: Any upcoming projects in the works?
Amaleka McCall: I am currently working on my second novel, tentatively titled In Too Deep. This novel is more of a crime thriller with a very urban twist. I'm hoping to have this novel released summer of 2006. Also, I have a short story in an upcoming anthology being published by Tracy Brown's (author of Criminal Minded) publishing company. The title of the short story is "A Friend In Need For An Enemy In Deed."

Urban Reviews: Is it difficult to balance your writing career and the rigors of everyday living? (i.e. family, day job)
Amaleka McCall: That is the million dollar question...and the answer is a big fat YES!!! I am a mother of two, planning a wedding, and I have a full time career. When I wrote my first novel I was at home on maternity leave...no problem finding time. Now, I really have to set a time to write like a work schedule. I have to get rid of my family (which is almost impossible) (smile). It is definitely a challenge, but one that I have embraced because like I said I LOVE TO WRITE.

Urban Reviews: When you first held the finished copy of your book in your hands, what did that feel like?
Amaleka McCall: It felt like the first time I looked into the face of each of my children after giving birth to them. There is no LOVE like it. I mean that from the heart. I was so excited.

Urban Reviews: A Twisted Tale of Karma is told in a series of flashbacks. Why did you choose this method to tell this story?
Amaleka McCall: As you probably know from reading the novel...I pay attention to detail. I felt flashbacks to develop the characters was a more effective method than just telling the story. I am an author that likes to SHOW my stories instead of TELLING them. Flashbacks take the readers on a ride. Just like telling the story from the end and letting it unfold. I love movies that start like that because I am impatient and I like to know what happened. So, I tell what happened and the reader is left to find out why and how.

Urban Reviews: Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your book?
Amaleka McCall: I just want everyone to know that I truly appreciate all of the love and support. I truly love writing and as long as I have avid readers to entertain I will continue to write and strive to produce quality fiction that helps give African American writers a good name.