Intimate Conversation with Shaquana Jackson
Shaquana Jackson was born in Lafayette, LA but currently resides in Abbeville, LA. She has a degree in General Studies with an concentration in Liberal Arts. She began writing at the age of ten when she encountered an accident that changed things in her life from that point on. However, she says it was a blessing because she may have never discovered her talent given from God above.
Sher writes short stories, poetry, TV and movie scripts, music, and novels. Her goals are to one day become New York Times Bestseller and to write, produce, and direct her own films. Shaquana is a proud mother of a beautiful daughter by the name of Asia’Lynn Harris.
BPM: Introduce us to your book, Now That the Cover is Removed and the main characters.
Now That the Cover is Removed will be released on Tuesday, October 8, 2013. Makeup and laughter is what Justina uses to cover up her beatings and pain that comes from within her very own home. She's living a life that she never thought she would live with her mother and the misery from her past. Along with abuse, Justina has to deal with a long lost sibling who wants her dead and seeks to carry out a wayward dream of becoming Justina. Justina’s past love interests tag along for the thrill of keeping her in despair. The past knows Justina weakness and tests her to see how long it will be before she will break free from all harm. Will she have enough strength and determination to forgive her abusers, find redemption and stare danger in the face to remain alive?
Colleen is a successful counselor who seems to have more problems than her patients. Along with dealing with family issues at home, she puts herself in harm’s way when trying to counsel someone she has a strong connection with. Getting too close to her patients opens doors that no one can seem to close. She begins to lose her ability to keep work, because she becomes too intimate with her client's lives and struggles. This also causes major problems within her marriage. Will Colleen lose what she has spent her life working for as she tries to capture what she lost years ago?
Aalisa's dream of becoming a New York Times bestselling author has come true, but it brings along the unforeseen dangers of becoming famous, which opens her life up for scrutiny. On her rise to the top, Aalisa has to come to grips with the fact she doesn't know how to accept the good along with the bad. A diabolical stalker from the past finds her and refuses to leave her alive this time! Her stalker’s obsession has taken precedence in Aalisa’s life because it now involves the safety of her only child. Aalisa must find a way to destroy her past, so that she can save her child. Will she stop the stalker and continue on with her life, so that she can focus on the romance she so longs for?
To conquer all the drama and heartache the three friends face, they must confide in one another and let their damaging secrets be known, in order to help conquer their situations. Even though it’s a hard pill to swallow, telling each other the shocking secrets they have held in for years might change their lives for the better and even put their past to rest at last.
BPM: Do you recall how your interest in writing originated?
At the age of ten I had an accident that changed certain things in my life. However God works in mysterious ways, so I believed by me going through my circumstances He revealed my talents that I many have never known otherwise.
BPM: Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of your family?
My hometown is one entity that supported me outside of my family. No matter my downfalls as an author they still showed me the same respect as an author. My hometown continues to support, uplift, and believe in my dreams even when I had doubts myself. I’m glad to have each and every one of them on this amazing journey.
BPM: What does “growth” mean to you?
Growth means a change from where you started or a change in a circumstance by learning from your past to embrace the future!
BPM: What does “challenge” means to you? Is there anything you find particularly challenging in writing?
Challenge is overcoming the impossible even when no one else believes in you. Challenge is stepping out on faith knowing even if you fall you will get back up. Whatever God place within you going after it is a challenge within itself! My writing can be very challenging because I write experiences for my characters that I have never experience or will experience in my lifetime.
BPM: Why did you choose to write in your particular genre? If you write in more than one genre, how do you balance them?
I choose Women’s fiction or Chic-lit with the intent to inspire and empower girls and women across the country even though its fiction most women can relate to anyone of the characters or relate somewhere down the line. It shows women or girls may go through many tragedies or downfalls but yet still be blessed and successful at the end.
I write in many genres which is a blessing itself! I write for the youth as well as adults and balance them quite well by switching up for readers to enjoy my books with their youth or spend time reading the adult chic-lit!
BPM: How does your book relate to your present spiritual practice or other life path?
My book relates to my present situation in more ways than one. Even though I experienced some tragedies and made some unwise choices like my characters in my youth I still pulled through with an education and endure success. However, even experiencing success it doesn’t excuse you from secrets that may have been buried or the past who continues to haunt you from time to time.
BPM: Does your faith or education inspire your writing?
My faith inspires my writing tremendously. I believe it is my calling from God himself. He instilled words in me to inspire many! I pray for his continuance in lifting others through my writing.
BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?
I want readers to gain the fact that no one is excused from life’s mishaps and courageous circumstances that life throws our way but to have the knowledge and wisdom to learn from what hinder us and keep moving.
BPM: What are your goals as a writer?
My goals as a writer is to educate, inspire, and of course entertain! I write close as to reality as I can so that someone who maybe going through the same thing as one of my characters could maybe see a way out or go about dealing with their circumstance in a different way. Also, characters who deal with something similar issue to one’s life experience overcome that to receive a better future may inspire others to keep striving no matter the circumstance.
BPM: Do you think book sales are the only indicator of your success as a writer?
Book sales are not the only indicator of success. To have a book published is a success within itself! A published book is a tremendous accomplishment! However, just to inspire many or change one person life is an indicator of success as a writer.
BPM: Finish this sentence - “My writing offers the following legacy to future readers….”
My writing offers the following legacy to readers are the understanding that some people’s experiences or life’s unexpected may not be the same but through faith and the coming together with family or friends you can overcome the impossible.
BPM: What can we expect to see/read from you during the next stage of your career?
You can expect to see more series with drama and twist of women who endured the hardships and the good life whose past continues to unbury itself and pay them an unexpected visit at the wrong time!
BPM: How may your readers follow you?
Shaquana Jackson
P.O. Box 988, Abbeville, LA 70511
Email: Authorsjackson@gmail.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorShaquanaJ
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorshaquana.jackson
