October 14, 2025 • 65 mins
In this episode we enjoy a hilarious and engaging conversation with USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone. Our conversation ranges from our favorite words to use when writing those spicy scenes readers love to discussing Naima's successful career in the publishing industry. Plus, you don't want to miss her share the juicy details on what we can expect in her upcoming releases.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:01):
Hello and welcome to the Author Spotlight with Kenya Gorey -Bell and myself, Mony Boyz.
Today we have with us USA Today bestselling author Naima Simone.
Naima, would you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
We're so excited to have you here.
Well, thank you for having me.
I'm super excited to be here too, because, you know, y 'all kind of like two of myfavorite people.
(00:21):
Well, I don't people, so you might be my favorite people.
My name is Naim Simone, USA Today bestselling author.
Oh God, this one always stumps me.
I just say like my books are about heart humor and heat.
That's it.
Like that one always stumps me and I feel like an absolute.
(00:44):
ass when I don't have more to say.
not at all!
But that's me, that's me.
That's perfect.
in your bio it says you've been writing since like 2009, correct?
I've been published since 2009.
I've been writing since, well, writing my first romance since the seventh grade.
(01:06):
But yeah, but my, yeah, I was been published since 2009 with the publisher who shall notbe named.
Yeah.
that's a story for off.
Like, the one we were talking about.
You
There have been so many publishers who shall not be named at this point, though.
(01:30):
You can just keep...
Yeah.
Authors and publishers.
You get it.
had, we've had, yeah, it's been an evolution.
Yeah.
So who was one of the first publishers that you're still with?
Because I know that you publish for a few different houses right now.
(01:51):
like that I'm still with.
Well, I've been writing for Harlequin since 2018, no, 19, I think was when my first bookwas published with them.
But I still have books published with Entangled Publishing.
And now I'm writing for Montlake and as of recently, they don't have my book yet, butBramble.
(02:17):
Yeah.
Congratulations on your success!
you.
I appreciate it.
Thank you so much.
And especially as a Black author in romance.
We know there have been countless over the last years about, you know, gatekeeping andthings like that.
So it's always nice to see somebody who has been successful in traditional publishing.
(02:38):
Well, thank you.
I appreciate it.
Yeah, it's well.
You've been out here long like yesterday I was listening to the the Live you did and youwere saying 50 books.
I was like 50
(02:58):
did you?
Because Kenya is my fact checker.
I remember, I remember like when Kevin turned, my son Kevin turned 18, right?
Me, him and Gary went and got a tattoo.
Cause that was like, I was like when the kids turned a certain age, we're all going to getthe same tattoo.
Well, Kevin got his tattoo and he's in the anime.
So right away he like wanted a Japanese tattoo and it said family.
(03:21):
So we all got the tattoo when I posted it on Facebook.
Everybody else said, oh my God, that's so sweet.
Kenya said, I'll be right back.
That don't look right.
And she went and fact checked it.
And then she texted me and said, OK, you right.
I was like, ma 'am.
So I'm telling you, when I said 50 something books, I bet you she went to my website andsaid, let me count them.
(03:42):
Let me count them.
No, I didn't.
But I was just, you know, I even though even though you're my best friend in real life,which, you know, I have to make this announcement because that Naeema tried to keep me in
the closet.
Listen, I will say it right here for everybody to know, Kenya's my best friend, okay?
(04:02):
She's my bestie.
As my mother used to say, she my road dog.
I'm gonna go
Thank you.
She's trying to put baby in the corner.
Anyway.
I'm sorry.
Anyway, so this is so when you say so I was already like but you know I know you love mejust as much but I was just like in awe of you saying 50 books I'm like dang Looks it's
(04:31):
like that is and that's another thing.
You should be celebrating about yourself like I'm like you 50 books is nothing to sneer.
I turn your nose it like I
the amount of dedication and stick -to -itiveness that you gotta have, which is alsodedication though, Kenya, it's the same word.
(04:54):
Okay, you know I be saying that you know.
Yeah, we know it is.
And you're giving up coffee, so we excuse it.
But you know, do y 'all do that like the, hell like the redundancies in the book?
I was like that you just said that in the other sentence.
my God.
I'm doing edits right now and I can't tell you how many times my editor said, is thisintentional, this repetition?
(05:20):
Cause if it's not, you might want to consider.
And I'm like, good looking out.
Cause that was not intentional.
That was, I did not mean to include bar four times in the same sentence.
I promise you I did.
But it's so true, you do like - I have gone back over stuff and I'm like, ooh, why do Ihave that like three or four times?
And sometimes it'll just be variations of the same order.
(05:43):
it's the same word.
It's like, it's got that core word in it.
You know how you have a word a phrase or word that you're like uh That's just you'd loveto say like I love to say little bit and then here's pro writing a smart smart tail It's
either little or bit you don't know here
(06:12):
Yeah!
Hehehehe!
But what I was saying was like, how do you, do you understand where you are in thisindustry and how much you're respected?
Do you celebrate yourself for that?
Like, I already know the answer, but you could tell the world.
(06:34):
I'm sorry.
like you already got on me about this yesterday.
Heheheheh
It is hard for me to get that.
You know, I'm being honest.
And I'm not even being like fake humble.
Like it's not that, it's just hard for me to see it like that, see myself like that.
(06:56):
And I'm learning to celebrate myself, especially on release day.
Or even just the little things along the way that are really great accomplishments, majoraccomplishments.
And even the smaller ones that are still great accomplishments, I don't really, I don'tcelebrate myself, but I am learning to in 2024, the year of our Lord, 2024, I am learning
(07:20):
to celebrate myself.
Like even if it's as small as on release day, take it off.
Like I did that with the husband situation.
I took the day off yesterday.
I treated myself to ice cream and Kenya, I did snap a picture and I will be sending it toyou.
And so it's, it's just.
because she was hedging.
I was like...
You're like, you're not gonna do it.
(07:43):
out trust you
it.
I did do it.
And Gary must've overheard me say to you because he came in, did you order your ice creamyet?
When you gonna order your ice cream?
Did you order it?
I'm like, damn, I'm ordering the ice cream.
so good!
So I did take a picture.
So yeah, I am learning to celebrate myself because it even like release day or finishing abook.
(08:09):
I mean, those things, it's hard, both of you know, it's not easy writing and everythingthat comes with it.
So, each thing needs to be celebrated.
We need to learn it to just honor ourselves.
it should be normalized.
It's not about being like conceited or arrogant or anything like that, but you'veaccomplished something that most people will never do.
(08:30):
How many people say I'm going to write a book but never actually do it?
And you've it 50 times.
So yes, you deserve to celebrate.
appreciate it.
I am learning this year.
I'm going to be a pro at it by 2025.
When is when is like?
Kenya in 2025, I'm gonna be on my Kanye.
(08:52):
Listen, I'm already planning because you know as soon as that book money come I spend itso I'm always I was telling my husband I said you know when I get my because I always say
little with like little is a thing with me I said when I get my little book money he waslike it ain't so little no more
(09:14):
ma 'am.
It ain't little.
It's not so little, no more.
And I was like, okay.
And it's just being able to do this, you know, is a blessing.
And so, but I'm glad to see you're celebrating yourself.
Yeah.
So that's amazing.
(09:37):
But another thing that just really impresses me with your writing,
is and I always be like, how can I get just a little bit more of this is how you threadthe angst through the books and talk about like, how did you learn that?
(09:59):
I'm trying to figure out how to do that better.
But is it just something that like everybody has their special thing, right?
You know, everybody has that thing that they're just is just.
that they're just so good at, you know, and that is your, that's your gift right there.
How do you like, how do you do that?
(10:21):
I mean, all my favorite books, if I named them, are so highly emotional.
Just all the ones I've read from when I was younger into now.
Because if I read a blurb and it's something like the heroin falling for her ex's brother,I'm like, give it to me.
(10:42):
Because that is automatic conflict.
the drama is going to be great and the angst is going to be off the wall.
Cause it is, it is like built in.
So that, that's what I love to read is like all the emotionally high tension books.
And especially like it mix it in with like high sexual.
It's like, yeah, that's, and so, because I've always read that I knew what I wanted towrite, you know, and.
(11:09):
The way to do that is putting together like these broken characters or these characterswould come from backgrounds that aren't perfect.
They're not perfect and put them with people who are just not as perfect in some way, evenif they seem that way.
And then you just let, it's like organic to let the emotions just let loose.
(11:32):
And so I love that.
I love to read it, love to write it.
Well, Kenya's right, you do it so well.
you, ma 'am.
around to answer, bitch.
I said, tell me how you do it.
Nobody said, not anymore.
Tell us about why you doing it.
(11:53):
I said, tell me how you doing it so I can learn.
I don't care.
just do it.
I can't, I just do it.
I can't tell, I mean, honestly, if I could, I would, I just do it.
week about mommy.
I promise you.
I'll just say, how are you doing this?
And she don't know what you mean.
me saying to Kenya, Kenya, just tell me how your brain comes up with these like off thewall shit, like that you come up with.
(12:22):
And can I use your brain for 10 minutes so I can see how your brain comes up with it?
That's like me saying that.
You can't tell me how.
What, like a week ago, she dreamt it.
I'm like, well, what did you use?
Like Benadryl, you know, Trazadone, what, to get that kind of drink?
I need that.
That's what I already been a drill, but if you mix it up with trazadone, I'm in.
(12:44):
Like if I can get those dreams.
Okay, it will pop up out.
Yeah, it pops up out of my sleep.
Yeah, that's true.
Like I will, you know, I try to keep my apps now in the battle bed.
So when it pops up, an idea, I can go ahead and write it down and record it.
(13:09):
that at all.
Like, yeah, my dreams are not that great.
I'm gonna find my goal right now as a writer.
I don't know what other people go is just to steal that thing Sierra does in her writingand then steal the thing that Emma does in her writing.
And I'm being very open with everybody.
(13:31):
Then we'll put it together.
And then I'm gonna be unstoppable.
I'm gonna crash.
I don't know what you talking about.
You already there.
Heheheheh!
You're a man.
minuscule smattering of what's that thing they have when they don't believe in themselves.
(13:52):
What is it?
Yeah, that's my little small smattering.
I don't even know the name.
That's my little smattering.
have it.
She does not have it.
She has never had it.
said, what's that thing?
I never remember what it is.
And me on the other hand, I could be like, it's imposter syndrome.
It's when you don't believe in yourself because you think you won't be able to recreatewhat you did last time.
(14:15):
And like, I got it down.
I got it down.
And Kenya be like, I don't understand you people.
I don't.
And it's always the great ones.
It's always the great great great ones.
We like that
Ha ha ha!
So, yeah, that's weird.
(14:36):
You said that's weird.
That's funny.
Moni, you can ask a question now.
Don't let me just...
You know I just go off and just be keep...
Thank you.
(14:57):
BLEH!
No?
What talking about?
She was not being ironic, not anymore, she actually meant it.
I know why she started laughing, but I did mean it.
wanna go over to Moni and be like, aw, sweet, sweet summer child.
