REON CARTER debuts with Genesis Press this month (February) with PICTURE PERFECT.

1.  What made you want to become a writer?

I've been a writer for as long as I can remember so I don't recall what the impetus was exactly. I still chuckle at my first foray into book "publishing." In fourth grade I created this little book of notebook paper with stories I'd written and pictures I'd drawn. I passed it around to my classmates to read. I even had a little sheet in the back which read: "If you enjoyed this book please sign your name." I was tickled to pieces when I had to add several sheets because the response was so positive. I continued to write. In high school I was the editor of my high school newspaper. It was during high school that I decided I wanted to earn a living as a writer. I figured pursuing journalism was the most practical path to make this dream come true. I wanted to write, but I wanted to eat too. After graduating from high school I went to the University of Missouri-Columbia, where I earned a bachelor's degree in journalism. I went to work as a newspaper reporter after college and that's how I make a living. For most of my career I've been a features writer. No doom-and-gloom crime stories or snooze-time city council meeting pieces for me. I've been blessed with the fun stuff. Some of my beats have included television, fitness, fashion and pop culture/hot trends etc.

2.  Why romance?

I love stories about personal relationships. The relationship between a man and woman falling in love is so intriguing and ripe with all sorts of interesting possibilities. I'm also a real sucker for happy endings. 

3. Tell me a little bit about PICTURE PERFECT.

PICTURE PERFECT is about a young woman (Cassidy) trying to come to terms with the bitterness that follows a failed relationship and how she almost lets the ghosts from that relationship ruin a promising new one with a famous pro baseball player.

4. Besides writing what do you like to do?

I'm the BIGGEST movie buff. I would live in my local Showcase Cinema if they had bunks, showers and Lucky Charms (breakfast cereal). I love all sorts of movies- modern romantic comedies, dramas and horror films. I don't like the grotesque severed -heads-rolling-like-bowling-balls type of horror, but the more intellectual scares such as " The Silence of the Lambs." My favorite actor is Denzel 'the king of the world' Washington. (Watch him waltz away with another Oscar this year.) I also love Kevin Spacey (a thespian

I also love to read. I have an eclectic taste here as well. I have too many favorite A-A romance authors to name them all, but among those who have consistently impressed me with their body of work are: Beverly Jenkins (a goddess!), Donna Hill, Felicia Mason, Gwynne Forster, Brenda Jackson, Lynn Emery and Sandra Kitt. I'm also a big fan of a few non-ethnic romance writers. My all-time favorite is Susan Elizabeth Phillips (romantic comedy). I also enjoy Susan Andersen (romantic comedy) and Patti Berg (romantic comedy). Mainstream African-American authors on my favorites list include: Tananarive Due (horror), E. Lynn Harris ( love relationships) and Eric Jerome Dickey (humorous love relationships). Fave mainstream non-ethnic writers Tami Hoag (suspense) and Janet Evanovich (humorous suspense). Both are former romance writers!

5. Are you a full-time writer?

Yes. I'm a features writer at a morning metro newspaper.

6. What's next for Reon Carter?

I'm working on my second romance manuscript. I'm going to try something a little different from PICTURE PERFECT I'd like to infuse more humor in my second manuscript. Light comedy feels natural to me. I'd like to see a lot more comedy in ethnic romance- maybe even a little screwball humor. Just because a book is funny doesn't mean it can't be hot or heartwarming. I'm not just talking about a scene or two but a STRONG humorous thread that runs throughout the story. The only black romance writers I've stumbled across who have attempted this is Robyn Amos ("Into The Night" comes to mind) and Beverly Jenkins ( "Topaz" made me chuckle quite a bit). If there are others I've overlooked I'd like to know about them so I can check them out. Now with that said, whether "I" actually turn out to be funny in print remains to be seen. I'm told romantic comedy is very difficult to do well. 

7. Any special message for the aspiring author?

Developing a thick skin is a good survival tactic. I met a writer at a regional romance writing conference who was lugging around a three-ring binder notebook thick with rejection letters. Many contradicted the others. Some of those letters had streaked ink and puckered paper from her tears. Others had crinkles in them because she'd initially balled them up and tossed them in the trash. She fished them out eventually of course. These letters were heartbreaking. Some nitpicked her writing, plot, characters, (you name it ) to death while others didn't even bother to "waste" a sheet of paper on a reply. They merely stamped "NOT FOR US'' on her query letter and returned it.  Anyway, this binder is a treasured trophy to her now, because it underscores how important it was to hang onto to her dreams- no matter what. 

After years and years of plugging away she finally hit pay dirt and was awarded a multi-book contract from a major publisher. I thought of this author (Karen Moning. Yes, that's her real name) often. It gave me the fortitude to keep forging ahead. 

Reon Carter

February 2000 

Linda, the staff of ROMANCE IN COLOR wish you continued success!!!!