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Best-Selling Author Reveals Story Behind New Novel, “If All Men Cheat, All Women Should Too”

By Telisha N
Urban literature is quickly becoming a leading sector of the book publishing industry. I had the pleasure of interviewing multi-dimensional LaShonda Devaughn bestselling author, owner of LSDV Productions and a master at controlling her vision:

T.N: What made you want to become an Author?

L.D: I grew up in a rough environment, when I started losing people I loved to jail or to the streets, writing became my therapy. It started with poetry, and then my boyfriend at the time convinced me to try my hand at writing rhymes. I was actually really good at it and I loved it. I ended up losing my boyfriend to street violence and I would write him poems to express how I was feeling at the time. Once I lost my little brother to street violence as well, I knew that I had to turn the pages I was writing into a story. That’s when my first book, A Hood Chick’s Story was birthed.

T.N: Did you always have a career in writing?

L.D: No. I got an Associate Degree in Science, I went to school for Legal studies so I’ve worked in Law firms, accounting firms and then became really successful in Real Estate.

T.N: How did you make the transition from Real Estate to Publishing?

L.D: Real Estate was never really my passion. I think I went after it so hard because I grew up on public assistance so owning a piece of the American dream was a goal of mine. Owning multiple properties and being a landlord was a lot of work and at times, stressful. There were parts of it that I loved but the transition into writing was easy because the art of writing and storytelling was my calling.

T.N: You’ve written five books; did you ever think that you would become a Best Selling Author?

L.D: Honestly, I didn’t know where A Hood Chick’s Story was going to take me, however I knew I was on to something. Now, five books deep, I don’t plan on stopping.

T.N: Despite the many roadblocks you experienced getting to this point in your career I have to say that you are a master at controlling your vision. What is the one thing that keeps you focused and disciplined?

L.D: My two children keep me focused, motivated and disciplined.  I’ve been through a lot of trials and tribulations growing up so I always told myself that once I had kids, I would provide them with a life opposite of what I had endured.

T.N: Why do you think “A Hook Chick’s Story” resonated with a lot of folks?

L.D: I think A Hood Chick’s Story resonated with a lot of folks because it hits home in a major way. It’s loosely based on my life and I knew in writing it that there were others who have been through similar struggles. It’s not only relatable in your typical “hood” but also in the suburban areas because it’s very family oriented.  People email me all the time telling me that although they didn’t grow up in the hood, they could relate to a lot of the issues that the main character Tiara and her family went through. It’s a very emotional and personal read which is why I think the Hood Chick’s Series became so popular. A Hood Chick’s Story pt. 1 is actually still my leading selling novel.

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Original Story