|
Urban Reviews: Tell us about your debut novel Chante's Song
Donneil D. Jackson: In life we all have all meet a man who we want to be the
one, yet for whatever reason he is just not the one for you. Then
you meet the man who is everything you want and need in a man and he
wants to love you, yet he isn't the one you truly want. You know
he's a good man so you entertain him. When thing are going
good between you and your new boo the one you really want
resurfaces, coming to claim what's his and claiming to have
changed.
What do you do? Do you follow your heart and go with the one you
really want? Or do you follow your brain and stay with one who is
right for you?
Chante's Song is a testimony of the main character, Chante Chambers
and her quest for love.
Urban Reviews: Where did you come up with the idea for this book?
Donneil D. Jackson: I started writing Chante's Song in 2000, while I was at work. The
night before I was on the phone with a good friend of mine and she
was singing Chante's Got a Man, and her name is Shauntae. I liked
how it sounded. Took the concept and ran with it. As I wrote,
I put the feelings that I was experiencing at the time, and the
story just developed.
Urban Reviews: What made you want to become an author?
Donneil D. Jackson: I was born to be a writer. As a child into my early adult years
I loved to be in la la land and writing put me there. Writing allows
me to create a fantasy life and do it up big or small. I get to be a
different person and do things Donneil would never do. I love
entertaining others through my writing.
Urban Reviews: Can you describe the day you held a final copy of your book
and how you felt?
Donneil D. Jackson: As a writer I felt like I had arrived. Writing a novel and
publishing it is a dream come true for me. It's like one of the
first goals I set for myself that I actually completed. Its one of
many first for me. It's a great accomplishment.
Urban Reviews: Do you have any upcoming projects that you are working on?
Donneil D. Jackson: Right now I am working on my second novel, Happily Ever After.
Urban Reviews: What things did you do to prepare your book to be released to
the marketplace?
Donneil D. Jackson: Honestly speaking, I didn't prepare the way I should have. I just
did whatever came next.
Urban Reviews: What challenges have you faced regarding your decision to
self-publish your book?
Donneil D. Jackson: My biggest challenge as a self published author is distribution.
It's very hard trying to get my book in the hands of readers outside
of my local area.
Urban Reviews: What are some of your all-time favorite books and authors?
Donneil D. Jackson: My top three favorite authors are: 1) Terry McMillan 2) Sheneska Jackson
3) Lolita Files. Terry McMillan is my writing idol. I aim to
be as successful as she is. My favorite book is Lil Mama's Rules by
Sheneska Jackson. This book exposed me to a different style of
writing. It was the tone of the book that did it for me. It showed
me that my frankness (is that a word?) is ok. I love Getting
to the Good Part by Lolita Files. Honestly, I love that whole
series.
Urban Reviews: What is your overall impression of the African-American
Fiction market? Do you feel the love from other authors in the
business?
Donneil D. Jackson: The African American fiction market is growing. It's
growing in a lot of different directions. It might be for the
better, yet, some might argue its not. I will say that it is
promoting literacy in our communities. You have people who aren't
into reading reading. That is a great thing! I have felt
nothing but love from other authors. Some have been more
loving than others. But for the most part everyone has been helpful.
Urban Reviews: Is there anything else you'd like to share about yourself
or your books?
Donneil D. Jackson: Chante's Song is a good, humorous page turning novel. You
will not be disappointed. The character is realistic. You will laugh
with her, cry with her, want to smack the mess out of her and in the
end only want happiness for her. If you haven't read Chante's Song
you should go out and get it and find out did she follow her heart
or her brain. Chante's Song is only the beginning for me. As
long as people will read I will write.
|
