Author Interview-Fatima Munroe: The Book Goddess
Welcome to Untamed Publishing's Author Interviews! As a company that caters to the self-published and independent author, we want to highlight and support indie authors. There is a vast array of talent amongst us, and here's the opportunity to connect the readers to their next favorite author!
This interview features, author Fatima Munroe. Get ready to meet the Book Goddess! Her writing is so awesome that even Zeus would bow down!
Welcome Fatima! It's a pleasure to have you join us. Now, before we begin, I must that I am a fan! We'll get into my favorite book by you a little later. For now, please tell the readers a little about yourself.
A little about me...well, I'm a published author, mother, mentor and future business owner. I hold a degree in Human Resources, and for the last fifteen years I've worked in retail. Originally a native of Chicago, Illinois, I've lived throughout the Midwest, but I've called Georgia home for the last five and a half years.
Outside of writing, what are your favorite past times?
When I'm not writing, I like spending time with my family and traveling. This year I've got international travel plans, so I'm excited!
You go girl! With all that you have under your belt, why make the decision to become a published author?
I used to write all the time as a child, my head stayed in a book! As I grew older, I put books to the side in order to find my niche in the world. Fast forward to 2015: I had a career, a family, and there wasn't enough time in the day for me to balance both successfully. Then I got the call that my father was in the hospital, a week later he passed away. The drive from Atlanta to Chicago was the longest of my life; in those ten hours I had nothing but time to think. It put a lot of things in perspective for me, I decided to step out on faith and write a book. At the time, it was something to do to take my mind off of the pain from losing a parent. Once I sent my manuscript out to a few publishing companies and got a positive response, it gave me the motivation to write more. Now here I am, two years later with the same publisher, finishing up my second series, and loving every minute of it!
You are a woman after my own heart with that story. I, for one, am glad you took that leap. Since you've become an author what genres have you written or wish to write?
The majority of my work is urban fiction, but I've penned an erotica, romance, and currently contributing a few words to a sci-fi anthology with a few indie authors.
Sci-Fi! I tip my crown to you for that! Excellent example of remaining Untamable in this writing game and a unique quality to write across genres. Since we learned that interesting fact, l have to know more. Please tell us at least one thing about you that is a little known fact.
I write urban fiction because that's a part of me, but I'm fascinated with gods, goddesses, and philosophy. Anyone who knows my work can attest to the fact that in most of my books, there is a character named after a Greek god or philosopher. It's kinda funny to me reading my reviews about how everyone loves Plato, hates Poseidon, and waiting for the fourth installment of Chi Town's Queen to find out what Athena is up to.
See why I called you the Book Goddess? As a fan of your works, I definitely picked up on the use of Greek god and goddess names. Not to mention, ahem, PLATO is my FAVORITE character of your books. Cop Married to a Kingpin readers (thank me later, lol). While we are on your works, let's dive into your current releases. Tell us about those.
I dropped two books in the month of March, so I'll give a brief synopsis of both. Love, Betrayal & Dirty Money 2 ties up some loose ends from the first book. In the first book, each character showed the reader what happens when you mix love of money with an insatiable appetite for power and control; betrayal from all sides. The second book shows the after effects of decisions made in the first book, and how they handle it. I LOVED writing Kimmie's character; to me she embodies a strong Latina who does what she needs to do in order to protect those she's loved and lost. Part 2 shows her growth from the first book, the reader sees how she steps into her destiny.
Queen Pins and Street Pawns-A Boss Status Prequel is an introduction to the third book in the Boss Status series. Part 2 ended with the introduction of Heaven and Angel, and I wanted to give the reader a peek into their background. Their stories intertwine with the major players in Boss Status, but there are a few loose ends that need to be tied up in order for me to wrap up the series. To celebrate my second year published, I also brought back Athena from my Chi Town's Queen series, so the book is full of surprises.
Tell us about your upcoming projects and when will they be released?
For my current projects, I'm working on a sci-fi anthology and Part 2 of a romantic anthology that embraces the big, beautiful woman. Thick Thighs Save Lives Volume 2 debuts in June (I believe), and The Ink Masters Book of The Unknown will be released in May.
Great! Can't wait until all of these exciting projects drop. Since we're learning about your books, we are going to learn more about you as an author. If you were to write a book about yourself, what would it be called and why?
The Phoenix Has Arisen. Seen, heard, and been through a lot in my lifetime, lost friends and family. Throughout it all, I've remained resilient to myself, my family and my future.
What is a unique writing habit that you have?
Most authors have quirky habits, but mine is that I have to have HGTV playing in the background; it's my 'white noise'. House Hunters and Property Brothers somehow keeps my creative juices flowing. I have no idea why.
When it comes to writing, are you a morning person or a night owl?
With my schedule, ANY time I get to write is a blessing! Funny thing is: I get my best ideas at work, when I'm unable to write down my thoughts! By the time I'm able to scribble down a few words, I can only remember bits and pieces. But from those bits and pieces, I've penned some dope books, so it all evens out.
Although you have a very full plate, would you like to collaborate with other authors on a novel?
