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Bookclubs, select one of Pamela’s novels for your book club meeting and she will join you in person, via webcam or via speaker phone. Read more book excerpts here:  www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com  


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Coming Soon



Kinky Coily: A Resource Guide for Going Natural
by Pamela Samuels Young

Have you been thinking about transitioning to natural hair, but don't know where to start? Then Kinky Coily: A Resource Guide for Going Natural is for You! This book is a collection of tje best resources to help you begin your natural hair journey.

You'll find the books, the bloggers, tools, product and more. You'll learn how to develop a hair care regime, how to determine the tools and products you'll need and how to track your progress.

Whether you have a relaxer, press 'n curl or you're already natural, Kinky Coily has something for you. So get ready to experience the true beauty and versatility of your natural hair.

Purchase Here Today


Murder on the Down Low 
by Pamela Samuels Young 

A high-profile lawsuit erupts into chaos, revealing its place in a larger spree of violence in this scandalous tale of lust, lies, and vengeance. A brazen gunman is targeting prominent African American men on the streets of Los Angeles, and police are completely baffled. 

At the same time, savvy big-firm attorney Vernetta Henderson and her outrageous sidekick, Special, lead the charge for revenge against a man whose deceit caused his fiancée's death. 

For Special, hauling the man into court and suing him for wrongful death just isn’t good enough. While she exacts her own brand of justice, a shocking revelation connects the contentious lawsuit and the puzzling murders.

Purchase Here Today



Buying Time
by Pamela Samuels Young

B&N Review:  Loved "Buying Time."  This book had it all...murder, suspense, intrigue and a love story thrown in for good measure. There is a lot going on but it is handled beautifully.  Ms. Samuels-Young well rounded cast of characters are engaging and entertaining. Recommended!

Purchase Here Today





The Setup: Short Story

by Pamela Samuels Young 
[ NOOK Book Mini ] 

When a star running back is gunned down by a cop with a questionable history, the city of L.A. is on the verge of a racial explosion. Enter a lawyer who comes to the cop's defense . . . but a desire for justice has nothing to do with it. 

Purchase Here Today

 


 

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Black Pearls eTours Media Room

Meet Author Pamela Samuels Young



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PAMELA SAMUELS YOUNG is a practicing attorney, author and Christian, whose fast-paced legal thrillers proudly feature characters who profess their faith in God. Pamela's novels include Attorney-Client Privilege, Murder on the Down Low, and Buying Time, which the Black Caucus of the American Library Association honored with its 2010 Fiction Award, calling the book “a captivating, suspenseful thriller.”  A native of Compton, Pamela is a graduate of UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law and is on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters in Crime, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women mystery writers. Visit Pamela’s website at www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com

Black Pearls Author Media Rooms are a social hub for readers and bookclubs to meet new authors or to find out about newly released books. We have created a innovative place to discuss and buy books from every genre, and a literary destination for exclusive content that is sure to entertain and inspire you, the reader. 

Once your have explored this page, please take any material from this page and share it with your network too!  Share a link to this page on your blogs and social network updates. 

Help us spread the word on the release of
Attorney-Client Privilege. Here is a popular Pamela Samuels Young link to share:  http://www.audioacrobat.com/note/Ch5XrKgs  

Black Pearls Author Media Rooms are here so that you can learn all about your favorite authors, writers and poets  personal background, events and work. Some of the authors are household names and some of whom haven't been discovered yet. We want to bring readers up to speed on the next great book!  It's our desire to provide our fans and authors with a elegant, yet fun place where they can express themselves, promote their talents, and connect with other writers and bookclubs from around the world.  Visit the BPM Fanclub to get started.


JOIN US TODAY IN SPREADING THE WORD....  

Ella Curry, editor-in-chief Black Pearls Magazine
President of  EDC Creations Media Group 
EDC Creations: www.edc-creations.com 
Explore the Black Pearls Newsletter today

 

 

 


 Kinky Coily: A Resource Guide for Going Natural
by Pamela Samuels Young

Have you been thinking about transitioning to natural hair, but don't know where to start? Then Kinky Coily: A Resource Guide for Going Natural is for You! This book is a collection of tje best resources to help you begin your natural hair journey. You'll find the books, the bloggers, tools, product and more. You'll learn how to develop a hair care regime, how to determine the tools and products you'll need and how to track your progress. Whether you have a relaxer, press 'n curl or you're already natural, Kinky Coily has something for you. So get ready to experience the true beauty and versatility of your natural hair.

Primary message in Kinky Coily
*  You shouldn't be afraid to go natural.
*  You can take charge of your own hair care.
*  You will experience a new sense of freedom by going natural.

This book will help African-American women with kinky hair learn the true beauty and versatility of their natural hair.  For anyone interested in transitioning to natural hair, here are a few resources to help you begin your journey.

Genre: How to Guide/ Hair Care/ Beauty

Distributors of the book: Ingram, Baker and Taylor
Videos Tutorials: http://www.youtube.com/user/KinkyCurlyPamela  

 

 

 


Kinky Coily Excerpt

 

Transitioning to natural hair will require you to think differently about your hair. You’ll need to believe in the beauty and versatility of your natural hair. While the process will be frustrating at times, it will also be rewarding and fulfilling. If you make the commitment, I guarantee that you’ll end up with an appreciation of your kinky coils as well as greater confidence in yourself and your hair. Before we begin, here are four tips that are crucial to a successful transition.

A Positive Mindset
You’ll need to embrace a whole new mindset about the beauty of your natural hair to have a successful transition. Many of us with kinky hair have been raised to believe that we cannot take care of our own hair because it’s too unruly, difficult and just plain “bad.” That’s bull.

Start your natural hair journey with an open mind. Allow your hair to be all it can be and love it for its beauty and flexibility. How many straight-haired women can sport kinky curls, twists, locs, Bantu knots, micro-braids and cornrows? None I know.

My point is you’re going to have to erase all those negative notions you have about your hair. You have the most fabulous hair in the world. Embrace it!

Time
I’ve heard many women say that going natural takes too much work. Really? I can remember spending three-to-four hours in the beauty shop, and that doesn’t include my two-hour round-trip commute. If I was getting a weave, the entire day and night might be lost.

If rocking your natural hair is important to you, you’ll have to make the decision to investment in yourself. Yes, deep conditioning once or twice a week, moisturizing and sealing your hair on a daily basis and styling your natural hair will take time. But so does anything worth having.

Commitment
In addition to time, you’re going to need to be committed to the process. There will be times when you are disappointed because your hair isn’t growing fast enough. Transitioning to natural hair is not going to happen overnight. Hair growth takes time. Particularly if you hair is damaged.

You’ll need time to learn your hair and what products respond best to it. You will probably get frustrated and overwhelmed and feel like giving up. Don’t.

