Interview with Author LaToya McCray
LaToya McCray was born in Wilson, North Carolina on June 30,1988. Also, she graduated from E.T. Beddingfield High school in 2006. She has been writing ever since she attended Wilson Community College. Her passion came from writing short stories for the Wilson Literary Review: A Journal of Literature, Culture, and the Arts Journal. She writes street literature like no other. Twists and turns in plots, she specializes in her writing. Creating violent underworlds, she is very good at this type of writing. Not only she writes street literature, but she writes also romance. LaToya McCray depicts her future to write more standalone novels in romance every since her debut novel “He’s A Fruitcake.” LaToya McCray writes with so much talent in both genres that she even dream to write a mystery/thriller. She writes with talent through many poignant plots with some many interesting characters that possessed in her novels. Her characters came from thought provoking inspirations from many novels that were read throughout her life. She is a fan of Eric Jerome Dickey’s mysterious novels such as “Chasing Destiny,” “Waking With the Enemies,” or “Dying For Revenge” are some examples. Eric Jerome Dickey had proven her ability to write more every day. LaToya McCray hopes and dreams that readers can be entertained and inspired by her writing too. She can inspire other authors as well when they write.
Tell me more about your latest book
Since I am on my seventh book, my sixth book is called “Love Me Some Baby Mama.” It is a special romance that is about a couple that goes through the ups and downs while they are dating. When Lareese gotten pregnant things had gone wrong between Brandon and Lareese. This book is a short story. Brandon had abandoned Lareese, so Lareese was a single mom for two years. In this novel, Brandon decided that he wants to be in his daughter’s life, but Lareese and Brandon had argued so much. The only test that they both have is whether or not they belong together and will they stand the test of time.
Did you ever have a rough patch in writing?
Some days I have rough patches. That happens when I really start the book and when I am at the beginning the book. This is when I write the book from scratch. All I know is that when writing a book you have to grow along with the book and maintain a schedule when writing a book. Writing a book is life.
What is your normal procedure to get your books published?
My normal procedure is very exciting. I always get excited when I publish a book. I can’t wait to finish book 7. Before I publish my book on Amazon, I would edit my own book after typing my book from my notebook. Publishing on Amazon takes at least two days or sometimes it takes only one day. When you publish from Amazon you have to have a book cover created. I always create my own book covers from my software online. Sometimes Amazon can look for errors in my book as well before my book can be published. I also publish my books on Draft 2 Digital, Smashwords, and Wattpad for promoting.
Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?
I think that writing is very therapeutic because when you have readers read your work it is very exciting. When writing you can escape reality and relax with some coffee. Being an author is my career, so I am very serious into building as an author and improving on my writing skills. Writing is so important to me.
How many books have you written so far?
Harlem Dance Crew: Hood Riches When Vengeance Served 2
An Assassin’s Heart
R&B Swagged Out
Love Me Some Baby Mama
Hood Riches When Vengeance Served
A North Carolina Queen
Queen of Darkness
What’s the best way to market your books?
I like to promote on social media and book platforms. My dream also is to promote on Youtube as well.
You don’t have to be a writer in order to be an author – how true is that?
I think that is false because being an author takes writing skills. In order to develop a brand, writing plays a big part of your career unless you have a ghost writer. I don’t really respect an author to have a ghost writer because it doesn’t explain how a book is created. I wouldn’t won’t a ghost writer because I don’t want some other person taking the credit for writing the book. I can be happier if all my books would get discovered due to my hard work from developing my own writing skills. I think life is better if you write your own books. Being an author is taking seriously. You have to go through trials and tribulations to become a popular and successful author.
What is your advice for aspiring writers?
To become a successful and popular author you have to go through trials and tribulations. The only test is to get to know the book industry, network, and promote heavily. I had been writing for ten years and became self-published for a year. Well for a year I had been a developed author even though I am not popular. You have to have a vision that you are going to be a great author to be a great author that you dream about for years. It took me some time to get to know the book industry full of authors in this world. There is no competition. I always see great authors and they are a great inspiration to me to be consistent. So, keep pushing.
Visit Author LaToya McCray book links:-
My Amazon Page (all of my books are on my Amazon page)
L. Love Publications Facebook business page
Follow me on Instagram: @l.love_persona
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