KENDA BELL is a self-described cultural sociologist who loves to dictate the unspoken words of the heart for the masses, with creativity along with a large helping of sass. She is a member of the Baltimore Urban League and is active in various community-based activities for women and children. She is currently researching and interviewing for a non-fiction version of For Every Love There Is a Reason, tentatively titled For Every Love There Is a Reason: Issues of the Hearts. She has been published in Baltimore Magazine and Honey Magazine. Currently an online columnist at www.mahoganybutterfly.com, she resides in Baltimore, Maryland with her king in training, Keegan.

When Kenda is not writing, or driving her publisher crazy (love yah), she enjoys exploring the world with all five senses to learn and grow. She also is a closet TV junkie who O.D.s on anything from reality television to the History Channel. She can be reached at kb621@aol.com or www.myspace.com/foreverylove.

There are those who believe that a writer should be ready to pitch his or her story at a moment's notice. In 50 words or less, tell us about your latest release, FOR EVERY LOVE THERE IS A REASON.
-For Every Love There Is A Reason takes the reader into a multi-layered tale of choices and consequences of thirty-something best friends, Keilah and Norelle, who slip and slide with laughter and tears through their own mistakes, as they try to make sense of love on their own terms.



Just to make it even harder on you, give me three adjectives that describe your novel.
-unapologetically deep … emotionally riveting … unavoidably real



What is FOR EVERY LOVE's backstory; how did you come to write this novel?
-Life and all its issues; plain and simple. I wanted to write a novel that was mature in its content yet naïve in its approach. In saying that any of us deal with issues of life, specifically relationships in individual ways. We never know how we will handle life changes until they show up. I am a self-defined cultural sociologist, so the whole who, what, when, why, and how totally fascinates me. The everyday can be intriguing if you choose to look at it from different perspectives. So when I began “For Every Love There Is A Reason”, I took the broad issue of love and specified it based upon characters that I felt were relatable to any readers, regardless of age or race. Love is the quest of humankind, whether it is in the giving or the receiving. We all need it and want it. How we identify it and acquire it is what makes the journey crazy at times. Of course, I backtracked a bit to my own choices and many late night conversations I had listened to over the years.



Your novel is published through Xpress Yourself Publishing. How did you get the connection with them for your book? How has the journey been with them?
-I saw a post by the Jessica Tilles requesting submissions and submitted. Then I waited, and waited …then waited some more. Cyber stalked her until she threatened to block me. (smile) I am joking but am also serious. I pursued her and kept my name fresh in her mind; she signed me on. This is not a normal occurrence nor do I advise working a publisher's nerve, but be persistent with tact. Respect boundaries. Joining the XYP family has been a wonderful experience. I share the roster with some great writers who happen to be great people and have an awesome mentor in Jessica Tilles. With her being both a publisher and a best selling author, she is able to see both sides of any situation and never misses an opportunity to teach.



I know that you originally self-published your first book, a non-fiction work titled MY SOUL CRAVES A TOUCH. Can you tell us about your experience going through self-publishing? What were some of your joys and pitfalls throughout the process?
-Boot camp!!! Just when I thought I had it right, I missed yet another step. It was hard and expensive, yet I will not curse the experience because I was able to learn a lot about the business and meet people who can help me at this next level. Universal knowledge, never fails only grows you.



What's your favorite thing about FOR EVERY LOVE THERE IS A REASON?
-Hmm, it is unto itself yet identifiable. I love that there is an essence of humanity in each character that motivates the reader to get a little revelation about himself or herself and the people they love or think they hate. I like that people come away feeling and thinking about the characters… that let’s me feel like they get it. 



Are you an outliner or a jump-right-in writer?
-Before I begin writing, I begin playing with ideas and visualize what my characters look like. Once I get a mental picture and dialogue going in my head, I give them names and get to writing. I write as I go and piece sections together as the story begins to take shape. I have tried the outline thing, and it really doesn’t help me unless I am doing non-fiction.



What is your writing inspiration?
-I keep abreast of news and watch a lot of reality television. (Laughing) Real people have some of the most fascinating stories that can be springboards for good writing material. I also engage in conversation with diverse types of people on a daily basis. I like to know what people think on a variety of subjects. Many of the points of view you see in “For Every Love There Is A Reason” are based upon men and women’s takes on the subjects I tackle in the book. Also I use music as my guide. After I decide on a premise, I gathered my CDs together and pulled out the ones that I felt evoked the variety of emotions I want to tackle. My CD player had a constant rotation of just good, deep, soulful musical artists. I will pop in anything from Erykah Badu to Mary J to Jill Scott & Lauryn Hill all the way to Nina Simone, push play and just vibed off what these sisters are saying. Anthony Hamilton, Dwele & Raheem DeVaughn serenade me too, among too many others to list here. I couldn’t write without my music; it would have been virtually impossible. I like to think of my novel as neo-soul lit…raw yet smooth around the edges… deeply rooted in what was and authentic unto what is.



There are those who believe that good writers are also well read. What are you currently reading? Who are some of your favorite authors?
-An Intimation Of Things Distant: The Collected Fiction of Nella Larson. Nella Larson is an often forgotten writer from the Harlem Renaissance. The stories she wrote dealt with female identity within not only race but more importantly interpersonal relationships with men and other women; timeless issues. Good stuff. I love Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, & Octavia Butler. Each of these women redefined not only African American literature but contemporary literature and made the black female experience relevant, whether society was ready or not. When I heard about the MSNBC Imus incident, all I could think about was Pecola in The Bluest Eye…sadly still relevant. We need novels like that now. I hope our generation will document our experience with the unapologetic depth and craftsmanship as these women.



Word Association. What comes to mind when you see the following words:
LOVE: Unavoidable lemonade to the insatiable soul
FRIENDSHIP: a treasure if it is genuine
WRITING: a treasured gift that allows me to leave a little piece of myself behind once I am gone. 
BALTIMORE: a small town dangerously desperate to be a big city, yet mischievously attractive



What are you currently working on?
-A prequel that will give some info on a few characters many readers want to know more about from For Every Love There Is A Reason…of course the highly anticipated sequel … gotta tie some loose ends and a non-fiction version of For Every Love There Is A Reason that will let the readers speak on what love is to them. Oh, getting my novel in the hands and hearts of book lovers everywhere.