(15:21):
Thank you.
Yeah
People can't see what I'm doing.
You know, he called me a bitch.
I don't know if anybody caught that but that slipped out so smooth that slipped out so Iwas like, well, obviously everybody just got a glimpse of what our off -camera
conversations are like
(15:42):
well, what do I say as soon as you pick up the phone?
Why didn't you call me?
Hehehehehe
You see I'm calling him.
Hehehehehe
then I'd be like, because my husband is like really like protective and I'd just be like,oh my God, don't put me on speaker.
(16:06):
Don't let Gary hear me.
tell you about the time I made a mistake.
I was in the car.
My mother -in was visiting.
It was odd.
My daughter, me and my mother -in in the car and we were on our way to the mall.
Kenya called.
I made the mistake of putting her on speaker phone.
Kenya is that person you need that, you see that t -shirt on Amazon that says, I am notthe friend that you put on speaker phone.
That is her.
(16:27):
Cause as soon as I answered, she was like, bitch, where you been?
I told you to just sit.
I was like, Kenya?
sorry.
-law is on the phone and is in here and I have no speaker.
Oh my God, why didn't you tell me?
She's gonna hate me.
She's gonna think I'm so, like, Naima don't put me on speakerphone.
That's anybody I just now I just be like you got me on speaker do you?
(16:51):
right!
My sister, that's the first thing we ask.
You don't have me on speakerphone, do you?
know me and my sister just do the same thing
I'm a child, but Monique, you've been on the phone with me too, so you know how I am.
and I never have you on speaker.
I have her on speaker when there is no one else in the house.
(17:11):
That is the only safe way to have Kenya on speakerphone, because you have no clue what'sgoing to come out of her mouth.
Absolutely not.
Do it at your own peril.
All of your conversations should be labeled not suitable for work.
right.
That's right.
They're not safe.
(17:32):
They're not safe.
you
Not at all.
Ha ha ha!
So thank you for getting us back on track.
Talk to us a little bit about the Rose Bend series, how it came to be and for you tocreate that series, because it's such a really good series.
(17:54):
I really like it.
My agent and I were talking and she was like, you know, I think you should pitch to HQN.
Well, Canary Street Press now, but, and I was like, oh sure, yeah, who doesn't want towrite HQN?
But you know, full -size novels, that's where I wanted to move into, I mean, full -lengthnovels.
And she's like, well, what do you think you want to write?
(18:15):
And so we was going through all these ideas.
And I was in a kitchen talking to my father and it was October.
And so October, you know, like Hallmark movies are on, but the Christmas movies, likethat's my crack, right?
So I had actually watched like a couple, you know, the night before and then I was inthere talking to my father and I said, you know what?
Cause I was telling him that my agent wanted me to pitch this idea, like an idea.
(18:39):
And I said, I really want to write like a small town Hallmark kind of moot, kind of book.
but with sex and diversity.
And he was like, you know what?
I think you could do that.
I really think you could write that.
And so I just started telling him, like, would it, you know, start bouncing ideas off himabout like being around a big family, because that could bring like a big cast of
(19:05):
characters.
And honestly, like, I just like bounced the idea and brainstormed the idea with him.
And that's what I pitched in.
They bought it and that's how it kind of came to life.
Yeah.
Yeah.
because you know, Rose Ben is like in my top five of favorite books of all time, you know,Road to Rose Ben.
(19:30):
And and that's the very first book with Sydney, who is pregnant, comes back.
She's the black sheep and she is kind of had a crush on Cole Denison once upon a time, buther friend ended up with Cole.
Mm -hmm.
happily married and then Cole lost his wife.
(19:53):
And in that book, you brought together so many beautiful things.
You brought found family.
You brought a widower.
Girl, give me a widower.
And he's still in love with his wife.
And still broken up about it.
(20:15):
Mm -hmm.
then Sydney's backstory where her parents literally had her just so she could save hersister's life.
So she always had this belief that she was kind of expendable, not wanted, and she ends upbeing the black sheep of the family.
(20:39):
Then she's done this one more thing that feels like that.
It's so fresh in my mind.
I mean, this is like everything to me.
Like she comes back having freshly divorced, supposedly on paper, great guy, right?
And he is, but just not for her.
(21:00):
They just for each other.
And no.
Yeah, and then.
And so, and then the first, very first scene that you wrote where they meet at the grave,she's there to see her sister, he's there to see his wife.
(21:20):
And here we go with this tension and angst.
The minute that he sees her, he's excited, he's feeling these feelings.
He was like, wait a minute, why am I feeling these feelings?
This is just a And he steps back.
I didn't.
feels the rejection that she's always felt from people.
(21:42):
Girl, that was a home run.
That right there was like the 10 out of 10 of books is created with the first couple ofchapters, you know, the hook in the book.
Like you just, I mean, that book was that to me, that is just like a masterpiece to me.
(22:03):
I just, that is my favorite book by you.
That is one of my favorite books ever written.
Yeah.
I said.
Wow.
I thought you meant out of year.
I told you once I read Manicold, which is fan fiction and I said that kind of took yourtop spot.
(22:27):
You should have number two and then Tony Morrison's Song of Solomon.
Okay.
And then Demon's Dream.
I know it's a clear commitment to both.
Okay.
But by L .K.
But when I tell you that you, that debut, some debuts are just mad or you know, you'd bereally wanting to celebrate the person, you did your big one with that one.
(22:55):
That was, that.
Got me smiling all hard, my face hurts.
It's the truth and I just, you know, I commend you on that.
But one of the things, and it came up again as we read the new book you got, Single DadProject, is how you mixed in and matched this family together.
(23:15):
And what made you decide we're gonna put some adopted kids in there, we're gonna mix itup.
You said diverse, you got other diverse people in the town, you got people coming to thetown, you got...
the people who own the dab bar and the bikers, like you just, how did you decide, okay,I'm gonna bring this eclectic family and make this lily white town not so lily white.
(23:43):
Like what was the path?
Because so many people just can't get out of there.
They don't have the intellectual curiosity or whatever to broaden their books like in thatway.
Yeah, I like that word, intellectual curiosity.
That's true.
Well, I knew I wanted to write a town that reflected the ideal world, which is wherepeople of different races, cultures, religions, sexuality can coexist together and it not
(24:20):
be a dumpster fire.
You know, and I think the core reflection of that town was the family.
It had to be a family of that would reflect who we could be as a world if we wanted to be,you know, if it was possible, if people would put down arms and see each other, each
(24:46):
other's hearts and each other and, you know, kindness and love and generosity.
And to me, that's what the denizens represent.
And each adopted child has their own story of how they came into this family.
It was also important to me that not every adopted child was because their parents weredrug addicts or they were abandoned or whatever.
(25:09):
That's not what happened.
I wanted kind of like what I said, like I think I said it in Christmas in Rose Bend.
It was like.
Rosebens clap back to This Is Us.
That's the family.
You know, it's, you know, they're very, they're loving, they're accepting, but they alsovery open and respect the ethnicity of the different children.
(25:39):
You know, the parents didn't try to assimilate them into, to be like just whitewashed.
They respected like with Cole,
He's Puerto Rican, so they made sure that he understood his family's, his mother'sculture, her people.
So he didn't feel like an outsider in his own family.
(26:00):
Same thing with Flo, because like there's a scene in the Single Dad Project where she'stalking about her hair.
Her adoptive mother didn't know how to do her hair.
It would just be two ponytails.
And she realized that I have a black child.
I, if I can't do it, then somebody needs to teach me how, and she needs to learn howimportant it is from black women, you know?
(26:26):
So it was just things like that.
There were, this town is tolerant and accepting.
Of course you have characters because we don't live in a bubble and it's not Narnia.
Well, no, that's a bad excuse.
Narnia was rife with evil, but you know, it was, it's not utopia.
So there are people in the town who are intolerant, but.
I hope I've shown how love can conquer intolerant people in their views and theirattitudes, and it doesn't grow in fester.
(26:57):
So that's why I did it.
And to be honest, and I really hope this isn't taken the wrong way, when I realized, whenI got the contract and I was like, okay, this is gonna be my first contract.
with a full -length novel and with HQN, I needed to write, you know, black characters.
(27:25):
I needed to, I didn't want my first book not to be a black woman, you know, and so thatwas another thing.
My goal with the book was to really showcase the beauty of not just all cultures and notjust how we can,
coexist, not just coexist, but just be a part of each other's lives, but Black women.
(27:52):
mean, I don't think there's anything wrong with you saying that.
I think, you know, over the last few years, obviously representation has become a hugething from films to books.
I mean, the thing is being able to I think that's one of the things I love about writingis that I have the opportunity to put somebody that looks like me on the page to do that
(28:14):
kind of thing.
And it was funny because I remember when I
came out with my first paranormal and on the cover there's this woman with this hair thatlooks like mine.
And to be honest, I think it was a kind of unconscious choice, but I kept getting asked somany questions about, but it is like what you were saying, like, you know, you were gonna
have this big opportunity.
You wanted to write somebody that looked like you to honor that because I mean, I think somany times depending on the situation that you're in, you're asked to, you know,
(28:45):
whitewash or even maybe like you said not right like somebody who looks like you orwhatever so i mean to be given the opportunity that you were and that they honored the
fact that you wanted that character to be black yeah
about HQN, like, cause my agent even told them this is going to be a multicultural series,you know, and they had absolutely no problem with that.
(29:10):
They welcomed that.
Same thing with Montlake.
They welcomed the fact that I would be writing characters who look like me, you know?
So they, I will say, and I was happy about that.
It makes me happy to write for publishers who welcome that.
Yeah.
but do you think that has more to do with the fact that by the time you got thesecontracts, you were already more established or that you ride across the board or do you
(29:50):
think it was more your own strength?
Because I see, I've been in,
and around writing long enough, around reading to see where the transition happens.
And then people lose what I call like their voice or maybe their choices start becoming alittle questionable in some of the things that they're picking.
(30:17):
Because sometimes it just feels like when they go from indie and you weren't indie, you'vealways been with publishers.
But sometimes it just feels like when they get that big five contract, they startcompromising themselves or they lose their voice or their voice is edited out.
How do you stay, you know, maintain your strength and integrity doing all of that?
(30:44):
I can only speak for me, I can't speak for other authors.
But when Harlequin came calling for the desire line, they were making an effort tocontract authors of color, because they wanted diverse books, they wanted more of them.
And you can see that, especially around the time, they already started before I came on,but you can really see it after I came on.
(31:13):
the covers were gorgeous, but it was more and more authors of color.
So I can say that for Harlequin that I haven't experienced that with them.
For me, I haven't had to compromise.
It's like you said, I write across the board.
I mean, it's like, however I see the characters and their story, that's how I'm gonnawrite them.
(31:38):
This was a conscious decision for me with the Rose Bend series to...
make sure that Black women were represented, especially in my first few books.
But definitely all throughout the books.
I haven't had to compromise with that.
I don't think it has anything to do with me being an established writer or how many booksI had under my belt or where I came from, but they just knew what I wrote.
