Manic Readers Interview with Brenda Farrar Ejemai

-- Author Interviews --

MANIC READERS

Interview With Brenda Farrar-Ejemai

Aug 11, 2008

Hi Brenda,

I'm delighted to have this chance to talk with you and review some of your work with you. Please grab a glass or cup of your favorite beverage and sit a spell. Let's talk about your poetry first.

From looking at your website and reading some of the things posted there I would venture to guess that your first love is poetry. In 1994 the poem Experience was published, in 1998 Poetry From The Heart, and now in 2008 Roller Coaster Ride part of your motivational series is out there. Tell us a little about your poetry - what motivates you to write it and why poetry?

My poetry usually always describes situations in life. I am a very observant person, which motivates me to write about the things I see. I choose to write poetry because it is a genre in which I can easily release my inner feelings. There are so many types of poetry which makes this possible.

You've also published a children's book with the most interesting title. Tell us where the idea for Roast Beef and Gravy and Black Tongue came from? Tell us a bit about the book also if you will.

The idea for Roast Beef and Gravy and Black Tongue came from my then 9 year old son, and parts of my childhood also. I can remember, as a young person, loving to come home to my father's roast beef and gravy meals. It was so tasty, and you could smell the aroma of it as soon as you opened the door to our house. Eating home-cooked meals was a happy period in my life because I love to eat. Another idea for the book came from my love of Chow Chows. These dark-colored tongue dogs gave me the name for Black Tongue. And so, I put these two ideas together for a story in my son's voice. The story is about a young boy who wanted one of these dogs but didn't receive it when he thought he would/should, while at the same time roast beef and gravy being his favorite meal.

Have you lived in New York City all your life? You graduated Magna Cum Laude from City University of New York. First of all congratulations on that feat, you must be very proud of that. What were you looking to do when you graduated with your combined degree in education and sociology?

When I graduated I was looking to teach, which I did and continue to do today. I combined sociology as a minor because, as you know, I love learning about societies, people and social histories of the world. I like knowing how people think, how societies were formed, and how we came to be the universe that we are. Studying social histories helps me to understand things more clearly.

Are you doing now what you expected you would be doing when you graduated?

Yes I am. However, at the time I graduated, I had no idea that I would be writing and a published author.

The Family In The Car, A Revelation is billed as a documentary. Your YouTube video trailer suggests that you were one of the unlucky whose circumstances took you from riches to rags in one fell swoop. Give us a little insight to what that was like for you. Then why this book? What are you hoping for by telling your tale as a documentary rather then say, a work of fiction that outlines a character's riches to rags story?

That is an excellent question. When I first started writing this book, I intended it to be a book of fiction. This was in 2004. However, in 2007 I decided to put our names to it and make it a work of non-fiction. I felt that it was okay, as well as timely, that this information was released.

My hope for this book is that it would be a ‘light at the end of the tunnel', for anyone needing a flicker of light.

Flavor Blooms is your publishing entity - do you publish other author's works? Are you open to submissions or is this for special projects initiated by you?

Currently, Favor Blooms is just for special projects for me.

What is in line for you next? What are you working on?

I am working on a new project. I am seeking submissions from people who feel led to give their stories (anonymously or non-anonymously) for a not-yet disclosed topic.

Do you have any fiction books out? Do you plan any? What genre, why or why not?

No, I haven't written any fiction books. I'm not sure if I plan to write any. I just feel more comfortable with non-fiction. With non-fiction I get to talk about real life. I'm not a fantasy writer.

What does a writing day look like for you?

A writing day for me looks long and tiring.

Finally would you tell our readers where they can find out more about you, order your books or your motivational series? Do you have a blog? Do you belong to any of the social networks like FaceBook, MySpace, GreenReads, etc?

Yes, I belong to FaceBook, MySpace, Author's Den, and a host of other social networks.

The Family In The Car, A Revelation, (ISBN: 978-1-58909-485-7) can be ordered on my website link: PURCHASE BOOK.

Books can also be ordered at:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/ http://www.alibris.com/

http://www.amazon.com/

My contact information is:

WEBSITE:

http://www.thefamilyinthecar.weebly.com/

E MAIL:

http://This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./

Mailing Address:

FAVOR BLOOMS, LLC,