 September - October 2004
A Chat With Author Shonda Cheekes
Newcomer Shonda Cheekes makes her contemporary debut in a hip, wonderfully wise story about letting go and moving on. Shonda is the author of Lessons Learned, which was published in Blackgentlemen.com, a short story anthology.
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ACR: On behalf of the staff of The RomerReview and my personal welcome, we’re honored to have you as our Featured Author. For the reading public, who is Shonda Cheekes?
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| SC: Shonda Cheekes is a mother, wife, daughter, sister, and friend. Oh, and there’s that writer things too…lol |
| ACR: …and why is it paramount for you to use the medium of writing to express yourself? |
| SC: I’ve always loved writing. Writing was the one thing that would soothe me when I was feeling out of sorts. There was always that love of being able to make up stories and then have someone tell you how much they enjoyed it. |
| ACR: We’ve known each other for a while now, and even then I knew of your insatiable desire to write. How have your accomplishments impacted your life from the early days to seeing your book(s) on the shelves today? |
| SC: While there have been no significant changes, it has brought a great sense of accomplishment to my life. I always tell people that writing is like giving birth. Everything in that book came from within you from start to finish. I get excited when I see books that friends of mine have written on the shelf, so seeing my own was like one of the greatest experiences of my life. |
| ACR: There’s so much to learn in this business, especially harnessing the nuances of writing, marketing, and negotiating a profile for progress. Is there one thing that you’ve learned about the publishing business up to now that you’d want to share wit aspiring writers? |
SC: I know I’ve said this before, but when I met Lolita files back in 97’ she told me that if I thought I was a writer, then say I was a writer. Not an aspiring writing. If you wrote your name on a piece of paper, then you’re a writer. From those words I’ve learned that if you want something you have to claim it. So that’s what I say to anyone who’s “aspiring” to be a writer. Don’t talk about it, do it. Know that you have to be excited about your work. You have to be willing to walk up to total strangers and tell them about your book. If you don’t learn anything else, learn marketing. No one is going to push your work as hard as you.
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| ACR: Who is Zane and what is the story behind you being associated with Strebor Books International? |
| SC: Zane is phenomenal. Not only has she taken the publishing world by storm as a writer, but also as a publisher. Zane and I met when I was doing publicity. Our friendship was built through IM’s (Instant Messages), emails, and phone calls. (smile) I’ve been with Strebor from the beginning. I’m talking about from the moment she decided to put all of her stories together to form a book, to the naming of the company. We used to talk all the time about how she needed to quit her job so she could devote her time fully to writing after her book sales took off. And yes, she was selling record numbers of books before Simon & Shuster picked her up. I was actually supposed to be the first writer she published, but I sat on my hands for a minute. Being the true friend that she is, she pushed me until I finally sat down and finished my book and sent it to her. |
| ACR: I wasn’t really surprised to see you as one of the featured authors in “BlackGentlemen.com”. (?? Was this the catalyst for your continued relationship with Zane, as she supported your earlier literary efforts?) |
 SC: Being friends made it easy to be able to talk with her about things. And anyone who knows Zane will tell you that she’s always willing to help others. She is the epitome of the “each one teach one” theory. Her honesty is a big plus. She’s always made me feel that she’s had my back in this whole process and that is a big plus in this industry. No matter what I need, I know I can just pick up the phone and call her and if she can help, she’s going to or hook you up with someone who will. |
| ACR: I have an affectionate place in my heart for Zane and her marketing prowess. What would you take from her to add to any writer’s repertoire for success? |
SC: Always be willing to reach back and help the next person. Most of all, never listen to those who tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. Never compromise your beliefs because someone says you should. And always think outside the box.
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| ACR: Urban fiction and the type of writing illustrating the graphic stories of our social environment are synonymous with Strebor. How do you and your writing fit in? |
| SC: Strebor is actually a hodgepodge when it comes to writing styles. Which is the beauty of it all. You’re never under any pressure to write a certain way or about certain topics. Strebor is about being a venue to get books written by African American/Black authors to readers. So there’s never a question of fitting in. I guess it’s more of a “what works for you” type of thing. |
| ACR: How do you describe your writing style, and do you agree that Urban fiction is a true depiction of this type of writing? |
SC: While I don’t quite know how to describe my writing style, I don’t know if you’d describe it as Urban. I basically write what and how I live or how I’d like to live. I do like to write the true dialect of how people talk. So, maybe that would make it Urban. But, I had someone email me and told me that my book could’ve been a white book because my characters lives were too perfect. Can you imagine? I can’t understand why some people feel that if we don’t have drama to the nth’ going on it’s not black enough.
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| ACR: I know you’re in the process of moving from Miami to Atlanta. How important is having a viable home base to write…and why the move at this stage in your career? |
| SC: Changing locales is a definite plus for writers. Especially those that write about different locations. The more places you go and see the more you can write about. The move on a whole was a family decision though. The benefit that I’ll get from being in Atlanta is it’s really a happening spot for African American writers. The one difference that I’ve noticed here already is that we’re doing things here. And by “we” I mean African Americans. But this move in no way lessens my love for Miami, which will always be home. |
ACR: What are some other challenges you’d like to achieve as you ascend to the next literary level?
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| SC: The one thing I want to do most is expand to writing for movies and television. Being able to see my work on any screen will be up there with my greatest accomplishments. |
| ACR: Let’s talk more about “Another Man’s Wife”…Real or imagined, what other work you researched that lent expertise to the concept you wanted to convey in it? |
 SC: While the majority of it was imagined, the concept of the connections of the women in the story was a real big part for me. As women, we’re sometimes too catty with one another to stop and see that maybe this sistah needs a kind word. Maybe she’s going through something and needs my support instead of being ridiculed by me. The female characters had a tight bond. I also wanted to let people know that we do live the lifestyle I wrote about. There are Blacks/African Americans, who are wealthy and love each other. You wouldn’t believe how some readers think that that’s the fairytale part of my story. |
| ACR: Your latest work, “Another Man’s Wife” has been generating a lot of praise for its gritty detail and daunting suspense. What are your thoughts about how this novel was conceived and what transpired as you wrote it? |
| SC: Wow! Has it really?...(smile) Well, it was perceived from a reoccurring dream that I’d been having. Once I sat down and put it on paper it just took on a life of its own. I was only a muse for which it came through most time. I know you’ve heard that before. You start out with one thing and then end up with something completely different. But it works, and that’s what matters. |
| ACR: Who do you admire most in the industry, and why? |
SC: Now that’s a hard one. I have a few people I admire and for different reasons. As you know, Zane is definitely one I admire. For her tenacity and the fact that she stepped outside the box and made it happen even after people told her that she couldn’t. I’ve always been a big Eric Dickey fan. He also served as a mentor and friend. I love his writing style and how he uses his wit in a clever way that keeps you on your toes.
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| ACR: I’m going to throw a few names and entities out there and I want you to comment accordingly: |
| SC: Shonel Bacon – Shoney is real cool. I haven’t had a chance to meet her, but I’m definitely looking forward to meeting her.
Eric Jerome Dickey – A master at his craft.Self-publishing vs. Mainstream – While one is definitely easier than the other, it depends on how you want to go. Either way you go, it all boils down to your marketing plan.
African-American Literature – Has made tremendous strides over the years and is definitely here to stay. My favorite genre. (smile)
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| ACR: What is your assessment of book reviewers? |
| SC: It feels really good when someone likes your work. I read reviews to get a feel for a book, but I’m a firm believer in read it for yourself. My personal experience is that each person will have a different opinion from one to the next. You may like something while and I may not and vice versa. |
