All the Buzz Reviews

ReShonda Tate Billingsley is a national bestselling author of 19 books, all published by Simon and Schuster/Pocket Books. In 2000, after numerous rejections from publishers, ReShonda stepped out on faith, established her own publishing company, and self published her debut novel, My Brother’s Keeper. The book caught the attention of one of the country’s top literary agents, who secured a deal for ReShonda with megahouse publisher, Simon & Schuster/Pocket Books.

The rest, as they say, is history.

ReShonda went on to sign one deal after another with Simon & Schuster and to date, is considered one of the country’s top inspirational authors. Her sophomore novel, Let the Church Say Amen, is being made into a movie of which she is Executive Producer and actress Regina King is the director. ReShonda’s literary career is such a success that in 2007, she was able to leave her job as a reporter with Fox 26 News in Houston to write full time.

ReShonda has appeared on the Essence Bestseller’s list more than 20 times, as well as The Washington Post, Dallas Morning News and Ebony Magazine Bestseller’s lists. Her books include The Devil is a Lie, Can I Get a Witness, The Pastor’s Wife, Let the Church Say Amen, Everybody Say Amen, I Know I’ve Been Changed and My Brother’s Keeper. Her inspirational teen novels include Nothing But Drama, Blessings in Disguise,With Friends Like These, Getting Even, Fairweather Friends, Friends ‘Til the End, and Caught up in the Drama. She has one non-fiction title, Help! I’ve Turned into my Mother. ReShonda has won numerous awards for her journalism, fiction and poetry writing skills. She is a five-time winner of the National Association of Black Journalists Spirit in the Words competition, one of Rolling Out Magazine’s Top 25 Women in Houston and H-Texas Magazine’s Top Professional.

ReShonda’s upcoming projects include Holy Rollers (July 2010), Say Amen, Again (July, 2011), the teen novel Drama Queens (Fall 2010), and two travel suspense novels. The Houston native also serves as a freelance editorial and marketing consultant. She has ghostwritten four fiction projects and five non-fiction projects. She is married with three small children and does not hide her addiction to Reality TV and Facebook.

She welcomes readers to her websites at www.reshondatatebillingsley.com.

ReShonda, tell us about yourself.

I am the national bestselling author of 20 titles (Eight adult novels, seven teen novels, one non-fiction, three anthologies and one poetry book). My sophomore novel, Let the Church Say Amen, is being made into a movie of which I am Executive Producer and actress Regina King is the director. My teen series, The Good Girlz is also being made into a movie. In addition to writing, I am a newspaper editor and freelance as an editorial and marketing consultant. But my greatest joy is being mother to my three kids (ages, 10,8,3).

What type of jobs or careers have you worked in the past?

I am a former television news anchor/reporter. I also have worked for the National Enquirer tabloid magazine.  And I did marketing/publicity for a national touring theatrical company.

Who are your favorite authors?

I have too many to name, but right up at the top are Victoria Christopher Murray, Kimberla Lawson Roby and Eric Jerome Dickey. I love reading and discovering new authors as well.

What are your favorite books?

All time favorites, Child of God by Lolita Files and Gather Together in My Name by Tracy Price Thompson.

When did you begin to realize you wanted to write?

When I used to make up stories as a little girl (my mother would call it lying). I’ve always had an active imagination.  My first paid gig was at 15, when I wrote a story for True Confessions Magazine called “I Stole My Sister’s Husband.”

Tell us about your journey to publication.

After numerous rejections, I self-published my first title, My Brother’s Keeper in 2000. I was picked up by Simon & Schuster in 2001. They re-released my book in 2003 and I’ve been with them ever since.

Are you a full-time writer? If so, describe your day?

I am a full-time writer.  I left my job at Fox TV in Houston in 2007 to write full time. I wake up get my kids off to school, then work in my office, at Starbucks or Panera Bread.  Each day is different for me, but no matter what, I make sure I squeeze in time to write.

About the Book

Looking for Love . . .

Lifelong friends Coco, Nita, and Audra have spent years looking for love in the arms of flashy pro athletes, hoping to land a baller but ending up with a stream of failed relationships. The beautiful and demure Coco has endured years of physical abuse from her boyfriend, Sonny, while Audra, a single mother, has dated her fair share of cheaters and yearns for a stable companion who will be a father figure to her son. And feisty, seductive Nita is tired of being the million-dollar mistress and wants to settle down—if she can find someone worth coming home to.

Changing the Game . . .

Now that the women are approaching thirty, they’re finding it harder than ever to compete with the pro groupies. Determined to change the game and find some worthwhile men, Audra hatches an outrageous plan. Soon the trio is “holy rolling,” masquerading as God-fearing churchgoers at a local conference for young ministers in the hopes of snagging a prominent pastor. But will their big gamble pay off? Men of the cloth are still just men, after all. As the three friends meet their potential life partners, they will have to decide how far they want to take their holy rollers scheme—each risking heartbreak while taking a chance on finding a reliable, responsible man to love and cherish, flaws and all.

View the blog tour schedule at http://bit.ly/HolyRollersBlogTour.