Blog Tour: Interview/Giveaway!! Struggles of the Women Folk, by T.M. Brown

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Struggles of the Women Folk Tour,

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Please join me in welcoming

author T.M. Brown to
A Night's Dream of Books!!

Interview

Maria: When did you decide that you wanted to become a writer? Or was this something you dreamed of doing from the time you were a child?

T.M.: I've always been a pretty good writer, receiving good grades in school. But I never gave much thought to doing it as a career. I never thought it was a viable option for me. I caught the "writing bug" when my first book, A Life Not My Own, received such positive comments! Who knew that I had a voice that people would want to hear?

Maria: Could you tell us something about Georgie, your main character, and how she sees the world she lives in?

T.M.: Georgie is a young black girl growing up in southern Virginia in the 1940s. This is a time of great prejudice and poverty. A time when blacks were considered by some as less than human. Her faith and the strength of her mother guide her life. She dreams of a better life. One filled with love and family.

Maria: Would you say that Georgie's world is entirely a thing of the past, or are the experiences she and your other characters undergo still to some extent part of today's reality for the African-American community?

T.M.: While the specific issues we in the black community face today are somewhat different, the underpinnings of prejudice and poverty still exist. In my opinion, we all still strive for and desire a better life for our families, no matter what color, religion, or background we come from.

Maria: What do you feel is the most important message of Struggles of the Women Folk?

T.M.: Never give up on our dreams. We all have dreams, but some of us just don't believe we're capable of achieving them. I want the reader to know that God can supply all of your needs. All things, good and bad, happen for a reason.

Maria: Which movement do you believe has empowered African-American women the most -- the civil rights movement, or the feminist movement? Or do you think it's a combination of both?

T.M.: Probably both. We all benefit when positive social change occurs. Civil rights, women's rights, equal pay -- all these impact us all as humans.

Maria: To what extent -- if at all -- have your own life experiences contributed to the writing of this novel?

T.M.: Struggles of the Women Folk is loosely based on stories that my grandmother shared with me. My perspective of her life, the lives of other women I've met, and my own experiences are sprinkled in every book I write. Each character is a combination of many women, including myself.

Maria: How were you able to cope with writing about the heart-wrenching experiences of these characters? I imagine it must have been quite difficult emotionally.

T.M.: Struggles of the Women Folk was a lot less draining on my soul than my first book release, A Life Not My Own. I am sensitive to the challenges that face us as a people because my early childhood was so challenging. The history of African-Americans, although traumatic, should in some aspects make us proud. We have reached levels of success beyond the expectations of society. I feel that we will continue to excel. I look forward to the day when we no longer can tie a black person's accomplishment to being the first (first black president, or first black award winner).

Maria: Have any of the writers of the Harlem Renaissance
inspired your own writing? If so, which ones?

T.M.: To be honest, I am not too familiar with many of the writers during this era, although Ralph Ellison's book, The Invisible Man, comes to mind. I read this book in college, and it confirmed for me many of the lessons I'd been taught my entire life: the injustices that many blacks have endured because of the color of their skin.

Maria: What do you see as the legacy of writers and poets such as Zora Neale Hurston, Nikki Giovanni, Maya Angelou, Gwendolyn Brooks, Alice Walker, and Toni Morrison?

T.M.: They capture a time that many people would like to sweep under the rug....They are the courageous, documenters of true life. There's a saying that we're likely to repeat what we fail to accept. The written word is powerful ammunition that can be used to defend ourselves from this happening again.

Maria: Do you envision Struggles of the Women Folk someday being made into a movie, as Morrison's Beloved, and Walker's The Color Purple, were?

T.M.: It would be an honor to see any of my books converted to the BIG screen. That would truly be an honor. I dream of it often, as I'm sure this is the dream of many authors.

Maria: What section(s) of the novel do you consider to be your favorite(s), and why?

T.M.: I especially like the first chapter, because for me, this is my window of opportunity to grab my reader's attention, and I work hard to do just that. I've read a lot of books, some good and some bad. I want my books to be well received and thought of.

Maria: What project(s) are you currently working on?

T.M.: I am working on a continuation of Struggles of the Women Folk, currently unnamed.               

Interviewer's Note

I would like to thank T.M. Brown 

for a most informative 

and interesting interview!!

Struggles of the Women Folk

T.M. Brown

Trade Paperback, 112 pages

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

May 12, 2014

(first published Sept. 27, 2013)

African-American Fiction, 

Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction,

Romance, Social Justice

This is the story of Georgie. She is a young black girl growing up in the 1940s in a small, rural town in Virginia. Life is hard and she dreams of better life. She experiences great loss and heartache. She loses friends and family, as well as the love of her life. And still, she remains strong. This emotional and inspiring story has a gritty dialogue. TM Brown's signature writing style is captivating. You will find it difficult to stop reading once you begin...

 

Amazon US/Barnes & Noble/

Smashwords

Internationally recognized story-teller with a past that provides lots of material to write from!
*1st book, A Life Not My Own, kicks down the secret door that Tina had worked so hard to lock away her insecurities, heartache and fears.
*5 STAR rated Just Between Us – Inspiring Stories by Women. TM’s short story is a continuation of A Life Not My Own, providing just a tad more about her life as a young adult (not captured in her first book). Expect the unexpected…
*Struggles of the Women Folk is based on fictional characters with a storyline created from stories that her grandmother shared with her as a child.
*Military service: 7 years – Enlisted
*Formal Education:
*Master of Science Degree in System Engineering – Regis University – Denver, Colorado
*Undergraduate Degree in Psychology – University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)


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