Urban Reviews: Tell our readers about The Other Side of Paradise.
M. Chelley Laurenz: Well, The Other Side of Paradise is about a young West Indian woman's return to her island home to visit as well as to attend to her aging parents. It is her intentions to tour the island and see it through the eyes of a tourist. So, she takes along her wild and carefree, sister-friend to ensure they have a blast. But while there, this young woman discovers that her parents' problems are now her own and there are real problems in paradise. She is thrusts into a battle to save her family's rum & wine distillery business from a sinister, sugar producer who is engaged to her half-sister. She realizes that coming from a mixed race parents have caused resentment within her own family and the age long color, class and status issues resurfaces and are very much alive in modern day Jamaica. Armed with a few supporters, and an enigmatic old flame she has come to begrudge, she is forced to take the helm of her father's failing business and attempt to rescue it from the sugar baron who would do anything to get his way.
Urban Reviews: Looking back, is there anything you would have done differently in regards to The Other Side of Paradise?
M. Chelley Laurenz: The title should not be confused with other titles of the same name; this one is written by me, M. Chelley Laurenz. Would I have done anything differently with this novel? Not really...except that the cover is a little deceptive because it depicts a romantic scene of two lovers in an embrace and a plantation style house looming in the background. But this novel is so much more that that as I have mention before. I want readers to see beyond the cover. It is a well written novel with serious issues at times, humor, mystery, adventure and of course romance. But that goes to show, you can't judge a book by the cover!
Urban Reviews: What are your ultimate goals as a writer?
M. Chelley Laurenz: Besides churning out great novels or as my slogan goes, 'books that feed your minds and take you places, ultimately, I would like for readers to discover that my novels are not just black fictional stories, but that they are stories that everyone can relate to. I want to be able not just to entertain, but to also present positive characters and images about our people as a whole. African, African American, West Indian characters that are strong and would enrich anyone that read about them. My novels are written to be also set to 'the silver screen' with characters that are believable and some that bring to mind the fantastic action filled movies of Indiana Jones, but only they happen to be Black.
Urban Reviews: What's the best literary advice you've gotten from another author so far?
M. Chelley Laurenz: It was my writing teacher who is also an author. I had wondered if I had what it takes to be a writer. Was it something that was inherent like a singer who had that particular gift? He told me that I had to believe in what I am doing or no one would. And even if I thought I did not have that raw talent, I should continue writing the written words and all that skill will be developed in due time. As it turns out, he was right.
Urban Reviews: Do you have any other projects that we can look forward to?
M. Chelley Laurenz: I have another novel out, Oracle of the Sun Gods. And in keeping with the combination of adventure, romance, mixed with a gentle flavor of mystery, I am currently working on my third novel.
Urban Reviews: Do you have any favorite authors or books?
M. Chelley Laurenz: My favorite writers are Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Chinua Achebe, Maryse Conde, and Maya Angelou and one of my favorite books is The Woman and the Ape by Peter Hoeg.
Urban Reviews: What do you like to do outside of writing?
M. Chelley Laurenz: I am actually an Accounting Manager and I work with a very worthy not-for-profit organization in New York City. I like to assist others with their personal finances and when time permits I enjoy reading a good book. I love to travel and hope to do more of that in the future. I also run Scribes-Smith Publishing.
Urban Reviews: Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your novel?
M. Chelley Laurenz: I believe that The Other Side of Paradise is a fresh, new novel which tackles issues that have not been addressed by others given stories in the same context as how I have presented it in this novel. The story line is unique and once you read it...you will thirst for other stories that I have written. |