Author Spotlight: Author Delvon Johnson

Today, I have the pleasure of Author Delvon Johnson on my blog. Please welcome Delvon.

Professional Picture of Delvon

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I enjoy living life, although most of it is consumed with my career, but I love what I do. I also enjoy traveling, fashion, and shopping. Even with my hectic work schedule, I am a dialysis patient, which I have been for 8 years.

What do you do when you are not writing?

I have my own company called Fashion In The Fast Lane, which is a multimedia company that consists of a talk show (Fashion ETC.), which is filmed and on Facebook Live Mon-Friday 12 pm-1 pm. I also do red carpet correspondence and interviews. I also host different events, television production, and wardrobe styling.

Do you have a day job as well?

No.

When did you first start writing and when did you finish your first book?

I started writing my first book, Love Yourself First around December 2007, and it on the market by summer 2008.

Love Yourself First Picture

How did you choose the genre you write in?

It started with a life experience, and was inspired by some of my favorite authors.

Where do you get your ideas?

Life experiences, other people’s life issues, and my own personal creativity

Do you ever experience writer’s block?

Yes

Do you work with an outline, or just write?

I just go!!!

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

Yes. There are several. The late E. Lynn Harris was a huge inspiration in my journey. Other authors that influenced me are Eric Jerome Dickey, Carl Weber, and Terry McMillan

Can you tell us about your challenges in getting your first book published?

My first book was published by a company called Authorhouse. They publish new authors, but you have to pay for all of their services, and boy did I pay. After I paid for the initial needs i.e. Copyrights, ISBN numbers, the cover, editing, etc., I hired them to help me publicize it (which didn’t get me very far), I also didn’t realize once the book was done that I would have to buy books to sell (at $7.00 each!) This was all around the same time that my kidneys began to fail and I ended leaving corporate America.

If you had to go back and do it all over, is there any aspect of your novel or getting it published that you would change?

Yes. I would have edited it myself. I realized after I let Authorhouse edit my book for $1300.00 that only I was able to really edit my book the proper way because editors are looking at your work technically, not creatively, and there is slang in certain wording in the book that was supposed to be there and the editors were searching for grammatical issues.

How do you market your work? What avenues have you found to work best for your genre?

Now I have a team. I have a publicist, and a business manager that handles all of my affairs. However, not always having a team, I am used to working with them in order to make everything run smoothly. So, we work together.

For me, I simply ask. I talk to people about my book and offer them to buy one. Straight up. All they can say is no. In terms of book signings, I enjoy giving my readers an experience. I always have cocktails and food. I’ve had fashion shows, after parties, music, and red carpets at my events. I want my guests to leave and feel as if they had an experience

Have you written a book you love that you have not been able to get published?

No. Currently, I publish my own books. So I can publish whenever I’m ready. My challenge right now is time management. I have 5 books written (as I never stopped writing in 2008 because I had a feeling that my books would open other avenues for me, as they have) So, I have 2 books on the market, and three more to release. They just need to be edited.

Can you tell us about your upcoming book?

My next book is called Undercover Lover. Its about a kept woman who is married to a very controlling man. She need permission to do everything while he works tirelessly. Meanwhile, he likes to have affairs with men, and slowly the woman begins to break free of the relationship. It’s also the third installment of my book collection.

Is anything in your book based on real life experiences or purely all imagination?

My books are a mixture of my real life (without the real names of course!) and my imagination. However, ironically, some of the things that I wrote in my first book that was imaginative really came to fruition! (I kind of wrote it into existence!)

What was your favorite chapter (or part) to write and why?

My favorite part to write about is Joan Marks. She is super fabulous, but cunning, sharp and deceptive. A real diva. So you hate her or love her. And I created her character which was a lot of fun doing

How did you come up with the title?

My first book, Love Yourself First was written out of revenge. I had recently broken up with my ex, and was unsure how to channel my feelings. Friends kept telling me I should write a book. At the time, I was reading one of E. Lynn Harris’s books, and became inspire. I decided I was going to strive to be a NY best seller (as all authors want to do) And I promised myself that when I finished the book, I would acknowledge my ex in acknowledgements by thanking him for putting me through what he did because without him, I wouldn’t have been able to write the book. So when I was trying to come up with a title, I decided that I would call the book Love Yourself First, because after that relationship, I promised myself that I would put me first from that point forward. And I have.

Mirror Mirror is was initially called and published (only on E-book) as Be Careful What You Ask for. At the time, I was busy constructing my company, Fashion In the Fast Lane, so I really didn’t have the time to promote the way I wanted to, and the E-book company shortly closed down after putting Be Careful What You Ask For on the market. So it didn’t get the traction that I felt it really needed. So in 2017, I decided to update, and re-edit Be Careful What You Ask For to put back out on the market, only this time, I would have the time to market it the right way. So, I named it Mirror Mirror because it was a reflection of what my second book was supposed to be …which is Be Careful What You Ask For.

Mirror Mirror Kindle

What project are you working on now?

Well, I just finished having a huge fashion networking and book signing event. Lord & Taylor endorsed me so we had the event at their store in Scarsdale NY, which was a huge success. I am also working on writing an instructional book (which is a challenge for me since I’m so used to creative writing) and pitching several shows out in LA, one of which is my talk show Fashion Etc. which we have taped for 3 years now.

Will you have a new book coming out soon?

Hopefully. I just need to find the time to edit it so that I can get it out.

How can your readers find you?

My books are on Amazon.com and Barnes & Nobles (Orderable online or in store)

Website: www.DelvonJohnson.com

IG: @Fabulousbook

@Fashioninthefastlane (company)

Twitter: @fabulousbook

@Fastlanein

Facebook: Delvon Johnson

Fashion Etc. Talk Show: Fashion Etc Midday Edition FB Live