Interview Special!

Interview Exclusive with Rhonda Yates!

Rhonda Yates is becoming a household name in the world of the arts and literature. She is a multiple Number 1 bestselling Author of books like, "Peril in Black and White" and "Ashes to Ice".  Her latest release, "Smoke Over Satin" has also hit Number 1 on the Amazon Bestsellers List as well as being the top rated new release in all of poetry. Today, we catch up with Rhonda as she takes us on a trip of the mindset of a perennial bestselling author.  Interview excerpts below:

1.     A Third Consecutive book on the Number 1 Spot on the Amazon Bestsellers List…How are you feeling?

I’m excited! I’m proud, I’m happy, I’m grateful. Just like God gives us strength, sometimes he also gives us a reward and allows us to share and inspire other people. That means a lot to me.

The best part is being able to meet other people who have the same passion and who love to geek out over poetry! It’s nice to find your tribe.

2.     Spencer says you are one of the headline members of the Collab Tour.  Explain how important being a part of the Collab Tour has been on your journey to greatness ?

Spencer speaks greatness into people and that is very encouraging. Personally, I don’t see myself as a headline member. There are people in the Collab Tour that have been doing this for years. And I’m also aware that my poetry speaks to some people, but not others. Just like anyone else‘s, really. I think poetry as a form of self expression and that is why it varies so much. So I’m proud to be a part of the Collab Tour family, and a part of its variety. Having a platform to learn within has been very helpful to me

.

3.     What was the writing process for “Smoke Over Satin”?

I continued to write into my manuscript, and when I had enough poetry that I felt good about I decided to close out the trilogy. I didn’t plan to write three poetry books, but just like abstract art the form appeared before my eyes. I like to think of it as the “trilogy of becoming.” Growth from perseverance, to transformation, to manifestation. So Smoke over Satin really has a lot of poems about understanding and seeing what has manifested.

4.     Describe how the reception has been so far since your book got released?

The reception has been great. I have really gained some true friends within our poetry group. And we are genuinely happy for each other when good things happen, which is really how it should be. I appreciate the reception.

5.      Did you envisage that your book would be so successful?

Honestly, I never envisioned having revenue coming in on an ongoing basis for books that I have written. That idea still blows my mind and it is very rewarding. I’m just happy people like how I write. 

6.     “Smoke Over Satin”reached Number 1 on the Bestsellers list in the Poetry categories and several other lists: how was the feeling?

It’s a great feeling. I read an article right before I published peril in black-and-white. The article said in order to be a successful poet author, online promotion must be paired with local efforts to market the book and gain exposure. When did those things, my book sales went up and my rankings went up. So now to see that there is continued interest in my work means that I have made some impact. I look forward to what the future holds!

7.    Your parting statement to your fans across the globe?

I think the world can use some poetry right about now. Thank you to those who provide it. 

in our poetry

in many ways, 

poets are the 

brave and 

exposed  

the wind-blown

band mates

continuing to play 

while the ship slowly sinks.   

in fact,

we play louder as 

waterline creeps.

we feel the intensity 

the sea is choppy

hypothermia threatens

but we bring relief.

we open the minds

to bars and bandwidth

and solace they seek,

licensure offered 

to those who will read

atop the lines and 

around

between 

in our poetry