MJ Kane and the Butterfly Memoirs Book Release Tour

On Friday, April 27th of 2012, I had the pleasure of hosting author MJ Kane on my blog. She was at the stage in her career as an author where she was sending out queries and waiting for a positive response. We had been chatting (internet) for a little while before this and have kept on since. I have the utmost respect for this amazing woman and when she finally got her acceptance letter I was so excited for her, my husband wanted to know what was going on.  

Now, after sleepless nights leading up to the release of her novel, I get to host her again, as part of the launch tour. She has shared a personal insight into the motivation behind her writing, and now, itis my pleasure to share it with you.

If you want to read the last post on MJ Kane, scroll down a bit and you'll find it on the left.

 

Writing Has Helped Me Heal

My decision to write was the culmination of many things. The most significant was surviving a traumatic experience.

In 2006, a series of strokes landed me in ICU for two weeks. I was paralyzed on one side of my body for several days. Unable to walk or remember the names of my children, no one knew what my road to recovery would entail. Thankfully, my family stood behind me and pushed me at times when I wanted to give up. I was able to walk, though not fast, out of the hospital after regaining the ability to move my limbs. A few months later, in an attempt to keep mobile and do something I loved, I went back to work taking on a job that was completely different than my previous work. But to no avail, the stress of the job threatened another stroke and had forced me to quite on the spot.

After a few years of struggling to find something to occupy my time, my husband suggested I try writing. I’ve always been an avid reader, and a year before the stroke I’d written a short story based on the television show, LOST. It was a typical Fan-Fic, but it wasn’t half bad. I dug the thirty-page story out of a box, read it, and decided to take my character and give her a whole new life. Pulling from the emotions of my personal experience and those of women and men around me, I created my own form of storytelling.

Life is full of emotional ups and downs. But like my life, after trial, healing, and help from loved ones, my characters emerge like me: changed.

Ebony is a smart, sexy, career-oriented black woman who wants nothing more than a summer fling with a man who challenges her mind and body. What she doesn’t expect is a blond haired, blue-eyed bass player—who won’t take “no” for an answer—to accept the challenge. 

When Ebony’s attempt at a brief fling turns into more, despite negative reactions from friends and family, she finds juggling love, family, and career are nothing compared to the ultimate betrayal she endures. Now her dreams spiral into lies and secrets that threaten her future and her best friend’s trust.  

Available now from 5 Prince Publishing! Buy Now!

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M.J. Kane stumbled into writing. An avid reader, this stay at home mom never lost the overactive imagination of an only child. As an adult she made up stories, though never shared them, to keep herself entertained. It wasn’t until surviving a traumatic medical incident in 2006 that she found a reason to let the characters inhabiting her imagination free.  Upon the suggestion of her husband, she commandeered his laptop and allowed the characters to take life. It was that, or look over her shoulder for men caring a purple strait jacket. And the rest, as they say, is history.

No longer a television addict, if M.J. isn’t reading a book by one of her favorite authors, she’s battling with her creative muse to balance writing and being a wife and mother. She resides in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia with her high school sweetheart, four wonderful children, and two pit bulls. MJ can often be found hanging out at the local library where she is director of a local writer’s group, or online connecting with readers and other authors. Other activities she enjoys include: creating custom floral arrangements, assisting her children in their creative pursuits of music and art, and supporting her husband’s music production business, 3D Sounds.

You can find MJ on social networking sites, sharing writing tips, talking about music, life, and family. She’s always excited to meet new people. Connect with her via the websites below. 

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

This Writer’s Life Blog

The Butterfly Memoirs Blog

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