Author Candice Poarch was the featured speaker at a potluck luncheon sponsored by the Women of Trinity Episcopal Church and the Women of First Baptist Church in Old Town Manassas on April 3.
A member of both Washington Romance Writers and the Romance Writers of America, Candice shared her journey over the past 20 years to become a national best selling author. Her first novel, "White Lightning" was published in 1997, at a time when few romance novels were published for African-American readers. The book came from her research into black farmers of the early 1950s and 1960s who sold moonshine to make money to keep their farms going.
"One person I interviewed even gave me the recipe," Candice confided.
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In May 2011, Candice will publish her 25th book, "Deadly Intentions."
Candice grew up in Stony Creek, Virginia, south of Richmond, but now resides in Northern Virginia. She graduated from Virginia State University with a B.S. in Physics. She has been married 33 years, and is the mother of three children. A former computer systems manager, she now devotes full time to her writing career.
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Here are Candice Poarch's five tips for new writers:
1. Carve out a little time each day to write.
2. Don't let blogging keep you away from your "real" work.
3. Partner with a critique group or another writer for feedback.
4. Don't let rejections discourage you; persevere and keep on writing.
5. Finish your book before you seek an agent. If the agent asks you for money up front, don't bother, just keep looking.
For more information about Candice Poarch's books, go to www.candicepoarch.com.
