Vanessa Davis Griggs: After working at BellSouth Telecommunications for 18 years, I made a faith decision, stepped out and followed my dreams of being an author and speaker five years ago.

GRIGGS: Promises Beyond Jordan is a story about love, family, friends, promises made and kept, sacrifices, commitment, and scars (both seen and unseen). Nine days before George Landris is set to say "I do," he looks his fiance in her eyes and says, "Have you ever loved someone that you never had?" just as he is about to leave Atlanta to look for a woman in Birmingham he once loved who's been in a serious accident. Afterwards, it's pretty much a lot of drama requiring reminders to oneself to "breathe."

GRIGGS: My favorite scene to write was a sermon that appears at a most climatic time of the story. My favorite scene to read would be when Theresa Jordan (George Landris' fiancee) runs into Maurice while at a low point in her life. The other scene I liked a lot was a scene with Lena Patterson and Richard Jordan (close to the end); then Lena and Theresa's long overdue conversation.

GRIGGS: When you own your own press, it gives the power back to the individual to decide how much (if at all) they truly believe in their work. I didn't seek publishing but am convinced this thing is bigger than me. People say that people who self-publish are vain (because they wish to see their work in print and they believe it's good enough). If vain is the definition for self-publish, then what's it called when you seek a publisher to publish your work? The one difference, is having someone else to validate your work or you believing in it enough to step out and put your money and time where your own mouth is.

GRIGGS: For African-American's as a whole, the best part about self-publishing has been not allowing others to define who we are as a people. Traditionally, we were locked out of certain publishing places. People didn't believe we had good black men, that all of our black fathers weren't leaving children, that many are taking care of them, that we do know how and are romantic, that every black person is not dodging bullets, shooting up, or on drugs in their neighborhood. My hats off to those pioneers who didn't let "rejected" by major publishers stop them from blazing a path so many others could build a runway over it. The other good part about self-publishing is you can have a book out in a few months as opposed to 18-24 months.

GRIGGS: The worst part of self-publishing is the stigmatism it once carried (now being eradicated thanks to folks like Anita Bunkley, E. Lynn Harris, Kim Roby, Richard Paul Evans, Parry "Ebony Satin" Brown, Zane, etc.). The other part is feeling David against Goliath when trying to get the attention of national magazines for reviews and/or write-ups to help get the word out about your book. But it is possible if you have a good product, be persistent, and conduct your "business" with professionalism. (Having God watching your back helps too!)

GRIGGS: That's up to the person. If they can handle what needs to be done, then you might not need one. But if you can't do it (or choose not to), then get someone whose purpose on earth is to do it. That way everybody wins.

GRIGGS: First off, write a good book. Read as much as you can on the art of your craft. Read other people's work (all kinds and color). Approach this as a business. Just because you're a creative person (and you need to be that), you still need to realize that the people receiving your work view it as a business. After your book is set to hit the scene, start doing all you can to let people know about it. I always say if you have a blessing to grace the world and nobody knows, whom does it bless? You have to do more than just "hope" the word gets out; get to work making it happen!

GRIGGS: There are several books available on self-publishing. Get at least one and study it. You may not understand everything at first, but keep at it. If possible, attend workshops if someone is speaking on the topic. And should you know someone who has done it, approach them if you feel you'd like to have a "body" to talk with during the process. Whatever you do, just don't get discouraged. If it were easy (that's anything in life), then everybody would do it. This is how you separate the winners from the wimp--(Hint, hint: It's the one who's still standing at the end).

GRIGGS: No. (Laughs.) It's a lot more work than people probably realize. But I LOVE it! I get to meet people I otherwise wouldn't have. And the best part is when you get an email, phone call, letter, or someone who comes where you're going to be; telling you how much they enjoyed your book. Or better still, how much it changed their lives.

GRIGGS: I'm more recognized than even I know. I'm on radio, TV, in the newspapers. The best thing about being published now, is it empowers me to write what I really want to write. When I hear how people can't put Promises Beyond Jordan down until they've finished, it let's me know all I've been through has been worth it. Really worth it.

GRIGGS: I read somewhere between 4-6 books every two weeks. I just finished Satisfy My Soul by Colin Channer, Sugar by Bernice McFadden, The Future Has a Past by J. California Cooper. I am about to read Bittersweet, This Bitter Earth, and Black Coffee now. I read a LOT of nonfiction (I didn't mention any of those here) too.

GRIGGS: Study your craft. Read How-to books. Read books in the genre you wish to write. See what did they do you liked; what you didn't care for; what worked and why. If there is a specific house you're interested in writing for, get their guidelines and follow them. I tell people it's okay to break the rules, just know which ones you're breaking. My best advice is to not give up! This is so important. People will say things to discourage you. If you must--have a pity party, get up, change the song, then dance again! Dance until you're where you've envisioned yourself to be. And if your friends and family are the ones being negatives, limit the negatives you allow in. Just don't give up if you truly believe!

GRIGGS: Email: VGriggs@FreeToSoar.com Web site: www.FreeToSoar.com

Snail Mail: P. O. Box 101328 - Dept. VG, Birmingham, AL 35210-6328

GRIGGS: Oh the next novel is simmering for sure! There's a little romance, a little treachery, a little deceitfulness, and a whole lot of drama--brother against brother; mothers against daughters. I like drama (in fiction), but I still like to keep it real! And because I'm a spiritual person, it can't help but come through.

Thank you so much for this opportunity! Blessings to you all.