Urban-Reviews.com - Inside Out with Sophia Shaw

Sophia Shaw

Sophia Shaw released her debut novel, Shades and Shadows, in January 2005. It is a book that Sophia started as a hobby over ten years ago. As an avid reader, she was inspired by many of the great romantic writers, and was convinced she could write a story that was engrossing and enjoyable. Shades and Shadows is that story, and has received wide-spread positive reviews. The Romantic Times chose Shades and Shadows as a top pick for January 2005, and rated it with 4.5 stars (out of five).

Depths of Desire is Sophia's second novel, released in March 2006, and also received a rating of 4.5 stars from the Romantic Times. She released her third novel, Moment of Truth, in July 2007 and has again received rave reviews. Here 4th book, A Rare Groove, was just released on July 1, 2008.

Sophia was born in Morgan's Pass, Clarendon, Jamaica and immigrated with her family to Toronto, Ontario, Canada in 1974. She attended Claude Watson School for the Arts and studied dance, art and drama. She then went to the University of Toronto where she graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology. In 2003, Sophia was accepted by Sha-Shana Crichton of Crichton and Associates Literary Agents. In early 2004, she signed her first book deal with Kensington Publishing/Dafina. She is currently working on her fifth novel.

Sophia lives in Brampton, Ontario with her young daughters, Sierra and Naima, and was recently awarded the 2007 Arts Acclaim Award by the City of Brampton.

Read A Full Excerpt of A Rare Groove: Click Here

Author's Official Site: http://www.sophiashaw.com
Contact The Author: http://www.sophiashaw.com/contact/index.htm
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Urban Reviews: Tell us about your latest book A Rare Groove.
Sophia Shaw: Essentially, A Rare Groove is about choosing between a man that should be the perfect choice and one that is complicated but sparks something special inside you. Simone St. Claire is the main character, and she is struggling in a unfulfilling relationship, then meets a mystery man in Jamaica. It's also about family relationships and how complicated they can be.

Urban Reviews: How did you come up with the idea for this storyline?
Sophia Shaw: It started with the question of whether we should choose the right man with our head or with our heart. Is it better to be with someone that is safe, or with a man that makes your heart beat when he walks into the room? Of course, we would like both but if you had to choose, can you trust your heart?

Urban Reviews: You started off your career in 2005 with the release of Shades and Shadows. Tell us about the day you held a copy of your first book?
Sophia Shaw: It's still very surreal to me! I love reading and writing that I would do it just for the fulfillment and sense of accomplishment, but holding that first book made me feel as though anything is possible if you pursue you dream.

Urban Reviews: You were born in Jamaica, but raised in Canada. What impact, if any, has this had on your outlook as far as your storylines is concerned?
Sophia Shaw: I guess I have the best of both worlds. I feel surround by my Jamaican culture through family and friends, and in my neighborhood. But, I am definitely a proud Canadian so I am able to fuse the Western outlook on life, career, etc., with the more cultural, laid-back Caribbean perspective. I like to write about characters who have this mix of cultures that is very common in Canada because it's so ethnically diverse.

Urban Reviews: What are your expectations when it comes to your career as a author?
Sophia Shaw: Right now, I'm just enjoying writing each book. I'm working on the 5th, and I am fine tuning my style, trying to do things a little different. Eventually, though, I would like to add a different genre, maybe try something more mainstream.

Urban Reviews: Do you feel that there are any disparities in African-American romance when compared with mainstream romance?
Sophia Shaw: In some ways, yes. I think other cultures feel that they would not be able to relate to African-American novels. But, once they have read one of my books, they see differently. The issues and ideas are universal. But, it's a process. African-American books, movies, etc., are still relatively new to a mainstream audience, so I anticipate that a decade from now, it won't matter so much. That's my optimistic view, anyway.

Urban Reviews: What projects are you working on for the future? When can we expect it to be released?
Sophia Shaw: I'm writing my 5th novel now and it is a little more light-hearted and funny look at dating ad relationships. I should be out in late spring of 2009.

Urban Reviews: Who are some of the authors that you have admired, both within the romance field and outside of romance?
Sophia Shaw: There are way too many to list! Some of my favorites include Walter Mosley, some of the earlier Terry McMillan and Eric Jerome Dickey books. With romance, I was completely addicted to historical romances and read everything by Rosemary Rogers, Catherine Coulter, etc. The biggest thrill for me was getting my contract with Kensington Books because I had read so many authors under their Zebra line!

Urban Reviews: What advice do you have for the aspiring authors out there who are considering a career in romance writing?
Sophia Shaw: Write what you love to read. Romance readers are very loyal but they have expectations from a book. From a business perspective, give them what they want. Secondly, have faith in your work and keep writing!

Urban Reviews: Name one thing that the world doesn't know about Sophia Shaw...the person.
Sophia Shaw: I'm way more practical than romantic in life, and I watch sci-fi and crime drama television and movies way more that I watch romance, lol.