Urban-Reviews.com - Inside Out with Stacy-Deanne

Urban Reviews: Tell us about your novel Melody.
Stacy-Deanne: Melody is a suspense, thriller and mystery all in one. It is also two stories woven together with Melody, the main character connected to both. Melody can sense that her sister's new boyfriend is not on the up and up. She goes on a quest to find out more about him and to perhaps save her sister from his clutches. Yet by doing this, Melody doesn't realize that this man is very dangerous and she is risking her life meddling into his business. She soon gets more than she expected when he begins playing a sadistic game of cat and mouse with her. Meanwhile there is a serial rapist targeting the black women of Albany, New York, Melody's hometown, and she's convinced that the rapist is after her best friend.

Urban Reviews: Where did you come up with the storyline for this book?
Stacy-Deanne: I originally wrote Melody in 1997. It is my second book written and second book published. Of course it's been revised and changed a thousand times over the years. Usually my ideas for a story simply pop into my head. I can't exactly remember why I wanted to write Melody, but I knew I wanted to write a thriller. I came up with the concept of a young woman, Melody who had a major obstacle to deal with. I wanted this to be the main impact of the story. I also wanted to do a book focusing on a close pair of sisters and what would threaten their relationship. That is how I got the idea for Melody's sister having a boyfriend. At first I had it where he was simply someone she disliked, but as I began writing it, I turned the boyfriend into a top-notch villain. The story took off from there.

Urban Reviews: Why do you think writing is such a passion for you?
Stacy-Deanne: Writing is simply a part of who I am. I mean it's in my blood, literally. If I'm not writing, I don't feel alive. I actually become depressed when I am not writing. It amazes me too how much it has a hold on me. Now I see what some writers mean when they say you can become so emotionally involved in the craft that it overtakes you. It's unbelievable until you experience it.

Urban Reviews: Can you tell us how you landed your deal with Strebor Books?
Stacy-Deanne: I was already a published author when an author friend of mine who was with Strebor at the time, told me that Zane was looking for Latino stories. I'd just finished Everlasting, a romance focusing on Latino teenagers and my friend told me I needed to submit it. I hesitated at first because my previous publisher said they would open up a fiction imprint. Unfortunately this never happened so I needed a home for my fiction work. I sent my manuscript to Zane, and then about two or three months later, she emailed me saying that Simon and Schuster and Strebor wanted to take on my work. I can't tell you how happy I was to finally have a home for my novels! I am a novelist at heart but broke into the business with Divas of the New Millennium which is a compilation music book. I'd been happy about that, but nothing compared to how I felt when I landed the Strebor deal.

Urban Reviews: Do you have any upcoming projects that you are working on?
Stacy-Deanne: Oh yes! I am sitting on thousands of manuscripts (some finished and some not finished) that I've had for years. I plan to get them published when the time comes. As for immediate work, I've finished four novels and I have just completed two, which is part of my new detective series focusing on the officers from the Melody book. I fell in love with the officers so much that I gave them their own series! I hope that my next release is the first installment.

Urban Reviews: How has becoming an author changed your life?
Stacy-Deanne: The biggest part is realizing that I am not seen as just a person to people now. I am seen as an "author" and nothing else most times. One of the changes in my life is that I have to be very cautious about whom I contact and what I do. An author has to protect themselves from the public on many levels. We can't just be openly sociable being public figures. You never know who's watching you. It gets scary at times. You begin to lose trust in people because you feel they don't want to really know you, but perhaps they have some motive. Sadly, that's how it is most times.

That's hard to accept sometimes, but the reality is that there are many people out there who want to prey on people for their own gain. Also, it's hard when it comes to men. Men are very intimidated by me being an author and often get the wrong perception of me. They only see, Stacy-Deanne, "the author". That's a part of me but I want others to see me as simply Stacy sometimes too. I guess that's just part of the price and it must be accepted.

Urban Reviews: Who or what was your inspiration for you and why?
Stacy-Deanne: Writing makes me happy and fulfills me more than anything else in the world so the feeling I get from it is my main inspiration.

Urban Reviews: What are some of your all-time favorite books or authors?
Stacy-Deanne: My favorite authors are Kay Hooper and Linda Howard. I love Kay because she writes great crime fiction, suspense and mysteries. She's always keeping you guessing. I read one book of hers, and from there my love for her work began. I had to get my hands on everything this woman ever wrote or continues to write. I admire Linda Howard because she made me give romance a chance. I do not like romance novels but I like Linda's because hers have depth. She usually combines a little mystery or suspense into her novels. I got hooked on her method and it intrigued me. As far as my all-time favorite books, I am a lover of the classics. I love many of the famous works from Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson, Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe and Oscar Wilde.

Urban Reviews: What advice would you like to tell all the aspiring authors out there?
Stacy-Deanne: Research the business if you are seriously considering becoming a published author. Once you are convinced you should submit your work places, make sure it is in perfect form. These days aspiring authors do not have room for any mistakes. Do not give agents and publishers even more reasons not to accept your work. Make your work stand out and go after agents and publishers who represent authors like you. You'll stand a better chance. It all starts with researching every aspect of the publishing and writing business.

Urban Reviews: Name something that the world does not know about Stacy-Deanne...the person?
Stacy-Deanne: Well I have a habit of naming objects. I tend to name things like my computer, stereo, television and other appliances as if they are people. For example, my computer's name is Lila. Don't ask me where I came up with that, I just did LOL! I don't know where I picked this habit up from but I automatically do it with most things. I guess it gives me a sense of being closer to the things that I use the most. Either that or I am completely insane. Well, it works for me, LOL!