Today, Norm Goldman Publisher & Editor of Bookpleasures.com is excited to have as our guest Teisha Bourne author of Motif. Teisha is a twenty-eight year veteran registered nurse and Motif is her first novel.

Good day Teisha and thanks for participating in our interview.
 
Norm:

I noticed from reading your biography that your real name is Veronica Johnson. What made you use the pen name Teisha Bourne?

 
Teisha:

My mother named me Veronica after the lovely actress Veronica Lake. Ms. Lake was born in 1922, so I thought I‘d choose a name a bit more hip and up-to-date for my target audience. I also spelled Teisha a little different to make the name more unique. I chose the name Bourne after the popular movie character Jason Bourne. He had such astute fighting skills. 

Norm:

Motif revolves around four characters. How did you go about creating these characters? Did you have a set plan?

Teisha:

My female characters were originally on a quest for revenge because of a broken heart, but the story soon evolved into a tale more complex than I even could have imagined. I make sure my characters flow from their own inner motives. I think: How would my character Camisha Simmons act; how would her best friend Tiffany Randal respond? I do this with all of my characters. They all play off each other.

Norm:

How did you decide you were ready to write Motif and how did you come up with ideas for the novel? What methods do you use to flesh out your idea to determine if it’s salable?

Teisha:

Motif started out as a single thought, but I didn’t want my characters’ stories to be so compact and their actions to be so run of the mill. I work to make my storyline complex and then flesh out the situations in my characters’ world to justify everything that happens. I consider what story themes and plots have already been hashed out then I try to either create new circumstances or think of new and fresh ways to narrate familiar tried and true ideas.

Norm:

In fiction as well as in non-fiction, writers very often take liberties with their material to tell a good story or make a point. But how much is too much

Teisha:

Too much is when your reader starts rolling their eyes and saying “get on with the story.” I’m an avid reader. I write what I enjoy reading. If I am not interested in what I write I toss it and revise.

Norm:

How much leisurely reading do you do? Which writer would you consider as your mentor and why?

Teisha:

Before I started writing, I read all the time and everywhere. Lately, writing has taken a lot of time. I have been reading since I was twelve--it’s very hard to say who was my mentor, but my latest quest was reading J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. From a literary standpoint, Ms Rowling’s work is genius because she engaged her readers in a complex world with characters that almost lived and breathed off the page. You sincerely cared about them. Brilliant.

Norm:

Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

Teisha:

I knew I had passion for reading. I found out where that passion was leading me. Reading led me to write. And writing is very therapeutic for me.

Norm:

Would you say that the publication of your first novel is the culmination of a life long dream?   How has the feedback been so far?  What are your hopes for this book?

Teisha:

You know...I never even knew I could write until about four years ago—I was just a connoisseur of books. I am amazed at myself. Did I write that? The feedback has been really good; mostly congratulations. And all have said my book is “pretty interesting.” I hope one day to hear lots of people respond to Motif with “I read that”.

Norm:

Can you tell us how you found representation for your book? Did you pitch it to an agent, or query publishers who would most likely publish this type of book? Any rejections?

Teisha:

I first allowed an agent I had developed a corresponding relationship with to read a little of my first draft of Motif. She was not interested. I pondered her critique and revised my characterization. I later found a young lady named Gigi--G. Andi Rhos on the writing site, Absolute Write. She edited a chapter of Motif for me then read the complete manuscript after I’d applied her editing tips. She loved Motif and submitted it to her publisher Belletristic Press LLC. They loved it too. The rest is history.

Norm:

Is there anything else you'd like to share with us and what is next for Teisha Bourne?

Teisha:

Norm, I plan to keep writing. I’ve just about completed the sequel to Motif—Motif Complete. I also write lyrics and sing a bit. You may eventually be saying “Teisha sings, too.” (laugh)

Norm:

Where can our readers find out more about you and Motif?

Teisha:

You may reach me through Belletristic Press LLC, Iseecolor.com, Myspace, and BlackAuthors.ning.com. My website “Teisha’s World” is currently under construction.

Thanks once again Teisha and good luck with all of your future endeavors.

Click Here To Read Norm's Review of Motif

 Click Here To Purchase Motif