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ACR: I’d like to introduce you to The Romer Review reading public. Who is Nathasha Brooks-Harris and why it is so important to her to write?

NBH: Nathasha Brooks-Harris is a woman who feels blessed in many ways. She has so many wonderful things that some take for granted such NBH: her health, her parents, a roof over her head and a reasonably decent job. She has also begun her dream of becoming a published author. To this end, she likes to teach others about writing and the road to publication. She writes because she feels it is her life’s calling and a gift that God gave her to share with others. Her writing path may change someday, but now, she writes romance and couldn’t be happier about that! Everyone on this earth was put here for a purpose. She feels that she was put here because her purpose is to write.

ACR: I think you should stick to romance writing, but tell me, was it always a preconceived notion of yours to be a writer? What has been your prior writing experience before penning Panache?

NBH: I wouldn’t say that writing was a preconceived notion for me. I’d say it was predestined because all throughout school, I entered and won first place in writing competitions. My teachers raved over my writing such as compositions, reports and stories. Writing and English were my favorite subjects and came easily to me. That continued throughout my school years. It’s a natural progression that I’d grow up and write professionally. My prior writing experience before I wrote Panache was editing four confession magazines (Black Confessions, Jive, Black Romance and Bronze Thrills), a music magazine (FLY and several Word Up Special Magazines), and a hair/beauty magazine, (Black Hair Digest). I also wrote for these and other magazines, and set up as well supervised photo sessions.

I have a background in journalism with a degree, and have written and edited for several New York City-based publications and newspapers. In addition, I had my own small publicity company where I wrote publicity materials and created campaigns for up and coming recording artists. Under my company’s umbrella, I was able to produce a musical concert for jazz greats Billy Taylor, Branford Marsalis, and Sherry Winston. In the early 1990’s, I became a contributing editor for Today’s Black Woman and Black Man magazines. I write Career and Business sections, Relationship and Travel articles for those publications as well as a general information column called “FYI.” I am still in that position today and I wACrite regular confession stories for the aforementioned confession magazines.

ACR: WOW! What a varied writing background. I’m sure there were many situations on the road to publishing that first novel, though?

NBH: Yes, there are some things that authors shouldn’t do while on the road to publication. One of them is to not thoroughly read and understand their contracts. If they don’t understand them, they should seek help or buy a book called A Guide To The Book Contract by Jonathan Kirsch, an easy-to-understand guide written in layman’s terms.

Aspiring authors shouldn’t expect to be paid top dollar, receive large advances or lots of book promotion and marketing for their first book. These things rarely, if ever, happen to new authors. That is because they haven’t proven themselves in terms of sales. The bottom line is that publishing is a business and publishers do more for authors who sell many books. The better the sales, the better deal authors receive. Authors should also not become complacent after selling their first novel.

Instead, they should be working their promotional and marketing plan, and working on their second novel. There should never be “down time” between novels because that will only lead to procrastination. The reason to start working on the next book is because if an author attempts to sell a book on a proposal, she/he must have something tangible (such as a synopsis, cover letter and the first three chapters) to show an editor or agent. In many cases, that might not be enough because editors are reluctant to give new authors a contract because they sometimes don’t finish the book or fail to carry through with their commitment.

ACR: Aspiring authors should pay attention to this. In other words, learn the business, right? What in your opinion would be a novel idea to change at least one negative aspect relative to what’s currently going on (or not going on) in AA publishing annals?

ACR: Good point, but this certainly is a personal opinion, and I’m sure that other authors can attest to some degree to your view, but I’ve interviewed and talked to many writers who are adamant in adhering to specific regimens conducive to certain comfort zones in producing their finished product. What preparation(s) do you subscribe to that would guarantee satisfaction?

NBH: Before I write a word, I prepare a pre-writing notebook. Inside my prewriting notebook there is a chapter-by-chapter outline, setting log, research notes, photos, diagrams, character sketches for my hero, heroine and villain, plot outline, pacing chart for each chapter etc. Once I’ve done that preparatory work, the writing comes much easier because I have a great foundation to work from. Once I begin writing, what will happen is that my characters dictate the story, so some things are subject to change during the writing process. I go with those changes and see if they work during the revision process. While I’m writing, I always write to music. It helps me with the creative process. Usually, I listen to Phil Perry, Will Downing, The Whispers, classic jazz, blues, R&B and anything romantic. The setting of my story will dictate what I listen to while I’m writing. For instance, I am working on a novella set in Brazil, so I have some Brazilian music CDs waiting to be heard.ucated in the process?

