General Biography:
Linda Dominique Grosvenor was born and raised in New York by a parent of Carribean descent. She has cornered success and an attentive audience with her sophomore novel Like Boogie On Tuesday. Her highly anticipated novel, Like Boogie On Tuesday won her a legion of new fans as well as recognition from her peers. The sequel to Like Boogie On Tuesday titled FEVER is due to hit bookstores in the Fall of 2002. FEVER is her 2nd novel to be published under the new BET Sepia Books women's fiction imprint.
Name: Linda Dominique Grosvenor
Pen Name (What is it and Why or Why do you not use one?)
I don't have a pen name. I think the reason I never decided to use one was because I believed so much in my stories and everything they stand for. I have always been proud of anything that I've written so I didn't mind readers knowing that I was the author.
Occupation:
I'm a full time author and poet. I love it endless and wouldn't trade it for all the gold in the world. In my spare time I like to imagine being stranded on an island with mounds of books. Reading is one of my ultimate pleasures.
Full Time/Part Time:
I think that even when you write part time, it's still a full time job. I tried making writing a part time gig when I wrote my first novel in 1997 but it took over my life on a full time basis.
Dream Job:
My dream job would be a professional jellybean taster! I love jellybeans.
Where do you live:
Currently I reside in North Carolina. I love the dogwood trees and the slower pace of living. It's a big change from the big city but that's something I wouldn't trade either. The atmosphere is so conducive for writing.
Where’s Home:
No matter what I think that I will always consider New York home. There's just something about people pushing and shoving you as you walk down the street that I sorely miss. I also miss cramming onto the number 6 train going to Pelham Bay. Although I pray they do away with the train making local stops altogether, but that will probably never happen in my lifetime.
Most romantic song you know:
Maxwell's "Til' the Cops Come Knockin'"
When did the writing bug bite you?
I've been writing all of my life. When I was in 2nd grade I loved to paint. I think when my mother bought me a diary I began perfecting the art of storytelling and it's been a part of me ever since. I can't imagine not telling stories.
Why did you choose to become a novelist?
I chose becoming a novelist to share my mind with people. I'm not outgoing per se but when people read my novels I can really take them someplace and I kinda like that.
What genre would you consider your novel to be?
Although I don't like labels, I'd label myself as mainstream. I don't like categories but I'd like to think of mainstream as the middle ground of literature, I think I fit nicely right there.
What were your initial expectations for your writing career after you sold your first novel?
When I sold my first novel I was glad and hoping that as a former self-published author that the job of printing and distributing wouldn't rest solely on my shoulders. That in itself was enough to make me sing hallelujah. I have the sequel coming in Fall 2002 and look to write more novels in the coming years.
What is your greatest source of inspiration?
Nature really inspires me. I love the trees, grass, sand on the beach and just inhaling the freshness around me in the country. Sitting in the grass alone, making out faces in the clouds, I could do that all day and the inspiration just keeps coming.
How do you contrive your story ideas?
I like to key in on current issues and elaborate on a level to where the average reader can relate. I don't want my stories to be fairytales but rather something that even the reader can see happening to them. I love to tap into the realisticness (is that a word?) off my writing.
Why did you choose to combine realistic social and emotional issues with romance?
I included real issues in my romantic storyline because women have become so saturated wth the happily ever after and then in real life when it (love) doesn't measure up then they're crying foul. I think that even if you have a romanticized story, balancing it with realism is good not only for the author but the avid reader as well.
Tell me about your novel.
Like Boogie On Tuesday was at least a year in the making. I wanted to tell a story where the male voice was prevalent. I wanted the women in the story to have flaws as well so that you'd know they were human. I touched on family because as in life we all have issues that we go through with our families and there are things that we have endured or keep secret in regards to our family safely hidden away. I just wanted to show that no matter how old you are, your past can and does affect you. I just hope that my readers love my characters enough to come back for seconds with the sequel.
What inspired this story?
This story was inspired by all the people who have behavior that they are totally unaware of. There are people who think they are fine because they are "coping" but they don't realize that they have wrong thinking and issues from their past that is still influencing them today. That in itself was more than enough reason for me to write this story.
What, if any, parts of your own character or life are reflected in your hero/heroine and their struggles?
I'd say my faith is part of my character that flows through the book. I'm always wanting to believe the best of people, just like Troi and that's not always a good thing. But faith is not something that I believe I'll be lacking any time soon. It's brought me this far.
What was it like to write from a male perspective? Did you find it challenging?
For me writing from a male perspective was easy. I think that was because I have so many male friends or have just tuned into the male persona so well. I wanted to write from the male perspective because women always want to know what men think so I thought I'd give them a glimpse. From what I can tell they are pleased. I'm going to have to do it again some day.
Do you think that you did justice to male emotions/experiences?
I think I did well enough. I don't know men inside out so I'm not sure it was extremely accurate but I think my readers will get the jist of what I'm trying to convey.
What would you like your readers to take away from your story?
When they read Like Boogie On Tuesday I want readers to take away from the story that change is a good thing. How we are isn't how we have to be. We learn everyday and there is nothing worse than being set in your way. Without giving away any of the story I'd say that if some characters didn't change they wouldn't be where there are and/or would have never had the awakenings that they had in the story.
I understand that you are writing a sequel to this novel. What is the title and what is it about?
Fever is the sequel to Like Boogie On Tuesday. It's basically a follow up story kind of like where are they now. I can't tell you who is or isn't in the sequel but I can tell you that it's a little wilder than "Boogie" and I hope you all enjoy that as well.
How can readers contact you?
I'd love for readers to visit my website at www.lindadominiquegrosvenor.com. They can email me at: Dom@lindadominiquegrosvenor.com. I love hearing from my readers and I love getting feedback on my books in my guestbook and in the form of reviews on Amazon.com. I look forward to meeting you all on tour in February!
From the author of Like Boogie On Tuesday
the saga continues...
FEVER the sequel coming Fall, 2002
www.lindadominiquegrosvenor.com