(32:07):
When they approached me, they knew how I wrote, what I wrote, my voice.
and they didn't have an issue with that and they never tried to change it.
So yeah, I mean, that's what I mean.
I can only speak for myself.
I haven't had to compromise.
And I still write, the only thing I will say I had to compromise on was like my first bookfor Harlequin was, you know, I can't say that word out loud.
(32:33):
I can write it a hell of a lot of times, but I can't say it out loud, the big word.
I had to ask him like, well, how many times can I say that?
Pussy.
Like how many times can I?
I'm trying to figure it out!
I'm sorry.
(32:54):
I was sitting here, I was all leaning on the camera like...
You was in confusion.
You had the chance to.
Oh my god, that was too funny!
give me a ballpark of how many times I can use this word.
(33:14):
Inclin, like how many times?
And they were like, well, you can't use it as many like as you.
I was like, oh, okay, so I gotta get creative.
Got you, got you.
I gotta get creative.
That's like the only thing that I had to like kind of dial back on.
know, wait, to that, though, I will say because you did a bomb class for the VirginiaRomance writers about writing sex scenes, and you gave us a very nice vocabulary to use
(33:44):
that I still go back to.
had to use that sheet because I had to get creative since they took my main word away.
And they took my main word, like they were like, and you can't use, now I have ramped itup in the last few books and they dialed me back with how many times I've used it.
So, and then in this new book that for like, you know, desire went away and after glow isnow like the new line.
(34:12):
And my book for it, Church Girl, like, yeah, I went all out.
Balls to the wall, we're using it.
I don't know what the ad is gonna come back looking like, but I was like, you told me Icould go for broke.
I broke it.
Don't have me look, you know how you go in the search?
(34:32):
If you go in the search and you look it up into the, if you do that for any of my books,you best believe it's gonna be over a hundred.
It's gonna come up like we lost count.
We lost count.
page!
If it's a 300 page book, 150 of them is gone.
(34:56):
And then now I've gotten brave because I got a little following now.
So I put the see you next Tuesday in there a couple of times.
used that and you know that used to be the word.
I was like, I will not write.
I've used it a couple of times now.
I'm like, it fit, it fit though.
(35:16):
like men think that word.
I think men think that word.
They may not say it.
You know, not to no sister, because we like, ew, don't we say that word.
Ew.
I'm like, that's a bear.
I'm a good girl.
Oh, heck.
and now I've used it and I'm like yeah.
(35:38):
thing is like when a reader said, and she even used, see you next Tuesday.
He's like, it did.
was hot.
It was like, I was like, okay, grandma, okay.
Grandma.
I said, he's gonna think it.
He might, he might think it, but he's gonna, but if it, if I can't listen, if he can'tcall it a pretty pussy, a fat pussy, it's over for me.
(36:07):
I don't wanna write it anymore.
I don't wanna write it.
it is so hard for me to say that word out loud.
It is so hard.
It is so hard.
word or the C word?
Now I ain't saying the C word out loud.
I can say the C word out loud before the P word, but I use it profusely.
Like it is like, at this point it...
(36:29):
shocked face.
I did not.
I'm the person.
Yeah, talk to me for five minutes.
I cleaned it up for this, but like talk to me for five minutes.
Like the F -bomb gonna come out, the MF -er, like it comes out, but like that word?
I'm like, you know what I think it is.
(36:51):
It goes back to my grandmother, right?
Mm -hmm.
She used to do this on purpose when my father was around, because he couldn't stand it.
But she would be like, oh, where's my, come here little pussies, come here, where mypussies at?
My little pussies.
And my father used to hate it.
And I guess, like hearing it now, it's so cringe.
(37:12):
Like I can't, I can't, come here little pussies, come here pussies.
I was like, oh my God.
Oh.
up like they called it everything but that it you know my grandma They would be they wouldsay sugar cake they would say pocketbook Yes I said sugar cake right
(37:46):
It's a sugar cake.
So that people just for the Southern girls because that is like what they call it downhere.
So I'm like, okay.
Yes, it's Southern.
They got, listen.
pop it.
I'm gonna throw that one out there to my sister when we talking.
(38:09):
That's how I've been told.
I've been told it's appropriate.
we go, here we go.
Here we go, it took a turn.
It took a turn, it took a turn.
Oh my God, stop.
We don't care.
I thought you about to go, you said personal experience.
I was like, we don't care.
(38:31):
Oh.
actually is a sugar cake, I taste like whatever.
However, I've been told.
I've been told.
we go.
This is always where we end up, I'm just saying.
It does not matter, this is where we always end up.
She's either gonna talk about that or she's gonna talk about my father.
And then I'm like, I gotta go, I gotta go.
(38:53):
Yeah!
Not even daddy is high
I told my father you called him a zaddy too and after I had to explain what a zaddy was hewas like, gave me side eye.
He was like...
be like, hey, Paz, huh?
(39:13):
Hey, Paz, huh?
never be in the same room and I'm telling you that right now.
It's happening.
It's happening.
It's happening.
Sorry, I'm a lawyer.
God, she's so bad.
(39:36):
happens to Chris, I'm coming straight for your dad.
Hahaha!
And I'm gonna drop a keg on you, I'm gonna come straight for your knees too.
at our house every Sunday.
And I will be trying to boss you around and tell you what to do.
is where if we were on the phone, I'd be like, I gotta go.
But since we're doing the interview, I can't go nowhere.
(39:59):
I can't go nowhere.
I'm being held hostage.
Hey!
Yeah
I hate her!
She can't come here to my bed!
I'm like crazy!
well I will be the person I'm supposed to be and stop laughing.
(40:20):
Like, okay, we're moving on.
Please!
Please!
So I know.
Yeah, she's like, we're picking up on the messages.
it.
I'm glad.
I'm sorry.
I don't know how much you can tell us about it because I know you and I were kind oftalking before we started recording.
(40:42):
Can you tell us anything about the dark romance that you are writing?
I can.
Like I was telling you before, the text came that started this whole thing at one o 'clockin the morning and it was from Kenya and it was like, I think you should write a mafia
romance based around fairy tale princesses, Disney princesses.
(41:03):
And I was like, it was one o 'clock in the morning.
And like I told you, my first thought is why does heffa up?
Why is she texting me at one o 'clock in the morning?
And then my second thought was, why am I reading it?
Why am I reading at one o 'clock in the morning?
But it was like, it like struck something in my soul.
I was like, yeah, you gonna help me plot it out?
(41:24):
I'm serious.
And she was like, yeah.
So that's like how it started.
And that's what it is.
The first book, it's three books.
The first book is based on Snow White and Huntsman.
And it's a dark romance mafia.
He is sent to hunt her.
She gets to drop on him.
(41:45):
Shenanigans ensue.
And it's like, cause yeah, it's in 2025 and I'm writing it now.
Like, I know, I know you gotta wait a whole year.
I know, I know.
But I'm excited about it.
Cause again, Kenyon came through and she...
No, but only you can do this.
(42:08):
You can, this is gonna be so good.
Moni, she is so.
I cannot wait!
Oh my god, that sounds so good.
Like I was all, you should have heard me.
I was like, I don't know how I could do this, boo.
Like once start actually writing it.
But once I got just like over the fear, cause it's so outside the box of what I usuallydo, but that's why it's exciting for me to write it.
(42:32):
You know, just kind of like let loose and let them rein me in.
You know, so I'm loving it so far.
I really am.
I'm so -
my god, I'm sorry.
I am so that is going on my like can't wait list.
I'll be like, so when does the release date in 2025?
Like I want to put that on my calendar.
as I have it, y 'all will have it.
(42:54):
Cause I'm going to be like, listen.
most anticipated because it's so few people writing dark romance.
We have urban romance, which is essentially, you know, the grandfather of dark romance, ofall the dark romances.
But both of you have that voice for dark YouTube, Moni.
(43:16):
Like both of you, yes.
If you could write urban fantasy,
If you could write urban fantasy with those same elements, then you know, that's just,listen, write what you normally write, just make the villain the hero.
That's the simplest way to write.
(43:38):
Make the villain.
so much fun making the villain a hero.
And in my case, they're both villains, right?
They're both morally great people.
And it is so much fun.
Oh, absolutely.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I don't I don't want to throw out the word blood play in the first two chapters, but therewas blood play in the first two chapters.
(44:05):
She's into me.
She pushes the envelope even more than he does.
But just because like she is not your your regular romance heroin.
Like my girls are most itself a candy coming up because she a wildcat.
But the way like who who knew Naima had this little wicked girl inside of her.
(44:30):
And this this girl is going to be she's she's diabolical.
She's a little...
Yeah.
Yeah, her moral code is a little off -center.
But she has one.
But she has one, though.
She does.
She does.
And I think that's what I love about dark romance in the characters.
(44:54):
Their code of honor might not be yours, but they have a code of honor.
And there are certain things they're not going to do.
And then, like, I mean, well, Kenya, you know, you write them.
Like shoot, shoot, shoot, ride them all the time.
And they're fantastic.
And you can't help but love them because they're heroic in their own way.
(45:16):
So you just can't help but love them.
they said, the hero will sacrifice you for the world, sacrifice himself for the world.
And they said, and the villain will burn the whole world down for you.
You mean my villain?
we're getting this discussion all the time in our family, like about Batman versusSuperman, right?
(45:39):
It's like, I want the Batman hero who will, he doesn't believe in saving one person andletting, like that Superman, like if one person is falling from the, you know, from the
top, from like the skyscraper and he's going to go save that one person and like then tryto go save everybody else.
Nah, not Batman.
(46:01):
He'll blow all of you up and sacrifice that one person.
He's like, nah, I mean, you versus the all versus that one or two people, sorry, you gotto go, but the world going the world going burn.
And that's like with like that's kind of that's the mentality that I love in a hero, likea dark hero, except for when it's like you said, Kenya, when it's that that heroin that
(46:25):
person, he will.
carry all down, flip all this shit over for her.
Like, you know what I mean?
essentially what the, that's essentially the dark romance formula.
And it's like, some people dabble, but they don't stay in this line.
I'm trying to get some sisters to come over here and stay.
(46:48):
Because I mean we have I think that's why I love urban fiction so much I mean becausethose men Listen, they ruthless they ruthless but oh my gosh Do they love their women and
their family and their family and they will?
They will tear a city up and stand back and light their cigarette with the fire to Saveher and family don't
(47:18):
They're blind.
yeah.
That's why I love it.
That's why I love it so much.
and the fearlessness with which or and let's talk about that a little bit because now thatwe have our noses been open I don't even know what the first book we got our nose open on
urban romance Was it or was it attempted by danger?
(47:45):
Which one came first?
That was more black romance
yes, yes, but Demon's Dream was full -fledged urban.
And it, oh my.
no, it's on my list.
It's on my Kindle.
Sorry.
God, drop everything and read it today.
Drop everything.
(48:06):
me tell you about a little spiel.
You ain't clever and you ain't cute.
Listen, you got to read David's dream.
Everybody is.
Like last year I was threatening to unfriend in order to be on the other side.
