Naleighna Kai's Literary Cafe Magazine NK Literary Cafe Magazine - April 2018 Issue | Page 53

wounded without worrying about being judged. It’s back
to the vulnerability thing. I think we as black women
have had this huge burden of being the hard worker and
always being the backbone of the family. Venus reminds
me it’s okay to cry a little.
J.D.
Venus and Jake meet in “Would I Lie to
You” (book 2 of the series), I think. For eight books their
relationship plays out as they tackle all kinds of crazy
obstacles and issues. How challenging is it to keep their
romance fresh and compelling to readers and even to
you, the author?
Trisha
Jake saved the day in Would I Lie To You.
He’s sexy and strong, but he’s also real and human. He has
been the central theme in Venus’s life. Keeping up with
his bad decisions has given her a handful to deal with.
Makes for fun writing. They are the couple you don’t
want to see breakup. We love our celebrity couples. It
hurts us personally when they lose their step. That’s Jake
and Venus. We’re rooting for them to make it through the
trials and tribulations.
J.D.
The first book in the series, Nappily Ever
After, came out in the year 2000/2001, and your movie
rights were snatched right up. I remember because I was
jealous, but it was a good jealous. Anyway, there was all
of this talk about the movie, the movie, the movie, and
then nothing. Now that there’s a movie, can you tell us
more about how it finally came to fruition?
Trisha
Speaking of something being snatched up
… when I read your first novel, And On The First Day
She Rested, I was like WHOA! This is how I want to write
when I grow up. I swear, I couldn’t put that book down.
The movie. The movie. Then dead silence. I remember
all too well. I have been holding my breath since 2005
actually. That’s when the deal really got signed with
Universal and Halle Berry. The years kept passing with all
these other movies being made and I was disheartened
each time. Then it came to a point where I could get the
rights back, and I was like great, I can take it back and do
it my way. Sanaa Lathan was interested and here we are.
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