TEMPIE…

TOMORROW’S AUTHOR TODAY 

‘FEELINGS’

Conducted via telephone on July 30, 2006.

BY ALBERT WILLIAMS

very once in a while, there comes along an author who captures in real-time the spirit of a particular society.

One such author in my view, is Memphis-born, Tempie D. King, author of ‘‘Feelings’’ (ISBN -4241-0706-7) Published by Maryland-based, traditional publisher, Publishamerica LLLP. This 164-page publication is a modern-day, classic written in the literary tradition of the Deep South. Its treatment of its subject, matter resembles such writers as the renowned, Richard Wright, Toni Morrison, Ernest Hemingway and Og Mandino who are the author’s idols.

 Following is an in-depth exclusive interview with the author herself, in which Tempie reflects on her past, present and future.

WILLIAMS: Tell us a little about your background. What prompted you to write ‘Feelings’. Who is Tempie?

TEMPIE: Ok Albert. Excellent question made me stop and think for minute. Tempie is…a very passionate, simple southern, down home country girl. She has a sense of family, she has been single. She is 51 years old. She has never married. She has no children she is the oldest of five. In a sense she has mothered her siblings. She is that type of person. She has been writing basically all of her life. That has been her estate. She’s very expressive. She’s very emotional. She’s very proud of that. And ‘Feelings’ was not originally thought out to be novel. ‘Feelings’ is simply what it is, her ‘Feelings’. ‘‘Feelings’’ is a combination…is compiled of all her 51 years of notes when she was going through life. When she had moments

SIGNATURE PHOTOGRAPH OF TEMPIE MODELLING AN OUTFIT FROM ONE OF  OPRAH’S  DESIGNERS SHOPS IN CHICAGO

of almost anything. Whether she was happy about getting a gift, or whether she was sad about losing a friend, whether she got a promotion on her job, It was sort of her diary; it was journal. Back when people didn’t really write, this was ‘Feelings’ is her friend too. Basically, that’s what ‘Feelings’ is. ‘Feelings’ kind of grew with her.

WILLIAMS: …And you come from Memphis, right?

TEMPIE: Born and raised in Memphis Tennessee.

WILLIAMS: Now when did you realize that you wanted to turn these journalistic doodlings into a novel? What inspired you to want to publish a novel?

TEMPIE: Another good question. It’s interesting that you say that, because I really didn’t realize that until I had moved away from Memphis Tennessee. You see Albert, I’m very proud of being 51, and I will tell you that I spent half of my life in Memphis, and half of my life in Chicago up until now. So it was at the latter half, that I felt that I was at a crossroad. I remember being a strong, southern somebody, in a very opposite place that I was born and landed in Chicago. And I remember I was going through a transition period between jobs.  In fact I was unemployed at the time. And I had a lot of time on my hands. Well, I am sure that every person goes through transition periods. My transition  past time at that time,  as I remembered was that I relied on doing what I did best; and that was sitting and analyzing my life and my self. And doing that I had a lot of time on my hands and started reading more and going through my notes.  I found my self, getting up early in the mornings. That’s when I,  I don’t mind telling you too, from a religious point of view, God  and has always been my guide, and he would get me up about 3am to 4 am every morning. And then reading my scriptures, and reading my notes, and little by little, things just kind of came up to me, and I found myself just excited about writing. When I started writing, the story sort of leaped out. One thing led to another. It really surprised me. Because I found out that within a couple weeks time, I had written a chapter…and it excited me.  I think I always had this secret desire deep down to write…but I hadn’t really pursued it until then.  So it really gave me an opportunity to challenge my self, and I found myself going to the library to learn how you write novel.

This is basically how it started. I’d like to say also, ‘Feelings’ was written ten years ago…that’s when I wrote it. I remember every day, it was like a had an obsession. I’d go to the library and I made a job out of learning how to write a novel myself. I read every writing book on fiction. I found out something about myself that in writing, I became very happy. You can see how I am now because of what it did for me.  I was this person away from home. I was going through my own life obstacles but I didn’t want family and people to know. So I would just write down what I was feeling, and when I did that gave me a sense fulfilment. It made me feel good about my self and my life…it filled a lot of voids, and so I built on that. One thing led to another, and the idea came to me, I knew I had been successful in jobs, and the reason why I didn’t have one at the time was no fault of my own, it was simply down-sizing. I had been at the height of my career in Chicago. I had become very successful in management, sales, marketing, education and healthcare.  You name it I thank God I had been able to accomplish so many things.  I will also share I was able to meet so many people in my career and walk through life including my walk through the years while living over twenty years in Chicago.  I will get a little ahead of myself and say, later after I had my book, ‘‘Feelings’’ published I choose to use the picture on the back cover because it represented such a successful time in which I was able to model some of Oprah’s clothes that were specially designed for her from one of her designer shops in Chicago.  No Albert, I have never met Oprah, however, my signature picture wearing the apple green pantsuit with the bold and colourful scarf on my book cover back  is one of the outfits from that designer shop. My wish is to someday meet Oprah and tell her and let her know how much I have always admired her and what an inspiration she has always been to me in my life.  Then all of a sudden with no prior notice or indication

my job was no more.         

