An Interview with Stacy-Deanne (Dee-Anne)

We are pleased to re-introduce you to Ms. Stacy-Deanne (Dee-Anne), an award-winning crime/mystery and interracial romance novelist. She was gracious enough to take time out of her busy schedule to allow One World Singles Magazine Blog to talk about her writings, accolades and plans for the future. Ms. Stacy-Deanne first appeared on our Blog in September 13, 2010. Since then, she was recently featured in USA Today and countless other mediums.

Please tell our readers something about yourself. Well I’m 35 years old and I’ve been writing professionally since I was 19. I got my first publishing contract in 2005 for Divas in the New Millennium, a compilation biography book focusing on popular female singers. My favorite genres to write are mystery and crime fiction (of course), anything with an interracial romance, and women’s fiction. My favorite genres to read are mysteries and historical romance. I am single, have no kids and I live in Houston where I was born and raised.

Who or what inspired you to become an author. I never planned to become an author. It’s not like I dreamed of it when I was a kid. The lightning bolt just hit me when I was 19 and that’s when I decided to pursue a career in writing. I always loved to read and I always had good writing skills.

What lessons have you learned as an author? I learned that being true to yourself is more important than anything. You won’t be satisfied unless you follow your heart. I learned that just because you get a publishing contract it doesn’t mean everything is peaches and cream from that point on. I also learned that there is just as much hard work and rejection after publication as before publication. The difference is that once you’re published you sometimes experience rejection from an entirely different group of people. The most important thing I’ve picked up in the business is that it’s a good thing to help others and support others. You need as many people supporting you in this business as you can get.

You are a crime/mystery and cross cultural/interracial romance novelist. Were you raised in a multicultural/multi-ethnic community? If so, is this the inspiration for your books? I grew up in a middle-class black neighborhood and it wasn’t until I was a teenager that I was personally exposed to different races. Of course I saw them on television but it wasn’t until I went to high school that I was around them. I was mostly around blacks all my childhood except for the people in my family. We have all kinds of ethnicities in my family. What inspires me to write interracials is that I’ve always loved white guys. LOL! I grew up having crushes on them and I always found them very attractive so writing black women and white men romances come natural.

Which came first: writing articles or penning your first book? My first book definitely. I didn’t start writing articles until I’d had three books published. That’s when I felt I had enough knowledge under my belt to advise others.

How does it feel to have been nominated for an NAACP award and profiled in Heather Covington’s Literary Divas: The Top 100+ African-American Women in Writing? LOL! Well Heather’s book was nominated for the award, not me. LOL! I was flattered that she wanted to feature me of course. She featured many successful and popular female authors in that book. I was in great company. That was also very early in my career so I was grateful to get that support.

As a writer, what has been your biggest challenge, trials or tribulations that you have overcome? I’d say self-doubt. Honestly I don’t think I’ll ever get over that. I’ve always struggled with that since I was a kid, but I have confidence in my writing. I think writers self-sabotage themselves mentally. I feel it’s important to be positive so I always try to be.

You have written, Giving Up the Ghost, The Season of Sin and The Wild Life, which will be released soon? Could you please give us a blur about The Wild Life? Giving up the Ghost and The Season of Sin are currently available. The Wild Life will be available this July 2013. I also have a short that should be coming out soon called When the Mouse Chases the Cat. All these books feature Detectives Brianna “Bree” Morris and her partner Steven Kemp.

The Wild Life:

When Albany Detective Brianna “Bree” Morris learns that Cuban crime lord Milan Varela wants her estranged father dead, she heads off to Miami to find out why. With Homicide Detective Jayce Matthews and her ex-lover Detective Steven Kemp she devises a plot to get close to the Varela organization.

Brianna finds herself attracted to the older Milan and falls deep into his web of seduction while fighting to keep her mind on her mission. Milan is equally drawn to Brianna and vows to win her trust and her heart.

Is Milan really the villain when it comes to Brianna’s father? Or is he the victim?

Is Brianna’s father really in danger or is there more to the story than anyone could ever imagine?

Brianna risks her life to save her father’s but will she end up losing her own? (From Peace in the Storm Publishing)

Are you planning to write any more books in the near future? I’m always writing something. It might take my work a little while to come out but I always have something ready to go. I have two releases coming out in 2014. One is called The Ultimate Rush, which is a standalone novel, and Harm a Fly is the fourth installment in the Bree and Steven series. I have other work I am finishing up as well.

What advice would you give someone who is thinking about writing a book? Do not rush into any decision and research. You should take your time and learn about the business before jumping into it.

How can our readers get in touch with you? Readers can contact me through my Website. They can also reach me through Facebook and Twitter

Thank you for allowing us to dialogue with you. Do you have any words of wisdom for upcoming writers and/or authors? Believe in yourself and never be afraid to follow your dreams. If you want to be a published author you must believe you can make it happen. If you don’t believe in yourself, who will?

Thanks for having me!