Slyce: Brothers and Sistah’s, please welcome our sistah, Author Ashawnti Taylor to “The Interrogation Room”!! Welcome my sistah:-). Are you ready?
Slyce: What inspired you to become an author?
AT: Ever since I can remember I’ve loved to read and write everything from poems to short stories. I think I was the only child who used to get excited over a new notebook and a pack of number two pencils. There was just something about seeing those clean sheets of paper and being able to fill them up with my imagination. I don’t use pencil and paper as much anymore but I get the same feeling when I see that blank word document on my computer screen.
Slyce: What is the name of your publishing company?
AT: The name of the publishing company that I write under is Silver Dynasty Publications. Mercedes G. is my publisher and she is the best.
Slyce: In what genre do you write?
AT: I write under the Urban Fiction genre but I’d love to expand to other genres one day. I even want to write a children’s book.
Slyce: Have you penned under another name?
AT: No, I’ve always written under the name Ashawnti T.
Slyce: You wrote a book titled “Thugasm”. What was this book about?
AT: It’s about a woman named Mycah who is stuck in a loveless, one-sided marriage she doesn’t know how to get out of. Her husband, Zeshon was her first everything, in spite of the lies and the cheating, she stays with him because he’s familiar and she’s afraid to see what else is out there. She doesn’t realize that in order to grow you have to let some things go, especially if those things mean you no good anyway. Things start to change when she runs into an old high school friend she used to crush on name Kamar Price, known to the streets as Trouble. Old feelings come to the surface and Mycah is left to decide if she’s had enough of no love with Zeshon or if she wants to see where things go with Trouble and give a thug a try.
Slyce: Is this book a stand alone or a series?
AT: It’s part of what’s going to be a two-part series. I’m working on the second installment as we speak.
Slyce: How important are interviews?
AT: I think interviews are very important. They help to get your work out there and also let readers get a chance to know a little about the person behind the pen.
Slyce: How important are reviews?
AT: Reviews are crucial. They are the reader’s voice and let you know what you can improve upon and what you are doing right. It’s a benefit for both the author and the reading community. Many people rely heavily on reviews to decide if they are going to give a book a chance or not. It doesn’t take much to write a few lines and it makes a big difference to both the readers and the writers.
Slyce: Is there anything else cooking in the lab for Author Ashawnti Taylor?
AT: Yes, along with “Thugasm 2”, I do have other things in the works. I’m always thinking, creating and trying to improve.
Slyce: What advice would you like to share with aspiring Authors?
AT: My advice to aspiring authors is to never give up. If writing is your passion keep pushing forward and don’t get discouraged. Have patience and continue to perfect your craft; your time will come. You also have to make sure you are writing for the right reasons. I do it because I love it. In the long run, it is your passion for your craft that will help you get through the difficult times when you just feel like giving up.
Slyce: What goals would you like to achieve as an author?
AT: As an author, I have many goals. I hope to one day have people purchase my books off my name alone. I want them to be like, oh that’s from Ashawnti. I’m going to get that because I know it’s going to be good. That dream motivates me to continue to work on my craft and try to get better with each book I put out.
Slyce: Do you write for the passion or the profit?
AT: I write for both but it’s my passion for it that keeps me going. I’ve always been a writer even when I wasn’t getting paid for it.
Slyce: Is your book an eBook and/or paperback?
AT: It’s an E-book.
Slyce: Where can our viewers purchase your book?
AT: From Amazon
Slyce: How can our viewers contact you?
AT: Right now, you can contact me through Facebook: Ashawnti Taylor. I love to hear from you all. I’ve been meaning to set up an Instagram page but I’m a bit of a procrastinator.
Slyce: I’d like to thank guest Author Ashawnti Taylor for joining us in “The Interrogation Room”!! Thank you my sistah. You were wonderful!!
Everyone please go purchase “Thugasm” by Author Ashawnti Taylor. Also, remember to check out her page on Facebook at: 
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