David's dream, white or black.
(48:27):
Yes, it does not matter.
You have to read this book.
It will, from the first chapter, Kenya, remember like I read the first chapter, becauseKenya's the one who's like, you told me about it.
And then I went and I got it.
And the first chapter, I texted her and was like, oh my God, he killed somebody in thefirst chapter.
They had it coming.
(48:47):
They had it coming.
But like, with no remorse.
Like,
I need you to read this book, okay?
I need you to read this book.
It is the one that just, like, telling you, it just opened up the whole world of urbanfiction to me.
And I have, I am happily staying over here.
It is, it is everything to me.
(49:10):
Yeah, I got favorite authors.
That's like, I'm like, you should see my Kindle, like, on my Kindle, you know, like, whatto read next.
It's all these books.
It is nothing else but urban.
Like, cause I'm loving it over here.
It is absolutely wonderful.
The craft, the way they craft the stories, the characters.
(49:30):
It's just, like you said, the fearlessness in the writing.
Sometimes I'm like, y 'all don't give a fuck, do you?
Yeah.
I want that in my own writing, right?
I do.
I want people to read mine and be like, yo, she said, what breaks?
(49:53):
Hehehehehe
And what's so amazing is that, you know, people are like, oh, this is like, it gets a, itgets a bad rep, but it only gets a bad rep is cause because of anti -blackness.
But when, when you find out like, India Carter, like I went in her DMs after I read, um,and she writes, she writes, uh, urban under Ms.
(50:17):
J and she writes, yes.
Oh my God, like Stolen by the Billionaire is one of my favorites.
And then we ain't ain't gonna talk about the danger men, like, ugh.
when I went in her DMS and I was like, can you come and do the KGB?
(50:37):
She's like, oh my dear.
No, I'm an educator.
I can't Look I got a day job and L KC is also a professor like all of these women are so
Okay, so we could never ask her to be on the podcast.
we could probably ask her to be on the podcast.
(50:58):
But on the other, on the other, you know, the one I do on Thursday, but she was like, youknow, and it was so many.
And I remember Zyla Turner used to be like that.
She's retired from writing now and.
I didn't know that.
I love her books.
She retired from right girl and I only knew because somebody I was like, where's where'sthe new zala turner books and stuff and they were like she got a you know big uh position
(51:25):
and in in education And she went into you know higher up into her field and she was likelisten, i'll be back
Yeah!
So she's just on hiatus.
she says she's retired.
She says she's retired.
Well, she can be like Tom Brady and come back.
(51:48):
You know, that don't mean nothing.
Yeah.
uh, what was the one where he was a widower too.
Mr.
Vega.
Oh God.
my God, I love that book.
too.
Ugh.
Vega baby, and the girl she was riding her bike and got hit by got hit
(52:09):
That cover, I just remember that cover too was just, oh so sexy.
Yeah, he was handsome.
there is such a wealth of talent in the writing community, but just among, you know, Blackwriters, 100%.
Like they are so top tier.
So, but Urban's cutting new ground.
(52:30):
So what are you doing, Naima, on your path to forge new ground here now?
Other than what's after...
What's on the chopping block after the dark romance or have you started?
don't even know.
Like I, well, you know, I still have, I still have an Afro girl book the right afterchurch girl.
(52:54):
And then I still have one more Rose Ben book the right, but shoot, I don't know.
Well, I have started a super secret project.
I'm sorry.
that I'm not going to say anything about.
That I'm not going to say anything about, but I have.
It's kind of like a passion project for me.
(53:15):
So it's super secret.
I'll tell you about it after I get off here.
And.
But, shoot, I don't know.
But what I will say is that after I finish the dark romance books, I don't want to go backto being safe.
You know, I want to continue to.
(53:36):
challenge myself with anything that I write, whether that is contemporary romance oranother small town romance or more dark romance, whatever it is, this has made me, it's
shown me that I can write outside the box and outside my comfort zone and pivot andreframe who I am as a writer and enjoy it.
(53:58):
So I don't want to go, I want to continue in that.
So whatever it is.
That's good.
It's like once that door is open, you can't close it.
want to either.
Like I don't want to cause I'm excited about what I'm writing.
It's fun.
And in writing, whenever writing stops being fun, you need to, I'm not saying don't do itanymore, but you need to figure out why write and pursue what does, what is fun.
(54:24):
Because of course this is a business, but like all jobs, you should get up every morningwanting to do, go do your job and whatever career it is.
You should enjoy it.
you know, not just make money from it.
a blessing because so many people hate their jobs, you know?
exactly.
(54:44):
And I've been there.
On my nine to five, I've been there, cried to work some days.
And I don't want to do that, especially not with this.
So yeah, that's my plan as nebulous and unformed as that is.
Yeah.
yourself, you know, just be like, what would Beyonce do?
(55:09):
She would pivot.
What would Beyonce do?
It is a good question.
Man, she said, she said, I don't care about what y 'all said.
I should be doing what I can do.
(55:29):
Watch this.
Yeah.
You have topped everything in that, like to me, just like you, you've topped everything,like the contemporary thing.
You've met those goals that you set for yourself.
It's not even what other people set, but then you go into something else and that's alwaysgoing to lead into a fabulous new discovery, you know?
(55:55):
And I am already discovering things, whether they scare me or not.
You know, I already am.
And I do, I don't want it to be boring.
I don't wanna just regret.
I don't wanna have any regrets.
I don't wanna lay any regrets on a table.
And the regret comes when I choose not to do it because I'm afraid.
(56:18):
Whether I'm afraid it's not gonna be good, people are not gonna like it, people are notgonna accept it.
Like...
I don't want to do that, you know, so I'm going to write what's exciting for me, what'sfun for me, and hope that it's the same for everybody else.
But the thing is that I did it and I didn't let fear control me or stop me.
(56:39):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, I think that's really key because I think a lot of people get caught up in thefear and either that's when they don't act on things or do things just like I'm sure
there's plenty of people that are like, I want to write a book, but the fear is getting inthe way.
And so I think that's important.
(57:00):
Sometimes you just have to work through it.
Yeah.
course.
I mean, and especially if something you haven't done or, you know, it's so foreign to youor you've seen other people do it and it wasn't successful for them, you know, then that
that's a fear of you not doing it as well.
(57:22):
So of course we all have fear, but the important part is not to get shipwrecked in fear.
It's to continue.
It's the move, push past it.
The only way you're going to get over it is pushing past it.
And I'm not saying I have it all down.
I have my moments.
Like Kenya tell you, I didn't text her like, I don't know how I can do this shit.
(57:43):
But then you have friends, you have your community be like, yes, you can put your ass in achair and write, you know, yeah.
So it's important to have that community.
listen, that day you told me that we were talking about your new series and you saidsomething and you was like, and you said like, I just want your brain for whatever, cause
(58:05):
it's like a genius.
Girl, I was walking around a week.
I was like, now you said.
So stupid.
I'm like, not evil.
Chris, you know now Iman said I was a G.
Hehehehe!
I said, well bet you are.
(58:26):
And I was like, but you look better.
I'm like, I need your brain for just one hour.
I will mind the hell up out of that, just one hour.
Because the way it works, it's like, when you should go left, it makes sense to go left.
She's like, fuck it, right?
And then I'm gonna do another path right here.
(58:47):
And then it's like, you know?
I'm like, her brain, the ideas that come out of there, I'm like, whew.
Yeah
hour, one hour.
If only she could spell.
If you were to replace a comma, she would be unstoppable!
(59:10):
Yeah
I can't even lie, because when I send in, by the time I send in my books, especially ifthey late and I'm tired and I'm past the deadline, I don't, the most you gonna get out of
me is a spell checking word.
I'm sending that on and I'm like, listen, let me apologize in advance editor, but yougonna earn that edit part of editor with this.
(59:34):
It's gonna be a lot, it's gonna be a lot, I'm just telling you.
Everybody has their job.
I don't even feel bad anymore.
You know, not everybody.
is done.
I've fulfilled my obligation.
I didn't say it would be spelled well.
I didn't say the grammar would be correct.
I just said it's done.
The story is gonna be poppin', okay?
(59:57):
It's gonna be a banger, okay?
Yes.
Him pass the misspellings in there.
Misspelling not K -N -O -T instead of N.
Just ignore that.
That's what always get me the correct spelling of the wrong word.
(01:00:19):
It's like, we all got those words that are like, wait a minute.
Like mine is like, is it a factor effect or what?
I don't know.
I always have to look it up.
Every single time.
There's a million other ones like, elicit and elicit.
single time.
Every time.
(01:00:41):
Somebody taught me the, I know, like that I got now because somebody gave me the key tothat.
that Sierra Simone.
I was like, listen, I'll be sending her little things and she's like, okay, this and thenshe'll give me like a little detail explanation and stuff.
Then I'll pin it.
So.
(01:01:02):
Ha!
You would not know that this is an MFA degree.
You would not know.
It's just like all of that dissolved and the country girl was so imprinted that that's allthat comes out.
(01:01:24):
The readers love it, but it comes out in all the grammar, everything.
I can't wait to say FENTU.
I'm gonna put that in.
You had it!
You have a second!
I have been trying to slowly ease them into the real me.
You
I'm so surprised you haven't said that yet.
(01:01:46):
Especially where your books are set.
I mean, how has it not come up?
know because some of these girls are a little halffalutin so I'm going to I'm gonna golike candy is all of that goes out the window because candy yes candy hasn't had any
formal like you know education for real you know she had been caught up in like a studentand I want to write that book where you just got an incredible talent.
(01:02:18):
and she can bake her ass off and that is, and that's her thing.
She go bake her stuff, then she go get drunk.
That's her thing.
That's party, that's her thing.
And she got this, the straight arrow guy who hates all of it.
And that is the only, like, this is gonna be interviews to lovers.
(01:02:41):
Like, I'm so excited to write it.
It's...
wait for this book.
It's gonna be so good.
gonna do a fin two in that one.
Yeah, you're gonna sugar cake
Yeah.
Since she's a baker, like, she should stay, yeah, it should be, it does.
the filthiest filthiest way.
(01:03:03):
Yeah
She gonna be like, you want to eat my sugar cake?
Okay, before this gets x -rated
you!
Did you see me blink again?
Moni, did you see me blink again?
you didn't blink you
will save you tonight, I will save you.
(01:03:24):
Okay, so please let the audience know where they can find you online, on social media,where can they go to keep tabs on what it is that you're doing and buy your books.
on Facebook, Naima Simone Author, Instagram, Naima Simone Author, TikTok now, Naima SimoneAuthor, and of course my website, www .naimasimone .com.
(01:03:50):
So hit me up all those places.
I loved it.
are so thankful that you were able to join us.
This has been so much fun.
I've had the best time.
I really have.
I don't think I've laughed this much.
It's been a minute.
Well, yeah, like this week I have laughed a lot and I am so, so thankful for it.
But y 'all, I mean, I had, I had such a good time.
(01:04:11):
I always do.
Yeah.
Y 'all are some, y 'all two of my favorite people.
