AY Talks Back

We were thrilled to have some time to chat with LaShaunda Hoffman, who is involved in the 2012 Author Yearbook. I first met LaShaunda in St. Louis, and was impressed with her sharp wit and sweet spirit. Over the years, we’ve become good online friends. I respect her more than I can express, so it was particularly exciting to have her involved in this project and to get the opportunity to interview her.

Romance:

• Rochelle Alers
• Francis Ray
• Brenda Jackson  

Historicals

• Beverly Jenkins
• Julie Lessman

Christian

• Rhonda McNight
• Marilynn Griffith

Lash party is going on now! Join us here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/349140818483657/

AY Talks Back

We were thrilled to have some time to chat with Mary Brock, who is involved in the 2012 Author Yearbook.

Author Yearbook: When did you first know when you wanted to be writer?

Mary Brock: I realized that I really wanted to be a writer through an unfortunate occurrence of illness in my life. I became seriously ill and was forced to retire from my job in 1983. Since I am a person who cannot be idle for very long periods of time, I became bored with watching daytime soaps. I began to write poetry and enter my poetry in contests. I received some recognition for my poetry writing in those contests. This encouraged me to write more poems. I love the freedom of expression in poetry. It allows you to free your mind of all of those things that you wanted to say and may not have had the opportunity to say to others. I later took journalism classes at Southwest College. Thereafter, I took a creative writing course.

Author Yearbook: Tell us a little bit about what you like to write, what inspires you…

Mary Brock: I have only written one book so far. However, I am in the process of writing another one. I would say that my first book is my favorite because it is like the door that leads to the rest of my writing career, and it is a statement of who I am. It is my introduction to the world.

Author Yearbook:  Do you have any special things you do when writing? For example, some authors listen to a certain type of music, others drink a glass of wine (some too many glasses), and still others exercise to release that creative spirit. What do you do, if anything?

Mary Brock: I don’t have any special thing I do when writing, like most writers do. I just stay focused on what I am writing. I write in spurts. I may be in the middle of vacuuming, and I may get a thought of something I want to write. I stop and jot down a brief sentence that will remind me of what my thought is, so that I may elaborate upon it later. Then, I place it in a folder, along with other thoughts I previously had, until I can get back to it.

Author Yearbook: What is your greatest challenge as a writer?

Mary Brock: My greatest challenge as a writer is getting my thoughts out to the public, where I feel they may do the most good. I am a very quiet person, who is usually very shy around others. I am a person of few words when around others. I am more observant in public, than verbal. Most of the time people are amazed at the knowledge I have when I do speak.

Author Yearbook: What is your greatest reward as a writer?

Mary Brock: My greatest reward as a writer would be to find that not only am I heard, but that people are listening enough to apply the results of my knowledge and experience to their lives, and that my writing has helped someone to improve their life to some degree.

Author Yearbook: What do you do when you aren’t writing? Any hobbies or special interests?

Mary Brock: When I’m not writing, I am thinking and doing a million other things for my family and other people. Many people come to me for many things, because they feel I have endless wisdom. I like to listen to music, especially “oldies.” It relaxes me.

Author Yearbook: In keeping with our theme for the 2012 Yearbook of “Then and Now”, what is your favorite childhood memory?

Mary Brock: In keeping with the theme for the 2012 Yearbook of “Then and Now”, my favorite childhood memory was playing with our boxer dog named Brownie, and having her walk to school with us and coming back to pick us up from school. I loved the feeling of peace and contentment when playing with my dog. Throughout life, I have always found things that would give me that same feeling. My photography, drawings and art in later years gave me that same peacefulness and comfort.

Author Yearbook: What are you working on right now? What can we expect to see in the future?

Mary Brock: I am currently working on my own greeting card line, which includes my own photography and script inside the cards. I am also piecing together the materials for my next book, which will elaborate upon the topics of the poems in my poetry book, “Etchings On My Mind.” It will show how each of the topics relate to our lives, and give resolutions to the problems that these elements bring into our lives. I am also working on a poetry anthology book, which will contain poetry from several of my family members who also write poetry, as well as my own poetry. In the future, I’d like to be able to get my books and writings into the educational system, where it is much needed, because that is the forum where our children learn and share life experiences, as well as educational resources. I’d also like to write articles for magazines, and be a newspaper columnist.