Chatting with Shani Dowdell. . .
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| Shani Dowdell poses with a reader at a signing for her novel Mocha Chocolate. |
And let's not forget she's a publisher. Whew! This is one busy sister. She took time out of her schedule to chat with me about her career.
How
did you get into writing?
I cannot say that I was a natural
born writer, because I don't remember doing much creative writing or
reading as I grew up. However, I have family and friends who remember seeing me
carrying around a journal as a young girl, as well as I do remember getting my
first diary at the age of 10 and chronicling things that I saw. I did
this until one day my seventh grade teacher, Mrs. Threadgill, took up my diary and
began to read it to the class and I got in trouble about the contents. From
the seven grade forward, I stopped writing all together, because I
didn't want to get in trouble for the things I wrote. It wasn't until I
was 27 and had a renewed love of reading from reading writers like Darrien Lee,
Zane, and Eric Jerome Dickey that I decided to begin writing down my thoughts
and one year later the novel, Keepin'
It Tight, was complete. Now, no matter how controversial or
forbidden a topic may be, you may find it in my writing
What has been
the most rewarding part of your journey?
I'd have to say
that meeting new people and learning about the human experience has been the
most rewarding. Secondly, learning that I am in control of my own
destiny by using my God-given talents is a rewarding notion in and of
itself.
Talk about your
plays and productions that you’ve produced?
I'm a
relatively new playwright. My first play is based on my second novel, Secrets of a Kept Woman.
It's about three women who have been best friends since high school. The women
show the world their best face, but underneath the surface are the secrets
that they struggle to keep. Shayla has a cheating husband who is
never home, Rhonda is all too familiar with Shayla's situation with her own
skeletons in the closet, and Gladys picked the wrong man in college and he
is abusive.
I felt like telling Glady's story was important, because growing up I was a
witness to domestic violence in my household and today, around the world, at
least one woman in every three has been beaten, or otherwise abused in her
lifetime. While Secrets of a Kept Woman is unsettling at times, comedic
at others, and very dramatically performed, I want to be able to reach women
and men who are dealing with abusive relationships on an intimate level and
remind them that they are not alone and there is hope.
What’s your
latest project?
My very latest project is a short story
titled Lord, WhyDoes It Feel So Good?
released July 29, 2012. It's a romantic drama that I enjoyed
writing about Destiny Baker, who is divorced at 43 with
a solidified Christian walk. She is focused on her career and raising
her children. Then, she falls in love with a man who literally takes her breath
away (think Chris Brown and Jordin Sparks No
Air). No matter how hard she tries, she cannot escape the tangled
web of Jacob Turner. When their perfect little affair is challenged she is
forced to reconsider everything that she values.
How can readers
reach you on social media and the Internet?
I'm on
Facebook (facebook.com/shanibooks), Twitter (twitter.com/shaniwrites), and my
website is www.nayberrypublications.com.
Email inquiries: info@nayberrypublications.com
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