TEMPIE CELEBRATES HER 40^th BIRTHDAY.

I always believed that God doesn’t close on door without opening another.  In the meantime this became a hobby…it became a very fruitful hobby, and it became one that I enjoyed. I remember taking my note pad everywhere, really I became my own agent, I became my own person. And my dream really started then. I had no idea that I would actually write a novel, but I did know that I had stumbled upon something that could not be ignored.

TEMPIE’S FAVOURITE AUTHORS…

WILLIAMS: Ok. Now Tempie, we’ll talk a little about the characters in the novel its self in a while, but who are your favourite authors? Do you have any favourite writers who may have influenced your writing style? 

TEMPIE: Yes. Oh you have excellent questions! In fact to answer that, I got to say that along with writing my other hobby is reading. I love reading, and in answering this I want to make sure that you hear me on this because my writing style is to enjoy a good book, and it doesn’t matter the ethnicity of the author. I’m above that. I could care less whether the author is black, white, blue or yellow. So in being that, that is how I wanted my writing to be as well. I didn’t want to get locked in a box. So what I did was to look at my best authors and the one that came foremost to me was a man called Og Mandino. In fact I would use his book as a reference to training on my job at times with his provoking messages. I was a manager for so many years in sales and marketing and I remember at the time while I was writing, I was reading his book, ‘The Return of the Rag Picker.’ It was this book Albert, that inspired me to write because in his book, he has a spiritual undertone, throughout the setting. I used to write many thoughts while I was reading it…he has about twelve or thirteen books…I’ve read all of them. But this particular book, I could feel myself in it.

It was written almost in the area that I lived in Chicago right along the same streets. As I was reading his book, he was so descriptive, of the details of telling the scenes that I felt the man was sitting right next to me writing.  So this gave me the inspiration of identifying and saying I could do this too! I could right just as he wrote ‘cause it was where I was that all was happening. I liked his message. More importantly, I like his style. His style was self-help. His style was such that, when you read his book you got so much hope and vision. I liked that. I even liked the inspirational point of view. Another one of my favourites is Ernest Hemingway. I like Ernest Hemingway’s style, because of the simplicity such as in ‘The Old Man and the Sea.’ He could take one scene for me, and build a book from it. It’s the words, and how he did it. I like that.  He made me live through his scenes. Plus, I was fortunate at the time, I think that what came to me was these authors that I loved, and could identify with, I was living in their world. I could see Hemingway’s birthplace right next to the library across from the park where I worked at the hospital. So, I just felt a closeness with him…I felt a closeness with Og Mandino as well. And then, I have another favourite author, Richard Wright. Coming from the south, I’m a very proud, southern, black individual as well. And going to a predominately black everything—school, college, church—this is a part of me. I was there. I marched and participated with my dad during the civil rights era. I got a chance to hear Dr. Martin Luther King speak before he was killed. You see, this is a part of my history where in writing, it all came together. So I think that of all the authors, I like those three. That is what gave me a platform for writing. I could get in to the new vogue authors; you know more of your new current authors but these were history to me. These brought my ancestral end into focus and that was what I needed. All I knew was I did not know where my book ‘‘Feelings’’ was going, but I knew that in capturing these three writers, that it could put me on a platform to feel good about my work.

MANERVA R. JONES

WILLIAMS: Excellent. Now Tempie, could you tell your readers about your main character Manerva Jones. What is special about her…she’s your main character. Can you just shed some light about the story that revolves around her without giving too much away?

TEMPIE: Ok. Oh boy! You know, I don’t know where you’ve been, ‘cause I love all your questions.

WILLIAMS: Ha! ha! ha,! That is just me naturally… they come naturally.

