The POV Lounge Reviews; Blind Sided by E Marie Sanders

I had the pleasure of reading from one of my good friends and fellow authors, E Marie Sanders. She has recently published her second novel, “Blind Sided” Today I am releasing my official review of the book in hopes that this will help someone else determine id Blind Sided is a right fit for their read.

Below, view the interview with E Marie and then see how I rated the book.

Dominique Watson (DW): Thank you for allowing me to read your book.

Blindsided is your second published book. How did this book come about?

E Marie Sanders (EMS): With Blindsided, I just took the typical situation of teen relationships and added a few elements to it to make the story interesting.  I reflected on my relationship with my first boyfriend and imagined how things would have happened if things took a turn for the worse, like in Blindsided with Marlena’s first boyfriend, Jason.  I also considered the youth I work with at Faith Tabernacle Christian Center in St. Pauls, NC, and the warnings I tend to give them. From all these elements, Blindsided came to be.

DW: How long did it take you to finish it?

EMS: It took me over ten years to finish Blindsided! Actually, it was the first book I attempted to write. I reached a certain point where I got stuck, where I didn’t know how it would end. Blindsided sat for years and years. Once I finished my first published book, To K(no)w Avail, I revisited and reread Blindsided. Within days, I knew how it should end.  I don’t mind that it took this long because I feel like it’s important not to force a work. It came when it was time.

DW: To K(no)w Avail has a sequel. Why did you decide to publish Blindsided and not To K(no)w Avail part two?

EMS: I felt like I had to finish Blindsided before bringing out Consequences and Repercussions (the second book in The K(no)w Series) because it was just floating in the middle of the air, incomplete, with an audience who needed the message behind it. It will be at least another six months before Consequences and Repercussions will be finished, but I wanted my readers to have another story to see themselves or someone they know in.

DW: After reading your last two books, the audience of your books seems to go in the direction of teenagers and young adults. Why do you write in this direction? Why don’t you write books for those that are older?

EMS: I think my audience seems to be teens and young adults because of my heart towards the things they encounter and all the time I spend around them, but defining my audience has been interesting because both genders and all ages have managed to enjoy both books! Parents are reading them with their children; teachers are telling their students about them; librarians and media specialists are adding them to their circulation. In fact, in one school, someone stole the copies that were in circulation! I’m thankful that the book has managed to bless so many people beyond any age brackets.

There are some ideas I’m working out for novels specifically for an adult audience, but like my other two books, I imagine that anyone who enjoys reading will enjoy my future books.

DW: I like how Mar has a conversation with God towards the middle and end of the book. When and why did you decide to have this in the book? Does it play a major factor in the book?

EMS: At that particular turn in the story, Marlena needed a way out. The family crisis she faces, her illness, and the decisions she’ll have to make required that she has an outlet that was always present in her life and that she had help with what she should do. Her relationship with God became critical then because she needed Him. He was the only one who could help her during that period in her life.  It’s only a major factor in the book in the hopes of showing readers that in the times of calm and crisis God is there, constantly speaking, but we may not always be aware of His presence. That’s why He doesn’t show up until the middle of the book!

DW:  What was your goal with this book? What message are you trying to send?

EMS: My goal for the book, honestly, was to impact the lives of my readers with another good story to which they could relate. As for a message within the story, I just want to share with them that God is real, in good times and bad, he’s always there with us, and that prayer should go beyond what we hear on Sunday mornings in church! Prayer is constant contact, a continual “chit chat” with God!  Within that chit chat, if we’re listening, we receive instruction. If we follow instructions, God will bless our efforts!

DW: What’s next for you as an author?

EMS: Of course, I’m working on the sequel for To K(no)w Avail, Consequences and Repercussions, in the hopes to have it out before the end of the year. I also have plans for writing two adult novels, one dealing with infidelity within a Christian marriage and another with how a Christian combats corruption in the workplace.  My first nonfiction book will be out within the next three years, a joint effort between my brothers and me addressing our journey to connecting with our brother who was the result of our father’s extra-marital affair.  Lastly, sometime within the next two years, I’d like to design and host a weekend long writing workshop for aspiring writers.

DW: For all of those that have read this book, what do you want to say to your readers?

EMS: Thank you for your continuing support!  I hope you enjoy the book and pass on the lessons within it to others who you know need it! Also, if you would like a free gift that accompanies the book, please email manager@emariesanders.com and request it. My manager will email it to you within the week!

