Weekly Book Review #5: The Pussy Whispers by Dean Jean-Pierre

 

The Pussy Whispers is a collection of erotic short stories and poetry written from a woman’s point of view, by a man, (yea, you read that right). 

Dean Jean-Pierre has compiled some of his most sensitive, yet sensual erotic tales and poems in his book, The Pussy Whispers.

It is well written, female friendly and so deliciously decadent, that I suggest that it is read slowly.  It is not meant to be a speed read, but savored as would be a  glass of fine wine or great food.

In his book The Pussy Whispers, Dean Jean-Pierre uses his superb creative writing skills to transfer his readers to exotic island locals, private office spaces and to more intimate settings such as a hotel room, a lover’s boudoir, or to an elevator as in the story Floor 6...9.

With words that wash over you as easily as lyrics to a song, Dean Jean-Pierre has the ability to take you there with the mere stroke of his pen and his wildly salacious imagination.  From the very romantic to the carnal, there is something for every woman here.

The following is an interview with author Dean Jean-Pierre.

Tanya: Thank you so much for your time.  I really enjoyed your book.  You are a self published author and in case some of my readers are unaware this requires a lot more work on the author‘s behalf. That being said, I think the title of your book was a bold choice. How did you decide to name your book, The Pussy Whispers as opposed to a title that might have attracted a more wider audience?

Dean Jean-Pierre: Thank you again for your time and your review of my book. I knew that the title might cause some people not to give my book a chance based solely on the title. In this case, don’t judge a book by title truly does apply. A more subtle title might have given me a wider audience but then I would not be true to myself as a writer. I believe that regardless of the title, the book will find its intended audience. I have no regrets about the title. I love it!

Tanya: I know that this is your first published book. How did you make the decision to choose erotica as your genre for your first publication?  Did you find that erotica is your niche or is it just one of the many facets of your work?

Dean Jean Pierre: My partner, Pascale Jacques and I thought that my brand of sensual erotica would give us the widest possible audience. You have to grab a reader’s attention and once you have it then it becomes easier to introduce them to the other stuff you are working on. I never planned on writing erotica. I just fell into it and it turns out that I am pretty decent at it. My intention was and still is to write novels, poetry and scripts.  

Tanya: Everyone is different. But I preferred to take my time reading your book.  You did a wonderful job at making each story seem fresh and new.  It really takes a great deal of talent to find new and exciting ways to write about the same thing.Was it difficult creating your characters and storylines or did you pull them from your real life experiences?

Dean Jean-Pierre: Reading for me is an experience. I want the writer to transport me to someplace different. I don’t want to say it was easy but the stories come from an assortment of things: conversations, imagination and yes, life. I can hear someone say something and my mind takes it in another direction and a story is born. It’s a beautiful thing.

Tanya: I have said that your book The Pussy Whispers, is a female friendly book, but I think that it would make a great read for couples. As a matter of fact I think that men should read this book and perhaps it can open up more discussions about what a woman truly wants from her partner.

Did you have this in mind when writing The Pussy Whispers or was it intended for entertainment purposes only?

Dean Jean- Pierre: I have received emails from readers that they are reading to their spouse, in bed and overseas. A few readers have even told me that they’ve enacted a few of the pieces. It’s gratifying that my writing is so vivid that it allows people to want to act it out. Most of my readers for now are women but I really do believe there’s a lot to be learned in The Pussy Whispers by men once they give it a chance. Sex doesn’t start down below but in a woman’s mind. Seduce her mind and she will do almost anything you want—almost.

Tanya: I loved your use of metaphors and similes.  Your writing was very vivid and descriptive.

Is this a natural talent or would you say that you’ve honed this writing skill with a lot of practice?

Dean Jean-Pierre: I’ve been writing since the 3^rd grade and I always say that before I am writer that I am a reader. I love to read. When you write, you are speaking to the imagination of your readers so you have to reach deeper to paint the pictures in your mind to communicate with them. It’s agonizing work as a writer goes over every sentence but I love it.

Tanya: Great cover too.  Modest yet straight forward.

Tell us about your covers designer.

Dean Jean-Pierre: The cover design for both of my books was done by Cynthia Colbert. I met her through my partner at CalmWaters and it’s been a good relationship to work with her. The intention of the cover is to convey sensuality in a subtle way but still make it sexy. Sexy doesn’t have to be in your face to be obvious.

Tanya: Thank you so much for your time Dean Jean-Pierre, I’m looking forward to reading more of your work. Any words of inspiration for my readers and aspiring writers?

Dean Jean-Pierre: Every review and criticism is valid. Don’t discount an opinion just because you don’t agree with it. It can help you to grow as a writer. If you ever reach the point where you think that you can’t continue to grow and get better as a writer then you should stop writing.