TEMPIE: I like that… It’s very good that you asked that. ‘‘Feelings’’ is my debut fiction novel with a lot of inspired truths. When I wrote it ten years ago I had an idea as I outlined my story-line to build scenes, plots, conflicts and characters involving questions of where I wanted ‘‘Feelings’’ to go. Writing to answer questions such as; what if anything, does doing the right thing really mean? Or knowing God would forgive them but wondering could they? Or even would you? Being torn between deciding to continue living to please family or following their hearts to happiness, which would they choose? Or if being faced with seeing diversity and asking were they still yet the same? And if faced with confronting reality and knowing what was done, they could loose everything if the truth was ever told? Once I felt I had mastered these questions, created and developed my characters and outlined my chapters I felt confident in writing and presenting my story. But then something very profound happened. Just as I was writing and editing my first sentence on the first page ten years ago, it happened...I actually witnessed the birth of a fictional character that immediately came alive and took total control. Her soul was born on paper, carrying over fifty years of history that had been kept inside of her. She used the power of the pen to unleash all of the hurt and turmoil that had haunted her soul. The moment her medium brown eyes met on paper and looked into the dark brown eyes of her unknown friend, she became alive. She was no longer a main fictional character, she became ‘‘Feelings’’ heroine, and she had a very real story to tell. At that point she took complete ownership of the story. Manerva R. Jones, was not just created she had been unleashed and she came out strong to tell her story. A story which covered the lives of herself as well as so many people she had seen or know or had read about living in a time and a city where racism and injustice was rampant and existed then as well as still being very much alive over fifty years later. An injustice that involved race, gender and status quo. It was just ugly. But she was determined not to tell it ugly. She was determined to tell about this dark, ugly and mean creature but in a loving way. And so it was a battle for me the author from the very first time I became face to face and met the powerful and ambitious Manerva. All of my ideas and outlines were over powered by the sheer power and determination she brought forth when given the opportunity to finally speak. Thus a sort of dimensional storyline effect immersed. As the author my storyline was fiction and created to allow each of my fictional characters to come alive, interact, present dialogue and action so that hopefully the reader would be satisfied. Manerva on the other hand was a creation of fiction but her stories and life were so real and they were based on a lot of inspired truths. There were actual battles throughout the story where being the author I had to yield to my heroine and remove myself completely and allow her to guide and dictate the story. For an example, when she had the opportunity to tell Dr. Grant off. I had to move and just let her work it. I had no idea what she would say or how she would say it. She had suffered so much and the inner afflictions and scars were there. Her boldness and her ambition to see justice done was her driving force and I knew she would not stop nor would she heal from her past until she was allowed to tell her story in her own way and tell it now. She was on a mission. I knew that I wanted to send a message that could be wholesome vision for all. I wanted it to be such that…it would be something that I could read to my nephews and niece.  Something they could be proud of.

PUBLISHAMERICA

‘How to upset a Goliath book biz’

WILLIAMS: That is good point, a very good point. Now, let me ask you, why Publishamerica?

TEMPIE:  I should ask you why publishamerica? Ok. But I’m going to answer you. I want to get back to that about Manerva, because if you let me expand on it later that would help me. Now as for

 Publishamerica they had no idea. I did not even know of a Publishamerica.   In fact Publishamerica did was not even exist when I wrote this novel ten years ago.  Now there came Publishamerica that’s why.

WILLIAMS: How did you discover Publishamerica?

TEMPIE: I discovered Publishamerica last year after I had moved back here [Memphis] because of the unfortunate circumstance that I had to relocate back because of my parents both becoming critically ill almost simultaneously. I had to become their caretaker. While doing that when I moved back my whole life changed. I only brought back basically one thing with me and that was my box of writings.  Everything else stayed in Chicago. My writing came back, and just so happened that writing and reading still was my hobby.  It was really the only thing that I could do. I don’t know if you are familiar of being in a household with two critical parents. It just was all I had, it was just my survival. It just so happened that I was very active in community affairs and expos and things in Chicago. When I came back here, the only big thing that was going on in Memphis at the time that I knew of was what was called a sisterhood type convention. Well, (sigh) deep down I wanted to go but, I just didn’t know if I would be able to go financially, as well as mentally given the circumstance. It just so happens that a friend of mine invited me, and I sort of wanted to rebel, but I really had no other option when my friend said, “why not, you need to get out. You need to enjoy yourself.”

WILLIAMS: What are the aims and objectives of this sisterhood type convention?

