Monday, November 7, 2016

DuEwa Frazier



As you all know, I love featuring authors on my blog. Today, I’m featuring Author/Poet DuEwa Frazier. She’s here to tell us about her latest work as well as allow us to get to know her on a more personal level. We connected via social media a few years ago. It’s refreshing to have support from fellow authors. #authorssupportingauthors

DuEwa featured me on her blog a few days ago. If you would like to read the interview, please click on the link below.


Help me give DuEwa a big Kickin' It With KeKe welcome...




About the Author:
 
DuEwa Frazier is an educator, poet, children's/young adult author, performer and speaker.  Born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, she is the author of two young adult novels to date - Quincy Rules (2016) and Deanne in the Middle (2014).  DuEwa is also the author of several books of poetry: Goddess Under the Bridge: Poems (2013), Ten Marbles and a Bag to Put Them In: Poems for Children (2010), Stardust Tracks on a Road (2005), and Shedding Light From My Journeys (2002).  She is the editor and publisher of the award nominated anthology, Check the Rhyme: An Anthology of Female Poets & Emcees (2006).  Check the Rhyme received the coveted NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Literary Work - Poetry, in 2007.  DuEwa is a publisher who founded Lit Noire Publishing in 2002.  DuEwa has shared stages with esteemed poets, actors and authors, and has produced numerous events including the 2010 "Haiku and Handgrenades" tribute to Sonia Sanchez at The Harlem Book Fair and the 2016 "I Rise" Women's History Month tribute to women poets at The Missouri History Museum.  She is featured in the Rhyme and Reason documentary on poetry.  Her poetry and essays have been featured in numerous publications including:  Crossing the Divide Anthology, Eleven Eleven Literary Journal, Split This Rock, Essence Magazine, For Harriet, Poetry Ink Anthology, Poetry In Performance, Stanford University's Black Arts Quarterly, Black Renaissance/Renaissance Noire, Tidal Basin Review, Reverie Journal, Drumvoices Revue and others.  In addition to earning the B.A. degree in English at Hampton University, DuEwa earned the following advanced degrees: M.Ed. in Curriculum and Teaching at Fordham University (NY), Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Creative Writing at The New School (NY), Ed.M. in Educational Leadership at Columbia University (NY). Visit her website at http://www.duewaworld.com./ 





So tell us, how long have you been writing? 
I’ve been writing since I was a child.  I always kept a journal.  I started writing poetry in college.

What genre do you write or prefer writing? 
Poetry has been a passion of mine, but I first started writing professionally as a journalist.  I started writing fiction stories years ago, but my first fiction publication is my first young adult novel, Deanne in the Middle (2014).  I don’t have one genre I prefer, I just enjoy writing and being creative.

How did you know you wanted to become an author/writer? 
Probably since college when I became an English major. 

What inspires you to write? 
Everyday life, reading the work of others, social issues, things that go wrong, things that go right, history, art, music and education.

What message do you want readers to take away from your work?
For my YA novels, I want young readers to feel like they can relate to the characters and visualize the scenes.  For my poetry I want to take the reader or hearer on a journey, and maybe they can reflect and think about something in a different way.

How would you describe your writing style? 
Sometimes poetic, sometimes humorous, sometimes inspiring.

Who are some of your favorite authors?  Zora Neale Hurston, Flannery O’ Connor, J. California Cooper, Langston Hughes, Ntozake Shange, Sonia Sanchez, James Baldwin, Lucille Clifton, Ralph Ellison, Gwendolyn Brooks, Virginia Hamilton, Walter Dean Myers, and many others.

What are some of your favorite books?  Their Eyes Were Watching God, Invisible Man, The Book of Night Women, Creative Visualization, Rotten English, Wrapped in Rainbows, Sassafras, Cypress & Indigo and many others.

What is your formula when working on a new project? (Do you listen to music, use an outline, meditate, or simply start typing?)
Sometimes I write in silence, sometimes I listen to music.  I don’t have a formula. 

If you could collaborate with any of your peers, who would it be and why? 
I’d actually love to collaborate with illustrator Bryan Collier or Christopher Myers on a picture book.  They both have exquisite illustrations in award winning books for children.

What advice would you give aspiring authors? 
Keep at it.  Write. Reflect. Learn. Grow.

