Sister Scribe - the Official Site of Chicki Brown

 

1.                 What is the most important part of writing to you?

 

Character creation. I’ve always had the main characters in my head before I begin writing, but I always make up an in-depth profile on each character. This helps me to develop a “history� and knowing everything from their favorite foods and music to what kind of car they drive.  Then I make start an outline of the story as far as I know it at that point. Of course the story always takes on a life of it’s own, but the outline helps me stay on track as far as where I want it to go in general.

 

2.         Do you listen to music when you write?

 

          Always!  I can’t work without it. See “Seducing the Muse� in the Writer's

            Corner.

 

3.         Are there any authors who inspire you?

 

J. R. Ward is my new favorite author. She has an incredible gift for worldbuilding. Her female characters are strong and intelligent, and her male characters are drool worthy.

 

Eric Jerome Dickey's earthy, realistic portrayal of African-American characters and their communities has always impressed me.

  

Alicia Valdez-Rodriguez writes vivid Latina characters educated me to the differences between Hispanic nationalities and their similarities to African-Americans at the same time.

 

Suzanne Brockmann amazes me with how she consistently turns out fast paced romantic suspense with wonderful characters.

           

4.         What else inspires you?

 

Hearing real-life stories of people who’ve overcome extraordinary obstacles. I guess that’s why I love “underdog� movies like Rocky, The Longest Yard, Dirty Dancing, and Pitch Black.  I always root for the down-trodden guy/girl.

 

Also I love hearing about the generosity of others. I always cry during Extreme Makeover –Home Edition and Oprah’s Angel Network shows.

 

5.         Are there any people who inspire you in general?

 

          Sen. Barak Obama

          Oprah Winfrey

          Bishop T. D. Jakes

          My grandchildren

           

6.         Your writing is difficult to categorize.  What category would you put your

             stories in, or do you feel that they even need a category?

 

According to industry rules, what I write isn’t considered traditional romance nor does it fit into the inspirational category. I guess it's women’s fiction. 

 

7.         How does your family feel about you being a writer?

 

          My husbands says he’s happy to see me doing what I enjoy. My oldest

          daughter said, "I love that my mom can experience joy, challenge, and

          satisfaction in one room when so many others search the whole world

          for the same thing."

 

8.               Why do you write under a pseudonym?

 

 Chicki is my nickname, and I think it’s a little more memorable than Denise Jones.

 

9.         Are there are must-haves in your writing environment?

 

A good desk chair. good lighting and good music are necessities. Having the right music playing is as important to me as having air. See

“Seducing the Muse� in the Writer’s Corner.

 

10.      What is your ultimate vision as a writer?

 

To develop a following of readers who love my books, so I can write full-time for the rest of my life.

 

11.      How do you advise aspiring authors to handle rejection from publishers?

 

See link in main menu “Dealing with Rejection� 

 

12.       They say that there is a true piece of the author in everything they write, is this true for you as well?

 

Yes.  I always seem to include some personal anecdote or experience as a

part of my heroine’s stories.

 

For example, in “Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing,� my heroine, Dani Reynolds has

fond memories of day trips to the Jersey shore with her family as a child.

 

In “Reasons,� Jan Davis recalls her experiences and feelings about moving to

Atlanta from New York.

 

13.      When you aren’t writing what is your favorite pastime?

 

          Reading, watching movies, dining out, church.

 

14.      What is your pet peeve as a writer?

 

I have several, two of which are:

 

a)            People who, when they find out I write relationship stories, brush it off as “trash" or "silly romance.� Other than a relationship with

         God, I believe the most important and powerful relationship on this earth is the one between a man and a woman.

 

b)        Christians who scoff at fiction. Some seem to feel if I don’t write about “Christian issues,� then my writing is frivolous.  What they don’t realize is that I deal with the issues � infidelity, family conflict, living holy as a single person, etc., from a Christian perspective through my characters.

 

15.            What is your favorite TV show, and if you could guest star on one show and place your book on the coffee table which one would you choose?  And why?

 

Run's House, The Real Housewives of Atlanta, Dirty Sexy Money, Grey’s Anatomy. and Brothers and Sisters are my favorite shows.  As far as being a guest star, I would choose The Oprah Winfrey Show hands down . . . do I have to explain that one?

 

16.      What inspires your book titles?

 

          Old school songs � my music!

 

17.      Do you have any addictions?

 

Good � quiet time reading my Bible and prayer every morning before I start my day.

 

          Bad � carbohydrates

 

18.           If you could become one of your characters from any of your stories, which one would you choose, and what would be wearing when

            you became them?

 

Dani Reynolds from “Have You Seen Her?� standing at the base of a waterfall in Bali wearing her wedding gown.

 

 

19.     What is your favorite quotations? 

 

          "The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense." --

          Tom Clancy, author 

 

“Age only matters if you’re a cheese.� - Helen Hayes, actress

 

“You have to live plan A on any level. Make it a lower case "a" if you have to, but live your plan A. Anything else belittles the importance of life." - Vin Diesel

 

“Don’t get to the top of the ladder only to find it against the wrong building.� - Max Lucado, author

 

“Somehow you’ll escape all that waiting and staying. You’ll find the bright place where Boom Bands are playing.� - from “Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss

 

“I had the attitude that if the book I was working on didn’t sell, then I would just write another one. And I wasn’t going to stop until I had one published.� � Harlan Coben, mystery writer

�I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man, I keep his house.� - Zsa Zsa Gabor

“Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.� � The Message Bible, I Peter 2

 

What are your favorite songs:

 Favorite Love Songs:   I Only Have Eyes for You � The Flamingos

                                   Here and Now � Luther Vandross

                                   Angel - Sarah McLaughlin

                                   Anyone Who Had a Heart - Luther Vandross

                                   If This World Were Mine - Luther Vandross

                                   Okay ... anything by Luther

 

 Favorite Dance Songs:  (in chronological order):

                                   Cool Jerk � The Capitols

                                   Sex Machine � James Brown

                                   Delirious � Prince

                                   Kiss - Prince

                                   Another Part of Me � Michael Jackson

                                   In the Club � 50 Cent (Don't laugh. The reason I like it, beyond the music, is that I appreciate a man being honest about his motives.

 

Favorite Gospel Songs:  (in chronological order):

                                   Changed � Tramaine Hawkins

                                   Church Medley � Donnie McClurkin

                                   The Only Way � Yolanda Adams

                                   Just As Soon - Beverly Crawford

                                   I Know the Truth � Shirley Caesar & Tonex

                                   With Long Life - Israel & New Breed

                                   The Great I Am - Donnie McClurkin

 

             What is your favorite scripture?

 

          “Blessed is she who has believed, for there shall be a  fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." -  Luke 1.45