Where have you spent most of your childhood?
I was born and raised in Houston, TX. I’m still living there to this day, but in a sub city named Cypress.
At what age did you read your first book? Who bought it for you?
I believe I was about 5 or 6 and my mom bought me that particular book. I don’t remember what it was, though. I have read a lot of books throughout the years, especially The Baby-Sitters’ Club and Sweet Valley High. Those, I either bought or went to the library for.
What was your first story about that you wrote for a class project at the tender age of nine?
The story was about my friends and I getting trapped in the mall. To me, it was funny, and my classmates and teacher thought it was too. That was the beginning of my love affair with writing.
Who was the first person to know about your love for storytelling once you discovered it?
It was my mom. She always knew that I loved to write and was very supportive of my writing. After her passing in 2011, I decided to start my writing career, because if it wasn’t for her, I probably wouldn’t had never pursue my love for writing.
What are the challenges of being a freelance writer?
The challenges of being a freelance writer is mainly balancing the time to write. With me working full time and writing, it does put a strain on the amount of time I can write. Also, finding the resources available to write certain articles. Some articles did take a bit of time to write, especially when I had deadlines to fulfill.
How much do you research to pen articles on various topics including education and entertainment?
For these two topics, I had the resources to pen certain articles, because education and entertainment were my expertise. During the time when I was a freelance writer, I was also working in the education field, so I was able to obtain valuable information from various individuals on certain topics. And with entertainment, I love the industry and I actually went to college to be a reporter, so this area was very fun for me to pursue.
Did you expect your novel, In Love With My Best Friend to be a best-seller? What was your reaction?
Not at all, lol! Being that this was my very first book, I did not have any expectations for anyone to read it, let along be a best-seller. At the time, I just wanted to publish my story and for someone to read it. I did have a lot of opinions and reviews regarding the storyline, but I’m still glad that the story got the reaction that it did.
How did you come up with the plot of your book, Real Love?
Real Love was a spin-off from the Love, Life, & Happiness series, as readers get to see how the lives of the first couple of the series, Riana and Shawn, have changed since the series. I really enjoyed writing that story, because not only was I able to pick up where I left off with Riana and Shawn, but with the other couples of the LL&H series as well. I would love to continue writing stories about them as well as other characters from the series.
Who inspired the character of Troy Jimenez in "Resisting Temptation"?
Wow, the character of Troy was inspired by someone that I felt changed my life a bit recently. Since the “Into You” series is about my experience working at a car wash, this person has made an impact on my experience there. Although the character is fictional, there were some qualities that Troy exhibited that came from that particular person.
What are some books that have really impacted you and your writing?
Out of all the books that I have published, I think the ones that have really impacted me were Love Unbroken, and probably Resisting Temptation. Even though all of my books have some sort of real-life elements to them, I think I put my heart and soul into those two books, and I think the readers noticed that as well.
How did you find out that your novel, "The Love Chronicles" has become a best-seller?
I think I was at work when I found out that “The Love Chronicles” was a best-seller. I happened to go on Amazon and noticed the yellow ‘Best-Seller’ banner and I instantly freaked out. Even though that wasn’t my first best-seller, this one was special because not only was the book released on my birthday, but it was also because it was a spin-off from the In Love With My Best Friend series, so I was so happy and grateful that readers took a chance on it and enjoyed it.
What is the name of your own publishing company?
The name of my publishing company is SBinkley Publishing.
What are some of the best experiences you've had as an author?
The best experiences that I’ve had as an author is mainly being able to interact with the readers. I have came across a lot of readers who said that they could relate to a story or a character and when they were reading it, they pictured themselves in the story as that character. To me, that’s the biggest compliment I could ever receive. To this day, I still can’t believe that I’m a writer and that people are actually reading my stories, so that alone is a blessing. So, it feels good to know that people can relate to my stories.
Do you miss spending time with family and friends? How are you staying connected to them during this pandemic?
I really do. To fill that void, I do communicate with everyone of course through phone, FaceTime, and text. I’ll be glad when the pandemic is over, but for the time being, as long as I’m able to communicate with everyone and know that they’re okay is fine with me.
When did you join AllAuthor? How does this site measure up with respect to others that you've come across?
I believed I joined AllAuthor about two years ago. I think this site does a wonderful job not only showcasing new and seasoned authors, but also giving us a platform to show and praise our work through your cover contests and graphics. I’m glad I’m able to be apart of this site and I hope it continues to grow with new visitors and authors.