Think about the last diet or exercise program you started, but didn’t finish. Somewhere along the line, you just got tired of the bland food and gave up. Now think about the last diet or exercise program you did finish. How proud did you feel after reaching your goal? Transitioning to natural hair is something you’re doing for yourself. You deserve it. So make a commitment to yourself to stick with it no matter what.

Patience
This is the most important tool of all! The beautiful natural hair you want isn’t going to happen overnight. It’s going to take a lot of work and patience on your part. Along the way, there will be successes and failures. Products you love. Products you purchase after watching a tutorial on YouTube that end up being a complete waste of your money. It’s all part of the process. 

Somewhere along your journey, you’ll find out what works for you and the results will follow. So practice patience! You won’t regret it!


PAMELA SAMUELS YOUNG TOP 5 TIPS
* Be patient. Transitioning takes time and effort.
* Develop a weekly hair care regimen and stick to it.
* Educate yourself about the care of your natural hair.
* Join a natural hair MeetUp group to share resources.
* Keep a hair journal to track your progress.


( Continued... )

© 2013 All rights reserved. Book excerpt reprinted by permission of the author, Pamela Samuels Young. This excerpt is used for promotional purposes only. Do not reproduce, copy or use without the publisher's written permission. Copyright infringement is a serious offense. Share a link to this page or the author's website if you really like this promotional excerpt.


PAMELA SAMUELS YOUNG
is a practicing attorney whose fast-paced legal thrillers tackle law and crime. In her fifth novel, Attorney-Client Privilege, an explosive sex discrimination case is derailed by a brutal murder. Pamela’s first non-fiction book, Kinky Coily: A Resource Guide to Going Natural, goes on sale next spring. A former TV news writer, Pamela currently serves on the Board of Directors of the L.A. Chapter of Sisters in Crime, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women mystery writers. For tips on writing, follow Pamela’s blog at Let’sWriteToday.blogspot.com. To invite Pamela to your book club meeting or event, email Pamela via her website at www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com.

Connect with Pamela Online
http://www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com 
http://www.twitter.com/pamsamuelsyoung 
http://www.youtube.com/kinkycurlypamela 
http://
www.facebook.com/pamelasamuelsyoung 

 

 

 


 

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Please copy and paste the material listed on this page on your Twitter,  Facebook Notes,  website, blog or Internet Radio show.   Spread the word about this author and their book.  We appreciate all that you do to Give the Gift of Knowledge.  Read on for more details!

How to Join the Blog Tour! 

Join the Blog Tour May 1 - July 30, 2013
Readers, in order to join the online book tour take the promotional material on this page back to your network. Once you have posted the material, email Ella Curry with your list of links at:   edc_dg@yahoo.com,  subject line:   EDC Book Tour Host Posts.  The host with the most comments or postings will receive the featured grand prize for the book tour. The five (5) runner-ups will receive a gift book from a featured author. 
 
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POSTING FOR THE BOOK TOUR

How to Participate in the Online Book Tour May 1 - July 30, 2013.
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5. Post the featured books and author interviews on your FB profile for 3-5 days in a row. 

6. Once you finish posting, send Ella Curry a complete list of the posts you created and the sites you used. EDC Creations will track your posts. We will notify all winners via email and post the winners to the front of Black Pearls Magazine: www.blackpearlsmagazine.com  

 

 

 



Intimate Conversation Session with Pamela Samuels Young


Pamela Samuels Young is an author and practicing attorney who’s taken a brief hiatus from crafting her fast-paced mystery novels to write about her newest passion: natural hair care. In her first non-fiction book, Kinky Coily: A Resource Guide to Going Natural, Pamela chronicles her transition to natural hair. Kinky Coily also provides tips and resources for other women who want to begin their own natural hair journey. A bona fide natural hair enthusiast, Pamela is excited about sharing her newfound knowledge in the hope of helping other women learn the beauty and versatility of their kinky coils. You can visit Pamela’s YouTube channel, KinkyCurlyPamela, and her website, www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com  for more hair care tips and videos.

Have you been thinking about transitioning to natural hair, but don’t know where to start? Then Kinky Coily: A Resource Guide for Going Natural is for you. A literal treasure trove of information, Kinky Coily is a roadmap for anyone interested in beginning a natural hair journey. You’ll find the best bloggers, the best books and magazines, as well as recommendations on how to select the right hair care tools and products. 

Better yet, you’ll learn how to begin your natural hair journey, how to develop a weekly hair care regime and how to track your progress. Whether you’re transitioning from a relaxer, ready to give up your weave or flat iron, or already rocking your natural locs, Kinky Coily: A Resource Guide for Going Natural will open your eyes to the true beauty and versatility of your naturally kinky coils.


BPM: Why did you go natural? How did you start the journey from permed hair to natural hair?
I decided to go natural after my hair started falling out from a relaxer. One day I had a head full of hair and only a few months later, I had patches of bald spots. My hair was shedding at an alarming rate every single day and neither I nor the hair stylist I was seeing knew how to stop it. A friend of mind had recently gone natural and introduced me to her natural hair mentor, Deanie. Deanie met me at the beauty supply, told me about sulfates and moisturizing, recommended conditioners and protein treatment, and gave me a list of do’s and don’ts. After the very first treatment, my hair stopped falling out—immediately. That’s when I became a believer and set out on a journey to take charge of my own hair care.

BPM: Did you go for the "big chop" or did you transition to natural hair with braids or a wig?
Initially, I refused to do the big chop. I just didn’t want to sport a tweeny weenie after. So I hid my damaged hair underneath a wig. But after about three months, I got tired of putting on a wig every morning and taking it off every night. So I did it. I chopped it all off and I’m so glad I did.

BPM: How did your husband feel about your new hair styles? Was his input a major concern?
My husband does not like my natural hair! But I do! He prefers my hair straightened. But I know that once it grows longer, he’ll love it.

BPM: We saw your YouTube videos. Amazing! You are so brave to share your story with millions, what inspired you?
I’ve learned so much about my natural hair. For example, I had no idea my hair had a natural wave pattern. So many people see my hair and say, “My hair would never do that.” I would’ve said the same thing. That’s because we don’t know our hair! I’m on a mission to change that.

BPM: What three tips would you offer women who are thinking about going natural?
My top three tips are: 1) No sulfates! Either wash with a conditioner (co-wash) or find a sulfate free shampoo; 2) stay away from the heat, that means flat irons as well as blow dryers; and 3) moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Kinky hair needs moisture! I deep condition at least twice a week and moisturize and seal nightly.

