Author L.A. Jefferson's Discussion with 4 Kicks Book Club Meeting--May 2011

Earlier this month my novel, Unfinished Business, was the featured selection for the 4 KICKS book club. Consequently, I was invited to join the discussion. Since debuting my novel in 2009, this is the second time that I've received such an invitation so I was just as excited AND nervous as I was the very first time! Let me tell you, this was a VERY lively and fun group of women to discuss my novel with. To get the party--oops--meeting--started the ladies and I toasted with shots of Petrone! I did say lively, didn't I? LOL! Anyway, the meeting was ALOT of fun--reminded me of my own book club days! At the end of the day, the ladies and I had so much fun, they invited me to come back for other book discussions. I gladly accepted the invitation!

Below are some questions and comments that stemmed from the discussion.

Q.  What was your inspiration behind the story?
A. Honestly, it began with my personal to recapture the essence of my first love. The story evolved into what often happens when two people reconnect after years of separation only to realize that--after the ups & downs of life's experiences--they are no longer who they were when that love was born between them.

Q. What was the deal with Lena? Was she bi-sexual, lesbian, or just extra kinky?
A. Surprisingly, the word "lesbian" never came to mind when Lena's character was created. I simply envisioned her as a woman willing to go to great lengths to give her man whatever he wanted in the bedroom. Now, the real question is whether her motivation was to satisfy her man or control him?

Q.  On the night of the bridal shower, did Roy really sleep with Christian, the woman he met that night or did he just want Lydia to think that he did so she could realize what she was on the brink of losing?
A. I left that one open for the reader to decide...

"I'm glad that there was a couple in the book on the right track. It was refreshing to have that balance of Black love."

"As fine as Officer Chris Boyle was, I wanted to see him hook up with somebody in the story! He was too fine to end up by himself."

My question to the group: "What was your opinion of the end of the story? Was it a realistic or unrealistic end?"

"Personally, I couldn't see it happening like that, at least not so soon."

"I wouldn't say unrealistic, but it'd definitely make me want to know what happened later on down the line with the characters' relationship."

Be True to Yourself

Let me the first to say, there are some extraordinary literary movers and shakers on the scene! They're writing. They're blogging. They're hosting blogtalk radio shows. They seem to make every literary event! They're hosting their own literary events!They've got  fans and followers up the yin yang! And on top of all of that, they still manage to produce a book!!! It's enough to make you do a triple take! For the longest time I have set back, purely awestricken, trying to decipher how these folks were able to do all of this. And more importantly, why wasn't I doing the same thing? Obviously there was something wrong with me. There was no question about it. I had all of the same desires as these other writers and authors. But from the outside looking in, I wasn't putting forth nearly the effort to really make my literary dreams come true.

Did that or does that mean that I don't want it bad enough? Am I just playing writer/author?

Absolutely not!

And neither are you, if you've ever felt that way!

Here's the thing. We're all individuals, with unique talents,personalities, and lives. What one person is strong in, another is weak, and vice versa. We go wrong when we try to immulate others especially when you don't know the ins and outs of how folks are doing what they're doing. For example, that author who is at every literary event may not have any children with evening or weekend activities. Perhaps, their children are older, less needy. Maybe that person who wrote their book in six months spent a year structuring their story from start to finish, which makes the writing part easy. You see, people often don't share with you (until you ask in some cases) how they're accomplishing what they're managing to accomplish. Some people like you to look at them in blind fascination. I say, ASK! Remember, the only stupid question is the one not asked. But I'll be the first to tell you that you will run yourself stark raving mad trying to be what someone else is. Even worse, you NEVER will be anyway! As a writer, aspiring author, or novice author you have to carve out your own path, you own way, on your own terms. In the end, you'll be more the wiser and more successful!