Opinions Are Just That: Interview with the Author: Nadine C. Keels

After reviewing Yella’sPrayers, I had the opportunity to interview Nadine C. Keels and ask her a few questions about her writing.

How long have you been writing?

Since around the time I learned the alphabet! Give or take a year.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Not exactly. When I was a child, I thought for a while that I wanted to be a singer. I think I’ve always had a decent voice, but it was probably the thought of glamour and accolades I was more interested in than the actual singing part. Around the age of eleven or so was when I took a look at all the library books I kept checking out and all the pages full of original tales I’d penned, and I caught a clue: I was much more in love with stories than vocals.

Let’s talk more about your new release, Yella’s Prayers. Tell me about it:

Well! I started writing it toward the end of my senior year of high school, and I finished the first draft a few months after graduation. It was the first full novel I’d written, and it was basically seventeen to eighteen years of life spilling out all at once.

Give us a Synopsis for the book:

She awoke with a gasp, sitting up. “God? Was that You?”

A pivotal year awaits Bless, a young woman who hides her passion: her music. She’s not exactly friends with T’meal, a talented athlete who won’t explain why he’s passed up the chance of a lifetime. Nor is Bless too close to Lamall, a boisterous playboy with a broken private life that’s spiraling out of control.

But Bless knows she’s meant to help these two young men. She can’t deny the Voice that told her so.

A coming of age story of compassion, the awakening of love, and knowing when it’s time to step out of the shadows and shine.

Tell us about your main characters:

Truth be told, the three main characters —Bless, T’meal, and Lamall—are all me. Well, all based on me. They’re different aspects of “Nadine” and my experiences from around that time in my life, with some fictional ingredients added in for flavor. (Two of the most obvious fictional ingredients being that T’meal and Lamall are guys, although Nadine is a girl.)

Which is your favorite minor character and why?

If I had to pick a favorite minor character, it’d probably be Lamall’s brother, DeMarkus, on account of the assorted mixture that makes The Mark up. He’s a blend of fun, compassion, simmering rage, and helplessness. In some ways, he’s just a spirited teenager, excited about sports and driving and girls, and in other ways—well. He’s already had to grow up too fast.

Of all the books out there, why should readers choose this one? (What makes your book stand out from the rest?)

The prayers, I’d say. The majority of them probably aren’t happening down on bended knees, with hands folded and eyes pinched shut. And, hey, they might not even have official openings and closings like formal letters, with a “Dear Lord God” at the beginning and a “Sincerely Yours and Amen” at the end. In general, the prayers are a reflection of ongoing connection, everyday communication that stems from a close relationship. They’re meant to show that “praying without ceasing” has to do with a consistent attitude of the heart and mind, not necessarily how much bended-knee and folded-hand time you put in.

What other project are you working on now?

Hahaha! I’m rather overdue in my process of writing a sequel to my contemporary romance, Love Unfeigned. But I’ll finish it. I’ve also got a spin-off from my Movement of Crowns series started, and I just released the new edition of my literary love story, World of the Innocent, based on true events.

Nadine, thank you for joining us today and for sharing your stories and your writing experience! -Julie L. Spencer

Author Bio:

Nadine. A French name, meaning, “hope.”

With her lifelong passion for life-enriching fiction, Nadine C. Keels enjoys reading and writing everything from short stories to novels. Her fiction works include Love Unfeigned and The Movement of Crowns Series, and select pieces of her lyrical poetry can be found on her spoken word album, Hope. Lyricized. As the founder of Prismatic Prospects, her communication company, Nadine has served as editor for a number of titles, and through her writing, from her books to her blog posts, she aims to help spark hope, inspiration, and genius in as many as she is privileged to reach.

Follow Nadine C. Keels on social media:

Twitter account: https://twitter.com/nadinekeels

Website and/or Blog: https://prismaticprospects.wordpress.com

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Nadine-C.-Keels/e/B004GBK6QM

Goodreads Profile: https://www.goodreads.com/nadine_keels

Google+ Profile: https://plus.google.com/u/0/110620554863081196294

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/NadineTimes10

Faith, Hope, and Book Love group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FaithHopeBookLove/

Check out other books by Nadine Keels:

Yella’s Prayers | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N12VWJ1

World of the Innocent | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072HPG7FD

Love Unfeigned | https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00F0SDCGG