I LOVE a good collab! Looking for a co-author? Inbox me!
What are some of your other aspirations for your writing career?
A year ago, I thought I wanted to be a publisher, but for right now, all I wanna do is write. I have my hands in so many other projects that I feel if I decided to delve into publishing, I wouldn't give it the time and attention that it deserves. In everything I do, I aspire for greatness, so building my brand into something phenomenal down the line is my current focus.
Even though I can think of some ways (as a fan and all, lol), tell us in your own words what makes your writing stand apart from other authors?
For me, I've taken a lot of heat in my reviews for how a book ends, begins, reads, you name it. In my opinion, readers naturally expect for urban fiction to be dope boys with dumb women who do all of this superhuman nonsense and that's acceptable. My books aren't predictable; about 92% of the situations that my characters go through, I've seen happen in real life. Brothers that aren't close as brothers are 'supposed' to be, wives that cheat on their husbands with their husband's best friend, women who get hit by a man once and DON'T forgive them...it happens. Through it all, I continue to peck these keys, because for every negative review I'm getting an inbox, email, DM, or tweet asking when the next book is coming. I'm loving it all!
What is one lesson you’ve learned since becoming a published author?
Biggest lesson that I've learned and tell anyone who asks: if you don't have a thick skin, get one quickly. Readers won't see you as the modern day urban Shakespeare; sometimes even other authors will throw salt on your name if they view you as a threat. Pray, meditate, and pray often.
What is one myth about being a published author that you learned and would like to share?
What I've noticed is no matter how much you tell people about your struggle as an unknown author, people assume that you're rolling in dough. Readers expect the second installment of that series as soon as they read 'To Be Continued', and nothing else matters until they get closure. Truth is: as an author, we go through life. But we sacrifice a large part of ourselves for minimal pay not for the money or the accolades, but to appease our audience. Being the author that's able to give that escape to one of my readers is enough for me.
Fatima, it has truly been a pleasure to interview you, and we look forward to your future works. Please connect with the author and pick up your copy of all of her thrilling reads!
Fatima Munroe
Social Media Handles
Facebook: http://facebook.com/authorfatimamunroe
Twitter: http://twitter.com/fatima_munroe
Google +: https://plus.google.com/+fatima_munroe
Business Profiles
Love, Betrayal & Dirty Money 2 Synopsis
Part 1 of this anthology taught Tia that love don’t always love you back, and threatened with losing her son and her freedom, Tia is regretting the day she trusted a hood love that was never real.
Peaches is far from mother of the year, but when her daughter’s life is at stake, she stirs an old flame that also raises old demons. Will her helping hand create even bigger problems for all involved? Ray is now in the clear with no baby mama or side chick drama, and when he runs up on a two-for one-deal, thinking with the wrong head just might cost him his life. Rhianne takes vengeance to a whole new level when she lures her enemy into a dangerous game that’s payable in blood with just one way out: death. Kimmie has broken a lot of hearts, but after a brush with death, she’s got a whole new outlook and is in a race to cheat death one last time. As always, the Mercers are locked in a war, and after a shocking ambush, they’re left wondering who’s working with the other side. Buckle up and take this final ride as these characters finally learn that money will always fuel the betrayal that is determined, by any means necessary, to extinguish all hopes of love—ain’t no happily ever after!
Queen Pins & Street Pawns: A Boss Status Prequel Synopsis
Boss Status 2 introduced you to Danica, Queen of New York and her on-again, off-again relationship with King Kincaid. Queen Pins and Street Pawns catches up with her after her move west to the city of lights, Las Vegas, Nevada. Known as the Queen Bee in the streets, Danica’s name is synonymous with fear as she rules over the Vegas strip. Or so she thinks.
When they say twins are like night and day, they had to be talking about Danica’s two sets of twins, Heaven, Angel, Eros and Jupiter. Heaven was determined to bring her mother to justice to atone for her crimes against the public and her family. Angel doesn’t agree; she feels that Danica was just misunderstood. But when their mother makes the decision to introduce Heaven to her life as an outlaw and hands her the reigns to one of the most lucrative businesses on the west coast, one of her siblings doesn’t share in her happiness, deciding to take matters into his own hands.
Eros is a self-proclaimed savage, enjoying the female form at his leisure until something sexier catches his eye. Meeting Solei at a house party wasn’t intentional, but he fell in love from the moment he laid eyes on her. Once she gave him a taste of her goodies, Eros begins on a path to destruction that leads him right back to Troy, Flair, and Corey.
Lucifer Kincaid embodies his father’s selfish nature and untamed ways. Crossing paths with Angel one night at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, he finds her to be intriguing, and wants her to be his and his only. Cracking his tough façade, Angel travels a slippery slope in love and relationships.
Will Lucifer Kincaid be her undoing? Does Heaven reign supreme on the Vegas strip, or do the sins of the mother come back to haunt her daughter? And what happens when Eros goes up against Wilmington’s most charismatic street kings? Get ready to take that ride out to the city of lights as Heaven, Eros, Jupiter and Angel show you the difference between queen pins and street pawns.
