M.T.: What gave you the idea for the setting of your novel? You have a black girl being raised by a white family before the Civil Rights Movement.

D.T.: Ida Mae is the story of a young woman of color who enjoys country music. The idea for this theme grew out of my own love for this particular type of music. Being an African American, I always had to explain why I was drawn to these lyrics. The transracial adoption gave credence to the fact that our heroine was in a place where guitars, banjos, and accordions were prevalent. In a sense, I became Ida Mae, if only for a brief moment.

M.T.: Was Ida Mae based on anyone you know or heard about?

D.T.: Although the original intent was to explain my love for a certain type of music--the story progressed, and encompassed so many other areas. Ida Mae is not so much a person, but a spirit. She embodies those qualities we all adore in relatives or friends. She's a character that perserveres--she endures rape, racism, transracial adoption, single parenting and many other issues. When I looked at my finished work, I could see my father in some of the characters. My mother also has a strong presence in both works.

M.T.: How long did it take to write Ida Mae and the sequel?

D.T.: It took me 18 months to write Ida Mae, and that was writing eight-ten hours everyday. Since I work a full-time job, I had to use breaks and lunch hours. When I came home in the evening I generally wrote six hours before bed. Ida Mae: The Saga Continues took four months to complete. This was because I already knew my characters, and I had the end of the story in mind when I started.

M.T.: Did you ever take any writing classes or join any writers' groups?

D.T.: I'd never taken any writing classes, and I had no journalism background. I know that my success is due to Divine Intervention. I have since joined a writers' group in Indianapolis, and the IWWG, in New York, and the African American Online Writers Guild. These organizations have been quite helpful.

M.T.: Did you approach mainstream publishing first, or did you know you were going to self-publish from the start?

D.T.: After I had written the first novel I started reading up on sending queries, and submitting materials to traditional publishers. I was surprised to learn that you must be prepared to get hundreds of rejections before someone decides to publish your work. Not willing to go that route, I opted to self-publish. I invested about five hundred dollars, and started my own, Marguerite Press. This has been a challenging experience, but since I had several courses in business college years ago, I think I was somewhat prepared. Record keeping is extremely important, for if you don't maintain good records you'll fail, no matter how many book orders you process! Time management is also important, as is accuracy in banking.

M.T.: Tell us about how you have built your audience. Also what advice would you give to new authors?

D.T.: My novels are enjoying success because of word of mouth. Someone reads it then tells someone else, until everyone wants to be in on it! I've launched an extensive promotional campaign--I contact newspapers and radio and television stations where I'll be appearing on tour. In addition, I correspond with bookclubs and bookstores in the area. It never hurts to inform colleges and libraries that you'll be in town.

I'd like to tell new authors to promote your work endlessly--even if your title is published by a major house. Go to Arts and Crafts shows, be a vendor at social events, get speaking engagements, promote, promote, promote!

M.T.: Thanks, Delores Thornton. Please check out her books at