Author Dorrie Williams-Wheeler interviews Toschia

The book is wild. How did you come up with the idea to write the book "You Wrong For That?"
My sorority sisters and book club sisters and I were at lunch discussing my book characters and in walks in this woman that was a little too large for her outfit. The first thing out of everyone's mouth was "she know she Wrong For That" hence the title was born.

As a career woman, how did you get into writing fiction? Where did you find the time?
I never have time for anything. I have adult ADD (rofl) so I just squeezed my writing into my already overextended life. Seriously though, up until the last few years mainstream African-American fiction was not my cup of tea. Back then my idea of a good fiction novel was "The Painted Bird" by Jerzy Kosinski. I'd read Maya, Toni and everything else that was deemed as good black fiction. I joined a book club that was reading such a wide array of literature that I became exposed to Tanarive Due, Gloria Mallette, Mary Morrison and when I starting reading Carl Weber I knew that was the type of fiction that I particularly enjoyed so I began writing.

Was there ever a time you worried about how the book would be received by your family and peers?
Not really. When they drag my poor body down the aisle in the casket one day.. I only have to answer to God… However, my poor mother begged me not to put my last name on it. (LOL) But anyone that knows me, knows how I am. My credentials speak for themselves! So I don't have to try to impress anyone or gain some type of favor. When you've stared death in the face and God has blessed you to live you truly realize that life is short, so it doesn't bother you as much what people say. People are going to always have something to talk about. I promise you if I wrote a Christian fiction, nonfiction, short story, etc. etc. someone is going to have something to say. I truly believe in the Bill Cosby saying. "I don't know the key to success but the key to failure is to try to please everyone."

Your book is the perfect example of an author being true to their story and their voice. What advice would you give authors who are influenced to change their stories by their publisher or by peers?
Don't ever compromise or change who you are to please anyone! Nine times out of ten and more often than not other people feel the same way but are not as bold to admit it. Why do you think people like the whole sensatious pomposity of "American Idol?" "Rickey Smiley?" etc. etc? Because people like to be entertained even if we are wrong for laughing. We all know a Sister Corrine at the church who is always hopping her happy ass around trying to get on passa's "good side" but smells like fish. We all know the lil' special ed drummer at church who can't keep the rhythm and has snot hanging out of his nose, Yes we laugh at him. I'm not saying it's right but we do whether we want to admit it or not. Look at that lil' special boy on American Idol. We know that was pitiful! Seriously, be true to yourself and your craft.
Will there be a sequel to "You Wrong For That?"
Of course, the sequel is entitled "See, What Had Happened Was!" ( Think about it, as soon as you bust somebody for lying and cheating, what's the first thing they say?"

What are people saying about the sex scenes in your book?"
Some have said they are a little over the top, especially the Popsicle thing but I purposely did that. Realistically, if a woman has not been with anyone in three years and she meets "crackling bread eating Kunta" who sweeps her off her feet, it would be remiss for me as a writer and a realist to have them "make love." No, there is going to be some raw F*&^&ng! Some tracks are going to be falling out, some people banging on the wall next door, a leg cramp or two is going to form… Just stank nasty sex is more than likely going to happen, at least initially.

What is your favorite scene?
Wow! I have a few. When Davis dresses up like Dora the Explorer with the singing telegram is funny but my favorite is the fight scene at "Hooters." The scene is Haiti with the car accident is probably one of my most intense scenes. There are quite a few though that most readers enjoy.

What makes your novel different from other novels?
Honestly I have so many subplots that I hope readers are trying to catch what I'm saying. But to answer your question. I try to keep my characters as real as possible.. Secondly, my novel depict everyday life but on a different socio-economic level that a lot of readers are looking for. I based Rhea's dialogue loosely on the novel "Mrs. Dalloway " by Virginia Woolf you know that whole "stream of consciousness" thing that Rhea has going on. Most people are looking for characters that are like themselves. A lot of what I read the characters are either so posh and unbelievable or very urban, so I tried to find a happy medium. My novel represents the atypical college educated, upper class person who still can get "ghetto" if the need arises. In my world the baby daddy is not going to be "JuneBug" who has been locked up and beats his women. No, it will be Mr. Articulate, college educated frat boy, alleged pillar of the community who has three baby mammas. He is just as contrite as Junebug but tries to cover it up. His mom won't live in the projects but lives in the suburbs and pays his bills and she won't see her grandkids not because she doesn't have the money but because her son said the baby mamma trapped his broke ass so the triling grandmammy neglects her grandchildren. Baby mama's have PHD's, JD's, MD's and western union their men money to go to the Star Trek convention because they don't want their man's stomach ulcers to bother them because he can't hang with his boy's. Silly crap like that! Baby mama's will not fight each other but will plot to get the baby daddy back for being a looser. The same scenario as any "street lit" novel, just on a whole nother' level. Actually it's probably more sad because at least Boomquiasha will get her hair and nails done. Ms. Too Cute and Ivy League won't admit they are being used. Also, I wanted to expose Afro-Latino and Afro-Caribbean customs that are so overlooked in this country unless we are watching the cute lil' mamacita shaking it on a video. The Afro Latin experience is so unique and beautiful that we as black people must embrace our similarities and not our differences.

What is this contest you are running?
The Simple Bitch Parade!! Yes, I am accepting applications for a Grand Marshall for the Simple Bitch of the Year." I'm not going to even try to explain that, we all know a few simple bitches!

What are your thoughts on the state of Black Literature?
Honestly, I am elated! People may argue semantics as to whether or not one genre or another is good writing or not but guess what? People are reading! This whole hip-hop literature phenomena is spell bounding and brings to mind the term "Hip Hop Renaissance." Think about the Harlem Renaissance which was a time of life, movement, creativity and revolution. The music mirrored the literature, the spoken word, the art, the revolution. We have hip hop artists like "Common" to activist Jehmu Greene from "Rock the Vote" to artist Annie Lee and Hosea! I am so excited to be a part of this rebirth of blackness! And with more and more black authors like Zane, Carl Weber and my mentor Mary B. Morrison reaching out to younger writers I think the best in black literature in yet to come!

The Literary industry is new to you, coming from a corporate background what are the main differences?
Dorrie, you sure you want me to answer that one?

Yes?
Okay.. in the corporate world… it's all about the bottom line…You may hate one another but business is business. Not all, but some in this industry are a little uptight…. It's sad when writers try to perpetuate some type of Biggie/Tupac, 50 cent/The Game feud.. You shouldn't be categorized based on your genre, publisher, publicist, etc. etc. I judge people based on their individuality and I try to get along with everyone if at all possible. We as minority writers should be singing each other's accolades not dogging each other out.. Especially, when 40 years ago a lot of our ancestors were fighting literally just to vote. I'd just like to say that those that have children "hug them," if a child has self-esteem they are more than likely to grow up and appreciate all types of people and look for the good in other people not the misspelled word on page 37 that the author had no control over.

What are you working on now?
A little bit of everything, working full time, my promotional business. I'm organizing along with my sorors ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Monica P. Carter and Norma Jarrett. The Black Greek Authors on Tour. This is going to be an awesome and historic event! We have over a dozen authors all members of the "Divine Nine" that will be embarking on a 25 city tour this fall! My first love is politics, so I'm working with the National Democratic Party to help encourage more younger minorities to Rock the Vote!"