Urban-Reviews.com - Inside Out with Rachel Skerritt - Author of When The Lights Go Down

Rachel Skerritt

After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania in 1999, Rachel Skerritt returned to her hometown of Boston to teach high school English at her own alma mater. Alongside her commitment to improving public schools, Rachel always had a passion for creative writing. In her last year of college, she'd begun a novel entitled Truth Be Told, a coming-of-age story that was loosely based on her experiences at Penn. In 2001, she self published the novel, selling many copies out of the trunk of her car, and trying her best to prevent her curious high school students from reading about her somewhat mature adventures.

Since then, Rachel has been recognized by both Ebony and Essence magazines for her short stories. She also received an award at the Hollywood Black Film Festival for her original screenplay. Most importantly, she has written and published two more novels: No More Lies and When The Lights Go Down. Currently working as a high school principal, she still makes time to write, and is crafting her first major non-fiction project. She is confident that this will be the book to land her on Oprah. Visit www.rachelskerrit.com for more information on her plans and projects.

Read a full excerpt of When The Lights Go Down: Click Here

Author's Official Website: http://www.rachelskerritt.com
Contact The Author: Click Here
Order Your Copy of When The Lights Go Down: Click Here

Urban Reviews: Tell us about your latest book When The Lights Go Down.
Rachel Skerritt: When The Lights Go Down is about a bored-with-life and jaded-by-relationships high school teacher whose world is turned upside when she meets and falls for a famous R&B singer. Sadly, it is not autobiographical.

Urban Reviews: Where did you come up with the idea for this book?
Rachel Skerritt: I went to college with John Legend, and asked him a couple years back if he felt like he was in some way different now that he was famous. He told me that he hadn't changed, but that the people around him now act differently. This idea intrigued me, and made me want to explore what happens when "ordinary people" find themselves in extraordinary situations. John was really helpful when I needed to double check my industry details.

Urban Reviews: Are you working on any upcoming projects?
Rachel Skerritt: Absolutely! My new project is actually top secret, so all I can say is that it explores a few questions in relationships that most people are scared to ask.

Urban Reviews: Can you share with us your literary journey?
I was an English major in college, and I had a huge crush on a guy who needed someone to edit a book that he was working on. I spent months helping him with it, and he ended up getting a book deal with Random House. Quickly, I became jealous and realized that I needed to stop helping other people get literary contracts and get my own! The first novel I wrote did not get picked up by a publisher, so I self published it. That was definitely a learning experience. The quality of my writing grew by my second effort, and I secured a deal with Kensington.

Urban Reviews: What do you feel has been the toughest challenge in promoting your book?
Rachel Skerritt: Having such a time consuming day job (I'm a high school principal) is extremely challenging. It's also tough that my book is mass-market size, because a lot of magazines don't review mass markets, and many bookstores won't even host signings for novels that aren't in hardcover or trade paperback. It really stinks because while it's a great accomplishment to write a book, it's a more wonderful feeling to have thousands of people reading your work. I wish I could get more people to discover the books, because so many types of folks can relate to them.

Urban Reviews: How do you balance your writing career with your everyday life?
Rachel Skerritt: It is so difficult. I find that blogging helps. It's like keeping a journal, but there's the component of having an audience. I'll often float topics that I'm thinking about for a book in my blog, to test reactions. http://www.rachelskerritt.blogspot.com

Urban Reviews: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Rachel Skerritt: That one's easy. Write! So many people tell me that they've always wanted to write a book, but they haven't started it. Nothing's going to happen for you until make the time and space to pound away on your laptop. You may think that nothing good is spilling onto the screen, but you might surprise yourself.

Urban Reviews: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
Rachel Skerritt: I love Bebe Moore Campbell. Her characters are so real that I can see them, have conversations with them. She pulls you into their lives and makes you think about them long after the book is finished. The literary community lost an amazing writer with her passing.

Urban Reviews: What's the best advice you've gotten from a fellow author?
Rachel Skerritt: Probably to remember that writing is always a work in progress, and a novel that you may be super proud of may not be the one that puts you on the map. That book might still be two or three projects away.

Urban Reviews: Is there anything additional you would like to share about yourself or your book?
Rachel Skerritt: Yes - don't judge a book by its cover! When The Lights Go Down is chock full of interesting characters, plot twists, and celebrity goodies. Don't let the random cover photo throw you off track.