Urban Reviews: Give us a brief synopsis of your current novel Stripped.
Jacki Simmons: Stripped is the story of a young woman who is forced to grow up faster than she would have liked after having it relatively easy for a long time. Her unfortunate situation goes from bad to worse and she has to make decisions that will ultimately either save her life or kill her.

Urban Reviews: Where did you come up with the idea for this novel?
Jacki Simmons: Stripped started off as a short story that I was writing to keep myself occupied in between finishing my first novel. (That novel has not been published.)

Urban Reviews: You are currently signed to Melodrama Publishing. Tell us how you got into the business.
Jacki Simmons: Originally, I was working with another independent publisher to get Stripped out there. Unfortunately, the deal fell through and I was kind of left blowing in the wind. So, I figured 'if at first you don't succeed,' and did a little cruising. Through the internet, I looked up various publishers and researched them and found Melodrama to be more to my liking than any of the others. I sent in my manuscript and within two weeks, I received word that my story had been accepted. The rest as they say is history.

Urban Reviews: What have you learned about the book industry so far? Is it all that you hoped it would be?
Jacki Simmons: I've learned one very important lesson after another. Be prepared. Ask questions. Don't ever let your right hand know what your left is doing. Don't tell everyone your business but at the same time, don't assume everyone is out to get you. It's some of what I expected and a little bit of surprise. I've received a lot of love from unexpected places and its an overwhelming feeling. But of course, there is always the usual dose of hate. But hate rhymes with jealousy, which means I've got to be doing something right. It's been a long journey and this is only the beginning.

Urban Reviews: At the end of Stripped, you have an excerpt of your next book called The Madam. Can you give our readers a sneak peak of this novel and when can we expect this to drop?
Jacki Simmons: My lawyers have advised me not to... Nah I'm kidding. I can only give you the sneak peek that comes at the end of Stripped. As the drop date gets nearer, I will be dishing out the goods. But I haven't even finished writing it yet, so I could tell you today and have something very different going on tomorrow. Stop bein' greedy! So you've gotta hold on. It can be expected within the next year or so.

Urban Reviews: Have you gotten any good advice from anyone in the book industry?
Jacki Simmons: Oh, have I. There are a lot of good hearted people out there: Patricia Pickett (poet, author of Green Eyes Open), Kaven Brown (author of Two Face), Amaleka McCall (author of Twisted Tale of Karma), my homie Travis Fox (author of Poison Ivy), JM Benjamin (author of Down In The Dirty), Rahsaan Ali (author of Nasty)... I could go on for days.

Urban Reviews: Who are some of your favorite authors or books?
Jacki Simmons: My favorite author is James Patterson, hands down. Followed closely by Tess Gerritsen aand Valerie Wilson-Wesley. On my urban side, I drank in most of Teri Woods collection, and I absolutely love La Jill Hunt, whom I had the pleasure of meeting recently.

Urban Reviews: What advice would you give to all of the aspiring authors out there?
Jacki Simmons: Do not let anyone crush your dreams. Now, I ain't never been one to lie so if writin' ain't your thing, I'm fittin'a tell ya. But if this is your dream, don't let anyone tell you what you can't do. Live your dream. You will never forgive yourself if you don't. If you know my story and understand why I am the way I am, you will know why it don't pay to let others tell you how to live your life.

Urban Reviews: Why should someone read Stripped?
Jacki Simmons: Cuz I wrote it! No, seriously, because I think it has a little bit of something that we can all relate to. Maybe your story mirrors my main characters in some way, maybe it doesn't. But I think we can all appreciate surviving a struggle because none of us have lived perfect lives. Some of us have had trial after trial and have had to find ways out unscathed. In that one way, we, fictitious or non, are all alike.

Urban Reviews: Name one thing that the world doesn't know about Jacki Simmons?
Jacki Simmons: People usually ask how I live with my nails on the way they are. Yes I can type and pick up a quarter but the real reason why I keep them so long is because Jacki Simmons still sucks her thumb. Real talk.