Wednesday, December 5, 2012

BlogHop: "The Next Big Thing"



I am excited to participate in a bloghop that discusses “The Next Big Thing” in literature.  Dr. Barbara Lavi  introduced me to the Bloghop and influenced my decision to feature more authors on my blog.  I personally have not published any books to date however I would love to promote those creative individuals who are publishing informative and inspirational literature that will cause people to stimulate change in the lives of their readers. I do plan on publishing a book in the near future however instead of focusing on my future book, I would like to promote the work of Alania Osborne-Currie who is “The Next Big Thing”.

Alania Osborne-Currie is an artist and author who currently works as a Social Worker in Shreveport, Louisiana.  She is currently in the process of earning her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Walden University. I recently conducted a short interview with her to discuss her novel, Gonna Find Me An Angel, an intense African-American romance novel that explores the issues of sexual abuse and family secrecy.

What is the title of your book?

    The title of my book is, Gonna Find Me An Angel.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

    I came up with the idea of the book from personal experiences, my    
    experiences on the job and the fieldwork that I have conducted.  The   
   book  deals with many of the issues that are faced by clients who are        
   generally seen by mental health professionals such as myself.

What genre does your book fall under?

   I would characterize it as an African-American romance mystery novel. It 
   possesses a lot of elements from each of these categories.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

   If I were to choose actors for my book, I would choose Halle Berry, Taraji  
   P. Hinson, and Kerry Washington for my female characters. My male 
   actors would be Blair Underwood and Denzel Washington.  Each of these 
   actors have a history of playing roles that are very similar to the characters 
   of my novel.  They have what it takes to bring to life and provide depth to 
   the issues that are faced by these characters.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

   “A woman escapes the perils of abuse, dysfunctional relationships, 
   poverty, and generational secrecy to find an unexpected angel in 
   disguise.”

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

   My book is out and published by iUniverse. It can be found on   
   Amazon.com or Barnes and Nobles.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

   It took me a several years to write this book and one year of editing. So   
   about 10 years.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

   For those who are knowledgeable about African-American romance   
   novels, the writing style is comparable to writers such as Zane and Terry 
   McMillan. I enjoy writing modern literature in a rustic, rural setting with a 
   feeling that is comparable to Devil in a Blue Dress, which is the reason that 
   I thought of Denzel Washington in portraying a character in my book.  This  
   book is raw and written without censoring the language, the experiences,  
   or the issues that are faced by these characters. 

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

   I was inspired by personal experiences and the experiences of the people 
   that I have encountered over the years. I found that the subject matter was 
   relatable.  I was inspired to write about the issue of sexual abuse and the 
   family secrecy that keeps many victims in bondage to the experience 
   because they are not encouraged to share their stories.  Many of these 
   individuals become involved in a cycle of dysfunctional relationships, a 
   lack of feeling of self-worth, and no peace from within. My motives for 
  writing this novel was to provide a story that will be relatable enough to 
  reach the masses and be the catalyst for the reader to gain some sort of 
  release from their own personal experiences that will set them free. I want 
  for those who have experiences similar to those outlined in the book to feel 
  as if the can get a release from family secrets, be real with themselves, be 
  real about what they have experienced, so they can find real peace.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

  The book presents packages serious issues in a sultry, exciting,  
  mysterious way. It is essentially a melting pot to create interest in the 
  reader.

The bloghop featuring “The Next Big Thing” will continue with blogposts from Otescia Johnson and Lorieen Henry.  





Otescia Johnson, wrote He Cheated: A Woman’s Guide to Receiving Healing After Adultery, a book that encourages all women who have been victim to adultery know that forgiveness is an option that leads to personal victory. 









Lorieen Henry, author of There is a Miracle in 21, provides a transparent therapeutic piece of work that shares her spiritual journey through self-discovery.








Stay tuned as I continue to feature, “The Next Big Thing”…

Please check out my website at www.ars-mhrcs.com to find out how you can obtain assistance on academic, personal, or professional development.  Our goal is to provide an understanding of relationships and enhance overall performance through the process of self-discovery.

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