The Devil is a Lie Blog Tour
By APOOO • Jul 7th, 2009 • Category: Virtual Book Tours •
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Meet ReShonda Tate Billingsley
ReShonda Tate Billingsley is a national bestselling author of 17 books, all published by Simon and Schuster/Pocket Books. Her sophomore novel, Let the Church Say Amen, is being made into a movie and national touring stageplay of which she is Executive Producer and actress Regina King is the director. Five of her other books, have also been optioned for film by CodeBlack Entertainment.
ReShonda’s literary career is such a success that in 2007, she was able to leave her job as a reporter with Fox 26 News in Houston to pursue writing full time. ReShonda has appeared on the Essence Bestseller’s list more than 20 times, as well as The Washington Post, Dallas Morning News and Ebony Magazine Bestseller’s lists.
ReShonda has won numerous awards for her journalism, fiction and poetry writing skills. She is a five-time winner of the National Association of Black Journalists Spirit in the Words competition. ReShonda’s upcoming projects include The Devil is a Lie (July 2009), Holy Rollers (2010) and two more teen novels. The Houston native and University of Texas at Austin graduate also serves as a freelance editorial and marketing consultant. She has ghostwritten four fiction projects and five non-fiction projects. She is married with three small children.
List your published books
Fiction – Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books
- Can I Get a Witness (July 2008, Washington Post Bestseller, Multiple Essence Bestseller)
- The Pastor’s Wife (Dec. ’07 – Multiple Essence Bestseller, Borders Main Selection)
- Everybody Say Amen (July ’07 –Multiple Essence Bestseller, USA Today Summer Pick)
- I Know I’ve Been Changed (Jan. ’06 – National Bestseller)
- Let the Church Say Amen (July ’05 – National Bestseller)
- My Brother’s Keeper (July ’04 – Nova Lee Nation Award)
Non-Fiction – Simon & Schuster/Strebor Books
- Help! I’ve Turned into My Mother (Nov. ’06)
Teen Fiction – Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books
- Fair-weather Friends (Sept. 2008)
- Getting Even (Apr. 2008)
- With Friends Like These (Apr. ‘07)
- Blessings in Disguise (Jan. ’07 – Ebony Magazine Top Pick)
- Nothing But Drama (Nov. 06 3 Multiple Essence Bestseller)
Anthologies – Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books
- Have a Little Faith (June ‘06 )
- Four Degrees of Heat (July ’04)
- Proverbs for the People (July ’03-Kensington)
Poetry
- Something to Say: Poetry to Motivate the Mind, Body and Spirit (Dec. 05)
Which book did you find the hardest to birth?
Help! I’ve Turned into my Mother. It was nonfiction and I just wanna make some stuff up.
Which book is your current favorite?
That’s like saying which kid you like best. But if I just have to choose, I would say My Brother’s Keeper, followed by I Know Ive Been Changed.
How would you describe your writing style?
I write freely. I don’t adhere to an outline. Sometimes, I’ll just write dialogue and go back in and fill in the blanks. I do a lot of dictation into my tape recorder, which I later transcribe.
Do you listen to music while you write? If so, what kind?
I don’t listen to music while I write. I listen to kids yelling.
What advice do you have for aspiring writers?
My advice is to just do it. Stop talking about why you cant write and write. Every minute you spend talking about why you cant find time to write could be spent writing. Set realistic, tangible goals.
Tell us anything about you as a writer that you think might be interesting or unusual.
I absolutely love reality TV, I’m talking Flavor Flav, Ray J, I Love New York, the good stuff.
Writers are often encouraged to write what they know. Have you found that to be the case with your writing?
I definitely write what I know. That’s why there’s a running belief in my family, don’t say anything ReShonda unless you want to see it in a book.
About the Book
AS LUCK WOULD HAVE IT. . . .
When Nina Lawson wins $16 million in the Texas Lottery, the real estate executive and her fiancé, ecstatically begin planning their future — from paying off their credit card debt, to setting their wedding date, to a spontaneous, spare-no-expense island getaway.
But when Nina goes to claim her winnings, she gets an astounding twist of fate: her ex-husband, Todd Lawson, shows up to inform he isn’t her ex —since the paperwork for their divorce was never officially filed. By Todd’s side, his money-hungry girlfriend, Pam – the woman he left Nina for.
MORE MONEY, MORE PROBLEMS
Between her divorce drama, Nina also has to deal with relatives coming out of the woodwork to seek a payday for themselves. Before all is said and done, Nina must ask herself if scoring a fortune in cash comes with too high a price tag. With a little bit of luck, Nina will discern the real wealth in her heart, not just her bank account—or risk losing everything—to find out what matters the most.
Visit ReShonda online at http://www.reshondatatebillingsley.com/.
Follow the blog tour at http://bitly.com/TheDevilIsALie.
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APOOO is 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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Yasmin, thank you for hosting ReShonda on APOOO Books today. I look forward to reading your thoughts on her latest book release, The Devil is a Lie.
Great interview! I’m a reality tv junkie also…Survivor, Amazing Race, Big Brother, Bridezillas, etc. LOL
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I can’t wait to read this one! I was at the bookstore today looking for it, but it had not come in yet! It better be there tomorrow, or they will hear from me! LOL