Thank you Dorrie for sharing information with readers! 

Where are you from?

I have lived some of everywhere it seems, but I consider myself a Chicago native. I have lived in California, New Jersey, and I know reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and lived in the city for much of my formative years, so Chicago will always be home. My family is there.

Tell us your latest news?

I was blessed to have been featured on Chicago's #1 radio station WGCI in an author interview where I discussed my book, "Be My Sorority Sister-Under Pressure." I am currently promoting the paperback and I plan to release the hardcover version this spring. In addition, my third fiction release, "She's Out There Bad," will be released in late 2004. I also still write for the Rap Music and Teen Section at Bellaonline.com.

What inspired you to pen your first novel?

My first novel was named Sparkledoll Always Into Something. I had been a screenwriter for at least 5 years and never sold a script. Someone suggested that I write a book and try to sell the screen rights. I had a series of short stories and decided to tie them together into a book. The result was Sparkledoll Always Into Something. The book went on to become somewhat successful and I recently released a 2004 edition. In retrospect, I feel the story is a little disjointed, it skips around a bit, it doesn't have the flow of a novel in the traditional sense. My readers who provided me with feedback loved the book. I think it was the raw emotion in the book that struck a chord with readers. Although it is fiction, I drew from some real life experiences when writing the book.

How has your environment/upbringing colored your writing?

My environment has definitely impacted my writing. I spent 6 years in Carbondale, Illinois which is a college town. Spending 6 years in college, I saw a lot and learned a lot. I managed to leave with two degrees, but there was a lot of debauchery, drama, partying, fun and wild adventures involved. So therefore, most of my stories take place in a college environment.

Do you have a specific writing style?

I always write in first person, at least when I write fiction.

What genre are you most comfortable writing?

Fiction. I have written a non-fiction book named The Unplanned Pregnancy Handbook. This book was a six year labor of love and research. I enjoy writing fiction. The non-fiction book definitely serves a purpose, but writing it was more of a laborious experience, it was like real work. You have to check facts, statistics, cite quotes, it was more like writing a long term paper. The outcome was good but the process was demanding. I have fun while I am writing a fiction novel.

How did you come up with the title for your book(s)?

Titles just come to me easy sometimes. The sorority book, it just instanty popped in my head, Be My Sorority Sister. The sub-title, "Under Pressure," didn't come as easy. Believe it or not, at one point in time I was going to name my book Be My Sorority Sister-Welcome To The Darkside. I was on the fence between the Welcome To The Darkside and The Under Pressure. I talked with another writer, Sibylla Nash and she told me the "Welcome To The Darkside" might alienate pro-sorority individuals, and I believe the book is pro-sorority so I didn't want to offend anyone, so I stuck with the "Under Pressure." Afterall, the book is mainly about the pressure the main character feels from her family and from herself to join a Greek organization.

Is there a message in your novel that you want readers to grasp?

The main message I want readers to grasp is that although Eva went through many, many changes to become a member of Beta Gamma Psi (the fictional sorority in the book), by the end of the book she realizes that she has to be her own person and live her life for herself and not for her family or friends.

How much of the novel is realistic?

I feel that a lot of Be My Sorority Sister-Under Pressure is realistic. Although ,I constantly stress that the book is fiction, prior to writing the book I spoke with at least a dozen sorority members who represented various organizations to help me get some insight about their own experiences to give me some ideas on how I wanted to tailor the book. Many Greeks who have read the book really feel like I painted a good picture of both the pledge process and sorority life. I'm sure everyone isn't going to like the book, but so far most have. I also feel that I touched on how badly many non Greek women aspire to become Greek. When I was a freshman, the first week of school everyone wanted to go Greek. Of course by senior year, most of those same people were not in sororities, but I'm sure a lot of them still wanted to join a Greek organization for one reason or another.

Are experiences based on someone you know, or events in your life?

The book is not based on my life or anyone I know, but I can say I felt many of the pressures that the main character Eva felt. Both of my parents are in Greek organizations and before I even started college I felt immersed in the Greek world and I knew that they wanted me to carry on this tradition and at one time I felt like if I didn't join the same sorority as my mother that I would somehow be a failure. Of course as I got older I realized so much more. I realized that your parents love you whether you share the same Greek letters with them or not, and that by being a sorority member or not being a sorority member I would always be the same person. I also learned that Greek or not Greek your real friends will always be your friends no matter what letters you all may or may not share.

What are your current projects?

I am currently working on my next fiction project which is titled, She's Out There Bad. I am really excited about this book because I feel like I will be returning to my roots. With Be My Sorority Sister-Under Pressure, I really tried to go for an all audience appropriate theme, and this next book will be more for the 18 and up crowd. It is not anything too wild, it is very real to life of things that happen on college campuses today. Without giving away too much, the book is about the many ups and downs and adventures two very different women have during their sophomore year of college when they are matched up as roommates. They become friends, enemies, friends again--mad drama.

How does your family and/or friends feel about your book or writing venture in general?

My family and friends are very supportive of my writing career. I have some friends and relatives who thought my first book Sparkledoll Always Into Something was a bit too real in certain chapters but I assured them it was all fiction.

Do you see writing as a long- or short-term career?

I consider writing to be a long term career. I have been writing for as long as I can remember and I don't ever see myself just not writing. I have all of these ideas in my head and I just really feel the need to get them out, that is how my stories are born.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything?

I probably would have shopped my books to major publishers and agents. Whereas a lot of other writers spend years sending out query letters I may have sent out all of about 7 queries in my fiction writing career. I saw that wasn't getting me the results I wanted so I just started my own publishing imprint. It is a challenge getting the books in the stores, the constant promotion and so on, but if I had a deal with a major, I probably would have more time to concentrate on my writing and not so much the business aspect of the industry.

Is there anything additional you would like to share with your readers?

I would like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my writing career. Please be sure to visit my website, www.dorrieinteractive.com to keep up to date with my latest releases and to read my frequently updated web journal.