TEMPIE: The objective of the convention for me was similar to several I had attended in Chicago that launched African American women. It

was one I felt echoed a voice for African American women in Memphis. That’s the priority of it’s essence

TEMPIE’S MOM AND HER LITTLE DOLL BABY

in my opinion. It featured in particular great African American women that contributed to the community. Whether they were as leaders , as spokespersons highlighting their businesses, in the arts or whatever. It had became an annual affair here, and I had never been to one here in Memphis. I had attended and spoken at several in Chicago, so I saw myself being bound to be apart of it.  Remember, I was back in a place that I had left almost twenty-five years. And when I left, this was not here.   So I kind of wanted to see how Memphis had grown also. I had an inkling, a gut feeling that I wanted to go. Even though I was not at the high point that I had left in Chicago or when I had left Memphis almost twenty five years ago.  So a part of me just did not know how I would be in going or being received. Can you understand what I’m saying? Ok. So, even though I was invited…I was put in a position and I felt God was leading me because I couldn’t think of a reason to say no… so I went. Immediately, Albert you won’t believe this,

WILLIAMS: Right.

TEMPIE: It was at this convention, that I met people I knew from elementary, high school and college. It was at this place that I found out about Publishamerica, Albert, OK.

WILLIAMS: Yes! Yes!

TEMPIE: May of last year is when I discovered Publishamerica.

WILLIAMS: May of 2004…2005

TEMPIE: May of 2005…yeah.

WILLIAMS: Ok. Now, what kind of deal do you have with Publishamerica? What kind of publishing deal? What’s the arrangement?

TEMPIE: Well my arrangement with Publishamerica, who I really can’t say enough to thank them. I still think it’s a dream come true. My contract with them. And I can only speak for myself. My contract with them covers a seven-year span.

WILLIAMS: Right.

TEMPIE: And they published my book. They have taken me on the best writing journey ever.

WILLIAMS: Ok

TEMPIE: and…having researched, and being in the business, this to me is unreal. But it’s truly been a blessing. And in fact, I’m looking up at…, they paid me my first royalty check…of one dollar. I have a one-dollar symbol, which will last me the rest of my life. Ok.

WILLIAMS: It’s just like me I have mine framed.

TEMPIE: I have it framed. But I can’t say enough about Publishamerica.  They are ahead of its time to me. It is on pay-on-demand, which to me…they have a book: ‘How to upset a Goliath book biz’ the introduction is by the CEO/President, Larry Clopper himself, which I cannot endorse enough and say, because as a new writer once I did my homework, and my research, and wanted to get my book published, I did not know much about Publishamerica and I read. And as with anything, I got so many different types of opinions…

WILLIAMS: right.

TEMPIE: Some positive, some negative. And I was able to look and see…and it was this book...that put the reality to me, and they just laid it on the line. They made you know exactly what to expect, how the industry works, how they expect it to fit in the industry…and their vision of success… I liked it.  I actually wrote a review about the book on amazon.com.

WILLIAMS: Ok

TEMPIE: You see how much I liked it.

WILLIAMS: Now when was your book actually published, and how has the sales been going so far? And what are your efforts at promoting it? Tell us some of your experiences with …since the launching of your book, and your promotion. How has it been going so far?

MARKETING STRATEGY

TEMPIE: Ok. Chronologically, let me go back. I submitted my manuscript to them at the end of July last year 2005.  I had to get things together because when I wrote my book ten years ago, Albert, in long hand and on my Brothers brand typewriter, it wasn’t even electric at the time.  Now every thing is state of the art technology.  I had to type it page by page using liquid white out and the manual works.  So, after I did all that, they worked with me from the start because I was honest, and l let them know my situation that I had to get it together and they allowed me too. I signed my contract, as of August of 2005.  And they took me on my writing journey. I submitted my final manuscript as of December 2005. Albert, what was unique with me was because of life circumstance that I was in. I was not able to edit and go through and read through my work at all…

WILLIAMS: Ok

TEMPIE: …Due to circumstances I was faced with the dilemma that I could have prolonged it or just submit it.

 I chose the latter. And it’s been one of the best decisions that I have made. It helped me put closure to the

  TEMPIE GROWING UP

   AGE 2

reason that I wrote it. I dedicated it to the memory of both my parents and my brother.  I don’t want to dwell on it. But that was very important to be able to submit this and get it published, so I could dedicate it to them.  I felt that this was something, that on a personal note, I needed to do, to move forward.  I knew with every part of my being that it was something I must do.  It was as real now as many of the inspired truths were as they were created into a fiction storyline from even before I was born.

WILLIAMS: Ok.

