LaToya Lawrence Interview Published on: 16, Sep 2024

The gifts of Extrasensory Perception have not only had an impact on the technique of my writing but are employed as the major provenance within the creative and intellectual process of my output.

What I have recognized from writing my first two novels over twenty years ago until now is that though I was extremely innovative, and intuitively inspired equally back then, I have enhanced. The artistry of my current writings has developed to a higher and deeper level.

Reading and writing were the subjects that I excelled in when I attended school from my early years. I skipped a grade to a special class for those gifted in reading during the seventh grade at Susan B. Anthony Junior High School. I knew since I had never received anything less than an A or a B in my book reports during elementary school that I had to be a good writer. After I wrote a class play in the fourth grade that my teacher allowed my classmates to act out then received the lead role in the school play Potpourri that I offered to another classmate at the time since I did not like being in the spotlight I continued writing from there. A counselor of mine had gotten a hold of my stories when I was ten or eleven and passed them on to a friend of hers that worked at a traditional publishing house. They wanted to publish my short horror stories and presented me with an opportunity. When I turned twelve years old, I knew writing was my destiny, the career path that I was meant to pursue and live—but I did not think that dream would become a reality until I turned twenty-three and wrote then published my first novel. Since then, I have been unstoppable.

I am so much more than the state, city, and environments that I was born into and grew up in or around as I or my input is not defined or directly influenced by any of those circumstances. I will say that aside from the natural propensity to automatically bring stories and characters into existence-- imagination, the wisdom and knowledge that I have, the spiritual insight, and certain life experiences altogether play a role in how I add to the formations that intertwine.

The only book chiefly inspired by experiences growing up in Queens Village was my autobiographical novel titled My Cup Overflows. I had a wonderful childhood thanks to my phenomenal mother, but we went through hell with certain jealous family members and envious negative people in the neighborhood carrying the same low mind-set who tried so hard to bring us down because we had a lot going on for ourselves. It was the age-old story of how misery loves company and not wanting to see us going anywhere in life because they were not headed anywhere. As fighters we rose above negativity and kept on going and I am still here today succeeding as all the effort my mother had put into me will never go in vain.

I think without even realizing it is one of the themes are to be careful what you do or try to do when it comes to harming people because it surely will come back to you in this life or the next final one—or the recurring lives for those who believe in constant reincarnation—and I say that to not offend anyone as we all have our own spiritual beliefs. No one gets away with anything even if they believe so and as we are not invincible down here in this earthly realm a lot of us are divinely protected. Another theme is the legitimate connection that some of us have and are born with when it comes to the supernatural gifts of telepathy, empath, heightened sensitivity/intuition, visions, and other extraordinary tendencies. As one who knows firsthand what is possible and what we are and live as a person born with second sight it is inevitable that I incorporate and have fun mixing creative ideas into a few of the versatile stories that I like to write.

Absolutely! The ideas manifest and the stories practically write themselves. The energy leads me, and I follow along wondering where my stories and characters will take me and what will develop next. It is an exciting, peaceful, intimate, and fulfilling happening—one that I have no control over.

I would say promoting and marketing. When I published my first two books in the year 2001 and 2003, I had a book signing at a former Walden Bookstore and at two other independent bookstores, but I did not have the money that it cost to ongoingly publish and advertise, and I did not yet have a computer to gain exposure through. Nowadays I do not have to pay to get published and I have access to the media through technology and the money to wisely advertise and promote when necessary.

No. I have read books that I have really enjoyed. I found books inspiring in that I felt encouraged to continue to write because the creativity and talent of the other authors and the way that they wrote with their own appealing styles made me feel proud to be a part of the sphere. There are a lot of great writers out there who tell marvelous, enthralling, entertaining stories that are inspiring, but my work is purely influenced by the intangible energy produced around me.

I love to produce enchanting fictional towns in genuine states with captivating scenery. I am attracted to the beauty of art, nature, and other things and it will often come across in the settings, homes, and clothing of my characters. I was a movie buff in my early youth, and I loved those classic black and white crime noirs. A mixture of the fondness and nostalgia I have is what contributed to the character development of the Whispering Staircase—the way the characters lived, dressed, talked, behaved. The characters in the center of it are all glamorous and beguiling.

For me it has been the personal success of being able to achieve and maintain what I’ve always wanted to do as an Author. I am out here chasing and living my dream on my own terms and the universe has welcomed me with open arms. I am continuing to make sales on top of it and that is wonderful. I appreciate those who have taken an interest in buying and reading my books.

My advice is if writing and becoming an author is really what you want to do, and it is your passion, go for it and let nothing stop you. Believe in yourself even if nobody else does be your own strongest champion among others who do support you. These days we have the greatest opportunity to start our own careers as writers with the resources of the internet. Put your heart and soul into your craft, take yourself seriously, and produce quality work. Leave the rest up to the divine. If success is meant to happen for you then it will happen nothing will be able to stop it. Just have patience (even though it’s hard when you have that strong enthusiasm), don’t share your plans with just anyone (there are haters and sabotages out there who would love to interfere and see you fail), relax, keep quiet, and just let things prosper.

Motivation is my middle name! The multiple projects keep me inspired as I cannot wait to get to them then start on the next. I love working on my books and I have so many present and future projects on the way that are already in design. I am writing my next new release now. I have some that I have started on and not yet finished.

Yes. I am very versatile, and I do not limit myself. I write adult suspense, thrillers, mystery, crime, horror, action, and supernatural tales but I have a children’s book that I plan to write in the future. An adorable story about a little girl and her beloved dog.

I first came across All Author surfing the web for free book promotion sites. I am glad to have found the page as it is a great, beneficial place to network and gain exposure and discover other author’s and their work. I love the site, the promotional tools, and the advantages that it has to offer to help us authors in our ventures.