Author Spotlight

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Philadelphia native Vonetta C. Pierce made her creative debut with Shameless. After being inspired to write by Daaimah S. Poole (author of What’s Real and Got a Man), Vonetta started penning a story in the summer of 2004. Daaimah and other writers gave her positive feedback on a prologue she sent them, so Vonetta continued to write. She soon met Mark Anthony of Q-Boro Books at Unity Day in Philadelphia, purchased his novel Dogism, and was intrigued by Mark’s spiritual approach to urban lit. Over the next several months, Vonetta worked diligently on her manuscript, mailing queries off to several agents. 

Remembering what Mark had told her about trusting her talent and ability, she did not let five solid rejections deter her.  She quickly received an offer from Q-Boro. Vonetta is a firm believer that with God anything is possible and that dreams really do come true. This is evidenced by the fact that she became inspired to write, finished a novel, and was published - all in less than a year, an unheard of time frame within the literary industry.

Vonetta received her BA in Spanish from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, her M.Ed. from Temple University, and is completing her M.Ed in School Counseling from Wilmington University.

Vonetta is currently at work on a Christian anthology and a teen fiction series. Her newest project, Lady, Get a L.I.F.E. will be released by iUniverse in early 2009. Vonetta resides in Delaware with her daughter.                                                                                                               

  

            

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Check out the brief interview I had with Vonetta about the writing process and her favorite authors.

Nicole: When preparing to write a story, which comes first the character or the story line? 

Vonetta: I think, for me at least, that the story idea must come first. The characters will come along with the story line. But first, you must know what the main plot ideas will be. 

Nicole: Who was the most difficult character you created and why? 

Vonetta: Well I’ve only written one novel. But for that novel, writing in the 1st person voice of a man was hard. I had to think like a man. How would a man behave? How would he talk and think? I had to watch my students and sometimes I would ask a guy to do something or say something so that it could be authentic. Obviously, it was difficult because I am not a man!  I had to toughen up! 

Nicole: What are you working on now? 

Vonetta: Right now I am working on a non-fiction book and it was something God laid on my heart. I felt that young women could use a guide for living their lives based on the Bible. Actually, as I write it, I am ministering to myself. I actually need what I am writing, if that makes sense. 

Nicole: Which writers have been an influence in your writing and how? 

Vonetta: I like ReShonda Tate Billingsley and Kimberla Lawson Roby because of the way they handle pacing and are able to create believable characters and dialogue. I also like how they can craft an entertaining story and put God in the middle of it. I don’t care for explicit novels and a whole lot of profanity on every other page. I try to use their style. And my mentor, Daaimah Poole taught me a lot as well. 

Nicole: Which author would you like to have a conversation with and what would you discuss?  

Vonetta: There are so many! I would love to discuss characterization, dialogue, pacing, and story development, I would also like to learn how to discipline myself on a writing schedule and how to balance working all day, raising a child, and writing! I probably would want to have a dinner party with ReShonda Tate Biilingsley, Victoria Christopher Murray, Eric Jerome Dickey, Kimberla Lawson Roby, and Carl Weber (I like his use of humor!) 

For more information about Vonetta, visit www.vonettacpierce.com.