I think it’s safe to say just about everyone has a dream. Whether it’s been shared with family, friends, or just kept to yourself, there is always that thought in the back of your mind of what you wish you were doing with yourself. Some never take the journey to accomplish those goals, some do and fail. In the end though, it’s only when dreams meet reality that remarkable things start to happen.
In the case of Linette King, her dreams met reality in November of 2015. After years of wanting to express herself through the form of writing, the 25-year old Moss Point, MS native took the plunge. The initial courage to become an author has since seemed to become her destiny as she has published 14 books to date. Throughout the various series of publications, which include Addicted To Him, She Used To Be The Sweetest Girl, and others, Linette is able to captivate her audience with provocative storylines and characters that hit close to home. The racy style of writing has suited Linette King well, as she has already managed to become a regular fixture on Amazon’s bestseller list.
As Linette continues her rise as an author it’s important to not only commend her writing itself, but all of the circumstances surrounding her life that she overcomes to accomplish this dream. As a single mother of 3 who also works full-time, one may wonder how she even makes the time for such a hefty output of material. Through my time speaking with her the answer became evident. Ms. King simply possesses a hustle that is unmatched and is unwilling to let anything get in her way. She uses her dreams to fuel her day in and day out, while also cherishing the value of family and time. It’s this determination combined with writing skills that are seasoned beyond what her 8 month stint as an author would suggest that leads me to believe she is ultimately headed for great things.
As Linette King begans to start the process of rolling out her next book She Used To Be The Sweetest Girl 3 and an additional two alongside it, we catch up with the growing talent for an in-depth look into her background and journey to the point she is at today. Though we typically focus on music here at 1stDayFresh we support all good art. Being that Linette is a curator of some of the best new art coming from her field we thought it was only right to highlight her skills. Without further delay check out our dialogue in full below.
For those being introduced to your work today could you share some info about yourself?
My name is Gabrielle King . A proud mother of three. I was born and raised in Moss Point, Ms. My greatest form of peace is found through prayer. My greatest escape is made through writing. I enjoy creating a world for other’s enjoyment and each series that I write is a different type of story. I want to give the readers a variety of books. That way if they don’t like one series they may love another one. It’s all about the readers.
Of all the varieties you’ve managed to create what do you think is your favorite and why?
I can’t really say that I have a favorite at the moment because I’m attached to two different storylines. The first one being the storyline in the “Addicted To Him” series and the second one in the “She Used To Be The Sweetest Girl” series. In Addicted To Him there are so many characters to connect with. You will laugh throughout the series and your jaw is guaranteed to drop from a lot of different scenes. It’s filled with drama, lies, betrayal, sex and action. It was so easy for me to get lost in that book as I wrote it. Then you have “She Used To Be The Sweetest Girl”, which is a painful read but it’s entertaining. You have to keep reading because you’re bound to form an attachment with the main character Nichole. You just have to see if she’s going to get her happy ending. It’s like, when will enough ever really be enough?
I understand you often thought about writing before committing to it. What do you think kept you from finally taking the steps to mind an author before you did?
Life. I was honestly lost. I’d lost myself in the process of valuing someone else too much. What I wanted to do and some times even what I needed to do was constantly overlooked or overshadowed by this person’s needs and wants. I found a notebook from three years ago recently. I had started a book and just stopped, then started to write what I felt at the moment. The emotion that I wrote that day made me rejoice, simply because I no longer have to deal with the pain and the hurt that person had taken me through.
Walk me through the day you built the courage to write the first sentence of your first book. What was going through your mind that made you finally say, “Today is the day I chase this dream”?
I was sitting down at my desk at work using yellow sticky pads because I didn’t have a computer at the time. I hadn’t even gone to buy a notebook yet. So I’m sitting down writing character names and what I wanted them to look like. One of my co-workers asked me what I was doing and when I told her, she said “You have three kids. You are not going to be able to write a book.” I smiled at her and pulled a piece of typing paper out of the printer and started writing. My first sentence ended up being the first sentence of the second chapter because I thought it flowed better if my original second chapter was first.
So you basically got your start live on the job. Did any of your co-workers support you initially? What was their response when they saw you made it come true?
Yes, the first person I told was Djuana and her response was “Girl I think you should try it”. After my first book was published, another co-worker Precious said “Ooooh lil baby I can’t wait to read it!” lol. Djuana said “Girl remember how we use to joke around about you writing a book? I can’t believe you did it! I’m happy for you”.
You haven’t been doing this a full year and are already well over 10 books in. Did you plan for things to move so quickly or did it happen organically?
Never in a million years would I have thought that I’d have 14 published books in under a year. I signed my first book contract for 10 books in November. I actually thought that it would be hard to write those 10. Once I found my pace, it has been a walk in the park. So its safe to say that this just happened.
