Intimate Conversation with Pat G'Orge-Walker

Intimate Conversation with author Pat G'Orge-Walker  aka Sister Betty

 Pat G'Orge-Walker  is the Essence bestselling author of Somebody's Sinning in My Bed; Somewhat Saved; Cruisin' on Desperation; Mother Eternal Ann Everlastin's Dead; Sister Betty, God's Calling You, Again!; and contributed a short story to the anthology Proverbs for the People.

Growing up a preacher's kid gave G'Orge-Walker a quirky perspective on the church community and inspired her to create a one-woman comedy show centering on Sister Betty, an elderly super saint whose un-Christian-like behavior blocks her blessings. With the success of the Sister Betty comedy show, G'Orge-Walker turned her humor and imagination to writing. She resides in Long Island, New York, with husband Rob. Visit her online on Facebook, http://www.sisterbetty.com/ and http://www.patgorgewalker.com/

 

BPM:  What makes you powerful as a person and a writer?  PGW:  I believe a part of what makes me powerful as a person and a writer is my honesty. I strive to be honest and it does help being a woman of a “certain age.” When you are honest, you have less reason for apology. It is what it is. I often tell people, “don’t ask me if you don’t want to know the truth.”  Now having said that, it is also in my opinion my responsibility to frame my words, and opinions in such a manner that will bring about a discussion or if necessary debate for growth,

BPM:  How much of what you write reflects on your outlook on life?PGW:  There is no set formula for me. How much of what I write that reflects my outlook on life depends on the story,, and where the story or characters take me. A good example for me is my Essence Best Seller, “Somewhat Saved.” This particular story embodies not only a portion of my real like experiences but gives me an opportunity to highlight what I perceived are observations and hopefully, solutions, to the complex father/daughter relationship. And, I always try to relate in any of my stories the power of choices. There are always repercussions, good or bad, from choices; and you do reap what you sow in some form or fashion.

BPM:  Who are your mentors? Where do you find your inspiration?PGW:  My mentors are varied. I would consider my third grade teacher, Ms. Bobbi Madison-Mackey of Williamston, SC to be a formidable force in my life. Had it not been for her I believe my imagination probably would’ve suffered tremendously. When I was a child, she’d always take the time to listen or read some of my crazy or over-imaginative ideas and stories. She still lives in Williamston, SC. According to Ms. Mackey, “Patricia, I am not surprised that you became a writer. You were the biggest liar I had in the third grade. Your imagination was incredible.”

My other mentors would be Dr. Maya Angelou and Dr. Rosie Milligan. Dr. Angelou spent five minutes with me. Back in the 1970’s she impressed upon me to be honest in my approach to writing. Those words never left me. As for Dr. Milligan, she will always have a place in my heart. Dr. Milligan saw the worth of a little book I’d published called “Sister Betty! God’s Calling You.” Dr. Milligan took that small book with only a staple in the middle and put it on her Ingram Distribution account. The rest is history.

BPM:  Introduce us to your latest book and the main characters. What genre is this book?PGW:  I’d like to introduce you to “Don’t Blame the Devil.”   This book is listed under “Urban Christian.”

The main characters are Delilah Dupree Jewel; she’s sixty-three years old (when she tells the truth about her age) a former R&B singer who looks like Lena Horne with a failed career. In her twenties, she’d given up her two-year old son and left her imprisoned husband to follow a career in show biz. Older and wiser, she wants to reclaim her life and find her son. She also decides to advise Jehovah as to how she wants it done. Jessie Jewel is Delilah’s forty-year old abandoned who is a police officer, a church trustee and a recent widower trying to raise a twenty-one year old spoiled chanteuse on his own. The last thing he wants is the mother who abandoned him reentering his life and bringing drama with her.

And returning from “Somebody’s Sinning in My Bed”/Deacon Thurgood Pillar. The wizen fashion disaster with a conk is back. He is Delilah’s estranged husband. She’d abandoned when he went to prison. Deacon Pillar is still the wise-cracking- know-it-all, shooting from the lip former gangster who traded in his gun for a bible. He thought his relationship with God was on solid ground until he discovers Delilah’s back in town. The last thing he needs is for Delilah to find out that not only does he know where Jessie lives but that he’s never revealed his true relationship to Jessie. It’s a story about second chances and forgiveness and all the mess that only faith can clean up.

