{"id":2547,"date":"2012-06-17T17:00:06","date_gmt":"2012-06-17T23:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sistahsontheshelf.com\/blog\/?page_id=2547"},"modified":"2020-05-09T17:31:55","modified_gmt":"2020-05-09T21:31:55","slug":"catching-upwith-billie-simone","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.sistahsontheshelf.com\/?page_id=2547","title":{"rendered":"Catching Up With…Billie Simone"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\" <\/a>Billie Simone<\/h1>\n

In our feature, Catching Up With\u2026<\/span><\/strong>, Sistahs on the Shelf is pleased to bring you updates on your favorite authors, ones who have new books or projects in the works.<\/p>\n

Revisit with Billie Simone<\/span><\/strong>, whose latest work, Suite 69: Black Lesbian Erotica Volume III<\/em>,\u00a0finds Billie talking about heartbreak and finding new love. Read on to learn about Billie’s\u00a0upcoming novel and passion for photography.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Why should people read your latest poetry book, Suite 69: Black Lesbian Erotica Volume III<\/em>?<\/strong><\/span>
\nI would like to think that any poetry lover could appreciate the raw and candid nature of my poetry.\u00a0 This particular volume takes you on a journey of a scorned hopeful romantic who ultimately finds a \u201cHappily Ever After\u201d; something that many of us desire, but refuse to believe in.<\/p>\n

From Volume I<\/em> to Volume III<\/em>, how have you matured as a writer and a person?<\/strong><\/span>
\nAt this point in my writing career, I feel very confident in what I have to offer.\u00a0 In the beginning, it was a mere hobby, then a gesture to impress a woman.\u00a0 Once I realized people could actually relate to my work, it became a purpose that led me to understand my true destiny.\u00a0 Thus, I now know that I have an obligation to my community and not just my well being.\u00a0 It\u2019s very important to me that \u201cour\u201d stories are told, and documented.\u00a0 I published Volume I<\/em> in 1999, and there were not many titles of \u201cour\u201d experiences on bookshelves.\u00a0 Today, there are many more, and that makes me smile.<\/p>\n

Your work is grounded in some pretty powerful emotions. How do you manage to share yourself so freely in your work?<\/strong><\/span>
\nIt\u2019s a catch-22.\u00a0 About 80% of my work is autobiographical.\u00a0 I communicate better when I write, and I\u2019ve used writing as my therapy for over 20 years, so reading my work, is like reading my heart.\u00a0 The hard part is sharing it with others.\u00a0 I don\u2019t like to hurt or embarrass anyone, nor do I like the \u201cshade\u201d from those I\u2019ve written about.\u00a0\u00a0 But if my words can help another with their confidence, or their decisions to be a better person, I\u2019ve done my job as a writer.<\/p>\n

In Volume III<\/em>, you say \u201cwe tend to look for love in the wrong individual, and find ourselves stuck in lifeless relationships with no depth.\u201d Why do you think that is, and what can women do to break themselves out of the rut?<\/strong><\/span>
\nI think a lot of women simply don\u2019t love themselves.\u00a0 I know I didn\u2019t.\u00a0 I was told to love myself, but not taught how to love myself.\u00a0 Learning to love yourself in your adulthood can be complex, especially if have no clue who you are, what you are, what you need, and\/or want from another.\u00a0 My advice to anyone when pursuing love is simple:\u00a0 LOVE YOURSELF FIRST!\u00a0\u00a0 It sounds selfish, but if you don\u2019t love yourself, you can\u2019t possibly love another unconditionally.\u00a0 In addition, if you find yourself in a lifeless relationship with no depth\u2026and you truly don\u2019t see a future with the person, get out of it immediately; don\u2019t wait until you are forced to.\u00a0 A lot of time we stay in these relationships hoping things will change, but we know deep within that the relationship has ran its course.\u00a0 We may stay for stability, comfort, finances, etc., but we are miserable.\u00a0 That is so not healthy, and so 90\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\"suite69volume3\"<\/a>Your poems exude a bravado, but underneath a certain vulnerability. Is it hard to strike that balance being a masculine lesbian?<\/strong><\/span>
\nYes indeed!\u00a0 I have such a male brain, that sometime my femininity annoys me.\u00a0 I may start a poem with my testosterone, full of vigor, and masculinity, only to have it end softly and demure.\u00a0 My masculine voice is often overshadowed by my feminine heart\u2026I can\u2019t help it\u2026I was born this way.<\/p>\n

What is your true passion?<\/strong><\/span>
\nMy true passion(s) include writing, and photography; mostly because I am a true introvert, and both allow me to work independently.<\/p>\n

Tell us about your photography. What moves you to pick up your camera?<\/strong><\/span>
\nLike writing, I have been shooting for many years, but I still consider myself a novice in the field.\u00a0 I\u2019m currently researching the best gear to enhance my photojournalism.\u00a0 I love to capture compositions that are simple yet, thought provoking.\u00a0 In the last few years, I\u2019ve been an avid iPhoneographer.\u00a0 I had no idea iPhone photography was so popular, but the genre is huge.\u00a0 Last Fall I had my first \u201ciArt\u00ae by Billie Simone\u201d photo exhibit, and I\u2019ve gotten a lot of positive feedback.\u00a0 My prints are available on my website, www.BillieSimonePhotography.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Are you still working on your first novel?<\/strong><\/span>
\nMy first novel, \u201cINTIMATE FRIENDS\u201d is complete, but I am my worst critic, so it\u2019s still in its editing stage.\u00a0 But it will indeed be published and available this year.<\/p>\n

What projects are you working on next?<\/strong><\/span>
\nI\u2019m currently working on a screenplay for \u201cINTIMATE FRIENDS\u201d.\u00a0 In addition, my partner (Alix B. Golden) and I are working on a long-distance relationship book for couples.\u00a0 We were a long-distance couple who met online, found true love, and are proof that it\u2019s possible.\u00a0 So we hope we can inspire, help and encourage others who are struggling with the distance and time apart.<\/p>\n

Interviewed June 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Billie Simone In our feature, Catching Up With\u2026, Sistahs on the Shelf is pleased to bring you updates on your favorite authors, ones who have new books or projects in the works. Revisit with Billie Simone, whose latest work, Suite 69: Black Lesbian Erotica Volume III,\u00a0finds Billie talking about heartbreak and finding new love. Read […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":4002,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"spay_email":""},"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sistahsontheshelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2547"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sistahsontheshelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sistahsontheshelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sistahsontheshelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sistahsontheshelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2547"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.sistahsontheshelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2547\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7497,"href":"http:\/\/www.sistahsontheshelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2547\/revisions\/7497"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sistahsontheshelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/4002"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sistahsontheshelf.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2547"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}