Author’s Books Put Black Love And Romance At The Forefront Of The Stories
Romance author Kay Shanee was encouraged to write about Black love by friends
who found her and her husband of more than 26 years’ love story book worthy.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY FELICIA APPREY.
Katrina Anderson, whose pen name is Kay Shanee, started writing books when she was encouraged to write a novel about her and her husband’s love story. They have been married for more than 26 years.
When her daughter went to college, Kay Shanee had some free time on her hands. She started to write the love story that everybody encouraged her to write. She changed the names, but something was missing. To make the story more interesting, she put more fictional situations in the book. She let people read it and their reaction led her to becoming an author.
It took her eight months to write the first book. It took her some time to start, but once she did, it was easy for her. Her first and second books were self-published. She found an independent publisher, B. Love Publications, which is Black woman-owned and has Black women authors. The goal of the publisher is to empower and inspire Black women through stories of romance and love.
Kay Shanee wrote short stories, which she turned into a blog that she would post on Facebook. People were really interested in what she was writing. She entered the writing contest from B. Love Publications and the publisher asked if she had other stories. Kay Shanee has been with B. Love Publications solely since June 2019. She and the other authors at B. Love are encouraged by the publisher to self-publish a couple of books a year. Kay Shanee’s last self-published book was released in September 2023.
Kay Shanee has written 40 books. She said social media for authors is very important. It is where they get their readers. People are able to interact with writers through social media and there is immediate engagement. That kind of access to authors didn’t exist before social media.
“This Time Around” is Kay Shanee’s latest book, which is available for pre-order and will go on sale March 26th. Physical copies of the book will be available on Amazon, Walmart, Target and other outlets in April. The book will be published by Black Odyssey Media Publications. She describes it as having a second chance romance feel, but not quite. The couple is in their 40s and have lived their lives and have careers. It took Kay Shanee two months to write.
“This Time Around” has received reviews from readers who have read advanced copies of the book. Kay Shanee said readers liked the story, which has a lot of elements, and they said a lot of other good things about the book.
Kay Shanee wants her books to show that Black love exists and thinks it is important to tell stories that show Black women and Black men in romantic love.
“The mainstream media does not give us a very good rap. Most of the things you see in regards to Black relationships and Black love are negative. It almost makes it seem like we, as Black people, don’t love each other,” she said, acknowledging that on reality shows and podcasts Black romantic and personal relationships are not portrayed in the best light. With her books, she wants people to see that Black men and women are able to live, love and thrive with each other.
For more information about Kay Shanee, visit www.authorkayshanee.com. You can also follow her at authorkayshanee on Tik Tok, Instagram, Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
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