Urban-Reviews.com - Inside Out with R. Barri Flowers (Devon Vaughn Archer)

Urban Reviews: Tell us more about your latest romance novel Destined To Meet.
R. Barri Flowers: DESTINED TO MEET is a fish out of water love story with some interesting twists and turns. When children's book author and widow Courtney Hudson agrees to go out to a hot new club with her cousin Phoebe, little did she imagine a night of passion with an ultra sexy Alaskan detective, Lloyd Vance. Only the night is also marked by tragedy when Phoebe is killed by a hit and run driver. Further, Courtney learns that Lloyd once dated Phoebe, making Courtney wary that he may be more of a player than the type of man to settle down with one woman. As she comes to know Lloyd better, Courtney begins to believe he is the real deal, but with the cloud of Phoebe's death hanging over their heads, Courtney wants to see justice served first and foremost, and fears that the distraction of romance and passion could impact Lloyd's ability to do his job.

Lloyd Vance came to Lake Barri, Colorado to work for the city's police department and escape his own past marked by child abandonment and unfulfilling relationships. When he happened upon the gorgeous woman named Courtney at club, he never knew she was the cousin of Phoebe, whom he'd gone out with a couple of times. Phoebe never affected him the way Courtney has. Now he is investigating Phoebe's death and searching for the hit and run driver. At the same time, Lloyd finds himself falling in love with Courtney and hoping that a serious relationship doesn't hinge on his ability to solve the case. Well-meaning family and friends are only too happy to give advice and/or try to steer them toward one another or in other directions. In the end, Courtney and Lloyd discover what it means when early lust gives way to all consuming love and togetherness in a union that could only be their destiny.

Urban Reviews: Where did the idea for this novel come from?
R. Barri Flowers: The idea for this novel was conceived from my having a good friend living in Alaska along with my spending time in a Colorado town similar to Lake Barri. I thought to myself that bringing a strong, handsome man out of his element and putting together with an equally strong, beautiful woman trying to break out of her shell had the makings of a great romance. Also, I wanted to write a story that went beyond the typical settings associated with African-Americans, to broaden the horizons of readers and their imaginations. In the future, I intend to write stories that take place in Hawaii, Australia, and England, amongst other out of the way, but interesting locations.

Urban Reviews: You have a number of books under different genres. Which genre has been the most profitable and which is your favorite to write?
R. Barri Flowers: Yes, I have written books under different genres as well as nonfiction and feel very blessed in this regard. Aside from having the talent, my main motivation in spreading my wings has been to reach as many readers as possible in maximizing full potential. The most profitable genre for me thus far has been romance fiction with a number of great selling titles to my credit. These include DESTINED TO MEET and my romance from December 2007, CHRISTMAS HEAT. Indeed, as the first male author to write a single title for Harlequin's Arabesque line with the bestselling LOVE ONCE AGAIN in 2006, I feel I have clearly found my forte as a romance novelist. In the process, I am happy to take my place alongside other successful male romance writers such as Nicholas Sparks, Eric Jerome Dickey, Richard Paul Evans, and Carl Weber, to name a few.

My personal favorite genre to write in would have to be a tie between contemporary romances and mystery/thrillers. In the latter genre, I enjoy being able to weave a tale of mystery, intrigue and suspense that will keep readers of the edge of seat. I have a number of successful mystery novels to this effect, including STATE'S EVIDENCE (Dorchester, 2006) and JUSTICE SERVED (Dorchester, 2005). The latter novel was a finalist in the 2005 Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Awards. But back to romance fiction, as a quintessential romantic, I love being able to write stories of passion, sexuality, kindred spirits, and soul mates. Fortunately, readers continue to compel me to lend my talents to both these wonderful genres of fiction.

Urban Reviews: With so many books on the market in numerous genres, what more do you want to accomplish as an author?
R. Barri Flowers: This is a very good question. What I would love to accomplish as an author is to make the New York Times Bestseller List more than once and continue to put forth my best efforts to build my brand and fan base. My feelings are that with all the books I have written--nearly fifty to date--I have only scratched the surface of my potential as a writer. I would love to write a great mainstream novel, an epic saga, and many more page turning romance and mystery novels that will please my fans and have them wanting for more. I would also love to see my novels turned into movies or TV series, as I believe that each novel I have written lends itself to a screen adaptation.

