Sarah sits down to discuss Kenya Nelson’s debut novel, UNGRATEFUL. Listen in as they chat about Kenya’s process when developing characters, the #metoo movement, and the alternative rock industry.
Contrapasso (2016)
An interracial couple flees across states after a confrontation turns deadly at a gas station.
Happy Women’s History Month
It’s still March and this month, the world has continued giving every female trailblazer (past and present) her flowers. I made a brief presentation that I intended to share at my virtual book launch. However, because of timing and technical issues, I left it out. Therefore, I’m going to share Black female rock trailblazers, with... Continue Reading →
The “Ungrateful” Virtual Book Re-Launch!
I didn't get a chance to share these photos the day after the book launch. I was in a whirlwind of anxiety and excitement. Like Alimah says, "my nerves were a balled-up piece of paper thrown against the wall". I was up and down. Frazzled and a bottle of rosé was my saving grace. I... Continue Reading →
The “Ungrateful” Book Trailer
My brother and I collaborated on my book trailer, and it turned out amazing! This trailer truly embodied the mood and aesthetic of the novel. My brother, Ken Nelson Jr., is an award-winning filmmaker and editor, with an even more impressive resume. You can learn more about his work at http://www.raymediacreative.com. https://youtu.be/cTYixhPgtsA https://read.amazon.com/kp/card?asin=B08R8FNFW2&preview=inline&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_YWVZG89NN60EX5HXQ4B3
Creating a Monster: Elliot Hunter (Pt. 2)
Elliot Hunter’s celebrity persona, and role in a very dark scandal are inspired by every prominent hip-hop/R&B mogul, Dr. Luke (top pop music producer), the Elite Models sexual abuse controversy, and Jeffrey Epstein. I won’t name the names of the moguls for legal purposes. Dr. Luke (left) and Kesha (right). Kesha filed a lawsuit against... Continue Reading →
Creating a Monster: Elliot Hunter (Pt. 1)
Elliot Hunter is the antagonist of Ungrateful. I won’t give away much about him since I’d rather people follow his dark journey when they read the novel. 😉 However, in two parts, I will give some insight into where I drew inspiration into creating his character, and the psychological features of what makes him a... Continue Reading →
Book Cover for “Ungrateful”
When I designed this cover, I thought about embodying the story through color, font style, and composition. The colors red, black, and white are important to this story in terms of the story’s overall mood and its moral, Alimah’s music, and spirituality. I remember showing this cover to a close friend, and he told me,... Continue Reading →
Soundtrack for “Ungrateful”
I created a Spotify soundtrack for my novel Ungrateful. It’s a two-playlist soundtrack called RED/BLACK, based on the promotional images’ red and black color scheme and the colors’ symbolism in the book. I played certain songs while writing particular scenes. Like creating a score for a movie or TV show, I selected music that best... Continue Reading →
Creating Alimah: Her Personality
Alimah suffers traumatic events in the music industry. Therefore, I sought extensive research to portray an accurate survivor of sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse in the entertainment industry. While I have reached out to people who have worked in the industry or are still active in the music industry, the bulk of my research came... Continue Reading →