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Urban Reviews: Can you tell us what your latest book Ace Of Hearts is all
about?
Jean Holloway: Ace Of Hearts is set in 1981. My heroine, Shevaughn Robinson is
the first Black female homicide detective in a fictitious NY town.
While presenting a tough exterior, I let the reader in on her
self-doubt and concerns, especially when she finds herself falling
in love with a White reporter who's a thorn in the police
department's side. Her first case is a serial murderer who not only
become obsessed with death, but also with her. It follows him and
involves the reader in his descent into madness. I try to let the
reader in on his thought process and the emotions behind his hideous
crimes.
Urban Reviews: Where did you come up with the plot for this novel?
Jean Holloway: When I started Ace Of Hearts in 1980, I really had no idea where the story
was going, but soon my characters began talking to me and the story
began to unfold. Yeah, I know it sounds crazy, but I hear my
characters voices in my head and just wrote what they told me.
Urban Reviews: What made you want to write and publish a novel?
Jean Holloway: I really had no idea that I wanted to write! I wrote Ace Of Hearts on a dare. I'm an avid reader and one day, my sister, Lori,
said "You read so much, I bet you could write a book" and (you know
how sisters are) I answered back, "I bet I could!"
I got a pad and pencil and thus the conception of Ace Of Hearts
began.
Urban Reviews: What things did you do to help prepare yourself for the book
business? (read how-to books, take a writing class, learn about
publishing rights, etc)
Jean Holloway: Truthfully, when I started Ace Of Hearts, I wasn't thinking about
getting published. As a mother of six, I would leave the kids with
hubby, go to the park and write for hours. It was like a
mini-vacation and I enjoyed creating this other world for me and my
characters.
During one of the last and most difficult edits, I did read Stephen
King's "On Writing." Then I was blessed with a publisher who
gently guided me through the editing and publishing process.
Urban Reviews: What are your goals when it comes to writing? How long do
you think you will be writing and publishing books?
Jean Holloway: It's funny, now I can't imagine not writing! My intentions are to
do a 4 book series with Detective Shevaughn Robinson as the main
character and then I'd like to try my hand at short stories. Since
I'm a Gramma of eight, I do want to do at least one children's book.
My younger grandkids don't understand why they can't read Gramma's
book, but it won't happen until they're at least 18, maybe older! My
other goal is to do a collaboration with another author in the same
genre.
Urban Reviews: Considering Ace Of Hearts is your first novel, is there anything
you would have done differently in hindsight?
Jean Holloway: When I finished writing Ace Of Hearts in 1982, I did all the
things folks tell you not to. I sent unsolicited manuscripts to
publishers and wasn't ready for the rejection letters they sent
back. Discouraged, I shelved it and went on with my life, after all
I was raising six kids and had a full time job.
After major foot surgery in 2003, Lori told me since I couldn't do
much or go anywhere, maybe I should dust Ace Of Hearts off and see if it would
fly now. Family and friends read it and for months we edited it
together. When we were happy with it, she paid for my first National
Book Club Conference (NBCC), an annual literary event in Atlanta. I
printed out a half dozen manuscripts and handed them out to anyone
who wouldn't throw it back at me! It was there that I met my
publisher, Diane Dorcé of Firefly Publishing & Entertainment. In
hindsight, I wouldn't have waited so long to test the waters again.
Urban Reviews: Can you tell us a little bit about what you have in store for
readers in the future? (saw on your site that you were 'feverishly
working on a second novel')
Jean Holloway: I just completed the manuscript last week! Black Jack is the Ace Of Hearts sequel and once again I'll let the reader visit Shevaughn's
world. There are a few surprises as she gets involved in a case
where money is the motive for murder and revenge is the name of the
game.
Urban Reviews: With the ever-growing book market, what things have you done to
promote your book to the masses?
Jean Holloway: I'm doing a lot of virtual promotion and now have a publicist,
Dana Pittman of Nia Promotions. She revamped my website,
www.deckofcardz.com and
has me blogging and doing audio commercials. I've joined several
literary networking sites,
GoodReads.com is one of my favorites, but I also have over 30
Ning site pages, My Space, AuthorsDen, etc. I've done numerous
BlogTalkRadio shows and an interview on WBAI 99.5 NY. Ace Of Hearts
was a 2008 Best Mystery finalist at the African American Literary
Awards Show, but Walter Mosley's A Tempest Tale beat me like a bad
child! To think I was up against such a literary giant still
overwhelms me. (OK, I wanted to win, that ‘I don't care if I don't
win, it's enough just to be nominated' BS is just that, BS! ;o)
I've traveled to PA, MS, NC, TX and CA to different
conferences, signings and to meet with book clubs. I've also done
several local signings, but my home away from home is The Nubian
Bookstore in Southlake Mall. (Thank you, Marcus ;0) I'll be there
March 7th, 2009 and April 25th, 2009. On May 30th, 2009, I'll be hosting the
first Quadruple A (African American Authors in Atlanta) Literary
Event in conjunction with Nia Promotions' Beauty, Books and Banter
where authors and reader will get to meet, mingle and buy or sell
books, of course.
Urban Reviews: Do you have any favorite authors or books that you enjoy reading?
Jean Holloway: I grew up reading mysteries and graduated to horror. I LOVE Dean
Koontz and Stephen King, but have since left the main steam authors
and found Tananarive Due. Then there's some newer lesser known
authors that I'm enjoying including my publisher, Diane Dorcé. Other
favorites are TL James, Arlether Wilson, Derek Vitatoe, DeiIra
Collard-Smith and Trice Hickman.
Urban Reviews: Is there anything else you would like to share with us about you
or your books?
Jean Holloway: Yes, my Dad was an entrepreneur and I saw the only limitations
you have are the ones you put on yourself. In the early 60's, he
owned his own Yellow cab in NY, which was unusual for a Black man
born in 1918 who was armed with only a high school education. When
he saved up enough money, while raising a family of seven, he bought
a beer and soda distributorship right outside JFK airport. He and my
Mom ran the store while my youngest sister, Lori and I ran the
little sandwich truck we used to push in front of the store each
morning. In fact, that's where I met my soul mate and husband of 37
years.
My father's entrepreneurial spirit inspired me to try for goals
folks said were out of my reach, like stand up comedy and becoming
an author, an idea some discouraged since I hadn't graduated
college.
So, 29 years later, what I'm saying is NEVER GIVE UP YOUR DREAM.
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