Urban Reviews: How has your life changed as an author?
R. Barri Flowers: As an author, my life has changed primarily in being recognized for my body of work through such features as this; TV, radio, and print interviews, book signings and conventions. Being an author keeps me busier than ever with writing and promoting books, conjuring up new ideas for future books, and working hard to maintain my place as a bestselling author amidst great competition. My success notwithstanding, I am still the down to earth person I have always been. I never let writing achievements cause me to lose perspective on what's really important in life--health, happiness, and enjoying the company of my wife, the love of my life. I also believe in the old adage, "the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement." As such, I am always seeking to better my life, never becoming complacent.

Urban Reviews: With so many works, what challenges do you have in promoting them to the masses?
R. Barri Flowers: The main challenges I face in promoting my writings are allowing myself adequate time to promote while continually facing deadlines for books and targeting the right readership accordingly. As I write romances as Devon Vaughn Archer and other books as R. Barri Flowers, this allows me some latitude in promoting my books to the appropriate audience. The fact that I write in different genres does not mean that all readers are interested in all books in the market. As such, I must resist temptation to try and sell everything to everyone and instead focus my promotional efforts on the specific target group intended--such as romance novels for those who love romance but may not be as keen on thriller novels or vice versa. Overall, with a strong presence on the web and a growing fan base, I have been very successful at promoting my books and reading the correct market.

Urban Reviews: Can you list your upcoming projects and when we can expect them to be released?
R. Barri Flowers: My upcoming romances are:

KISSING THE MAN NEXT DOOR (Kimani, May 2009).

When her teenage son chooses to live with his father and new wife on the other side of the country, hairstylist and part time lounge singer Mackenzie Reese looks forward to being on her own again. That is until the handsome new neighbor moves in and causes havoc in her life in more ways than one. Ian Kelly is a radio disc jockey and part time musician who moves to Cheri Village, Vermont, with his Labrador Retriever, Otis. He hadn't counted on having a beautiful and sexy next door neighbor to spar with and fall for hot and heavy. In spite of a clash in personalities at times, there is also undeniable chemistry, to go with a strong romantic attraction, resulting in plenty of steamy passion. Just when it seems as if they may be onto something serious, Mackenzie's fifteen-year-old son, Ryan, shows up, deciding he's not happy living with his father and step Mom, and wants to move back in with Mackenzie. How will this affect Mackenzie's budding relationship with Ian? Will he get along with her son? Or will they be at each other, spelling doom for Mackenzie's feeling that Ian was definitely the one? The last thing Ian wanted or needed was a hotheaded teenager to contend with while pursuing a dream relationship with Mackenzie. But that's exactly what he must come to terms with as she now becomes a package deal. Can Ian handle it? Or will he back away from commitment as he has done all his life?

CHRISTMAS DIAMONDS (Kimani, November 2009).

Jeweler Chase McCord lost his wife, Sharon, two years ago after a long battle with heart problems. He had pretty much given up on ever finding love again and someone to share his bed and zest for living-till he meets Paula Devine, an interior decorator, who's hired to do the Great Room of his home in Silver Moon, Washington. Not only does Paula captivate Chase with her beauty and skills, she seems to get him as few people have since his wife died. He wants to pursue things with her and see how they go, though still on the back of his mind is the fear of love and lost again. One thing Chase knows for certain, and that is he would go to the end of the earth and back if that's what it took to find true love again. He had no desire to settle for anything less as the end of the day. Paula Devine has dreamt of being given a diamond engagement ring for Christmas ever since she was a little girl and listened to stories from the grandmother, who raised her. She came to America from Jamaica as a young woman and got engaged on Christmas Day, with her boyfriend presenting with a diamond ring. Alas, the marriage lasted less than a year as Paula's grandfather was killed during the war. Her grandmother was devastated but has held onto wonderful memories about the romance and ring. Paula had hoped to one day find her own knight in shining armor and experience a similar thrill at with a Christmastime diamond ring engagement and a summertime wedding.

