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Worth Fighting 4
by Jarold Imes
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Our Voice: E. N. JOY
I'm probably one of the few people who can say I knew E. N. Joy before she was E. N. Joy.... literally. Well, we didn't grow up on the same block but our paths in this literary industry have crossed and zig zagged numerous times.
Some of you know her as Joylynn Jossel, the woman who writes some of the best women's lit and has edited some of the street literary classics. Others may know her as JOY, a talented, poetic street fiction writer in her own right.
Now, she allowing God to lead us as E. N. Joy, featured columnist for NOIRE MAGAZINE. She challenges us with every issue to get our hearts right with Jesus and to fix some of the messes we've made and even admitted to a few she made herself.
Sit back and relax as we talk about her past and her future in Christian and young adult literature.
OTV: You’ve mentioned in previous articles that you would like to dwell into writing humorous teen fiction, what do you have in mind (can we have a peak)?
E. N. JOY: I am planning to delve into the genre of young adult-humor. I am currently working on Book One of The Soul Sisters series titled “Operation Get Rid of Mom’s New Boyfriend.” In book one, Tocara, Alanta and Eva Soul are three hip sisters all attending the same middle school. These three girls have never agreed upon anything, not even the day of the week. But when Bo Heart, their mom’s new boyfriend, comes into the picture after years of it being just the sisters and their mother, the girls can finally agree upon one thing: that they need to get rid of Mom’s new boyfriend! This is a hilarious, well-written and engaging story.
OTV: You also write children’s books as well, tell us more about that project?
E. N. JOY: My first children’s book is titled The Secret Olivia Told Me by N. Joy. This book is being published by Just Us Books September 2007. It’s a hardback picture book that gives a life lesson for both children and adults about keeping and telling secrets.
OTV: Having written for several kinds of genres, what draws you to writing for children and teens?
E. N. JOY: Honestly, I wrote children’s books before I ever wrote for adults. Thee Secret Olivia Told Me was written with and for my son 14 years ago. Writing for and with youth has always been a pleasure of mine.
OTV: What messages do you want teens to get from your books?
E. N. JOY: My entire purpose of writing for teens-humor books only-is to keep them occupied with exciting, fun drama. The message I want them to get is that being young is supposed to be fun. Being young is about sleep-overs, shopping, high school events and playing video games; not sleeping around and hustling. Our kids grow up too fast and miss the fun stuff in life. We need to show them something else besides just hood drama. They need to know that there is another side too.
OTV: What books did you get to read/E. N. Joy coming up?
E. N. JOY: My favorite books were Nancy Drew Books and Ramona the Pest. And what girl didn’t read Are You There God, It’s Me, Margaret (LOL)? But once I got my hands on Black Girl Lost by Donald Goines, it was over for those bubble gum books for me. That’s why I want to take our generation back. Those so-called Bubble Gums books were fun; not so dark like some of the books I began to read thereafter.
OTV: I’ve made the transition from writing street/erotica to writing mature teen and Christian fiction (both contemporary and Extreme Christian fiction), do you feel the industry as a whole has been supportive of your new career move, or have they taken a back seat.
E. N. JOY: Since I don’t yet have any books published outside of the genres I’ve been writing in, I haven’t really gotten much feedback. But I’m trusting in God that since I’m doing what He has instructed me to do with my pen, that he had a purpose for me. As long as I make Him proud, I’ve succeeded.
OTV: You published Brittney Holmes (Read our Article on her here) debut novel, LIVING CONSEQUENCES. What was it like working with her?
E. N. JOY: Brittney is truly allowing God to use her. I mean, have you read her book? Only the Holy Spirit could have dictated those words. She’s humble and she loves the craft of the written word. But then again, with a National Bestselling mom for a writer, I guess she got it honest.
OTV: As a Christian, I would love to read more stories and experiences from teens dealing with various walks into their Christian journey; would you encourage more teens to write Christian Fiction and profess their love for the Lord?
E. N. JOY: I would encourage more teens, or any writer for that matter, to do exactly what God would have them to do and what would be pleasing unto Him. When God gives us a gift, our test is to find a way to glorify Him with it. I only wish I could have learned that lesson as a teen, but here it took me almost 19 published works later.
OTV: What special challenges do you feel that these teen authors would face.
E. N. JOY: The challenges would go unnumbered because we all know that the moment you begin to do God’s will, the devil will attack. It’s when the devil ain’t bothering you that you should be scared-forced to take a look at yourself and see what’s really going on.
Copyright 2006 - 2008 Abednego's Free, LLC & Jarold Imes