Meet Linda Dominique Grosvenor. I learned quite a bit about this lady, not only from my interview she somehow found time to do, but from her page at aalbc.com and her on her own website, lindadominiquegrosvenor.com.

Image from http://aalbc.com/

She was born and raised by her mom in the Bronx section of New York City. Writing was an important outlet for her growing up, "..... a way of dealing with her teenage angst." She continued to write even after becoming a parent. Working in a New York hospital as a clerical assistant secretary and trying to write at night brought her to a crossroads and a decision to make. That was when Linda Dominique decided to take the plunge and become a full-time author. Obviously, she made the right decision.

While Linda Dominique Grosvenor was a new name to me, there is no doubt that she is well-known to a huge number of people out there. I was impressed by the number of entries coming in at the very beginning of the Sue's Clues round. It's often a few days before I get the amount I had by the third. Of course, this is a multi-faceted lady who is making herself known in many areas. I'm not surprised. She gives the impression of being a go-getter, setting a goal and not stopping until she's done what she's set out to do.

Her first novel was self-published, skipping the whole 'submission to publishers' step. In the 'candid interview' at her website she explains why:"....to spare myself from those dreaded rejection letters from the "big" houses telling me what will or will not sell." Sounds like a smart move.

If you don't know her as a novelist, you may be familiar with her poetry. She is well known for it, not only on the web, but also in such magazines as RHAPSODY and MOSAIC LITERARY MAGAZINE. Or you may have run across her advice column. GIRLFRIEND can be found on several internet sites. Popular with both men and women of all ages, no nonsense advice is given freely to a variety of questions.

That column has been renamed and now has it's own site, askprincessdominique.com. Princess Dominique, a name she says "....is me—it's my royal side and the side of me that doesn't take no for an answer", apparently knows her stuff. You may have seen her hosting 'The Princess Dominique Show', which ranked 29th in the country. Not too shabby. When you visit her website—and you know you will have to—you will find that Princess Dominique has stepped to the other side of interviewing here as well as on her show.

Check out her 'Celebrity-Views' section for an interview with Verna Felton from the Apprentice 3. I've only mentioned a few of the things Linda Dominique is up to. I know that is hard to believe, considering that what is here sounds like more than enough for any one person. But it's true.

I hope you all enjoy the interview below and take time to visit her website. I'm pretty sure you will all agree, that, whether you refer to her as Linda Dominique Grosvenor or Princess Dominique, this is one very interesting and intriguing lady.

visit: http://aalbc.com/authors/linda1.htm
http://www.lindadominiquegrosvenor.com/
http://askprincessdominique.com/

1. I see that you are an aspiring filmmaker and working on a documentary, BLACKGIRL. Can you tell us about it—what it's about, where, and how it's being done? What's involved in this type of project? What made you decide to explore this type of media?

I've always had a thing for impromptu and informal. The Blackgirl documentary is a lightbulb moment I had when it seemed that many of the women friends I have were all being labeled "angry" because they had strong opinions about various subjects. I wanted people to know what goes into being a black woman, i.e. what are our struggles, likes, dislikes as well as our goals and aspirations.

As a psychology major I know that we all get angry (it's a human emotion) and that if you're angry there is some core issue behind that. I wanted desperately to explore that. I'm currently interviewing women in different cities, some are writers and some are mothers—I just want to get a fair and balanced representation of black women in general. Now of course I have no idea what will ever come of it when it's done. It may appear in some film festivals, but then again I decided on the topic for self-satisfaction, not to win an award or a contest. Exploring this type of media I felt was more "in your face" and "direct" than maybe dragging it out in fiction or book format. More people watch television and movies than read books—that was the deciding factor in pursuing this project. Just completing it will warm my heart.

2. Linda, you really are a busy lady! I've read your GIRLFRIEND column and see that you are working toward a degree in Family and Marriage Counseling, in addition to everything else you are involved in. How close are you to that goal? Do you plan on pursuing a career as a counselor? I imagine what you learn could be very helpful in your writing.

Yes, my column GIRLFRIEND has been renamed in 2005 to Ask Princess Dominique. I've been giving advice online in some form or fashion since 1998 and I enjoy it immensely. I figured that I needed a forum where I could just let loose and really give advice without having to worry about my responses just disappearing into cyberspace, so we pulled it all together and gave it a name. People ask me why I'm still giving advice after all these years and my answer is always the same, "they keep sending questions!" I'm still taking coursework in psychology and although I don't have plans to practice counseling per se, I do plan on giving seasoned advice as well as writing books on various issues of interest to families, singles and married couples.