TEMPIE: Alright. So it was actually published and part of Publishamerica’s protocol is that they send you out to author’s copies, once it is published. And they sent ironically, my author copies by FedEx to my door February the 8^th which was the day it would have been my father’s birthday. So along my pathway, everything just keeps falling in place I was able to salute the book to my parents as planned February the 8^th. My actual release date was March 27, 2006. So from March 27^th to today, I will share with you nothing but success as I have seen it. I have had people and organizations that have come to me wanting to do interviews, feature me as a featured author, feature my book ‘‘Feelings’’, as a featured book. My publisher has been nothing but a total support for me. They have not once, not twice but three times, featured ‘‘Feelings’’ ‘Up in Lights’ which is one of the highest honours that I am aware of that Publishamerica offers to its authors as a recognition incentive. It remains on their web page indefinitely. As far as promotion, like I say, I knew from all my research regarding Publishamerica’s protocol would to expect.  So my goal, was simply to utilize my own marketing and sales skills.  I developed a marketing plan, simultaneously while they were publishing my book. My plan was to market internationally and locally. This is what I had always wanted. 

WILLIAMS: Right.

TEMPIE: Doing that, I had some experience in the Internet, and that‘s what I proceeded to do…is to market every where I could—internet first. Just let people know who ‘Feelings’ was and who I was. I wanted to introduce me to the world. And in doing that I felt that, I could then come home locally.

WILLIAMS: Right.

TEMPIE: And…let the people around me …since I had been gone from Memphis over twenty five years. I wanted to introduce myself through my book, and that’s the point where I am at now.  I just had my first book signing/launch on this Saturday, August 5^th at David-Kidd booksellers which is one of the top and most prestigious booksellers not only Memphis but in the mid-south area in my opinion. They have location in Nashville, Tennessee. I’m so just excited everything. I received a telephone call a couple of days ago from the live @9TV on WREG-TV a CBS affiliate –TV Host asking me if I would come and be a guest on the show and talk about and promote my book, ‘‘Feelings’’ on Fri 8/4/2006 as well as  my Book Signing at Davis-Kidds on Sat 8/5/06.  I did Albert and both my days Fri 8/4/06 on live@9TV- WREG a CBS affiliate as well as my Book signing /launch at Davis-Kidd booksellers were absolute successes.

TEMPIE’S DEBUT APPEARANCE ON LIVE @9- WREG T.V. /A CBS AFFILIATE WITH CO-HOSTS, MARYBETH AND ALEX ON AUGUST 4th, 2006

WILLIAMS: Ok.

TEMPIE: Now those two immediate events happened this past Friday 8/4/06 and this past Saturday 8/5/06.

TEMPIE AT BOOK SIGNING AT DAVID-KIDD BOOK SELLERS AUGUST 5^TH, 2006-08-2006

 Also Albert, if I may extend on it I’ve been very fortunate, now don’t get me wrong, I have worked hard, I have put certain leg work in, and I feel very fortunate that people have responded so widely. In fact the top places in Memphis have responded, I think that gives me great pride. August 26th, the event manager called me and asked me herself. So I will be there August 26^th at Barnes and Nobles at the Wolf Chase Galleria.

WILLIAMS: And where is that, in Memphis?

TEMPIE: In Memphis Tennessee, yes.

WILLIAMS: In WolfChase Galleria.

TEMPIE: Yes, WolfChase, is another very affluent and prominent area of Memphis. Additionally, Barns & Nobles BookSellers have worked with me tremendously. Barnes & Nobles were the first I became aware of who had who had stocked my book, and the manager… er… told me that they immediately ordered three to just put in their break room so people would read and know who I was.  So all of these things let me know that people…people are reading, ‘Feelings’ .I have another Booksigning scheduled with another Barnes & Nobles BookStar on September 16, 2006. Albert, let me tell you it truly is a small world because when I went to introduce myself to the Store Manager at this particular Barnes & Nobles BookStar I found out the manager and I sort of had roots.  Our high schools were almost next to one another.  Talking to her reminded me of growing up and all.

      TEMPIE AND HER DAD

It made me think about my family so. 

Albert, I have another Booksigning and Reading scheduled for Oct, 17 2006 as well at our neighbourhood Library.  In fact two libraries will be jointly working together to make the event a successful one.  I thank God and am so looking forward to it as well.

I also have been asked and will be having a Booksigning and Reading at a Business Network Club’s Retreat Jan, 2007.

WILLIAMS: All right, Tempie. Now let me ask you, what are you plans for the future? You have your first novel out it going pretty well, you’re getting promotion. What do you have for your writing from here on? 

TEMPIE: (after a long pause) My plans for the future Albert are… (another pause) I’d like to go into phase [c] of my marketing strategy. Fist phase was Internet, the second was local, now I’d like to go international.  I plan to be in Crawley, England the month of Dec, 2006 to launch my International Marketing. This is part of my marketing strategy.