So, so I always do.
Well, thank you everyone for joining us and just remember you'll be able to find all ofour information on the site as well.
Yay, thank you for having me!
You
Hello and welcome to the Author Spotlight with Kenya Gorey -Bell and myself, Mony Boyz.
Today we have with us USA Today bestselling author Naima Simone.
Naima, would you please tell us a little bit about yourself?
We're so excited to have you here.
Well, thank you for having me.
I'm super excited to be here too, because, you know, y 'all kind of like two of myfavorite people.
(00:21):
Well, I don't people, so you might be my favorite people.
My name is Naim Simone, USA Today bestselling author.
Oh God, this one always stumps me.
I just say like my books are about heart humor and heat.
That's it.
Like that one always stumps me and I feel like an absolute.
(00:44):
ass when I don't have more to say.
not at all!
But that's me, that's me.
That's perfect.
in your bio it says you've been writing since like 2009, correct?
I've been published since 2009.
I've been writing since, well, writing my first romance since the seventh grade.
(01:06):
But yeah, but my, yeah, I was been published since 2009 with the publisher who shall notbe named.
Yeah.
that's a story for off.
Like, the one we were talking about.
You
There have been so many publishers who shall not be named at this point, though.
(01:30):
You can just keep...
Yeah.
Authors and publishers.
You get it.
had, we've had, yeah, it's been an evolution.
Yeah.
So who was one of the first publishers that you're still with?
Because I know that you publish for a few different houses right now.
(01:51):
like that I'm still with.
Well, I've been writing for Harlequin since 2018, no, 19, I think was when my first bookwas published with them.
But I still have books published with Entangled Publishing.
And now I'm writing for Montlake and as of recently, they don't have my book yet, butBramble.
(02:17):
Yeah.
Congratulations on your success!
you.
I appreciate it.
Thank you so much.
And especially as a Black author in romance.
We know there have been countless over the last years about, you know, gatekeeping andthings like that.
So it's always nice to see somebody who has been successful in traditional publishing.
(02:38):
Well, thank you.
I appreciate it.
Yeah, it's well.
You've been out here long like yesterday I was listening to the the Live you did and youwere saying 50 books.
I was like 50
(02:58):
did you?
Because Kenya is my fact checker.
I remember, I remember like when Kevin turned, my son Kevin turned 18, right?
Me, him and Gary went and got a tattoo.
Cause that was like, I was like when the kids turned a certain age, we're all going to getthe same tattoo.
Well, Kevin got his tattoo and he's in the anime.
So right away he like wanted a Japanese tattoo and it said family.
(03:21):
So we all got the tattoo when I posted it on Facebook.
Everybody else said, oh my God, that's so sweet.
Kenya said, I'll be right back.
That don't look right.
And she went and fact checked it.
And then she texted me and said, OK, you right.
I was like, ma 'am.
So I'm telling you, when I said 50 something books, I bet you she went to my website andsaid, let me count them.
(03:42):
Let me count them.
No, I didn't.
But I was just, you know, I even though even though you're my best friend in real life,which, you know, I have to make this announcement because that Naeema tried to keep me in
the closet.
Listen, I will say it right here for everybody to know, Kenya's my best friend, okay?
(04:02):
She's my bestie.
As my mother used to say, she my road dog.
I'm gonna go
Thank you.
She's trying to put baby in the corner.
Anyway.
I'm sorry.
Anyway, so this is so when you say so I was already like but you know I know you love mejust as much but I was just like in awe of you saying 50 books I'm like dang Looks it's
(04:31):
like that is and that's another thing.
You should be celebrating about yourself like I'm like you 50 books is nothing to sneer.
I turn your nose it like I
the amount of dedication and stick -to -itiveness that you gotta have, which is alsodedication though, Kenya, it's the same word.
(04:54):
Okay, you know I be saying that you know.
Yeah, we know it is.
And you're giving up coffee, so we excuse it.
But you know, do y 'all do that like the, hell like the redundancies in the book?
I was like that you just said that in the other sentence.
my God.
I'm doing edits right now and I can't tell you how many times my editor said, is thisintentional, this repetition?
(05:20):
Cause if it's not, you might want to consider.
And I'm like, good looking out.
Cause that was not intentional.
That was, I did not mean to include bar four times in the same sentence.
I promise you I did.
But it's so true, you do like - I have gone back over stuff and I'm like, ooh, why do Ihave that like three or four times?
And sometimes it'll just be variations of the same order.
(05:43):
it's the same word.
It's like, it's got that core word in it.
You know how you have a word a phrase or word that you're like uh That's just you'd loveto say like I love to say little bit and then here's pro writing a smart smart tail It's
either little or bit you don't know here
(06:12):
Yeah!
Hehehehe!
But what I was saying was like, how do you, do you understand where you are in thisindustry and how much you're respected?
Do you celebrate yourself for that?
Like, I already know the answer, but you could tell the world.
(06:34):
I'm sorry.
like you already got on me about this yesterday.
Heheheheh
It is hard for me to get that.
You know, I'm being honest.
And I'm not even being like fake humble.
Like it's not that, it's just hard for me to see it like that, see myself like that.
(06:56):
And I'm learning to celebrate myself, especially on release day.
Or even just the little things along the way that are really great accomplishments, majoraccomplishments.
And even the smaller ones that are still great accomplishments, I don't really, I don'tcelebrate myself, but I am learning to in 2024, the year of our Lord, 2024, I am learning
(07:20):
to celebrate myself.
Like even if it's as small as on release day, take it off.
Like I did that with the husband situation.
I took the day off yesterday.
I treated myself to ice cream and Kenya, I did snap a picture and I will be sending it toyou.
And so it's, it's just.
because she was hedging.
I was like...
You're like, you're not gonna do it.
(07:43):
out trust you
it.
I did do it.
And Gary must've overheard me say to you because he came in, did you order your ice creamyet?
When you gonna order your ice cream?
Did you order it?
I'm like, damn, I'm ordering the ice cream.
so good!
So I did take a picture.
So yeah, I am learning to celebrate myself because it even like release day or finishing abook.
(08:09):
I mean, those things, it's hard, both of you know, it's not easy writing and everythingthat comes with it.
So, each thing needs to be celebrated.
We need to learn it to just honor ourselves.
it should be normalized.
It's not about being like conceited or arrogant or anything like that, but you'veaccomplished something that most people will never do.
(08:30):
How many people say I'm going to write a book but never actually do it?
And you've it 50 times.
So yes, you deserve to celebrate.
appreciate it.
I am learning this year.
I'm going to be a pro at it by 2025.
When is when is like?
Kenya in 2025, I'm gonna be on my Kanye.
(08:52):
Listen, I'm already planning because you know as soon as that book money come I spend itso I'm always I was telling my husband I said you know when I get my because I always say
little with like little is a thing with me I said when I get my little book money he waslike it ain't so little no more
(09:14):
ma 'am.
It ain't little.
It's not so little, no more.
And I was like, okay.
And it's just being able to do this, you know, is a blessing.
And so, but I'm glad to see you're celebrating yourself.
Yeah.
So that's amazing.
(09:37):
But another thing that just really impresses me with your writing,
is and I always be like, how can I get just a little bit more of this is how you threadthe angst through the books and talk about like, how did you learn that?
(09:59):
I'm trying to figure out how to do that better.
But is it just something that like everybody has their special thing, right?
You know, everybody has that thing that they're just is just.
that they're just so good at, you know, and that is your, that's your gift right there.
How do you like, how do you do that?
(10:21):
I mean, all my favorite books, if I named them, are so highly emotional.
Just all the ones I've read from when I was younger into now.
Because if I read a blurb and it's something like the heroin falling for her ex's brother,I'm like, give it to me.
(10:42):
Because that is automatic conflict.
the drama is going to be great and the angst is going to be off the wall.
Cause it is, it is like built in.
So that, that's what I love to read is like all the emotionally high tension books.
And especially like it mix it in with like high sexual.
It's like, yeah, that's, and so, because I've always read that I knew what I wanted towrite, you know, and.
(11:09):
The way to do that is putting together like these broken characters or these characterswould come from backgrounds that aren't perfect.
They're not perfect and put them with people who are just not as perfect in some way, evenif they seem that way.
And then you just let, it's like organic to let the emotions just let loose.
(11:32):
And so I love that.
I love to read it, love to write it.
Well, Kenya's right, you do it so well.
you, ma 'am.
around to answer, bitch.
I said, tell me how you do it.
Nobody said, not anymore.
Tell us about why you doing it.
(11:53):
I said, tell me how you doing it so I can learn.
I don't care.
just do it.
I can't, I just do it.
I can't tell, I mean, honestly, if I could, I would, I just do it.
week about mommy.
I promise you.
I'll just say, how are you doing this?
And she don't know what you mean.
me saying to Kenya, Kenya, just tell me how your brain comes up with these like off thewall shit, like that you come up with.
(12:22):
And can I use your brain for 10 minutes so I can see how your brain comes up with it?
That's like me saying that.
You can't tell me how.
What, like a week ago, she dreamt it.
I'm like, well, what did you use?
Like Benadryl, you know, Trazadone, what, to get that kind of drink?
I need that.
That's what I already been a drill, but if you mix it up with trazadone, I'm in.
(12:44):
Like if I can get those dreams.
Okay, it will pop up out.
Yeah, it pops up out of my sleep.
Yeah, that's true.
Like I will, you know, I try to keep my apps now in the battle bed.
So when it pops up, an idea, I can go ahead and write it down and record it.
(13:09):
that at all.
Like, yeah, my dreams are not that great.
I'm gonna find my goal right now as a writer.
I don't know what other people go is just to steal that thing Sierra does in her writingand then steal the thing that Emma does in her writing.
And I'm being very open with everybody.
(13:31):
Then we'll put it together.
And then I'm gonna be unstoppable.
I'm gonna crash.
I don't know what you talking about.
You already there.
Heheheheh!
You're a man.
minuscule smattering of what's that thing they have when they don't believe in themselves.
(13:52):
What is it?
Yeah, that's my little small smattering.
I don't even know the name.
That's my little smattering.
have it.
She does not have it.
She has never had it.
said, what's that thing?
I never remember what it is.
And me on the other hand, I could be like, it's imposter syndrome.
It's when you don't believe in yourself because you think you won't be able to recreatewhat you did last time.
(14:15):
And like, I got it down.
I got it down.
And Kenya be like, I don't understand you people.
I don't.
And it's always the great ones.
It's always the great great great ones.
We like that
Ha ha ha!
So, yeah, that's weird.
(14:36):
You said that's weird.
That's funny.
Moni, you can ask a question now.
Don't let me just...
You know I just go off and just be keep...
Thank you.
(14:57):
BLEH!
No?
What talking about?
She was not being ironic, not anymore, she actually meant it.
I know why she started laughing, but I did mean it.
wanna go over to Moni and be like, aw, sweet, sweet summer child.
(15:21):
Thank you.
Yeah
People can't see what I'm doing.
You know, he called me a bitch.
