Yolanda Johnson-Bryant and Literary Wonders! (Lit Spotlight)

Yolanda is one of our members and a staunch supporter of writers, so we’re glad to spotlight her on RAWSISTAZ today.  I’ve shared a lot of laughs with Yolanda and also quite a few conversations on the many things in the industry that concern not just us, but the market as a whole.  With organizations like Literary Wonders! surely we can continue to make a change in the African-American literary market and beyond.

Be sure to also check out her articles here on the site: Articles by Yolanda Johnson-Bryant.

RAWSISTAZ Interview – Winter 2010
Interviewed by Tee C. Royal

RAW: Yolanda, you have been around for quite some time and are constantly sharing literary information via the various social networking platforms.  Tell us more about you, Literary Wonders! and what it is you hope to provide to the literary community.

YMJB: I founded Literary Wonders!  in 1996. I am a self-published author (www.yolandamjohnson.com) and a literacy advocate. My work consists of titles such as My Daughter’s Keeper (which is no longer in print), Circumstances and I am co-author of Crimes of Passion: The Anthology, which was also presented and published by Literary Wonders!.

Literary Wonders! (www.literarywonders.com) was originally named Prosperity Enterprises but the name was changed in 2003. Although my experience was in finance and my expertise was in technology, my decision to start the business was due to my son’s lack of the desire to read. I found it very difficult to get him to want to read and want to write. I was determined that I was not going to raise an illiterate son.

Literary Wonders! is a literacy advocate that gives limited, free support to authors, especially new authors. We also focus on an annual scholarship program called “The Scholarship Project” that focuses on minority children from 8-21 years of age. Each year qualified participants are given an essay question and are judged on various aspects of the essay. The winners receive a monetary award in the form of a scholarship that comes directly out of my pocket.

Literary Wonders! is currently seeking to become a 503c non-profit company so that we can gain sponsorship from donors, corporations and the such, so bigger and better scholarship awards and prizes can be given and so that Literary Wonders! can be more active and make a bigger impact in the community. Literary Wonders! aims to help authors from all genres, as long as the material is not deemed offensive. However, it really does focus on work from the African-American community as, blacks are on the low end of the totem pole when it comes to reading and writing.

Literary Wonders! also conducts an annual “Anthology Project”, where our goal is to bring together a mix of seasoned writers with a handful of new and upcoming writers. The anthology is then published and presented by Literary Wonders! with all proceeds going to the authors. Once the project is complete, Literary Wonders! does the initial marketing for the book, but then each individual author is responsible for their own marketing and selling of books.

In addition to providing as much information as possible to potential authors and readers, Literary Wonders! sponsors and participates in various book signings, literary festivals, literary conferences and other literary events. We are very active in social networking media (Facebook, Twitter, Ning, LinkedIn, etc) providing a wealth of information to readers and writers.  In addition Literary Wonders! conducts various workshops for writers.

I also own a literary consulting business called Bryant Consulting (www.bryantconsultingonline.com) where I act as a freelance writer, ghostwriter and editor, offering an array of fee-based literary services.

My 2010 business goals are to take Literary Wonders! to another level, again, by gaining more sponsorship and possibly converting to a 503c in order to qualify for grants and funding to allow the entity to be more involved with the community, more involved with at risk youth.

In 2010 I am looking to increase my clientele and am set to release three of titles.

RAW:  Wow, that is certainly a lot and I hope everything falls into place for you and the businesses.  What one thing about the literary world concerns you the most?

YMJB: It would be crazy to say that people are only in this business for the “money”, but I’m going to say it anyway. But I think it becomes a problem when others in the industry misuse, abuse and deceive others to make a fast buck. As recent as last week I read AND had an author call me on two separate occasion to “warn” and “inform” me about someone in the business who was pretending to be someone that they were not, and taking hard earned money from its “victims”. I have seen this firsthand and have been a victim myself.

It concerns me that there is bad blood amongst writers and literary service providers because they fail to see that there is room in this industry for everyone. The beauty in literacy is the same that you find in the African-American community in that we come in all shapes, sizes and hues. Everyone is not going to like everything, but they are going to find something they like.

It concerns me that some authors are so hell bound upon getting ahead that they won’t reach down and try to help someone who is trying to get where they are. They forget that at one point they were there at some point in their writing career.

There are several things that concern me, but I’ll leave you with the last. Writers who don’t read really frustrate me. Just because you put pen to paper does not make you an author. Many writers who are trying to be authors simply do not read and they don’t research for that matter. Unless you can afford a staff to do all those things for you, it is simply not possible to become an efficient writer and bestselling author if you do not read or if you do not do your research on the industry. On the other hand, there are those who think they can get everything for free. If you are a writer and think you are going to break into this industry and not spend a penny, you are sadly mistaken and are most likely in the wrong field.

RAW:  Whew! Amen and amen! I agree wholeheartedly with you.  You briefly mentioned your books, but tell us more about them and any future projects you have in the works.

