On the ‘Net with Author Shelia Lipsey
By APOOO • Sep 30th, 2009 • Category: Author of the Week •
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In 140 words or less, tell us a little about you.
Shelia E. Lipsey is a multi-award winning Christian fiction author, professional speaker, and co-host of Dream4More (www.blogtalkradio.com/dream4more). Lipsey is also the founder of Living Your Dreams Now Literary Seminar, columnist for BGI Connections Webazine (bygodinspired.com), BCNN1(www.blackchristiannews.com) and EDC Creations Black Pearl Magazine www.blackpearlmagazine.com). She is a writer for Urban Books and has released the following novels, available nationwide and online: Sinsatiable, My Son’s Wife, and her newest release Beautiful Ugly. My Son’s Wife recently won the SORMAG Readers’ Choice in several categories including Author of the Year. She was also award 2009 Top Shelf Award from EDC Creations for her new release Beautiful Ugly. Against the Grain (is a short story featured in Bended Knees Anthology, December 2009); and What’s Blood Got to Do With It featured in A Love Like His Anthology (February 2010) You may contact Shelia at shelialipsey@yahoo.com , http://twitter.com/shelialipsey; and at Shelia E. Readers on Facebook. You can also email her at shelialipsey@yahoo.com
In 140 words or less, tell readers why Beautiful Ugly would make a great addition to our personal library. Beautiful Ugly will make a great addition to your personal library because it is a novel that I believe a person can always go back and refer to it whenever they feel less than the person God created them to be. It is a great teaching tool for women, men and young people/adolescents who wrestle everyday with bouts of low self-image, and low self esteem.
When you write, do you develop the plot or the characters first? Why? Sometimes I do, but most often I do not. I allow my characters to speak for themselves. I treat them like real people. Whatever they evolve into is something that I learn as I write. I do however, set aside descriptions for how a character may look, if it God places in my spirit to do. I do this because I want to be assured that God is speaking through me instead of me taking the lead. If I start thinking that I’m the one coming up with the stories I write, I might get ‘big-headed- or prideful and that is not the kind of person I ever want to be.
What’s the main message you want readers to take away from Beautiful Ugly? The main message I want readers to take away from Beautiful Ugly is no matter what you are facing in life, no matter how you perceive yourself when you analyze yourself, no matter what others think or say, none of it matters. I had to learn this for myself. It does not matter. Only what God believes matters.
Describe a day in the life of Shelia Lipsey. A day in my life includes waking up and giving God praises for waking me up. (I have to improve on this because more times than not, I get up and jump out of the bed, turn on the television, groom myself, etc. before I give God thanks.) After I have groomed myself I usually watch The View followed by my favorite soap opera, The Young and the Restless. After that, I log on to the computer and I began the job God has blessed me to have. I work on emails, story ideas, answer calls from other established authors and aspiring authors. I try to be an open vessel to those who are interested in a literary career so I do spend a lot of time mentoring. I always call my mother everyday and I talk to my sons and grandsons. I do most of my writing in the evening. This works best for me.
Autumn is just around the corner, when you think of this season, what’s one memory that stands out? The one memory that stands out is that Autumn has always been my favorite time of year! I love the coolness and the weather causes my writing juices to flow.
Complete this sentence, the best way to spend a beautiful, fall day is doing that which you love to do. The best way to spend a beautiful fall day is dedicating it to God and being available to those in need. The best day for me which is number one on this list is to be able to sit before my computer and God places word after word after word in my spirit to write.
Many say that the best is yet to come. Do you agree with this statement, why or why not? Yes, I believe the best is yet to come. For me, I see how the windows of heaven are opening in my life and in this career God gave me. I feel the blessings pouring out so quickly that I won’t have room enough to receive them. As long as we live on this earth there is always an opportunity to see things, people, places and opportunities become better. Praise God for that.
If you were to choose any fictitious world in any piece of literature, which place or book would you live in and why? Umm, what place in any fictitious world in any piece of literary would I live in? That’s really a tough one. I recently visited Tucson, Arizona and fell totally in love with the majestic mountains. They were everywhere I turned. I loved Tucson. I loved the weather, the majestic views, the people and the entire experience. I also love Salem, Oregon where my sister has resided for over twenty years. I love the weather there too and the people and the type of worship I like. I like it so much that I am now praying about where God wants me to relocate.
Shelia, thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to hang out with APOOO!
You are indeed welcome. When clubs like APOOO welcome me with open arms to do an interview, I am so grateful. I don’t care how ‘huge’ my work load increases. I don’t care how much money God starts pouring into my lap; I pray that I will always be humble, always be grateful and always extend my best to those who take the time support my literary career.
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APOOO is a book club and an online author and reader community dedicated to advancing African American literature. Our mission is to expose readers of all ages to a good book in any genre; to support African American authors, books, literary events and bookclubs; to provide marketing resources, tools and tips to authors; and, to promote literacy within the African American community.
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Hi Sheila,
Thank you for the interview. Congratulations!
Tea you are so welcome. APOOO, as usual you are so supportive of my literary work. I love you for that. May you always be favored by God. And I pray that you are appreciated by the authors who you encourage and support along the way!