ACR: You seem to be very detailed preparing to, and while writing. Tell us about Panache…How did you come up with the concept and what is the inspiration for it?

NBH: I was inspired to write Panache in a strange way. I was flying from New York City to Houston, Texas and encountered very bad turbulence when we flew over a spontaneous cyclone. That did something to my ears, so when I got to the hotel, a doctor who attended the event I was covering, advised me not to fly because doing so would burst my eardrum. I tried to book an Amtrak seat, but it only left Houston on Tuesdays and I had to leave on Sunday! My only option was a two-day ride on Greyhound. As I was riding, I thought about the tall, handsome and hospitable men sporting Western hats that I had met in Texas. I imagined a special place—a jewelry emporium-- that only the rich could go to shop for everything but it had to be by invitation only. Then, my mind began to fill in the blanks and the foundation of Panache was in my head when I reached New York. As I put together my pre-writing notebook, I filled in the blanks and fleshed it all out. I knew that it had to be set in Texas because my characters did everything larger than life. helping That's

NBH: The characters came first --- especially Chase, the hero. Then, I created a woman who’d be able to deal with him and love him and not be overshadowed by his strong personality traits. Next, came the storyline and somewhere during the plotting, came the title.

ACR: Can you remember your very first book tour? If so, would you be willing to share with us what are some of the most wonderful memories you’ve cherished meeting your fans and readers for the first time?

NBH: My very first book tour (with books) took place in Dallas. I went to the Black Writers Alliance Reunion Conference and I signed my books for the very first time. That was monumental for me because I had done some appearances on tour without books for months. Let me explain: My book release date was originally set for May 2001, but right after the books were printed, the distributor found that there were only 9 numbers in the ISBN, not 10 as there should have been. All of my books were recalled and the numbers had to be reprinted properly because having only 9 numbers would’ve jammed and locked the booksellers’ computerized register system when they scanned the sales. My books were finally ready in August 2001--just in time for BWA and my debut signing at Emma Rodgers’ Black Image Book Bazaar.

Well, after a lot of back and forth with my publisher, they agreed to Fed Ex a carton of books to me at my hotel in Dallas. The scheduled delivery didn’t arrive and I became a very prickly thorn in Fed Ex’s side. I wanted their head person’s blood and head on a platter. Well, the books were delivered to the Renaissance Hotel--on the North Side, not where I was staying! There was a little over an hour left until signing time. I became a crazy woman and demanded that something be done. I was in the press room acting my color instead of my age. A kind sister author overheard me and took me to the Fed Ex warehouse some miles away to obtain my books.

Suffice it to say, I finally had my books in hand, but I had no time to change into the fly suit I had for the occasion when we got back to the hotel because the signing had already begun. So I signed my first books wearing jeans and a tee shirt! However, the situation turned out great for me because I received TV and radio coverage because media members overheard my ordeal when we were gathered in the press room and you better believe a sista worked it! (Smile). The fans and readers were wonderful--like a second family! They were so very supportive and made me feel like a “real” author and that I was a part of the in literary crowd. They made me feel like I had arrived and encouraged me to keep writing.

I do a lot of literary-related things online such as writing articles, book reviewing, teaching writing classes, attending book club meetings and chats, participating in discussion groups, giving interviews, etc. so people know my name. My itinerary was posted on various websites, so when I showed up without books, it was “all good.” See, I had appeared without books at various venues because I had given my word. Once I was there, I watched what other authors did and I learned. When I finally received my books. I knew what to do to sell them and to attract readers to my table. So it all worked out in the end. My other wonderful memory is how well readers feed authors. That is so appreciated because food on the road is pretty bad and some homemade fried chicken or piece of lemon pound cake is much appreciated and so delicious! To any readers reading this who fed a sista, thank you!

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