Talk with Kimberly B. Jones
Kimberly B. Jones, the author of 'Our Friendship Matters' is live in today's post! Read the amazing answers she has to my questions ;)
~Tell us a little about yourself.
I am a country girl from St. George, SC. I have a loving husband and an awesome 6 yr-old son who keep me on my toes. I am also a military spouse that moves every three years. I graduated from Benedict College an awesome HBCU that I love and received my masters from Ashford University. We are now stationed in El Paso, Texas and loving the heat but missing the Carolina beaches. In 2018, I joined Rhetaskew Publishing Company, LLC and published my first novel, Our Friendship Matters.
~Have you always wanted to be an author?
Ever since middle school, I have wanted to be an author but never pursued it until later in my life.
~What inspires you to write?
Expressing my feelings to the world and trying to make change. Sometimes making people understand how different cultures feel or just expressing the issues of the world. Whether its about the protesting going on or women rights.
~What was your inspiration for ‘Our Friendship Matters’?
During the time of my mom passing, I needed to channel my feelings onto another surface. While in the hospital, she encourage me to keep writing. She always knew I had a passion for writing. When I returned home to Missouri the death of another African American was all over the news. I began stressing to my husband about all the police brutality that we have encountered year after year. I was fearing for his life my son’s life, both African American males. I wanted justice for all the people killed amongst the hands of a police officer. In between the time of me mourning for my mom passing and angry from all the police brutality amongst African Americans, I had so many mixed feelings. So, I decided to write a novel and put all my feelings towards Our Friendship Matters. This was three years ago and it’s sad how we are still living this today in 2020.
~Tell us about this novel.
In Our Friendship Matters is about these two girls in the middle of graduating from a St. Louis, Missouri, private school and entering adulthood facing social justice reality issues. But during the summer, they become enemies because one friend decides to protest for her race. One black and one white. But once a tragic accident happens, one of the friends must come forward to tell the truth by leaning on the friend she betrayed.
Sasha is the smart one who works hard to get good grades. They both have the jocks at school. Leah doesn't care, what she says, goes and if it doesn't go her way, then expect to pay. When one friend is interested in protesting the other gets jealous of the other’s new friends and goes against her.
It's all about revenge.
It takes a tragic accident, threats, and leaving the city for one friend to realize that she made a huge mistake. A threat which will make all the high school friends come together and protect her. What inspired me to write Our Friendship Matters was when African Americans started the Black Lives Matters movement. I would search the internet and watch the news. I would see other groups, like Whites Lives Matter, All Lives Matter, and Blue Lives Matter forming against the Black Lives Matter movement, taking the focus off the real issue. In my view, it wasn’t fair or right. The reason Black Lives Matter started was to stop police brutality against African Americans, which has been happening for decades. Yes, all colors are brutalized by police. But in all reality, African Americans suffer the most. Another reason I wrote this book is for African American parents who shelter their children from the truth. This isn’t good all the time. Children need to be aware of certain things that could happen because of who they are. That way, when they are faced with reality, they can handle the truth and know what to expect in certain situations. The world is becoming more diverse and our children are the future that can make change. In this book, two best friends struggle with a friendship because they have been sheltered by money and do not appreciate the role race could play in their lives. Sometimes, we have to sit back and think to ourselves on the point we fought for. We need to think what we can do to make things better. It starts with the youth, who are the future. If we can reach out to them, we can help them, and they can help us make this world a better place.
~What is your favorite scene in the book? Why?
When Sasha join in the protest. It should how much she wanted to be involve in making a change.
~Did any of your characters inherit some of your own quirks?
Yes, My life was similar to Sasha but a little different.
~What would be the Dream Cast for you book if it was to be turned into a movie?
Sasha would be Katerina Graham
Leah would be Miley Cyrus
Leo would be Rome Flynn
Cameron would be Taylor Laughtne
Richard would be Brandon T. Jackson
~What is your writing process like?
Scheduling time during the week to make time to write. I always start my novels off with outlining.
~What book are you reading right now?
Grown by Tiffany Jackson
~Can you share with us some of your small-time goals?
I only have one small goal that I’m gunning for and that’s to be a fulltime writer.
~Tell us three fun facts about yourself.
I am a big kid at heart that still love watching cartoons. I love playing basketball and Jenga with my son.
~What do you have in store next for your readers?
Three novels fighting for justice and women rights.
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Conversation with Kimberly B. Jones was really fun, and I am excited to read the novel 'Our Friendship Matters.' The topic, indeed is the need of the hour, and the author has taken a great step to end the Black discrimination. Thank you Kimberly B. Jones!
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Leah and Sasha are 17-year-old friends who had been close to one another since elementary school, but as the summer approaches they find their friendship tested in ways they never anticipated.
Following graduation, Sasha's privileged life and perception of the world around her is suddenly altered when an old childhood friend persuades her to join in a campaign against an injustice after his best friend is killed by the police.
But joining the protest has unforeseen consequences for Sasha, distancing her from Leah, who becomes jealous of Sasha's new friends and finds herself on the opposing side, protesting alongside her group of new white friends.
As the tension mounts between the two bitterly opposed factions, a tragedy strikes and threatens to make Sasha and Leah enemies. Can they find a way to resolve their differences, putting them to the side and learn to accept each other's viewpoints? Or is their long friendship finished for good?
schools we attended.”
I missed out on so much throughout the years. I threw our friendship away, but fate brought us together again.
“I should be headed home because it’s almost time
for dinner, so I’ll see you later.”
“Why don’t you take my number, just in case you
want to call me some time,” he said.
“Sure.”
I walked home, dragging my legs from Ricardo’s house. I couldn’t get my mind off of him.
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