AboutTheAuthor

Q: Tell us about yourself?
I was born in Memphis, TN and I’ve lived here all of my life. I’m the youngest of eight children and I grew up as a
Preacher’s Kid, deeply rooted in the Baptist church. I attended Riverview Elementary and Jr. High Schools. I’m a
1974 graduate of George Washington Carver High School. I attended Rust College in Holly Springs, MS. I’ve
attended Southwest Community College and Crichton College. I celebrate 26 years of marriage to Reginold Nichols
and we have three wonderful children, Roslyn, Reggie Edward, and Ryan. I’m a former FedEx employee where I
worked for 23 years. I’m a member of New Destiny Church of Memphis on Austin Peay, pastored by Elder Monte K.
Campbell. I’m excited about managing my full time book business, Blessed & Favored Publishing Services. I’m also
looking forward to my first grandchild joining us in September 2006. I’m in a new season of my life and I’m excited!!!

Q: Tell us about Blessed and Favored?
Blessed & Favored is everything that I’m about. It’s my life’s purpose and passion. I feel that a person has to find his
or her space or niche in life. What is it that you dream about for a career? What is it that brings you joy and you
can do it for a lifetime? When you can tap into your life’s purpose, dreams, hopes and wishes then you can proceed
with a goal in mind. God is so awesome in my life until I wanted to honor Him in naming my business. Blessed &
Favored, consists of my books, the testimonies of other people that I write and publish on my website, motivating
others to write and publish their own books, and married couple’s enrichment retreats/workshops that I support within
the Christian community. Blessed & Favored is my creative inspiration and has become my ministry in which I use
the gifts and talents that God has given me.

Q: Which book should we highlight first?
Let’s highlight my first non-fiction book that is coming to stores in July 2006, entitled Journal Your Testimonies.
I’m excited about this book because I started writing it in 1997 and God has just given me permission to publish it.
The concept of this book is unique because it allows the writer and storyteller in each of us to come alive. If you
think there is a book in you or you have a burning desire to tell your story then journaling can get you started and
well on your way into writing other things. The first section gives a brief overview about journaling. The second
section consists of testimonies from my personal testimonial journal entitled, “Lord, Are You Talking To Me?”, that
I share with the reader. And the last section, are blank journal pages to jump start the reader to writing his/her own
testimonial journal.

Q: How did your two fiction novels come to be?
Heaven Must Be Like This and Heavenly Portions are my first babies. I had moved my 77-year-old Alzheimer’s
mother into my home after my father’s death. I was a full time wife, mother, and also working at FedEx. A couple of
years later, I moved my 46-year-old sister in the home with us for eighteen months before she passed away. Well, I
needed an escape to stand up against all that was on me. God gave me a means of escape and it was through my
writing. My fiction novels provided me a quiet place within myself and in my home. I would listen to music and get
lost in my writing. My characters kept me sane and they became real too me. I had no idea that my writings would
become published novels but God knew. I was on my way into FedEx one day and I said, “Lord, surely there is more
to my life than this?” Then the inner voice within asked me, “Where are the books that I gave you?” I continued to
listen to the inner voice and I learned the business of self-publishing. In 2002, I self-published the first fiction novel
and the second followed in 2003.

Q: What advice and/or suggestions can you offer about writing?
Writing is not always about writing a book or best selling novel. Writing can be therapeutic and a means of self-
expression. In my case, a way to escape. Writing is a lonely occupation. You spend a lot of time alone when
writing. Time alone is hard to come by for the average person who is working 9 to 5, with a family, responsibilities
and a string of other obligations. If writing is your passion then you have to make time and set aside writing time.
What is it that you are writing? Who is your audience? What voice are you writing in? You must research and know
the subject matter of which you are writing whether its fiction or non-fiction. Write something everyday. Whether it’s
in a diary or a journal. If you’re working on a specific project, outline it or flow with the way it comes to you. Writing
does not come about the same way for every individual. Flow with your style. Keep a writing tablet for each subject
matter or write it in a structured manner, beginning to end. Basically, you’re going to have to find your own style or
system for writing. Remember, it’s the end result-finished project that will be presented to the reader.

Q: What can readers expect from you in the future?
Readers can expect to see the last book in my non-fiction series Only Heaven Knows (Book III) to emerge one of
these days. A Husband To Call My Own and a few others are in the incubator just waiting to be birthed.
Signature Blessings, a compilation of testimonies from people all over the world will be my second non-fiction work
(July 2007).   In April 2005, I tested my creativity to see if my characters could come to life in a stage production
entitled, “Let The Music Do The Talking” and they did quite well. So readers can look forward to an even better
production in the upcoming future. Indeed, this will be a treat that Memphis does not want to miss.