The Pussy Whispers, a collection of titillating tales and poetry will leave you hungry for more. Ideal for women who don’t want their erotica from a brown paper wrapper or for those who do. (wink)

Happy reading!

The Pussy Whispers as well as Dean Jean-Pierre's second book, Woman Worship is available at www.deanjeanpierre.com and the E Book is available through Kindle. Dean Jean-Pierre is currently working on an erotica spoken word CD which is expected to be released in July.

Weekly Book Review #4: A Face of Prozac One Woman’s Journey Through Eating Disorders, Anxiety, And Really, Really Bad PMS.

We all have issues right? Let’s just be honest. I could list mine, but that would be counterproductive, so I won’t go there. But Jennifer A. Carle does.

In her book A Face of Prozac, she candidly broaches the subject of mental health disorders, eating disorders, anxiety and depression with such authenticity that at times it makes you want to cringe. You cringe because you know that she’s talking about herself and her own personal experiences and it’s not just some fictional character that you’re emotionally connecting with, it’s the author.

I read this book in a few short hours, which I know isn’t saying much, seeing that it’s  a mere 100 pages long. But that’s the beauty of this book. She gets straight to the point. She lays her issues on the line with a comic flair that adds to the ease of reading, A Face of Prozac.

Jennifer A. Carle takes her readers on a journey of her life and through the bumpy terrain she’s traveled along the way as she faces her problems head on. This author proves that coming to the realization that you have a problem is only half the battle, tackling those problems is the next and maybe the most difficult step.

A Face of Prozac is an honest look at a real person’s self acceptance despite her issues. An obstructed view of a life less than perfect through Jennifer A. Carle’s eyes.

The following is an interview with Jennifer A. Carle, author of A Face of Prozac:

Tanya: First of all, I want to thank you for being so candid in your book A Face of Prozac.
1)Was it difficult to speak so frankly about yourself? Did you find it liberating to ‘come clean’ about some things that you were holding inside?

Jennifer: Liberating is an interesting choice of words. I would not wish what has happened to me physically and psychologically on anyone. I have taken prozac over the years for many different reasons, and it works for me. I felt that I had to write this book so that one person would not have to go through all the confusion, self loathing and misdiagnoses that I did. So in a sense, I’m hoping I liberate someone else.

Tanya: I’ve often thought about writing an autobiography, but aside from me thinking that it wouldn’t be interesting enough, I was always so concerned about what my family would think about it.
2) Did you have that fear and how did you overcome it? How accepting was your family about you telling your story?

Jennifer: This was an incredibly hard book to write. My first book, about a dog I adopted from the Maryland SPCA, wrote itself. I literally typed the words that came out of nowhere. The prozac book was all me, and there was a lot I didn’t want to put out there for the world to see. I didn’t want to throw my family under the bus; I didn’t want them to think that if I had different parents or a different husband and kids, none of this would have happened. So I gave all my adult family members a copy of the manuscript and told them if there was any content that they felt shouldn’t be in the book, as long as it didn’t change the tone of the story, I would edit it. No one said anything, so I think they understood that the book is my story from memories that I have. No one else can own this book.

Tanya: Mental illness is such a taboo subject and sadly it doesn’t have the respect of physical health conditions.
3) How did you decide to make this a topic for your book?

Jennifer: I have been through hell and back on at least 4 separate occasions. Prozac works for me. Having premenstrual dysphoric disorder is awful. It’s not a bad day or a bad period. It’s having your body and mind betray you. I thought if I could help just one person not go through what I did, the book would be worth the angsting I put myself through to write it. And honestly, having people rush up to my table to tell me that they are the one person my book helped is very satisfying.

Tanya: I thank you so much for your honesty.
4) Do you have any words of encouragement for my readers and aspiring writers?

Jennifer: This is going to sound lame, but really, if I can do it, anyone can.

Thanks again Jennifer!
 
A Face of Prozac is Jennifer A. Carle’s second book. Her first book Finally Winsome are about dogs that she adopted from a local shelter. Proceeds from the sale of those books go to one of three local shelters. Her most recent book entitled, My College Boyfriend Dumped Me for You: Can I Add You as a Friend? as well as her other books can be purchased at jennifercarle.tateauthor.com. Order your copies today!

Weekly Book Review #3: Snake Walkers by J.Everett Prewitt

Snake Walkers is the story of a boy who wanders into the Arkansas woods in 1948 and witnesses the brutal lynching of another young man. Torn between shame and fear, he is traumatized by the event.

