Trice Hickman's sophomore novel promises more sizzle just in time for the summer

By Leah Mullen

As soon as I turned the last page of Trice Hickman’s novel Unexpected Interruptions, I went back to the title page to see who’d published such a wonderful book. I suspected that it was Genesis Press or Kimani Press (Harlequin) but it wasn't quite a romance so I thought perhaps it might be Dafina (Kennsington). Instead I saw the name of a publishing company I'd never heard of before, Platinum Books.

Of course I immediately Googled ’Trice Hickman’ and discovered two very interesting things. First Platinum Books was her own creation and secondly Unexpected Interruptions was her first book!

Thrilled with this new discovery, I contacted Troy Johnson of AALBC.com right away and told him a fresh talent was on the rise and I wanted to write about this author. He agreed and on a chilly day in mid April, I spoke to Hickman for an hour about being a self-published author and her upcoming release slated for June, Keeping Secrets & Telling Lies, the anticipated sequel to Unexpected Interruptions.

Choosing to Self-Publish

Most writers who self-publish usually don't start out with that end in mind. When Hickman finished writing Unexpected Interruptions in August 2004 she sent the book out to various publishers and agents only to discover that there was very little interest in the manuscript. ’It's not only that I was rejected,’ says Hickman. ’But I was told some very discouraging things.’

Despite the negative feedback, Hickman found the courage to continue on. ’It's something that is instilled in me,’ she said. ’My mother is a cancer survivor. My father was a minister and an entrepreneur.’ While Hickman admits she found the rejection discouraging her confidence in her abilities never wavered. ’I made up my mind that I would prove them wrong.’ So she set out on a mission. First she did tons of research, next she put together a timeline. ’From there I never looked back,’ she said.

Hickman released Unexpected Interruptions November 2007. The rave reviews on amazon.com are evidence that readers are certainly happy that Hickman persevered.

A Cover Like No Other

With many publishers using the same photos for various books, if you're a voracious reader sometimes at first glance it's difficult to know whether you've read a certain title.

Hickman will never have that problem with her books. ’No other cover will look like mine,’ she said. That's because the svelte beauty on the front of both Unexpected Interruptions and Keeping Secrets & Telling Lies is her sister. Having more control over the entire process is one of the biggest perks inherent in doing it yourself. Trice says self-publishing has shown her the different sides of the business she might not have discovered if she’d taken the traditional route.

An Unexpected Interruption

’Everything I've done in my career has prepared me for this,’ says Hickman who has dreamed of being an author since she was in college. Only then she suffered from what all would-be authors fear’the dreaded writer's block. She’d write a few pages, get frustrated then put the story away opting to focus on reading instead.

After graduating from Winston-Salem State University Hickman worked in higher education before earning a masters degree from Wake Forrest University. Armed with a graduate degree Trice began a fruitful career working in management for both nonprofit organizations and private corporations. Then one day she received her own unexpected interruption. She was laid off from her job.

Always the optimist Hickman took advantage of the situation and resurrected an old but not forgotten dream’to write a novel. She sat down to write and to her amazement the block that had stopped her from writing previously had dissolved. Five months later Unexpected Interruptions was complete.

Unexpected Interruptions is the story of Victoria Small, a professional African American woman who has plans to leave her current position with a technology firm and pursue her own business full-time. That is until Ted, the CEO of the company makes her an offer that is difficult to refuse. Ted, who is white, is interested in Victoria both professionally and romantically. Victoria is completely unaware of Ted's personal interest in her and begins to date Parker a successful black surgeon. Complications ensue as Victoria struggles to make choices that will impact the rest of her life. The twists and turns’not to mention the steamy love scenes’keep the reader eagerly turning the pages until the very end.

A Word From the Sponsor

As any contemporary novelist will tell you writing is only part of the job of the author. The other part is marketing and publicity. Hickman is proud to say that in addition to being available through bookstores both off and online, her book is also offered through Black Expressions Book Club. And she's been able to attract corporate sponsors. She secured one sponsor’Godiva chocolates’by approaching them with a proposal. Victoria, the heroine in Unexpected Interruptions loves Godiva chocolates. So it was a perfect fit.

Another sponsor Hilton Hotels in Winston-Salem, actually contacted her. A director read the book and passed it around to a few colleagues who also enjoyed the book. Finally one Hilton staff member emailed Hickman and asked when she would be in town. It just so happened that she was scheduled for an upcoming speaking event in Winston-Salem, which is where she went to college. The hotel sponsored a full-day book signing to coincide with her visit. Godiva provided chocolate and other gourmet treats. Around 90 women attended the event, an extraordinary number for a book signing with a new author.

For the next book, Keeping Secrets & Telling Lies, a character volunteers with a non-profit organization called Dress for Success. When Hickman tours locales with a Dress for Success chapter, a portion of the proceeds from book sales will go to the organization.

Balancing Act

With the new book Keeping Secrets & Telling Lies scheduled to go to the printer Hickman gets her morning started about 6:30 am every day after maybe four or so hours of sleep. ’I think when you're an entrepreneur you're always working,’ she said and added that she's worked much harder and longer hours on her own than she ever put in with her former employers. However she was prepared for the rigors of entrepreneurship after watching her father and her husband run their own businesses.

Much of Trice's day is spent answering emails and other administrative activities. How much does she write? Everyday. During BEA one year Hickman heard Walter Mosley say writers should write everyday even if it's just for an hour. Hickman had already adopted the habit of writing every day, so hearing this advice from one of the greats confirmed her resolve. Writing for Trice also includes rewriting. The only time she takes somewhat of a break is on weekends. That's when she puts her office in order and prepares for the week ahead.

Another frequently asked question of the self-published author is whether or not they would sign with a major publisher at some point if offered a lucrative contract. Hickman hasn’t ruled out any possible future scenarios, but one thing is for sure, she says she’d like to take Platinum Books to the next level by publishing other writers.

’As African Americans we need to support each other,’ she said. There are enough readers to go around.’

An Affordable Vacation

While Trice is mindful of the economy in terms of books now being luxury items for many, she says she’d rather look at the bright side of the situation. ’For $15 you can go into a different world and return there again and again’A good book is a great inexpensive way to give yourself a luxury.’

With a large number of Americans taking ’staycations' this summer instead of traveling the release of Keeping Secrets & Telling Lies in June is right on time. For more information visit www.tricehickman.com.


 

Related Links

Trice Hickman on AALBC.com
http://authors.aalbc.com/trice_hickman.htm