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Urban Reviews: Tell us about your latest book The Domino Series: Sherry
Tate.
TrinityJas: The Domino Series: Sherry Tate is the first in a five part series
that I have written in a way that it not only entertains but
educates. Sherry Tate is a 20-something, beautiful, misguided young
lady who happens across some bad luck in the bedroom. It’s Sherry’s
first time at the rodeo and her Bucking Bronco leaves her with a
little more then just a little saddle rash. Sherry is infected with
HIV and now she’s forced to play a deadly game of Freeze Tag. The
Domino Series is a day in the life of Sherry Tate and the reader
gets to see what happens when your actions don’t just affect you.
Urban Reviews: Where did you come up with the idea for this book?
TrinityJas: An error that I have found in the world is most people typically
wait until they are directly impacted by a particular issue before
they take a stance against it. This reactive approach is killing us
and I prefer to be proactive in staying alive. When I was 18 I
learned about HIV and for some reason, though not directly
impacted, I have become an advocate for education on this subject.
People ask me all the time if this is a true story, and I reply it
could be if you don’t take the necessary precautions to protect
yourselves. Truth is, Sherry Tate is a faceless, raceless, sexless
vessel that could be anyone, so be smart about your life.
You have no idea how many men either refuse to wear condoms or the
women who do not insist on them. I personally have encountered men
who put the condom on to appease their partner and seconds later
they are either poking a hole in the condom to cause it to break or
sliding it off behind the woman’s back (literally). Is hitting it
raw that serious? With HIV/AIDS being the leading cause of death of
African American Women (black men following closely behind) I have
to say raw sex is that serious and it’s killing us by the millions.
I had to say something and I had to say it in a relevant format to
where the highest affected demographic, the urban youth, and the
seemingly invincible would listen. We focus so much on pregnancy
that the real killer is over looked. I wanted to shine a light on
the dark side of a raw deal.
Urban Reviews: The next installment is The Domino Series: Paul and Tracey
Lancer. What can you tell us about this book?
TrinityJas: I am very excited about The Domino Series: Paul and Tracey Lancer.
These characters are introduced in the first book and we get more
into their story in this second installment. All that glitters isn’t
gold and Tracey Lancer learns that the hard way. Paul is a playboy
athlete who does what he wants when he wants and how he wants.
Staying true to the formula of the series, this book tackles several
social issues we tend to overlook. Hopefully I will remove the veil
of shame and bring about change in the community with the series and
all the other works I have in progress.
Urban Reviews: How did you come to the decision to become an author?
TrinityJas: I was born an author. Before I could write words I was telling
stories through pictures. I feel that education and telling stories
is my calling in life and it took me 26 years to stop running from
my fate and start walking with it. I have written several poems,
songs, and even started several books that all sit in tubs in my
garage. It wasn’t until I entwined the educational aspect into my
writing that I was able to complete The Domino Series: Sherry Tate.
Gritty urban fiction that is reminiscent of your favorite author.
I’ve been compared to some but I strive to carve my own name in the
tree of great authors.
Urban Reviews: What do you feel has been the toughest challenge in
promoting your book?
TrinityJas: The greatest challenge for me in promoting has been not knowing what
I am doing. I am not in PR, I am not a literary agent, I am not
extremely business savvy or care to talk the talk and walk the walk.
I am a writer and it has been hard for me to get over that and
realize that until I am in the position to enlist the services of
the people who are experts in these fields, I better learn enough to
make something happen because in the end the success of this project
lies with my efforts and no one else.
Urban Reviews: Is there anything that you feel you could improve upon before
the release of your next title?
TrinityJas: I had to read The Domino Series: Sherry Tate countless times cover
to cover and each time I read it I felt like I missed the mark. I
felt that I used too much slang and the overall language, sexual
content and graphicness could possibly alienate a whole demographic
of readers. I have changed a little with the Paul and Tracey Lancer
installment. I will not abandon the formula that has won the hearts
of the readers of Sherry Tate but I will refine my approach in a way
that will hopefully broaden my audience. After all what is education
worth if it is never received.
Urban Reviews: What authors or books would you say were most influential
to you wanting to become an author?
TrinityJas: My first recollection of being sucked into a storyline was in my
elementary school library. I picked up a romance novel and I was
transported into a world of perfect decadence and abundance. I moved
on to V.C Andrews, Danielle Steel, Dean Koontz, and E.J. Dickey.
Every time I read these books I said: I can do that. But it was J.K
Rowling who made me say: I want to be that great one day. J.K,
Sister Souljah, and Teri Woods have all written books that I could
not put down. Books I had to tell myself STOP READING AND GO TO BED!
These kind of books have had the greatest influence on me and I
strive to write books that people are falling asleep at their desk
the next day because they were up all night reading a TrinityJas
message.
Urban Reviews: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes
you about their work?
TrinityJas: J.K Rowling is my favorite author. I love the Harry Potter series
and have read every one of the books. What strikes me about her
first is her story. A struggling single mother on welfare who set at
a table at a coffee shop and composed her first book. She is now the
second wealthiest woman in England next to the Queen. What strikes
me about her work is the fact that she has written a series that I
could not put down. I get lost in the world she’s created and when
the book ends I am left longing for the next. More more more! To me
this is what true authorship is about; more pages, more books, more
series, more.
Urban Reviews: What's the best advice you've gotten from a fellow author?
TrinityJas:
A close creative pal of mine once told me, "Trinity, you are
extremely messed up and have a lot of issues. But you wanna know the
good thing about you having so many issues? You’re not afraid to
talk about them. And because of this, your issues are going to make
you a very rich woman one day." This statement has helped me get
over the fact that I am different and have hang ups. It helped me
appreciate my ‘issues’ and use them to my advantage instead of my
detriment.
Urban Reviews: Is there anything additional you would like to share about
yourself or your book?
TrinityJas: I wanted to talk about social issues in a way that didn’t trail
along the lines of the same mundane approach that has always been
taken. When people hear about the subject The Domino Series: Sherry Tate they automatically think it is a doom and gloom high horse
novel that they can do without reading. The truth is, The Domino
Series: Sherry Tate is extremely entertaining and packed with sex,
betrayal, fun, education, and suspense. The Series has been read by
young and old, educated and street savvy, conservative and liberal
and they all have loved The Domino Series: Sherry Tate for its
ability to transcend from fiction to real life. It breaks down that
invincible mentality and makes you think. I strive to give that same
urban fiction reading experience but with a purpose.
I believe: To
do something without purpose...there is no purpose in doing
it - TrinityJas
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