BPM:  What specific situation or revelation prompted you to write your book? PGW:  As a child, I didn’t see my mother from the time I was nine until I was nineteen. A situation like this is complicated when you only have one side of the story and you hope that it’s the truth. What do you do when you find out it’s not? How do you see you as a whole person with only a half of an identity? It’s as though the missing parent holds the key to your confidence and trust because you don’t know if who you are is all you can be or even meant to be.

BPM:  Who are your favorites? Are your characters from the portrayal of real people?PGW:  My favorite characters I would have to say Delilah and Thurgood aka "Thur-No-good."  I had an absolute ball writing for those two. They’re like salt and vinegar, Fric and Frack, opposites in every sense of the word … until you want to mess with either of them. They can’t get along but have each other’s back when the stuff hits the air-conditioner. In other words, no one could stand them but each other. J

BPM:  What role do you give the "mean-spirited" characters? Do you have such characters?PGW:  I don’t really have any “mean-spirited” characters. I do have some overly opinionated characters and that can lead them into trouble not only for others, but also for themselves.

BPM:  Who do you want to reach with your book and the message within?PGW:  I want to reach those who feel hopelessness as well as those who feel they've not been or cannot be forgiven.  My message in this story two fold. Sometimes God has to let you fall on purpose so He can rebuild you for His purpose. I want people to know that grace and mercy exists for us. Grace is undeserved and mercy is unearned, but it’s there for the asking and the taking.

BPM:   What are some of the specific issues, needs or problems addressed in this book?PGW:  Some of the specific issues in my book are:  the need for taking responsibility for actions, accepting and giving forgiveness and choices and their impact. The problem is that there is no one answer for any of these.

BPM:  What was the most powerful chapter in the book?PGW:  In my opinion, the most powerful chapter in the book comes when God throws a monkey wrench into the Jewel family plans. Skeletons pour from the closet clunking everyone upside their heads J

BPM:   What do you think makes your book different from others on the same subject?PGW:  Well I believe the comedic touch makes my book different. The Publisher Weekly review thought the same.

BPM:   Ultimately, what do you want readers to gain from your book?PGW:  Ultimately, I want the readers to embrace the rewards and availability of second chances. I want them to consider what to do when they come about.

BPM:   What do you think of the increasingly gratuitous sex in African American literature? PGW:  I can’t really speak to that because I don’t read those types of books, or at least I’ve not come across any, as yet. I am a fan of Tracy Price Thompson who I feel in the “Tracy Price Thompson” books have sex scenes that are not gratuitous. I purposely say this because I’ve heard that she writes under another name of which I’m not too familiar with so I can’t speak about those books.
 

BPM:  What three elements complete a formula for Happiness, Success or Freedom?PGW:  I wish I knew a universal formula. For me the three elements are: prayer, obedience to God and again, honesty.

BPM:  Finish this sentence- My writing offers the following legacy to future readers... PGW:  My writing offers the following legacy to future readers: I pray that my legacy would come from the perspective of humor, honesty and hope. I’ve lived through more tragedies than I can count and have maintained my honesty in speaking about them and clung to the hope and experience that God will see me through. He has definitely done that.

BPM:   Share with us your latest news or upcoming book releases.  PGW:  My latest news is that I will have a Christmas book available for 2011. I’m very proud that Kensington/Dafina asked that I write one involving Sister Betty and her zany church members. It will touch on the subject of the economy as well as the often-misunderstood church stand on wealth.

As for awards, I recently received the Nassau County African American award for Literary Excellence and a medal for Literary Accomplishments from the Town of Freeport and a citation from Nassau County as well. I will have books published thus far in 2010, 2011 and 2012.  Christian comedian D’Lo (Upstage Comedians) and I are in the process of launching our “chURch NuTTz TV” website. We’ve tried it on Facebook and the feedback has been phenomenal.

BPM:   How can our readers reach you online? PGW:  Readers can contact me through my face book and myspace pages. They can also visit my website, http://www.patgorgewalker.com/ where further contact info is available. They can also visit my http://www.sisterbetty.com/ page to see video and hear audio pertaining to my Sister Betty comedy shows, etc.

Don't Blame the Devil  by Pat G'Orge-Walker Sequel to Somebody's Sinning in My Bed

ISBN-10: 0758235429  |   ISBN-13: 978-0758235428

Purchase your copy  of  Don't Blame the Devil  today!http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Blame-Devil-Pat-GOrge-Walker/dp/0758235429