3. I understand you are launching an online advice column, Ask Princess Dominique,this month. Tell us about it.

The feedback about AskPrincessDominique.com has been phenomenal! I really wanted somewhere where people could come and browse questions, read feedback and then feel comfortable enough to let loose and ask what they wanted to ask without fear of being ridiculed or exposed. I've been getting some very candid questions from men and women. We are currently developing our love shop, where we will have gifts for that special someone as well as freebies and cute downloadable stuff. We launched the site earlier than anticipated and visitors are already clamoring for more. The questions are coming and so are the responses. I urge your readers to log on today and get a little advice with spice.

4. How did you get started in writing romance novels?

My first novel SOMETIMES I CRY wasn't necessarily romance, it started as an article on how a single woman can get involved with a married man without intending to and it was rather long and so it grew slowly into a novel. That's when the writing bug bit me. I loved being able to use my imagination and I started working on something else immediately before I "lost it"—whatever "it" was. I haven't looked back since. Writing for me eases the stresses of everyday life and brings me a level of joy I can't describe.

5. Tell us about your newest book, THE HAMPTONS.

THE HAMPTONS is a wonderful book—not just because I wrote it, but because it teaches such a much needed lesson to women and men alike. Personally I felt it was time for a change of pace for me and headed in the direction of romantic suspense. I had been hooked on a tv show on the WE Channel called Single in the Hamptons and wondered about all that goes on out there. Being from New York originally, it piqued my curiosity so much so that THE HAMPTONS was born. I've often warned my girlfriends and associates about "hooking up" with people they meet at exotic places and parties, etc., but sometimes to get your point across you have to expound on it all in fiction and then make them buy a copy. As for the heroine Joelle Sinclair, I figured she was a strong woman like we'd all like to believe that we are.

She's divorced and yet self-sufficient too, but it didn't stop her from getting lured by the Hamptons. Romantic suspense is something that I find a joy to write as it's not as predictable as straight fiction. The suspense can be thrown in a dash at a time or just sprinkled throughout. I enjoyed writing the story as much as it seems readers did reading it. Bookstores couldn't keep this book in stock, now it's back and better than ever--don't miss getting a copy.

6. Considering the number of aspiring novelists out there, do think it has been any harder for you as an African-American or is that an assumption that shouldn't be made?

I think a good story will speak for you. I published my first novel in 1998 and I have a pretty strong reader following and am welcoming new readers all the time.

I've been told by readers that reading THE HAMPTONS actually transported them there or that they feel like they could relate to the surroundings because of how vivid it was and that it introduced them to things they aren't familiar with on a day to day basis. All in all my goal as a writer is to write entertaining stories—if you do that the readers will come. THE HAMPTONS entertains and in that respect it isn't at all different from any other Linda Dominique Grosvenor novels, M. J. Rose or Mary Higgins Clark, but I tell readers to grab a copy, read it and be the judge of that themselves.

7. Your parents are from Barbados, although you were raised in the Bronx. I, myself, am of Scottish descent and growing up I was subjected to the dubious honor of listening to the sounds of bagpipe march songs played by my father. LOL What cultural traditions/influences did you learn from your parents?

I can relate, most definitely. Calypso was a mainstay in our house—Harry Belafonte. My mother loved it and I although I didn't understand it, I can truly appreciate it now. It's a part of our culture and people should be in touch with who they are and not just wander through life aimlessly. I vow to visit Barbados one day. When I tell people I've never been they can hardly believe it. This year I'll rectify that for certain.

8. Your books have been contemps so far. Do you have any plans for a historical novel? What period would interest you if you were to go to a different time setting?

Wow, I've never thought of that. I'd probably say Spain or Portugal in the 1950's. I'm truly intrigued by that time period as well as the culture and the foods of both places.

9. What do you want readers to know about you that you haven't been asked in this or other interviews?

I'd honestly like them to know, I'm down to earth, I love shoes and I still answer my own reader mail—so, good, bad or indifferent—email me after you've read THE HAMPTONS.

Thank you, Princess Dominique!