In The Light: The Interview Hot Spot!
Exclusive Interviews with Today's Hottest Entertainers and Authors

4/18/06

ITL: Where are you from? Where do you reside?

RB: I am originally from East St. Louis, Illinois. My parents and many of my family and friends still live there. I have lived in Florissant, Missouri for twenty years now.

ITL: How long have you been writing professionally?

RB: I can’t believe it. I started writing in 1999. A friend sent one of my articles to a new magazine and they offered me a column. I wrote for them two years and have been writing ever since.

ITL: What made you start your publishing company?

RB: Disappointment. I know that seems weird but I started it because I was so hurt. I was so disappointed when I received my new books from a publisher that I hired to help me. The book was a mess. It had so many errors in it that I thought I would never be taken seriously as a writer again. I figured that if this is supposed to be a book publisher and they did work like that, surely I could do better. That's what I did. I studied the book market, publishing and marketing and set out to publish myself. As a result, others saw my work and asked me to help them with their books. I started Prioritybooks Publications because I was angry that I did not have a quality product. I felt that others would judge me poorly. So I decided that I had to be satisfied with my own work before I expected others to do the same. This is where the name of the company came from. It simply means, you are first and that book development and publishing is my number one priority. If you are going to sell a product you have to be happy about it. I also wanted control of my own product. I decided that I needed to have access to printing, developing and creating books as I saw them. The only way that I could do that was to start my own company.

ITL: How many authors does your company work with now?

RB: Including myself, eight

ITL: Is it difficult to promote your own books while promoting other authors?

RB: Yes. My company is more than just publishing. We have regular author meetings, consultations, marketing and other services such as motivation workshops with parents and teens. I get so caught up in helping our authors and others that I neglect my own work.

ITL: Tell us a bit about your most recent book.

RB: The book is Back Room Confessions. The lead character is Jerickca Parker. She is a respected administrator who makes her home with her businessman husband and a child they both adore. But she is restless. Her husband feels that he has given her everything she’ll ever need including a great sex life. But to Jerickca, this just doesn’t feel like “happily ever after.” So the office becomes her escape.
When she and her staff of social workers aren’t busy helping others they spend a lot of hours in the back room talking about sex, life and catching up on the latest gossip. Hiding behind that back room door is four women and a man with problems and dirty little secrets. They each have their own struggles and demons to exorcise. Their often-candid back room sessions commonly cause clash, camaraderie, connivance, cheerfulness, curiosity and mass-confusion. It is about professional people and how they handle their problems while helping others in the service industry field.

ITL: What advice do you have for aspiring authors?

RB: I would say to keep writing and study the market. It takes a lot to become published. You have to work very hard at selling and promoting books even if you are one of the fortunate ones to receive a traditional contract. They must also realize that they will not get rich writing. Only a handful of authors will be able to write full time and make a great living at it. Being an author is much more than writing. It is selling and promoting your work everyday even in your sleep. That’s why I say that only a few will get rich writing because you have to put all your money back into marketing and promoting your work. If people don’t know about your work they can’t buy it. This is why you have to put so much money into touring, traveling and paying for various services such as vending booths, marketing tools, etc. It can become very expensive.

ITL: What qualifications do you seek for most in a writer when deciding whether or not to accept their book for publication?

RB: I look for an author who is willing to work hard and learn the business. They know that they will have to work. I also look for people who can write and have something to say.

ITL: What’s the hardest thing about being a publisher?

RB: Setting timelines. Deadlines don’t always happen as you plan. Anything can deter you from your goals. Another important thing is finding a good person who can edit and who knows the book-marketing field. All editors are not good at editing books. Book editors must have real experience and understand the industry. Most people learn this the hard way.

ITL: Do you think you’ll continue to write books or go solely with publishing as the years go on?

RB: I’m not sure. I have so many books in me. I have so many dreams in me. I also have a federal non-profit company, The Family Enhancement Center. Our focus is on providing extensive, comprehensive, integrated, and continuous support services to families who are low income with children from birth to 12th grade to enhance their social and physical development. I enjoy doing so many things. So I will continue publishing and I know that no matter what I will definitely continue writing.

ITL: What is the most important lesson you’ve learned about the publishing/writing industry?

RB: Don’t take it personally if readers don’t take to your first book. Learn from that experience and keep writing and learning while focusing on the big picture and eventually everything will come together for you.

ITL: Do you have any regrets about entering the literary world?

RB: None. This has been a great learning experience for me. Everything that I do in life will be a part of my Lessons Learned log.

ITL: What could you see yourself doing if you weren’t an author or publisher?

RB: I also see myself as a business and community leader inspiring others to go for their dreams.

ITL: How can readers purchase your books?

RB: You can purchase my books at Amazon.com, my website, www.prioritybooks.com or other online services. We are looking into a national distributor so hopefully soon you can find us at many other stores across the country.

ITL: Any last thoughts?

RB: I want to thank everyone who supports my authors and I through the purchase of our books, for their encouragement and attending our book signings. It does our hearts well when you come out to see us. Stacy I want to thank you for this interview. You have been very supportive to so many authors. It is a good person like you who gives us the much-needed exposure for our works. I appreciate you.

Rose it was my pleasure to interview you. Thank you so much for your time.