Hello everyone and thanks for joining us for the book chat with J. D. Mason to discuss her newest book, Take Your Pleasure Where You Find It. If you haven’t picked up your copy yet, BUY A COPY NOW!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Thirty years ago, three high school friends were closer than sisters, but a dark, emotional secret tore them apart. Now, back together at their high school reunion, each of them are tormented and haunted that their greatest fear will come to light.
Renetta Jones’ childhood had been anything but happy. After her mother walked out on them, Renetta was left to live with an unsympathetic father and her own insecurities. She fell for the first man to come along after high school, and spent years in an abusive marriage with a man named Vincent, who used her secret to control and punish her. That is, until he suffered an untimely stroke, under questionable circumstances.
Phyllis Neville sacrificed everything for her career, including her marriage to a man she’ll love forever, and a positive relationship with her adult daughter. But when she is passed over for the promotion of a lifetime, it’s just the first thing to go wrong in her once perfect life as the past rears its ugly head.
Freddie Palmer is bored by the routine that her life has become. Married thirty years to her husband, Don, the two of them have become empty-nesters and Freddie is anxious to start the next phase of her life. After meeting successful author, Bianca Hightower, at a local bookstore signing, Freddie decides to take her passion for reading to the next level and signs up for writing classes being taught by her new author friend. But Bianca sees potential in Freddie that transcends simply writing, and introduces her to the kinds of experiences a woman like Freddie never even knew existed. But when the past catches up to her, it becomes one more dark secret she’s not sure she’ll be able to keep.
Tasha Darden has lived her life in foster care, and has finally gathered up the courage to try to find her birth mother. One of the three women holds the answers she seeks and she will stop at nothing until she gets them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J.D. MASON is the author of That Devil’s No Friend Of Mine, You Gotta Sin To Get Saved, This Fire Down In My Soul, Don’t Want No Sugar, And On The Eighth Day She Rested, and One Day I Saw A Black King. She lives in Denver, Colorado with her two children. Visit her website at http://officiallyjd.com.
Hello JD and welcome !!!!
Hey Miss Linda! How are you tonight? Ready to get your chat on?
Yes mam
Welcome, welcome! I hope everyone is ready to kick off tonight’s chat as we continue our E-Book Reading Challenge. Join me in welcoming J. D. Mason. Feel free to post any questions you have regarding the book.
-Tee
hello ladies!
Hey JD, thanks for joining us. Hey ladies! I managed to make it to a chat on time. JD, you are one of my top 5 favorite authors.
wow! top 5??? that’s bomb-azing, paula! and thank you
I’m not going to give a number here as I’d be forever trying to rank folks, but you’re on my list too, JD as I’ve really enjoyed all your books thus far. I’m not quite finished with this one, but should wrap it up in another hour or so and will definitely be back to share additional comments tomorrow. (So sorry…not enough time in the day!)
I did want to ask though…who are some of YOUR favorites and do you ever find yourself in awe about your own writing?
-Tee
sandra jackson-opoku and paulo coehlo top my list, and i am in awe of every word they write. i also love tracy price-thompson’s writing style, and robert mccammon is great if you like horror (he’s a little too scary for me sometimes though, but i love his style).
o! and walter mosely is my hero too! and i’m sure there are others, but i can’t think of them all right now.
Hi JD,
I hate to ask the same questions but where did you come up with the idea for this book and was it based on true events? It sounds like something that could have actually happened.
i actually was more focused on writing a book that featured some wild and crazy antics of the “mature” woman. the idea for the long, lost kid came later. but this was supposed to be my first attempt at some fun, light hearted chik-lit for the 40 plus sect.
Oh ok. I hate Tasha lost it but I admit to waiting to see where her crazy behind was going to show up next and how she was going to come clean with each of the ladies.
Don’t you just love those characters you love to hate?
she was hard to write because i didn’t like her either, but i felt her pain and confusion, and even her panic. ultimately, tasha was a product of all of her insecurities.
Yes but she made me so MAD. I was like WTH is wrong with you…are you crazy…oh yes you are…Sorry.
Hey JD! I loved loved loved You Gotta Sin to get Saved. My question is more about your reading preferences…what genres do you favor? And do you think that your most read genre has had any influence on the genre that you write?
actually mary, i tend to read books and enjoy books that are very far removed from what i write. my favorite writers are sandra jackson-opoku and paulo coehlo, and neither of them write what i write, but both of them inspire me and make me wish i could write more like both of them
Once again I enjoyed your book but I’ve enjoyed them all so I’m not surprised about that. Thanks for taking me on the ride and I was stumped until the big revel as far as the mother…SMH. You did a GREAT job.
Hey JD! Hey Tee and ladies! Hope the chat goes well! JD, I haven’t read your latest yet, but it’s on my list! Have a good time tonight.
.-= Carleen´s last blog ..News & a give-away! =-.
thanks for stoppy through carleen!
