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<\/p>\n When did you fall in love with hip hop *in my Sid Shaw voice*?\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n <\/b>Lol I mean, since you asked…<\/p>\n I first fell in love with hiphop when I was about 11. It actually started with Too Short’s\u00a0The Ghetto,\u00a0<\/i>which sampled Donny Hathaway’s song by the same name. The bass line could be heard for miles and miles, beating from the back of cat’s cars. I\u2019m f rom the Midwest, where West coast hip hop was more popular.<\/p>\n Then there were groups like Questionmark Asylum, also from the West coast but had more East coast flavor which was more my style. From there I got into groups like A Tribe Called Quest and Wu-Tang. <\/b>I find myself inspired by so many artists. An artists\u2019 influence on my writing can depend on the topics they cover in their music. This is why finding quality music is so important to me. Whatever genre, from love to politics, my favorite artists have always taken me outside my world into new ones.<\/p>\n For example, in my memoir Dramas of a Bald Head Queen I share that I first came to love my Blackness in middle school after being exposed to the beauty and strength of artists like Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and the like. I found myself researching African culture and the history of Africans in America after becoming familiar with their music and talent.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u00a0 <\/p>\n I was 14 in 1993 when I first saw the video for\u00a0Me’Shell Ndegeocello’s Dred Loc<\/i>, on\u00a0Video Soul.<\/i>\u00a0I sought out\u00a0 her debut album\u00a0Plantation Lullabies,<\/i>\u00a0which is where I first heard the name of writer Ntozake Shange. Shortly thereafter I found myself in my neighborhood library where I discovered the choreopoem\u00a0For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf.<\/i><\/p>\n Music should not only entertain us but should teach us something that will lead us to learning more about our world and, in turn, about ourselves as we continue to grow.<\/p>\n When did you know you wanted to write?<\/b> I began journaling when I was about 10 (I wish I had kept that old stuff!). From there, I began to dabble in poetry and fall in love with writers in various genres from all walks of life.<\/p>\n Any self publishing tips for aspiring writers? How do writers find editors?<\/b><\/p>\n I actually came across my editor,\u00a0Benjamin Daniel, on the world-altering Twitter. We’ve been working together since late 2010 and I have now published two books under the \u00a0Write Right Publications imprint.<\/p>\n Also, research, research, research. Always be willing to take the sound, constructive (that\u2019s important!) advice of others. There are a NUMBER of ways to realize a dream of being a published author. The three greatest tips for that I can give (for anyone) is:<\/p>\n 1) Believe in yourself and be your number one fan! Many times when you’re striving to work as an independent artist or\u00a0entrepreneur you’ll get discouraged and will want others to encourage you, to keep you moving forward. The hands of others won’t always be available so we must rely on self=motivation and faith in the vision that allowed us to step out of fear in the first place!<\/p>\n 2) Speaking of the encouragement of others, although there may be times when we feel alone, we, as humans, are not meant to be alone on our journeys. Be mindful of the people with whom you associate and the ones you let in to your heart both personally and professionally. Those with whom you involve yourself should add to your life, not take away from it. If your energy is disrupted every time you’re in someone’s presence, remove yourself from their life!<\/p>\n 3) Don’t EVER be driven by the desire for fortune or fame. Your movements and dealings MUST be purpose-driven. You will find that apparent failures don’t hurt as\u00a0 much when you keep the big picture and purpose in view.<\/p>\n What\u2019s next for Nina Brewton?<\/b><\/p>\n On March 5th I released a second book, a collection of poetry and prose,\u00a0Heart of a Queen – Poetry and Prose from the Soul.<\/i>\u00a0The book was not only released under the Write Right\u00a0imprint but debuted with\u00a0These Long Tailed Words<\/i>, Mr. Daniel’s first book. Our goal with the dual release is to draw interest in Write Right Publications as we strive to not only represent ourselves as independent authors but as a one stop location, meeting the needs of the self-published author.<\/p>\n In celebration of National Poetry Month in April, we invite all to join us at Prince Books in downtown Norfolk for\u00a0‘An Afternoon with Write Right Publications’<\/b>\u00a0as we share works from the authors\u2019 recently released collections of poetry and prose.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"nina1\"](\"http:\/\/itsfreshradio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/nina1.jpg\")
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\nDoes music play a role in your creative process as a writer? How?<\/b><\/p>\n![\"nina5\"](\"http:\/\/itsfreshradio.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/03\/nina5.jpg\")
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\nI can’t remember not wanting to be a writer. I remember begging my father to teach me how to write as my older brother was already in school learning. I would be right beside them at four years old, tracing over the letters on his first grade worksheets.<\/p>\n
\nWhat three things would you share with women in your age demographic? Anything for the fellas?<\/b><\/p>\n
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