BPM: What products do you use? Share with us your favorite products.
Unfortunately, the same products don’t work for every hair texture. You’ll need to experiment to find out what works best for you. I have kinky, tightly coiled hair. So if you have a looser curl pattern or if your hair isn’t as coarse as mine, the products I love won’t work for you.

That said, my can’t-do-without products are: Uncle Funky’s Daughter Curly Magic, Kinky Curly Knot Today conditioner, Organic Roots Stimulator’s Temple Balm and Curl Refresher, and Herbal Essence Long Term Relationship Conditioner. I love Herbal Essence for co washing. I also love mixing my own oils. My favorites are amla oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, castor oil, olive oil and peppermint oil.

BPM: How long did it take for your hair become more healthy in your opinion?
It took about three months before I noticed my ball spots growing in. Within about six months, I really saw a change. My hair grew back much thicker and healthier.

BPM: How did you wear your hair to work during the transition?
I hid my damaged hair underneath a wig, until I finally broke down and did the big chop. I have to say, though, my Mommy wig was quite cute. I still plan to wear it sometime.

BPM: Do you think our hair has a lot to do with our body image and self-esteem?
Absolutely! I don’t care what I’m wearing. If my hair isn’t right, I don’t feel good about myself.

BPM: Research helps us learn to embrace our beautiful hair. Did you do a lot of research on hair care?
Tons of research. I recommend that everybody read The Science of Black Hair: A Comprehensive Guide to Textured Hair Care by Audrey Davis-Sivasothy. That book is an encyclopedia on kinky hair. I learned so much from that book. And I lived on the internet and YouTube. My favorite bloggers are Curly Nikki, Naptural 85, KimmayTube, Mahogany Curls and African Export. I owe those sistas a debt of gratitude for everything they taught me.

BPM: What was the most rewarding part of this experience?
All the compliments I get about my hair. Women always come up to me to ask about the products I use and I’m always glad to share.

BPM: How will your book Kinky Coily motivate women to consider moving toward natural hair care?
I think when they see other women taking charge of their own hair, they will feel free to do the same.

BPM: Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book and your how-to-videos?
I want them to have the confidence to take charge of their own hair care. I’m not trying to put hair stylists out of business. But I want women to know they can remedy their own hair care problems. If I’d known everything I know now when my hair started falling out, I could have stopped my shedding. My hair was damaged from the heat and badly needed moisture. I was also getting touch ups too often. But I didn’t that because I knew nothing about the care of my hair. Now I do!

BPM: What advice would you give a person who wants to tell their hair care story?
Take good notes during your hair care journey. I keep a journal and took pictures every three months. After you finish your book, ask for constructive feedback from family and friends.

BPM: Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases.
I’m working on a books and beauty showcase called Natural Born Writers. Several fiction authors who just happen to be natural, are going to gather to talk about books and being natural. A popular natural hair blogger will also join us. We hope to hit several cities. So stay tuned!

Read an excerpt at:  www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com 
Follow Pamela on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/pamsamuelsyoung 
Follow Pamela on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/pamelasamuelsyoung 

 

 


Attorney-Client Privilege 
by Pamela Samuels Young



Read the first three chapters, here.

The Drama of the Courtroom. The Mystery of Real Life!

A brutal murder, missing documents and an unscrupulous opposing counsel lead attorney Vernetta Henderson on a quest for justice—and ultimately—revenge.

The hotshot L.A. lawyer takes on a corporation with a long history of discriminating against women. While Vernetta simply wants justice for her clients, the corporation’s hired gun wants to win . . . and she doesn’t care how. On the home front, Vernetta’s infamous sidekick Special has finally found true love. But is the price more than she’s willing to pay?

Attorney-Client Privilege Book Reviews

“Attorney-Client Privilege is a page-turning, rip-roaring, plot-driven examination of American jurisprudence and its effect on people who have no power. Read this novel. You won't regret it."
– Scott Pratt, Author of the Joe Dillard Series

“Attorney-Client Privilege was a thriller until the very last page. We couldn't put it down. The best book we've read in 2012.”
– Sisters with Books Book Club

“The verdict is in…Attorney Client Privilege delivers! Vernetta and Special are at it again in this dramatic legal thriller! A thought-provoking, page turner you can't put down!”
– Something to Talk About Book Club


When attorney and author Pamela Samuels Young isn’t practicing law, you can usually find her penning her next legal thriller. Described by one reviewer as “John Grisham with a sister’s twist,” Pamela is the Essence best-selling author of five legal thrillers. 

Pamela has always abided by the philosophy that you create the change you want to see. Fed up with never seeing women or people of color depicted as savvy, hot shot attorneys in the legal thrillers she read, the Compton native decided to create her own characters. Despite the demands of a busy legal career, Pamela accomplished her ambitious goal by getting up at four in the morning to write before work, dedicating her weekends to writing and even spending her vacation time glued to her laptop for ten or more hours a day. In the process, she discovered her passion.

Her debut novel, Every Reasonable Doubt (2006), won the Black Expressions Book Club’s Fiction Writing Contest, received an honorable mention in the SEAK Legal Fiction Writing Competition and was a finalist for USA Book News’ Best Books of 2006 award in the mystery, suspense and thriller category. Her second novel, In Firm Pursuit (2007), was honored by Romantic Times magazine as a finalist for Best African-American Novel of 2007. 

Murder on the Down Low (2008), Pamela’s third release, was an “Editor’s Pick” by Black Expressions magazine and a finalist for the 2009 African-American Literary Awards in the fiction category. The Black Caucus of the American Library Association honored Pamela’s next novel, Buying Time (2009), with its 2010 Fiction Award, calling the book “a captivating, suspenseful thriller.” In her most recent novel, Attorney-Client Privilege (2012), Pamela tackles gender discrimination in the workplace. 

She has also penned the short stories Easy Money, featured in the anthology Scoundrels: Tales of Greed, Murder and Financial Crimes(2012) and Setup, selected for the Sisters in Crime anthology, LAndmarked for Murder (2006). 

Pamela has achieved a successful writing career while working as Managing Counsel for Labor and Employment Law for a major corporation in Southern California, specializing in employment law and social media law. Prior to that, she served as Employment Law Counsel for Raytheon Company and spent several years as an associate with the law firm of O'Melveny & Myers, LLP, in Los Angeles. A former journalist, Pamela began her broadcasting career with WXYZ-TV in Detroit and later worked as a news writer and associate producer for KCBS-TV in Los Angeles.

A graduate of UC Berkeley’s School of Law, Pamela has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from USC and a master’s degree in broadcasting from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. She is on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles chapter of Sisters in Crime, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women mystery writers.