WILLIAMS: Ok.

TEMPIE: I’d like to go international, as well as I’d like to develop a series. The public and the readers and my reviews have been excellent. And they have …. Didn’t get a chance to tell you about my main character but she became my heroine as such that she dictated, her message very strong, and the readers have already demanded a sequel. Manerva spoke loud on live TV as well.  My TV debut on this past Fri 8/4/06 brought out some great points, I would like to share. OK.

WILLIAMS: Ok

TEMPIE:  Albert, both of the TV Hosts introduced me and welcomed me back home so beautifully on live TV after having been gone for over twenty years.  They each noted they felt, ‘Feelings’ would resonate through a lot of folks.  They both felt my book ‘Feelings’ had many universal themes.  They even brought out points which discussed and connected my life with that of my main character, Manerva.  They even suggested a title to my next book be , “Perseverance.” I took that as a wonderful compliment because it showed me the author that they as readers truly had understood all of my messages in

‘‘Feelings’’.

‘FEELINGS’ ISBN 1-4241-0706-7

WILLIAMS: Ok

TEMPIE: So I would like to…and this is right along the lines that I had thought once I had published it. And I do have ideas of where I want to go with that. I would like to that, but also I would like to explore in different avenues.

WILLIAMS: Right.

TEMPIE: Documentaries, I‘d like to just expand my writing I’d like to get into poetry. I do have a fellow author that I was fortunate enough to meet through my publisher, Publishamerica…I’ve met so many fantastic authors. But this author is an author that, I like his work, and I’ve started collaborating with him. He lives across…I think that in doing this, it will strengthen my international route. It will strengthen my writing, as well as just be a winning team. So that’s where I see myself going.

WILLIAMS: So you said, where does he live?

TEMPIE: Hmm!

WILLIAMS: where does your fellow author live?

TEMPIE: I’m sorry, I didn’t hear you.

WILLIAMS: Where does your fellow author live you said? You kind of blanked off when you reached that part.

TEMPIE: Oh wait, one minute, I can’t hear you.

WILLIAMS: You said, Where does you fellow author live.

TEMPIE: Where does he live? He lives in Crawley England.

WILLIAMS: Oh! Ok! All right!

TEMPIE: Crawley England, I’m sorry. Yes he lives in Crawley, England. And it’s ironic, I’d noticed his writing, his style the moment I actually got into Publishamerica through our messageboard, and I just could see his style, I liked it.  This past year he has pursued me and my writing style as well.   He …you can tell by me telling that he compliments my writing in every sense. He’s individually just as strong as I am, and I think that the two of us collaborating would just become better, and that is what I see in my future. I better not say any more about him Albert, if we are to finish this telephone interview. Just look at his picture and see for yourself how much he is enjoying reading my book, ‘Feelings’.  I plan to be with him in Crawley, England and soon. 

He is my fiancé’. Ok.

TEMPIE’S FIANCÉ, ALBERT

WILLIAMS: Ok. Now do you have any special words for any aspiring novelists or writers that may read this interview or hear this interview. Do you have any special words of advice for them?

TEMPIE: Humph! Yes I do. And the reason that I do is because I was just there less than a year ago my self. So my special word for any aspiring writer, as well as for any avid readers, would be to just keep doing that. Don’t be afraid to venture out. Don’t be afraid to explore. Don’t be afraid to allow yourself to follow your dreams. And just become a sponge. Become…If its something you truly desire, then position yourself such that you’re in the midst of people who are successful. Position your self to be around successful people that can help you.

TEMPIE AND DAVID-KIDD STAFF WERE EXCITED AT BOOK SIGNING

 This to me has been the best …best thing that could have ever have happened to me. You see, I was fortunate right before the expo convention…just as always, always, I cannot stress this enough to recognize when opportunity knocks.  Also, if you are an aspiring writer always have your pad and pencil. It’s so simple, you never know where you will be and ideas will come. And you need to always have that .That is exactly what happened to me April of last year 2005. . I…I…I got to share this little story, if you don’t mind.  I happened to have been in the lobby of the WalMart. I had had a flat tire, and I was in the lobby, you know while you’re waiting  in the waiting room , the television was on and Albert, you know I love that televisions have their places, but I’m a writer ok, so I got up, no body else was there, so I got up, and turned the television off.

WILLIAMS: Ok.