I don't know if anybody caught that but that slipped out so smooth that slipped out so Iwas like, well, obviously everybody just got a glimpse of what our off -camera
conversations are like
(15:42):
well, what do I say as soon as you pick up the phone?
Why didn't you call me?
Hehehehehe
You see I'm calling him.
Hehehehehe
then I'd be like, because my husband is like really like protective and I'd just be like,oh my God, don't put me on speaker.
(16:06):
Don't let Gary hear me.
tell you about the time I made a mistake.
I was in the car.
My mother -in was visiting.
It was odd.
My daughter, me and my mother -in in the car and we were on our way to the mall.
Kenya called.
I made the mistake of putting her on speaker phone.
Kenya is that person you need that, you see that t -shirt on Amazon that says, I am notthe friend that you put on speaker phone.
That is her.
(16:27):
Cause as soon as I answered, she was like, bitch, where you been?
I told you to just sit.
I was like, Kenya?
sorry.
-law is on the phone and is in here and I have no speaker.
Oh my God, why didn't you tell me?
She's gonna hate me.
She's gonna think I'm so, like, Naima don't put me on speakerphone.
That's anybody I just now I just be like you got me on speaker do you?
(16:51):
right!
My sister, that's the first thing we ask.
You don't have me on speakerphone, do you?
know me and my sister just do the same thing
I'm a child, but Monique, you've been on the phone with me too, so you know how I am.
and I never have you on speaker.
I have her on speaker when there is no one else in the house.
(17:11):
That is the only safe way to have Kenya on speakerphone, because you have no clue what'sgoing to come out of her mouth.
Absolutely not.
Do it at your own peril.
All of your conversations should be labeled not suitable for work.
right.
That's right.
They're not safe.
(17:32):
They're not safe.
you
Not at all.
Ha ha ha!
So thank you for getting us back on track.
Talk to us a little bit about the Rose Bend series, how it came to be and for you tocreate that series, because it's such a really good series.
(17:54):
I really like it.
My agent and I were talking and she was like, you know, I think you should pitch to HQN.
Well, Canary Street Press now, but, and I was like, oh sure, yeah, who doesn't want towrite HQN?
But you know, full -size novels, that's where I wanted to move into, I mean, full -lengthnovels.
And she's like, well, what do you think you want to write?
(18:15):
And so we was going through all these ideas.
And I was in a kitchen talking to my father and it was October.
And so October, you know, like Hallmark movies are on, but the Christmas movies, likethat's my crack, right?
So I had actually watched like a couple, you know, the night before and then I was inthere talking to my father and I said, you know what?
Cause I was telling him that my agent wanted me to pitch this idea, like an idea.
(18:39):
And I said, I really want to write like a small town Hallmark kind of moot, kind of book.
but with sex and diversity.
And he was like, you know what?
I think you could do that.
I really think you could write that.
And so I just started telling him, like, would it, you know, start bouncing ideas off himabout like being around a big family, because that could bring like a big cast of
(19:05):
characters.
And honestly, like, I just like bounced the idea and brainstormed the idea with him.
And that's what I pitched in.
They bought it and that's how it kind of came to life.
Yeah.
Yeah.
because you know, Rose Ben is like in my top five of favorite books of all time, you know,Road to Rose Ben.
(19:30):
And and that's the very first book with Sydney, who is pregnant, comes back.
She's the black sheep and she is kind of had a crush on Cole Denison once upon a time, buther friend ended up with Cole.
Mm -hmm.
happily married and then Cole lost his wife.
(19:53):
And in that book, you brought together so many beautiful things.
You brought found family.
You brought a widower.
Girl, give me a widower.
And he's still in love with his wife.
And still broken up about it.
(20:15):
Mm -hmm.
then Sydney's backstory where her parents literally had her just so she could save hersister's life.
So she always had this belief that she was kind of expendable, not wanted, and she ends upbeing the black sheep of the family.
(20:39):
Then she's done this one more thing that feels like that.
It's so fresh in my mind.
I mean, this is like everything to me.
Like she comes back having freshly divorced, supposedly on paper, great guy, right?
And he is, but just not for her.
(21:00):
They just for each other.
And no.
Yeah, and then.
And so, and then the first, very first scene that you wrote where they meet at the grave,she's there to see her sister, he's there to see his wife.
(21:20):
And here we go with this tension and angst.
The minute that he sees her, he's excited, he's feeling these feelings.
He was like, wait a minute, why am I feeling these feelings?
This is just a And he steps back.
I didn't.
feels the rejection that she's always felt from people.
(21:42):
Girl, that was a home run.
That right there was like the 10 out of 10 of books is created with the first couple ofchapters, you know, the hook in the book.
Like you just, I mean, that book was that to me, that is just like a masterpiece to me.
(22:03):
I just, that is my favorite book by you.
That is one of my favorite books ever written.
Yeah.
I said.
Wow.
I thought you meant out of year.
I told you once I read Manicold, which is fan fiction and I said that kind of took yourtop spot.
(22:27):
You should have number two and then Tony Morrison's Song of Solomon.
Okay.
And then Demon's Dream.
I know it's a clear commitment to both.
Okay.
But by L .K.
But when I tell you that you, that debut, some debuts are just mad or you know, you'd bereally wanting to celebrate the person, you did your big one with that one.
(22:55):
That was, that.
Got me smiling all hard, my face hurts.
It's the truth and I just, you know, I commend you on that.
But one of the things, and it came up again as we read the new book you got, Single DadProject, is how you mixed in and matched this family together.
(23:15):
And what made you decide we're gonna put some adopted kids in there, we're gonna mix itup.
You said diverse, you got other diverse people in the town, you got people coming to thetown, you got...
the people who own the dab bar and the bikers, like you just, how did you decide, okay,I'm gonna bring this eclectic family and make this lily white town not so lily white.
(23:43):
Like what was the path?
Because so many people just can't get out of there.
They don't have the intellectual curiosity or whatever to broaden their books like in thatway.
Yeah, I like that word, intellectual curiosity.
That's true.
Well, I knew I wanted to write a town that reflected the ideal world, which is wherepeople of different races, cultures, religions, sexuality can coexist together and it not
(24:20):
be a dumpster fire.
You know, and I think the core reflection of that town was the family.
It had to be a family of that would reflect who we could be as a world if we wanted to be,you know, if it was possible, if people would put down arms and see each other, each
(24:46):
other's hearts and each other and, you know, kindness and love and generosity.
And to me, that's what the denizens represent.
And each adopted child has their own story of how they came into this family.
It was also important to me that not every adopted child was because their parents weredrug addicts or they were abandoned or whatever.
(25:09):
That's not what happened.
I wanted kind of like what I said, like I think I said it in Christmas in Rose Bend.
It was like.
Rosebens clap back to This Is Us.
That's the family.
You know, it's, you know, they're very, they're loving, they're accepting, but they alsovery open and respect the ethnicity of the different children.
(25:39):
You know, the parents didn't try to assimilate them into, to be like just whitewashed.
They respected like with Cole,
He's Puerto Rican, so they made sure that he understood his family's, his mother'sculture, her people.
So he didn't feel like an outsider in his own family.
(26:00):
Same thing with Flo, because like there's a scene in the Single Dad Project where she'stalking about her hair.
Her adoptive mother didn't know how to do her hair.
It would just be two ponytails.
And she realized that I have a black child.
I, if I can't do it, then somebody needs to teach me how, and she needs to learn howimportant it is from black women, you know?
(26:26):
So it was just things like that.
There were, this town is tolerant and accepting.
Of course you have characters because we don't live in a bubble and it's not Narnia.
Well, no, that's a bad excuse.
Narnia was rife with evil, but you know, it was, it's not utopia.
So there are people in the town who are intolerant, but.
I hope I've shown how love can conquer intolerant people in their views and theirattitudes, and it doesn't grow in fester.
(26:57):
So that's why I did it.
And to be honest, and I really hope this isn't taken the wrong way, when I realized, whenI got the contract and I was like, okay, this is gonna be my first contract.
with a full -length novel and with HQN, I needed to write, you know, black characters.
(27:25):
I needed to, I didn't want my first book not to be a black woman, you know, and so thatwas another thing.
My goal with the book was to really showcase the beauty of not just all cultures and notjust how we can,
coexist, not just coexist, but just be a part of each other's lives, but Black women.
(27:52):
mean, I don't think there's anything wrong with you saying that.
I think, you know, over the last few years, obviously representation has become a hugething from films to books.
I mean, the thing is being able to I think that's one of the things I love about writingis that I have the opportunity to put somebody that looks like me on the page to do that
(28:14):
kind of thing.
And it was funny because I remember when I
came out with my first paranormal and on the cover there's this woman with this hair thatlooks like mine.
And to be honest, I think it was a kind of unconscious choice, but I kept getting asked somany questions about, but it is like what you were saying, like, you know, you were gonna
have this big opportunity.
You wanted to write somebody that looked like you to honor that because I mean, I think somany times depending on the situation that you're in, you're asked to, you know,
(28:45):
whitewash or even maybe like you said not right like somebody who looks like you orwhatever so i mean to be given the opportunity that you were and that they honored the
fact that you wanted that character to be black yeah
about HQN, like, cause my agent even told them this is going to be a multicultural series,you know, and they had absolutely no problem with that.
(29:10):
They welcomed that.
Same thing with Montlake.
They welcomed the fact that I would be writing characters who look like me, you know?
So they, I will say, and I was happy about that.
It makes me happy to write for publishers who welcome that.
Yeah.
but do you think that has more to do with the fact that by the time you got thesecontracts, you were already more established or that you ride across the board or do you
(29:50):
think it was more your own strength?
Because I see, I've been in,
and around writing long enough, around reading to see where the transition happens.
And then people lose what I call like their voice or maybe their choices start becoming alittle questionable in some of the things that they're picking.
(30:17):
Because sometimes it just feels like when they go from indie and you weren't indie, you'vealways been with publishers.
But sometimes it just feels like when they get that big five contract, they startcompromising themselves or they lose their voice or their voice is edited out.
How do you stay, you know, maintain your strength and integrity doing all of that?
(30:44):
I can only speak for me, I can't speak for other authors.
But when Harlequin came calling for the desire line, they were making an effort tocontract authors of color, because they wanted diverse books, they wanted more of them.
And you can see that, especially around the time, they already started before I came on,but you can really see it after I came on.
(31:13):
the covers were gorgeous, but it was more and more authors of color.
So I can say that for Harlequin that I haven't experienced that with them.
For me, I haven't had to compromise.
It's like you said, I write across the board.
I mean, it's like, however I see the characters and their story, that's how I'm gonnawrite them.
(31:38):
This was a conscious decision for me with the Rose Bend series to...
make sure that Black women were represented, especially in my first few books.
But definitely all throughout the books.
I haven't had to compromise with that.
I don't think it has anything to do with me being an established writer or how many booksI had under my belt or where I came from, but they just knew what I wrote.
(32:07):
When they approached me, they knew how I wrote, what I wrote, my voice.
and they didn't have an issue with that and they never tried to change it.
So yeah, I mean, that's what I mean.