Stay tuned for all things E. Marie on www.emariesanders.com

“Blind Sided” Review:

Blind Sided is about a young girl named Marlena who finds herself in a relationship with a young boy named Jason. She is forbidden by her parents to have a boyfriend. Things begin to turn upside in her family as well as within herself. She’s outside of her comfort zone. Bringing her back to the basics is her relationship with God. In the end, Marlena is finds her way right back to where she belongs on the path God has intended for her from the start.

I rate Blind Sided 4 stars simply because of the message. I personally do not like teen or young adult books. Simply because I am an adult and I no longer care or have the need to go back to my younger years. But this book, coming from a mother and not just a reader is very heartfelt. As we get older, we forget what it was like to be a teenager. We look at today’s youth and shake our heads forgetting this once was us.  In Blind Sided. E Marie shows a care for our youth. A care that says, listen to this story, it’s for you.

The book, first and foremost is well written, well edited. The flow of the story starts out slow but quickly leads to a-what’s-going-to-happen-next page turner. The message in the book is very strong which initially made this a four star book. Any book that has a strong message that any person any age can relate to is bound to be excellent.

In Blind Sided, E Marie represents a well told story that young adults can relate to and adults can appreciate.

I recommend this book to anyone who has a love for books with a great message. I look forward to reading more from E Marie in the future.

-Author, Literary Mentor, Blogger, Dominique L. Watson

About the Author: Having been born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, E. Marie Sanders claims to be a mixture of southern hospitality with northern know-how.  She taught in the public school system for 12 years and has served as a youth pastor for the past 13 years, observing the habits of the age group she hoped to write for one day.  The stories she told in classroom grabbed her reluctant readers’ attention and guided her toward putting the stories on paper.  Her story lines and ideas develop by combining a dash of urban real life with great storytelling fiction and imagination.  E. Marie seeks to grab the reader, youth and adults alike, in the very beginning and continues to build momentum throughout the story in order to make the reading experience a joy for those who frown upon the pastime.  Her first book, To K(no)w Avail, won the 2011 Favorite Book of the Year honors with From a Writer’s POV Magazine.  E. Marie is a National Board Certified Teacher and a member of the National Education Association and Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development.  She and her husband Eric reside in Lumberton, North Carolina.

 

Book Synopsis: For the high school student, summertime holds expectations of freedom, relaxation, and experiences unlike anything that happens during the school year. Marlena Jenkins, a rising sophomore, spends her time in a summer program at the University of Pittsburgh, practicing for a summer production, and wondering if she’ll attract the attention of any young men. She piques the interest of Jason Dobbs, a very mature rising freshman who has an underlying secret. His attention has the potential to rock her world with no sudden warning, including the possibility of ending a firm friendship.

Marlena’s family support should be enough to stabilize her, but when unexpected drama catches her off guard, the combination of a dormant illness, guidance from a trusted confidant, and the audible voice of God bring her back to her solid foundation of obedience and openness. Though her initial thoughts push her to rebel, Marlena learns who she can depend on, whom she needs to let go, and to whom she should listen.

 

 

The Excellence of Elleoquently Yours Volume I: Life & Love

I love my job. There’s nothing more gratifying than to feature a new author that gets it; meaning, that they know their first book is only a step towards changing lives, including their own. They have a vision of what the future will look like with their influence involved. And the future does look bright when in involves the writings of this month’s Up & Coming Author, Elle Seon.

Jumping ahead for a minute, I asked Elle about the near future: “Well I was recently involved with a compilation poetry book titled Battle of the Sexes II. This spring my first full-length novel titled A Path for Lilly will also be released. I am continually growing and learning, which I believe is the key to perfecting your craft. Therefore, I hope to continue to be able to write and touch readers with my words.” Bringing it back to the present, Elle’s readers will definitely be touched by her first published book, Elleoquently Yours Volume I: Life & Love. The December 2011 release of Elle’s book of poems has been nothing but a blessing and an inspiration of words through her life’s experience. Seeing it in print was well worth the wait. “To become a published author and actually see my name on the front of the book was honestly a dream come true. It felt like the moment I held my book in my hands for the first time, all the ink, sweat and tears were worth it.”

