Meet Colleen Nye, Author

Colleen Nye is an author who enjoys writing in various styles and genres: novels, short stories, poetry, romantic comedies, suspense thrillers, drama, and more. In 2012, she published first book in The Unattainable Series: When in Maui, her first solo novel and a romantic comedy. In 2015, When in Maui moved to Blue Deco Publishing with her second novel, Immersion, a dystopian tech thriller. In January of 2016, Colleen presented the first books in an anthology series named The Lunch Time Anthologies.

Learn more about Colleen by visiting www.colleennye.com, and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

1. Why do you think you've always been drawn toward being a writer?

I have always had an overactive imagination, and writing my stories into actual books to share is rather therapeutic for me. Plus, I just love hearing when something I've written has brought happiness, comfort, or excitement in someone's life.

2. What is The Unattainable Series about?

The Unattainable Series is about two best friends, Alice and Vivianne, who find love in a place we all only imagine about... from their celebrity crushes. A change of a lifetime, right? But there's just one thing... one of them runs towards love while the other runs from it. It's a comedic look at how realistic characters would react to something so regularly unattainable. When in Maui is book one. Book two, When in Doubt, comes out this spring.

3. Would you tell us about Immersion?

Immersion is a dystopian tech thriller. It's a story about a small group of people in a world not unlike our own, but the economy is worse while crime is up, and a virtual gaming device called B.I.G.S. is adding to the chaos. These people know what the world is being lied to about... the B.I.G.S. is dangerous. The more you use it, the less likely you are to come out of it. Can they stop this corporation before they bring the world to its knees?

4. Would you tell us more about your Lunchtime Anthologies series? It seems like a very unique idea to me!

TLTA is kind of a brain child of mine while working outside of the home. I saw myself and so many others reading while on lunch breaks and wishing they didn't have to stop in the middle of a "good part" to go back to work. So I figured why not make a full novel with short stories and bits throughout it? Other authors write these short stories or bits that are their own stand-alone pieces yet fit into a larger picture storyline, creating a full novel with stopping points! Gable Heights is the first book, having been released Jan 2016 through Blue Deco Publishing. It's a crime drama. The second book will be out later in 2016. Each book is its own storyline, but they all have that same concept. It's a lot of fun putting these books together.

5. What are your plans for the rest of 2016--and what else would you like readers to know about you and your work?

2016 is VERY exciting! I am releasing When in Doubt in Spring, The Long Summer (a coming of age story) later this year, and possibly another book later in 2016, a sci-fi story. The working title on that is The Push. I'm also a part of and co-leading a five-book anthology release called The Debut Collective, and I have a short story in all five books. Plus, there will be the release of the second TLTA book! I'll also have a convention and signing tour this year. Among others, I'll be signing at:

Festival of the Arts – Authorpalooza at the Gate – Big Rapids, MI – Feb 20th
Women's Expo – Grand Rapids, MI – March 11th - 13th
Barnes & Noble – Lansing, MI – May 7th
UtopiaCon – Nashville, TN – June 23rd - 25th
Tulip City Author Event – Holland, MI – July 9th
Indies in NYC – New York City – August 6th
Penned Con – St. Louis, MO – September 23rd - 24th

Thanks, Colleen!

Meet TK McLennon, Author and Editor

TrailBlasian is a new anthology which shares the experiences of seventeen Black women who have taken the bold step to wave goodbye to their homes in North America and start new lives in East Asia. The anthology is available on Amazon and was edited by Canadian-born writer T.K. McLennon.

1. In your experience, what are some of the factors that motivate people from North America to move to Asian countries?

I would say that lack of jobs at home and financial reasons are probably the most common, but also wanderlust, appreciation for Asian culture, escapism, love/relationship, and career are among the most common reasons I've heard.

2. In addition to the teaching/education field, are there other major areas of employment that offer opportunities for English-speaking people moving to Asia?

Well, if you're American, there are several Army bases in Asia, particularly in South Korea. Of course there are expats who work for multinational for profit or not for profit organizations and also small or medium business people who do trade and whatnot.

3. Are there aspects of the expat experience that you feel are unique to Black women?

I would have to say concerns about how to maintain healthy hair and skin is a bit of a big deal. In the intro to the book, I discuss this a bit more, but also in Asia (as in other parts of the world) there is a thriving skin-bleaching industry. I found it nearly impossible in some countries to find lotions or other skincare products that did not contain some kind of whitening agent. Of course a bigger concern for many is racism/sexism, especially as it relates to your personal safety. Black women are often typecast in a few narrow stereotypes perpetuated through American media, and as expats in Asia there is a concern that we may be denied work or social opportunities due to race or sex prejudice.

4. Do you see the anthology as memoir or scholarship--or both?

Both!

5. Your book has been described as "groundbreaking." What has been the response from readers so far?

The readers have their favorites. People intensely agree or disagree with some of the writers' viewpoints. Readers can relate well with the story writers and appreciate the photos and bios that give the writers' journeys their unique context. Even people who have not read the book are intrigued by the the subject matter. It's early days since the official US launch though, and I expect there will be several ongoing panel-style and book-club-like discussions in the near future.

Thanks, TK!