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Urban Reviews: Can you tell us what your latest book Mistress Memoirs is all
about?
Lorraine Elzia:
Mistress Memoirs is a tantalizing, fly on the wall story of an
upscale woman who finds herself, against her better judgment, in the
depths of an affair. Through the words of the mistress herself, the
reader gets a first-hand account and understanding of why someone
would allow themselves to play second fiddle to wifey.
Urban Reviews: Where did you come up with this storyline?
Lorraine Elzia: The basic theme of the book came mostly from conversations with
friends and hearing everyday, normal, educated, successful woman
talk about how they had gotten caught up with married men. As I
listened to their stories, I began to see a recurring element and
the book details what that element is. I wanted to move beyond the
‘where' and ‘how' of an affair and focused more on the ‘why'. The
events in the book are designed to make the reader feel a connection
with the main character as to how she could allow herself to get
caught up in the situation she finds herself in. It is not your
typical book about sex or a jilted lover out for revenge.
Mistress Memoirs dares to lurk into the mind of the Mistress and analyze her
thoughts and reasoning for becoming "the other woman."
Urban Reviews: What goals do you hope to eventually accomplish as an author?
Lorraine Elzia: Writing to me is a gift from God; therefore I feel that my
responsibility concerning it is to use it so that someone else may
be touched, entertained or feel connected. Everything I write is
composed with the goal of having a "marinating moment" for the
reader. There is always a lesson or a message embedded in my words.
My ultimate goal is to have a long love affair with the literary
world in the messages I am trying to deliver so that they are not
only being read, but are also heard.
Urban Reviews: What things did you do to help prepare yourself for the book
business?
Lorraine Elzia: In reference to
Mistress Memoirs, I researched a lot of elements
including affairs, self-confidence, and the legal system due to the
career of the main character. In reference to the literary industry
in general, I belong to writing groups and social networks that
helped prepare me for the ups and downs of stepping out and
attempting to add "author" to my personal resume.
Urban Reviews: Can you describe the day you found out your book was being
published?
Lorraine Elzia: Because I had been in several anthologies, I have to admit that
the thought of having my book published did not hit me with full fan
fare initially. Even through picking a book cover; submitting it for
reviews and approving the final product, the magnitude of being
published as a sole entity did not hit me. I don't think I really
recognized the fact that there would be a book available that was my
baby, and mine alone until I received the first copy of the book in
my hand. It arrived in the mail and I screamed and cried for about
15 minutes. My family could not understand my emotions because I had
been talking about the book for months. But there is no other
feeling of accomplishment like the one of seeing your book for the
first time and holding it in your hands. I liken it to giving birth
to a child and it was just as exhilarating for me.
Urban Reviews: Who has been the biggest help in your transition into the
literary world?
Lorraine Elzia: Hands down, without a doubt, Elissa Gabrielle, publisher of Peace
in the Storm Publishing. Our relationship began when I submitted a
story to be included in her anthology, The Triumph of My Soul. Since
our first connection with one another, she has been a Godsend to me.
Through her guidance, she made the scary world of book publishing an
enjoyable experience. She is my publisher, my instructor, my mentor
and my friend.
Urban Reviews: Do you have any upcoming projects that you're working on?
Lorraine Elzia: I am currently working on several editing and ghostwriting
projects. But some of my readers have asked for a sequel to Mistress
Memoirs. I am flattered by that sentiment and actually gave it much
thought, but I feel that Kahla's story has been told and ends as it
should, so I won't sully the story by trying to add to it. I have
begun working on my next release, a suspense/thriller that I hope to
have out by the spring of 2010 if my muse cooperates.
Urban Reviews: Who
has been your biggest inspiration outside of the book
business?
Lorraine Elzia:
My Grandmother (God rest her soul). She was my rock and the
source of all my strengths; a simple woman who was quiet in nature
yet mighty in presence. She seemed to believe one person could make
a difference and that she could move mountains merely by trying.
Urban Reviews: Do you have any favorite authors or books that you enjoy
reading?
Lorraine Elzia: Since I am an editor, I really like to read manuscripts of new,
up-and-coming authors. Since they are still "hungry", their writing
has a fresh and creative spin on it that can sometimes get lost over
time by more well known authors. But I do have my favorites from
those that have been in the field a while. Among them are Walter
Mosley, E. Lynn Harris and most recently, Shelia Lipsey and Linda
Herman have become my favorites as well.
Urban Reviews: Is there anything else you would like to share with us about
you and your books?
Lorraine Elzia: I am a firm believer that the only road blocks on our
capabilities are the ones that are self imposed, so I don't place
limits on my writing and prefer to think of it as that of the skin
of a chameleon; and I refuse to wear just wear one style or color.
The stories I create are symbols of my personality and can never be
placed in one nice, neat and tidy box. Genres, to me, are like
articles of clothing and I plan on trying them all on for size. As I
do, I hope to make someone smile, reflect or be encouraged along the
way.
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