Featured Interview With Author Yvonne Blackwood
Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?
I was born in Manchester, Jamaica and raised by my maternal grandparents because my mother died when I was two and a half. They were loving, caring folks, and I never longed for my mother. I have lived in Toronto, Canada almost fifty years. I have no pets—no dog, cat, bird or iguana!
At what age did you realize your fascination with books? When did you start writing?
I became fascinated with books from kindergarten or infant school, as we called it in those days. Although my English teacher always complimented me for my writing in high school, I never thought of writing as a career option. I started writing for publication in 1998 after I returned from my first journey to West Africa. The journey resulted in the publication of my first book, Into Africa: A Personal Journey, in 2000.
Who are your favorite authors to read? What is your favorite genre to read. Who Inspires you in your writings?
It is difficult to pick a favourite author because I read several genres, but I will say Maya Angelou for non-fiction and John Grisham and Michael Ondaatje for fiction.
My favourite genre is memoirs. I love true stories, especially ones that delve into hardships and triumphs.
I am inspired by the favourite authors I mentioned—Angelou, Grisham, Ondaatje and others.
Tell us a little about your latest book?
I am so excited about my latest book!
The Ambition is my debut novel since all my previous books are non-fiction. I began writing this story about twenty years ago but put the manuscript aside to focus on other things. During that time, I wrote and published several other books. After I published College Life of a Retired Senior in 2023 and did most of the marketing, I dusted off the manuscript and reworked it. It was an exciting process because by then, I had returned to university and earned an English degree that provided new insight and writing skills that helped me make the narrative more literary and inviting.
The story is a compelling, vivid, and amazing tale of ambition gone awry when a son tries to grow the company he inherited from his father too quickly and big business conspires against him.
Connect with the Author on their Websites and Social media profiles
Yvonne Blackwood Facebook Page
Yvonne Blackwood Twitter Account
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