Ebony is a smart, sexy, career-oriented black woman who wants nothing more than a summer fling with a man who challenges her mind and body. What she doesn’t expect is a blond haired, blue-eyed bass player—who won’t take “no” for an answer—to accept the challenge.
When Ebony’s attempt at a brief fling turns into more, despite negative reactions from friends and family, she finds juggling love, family, and career are nothing compared to the ultimate betrayal she endures. Now her dreams spiral into lies and secrets that threaten her future and her best friend’s trust.
Curious to find out what Brian Young, the hero of, A Heart Not Easily Broken, has been up to in my absence, I stopped by the studio of B&D Records where he’s in the middle of a late night band practice. It appears they have stopped to take a break.
Brian: MJ! What are you doing here?
Me: I came to see you play of course! How’s it going?
Brian: Never better. How about we have a seat? It’s been a
long night; I’m beat.
*He leads me over to lounge area just outside the
recording booth, stopping to grab a bottle of water from a table littered with refreshments*
Me: So, it looks as though you’re enjoying the good life.
Brian: Yes, I am. Thank you by the way, for all of this. *he
waves a hand around the room* I was getting tired of playing night clubs all
the time.
Me: You’re welcome. You know, I’m ashamed to admit it, but I
had a hard time trying to decide what to talk to you about.
Brian:*chugs half a bottle of water* What do you mean?
Me: I mean it’s been so long since I channeled your voice that--
Brian: What, you don’t remember me anymore?
Me: Not exactly. I mean, I’ve got six stories to tell and
yours is the first. You have no idea how many other characters are struggling
to get out of my head onto paper.
Brian: *shakes head* That’s just messed up. I thought I was
your first.
Me: Brian, when you say that it comes across in so many
different ways.
Brian: *he wags his eyebrows* I know.
Me: It’s impossible to ignore that lop sided grin and those
bad boy baby-blues. I see why Ebony feel in love with you.
Brian: What can I say, it’s a gift. So are you feeling me
now?
Me: *I shrug* A little.
Brian: Hmm... *he sits back; his eyes traveling over my body. I
fidget under the scrutiny* How about I ask you the questions.
Me: Okay, ask away.
Brian: When you imagined me, what did I look like?
Me: Oh that’s an easy one! Paul Walker! When I set up my
character chart for inspiration, I searched the web for a lot of hot, blond
haired, blue-eyed guys, and for your back story, he fit to the T.
Brian: No runner ups?
Me: Um, maybe Brad Pitt, but, he’s too old and not tall
enough.
Brian: *smirking* You got that right. I can live with Paul.
I’m cool with the idea of being in a band. What made you decide to give me a
bass guitar? Why not drums? Chicks dig drummers.
Me: True, but I’m a bass girl. Give me music with a tight
bass line-
Brian: Uh…drummer…
Me: I also love the sound of the orchestra bass, which
my son plays by the way.
Brian: Again, drummer. Hell, Ebony even wanted to get to
know the drummer before I stepped in.
Me: *I chuckle* What can I say, women dig guys with sticks
–no pun intended. *Brian rolls his eyes* My inspiration for the bass guitar
came from one of my favorite songs, Butterfly,
by Crazy Town. The bass guitar in
that song calls to me every time. Put it together with the idea of a tall,
blond-haired musician with sexy blue eyes that peer into your soul…that is so
you!
Brian: *sits back, lost in thought* Okay, I can get that.
Me: Anything else?
Brian: Hmm….I will say this, thanks for listening to me on
how to write the book's ending. That first one would have left me looking like a
punk.
Me: You’re very right. After three years, I figured the fact
that you finally had something to say meant something. Because of you, I’ve
learned to listen to my characters even more. Yasmine’s got a mouth on her
though.
Brian: *he smirks* You can say that again. But I respect the
hell out of her. I don’t know what Ebony would do without her. *he stares down
at the nearly empty bottle of water* I just wish there was something I could do
for her. I feel as if I had something to do with what happened.
