with Trista Russell
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Trista
Russell
Trista Russell was born in
Miami, Florida but raised on the tiny island of Bimini in
the Bahamas. She discovered her passion for writing in the
third grade when she scribbled the infamous “do you like me
check yes or no” note and passed it to a boy in her class.
Not only did he select no, he also passed it around the
class for all to see. Well, that night she wrote a few
choice words about him, those expressions turned into a poem
and the writer within her was watered. Trista realized that
she could compose words and have them do whatever she wanted
and or needed them to.
Picking up a pencil was no longer for the satisfaction of
the nuns at Holy Name Catholic School, Trista fell in love
with what words did to and for her. Along with her parents
she moved to South Florida while she was in middle school
and became a product of the Miami-Dade County Public School
System where she attended Campbell Drive Middle, Homestead
Senior High and later Miami Dade College where she majored
in English Literature / English Education. In July of 2005
Trista relocated to Illinois after marrying a native
Chicagoan and current resides on the Southside with her
husband and daughter.
Read a full excerpt of
Dead Broke:
Click Here
Author's Website:
http://www.tristarussell.com
Author's Myspace Page:
http://www.myspace.com/tristarussell
Contact the Author:
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Urban Reviews: Tell our
readers about Dead Broke.
Trista Russell:
Dead Broke is the sizzling sexy sequel to Going Broke.
Going Broke ended with Sarai, the main character, being
shot by her deranged ex-boyfriend Damian. Dead Broke
begins when Sarai wakes up from a coma (after a month) and
isn’t able to recall the last 10 months of her scandalous life
and financial woes. She has no memory of Tremel, the new man
in her life, yet she pines for the man that almost caused her
death. She also has no memory of certain enemies, so they
disguise themselves as friends and suddenly Sarai’s has more
to worry about than being Dead Broke.
Urban Reviews: Dead Broke is the sequel to Going
Broke. Why did you decide to do a sequel?
Trista Russell: Well, I always knew that there
was more to Sarai and Tremel’s story I just didn’t know when I
would write it. My readers also expressed extreme interest in
knowing what happened next… so as soon as I had the time I
gave in and gave them what they asked for.
Urban Reviews: Did you feel any pressure to make
this novel as good as its predecessor?
Trista Russell: I want every book I write to be
the best one I’ve ever written. As I was writing it I viewed
Going Broke and Dead Broke as two totally separate entities…
trying once again to make it the best one yet.
Urban Reviews: Can we get a sneak peak at your
next novel?
Trista Russell: Well, it is still a work in
progress so I cannot elaborate, but the title is tentatively
Paying the Devil.
Urban Reviews: Explain to our readers your
literary journey from your debut novel until now.
Trista Russell: The journey has been an
unbelievable one. When my first book was released I couldn’t
fathom someone, unrelated to me, walking into a bookstore and
purchasing my book, but not only did one person buy it…over
15,000 people bought it in just the first month. Now it
baffles me when I see people reading my books. I quietly smile
to myself and sometimes I’ll walk over and ask, “Is that a
good book?”
Urban Reviews: You also have created a website
called EbonyAuthors.com. Can you tell us more about this?
Trista Russell: I created
EbonyAuthors.com to help spread the word and promote other
up-and-coming African American authors. Because I understand
what it is to be an author on a budget my rates are extremely
affordable. Authors can choose to have their books advertised
on the website or marketed to thousands in a creative e-mail
blast.
Urban Reviews: What would you say is the biggest
lesson that you've learned about the book industry?
Trista Russell: The biggest lesson I’ve learned
in this industry is the importance of marketing and
advertising. If you are not a go-getter and or have some
marketing skills your book could very easily get lost in the
crowd.
Urban Reviews: What advice would you give to
aspiring authors?
Trista Russell: My advice, not only to aspiring
authors but to anyone aspiring to do anything, is never to
give up… dream big. And if you don’t have a dream, get one
because everyone, regardless of age, should live their lives
in pursuit of something that brings or will bring them joy.
Urban Reviews: How do you balance your writing
career with your everyday life? ( i.e. kids, family, day job)
Trista Russell: Balance? What’s that? Just
kidding! I am a brand new mother, my daughter Braelyn is just
seven months old so I am still trying, very hard, to perfect
the balancing act of mother, wife, author, and more.
Urban Reviews: What do you want people to know
most about you?
Trista Russell: I want people to know that I am
truly blessed and that they can be too… just reach up and grab
your blessing.
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Read our review of Dead Broke in the
AA Fiction section.
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