SISTAHS ON LIT: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Raechel Rivers: I attended college for about 12 years. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business; a Master’s in Education; and an Educational Specialist degree.
SISTAHS: Where are you from?
R. Rivers: St. Louis, Missouri
SISTAHS: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
R. Rivers: I have been writing since childhood and on into high school; and then during my
undergraduate college years from 1998 to 2002. After graduating, and while I was working on my Master’s degree, I continued to write several poems. I first considered myself a “writer” and wanted to pursue it as a career when I launched my first blog www.raeluvs2write.blogspot.com in 2009.
SISTAHS: How did you come up with the title for your first book?
R. Rivers: The title actually began as a blog post that I created on Facebook in the Notes section. I would post personal stories about love and relationships; and my perspective of certain dating
issues and being single. My friends would often comment on the posts, and they were able to relate to the topics because of their own experiences.
SISTAHS: What inspired you to write your first book?
R. Rivers: I always wanted to write a book. Initially, back in 2004 when I was working on my Master’s degree at Langston University in Oklahoma, I began compiling a book of poetry. Some of my colleagues at the time had written books and that served as inspiration for me. Later, when I began
blogging and posting Notes on Facebook, my friends told me that what I was writing was inspirational. They told me that it encouraged them in their own dating life. Everyone kept telling me to save the posts; so I compiled them into a book along with my poetry.
SISTAHS: When writing this story how did you come up with the concepts of the story?
R. Rivers: It was easy; all of the concepts and situations in the book are true and based off
of my own experiences and perceptions of being single and dating.
SISTAHS: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
R. Rivers: The overall theme of my book is self-love. I want readers to know the importance of loving their own individual person; in order to live a happy, healthy, life and have healthy relationships
with others.
SISTAHS: What books have most influenced your life most?
R. Rivers: Sassy, Single, and Satisfied by Michelle McKinneyHammond
SISTAHS: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
R. Rivers: I would consider Michelle McKinney Hammond as a mentor. She is very down-to-earth and sticks to her message for single, Christian women.
SISTAHS: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
R. Rivers: I have been networking with many authors on Twitter lately, and I’ve recently connected with Jamillah McDaniel, All The Men We Love. I don’t read as much fiction as I did when I was younger, but the story-line of her book has recently sparked my interest.
SISTAHS: What are your current projects?
R. Rivers: I am currently finishing up a screenplay/script I started writing two years ago. I am interested in producing it as a movie or play.
SISTAHS: Do you see writing as a career?
R. Rivers: Yes, definitely. I am seeking ways to make more money writing, in addition to my book, as a freelancer.
SISTAHS: What do you like to do when you are not writing?
R. Rivers: When I’m not writing, I am spending time with my family and friends; working part-time in retail, at a women’s dress store; thinking of how to implement my millions of entrepreneurial ideas; and also attending church.
SISTAHS: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
R. Rivers: I may have to say that Napoleon Hill is my favorite author. He wrote the book Think and Grow Rich. I am really into non-fiction books on personal development; business; or anything spiritually empowering such as some of Joyce Meyer’s books like Battlefield of the Mind. I can’t leave
out Michelle McKinney Hammond or Juanita Bynum. These authors’ books really empowered me
during my twenties. I definitely intend to model myself after writers with such life-changing messages. The power of words and thoughts to create and sustain life; that is what strikes me most about what they write.
SISTAHS: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
R. Rivers: I want to tell my readers to never give up! They may not aspire to become writers or authors, but they have dreams. I want them to pursue their God-given destinies and to not settle in life or love!
Raechel Rivers: I attended college for about 12 years. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business; a Master’s in Education; and an Educational Specialist degree.
SISTAHS: Where are you from?
R. Rivers: St. Louis, Missouri
SISTAHS: When did you first consider yourself a writer?
R. Rivers: I have been writing since childhood and on into high school; and then during my
undergraduate college years from 1998 to 2002. After graduating, and while I was working on my Master’s degree, I continued to write several poems. I first considered myself a “writer” and wanted to pursue it as a career when I launched my first blog www.raeluvs2write.blogspot.com in 2009.
SISTAHS: How did you come up with the title for your first book?
R. Rivers: The title actually began as a blog post that I created on Facebook in the Notes section. I would post personal stories about love and relationships; and my perspective of certain dating
issues and being single. My friends would often comment on the posts, and they were able to relate to the topics because of their own experiences.
SISTAHS: What inspired you to write your first book?
R. Rivers: I always wanted to write a book. Initially, back in 2004 when I was working on my Master’s degree at Langston University in Oklahoma, I began compiling a book of poetry. Some of my colleagues at the time had written books and that served as inspiration for me. Later, when I began
blogging and posting Notes on Facebook, my friends told me that what I was writing was inspirational. They told me that it encouraged them in their own dating life. Everyone kept telling me to save the posts; so I compiled them into a book along with my poetry.
SISTAHS: When writing this story how did you come up with the concepts of the story?
R. Rivers: It was easy; all of the concepts and situations in the book are true and based off
of my own experiences and perceptions of being single and dating.
SISTAHS: Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?
R. Rivers: The overall theme of my book is self-love. I want readers to know the importance of loving their own individual person; in order to live a happy, healthy, life and have healthy relationships
with others.
SISTAHS: What books have most influenced your life most?
R. Rivers: Sassy, Single, and Satisfied by Michelle McKinneyHammond
SISTAHS: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?
R. Rivers: I would consider Michelle McKinney Hammond as a mentor. She is very down-to-earth and sticks to her message for single, Christian women.
SISTAHS: Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?
R. Rivers: I have been networking with many authors on Twitter lately, and I’ve recently connected with Jamillah McDaniel, All The Men We Love. I don’t read as much fiction as I did when I was younger, but the story-line of her book has recently sparked my interest.
SISTAHS: What are your current projects?
R. Rivers: I am currently finishing up a screenplay/script I started writing two years ago. I am interested in producing it as a movie or play.
SISTAHS: Do you see writing as a career?
R. Rivers: Yes, definitely. I am seeking ways to make more money writing, in addition to my book, as a freelancer.
SISTAHS: What do you like to do when you are not writing?
R. Rivers: When I’m not writing, I am spending time with my family and friends; working part-time in retail, at a women’s dress store; thinking of how to implement my millions of entrepreneurial ideas; and also attending church.
SISTAHS: Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?
R. Rivers: I may have to say that Napoleon Hill is my favorite author. He wrote the book Think and Grow Rich. I am really into non-fiction books on personal development; business; or anything spiritually empowering such as some of Joyce Meyer’s books like Battlefield of the Mind. I can’t leave
out Michelle McKinney Hammond or Juanita Bynum. These authors’ books really empowered me
during my twenties. I definitely intend to model myself after writers with such life-changing messages. The power of words and thoughts to create and sustain life; that is what strikes me most about what they write.
SISTAHS: Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
R. Rivers: I want to tell my readers to never give up! They may not aspire to become writers or authors, but they have dreams. I want them to pursue their God-given destinies and to not settle in life or love!
RSS Feed
