Thank you, Adriene Pickett for taking the time to share information with readers!
~SCBC, Inc.

Tell us your latest news?  My latest news is the recent release of my first novel Never Forget The Bridge That Crossed You Over.  

Where are you from? I was born and raised in Passaic, New Jersey, and currently reside in New Jersey.  

When and why did you begin writing? I have been writing poetry since high school and fiction/screenplays since college.  I'm inspired to write when people tell me my writing leaves a lasting impression on them, and my words makes the reading pleasant to the heart, mind, and soul.  

What inspired you to pen your first novel?  I wanted to write a book about a family that finds its strength in the face of adversity.  I also wanted to show the relationships between generations and races. This book covers three
generations, from the cotton-picking days and Civil Rights Movement in
Georgia, to the present day.  

What is this book about? Never Forget The Bridge That Crossed You Over takes place in the fictionalized town of Mission, Georgia in the 1960s.  Three sisters are abducted by their brother's schoolteacher and sold to families in different states.  After an exhaustive but fruitless search for the girls, Ivory Walker and her three older children move to New Jersey to escape the pain and pursue a better life.  Finally, after thirty-eight years of holding on to faith, the Walker family is reunited.  The deep and poignant secrets that tore the family apart and kept its members separated are exposed, and broken hearts
eventually are healed.

What was the most difficult part, scene or character to write? The most difficult character to write was Ivory Walker.  Ivory has been through a great deal.  She has survived the mysterious death of her husband, falls in love with a shiftless man only to be abandoned by him four years later, and forced to raise six children in the Deep South.  And just when things seem to be going her way, she is diagnosed with breast cancer, and while hospitalized, her three youngest daughters are abducted.  It was difficult allowing one character to experience so much hardship, but I admired Ivory's rock-hard resolve, her focus in life, her profound love for her family and friends, and her everlasting belief in God.

Never Forget The Bridge That Crossed You Over is a great title for a book - where did this title come from?  I've heard this phrase so many times before, but an older cousin who lived in California used it repeatedly.  She always made reference to Black families being there for each other and she would tell me...  "Adriene, you never forget the bridge that crossed you over.  You never forget where you came from."  

How much of the novel is realistic? The story is fiction, but the portrayal of the Walker family's experiences and rich Southern culture are truthful.

What books have most influenced your life? Roots, the Autobiography of Malcolm X, The Color Purple, and A Lesson Before Dying.

Who are some of your writing influences? Alex Haley, Ernest J. Gaines, Alice Walker, Toni Morrison and Amy Tan.

How do you feel overall about self-publishing and would you encourage or mentor someone to become self-publish?  Self-publishing is not difficult, it just takes a lot of work.  All it takes is some research, having the desire to want your book published, having the ability to get it in print, and having some organization.

Yes, I would mentor someone to become self-publish.  I recently attended the Harlem Book Festival and spoke to many aspiring writers who are now contacting me about self-publishing.  I have gotten much support from other self-published authors like Natalie L. Darden and Thomas Green.  They've given me lots of advice, suggestions and direction.

Do you feel that the boom in African American writers is a fad or another renaissance? I believe it is a renaissance.  As far as I can remember, African Americans (especially within my circle of family and friends) have always read.  Now, there are just more books about us to read.

Name one entity that you feel supported you outside of family members. Many African American Book Clubs and African American literary websites have supported me.  I've also gotten a lot of support from African American independent bookstores and stores.

Do you see writing as a long- or short-term career?  Writing is my career. Currently, I am working on a screenplay and a second novel.

How can readers get in touch with you? Readers can visit my website at www.adrienepickett.com or they can email me at adrienepickett@aol.com. My website features an excerpt and a tour/news page.

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