I can only speak for myself.
I haven't had to compromise.
And I still write, the only thing I will say I had to compromise on was like my first bookfor Harlequin was, you know, I can't say that word out loud.
(32:33):
I can write it a hell of a lot of times, but I can't say it out loud, the big word.
I had to ask him like, well, how many times can I say that?
Pussy.
Like how many times can I?
I'm trying to figure it out!
I'm sorry.
(32:54):
I was sitting here, I was all leaning on the camera like...
You was in confusion.
You had the chance to.
Oh my god, that was too funny!
give me a ballpark of how many times I can use this word.
(33:14):
Inclin, like how many times?
And they were like, well, you can't use it as many like as you.
I was like, oh, okay, so I gotta get creative.
Got you, got you.
I gotta get creative.
That's like the only thing that I had to like kind of dial back on.
know, wait, to that, though, I will say because you did a bomb class for the VirginiaRomance writers about writing sex scenes, and you gave us a very nice vocabulary to use
(33:44):
that I still go back to.
had to use that sheet because I had to get creative since they took my main word away.
And they took my main word, like they were like, and you can't use, now I have ramped itup in the last few books and they dialed me back with how many times I've used it.
So, and then in this new book that for like, you know, desire went away and after glow isnow like the new line.
(34:12):
And my book for it, Church Girl, like, yeah, I went all out.
Balls to the wall, we're using it.
I don't know what the ad is gonna come back looking like, but I was like, you told me Icould go for broke.
I broke it.
Don't have me look, you know how you go in the search?
(34:32):
If you go in the search and you look it up into the, if you do that for any of my books,you best believe it's gonna be over a hundred.
It's gonna come up like we lost count.
We lost count.
page!
If it's a 300 page book, 150 of them is gone.
(34:56):
And then now I've gotten brave because I got a little following now.
So I put the see you next Tuesday in there a couple of times.
used that and you know that used to be the word.
I was like, I will not write.
I've used it a couple of times now.
I'm like, it fit, it fit though.
(35:16):
like men think that word.
I think men think that word.
They may not say it.
You know, not to no sister, because we like, ew, don't we say that word.
Ew.
I'm like, that's a bear.
I'm a good girl.
Oh, heck.
and now I've used it and I'm like yeah.
(35:38):
thing is like when a reader said, and she even used, see you next Tuesday.
He's like, it did.
was hot.
It was like, I was like, okay, grandma, okay.
Grandma.
I said, he's gonna think it.
He might, he might think it, but he's gonna, but if it, if I can't listen, if he can'tcall it a pretty pussy, a fat pussy, it's over for me.
(36:07):
I don't wanna write it anymore.
I don't wanna write it.
it is so hard for me to say that word out loud.
It is so hard.
It is so hard.
word or the C word?
Now I ain't saying the C word out loud.
I can say the C word out loud before the P word, but I use it profusely.
Like it is like, at this point it...
(36:29):
shocked face.
I did not.
I'm the person.
Yeah, talk to me for five minutes.
I cleaned it up for this, but like talk to me for five minutes.
Like the F -bomb gonna come out, the MF -er, like it comes out, but like that word?
I'm like, you know what I think it is.
(36:51):
It goes back to my grandmother, right?
Mm -hmm.
She used to do this on purpose when my father was around, because he couldn't stand it.
But she would be like, oh, where's my, come here little pussies, come here, where mypussies at?
My little pussies.
And my father used to hate it.
And I guess, like hearing it now, it's so cringe.
(37:12):
Like I can't, I can't, come here little pussies, come here pussies.
I was like, oh my God.
Oh.
up like they called it everything but that it you know my grandma They would be they wouldsay sugar cake they would say pocketbook Yes I said sugar cake right
(37:46):
It's a sugar cake.
So that people just for the Southern girls because that is like what they call it downhere.
So I'm like, okay.
Yes, it's Southern.
They got, listen.
pop it.
I'm gonna throw that one out there to my sister when we talking.
(38:09):
That's how I've been told.
I've been told it's appropriate.
we go, here we go.
Here we go, it took a turn.
It took a turn, it took a turn.
Oh my God, stop.
We don't care.
I thought you about to go, you said personal experience.
I was like, we don't care.
(38:31):
Oh.
actually is a sugar cake, I taste like whatever.
However, I've been told.
I've been told.
we go.
This is always where we end up, I'm just saying.
It does not matter, this is where we always end up.
She's either gonna talk about that or she's gonna talk about my father.
And then I'm like, I gotta go, I gotta go.
(38:53):
Yeah!
Not even daddy is high
I told my father you called him a zaddy too and after I had to explain what a zaddy was hewas like, gave me side eye.
He was like...
be like, hey, Paz, huh?
(39:13):
Hey, Paz, huh?
never be in the same room and I'm telling you that right now.
It's happening.
It's happening.
It's happening.
Sorry, I'm a lawyer.
God, she's so bad.
(39:36):
happens to Chris, I'm coming straight for your dad.
Hahaha!
And I'm gonna drop a keg on you, I'm gonna come straight for your knees too.
at our house every Sunday.
And I will be trying to boss you around and tell you what to do.
is where if we were on the phone, I'd be like, I gotta go.
But since we're doing the interview, I can't go nowhere.
(39:59):
I can't go nowhere.
I'm being held hostage.
Hey!
Yeah
I hate her!
She can't come here to my bed!
I'm like crazy!
well I will be the person I'm supposed to be and stop laughing.
(40:20):
Like, okay, we're moving on.
Please!
Please!
So I know.
Yeah, she's like, we're picking up on the messages.
it.
I'm glad.
I'm sorry.
I don't know how much you can tell us about it because I know you and I were kind oftalking before we started recording.
(40:42):
Can you tell us anything about the dark romance that you are writing?
I can.
Like I was telling you before, the text came that started this whole thing at one o 'clockin the morning and it was from Kenya and it was like, I think you should write a mafia
romance based around fairy tale princesses, Disney princesses.
(41:03):
And I was like, it was one o 'clock in the morning.
And like I told you, my first thought is why does heffa up?
Why is she texting me at one o 'clock in the morning?
And then my second thought was, why am I reading it?
Why am I reading at one o 'clock in the morning?
But it was like, it like struck something in my soul.
I was like, yeah, you gonna help me plot it out?
(41:24):
I'm serious.
And she was like, yeah.
So that's like how it started.
And that's what it is.
The first book, it's three books.
The first book is based on Snow White and Huntsman.
And it's a dark romance mafia.
He is sent to hunt her.
She gets to drop on him.
(41:45):
Shenanigans ensue.
And it's like, cause yeah, it's in 2025 and I'm writing it now.
Like, I know, I know you gotta wait a whole year.
I know, I know.
But I'm excited about it.
Cause again, Kenyon came through and she...
No, but only you can do this.
(42:08):
You can, this is gonna be so good.
Moni, she is so.
I cannot wait!
Oh my god, that sounds so good.
Like I was all, you should have heard me.
I was like, I don't know how I could do this, boo.
Like once start actually writing it.
But once I got just like over the fear, cause it's so outside the box of what I usuallydo, but that's why it's exciting for me to write it.
(42:32):
You know, just kind of like let loose and let them rein me in.
You know, so I'm loving it so far.
I really am.
I'm so -
my god, I'm sorry.
I am so that is going on my like can't wait list.
I'll be like, so when does the release date in 2025?
Like I want to put that on my calendar.
as I have it, y 'all will have it.
(42:54):
Cause I'm going to be like, listen.
most anticipated because it's so few people writing dark romance.
We have urban romance, which is essentially, you know, the grandfather of dark romance, ofall the dark romances.
But both of you have that voice for dark YouTube, Moni.
(43:16):
Like both of you, yes.
If you could write urban fantasy,
If you could write urban fantasy with those same elements, then you know, that's just,listen, write what you normally write, just make the villain the hero.
That's the simplest way to write.
(43:38):
Make the villain.
so much fun making the villain a hero.
And in my case, they're both villains, right?
They're both morally great people.
And it is so much fun.
Oh, absolutely.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I don't I don't want to throw out the word blood play in the first two chapters, but therewas blood play in the first two chapters.
(44:05):
She's into me.
She pushes the envelope even more than he does.
But just because like she is not your your regular romance heroin.
Like my girls are most itself a candy coming up because she a wildcat.
But the way like who who knew Naima had this little wicked girl inside of her.
(44:30):
And this this girl is going to be she's she's diabolical.
She's a little...
Yeah.
Yeah, her moral code is a little off -center.
But she has one.
But she has one, though.
She does.
She does.
And I think that's what I love about dark romance in the characters.
(44:54):
Their code of honor might not be yours, but they have a code of honor.
And there are certain things they're not going to do.
And then, like, I mean, well, Kenya, you know, you write them.
Like shoot, shoot, shoot, ride them all the time.
And they're fantastic.
And you can't help but love them because they're heroic in their own way.
(45:16):
So you just can't help but love them.
they said, the hero will sacrifice you for the world, sacrifice himself for the world.
And they said, and the villain will burn the whole world down for you.
You mean my villain?
we're getting this discussion all the time in our family, like about Batman versusSuperman, right?
(45:39):
It's like, I want the Batman hero who will, he doesn't believe in saving one person andletting, like that Superman, like if one person is falling from the, you know, from the
top, from like the skyscraper and he's going to go save that one person and like then tryto go save everybody else.
Nah, not Batman.
(46:01):
He'll blow all of you up and sacrifice that one person.
He's like, nah, I mean, you versus the all versus that one or two people, sorry, you gotto go, but the world going the world going burn.
And that's like with like that's kind of that's the mentality that I love in a hero, likea dark hero, except for when it's like you said, Kenya, when it's that that heroin that
(46:25):
person, he will.
carry all down, flip all this shit over for her.
Like, you know what I mean?
essentially what the, that's essentially the dark romance formula.
And it's like, some people dabble, but they don't stay in this line.
I'm trying to get some sisters to come over here and stay.
(46:48):
Because I mean we have I think that's why I love urban fiction so much I mean becausethose men Listen, they ruthless they ruthless but oh my gosh Do they love their women and
their family and their family and they will?
They will tear a city up and stand back and light their cigarette with the fire to Saveher and family don't
(47:18):
They're blind.
yeah.
That's why I love it.
That's why I love it so much.
and the fearlessness with which or and let's talk about that a little bit because now thatwe have our noses been open I don't even know what the first book we got our nose open on
urban romance Was it or was it attempted by danger?
(47:45):
Which one came first?
That was more black romance
yes, yes, but Demon's Dream was full -fledged urban.
And it, oh my.
no, it's on my list.
It's on my Kindle.
Sorry.
God, drop everything and read it today.
Drop everything.
(48:06):
me tell you about a little spiel.
You ain't clever and you ain't cute.
Listen, you got to read David's dream.
Everybody is.
Like last year I was threatening to unfriend in order to be on the other side.
David's dream, white or black.
(48:27):
Yes, it does not matter.
You have to read this book.