Hi Carleen. You are going to love the book.
thank you, wana. this was a slightly different direction for me, so i’ve been really curious as to how readers would respond to it. i’m glad to know that you enjoyed it.
I’m going to post a few questions just to get us started, but would appreciate if the rest of you post your questions and continue the discussion. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to be around until I get the little ones settled. The baby had 4 shots today, so he’s a bit cranky.
First off, what did you see as the biggest theme of the book and which character did you like & dislike the most? Why?
How did you feel about Tarsha’s need to know who her birth mother was? Do you think you would’ve reacted the same way?
-Tee
For me the biggest theme was you can run and hide but eventually you’ll have to fess up.
My favorite character had to be Freddie/Mistress Fionne Blue. I just connected with her for some reason and could understand her need to find something that was just hers after the kids were gone. Shoot I feel that way sometimes and I don’t even had kids.
How did you feel about Tarsha’s need to know who her birth mother was? Do you think you would’ve reacted the same way? I can understand her need to know but not her desire for revenge. I’m a firm that you shouldn’t judge a person’s decision if you don’t know all the details and she had no idea why they choice to leave her at the hospital the way they did but she also failed to fully recognize that at least they took her there and not in the bathroom at the gas station (that happened a month ago or so here in Detroit). Her mother at least was giving her a chance. Unfortunately, she got an umm interesting person as her foster mother.
freddie/fionna blue was soooo much fun to write! i loved taking a 48 year old grandmother and turning her into a vixon to the umpth degree! it wasn’t about making her sexual, but it was about making her sensual, and daring. i haven’t come across alot of storylines with a black dominatrix, and i wanted to really take freddie there because i felt she deserved the adventure.
Yeah, but that judge who was her client was downright creepy!
She surely did and when I found the guy was a Judge and the nipple rings….whew….almost too much and too funny. Even though it was a bit scary at the end.
the judge wasn’t a very good submissive. he was very manipulative and just over ran poor, inexperienced fionna LOL. and he was creepy.
No he wasn’t I think I would have been better than him. I cracked up when Don showed up.
good old don was ready to whup him up!
I have to admit that I hate Renetta and Avery didn’t make it but I like how her story ended. I picture her moving on to another lavish place being the mom to some of her “girls”. I’m not sure how I feel about self-centered Phyllis, it’s almost like her change was a bit too late for me…and Freddie deserve a post by herself.
i kind of don’t think phyllis changed, wana. i think she was forced to face her own issues, but i can’t see that character really changing much in that book.
That’s true about her change. She reminds me of the people on Kitchen Nightmare with Gordon Ramsey…they are an azz or completely clueless the first 15 mins and the next they’ve done a 360 and I’m like whateva.
You did so well keeping the secret to the end. Was it hard for you to keep from giving too many details that could have given it away earlier?
no paula, it wasn’t hard, because i didn’t know who it was going to be until the very end myself. and i didn’t want to know, because if i had known, i’d have probably given it away.
Wow. A writer’s mind is so amazing to me.
writer’s border on insanity. really. and the better the writer, the closer they are to being crazy.
JD I’m sorry to say this but you’re crazy because I’m always waiting for what you write next. I’m like Paula you’re easily in my Top 5 and maybe Top 3 if I think actually tried ranking.
LOL i’m not going to argue, wana! sometimes, i worry myself
but, i so appreciative being considered one of your faves. there are so many wonderful authors out here, that i count it a blessing to be anyone’s favorite writer. i remember when i first started to try and get into this business, you could count the black writers who were published on 1 1/2 hands.
Great question, Paula. J.D. you did keep the mystery until the end when all was revealed, but I had a feeling who it was going to be and was ultimately pleased when I found out.
I like how each of the 3 women had strength and weaknesses that played off each other. How did that writing process go. Did you just let the characters take you were they wanted to go or did you have an idea before starting?
each woman had very distinctive character traits that really made it easy to write them. they were like three women i could have known in my own circle of friends, and i honestly liked all of them. they were fun. tasha was the hardest for me to relate to, though, and the hardest to write. but i loved the other ladies.
Hey JD and everyone else. I haven’t read your newest one yet but I can’t wait to. I’m sure you will enjoy this one as much of the others. On the 8th day She Rested is one of my all time favorites. Sorry I can’t add more to the conversation but please keep writing and sharing with us. You are truly a talented writer!
Hi Criss and thanks for joining us.
JD you mention you wanted to write something for the 40 plus crowd.Do you think your targeted audience changes as you and your writing mature?
Great question.
i’d like to think that my audience grows with each book, criss, but i also like to believe that readers who know me will grow with me, and move forward with me as i change in my writing. i’ve noticed that some folks who loved my earlier work, don’t care for my more recent work, and sometimes that’s disheartening. but, i am like everyone else. i change with time, and consequently, my writing’s going to change too. that’s a great question, by the way.
That makes since. I’m surprised that people don’t like the newer stuff. I think in order to be a real fan you have to be willing to let an author grow and not try to keep them in the box from when you first read them. I think it would be more of a problem if you don’t grow any.
