The Writer's Megaphone shouts out Atlanta's own author and publisher, A'ndrea J. Wilson

In the writing industry, the norm seems to be to ignore the benefits of "paying it forward."  What I mean by that is that for most author's, if the conversation isn't set around them or their work, they lose interest rather quickly.  Sometimes, they move on to the next gathering and wait patiently until they are featured, and if they aren't in the spotlight in some way, shape or form, they move on until they are.

Paying it forward...giving advice and guidance in this highly competitive industry seems to have fallen by the wayside...at least from my vantage point.  But there are authors and entrepreneurs who give back.  They will guide you, spend time with you and point you in the right direction because they believe that this is not only the correct thing to do; it may be the only thing to do.

I've been fortunate to have had the opportunity to review two of author A'ndrea J. Wilson's books as well as speaking with her personally.  One of the things that I have found is that she is a woman of character.  She has provided me with guidance and wisdom that I have found to be of great value.

This is reflected in the nature of her books, since the thread of commonality seems to be enriching and redeeming the family unit...and she does this, one book at a time.

 

Author and Publisher A'ndrea J. Wilson

As a journalist for The Examiner, it has been my honor and privilege to interview Ms. Wilson to gain additional insight to not only her work as an author, but her take on exactly where the literary industry is headed for self-published authors.

JLW: Your books seem to seem share a common theme. You manage to blend wisdom and religion into a good storyline. In your opinion, is this a trend that you see within the literary community among the average person that desires good African American literature?

AJW: Actually no. I think that this is one of the reasons that this series has been so well received. There are not many books out there that have been able to mix fiction and nonfiction well, and honestly, most do not try. Books tend to be straight nonfiction, fiction for pure entertainment, or fiction with an underlying message. But it is not often that people get the chance to read fiction with blatant nonfictional lessons. Based on the response that I am getting from the Wife 101 Series, I do believe that people are open to this kind of literature and would like to see more of it. Even in my own reading, yes, I like to be entertained, but I love when a books challenges and changes me.

JLW: New authors are coming onto the scene every day. What are some of the common mistakes that you see that they make?

AJW: Lack of professionalism, unrealistic expectations, and a lack of commitment to the process. There are so many people who are living other people's dreams. I've had people tell me that they are writing/publishing or wanting to write/publish, but that is not their talent. They only want to do it because they see myself or someone else doing it and it looks fascinating. Being an author, especially a good author, is a lot of work and requires a lot of sacrifice and dedication. People who simply throw a book together and call themselves an author make it difficult for those who really are passionate about reading and writing. If you are, (or want to be) a new author, take writing and publishing seriously. Be willing to learn both the craft and the publishing business. Invest countless time, money, and energy into yourself and your work. Most likely you will not be an internationally-known, award-winning, bestseller overnight. Book signings and accolades are the smallest part of what an author does. The majority of our time is spent creating and developing ideas, learning, researching, writing, and marketing our work. If this sounds dull, maybe writing is not your God-given purpose.

To read the full interview, click on the link below!

http://www.examiner.com/review/husband-101-by-a-ndrea-j-wilson-1?cid=db_articles

I take my hat off to A'ndrea Wilson, for she is someone that I have come to value not only as an author and constituent...she is also a wonderful ally and colleague.  I wish her all of the success in the world!!

~ J.L. Whitehead