Nicety, 29, was born and raised on the southside of Chicago. Her love of writing began in the 3rd grade. Many teachers pushed her to expand her knowledge of words and taught her how to put them together to make them flow like melted butter. During her teen years she put her love of writing on hold and fell in love with another passion, graphic design. It wasn't until college that she began writing again, taking advanced creative Writing and English classes. One professor caught on to her gift and began to motivate her to publish her work and share her gift with the world.
Upon graduating from Kennedy King College in 2010 with an Associate’s degree in Arts, that's what Nicety did. Now she's written short series and four full length novels and is working on countless more. She is now married with three beautiful children still living in Chicago. She spends a vast majority of her time writing the books she loves with the support of her family. All of her books have topped the charts of one or more Amazon Bestsellers Lists at one point in time. Her goal is to bring that accomplishment over to the New York Times List as well.
Her titles include:
Killing Me Softly
Beautiful Nightmare
Juicy: Pandora's Box
Candy Shop
Like Flies to Honey 2
Like Flies to Honey 1
About “Killing Me Softly”
Goddess Young is devastated when her husband Spliff disappears kidnapped by some crooked cops on a power trip. When she finds out he's dead, she has a hard time picking up the pieces of her life and finds it spiraling out of control. She loses her home and almost her sanity, torn by grief as she wonders how she'll survive without him. She's unable to find a job and found herself in the middle of her friend, Quetta's problems. It looked like the end of the road for her until she received a phone call that gets her out of the heat, for now. A new town brings about a newfound happiness and love that she didn't believe was possible. Goddess tries to keep her head above water but it's nearly impossible with fresh dripping wet blood on her hands.
Jealousy, deceit, and betrayal rear their ugly heads throughout this book especially when she realizes that the dead has secrets too.
DP: When did you first decide you wanted to become an author?
Nicety: I decided that I wanted to become an author after I wrote my first book. I sat there staring at the cursor blink on the screen at the end of my last sentence and thought to myself, "Now what?"
My professor suggested that I publish it on Amazon and gave me all the steps and tools to get started on my own. At the time, I wasn't sure if that was the right decision to make. One night my husband came home from work and asked me what I was waiting for. I knew then that my support system was in place.
DP: How did you decide on the idea for your first book?
Nicety: The idea for my first short story, Like Flies to Honey, came from a dream I had about a past relationship. Until I met my husband, every man that I ever had a relationship with cheated on me. I wanted to bring some of those feelings to life but also put my own spin on it as well.
DP: How long did it take you to write your first book?
Nicety: It took me about a week to write my first short story. I write all day everyday so it never really takes me any time at all to write if I focus.
DP: Did you self-publish or are you signed to a publishing company?
Nicety: I am a proud self-published author!
DP: How did you decide on the cover for your most recent book?
Nicety: My first love is writing but my second love is graphics. I design all of my own covers. I have done a few for other authors as well. I wanted the fast paced life of Chicago to be recognized with a serious female who had a lot to hide behind. That was the driving force behind the cover for Killing Me Softly.
DP: Tell us about your writing style. Do you write on a schedule?
Nicety: I need to make a certain word count every day before I can do anything else in my day. At minimum I write 2000 words a day and at maximum 10,000. When its crunch time for my deadlines I write 10,000. I like to keep my deadlines because it feels like a promise I've made to my readers and I always keep my word.
DP: What makes your writing unique?
Nicety: I think what makes my writing unique is the fact that my stories are innovative and fresh. I try my hardest not to copy anyone else's story lines because readers have read it all before. I want to bring something fresh and knew to the table while also giving them what they've come to love.
DP: As a writer, what motivates you?
Nicety: My family. I want to be able to show them that dreams can be achieved with hard work and dedication.
DP: How do you balance your writing and various responsibilities that come along with being an independent author?
Nicety: I usually try to knock my writing out in the morning after the kids go to school and that way I am free to take care of my responsibilities the rest of the day.
DP: When you’re not writing what are you doing?
Nicety: When I am not writing, I'm thinking about writing. Ideas never cease to pop up in my head. But otherwise, I'm either in mommy or wifey mode.
DP: What’s a typical day like for you?
Nicety: I get up at 7am to get the kids ready for school and get them there by 8:15am. Then I come back home and write until 11am when it's time to pick my preschoolers up from school, since they only go half days. Then I come home and write while they nap until 3:30pm when my teenager gets home. Then if I've finished my word count, I will cook dinner and chat with my children or clean until my husband gets home. If I hadn't finished my word count then I still do all of that and sit down at the computer in between time until I'm done.
DP: Tell us about your last book signing.
Nicety: Currently I haven't had any book signings, but I am planning them for the 2013 lineup.
DP: Do you have contests or giveaways?
Nicety: Check my Facebook or Twitter pages under the name Nicety Couture, for the latest on my contests or giveaways! They come and go so quickly but there is always something going on!
DP: Many independent authors find it hard to get readers to buy their books. How did you handle the challenges that come along with being a first-time author in a competitive and ever-changing market?
Nicety: I usually read and investigate what people want beforehand so I know exactly how to execute a plan. There weren't many challenges that I couldn't handle because I went into this business with confidence and a well thought out marketing plan.
DP: What did you do on your 2nd book that you did not do in your first one?
Nicety: I made it longer. People love short stories but there is nothing like a full length novel that you can cuddle up to.
DP: If you could give one piece of advice to an up and coming author, what would it be?
Nicety: RESEARCH! Please if you do nothing else, do your research on any and everything and everybody you can. Do not go into this business thinking there are rainbows waiting for you on the other side. Not everyone is your friend either. There are some people who would genuinely help you and others who look at you as impending competition and could care less about you; and there are others who only want to steal from you. I call them snakes in the grass. Beware!