Q: How does Blessed & Favored help a person(s) who want to start writing?
I provide one-on-one consultation and mentoring service to anyone interested in writing or tapping into their creative
inspirations. B&F is about motivating and empowering creativity. If you feel in your heart that you have a book
within you, whether it’s for self-fulfillment or to be published to the world, then B&F will help you bring that book to
life. Once your project is completed, B&F Publishing Services can assist and guide you through the self-publishing
and/or manuscript query process.

Q: When did the desire to write a book first hit you?
I've wanted to write a book before I learned to read. Since childhood, clean notebook paper, diaries, pencils and ink
pens, books and magazines fascinated me. I would scribble and write everything simply for the sake of writing on the
paper. My mother would tell me that I was going through too much notebook paper. To pass time, I would imagine
and create all kinds of stories, projects, and things to do. I would write them down, put them away, and eventually
throw them away.

Q: When did you discover your voice as a writer?
I can best answer that by saying the Holy Spirit inspired me to write. In 1997, I was awakened in the night from
hearing a loud clap of thunder. Afterwards, I couldn't sleep. Quietly, the voice within me instructed me to go to the
computer and write. I responded, “What will I write Lord?” And He answered, “put on paper all the stories and
testimonies that I have given to you.” It was then that I began writing my first non-fiction material J

Q: What are the plans for your first writings?
Since that night in 1997, I’ve been adding to my testimonies about God’s divine favor in my life. I don’t know why my
fiction writing has come before my non-fiction writings, but I’ve learned to follow the Holy Spirit because God knows
the plan for my life. I can say with certainty that since 1997, God has given me an abundance of testimonies
attesting to His goodness, mercy, and loving-kindness. I’m still adding testimonies. Perhaps, it’ll be my best seller.

Q: How much of the real world do you bring into your novels?
I consider myself an outgoing people person and I’m constantly coming into extraordinary situations and
circumstances. I will say that some true to life circumstances blends into my novels and a part of my life experiences
spill over in all of my characters. But for the most part, I’m creative, highly imaginative, and it’s all fiction.

Q: Which character are you?
Truly, I am all of them. I put myself into each character’s mind and heart. I want my characters to be real, with real
strengths and weakness, so that readers can see themselves. It’s a good feeling when readers tell me that they
could relate to the characters and see them as real people. When I finished writing my novels, I actually miss my
characters.

Q: What inspired the title of your fiction books?
The initial title was In Heaven’s Way but at publication time, I changed it to Heaven Must Be Like This. I wanted the
title to embrace the sentiments of love, romance, and the passion that the characters felt in their relationships.
Heaven can be a place or thing that affords supreme happiness and when you’ve found and experience the love of
your life and you’re probably feeling or saying, “I’m in heaven or heaven must be like this!”

Q: Do you consider your novels as Christian fiction?
I wrote my novels for general mainstream audiences. I did not categorize the novels as Christian-fiction because I
entered my characters bedrooms. In addition, I addressed a spiritual no-no; abstinence was not practiced in Ralph
and Olivia’s relationship. But as I tastefully portrayed, single Christians experience the same real life issues,
choices, and decisions, as the unbeliever, whether they are in the pew or pulpit. Categorizing my novels in
mainstream fiction will reach a wider audience and touch readers that would not ordinarily read Christian-fiction.
Thus, reaching a more diverse audience with exceptional fiction for extraordinary times.

Q: What do you want readers to get from your novels?
My novels ventures away from the all to often stereotypical images of dysfunctional Black families and brings to front
stage the average African-American families who are living the “American dream” and not headlining the evening
news with crime and violence. I want to express that Christians and church going folk enjoy blissful relationships with
their spouses. Also, I want readers to leave with the feeling that they have read a beautiful love story filled with love,
romance, passion, strong family bonds, and deep spiritual convictions. And when facing life challenges, they can find
blessings through their spiritual convictions.

Q: After reading your novels, what do you hope readers will gain?
I hope that Ben & Celeste’s relationship will portray that first love and seasoned marriages can endure the test of
time. I hope that Ralph and Olivia’s story will convey realistic issues that single Christians face in their every day
lives. I hope that readers will leave feeling that African Americans are experiencing healthy, wholesome, and
prosperous relationships with each other and God. I hope that readers will gain insight and do better within their own
relationships with spouses, family members, and God.

Q: What would you like readers to know about you?
That I love the Lord and that I stand firm on my spiritual values and convictions. I cherish the institution of family,
marriage, God’s church, and His people. I enjoy smooth contemporary jazz music as well as gospel and Christian
music. I’m learning to follow my creativity, break out of some of my traditional mindsets, and trust my instincts. And
lastly, I’m learning to enjoy this life that God has given me.