I’m with you, Criss you have to let the authors grow and grow with them. The bad thing there is another group of people, who don’t care for authors when they don’t grow and give them something new….SMH.
well, the good news is that i have won over alot of new readers with the new stuff. so, it kind of works out.
What you working on ..can you share..you know..for my next book from you…hehehehe
Thanks for asking this Linda…you know I really wanted to ask this first but had to hold off.
To add to Linda’s question do you see another story with any of these women?
i’m finishing up the final edits on Somebody Pick Up My Pieces, which is a follow up to You Gotta Sin To Get Saved. Alot of folks wrote asking for another book even though i said that Gotta Sin would be the last one in the John King saga. But this really is the last one, and it’ll be out next year around this time. And i’m starting a couple of new series; one is a dark fantasy series which i’ll be writing under a pseudonym, and another is a family saga series that’ll feature a clan called the Gatewood’s. I’m looking forward to launching both, hopefully next year.
Those all sound good and I can’t wait to pick up your other works.
I don’t know why I can’t get enough of John King so thank you for writing another one and I promise this time next year I won’t beg you to do another one about him.
I can’t wait for the family saga and I don’t even know what it’s about.
What is dark fantasy?
LOL thanks wana. and dark fantasy is along the lines of LA Banks’ vampire series, but i’m not writing vampires.
I was hoping we would get another installment on John, Connie, Clarice and Camille. Can’t wait to read what will happen next.
Hello JD. I want to say I love all of your books…just finished That Devils no friend of mine. My favorite is One Day I saw a black king. That whole series has touched my life and soul…I’m looking forward to reading your new book.
thank you, liz!
Are you going to share the name of your pseudonym when your series comes out or are you going you surprise us?
not yet. i asked my publisher about that and after discussion, we all decided that it would be best to launch the series first and see how it does. if it does well, then i’ll tell everybody! but if it flops, i’m not saying nothing! LOL
hahaha. That’s a good idea JD.
I don’t blame you, one bit. Love that thinking!!!
JD, do you have any questions for us?
Ladies…thank you SO MUCH for attending and sharing your thoughts and/or support! I will finish up tonight and stop through tomorrow afternoon to share more of my final thoughts on the book.
J. D. I hope you can stop back through for any late comments that may come through. We have a few of our ladies who don’t do the night chats, so they may pop in tomorrow.
Y’all feel free to continue, but I’m going to tip on out now. Thank you, thank you.
thanks so much for taking time out of your busy lives to join me in the chat ladies! i appreciate your time
JD, thanks for joining us tonight and sharing with us. I’ll forward to more of your work and you may have to give a hint when the time comes about your Pseudo so I’ll know what book to look at. I say away from vampires…a bit tired of them.
I forgot i had some work to do so I’m going to run but will check back tomorrow and see what’s going on.
Hey JD! Sorry I’m late. Haven’t read it yet but I’m going to get it ASAP. I sure miss all you Denver folks!
hey there alice. where you at? don’t you live here anymore?
Hello JD,
I have not read your book but I have a couple of them and your titles are wonderful. Thank you for joining in this chat. I will have to get the book that everyone has been talking about in this chat.
Gina
JD,
I enjoyed Take Your Pleasure where you find it. I found myself talking to and getting upset with the characters and read it through in almost on sitting…
angelia
.-= angelia´s last blog ..Getting Started… =-.
well, whenever characters in books can bring out that kind of emotion in a person, that’s a good thing
i’m glad you liked it.
Sorry, I’m late to the chat. Yesterday was a hectic day and by time I made it home I was pooped, and went straight to bed. J.D., I love your writing and my absolute favorite is And On the 8th Day…!!!
Pleasure was a great read, however it left me wondering a few things. Like what really happened thirty years ago and how they arrived at the decision they did.
thirty years ago, three teenaged girls panicked. they really didn’t intend to leave that child in the hospital alone. they had planned on lying and saying that they’d found it, but once they arrived at the hospital, they panicked and left her there, hoping that she’d be found. teenagers aren’t always the most rational people, and knowing that, i didn’t feel it was that far fetched that these girls could do something like this.
I understand and you’re correct it’s not far fetched.. I just felt I was missing something at times when I was reading. What really surprised me was finding out that Marcus was Tasha’s father. I expected it to be someone else.
Hello J.D. Mason,
Why did you use the same private detective from the previous series? Is this book part of a series?
no, it’s not part of the series. i just figured that i already had a detective that i’d created, so, instead of reinventing the wheel, why not just use the one i already had. i like avery’s character, and i just saw it as an opportunity to use him again.
OK, I am real late. Detective from which book? I don’t recall off hand.
I don’t know why I can’t get enough of John King so thank you for writing another one and I promise this time next year I won’t beg you to do another one about him.
I can’t wait for the family saga and I don’t even know what it’s about.
What is dark fantasy?