Annalise Bowers

ANNALISE THE KID DETECTIVE

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When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I was around 7. Me and mom had mother-daughter reading every Wednesday and some of the stories made me think of alternative storylines.

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Where do you get your ideas for your books?

Something happened or from a talk I had with someone. The box idea came from when someone moved  something of my teacher's and didn’t tell her and she panicked. It was not from the students directly but it gave me an idea. The Stone idea came to me after several losses by death. I lost kids and adults and didn’t have a chance to express how much I loved them. 

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What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I like sports like basketball. I like to actually play or play video games. I also like making beats and sometimes I add lyrics. I recently started taking pictures, so now I’m a photographer 

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Do you want to be a writer when you grow up?

I do want to write but that won’t be the only thing I do. I hope my writing creates a different way of looking at things. Imagination has many stories and I use mine to share.

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Do you have a special writing space?

Yes, at home there is a cubby space in the hall. Also the closet in my room. It’s a big closet and has a small table and chair that I put in there. It’s a space where it blocks out sounds and I am left with my imagination and can write.

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Favorite Song?

I just discovered I really like the song 'What About Your Friends.' It was on my dad's playlist and I loved it.

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Who is your favorite author and why?

Peggy Parrish and her nephew, Herman. I think because when my mom started reading them to me I understood Amelia and she reminded me of my uncle Jay Jay.

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What’s your favorite food?

I like salads and no bake cookies.

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What do you want to tell us about your book, Annalise the Kid Detective?

Ever since I learned what 'symbolic' meant I wanted my stories to be symbolic in ways that can help kids like me and adults learn to cope when things don’t go smoothly. I think my book has lots of symbolism. It has a lesson and reminder that even our flaws can be blessings.

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Cynthia Freeman Gibbs

Insatiable Revenge

www.cynthiafreemangibbs.com

What is your story about?

Insatiable Revenge is about the life of Dr. Olivia C. Maxwell after she has been released from behind bars for arson. She desires to build a new life without rage, however, her soon-to-be ex-husband has announced that he has a fiancee'... yes...he is engaged while they are still married and he plans to move their 2 children out of the state against Olivia's wishes. She is being counseled by a friend and hopes to get off of Team Ratchet and onto Team Righteous.  Her best friend, Savvy, is branching out in her career and in relationships. She encounters a thug version of Idris Elba and a man who is a tad bit more enamored with someone other than Savvy. There are twists and turns in this story, which brings about surprise encounters and dangerous paths of revenge.

What do you want readers to take away?

I want my readers to come away with witnessing Olivia transform her life from crawling to flying and to release herself to love again and be loved.

What inspires you to write?

I am inspired by the opportunity to give readers a chance to escape into the world of a character they can connect with. I am motivated to write stories that touch the Black community as it relates to mental health and awareness of what may affect us. If I can bring people together to have conversations around topics such as overcoming colorism, bulimia, dysfunction, self-harm, toxic relationships and finding self-love, my mission is accomplished. 

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What's on your playlist?

My list is long. I listen to African American classical composers when I write because I can't have on music with singing when I am trying to create a story. I edit to Daughters of Nina Simone, Daughters of Ruby Dee, and other 'Daughters' playlists or the Girl Trek 'Resistance' playlists. On Sundays before church is Yolanda Adams radio and after church, it's Art Blakely, Roy Ayers, or Miles Davis. And any other time, Jill Scott is my absolute favorite!

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Nicole Bird-Faulkner

IDLE HANDS

Confessions: Secrets & Lies Revealed

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What is your story book about?

My story is about a young woman named Michaela Daniels who is a bit of a commitment-phobe. After she turns down a proposal from her boyfriend, she realizes that she needs to explore some of her past relationships to get to the core of her issues. She runs into the arms of her first love, Aiden, who has issues of his own. The question is, does the throwback tryst help her heal or hurt her?

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What do you want readers to take away?

Often we try to escape the difficulties of our reality by digging a hole of lies. While we think it's a space to hide from the truth, we look around and realize we've been digging a grave all along. Grieving over a hard truth can be much easier than grieving over a soft lie.

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Why do you write?

Writing is a way of escape. I can hide out in someone else's life for a bit and see what happens. It's therapeutic as well. God has used the "paper and pen" to help me work through some things and I've also come to learn those words have helped others.

Do you have a day job?

Well, I'm a project manager by trade and I've been leaning more into the communications side of things. But due to the pandemic, I've become a full-time, stay-at-home mom, which is 557 jobs rolled into one.

What's your dream job?

I would love to be in the writer's room for a tv-show or be a novelist full-time.

Where would you like to be professionally in 5 years?

I would definitely like to be a successful writer with a few novels and movies under my belt, and be in somebody's writer's room - maybe my own (have to speak life, ya know?).

What would people be shocked to know is on your playlist?

I just like good music so my taste tends to be eclectic. If you hit shuffle you may land on Queen, Quincy Jones or Q-Tip.

Instagram: @nicolebirdfaulkner

Twitter: @NBirdFaulkner

Facebook: Nicole Bird-Faulkner

Website: www.NicoleBird-Faulkner.com