Your Subtitle text
It's In The Rhythm - Sammie Ward
It's In The Rhythm
Sammie Ward
ISBN-10: 0976355434
ISBN-13: 9780976355434
Lady Leo Publishing
Reviewed By Olivia Chase
Official Apex Reviews Rating:
Garrett Martindale is living the dream: he has left his small-town roots and made it big in the music industry, becoming a huge R&B star reigning at the top of the charts. He has money, he has fame, and he has legions of women screaming his name. One in particular, the incredibly beautiful Imani, craves to settle down with him and start a family, but Garrett has no time for serious commitments, no matter how alluring the prospect appears.
Achieving superstardom isn't easy, though, and the toll of making it to the top has worn on Garrett; so, taking a much-needed vacation, he returns to his hometown in search of some well-deserved R&R. Nothing he has ever experienced in the music industry, though, could prepare him for what he is soon to face...
Garrett soon becomes reacquainted with Trinity Blake, his old church choir compatriot, and soon deep feelings that he thought were long gone come bubbling back to the surface. Spending more and more time with Trinity, Garrett begins to reconsider his commitment to bachelorhood; however, just as he begins to think of settling down with his old crush, out of nowhere come both Darius, her ex-boyfriend, and Imani, each looking to reclaim what (and who) they feel is rightfully theirs.
Add to all this Garrett's father's insistence that Garrett rejoin the church and his gospel roots, as well as a devastating secret life that Garrett's sister, Tamara, has been living (which threatens to tear the family apart), and what follows is a series of unfortunate - and almost deadly - developments that hold little hope for anyone's true happiness to ever be fully realized...
It's In The Rhythm will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions with its full-blooded characters and true-life storylines. Ward does a great job of not sensationalizing anyone's particular persona or circumstance, instead presenting Garrett, Trinity, and others as more deserving of understanding and less of scorn or reproach. What can be learned from her tale is that, as human beings, we are all subject to rash decisions and misguided actions, but the common element of forgiveness unites us all and redeems our many misgivings. Even when we seek to hurt others through bitterness, jealousy, spite, or selfishness, such feelings never originate in a vacuum, but instead can be traced back directly to something done to us by someone that caused us pain - whether they were aware of it or not. In keeping with this theme, we understand the motivations of people like Darius, Imani, and Tamara, even if we disapprove of the ways they choose to express their hurt.
The smooth, conversational prose of It's In The Rhythm draws you into the compelling lives of its characters, lives that you'll find eerily parallel your own - which is not an easy feat for a writer to pull off. As such, Ward is to be commended for creating such a realistic tale so rife with the sonorous chords of true life.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Sammie Ward (It's In The Rhythm)
Apex Reviews: Sammie, we truly appreciate your taking the time to join us for this interview. We're looking forward to learning more about your books.
Tamara makes a decision in her love life that is not often talked about in the African-American community. Why do you think lesbianism is still such a taboo topic?
Sammie Ward: I don't think it's as taboo as it once was. More families are talking about it, as it's becoming more open in society. What I mean by that is, people are more open about their sexual preference, you see it on television, there are the debates going on about gay marriages, that makes it hard not to talk about it. In Tamara's case, she's the daughter of a preacher. A man who stands up in front of his congregation and preaches against alternative lifestyle, and to have his daughter leave her husband for a woman was hard for the family to deal with. It caused them to question their belief and faith on how to deal with it.
AR: Regarding Imani and Mia, why do you think women scorned often become so fanatic in pursuing the men who snub them?
SW: Mia Dallas was a woman use to getting who/what she wanted, period. It was hard for her to accept that Derrick Rawlings was in love with another woman, especially a woman that she felt was beneath her in social standings.
AR: Your versatility as a writer is remarkable. You go from writing about political intrigue to murder mysteries to hidden family secrets with relative ease. How did you develop such a skill?
SW: (Chuckle) I don't know. It's just the way my mind runs. I never looked at is as being different. I write what I feel, whether its romance, intrigue, inspirational etc, etc.
AR: Your sex scenes are very arousing, but without being overly graphic or raunchy. Is it difficult for you to write those scenes so tastefully?
SW: Thank You. It's not difficult for me. I purposely write love scenes to be sensual and stimulating. I believe you can get the point across without being graphic or raunchy.
AR: What has your experience in the publishing world been like?
SW: So far so good. No big complaints. At the moments my novels are published through my publishing company, Lady Leo Publishing. Therefore, I'm doing things on my own terms and loving what I love do.
AR: Any advice for aspiring authors looking to emulate your success?
SW: Don't give up. Write everyday. Continue to learn the craft of writing and develop your own style. Above all else, learn the business side of writing----that's very important.
AR: What's next for you?
SW: Look for my next novel, Lace&Honor. It will be released sometime in 2008. It tells the story of three women/friends assigned to an army unit. The novel will chronicles the women as the deal life, the military ups and downs while on the verge of facing deployment to war.
AR: Thanks again, Sammie, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
SW: Thank you, Apex, for having me. It's been a blast.
