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| D.
L. Sparks, originally from Pennsylvania, is the
best-selling author of All That Glitters (2007). She was
also a nominee for Cush City's Best New Author award in 2007, a
candidate for a nomination for Debut Author of the Year by the
NAACP Image Awards and a Best New Author nominee for Infini
Promoters.
After dealing
with the blow of her friend Monica Bowie being abducted D. L.
has decided to dedicate her novels to the scores of missing
women across the country. Each book will be dedicated to a
different woman, with information for others listed in the
acknowledgements. This is one way she wants to keep hope alive
for these beautiful women's families. D. L. is also a staunch
advocate for uplifting our youth. She started her own
organization entitled Y.E.S. (Youth Empowerment Seminars). She
travels the country speaking to young adults encouraging them to
say Y.E.S. to their futures by mentoring them and helping to
mold their minds through positive reinforcement and showing them
that all things are possible with God.
D. L. Sparks
worked as an accountant before becoming an author. She lives in
Georgia with her husband and two children.
Learn
MORE about D. L. by visiting her website,
her blog,
and her MySpace
page!
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Click
cover to purchase YOUR copy of All That Glitters today!
| All
That Glitters tackles the proverbial question: If the wrong
opportunity came along at the right time, what would you do? And
at what cost? Cloaked in a haze of jealousy over her sister’s
fortune, Santee Mitchell is faced with a chance to make some
fast cash and she quickly realizes that all is not what is seems
on the other side. Pretty soon she is longing for her old life
back, but it may be too late when her friend is murdered and she
is charged with the crime. This forces her to overcome her
feelings of inadequacy and jealousy, as well as face the sister
she’s been avoiding all these years.
All That
Glitters brings to the forefront the issue of jealousy and greed
while stressing the importance of family and a positive
self-image. The story is full of raw emotion and
self-discovery that will keep you riveted right up to the end. ALL
THAT GLITTERS shines with relevant social issues, humor, and
insight into what makes the nightlife of Atlanta tick.
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What spark led to the creation of your debut novel, ALL THAT GLITTERS?
It really just started out as an idea. When I first moved to Atlanta, the big thing was strip clubs. So I wanted to do a book from a different perspective. Not necessarily glamorizing the adult industry, but tackling the issues that plague the women who don’t really want to be there, but for whatever reason feel trapped.
You have 25 words to pitch us ALL THAT GLITTERS and make us want to buy the novel...GO!
After falling on hard times, Santee realizes that the promise of fast cash comes with a price. A price even she’s not willing to pay.
Talk to us about what brought you to writing.
My love of reading. I tell everyone that I think I read more than I write. (Oh goodness! I hope my agent isn’t reading this!
LOL!)
What's your favorite thing about ALL THAT GLITTERS?
The growth in the main character Santee and how she manages to over come in spite of herself.
How difficult/easy was your journey to publication?
It was a relatively non-hard one.
LOL! I won’t say easy or difficult. I signed with Xpress Yourself Publishing and Jessica Tilles made things run very smooth.
What are three adjectives that best describe ALL THAT GLITTERS?
Edgy, Honest, Real
What are three adjectives that best describe YOU?
Honest, Reserved, Focused
What have you done and what are you doing - as author - to promote ALL THAT GLITTERS?
Just about everything, from online interviews to book signings to faxing out press releases. It takes a lot of work to get your name out there, and I know I still have a long way to go.
How do you spend your time when you're not writing?
I love to channel surf. I know that sounds boring, but I love to just veg out and watch television, mainly because I hardly ever get to do that.
INSIDE YOUR MP3 PLAYER: What are three of your favorite tracks?
Right now…. One Touch by Nicole C Mullen, Let Go by DeWayne Woods, So Many Tears by
Tupac. Weird combination I know. LOL!
D. L.
Sparks: THE SOUNDTRACK! What three tracks would make it onto a
soundtrack of your life, and why?
One Touch by Nicole C. Mullen, Let Go by Dewayne Woods and Me Against the World by
Tupac. The first two because I am on a journey spiritually right now and I know that God is the only one who can get me to the end, since He’s the only one who knows how it ends. And Me Against the World by Tupac because the message he stresses in that song is so powerful and it reassures me not to give up, no matter what.
Who are some of your favorite writers, and how do they inspire you as a writer?
Eric Jerome Dickey, James Patterson, Jodi
Picoult, Donna Hill, Terren Grimble. I just recently added Kerry Wagner. I learned the art of blending well-written drama from
EJD, I learned the art of suspense from James Patterson and I learned the importance of research from Jodi
Picoult.
Do you have a standard process to your writing? Are you an outliner or a jump-right-in writer?
I usually just jump right in an start typing. Structure drives me bonkers!!
LOL! That takes all the fun out of it if you have an outline. I like to let my characters tell their own stories, so I just type Chapter One and let it go!
Word Association. What comes to mind when you see the following words:
LIFE: Good
WRITING: Love
FAMILY: Close
D. L. SPARKS: Mom
ALL THAT GLITTERS: Wonderful
What advice would you offer aspiring-to-be-published authors?
To keep reading and writing while always working toward perfecting your craft. You always want to show growth in your writing. That’s how you develop a following.
What is one big thing you've learned about the industry since you've been published?
That getting published is easy. The hard work starts once that book is in print.
Dream-on: You've just been told that someone wants to turn ALL THAT GLITTERS into a movie. Who would play Santee and Monique?
Santee would be played by Lauren London, and Monique would be played by Megan Goode.
What projects are you currently working on?
I am currently working on my third novel, my second one is finished. I think readers are gonna absolutely LOVE the second one once it comes out. The third novel is taking a little more time only because it is dealing with DEA and APD, so I am doing a lot of research on law enforcement.
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