Read the full article at From A Writer’s POV

 

Hot Topic Monday; Book Clubs

Happy Monday

Book clubs seem to be a thing of the past. I don’t hear to many people talking about book clubs. Although reading in groups has always been fun for the reader, authors are looking to book clubs but not finding that to be a source of marketing for their book.

What’s your take on book clubs from a readers perspective and from an authors perspective? How good are they for the authors?

Speak!

I wanna hear from you!

Signing Off,

Dominique

 

Question of the Week

“After you’ve written the last word in your story, how long does it take you to pick it back up to edit it?”

See ya next week for another Question of the Week!

Signing Off,

Dominique

 

Book Trailer of the Month; The Ladies’ Man

About the Book: Damien Hardy had everything early in life. He is an academic and athletic All-American at Crenshaw High in Los Angeles. On top of that, he’s attractive, popular, and most of all, madly in love with his beautiful girlfriend named Crystal Gayle. Until one horrific day, he catches Crystal in bed with another man and she breaks his heart. Right then, he vows never to fall in love again or give his heart to a woman.

Damien rescinds his baseball scholarship offer from USC and decides to attend the University of Miami instead. After a disappointing college baseball career, Damien’s best friend Mookie convinces him to relocate to Atlanta. Mookie schools Damien on the “starting five concept” and Damien never looks back. While in Atlanta, Damien is involved with a plethora of beautiful black women and never can seem to get enough. After many years, love eventually prevails. Damien finds himself trying to make the ultimate choice.

First, Crystal resurfaces when she relocates her medical practice from L.A. to Atlanta. She desperately wants to rekindle her love interest with Damien. Secondly, Diamond springs back into Damien’s life and has the ultimate surprise for him. Then there’s Nicole, who is married and miserable but wants Damien all to herself. She stops at nothing to accomplish this task. But Katrina, the sophisticated high profile corporate attorney, has other plans for Damien. She’s had everything in life, except a man, and now wants him as her “boy toy.” Finally, Tameka who is Diamond’s fake friend has a trick up her sleeve to combat them all.

Does love conquer all or will Damien continue to be just another ladies’ man?

Read about the author and view the trailer!

Signing Off,

Dominique

 

VIP with Dominique; Introduction to the Writing Season

Good Morning!

If you didn’t know, I am the creator of the writing season. My articles have helped so many people get through a book. Today I am going to share with you the first article in The Writing Season Book. If this article catches your attention, click the link below to purchase the full book. It’s available in Print and in Digital!

The reason that this article is called “Seasons of Writing” is because most story writers develop great storylines over time. We may have a notebook full of ideas but only one or two of those are formatted into a story at a time. Once the story has been told, we lose interest in the process of writing because of the long journey it took to birth that last book. Like pregnancy, most women wait two to three years before having another child. It takes about that long to birth another book; including publication and production.  After a while, the “itch” to write again comes back and you are back at square one.

Not every writer can stay in the writing season. Not every writer advances through the stages as quickly as another. But every writer experiences the writing season in some way or form.

The writing season is when a writer gets in the “mood”, in the “flow” of writing; when a writer has the need to birth a good writing. It’s a time when all writers feel the need to tell a story or get some thoughts out on paper.

The writing season is not a set time of the year. To most people, the season comes out of no where. They could be going through something that inspires them, watching a movie or they could simply get an amazing idea out of no where. Either way, when one or all of these things happen, the writer has entered into the writing season.

As we all know there are many different types of writing, short story, poetry, novel etc. On a personal note, I’m always in the poetry writing season. Most poets are. We can put together a poem very quickly. At the longest a week or two depending on the amount of time we have to write and how much we really want to say. But getting into the season of writing a novel or story takes a little longer. This is because most writers take time getting a story together and birthing it. It’s safe to say that not all writers can be in the novel, short story or poetry season all at the same time. This is because our minds are focused on that one particular project and getting it finished. We also don’t want to confuse ourselves with the different characters and storylines in each story. It’s natural for a writer to write several stories at one time. Anything is possible when in the writing season.

I’ve created four stages of writing throughout the writing season: Concept, Formatting, Pen to Paper and Birth. Each one of these stages a writer will experience depending on how far they get with their book.

In this article, I will explain my ideas of the Writing Season. I will give tips and advice on how to successfully get through a writing season.

Stay tuned for Stage Number One: Concept.

