Maggie Blackbird

Today, I have author Danyelle Scroggins in the interview chair.  She’s here to talk about her latest series release A Louisiana Love, a contemporary romance.  Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.

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All about A Louisiana Love:

1. What inspired you to write this series?

Danyelle: I was inspired to write the A Louisiana Love Series after I wrote about the families in my Christmas books Love Me Again and Never Looking Back. I needed to explore these families a little deeper and they made sure I knew it.

2. What can we expect from you in the future?

Danyelle: I’m presently working on another four book series and a Christmas release that will go out this year with friends.

3. Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in the series?

Danyelle: I think the short descriptions or teasers would be perfect for this section.

4. How did you come up with the concept and characters for the series?

Danyelle: Most of the times, the characters introduce themselves to me. It has become so interesting how names just pop up in your mind and you know they must be a book character.

5. Where did you come up with the names?

Danyelle: Lots of African American families keep with the same initials in their family, especially, if the husband and wife have that initial. So, these families have stuck to that tradition.

6. What did you enjoy most about writing this series?

Danyelle: With all three, I loved writing up into the plots. For the first time I really had no clue what my plot would be. I wanted to try writing without grafting and it worked for me. I also really enjoyed digging for another language. I wanted to incorporate Spanish since the characters were Latino, and it was amazing.

7. Tell us about your main characters. What makes them tick?

Danyelle: When I think about he main family, The Booth Family… the wife, Jessica Booth, is definitely the matriarch of her family. Her husband, Jasper Booth Sr., is a witty mild-mannered man. Their adopted son, Kane Jackson Booth, is a hot head whose eventually going to figure out why he’s so angry. Their son, Jasper Jr., is a complete smart mouth who I’d like to say is me as a guy. And their daughter, Jasmine, is the typical spoiled baby girl of the family who has her father’s heart and her mother’s stubbornness.

8. How did you come up with the title of your first novel?

Danyelle: After the Christmas books, I was left thinking their stories had to be explored. Well, because the two had fallen in love over the Christmas holidays, I knew how lovers felt to be apart. So, I came up with her making a choice that was wrong to everyone else but right for her. Then the next titles just flowed from that. The effect of choice…is what I’d like to call it.

9. Who designed your book covers?

Danyelle: I have been blessed to be able to design my own covers. I almost love doing  covers as much as I love writing.

10. If your book was made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?

Danyelle: Here is the list.

• Angela Bassett would definitely me Lady Jessica Booth.
• Laurence Fishburne would be Jasper Booth Sr.
• Will Smith would be Dr. James Booth.
• Gabrielle Union would be Jasmine Booth.
• LaLa Anthony would be Veronica Kimbrel-Booth.
• The Sisters Valerie (Salma Hayak) & Vashti- (Eva Longoria)
• Jennifer Lopez would be Selena Cox.
• Fantasia Barrino would be Jade Booth.
• Rome Flynn would be Vance Kimbrel Jr

11. What is your favorite part of this book and why?

Danyelle: In the Right Choice: My favorite part is when Vance and Austin were taken hostage by Elaina. I loved how Austin had to finally come to terms with the power of God, by hearing and obeying the Spirit.

In the Wrong Decision: My favorite part is when Selena goes to Dade and talks with her abuela. It’s so important to get an understanding and sometimes when we do, we come to peace with other’s decisions.

In the Perfect Chance: My favorite part was the wedding. I just loves how God will take over and although you set things to go one way, He makes it fit His plans.

12. If you could spend time with a character from your book whom would it be? And what would you do during that day?

Danyelle: I would definitely spend my day with Jessica Booth. I love strong women and I would just want to sit in the living room talking about lasting marriages and raising children. I’d also like to discuss how she became so firm in her relationship with Christ. She’s doing nothing or making no decisions without the Lord.

13. Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

Danyelle: They come entirely from my imagination but Jade’s grandmother was mine. If you go back to the Christmas books where these families first began, you’ll see more about First Lady Bishop.

14. Have you written any other books that are not published?

Danyelle: I’m actually writing the last book of this series entitled, The Blessed Opportunity. It will feature Damon and Hope and explore their relationship.

15. If your book was a candle, what scent would it be?

Danyelle: Lavender—Calming and soothing at the same time.

16. Is there a writer whose brain you’d love to pick for advice? Who would that be and why?

Danyelle: I know this may seem absolutely crazy, but for me it would be the Apostle Paul. His writings are so loved packed and you could feel the love and admiration he had for Christ and His people through his writings.

A Little About Danyelle:

I’ve always been a love child per se…loving all things romance. When my second grade teacher introduced me to Amelia Bedelia books by Herman Parish, I knew I would write. Then my mom introduced me to romance by Danielle Steels and who we considered the bad girl of books at that time—Jackie Collins. Finally, I decided I’d be the Danyelle with the “y” who will write books about love.

Life has been so rewarding as I finally realize that everything I’ve ever faced was simply for my good. The good, bad, and the ugly now find itself woven in the corridors of my books and I’m grateful to be able to share stories with the world of God’s goodness, grace, mercy, and love. And you know what’s even greater? We don’t have to be perfect to be a part of His family, to receive His love, or to be a recipient of His grace.

He has shown me that I can write about love, problems, situations, and circumstances that we face as humans but also show how we overcome the situations and circumstances we face, by the blood of the lamb and the words of our testimony.

