Author Spotlight Saturday with A.L. Gibson

Welcome to Genuine Jenn A.L. Gibson! We are excited to have you on our Spotlight Saturday.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and why/what inspired you to write?

I was born in Charleston, South Carolina, raised in several parts of Florida, and for the past ten years I have been living in Birmingham, Alabama. For as long as I can remember I have always had a passion for writing due to my restless imagination and the fact that I am a huge word nerd. I absolutely love telling entertaining stories, but I find the most pleasure in writing them. Writing gives me the opportunity to touch countless lives through the power of written word and I must admit, that very thought alone inspires me to write.

What was your inspiration for ‘Spurned: A Short Story’?

I wanted to take my painful experiences of being bullied as a child and use it to help inspire others. My sole purpose for writing Spurned was to give hope and inspiration to anyone who has ever experienced or currently experiencing bullying, peer pressure and low self-esteem. Being bullied is no fun and struggling with low self-esteem can be extremely painful, but I want other people to know that they can take those painful experiences and turn it into something positive.

What three words would you use to best describe Spurned: A Short Story?

Motivating. Stimulating. Inspiring.

Can you tell us if you’re working on anything else at the moment?

I am currently working on a short story entitled Underneath the Pecan Tree. It is a warm and inviting short story that I feel many readers will enjoying reading.

What was your very first book that you wrote?

Poka City Blues.

Other than your own, what are your favourite books?

A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown, The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison, Bastard out of Carolina by Dorothy Allison and The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd.

When you are writing do you like to listen to music?

Absolutely!

What is on your playlist?

Anita Baker, Alvin Garrett, The Weeknd, Galantis, Adele, Andy Grammer, Coldplay, Shelia E just to name a few.

Who is your favorite character in your books?

Sedelia in Poka City Blues. She is a fighter and has a wicked sense of humor just like myself. Despite her many setbacks and heartbreaks, she refuses to give up. She is a character I believe many readers will be able to relate to and draw inspiration from.

Do you ever take characteristics or nuances from close friends or family when working on character development and if so has that friend or family member noticed and what was their response to it?

I do take characteristics from some of my family members for my characters and thus far their responses have been positive. They find it humorous to see parts of themselves in a story and they love telling other people about it. I never have to look far for character development.

What’s your favorite treat?

Strawberry Pocky Sticks.

What’s your Favorite place to read/write?

In my bedroom and/or living room.

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

Kauai, Hawaii

Thank you A.L. Gibson for taking the time to chat with us on Genuine Jenn!