Urban Reviews: Tell us about
your latest book Promises Made.
Bernice Layton: Promises Made is
about a promise made between childhood friends, long ago. Now,
seventeen years later, Craig (hero), is guaranteed control
over a 3 million dollar inheritance, but there's a catch...he
must be married for three months. Craig begrudging calls on
Renee (heroine) to fulfill her part of that promise. He thinks
it is a sure thing, remembering the little crush she used to
have on him and would jump at the chance to be his wife.
Little does Craig know, Renee has a history of making one bad
decision after the next, and now she is desperate for a
protector. Her ex-boyfriend, who ran off with her life
savings, has began threatening her life when the private
investigator she hired closes in on him. While Craig and Renee
hide their own secret reasons for coming into a marriage of
convenience, they simply cannot hide their mutual and ever
growing attraction for each other. But, soon, Craig is forced
to deal with another issue. Another secret...an unscrupulous
bank president, who knows the truth of Craig's deceit to get
his inheritance, begins to blackmail him for hush money, and
now, Craig must make the decision of his life...lose
everything his inheritance has gotten him, or lose Renee for
his overall deception.
Urban Reviews: Where did
the idea for this story come from?
Bernice Layton: The idea came about when
I wanted to explore having to keep promises. It has become
such a common phase to use on a daily basis, so I created the
story about a promise made between the characters, long ago.
Urban Reviews: What made
you want to become a romance author?
Bernice Layton: Initially,
I didn't start out to be a romance author. I began typing a
short story as a form of therapy, as I recovered from having
surgery for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome on my right hand. As I
typed, I realized the short story was evolving into a romantic
story.
Urban Reviews: Can you
describe the day you saw your first novel on the shelves?
Bernice Layton: OMG!!! This just happened
on Christmas Eve. I was excited beyond words. I called my
husband, and my daughter who was in the store with me,
captured the moment on cell phone. It will be a moment I will
always remember.
Urban Reviews: What
author do you think was your biggest inspiration to want to be
a writer?
Bernice Layton: I would have to say
Sandra Brown was my biggest inspiration. Her books just pulled
me into the stories and the characters were believable,
holding me captive until the ending.
Urban Reviews: Why do you
think there is still a stigma regarding people who read
romance, let alone write romance?
Bernice Layton: Unfortunately, there is
no changing some people from their perception that romance is
all fluff and mush. It is not. Today's readers, like the
authors, believe in romance...living it, experiencing and
being fulfilled by it. I believe romance authors can have a
great impact on changing some of those perceptions, because
romance is alive...it is living and believing in true and
everlasting love.
Urban Reviews: What projects
are you working on for the future?
Bernice Layton: I am presently
working on my next manuscript for Genesis Press (Indigo Love
Spectrum). Titled Crossing the Line, it is an
interracial, romantic suspense novel. It is tentatively
scheduled for release in April 2010.
Urban Reviews: What
things have you experienced that you would like to advise
other aspiring authors about?
Bernice Layton: First, be
persistent...don't give up your dream of becoming an author.
And second, be willing and ready for the commitment of pushing
your novel out into the world and into the hands of readers.
Urban Reviews: What are
your favorite authors or books that you enjoy reading?
Bernice Layton: There are so many authors
whose writing styles I like; with their ability to pull me
into the storylines, these authors make it hard for me to put
their books down. But to name a few, I do like Sandra Brown,
Brenda Jackson, Donna Hill, Crystal Hubbard, and Beverly
Barton.
Urban Reviews: Is there
anything else you would like to share with us about you or
your books?
Bernice Layton: I've learned that you
simply cannot write all the time. Setting time aside to write
a manuscript is equally important as setting time aside for
family and friends. With approaching deadlines and having to
responding to emails and telephone requests, it all can leave
you a little frazzled. But it is important to breath and stay
connected to your loved ones. Family dinner or a night at the
movies regroups you and freshens your outlook, and that fuels
you when you go back to your manuscript. |
