{"id":3913,"date":"2008-03-01T12:01:58","date_gmt":"2008-03-01T17:01:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sistahsontheshelf.com\/blog\/?page_id=107"},"modified":"2020-06-05T01:19:33","modified_gmt":"2020-06-05T05:19:33","slug":"ntyse","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.sistahsontheshelf.com\/?page_id=3913","title":{"rendered":"N’Tyse"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>N’TYSE’S OWN WORDS…<\/strong>pronounced Entice<\/em> (which stands for N<\/span>ever T<\/span>ell Y<\/span>our SE<\/span>crets) is the author of the first urban drama story ever told and released under A Million Thoughts Publishing. My Secrets Your Lies<\/em>, is just one of many urban erotic tales that you can expect from this author. She currently resides in Dallas, Texas,<\/span> where she is currently hard at work on her next big project.<\/p>\n

How long have you been writing, and how did you get started?<\/strong>
\nI’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. It was always a passion. When I was 13, I wrote my first piece of music then eventually advanced to storytelling. Expressing myself through writing is my therapeutic release.<\/p>\n

Give a brief synopsis of your debut novel, My Secrets Your Lies<\/em>.<\/strong>
\nBrief? Wow! It\u2019s so much going on in this book I\u2019m not sure where to begin. My Secrets Your Lies<\/em> tells the story of a stud\/femme couple who both face challenging issues that will eventually test their relationship and commitment to one another. A series of events take place that will leave Rene and Sand asking themselves, \u201cIs this really worth all the pain?\u201d As secrets and lies get exposed, Rene and Sand learn more about each other than they\u2019ve ever volunteered. And when the smoke appears to be clearing, the plot thickens and Sand and Rene have a whirlwind of new problems to face.<\/p>\n

How did the concept of My Secrets<\/em> come to life?
\n<\/strong>I was at a stage in my life where, I\u2019ll just say, I let my curiosity get the best of me. LOL! I surrounded myself around friends and family that were in the lifestyle and became infatuated with it. Everybody that I saw that looked like Sand and Rene, I studied them (damn near stalked them) and made myself apart of that life. It was interesting to me, or shall I say, stimulating.<\/p>\n

How long did it take you to write My Secrets<\/em>, and how has the reception been?
\n<\/strong>It took me a year to complete the project because I was on and off with it. It was a part time hobby that I didn\u2019t take as serious as I do now. When the book first released I had some doubters, I even had questions out the galore. Everybody wanted to know N\u2019Tyse\u2019s story. I\u2019ll save that for another day. Overall, I feel many have welcomed this new genre of fiction with open arms.<\/p>\n

Tell us about the relationship between stud Sand and femme Rene?
\n<\/strong>Their relationship is very unique. Sand appears to be a dominant, overly aggressive stud, but in reality, she\u2019s weak and she does a good job at hiding it. Rene is the opposite. She takes chances, very risky, and she makes excuses to justify her actions. She\u2019s the undercover manipulator.<\/p>\n

Do you believe that Rene and Sand’s relationship is typical to the young black lesbian community?
\n<\/strong>From what I see going on today, it is. But that can be argued because Sand and Rene’s relationship tends to stand out more and attracts attention opposed to femme\/femme couples. Those are more easily disguised and discreet, (I think).<\/p>\n

Which character do you most resemble: Rene or Sand?
\n<\/strong>I would have to say Rene.<\/p>\n

Sistahs on the Shelf has to ask: Did anything in the book actually happen to you in real life?
\n<\/strong>Ummm\u2026 Ummm\u2026 Maybe, maybe not.<\/p>\n

I loved the dramatic ending of My Secrets<\/em>. Do you think Rene and Sand will live happily ever after?
\n<\/strong>You\u2019ll just have to wait and see. I\u2019m rooting for them!<\/p>\n

Filled with tales of street life, urban novels featuring black lesbians seem to be hot right now. Why do you think that is?<\/strong>
\nBecause it\u2019s no longer a hidden society. Many lesbians have come out and made themselves known. They are a part of this world and experience the same things all human beings go through, average and above average. If one person could say they never knew or know a lesbian, I would be shocked — because my first reply would be, “You talking family, friends, or co-workers?” It\u2019s not a secret anymore.<\/p>\n

What’s the significance of your pen name, N’Tyse?<\/strong>
\nN’Tyse stands for Never Tell Your SEcrets. It’s a motto. Secrets are not meant to be told, forget what you heard.<\/p>\n

Tell us about A Million Thoughts Publishing, the company that produced your novel?
\n<\/strong>A Million Thoughts is my company brand. My Secrets Your Lies<\/em> is the first title released among many others in production.<\/p>\n

What are you working on next?<\/strong>
\nThe sequel, STUD PRINCESS<\/em>. Be on the look out. You will also find me parlaying with Zane in her 2009 lesbian anthology release, titled Purple Panties II, Missionary No More<\/em>. You\u2019ll fall in love with my characters Dolce and Calice in “Caramel Latte.”<\/p>\n

What’s a typical day like for you?<\/strong>
\nAll work no play. I\u2019m always on a mission.<\/p>\n

What do you do for fun?
\n<\/strong>Read. Write. (Isn\u2019t that what all us authors say?) I love to catch up on a good movie, go out and have a nice time, just whatever comes to mind. I\u2019m hardly ever bored.<\/p>\n

What are your favorite books? Favorite authors?<\/strong>
\nWOW! There are literally so many. I love R M Johnson (Do You Take This Woman<\/em>), Zane (Afterburn<\/em>), Mary Monroe (God Don\u2019t Like Ugly<\/em>), Fiona Zedde (Bliss<\/em>), Laurinda D. Brown (Strapped<\/em>)…the play (Walk Like a Man<\/em>) awesome! Solomn Jones (The Bridge<\/em>), Eric J.Dickey (too many to name), TuShonda Whitaker aka Risqu\u00e9, Lesley Hal,\u2026 etc.<\/p>\n

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?<\/strong>
\nRetired from banking and writing full time. I should have at least ten titles under my belt by then.
\n
\nWhat motivates you to write?
\n<\/strong>Family, friends, my characters that won\u2019t stop dancing around in my head.<\/p>\n

What piece of advice can you share with aspiring writers?
\n<\/strong>Never give up. Do your research. Set goals. Find a coach or motivational buddy. Read as much as you can, write even more. Never expect handouts and never settle for less than what you\u2019re worth. Last but not least, there will be a time to shine because there\u2019s room for all of us.<\/p>\n

Why do you feel it\u2019s important for black lesbians to share their own stories, as you did with My Secrets Your Lies<\/em>?
\n<\/strong>Although My Secrets Your Lies<\/em> is not a memoir or tell-all book about my life, I do share a few personal experiences that I don\u2019t wish to elaborate on at this time. It is a fiction story but Sand and Rene face many of the same issues that many readers could possibly relate to in one way or another. My aim in writing this was to allow my readers to engage themselves in a life where love has limits and rules. And when those rules get broken, your gamble becomes your friends, your family, and even your lover. It\u2019s about sacrifices, choices, and most of all, being true to you. Everyone has a story to tell. Sand and Rene just happened to share theirs first.<\/p>\n

The book can be ordered directly from www.myspace.com\/ntyse<\/a> or amazon.com. Sold nationwide in bookstores near you.<\/p>\n

Interviewed March 2008<\/strong><\/p>\n

N’Tyse’s Reviews<\/strong><\/p>\n