DP: Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?
Nicety: My books can be purchased in eBook format or on paperback at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, & Books A Million!
Upon graduating from Kennedy King College in 2010 with an Associate’s degree in Arts, that's what Nicety did. Now she's written short series and four full length novels and is working on countless more. She is now married with three beautiful children still living in Chicago. She spends a vast majority of her time writing the books she loves with the support of her family. All of her books have topped the charts of one or more Amazon Bestsellers Lists at one point in time. Her goal is to bring that accomplishment over to the New York Times List as well.
Her titles include:
Killing Me Softly
Beautiful Nightmare
Juicy: Pandora's Box
Candy Shop
Like Flies to Honey 2
Like Flies to Honey 1
About “Killing Me Softly”
Goddess Young is devastated when her husband Spliff disappears kidnapped by some crooked cops on a power trip. When she finds out he's dead, she has a hard time picking up the pieces of her life and finds it spiraling out of control. She loses her home and almost her sanity, torn by grief as she wonders how she'll survive without him. She's unable to find a job and found herself in the middle of her friend, Quetta's problems. It looked like the end of the road for her until she received a phone call that gets her out of the heat, for now. A new town brings about a newfound happiness and love that she didn't believe was possible. Goddess tries to keep her head above water but it's nearly impossible with fresh dripping wet blood on her hands.
Jealousy, deceit, and betrayal rear their ugly heads throughout this book especially when she realizes that the dead has secrets too.
DP: When did you first decide you wanted to become an author?
Nicety: I decided that I wanted to become an author after I wrote my first book. I sat there staring at the cursor blink on the screen at the end of my last sentence and thought to myself, "Now what?"
My professor suggested that I publish it on Amazon and gave me all the steps and tools to get started on my own. At the time, I wasn't sure if that was the right decision to make. One night my husband came home from work and asked me what I was waiting for. I knew then that my support system was in place.
DP: How did you decide on the idea for your first book?
Nicety: The idea for my first short story, Like Flies to Honey, came from a dream I had about a past relationship. Until I met my husband, every man that I ever had a relationship with cheated on me. I wanted to bring some of those feelings to life but also put my own spin on it as well.
DP: How long did it take you to write your first book?
Nicety: It took me about a week to write my first short story. I write all day everyday so it never really takes me any time at all to write if I focus.
DP: Did you self-publish or are you signed to a publishing company?
Nicety: I am a proud self-published author!
DP: How did you decide on the cover for your most recent book?
Nicety: My first love is writing but my second love is graphics. I design all of my own covers. I have done a few for other authors as well. I wanted the fast paced life of Chicago to be recognized with a serious female who had a lot to hide behind. That was the driving force behind the cover for Killing Me Softly.
DP: Tell us about your writing style. Do you write on a schedule?
Nicety: I need to make a certain word count every day before I can do anything else in my day. At minimum I write 2000 words a day and at maximum 10,000. When its crunch time for my deadlines I write 10,000. I like to keep my deadlines because it feels like a promise I've made to my readers and I always keep my word.
DP: What makes your writing unique?
Nicety: I think what makes my writing unique is the fact that my stories are innovative and fresh. I try my hardest not to copy anyone else's story lines because readers have read it all before. I want to bring something fresh and knew to the table while also giving them what they've come to love.
DP: As a writer, what motivates you?
Nicety: My family. I want to be able to show them that dreams can be achieved with hard work and dedication.
DP: How do you balance your writing and various responsibilities that come along with being an independent author?
Nicety: I usually try to knock my writing out in the morning after the kids go to school and that way I am free to take care of my responsibilities the rest of the day.
DP: When you’re not writing what are you doing?
Nicety: When I am not writing, I'm thinking about writing. Ideas never cease to pop up in my head. But otherwise, I'm either in mommy or wifey mode.
DP: What’s a typical day like for you?
Nicety: I get up at 7am to get the kids ready for school and get them there by 8:15am. Then I come back home and write until 11am when it's time to pick my preschoolers up from school, since they only go half days. Then I come home and write while they nap until 3:30pm when my teenager gets home. Then if I've finished my word count, I will cook dinner and chat with my children or clean until my husband gets home. If I hadn't finished my word count then I still do all of that and sit down at the computer in between time until I'm done.
DP: Tell us about your last book signing.
Nicety: Currently I haven't had any book signings, but I am planning them for the 2013 lineup.
DP: Do you have contests or giveaways?
Nicety: Check my Facebook or Twitter pages under the name Nicety Couture, for the latest on my contests or giveaways! They come and go so quickly but there is always something going on!
DP: Many independent authors find it hard to get readers to buy their books. How did you handle the challenges that come along with being a first-time author in a competitive and ever-changing market?
Nicety: I usually read and investigate what people want beforehand so I know exactly how to execute a plan. There weren't many challenges that I couldn't handle because I went into this business with confidence and a well thought out marketing plan.
DP: What did you do on your 2nd book that you did not do in your first one?
Nicety: I made it longer. People love short stories but there is nothing like a full length novel that you can cuddle up to.
DP: If you could give one piece of advice to an up and coming author, what would it be?
Nicety: RESEARCH! Please if you do nothing else, do your research on any and everything and everybody you can. Do not go into this business thinking there are rainbows waiting for you on the other side. Not everyone is your friend either. There are some people who would genuinely help you and others who look at you as impending competition and could care less about you; and there are others who only want to steal from you. I call them snakes in the grass. Beware!
DP: Where can readers purchase a copy of your book?
Nicety: My books can be purchased in eBook format or on paperback at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, & Books A Million!
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