Q & A

1) What is your name and bio?

My name is Yolanda A. Reid. I'm an American writer and the author of PORRIDGE & CUCU: MY CHILDHOOD, a YA novel. My poems and short fiction have appeared in a few literary journals and ezines. My second novel, THE HONEYEATER, is a contemporary women's novel--a compelling love story about a woman betrayed by her first love, and how she ultimately triumphs. My current and most recent blog is Y REID BOOKS? at www.yreidbooks.blogspot.com. It's a blog devoted to women writers and authors. I live/write in the USA.

For more info, visit http://www.sites.google.com/site/porridgeandcucunovel.

2) What is your book title and synopsis?

THE HONEYEATER is the story of a woman, Eulalia, and her childhood sweetheart, Fabio. A young, handsome, and brilliant doctoral candidate, he has political ambitions. Soon after they wed, Fabio is unfaithful to Eulalia with the person she’d never expect. Her sister. After she re-builds her life with a new love, she is re-united with Fabio. Will Eulalia realize that he belongs to her childhood—to the past? Or will she release her new life—alongside her new love—to return to the man who loved and betrayed her?

A story of love, heartbreak and renewal, THE HONEYEATER attests that a young woman can survive love, heartbreak, betrayal. THE HONEYEATER is an enthralling generational story of two families and the inevitable love that arose between Eulalia and Fabio--who were not meant to fall in love--but did.

3) Where do you come up with your ideas?

Mostly, I listened to my grandfather tell stories--sometimes epic fantastical tales--that often contained sorcery and magic. I spent a lot of time listening and talking to him. I began writing the stories down; I even taped a conversation or two. I had in mind to write a book about him. Also, there are the women's stories(as told by my mother and grandmother--which are vivid for me as well).

Finally, I have a writer's temperament, I think, and have since I was a child. I always wrote little poems with drawings. As a teen, I continued this practice and still have some of those early poems, which I think are pretty well-crafted and mature for someone so young. And today I'm often thinking what a good story or novel this or that event might make.

Sometimes it's a news story, but mostly I get inspired by my own family's stories and history.

4) What books/authors do you like to read?

I love to read memoirs and biographies--those are my favorites. I also like reading novels. WUTHERING HEIGHTS by Emily Bronte; EAT PRAY LOVE by Elizabeth Gilbert; Barbara Kingsolver.

5) What's your next writing project?

I currently have two books germinating--one is a novel, possibly a continuation of THE HONEYEATER saga. Possibly not. I haven't decided yet. I also have in mind to write a sequel to my first novel. At this stage, it's too early to say anything definitive, however.

Years ago, I ambitiously said I'd write a trilogy of inter-connected novels. I wrote up a few notes and brief synopses. I still have that general idea in mind, but I don't know if I'll actually write it or if, once it's written, I'd like the book and want to share it with the world--or set it aside.

Sometimes it's a huge task to get the book you visualized on paper or onto the computer screen. Luckily, THE HONEYEATER--which took eleven years to complete--is the book I visualized. I tinkered, polished, and honed each word to get the best possible rendering of my imagination.

So far, I've written two complete novels; hopefully, I'll write the third novel and people (including me) will love it! (Hopefully, all three books will

become NYT bestsellers.)

Questions posed by Vincent Lowry.