Coming off a bad relationship with a former client, Paula had begun to think it simply wasn't in the cards. But after going to work to redecorate the Great Room of her latest client, Chase McCord, followed by the master suite and falling for him in the process, Paula begins to believe for the first time there is real hope that she might be able to follow in her grandmother's footsteps--only the love and marriage would live on for decades. But first she must pass muster as an interior decorator, always taking her work very seriously, even if a few missteps along the way. When Paula's vindictive ex beau confronts Chase at a party, alleging that she has a habit of loving and leaving men she worked for, Chase begins to question whether what they have is real or a façade. The last thing he wants is to give his love to someone and find it is only one sided at the end of the day. Paula tries to convince Chase what she feels for him is real, even as she begins to ponder if she has once again reached a dead end where it concerns love and a diamond ring for Christmas. Now if only Paula and Chase can each get past their insecurities and histories, they can focus on a future that promises to be everything each could have asked for at Christmastime and well beyond.

On the mystery/suspense/thriller front, I am the editor of a collection of mystery short stories by bestselling, award winning mystery authors, entitled, MURDER PAST, MURDER PRESENT (Twilight Times, summer 2009). I also have a short noir story, "The Wrong End of a Gun," that will appear in SEATTLE NOIR as part of the award winning Akashic Books Noir series. It is slated to come out in the spring of 2009.

For nonfiction, there is FEMALE CRIME, CRIMINALS, AND CELLMATES (McFarland, October 2008) and CAMPUS CRIME (McFarland, Fall 2009).

Urban Reviews: What advice do you have for anybody who thinking about entering the book business?
R. Barri Flowers: My advice to anyone contemplating becoming a writer is to follow your dreams, but do your homework so that the path toward success is not filled with pitfalls. This is to say, would-be writers should read as many books in the desired genre as possible, to get a handle on what's being published. Also, do not be afraid of rejection as it is a part of the process and should be used to motivate rather than discourage. Finally, find a good agent who can embrace your writing style and content, while putting your material in the hands of the most suitable editors.

Urban Reviews: What do you want to see happen with the book industry as a whole?
R. Barri Flowers: I would love to see the book industry become more inclusive in reaching out to all those who wish to write without respect to age, gender, race, ethnicity, etc. I think the process from writing a book to publication can be streamlined to become more efficient and cost effective. It would be great if publishers more evenly distributed the money they offer to writers rather than giving a few much more than often proves to be warranted while giving the masses much less than deserved. Another good idea might be more cooperation between booksellers and bookstores to keep deserving titles on the shelves longer, perhaps on a rotating basis in displays that would give readers a better chance to spot and purchase books they might otherwise have missed.

Urban Reviews: Is there anything else you would like to share with us about you or your books?
R. Barri Flowers: I am now working on an exciting new romance series for Kimani that will take place on three different islands of Hawaii. The first novel is set in beautiful Hawaii and is tentatively entitled, BED, BREAKFAST, AND A MAN. A new mystery series is also in the works, as well as a middle grade novel. And for those of you who know me under my mystery and crime writing name of R. Barri Flowers, I will be interviewed in September on the Investigation Discovery channel's new TV crime series on killer couples, Wicked Attraction. My episode, "Twisted Twosome," will premiere on 9/11 at 9 p.m., EST. It will be shown several other times in the days to follow. I only recently gave another interview on the Biography Channel's Crime Stories, The episode, entitled, "The Love Slave Murders," is now available on DVD.

I encourage readers to visit my websites, MySpace, and Crimespace, pages as follows:
http://www.myspace.com/devonvaughnarcher
http://www.rbarriflowers.com/DevonVaughnArcher.html
http://www.rbarriflowers.com
http://mysite.verizon.net/mysteryauthors/flowersr.html
http://crimespace.ning.com/profile/RBarri
http://www.myspace.com/crimewriter_rbarriflowers