Photo used with permission.
Recently, Ci Ci Foster, actress and author of the novel
Sunny Rain (read review
here) was made available for an interview with The Black Urban Times.
The Black Urban Times: What was your motivation to write
Sunny Rain?
Ci Ci Foster: I wanted to tell a story that women from all walks of life could relate to. Some of the serious topics I touch on in the book like infidelity, sexual abuse, and sexually transmitted diseases are very real issues that we are afraid to talk about. My hope is that people will discuss these issues more and start on the path to healing.
TBUT: How did the characters Natalie, Leslie, and Monica come into existence? Are they based off people you know?
CF: I took key personality traits from people I know and used my imagination to build from there. It’s kind of funny because almost everyone who has read
Sunny Rain thinks they are one of the characters.
TBUT: Do you relate to one of the protagonists more than the other two?
CF: I can relate the most to Natalie. I’m also married with children, so I can understand the challenge of keeping a marriage strong.
TBUT: What lessons and experiences, if any, from acting have helped with your writing?
CF: My acting has helped me tremendously with my writing. An actor is a creative person who has to be able to be present in the moment. So when I’m writing, I can easily imagine I am there. That helps me to paint a picture in the readers mind. Acting has also made me more observant to little things that the average person doesn’t pay attention to like, facial expressions, body language, and the way people pronounce certain words. I think it’s that attention to detail that strengthens writing.
TBUT: What is the most rewarding aspect of writing?
CF: Completing the project. When you’ve spent months, sometimes years working on something, it’s a huge sense of accomplishment when you actually finish it. It gives you a huge boost in confidence.
TBUT: What is the most difficult aspect of writing?
CF: Right now, the challenge is finding the time. I have so many projects I’m working on; I can only allot a few hours a day to writing. It’s hard sometimes when I really have a good flow going and have to stop because I have somewhere to go. Once I break that flow, it can be difficult to get it back.
TBUT: What is the best piece of advice on writing you have received?
CF: Writer’s block is a myth. It forced me to stop making excuses and write.
TBUT: What can your fans expect from you in the future?
CF: I am currently working on my second novel,
Hollywoodn’t. It’s a three part series about a starlet that will risk it all to save her reputation. In the summer, I start production on a short film I wrote about a female assassin blinded by greed.
You can find out more about Ci Ci Foster on her website at
www.cicifoster.com.
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