Wednesday, July 23, 2008

This interview was conducted by Crystal Adkins (Kendall Publications)

Monday, July 14, 2008
Interview with Angela Bolden-Thompson



Author Pen Name: A. Bolden-Thompson
CA: What genre(s) do you write?

ABT: My debut novel When Company Comes is a Young Adult Fiction but I love to work with Women's Fiction and Romance.

CA: Why do you write the stories that you write?

ABT: Partially because I want to give voice to characters that are not unlike ourselves, but mostly because I have a desire to document the beauty of life.

CA: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

ABT: As a youth, I had dreams of becoming an Actress. In order to show my talent, I needed lead roles to play so I wrote plays and skits that I could perform. Turns out, I fell in love with writing and the rest is history!

CA: Who or what was your inspiration for writing?

ABT: My inspiration for writing comes from life itself but for my debut novel, it came from a poem written by Langston Hughes, entitled "I Too Sing America." It was one of my favorite poems and I wanted to give voice to the main character.

CA: What is your work schedule like when you're writing?

ABT: Full of distractions! If I could get an entire two or three days where I can do nothing but write, that would be a real accomplishment! But I have come to learn that it is necessary to be consistent and willing to burn the midnight oil!

CA: Your book is about to be sent into the reader world, what is one word that describes how you feel?

ABT: Grateful!

CA: What do you like to do when you're not writing?

ABT: When I'm not writing, I love to listen to music, spend time with my family and watch a great film!

CA: How many books have you written?

ABT: When Company Comes is my debut novel. I've just completed my second one.

CA: Which is your favorite?

ABT: To be honest, I don't have a favorite since they both come from the same imagination!

CA: Do you tend to base your characters on real people or are they totally from your imagination?

ABT: I would venture to say that all of my characters come from my imagination. That being said, my imagination is filled with people whose lives have intersected with mine at some point in time.

CA: Do you have any advice for the aspiring writers out there?

ABT: Be persistent and purposeful with your craft. Never allow anyone to discourage you from doing what you love. Write everyday because the more you write the better you become.

CA: How can a reader contact you or purchase your books?

ABT: I can be reached at whencompanycomes@yahoo.com or http://angelathompson1.tripod.com/. My book is available at Amazon.com or any online retailer.
ISBN# 978-016151-4774-1

CA: Is there anything you would like to add?

ABT: I want to thank all the readers out there who make it possible for our voices to be heard! I ask that you continue to support your favorite author by helping to promote literacy! Thank you for this interview. It has been a pleasure!

CA: Thank you for doing the interview Angela! I’m on my way to check out your book!

If you would like to see this interview in its entirety, click on the link below or copy and paste into your browser.

http://interviewswithauthors.blogspot.com/2008/07/interview-with-angela-bolden-thompson.html

Be Good!
~ABT

Friday, July 18, 2008

Lesson Learned

Since my last post, I've completed my second novel, celebrated a birthday, traveled out of town, attended a family reunion, sat for an interview, and penned the first sentence of my third novel. Whew! What can I say? Life is GOOD and I am grateful! Every year around this time, I sit back and reflect on what the year has meant to me so far and for the first time, I'm going to share.

This year, for me, the idea of change has been a major factor. Good, bad, or indifferent, I've experienced some major changes in my life. One of them was the loss of an aunt who was near and dear to my heart. It literally knocked the wind out of my sail but at the same time taught me to appreciate life, family, and all the small things that we sometimes take for granted.

When you appreciate the small things, the world becomes a bigger, more beautiful place. Don't get me wrong, that can be hard to do in a time when the economy is staggering but when practiced regularly, it can be like second nature. So, that being said, my biggest lesson since January is learning to be grateful for the small things, in a world full of big things, helps to keep things in proper perspective.

Be Good.

~ABT