Sammie Ward
ISBN-10: 0976355434
ISBN-13: 9780976355434
Lady Leo Publishing
Reviewed By Olivia Chase
Official Apex Reviews Rating:
Garrett Martindale is living the dream: he has left his small-town roots and made it big in the music industry, becoming a huge R&B star reigning at the top of the charts. He has money, he has fame, and he has legions of women screaming his name. One in particular, the incredibly beautiful Imani, craves to settle down with him and start a family, but Garrett has no time for serious commitments, no matter how alluring the prospect appears.
Achieving superstardom isn't easy, though, and the toll of making it to the top has worn on Garrett; so, taking a much-needed vacation, he returns to his hometown in search of some well-deserved R&R. Nothing he has ever experienced in the music industry, though, could prepare him for what he is soon to face...
Garrett soon becomes reacquainted with Trinity Blake, his old church choir compatriot, and soon deep feelings that he thought were long gone come bubbling back to the surface. Spending more and more time with Trinity, Garrett begins to reconsider his commitment to bachelorhood; however, just as he begins to think of settling down with his old crush, out of nowhere come both Darius, her ex-boyfriend, and Imani, each looking to reclaim what (and who) they feel is rightfully theirs.
Add to all this Garrett's father's insistence that Garrett rejoin the church and his gospel roots, as well as a devastating secret life that Garrett's sister, Tamara, has been living (which threatens to tear the family apart), and what follows is a series of unfortunate - and almost deadly - developments that hold little hope for anyone's true happiness to ever be fully realized...
It's In The Rhythm will take you on a rollercoaster of emotions with its full-blooded characters and true-life storylines. Ward does a great job of not sensationalizing anyone's particular persona or circumstance, instead presenting Garrett, Trinity, and others as more deserving of understanding and less of scorn or reproach. What can be learned from her tale is that, as human beings, we are all subject to rash decisions and misguided actions, but the common element of forgiveness unites us all and redeems our many misgivings. Even when we seek to hurt others through bitterness, jealousy, spite, or selfishness, such feelings never originate in a vacuum, but instead can be traced back directly to something done to us by someone that caused us pain - whether they were aware of it or not. In keeping with this theme, we understand the motivations of people like Darius, Imani, and Tamara, even if we disapprove of the ways they choose to express their hurt.
The smooth, conversational prose of It's In The Rhythm draws you into the compelling lives of its characters, lives that you'll find eerily parallel your own - which is not an easy feat for a writer to pull off. As such, Ward is to be commended for creating such a realistic tale so rife with the sonorous chords of true life.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Sammie Ward (It's In The Rhythm)
Apex Reviews: Sammie, we truly appreciate your taking the time to join us for this interview. We're looking forward to learning more about your books.
Tamara makes a decision in her love life that is not often talked about in the African-American community. Why do you think lesbianism is still such a taboo topic?
Sammie Ward: I don't think it's as taboo as it once was. More families are talking about it, as it's becoming more open in society. What I mean by that is, people are more open about their sexual preference, you see it on television, there are the debates going on about gay marriages, that makes it hard not to talk about it. In Tamara's case, she's the daughter of a preacher. A man who stands up in front of his congregation and preaches against alternative lifestyle, and to have his daughter leave her husband for a woman was hard for the family to deal with. It caused them to question their belief and faith on how to deal with it.
AR: Regarding Imani and Mia, why do you think women scorned often become so fanatic in pursuing the men who snub them?
SW: Mia Dallas was a woman use to getting who/what she wanted, period. It was hard for her to accept that Derrick Rawlings was in love with another woman, especially a woman that she felt was beneath her in social standings.
AR: Your versatility as a writer is remarkable. You go from writing about political intrigue to murder mysteries to hidden family secrets with relative ease. How did you develop such a skill?
SW: (Chuckle) I don't know. It's just the way my mind runs. I never looked at is as being different. I write what I feel, whether its romance, intrigue, inspirational etc, etc.
AR: Your sex scenes are very arousing, but without being overly graphic or raunchy. Is it difficult for you to write those scenes so tastefully?
SW: Thank You. It's not difficult for me. I purposely write love scenes to be sensual and stimulating. I believe you can get the point across without being graphic or raunchy.
AR: What has your experience in the publishing world been like?
SW: So far so good. No big complaints. At the moments my novels are published through my publishing company, Lady Leo Publishing. Therefore, I'm doing things on my own terms and loving what I love do.
AR: Any advice for aspiring authors looking to emulate your success?
SW: Don't give up. Write everyday. Continue to learn the craft of writing and develop your own style. Above all else, learn the business side of writing----that's very important.
AR: What's next for you?
SW: Look for my next novel, Lace&Honor. It will be released sometime in 2008. It tells the story of three women/friends assigned to an army unit. The novel will chronicles the women as the deal life, the military ups and downs while on the verge of facing deployment to war.
AR: Thanks again, Sammie, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!
SW: Thank you, Apex, for having me. It's been a blast.