YMJB: Circumstances is my latest title. It was originally titled My Daughter’s Keeper, but as I stated above, I was taken for a ride by someone who said they were something they were not. I re-released My Daughter’s Keeper as Circumstances. The last time I checked, the snake in sheep’s clothing (isn’t that how the saying goes?) is still trying to sell my books on his website; I’m sure with no luck at all.

Circumstances is the story of Renee Matthews who trying desperately to break generational curses and break loose from her mother’s hellish strong hold. An excerpt for the book can be found at www.yolandamjohnson.com.

Currently I am working on the sequel to Circumstances, titled Revelations. I got lots of good feedback on Circumstances and think readers will find Revelations to be the kuda grah. I’m also trying to get Literary Wonders! initial anthology project published. It’s been a long time coming but I owe it to the authors to get that book out there. The title is Second Time Around: The Anthology and the authors featured are Kim Robinson, Vanessa Johnson, Rhonda Lawson, Toschia Moffett, LaTanya Tatum and myself. Once it is published I will make a call for the next anthology project.  In addition, I am working on two other novels as well as a collaboration project with John Wooden and Gregory Townes. My intent was to have Revelations released in April, but due to ghostwriting projects, I may have to move that release date to some time in May.

On the Bryant Consulting side, I am working on editing and ghostwriting projects, as well as other projects. I am accepting new clients.

On July 23, I will be giving a writing workshop to The Writer’s Group of the Triad. I am in the process of updating my events calendar for the 2010 calendar year. 2010 will take me to The Ladies of the Dove Literary Festival, The RAW Affair and a host of other literary events and signings.

RAW:  It’s “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” but I am glad to see you moving forward with your plans and will be looking out for updates.  What one piece of advice would you give to new writers?  What about old writers (those who have been in the game for a while.)

YMJB: Just one piece? That is very hard. I would advise new authors to read and do your research. Don’t expect a handout and if you get one, consider it a blessing and pay it forward. Also place yourself around like-minded positive people who want to see you succeed. Accept criticism as constructive and not a direct insult of your work. Not everyone is going to like your work. That is just plain common sense, so because one does not like it, don’t go off the deep end, because you will find yourself asking that same person who you slandered for help. Network; get the word out there. You are your own best marketer. If you won’t tell the world about your work, why should anyone else? In this industry, taking and not giving will not get you very far.

For the old heads. Cut the newbies some slack. We were once where they are now. Don’t get so holier than though that you cannot mingle with the common folk. I’ve been in the midst of so many authors that once they got published and/or got that book deal, the rest of us were the dark sticky stuff on the bottom of a shoe. But I have also met some authors who have lucrative publishing contracts and a host of titles who are so down to earth. And I appreciate those people, more than they know.

RAW: Again, I say Amen! Amen!  Thanks so much for putting it out there, Yolanda.  Sometimes folks simply don’t see how their actions can  hurt/help the next person.  Please keep up the work with Literary Wonders! and your other projects.  I’m proud of you and appreciate your contribution to the lit world.

FUN STUFF

- Paperback, hardcover or electronic book?

All actually. Paperbacks are easy to take whenever I’m away from home. Hardcovers look great on my bookshelf and electronic books are easy to read on that Kindle, Sony Reader, or Nook that my husband is going to buy me but doesn’t know yet. And audio books are convenient when you are doing other tasks and cannot be tied down to a book.

- Favorite book read last year?

Oh man. There were so many. And senility has caused my memory to fade, but I loved RM Johnson’s The Million Dollar Demise, Rhonda McKnight’s Secrets and Lies, both I have recently read. This year I vow to keep better records of the books I read.

- Best book cover of those you’ve seen recently?

There are a few I cannot recall. But I will say I’m not a fan of books with people on the cover.

- Read the book or see the movie?

I’ll read the book, but if the movie comes out before I read the book, I more than likely won’t read the book.

- Fiction or non-fiction?

Both. Each of them provide their purpose.

- Early to rise or night owl?

I am definitely a night owl. Being married to Gregory has worsened that.

- Chocolate or Vanilla?

Deep, dark chocolate!

- Party/Club or Hang out on FB/Twitter?

I’m not a party girl, I never have been. But you can find me on a regular basis on Facebook (Author Yolanda M. Johnson and Literary Wonders!), Twitter (ymjauthor and literarywonders), LinkdIn (Yolanda M. Johnson-Bryant) and Ning at Wellwomen.ning.com/ymjauthor. Or just Google me!

In closing I would like to say thank you to RAW, specifically you Tee, for all that you’ve done for myself and for the literary community. You are a true gem and your just rewards are just around the corner. Can we get a date and location for the 2010 Raw Affair already??

RAW: ROFL! I’m not gonna comment on you not being able to just pick one or the other above, but you are welcome! I love what I do and working with others who get “it”.  It?  That this whole literary thing is so much bigger than just us as individuals.

The RAW Affair 2010 (our 10th Year Anniversary) will be Oct 1-2 in Atlanta, GA.

Be sure to also check out Yolanda’s articles here on the site: Articles by Yolanda Johnson-Bryant.