Pamela is a frequent speaker on the topics of fiction writing, discrimination law and pursuing your passion. She is married and lives in the Los Angeles area. To read an excerpt of Pamela’s books or to schedule her for a special engagement, visit her website at: www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com  

 

 



Intimate Conversation with Pamela Samuels Young


Pamela Samuels Young is a practicing attorney, whose fast-paced legal thrillers tackle law and crime. Set in Los Angeles, Pamela's fast-paced novels feature savvy female characters who bring a taste of diversity to the legal fiction genre. Her novels include Attorney-Client Privilege, Murder on the Dow Low and Buying Time, which the Black Caucus of the American Library Association honored with its 2010 Fiction Award, calling the book “a captivating, suspenseful thriller.” 

A native of Compton, Pamela currently balances her writing career while working as Managing Counsel for Labor and Employment Law for a large corporation in the Los Angeles area. A graduate of UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, Northwestern University and USC, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters in Crime, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women mystery writers. Visit Pamela’s website at:  www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com

BPM: Take us inside your latest legal thriller, Attorney-Client Privilege.
My newest legal thriller is a scandalous tale of blackmail, murder and betrayal, evoking John Grisham with a sister’s twist!  A brutal murder, missing documents and an unscrupulous opposing counsel lead attorney Vernetta Henderson on a quest for justice—and ultimately—revenge.

The hotshot L.A. lawyer takes on a corporation with a long history of discriminating against women. While Vernetta simply wants justice for her clients, the corporation’s hired gun wants to win . . . and she doesn’t care how. On the home front, Vernetta’s infamous sidekick Special has finally found true love. But is the price more than she’s willing to pay?

BPM: What impact will this book have on readers? 
Attorney-Client Privilege is entertaining, thought-provoking, and inspirational.
Attorney-Client Privilege will prompt readers to re-examine their level of commitment to their faith.
Attorney-Client Privilege will encourage readers to give thought to gender discrimination in the workplace.  Read the first three chapters, go here.

BPM: What is the primary message in Attorney-Client Privilege?
Fighting injustice may be difficult at times, but sticking to your principles will lead to victory in the long-run.

BPM: What inspired you to begin writing mysteries after careers in journalism and law?
I've always loved reading mysteries, particularly those that involve fascinating legal cases. It bothered me, however, that the legal thrillers I read never depicted women and African-American attorneys. 
So . . . I decided to fill the void. 

I knew pretty early that I wanted to be a writer, having worked on school newspapers in junior high, high school and college. When I decided to major in journalism at the University of Southern California, I didn't give much thought to creative writing. At the age of 18, I didn't have the guts to even consider a career as a novelist. The writers I enjoyed reading – James Baldwin, Richard Wright, Toni Morrison, Joan Didion – were incredibly talented literary writers. I knew I didn't have that kind of poetic writing talent. So I pursued a career in journalism and later, earned a law degree. Flash forward several years and I somehow gathered the courage to give creative writing a try.

BPM: What is your process for creating a novel? Do you plot out the story or do the characters speak to you?
I will spend any where from a few weeks to as long as three months outlining a book before I sit down to write. I also mull over my story a lot. I'm thinking about it in the shower, while I'm standing in line at the grocery story, during my 45-minute commute to work. I can almost see each chapter as if it were a scene in a movie. Only after I have a completed outline do I start writing. And when I write, I go from page one to the last page without doing much editing. For me, it's psychologically motivating to complete that first draft, even if it's so bad I'd never dare show it to anyone. Once I have a finished first draft, then the real writing starts. I revise, and revise and revise some more. That process can last six months or more. 

BPM: What are your sources of creativity?
Imagining thousands of readers enjoying my books inspires me. I'm a morning person. My creative juices really flow around five a.m. 

BPM: How do you spend your free time?

Free time? What's that? Writing is how I spend my free time and I love every minute of it. I still work part-time as a lawyer and when I'm not at work, I'm usually someplace writing – be it at home, the library or the nearest Starbucks. Sometimes I write early in the morning before work, other times I'm up until one or two in the morning typing away on my laptop. My most productive writing time is when I can get away from home and lock myself in my timeshare in Palm Desert for a weekend. When I'm in that environment, the writing is non-stop. When I'm writing, I'm happy.

BPM: What has been your most successful way to reach readers?
Book clubs, book clubs, book clubs!  I've met with close to 160 groups. Book clubs are social networks and they are great sources for word-of-mouth promotion.  Book club members are avid readers. If a book club member loves you, she will recommend your book to others. I've gained speaking events, other book club meetings, great friends and, of course, lots of fans from my book club appearances. 

BPM: What are some of your favorite authors (past, present, or future)?
The book that had the greatest impact on me as a kid was Claude Brown's Manchild in the Promised Land. I can still remember stumbling across a copy of the book at my aunt's house when I was about twelve. It was the first book I remember reading that had African-American characters and I was thrilled to be reading about people who looked like me. It was also a very gritty and graphic coming of age story. I promptly "borrowed" the book without asking for permission for fear that my aunt would think I was too young to be reading such a sexually graphic book. After that, I developed an insatiable appetite for African-American fiction.

These days, I read more mysteries than anything else. Some of my favorite authors include Walter Mosley, Sandra Brown, Tami Hoag, Joseph Finder, James Patterson, Valerie Wilson Wesley, John Grisham and Greg Iles. I love a good plot and I think all of these writers write very entertaining novels. I also enjoy contemporary fiction and I'll buy anything Terry McMillan decides to write. I spend a lot of time studying the story structure of novels that I've enjoyed reading, which has helped me tremendously with pacing.

BPM: What do you want the world to know most about you?
That I grew up in Compton, California, which I'm very proud of. When I mention my hometown, people automatically assume that I dodged bullets on the way to school every day. But it was nothing like that. I had two strong, hard-working parents, who still live in Compton today. The foundation they laid – faith in God, hard work and education – is responsible for who I am and everything I have achieved. 

BPM: Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
I want to help destroy the publishing industry’s belief that only African American readers will read stories with African American characters. People who love mysteries want a compelling story. My primary goal is to write entertaining thrillers with diverse characters and a storyline that keeps readers turning the page.

Attorney-Client Privilege 
Read an excerpt at:  www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com 
Follow Pamela on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/pamsamuelsyoung 
Follow Pamela on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/pamelasamuelsyoung 

Bookclubs, select one of Pamela’s novels for your book club meeting and she will join you in person, via webcam or via speaker phone. Read more book excerpts here:  www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com  
 
Pamela Samuels Young Photos Copyright © 2011 Scott Kearse

 



Behind the Pen: 
Meet Pamela Samuels Young



Attorney-Client Privilege Audiopostcard,  listen here. 

PAMELA SAMUELS YOUNG is a practicing attorney, whose fast-paced legal thrillers tackle law and crime. Her novels include Attorney-Client Privilege, Murder on the Dow Low and Buying Time, which the Black Caucus of the American Library Association honored with its 2010 Fiction Award, calling the book “a captivating, suspenseful thriller.” 

