Welcome to APOOO, Jessica!

In 140 words or less, tell us a little about you.

Thanks for having me, Yasmin! I’m not a fan of talking about myself too much, so I’ll do my best. I am a God-fearing woman, loving daughter, sister, friend and, in my opinion, an all-around genuine person. I am the author of seven novels: Anything Goes, In My Sisters’ Corner, Apple Tree, Sweet Revenge, Fatal Desire, Unfinished Business, and Loving Simone (in that order); and one anthology: Erogenous Zone: A Sexual Voyage. I am the publisher of Xpress Yourself Publishing and the 2008 recipient of the AALAS Independent Publisher of the Year award. I am the founder of The Writer’s Assistant, a company formed to assist self-published authors and small publishers with the business of publishing. Lastly, I am the owner and publisher of Erotic Expressions.net, an online eZine soon to be in print, God willing. 

In 140 words or less, tell us why your book would make a great addition to our personal library.

Loving Simone is truly a blessing from God. This novel is, by far, my best work-a true labor of love. Simone maintains the façade of a happy marriage, but deep inside she is miserable. Simone settles for being in an unhappy, complacent marriage for fear of being alone. While Simone loves her husband, Jackson, with every fiber of her being, she is unhappy and badly wants out of the marriage. However, she lacks the confidence she needs to step out on her own. That is, until her path crosses with an old friend. Then, within a blink of an eye, her life turns upside down and she finds true love, happiness and a way to escape. My novel is a page-turner, with many plot twists that will keep you Loving Simone. This is a definite for anyone’s personal library. 

When you write, do you develop the plot or the characters first?  Why?

When I write, I simply write. I do not have the slightest clue as to the plot or the characters. There is a method to my madness, and it really works for me. I consider myself a free-flow writer. I come up with the book title, the opening line and it simply flows from there. I meet my characters as I write. Sounds odd and crazy, I know. But, I’m not a structured writer. I cannot write with an outline or one of those character applications. Believe me, I’ve tried. It simply does not work for me. 

Your books are always provocative and filled with lots of colorful characters.  How do you come up with the characters for your books?

The characters introduce themselves to me as I write. It’s almost as if each character, when it’s their turn, will take over and help me mold the story. You know, being a writer-a creative writer-is truly a gift from God. Either you have it or you don’t. To be able to sit behind my computer, with a blank page, and within one day, churn out the most crazy, colorful people you’d ever want to meet, really amazes me. Truly a beautiful gift that I try very hard not to take for granted. 

Describe a day in the life of Jessica Tilles.

Depending on what time I went to bed the night before, my day typically begins between 9:30 AM and 10:30 AM, and ends around 3:00 AM. Because I work on two businesses, as well as being the full-time caretaker for my 83-year-old father, who has dementia, I have to force myself to be organized. So, before I go to bed, I write out my schedule for the following day. I’ll spend six hours on Xpress Yourself Publishing and six hours on The Writer’s Assistant. By 11:00 PM, I am focused solely on Jessica Tilles and my writing projects until 3:00 AM, sometimes until the sun rises. Actually, the amount of coffee I consume during the day, as well as the evening, will determine what time I go to bed.  

If you had to name a smell that always makes you nostalgic, what would it be? What sorts of memories does the smell evoke?

Zahra Eau de Toilette by Fashion Fair was my mother’s favorite scent. When I roam around in her room, I can still smell it. There have been times when I would be seated at my computer and, out of nowhere, I would smell Zahra Eau de Toilette and feel a faint breeze. I smell it quite a bit whenever I would dream about her. 

Of all your favorite foods, which one would you find the most difficult to give up for the rest of your life? Why?

Potato chips, especially nacho cheese flavored Doritos. They go so good with Pepsi. Purely a comfort food.    

If you had to be the mother of Fantasia or Lil’ Kim, who would you choose and why?

I would choose Fantasia because she seems to be a very kind, gentle woman, with a genuine heart. Lil’ Kim, on the other hand…well, after so many cosmetic surgeries, I wouldn’t be able to recognize my own daughter. That’s not cool!   

If you had to create and market a new holiday, what would it be like, how would it be celebrated, would there be decorations, (etc)?

Wow…this is a tough question. Let me turn to my bag of Doritos to help me answer this question. Right now, I can’t think of anything. Alas! Doritos and Pepsi Day!  

 If you were to choose any fictitious world in any piece of literature, which place or book would you live in and why?

Hmm…I can’t think of any place now, but I’ll definitely have to create a place that I’ll love, as well as my readers. It will be a place where everything is made out of  exotic fruits and chocolates. Yum! 

Jessica, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to hang out with APOOO!

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