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RC would like to thank Ms. White-Owens for taking
the time to share some of her thoughts with our readers.
Her novel AS LONG AS THERE IS LOVE was written so well that I
know that you will enjoy it.
Lora McDonald
LM - Ms. White-Owens would you please tell our
readers a little about yourself?
KWO - I was born and raised in
Detroit
,
Michigan
. I attended public
schools and graduated from
Wayne
State
University
with a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology.
Currently, I’m completing my Masters in Library and
Information Science while working at a Middle/High School as an After
School Program Coordinator. My
husband, Gary, and I have been married thirteen years.
We have four nieces and one nephew that believe
Gary
and I belong to them.
LM - Why did you decide to become a writer?
KWO - It wasn’t my plan to become a writer.
Everything started after my mother was diagnosed with terminal
lung cancer eight years ago. I
took a leave of absence from my job to be with her and each day a bit
more of her slipped away, and I needed something to take my mind off
of her illness. By the
time she passed away, I had written seven chapters of my first book.
A few months after that, I joined Romance Writers
of America and the local affiliate Greater Detroit Romance Writers of
America and met Natalie Dunbar, Sherry Smith and Angela Wynn.
We started a critique group, and by the time I finished my
first novel, the group had taught me the elements of writing.
LM - Before you begin writing a book, what types
of ideas run through your mind as you decide on the personalities that
your characters will have?
KWO - An idea may float around in my head for
weeks before I put a line on paper.
Sometimes I discuss the idea with my critique group and they
offer suggestions about what I’m trying to accomplish.
Also, I’m a people watcher and that’s where I pick up many
of the traits and characteristics my characters display.
My friends warn everyone we come in contact with
to watch what they say or do around me because it might in up in a
book.
LM - As a romance writer do you every write about
romantic experiences that have happened in your life or the life of
others close to you?
KWO - Sometimes, I write about romantic
experiences of my friends. Recently,
I spoke with a woman who lives in one city and her husband resides in
another. She packs up
everything on Friday afternoon and drives to her husband’s house and
stays the weekend. I’m
considering writing a story about that relationship and some of its
pitfalls.
LM - Who are some of your favorite authors?
KWO - Stephen King is my idol.
Linda Howard and Jayne Ann Krentz are two of my favorites.
Toni Morrison, Richard Wright and Langston Hughes are authors
that I keep on my reading shelf. I
recently added Timmothy McCann and Eric Jerome Dickey to my list.
I can go on because I love to read, and I buy books all the
time.
LM - Tell us about your book AS LONG AS THERE IS
LOVE.
KWO - It’s a story about trust, love and making
mistakes. Marek Redding
and Cameron Butler were college lovers who split after Cameron finds
Marek in bed with her roommate. Four
years later, they meet again and Marek learns he is the father of
Cameron’s three-year-old daughter, Jayla.
The story revolves around how they handle their trust issues
while Cameron tries to open a private elementary school.
LM - If this book were made into a movie, who
would you recommend play the leading roles and why?
KWO - Boy, you caught me off guard with this
question. After careful
consideration, I would like to see Viveca Fox play Cameron Butler
because she appears strong and independent, just like Cameron.
I’m partial to Vin Diesel for Marek Redding.
I’m going to be shallow at this point.
I think he’d make a great Marek Redding because he’s not
your traditional handsome man, but yet he is attractive and has an air
of mystery about him and I like that.
Upcoming releases:
TO MOM WITH LOVE is part of an anthology that
will be available, April 2003. The
story involves a little boy that enlists the help of an angel to match
up his widowed father with his favorite teacher.
YOU ARE LOVED will be available May 2003.
Matthew James must find out who is behind a series of software
thefts to save his company, Games People Play.
The heroine, Lisa Daniels holds the key to many secrets and is
Matthew’s main suspect.
(Click
here for a review of AS LONG AS THERE IS LOVE)
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