Meet Tonia

Tonia (Houston, TX)

Even though Tonia was born and raised in Houston, it was during her college years in Baton Rouge at Louisiana State University that Fashionably Deceptive began to manifest. Always an avid writer and reader, Tonia decided to try her hand at writing a novel based loosely around the lives, fantasies, and experiences of her college roommates. That idea would manifest itself into a masterpiece of a novel that will have readers hooked from start to finish.

Tonia moved back to Houston after graduation and is currently working on finishing the series and releasing other novels in the near future.

About Fashionably Deceptive

From the outside looking in, Kayla has everything a girl could desire. She’s a semester away from graduating at the top of her class, dresses to kill, and is dating Dareon Anderson: All-American, wide receiver, destined to go pro. However, the façade quickly fades away when Dareon commits an act of unforgivable callousness. Dareon’s deception pushes Kayla into unfamiliar territory and into the arms of a man that will set off a series of unfortunate events. All is fair in love and war, and Kayla just hopes that she walks away with her sanity and her life in a world that is just so Fashionably Deceptive.


Purchase Link
http://www.amazon.com/Fashionably-Deceptive-ebook/dp/B00D6XUGK2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382918012&sr=8-1&keywords=Fashionably+Deceptive

Name 3 things about yourself readers may not know
I have a Masters in Counseling and am currently working towards opening my own therapy clinic that works specifically with urban youth.

I would like to one day turn Osborne Publishing Co into a publishing powerhouse geared towards helping new authors.

I am an educator and youth activist that spends most of my time cultivating the minds of adolescents. 

What is your biggest inspiration?
"History will be kind to me for I intend to write it." - Winston Churchill

My biggest inspiration comes from anyone that has believed in me, even when I did not believed in myself. My successes are not just for me, but for anyone that has had to face adversity and criticism in their quest to accomplish their goals. Sometimes I am so afraid of failure that I don't seek success, and it is only because of my support system that I am starting to embrace my destiny for greatness. I want to be remembered as not only a great author, but someone that helped others and made a difference in their community.

What led up to you becoming an author?
As a child, I was always an avid reader and writer. Instead of playing outside, you could either find me with a pen in my hand or my nose in a book. However, I never thought that I would be a published author. 

The Fashionably Deceptive manuscript started off as a challenge from my college roommates to write a novel, and I never dreamed that it would manifest into something so magnificent. Ironically, I finished Fashionably Deceptive in 2007, and it took almost six years to be convinced that it was something that needed to be published. 

How would you describe your writing style?
My writing style is very representative of my personality: witty, cynical, and with a flare for drama. I am very descriptive and want my readers to be able to actually envision the characters, scenes, and drama while reading my novels. My goal is for my readers to be able to relate to my characters, either through their own personal experiences or the experiences of others, and to get in a good laugh from time to time too.

What would you say is the most important thing an author should do before publishing his/her book?
Novel editing is one of the most important things for any author. A lack of good editing can completely kill a plot and turn readers off from any future novels. Fashionably Deceptive went through the editing process for almost 4 months, and even though editing can be expensive, it was well worth it. As the writer of a novel, authors are often biased and can miss key mistakes that can be caught with a fresh set of eyes. It is also through third party editing that gaps or holes in your story can be caught, and you can be given a chance to make necessary revisions.

If you could go back and change one thing about your book, what would it be?
After taking six years to release Fashionably Deceptive, I can honestly say that I would not make any additional changes. The novel has transformed so much since its original creation, and I am thankful that I had the time to grow and mature as an individual and adult before its release. 

When you’re not writing, what are you doing?
I wear many hats other than being a writer. When I am not writing, I am teaching, coaching basketball, mentoring other new authors, doing community service, sponsoring my girl's club, or working on establishing my Tonia theAuthor brand.

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