Joins us as we chat with Sean Gardener author of Excess Baggage and one of Sexy Ebony Book Club's December featured authors. Please feel free to comment on the interview. And don't forget to visit the Sexy Ebony BBW African American Book Club website for a chance to win a copy of Excess Baggage. contest ends January 4th http://www.sexyebonybbwaabookclub.com/1. Tell us about yourself? I’m pretty much the brotha’ next door. The one your mom wanted you to hang out with. As you can imagine, that hasn’t always served me well.
2. How long have you been writing? My moms kicked off my interest in the written word. I first started thinking about the possibility of being a writer in middle school, but put the idea on the back burner. As the grandson of a sharecropper, a man in my family was taught that he only had time for something that would provide for his family.
3. What drove you to pick up that pen for the first time? Writing was an escape for me. It allowed me to rise above the difficult circumstances of my life. I started writing the current novel, Excess Baggage, as an outlet during a turbulent relationship.
4. In your bio you say you are a free-lance writer? Why did you start your writing career as a free lance writer? What type of work do you usually do as a free lance writer? For most of my corporate life, I did field sales (pharmaceutical, wound care, implants, etc.). “Freelance” was the best way to describe my leap of faith because, especially at that point, no one was going to pay me for writing. Just like with other occupations, lack of experience sometimes prevents others from having a vision about your skill.
5. What made you decide to self-publish your first full length novel? I really liked the idea of having control over my content, especially my cover. It has received a lot of buzz because of its uniqueness. When I discussed the concept with a few publishing “authorities” prior to production, they suggested that I might not be able to go with this cover.
6. Tell us about your novel Excess Baggage? Why should readers go out and purchase your book? An attorney falls in love with a witness during a high profile trial in which the opposing side has vowed to win at all costs, including murder, in one story. In the other, an advertising director falls in love with a record exec only to have their relationship interrupted by the appearance of a mysterious and dangerous person from their past. The stories are linked by the guys, who are long-term friends and share a common childhood tragedy. The ladies also have more in common than they would like to share. Before the tale ends, the quartet must re-examine their priorities in order to save their love & their lives. The story is “edutainment” because the reader will be educated and entertained the same time. It is a tale that will touch your heart, make laugh and cause you to shed a tear or two.
7. Is there another novel in the works? Do we have a release date yet? Yes, Hi Speed Connection will be out in April 2010.
8. What are you reading now? Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy. I’m big fan of the coach.
9. Who are your favorite authors? James Baldwin, Bebe Campbell Moore, Diane Whetstone, Sandra Kitt, Jill Nelson, Nathan McCall. Lol. There’s actually too many to list.
10. Tell us about the online and offline personal appearances you have planned over the next couple of months. Where can readers connect with you up close and personal? The best way to keep up with the latest is to check out my calendar on my website, http://www.excessbaggagethenovel.com. During the upcoming holidays, though, I’m going to utilize the time to re-connect with family and to finish my next novel, Hi Speed Connection.
11. How can readers get in contact with you? Do you have a website? Yes, they can reach me http://www.excessbaggagethenovel.com.
12. What is the one thing you would like all of your readers to know about you? The reason that I offer the “no questions asked” money-back satisfaction guarantee is because I want readers to be confident that if they invest their time & money with me, they will get a great story and have a good time.
2. How long have you been writing? My moms kicked off my interest in the written word. I first started thinking about the possibility of being a writer in middle school, but put the idea on the back burner. As the grandson of a sharecropper, a man in my family was taught that he only had time for something that would provide for his family.
3. What drove you to pick up that pen for the first time? Writing was an escape for me. It allowed me to rise above the difficult circumstances of my life. I started writing the current novel, Excess Baggage, as an outlet during a turbulent relationship.
4. In your bio you say you are a free-lance writer? Why did you start your writing career as a free lance writer? What type of work do you usually do as a free lance writer? For most of my corporate life, I did field sales (pharmaceutical, wound care, implants, etc.). “Freelance” was the best way to describe my leap of faith because, especially at that point, no one was going to pay me for writing. Just like with other occupations, lack of experience sometimes prevents others from having a vision about your skill.
5. What made you decide to self-publish your first full length novel? I really liked the idea of having control over my content, especially my cover. It has received a lot of buzz because of its uniqueness. When I discussed the concept with a few publishing “authorities” prior to production, they suggested that I might not be able to go with this cover.
6. Tell us about your novel Excess Baggage? Why should readers go out and purchase your book? An attorney falls in love with a witness during a high profile trial in which the opposing side has vowed to win at all costs, including murder, in one story. In the other, an advertising director falls in love with a record exec only to have their relationship interrupted by the appearance of a mysterious and dangerous person from their past. The stories are linked by the guys, who are long-term friends and share a common childhood tragedy. The ladies also have more in common than they would like to share. Before the tale ends, the quartet must re-examine their priorities in order to save their love & their lives. The story is “edutainment” because the reader will be educated and entertained the same time. It is a tale that will touch your heart, make laugh and cause you to shed a tear or two.
7. Is there another novel in the works? Do we have a release date yet? Yes, Hi Speed Connection will be out in April 2010.
8. What are you reading now? Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy. I’m big fan of the coach.
9. Who are your favorite authors? James Baldwin, Bebe Campbell Moore, Diane Whetstone, Sandra Kitt, Jill Nelson, Nathan McCall. Lol. There’s actually too many to list.
10. Tell us about the online and offline personal appearances you have planned over the next couple of months. Where can readers connect with you up close and personal? The best way to keep up with the latest is to check out my calendar on my website, http://www.excessbaggagethenovel.com. During the upcoming holidays, though, I’m going to utilize the time to re-connect with family and to finish my next novel, Hi Speed Connection.
11. How can readers get in contact with you? Do you have a website? Yes, they can reach me http://www.excessbaggagethenovel.com.
12. What is the one thing you would like all of your readers to know about you? The reason that I offer the “no questions asked” money-back satisfaction guarantee is because I want readers to be confident that if they invest their time & money with me, they will get a great story and have a good time.
