Current Release: ISLAND MAGIC

PREVIOUS AUTHORS Monica Jackson (June) Marcia King-Gamble (May) Gwynne Forster (April) Janice Sims (March)

HOMETOWN MAGIC

by Melanie Schuster

Since beginning my love affair with Multicultural Romance last year, I have had some of the most divinely wonderful luck in the world!  Through the COLOR OF LOVE forum, I met Wayne, who allows me to have the pleasure of working on the ROMANCE IN COLOR site.  Wayne has also become a dear friend, I am happy to say.  I have become acquainted with wonderful authors like Janice Sims and Francis Ray, as well as Rochelle Alers, Angela Winters and Brenda Jackson and all the other gracious writers with whom I have corresponded.

I have met other reviewers, like the hilarious and delightful Gwen Osborne and other writers who have succeeded where I am still struggling, like Nathasha Brooks.  But best of all, I have the unique opportunity of living in the same city as one of Arabesque’s best loved authors, Ms Bette Ford.  Not only do I share a hometown with her, I was invited to join her reading group.  That’s a topic for another day, I will just say it is more fun that six ladies should be allowed!

But since Bette is such a gracious lady and her newest book has hit the stands, we thought, Wayne and I , that it would be nice to include an interview with Ms. Bette so that her fans can get to know a bit more about the lady who has brought us so many wonderful books.

You should know that Bette is diminutive in stature and like a true romance heroine, she has the prettiest skin I have ever seen.  Her black hair is arranged in a wealth of tiny intricate braids and her expressions light up her face.  Bette uses her voice and her eyes to speak even more than her words.  And she is funny!  And rather modest as the following statement proves:

“Writing is something I have to work at.  I don’t think I have a natural talent for it.  I work at it, and work hard.”

Considering the fact that Bette Ford is one of the authors who launched the Arabesque line, that is quite a statement.  But Bette is as direct as she is sincere.  She has been writing for a long time, she says.

“Over 15 years.  And always romance,” she adds emphatically. 

Bette has a routine for her writing since retiring from her teaching career in Detroit and returning to Saginaw, Michigan to care for her mother.  She wakes up early every day and is front of the computer at 7:30 until about 10:30 or 11:30.

“A good book takes time.  It has to percolate in my mind.  I’m not fast,” she admits.  “I know I’m not fast so I work on giving you good read.”

And a good read is what her many fans count on from Bette.  From her first book, FOREVER AFTER, to her latest, ISLAND MAGIC, A better Ford book can be counted on for a complex, smart heroine and a determined, strong hero who will fight to be together regardless of the odds.  In thinking about the range to topics Bette has covered in her writing, I had to ask her which book was her personal favorite.

“The one I’m working on!  FOR ALWAYS will have a special place in my heart, but the  one I’m working on is always foremost,” she answered diplomatically.

Of course, I wanted to know which book her readers preferred and her answer will gratify a certain lady in Chicago who specially told me to ask about this book.

“Well, I get mail about all my books.  But AFTER DARK…readers related to the heroine’s size, her insecurity.  I had the idea (for AFTER DARK) before FOR ALWAYS.  I always wanted to write about a basketball player.”

Bette had been following a number of newspaper stories about youngsters quitting school—college and even high school—to play for the NBA and as an educator, this concerned her very much.

"That was the impetus for the story.  I had to tell that story, and tell it from the point of view of the family and that’s where we got Taylor (the heroine of AFTER DARK).

Bette points out that higher education has always been revered and cherished by African-Americans, particularly ‘back in the day’ when we were so often denied a chance for college studies. 

“Scholarship money to put children through school, just the idea of a college education was very important and so many athletes were turning down the education for the contracts.  This was a story I just had to tell,” Bette emphasized.

As many readers will recall, this was the story of a college student who was lured to the NBA against the wishes of his family, particularly his sister, Taylor.  She found herself going head to head and heart to heart with one of the NBA’s finest and the rest as they say, is history…except for what ultimately happened to that player, Scott.  Bette laughed when I begged to know how he turned out.

“Yes, I’m going to write Scott’s story!  But it’s a complicated story and I haven’t worked though all the twists and turns.  I haven’t forgotten, though.  Scott is still very much on my mind.”

That led me ask how Bette goes about writing a story.  I was surprised to hear that she writes it from the inside out. 

I start with the conflict.  Why should they be together.  Why shouldn’t they be together?  There are two kinds of conflict, you know.  Initial conflict with take you through the beginning of the story, and the underlying conflict will pull you through the last half of the story.”

And where does she get her ideas?  Everywhere!

“From characters previously developed, things in newspapers that make me think, how did these people get themselves in this situation.  Sometimes a situation is perfect for a character you have already developed.”

When I told Bette that no interview could be complete without a mention of sensuality she looked positively prim, then smiled wickedly.  Oh she knew exactly what I was getting at—Bette is arguably the grande dame of sexy scenes!

“It’s a natural part of life.  I want my characters to feel.  If they don’t feel anything, the reader won’t feel anything either.  I try not to pull back when it comes to the sensual part of it.  I want you (the reader) to feel like a video camera…like you’re really there and you’re experiencing it.” 

And where does she find those luscious men?

“Like any woman I am attracted to men!  There are all kinds of men out there and they are all interesting.  You can make them say what you want to say and act like you want them to act.  You have to inject some characteristics, some mule-headedness, some arrogance…”

I tried to get Bette to tell me who her favorite male stars were, but other than admiring the diversity of Denzel Washington and a couple of other movies stars, she was surprisingly mum on the subject.  And she wouldn’t even tell me who the NBA player was that she drew from for After Dark.  That one is going to remain a secret…

We did talk about the future of African-American romance, though.

Bette thinks the best is yet to be:  “It is still in the beginning stages.  It will take off when people realize that people who enjoy mainstream African-American literature will also enjoy romances.

“They are all about relationships; father/sons, mothers/daughters, men/women, brothers/sisters.  Because a book is labeled romance does not mean it is a formula book.”

Bette acknowledges that some people still think that way but says “I wish they didn’t.  They’re (romances) equally as good.

I couldn’t help asking Bette who some of her favorite authors are and she named a wide range.  Bette loves to read.  “Books are necessary for me…a big part of my life…”

Some of her favorites J. California Cooper, Bebe Moore Campbell, Kimberley Lawson Roby, and most particularly John Wideman.  And of course Carla Fredd, Francis Ray, Rochelle Alers, Brenda Jackson and Margie Walker.

When Bette is not writing, she likes to read, crochet, knit and do other needlework.  But right now, her life is taken up with her writing, as well as answering her mail and attending signings.

If you are a long-time fan of Ms Ford’s, or if you have never read her work, you have a great opportunity now with her latest book on the stands.   Pick up ISLAND MAGIC  and get ready to enjoy yourself as you are taken away to sunny Martinique with…well, I’m not saying another word!  But believe me, like all of Ms Ford’s memorable tales, it is a trip worth taking.  Enjoy!