Slyce: Brothers and Sistah’s, please welcome our sistah, Author TJ Hope to “The Interrogation Room”!! Welcome my sistah :-). Are you ready?
Slyce: What inspired you to become an author?
TJH: I’ve been writing since age ten, so I think writing chose me. I use to write stories for my friends, who would enjoy them and come back asking if I wrote more. I realized people enjoyed my stories, and was inspired to share on a larger scale. I have aspired to be a published author for quite some time now. Dreams do come true.
Slyce: What is the name of your publishing company?
Slyce: In what genre do you write?
TJH: Urban Fiction, but would like to try other genres as well. I also want to write an erotica and also a mystery.
Slyce: Have you penned under another name?
TJH: Yes, my pen name is TJ Hope.
Slyce: You wrote a book titled, “Hood Lemonade: Jamika’s Vendetta”. What was this book about?
TJH: Witnessing a brutal rape and beating at the tender age of five, was only the beginning of life’s vendetta against Jamika. As she grows older, family secrets taunt her. Her first love, Mark Rosier, was more than a handsome face with stability and charm;, he was finally an escape for Jamika, then ends up shattering her trust. Family betrayed her, her past loves broke her heart, and it seemed that everyone around her wasn’t loyal.
Her only solace is the rare, sultry singing voice she possesses. Her voice is her only escape from reality and also her self-proclaimed ticket out of the hood.
Then, out of nowhere, comes handsome, sensitive and wealthy Deonte Bryant. The wall she’s built around her heart comes crashing down. While trying to turn life’s lemons into lemonade, her life is turned upside down once again by the hands of the very person she least expected. She must now take extreme measures to save her dream and ultimately her life, or die trying.
Sex, betrayal, revenge and even death, will pull you into the never-ending saga of Jamika’s quest for happiness.
“Hood Lemonade: Jamika’s Vendetta” was born during one of the lowest points in my life. Most readers describe this book as a roller coaster ride, just by turning pages. It is rated 5-Star read on Amazon, Kindle & Goodreads!! If you like a story that will first shock you with the unexpected, then make you cry, laugh, hope and root for the main character. This is it!! Take a sip of Hood Lemonade, by me – TJ Hope.
Slyce: Is this book a stand alone or a series?
TJH: A Series. 🙂 “Hood Lemonade 2” newly released!! “Hood Lemonade” started out as a stand alone book but due to readers demands and more life being left in the characters, the anticipated sequel is HERE!!
Slyce: How important are interviews?
TJH: Interviews are very important to me. It allows opportunity to connect with readers and others on a more personal level. Interviews also give exposure; someone who’ve never heard of you or your books before, just might hear or see and become interested. As Authors, we need for new readers to continually discover our gems.
Slyce: How important are reviews?
TJH: Reviews are extremely important. Reviews are helpful to both author and readers. I love reviews because I’m an artist and I’m sensitive about my shit!!!! LOL But really, I want to know readers honest opinions so I can take it to heart and build on it for the next book. It also helps readers to find good books and/or books that may interest them based on other readers’ opinions. I really appreciate all reviews and welcome more! They mean a lot to us authors.
Slyce: What does the term, “Building a Brand” mean?
TJH: As a new author, building my brand, I think has been the most challenging aspect of this for me. You want to just write a great book and have Oprah call LOL, but it doesn’t happen that way. It takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears and I am right now going through this process of bleeding, sweating and crying. To me, building a brand, is working to get you or your products to be popular, recognizable or wanted. Staying consistent, having fresh ideas, relatable, marketable, establishing followers and networking alliances.
Slyce: What steps are you taking to build your brand?
TJH: Along with me being an Author, I am also a Poet & Spoken Word Artist, Event Organizer & Promoter. I am the Presenter of South Florida’s, Love Jones Open Mic Experience which people travel the Tri-County area to be a part of the magic. A lot of branding and connections are made through these type of shows & events. I do a lot of social media, I mean a lot.
Slyce: What goals would you like to achieve as an author?
TJH: My goal is to be a highly successful author. I want to be on the New York Times Bestseller’s List and hopefully one day and see “Hood Lemonade” on the big screen or as a TV Series. Nothing comes without hard work and sacrifice and the belief that it can be done. So, for now, I continue to work hard and follow lead of others that are where I want to be, still learning… Still hustling and grinding. I sell my books everywhere I go and visit barbershops, hair salons, festivals, vendors – anywhere I can go to get my book in front of someone who may not know about it. I am very passionate about the “Hood Lemonade” series and once you read it, I feel that you will be too. It’s a fictional story, that originates from a true place. It is not coincidental that readers have the emotional connection that they do, with this series.
Slyce: What advice would you like to share with aspiring authors?
TJH: Write! Write! Write! Learn your craft as a good story cannot be denied. Don’t ever give up and you’ll have to get there eventually. If you are riding to a destination and get a flat tire, you don’t just stop and say, “Oh well, I’m stuck here, can’t make it where I want to go.” No! You call AAA or a friend or hitchhike if you have to, but you get that tire fixed and get back on the road to your destination. Life will throw flat tires along your journey. Fix them and adjust and keep steady on the road to your destination. Good Luck – I was you less than two years ago. Dreams do come true!
Slyce: Do you write for the passion or the profit?
TJH: Both. It’s been my passion my entire life and right now I’m living off the passion. LOL But ultimately, I would like for my books to heed a hefty profit. My ultimate dream is to quit my day job and be able run my brand full time and make enough to live off of it independently.
Slyce: Name three authors you’d love to work with.
TJH: Yasheca LaSha, Phoenix Williams and Phillis Forrest
Slyce: Where can our viewers purchase your book?
TJH: Viewers can purchase my books a number of ways. Autographed copies can be purchased on my website or eBook or paperbacks available on Amazon, BARNES&NOBLE, Apple iBooks, Google Play and wherever digital books are sold. Paperbacks available thru Amazon, my website or my publisher’s website.
Slyce: Is your book an eBook and/or paperback?
TJH: The Hood Lemonade Series is available in both eBook and paperback formats.
Slyce: How can our viewers contact you?
TJH: Feel free to email me: author@tanishahope.com or connect with me on Social Media. FB: authortjhope, IG & Twitter: author_tjhope! You can read my original poetry, sneak peaks on my books, or info on events that I am having on my website.
Slyce: I’d like to thank guest, Author TJ Hope for joining us in “The Interrogation Room”!! Thank you my sistah. You were wonderful!!
Everyone, please go purchase, “Hood Lemonade: Jamika’s Vendetta” by Author TJ Hope. Also, remember to check out her page on Facebook at: 
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