The Community Times Dispatch

After ten years of hard work that she truly loves, Cottageville borne Niobia Bryant has been nominated not once but three times in the category for Best African American Romance.. This time she is in the company of women she considers “icons”, like her inspirations, Francis Rae author of ‘Heart of the Falcon.’ To be nominated with writers she views as legends is an honor for which she is extremely grateful and somewhat humbled.

The novel published by DAFINA a division of Kensington Press, May 2009 is a fascinating, entertaining read of 352 pages that leaves you wanting to read more of this prolific and humorous writer. The book can be purchased for $6.99 at WalMart, Amazon.com and most major book sellers, if you can find a copy, it’s so hot.

If you have trouble finding it on the shelves, Ms. Bryant tells me readers can always order it from the publisher or her websites www.niobibryant.com or WWW.MEESHAMINK.COM

What’s unique about this author is that she does not just write romantic fiction. No, she produces creative works in four (4) different genres or styles. She writes romance; 9 books between 2000 and 2009 and, mainstream fiction; two (2) so; ‘Live and Learn in 2007 and ‘Show and Tell’ in 2008 both published by Kensington/DAFINA.

Her third book for this publisher will be completed by her March 2010 deadline, called ‘Message From a Mistress’ which was inspired by an old black and white 1940’s movie. She modernized the particulars and her agent is optioning for a movie even before it is completed. This type of acceptance is the result of proper planning and hard work.

Although she had been writing since second and third grade Ms. Bryant has also been an avid reader just as long. She told this reporter she reads “everything.” She is a college graduate with a Bachelor of Social Behavioral Sciences degree from Seton Hall in New Jersey. She grew up there with her older brother Caleb after their mother left Cottageville with them when they were young and moved to Newark, New Jersey.

In addition, Ms. Bryant writes under the name Meesha Mink as she spins tales of urban-fiction. Her three novels ‘Desperate Hoodwives’ in January 2008, ‘Shameless Hoodwives’ in August 2008 and ‘The Hood Life’ in January 2009 were all published by Simon & Schuster/Touchstone.

In whatever, genre she pens her creative, heartfelt stories Ms. Bryant is a master wordsmith. No matter the publishing house she “does the work” to produce a quality product that delivers on its promise. Under Niobia Bryant she has published nine books three of them nominated by RTRC.

She also has published three books in the Mainstream-Trade Sized Paperback Market under Niobia Bryant.

In 2006 she stepped deep into the realm of “Noire Erotica” and wrote “Caramel Flava” edited by Zane and published by Simone & Schuster/Atria as an anthology. But her latest adventure is writing for the young adult; “tween” and preteen market.

This journey was inspired by some young relatives of hers she wanted to read “age appropriate literature.” So, she writes as Simone Bryant and her first book is going to be called ‘FABULOUS.’ Her deadline is this coming February 2010. In a three book deal ‘FABULOUS’ will be followed by ‘FAMOUS’ in the Winter of 2011 and ‘GLAMOROUS’ with a date yet to be announced. Her teen series will be published by the Harlequin/Kimani Tru division.

So how did she do it? She went from a professional level job in marketing to a full time writer. What is her best advice for aspiring writers? “Do the work.” She highly recommends using the internet to learn about the publishing business. Two sites she uses is Amazon.com and the Harlequin Romances site which will take you by the hand and lead you through the steps of getting your work or/and idea onto a editor’s desk.

From the beginning she stressed how important it is to follow instructions given by the publishing houses about when and how they will review materials. Get to know how to write a query letter, hook and synopsis. It is also important to learn the role and value of an agent, editors and publicists.

Niobia, states there are no short cuts… as a matter of fact she feels despite her enormous success, she is still “enrolled in publishing 101.” She also stressed how important it is to read the work of authors who write what you want to write. It is the best way to get a feel for the genre/style of what publisher’s will pay for. She strongly believes this type of reading research will help to make “you good at what you want to do.”