Author’s
Bio: VM Roberts’ hobby is writing. It’s a passion she discovered in
fourth grade at East Suffolk Elementary School. This hobby has led to
publishing fiction and non-fiction titles over the past thirteen years. She has
written a two-set collection of her memoirs, crime thrillers, women’s fiction,
young adult novels, and a series of children’s books for a total of 26 books.
She’s working on a humorous romance book of short stories and a historical fiction
novel.

A Suffolk, Virginia native, Ms.
Roberts resided in Trenton, New Jersey, for ten years, eventually settling in
the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for thirty years.  
These cities and their surroundings are often the settings for her writings.
She currently resides in Howard County, MD.

Ms. Roberts is a healthcare
administrator with over thirty-five years of experience in the industry. This
experience has allowed her to serve as a college instructor for fifteen years.

She holds an MPH in Epidemiology, an
MBA in Health Administration, and a BA in Journalism.

Deliah Lawrence: What is your writing
process?

VM Roberts: Wow, it’s
complicated. I employ the use of Technology 99% of the time. When an idea pops
into my head at odd times, I grab my phone, type it into the notes section on
my iPhone, and email it to myself.

Ideas are constantly popping into my
head regardless of where I am – Walmart, the doctor’s office, a road trip, in
the middle of dinner (lol). I’ve held up the line in the market a few times,
jotting things down on my phone so I don’t lose my thoughts. I’ve been known sometimes
to allow folks to go ahead of me.

I maintain a spreadsheet of names,
fictitious places, career titles, etc., so I don’t have to search for what I’m
looking for when I need it. Random searching for things like this slows me
down. I have over 700 first and last names in my spreadsheet. I use street
names and names from movie characters from the 30s, 40s, and 50s. I use last
names as first names and vice versa. As far as fictitious places-restaurants,
colleges, and medical facilities-I place them in real neighborhoods &
streets.

I Google highways, neighborhoods,
towns, etc., to ensure my geographical information is correct. (Don’t you love
technology?)

About my spreadsheet, when I write, I
name each book title per tab [right now, I have ten titles I hope to complete
by the end of December 2024]. This is where I outline my plots and subplots. The
subplots allow me to keep things moving logically in the book. The order of my
information is crucial. I can’t have Noble getting married in one chapter and
two chapters over, she’s dating a guy from Florida (lol).  

Every adult character in my books has
a medical condition, is educated, and has a physical flaw. It’s the way of the
world. Think about the people that you know. Do you know anyone twenty-five or
older who’s not being treated for at least one medical condition? Everyone that
you know has some type of Education-whether formal or informal. Formal is more
visible. Ask a bus driver who’s been on the job for 10-15 years. They could
write a how-to book. Physical flaws are natural. Some are hidden with makeup,
but it’s there.

DL: Is there any particular author or
book that influenced you in any way, either growing up or as an adult?

VMR: Not really. I have favorite authors,
though-Richard Wright, James Baldwin, August Wilson, Zora Neale Hurston, Alice
Walker, James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell, David Baldacci, and my all-time
favorite-Louis L’Amour. He writes Westerns. One of these days, I’m going to
attempt a Western. I love’ em (lol)

DL: If you could choose a superpower,
what would it be and why?

VMR: Heart
Zapper. If I see a person who’s selfish, unkind, inconsiderate, etc. I’d zap
them a new lifetime heart.

DL: If you were hosting a dinner party
which three authors would be your dream guests and why?

VMR: David
Baldacci (political suspense with that lawyer’s touch), James Patterson
(contemporary crime writer), and Louis L’Amour (western). All three are pretty
intense, detailed, and thorough writers in their genre.

DL: What are the keys to success in marketing
your book(s)?  

VMR: I market in the local communities
where I’ve lived and worked and where my family lives. Social media is good,
but I rely on my old stomping grounds to get the word out-Philly, Jersey, and
my hometown-Suffolk, VA.

My husband is quite supportive as
well. He’s from North Jersey and always tells his family and friends when I
have a new book released. My budget is relatively small, so I determine the
best use for my dollars.

