The Review Magazine

Moody Holiday
Interview By Kenyatta Ingram

Review: So Moody, Let’s start with your name. What’s the story behind the name?

Moody: During my high school years, teachers and classmates said that I was “moody,” hence the name. My best friend Candy and I loved to watch Diana Ross in Lady Sings the Blues depicting the legendary Billie Holiday. When I began to brainstorm a pen name, Candy threw in the name Holiday and it stuck like glue.

Review: What can you tell our reader’s about how you started writing? How long have you been writing?

Moody: I come from a family of writers. My biological father was a writer as well as my sister. Both are deceased but they left behind a treasure of short stories, poems and editorials. I think my writing bug began at the age of five. To entertain myself, I traced the Peanut cartoons and rewrote the story lines. I had a particular fascination with the Red Barron (Snoopy). My sister and I also wrote poetry to pass the time. By the time I entered my first year of law school, I was convinced that I would publish my own books in the future.

Review: Do you write full-time?

Moody: No, I have a professional career as well as raising a busy family including a husband of sixteen years, two boys and two dogs. Needless to say we are constantly on the move.

Review: When do you write and how long do you sit down at your computer?

Moody: I treat the writing as a part time job, getting up at 2:00 a.m. and staying on the computer till 6:00 a.m. I typically don’t write on Wednesday and I carry pen and paper to outline and develop story concepts.

Review: What’s a typical day for Moody…wife, mother, and writer?

Moody: I am fortunate enough to get home from work by 4:15 p.m. then the second shift starts. I help the kids with homework, cook, and drop them off at martial arts, swimming or basketball, depending on the day of the week. I go to the gym, take a Zumba class, hit the sauna and reconnect with my husband and kids.

Review: How do you balance it all?

Moody: I guess the question is can you balance it all? I’m very protective of my marriage and family so my husband and two boys (11 & 9) get a lot of my time and attention. It’s important for me to be at my children’s events and cheer for them in the crowd. I check in with friends and my army of fans via email and I’m fortunate to have a FANTASTIC circle of coworkers which makes it easy to go to work each day. Lastly, I make it a habit to stay off the phone. Face to face communication is priceless these days, so catch me if you can!

Review: Ok, so how many books have you written? I think you have another two that will be released soon as well right?

Moody: As of 2008 I have six titles in my publishing catalog, Wild Innocence, Sweet Redemption, Love’s Twilight, Secrets – Portia’s Story, No Ordinary Love-Selena’s Revenge and Three Days in Bed. My first novella is a three part series released in 2003 and till this day is very popular among my young adult audience. As of summer 2009, the first three titles will be released into one novel reducing the total number of books in my publishing catalog to five.

Review: Ok so tell us about your latest book, and how long did it take to complete?

Moody: The latest summer release is The Black Divorce, the final installment in my series which started with Secrets, Portia’s Story. The Black Divorce depicts the tale of an attention seeking mother who on the day of her wedding is nestled in the arms of another man who fathered her love child. Intent on having the best of both worlds, Jasmine abandons her daughter and sours every relationship in her path in order to fulfill her own selfish needs. When she is tied to a heinous murder, Jasmine has to face her adult daughter for support and forgiveness or remain imprisoned to her shady past.

The Black Divorce took two years to complete and I am thrilled to release this book to my dedicated fans and new audiences who are looking for drama, seduction and a well told story.

Review: You and I spoke a while ago about the title “Self-Published” please share your thoughts with our readers.

Moody: There’s no denying that authors who have not gone the traditional route of seeking out a major publisher to get a deal have placed a dent in the industry because we have capitalized on a market base that is found in the urban areas across the country. Take a look around in our neighborhoods and you will be hard pressed to find a major book retailer, leaving voracious urban readers to go to the smaller African American book stores or the street vendor. What better way for authors like me to bring the product directly to the client.

If you are relying on someone else to place an ISBN number on the back of your book and you are paying them to do your cover, the print run or anything else...., are you really self published? Maybe you haven't gone the traditional route because a major publishing house has denied you, but if someone else has control over your work, including the International Standard Book Number; your book’s identity belongs to someone else until you terminate your contract.

Lastly, the book begins and ends with me from the manuscript, cover, editing to the final print run. It’s grueling work but it’s worth the task. As a result, I’ve branched out into ghost writing, speaking engagements and consulting with aspiring writers.

Moody: I think I’ve been very fortunate because I networked with authors in my early stages. They gave me information on reliable printers, editors and cover designers. Personally, my biggest hurdle is editing and rewrites which is very tedious. Sometimes I have to walk away from a manuscript for a month, outline a new story concept and go back into project.

Review: What would you suggest for authors who are trying to get their work published?

Moody: Research, network and prepare a business plan. Every contact is a prospective business deal so be a consummate professional. Your name and reputation follows you everywhere so first impressions really do count! Attend seminars that focus on your genre and network with authors who have publishing deals.

Moody: Simple, seductive and very entertaining. The last thing I want is for someone to pick up my book and not be gripped from the first page to the last. It’s music to my ears when couples read my books together or someone calls and says, “I could not put your book down Moody!”

Review: Who’s your favorite author(s)?
Moody: J. California Cooper, Lolita Files, Mary Monroe and Dean Koontz

Moody: Travel across the country to sell your book. Invest in a website. Attach a product or clever idea to your book or the concept of the book. Find your audience and sell, sell, sell! Hire a publicist to help you navigate through signings, tour dates and speaking engagements.

Review: What changes (if any) have you seen over the last 5-7 years for African American authors?

Moody: Although urban fiction is very popular, readers and book clubs are craving diversity in the urban outlets so it’s nice to see our voice being represented in Christian novels. Another change is the explosion of new authors jumping into this field, there are so many now, I can barely keep up unless the author has had longevity in this business.

Review: Well Moody I thank you for your time, and wish you all the best. What would you like to leave the readers with?

Moody: Thank you for the interview! To all the readers who have supported my literary journey, I am thankful to all of you for remaining glued to the pages of my novels and of course spreading the word to friends near and far. If you haven’t read one of my novels, pick up a copy today, join a book club, curl up in bed or hit the beach for a drama filled journey.
See you soon!