I love it!  Write. Reflect. Learn. Grow. I'll definitely be borrowing that. A great mantra to add to my list of daily inspiration.

What are you reading currently?  Poetry, short stories, children’s stories.

Tell us about your latest book. 




It was actually fun for me to write my latest book, Quincy Rules.  It is a story about a 15-year old teen named Quincy Lyles.  She's a sophomore in high school.  She teaches yoga classes at her mother's studio, loves thrift shopping, and has a BFF - Delaney Rojas who is always with her.  Quincy wants to find her father, who she receives cards and letters from with no return address.  Her mother and stepfather don't really want to get involved. This is where Quincy's search begins.  It's an interesting story, and it's so different from my last young adult story, Deanne in the Middle.  I hope the young readers who pick up this book will find some value in it, and see themselves in one of the characters.  

Quincy Rules 
Genre:  Young Adult/Juvenile Fiction/Teens/Mystery
192 pages
Publisher:  Lit Noire Publishing / CreateSpace, October 2016 
Available in Kindle or Paperback via Amazon.com 

Go to amazon.com and get you copy TODAY!!!
 
How can readers find you?  www.duewaworld.com

Links:



As an author, do you think using social media is a great source for gaining new readers/supporters?  Totally.

What’s next for you?  I have some events coming up.

Do you believe networking is crucial to being successful in the writing industry? Why? Why not?  Networking just to network is a waste of time.   It’s better to form long-term connections with those where each of you finds a mutual benefit.  Don’t focus on networking.  Focus on doing what you came here to do. 

Where do you see yourself in five years?  Still creating.

Where do you want to be with your writing in five years?  Growing and developing.

Tell us something that you live by daily, that we can carry with us that should inspire and motivate us to pursue our purpose?  Tomorrow is a new day.  Change is inevitable.  Keep your eye on the prize (whatever that may be). Faith. Hope.

If there is something I didn’t ask that you want readers to know about you, please include it at this time.  Follow me via Twitter @duewaworld and ‘Like’ my Facebook Author Page www.facebook.com/duewafrazier

Please connect with DuEwa and learn about all the wonderful things she has coming in the near future. Authors love to connect with readers. It’s how we exist! Thank you DuEwa for Kickin’ It With KeKe.

Until next time, Be Inspired, Be Encouraged & BE YOU!

Purple Hugs,
KeKe Chanel

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Hey Y'all!!!

It's my favorite time of year!!!

Well, October ended on a good note. I watched lots of scary movies, some corny, some classics, and some that didn't hold my attention long enough to finish. I went to vote during early voting here in Louisiana and just relaxed. I don't usually celebrate Halloween, but this year my Sissy and BIL hosted their very first party and it was a blast. We dressed up and acted like big kids for a few hours playing games, eating, laughing, dancing, and having a grand time. Who knew dressing as someone else could bring out the "happy bug!" It's always important to take a moment or two to enjoy life. To do things that make us happy and spark new thoughts, new passions, and new creative flow. October is my month for doing those things, my month of preparation.

My Costume: Woman in Black-Soul Taker

Because I participate in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in November, I free my mind to heighten creativity during October. This is a wonderful event for writers, authors, and anyone who needs motivation from a community of likeminded individuals. Last year,  I surpassed my goal of 50,000 words in a month. From it came my latest book Silence.
Available now in paperback and eBook

This year, I plan to achieve my goal and produce another great book for your reading pleasure. NaNoWriMo is a great way to hold yourself accountable and accomplish a goal you may put off any other time. It's not too late to join if you are someone who has a goal you want to fulfill when it comes to writing. If you do, please add me as your writing buddy. I'll be on the lookout for you. Writing is no easy task! Receiving motivation and inspiration is essential. This event will surely point you in the right direction.
www.nanowrimo.org.

Aside from relaxing, I have been on a yoga journey. Let me tell you that it has helped me in more ways than I thought possible. I sleep better. I feel better. And, I have dropped inches from my waist. If you want to get in tune with your spiritual self through releasing deadly toxins, go to YouTube and check out Yoga with Adriene. She will change your life and for the better.

Youtube.com/Yoga with Adriene


Remember to breathe, focus, and not worry about things you have no control of.

Until next time Be Inspired, Be Encouraged & Be You!

Purple Hugs,
KeKe Chanel