A native of Compton, Pamela is a graduate of UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law and is on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters in Crime, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women mystery writers. Visit Pamela’s website at: www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com

BPM: Pamela tell us about your passion for writing. Why do you write? What drives you? What impact do you want your books to make on the readers?
I definitely have a passion for writing. Nothing else could explain my willingness to sit in front of my computer for ten hours a day or my eagerness to rise at four in the morning to write before going to work. I enjoy creating characters and putting them in precarious situations. I want readers to get wrapped up in the mysteries I create, to love, hate and root for my characters, and to close each book and feel as if they got their money’s worth.

BPM: How did you feel when you saw your first book in bookstores?
I still have a very vivid memory of seeing Every Reasonable Doubt on the shelf at the Barnes and Noble near my home in February 2006. I went to the store on the book's scheduled release date, not really expecting to find it. My stepson and I searched the shelves but couldn't find it. I was about to leave, but decided to, ask for it at the reception desk. To my delight, the clerk found it and led us to the book. I just stood there staring at it. So much blood, sweat and tears led me to this point. My stepson took out his cell phone and snapped a picture of me holding the book. And just as I started to started to tear up, he promptly warned me not to embarrass him by crying in the store. 

BPM: What inspired you to begin writing mysteries after careers in journalism and law?
I've always loved reading mysteries, particularly those that involve fascinating legal cases. It bothered me, however, that the legal thrillers I read never depicted women and African-American attorneys.   So . . . I decided to fill the void. 

I knew pretty early that I wanted to be a writer, having worked on school newspapers in junior high, high school and college. When I decided to major in journalism at the University of Southern California, I didn't give much thought to creative writing. At the age of 18, I didn't have the guts to even consider a career as a novelist. The writers I enjoyed reading – James Baldwin, Richard Wright, Toni Morrison, Joan Didion – were incredibly talented literary writers. I knew I didn't have that kind of poetic writing talent. So I pursued a career in journalism and later, earned a law degree. Flash forward several years and I somehow gathered the courage to give creative writing a try.

BPM: What motivated you to write Attorney-Client Privilege?
I’ve practiced discrimination law for more than twenty years and I’ve litigated more than a few gender discrimination cases. So I’m very familiar with cases involving allegations of sex discrimination and sexual harassment. I had no doubt that a mystery revolving around sex discrimination in the workplace would make an entertaining and suspenseful read. I also chose to write about religious differences because I think most people—me included—practice their faith in a vacuum and know very little about other religions. The religious storyline in Attorney-Client Privilege gave me an opportunity to learn more about Islam as practiced by many African-Americans.

BPM: What is your process for creating a novel? Do you plot out the story or do the characters speak to you?
I will spend any where from a few weeks to as long as three months outlining a book before I sit down to write. I also mull over my story a lot. I'm thinking about it in the shower, while I'm standing in line at the grocery story, during my 45-minute commute to work. I can almost see each chapter as if it were a scene in a movie. Only after I have a completed outline do I start writing. And when I write, I go from page one to the last page without doing much editing. For me, it's psychologically motivating to complete that first draft, even if it's so bad I'd never dare show it to anyone. Once I have a finished first draft, then the real writing starts. I revise, and revise and revise some more. That process can last six months or more. 

BPM: Your life is extremely busy! What is one piece of advice you can give to aspiring writers that are also juggling full-time careers ?

Learn to say "no" and don't feel guilty about it. Right now, I'm practicing law, promoting my books nearly every weekend, working on my next novel, and teaching a business law course at the University of Redlands School of Business. I'm also on the Board of Directors of the Southern California Chapter of Mystery Writers of America and I write a column for Global Woman magazine. 

I love teaching, but I recently decided that I just don't have the time or energy to teach another course this year. I also turned down a request to join the board of directors of a local non-profit group. I wish I could do it all, but there simply aren't enough hours in the day. For now, my primary focus is on finishing my next book and making sure I spend some quality time with my husband, who rarely sees me because I'm gone so much promoting my books. 

BPM: What is your most valuable lesson about the publishing industry?
You need to have faith in your talent to survive in this business. Even the mega-successful writers—e.g., J.K. Rowling, Stephanie Meyer and John Grisham, just to name a few—were rejected by multiple publishers. The writers who survive are those who ignore the rejection and just keep writing. 

I learned that it's a very tough business. As a result, you have to have faith in your talent and keep going despite the rejection. I've worked in both television news and law and I never faced any where near the rejection and difficulties in those careers that I faced trying to become a novelist. In fact, both law school and the California Bar exam were way easier. I also learned that you have to think like a businessperson, not a writer. My books are products. I have to be inventive and unrelenting about getting my product to readers. 

In addition to bookstore signings, I've done email blasts, online advertising, giveaways, speaking engagements, and of course book club meetings. I believe that one of the primary reasons both In Firm Pursuit and Every Reasonable Doubt have made the Essence Best-Seller's list is my heavy focus on book clubs. During a recent trip to the D.C. area, I did three book clubs in one day, along with a reception at a friend's home and a panel discussion at a bookstore. It was a long day, but I reached a lot of people. 

BPM: What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Find the writing process that works best for you. When I wrote my first book, I struggled a lot with the writing. I didn't prepare an outline or even have the storyline worked out in my head. I had an idea for the characters and the setting and I just sat down and started writing. I would spend weeks on a single chapter, rewriting what I had written during the previous session. Later, I ended up tossing out several chapters that I spent weeks working on. 

Now, I have a completed outline before I begin writing a single word. It can take me a couple of months to complete an outline. Then, I sit down and write my story from beginning to end without doing any major revising. My goal at the start of a new novel is to produce a decent first draft with a solid, engaging plot. Once I'm satisfied with the plot, then I go back and spend as much time as it takes to polish the writing—anywhere from three to six months. This process helped me cut my writing time tremendously. It took me three years to write In Firm Pursuit (written, first but sold second) and only one year to finish Every Reasonable Doubt.

BPM: What is your proudest moment as a professional writer?
Getting unsolicited praise for my novels. More than a few friends have met others who raved to them about my books, not knowing that they knew me. For example, a friend was talking to someone she'd just met at a bar and the subject of good books came up. My friend was about to tell the woman about my book, but the woman beat her to it. 

BPM: Finish this sentence - My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... 
I want to help destroy the publishing industry’s belief that only African American readers will read stories with African American characters. People who love mysteries want a compelling story. My primary goal is to write entertaining thrillers with diverse characters and a storyline that keeps readers turning the page.