As an adult, Anthony Andrews dreams of becoming a reporter. He secures a job as the first black reporter at the Arkansas Sun. While there, he is given the assignment of investigating the abandonment of a small town and the disappearance of fourteen of it's white male residents. His quest for answers inevitably leads him to a family that harbors a tightly kept secret that they'll do anything within their power to keep that way.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Prewitt last fall at an event where he was the guest speaker. I was impressed by how freely he was willing to share information, to enlighten, and encourage his audience of readers and aspiring writers. After the event I received his book, Snake Walkers as a gift from the coordinators of the event. And I must say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I started reading it and I could not put it down.

Snake Walkers has all the elements of a good read. It has drama, suspense, mystery, romance, murder and a touch of comedy. But it is written in a way that is family friendly. I felt emotionally connected to each of the characters, which was a huge draw for me.

I have never read a book before that promotes such a powerful theme of love of family, family unity and of core family values among African Americans, (I am not saying that these books don’t exist, I’m just saying that I haven't read any).

Snake Walkers is such an important novel that it is on the top of my list for must reads for school curriculums. I believe this should be required reading for students, because it is such a well written story that touches on so many elements of African American history. We see an African American family unlike those often portrayed in our history books and in the media. Such a refreshing change!

Snake Walkers is a mystery novel set in the 1960’s. It is touching and suspenseful, with all of the twists and turns that will keep you flipping its pages.

Snake Walkers is a first novel for J. Everett Prewitt.

The following is an interview with J. Everett Prewitt, author of Snake Walkers:

Tanya: Mr. Prewitt your novel Snake Walkers kept me captivated. Your descriptions of the people and places were so vivid and detailed that I felt I was in the woods with Anthony, seeing and feeling the things he experienced.
You touched on so many things in your novel such as racism, hidden and blatant, inner demons, class differences among blacks of that era and the migration of Southern blacks to the north. Yet you were able to weave such a compelling story that was entertaining and relevant.
Is any part of this story based upon your own personal experience?

Prewitt: Yes. Tanya. I had some experiences that mirrored characters in the book. In 1966, I was one of fourteen students that set an ambush for the Klan when they planned on invading our campus at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Luckily, they drove by the school without stopping. I think someone tipped them off.
If they had come on campus, I probably would have written Snake Walkers from jail.
I was also a pool hustler for a period of time, so parts of Raymond William’s experiences were my experiences.

Tanya: Snake Walkers was such an easy read. But as readers we assume that these novels are just as easy to write.  Did you ever experience writers block? And if so how did you overcome that?

Prewitt: Oh, yes. Many times. I usually overcame it by either reading books on the same subject, conducting more research on some subject matter in the book, or reading books on how to be a better writer. As a last resort, I would read what I had already written and sometimes it spurred me to continue.

Tanya: Did writing Snake Walkers require much research?

Prewitt: Yes. I went to Arkansas, read news articles about that period, and talked to people familiar with the area. I find the more realistic the setting, the more the reader is drawn into the story. I also videotaped an interview of my father, uncle and aunt who lived in Arkansas and got information that I used in the book from their stories.

Tanya: As writers we hope that our readers are left with certain messages after reading our work.  Is that the case with you? And what message do you hope for your readers to get after reading Snake Walkers?

Prewitt: No one is "above the fray" when it comes to fighting injustice. Your strength comes from within. A strong, supportive family is essential when confronting insurmountable odds. Persistence and an open mind are necessary to navigate the treacherous mazes of life.

Tanya: Snake Walkers is a great book. I look forward to reading more from you. Is there anything new in the works?

Prewitt: I’m working on a few things: (1) A book of short stories titled The Last Time I Saw Willie (2) I’m working on a sequel to Snake Walkers titled Two Wolves (3) I also hope to write a non-fiction work about the Glenville community from 1950-1970.

Tanya: Any words of wisdom for my readers and aspiring writers?

Prewitt: Everybody has a story. Those who wish to write it need to be persistent, curious about what makes a good writer and willing to sacrifice time, energy and money to make your book happen. I took writing courses, bought numerous books on writing and joined a writer’s critique group which helped me immensely.

Tanya: Thanks you so much for your time Mr. Prewitt. It’s been a pleasure.

J. Everett Prewitt, master story teller, novelist and winner of Best Books 2005 Awards, Fresh Voices Book Award, Best Fiction Los Angeles, Black Book Expo 2005 and winner of ForeWord Magazine’s Book of the Year 2005.

Oh and did I mention that he’s self published?

J. Everett Prewitt is available for book signings.

Snake Walkers is available online at Amazon, Borders and Loganberry books.  The Kindle edition of Snake Walkers is also available.  Get your copy today!