Example: If you
had $250 to spend over a three-month period, which would you choose-1 Facebook
ad or 3 book festivals in your local communities over five months?

DL: What tips would you give to aspiring
writers?

VMR: I would
give them the following tips:

• Never Stop Learning About Writing
  (it’s a never–ending process)
• Don’t (try) copy someone else’s style.
  Develop your own.
• Enrich
  Your Vocabulary by Reading (it really doesn’t matter what you read, as long as
  you read)
• Research.
  Fiction writers do research. Contrary to what the public thinks, there are
  facts in fiction writing. If your research skills are not up to par, begin to
  develop them by researching things you know nothing about. 

DL: What are three fun facts about
yourself?    

VMR: Here you
go:

1. I was a writer for my high school
   newspaper.
2. I wrote for the college paper when I
   attended Mercer County Community College in Trenton, NJ. I interviewed Maya
   Angelou.
3. I was a writer for the Temple
   University (Philly) yearbook during my last two years of college.

DL: Would you like to share an excerpt
from Imprints of Her Decisions?

VMR: Sure! Here’s an excerpt (In Her
Care) from Imprints of Her Decision which is a book of 10 short
stories:

Essex stood
up abruptly and pointed her finger at her youngest brother. “Maybe if you had
the guts to tell her, we wouldn’t be in this predicament. So you, mister, just
shut up!”

She strode
across the room to the table in the dining room, grabbed her purse, and
returned. She stopped before Butler and pulled an envelope from a side pocket
of the purse.

“Take this letter.” She thrust the envelope into the woman’s left hand.

“Our endearing mother died because of you. Your clumsiness and stupidity
are beyond me. I don’t care how long you’ve been working with patients. You
should have never tried to handle a 300-pound patient by yourself. When you
caused her to fall and hit her head, she suffered a concussion and went into a
coma; days later, she died. We are suing you and the Nursing care agency. Your
name is at the top of the list.”

Butler’s mouth dropped in disbelief! Thinking back, over the past year,
she recalled the silent treatment, going out without her, the meetings with his
sister and brother, and family functions without inviting her. All this time,
her husband blamed her for his mother’s death. 

She stared at all of them. How could they? This was unreal. The fall was
an accident. The envelope clutched in her right hand, Butler left the room,
tears Streaming down her face. The anniversary celebration is an afterthought
at this point.

Note: I Am
Spivey was released May 11, 2023 and Merry Molly Ambassador was released May 16,
2023.

DL: What new projects are you
currently working on?

VMR: I’m working on the following projects:

Adult

• A historical novel (based in Philly)
• A book of 10 short stories-romance
  humor (based in Virginia, Philly & Jersey)
• Book #3 of a political series based in
  my hometown (Suffolk, VA) 

Children

• Book #5 of My Life With Leah
  Chandler Series
• Glover Cousins Book #1
  of a new children’s series 

I try to write 4 books a year. The
goal is to complete 3 more books for 2023 from the ones above. I’ve started
them already. It’s a matter of making it to the finish line with 3 of them
(lol).

DL: Where can readers learn more about
you and purchase your book(s)?

VMR: Readers can find more information
here:

• Website: https://mysuffolkgirlbooks.wixsite.com/my-site
• Amazon Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00XIIP0VK/about
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VMRobertsAuthor62
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/suffolkgirlauthor62/
• Blog: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18822204.V_M_Roberts/blog

DL: Thanks so much for being here with us
today. I know my readers will enjoy getting to know you and your work.

VMR: Thank you
very much!

Originally Published on https://vocalexpressions.blogspot.com

Deliah Lawrence Attorney, Author, Blogger, Workshop Facilitator

Deliah Lawrence is a Maryland-based attorney and award-winning author of two romantic suspense novels (Gotta Let It Go and Gotta Get It Back) set in Baltimore. She’s also a blogger and workshop facilitator who writes poetry and short stories.

When Deliah isn’t writing, you can find her reading a book, indulging in her addiction to investigation discovery shows; or painting her yet-to-be exhibited oil artworks of landscapes, portraits or whatever else comes to her creative mind. Constantly on the go, she is also a member of the Black Writers’ Guild of Maryland and Sisters in Crime.