Attorney-Client Privilege
Read an excerpt at:  www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com 
Follow Pamela on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/pamsamuelsyoung 
Follow Pamela on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/pamelasamuelsyoung 

Bookclubs, select one of Pamela’s novels for your book club meeting and she will join you in person, via webcam or via speaker phone. Read more book excerpts here:  www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com  
 
Pamela Samuels Young Photos Copyright © 2011 Scott Kearse

 



Sneak Peek: Attorney-Client Privilege 
by Pamela Samuels Young

Excerpt - Meet Special

Special flitted around the kitchen as if she was organizing a dinner party for twenty. Clayton would be arriving any minute and she wanted to make sure everything was perfect. It surprised her how much she enjoyed cooking for Clayton. She was used to men wining and dining her at the city’s best restaurants. Now, she was turning out to be quite the chef since her conversion to Islam. 

Her physical appearance had also changed. Her makeup was much more understated, just the way Clayton liked it. Just mascara, blush and a light-bronze lip gloss. The decision to give up her fake eyelashes had been tough, but the whole natural look was growing on her. Who would’ve thought she could look sexy without showing any cleavage? Tonight she was wearing a form-fitting black turtleneck and her black skinny jeans. 

The doorbell rang and Special skipped to the door.

She reached out to give Clayton a hug even before he had stepped across the threshold. He barely hugged her back. 

“Hey, babe,” he said, wearily.

Clayton worked as an engineer for a small defense contractor, a job he seemed to be growing more and more disenchanted with. He was constantly talking about quitting and starting his own business. 
Clayton took a seat in the living room and Special brought him a glass of apple juice. 

“It’s fresh squeezed,” she said proudly. “From my new juicer.”

“Thanks, babe.”

“And I made—”

“Sit down.” Clayton patted the couch. “We need to talk.”

Special’s entire body tensed. “Talk about what?”

“About us.”

She didn’t move for another three seconds. “Let me go turn off the oven.”   In the kitchen, she opened the oven door and set the casserole dish on the stovetop. Her mind raced as she tried to recall the past few days. Had she done something wrong? A cuss word had slipped out every now and then, but other than that, she’d been a model Muslim woman. She walked tentatively back into the living room.

“Okay,” she said, sitting down on the couch, a respectable distance between them. “What’s up?”

“You know how much I enjoy being with you and how much I like having you in my life, right?”
Special stopped breathing. He was prepping her for some really bad news. 

“And you know I’ve decided to dedicate my life to the Community. That means there are rules and principles that I’m—well, both of us—are required to follow.” 

Now she was completely confused. “What are you talking about? We’ve been doing everything we’re supposed to do. Going to meetings three or four times a week, praying five times a day. I’ve changed my diet and I don’t even cuss anymore.” Well, almost.

“I’m talking about the big thing we’ve been doing that’s straight-up wrong.”

Special’s face clouded. “What big thing?”

Clayton gave her a skeptical look that told her to stop playing dumb. “Special, we can’t have sex anymore. Not until we’re married.”  Fear eased out of her body and astonishment skidded into its place. 

Special laughed. “Boy, stop playing.”

Clayton frowned. “I’m not playing. I’m serious.”  She waited a beat, expecting him to explain this joke, but he didn’t.

“Oh…uh, okay,” was the only response Special could muster. 

“I don’t expect it to be easy,” Clayton continued. “For either of us. But I want to follow Allah’s will in every way.”

“Okay,” she said again, still shell-shocked.

“Let’s pray.” Clayton took both of her hands, lowered his head and closed his eyes. “Oh great Allah, we come before you as mere servants, humbled by your power. Strengthen us, Allah, so that we may be the worthy servants you deserve. . .”

Special opened one eye and pinned it on Clayton. This has to be a joke? Maybe this was some kind of test to see if she was really serious about Islam.  Once he’d finished praying, Clayton instantly seemed like his old self. “Whatever you’re cooking smells good. I’m going to wash my hands.”

As Clayton disappeared down the hallway, Special stayed put, still a bit dazed. This was crazy. She did not wait three decades to find the man of her dreams just to become a friggin’ nun. Christians fornicated all the time. They just went to church Sunday morning and asked Jesus for forgiveness. It was no big deal.

A naughty smile suddenly graced her lips. They weren’t planning to get married for another year. There was no way Clayton could go without sex that long. He was the most sexual man she’d ever dated. Her smile grew increasingly wider. Since Clayton was putting her to the test, she’d turn the tables and come up with one for him. 

And she’d make sure there would be no way he could pass it.


( Continued... )

© 2012 All rights reserved. Book excerpt reprinted by permission of the author, Pamela Samuels Young. This excerpt is used for promotional purposes only. Do not reproduce, copy or use without the publisher's written permission. Copyright infringement is a serious offense. Share a link to this page or the author's website if you really like this promotional excerpt.


About the Author
Pamela Samuels Young
is a practicing attorney, whose fast-paced legal thrillers tackle law and crime. Set in Los Angeles, Pamela's fast-paced novels feature savvy female characters who bring a taste of diversity to the legal fiction genre. Her novels include Attorney-Client Privilege, Murder on the Dow Low and Buying Time, which the Black Caucus of the American Library Association honored with its 2010 Fiction Award, calling the book “a captivating, suspenseful thriller.” 

A native of Compton, Pamela currently balances her writing career while working as Managing Counsel for Labor and Employment Law for a large corporation in the Los Angeles area. A graduate of UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, Northwestern University and USC, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters in Crime, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women mystery writers. Visit Pamela’s website at www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com 

Attorney-Client Privilege . . .On Sale July 2012!
Read an excerpt at: www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com  
Follow me on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/pamsamuelsyoung 
Follow me on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/pamelasamuelsyoung 

 



Book Intro: Attorney-Client Privilege 
by Pamela Samuels Young

Excerpt - Meet Vernetta

Show no fear. 

That had been my mantra for the past eight days, which was exactly how long I’d been sitting at the defense table in Department 26 of the Los Angeles Superior Court.

At the moment, every eye in this media-infested tinderbox was riveted on my opponent, Girlie Cortez, who was winding down her closing argument. A salacious mix of Filipino and Caucasian, she was a junior partner at the litigation firm, Donaldson, Watson and Barkley. Petite and slender with dark, ominous eyes, her shiny black hair spilled down her back like a curtain of silk. Born Lourdes Amelia Cortez, Girlie had legally adopted her childhood nickname and wore it like her personal marquee.

Any opponent who judged Girlie based on her feminine appearance would live to regret it. A tigress of a lawyer, she had a reputation for doing whatever it took to win—no matter how unscrupulous, unethical or just plain scandalous. I learned that from personal experience.

The Honorable Rafael Pedrano nodded in my direction as Girlie returned to her seat at the plaintiff’s table. “Ms. Henderson, you may address the jury.”  I slowly stood up, my eyes bright and focused, my stance relaxed. 

