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Worth Fighting 4
Jarold Imes
ISBN:978-1-934195-01-7
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NOIRE MAGAZINE SPENDS TIME WITH
STEPHANIE PERRY MOORE
NM: What made you decide to write teen fiction?
SM: Well, I used to write episodes of The Cosby Show for fun when I was in middle school. Didn’t ever get them to Bill Cosby; however, it did give me a love for and a desire to pursue the field of writing. Actually, writing for television and film is still where I hope God takes me to one day.
As an adult, I spent time in the Christian bookstore because I wanted to grow closer to God. I stumbled upon the section called Christian fiction and just felt a real void because I didn’t see any characters with whom I could identify. I read a Janette Oke novel and felt really challenged to write books that could move people the same way.
The second time I ever bought a novel from the Christian bookstore, I purchased a book from the teen section of the store. Author Robin Jones Gunn, now a dear friend, had two fiction series for teens that jumped out at me. After reading a book from her Christy Miller Series, I felt a calling to write a series of books that had an African American girl as the main character. I knew there could be lots of drama, loads of fun, and tons of ministry opportunity through the series. And that’s how the Payton Skky series was born.
NM: How many books have your written and published?
SM: I have 5 in the Payton Skky Series, 5 in the Laurel Shadrach series, 5 in my pre teen Carmen Browne Series, 3 currently contracted for the Faith Thomas novelzine series, 5 coming out for Perry Skky Series and 3 adult books. So over 25 titles. God is blessing.
NM: You have been writing teen fiction since the late nineties. As the new crop of authors come on board, how has the industry changed in your favor?
SM: I am thankful more authors are creating an even bigger supply for the market. I'm seeing the demand for my books go up. Plus, personally I'm thrilled, it took me 7 years to get my book picked up. Publishers and agents all said, young Af-Am kids are not reading and surely not buying books. No market for it. Well, look at the market now. Truly glad I was able to make a small trail that others can now help me widen so more of our kids can become empowered by seeing themselves in print.
NM: Some of your books are for adults and some are for teens. How do you feel when your teen readers buy your adult books or are their conflicts between the two?
SM: I like my teens to read my teen novels first. Once done, I think they've grown in Christ to take in my adult messages.
NM: Do any of your characters and/or their challenges mirror any of your own, past or present?
SM: Though I truly think teens have a tougher time today than when I was their age, I do believe that the challenges I deal with in my books were concerns 20 years ago. Teens need help dealing with these issues now. I write about teen dating, and I try to tell kids that it doesn’t matter who you displease, as long as you please God. Substance abuse is another topic I write about. My message in the books is basically this: get “high” or “drunk” off the work of God, not off pills or alcohol. I also deal with racial issues. I tell kids that it doesn’t matter whether you’re white or black. If color must be an issue, then the only one that matters is that you have the red blood of Jesus flowing through your soul. And the only race that counts is the one that’s saved.
NM: You’re married to former NFL player Derrick Moore. Can you explain how your husband’s athletic career, and sports in general, have influenced your Christian writing career?
SM: Well my husband, Derrick, is the chaplain for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket football team, in partnership with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. We’ve been married for more than 12 years now, and there’s never been a time that we haven’t been around the game of football. In my early years, my father passed on to me a love for his favorite game. Cheering in middle school and high school sealed my personal love for the pigskin as well. But being married to Derrick, I’ve learned how the game is more than a game. I’ve seen many folks won to Christ because of the personal testimony of an athlete. I also get to see the struggles and successes that God brings many athletes through. Derrick daily encourages kids in person, and I hope to take a piece of that and use it to help more kids through my books. So, creating characters that are involved in sports just comes natural. Folks who read my work say that they enjoy my slant on sports.
NM: Your new series is based on football player, Perry Skky Jr. the younger brother of Payton Skky. How prominent of a character was Perry in the Payton series and will we see Payton in the Perry series?
SM: Perry wasn't brought forth too much in the Payton books. However, there was just enough intrigue to build a series around. Payton is in his books. So readers that enjoyed the Payton Skky series will now get to see what she's up too through her brother's eyes.
NM: Do you find that your work is widely accepted by many school systems, or do you find that you have to fight to get your works into the book stores.
SM: Library Book system has the books in most schools. They are accelerated reader books as well. Can always want more distribution and to be in every school there is, but we're getting there. Schools are bring in me now to talk to students and that's be fun as well to challenge kids to enjoy the craft of writing, but also to motivate them to reach their dreams.
NM: When you were a young lady coming up, what kind of books were you reading?
SM: Like a lot of the kids that read my work, I wasn't a big reader. They wasn't really fiction material that spoke to where I was and held my interest enough. I'm happy our youth today can't say that same thing. Though I know why the Caged Bird Sings was a classic that helped me understand when folks tell me no I can still keep going.
NM: Who are some of your favorite authors?
SM: Maya Angelou, Victoria Christopher Murray, Jerry B. Jenkins., Beverly Jenkins, Vanessa Dais Griggs, and Robin Jones Gunn, Max Lucado, and my husband, Derrick Moore.
NM: What’s next for your teen characters?
SM: After I finish the Faith Thomas books and Perry Skky Jr. series, I just got a deal for a series about a made up Af-Am college sorority. Then, I'd like to write an 8th grade-9th grade series about Yasmin Peace. She's a girl from the projects who has to find God in the midst of what appears to be little. Many more ideas God has given me, so I hope to write for this market for a while. Visit my site at www.stephanieperrymoore.com
Copyright 2006 - 2010 Abednego's Free, LLC & Jarold Imes