As you read this book or any of my books, understand that they are in fact a testimony to God’s goodness, grace, mercy, and love towards His people.

More About Danyelle:

I’m learning how to accept that my books are dedicated for ministry tools. I can remember a moment of not being saved. Or, was with one foot in Christ and the other dipping in and out of sin. So, the reality was, I was warring against living a life of holiness. If you asked me, I thought I was saved, but I was comfortable practicing sin.

One day, it hit me, if you genuinely want to see God’s blessings and the manifestation of His Spirit, you have to learn what it means to die daily.

A part of this daily death was to stop reading books that encourage sin. I’ve been a reader all my life, and I never realized how much of an impact book was having on me until I stopped reading books that made my body react. Then, I decided I needed to write the type of books I love to read. Books that encouraged a walk with Christ explored love but honored the bedroom of the married. I may take you in their room, but I will never allow you to see what happens in their marital connection experience. Even for my characters, it’s their place where God closes the covers for just the two of them.  Does this make my books better than anyone else’s? Not. It just makes them an option for those fleeing a life of sexual sins, but desire to read about love. It’s all in what you want and what works for you.

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Title: The Perfect Chance
Series: A Louisiana Love Book 3
Author: Danyelle Scroggins
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb: Kane and Veronica’s wedding became the perfect backdrop for the next Faith Temple Cathedral wedding, as Damon proposed to Selena. Although it felt right from the beginning, things are progressing, and Selena is starting to feel something pricking about her response.

Newly married Veronica Booth and her sister-in-love, Jasmine Kimbrel, have decided to throw an exclusive couples event for all the couples of Faith Temple Cathedral who were instrumental in their life and wedding. And although there are a few singles in attendance, most of them are engaged or have someone they’ve labeled as a close friend or potential love interest. As soon as it seems that everything is going how they envisioned, The Perfect Chance to do what is right, instead of what appears pressured, brings two people to a space that neither of them saw coming.

Austin Davenport has been in love with Selena since she walked into Vance’s room at Louisiana Day Hospital. And although she pulled away from him and into another man’s arms, Austin’s committed to standing in faith. Will his faith pay off by presenting The Perfect Chance for Austin to win back her heart, or will he have to pick up the pieces of his broken heart?

Goodreads | Amazon

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Title: The Wrong Decision
Series: A Louisiana Love Book 2
Author: Danyelle Scroggins
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb: Kane Jackson Booth is in love with Veronica Kimbrel and neither of them desire to venture into forbidden territories but things are becoming a bit more heated than either of them can handle. So in making what she feels is a right suggestion, Kane makes a wrong decision that could cost them their forever after.

Right when things are shaking and seemingly cracking, Selena is in need of help and Veronica uses this opportunity to leave Kane and all of their problems behind her. She soon finds out that running away doesn’t always solve the problem, or make things right but in the school of love, making

The Wrong Decision because of someone else’s wrong decision, can bring love to a breaking point and destroy what God has plans to put together.

Now, that Veronica is heading home, she has to face the facts that she’s just as bad as Kane. But what she does not know is, Kane has come face to face with his own facts and is preparing a surprise that will altar their very lives, and at the same time bring joy and healing to their hearts.

Jasmine is now Jasmine Kimbrel, the wife of Vance Kimbrel but her Jessica Booth is making the right choice with repairing the breach completely between she and Jasper Sr.

Will this be another Booth surprise to remember? Or will The Wrong Decision ruin their chances at being the one big happy family everyone respects?

Goodreads | Amazon

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Title: The Right Choice
Series: A Louisiana Love Book 1
Author: Danyelle Scroggins
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Blurb: Jasmine Booth has fallen in love over the Christmas holiday to Vance Kimbrel Jr. and neither of them are willing to let the other go their separate ways. If you were born in a pentecostal, Baptist, or protestant home, you know the cardinal rule when it comes to living with someone with whom you have not married. It’s the imaginary eleventh commandment…Thou Shalt Not Shack, and both Jasmine and Vance have decided to break the rules.

In The Right Choice, Jasmine Booth, the one and only daughter of Jasper Sr. and Jessica Booth, has made a choice that has made neither of her parents proud. She’s moving to California to become the live-in woman of Vance Kimbrel Jr., and she refuses to change her mind because her family calls it sin.

Jasmine feels like she’s old enough to make her own choices and decisions, but questions whether or not Vance will still respect her in the end.

Vance has found the love of his life. Now, coupled with his two main goals, finishing college and going into the league, he’s now added, becoming the husband of Jasmine Booth.

Something will happen to make Jasmine question whether or not the right choice was made. But in the end, it was Jasmine’s choice to make.

Will this choice lead them in a direction that’s deeper than disappointing their parents? Or, will both Jasmine and Vance learn a lesson that will last a life time.
One thing is for sure, we all are entitled to make choices, but the question will always remain, Are we willing to endure the Consequence or our choice? And, Whether or not it was, The Right Choice.

Goodreads | Amazon

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Danyelle is the Senior Pastor of New Vessels Ministries North in Shreveport, Louisiana. She is a dynamic author of both Christian fiction and non-fiction books. She studied Theology at Louisiana Baptist University, has a Psychology Degree from the University of Phoenix, an Interdisciplinary Degree in Psychology /Biblical Studies, and a Masters in Religious Education from Liberty University. She owns Divinely Sown Publishing LLC.

Find Danyelle:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Bookbub | Amazon | Goodreads

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