Most novice would think or believe that an author needs to have a publishing company to become a well-known author, that independent authors could never make it in this industry. Well allow me to expel that myth. I know several independent authors that have twice the fanbase and recognition as authors who signed to a publishing company. Both avenues have their pros and cons but we're not here for all that. The lady I'm about to tell you about right now, kicked the door in on the independent author myth and took it off the hinges. Monica Walters is from Beaumont, Texas and her first love was music. She would write song lyrics and poems as a teenager, you know the ones that done fell in love with some lil boy at school...lol. But like a true poet/songwriter Monica was telling a story with every word. Instead of jotting down lyrics or elaborate word play, the Freshman in High School began putting together short stories in 1994 and it grew from there. Her love of storytelling superseded her first love of music and Monica was head over heels with telling stories.
Monica married the love of her life in 2005, her and her loving husband Brandon had three beautiful blessings. Monica didn't hesitate to express that her family is her everything and the motivation that pushes her even when she doubts herself sometimes. Like most erotic romance authors, Monica's favorite authors were Zane and Eric Jerome Dickey. She blushfully admitted that one of the late Mr. Dickey's novels was the reason she became an avid reader. It wasn't until 2011 when Monica completed her first full novel, "Ulterior Motives" but that novel wasn't published until 3 years later in 2014. Her style of writing is explained as a contemporary romance author, but Monica has her own genre which grants her the title of Queen of Country Hood Love Stories. She playfully calls it "Contempurbarotica", the fusion of urban fiction, erotica and contemporary. The environment along with a good dose of imagination is the fuel to any author's storyline when creating a good story and it doesn't stop with Mrs. Walters. She says watching the news, observing family members and even just scrolling through social media bring on a spark that ignites a story in her.
"My family inspires me...my husband, my son and my daughters. They always express how proud they are of me..."
"Faith, self-confidence, and discipline propels me and keeps me on the path to success. I thank God daily for the gift, the drive, and the faith to see through everything I start."
The success Monica speaks of has resulted in 86, YES, 86 published novels and she is far from being done. She has a few in the works, with additions to her "Henderson Family Series", plus a couple of stand-alone novels she's keeping under wraps, but we will be seeing them soon. Monica's aspirations for her collection, besides seeing the joy her works bring to her fans, is one day seeing her book transformed into a movie or TV series. Netflix, Tubi and Hulu, you better contact this woman now before you can't afford her, she has that "it factor".
The sensual exterior of her books does no justice to the steamy interior and Monica's fans can be a testament to that. Hundreds of fans have come out just to meet the author that brought them into a world they could only explain as "grown folk". Monica has never had an individual stand-alone book signing. But she has been to multiple independent authors book signings where she has had the pleasure of meeting her fans. Fans that happily tell her about their favorite characters, favorite novel or express their love for a certain love scene she has written. Monica enjoys it all and is happy to announce that she will be at several events this year, seven to be exact.
Monica's passion for writing is nowhere near a mere hobby as you can see. She dives in the deep end of the pool when it comes to the art of storytelling and every country boy or girl character carry an urban swag about them.
I know what you're thinking and to be honest I thought the same thing, "How can it be country and urban?" Most people hear urban and immediately think of inner city, skylines, busy streets, and hood-like neighborhoods. See that's the creativity in Monica Walters' works because just like she fused her style, she fused those elements and made some beautiful music with it.
Now if you, for some strange reason, haven't had the opportunity to read one of her books, you already know The River's Edge Writers got you covered. Down below will be a link to all 86 marvelous novels plus her social media links where you could follow her for all the updates on upcoming books. Patiently waiting to see what's up next for the Henderson Family Series...IJS.
It was an absolute pleasure talking with Monica Walters and finding out who the Queen of Country Hood Love Stories really is. The River's Edge Writers would like to thank our readers for joining us today. Most of all we would like to thank Mrs. Monica Walters for allowing us to showcase her talents also. To our readers and to the Queen of Contempurbarotica, we salute you. And if you know of a literary creative that we should showcase, let us know.
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