Urban Reviews: Tell our
readers about The Buzz.
Stefanie Newell: The Buzz is the
story of three people all searching for buzz in their own way.
There's Ebony Jenkins, an internet addict and celebrity
gossiper who hates everything pop culture. She considers
herself to be the baddest chick in the Chi and she'll do
whatever it takes to live up to that name! Ebony's boyfriend
Buzz is an unsigned music producer and rapper. He's trying to
create a buzz for himself while Ebony is banking on him
getting his big break! And Arika is the newest R&B phenomenon
emerging from Chicago. With the buzz she's receiving it seems
she's about to take the music industry by storm! When all of
their lives cross paths, things spiral out of control and
you're left with The Buzz: When celebrity gossip goes wrong.
Urban Reviews: Where did
the idea for this novel come from?
Stefanie Newell: I have been a freelance
entertainment writer for a few years, so to some extent I have
to keep up with what celebrities are doing. What projects they
are working on, when their albums are coming out, etc. I
visited message boards, and blogs that featured entertainment
news and was really intrigued by people's responses to
celebrity gossip. The conversations would get so intense, that
I began to lurk and really observe the dialogue between
people. Sometimes people would post gossip that they'd heard
and it really made me wonder who starts celebrity gossip? Who
is this person and what motivates them? And from there the
idea for The Buzz was born.
Urban Reviews: What are
your goals as a writer and what things are you doing to
accomplish these goals?
Stefanie Newell: My goal is to create
novels told from a fresh perspective. And these are the type
of stories I'm pursuing with my company Write One
Publications, Inc.
Urban Reviews: With so
many books on the market aimed at the African-American reading
community, what things are you doing to make yourself and your
book stand out from the crowd?
Stefanie Newell: With The Buzz, I
knew there were novels that preceded mine that were about the
fictional world of entertainment. But I wanted The Buzz
to be told from a different perspective. So I told it from the
perspective of the person who spreads celebrity gossip. You
get an opportunity to get in Ebony's head and understand why
she does certain things. Also, I thought it would be unique to
include message board dialogue as this is how gossip spreads
so quickly.
Urban Reviews: What has
been the hardest part for you....writing your novel, deciding
how to publish your novel, or promoting your novel?
Stefanie Newell: Being as it was my first
novel, the whole idea of getting it on the computer was a
task. I wrote The Buzz while working a full-time job,
being a mother, and all of the other responsibilities that I
have. I thought briefly about presenting my novel to the
bigger publishing companies. But after sending query letters
to agents, I made the decision to not only self-publish but to
form a publishing company and help other writers' pursue their
dream.
Urban Reviews: What advice
do you want to share with other aspiring authors that are
interested in writing a novel?
Stefanie Newell: I would tell them that I
am extremely fulfilled. I would encourage everyone to feel
what I feel. Keep writing.
Urban Reviews: Are you
working on or have any ideas for an upcoming project?
Stefanie Newell: I am currently working
on my second novel Rules of the Game. Also, in May I
will be releasing the second book from Write One Publications
entitled Pull Your Pants Up...and be a man! by Bernice
Harris. This is a non-fiction. While I mainly publish fiction,
I felt this book was needed. Pull Your Pants Up is an
interactive self help book for teenage boys to help plan out
their lives.
Urban Reviews: Do you have
any favorite authors or books?
Stefanie Newell: I am a huge fan of
Sister Souljah, Miasha, Eric Jerome Dickey, Sophie Kinsella,
Kimberly Lawson Roby, Noire, Carl Weber. The list goes on and
on.
Urban Reviews: What do you
like to do outside of writing?
Stefanie Newell: I enjoy going to comedy
shows. If there's laughter, I'm there! And hanging out with my
family, we always share a good laugh!
Urban Reviews: Is there
anything else you would like to share about yourself or your
novel?
Stefanie Newell: If you're looking for a
page turner full of drama, scandal, and revenge...The Buzz
is the book for you! Also, come out and see me at the National
Black Book Festival in Houston.
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