It will, from the first chapter, Kenya, remember like I read the first chapter, becauseKenya's the one who's like, you told me about it.
And then I went and I got it.
And the first chapter, I texted her and was like, oh my God, he killed somebody in thefirst chapter.
They had it coming.
(48:47):
They had it coming.
But like, with no remorse.
Like,
I need you to read this book, okay?
I need you to read this book.
It is the one that just, like, telling you, it just opened up the whole world of urbanfiction to me.
And I have, I am happily staying over here.
It is, it is everything to me.
(49:10):
Yeah, I got favorite authors.
That's like, I'm like, you should see my Kindle, like, on my Kindle, you know, like, whatto read next.
It's all these books.
It is nothing else but urban.
Like, cause I'm loving it over here.
It is absolutely wonderful.
The craft, the way they craft the stories, the characters.
(49:30):
It's just, like you said, the fearlessness in the writing.
Sometimes I'm like, y 'all don't give a fuck, do you?
Yeah.
I want that in my own writing, right?
I do.
I want people to read mine and be like, yo, she said, what breaks?
(49:53):
Hehehehehe
And what's so amazing is that, you know, people are like, oh, this is like, it gets a, itgets a bad rep, but it only gets a bad rep is cause because of anti -blackness.
But when, when you find out like, India Carter, like I went in her DMs after I read, um,and she writes, she writes, uh, urban under Ms.
(50:17):
J and she writes, yes.
Oh my God, like Stolen by the Billionaire is one of my favorites.
And then we ain't ain't gonna talk about the danger men, like, ugh.
when I went in her DMS and I was like, can you come and do the KGB?
(50:37):
She's like, oh my dear.
No, I'm an educator.
I can't Look I got a day job and L KC is also a professor like all of these women are so
Okay, so we could never ask her to be on the podcast.
we could probably ask her to be on the podcast.
(50:58):
But on the other, on the other, you know, the one I do on Thursday, but she was like, youknow, and it was so many.
And I remember Zyla Turner used to be like that.
She's retired from writing now and.
I didn't know that.
I love her books.
She retired from right girl and I only knew because somebody I was like, where's where'sthe new zala turner books and stuff and they were like she got a you know big uh position
(51:25):
and in in education And she went into you know higher up into her field and she was likelisten, i'll be back
Yeah!
So she's just on hiatus.
she says she's retired.
She says she's retired.
Well, she can be like Tom Brady and come back.
(51:48):
You know, that don't mean nothing.
Yeah.
uh, what was the one where he was a widower too.
Mr.
Vega.
Oh God.
my God, I love that book.
too.
Ugh.
Vega baby, and the girl she was riding her bike and got hit by got hit
(52:09):
That cover, I just remember that cover too was just, oh so sexy.
Yeah, he was handsome.
there is such a wealth of talent in the writing community, but just among, you know, Blackwriters, 100%.
Like they are so top tier.
So, but Urban's cutting new ground.
(52:30):
So what are you doing, Naima, on your path to forge new ground here now?
Other than what's after...
What's on the chopping block after the dark romance or have you started?
don't even know.
Like I, well, you know, I still have, I still have an Afro girl book the right afterchurch girl.
(52:54):
And then I still have one more Rose Ben book the right, but shoot, I don't know.
Well, I have started a super secret project.
I'm sorry.
that I'm not going to say anything about.
That I'm not going to say anything about, but I have.
It's kind of like a passion project for me.
(53:15):
So it's super secret.
I'll tell you about it after I get off here.
And.
But, shoot, I don't know.
But what I will say is that after I finish the dark romance books, I don't want to go backto being safe.
You know, I want to continue to.
(53:36):
challenge myself with anything that I write, whether that is contemporary romance oranother small town romance or more dark romance, whatever it is, this has made me, it's
shown me that I can write outside the box and outside my comfort zone and pivot andreframe who I am as a writer and enjoy it.
(53:58):
So I don't want to go, I want to continue in that.
So whatever it is.
That's good.
It's like once that door is open, you can't close it.
want to either.
Like I don't want to cause I'm excited about what I'm writing.
It's fun.
And in writing, whenever writing stops being fun, you need to, I'm not saying don't do itanymore, but you need to figure out why write and pursue what does, what is fun.
(54:24):
Because of course this is a business, but like all jobs, you should get up every morningwanting to do, go do your job and whatever career it is.
You should enjoy it.
you know, not just make money from it.
a blessing because so many people hate their jobs, you know?
exactly.
(54:44):
And I've been there.
On my nine to five, I've been there, cried to work some days.
And I don't want to do that, especially not with this.
So yeah, that's my plan as nebulous and unformed as that is.
Yeah.
yourself, you know, just be like, what would Beyonce do?
(55:09):
She would pivot.
What would Beyonce do?
It is a good question.
Man, she said, she said, I don't care about what y 'all said.
I should be doing what I can do.
(55:29):
Watch this.
Yeah.
You have topped everything in that, like to me, just like you, you've topped everything,like the contemporary thing.
You've met those goals that you set for yourself.
It's not even what other people set, but then you go into something else and that's alwaysgoing to lead into a fabulous new discovery, you know?
(55:55):
And I am already discovering things, whether they scare me or not.
You know, I already am.
And I do, I don't want it to be boring.
I don't wanna just regret.
I don't wanna have any regrets.
I don't wanna lay any regrets on a table.
And the regret comes when I choose not to do it because I'm afraid.
(56:18):
Whether I'm afraid it's not gonna be good, people are not gonna like it, people are notgonna accept it.
Like...
I don't want to do that, you know, so I'm going to write what's exciting for me, what'sfun for me, and hope that it's the same for everybody else.
But the thing is that I did it and I didn't let fear control me or stop me.
(56:39):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I mean, I think that's really key because I think a lot of people get caught up in thefear and either that's when they don't act on things or do things just like I'm sure
there's plenty of people that are like, I want to write a book, but the fear is getting inthe way.
And so I think that's important.
(57:00):
Sometimes you just have to work through it.
Yeah.
course.
I mean, and especially if something you haven't done or, you know, it's so foreign to youor you've seen other people do it and it wasn't successful for them, you know, then that
that's a fear of you not doing it as well.
(57:22):
So of course we all have fear, but the important part is not to get shipwrecked in fear.
It's to continue.
It's the move, push past it.
The only way you're going to get over it is pushing past it.
And I'm not saying I have it all down.
I have my moments.
Like Kenya tell you, I didn't text her like, I don't know how I can do this shit.
(57:43):
But then you have friends, you have your community be like, yes, you can put your ass in achair and write, you know, yeah.
So it's important to have that community.
listen, that day you told me that we were talking about your new series and you saidsomething and you was like, and you said like, I just want your brain for whatever, cause
(58:05):
it's like a genius.
Girl, I was walking around a week.
I was like, now you said.
So stupid.
I'm like, not evil.
Chris, you know now Iman said I was a G.
Hehehehe!
I said, well bet you are.
(58:26):
And I was like, but you look better.
I'm like, I need your brain for just one hour.
I will mind the hell up out of that, just one hour.
Because the way it works, it's like, when you should go left, it makes sense to go left.
She's like, fuck it, right?
And then I'm gonna do another path right here.
(58:47):
And then it's like, you know?
I'm like, her brain, the ideas that come out of there, I'm like, whew.
Yeah
hour, one hour.
If only she could spell.
If you were to replace a comma, she would be unstoppable!
(59:10):
Yeah
I can't even lie, because when I send in, by the time I send in my books, especially ifthey late and I'm tired and I'm past the deadline, I don't, the most you gonna get out of
me is a spell checking word.
I'm sending that on and I'm like, listen, let me apologize in advance editor, but yougonna earn that edit part of editor with this.
(59:34):
It's gonna be a lot, it's gonna be a lot, I'm just telling you.
Everybody has their job.
I don't even feel bad anymore.
You know, not everybody.
is done.
I've fulfilled my obligation.
I didn't say it would be spelled well.
I didn't say the grammar would be correct.
I just said it's done.
The story is gonna be poppin', okay?
(59:57):
It's gonna be a banger, okay?
Yes.
Him pass the misspellings in there.
Misspelling not K -N -O -T instead of N.
Just ignore that.
That's what always get me the correct spelling of the wrong word.
(01:00:19):
It's like, we all got those words that are like, wait a minute.
Like mine is like, is it a factor effect or what?
I don't know.
I always have to look it up.
Every single time.
There's a million other ones like, elicit and elicit.
single time.
Every time.
(01:00:41):
Somebody taught me the, I know, like that I got now because somebody gave me the key tothat.
that Sierra Simone.
I was like, listen, I'll be sending her little things and she's like, okay, this and thenshe'll give me like a little detail explanation and stuff.
Then I'll pin it.
So.
(01:01:02):
Ha!
You would not know that this is an MFA degree.
You would not know.
It's just like all of that dissolved and the country girl was so imprinted that that's allthat comes out.
(01:01:24):
The readers love it, but it comes out in all the grammar, everything.
I can't wait to say FENTU.
I'm gonna put that in.
You had it!
You have a second!
I have been trying to slowly ease them into the real me.
You
I'm so surprised you haven't said that yet.
(01:01:46):
Especially where your books are set.
I mean, how has it not come up?
know because some of these girls are a little halffalutin so I'm going to I'm gonna golike candy is all of that goes out the window because candy yes candy hasn't had any
formal like you know education for real you know she had been caught up in like a studentand I want to write that book where you just got an incredible talent.
(01:02:18):
and she can bake her ass off and that is, and that's her thing.
She go bake her stuff, then she go get drunk.
That's her thing.
That's party, that's her thing.
And she got this, the straight arrow guy who hates all of it.
And that is the only, like, this is gonna be interviews to lovers.
(01:02:41):
Like, I'm so excited to write it.
It's...
wait for this book.
It's gonna be so good.
gonna do a fin two in that one.
Yeah, you're gonna sugar cake
Yeah.
Since she's a baker, like, she should stay, yeah, it should be, it does.
the filthiest filthiest way.
(01:03:03):
Yeah
She gonna be like, you want to eat my sugar cake?
Okay, before this gets x -rated
you!
Did you see me blink again?
Moni, did you see me blink again?
you didn't blink you
will save you tonight, I will save you.
(01:03:24):
Okay, so please let the audience know where they can find you online, on social media,where can they go to keep tabs on what it is that you're doing and buy your books.
on Facebook, Naima Simone Author, Instagram, Naima Simone Author, TikTok now, Naima SimoneAuthor, and of course my website, www .naimasimone .com.
(01:03:50):
So hit me up all those places.
I loved it.
are so thankful that you were able to join us.
This has been so much fun.
I've had the best time.
I really have.
I don't think I've laughed this much.
It's been a minute.
Well, yeah, like this week I have laughed a lot and I am so, so thankful for it.
But y 'all, I mean, I had, I had such a good time.
(01:04:11):
I always do.
Yeah.
Y 'all are some, y 'all two of my favorite people.
So, so I always do.
Well, thank you everyone for joining us and just remember you'll be able to find all ofour information on the site as well.
Yay, thank you for having me!
You
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