AUTHOR Q & A ON RULES OF LOVE

1.       Where did you get the inspiration for your new book "Rules of Love"?

I love the radio. The music inspires me and the quirky lives of some of radio’s finest. I decided to write a novel that explored the lives of listeners and the jocks. What happens when the lives of your favorite radio personalities explode Off-Air is the resounding phrase. The book is exactly that, Explosive!!!

2.       Is there any character in the book that you personally identify with?

I can identify with a few. I penned the book from a first person perspective. I wanted my readers to delve into the minds of each character to better understand how they thought and the reasons for their judgments.

3. What was the most challenging thing about writing "Rules of Love" compared to your first book "Ask Somebody"?

Rules of Love was easier than Ask Somebody. I wrote it with notes I had for a few years.  I would have a conversation or see something interesting and jot down a few lines, the lines turned to paragraphs and here we are. The most challenging part though was showing my readers that I am multidimensional. Whereas Ask Somebody was written from a very ‘green’  (naïve) perspective, you k now a young girl trying to change who she was and becoming everything that she despised.

4. You self-published both "Ask Somebody" and "Rules of Love," what's that like?

I self-published “Ask Somebody” with a subsidiary publisher. I wasn’t happy with the end product as far as marketing and actual royalties. I did a lot of the work myself. So I figured If I did 95% of the work myself why would I need them? The distribution wasn’t going well either. I earned my fan base through basically just letting the readers get to know me.  I let them in on my life and corresponded via my myspace page.  (WWW.MYSPACE.COM/KAMAHALICIASCOTT) (WWW.MYSPACE.COM/URBANBOOKWRITER)  So I cut out the middleman and I am the publisher of this book. I will be re-releasing Ask Somebody shortly with a new cover as well under Kamah Alicia Scott Publishing. I also have 4 other books coming shortly, Urge, Certified and Denial.

5. What advice would you give to aspiring writers out there?

Do some research. It’s a long haul but never let anyone tell you that you can’t do what you want. It does take practice and time so you have to be patient. I am not a know it all, so some things I had to take like constructive criticism and to also know what advice to take and what advice not to take but not to judge those giving the advice. It's been a long road but I have learned a lot. I don't have all the answers.

Now it's time to get to know Kamah a little bit better...

6. What's your favorite hang-out spot? 

I am a homebody at times but when I can go out its usually something small. I like movies and I like to read. If I am in DC hanging out with my friends I will hit up a Hypnotik Entertainment party at Love or H20 or check out a Go-Go band in the area. I love the drums.

7.  You're going away for the weekend, what 3 things HAVE to go with you?

 My eyeliner, lip gloss and heels. I know that should not be on the top of my list but I have to have those 3 items.

8. What's your idea of a perfect 1st date?

A walk in a park or browsing a bookstore or an intimate conversation. I think with any relationship a friendship has to be formed. When you are old and wrinkled the only thing you have is your mind.

9. If you could meet one famous writer, who would it be and why?

On who I would love to meet? Deloris Philips. She wrote a book called ‘The Darkest Child’ It is the best book I have read to date. I am a fan of author Octavia Butler but she unfortunately passed away recently. I read a book by her called ‘Kindred”, it was fantastic. Bernice McFadden (Sugar, This Bitter Earth) another great author. Its funny though, since I was a little girl I have always wanted to meet t Beverly Cleary. I used to get in trouble for reading her books under my desk in school when I was growing up. I have so many E. Lynn Harris is definitely up there on my list as well as Zane.

10.I know you love old school, if you had to pick an old school song as the theme song for "Rules of Love," what would it be and why?

 Out on a Limb by Tina Marie

 Ex-Factor by Ms. Lauryn Hill