Aleita Kay is known for her urban drama romance novels, which is a very specialized category. Her writing is mostly about romance, but it includes the true grit of what goes on in urban America, specifically in African American culture. She draws her inspiration from everyone around her. “It could be the girl who took my Starbucks order, the boy who bagged my groceries, or the little girl playing Beyoncé just a tad bit too loud through her headphones. Life is inspiration.” said Aleita.
Aleita and Jack have known each other since the 7th grade. They met in Vilseck Middle School and became lifelong friends.
How did you start writing?
“I’ve always been a writer. There wasn’t too many things I was good but writing , specifically story telling , had always come naturally. I can remember specifically the very first story I wrote. I was in third grade , living in Alaska and our class was prompted to write a story about a polar bear. That was the first time I remember my imagination just taking off and then by 5th grade I was writing in contests. Winning almost every one I entered Into and it’s been history ever since.”
How do you come up with your characters?
“I don’t exactly have a recipe of how I come up with my characters. 9/10 it’s on a whim. I can be sitting at breakfast with my husband and all of a sudden I’m like “ hey you know I think this kind of character would be dope” and a story evolves around that. I can say though, that these characters are written after my own heart. A little piece of who I am is in every character I write.”
“Life is inspiration.”
Who is your favorite character that you’ve written?
“Definitely Blue! When I was writing out Blues character there was just this instant connection I felt for what he’s gone through in his life but how he somehow still came out on top. Blue is the true picture of “Me vs Me” .. I have a feeling I’ll see blue again one way or another.”
Who are your favorite authors to read?
“I have a very broad spectrum of favorites when it comes to authors I love but Ashley Antionette. Ashley Nicole, and most recently Rae Lyse , a Texas based author like myself. They are my top 3 go-to authors when I’m looking for writing that I know is going to be an out of body experience.”
Aleita has one full length novel For the Love of Harlem, and two short stories Roses in Winter and The Hustler’s Photograph. All can be purchased on Amazon for Kindle or hard copy. Aleita is working on another novel Stilettos & Slippers, which a snippet can be read in the back of The Hustler’s Photograph. Follow Aleita’s author page @aleitakaytheauthor, and her website listed here, and buy her work here.