Skip to main content

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Tracie Angela Greene, author of Enisi, The Bleu Realm

Author’s Bio:  After a lot of life happening, Tracie Angela Greene finally started writing the novel she yearned to read. Upon completion of her debut novel—Enisi, The Bleu Realm—she delighted in realizing how aspects of her authentic life inspired elements of her novel, like growing up in a Georgia suburb playing fearlessly in her backyard forest. Like when as a student at Pratt Institute, she worked in the library where she regularly hid in the “stacks” flipping through the pages of vintage Ebony magazines, and one day flipping to photos of her father, discovering an article about him that no one in her family knew existed. Like her beautiful eclectic gardens where magic springs! Like her grandmother, who didn’t think twice about raising someone else’s child if needed. Like her other ancestors, a blend of blood and "love" relatives who were determined southern black folks educated in schools, and the streets. Like realizing her creativity is God in action. 

Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book?

Tracie Angela Greene: I yearned for a big, beautiful, fleshy, fantasy in which women of color were the chosen ones to… thrive in an enchanted forest, evoke supreme love, normalize the surreal, empower each other and persevere beyond heinousness!  

DL: What do you think makes a good story?

TAG: Less passages crowded with descriptions and more dialogue. 

DL: What were some of the challenges when writing this book?

TAG: Editing out the unnecessary parts and determining when to end the story. 

DL: If you were hosting a dinner party which three authors would be your dream guests and why?

TAG: Octavia Butler, Maya Angelou, and Tony Morrison, so I could just sit there and listen to them talk about societal issues and everyday living. 

DL: What tips would you give to aspiring writers?

TAG: Firstly—take your writing seriously, whether you’re working on your book, a proposal for work, a school paper, emails, memos, letters, lists—all of it. Secondly—you must get the ideas out of your head on to the paper/screen even if you start by writing descriptions of your characters, ideas about your story’s environment or your research. 

DL: What do you like to do when you are not writing?

TAG: Garden, distant walk, yoga, cook, hang with my family, travel, and create through other genres. 

DL: If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

TAG: Creative, Introverted and Extroverted. 

DL: Would you like to share an excerpt from Enisi, The Bleu Realm?

TAG: Sure! Here you go: 

PART  II Entrenched

Kella stayed up all night reading the memoir. She finished it early the next morning and laid in bed befuddled. What was that? My family’s secret life encrypted in this book. Who else has read it? Thank God it sounds too weird to be true, especially the part about the ‘plant’ girl. That’s completely and totally impossible. Mmm… Enisi… Is he capable of that?

PART VI Break Through

Late that night, after everyone was asleep, Kella crept out to the deck to speak with Enisi. “Can you hear me?” she spoke into his canopy. He rattled the leaves of a nearby limb to confirm he could. “I have good news…” She struggled to keep her voice low. “I discovered what a pereanima is… and your scientific name… But… I’m not telling you until we figure out a way for us to have reciprocal communication,” she professed, then scurried back into the house. It’s his turn to feel what it’s like to be blocked out, she smugly surmised.

DL: What new projects are you currently working on?

TAG: I’ve already started the next novel in The Bleu Realm trilogy. 

DL: Where can readers learn more about you and purchase your book?

TAG: They can find out more here: 

DL: Thanks so much for being here with us today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.

TAG: My pleasure!





 

 

  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Debbie Stokes, author of The Stranger He Knew

Author’s Bio: Debbie Stokes was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. She has always had a desire to be a published author of a fiction novel, but fear stopped her. She often shares how her story ideas come to her in her dreams, and how she jumps up to write them down. Finally, one day, she pushed past her fear and allowed her vision to come to past. She is now a published author, and The Stranger He Knew is her first book.  Debbie is a former CEO, blogger, and interviewer for her previous women's empowerment blog called, 3 Women Voices, where she shared empowering stories of how people overcame odds to live their best lives. She is also a former contributing writer for FEMI Magazine, a cultural lifestyle magazine, where she interviewed and shared people’s stories.  When not writing, she enjoys singing, dancing, inspiring others, and spending time with family.  Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your book? Debbie Stokes: That is a funny story. One day, I went
10 comments
Read more

Interview with Jacqueline Seewald, Author of THE INHERITANCE

Author’s Bio: Multiple award-winning author, Jacqueline Seewald, has taught creative, expository and technical writing at Rutgers University as well as high school English. She also worked as both an academic librarian and an educational media specialist. Sixteen of her books of fiction have previously been published to critical praise including books for adults, teens and children. Her short stories, poems, essays, reviews and articles have appeared in hundreds of diverse publications and numerous anthologies. What inspired you to write your book? I enjoy writing romantic mystery fiction. The idea for this particular novel just seemed to evolve organically from my imagination. Is there any particular author or book that influenced you in any way either growing up or as an adult? I would have to say reading the Bible was influential. As far as regular books go, I’m a big fan of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Is this your first book? How long did it take to start and
20 comments
Read more

It’s A Book Thing Presents: An Interview with Erica Ginsberg, author of Creative Resilience

Author’s Bio: Erica Ginsberg has drawn on creativity in a variety of different roles: writer, documentary filmmaker, story consultant, project manager, and social entrepreneur. She co-founded the documentary film organization Docs In Progress and served as its founding executive director for more than a decade. She co-hosts The D-Word, a peer-to-peer global community for documentary professionals.  In addition to working in the arts, Erica has organized professional development study tours to the United States for mid-career professionals from around the world. She has a BA in international affairs and an MA in film and video. She finds joy in travel, painting, collage, reading, nature hikes, and spending time with friends, family, and her dog, Lulu.  Note: The most valuable piece of writing advice she has ever given is m ake bad stuff so you can get to good stuff. Really great advice for those of us who lean towards perfectionism.   Deliah Lawrence: What inspired you to write your b
Post a Comment
Read more