TEMPIE: So I could write. ..I love to write. As I turned the television off, this gentleman walked back in and I realized that he had been the one who had been watching the story. So I felt kind of bad and got up to turn the television back on, but he told me, “no leave it off. And our conversation… and he noticed I was writing, and he asked me, “ do you like to write?” and I said, “Yes, I’m a writer!” and he said, “ my wife is a writer!” One thing led to another, and he let me know, “My wife’s friend just got her book published, and I said, “really” he said “yeah” about this time, his wife walked in, and you know I didn’t know what she would think, but he immediately introduced and said this lady is a writer and I was just telling her about your friend and you. And the lady and I just got into the best conversation. We started talking and one thing led to another…that’s why I’m telling you…when you’re an aspiring writer…you’ve got to look at all signs and explore them…

(change of tape)

TEMPIE: And afterwards I was invited me to come to a book club meeting. I wanted to come, and I told her that I may not be able to because I was here trying to help myself get back on my feet and was struggling financially. It’s almost like she read all of that. So she stopped me. And she told me she said. “You’re my guest just come.  And that was the start of my writing at that point because when I walked in to that book club meeting, and the reason that I really wanted to go was to just surround myself…and I’m just telling you that to any aspiring writer, no matter what situation you’re in …whether your broke, whether you’re distraught, whether you’re discourage…it doesn’t matter, because the signs are there. When opportunity comes you got to feel it. And I felt it. In the midst of everything thing else, I felt it. It was April of last year 2005. I think I became Manerva at that point. Just like in the book, Manerva my main character was unleashed. I wasn’t Tempie at that point. I remember she introduced me, and you know how most new people that you introduced just like you are with me with this interview you see how I get to talk and I love it.,

WILLIAMS: Yes.

TEMPIE: Well she introduced me and they started asking questions …now I look back and think that I was the spokesperson. I think that I spoke the whole meeting. They loved it, and I loved them. And I remember I’d never been to a book club meeting where as a guest they gave me gifts for just being there. It opened up my whole world. It let me know that God was there. It let me know that my fears were gone. It let me know that I had arrived that  my dream was materialising.  

JOYCE (FRIEND), CRYSTAL (NIECE), TEMPIE AND KATHY (BEST FRIEND)

WILLIAMS: OK.

TEMPIE: I met several other book club members that were authors and aspiring writers or avid readers.  I even wrote reviews for them because I was so proud of them and the way they had paved the way for me.  Again, I became obsessed and was on a mission.  I just knew it.  It was simply a feeling.  I was given a gift plaque at that very meeting saying, “You can overcome every obstacle.’ Many things transpired that day Albert.  It was the continuation of my writing journey Albert and I knew it but yet on another level.  I was on my journey.  I became so involved that I read so many of every author’s books I could.  The names and specific circumstances during my time of being an active member in that Bookclub is irrelevant.  But the one thing that will always ring true was it had to all happen.  It was simply part of my journey. It was part of the plan to condition and encourage me as well as me be an encouragement. “ Overcoming every obstacle.”

FRIENDS AT MY BOOK SIGNING THAT KNEW ALEX HALEY

      I don’t know Albert if you can feel me…can you feel my ‘Feelings’ right now. That’s what I am about, that’s what ‘‘Feelings’’ is about. You see…You see Manerva, my main character, took control of ‘‘Feelings’’ I’m backing up a little bit because I must.  You see, I had had the outline, I had the theme. I knew were I wanted the message to start…I had no main character. I had no characters in mind. I didn’t want people to know all of what I had gone through. I didn’t know how to put my life in writing. It was one day the name came up through many names, but once I had chosen Manerva…I wanted a name that had ‘Feelings’ to it, had emotions, had strength, had meaning to it—Manerva fit that bill. But in writing the story I didn’t want to write about me, I didn’t want to know Tempie…I want you to know this… this is…this is the truth, and I don’t know if I can explain it enough, but the moment I wrote Manerva’s name and put it in my first sentence-- my first paragraph,  my first thought, Manerva became a human being: She came alive I never had experienced this before, you see, it was Manerva that dictated the story, at that point that is where Manerva became dimensional. I as a writer had to step back., and Manerva as a character  wanted to tell the story. So that is why it is. It was the strength of Manerva and the direction in the story that she had held back for 50 years.: Manerva spoke. Through ‘‘Feelings’’ I didn’t. So let’s just say that coupled with the event, coupled with everything that happened with publication.