 

Tips for getting into the writing season

•  If you do not naturally get into the writing season and you find yourself longing to write but can’t find anything to write about, go somewhere that you know will inspire you. Any place that you feel will get the juices flowing.
•  Always carry a notebook with you. No writer is caught dead without a notebook. So many things around us can inspire us. Have your notebook handy just in case an idea comes to you.

Purchase this book today!

Signing Off,

Dominique

 

Literary Career Moves Day; The Writing Season

Welcome to another Literary Career Moves Day. Today I am featuring an article from my book The Writing Season.

The birth stage of the Writing Season is the completion of the book. The writer has gone through the long process of getting the book finished. It’s finally done. The writer may not have submitted it to an editor, agent or publisher but the book is now finished and the writing stage is over. So, what next?

Editing, re-reads, editing and more re-reads. At this point, the writer needs to get the book as good as possible. The writer may not have decided where to send the book but its perfection is needed at this time. So while the writer is in this stage, take a deep breathe and look at my checklist for the completed manuscript.

ü  Did you tell this story the exact way you felt it should have been told

ü  Is the story interesting enough to hold the attention of the reader

ü  Did you do your homework and research

ü  Did you check for small errors such as their, there, to, too

ü  Did you get a fresh pair of eyes to read your book for opinions and errors

ü  Did you decide if this book would have a prologue and/or epilogue

ü  Are you satisfied

Here is another list, I posted at www.fromawriterspov.ning.com 

1. It’s best to do an outline. I do an outline with all of my novels. So that way when I do stop for a while and then later come back to the book, I have not forgotten how my story will flow. It also helps knowing exactly what you want to happen in the book and help remind you of the ideas you have come up with. An outline is always best once you begin to get the storyline in your head.

   2. Do a Character profile. I found a website years ago that helped me do a character profile. This profile will basically help you bring your character to life.

3. Figure the title and chapter names later. All of that is not necessary in the beginning. When you have the need to write and you now exactly how the story will begin, write. Just let it flow. Don’t worry about mistakes because you can always go back and re-read and trust me as a writer, you will do at least five re-reads before it’s completed.

4. Dialog helps the story flow. If you are writing a story that has the main character telling it as if it already happened, remember to include some dialog on some of the scenes we will enter as this character tells their story. We want details and dialog that places us right there with the character. Be sure that your dialog is clear and helps the story flow. What is the character doing as she talks to her friend? Give a specific action that shows us what’s happening in the scene.

5. Let us see the characters. At some point in the book, we need to know what the character looks like. This is not a movie. We have no visual whatsoever so you have to paint the picture for us. Describe your characters to the readers so that we can imagine them as we read.

6. Be sure to get a fresh pair of eyes. I always make my friends read my books as I’m writing them. Getting someone else’s opinion is very important with your stories. They may point some things out that you didn’t see. So find someone you know who loves your work, someone you can trust and ask them to read the first few chapters.

7. Do your research. If you are writing a novel that has a storyline in it about someone getting sick or flying to another country, do your homework on these topics. Don’t write a storyline that has something to do with someone who dies of aids if you have no knowledge of this illness. Readers want realistic things to happen so if you are going to put a storyline in your book that you aren’t really sure about, do your research. You can get on the internet, ask a friend who has experienced it or go out and investigate it yourself. Whatever you do, make sure you know what you’re talking about.

8. Write what’s comfortable to you. I wrote a book recently that has four different characters in it. All four characters speak in this book but at the beginning of each chapter, I list exactly who is speaking. Some people thought it was confusing. I should change this or that. I didn’t change a thing because it was comfortable for me. If you have a book that you are writing, that’s a little different from normal novels, its ok. Continue with your creative work. We don’t always have to write about with the main character telling his or her story. Make it different and if you can handle it and make the story flow well, keep going. Or say you want to write a book with five stories in one. The choice is yours. This is your novel so do what makes you comfortable.

9. Edit, Edit, Edit. Be sure to go back and edit as much as possible. Leave it for a few days or weeks then come back to it with fresh eyes but remember to edit. Make sure things sound right. Do a re-read as much as possible.

10. Never force your work. When you get writers block, stop! Don’t force it or the story will sound wrong and some lines will get unnecessary. Stop when you have nothing else to say or don’t know where to go with the book. Just stop. It will come back to you later. If it does come back when you’re not by your computer, always carry a notebook to jot down your ideas.

Purchase the full book at www.literarycareermoves.com