Show no fear.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,” I began with a respectful smile. “As you know, I’m Vernetta Henderson and I represent Lamarr ‘The Hero’ Harrison, the Los Angeles Legends’ star wide receiver.” 

At five-eight, I was a great height for commanding attention in a courtroom. My shoulder-length hair was parted on the side and conservatively swept back behind my right ear. My navy blue, pinstriped suit conveyed both confidence and power. 

“I’d like to commend Ms. Cortez for that spectacular story she just told you. But this is a court of law. Stories are of no value here. To carry her burden of proof, Ms. Cortez must present you with credible evidence. She hasn’t done that because she doesn’t have any.” 

I took a moment to make eye contact with a few of the faces in the jury box. Juror number six, a dental assistant with perfect teeth, gave me an encouraging nod. I was already counting on her vote since I’d caught her giving Lamarr a seductive smile that bordered on flirting. 

“There were only two people in that hotel suite on the morning of June twenty-fifth when the plaintiff alleges that my client sexually assaulted her. So only two people—Lamarr and the plaintiff—know what really happened.” 

Using her name would make her human. Human was not what I wanted her to be. 

“When you head back to the jury room to begin your deliberations, I’d like you to ask yourself one question: Who’s the real player here?” 

Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that Lamarr was sitting up straight, just as I had instructed, his hands clasped on the table in front of him. He was 26 years old, ten years my junior, with a boyish face and deep-set dimples. A tall, sturdy 230 pounds, Lamarr traversed the football field with the speed and grace of a prized race horse. 

“My client plays games for a living,” I told the jury. “That’s his job. The plaintiff plays games too. The one game she plays best is manipulation. She manipulated my client and she’s been trying to manipulate all of you by walking into this courtroom day after day with her conservative suits, her mousy demeanor and her crocodile tears. But let me remind you who she really is.”

I took four short steps over to the defense table and pressed a button on my laptop. A life-sized picture of Tonisha filled the screen to the right of the witness box. She was wearing purple eye shadow, ruby red lipstick, and a thick auburn wig that fanned out across her shoulders. Her long legs were shamelessly snaked around a shiny brass pole. She was also butt naked. 

Extending my arm, I pointed up at the screen like it was my smoking gun. “That’s the real player in this courtroom.” 

Although the jurors had seen this photograph when I cross-examined Tonisha, they still seemed jarred by it. Juror number nine, the computer geek, leaned forward and blushed. Juror number two, the Lutheran minister, averted his eyes.

“The plaintiff,” I continued, “is an admitted sports groupie who was on a mission to hook up with a professional football player—any football player. But Girlie Cortez wants you to believe that the plaintiff only accompanied Lamarr to his suite at the W Hotel so they could talk and get to know each other.” 

I dramatically rolled my eyes. 

“She wanted to talk? At two-fifteen in the morning? We all know the real reason we’re in this courtroom.”

I raised my left hand and slowly rubbed my thumb back and forth across my fingertips. “So that the plaintiff can collect.”

( Continued... )

© 2012 All rights reserved. Book excerpt reprinted by permission of the author, Pamela Samuels Young. This excerpt is used for promotional purposes only. Do not reproduce, copy or use without the publisher's written permission. Copyright infringement is a serious offense. Share a link to this page or the author's website if you really like this promotional excerpt.


PAMELA SAMUELS YOUNG is a practicing attorney, whose fast-paced legal thrillers tackle law and crime. Set in Los Angeles, Pamela's fast-paced novels feature savvy female characters who bring a taste of diversity to the legal fiction genre. Her novels include Attorney-Client Privilege, Murder on the Dow Low and Buying Time, which the Black Caucus of the American Library Association honored with its 2010 Fiction Award, calling the book “a captivating, suspenseful thriller.” 

A native of Compton, Pamela currently balances her writing career while working as Managing Counsel for Labor and Employment Law for a large corporation in the Los Angeles area. A graduate of UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, Northwestern University and USC, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters in Crime, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women mystery writers. Visit Pamela’s website at www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com

Attorney-Client Privilege
Read an excerpt at: www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com  
Follow me on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/pamsamuelsyoung 
Follow me on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/pamelasamuelsyoung 



Make The Dream Happen 
by Pamela Samuels Young 

Do you ever fantasize about leaving your current career behind and pursuing something totally different? Perhaps you've thought seriously about it for a day or a week, but then the fear of leaving the virtual security of your current job floods your head with dozens of sound reasons why you should stay put. Whether your dream is to write a novel, start your own business or go back to school, you can make it happen. Here are five tips that will help you begin your journey.

1. Find Time To Plan Your Career Move
With the demands of work, family, church and community activities, you may feel you don't have a spare moment to even think about, much less pursue, your dream career. You're wrong. It may not be easy, but you can find free time where you least expect it. The next time you're taking a neighborhood jog or walking on the treadmill, use the time to mull over the plot for that book you've been wanting to write or to think about possible locations for the day spa you've dreamed of opening. Instead of listening to your favorite CD during your morning and evening commute, use the time to work on the business plan for your catering business. Even if it's only an hour a week, use it. 

2. Don't Reinvent The Wheel
You may not realize it, but you have a multitude of resources all around you – family, friends, colleagues, church members, sorority sisters, and even strangers. Don't be afraid to request an informational interview. People love to talk about themselves and many will be flattered to have someone asking them for advice. The Internet is also an invaluable resource. 

3. Join Professional Organizations 
It's a good idea to surround yourself with others who share your interests and passion. There are dozens of professional groups whose sole function is to help their members develop their creative talents and realize their business goals. Find the organizations that can be most helpful to you and join them. 

4. Understand That It Won't Happen Overnight
Achieving your goal will take time. I recently read an article in Writer's Digest about a writer who received more than 400 rejection letters before getting his first book deal. Now that's what you call perseverance! There will no doubt be disappointments when things don't happen in accordance with your time schedule. But if you remain faithful and focused on your goal, it will happen.

5. Ignore The Naysayers
We all know people who believe you should find a good job, work as hard as you can for 30 years, then retire and enjoy life. For them, the thought of leaving a secure, well-paying position for the uncertainties of entrepreneurial life is unthinkable. That kind of limited thinking won't help you realize your dream. You have decide what you want to do and go for it. And don't be surprised if you turn out to be your biggest obstacle. When that happens, just look your self-doubt squarely in the face and command it to go away. 

So don't just dream your dream, make it happen!

About the Author
Pamela Samuels Young
is a practicing attorney, whose fast-paced legal thrillers tackle law and crime. Set in Los Angeles, Pamela's fast-paced novels feature savvy female characters who bring a taste of diversity to the legal fiction genre. Her novels include Attorney-Client Privilege, Murder on the Dow Low and Buying Time, which the Black Caucus of the American Library Association honored with its 2010 Fiction Award, calling the book “a captivating, suspenseful thriller.” 