    You see I knew then, that this was deeper than being about Tempie…it really is. It’s not about me now. I’m going back and forth just as I did through the book with Manerva, you see that, I had a reason then as I do now. Her life had so many twists and turns, and that’s the story of it, just like life.  Getting back to people in my past and Manerva’s past, each one played a profound effect in preparing me mentally. You see many times I have been broken.  The ultimate was that I was broken in spirit, because of the personal dilemma I had gone thorough losing two parents a month apart. I can’t explain that I can only tell you that to you that because of that I had to write ‘‘Feelings’’ and I had to do it in such a way where it was fiction. There are a lot of spiritual truths throughout. It became alive. ‘‘Feelings’’ is a book that is alive. It is not just a book. It becomes alive in the way that the reader perceives it.  And I know that from the reviews. I had not said anything to anyone that read ‘Feelings’ after it became published.  Just like Albert, I never let anyone read ‘Feelings’ before it was published…

Albert I had not read…Nor had anyone in my family…no-one-read-this-book. It was so

                                                         personal to me.

WILLIAMS: Right.

TEMPIE: I think that not having children, this has been a child for me. It has been so special to me, and I think that’s why I…I could not change it. I didn’t tell you this, but thorough all my dilemmas… I do have a degree in Pre-Med., you know, I got accepted in med. school, I am one of these ones that have gone through all this training. Albert, I’ve got all of the training. I went to Writer’s digest Novel Writing School. I’m trying to tell you that, I was prepared to write this book. But I can honestly tell you that in writing it, it didn’t come from any of that it came from life’s experiences. Just as Manerva took hold and dictated the story as she wanted it, not like how I outlined it, she changed all of my outline.  

WILLIAMS: Ok.

TEMPIE: That is how my life has been, I’m not a person that does go along a format, it doesn’t work like that with me. So that is what ‘Feelings’ is about. But getting back to what I say for aspiring writers: follow your dream, and don’t be afraid. Don’t be afraid of anything, and don’t underestimate anything-don’t underestimate your self. Don’t think anything except it can happen, it will happen, it shall happen. It’s been less than a year now, and had someone told me that I could have a book published, without spending a penny. If someone had told me that I would have met and connected with people that I met almost thirty years ago, and got me to the point where I am now, to go to a book club that I joined that so many opportunities opened up for me and each one of these authors have told me what an inspiration…it was two-fold it was reciprocal. Just as they brought meaning and hope and inspiration to me, so they have said I have done for them. It has just been so fulfilling, I cannot express to you what ‘Feelings’ has done for me. ‘Feelings’ will always be my heart.  It just will always be my heart. Somebody mentioned to me earlier that it will be my signature book and I know it, I know it from my heart it something that …it’s… it’s…it’s me. It’s me in the fiction. Ok.

                  TEMPIE HAS ARRIVED

WILLIAMS:  Well Tempie, I want to thank you for taking time off for speaking to us your first publication. I just want to congratulate you on this fine piece of literature, and I know its going to go down well wit your literary career. And I’d just like to tell you that I’m sure God is going to bless you with many, many  more books and you’re really going to hit the big time with your book, ‘Feelings’. 

         ‘FEELINGS’ ISBN 1-4241-0706-7

I can almost guarantee you that.

TEMPIE: Albert, thank you so much. I just appreciate you taking the time from your schedule and interviewing me. You really hit some excellent points. You brought a lot of things to surface. And I just want to thank you. I didn’t get a chance to thank everyone …there’s so many people… so many people I want to thank. I just can’t thank Publishamerica enough. I can’t thank all of the support from other Publishamerica authors. I want thank my family. I want to thank all of my friends throughout my 51 years of my walk through my life up to now and beyond. I want to thank foremost my mom and dad for their inspiration. I know they are smiling, and that makes me feel good.  I can move on now thanks to ‘Feelings.’  I want to thank all of the people that have been there for me. All of them. They know who they are including all my church members and business associates.  I can’t thank God enough for putting me in the direction that he has.  Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.”

Again I thank my parents , Mr & Mrs. T. Herbert King for being such wonderful people and encouraging me as well as all my siblings and family to be the very best that we could be. You both did well!!!  I dedicate ‘Feelings’ to the memory of you mom and dad!!! Take care of my brother and your son (T.Herbert King Jr. or as we all called him (man) as well.

 I love you All!!!

Mrs & Mr. T. Herbert King

WILLIAMS: Once again, Tempie D. King thank you very, very much for granting us this exclusive interview.

TEMPIE: You’re very welcome Albert Williams.  I want to personally Thank YOU with all my heart for allowing me to share all of my innermost ‘Feelings.’

WILLIAMS: God Bless you Tempie.

TEMPIE: The same to you Albert.

WILLIAMS: Bye

TEMPIE: Bye

THE END