Me: Why? Brian, nothing that happened was your fault. None
of you guys saw the signs. I did of course, but I couldn’t protect you guys. And if
I did, there’d be no story.
*Brian stares at me hard, the pain in his eyes evident. My
heart breaks*
Brian: Well...I have no choice but to respect that. At least
you gave me a happy ending. I expect you to do the same for Yasmine.
Me: In time, in time. You and Ebony’s story must be told
first, it’s the order of things. But don’t worry; Yasmine will have hers as
well. She’ll have to work for it, but I promise it will be worthwhile.*I glance at my watch*
Me: Man, time flies. It’s getting late and my family is
probably wondering why I haven’t come home yet. The moment I said I had to
visit with you for this interview, eyes rolled.
Brian: *chuckling, the pain in his eyes dissipating* Take
care of them, and tell them I said thanks for sharing. We would never be
without you.
Me: Aw…that’s so sweet. Take care, Brian. I’ll see you soon.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
M.J. Kane stumbled into writing. An avid reader,
this stay at home mom never lost the overactive imagination of an only child.
As an adult she made up stories, though never shared them, to keep herself
entertained. It wasn’t until surviving a traumatic medical incident in 2006
that she found a reason to let the characters inhabiting her imagination free. Upon the suggestion of her husband, she
commandeered his laptop and allowed the characters to take life. It was that,
or look over her shoulder for men caring a purple strait jacket. And the rest,
as they say, is history.
No longer a television addict, if M.J. isn’t reading
a book by one of her favorite authors, she’s battling with her creative muse to
balance writing and being a wife and mother. She resides in the suburbs of
Atlanta, Georgia with her high school sweetheart, four wonderful children, and
two pit bulls. MJ can often be found hanging out at the local library where she
is director of a local writer’s group, or online connecting with readers and
other authors. Other activities she enjoys include: creating custom floral
arrangements, assisting her children in their creative pursuits of music and
art, and supporting her husband’s music production business, 3D Sounds.
You can find MJ on social networking sites, sharing
writing tips, talking about music, life, and family. She’s always excited to
meet new people. Connect with her via the websites below.
Thanks for stopping by, please visit my bio for more
information about what I write and what I like to read and share.
Cool interview. I have got to read this book!
ReplyDeleteHi Ann! Glad you liked it!
DeleteHi, Carmen! Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to have me and Brian come by!
ReplyDeleteOk, see.. Ms. MJ the more I learn about Brian, the intrigued i've become...
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the interview...
Hi, Chynarey! Glad to hear you enjoyed it. Hope you enjoy reading the book!
DeleteOk, see.. Ms. MJ the more I learn about Brian, the intrigued i've become...
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the interview...
Such a great interview! The book is on my list! ::hugs::
ReplyDeleteHi Hillary! Thanks for dropping buy! Enjoy!
DeleteI love interviews like this, great job ladies. Your post did its job. Going to get this, NOW! Told me enough to want it 😊
ReplyDeleteLOL! Sorry about that. Hehe...not really. 'Cause I know you're going to love it. :)
DeleteI love the cover too... I like to think about my cover and all the meanings behind why the author chose what they did. As a photographer and a lover of art, I know you do too. A half-naked man on the front just doesn't to it for me. In fact, it usually makes me shy away, as I assume the book is strictly about sex. Though I love a good romantic book--as you know--there has to be depth, whether it is the mystery or even just the issues they are facing. I like substance. Like a big bowl of pasta...yeah it tastes good, but add some sauteed shrimp, salad, and garlic bread, and now you have a meal that I can eat up. The same goes for books. I don't like to just wade in one area; I like to dive in and explore what's beneath. Okay, enough metaphors. :) Enjoy your new read!
Btw, beautiful cover!
ReplyDeleteHi,Kim, and thanks for buying a copy of my book! I' glad you liked the cover and hope you will fall in love with Brian the way I did...so have a lot of readers. My favorite thing to hear is people leaving comments in their reviews about looking for their own 'Brian' once they're done. I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
DeleteThanks, Carmen, for continuing to share this post!