Janelle M. Williams holds a journalism/advertising degree from Howard University. She is the marketing coordinator for Pen & Pad Publishing LLC. Great writing, dynamic characters, timeless music, entrepreneurial friends, forward fashion, and sweet and salty food inspire her. You can identify her writing by its mirror to reality. Janelle currently lives in Washington, D.C., where she is at work on her second novel. She recently published her first novel entitled ,The Men I let Define Love , and the Lessons From Happy Hour crew is anticipating great things from this young, witty writer!
What is your novel about?
My novel, written through the eyes and mind of a young woman graduating from an HBCU, is about love. It’s about finding love in its every form. As you’ve probably assumed, it’s also about men.
Has writing always been a passion of yours?
I’ve always known that writing would play a huge role in my life, but I never thought I would write a novel. I didn’t know I had the patience for it and that shows in my horribly irregular writing schedule.
What inspired you to write this novel?
So here’s the story on that- I went to Howard University on a full scholarship, books and all. But even with my $475 bookstore stipend, I refused to buy books for subjects I didn’t particularly love, ie. calculus, economics, geography, American history. I would spend as little as possible on textbooks and save the rest for novels. After shopping and re-shopping through the bookstore’s novel selection, I would become frustrated. There are three categories for largely popular African American literature:
1. Extremely hard to read, thought provoking, beautifully written books (Toni Morrison leads this category),
2. Most likely well-written erotica that I have little to say for since I don’t read that genre (Zane leads this category),
3. Neighborhood come up or reflection stories, “started from the bottom, now we here” type of writing which I do find interesting to read from time to time (Maybe Walter Mosley leads this category?).
Needless to say, I wanted to read something fun and refreshing that didn’t involve graphic sex, drug dealers or gang bangers, fatherless kids, or shall I say it? Slavery. Unequivocally a sign, I stumbled across this Toni Morrison quote- “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it.” That’s a powerful quote and the fact that I’ve been in the business of novel writing since reading it is a testament to that.
Who have been your biggest male inspirations in your 20s as it pertains to love and why?
My dad has taught me everything I know about love. He’s the closest thing I’ve found to an actual definition of it and it shows in the way people can’t help but flock to him. Also, he loves literature. He passed on his love for literature to me and for that, I am forever in his debt.
What can readers look forward to in your novel?
Readers can look forward to experiencing something so close to their life in this novel. It is the epitome of the new collegiate generation of African Americans, but it is so relentlessly human that it reaches far beyond that scope!
What have you learned about love in your 20s?
Rather recently, I have found that so many people misuse the word love. I don’t believe that love pins you down. I don’t believe that love hurts you. Maybe the loss of it does, but never love in itself. It is the one, good, pure thing on this Earth. Don’t tarnish its name.
How difficult/easy was the process of getting published?
The publishing process is far from easy, whether you choose to go the indie route or not. There are a lot of copyright laws. There’s a lot you must consider. I cannot even begin to describe it to you. Jump in and see for yourself.
What advice would you give to other young people trying to publish a novel?
My advice (though I’m not sure I should be giving advice) to all aspiring authors is to be steadfast. Also, be true to the story. Every story, whether fiction or nonfiction, has an honest version. Find it and don’t stray.
What’s your favorite cocktail?
I love wine (Sauvignon Blanc- partially for the name, partially for the dry taste). But my go to cocktail is the all-time classy, gin and tonic. It’s low in calories on the cocktail spectrum. Also, it’s light and refreshing!
What lessons have you learned from happy hour/life in general?
My life lesson: I have learned to find love in every crevice of every experience I will endure on Earth.
My happy hour lesson: Drink to be social. Drink so that you can pretentiously talk about liquor and wine. Drink and dance-they go really well together. But don’t drink to get drunk- that can be a hard one, but it’s always for the “I can’t believe I just did that” best.
The Men I let Define Love can be purchased at Amazon.com, Penpadpublishing.com, or on the Pen & Pad Facebook fan page.
-Aliyah
Super excited to explore janelles first work of art… this might just be the spark a retired writer or severe case of writer’s block needs!
We’re also very excited about it! It’s always inspiring to see writers create work that’s relatable to our lives