As a single mother of 3 how do you still find the time to write at such a quick pace?
I’m a firm believer in the fact that people make time for what they want to make time for. We spend our time doing what’s important to us. I love my children more than life itself. Family is everything to me! I go to work five days a week and while I’m at work, my notebook is on my desk. Whenever an idea crosses my mind I can go ahead and write it. I get off work and pick my kids up from daycare. If we don’t go straight home, it’s because we stopped by my sister, Pooh’s house to spend time with her, my brother-in-law and their kids. Even then, my notebook is within arm’s reach. Then I go home and get my kids ready for bed by 8pm every night. After that, writing is free game for me. I stay up easily to 3 and sometimes 4 in the morning. I’m tired A LOT but there’s no way I’m going to work five days a week to help someone else build their dream then go home and sleep on mine.
Would you say most of what you write draws from personal experience or is it coming from a source of imagination?
It’s a complete source of imagination. This question reminded me of my mom when she asked me what “A Crazy Ghetto Love Story” was about. So I was going into detail about how Chris, Frankie, Phat, James and Steve all met in a group home. I told her all about life in the group home for them and she said “Ty Lucy, you have never been to a group home yet alone lived in one. How you know what’s going on there?” It was funny because she has always told me to write because I’ve always suppressed emotions. It didn’t matter what was happening in my life or how bad it hurt, I’ve never been a person that cries or a person that talks about it. I think she felt like I needed an outlet so she would randomly buy me composition notebooks and once I filled them up, we’d burn them. Now I don’t need to write my thoughts or feelings because I experience that same escape through my imagination when I write.
To date what would you say is the biggest challenge you’ve encountered throughout your career as an author?
My biggest challenge is biting my tongue. I try my absolute hardest to remain positive. I know people are going to talk and throw a little shade here and there, but I’m still young. I’m an adult but I’m still young. I’m learning in life that every action doesn’t need a reaction. This is my go to quote every time I encounter a little “shade”.
How do you manage to turn the “shade” from the naysayers into something you can use for positivity?
I go harder. When people down me or down something I’m doing, I use that to go harder. I’ve learned how to channel negative energy into positive energy, and positive energy for me is productive energy. I simply stay productive.
From what I see that production turns into a greater outpour of support with the books. With every release comes more and more people speaking about your work throughout my social media feeds. Why do you think everyone gravitates to your writing so easily?
I make the stories as realistic as possible and give them characters they can relate to. If you don’t connect with at least one character then I didn’t do my job. I try to wow people a lot in my work, whether it’s a good wow or a bad wow. Either way, you will have to turn the page to see what happens next.
Who are some of the authors who inspired you and what do you like about their books?
I grew up reading from the Babysitter’s club to R.L Stine’s Goosebumps. Zane kept me interested for years as a teenager. I shouldn’t have been reading them, my mom didn’t know, but I loved it. As an adult the raw and uncut style of writing that Shameek A. Speight has is exciting. You simply can not guess what will happen when you read his work. Then you have my all time favorite author Nisa Santiago. She will keep you engrossed in any book that you pick up by her to read. I’ve found myself in Books=A-Million plenty of times spending $60 to $100 on her books in one trip. I also really like Ashley and Jaquavis, but I can’t forget about Nikki Turner. There’s just so many authors that I love!
What is the process typically like when you start to create a book?
The moment I come up with a title, the story begins to unfold in my head. My next step is to formulate character names, descriptions and their personality traits. Once I start writing, I get more comfortable with each character so they’ll evolve throughout the book.
Character development is one area most writers neglect for the story’s sake, how do you try balancing character development while also coinciding with the story?
I allow the characters to go through real life events that help develop them. I put myself in the characters shoes. I imagine myself with the personality traits of the character and try to come up with what the character should do.
How do you personally fight writers block?
I like to listen to slow jams while I write. If I can’t think of what to write next or what I need to add that would make sense I change the station. If I get stuck because I can’t figure out what the character should do next or how I should write the character’s next move, I change the genre of music that I’m listening to.
What do you typically listen to?
I listen to the Chain Smokers, Lukas Graham, Selena Gomez & Alesia. It’s soothes me.
What is your biggest goal as a writer?
My biggest goal is to write an awesome movie script! That would be so awesome!
Would your movie be something original or an adaptation of a one of your books?
Just off of my books, for now.
What is next on your schedule that people may need to be aware of?
I’ll be in Las Vegas at a 5linx convention in September to network with different people.
Any further comments before we conclude?
To whom it may concern: Take a chance at whatever it is that you want to do with your life. You only have one life to live so make the best of it. Don’t walk around wondering what if… Just do it.
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Commercial filmed by: JT Nicholson of J&R International Company of Film
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