Hello, how are you?

Like most writers I read a lot of different novels: non-fiction and fiction of course: horror, science, literary. I’ve read many Stephen King novels so tried my hand at writing a couple of horror short stories, one titled The Eye and I enjoyed writing them realizing it was a stepping stone on to the road to finding my own niche and when I finally did there wasn’t a need to again write outside my chosen métier (one of my favorite words) of crime mystery fiction in all its forms.

Because I read urban fiction too and as a black woman supposedly familiar with the “black experience” should I want to write about it? No, no and no a thousand times. What I want to do is write with enthusiasm, joy and anticipation that wakes me each morning and that only happens when I write what I love and not what “I should” because of various silly reasons.

Writing is challenge enough and to write what you don’t enjoy or don’t love because it’s popular or worst yet, you think its going to make you rich, forget it; though rich does happen to some writers, the thing is, those writers keep on writing when they don’t have to because it’s just something special about writing well isn’t it? I believe it’s because it’s one of the few mostly solo occupations you truly can’t find personal fulfillment in if you don’t love to do it. So do it.

If you have any comments or suggestions please e-mail me at my new address: shabazzl@adasbcc.org.

Until next time, God willing,

Lori