A native of Compton, Pamela currently balances her writing career while working as Managing Counsel for Labor and Employment Law for a large corporation in the Los Angeles area. A graduate of UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, Northwestern University and USC, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters in Crime, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women mystery writers. Visit Pamela’s website at:  www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com

 



You, Too, Can Write a Novel 
by Pamela Samuels Young

Have you been wrestling with the idea for a novel or non-fiction book for months, maybe even years, but just can't seem to find the time or the motivation to get going? Well, it can be done.

Here are Pamela's top 5 tips for not just starting your novel, but finishing it. 

■  Plan a Writing Schedule and Stick To It
Schedule your writing time the same way you would plan any other important engagement. Write it down in your day planner and stick to it.

■  Master Your Craft
Pick five great writers in your genre and study the elements that make their books an enjoyable read, such as pacing, story structure and writing. 

■  Outline Your Entire Book 
Spend a month or more outlining your story before you begin writing. Once you're ready to start writing, you don't have to stick to the outline. Simply use it as a roadmap to get going.

■  Concentrate on Finishing a First Draft
Write your first draft from beginning to end without making any extensive revisions. Once you finish, go back and revise your manuscript until you are satisfied with the final result.

■  Seek Support and Ignore Rejection
Share your goals with those closest to you and ask for their support. Above all, ignore the naysayers. Most successful writers have faced rejection and conquered it.

About the Author
Pamela Samuels Young 
is a practicing attorney, whose fast-paced legal thrillers tackle law and crime. Set in Los Angeles, Pamela's fast-paced novels feature savvy female characters who bring a taste of diversity to the legal fiction genre. Her novels include Attorney-Client Privilege, Murder on the Dow Low and Buying Time, which the Black Caucus of the American Library Association honored with its 2010 Fiction Award, calling the book “a captivating, suspenseful thriller.” 

A native of Compton, Pamela currently balances her writing career while working as Managing Counsel for Labor and Employment Law for a large corporation in the Los Angeles area. A graduate of UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, Northwestern University and USC, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters in Crime, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women mystery writers. Visit Pamela’s website at www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com



Female Mystery Writers Bring Diversity to Genre 
by Pamela Samuels Young

An expanding group of female writers is at the forefront of a literary cultural shift. As a result, the typical protagonist in today's mystery novels is no longer white and male. He, and more often, she may range from a Puerto Rican prosecutor to a Japanese gardener to an African-American schoolteacher. 

Asian writer Naomi Hirahara, who has been writing stories since she was eight, says her early characters "were always white—usually blonde and blue-eyed." When a fourth-grade teacher encouraged her to write about characters more like herself, she initially resisted that advice. Later, in college, after reading about the reparations movement for Japanese-Americans held in detention centers during World War II, her perspective changed. 

"Learning about that historic experience and also reading many Japanese and Japanese- American authors opened a door for me. I've been writing mostly Japanese-American or Japanese characters ever since. The main character of my mystery series, Mas Arai, was inspired by my father, who, as a gardener, got little respect from strangers. I wanted to rectify that in my series. Mas is now the hero." 

In Hirahara's third Mas Arai mystery, SNAKESKIN SHAMISEN (a 2007 Edgar nominee in the paperback original category), Mas, an atomic bomb survivor, becomes entangled in a world of heartbreaking memories, deception, and murder that reaches from the islands of Okinawa to the streets of Los Angeles. 

It was a desire to see a totally different kind of sleuth that prompted Angela Henry to pen her first novel. "I wanted to create a character that I'd yet to see in mystery fiction," says Henry, "a single, educated, young black woman who isn't a member of law enforcement, or a private eye, and doesn't live in a big city." In her third Kendra Clayton novel, DIVA'S LAST CURTAIN CALL, the small-town Ohio school teacher and reluctant sleuth is called on to solve the murder of a Hollywood diva and find her best friend, who has disappeared just days before her wedding.

Former federal prosecutor Michele Martinez turned to writing as an outlet after leaving the U.S. Attorney's Office, where she spent eight years prosecuting big-time drug dealers and notorious gang bangers. "I was looking to re-experience a career I loved in a different format, and my protagonist was my alter ego," says Martinez, author of NOTORIOUS.

Martinez and her protagonist, Melanie Vargas, have a lot in common. They are both mothers and lawyers, they both come from modest backgrounds and have high-powered educations. And both are half Puerto Rican. 

"I'm trying to show a Latina professional going about her day-to-day life," Martinez says. "Being Latina is part of who Melanie Vargas is, but it doesn't define her any more than being a lawyer or being a mother does. Her culture is woven into the story in a seamless way intended to acquaint a wide readership with a smart, tough Latina professional." 

Do these authors of color have a particular message that they want to communicate to readers? Definitely.  Hirahara seeks to communicate that "we are not monolithic. Many Americans mix up Japanese nationals with Japanese-Americans. I also try to depict Japanese-Americans as honestly as possible—our strengths but also our weaknesses." 

This attempt at cultural honesty isn't always well received by the Japanese community. "When I write about gambling addictions and other secrets, some older Japanese-Americans feel that I'm airing our dirty laundry," Hirahara says. "But I feel that we should represent ourselves as whole human beings, not cardboard model minority stereotypes." 

Neither Martinez nor Henry set out to create protagonists who are superwomen. "I'm trying to show a Latina professional going about her day-to-day life," Martinez says. "Her culture is woven into the story in a seamless way intended to acquaint a wide readership with a smart, tough Latina professional."

Henry echoes that sentiment. "Though my main character is a black woman, and sometimes deals with race-related issues, she also deals with all the same everyday issues that any other woman deals with. Job issues, relationship issues and family issues."

PAMELA SAMUELS YOUNG is a practicing attorney, whose fast-paced legal thrillers tackle law and crime. Set in Los Angeles, Pamela's fast-paced novels feature savvy female characters who bring a taste of diversity to the legal fiction genre. Her novels include Attorney-Client Privilege, Murder on the Dow Low and Buying Time, which the Black Caucus of the American Library Association honored with its 2010 Fiction Award, calling the book “a captivating, suspenseful thriller.” 

A native of Compton, Pamela currently balances her writing career while working as Managing Counsel for Labor and Employment Law for a large corporation in the Los Angeles area. A graduate of UC Berkeley’s Boalt Hall School of Law, Northwestern University and USC, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Chapter of Sisters in Crime, an organization dedicated to the advancement of women mystery writers. Visit Pamela’s website at www.pamelasamuelsyoung.com

                                                                  

 



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