16BB AN INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT BY MIA MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS GROUP TO THE MIAMI HERALD MONDAY , OCTOBER 2 , 2017
By William Hobbs
Spirits , sex , and secrets – novelist Simone Kelly of Hollywood , Florida brings all three together for the suspenseful novel Like a Fly on the Wall .
“ I love finding connec�ons between things most people shy away from ," says Kelly , a former Legacy Magazine “ 40 Under 40 ” honoree . “ The result always reveals things we tend to take for granted .”
Kelly ’ s debut novel recently made Amazon ’ s bestseller list to rave reviews . Deco Drive anchor Lynn Mar�nez said she struggled to pull away from Like a Fly . “ I can ' t put this book down ,” she wrote . “ It ' s intriguing !”
During a 10-city book tour , Kelly gushed over the news of the Amazon . com designa�on . She said what she finds most sa�sfying is the humorous and steamy novel ’ s effect on its readers . “ It ’ s opening up the minds of people in regards to intui�on , demys�fying thoughts on being psychic ,” she explained . “ Many people can relate . A�er reading the book people are not afraid of their own intui�ve gi�s .”
Like a Fly revolves around Jacques , a
South Florida Author ’ s Suspenseful Novel Makes Amazon ' s Bestseller List handsome , Moroccan-born , mindreading intui�ve who uses his talents to steer clients to clarity in their lives as he struggles for the same in his own . The novel is set primarily among the pastel , picturesque , palm tree-lined locales of South Florida . In fact , Miami becomes a character itself along with Kylie , one of a Jacque ’ s gorgeous and sharp clients . Both Jacque and Kylie find themselves unraveling mysteries that threaten not only their love lives , but their very iden��es as well .
A marke�ng guru who has worked with HBO and dot-com startups , Kelly said she believes she was des�ned to be a successful
Legacy Editor-in-Chief Russell Motley purchases an autographed copy of Simone Kelly ' s latest novel at the South Florida Book Festival at the African American Research Library and Cultural Center , July 22 , 2017 .
writer . As a third grader , she penned books for which she drew all of the illustra�ons . Her mother then made copies for her to sell at school .
Such insight has developed into the visual medium as well for Kelly who directed a steamy promo�onal video for the novel that is making quite a s�r on social media . “ I ’ ve enjoyed ge�ng my feet wet with the project as a director ,” she shared . “ This helps with the transi�on of ge�ng the story to television .”
The disparate elements of Like a Fly are reflec�ve of Kelly ’ s wide array of interests . In addi�on to wri�ng novels , she is CEO of Own Your Power Communica�ons , Inc ., an
Internet radio host and producer , and intui�ve life coach .
Best-selling novelist Donna Hill , author of My Love at Last , and What Mother Never Told Me , admired Kelly ’ s approach , saying , “ She has cra�ed a modern-day hero who breaks the mold of the tradi�onal archetype and a heroine that is sure to be his match .”
Although Like A Fly is as humorous and fast-paced as the author , it simmers with enough sensual heat to knock out the power in downtown Miami . Rela�onships are tested at every turn with the danger and excitement of the possibility of another . The big take away in Kelly ’ s Like a Fly is that no ma�er how a person may meditate , pray , or hide in their apartment , the heart ’ s demand for passion will s�ll find ways to surprise and astound even the most intui�ve and well-inten�oned .
“ The spiritual side of Jacques is a lot of things that I have experienced ,” says Kelly , who likens the narra�ve to her intui�ve talents . “ The story , like all of my work , celebrates how complicated , connected and gi�ed we all are .”