Yasmain Soya,What other Authors influence your writing?

.....I wrote this particular book before the influx and flurry of the relationship/romance books. . . so I was really not influenced by the style of the mid 1990's books. I enjoy many writers, but particularly I like Gloria Naylor's Linden Hills, Famished Road by Ben Okri. . . he has a style of writing that really pulls you into the political way of life in Africa. Years ago I enjoyed reading Tar Baby by Tony Morrison which was one of her books that didn't get much acclaim. Some recent writings which I have enjoyed was a book written by Akosa Busia; Seasons of Beento Blackbird; A contemporary read and a book which explores the Caribbean, African, and American lifestyle. This type of comparison topic intrigues me. Usually writing which is instrumental in enlightening is appealing to me. Although art as entertainment has it's place, I am more attracted to art with a certain historical lean. Another read is ZenZele : A Letter for My Daughter by J. N. Maraire. It is an Extraordinary read about a generational connection across waters from America to Zimbabwe ---Yasmain E.Soya

What is Tamika Jones'Adventure, the Novel about?

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The story begins in the year 1969 and is about a woman (Tamika) who attempts to contribute to the B. P. movement, but finds that she can't give her all because of other involvements. The story is also about two woman; Sange and Gloria who give there all to the movement and as a consequence sacrifice their lives. The story is about love, passion, pain, life lessons and the eventual move to the fictitious island off of the coast of Africa. There are a number of characters who color the book encompassing anumber of locations. The reader can experience a little of corporate life, marriage, an activisim, college living, yet the main impetus of the book is to bring out the point of forty acres and a mule.

I understand that you have put quite a number of people in your book who are real live persons.

Yes I changed the names for some and others I left as the real people. For instance Ella Fitzgerald is Ellie Gatsby and Sarah Vaughn is Sarah Harper. In fact there are quite a lot of twisted names for some that have been turned upside down or related in some way to the person's original being. I had fun changing names and how I arrived at some of the changes was sometimes deliberate and at other times abstract. I think some people will have fun figuring out who the original people and places are. All together I would say that there are 19 pseudo people/places with name changes.

The book is available in local bookstores and it is available online at your favourite dot com. You can also purchase the book through mail. Just write Cleopaetra@yahoo.com and request a copy to be sent to you. The cost is only $5.99. If you are interested in finding out where black folk should be politically and emotionally...this is the book for you. There is a bit of fantasy too!!
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