Striving to establish a new flair to the term contemporary fiction, Ni’cola entered the literary scene with her debut self published novel, OVER AND OVER AGAIN. Establishing NCM Publishing, Ni’cola creates themes in her work revolving around situations that are a compulsive desire to see women overcome challenges. Her next novel THE APPETIZER will be released in 2010.
At first glance, 27-year-old Dionni Stone, owner of Whatever You Like Entertainment seems to have what all black women desire: natural beauty, a successful business, and a beautiful black man on her side. Until…
Fill in the blank: “To read OVER AND OVER AGAIN is like riding the rollercoaster of life featuring the ups and downs of today’s urban relations. By the end of the book one will have a reality check with their own life situations.”
Emotional, suspenseful, hilarious
What are THREE adjectives that best describe YOU?
Intelligent, beautiful, hard worker
As writer, what’s one thing you loved the most about OVER AND OVER AGAIN?
The thing that I love the most is that I produced this myself. When I got my proof copy in the mail, I held it like it was a newborn baby. I still can’t believe that I did this all by myself. That feeling is what I love most about Over and Over Again.
How did the idea for OVER AND OVER AGAIN come about?
The idea for Over and Over Again came from sections of journals that I kept going for several years. I would take events from my life, family and friends and just jot them down.
A girlfriend of mine was reading through them and joked that I should put the entries into book form. I created the characters from people that I know or have met in my life. Some of my characters are a combination of attitudes and mannerisms of several people that I know evolved into one.
I took some real life experiences and let my imagination run wild.
NI’COLA: THE SOUNDTRACK. What are three tracks that would HAVE to make it onto the soundtrack of your life and why?
The first song would be Beauty by Dru Hill. I believe Beauty comes from the inside. I will do anything for anyone. I go the extra mile at all times. One thing that I am complimented on is how well I treat others. I believe those attributes is what makes a person beautiful.
The second would be No More Rain (In this cloud) by Angie Stone. Just like anyone else in life, I have been through a plethora of trials and tribulations. I had to decide that I was going to be stop letting life harbor me, and press forward. So I consider the cloud me and my life, and I had to learn to stop crying and start living up to the potential that I know that I have. I’m only half way there though. The storm tends to come, but I do not allow for the rain to develop.
The last song would be Queen of the Pack by Patra. Being from Jamaica, I know all about struggle. But I had to let people know that I am not accepting anything. The song compares life to a pack of cards. It basically states that I am telling you what I am about, and I am not going back on my word. What ever life brings, I will come out on top, and be the Queen of the pack. I make my own destiny, so you better watch out.
You’re strutting down the street – not a care in the world, looking like a million bucks; what is your theme song and why?
My theme song would be Everyday I’m hustling by Rick Ross. The title speaks for itself.
Are you a plotter or a pantser?
I am a pantser. When I think about something, I follow through and complete it.
What are you doing to promote and market OVER AND OVER AGAIN?
I have several different campaigns running right now to promote Over and Over Again. I am doing interviews, I am on a multi city author tour, I have an online publicity campaign, Print/Mail campaign, e-blasting, and web marketing.
You are indie publishing OVER AND OVER AGAIN through your company NCM Publishing; did you attempt to publish through traditional publishing routes? If so, how was that journey?
Yes, I did attempt to publish through the traditional, but I am very impatient. By the time I began receiving feedback from a traditional publisher, I was already half way through with self-publishing.
What are three pieces of advice you would give to writers thinking about going into indie publishing?
To be patient, work hard, and make sure that your product can hold its own with books in your sector being produced by a traditional publisher.
Word Association. What comes to mind when you see the following words:
Over and Over Again: Rollercoaster
Writing: Stress Reliever
Dionni Stone: Strong
Relationships: Indescribable
Ni’Cola: Grinder
What projects are you currently working on?
Currently, I am working on my second novel The Appetizer, (When you are not his main course.) and my third novel Twisted which is the continuation of Over and Over Again.
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